Thanks for listening to the Best of the Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in noon to three Eastern nine am to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the Herd at Fox Sportsradio dot com, or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR.

Thanks for listening to the Best of the Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in noon to three Eastern nine am to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the Herd at Fox Sportsradio dot com, or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR.

This is the Best of the Herd with Colin cowher on Fox Sports Radio.

This is the Best of the Herd with Colin cowher on Fox Sports Radio.

Oh here we go.

Oh here we go.

One team already in waiting for the Mavericks to arrive in the finals, live in Los Angeles.

One team already in waiting for the Mavericks to arrive in the finals, live in Los Angeles.

It's the Herd.

It's the Herd.

Wherever you may be and however you may be listening. Thanks for making us part of your day. Nick Right one hour, Jmac, I took a bold, dynamic stance this playoffs year, taking Boston to get to the finals. You took an equally aggressive stance on the Dallas Mavericks getting to the finals. I think we're both going to be right. But I was thinking about something we talked about this yesterday, and for all those who watched on Memorial Day, I hope you had a great weekend of reflection, spent time with your family, but I want you to think about this. Jmax. So the Celtics, as predicted, rolled through the East twelve and two, a lot of blowouts. They were forty one and eleven against the East. The East Coast, where I spent most of Memorial Day weekend, has great bagels, not a lot of great NBA teams. Is Boston won. I'm not sure I thought about this last night. What the Celtics are are a perfect reflection of what basketball is in the NBA in twenty twenty four. They are offensively gifted, and the league's never been more offensively gifted. Six guys on this team could drop twenty points in the finals. You wouldn't be surprised. They're rich. Derek whitez their number three or four starter. He'll make eighteen million this year. They're mobile. Drew Holliday porzingis Derek White not drafted by the Celtics. They're cohesive team above everything else. That's very much a mantra international and domestic basketball. And they're a little soft. They're about a five hundred team at home in the playoffs the last three to four years. And they are very very good and very skilled, but they're not great. And I don't know how to make the Celtics go from very good to great, and that's where it's interesting. Jason Tatum's their best player, but offensively he mostly floats off ball. He does not take the game over. He is not Luca, his personality is not Alpha. His usage rate is not that high. It was below Cam Thomas this year. Jaren Jackson, and he's the best player, probably on the best team. It's a different world we live in. If you watch the Celtics play on five different possessions, they could have five different Celtic players score. It would look fantastic. It's almost too collaborative. What do I mean because in my entire life in the NFL, even in pitching in the big leagues, in the NBA, there's a Verlander, a Brady, a Lebron, a steph An, mj a Kobe, and Dallas has one. It's called Luca. Get me the ball, I'll get the out, I'll make the pass, I'll get the bucket. And that's not what Boston is. They're really smart, and they're really collaborative, and they like to get Derek White involved. And the ball moves beautifully. It's esthetically pleasing, but it's not old school. And in my life, Mahomes can play poorly fourth quarter, give me the ball for it. That's what I've seen Steph Curry, a KD, A Lebron, An MJ A Kobe. But the Celtics very much are twenty twenty four basketball, and that maybe is how basketball turns out over time, collaborative over alpha, sharing, over the individual. Tatum may have idolized Kobe Bryant, but their basketball ideology is very different. Tatum sometimes floats, gives the ball up, views others, and still ends up with twenty nine points, seven rebounds, a couple of blocks. He's a tremendous athlete, but his ball use is dreat far below Luca. Luca's old school. I always have this feeling in the off season. He gets on that Gulf stream, lights up, a smoke, big couple of beers. He's on his way to not working out for two months. That's old school, and so is his game. So the Celtics in the MAVs is a I sick matchup of old versus new, and the old historically creates dynasties, does collaboration with a star that sometimes is just part of the offense, not the offense late in games. So I thought it was fitting as they swept the Pacers that Jalen Brown, their number two player on most nights, ended up being the MVP of this series.

Wherever you may be and however you may be listening. Thanks for making us part of your day. Nick Right one hour, Jmac, I took a bold, dynamic stance this playoffs year, taking Boston to get to the finals. You took an equally aggressive stance on the Dallas Mavericks getting to the finals. I think we're both going to be right. But I was thinking about something we talked about this yesterday, and for all those who watched on Memorial Day, I hope you had a great weekend of reflection, spent time with your family, but I want you to think about this. Jmax. So the Celtics, as predicted, rolled through the East twelve and two, a lot of blowouts. They were forty one and eleven against the East. The East Coast, where I spent most of Memorial Day weekend, has great bagels, not a lot of great NBA teams. Is Boston won. I'm not sure I thought about this last night. What the Celtics are are a perfect reflection of what basketball is in the NBA in twenty twenty four. They are offensively gifted, and the league's never been more offensively gifted. Six guys on this team could drop twenty points in the finals. You wouldn't be surprised. They're rich. Derek whitez their number three or four starter. He'll make eighteen million this year. They're mobile. Drew Holliday porzingis Derek White not drafted by the Celtics. They're cohesive team above everything else. That's very much a mantra international and domestic basketball. And they're a little soft. They're about a five hundred team at home in the playoffs the last three to four years. And they are very very good and very skilled, but they're not great. And I don't know how to make the Celtics go from very good to great, and that's where it's interesting. Jason Tatum's their best player, but offensively he mostly floats off ball. He does not take the game over. He is not Luca, his personality is not Alpha. His usage rate is not that high. It was below Cam Thomas this year. Jaren Jackson, and he's the best player, probably on the best team. It's a different world we live in. If you watch the Celtics play on five different possessions, they could have five different Celtic players score. It would look fantastic. It's almost too collaborative. What do I mean because in my entire life in the NFL, even in pitching in the big leagues, in the NBA, there's a Verlander, a Brady, a Lebron, a steph An, mj a Kobe, and Dallas has one. It's called Luca. Get me the ball, I'll get the out, I'll make the pass, I'll get the bucket. And that's not what Boston is. They're really smart, and they're really collaborative, and they like to get Derek White involved. And the ball moves beautifully. It's esthetically pleasing, but it's not old school. And in my life, Mahomes can play poorly fourth quarter, give me the ball for it. That's what I've seen Steph Curry, a KD, A Lebron, An MJ A Kobe. But the Celtics very much are twenty twenty four basketball, and that maybe is how basketball turns out over time, collaborative over alpha, sharing, over the individual. Tatum may have idolized Kobe Bryant, but their basketball ideology is very different. Tatum sometimes floats, gives the ball up, views others, and still ends up with twenty nine points, seven rebounds, a couple of blocks. He's a tremendous athlete, but his ball use is dreat far below Luca. Luca's old school. I always have this feeling in the off season. He gets on that Gulf stream, lights up, a smoke, big couple of beers. He's on his way to not working out for two months. That's old school, and so is his game. So the Celtics in the MAVs is a I sick matchup of old versus new, and the old historically creates dynasties, does collaboration with a star that sometimes is just part of the offense, not the offense late in games. So I thought it was fitting as they swept the Pacers that Jalen Brown, their number two player on most nights, ended up being the MVP of this series.

I think I'm one of the best two way wings guards, whatever you want to say in this game. You know, I thought this year, I've taken a level and I've increased it. I took the matchup. I picked up guys full court, I chased guys off screens. I battled with bigs, and you know, I felt like I should have been all defensive. But you know, as as time has gone by and I got to this point, like I just I stopped caring and I just embrace. I don't care who sees what. As long as my team knows my value, my city knows my value, my family. That's all. That's all I really care about.

I think I'm one of the best two way wings guards, whatever you want to say in this game. You know, I thought this year, I've taken a level and I've increased it. I took the matchup. I picked up guys full court, I chased guys off screens. I battled with bigs, and you know, I felt like I should have been all defensive. But you know, as as time has gone by and I got to this point, like I just I stopped caring and I just embrace. I don't care who sees what. As long as my team knows my value, my city knows my value, my family. That's all. That's all I really care about.

It's sort of like we hear about that, bring the dog to work, the googlization of work, collaborative fridays off, everybody gets along. In a perfect world, that's the way it would be. We would all have balance, we'd like work, but family took precedence. Fifty hour work weeks. Let's not do any of that. The Celtics are new and collaborative and there's chemistry and they share and there's a different score every possession. I think it can win a title, but I don't know if it can against Luca. And I don't know if that very good will become great. We'll see. So I was took a few days off last week, headed back out east in New England, Patriots Territory in Rhode Island, and I put my Patriots hat on and I go walk walking on the beach, ride the e bike, you know, one of the peeps. And I get asked this a lot, a lot more than I thought I would be asked, how do you think Tom Brady's going to do as a And Brady was on our show yesterday and I say, I always have the same opinion. If people have a couple of minutes, I'll share it with him and I'll say, well, the traits and the habits that created the quarterback will probably create the same broadcaster. I'll give you an example. I thought Tony Romo was always underrated as a quarterback. He got a lot of criticism. I thought he was very good, but he was loose. It was often instinct, it felt like over details and prep. It was gut feeling sort of like George Bush as a president, right kind of going with his gut. You wish he would be more into the prep for the details. And I actually like Bush, but I always felt Tony Romo as a player was flashy, really gifted, underrated, really talented, a bit of an ad liver, feelings over facts. And as a broadcaster I feel the same way. He's a risk taker, calls out plays, sometimes makes weird sounds. I'm not sure which direction he's going, but by the end of it, it's usually wildly entertaining. And then there's Tom Brady, who as a player was meticulous and thorough, a people pleaser and detail and that's what I think you'll get as a broadcaster. Brady will be the opposite of Tony Romo, and you can pick your favorite. They'll both make a lot of money, they'll both be very good, but they will be opposite his broadcasters. I talked about Tom's competitive nature as he heads into the booth at Fox.

It's sort of like we hear about that, bring the dog to work, the googlization of work, collaborative fridays off, everybody gets along. In a perfect world, that's the way it would be. We would all have balance, we'd like work, but family took precedence. Fifty hour work weeks. Let's not do any of that. The Celtics are new and collaborative and there's chemistry and they share and there's a different score every possession. I think it can win a title, but I don't know if it can against Luca. And I don't know if that very good will become great. We'll see. So I was took a few days off last week, headed back out east in New England, Patriots Territory in Rhode Island, and I put my Patriots hat on and I go walk walking on the beach, ride the e bike, you know, one of the peeps. And I get asked this a lot, a lot more than I thought I would be asked, how do you think Tom Brady's going to do as a And Brady was on our show yesterday and I say, I always have the same opinion. If people have a couple of minutes, I'll share it with him and I'll say, well, the traits and the habits that created the quarterback will probably create the same broadcaster. I'll give you an example. I thought Tony Romo was always underrated as a quarterback. He got a lot of criticism. I thought he was very good, but he was loose. It was often instinct, it felt like over details and prep. It was gut feeling sort of like George Bush as a president, right kind of going with his gut. You wish he would be more into the prep for the details. And I actually like Bush, but I always felt Tony Romo as a player was flashy, really gifted, underrated, really talented, a bit of an ad liver, feelings over facts. And as a broadcaster I feel the same way. He's a risk taker, calls out plays, sometimes makes weird sounds. I'm not sure which direction he's going, but by the end of it, it's usually wildly entertaining. And then there's Tom Brady, who as a player was meticulous and thorough, a people pleaser and detail and that's what I think you'll get as a broadcaster. Brady will be the opposite of Tony Romo, and you can pick your favorite. They'll both make a lot of money, they'll both be very good, but they will be opposite his broadcasters. I talked about Tom's competitive nature as he heads into the booth at Fox.

I think, if I want to put effort into something, then naturally I'll be Naturally I'll be more competitive at it because I'll invest it a little bit of my time, a little bit of my energy into it. Certainly with the broadcaster. I don't think for me it's about competition. I think it's for me it's about did I put everything I could into it? And did I give the fans everything that they tuned in for? And that's really how I end up gauging myself. And I'll have to look at myself at the end of every Sunday night going did I do a good enough job? Did I live up to the belief that Fox had in me? Did I live up to the expectations of my teammates Kevin Burkhart and Aaron and Tom and the entire team. That's ultimately how I judge myself in that new role.

I think, if I want to put effort into something, then naturally I'll be Naturally I'll be more competitive at it because I'll invest it a little bit of my time, a little bit of my energy into it. Certainly with the broadcaster. I don't think for me it's about competition. I think it's for me it's about did I put everything I could into it? And did I give the fans everything that they tuned in for? And that's really how I end up gauging myself. And I'll have to look at myself at the end of every Sunday night going did I do a good enough job? Did I live up to the belief that Fox had in me? Did I live up to the expectations of my teammates Kevin Burkhart and Aaron and Tom and the entire team. That's ultimately how I judge myself in that new role.

Just like he was as a quarterback, a people pleaser. Didn't have dinner with Belichick for twenty years, but always at some levels sought his approval. John Madden coached or taught a class on football at cal Poly, and, fittingly, John Madden, the greatest analyst ever who worked at this network, among others, was a teacher on the air, the telestrator. He was trying to teach you football in a very relatable way. John Gruden intense passionate as a coach and as a TV analyst. I think Brady will be exactly what he was as a quarterback, really into the details. I asked him, and this was so Brady the answer. Did you pay attention to the league when you were playing beyond the Patriots?

Just like he was as a quarterback, a people pleaser. Didn't have dinner with Belichick for twenty years, but always at some levels sought his approval. John Madden coached or taught a class on football at cal Poly, and, fittingly, John Madden, the greatest analyst ever who worked at this network, among others, was a teacher on the air, the telestrator. He was trying to teach you football in a very relatable way. John Gruden intense passionate as a coach and as a TV analyst. I think Brady will be exactly what he was as a quarterback, really into the details. I asked him, and this was so Brady the answer. Did you pay attention to the league when you were playing beyond the Patriots?

I tried to pay attention and follow every team every week. It's that was our job, that was to understand the whole league the perspective, every game counts, Those games meant whatever games, they meant a lot to the division standings. Ultimately, because our team was very competitive, the conference standings were very important. You didn't look too much beyond that, and we never talked about the playoffs and so forth. But I knew what every division opponent was doing every week. Where there were upsets, where there were injuries, those were all very important to the success of our team.

I tried to pay attention and follow every team every week. It's that was our job, that was to understand the whole league the perspective, every game counts, Those games meant whatever games, they meant a lot to the division standings. Ultimately, because our team was very competitive, the conference standings were very important. You didn't look too much beyond that, and we never talked about the playoffs and so forth. But I knew what every division opponent was doing every week. Where there were upsets, where there were injuries, those were all very important to the success of our team.

Of course, Tom Brady knew what everybody else in the league was doing as a quarterback and as a broadcast I think that's what he'll deliver. Bill Walton passed away yesterday. We talked about it briefly during our show. I grew up in the Pacific Northwest, so right equidistant between Seattle and Portland. But because I was in Washington State, I got the Sonic games, but I occasionally listened, but now more than occasionally listen to the Blazer games on radio because I preferred their radio announcer Bill Shanley. So it was a different era in a time. And I want to talk about Bill Walton coming up and how he would be accepted today. Oh, his basketball would be just fine. That's coming up.

Of course, Tom Brady knew what everybody else in the league was doing as a quarterback and as a broadcast I think that's what he'll deliver. Bill Walton passed away yesterday. We talked about it briefly during our show. I grew up in the Pacific Northwest, so right equidistant between Seattle and Portland. But because I was in Washington State, I got the Sonic games, but I occasionally listened, but now more than occasionally listen to the Blazer games on radio because I preferred their radio announcer Bill Shanley. So it was a different era in a time. And I want to talk about Bill Walton coming up and how he would be accepted today. Oh, his basketball would be just fine. That's coming up.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays in noon eastern non am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio FS one and the iHeartRadio app.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays in noon eastern non am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio FS one and the iHeartRadio app.

The Great Bill Walton broadcaster, College Venom NBA All Star passed away yesterday, seventy one years old. Two things about his game I feel very strongly about. If he remained healthy, he would be in a short list of the second greatest center of all time. To Kareem Abdul Jabbar, he would not have been that score. But Shack was all power, a Keem was mostly footwork. Wilt was flashy but unfocused. Russell was dominant defensively but limited offensively. Walton had a dexterity that was hard to match. He was layered. He was Jokich fifty years ago. The second thing I feel strongly about his game today would have aged beautifully again seventy four seventy five. He was often viewed and seen more regularly in college at National Power UCLA, where two years he went thirty to zero. Then he would be in Portland because when he broke into the NBA, I began watching the NBA. In the Walton days in the Pacific Northwest, you'd get college games as often as NBA games, even the finals were on tape delay. What I find fascinating about Bill Walton is not just his game, which again I think would have aged beautifully. He was almost unique and mythological as a player. There was nothing like him or his personality. And as I watched people yesterday honor and celebrate him, and I realize, and I think most sports fans do, who got a glimpse of Bill even on YouTube highlights, that he was years and generations and decades before his time. I wonder if he entered the NBA now, would he be honored and celebrated to this level. We live in a country now where people are more tribal than ever, and Bill Walton was the absolute opposite of stick to sports, I mean, the polar opposite. Would you accept somebody who was gifted, but may have thought much differently about politics in the world than you do. When Walton broke into the NBA, he was seen as unique, funny, quirky, odd and incredibly gifted. His best friend was nature. Second best was John Wooden. He was like Bigfoot with a hook. You didn't see him very frequently. I first got introduced to him in the Northwest. You'd see him against the Sixers and Doctor j But we put our arms around the big fella. Would we do it today? I'm afraid we wouldn't. The world we live in doesn't have room for opinions that many people don't agree with. And what Bill believed in. He was anti Vietnam War and he was on the right side of that. For the record, or we probably should have never been in. But Bill had strong opinions and he really wasn't concern how they landed. For you, Oh, he could be a great teammate. When he went to UCLA, he was a hippie with long hair. John Wooden said you need to get a haircut. He said, I'm not going to John Wooden said, we'll mish a big fella. Bill got on his bicycle wandered cross campus, and got it cut. But sometimes I wonder the people we honor if they were around today and breaking into sports, would we accept them as much as we honor them today. Bill was very unique and very different, cool stuff to celebrate. I wish we did it today more often.

The Great Bill Walton broadcaster, College Venom NBA All Star passed away yesterday, seventy one years old. Two things about his game I feel very strongly about. If he remained healthy, he would be in a short list of the second greatest center of all time. To Kareem Abdul Jabbar, he would not have been that score. But Shack was all power, a Keem was mostly footwork. Wilt was flashy but unfocused. Russell was dominant defensively but limited offensively. Walton had a dexterity that was hard to match. He was layered. He was Jokich fifty years ago. The second thing I feel strongly about his game today would have aged beautifully again seventy four seventy five. He was often viewed and seen more regularly in college at National Power UCLA, where two years he went thirty to zero. Then he would be in Portland because when he broke into the NBA, I began watching the NBA. In the Walton days in the Pacific Northwest, you'd get college games as often as NBA games, even the finals were on tape delay. What I find fascinating about Bill Walton is not just his game, which again I think would have aged beautifully. He was almost unique and mythological as a player. There was nothing like him or his personality. And as I watched people yesterday honor and celebrate him, and I realize, and I think most sports fans do, who got a glimpse of Bill even on YouTube highlights, that he was years and generations and decades before his time. I wonder if he entered the NBA now, would he be honored and celebrated to this level. We live in a country now where people are more tribal than ever, and Bill Walton was the absolute opposite of stick to sports, I mean, the polar opposite. Would you accept somebody who was gifted, but may have thought much differently about politics in the world than you do. When Walton broke into the NBA, he was seen as unique, funny, quirky, odd and incredibly gifted. His best friend was nature. Second best was John Wooden. He was like Bigfoot with a hook. You didn't see him very frequently. I first got introduced to him in the Northwest. You'd see him against the Sixers and Doctor j But we put our arms around the big fella. Would we do it today? I'm afraid we wouldn't. The world we live in doesn't have room for opinions that many people don't agree with. And what Bill believed in. He was anti Vietnam War and he was on the right side of that. For the record, or we probably should have never been in. But Bill had strong opinions and he really wasn't concern how they landed. For you, Oh, he could be a great teammate. When he went to UCLA, he was a hippie with long hair. John Wooden said you need to get a haircut. He said, I'm not going to John Wooden said, we'll mish a big fella. Bill got on his bicycle wandered cross campus, and got it cut. But sometimes I wonder the people we honor if they were around today and breaking into sports, would we accept them as much as we honor them today. Bill was very unique and very different, cool stuff to celebrate. I wish we did it today more often.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd Weekdays and neonon Easter n a im Pacific two.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd Weekdays and neonon Easter n a im Pacific two.

NBA Insiders podcasting twice a week to plug you right into the NBA grapevine.

NBA Insiders podcasting twice a week to plug you right into the NBA grapevine.

All happening in only one place. This League Uncut, the new NBA podcast with me Chris Haynes and me Mark Stein join us as we team up to expound on everything we're covering. Hearing and Chason.

All happening in only one place. This League Uncut, the new NBA podcast with me Chris Haynes and me Mark Stein join us as we team up to expound on everything we're covering. Hearing and Chason.

Listen to This League Uncut with Chris Haynes and Mark Stein.

Listen to This League Uncut with Chris Haynes and Mark Stein.

On the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

On the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

I'm not sure I've ever learned less about a team than I did about the Boston Celtics in this playoff run. And I'm not blaming them. They're human, They're much better than all these teams. We've had thirteen playoff series, three sweeps, three gentlemen sweeps, and probably another tonight, meaning seven of thirteen will be sweeps or gentlemen sweeps over half. So I was thinking about this, the two easiest ways to win a chip in the NBA. Number One, you know you're part of a great dynasty, a collective. Now they're hard to build, but once you build them, you have great talent. Even a star can have an off night. And the second easiest way is as an underdog with no pressure and you catch everybody by surprise. They're raptors in Kawhi, Dirk and the MAVs. The Celtics are neither. I don't think they feel like a dynasty. They're too quirky. They lose too many home games against sometimes inferior teams, and they're significant favorites. Draft Kings are minus two twenty five, so they're not sneaking up on anybody. And I also think they have mounting pressure this year. So they were twenty three and seven against the West, so we know they're good. They dominated the East in the regular season and the playoffs, so we know they're dominant in the East. They were also very good in the West. They have the deepest roster in the NBA, in my opinion, the most offensively skilled roster, in the NBA, the Western teams that were only getting better. And what's interesting is if they lose this year to the Mavericks, and that's certainly possible, what's the pressure going to be like next year? Because Tatum's going to sign the max deal, Brown's already got one. There's going to be real limitations on what this team can do with their roster. So they're better to get it now. We've already seen them fold as a younger version of this duo against the Warriors. If they folded again against the more mature team, right, they folded against the Warriors, and we kind of said, well, it's Stephan is the Warriors, but what if they fold again against Dallas? What is next year with the tarmac shortened gonna be? Like? So I think it is this this Celtics duo. You kind of gave him a little bit of a pass losing the staff and Draymond and Clay and Steve Kurry gave him a little bit of an emotional pass. Not quite ready like we view and now not quite ready but Jos wait, well, the just waiting's over. They're the heavy favorite. This duo has been around a lot longer than Luca and Kyrie. Here's Jalen Brown.

I'm not sure I've ever learned less about a team than I did about the Boston Celtics in this playoff run. And I'm not blaming them. They're human, They're much better than all these teams. We've had thirteen playoff series, three sweeps, three gentlemen sweeps, and probably another tonight, meaning seven of thirteen will be sweeps or gentlemen sweeps over half. So I was thinking about this, the two easiest ways to win a chip in the NBA. Number One, you know you're part of a great dynasty, a collective. Now they're hard to build, but once you build them, you have great talent. Even a star can have an off night. And the second easiest way is as an underdog with no pressure and you catch everybody by surprise. They're raptors in Kawhi, Dirk and the MAVs. The Celtics are neither. I don't think they feel like a dynasty. They're too quirky. They lose too many home games against sometimes inferior teams, and they're significant favorites. Draft Kings are minus two twenty five, so they're not sneaking up on anybody. And I also think they have mounting pressure this year. So they were twenty three and seven against the West, so we know they're good. They dominated the East in the regular season and the playoffs, so we know they're dominant in the East. They were also very good in the West. They have the deepest roster in the NBA, in my opinion, the most offensively skilled roster, in the NBA, the Western teams that were only getting better. And what's interesting is if they lose this year to the Mavericks, and that's certainly possible, what's the pressure going to be like next year? Because Tatum's going to sign the max deal, Brown's already got one. There's going to be real limitations on what this team can do with their roster. So they're better to get it now. We've already seen them fold as a younger version of this duo against the Warriors. If they folded again against the more mature team, right, they folded against the Warriors, and we kind of said, well, it's Stephan is the Warriors, but what if they fold again against Dallas? What is next year with the tarmac shortened gonna be? Like? So I think it is this this Celtics duo. You kind of gave him a little bit of a pass losing the staff and Draymond and Clay and Steve Kurry gave him a little bit of an emotional pass. Not quite ready like we view and now not quite ready but Jos wait, well, the just waiting's over. They're the heavy favorite. This duo has been around a lot longer than Luca and Kyrie. Here's Jalen Brown.

We feel like we're a different team than we were last year and the year before that. I know everybody wants to continue to kind of pigeonhold us to what we happened in the past, but we've had a different team every single year, different coaches. We've had like three coaches in the last five years, and still people want to, you know, just make it seem like it's the same. It's the same, it's the same. Time has gone by, experience has been gained, and I think we are ready to put our best footfall.

We feel like we're a different team than we were last year and the year before that. I know everybody wants to continue to kind of pigeonhold us to what we happened in the past, but we've had a different team every single year, different coaches. We've had like three coaches in the last five years, and still people want to, you know, just make it seem like it's the same. It's the same, it's the same. Time has gone by, experience has been gained, and I think we are ready to put our best footfall.

It is interesting, though they are very much symbolic of the current NBA. Jason and I are not big romanticizers of the past. You can go back to the thirty for thirties on the Reggie Miller Pacers. He was the only guy on that team that could shoot a jumper, you know. Or you go back to the Knicks, where they tackled people, but nobody, even John Starks wasn't a great, you know, natural elite consistent shooter. You start looking, I mean, just think about the top ten players in a Mavericks Celtics final. If Lucas won Tatum's two, Jalen Brown three, he's more consistent than Kyrie four, Derek White five, Porzingis six. I mean, then you start getting into Drew Holiday seven, PJ. Washington eight, Lively maybe nine, al hor Al Horford had twenty some points the other night. Al Horford is a very dependable big offensively at least, so you're talking about that. The offensive skill in this final is going to be absolutely sensational if Porzingis plays. I think they're a little bit the opposite of the Tea Wolves. Dallas didn't match up great with Denver, they match up very well with Minnesota. Minnesota in half court offense is awful consistently. Boston is sometimes engaged, sometimes not on the defensive end, but they're almost always good enough offensively to win a game. So a lot of times Dallas just let Minnesota fumble over themselves offensively. Boston doesn't do that. Now, if Porzingis isn't healthy, Dallas could pick and roll him to death. But my guess is this is the time a deeper offensive roster, not as reliant on one or two guys. But historically, the two best closers in a series, Shaq and Kobe win the series with that. Nick Wright joins us Live. I will say this, you have been I think I have questioned at times Tatum. You at times have questioned the Celtics. I said this earlier that history tells me the alpha wins, whether it's Mahomes in the fourth quarter, Brady Lebron, Steph, Kobe, mj the Celtics are more collaborative, They're more twenty twenty four basketball. Is that sometimes Tatum floats, he's off ball, he.

It is interesting, though they are very much symbolic of the current NBA. Jason and I are not big romanticizers of the past. You can go back to the thirty for thirties on the Reggie Miller Pacers. He was the only guy on that team that could shoot a jumper, you know. Or you go back to the Knicks, where they tackled people, but nobody, even John Starks wasn't a great, you know, natural elite consistent shooter. You start looking, I mean, just think about the top ten players in a Mavericks Celtics final. If Lucas won Tatum's two, Jalen Brown three, he's more consistent than Kyrie four, Derek White five, Porzingis six. I mean, then you start getting into Drew Holiday seven, PJ. Washington eight, Lively maybe nine, al hor Al Horford had twenty some points the other night. Al Horford is a very dependable big offensively at least, so you're talking about that. The offensive skill in this final is going to be absolutely sensational if Porzingis plays. I think they're a little bit the opposite of the Tea Wolves. Dallas didn't match up great with Denver, they match up very well with Minnesota. Minnesota in half court offense is awful consistently. Boston is sometimes engaged, sometimes not on the defensive end, but they're almost always good enough offensively to win a game. So a lot of times Dallas just let Minnesota fumble over themselves offensively. Boston doesn't do that. Now, if Porzingis isn't healthy, Dallas could pick and roll him to death. But my guess is this is the time a deeper offensive roster, not as reliant on one or two guys. But historically, the two best closers in a series, Shaq and Kobe win the series with that. Nick Wright joins us Live. I will say this, you have been I think I have questioned at times Tatum. You at times have questioned the Celtics. I said this earlier that history tells me the alpha wins, whether it's Mahomes in the fourth quarter, Brady Lebron, Steph, Kobe, mj the Celtics are more collaborative, They're more twenty twenty four basketball. Is that sometimes Tatum floats, he's off ball, he.

Doesn't have usage.

Doesn't have usage.

And I say to myself, this final is a classic matchup of modern collaborative basketball and a little old school Luka, Kyrie, give me the ball, get out of the way, set me a screen. Do you have a strong opinion about this series going into it when the MAVs finish off the Tea Wolves.

And I say to myself, this final is a classic matchup of modern collaborative basketball and a little old school Luka, Kyrie, give me the ball, get out of the way, set me a screen. Do you have a strong opinion about this series going into it when the MAVs finish off the Tea Wolves.

Yeah, yeah, I mean I'm biased because going into the playoffs, I think I was probably one of the only people in the country that was picking the MAVs to win the championship. And so yeah, I like how the MAVs look, and I like that they're getting healthy. I know Live is out, but they're going to be getting Lively is out right now, but he should be back for the finals, they could be getting Maxi Kleba, who was a big loss for them. They just haven't shown that back as well. And your point about going with the alpha is the best player in the series does not always win, but if the best player, if you're going to overcome the other team having the best player, you need to have a legendary or at least legendary adjacent team, or the other team needs to be going through significant injury issues or turmoil. And so the Celtics have the resume of a legendary team. They have the point differential of one of the ten best teams ever. They have the record of one of the fifteen best teams ever. I don't see that when I watch them, And maybe part of that is because all of the teams that are on those lists have a guy who is a guaranteed statue in front of the arena when the moment he's done playing guy, and this Celtics team does not have that. They have a Hall of Famer in Jason Tatum, an awesome number two in Jalen Brown, and obviously a very well constructed roster and maybe the best starting five in basketball. But as you and I have discussed previously. If Jason Tatum is the sixth or seventh best player in the league, NBA history tells us typically that doesn't win the championship. In the last forty years, the only teams to win the championship with the sixth or seventh best player in the league as their best player are the four Pistons, where you had the Lakers lose their entire wing, not wing pardoning, power forward rotation to injury and they were clearly sick of each other.

Yeah, yeah, I mean I'm biased because going into the playoffs, I think I was probably one of the only people in the country that was picking the MAVs to win the championship. And so yeah, I like how the MAVs look, and I like that they're getting healthy. I know Live is out, but they're going to be getting Lively is out right now, but he should be back for the finals, they could be getting Maxi Kleba, who was a big loss for them. They just haven't shown that back as well. And your point about going with the alpha is the best player in the series does not always win, but if the best player, if you're going to overcome the other team having the best player, you need to have a legendary or at least legendary adjacent team, or the other team needs to be going through significant injury issues or turmoil. And so the Celtics have the resume of a legendary team. They have the point differential of one of the ten best teams ever. They have the record of one of the fifteen best teams ever. I don't see that when I watch them, And maybe part of that is because all of the teams that are on those lists have a guy who is a guaranteed statue in front of the arena when the moment he's done playing guy, and this Celtics team does not have that. They have a Hall of Famer in Jason Tatum, an awesome number two in Jalen Brown, and obviously a very well constructed roster and maybe the best starting five in basketball. But as you and I have discussed previously. If Jason Tatum is the sixth or seventh best player in the league, NBA history tells us typically that doesn't win the championship. In the last forty years, the only teams to win the championship with the sixth or seventh best player in the league as their best player are the four Pistons, where you had the Lakers lose their entire wing, not wing pardoning, power forward rotation to injury and they were clearly sick of each other.

The eight Celtics that did it.

The eight Celtics that did it.

With KG Ray, Allen, Paul Piers, three awesome players, but none best player in the league level beating Kobe when he was on that level, and the twenty eleven MAVs.

With KG Ray, Allen, Paul Piers, three awesome players, but none best player in the league level beating Kobe when he was on that level, and the twenty eleven MAVs.

Those would be the examples.

Those would be the examples.

And the twenty eleven MAVs we attribute to Lebron melting down as people call it in that series. That's the entire list of the last forty years. Every other champion has had a guy like Luca, a guy who is going to be in the top twenty at a minimum all time discussion. So that is my hang up with Boston and Boston's gaudy record against three middling teams with all of which without their best player for part or all of the series, was not enough to sway me from that initially.

And the twenty eleven MAVs we attribute to Lebron melting down as people call it in that series. That's the entire list of the last forty years. Every other champion has had a guy like Luca, a guy who is going to be in the top twenty at a minimum all time discussion. So that is my hang up with Boston and Boston's gaudy record against three middling teams with all of which without their best player for part or all of the series, was not enough to sway me from that initially.

So you know, it's interesting and maybe I shouldn't juxtapose this, but it just popped into my head. We celebrated and honored the very unique, outspoken Bill Walton in his passing yesterday anti war, anti establishment, never anti social sit ins politically at UCLA, and we celebrated it. Kyrie Irving similarly pushedback in our government in a vaccine. I may disagree with him strongly and agree with Walton's stance on the Vietnam War extensively, but it is interesting is that the NBA has always been the sport that allows for some social opinion, and there was almost no market for Kyrie Irving out of Brooklyn, and in retrospect, is that fair? Is that fair because he took a stance many did on the vaccine. The Boston thing didn't work, but let's be honest, not every star to a new team works in the history of the league. Michael Jordan ran through coaches. He just stayed in Chicago. What is your view not today on Kyrie because it's working, but sort of going into Dallas, how did you, what was your opinion on how it would work and his career pre this.

So you know, it's interesting and maybe I shouldn't juxtapose this, but it just popped into my head. We celebrated and honored the very unique, outspoken Bill Walton in his passing yesterday anti war, anti establishment, never anti social sit ins politically at UCLA, and we celebrated it. Kyrie Irving similarly pushedback in our government in a vaccine. I may disagree with him strongly and agree with Walton's stance on the Vietnam War extensively, but it is interesting is that the NBA has always been the sport that allows for some social opinion, and there was almost no market for Kyrie Irving out of Brooklyn, and in retrospect, is that fair? Is that fair because he took a stance many did on the vaccine. The Boston thing didn't work, but let's be honest, not every star to a new team works in the history of the league. Michael Jordan ran through coaches. He just stayed in Chicago. What is your view not today on Kyrie because it's working, but sort of going into Dallas, how did you, what was your opinion on how it would work and his career pre this.

So listen, I have a I don't even know if it's adjusted my opinion so much as I have new information. The MAVs were my pick to win the title last season, and then they traded for Kyrie.

So listen, I have a I don't even know if it's adjusted my opinion so much as I have new information. The MAVs were my pick to win the title last season, and then they traded for Kyrie.

And I was so down on it.

And I was so down on it.

I said, well, now they can't win the title because Kyrie had been a negative when it came to winning for six consecutive years.

I said, well, now they can't win the title because Kyrie had been a negative when it came to winning for six consecutive years.

That is not who he is now.

That is not who he is now.

So I think the fair reading of Kyrie's history, if I may this will.

So I think the fair reading of Kyrie's history, if I may this will.

Take a moment.

Take a moment.

Is this Kyrie, before Lebron got to Cleveland hadn't been a part of winning basketball at the professional level. He gets to Cleveland, they have this dynamic partnership that seems to work brilliantly and beautifully. In the press conference after the final game they play together in the Finals in twenty seventeen, Kyrie says, basically, put some spec on Lebron James's name. He just averaged a triple double on these finals. I can't wait to continue playing with and learning from him. Before they set foot on a court together again, he reportedly said, I so badly don't want to be here.

Is this Kyrie, before Lebron got to Cleveland hadn't been a part of winning basketball at the professional level. He gets to Cleveland, they have this dynamic partnership that seems to work brilliantly and beautifully. In the press conference after the final game they play together in the Finals in twenty seventeen, Kyrie says, basically, put some spec on Lebron James's name. He just averaged a triple double on these finals. I can't wait to continue playing with and learning from him. Before they set foot on a court together again, he reportedly said, I so badly don't want to be here.

I will have knee surgery if you don't trade me.

I will have knee surgery if you don't trade me.

So that seemed to be a very quick sweat, you know, kind of flip of the pendulum out of nowhere. He then gets to Boston and it flatly does not work. His first year there, he's oddly not on the bench for their playoffs when he's hurt. His second year there, he demands to guard Giannis in the playoffs and.

So that seemed to be a very quick sweat, you know, kind of flip of the pendulum out of nowhere. He then gets to Boston and it flatly does not work. His first year there, he's oddly not on the bench for their playoffs when he's hurt. His second year there, he demands to guard Giannis in the playoffs and.

They get cooked.

They get cooked.

Then he releases a commercial saying I hope to be here forever, then demands another trade in that time frame, right, he scolds the media for saying, how dare you say Kevin Durant and I were plotting to get together in that hallway at the All Star Game? It was just two friends talking. When it turns out they were exactly doing what he said they weren't doing. Gets to Brooklyn, says, we don't need a coach, We're all coaches. Steve Nash's co coach. That doesn't work out. While in Brooklyn, Yes, the vaccine, but then also the very odd stubbornness about not backing down about that documentary that he promoted that to this day, I don't think he actually watched, and I don't think he believes those awful things that were in that documentary. I just think he felt boxed in and was like, I'm not gonna apologize because that's not who I am. So all of that was the data we had about a player who had dealt with injuries, who hadn't been a part of winning outside of the three years with Lebron.

Then he releases a commercial saying I hope to be here forever, then demands another trade in that time frame, right, he scolds the media for saying, how dare you say Kevin Durant and I were plotting to get together in that hallway at the All Star Game? It was just two friends talking. When it turns out they were exactly doing what he said they weren't doing. Gets to Brooklyn, says, we don't need a coach, We're all coaches. Steve Nash's co coach. That doesn't work out. While in Brooklyn, Yes, the vaccine, but then also the very odd stubbornness about not backing down about that documentary that he promoted that to this day, I don't think he actually watched, and I don't think he believes those awful things that were in that documentary. I just think he felt boxed in and was like, I'm not gonna apologize because that's not who I am. So all of that was the data we had about a player who had dealt with injuries, who hadn't been a part of winning outside of the three years with Lebron.

That's the data we have.

That's the data we have.

The data we have since then is getting to Dallas, teaming up with Jason Kidd, the relationship with Luca, and his own personal maturation and evolution as a person on and off the court.

The data we have since then is getting to Dallas, teaming up with Jason Kidd, the relationship with Luca, and his own personal maturation and evolution as a person on and off the court.

You are getting the.

You are getting the.

Very best version of Kyrie Ura, a socially conscious, thoughtful, good hearted guy who is not letting so much of the other stuff kind of tear him off the basketball court. And when you have that version of Kyrie Colin, he's one of the most dynamic under six foot four players in league history. And so I have massive respect for what Kyrie's done. I have massive respect for Kyrie Irving kind of finding.

Very best version of Kyrie Ura, a socially conscious, thoughtful, good hearted guy who is not letting so much of the other stuff kind of tear him off the basketball court. And when you have that version of Kyrie Colin, he's one of the most dynamic under six foot four players in league history. And so I have massive respect for what Kyrie's done. I have massive respect for Kyrie Irving kind of finding.

In the public guy who he wants to be, and.

In the public guy who he wants to be, and.

The Kyrie Irving the basketball player when he's been available, has always been special to watch, and so Yeah, this is a you know, into his thirties kind of evolution and reinvention, and of course he deserves enormous credit for that.

The Kyrie Irving the basketball player when he's been available, has always been special to watch, and so Yeah, this is a you know, into his thirties kind of evolution and reinvention, and of course he deserves enormous credit for that.

So I grew up in the Pacific Northwest. The first team I fell in love with was probably in my region, was maybe Thesonics, and then it was the Blazers the seventies. That was very kind of the Pacific Northwest. Downtown Freddie Brown, Jack Sick, mcgus, Williams, into Bill wh Alton, Jeff Petrie, Dave Towards like all that stuff. Jack Ramsey the legendary coach. But the league was not televised to the level it is today. I lived between equidistant between Seattle and Portland, but I was in Washington State, so I got sonic stuff. But I would occasionally hear Bill Shanley, the Portland radio announcer, who was much more colorful than the Seattle broadcaster. And Walton was this nineteen seventy four, seventy five, seventy six. He was this quirky figure, mythological almost because you didn't see him in the regular season. You just heard about this hippie in Portland who nobody could stop, and you'd seen him in college. So this is the really the beginning of me watching television in the early seventies, and he was against the war and outspoken, an iconoclastic, and all this stuff I said this morning.

So I grew up in the Pacific Northwest. The first team I fell in love with was probably in my region, was maybe Thesonics, and then it was the Blazers the seventies. That was very kind of the Pacific Northwest. Downtown Freddie Brown, Jack Sick, mcgus, Williams, into Bill wh Alton, Jeff Petrie, Dave Towards like all that stuff. Jack Ramsey the legendary coach. But the league was not televised to the level it is today. I lived between equidistant between Seattle and Portland, but I was in Washington State, so I got sonic stuff. But I would occasionally hear Bill Shanley, the Portland radio announcer, who was much more colorful than the Seattle broadcaster. And Walton was this nineteen seventy four, seventy five, seventy six. He was this quirky figure, mythological almost because you didn't see him in the regular season. You just heard about this hippie in Portland who nobody could stop, and you'd seen him in college. So this is the really the beginning of me watching television in the early seventies, and he was against the war and outspoken, an iconoclastic, and all this stuff I said this morning.

I believe.

I believe.

He's several generations ahead of his time. Not one that he was Jokich, but a better defender fifty years ago. Is that if the injuries didn't play place, And this is hyperbolic, perhaps we would say is the second best center ever to Kareem. He would never score like Kareem, but the second best center ever.

He's several generations ahead of his time. Not one that he was Jokich, but a better defender fifty years ago. Is that if the injuries didn't play place, And this is hyperbolic, perhaps we would say is the second best center ever to Kareem. He would never score like Kareem, but the second best center ever.

Oh, I think that's legit.

Oh, I think that's legit.

You think so too, Go ahead, I'm sorry, I just think I think he was on that track. Yeah, I just listen if I may about because you and I have oddly different formative experiences with Bill Walton, which I'll get to, but his playing career I saw none of. But because I consider myself a bit of an NBA historian basketball historian, what should be noted is this, If you ask someone who is the greatest college basketball player of all time and they give any answer other than Leuel Sender or Bill Walton, they're wrong, right, Those are the only two eligible answers. Bill Walton did not lose a basketball game. From the middle of his junior year of high school until the middle of his middle of his senior year of college, he had an eighty eight game collegiate winning streak. He was the most outstanding player in back to back final fours. He played arguably the greatest game ever, the twenty one of twenty two forty four points. He then won in the National Championship Game. He then walks into the league and in nineteen seventy seven is the best player on the champion beating Kareem and then beating Doctor J when Doctor J might have been the best player in the world. The next year is the NBA MVP, and he breaks his foot and the career is never the same. So my experience with Bill Walton, Colin and I don't think I've ever told you this is and you'll laugh at me when you'll laugh when I tell you this. When I was a little kid and I told people what I wanted to do when I grew up, I wanted to be Bill Walton because I didn't know that to be the color commentator you needed to either play or coach. But what he did on the NBC broadcast with Steve Snapper Jones, I thought was the coolest thing ever. And it is part of me falling in love with basketball. He's the soundtrack of it. And I'm sad that I never once got to cross pass with him to tell him this anecdote. I remember vividly being a little kid watching the NBA Playoffs, watching a Bulls game, and my mom's saying, like seeing a look on my face that I.

You think so too, Go ahead, I'm sorry, I just think I think he was on that track. Yeah, I just listen if I may about because you and I have oddly different formative experiences with Bill Walton, which I'll get to, but his playing career I saw none of. But because I consider myself a bit of an NBA historian basketball historian, what should be noted is this, If you ask someone who is the greatest college basketball player of all time and they give any answer other than Leuel Sender or Bill Walton, they're wrong, right, Those are the only two eligible answers. Bill Walton did not lose a basketball game. From the middle of his junior year of high school until the middle of his middle of his senior year of college, he had an eighty eight game collegiate winning streak. He was the most outstanding player in back to back final fours. He played arguably the greatest game ever, the twenty one of twenty two forty four points. He then won in the National Championship Game. He then walks into the league and in nineteen seventy seven is the best player on the champion beating Kareem and then beating Doctor J when Doctor J might have been the best player in the world. The next year is the NBA MVP, and he breaks his foot and the career is never the same. So my experience with Bill Walton, Colin and I don't think I've ever told you this is and you'll laugh at me when you'll laugh when I tell you this. When I was a little kid and I told people what I wanted to do when I grew up, I wanted to be Bill Walton because I didn't know that to be the color commentator you needed to either play or coach. But what he did on the NBC broadcast with Steve Snapper Jones, I thought was the coolest thing ever. And it is part of me falling in love with basketball. He's the soundtrack of it. And I'm sad that I never once got to cross pass with him to tell him this anecdote. I remember vividly being a little kid watching the NBA Playoffs, watching a Bulls game, and my mom's saying, like seeing a look on my face that I.

Was upset, and she was like, what's wrong?

Was upset, and she was like, what's wrong?

And I'm like, man, Steve Jones is being so mean to Bill again, because I didn't know they were like good friends and they were always giving each other a hard time.

And I'm like, man, Steve Jones is being so mean to Bill again, because I didn't know they were like good friends and they were always giving each other a hard time.

And so he is.

And so he is.

And for his broadcasting career, the stories that he has, the stances that he took that were dangerous and risky, and he stayed true to himself. And oh yeah, by the way, was the greatest passing big man ever until Jokic, and maybe including Jokic. A legendary life in a legend career.

And for his broadcasting career, the stories that he has, the stances that he took that were dangerous and risky, and he stayed true to himself. And oh yeah, by the way, was the greatest passing big man ever until Jokic, and maybe including Jokic. A legendary life in a legend career.

Yeah, it's he was so perfectly connected to the Pacific Northwest, you know, which when I grew up in the Pacific Northwest, it's grainy, it's it's a it's got you know, it's it's a little counterculture, you know what I mean. There's no question he grew up in California, which has always been left of center in America. And then he went up to the Pacific Northwest. That's the only place more left the California. Yeah, yeah, and uh. And then he got Jack Ramsey, a very one of the great teachers. I mean, can you imagine that your two coaches, he may have literally had the perfect coaches. John Wooden, the ultimate teacher, who kind of brought him back on the fairway bill could get a little sideways, brought him back on the fairway. And then Jack Ramsey, who was always from his dress. Jack Ramsey legendary for these wild like disco pants that Jack Ramsey kind of leaned in to the unique personality of Bill in the pro game as always been a little bit more about the player than the coach. But it's fascinating that Walton loved both the restrictive mentor in college, the conservative mentor, and then the colorful NBA coach. And it shows the dexterity of his personality that they both loved him, and he loved both. It would be like going Andy Reid to Belichick and you got along with both, and I just I think that speak well.

Yeah, it's he was so perfectly connected to the Pacific Northwest, you know, which when I grew up in the Pacific Northwest, it's grainy, it's it's a it's got you know, it's it's a little counterculture, you know what I mean. There's no question he grew up in California, which has always been left of center in America. And then he went up to the Pacific Northwest. That's the only place more left the California. Yeah, yeah, and uh. And then he got Jack Ramsey, a very one of the great teachers. I mean, can you imagine that your two coaches, he may have literally had the perfect coaches. John Wooden, the ultimate teacher, who kind of brought him back on the fairway bill could get a little sideways, brought him back on the fairway. And then Jack Ramsey, who was always from his dress. Jack Ramsey legendary for these wild like disco pants that Jack Ramsey kind of leaned in to the unique personality of Bill in the pro game as always been a little bit more about the player than the coach. But it's fascinating that Walton loved both the restrictive mentor in college, the conservative mentor, and then the colorful NBA coach. And it shows the dexterity of his personality that they both loved him, and he loved both. It would be like going Andy Reid to Belichick and you got along with both, and I just I think that speak well.

Of one hundred percent.

Of one hundred percent.

And then the one other kind of final act of his playing career, he wins sixth Man of the Year for what a lot of people consider the greatest team ever, the nineteen eighty six Celtic. Yes, great and adds, you know, and finds a way to fit in with that very unique culture absolutely seamlessly. This is you and I talked about this a couple of weeks ago, oddly on your podcast, that he's one of the reasons why when Damian Lillard left the Portland Trailblazers and every story was written as greatest Blazer ever. I was like, you've got to be kidding me, Like Bill Walton played for them, and not to mention Clyde Drexler.

And then the one other kind of final act of his playing career, he wins sixth Man of the Year for what a lot of people consider the greatest team ever, the nineteen eighty six Celtic. Yes, great and adds, you know, and finds a way to fit in with that very unique culture absolutely seamlessly. This is you and I talked about this a couple of weeks ago, oddly on your podcast, that he's one of the reasons why when Damian Lillard left the Portland Trailblazers and every story was written as greatest Blazer ever. I was like, you've got to be kidding me, Like Bill Walton played for them, and not to mention Clyde Drexler.

No, he and he was.

No, he and he was.

He more so than Grant Hill, more so than Tracy McGrady, more so than Derrick Rose. He is the biggest what if he stayed healthy. Yes, in NBA history is Bill White.

He more so than Grant Hill, more so than Tracy McGrady, more so than Derrick Rose. He is the biggest what if he stayed healthy. Yes, in NBA history is Bill White.

Yeah, that's a great way to put it in the history. And I'm trying to think, you know, Roberto Clemena and baseball the plane crash. Sure, I didn't grow up with Roberto Clemeny, although I love those Pirates teams that were extended beyond him for years and years and years. But I think people look at Roberto Clemeny and go, oh, that would have been maybe the greatest player of all time. And we've seen this with musical stars who have either taken their life or there have been tragedies beyond their control. But I think in sports it's very rare that you have an athlete and everybody summarily agrees, oh god, if he would have been healthy, and nobody fights it. Like every basketball historian was like yeah, Like he was twenty one to twenty two against Memphis in a national championship game, twenty one of twenty.

Yeah, that's a great way to put it in the history. And I'm trying to think, you know, Roberto Clemena and baseball the plane crash. Sure, I didn't grow up with Roberto Clemeny, although I love those Pirates teams that were extended beyond him for years and years and years. But I think people look at Roberto Clemeny and go, oh, that would have been maybe the greatest player of all time. And we've seen this with musical stars who have either taken their life or there have been tragedies beyond their control. But I think in sports it's very rare that you have an athlete and everybody summarily agrees, oh god, if he would have been healthy, and nobody fights it. Like every basketball historian was like yeah, Like he was twenty one to twenty two against Memphis in a national championship game, twenty one of twenty.

Two to go by the way, by the way after that was after being undefeated on the freshman team and to finish his second straight undefeated year for the you know, the varsity team at UCLA. He had never lost a game, was going for his second straight title. Was twenty one of twenty two. Yeah, there is are The other athlete that comes to mind, I guess would be Bo Jackson, where people are like, oh, man, what would have been? But Walton absolutely was on that level, and that to me is a testament to the beauty of his spirit.

Two to go by the way, by the way after that was after being undefeated on the freshman team and to finish his second straight undefeated year for the you know, the varsity team at UCLA. He had never lost a game, was going for his second straight title. Was twenty one of twenty two. Yeah, there is are The other athlete that comes to mind, I guess would be Bo Jackson, where people are like, oh, man, what would have been? But Walton absolutely was on that level, and that to me is a testament to the beauty of his spirit.

And I'm really glad we're spending the time.

And I'm really glad we're spending the time.

On this is that he didn't become bitter or jaded because of that. He and instead transitioned to, Okay, I'll make the most of what's left of my NBA career and then be associated. He went from calling the NBA Finals to doing PAC twelve after dark and loved every minute of it. Yeah, and so God bless him and his friends and family.

On this is that he didn't become bitter or jaded because of that. He and instead transitioned to, Okay, I'll make the most of what's left of my NBA career and then be associated. He went from calling the NBA Finals to doing PAC twelve after dark and loved every minute of it. Yeah, and so God bless him and his friends and family.

I went back yesterday and watched thirty thirty five minutes of Old Blazer and UC anything I could get my hands on. He was on the Clippers, and I'm glad you gave them credit. The best iteration of that Celtics team could have very well been the eighty six team, and he was. I mean, it's just Walton was just a phenomenal player. And you know, the only positive that ever comes out of a sudden death or one that surprises us, is that it becomes a history lesson. And Walton is teaching us so much about getting along, viewing the world, willing to compromise your own goals, sacrificing for others. Bill's a bit of a walking history lesson, and the more you read about him, the better person you want to be. Like I read things on Bill yesterday. I light, you know, I got to be better at that, I got to be a better teammate. And I think that's a great acknowledgment of Bill, is that you read things about him and think, I need to be a little better person.

I went back yesterday and watched thirty thirty five minutes of Old Blazer and UC anything I could get my hands on. He was on the Clippers, and I'm glad you gave them credit. The best iteration of that Celtics team could have very well been the eighty six team, and he was. I mean, it's just Walton was just a phenomenal player. And you know, the only positive that ever comes out of a sudden death or one that surprises us, is that it becomes a history lesson. And Walton is teaching us so much about getting along, viewing the world, willing to compromise your own goals, sacrificing for others. Bill's a bit of a walking history lesson, and the more you read about him, the better person you want to be. Like I read things on Bill yesterday. I light, you know, I got to be better at that, I got to be a better teammate. And I think that's a great acknowledgment of Bill, is that you read things about him and think, I need to be a little better person.

And he might be. And I know we got to go.

And he might be. And I know we got to go.

He might be the main character or he is the main character of what might be the greatest sports book ever written, Breaks of the Game by Tom Howersam.

He might be the main character or he is the main character of what might be the greatest sports book ever written, Breaks of the Game by Tom Howersam.

And so if people want to kind of they followed.

And so if people want to kind of they followed.

The seventy seven Blazers around for a year and Walton's at the center of that. And so now, I mean, goodness, that's a you know, almost a fifty year old book at this point. But I don't know that any sports books ever topped it. It's definitely worth people's time if they want to know more about that era of basketball.

The seventy seven Blazers around for a year and Walton's at the center of that. And so now, I mean, goodness, that's a you know, almost a fifty year old book at this point. But I don't know that any sports books ever topped it. It's definitely worth people's time if they want to know more about that era of basketball.

And also Bill Walton in that Blazer.

And also Bill Walton in that Blazer.

Give that book one more pop, because I'm gonna buy it on Amazon.

Give that book one more pop, because I'm gonna buy it on Amazon.

What's it called, oh, Breaks of the Game? Breaks of the Game.

What's it called, oh, Breaks of the Game? Breaks of the Game.

I mean, it's probably the most famous sports book of the at least. I don't know man pre Friday Night Lights, maybe ever. Breaks of the Game by Tom Howers. How I'm going to mispronounce his name. Haberstram Pardon me. Is probably the greatest sports book ever written. Yeah, there you go, pre plug.

I mean, it's probably the most famous sports book of the at least. I don't know man pre Friday Night Lights, maybe ever. Breaks of the Game by Tom Howers. How I'm going to mispronounce his name. Haberstram Pardon me. Is probably the greatest sports book ever written. Yeah, there you go, pre plug.

Hey, great seeing you, Boddy, Yeah you too, see a letter come all right,

Hey, great seeing you, Boddy, Yeah you too, see a letter come all right,