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 Sports Radio 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 Sports Radio 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.

All Right, here we go. It is a Tuesday. We are live in Los Angeles. It is the Herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening. Thanks for making us part of your day. Nick right one hour from now Peter Schrager giving us some updates on NFL stories, the Steelers, the Jets, the Giants, all sniffing around at quarterbacks, Raiders as well. Jmac sad story this morning. Kyrie Irving tears his acl. He got hurt last night. Bad news, and so he's out for the year, and it's over for the Mavericks. Done over for the Mavericks'. He thought there was a chance if Ad got healthy and Lively came back. There was a chance. When I got this news fifteen minutes ago, it made me think about something. So Lebron needs one more point to score fifty thousand points. Obviously, he's the most productive player in NBA history. One point shy from fifty thousand career points. Nobody's ever done that, right. But one of the things Lebron has and I've never seen anything like it, is intuition. If he was a sea captain and he was in control of the Titanic, it would have never hit the iceberg. I've never seen a guy that can see problems before they happen. The biggest mess in the NBA is now the Dallas Mavericks due to injuries, an awful trade, protests outside the arena, prices are down forty percent. Fans just sick to their stomach. Now you add on an injury, they are You got a head coach that doesn't trust the GM fans who can't stand the GM. Dallas is a complete mess. The Kyrie thing just adds to it. Awful, injury, awful, and yet simultaneously man Lucas Startner really look good and the Lakers are in the championship bubble. I mean, think about the timing of Lebron. It's always come in different forms and shapes. But think about this for a second. He bailed on Cleveland. He said, I've been here seven years. You can't get me another player. He leaves. He was right. He goes, he wins titles, goes to four straight finals, and Cleveland becomes an even bigger mess. He was right. Then his best friends d Wade. He gets the four straight finals, but d Wade is struggling to play back to backs, and like a good investor, Lebron is always a year early better than a year late. He leaves my Miami. They fall off a cliff. He goes to Cleveland and wins. Then Kyrie gets in his fields. He carries you know, JR. Smith and some quirky guys hard to convince other pros to come to Cleveland. He bails. Cleveland goes into the take again, and Lebron goes to Los Angeles. And in Los Angeles people say, oh, Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, they got the brandon Ingram, but they got really good young players. Lebron gets them out, gets a d wins another title. He's right again. And then over the last couple of years, as Lebron ages Lebron privately, he did and you know it was concerned that A D could not get him easy baskets. Ad was a good teammate. They worked together, but they weren't perfect as Lebron A and Lebron looked around the league and thought, who can get me easier baskets? The two best outlet guys are Jokic. He's locked up in Denver and Luca, and he gets Luca and the Lakers are now on fire. Ad immediately gets hurt. The entire organization's a mess. Now I'm supposed to believe that Lebron didn't know. I find that very hard to believe. And you can call him selfish, but here's something you have to call Lebron as well. Right. He is always right. I've never seen anybody with this kind of intuition. Everybody told him be loyal to Cleveland. He was right. How can you bail on your buddy d Wade? He was right, you're going back to Cleveland. Cleveland can't win. He was right, Los Angeles to broken franchise. Well, at least you got good young teammates. He was right. Ad was the star that just needed help. And then AD's played a couple of really good years and he stayed mostly healthy, and you know what that means. It was time to sell the stock. You got your title. He was finally consistently healthy. He was older, and Lebron's like, I'm still a top five guy in the league. And I think privately Lebron had said he's a good fit. He's not the perfect fit. And I watched the Dallas Mavericks become a mess over the last three weeks, and you know, some of it's just bad luck. But in my life of watching professional athletes, I'll say it again, like he's a good investor. He's like Warren Buffett. He's a year. He may be a little early, but he's never late. He always knows when it's time to move off. And it was funny when Luca came here and again a d was really good for him, but he was thirty two years old, and every Laker fan would watch ad and be absolutely honest, weren't you always holding your breath? Weren't you always holding your breath? Of course you were now and Lebron does this. When he went to Miami the first time, people said, hey, it's not gonna work. It's clunky, you don't have a center, it's not always pretty for Lebron when he first goes to a place, it's not always pretty. It's a little clunky, but he made Miami right. Oh, Kyrie's a boss. Nobody can play with him. He brings over Kevin Love. He's a stat patter, not a winner. Took about a year to get it right. He got it right, then he brings over A D. Had to get rid of the young kids, little bumpy early, and then he got it right. So I don't know if Luke is going to win the first year, But every time Lebron hits this crossroads, like Wade Bosh and Lebron, they were still good, and the cabs were still good, and Lebron and A D were still good. But Lebron seeks great, and I do believe he may have been given a day or two heads up, But I think he had grumbled privately that, as he aged, Ad was a good fit but not a perfect fit, that Lebron still had to always be the initiator of the offense. And Lebron knew I'd rather be a receiver on some nights, not just the quarterback. So as I watched this just sad mess in Dallas, it reminds me a little bit of the mess in Cleveland and the mess in Miami and the mess in Cleveland, and nobody avoids stepping in it. Like Lebron, start was perfect, the takeoff can be bumpy, always makes the landing yah. I mean the Dallas situation now between ticket sales, the lack of trust. I mean Mark Cuban, ask yourself this. Mark Cuban a year ago said I'm gonna sell the franchise. You don't think Lebron James looked at that and thought Luca may be available. I really believe this. I absolutely believe this. I believe every time Lebron was around Luca. Remember when Luca came into the NBA first year, Go back and look at the tapes. Kid was twenty games in. Lebron's like that kid's great. Lebron's like a talent scout. Lebron's like that guy's great. He just make sure everybody around Luca knew that Lebron thought you were great. He tried to get Steph Curry a couple of years ago. Steph's like, now I'm a warrior. Remember he kept saying nice things about staph. What Steph do? Steph can initiate the offense. Lebron can play off ball, Lebron can get easier basket. So initially he wanted Steph and Steph wasn't available. Steph pushback. Then he moved to Luca, slowly saying nice things. Keep it in contact with Mark Cuban. Cuban leaves the Mavericks. You know, Cuban and Luca, they were tight. What does Lebron see when Cuban leaves and opening and opening, you lost your you lost your owner. New people in the building may not trust him. Lebron saw it, made sure the right people knew and he ends up playing with him. Uh. I don't think it's a conspiracy theory. Too much of this stuff is public and well known. But how does Lebron end up once again? He tried to go Steph two years ago. I mean, good god, that was a two year rumor. He made sure he does hang out with Steph and see Steph and talk about Steph and stepf was great that that is what he wanted to do, and stuff's like, I must stay up here. Then he moved through the channels and Mark Cuban Cuban sells. Lebron sees a moment I'm gonna go get him. And it took a year of working the channels behind the scenes, but the idea this was a big surprise caught everybody off guard. I don't buy it. I don't buy it. Lebron is his intuitiveness. You call it selfish, I call it right. I've never seen a guy that. I mean, stuff just implodes and Lebron's like, oh, what happened back there?

All Right, here we go. It is a Tuesday. We are live in Los Angeles. It is the Herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening. Thanks for making us part of your day. Nick right one hour from now Peter Schrager giving us some updates on NFL stories, the Steelers, the Jets, the Giants, all sniffing around at quarterbacks, Raiders as well. Jmac sad story this morning. Kyrie Irving tears his acl. He got hurt last night. Bad news, and so he's out for the year, and it's over for the Mavericks. Done over for the Mavericks'. He thought there was a chance if Ad got healthy and Lively came back. There was a chance. When I got this news fifteen minutes ago, it made me think about something. So Lebron needs one more point to score fifty thousand points. Obviously, he's the most productive player in NBA history. One point shy from fifty thousand career points. Nobody's ever done that, right. But one of the things Lebron has and I've never seen anything like it, is intuition. If he was a sea captain and he was in control of the Titanic, it would have never hit the iceberg. I've never seen a guy that can see problems before they happen. The biggest mess in the NBA is now the Dallas Mavericks due to injuries, an awful trade, protests outside the arena, prices are down forty percent. Fans just sick to their stomach. Now you add on an injury, they are You got a head coach that doesn't trust the GM fans who can't stand the GM. Dallas is a complete mess. The Kyrie thing just adds to it. Awful, injury, awful, and yet simultaneously man Lucas Startner really look good and the Lakers are in the championship bubble. I mean, think about the timing of Lebron. It's always come in different forms and shapes. But think about this for a second. He bailed on Cleveland. He said, I've been here seven years. You can't get me another player. He leaves. He was right. He goes, he wins titles, goes to four straight finals, and Cleveland becomes an even bigger mess. He was right. Then his best friends d Wade. He gets the four straight finals, but d Wade is struggling to play back to backs, and like a good investor, Lebron is always a year early better than a year late. He leaves my Miami. They fall off a cliff. He goes to Cleveland and wins. Then Kyrie gets in his fields. He carries you know, JR. Smith and some quirky guys hard to convince other pros to come to Cleveland. He bails. Cleveland goes into the take again, and Lebron goes to Los Angeles. And in Los Angeles people say, oh, Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, they got the brandon Ingram, but they got really good young players. Lebron gets them out, gets a d wins another title. He's right again. And then over the last couple of years, as Lebron ages Lebron privately, he did and you know it was concerned that A D could not get him easy baskets. Ad was a good teammate. They worked together, but they weren't perfect as Lebron A and Lebron looked around the league and thought, who can get me easier baskets? The two best outlet guys are Jokic. He's locked up in Denver and Luca, and he gets Luca and the Lakers are now on fire. Ad immediately gets hurt. The entire organization's a mess. Now I'm supposed to believe that Lebron didn't know. I find that very hard to believe. And you can call him selfish, but here's something you have to call Lebron as well. Right. He is always right. I've never seen anybody with this kind of intuition. Everybody told him be loyal to Cleveland. He was right. How can you bail on your buddy d Wade? He was right, you're going back to Cleveland. Cleveland can't win. He was right, Los Angeles to broken franchise. Well, at least you got good young teammates. He was right. Ad was the star that just needed help. And then AD's played a couple of really good years and he stayed mostly healthy, and you know what that means. It was time to sell the stock. You got your title. He was finally consistently healthy. He was older, and Lebron's like, I'm still a top five guy in the league. And I think privately Lebron had said he's a good fit. He's not the perfect fit. And I watched the Dallas Mavericks become a mess over the last three weeks, and you know, some of it's just bad luck. But in my life of watching professional athletes, I'll say it again, like he's a good investor. He's like Warren Buffett. He's a year. He may be a little early, but he's never late. He always knows when it's time to move off. And it was funny when Luca came here and again a d was really good for him, but he was thirty two years old, and every Laker fan would watch ad and be absolutely honest, weren't you always holding your breath? Weren't you always holding your breath? Of course you were now and Lebron does this. When he went to Miami the first time, people said, hey, it's not gonna work. It's clunky, you don't have a center, it's not always pretty for Lebron when he first goes to a place, it's not always pretty. It's a little clunky, but he made Miami right. Oh, Kyrie's a boss. Nobody can play with him. He brings over Kevin Love. He's a stat patter, not a winner. Took about a year to get it right. He got it right, then he brings over A D. Had to get rid of the young kids, little bumpy early, and then he got it right. So I don't know if Luke is going to win the first year, But every time Lebron hits this crossroads, like Wade Bosh and Lebron, they were still good, and the cabs were still good, and Lebron and A D were still good. But Lebron seeks great, and I do believe he may have been given a day or two heads up, But I think he had grumbled privately that, as he aged, Ad was a good fit but not a perfect fit, that Lebron still had to always be the initiator of the offense. And Lebron knew I'd rather be a receiver on some nights, not just the quarterback. So as I watched this just sad mess in Dallas, it reminds me a little bit of the mess in Cleveland and the mess in Miami and the mess in Cleveland, and nobody avoids stepping in it. Like Lebron, start was perfect, the takeoff can be bumpy, always makes the landing yah. I mean the Dallas situation now between ticket sales, the lack of trust. I mean Mark Cuban, ask yourself this. Mark Cuban a year ago said I'm gonna sell the franchise. You don't think Lebron James looked at that and thought Luca may be available. I really believe this. I absolutely believe this. I believe every time Lebron was around Luca. Remember when Luca came into the NBA first year, Go back and look at the tapes. Kid was twenty games in. Lebron's like that kid's great. Lebron's like a talent scout. Lebron's like that guy's great. He just make sure everybody around Luca knew that Lebron thought you were great. He tried to get Steph Curry a couple of years ago. Steph's like, now I'm a warrior. Remember he kept saying nice things about staph. What Steph do? Steph can initiate the offense. Lebron can play off ball, Lebron can get easier basket. So initially he wanted Steph and Steph wasn't available. Steph pushback. Then he moved to Luca, slowly saying nice things. Keep it in contact with Mark Cuban. Cuban leaves the Mavericks. You know, Cuban and Luca, they were tight. What does Lebron see when Cuban leaves and opening and opening, you lost your you lost your owner. New people in the building may not trust him. Lebron saw it, made sure the right people knew and he ends up playing with him. Uh. I don't think it's a conspiracy theory. Too much of this stuff is public and well known. But how does Lebron end up once again? He tried to go Steph two years ago. I mean, good god, that was a two year rumor. He made sure he does hang out with Steph and see Steph and talk about Steph and stepf was great that that is what he wanted to do, and stuff's like, I must stay up here. Then he moved through the channels and Mark Cuban Cuban sells. Lebron sees a moment I'm gonna go get him. And it took a year of working the channels behind the scenes, but the idea this was a big surprise caught everybody off guard. I don't buy it. I don't buy it. Lebron is his intuitiveness. You call it selfish, I call it right. I've never seen a guy that. I mean, stuff just implodes and Lebron's like, oh, what happened back there?

Boy?

Boy?

Did I get lucky? Wink wink? I avoided another disaster? Not it ain't luck man. I think he had this Lucat thing planned out the minute, Steph said officially, know, I think he had this Lucat thing planned out the last year and a half. I really do, I absolutely do.

Did I get lucky? Wink wink? I avoided another disaster? Not it ain't luck man. I think he had this Lucat thing planned out the minute, Steph said officially, know, I think he had this Lucat thing planned out the last year and a half. I really do, I absolutely do.

So we started hot take happy hour here on there. It's not even a hot no, no, no, this should be tinfoil hat Tuesdays because that is deep.

So we started hot take happy hour here on there. It's not even a hot no, no, no, this should be tinfoil hat Tuesdays because that is deep.

III.

III.

You're well in your bag here.

You're well in your bag here.

I don't hate it.

I don't hate it.

I'll say that.

I'll say that.

I don't.

I don't.

How in the world can you go seven for seven in your career? You know how you do that? You're working the channels behind the scenes a year early. Do you think Lebron just woke up in Cleveland and decided to leave. No, he went to the Olympics. When he went the first time in Cleveland, he played with those Olympians and flying back, He's like, the hell am I doing in Cleveland? I finally played with great players. He worked that Bosh d Wade thing for a year and then all of a sudden they get to the finals and they lose that thing, and pat Riley's getting a little this, and I won't give you that, and Lebron starts telling his guys this time, and all of a sudden he gets a hold of Dan Gilbert. Dan Gilbert flies and apologizes. Suddenly he finds his way a letter of Sports Illustrate. You think that thing happened in six hours. And then he goes to Cleveland, Kyrie. By that time, Dan Gilbert's like, you got me a title, We're good. He goes to the Lakers again. Everybody thought he would go Sixers. Everybody thought he would go Chicago. Everybody he where's he go? The biggest brand Los Angeles. By the time he got to Los Angeles, he had meetings with nine billionaires. Okay, and then the whole time O he likes Lonzo, he likes Kuzma, Like no, he didn't and he's working the channels. And by the way, the ad thing with Rich Paul, who represented ad Rich Paul. I'm just saying this stuff isn't happen, stands, It's not just random, and it's not a criticism of it. Lebron is a great intuitive businessman. He is selling the stock early, never late, and all of a sudden, once again he's got the perfect teammate. The Mavericks are swimming.

How in the world can you go seven for seven in your career? You know how you do that? You're working the channels behind the scenes a year early. Do you think Lebron just woke up in Cleveland and decided to leave. No, he went to the Olympics. When he went the first time in Cleveland, he played with those Olympians and flying back, He's like, the hell am I doing in Cleveland? I finally played with great players. He worked that Bosh d Wade thing for a year and then all of a sudden they get to the finals and they lose that thing, and pat Riley's getting a little this, and I won't give you that, and Lebron starts telling his guys this time, and all of a sudden he gets a hold of Dan Gilbert. Dan Gilbert flies and apologizes. Suddenly he finds his way a letter of Sports Illustrate. You think that thing happened in six hours. And then he goes to Cleveland, Kyrie. By that time, Dan Gilbert's like, you got me a title, We're good. He goes to the Lakers again. Everybody thought he would go Sixers. Everybody thought he would go Chicago. Everybody he where's he go? The biggest brand Los Angeles. By the time he got to Los Angeles, he had meetings with nine billionaires. Okay, and then the whole time O he likes Lonzo, he likes Kuzma, Like no, he didn't and he's working the channels. And by the way, the ad thing with Rich Paul, who represented ad Rich Paul. I'm just saying this stuff isn't happen, stands, It's not just random, and it's not a criticism of it. Lebron is a great intuitive businessman. He is selling the stock early, never late, and all of a sudden, once again he's got the perfect teammate. The Mavericks are swimming.

In chaos, ability to see around corners, see what's coming down the pike. Lebron, Listen, you just made a case that he might be the greatest executive in NBA history. The way he's pulling the strings and moving around. Everywhere he goes, he wins everywhere.

In chaos, ability to see around corners, see what's coming down the pike. Lebron, Listen, you just made a case that he might be the greatest executive in NBA history. The way he's pulling the strings and moving around. Everywhere he goes, he wins everywhere.

This is not a criticism. No, he bailed on Wade and he was right. D Wade couldn't play back the backs anymore. Bosh was having some physical stuff, but it was mostly about d Wade. His Robin couldn't play. Remember those games against Indiana. D Wade would be great and the next day you weren't sure if he could play in the next game. And I'm all I'm saying with is Lucas stuff is you look up today and it's like, are the Lakers the best team in the league after Boston? I think the answer is yes, and I'm supposed to believe it's just all happens stance. I think Lebron knew a year ago he started swimming first Steph for a year plus Steph turned him down. He said, who's my next target? Luca? And I think it was behind the scenes, and send a text and a little emoji, just enough to let him know. Believe me, Lebron knows everybody in the league back channel it make sure Luca. And when Mark Cuban sold that team, Lebron James said, there's my moment. That is my moment because Cuban and Luca were tight, and Lebron the great businessman said, I've got an opening.

This is not a criticism. No, he bailed on Wade and he was right. D Wade couldn't play back the backs anymore. Bosh was having some physical stuff, but it was mostly about d Wade. His Robin couldn't play. Remember those games against Indiana. D Wade would be great and the next day you weren't sure if he could play in the next game. And I'm all I'm saying with is Lucas stuff is you look up today and it's like, are the Lakers the best team in the league after Boston? I think the answer is yes, and I'm supposed to believe it's just all happens stance. I think Lebron knew a year ago he started swimming first Steph for a year plus Steph turned him down. He said, who's my next target? Luca? And I think it was behind the scenes, and send a text and a little emoji, just enough to let him know. Believe me, Lebron knows everybody in the league back channel it make sure Luca. And when Mark Cuban sold that team, Lebron James said, there's my moment. That is my moment because Cuban and Luca were tight, and Lebron the great businessman said, I've got an opening.

In my head.

In my head.

I see Michael Douglas, remember the movie Wall Street. He wakes up on the beach and he's got that clunky cell phone and he calls Charlie Sheen and he goes Money never sleeps, Winning never sleeps.

I see Michael Douglas, remember the movie Wall Street. He wakes up on the beach and he's got that clunky cell phone and he calls Charlie Sheen and he goes Money never sleeps, Winning never sleeps.

For Lebron James.

For Lebron James.

He's always got something in play. The next move on the chessboard.

He's always got something in play. The next move on the chessboard.

He knows it.

He knows it.

Who call this great.

Who call this great.

Start to it?

Start to it?

Tuesday I'm fine.

Tuesday I'm fine.

I'm just positive it's it's conspiracy theories. Are you have to basically from soup to notts a conspiracy theory. There's a couple of loose fits. This isn't a bunch of loose fits. Cleveland, Miami, Cleveland, La Bailon Lonzo, the young players.

I'm just positive it's it's conspiracy theories. Are you have to basically from soup to notts a conspiracy theory. There's a couple of loose fits. This isn't a bunch of loose fits. Cleveland, Miami, Cleveland, La Bailon Lonzo, the young players.

A D.

A D.

Luca, This isn't this stuff all happened? And I I I that this the Luca thing is too perfect. It's just too perfect. Lebron's basketball IQ. He looked around this league and he thought, Steph, Jokic, Luca, those are the guys. Well, Yoka isn't going anywhere because Denver will never give him up. Steph, I tried it, didn't want to go. Cuban sells the MAVs. There's my opening, and I'm not heys. I've been called selfish. People get called selfish if they care about their careers whatever.

Luca, This isn't this stuff all happened? And I I I that this the Luca thing is too perfect. It's just too perfect. Lebron's basketball IQ. He looked around this league and he thought, Steph, Jokic, Luca, those are the guys. Well, Yoka isn't going anywhere because Denver will never give him up. Steph, I tried it, didn't want to go. Cuban sells the MAVs. There's my opening, and I'm not heys. I've been called selfish. People get called selfish if they care about their careers whatever.

By the way, I invited Colin to hang out with an NBA coach tomorrow night.

By the way, I invited Colin to hang out with an NBA coach tomorrow night.

Yeah, Colin gave me the stiff arm. No, I'm busy.

Yeah, Colin gave me the stiff arm. No, I'm busy.

I was like, all right, fine, fine, okay, I got any your big time, I got things.

I was like, all right, fine, fine, okay, I got any your big time, I got things.

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

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

Yeah, we're talking about the Kyrie Irving injury and what I mess the Mavericks have been. I guess my overall arching point is every team Lebron bails on goes into the tank, and every star he moves off of goes into a worse situation. And I mean it just Kyrie Irving injury, by the way, because of all the injuries and because Luca shared offensive responsibilities, when you took Luca away from the Mavericks, it forced Kyrie to play more minutes, so it was very taxing on Kyrie's smaller body. Kyrie since the Luca trade, I was just told, leads the NBA in minutes played. So again, like this is another reason you don't make that trade. So Kyrie, a small player who's had injuries, You're asking him to put so much responsibility, so many minutes on his body with the rest of the team beat up, that Kyrie's body gives out after a while. So it's just it just it is crazy how often Lebron's timing is just perfect. I mean, the minute he leaves a team, they fall off a cliff. The minute he moves off a star, that star goes into a worse situation, or his year is bad, or he's not the same player, or the circumstances are off. And I just after a while, I don't think it's luck. I just think Lebron's got an into wish. He sees problems much better than most coaches or executives in the league. There's an argument he's the best executive in the league. I mean, you could make that argument Lebron's the best executive in the league. He has made that many smart moves. And I think he knew about the Luca thing. I think he saw that thing the minute Cuban sold that team. I think he saw it. There's an opening, Go get my guy. I prefer Steph, maybe Jokic. They're not available, and I tried with Steph. So I saw this this story, this is a big story yesterday, kind of infuriating to me. So apparently in the combine over the weekend, you had these Shadeur Sanders, you know, the quarterbacks. They'll interview with teams, and the report is Schadeur Sanders, who was a little brash. According to Todd McShay. Two people that I spoke to left the meeting with Shadur, and Shoudeur was not overly concerned with what they thought of him. Would you be? You watch the Cleveland Browns all ten years, so this idea that he's going to drop in the draft cracks me up. Tennessee, Cleveland and the Giants all messes that could need a quarterback, could use a quarterback, and should draft one These teams one of them, two of them are all three of them apparently didn't love what they heard from Shador Sanders. So I want you to think about this. Let's just take the New York Giants. Go back to Week twelve, twenty seventeen season. It's kind of the end of Eli Manning. He has a terrible game against Washington. The Giants are two and nine. He's awful until today, March fourth. That is three hundred and seventy nine weeks that you knew that Eli Manning was washed until today, and you still are a disaster at quarterback. And you think Shador Sanders in an interview is supposed to walk in there and be blown away, and that you as a team have the leverage. You think Cleveland has leverage. You think Tennessee has leverage. It's okay to sometimes admit as a business, the employee may have more leverage. Right. So this idea that this kid who grew up rich because of Nil got richer and who's really good and you're a terrible franchise, either Tennessee, Cleveland or New York, that he didn't bow down to you because Shador Sanders realizes, let's say it's the New York Giants or Cleveland, you're a hurdle to his success. He'll be successful if he goes to Pete Carroll, Chip, Kelly, brock Bauers and Cap Space. The Giants are a hurdle, an impediment to success. So this idea that you're desperate and you think you have all the leverage. No, Caleb Williams had some leverage, cam Ward has some leverage. It's over that the employee doesn't have any leverage in my business. In pro football, college athletes now, the coach doesn't have all the leverage. And I think there's executives and coaches. Rick Pattino said this the other day, Saint John's coach adapt. You can complain or you can adapt. You know, the late Bobby Knight would complain about transfer portal, or you can adapt John Calipari to his credit. It's like, okay, one and done. That's how I get the best players. I can grumble and complain about it, or I can like Rick Battino, we don't even recruit high schoolers. I can complain about it or just adapt. And so it's kind of infuriating to me. I don't know. I mean, Shader Sanders grew up rich andil got rich. Yeah, I'm sorry he didn't come in desperate. But this idea that these kids, now, these these quarterbacks and a bad quarterback class, and he may be the best one and you are a tire fire of a franchise. And you know he came in here. I mean the quote from mcsay's actually funny. You know. The quote is.

Yeah, we're talking about the Kyrie Irving injury and what I mess the Mavericks have been. I guess my overall arching point is every team Lebron bails on goes into the tank, and every star he moves off of goes into a worse situation. And I mean it just Kyrie Irving injury, by the way, because of all the injuries and because Luca shared offensive responsibilities, when you took Luca away from the Mavericks, it forced Kyrie to play more minutes, so it was very taxing on Kyrie's smaller body. Kyrie since the Luca trade, I was just told, leads the NBA in minutes played. So again, like this is another reason you don't make that trade. So Kyrie, a small player who's had injuries, You're asking him to put so much responsibility, so many minutes on his body with the rest of the team beat up, that Kyrie's body gives out after a while. So it's just it just it is crazy how often Lebron's timing is just perfect. I mean, the minute he leaves a team, they fall off a cliff. The minute he moves off a star, that star goes into a worse situation, or his year is bad, or he's not the same player, or the circumstances are off. And I just after a while, I don't think it's luck. I just think Lebron's got an into wish. He sees problems much better than most coaches or executives in the league. There's an argument he's the best executive in the league. I mean, you could make that argument Lebron's the best executive in the league. He has made that many smart moves. And I think he knew about the Luca thing. I think he saw that thing the minute Cuban sold that team. I think he saw it. There's an opening, Go get my guy. I prefer Steph, maybe Jokic. They're not available, and I tried with Steph. So I saw this this story, this is a big story yesterday, kind of infuriating to me. So apparently in the combine over the weekend, you had these Shadeur Sanders, you know, the quarterbacks. They'll interview with teams, and the report is Schadeur Sanders, who was a little brash. According to Todd McShay. Two people that I spoke to left the meeting with Shadur, and Shoudeur was not overly concerned with what they thought of him. Would you be? You watch the Cleveland Browns all ten years, so this idea that he's going to drop in the draft cracks me up. Tennessee, Cleveland and the Giants all messes that could need a quarterback, could use a quarterback, and should draft one These teams one of them, two of them are all three of them apparently didn't love what they heard from Shador Sanders. So I want you to think about this. Let's just take the New York Giants. Go back to Week twelve, twenty seventeen season. It's kind of the end of Eli Manning. He has a terrible game against Washington. The Giants are two and nine. He's awful until today, March fourth. That is three hundred and seventy nine weeks that you knew that Eli Manning was washed until today, and you still are a disaster at quarterback. And you think Shador Sanders in an interview is supposed to walk in there and be blown away, and that you as a team have the leverage. You think Cleveland has leverage. You think Tennessee has leverage. It's okay to sometimes admit as a business, the employee may have more leverage. Right. So this idea that this kid who grew up rich because of Nil got richer and who's really good and you're a terrible franchise, either Tennessee, Cleveland or New York, that he didn't bow down to you because Shador Sanders realizes, let's say it's the New York Giants or Cleveland, you're a hurdle to his success. He'll be successful if he goes to Pete Carroll, Chip, Kelly, brock Bauers and Cap Space. The Giants are a hurdle, an impediment to success. So this idea that you're desperate and you think you have all the leverage. No, Caleb Williams had some leverage, cam Ward has some leverage. It's over that the employee doesn't have any leverage in my business. In pro football, college athletes now, the coach doesn't have all the leverage. And I think there's executives and coaches. Rick Pattino said this the other day, Saint John's coach adapt. You can complain or you can adapt. You know, the late Bobby Knight would complain about transfer portal, or you can adapt John Calipari to his credit. It's like, okay, one and done. That's how I get the best players. I can grumble and complain about it, or I can like Rick Battino, we don't even recruit high schoolers. I can complain about it or just adapt. And so it's kind of infuriating to me. I don't know. I mean, Shader Sanders grew up rich andil got rich. Yeah, I'm sorry he didn't come in desperate. But this idea that these kids, now, these these quarterbacks and a bad quarterback class, and he may be the best one and you are a tire fire of a franchise. And you know he came in here. I mean the quote from mcsay's actually funny. You know. The quote is.

Is that.

Is that.

They left the meeting feelings should do or was not overly concerned with what they thought of him? Well, I mean, they thought Daniel Jones was great, they thought giving Deshaun Watson a guaranteed contract was brilliant. Somebody drafted Will Levis. I wouldn't be overly concerned if I was a quarterback with three teams that don't appear to know what the hell they're doing. I'm sorry he gets a little say two, you're bringing your attitude because he doesn't come in and bow down to you. The business doesn't always have all the leverage now it's twenty twenty five. Sometimes the employee has a little bit, you know. Sometimes you know. I was talking to a friend the other day and uh, there are two companies battling for him, and one of the companies was sort of outraged that he wasn't just totally committed to them, and he said, well, I've got another company that's a bigger company offering more money. Like the day, if you're an employer and you think you have all the leverage, or you're in an NFL team and think you have all the leverage, I mean, I think Shador Sanders and cam Ward they would like to be passed on by Tennessee Cleveland and the Giants. They'd rather go to a winning franchise. JJ McCarthy bo Nick's best thing that ever happened to him. He fell to Sean Payton.

They left the meeting feelings should do or was not overly concerned with what they thought of him? Well, I mean, they thought Daniel Jones was great, they thought giving Deshaun Watson a guaranteed contract was brilliant. Somebody drafted Will Levis. I wouldn't be overly concerned if I was a quarterback with three teams that don't appear to know what the hell they're doing. I'm sorry he gets a little say two, you're bringing your attitude because he doesn't come in and bow down to you. The business doesn't always have all the leverage now it's twenty twenty five. Sometimes the employee has a little bit, you know. Sometimes you know. I was talking to a friend the other day and uh, there are two companies battling for him, and one of the companies was sort of outraged that he wasn't just totally committed to them, and he said, well, I've got another company that's a bigger company offering more money. Like the day, if you're an employer and you think you have all the leverage, or you're in an NFL team and think you have all the leverage, I mean, I think Shador Sanders and cam Ward they would like to be passed on by Tennessee Cleveland and the Giants. They'd rather go to a winning franchise. JJ McCarthy bo Nick's best thing that ever happened to him. He fell to Sean Payton.

One More. Heard the Herd streams twenty four hours a day, seven days a week within the iHeartRadio app search Herd to listen live or on demand whenever you like.

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You ever heard that saying, it's just a vibe. Some people are good energy, some people are good juice the nick right top of the hour, The Golden State Warriors won again last night with Jimmy Butler. The Butler's not even playing well. I mean, honestly, that's what's crazy, Lucas not being that consistently great. He's still playing in the shape. Jimmy Butler is shooting eleven percent on threes, and the Warriors are eight and one with him.

You ever heard that saying, it's just a vibe. Some people are good energy, some people are good juice the nick right top of the hour, The Golden State Warriors won again last night with Jimmy Butler. The Butler's not even playing well. I mean, honestly, that's what's crazy, Lucas not being that consistently great. He's still playing in the shape. Jimmy Butler is shooting eleven percent on threes, and the Warriors are eight and one with him.

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

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

Hey, Steve Covino and I'm Rich David and together we're Covino and Rich on Fox Sports Radio.

Hey, Steve Covino and I'm Rich David and together we're Covino and Rich on Fox Sports Radio.

You could catch us weekdays from five to seven pm Eastern two to four Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and of course the iHeartRadio app.

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Why should you listen to Covino and Rich.

Why should you listen to Covino and Rich.

We talk about everything life, sports, relationships, what's going on in the world.

We talk about everything life, sports, relationships, what's going on in the world.

We have a lot of fun talking about the stories behind the stories in the world of sports and pop culture stories that well other shows don't seem to have the time to discuss.

We have a lot of fun talking about the stories behind the stories in the world of sports and pop culture stories that well other shows don't seem to have the time to discuss.

And the fact that we've been friends for the last twenty years and still work together.

And the fact that we've been friends for the last twenty years and still work together.

I mean that says something, right. So check us out.

I mean that says something, right. So check us out.

We like to get you involved too, take your phone calls, chop it up. As they say, I'd say, the most interactive show on Fox Sports Radio, maybe the.

We like to get you involved too, take your phone calls, chop it up. As they say, I'd say, the most interactive show on Fox Sports Radio, maybe the.

Most interactive show on planetar.

Most interactive show on planetar.

Be sure to check out Covino and Rich live on Fox Sports Radio on the iHeartRadio app from five to seven pm Eastern two to four Pacific, and if you miss any of the live show, just search Kobe known Rich wherever you get your podcasts, and of course on social media that's Cavino and Rich.

Be sure to check out Covino and Rich live on Fox Sports Radio on the iHeartRadio app from five to seven pm Eastern two to four Pacific, and if you miss any of the live show, just search Kobe known Rich wherever you get your podcasts, and of course on social media that's Cavino and Rich.

It is a Tuesday. Welcome in this time. Yesterday, the great Jimmy Johnson was retiring from Fox after a remarketable football, pro and college and broadcasting career. This is the herd I just we taught. We started our show talking about Lebron James is one point shy of scoring fifty thousand career points. Nobody's obviously ever done that. There is It's I said this two weeks ago. I don't even know what I'm watching, and our staff has this. If you take Lebron's four MVP season and compare with Lebron since e turn forty, he's actually a better basketball player now, more rebounds, Morris sists, better shooter, three point and field goal he averages two points. That's a game that's insane. And I think today's defending as well as he did five or six years ago. So you know, people will say, what is he on? Well, the NBA tests for hgahs. They just banned a Milwaukee Buck player for some banned substance. So you know, I think your body will treat you how you treat it. And Lebron spends a couple of million dollars a year in his body. And Lebron is what happens when you're an all time talent and you go all in. I've said this, Carmelo Anthony, go look it up. Started to decline at thirty years old. He was never in great shape. I mean, hookah, Luca will not play like this at forty years old. He's not that committed. And so I mean John Daly was a hoot, but at fifty eight years old, Gary player is eighty eight or eighty nine years old, and Gary players in significantly better shape because Gary Player still works out. I met Gary Player twice. It's incredible. Eighty nine years old, he works out ninety minutes today. I talk to about his diet. It's incredible. It's the healthiest eater I've ever seen. Your body's gonna treat you like you treat your body. And Lebron is just an all in guy. So I mean, you look at James Harden, he's falling off a cliff. If you look at Big Ben, he aged quickly. So all these guys, like I always say when people complain about the Dodgers doing the deferred payments, everybody that owns a Major League Baseball team is a billionaire. Everybody could do that. The Dodgers have decided they're billionaires. Dodgers do not have the richest owners. They don't. They don't drive the most revenue. Yankees still make more revenue than they do on an annual basis. So Yankees make more revenue. They do not now now, Mark Walters is one of the richer owners, top six or seven, not the richest owner, but they are totally committed to winning championships with the Dodgers. The Pittsburgh Pirates owner. He's a billionaire. Two he's cheap, and so anybody could do it. All these I mean most of these athletes, most not all. They could spend money. But you know James Harden, you know his jersey hangs. I'm not joking in the rafter of a strip club. I mean he was legendary for being an all night guy. That's fine with me. I'm not judging it. But that's why James Harden's falling off a cliff. That's why Carmelo started declining at thirty. He was never in great shape. Cam Newton had some injuries, but Big Ben. You know, you look at Alex Ovechkin and hockey right now, top ten in goals, Tom Brady in his forties, Lebron James. This is what happens when you totally commit. Lou Williams was talking about this on the Fan Duel TV about this.

It is a Tuesday. Welcome in this time. Yesterday, the great Jimmy Johnson was retiring from Fox after a remarketable football, pro and college and broadcasting career. This is the herd I just we taught. We started our show talking about Lebron James is one point shy of scoring fifty thousand career points. Nobody's obviously ever done that. There is It's I said this two weeks ago. I don't even know what I'm watching, and our staff has this. If you take Lebron's four MVP season and compare with Lebron since e turn forty, he's actually a better basketball player now, more rebounds, Morris sists, better shooter, three point and field goal he averages two points. That's a game that's insane. And I think today's defending as well as he did five or six years ago. So you know, people will say, what is he on? Well, the NBA tests for hgahs. They just banned a Milwaukee Buck player for some banned substance. So you know, I think your body will treat you how you treat it. And Lebron spends a couple of million dollars a year in his body. And Lebron is what happens when you're an all time talent and you go all in. I've said this, Carmelo Anthony, go look it up. Started to decline at thirty years old. He was never in great shape. I mean, hookah, Luca will not play like this at forty years old. He's not that committed. And so I mean John Daly was a hoot, but at fifty eight years old, Gary player is eighty eight or eighty nine years old, and Gary players in significantly better shape because Gary Player still works out. I met Gary Player twice. It's incredible. Eighty nine years old, he works out ninety minutes today. I talk to about his diet. It's incredible. It's the healthiest eater I've ever seen. Your body's gonna treat you like you treat your body. And Lebron is just an all in guy. So I mean, you look at James Harden, he's falling off a cliff. If you look at Big Ben, he aged quickly. So all these guys, like I always say when people complain about the Dodgers doing the deferred payments, everybody that owns a Major League Baseball team is a billionaire. Everybody could do that. The Dodgers have decided they're billionaires. Dodgers do not have the richest owners. They don't. They don't drive the most revenue. Yankees still make more revenue than they do on an annual basis. So Yankees make more revenue. They do not now now, Mark Walters is one of the richer owners, top six or seven, not the richest owner, but they are totally committed to winning championships with the Dodgers. The Pittsburgh Pirates owner. He's a billionaire. Two he's cheap, and so anybody could do it. All these I mean most of these athletes, most not all. They could spend money. But you know James Harden, you know his jersey hangs. I'm not joking in the rafter of a strip club. I mean he was legendary for being an all night guy. That's fine with me. I'm not judging it. But that's why James Harden's falling off a cliff. That's why Carmelo started declining at thirty. He was never in great shape. Cam Newton had some injuries, but Big Ben. You know, you look at Alex Ovechkin and hockey right now, top ten in goals, Tom Brady in his forties, Lebron James. This is what happens when you totally commit. Lou Williams was talking about this on the Fan Duel TV about this.

Sixty percent of these guys can put a million dollars in their bodies if they want to, they still get this result. Yeah, it's just a credit to his genetics and how he's been able to maintain himself over the years. So to go through twenty one years of nothing major to sit you out as a blessing in itself.

Sixty percent of these guys can put a million dollars in their bodies if they want to, they still get this result. Yeah, it's just a credit to his genetics and how he's been able to maintain himself over the years. So to go through twenty one years of nothing major to sit you out as a blessing in itself.

Now, Lebron did have last couple of years. He had about a year and a half where he was just dealing with ankle stuff and hip stuff. But the numbers he's putting up, and I will say this, I've said this about Steph Curry and I'll say it with Lebron. These guys were on a treadmill to nowhere, and then you give one Luca and one Jimmy Butler, and it's as if they're showing off for their new friend, like you get a new friend in the neighborhood. Hey, come on over here in my bicycle, let's do some jumps like they're showing off with their friends. And that's brought a joy and an energy to Lebron. And what I'm watching is absolutely once in a generation remarkable. Steph Curry's averaging seven points more a game with Jimmy Butler, He's taking one more shot. Efficiency, energy, vibe, juice, analytics can't measure all that stuff. Nick Wright, co host, First Things First is joining us down live from New York. You know need it is. I think Lebron has always known and this was my rant to start the show. Nobody has had his intuition. He moved off d Wait at the right time, he moved out of Cleveland twice at the right time. He moved off all the Lonzo Ball guys at the right time. And I think, deep down, I really believe this Nick that he knew that he and Ad worked together. But Jokich or Luca the great outlet passers would give Lebron in his twilight years easier baskets and they wouldn't be as dependent on him initiating it. And Denver wasn't moving off Luca or Denver wasn't moving off Jokic. He tried to get Steph a couple of years ago, and Steph said no thanks. I think Lebron the minute Cuban sold Hish primary share of the Mavericks, Lebron saw an opening and through a lot. I know you think it's crazy. Lebron has always been a step ahead of teams, owners, executives and teammates, and he's been right seven straight times.

Now, Lebron did have last couple of years. He had about a year and a half where he was just dealing with ankle stuff and hip stuff. But the numbers he's putting up, and I will say this, I've said this about Steph Curry and I'll say it with Lebron. These guys were on a treadmill to nowhere, and then you give one Luca and one Jimmy Butler, and it's as if they're showing off for their new friend, like you get a new friend in the neighborhood. Hey, come on over here in my bicycle, let's do some jumps like they're showing off with their friends. And that's brought a joy and an energy to Lebron. And what I'm watching is absolutely once in a generation remarkable. Steph Curry's averaging seven points more a game with Jimmy Butler, He's taking one more shot. Efficiency, energy, vibe, juice, analytics can't measure all that stuff. Nick Wright, co host, First Things First is joining us down live from New York. You know need it is. I think Lebron has always known and this was my rant to start the show. Nobody has had his intuition. He moved off d Wait at the right time, he moved out of Cleveland twice at the right time. He moved off all the Lonzo Ball guys at the right time. And I think, deep down, I really believe this Nick that he knew that he and Ad worked together. But Jokich or Luca the great outlet passers would give Lebron in his twilight years easier baskets and they wouldn't be as dependent on him initiating it. And Denver wasn't moving off Luca or Denver wasn't moving off Jokic. He tried to get Steph a couple of years ago, and Steph said no thanks. I think Lebron the minute Cuban sold Hish primary share of the Mavericks, Lebron saw an opening and through a lot. I know you think it's crazy. Lebron has always been a step ahead of teams, owners, executives and teammates, and he's been right seven straight times.

Was one of those steps drugging Nico Harrison, I mean, I mean, because that's the piece to that that you're not including. So I don't quite get it. By the way I'm hearing myself in my ear. So I don't know if they can fix it, but all power through in the meantime. Yeah, but it doesn't take a basketball genius, which Lebron is to be like, Yeah, my life probably gets easier on offense if we had Luka Daji.

Was one of those steps drugging Nico Harrison, I mean, I mean, because that's the piece to that that you're not including. So I don't quite get it. By the way I'm hearing myself in my ear. So I don't know if they can fix it, but all power through in the meantime. Yeah, but it doesn't take a basketball genius, which Lebron is to be like, Yeah, my life probably gets easier on offense if we had Luka Daji.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I do think that he probably wanted Luca. I don't think he thought that Nico Harrison would make that possible. But you were talking about Lebron scoring fifty thousand points. Can we stay there for a minute. Sure, So I know that compiling is not really considered that impressive, and I understand that, But what Lebron's doing isn't compiling. What Lebron's doing is continued, sustained excellence, and that's what I think matters. So there've only been five guys in NBA history to reach thirty six thousand, thirty six thousand, He's at fifty career points, and I do think it's noteworthy to discuss what they looked like when they reached those final milestones.

I do think that he probably wanted Luca. I don't think he thought that Nico Harrison would make that possible. But you were talking about Lebron scoring fifty thousand points. Can we stay there for a minute. Sure, So I know that compiling is not really considered that impressive, and I understand that, But what Lebron's doing isn't compiling. What Lebron's doing is continued, sustained excellence, and that's what I think matters. So there've only been five guys in NBA history to reach thirty six thousand, thirty six thousand, He's at fifty career points, and I do think it's noteworthy to discuss what they looked like when they reached those final milestones.

So Kareem scored forty four.

So Kareem scored forty four.

Thousand, it's fixed, Thank you, guys, forty four thousand and change. When he got his forty four thousandth point Colin. It was the worst year of his careers, averaging ten points per game. Yeah, Karl Malone got to forty one thousand. When he scored his forty first thousandth point, he was averaging thirteen points a game for the Lakers, the worst year of his career. Kobe and Michael both got to thirty eight thousand. When Michael did it, he was averaging twenty a game on nineteen percent from three and forty one percent from the field for the Wizards, and when Kobe did it, he was averaging seventeen a game on thirty five percent from the field. Lebron James tonight is going to get to fifty thousand in the season. He might be top five on MVP balloting and should be first team All NBA. So it's not so much about you know, he just was healthy and was able to put in fifteen a night for twenty five years. It's that in year twenty two he is still on any given night, maybe the best player in the league, and over the course of the season clearly one of the five best players in the league. Brady is the only athlete that we have any comp for it too, and Brady didn't have to play both sides of the ball. It's really a remarkable thing we're seeing right now.

Thousand, it's fixed, Thank you, guys, forty four thousand and change. When he got his forty four thousandth point Colin. It was the worst year of his careers, averaging ten points per game. Yeah, Karl Malone got to forty one thousand. When he scored his forty first thousandth point, he was averaging thirteen points a game for the Lakers, the worst year of his career. Kobe and Michael both got to thirty eight thousand. When Michael did it, he was averaging twenty a game on nineteen percent from three and forty one percent from the field for the Wizards, and when Kobe did it, he was averaging seventeen a game on thirty five percent from the field. Lebron James tonight is going to get to fifty thousand in the season. He might be top five on MVP balloting and should be first team All NBA. So it's not so much about you know, he just was healthy and was able to put in fifteen a night for twenty five years. It's that in year twenty two he is still on any given night, maybe the best player in the league, and over the course of the season clearly one of the five best players in the league. Brady is the only athlete that we have any comp for it too, and Brady didn't have to play both sides of the ball. It's really a remarkable thing we're seeing right now.

You know, I was thinking about this. Jamack was on this like the first couple of days. He said, Lakers are a championship team. And I think there's only two teams in the league right now that are complete, Boston and Cleveland, and one won't get to the finals. Austin plays interior defense, wing defense, they have wings scoring, they can score down low. Boston's a totally complete team. If Derek White's your fourth or fifth best team player, you're a great team. I think Cleveland is very very close. Again, they can defend, they've got size, they've got wing defenders, they've got a great guard. Those are complete teams. I don't think anybody in the West is complete. Teams are either too young, they don't have the depth. I don't think Denver has the depth. They're bad defensively. I don't trust Houston can't shoot. Golden State could use another shooter. So when I look at the Lakers, I think, you know, I wish they had a rim defender. And my take is, until you get to the finals, everybody's got a hole in the West, and I get Lebron and Luca, So my two stars are better than you two. And I do think right now I would take the Lakers to win the West. Oh well, they.

You know, I was thinking about this. Jamack was on this like the first couple of days. He said, Lakers are a championship team. And I think there's only two teams in the league right now that are complete, Boston and Cleveland, and one won't get to the finals. Austin plays interior defense, wing defense, they have wings scoring, they can score down low. Boston's a totally complete team. If Derek White's your fourth or fifth best team player, you're a great team. I think Cleveland is very very close. Again, they can defend, they've got size, they've got wing defenders, they've got a great guard. Those are complete teams. I don't think anybody in the West is complete. Teams are either too young, they don't have the depth. I don't think Denver has the depth. They're bad defensively. I don't trust Houston can't shoot. Golden State could use another shooter. So when I look at the Lakers, I think, you know, I wish they had a rim defender. And my take is, until you get to the finals, everybody's got a hole in the West, and I get Lebron and Luca, So my two stars are better than you two. And I do think right now I would take the Lakers to win the West. Oh well, they.

Are certainly on the very short list. I, knowing myself, all probably end up picking them.

Are certainly on the very short list. I, knowing myself, all probably end up picking them.

It's gonna be hard for me to pick it you all of us.

It's gonna be hard for me to pick it you all of us.

You have my favorite player of all time and my second favorite player in the league playing together, and they're both playing great basketball, so probably endo picking them. I do think you're short changing okay see a bit. The okay see question is really to me.

You have my favorite player of all time and my second favorite player in the league playing together, and they're both playing great basketball, so probably endo picking them. I do think you're short changing okay see a bit. The okay see question is really to me.

I have two okay see questions.

I have two okay see questions.

One is, well, the non SGA players play better this postseason than they did last postseason because last postseason Shaye played well, but the other guys didn't, you know, kind of play up to their feeling.

One is, well, the non SGA players play better this postseason than they did last postseason because last postseason Shaye played well, but the other guys didn't, you know, kind of play up to their feeling.

And the other.

And the other.

Okay see question is is Shay gonna suffer from something James Harden has suffered for the past, Joel and beat has suffered from the past, which is a playoff whistle. Anyone who gets such a huge benefit from getting to the foul line, you worry about them a bit in the playoff.

Okay see question is is Shay gonna suffer from something James Harden has suffered for the past, Joel and beat has suffered from the past, which is a playoff whistle. Anyone who gets such a huge benefit from getting to the foul line, you worry about them a bit in the playoff.

What okay see is awesome.

What okay see is awesome.

I will let me say that about okay see, and I've seen this before. SGA will not get the regular season whistle which Karl Malone and James Harden and SJA live on. He won't the other thing. And you know this. Young players and rotational players in the playoffs are often great at home, but in big spots, in road games, they can disappear. I think Oklahoma City is still chet Holmgren is still a year away from being able to go to Los Angeles in a crucial game and beat Lebron and Luca.

I will let me say that about okay see, and I've seen this before. SGA will not get the regular season whistle which Karl Malone and James Harden and SJA live on. He won't the other thing. And you know this. Young players and rotational players in the playoffs are often great at home, but in big spots, in road games, they can disappear. I think Oklahoma City is still chet Holmgren is still a year away from being able to go to Los Angeles in a crucial game and beat Lebron and Luca.

So that listen, that might be true, but they also might not have to win any road games like they and so I am. I'm not trying to build them up to more than they are, but I do think their record and shape playing at the level.

So that listen, that might be true, but they also might not have to win any road games like they and so I am. I'm not trying to build them up to more than they are, but I do think their record and shape playing at the level.

They deserve respect.

They deserve respect.

I also, oddly, when I was in Los Angeles over when was it over Thanksgiving? I went to Lakers okay see, I sat right next to the guy that holds up all the Lakers. That doesn't matter, don't know, we's what that point is. I good seats Lakers, okay see. Unlike Colin Coward, they're not given to me. I'd pay from out of my own pocket man of the people and okay, see just throws waves and waves of defenders at you.

I also, oddly, when I was in Los Angeles over when was it over Thanksgiving? I went to Lakers okay see, I sat right next to the guy that holds up all the Lakers. That doesn't matter, don't know, we's what that point is. I good seats Lakers, okay see. Unlike Colin Coward, they're not given to me. I'd pay from out of my own pocket man of the people and okay, see just throws waves and waves of defenders at you.

Yes, so I will give them respect.

Yes, so I will give them respect.

What the Lakers have going for them that no other team in the league has is this. They have two offensive supercomputers at the wings slash point guard position. And almost every contender has one guy you can throw on someone like that the thunder f Loudort. The Nuggets have Aaron Gordon, like you have someone you have a guy to throw on those to throw on Lebron or throw on Luca. Only Boston has two guys who you could has multiple guys.

What the Lakers have going for them that no other team in the league has is this. They have two offensive supercomputers at the wings slash point guard position. And almost every contender has one guy you can throw on someone like that the thunder f Loudort. The Nuggets have Aaron Gordon, like you have someone you have a guy to throw on those to throw on Lebron or throw on Luca. Only Boston has two guys who you could has multiple guys.

To throw at these.

To throw at these.

To throw at Lebron and Luca, like when you are playing Denver in a series.

To throw at Lebron and Luca, like when you are playing Denver in a series.

If Aaron Gordon is.

If Aaron Gordon is.

Guarding Lebron, then who who the hell is guarding Luca? Like that is the real question. So yeah, I thought people totally overrated how bad of a fit it was gonna be.

Guarding Lebron, then who who the hell is guarding Luca? Like that is the real question. So yeah, I thought people totally overrated how bad of a fit it was gonna be.

It's two of the smartest players ever.

It's two of the smartest players ever.

I also think those of us hand up who the last few years was like, Darvin Ham is doing a poor job, and then.

I also think those of us hand up who the last few years was like, Darvin Ham is doing a poor job, and then.

A lot of people in the media was like, h.

A lot of people in the media was like, h.

Lebron knifing Darvin Ham for his podcast Buddy So I'm if JJ Reddick, who we all know was only hired because Lebron made him do it Lebron's podcast Buddy.

Lebron knifing Darvin Ham for his podcast Buddy So I'm if JJ Reddick, who we all know was only hired because Lebron made him do it Lebron's podcast Buddy.

If JJ Redick.

If JJ Redick.

Wins Coach of the Year, does Lebron get to at least take a picture with the trophy?

Wins Coach of the Year, does Lebron get to at least take a picture with the trophy?

Like?

Like?

How does the Lebron runs the Lakers stuff work? He made them trade for Russell Westbrook, but he also made them trade for Anthony Davis. What trading for Anthony Davis got you a championship and Luka ancis.

How does the Lebron runs the Lakers stuff work? He made them trade for Russell Westbrook, but he also made them trade for Anthony Davis. What trading for Anthony Davis got you a championship and Luka ancis.

For the next decade. So I don't know like it.

For the next decade. So I don't know like it.

I just don't know where Lebron's influence starts or ends. I do know the Lakers right now. I agree with you, look like a team can win the championship, Sop.

I just don't know where Lebron's influence starts or ends. I do know the Lakers right now. I agree with you, look like a team can win the championship, Sop.

I've been saying two things about the face of the league. I only believe. I think there's been three in my life. Magic, I don't count Bird, Bird didn't want it, French Lick, Feisty, he didn't have the magnetism of Magic Johnson. Magic and Bird may have been together. It's like Angel Reeson Caitlin Clark. Caitlin's the face of the league. Magic was the face of the league. They just happened to be rivals. Then I think it's Michael Jordan, the best looking, the best player, the most relentless. And then I think it's Lebron James. Steph Curry's close, but in his prime. Lebron's in his Sorry, Lebron wins. So my take is there's only been three. Kareem wasn't, Wilt wasn't. Duncan was They weren't. And the other thing is it's not just about going to Duke or playing for a big brand. There is c There are two things that matter, an aura. Jason Tatum doesn't have it, and yet we can't ever question that. You shrink in big spots. In the gold medal game, Jason Tatum had two points game before he was a coach's decision do not play when he played with the best players in the world. Secondly, Jalen Brown wins MVP of A conference finals. In the finals, they traded Marcus Smart because he was taking the ball out of his hands. I love Jason Tatum. I think the league thought Zion could be okay. I thought Zion had a chance, but he just wasn't because and I don't really blame him, because they come into the league at nineteen years old. He wasn't mature enough. Jaw had a chance, he just wasn't ready for it. That the league mostly doesn't need it hasn't had it, and Tatum's noted all.

I've been saying two things about the face of the league. I only believe. I think there's been three in my life. Magic, I don't count Bird, Bird didn't want it, French Lick, Feisty, he didn't have the magnetism of Magic Johnson. Magic and Bird may have been together. It's like Angel Reeson Caitlin Clark. Caitlin's the face of the league. Magic was the face of the league. They just happened to be rivals. Then I think it's Michael Jordan, the best looking, the best player, the most relentless. And then I think it's Lebron James. Steph Curry's close, but in his prime. Lebron's in his Sorry, Lebron wins. So my take is there's only been three. Kareem wasn't, Wilt wasn't. Duncan was They weren't. And the other thing is it's not just about going to Duke or playing for a big brand. There is c There are two things that matter, an aura. Jason Tatum doesn't have it, and yet we can't ever question that. You shrink in big spots. In the gold medal game, Jason Tatum had two points game before he was a coach's decision do not play when he played with the best players in the world. Secondly, Jalen Brown wins MVP of A conference finals. In the finals, they traded Marcus Smart because he was taking the ball out of his hands. I love Jason Tatum. I think the league thought Zion could be okay. I thought Zion had a chance, but he just wasn't because and I don't really blame him, because they come into the league at nineteen years old. He wasn't mature enough. Jaw had a chance, he just wasn't ready for it. That the league mostly doesn't need it hasn't had it, and Tatum's noted all.

Right, So you threw a lot there.

Right, So you threw a lot there.

One is can I sell you on one other face of the league in that time frame, right, and that's the Shaq Kobe duo? Okay, I think that they but after Michael, before Lebron, I thought the Shaq Kobe collective with was the face of the league if that exists. But it's a very very short list. And we actually I actually talked Tatum because you know, he was a huge Jason Tatum fan. Is my son Demanse, who co hosts the podcast I do, and we were talking about that actually this morning, and about why Jason Tatum online in particular seems to get so much criticism from America's Honesty Broker gets so much criticism, and I think there is.

One is can I sell you on one other face of the league in that time frame, right, and that's the Shaq Kobe duo? Okay, I think that they but after Michael, before Lebron, I thought the Shaq Kobe collective with was the face of the league if that exists. But it's a very very short list. And we actually I actually talked Tatum because you know, he was a huge Jason Tatum fan. Is my son Demanse, who co hosts the podcast I do, and we were talking about that actually this morning, and about why Jason Tatum online in particular seems to get so much criticism from America's Honesty Broker gets so much criticism, and I think there is.

A feeling, and it might be unfair.

A feeling, and it might be unfair.

It is just a feeling of a little inauthenticity that people don't wrap their arms around. It's the exact opposite feeling people get when they watch or listen to Anthony Edwards. So for good or for bad, people watch Anthony Edwards and say, you know who he's being, Anthony Edwards. You know what he's saying, whatever's on his mind, you know what he's doing, whatever he wants. Now there are some maybe issues with that, but you it's why people are.

It is just a feeling of a little inauthenticity that people don't wrap their arms around. It's the exact opposite feeling people get when they watch or listen to Anthony Edwards. So for good or for bad, people watch Anthony Edwards and say, you know who he's being, Anthony Edwards. You know what he's saying, whatever's on his mind, you know what he's doing, whatever he wants. Now there are some maybe issues with that, but you it's why people are.

Drawn to him.

Drawn to him.

If Tatum, I think for a lot of people feels a little too pre produced. And then there is also the factor of and this is and people Celtics fans might not want to hear it. And he is the best player on the defending champion and a team that might win again. But will is ja to be the face of the league. You have to be in eligible to be the best player in the league, right and Jason Tatum is not. And people can say I'm putting a ceiling on him. Jason Tatum will never be the best player in the NBA. There's no shame to that. Kevin Durant who has reached heights. Tatum has not, and I think will not never was the single best player in the NBA.

If Tatum, I think for a lot of people feels a little too pre produced. And then there is also the factor of and this is and people Celtics fans might not want to hear it. And he is the best player on the defending champion and a team that might win again. But will is ja to be the face of the league. You have to be in eligible to be the best player in the league, right and Jason Tatum is not. And people can say I'm putting a ceiling on him. Jason Tatum will never be the best player in the NBA. There's no shame to that. Kevin Durant who has reached heights. Tatum has not, and I think will not never was the single best player in the NBA.

It's only like sixteen.

It's only like sixteen.

Guys across history who have ever been the hands down best player at any given more in the NBA.

Guys across history who have ever been the hands down best player at any given more in the NBA.

So I don't Tatum's right.

So I don't Tatum's right.

I check off all the boxes except for the one that matters, which is what we feel like, what we know. And so again, the Celtics probably should win another championship, and if they, if he's a multiple time champion, probably get a finals MVV.

I check off all the boxes except for the one that matters, which is what we feel like, what we know. And so again, the Celtics probably should win another championship, and if they, if he's a multiple time champion, probably get a finals MVV.

At some point he's going to be first, all of the accolades, all of it.

At some point he's going to be first, all of the accolades, all of it.

But that doesn't mean that you're going to be on a list alongside of Lebron, Kobe Shack, Michael Magic.

But that doesn't mean that you're going to be on a list alongside of Lebron, Kobe Shack, Michael Magic.

Again, it's a very very short list. So I agree with you on that.

Again, it's a very very short list. So I agree with you on that.

Okay, So finally, uh Shaduur Sanders, So you know, I said, most of the time in my life, the corporation or the organization has the leverage over the employee. But when you're the Giants or Cleveland or Tennessee. In Shaduur Sanders interviews, he grew up rich. He's even richer now with Nil you're awful. He's talent and he would probably rather drop to a good team. I don't want to hear in the combine that he came off as you know, a little standoffish. Well maybe because he'd rather you pass on him and go to a better team. And my take is the world changes, the culture changes. I mean, Mike Krzyzewski's like, I'm not doing one and done, and then he realized he was getting beat by guys that went to Carolina that were one and dones, and Mike Krzewski said, Okay, I'm doing one and donees. The culture has changed. Players come in now as millionaires. Owners in the NFL are billionaires. They're more impulsive, They fire coaching staffs. I don't want to hear that, schatour Shadoor Sanders didn't.

Okay, So finally, uh Shaduur Sanders, So you know, I said, most of the time in my life, the corporation or the organization has the leverage over the employee. But when you're the Giants or Cleveland or Tennessee. In Shaduur Sanders interviews, he grew up rich. He's even richer now with Nil you're awful. He's talent and he would probably rather drop to a good team. I don't want to hear in the combine that he came off as you know, a little standoffish. Well maybe because he'd rather you pass on him and go to a better team. And my take is the world changes, the culture changes. I mean, Mike Krzyzewski's like, I'm not doing one and done, and then he realized he was getting beat by guys that went to Carolina that were one and dones, and Mike Krzewski said, Okay, I'm doing one and donees. The culture has changed. Players come in now as millionaires. Owners in the NFL are billionaires. They're more impulsive, They fire coaching staffs. I don't want to hear that, schatour Shadoor Sanders didn't.

Bow to you.

Bow to you.

These kids come in with sometimes more leverage than the team.