Here we go.

Here we go.

It is a Friday, another amazing night for Lebron James Louke, Steph Curry, you're trying to put the old guys to bed. They're staying up late, they're closing up shop late. Good show today, Buckeye coach Ryan Day, Next hour, Dion Dawkins, Rick Buker, We got a lot of stuff going on today. So yeah, you know where they care about the NBA, LA and New York. That's pretty good last night, right, pretty good? Yeah, that was pretty good. Well, we had said yesterday this was gonna be one of the ten to twelve games during the regular season that's gonna feel like a playoff game, and that's what it felt like. And it really was cut of symbolic of where both teams are at. The Knicks lost, even though they outplayed the Lakers. So now the Knicks are zero to ten against Boston, Cleveland, Golden State, Lakers, and OKC and they outplayed them and they get beat by about fifteen a game. Now, last night, Ruin didn't Austin Reeves, not one hundred percent, so they were more fully staffed in New York and they outplayed the Lakers. But Jalen Brunson had to play out of his mind. All your starters for the Knicks are playing forty minutes and the Lakers didn't play particularly well and they won. And this goes back to something we've talked about Tibbs and the Villanova guys and Jalen Brunson. Culture only gets you so far. I mean, Harball created a new culture with the Chargers and then they went to the playoffs Pittsburgh Steelers last decade. Great culture can't score in big games. Culture has limitations. And Carmelo Anthony talked about something last night. He said, basically, what Luca is providing for Lebron now, these great up the court passes is what Lebron was doing to Ad. So it's really freed Lebron James game up. Last night, only Luca and Lebron played particularly well. But you know, I just think Austin Reeves, Luca, Lebron, you have three play in this Shiators. One can be bad every time in New York. Jalen Brunson's bad good luck winning, Jalen Brunson's great good luck winning against good teams, and the sign of a very good team. And you can no longer deny it, Sorry, Charles Barkley. With the Lakers, you don't even have to play well to beat the good team, and Lebron makes everybody better. I mean, Jackson Hayes does not have an NBA move, he does not have an NBA post move. He's Lobb guy. And he's shooting seventy three percent since the All Star Game the deadline, seventy three percent. He's an NBA guy. Say to me, he's a skinnier version of DeAndre Jordan. He's Lobb guy. And when you get Lebron and Luca, who are tremendous passers, there is great value there. But he's not a true big How about Gabe Vincent? Who Gabe Vincent huge threes in overtime? Again, what you watched last night is really the truth about both these teams. The Lakers now are so good and have so many offensive weapons that Ruey cannot play. Austin Reeves doesn't play well, team doesn't play particularly well. Luca didn't shoot that well, and they beat a very good Knicks team where all their starters played forty minutes and Brunson was unbelievable. So I think you know and JJ Reddick clearly, JJ Lebron and Luca are speaking the same language because it's very much a team that goes with a hot hand. It's very much a team offensively that is tweaking and kind of going with a flow. This thing. It was a great, great NBA regular season game, and it was a team that absolutely can get to the finals. I don't think they can beat Boston. We'll see Saturday night in a preview Lakers Celtics, we'll see. I don't think they can beat Boston. I don't think they can beat Cleveland. Maybe, but I don't think so. Two best teams in the East. West is much much better top to bottom. But it was a game between a team I think can get to the finals and challenge for a title against a team that needs another big piece to even get to the finals. Let's be honest. Last night, Nick shot twenty three percent from threes. The Knick shot, you know, thirty nine percent from the floor, and that's with Brunson going off and a healthy unit. They just they're just missing a piece. And again I said this yesterday. It's great clarity. If you're a Knicks fan, I don't want to hear about officials. You're all for ten. It'd be one thing if you were five and five against the best teams, you're a for ten and the Lakers are just getting better. I wonder if the Knicks are getting slightly worse because of all the minutes Timms has the starters playing, and here's the coach.

It is a Friday, another amazing night for Lebron James Louke, Steph Curry, you're trying to put the old guys to bed. They're staying up late, they're closing up shop late. Good show today, Buckeye coach Ryan Day, Next hour, Dion Dawkins, Rick Buker, We got a lot of stuff going on today. So yeah, you know where they care about the NBA, LA and New York. That's pretty good last night, right, pretty good? Yeah, that was pretty good. Well, we had said yesterday this was gonna be one of the ten to twelve games during the regular season that's gonna feel like a playoff game, and that's what it felt like. And it really was cut of symbolic of where both teams are at. The Knicks lost, even though they outplayed the Lakers. So now the Knicks are zero to ten against Boston, Cleveland, Golden State, Lakers, and OKC and they outplayed them and they get beat by about fifteen a game. Now, last night, Ruin didn't Austin Reeves, not one hundred percent, so they were more fully staffed in New York and they outplayed the Lakers. But Jalen Brunson had to play out of his mind. All your starters for the Knicks are playing forty minutes and the Lakers didn't play particularly well and they won. And this goes back to something we've talked about Tibbs and the Villanova guys and Jalen Brunson. Culture only gets you so far. I mean, Harball created a new culture with the Chargers and then they went to the playoffs Pittsburgh Steelers last decade. Great culture can't score in big games. Culture has limitations. And Carmelo Anthony talked about something last night. He said, basically, what Luca is providing for Lebron now, these great up the court passes is what Lebron was doing to Ad. So it's really freed Lebron James game up. Last night, only Luca and Lebron played particularly well. But you know, I just think Austin Reeves, Luca, Lebron, you have three play in this Shiators. One can be bad every time in New York. Jalen Brunson's bad good luck winning, Jalen Brunson's great good luck winning against good teams, and the sign of a very good team. And you can no longer deny it, Sorry, Charles Barkley. With the Lakers, you don't even have to play well to beat the good team, and Lebron makes everybody better. I mean, Jackson Hayes does not have an NBA move, he does not have an NBA post move. He's Lobb guy. And he's shooting seventy three percent since the All Star Game the deadline, seventy three percent. He's an NBA guy. Say to me, he's a skinnier version of DeAndre Jordan. He's Lobb guy. And when you get Lebron and Luca, who are tremendous passers, there is great value there. But he's not a true big How about Gabe Vincent? Who Gabe Vincent huge threes in overtime? Again, what you watched last night is really the truth about both these teams. The Lakers now are so good and have so many offensive weapons that Ruey cannot play. Austin Reeves doesn't play well, team doesn't play particularly well. Luca didn't shoot that well, and they beat a very good Knicks team where all their starters played forty minutes and Brunson was unbelievable. So I think you know and JJ Reddick clearly, JJ Lebron and Luca are speaking the same language because it's very much a team that goes with a hot hand. It's very much a team offensively that is tweaking and kind of going with a flow. This thing. It was a great, great NBA regular season game, and it was a team that absolutely can get to the finals. I don't think they can beat Boston. We'll see Saturday night in a preview Lakers Celtics, we'll see. I don't think they can beat Boston. I don't think they can beat Cleveland. Maybe, but I don't think so. Two best teams in the East. West is much much better top to bottom. But it was a game between a team I think can get to the finals and challenge for a title against a team that needs another big piece to even get to the finals. Let's be honest. Last night, Nick shot twenty three percent from threes. The Knick shot, you know, thirty nine percent from the floor, and that's with Brunson going off and a healthy unit. They just they're just missing a piece. And again I said this yesterday. It's great clarity. If you're a Knicks fan, I don't want to hear about officials. You're all for ten. It'd be one thing if you were five and five against the best teams, you're a for ten and the Lakers are just getting better. I wonder if the Knicks are getting slightly worse because of all the minutes Timms has the starters playing, and here's the coach.

After came down to scratch.

After came down to scratch.

You know a lot of tough plays that you know, we couldn't get to a loose ball, you know, things like that, and oftentimes that's the difference. So but overall, I thought, you know, the first three and a half quarters of the very very good, so obviously we have to close out better.

You know a lot of tough plays that you know, we couldn't get to a loose ball, you know, things like that, and oftentimes that's the difference. So but overall, I thought, you know, the first three and a half quarters of the very very good, so obviously we have to close out better.

Yeah. And the other thing is the Knicks really fight, scratch and claw for baskets. They really do. They work their tails off. They play hard every night. Did you notice last night how often the Lakers they get kind of easy hoops, like it's not a very good set, they don't quite look organized, and they just get baskets. And again last night, just like, hey, Gay, Vince, it's open, take a shot. Lebron talked about that after the winning overtime, about just everybody on this roster. Luca and Lebron are the stars. Everybody matters, though.

Yeah. And the other thing is the Knicks really fight, scratch and claw for baskets. They really do. They work their tails off. They play hard every night. Did you notice last night how often the Lakers they get kind of easy hoops, like it's not a very good set, they don't quite look organized, and they just get baskets. And again last night, just like, hey, Gay, Vince, it's open, take a shot. Lebron talked about that after the winning overtime, about just everybody on this roster. Luca and Lebron are the stars. Everybody matters, though.

There's no such thing as non and key players on this team. Everybody is key, you know, and everybody steps on the floor has a row and they and they go in and master that. And I thought, I thought that beans Gate was a great lift once again. And Gabe was you know, single him out. He was spectacular, you know, has played both on the defensive end. And obviously we are shooting and we need it.

There's no such thing as non and key players on this team. Everybody is key, you know, and everybody steps on the floor has a row and they and they go in and master that. And I thought, I thought that beans Gate was a great lift once again. And Gabe was you know, single him out. He was spectacular, you know, has played both on the defensive end. And obviously we are shooting and we need it.

So we'll get a little bit of a pre you potentially of the NBA Finals. I have Boston. I think they're gonna meet either the Lakers are okay see in the finals. But this idea, Charles Barkley, I'm sorry. Lakers are good, they're more interesting Lebron and Luca is magical. It's only getting better. Luca is still not shooting great. He's still he was so inactive for so long. I don't think he has his legs quite under him. Yet. He looks a little lighter, a little quicker than he did a week ago. That's what I can see. Not shooting great. He's having trouble first step getting quite as open as he used to. But he's Luca and he's a savant offensively. But this thing's only getting better. They're going nowhere. I mean again, Rui's not playing Austin Reeves, not one hundred percent. It's working, Okay. So I feel like I've led with these two guys for the past week. So now let's get the Steph Curry and this is the way. You know, don't forget. You want to know the tours that made so much money last year, Bruce Springsteen, Madonna and the Rolling Stones. You guys can put the old ones to bed. But once again, there's a reason that when Lebron and Steph play on like Christmas or in a big Saturday night game, it's the highest rated game of the year. These guys are still great. Sometimes they get bored, sometimes they're not pushed. I felt Lebron and Ad kind of like treadmill to nowhere. But now you give Steph Jimmy Butler and the show is back. If you didn't see it last night, he had forty they won again. Third game four nights. Steph with a bad ankle, but he still put on a show. He do have it at single digits, and that was the goal when you were down twenty two Steph from mid court. Did he coast him on that too? Oh? My goodness, carry from forty five feet. Yeah, this dude's amazing. What did he just do? Every night this week? Different city, putting on a show, and listen the showmanship Warriors are back. Oklahoma Saidy's really good. It's about defense. Boston's really good. It's about roster construction. The Nuggets are about fundamentals, and the Caves are about efficiency. Warriors are about the show. And the NBA has always been better when it's got a show. It can be the Heatles, it can be Shaq and Kobe, Katie and Steph. But were you going to watch Steph play halfway through that game last night? Those Brooklyn fans, they weren't rooting for the Nets, they were Steph fans, and fans show up early to watch his warm ups. That's what a star is. You always feel like you're two to four seconds away from seeing one of the greatest plays in basketball history. And you know, I'm watching him last night. And we love to bury the old guys, and they always have something left in the tank. They always do. I mean, Jason Tatum had thirty four points last night, and nobody outside of Woosta cares Steph's playing Brooklyn and New York City's a buzz and here is Steve Kerr after.

So we'll get a little bit of a pre you potentially of the NBA Finals. I have Boston. I think they're gonna meet either the Lakers are okay see in the finals. But this idea, Charles Barkley, I'm sorry. Lakers are good, they're more interesting Lebron and Luca is magical. It's only getting better. Luca is still not shooting great. He's still he was so inactive for so long. I don't think he has his legs quite under him. Yet. He looks a little lighter, a little quicker than he did a week ago. That's what I can see. Not shooting great. He's having trouble first step getting quite as open as he used to. But he's Luca and he's a savant offensively. But this thing's only getting better. They're going nowhere. I mean again, Rui's not playing Austin Reeves, not one hundred percent. It's working, Okay. So I feel like I've led with these two guys for the past week. So now let's get the Steph Curry and this is the way. You know, don't forget. You want to know the tours that made so much money last year, Bruce Springsteen, Madonna and the Rolling Stones. You guys can put the old ones to bed. But once again, there's a reason that when Lebron and Steph play on like Christmas or in a big Saturday night game, it's the highest rated game of the year. These guys are still great. Sometimes they get bored, sometimes they're not pushed. I felt Lebron and Ad kind of like treadmill to nowhere. But now you give Steph Jimmy Butler and the show is back. If you didn't see it last night, he had forty they won again. Third game four nights. Steph with a bad ankle, but he still put on a show. He do have it at single digits, and that was the goal when you were down twenty two Steph from mid court. Did he coast him on that too? Oh? My goodness, carry from forty five feet. Yeah, this dude's amazing. What did he just do? Every night this week? Different city, putting on a show, and listen the showmanship Warriors are back. Oklahoma Saidy's really good. It's about defense. Boston's really good. It's about roster construction. The Nuggets are about fundamentals, and the Caves are about efficiency. Warriors are about the show. And the NBA has always been better when it's got a show. It can be the Heatles, it can be Shaq and Kobe, Katie and Steph. But were you going to watch Steph play halfway through that game last night? Those Brooklyn fans, they weren't rooting for the Nets, they were Steph fans, and fans show up early to watch his warm ups. That's what a star is. You always feel like you're two to four seconds away from seeing one of the greatest plays in basketball history. And you know, I'm watching him last night. And we love to bury the old guys, and they always have something left in the tank. They always do. I mean, Jason Tatum had thirty four points last night, and nobody outside of Woosta cares Steph's playing Brooklyn and New York City's a buzz and here is Steve Kerr after.

Steph just had an incredible trip, put on a show at every city. What he does this, it's amazing, just the show that he puts on, the joy that he brings to so many fans who are coming to see him play in all these different cities. You know, every every fan base loves Steph, you know, and it's there's a reason he's He's an incredible performer.

Steph just had an incredible trip, put on a show at every city. What he does this, it's amazing, just the show that he puts on, the joy that he brings to so many fans who are coming to see him play in all these different cities. You know, every every fan base loves Steph, you know, and it's there's a reason he's He's an incredible performer.

It's very rare that. Here's the Michael Jordan quality with Steph Curry is everybody loved Michael. I mean, yeah, and Detroit maybe your primary rival, but I mean I covered him when I was in Portland. I saw him play live four or five times. I saw his last game in Portland as a wizard. Halfway through the game, you were just rooting for Michael to do something amazing. And that's what Steph Curry is. And that is absolut what Steph Curry is. You just feel like you're a moment away from an all time YouTube clip. And both Lebron and Steph have been energized because of smart moves by the front office. Just like the NFL, the great players are largely beholden to the guys upstairs making sure they construct a real team, additives not liabilities. It is great for the NBA. J Mack, we were going to go to that thing. I had a little meeting, but I gotta watch it and the show is back for the Warriors. You know, it's funny. A month ago, before the Jimmy Butler thing, I had said on the air, I'd said, if Steph's not on the floor, they're one of the most boring teams in the league. Isn't it amazing by just adding one player, And by the way, Butler's not necessarily a similating but he has created this sort of joyfulness for Steph. Now they're back to being the show that you can't you can't wait for the games.

It's very rare that. Here's the Michael Jordan quality with Steph Curry is everybody loved Michael. I mean, yeah, and Detroit maybe your primary rival, but I mean I covered him when I was in Portland. I saw him play live four or five times. I saw his last game in Portland as a wizard. Halfway through the game, you were just rooting for Michael to do something amazing. And that's what Steph Curry is. And that is absolut what Steph Curry is. You just feel like you're a moment away from an all time YouTube clip. And both Lebron and Steph have been energized because of smart moves by the front office. Just like the NFL, the great players are largely beholden to the guys upstairs making sure they construct a real team, additives not liabilities. It is great for the NBA. J Mack, we were going to go to that thing. I had a little meeting, but I gotta watch it and the show is back for the Warriors. You know, it's funny. A month ago, before the Jimmy Butler thing, I had said on the air, I'd said, if Steph's not on the floor, they're one of the most boring teams in the league. Isn't it amazing by just adding one player, And by the way, Butler's not necessarily a similating but he has created this sort of joyfulness for Steph. Now they're back to being the show that you can't you can't wait for the games.

It is nice to see a rejuvenated Courreer a rejuvenated Lebron. They're probably both going to be first team All NBA again this year. Like Lebron is legitimately in the MVP discussion, he probably won't win it because the media loves SGA in Oklahoma City's winning like seventy games.

It is nice to see a rejuvenated Courreer a rejuvenated Lebron. They're probably both going to be first team All NBA again this year. Like Lebron is legitimately in the MVP discussion, he probably won't win it because the media loves SGA in Oklahoma City's winning like seventy games.

But Lebron and Curry just it's just fun.

But Lebron and Curry just it's just fun.

Man.

Man.

It feels like an extension from the Olympics. Remember how they were like the superstars on the team, the old guys. It feels like an extension in any I think they could probably get both going to meet in the Western Conference finals.

It feels like an extension from the Olympics. Remember how they were like the superstars on the team, the old guys. It feels like an extension in any I think they could probably get both going to meet in the Western Conference finals.

And this is a prime example. We've talked about this, the Jason Tatum stuff this week. When you put Jason Tatum around all those old stars, he shrinks. When you put lebron In staph around the stars, howe they're motivated, they want to show off to the kids. So a lot of times with these older star players far into this in Minnesota, he just needed to be inspired. You know, you forget these guys. An NBA life is not just the games. It's shoot around. It's at the hotel at three am. It is slogging in a winter league to a hotel trying to get sleep. You get up, shoot around breakfast. It's repetition, it's tedium, it's getting taped. It's it's a lot of film. It's a lot of tape. It's a lot of boring. It's like being an attorney. You know, you watch Perry Mason, or you watch La Law Corbyn Berntsen, You're like, I want to be an attorney. Ninety percent of cases don't go in front of a judge. You're settling out of court. You think you know no, I mean being an attorney. It's not like on television. It is a lot. It's it's accounting, it's it's just a lot of minutia. And that's what the NBA stars they love. They love playing, but ninety percent of this league is not playing. So the lebrons and the staffs, it's tedium. It's a lot of boredom. And if you give them jet fuel, it's like they're like different players in the last three weeks.

And this is a prime example. We've talked about this, the Jason Tatum stuff this week. When you put Jason Tatum around all those old stars, he shrinks. When you put lebron In staph around the stars, howe they're motivated, they want to show off to the kids. So a lot of times with these older star players far into this in Minnesota, he just needed to be inspired. You know, you forget these guys. An NBA life is not just the games. It's shoot around. It's at the hotel at three am. It is slogging in a winter league to a hotel trying to get sleep. You get up, shoot around breakfast. It's repetition, it's tedium, it's getting taped. It's it's a lot of film. It's a lot of tape. It's a lot of boring. It's like being an attorney. You know, you watch Perry Mason, or you watch La Law Corbyn Berntsen, You're like, I want to be an attorney. Ninety percent of cases don't go in front of a judge. You're settling out of court. You think you know no, I mean being an attorney. It's not like on television. It is a lot. It's it's accounting, it's it's just a lot of minutia. And that's what the NBA stars they love. They love playing, but ninety percent of this league is not playing. So the lebrons and the staffs, it's tedium. It's a lot of boredom. And if you give them jet fuel, it's like they're like different players in the last three weeks.

Imagine if the Lakers came to you and said, Colin, we want you to experience seventy two hours with the Lakers. You're on the flight, you're in the film room, nutrition, weightlifting, shoot around.

Imagine if the Lakers came to you and said, Colin, we want you to experience seventy two hours with the Lakers. You're on the flight, you're in the film room, nutrition, weightlifting, shoot around.

Would you do that?

Would you do that?

I think that'd be like the most fun thing ever.

I think that'd be like the most fun thing ever.

I tried doing it for twenty two years in a row.

I tried doing it for twenty two years in a row.

Right, you're not digging ditches, that's for sure, relative to the average person.

Right, you're not digging ditches, that's for sure, relative to the average person.

But I for superstars, it is hard to get on that treadmill every day fighting for a playing game. Yeah, for sure. If you feel like owning a home is out of reach, Rocket is here to give you the keys back to that dream. They think everybody deserves a shot at it own the dream. Visit Rocket dot com call eight hundred and four Rocket.

But I for superstars, it is hard to get on that treadmill every day fighting for a playing game. Yeah, for sure. If you feel like owning a home is out of reach, Rocket is here to give you the keys back to that dream. They think everybody deserves a shot at it own the dream. Visit Rocket dot com call eight hundred and four Rocket.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays and neon Eastern non a em Pacific on Fox Sports Radio FS one and the iHeartRadio.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays and neon Eastern non a em Pacific on Fox Sports Radio FS one and the iHeartRadio.

App HI Welcome back. Finally, Mark Cuban is addressing the you know, disastrous trade that Nico Harris and the GM made to you know, Nico Harris and the gym of the MAVs should get consideration to the Basketball Hall of Fame for special contributions to the game. I mean, the Lakers now have revitalized the NBA, which had gone through a couple years of soft ratings and uninteresting a lot of international stars. Who's the face of the league. Well now now the Warriors, the Celtics, the Nicks, the war You know, you got big cities now engaged. And here's Mark Cuban on the trade.

App HI Welcome back. Finally, Mark Cuban is addressing the you know, disastrous trade that Nico Harris and the GM made to you know, Nico Harris and the gym of the MAVs should get consideration to the Basketball Hall of Fame for special contributions to the game. I mean, the Lakers now have revitalized the NBA, which had gone through a couple years of soft ratings and uninteresting a lot of international stars. Who's the face of the league. Well now now the Warriors, the Celtics, the Nicks, the war You know, you got big cities now engaged. And here's Mark Cuban on the trade.

If the MAVs are going to trade Luca, that's one thing. Just get a better deal. You know, no disrespect to Anthony Davis, but you know, get three. If I still fir and believe if we had gotten four unprotected number ones and Anthony Davis and Max Christy.

If the MAVs are going to trade Luca, that's one thing. Just get a better deal. You know, no disrespect to Anthony Davis, but you know, get three. If I still fir and believe if we had gotten four unprotected number ones and Anthony Davis and Max Christy.

This would be a different conversation.

This would be a different conversation.

Would you ever have traded Luka Doncic I'm not going to go there. It's not it doesn't even matter.

Would you ever have traded Luka Doncic I'm not going to go there. It's not it doesn't even matter.

Okay, So when Jimmy Johnson won the trade trading herschel Walker to the Vikings, it wasn't just that they gave up herschel Walker. They got eight draft picks. So it's not just about the hull, it's the yield, and they hit on their draft picks. I have no problems selling the mansion. You gotta get a windfall back. You got to get flexibility. Oklahoma City moved on of Harden and Westbrook and they get draft picks. That's why Oklahoma City and Sam Presci for the last several years have had the most flexibility in the league. You have to move off stars. The Chiefs moved off Tyreek Hill. It happens, Bengals are going to move off an edge rusher. I wouldn't, but if you're going to do that, you want to put yourself in a position to get flexibility. I have no when when the Pelicans moved off a d they got Brandon Ingram, they got Josh Hart, but they got three first round picks, and one of those was Zion. If Zion would have remained healthy, because he was great when he entered the league, he was he had Wilt Chamberlain numbers. If he would have remained healthy and had his diet and body together, you wouldn't even remember a D because Zion's game's more exciting. So I don't mind moving players three first round picks a D. Austin reeves, I wouldn't do it, but I don't think it would get lamented because you know, I mean, Luca wasn't in shape. He was heard he'd missed back to back camps. He's an awful to player. You're even seeing now he's still not in great shape, but he's been in Los Angeles. Kind of the tutelage of JJ Reddick and Lebron, guys who have always been in great shape when they played or if they're coaching. So it's just you got to get some Danny Ainge has moved off stars, always gets flexibility. Sam Presty, same thing. That's because now they have the I think the MAVs are best off not playing ad, not playing anybody and just getting a better pick. Try to get a top ten twelve pick. You're not going to get into the lottery. You got too many wins. But I would just try to get try to salvage it because you don't control a lot of your future picks. You got your one first round of this year, and it's a pretty good draft. It's a very domestic draft. I mean, by the way, you tanked a couple of years ago and got the kid from Duke who's a very good player. Now you got fine for it, but you did a soft tank. So I mean, it happens in the NBA. But to get no flexibility and less of a player, that's how you get fired.

Okay, So when Jimmy Johnson won the trade trading herschel Walker to the Vikings, it wasn't just that they gave up herschel Walker. They got eight draft picks. So it's not just about the hull, it's the yield, and they hit on their draft picks. I have no problems selling the mansion. You gotta get a windfall back. You got to get flexibility. Oklahoma City moved on of Harden and Westbrook and they get draft picks. That's why Oklahoma City and Sam Presci for the last several years have had the most flexibility in the league. You have to move off stars. The Chiefs moved off Tyreek Hill. It happens, Bengals are going to move off an edge rusher. I wouldn't, but if you're going to do that, you want to put yourself in a position to get flexibility. I have no when when the Pelicans moved off a d they got Brandon Ingram, they got Josh Hart, but they got three first round picks, and one of those was Zion. If Zion would have remained healthy, because he was great when he entered the league, he was he had Wilt Chamberlain numbers. If he would have remained healthy and had his diet and body together, you wouldn't even remember a D because Zion's game's more exciting. So I don't mind moving players three first round picks a D. Austin reeves, I wouldn't do it, but I don't think it would get lamented because you know, I mean, Luca wasn't in shape. He was heard he'd missed back to back camps. He's an awful to player. You're even seeing now he's still not in great shape, but he's been in Los Angeles. Kind of the tutelage of JJ Reddick and Lebron, guys who have always been in great shape when they played or if they're coaching. So it's just you got to get some Danny Ainge has moved off stars, always gets flexibility. Sam Presty, same thing. That's because now they have the I think the MAVs are best off not playing ad, not playing anybody and just getting a better pick. Try to get a top ten twelve pick. You're not going to get into the lottery. You got too many wins. But I would just try to get try to salvage it because you don't control a lot of your future picks. You got your one first round of this year, and it's a pretty good draft. It's a very domestic draft. I mean, by the way, you tanked a couple of years ago and got the kid from Duke who's a very good player. Now you got fine for it, but you did a soft tank. So I mean, it happens in the NBA. But to get no flexibility and less of a player, that's how you get fired.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays and noon Easter, not a Empacific.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays and noon Easter, not a Empacific.

So I sometimes it's funny. So yesterday I saw that I was trending and I laughed. Of course I was trending because of what I said about Jason Tatum. So I've never had a topic where I just give you data and fax and one city is more outraged. I don't even understand it. Yesterday I said, you know they're ten and two. When he doesn't play, that's not an opinion. I said they score eight points more a game when he doesn't play. That's not an opinion. The field goal percentage, the net rating, the three point percentage, all goes up when Jason Tatum doesn't play. Those aren't opinions. In the Eastern Conference Finals, in the NBA Finals, Jalen Brown was the MVP, not Tatum. That's not an opinion. In the Olympics, the second to last game against Serbia, coach's decision they wouldn't play him. In the gold medal game, he had two points. These are not opinions. You are trying to make him Yokich, Jannie Stephan, Lebron, and Luca I'm not. I'm just saying he's not in that class. And all the numbers prove it. I mean, and by the way, you know who else proves it. Shoe companies Lebron, steph Katie and John Morant have their own brand. Tatum doesn't. He's got a shoe under Michael's brand. So the Olympics, what did it prove he shrinks against with great players around Eastern Conference Finals, what did it prove? What's production data prove when he doesn't play. I'm not saying he's not a star. At the NBA at any one time has two superstars, maybe three, and then about twelve stars. I'm just saying he's not in the three, he's in the twelve, and people are outraged by it. I think it's you know, that's why the face This all started with the face of the league stuff, and I think in terms of face of the league, he's more Tim Duncan, where he's efficient, productive, good guy, excellent player, can win you championships, but there's not a lot of aura there. There's not a lot of personality. I don't think that's a criticism. So you're the one trying to get me to compare him to superstars. Has a lot of good soccer players and not a lot of messies. And Ronaldo's at any one time the world's got two of them. Now the world's got fifteen other great soccer stars. But at any one time in bape Messe Ronaldo, it's got about three superstars, global stars, and this is a global league and Tatum's not a global star. I've said this before, is that we talk about Michael Jordan, he hasn't played forever. We talk about Magic and Bird and doctor j. You know who we don't talk about, Tim Duncan, Karl Malone. They're great players. Jason Tatum's gonna retire four years later, there'll be no Jason Tatum talk doesn't mean he's not great. You're the one jamming him in to this global elite group. And I'm just saying numbers don't prove it. You know, do you know what his nickname is?

So I sometimes it's funny. So yesterday I saw that I was trending and I laughed. Of course I was trending because of what I said about Jason Tatum. So I've never had a topic where I just give you data and fax and one city is more outraged. I don't even understand it. Yesterday I said, you know they're ten and two. When he doesn't play, that's not an opinion. I said they score eight points more a game when he doesn't play. That's not an opinion. The field goal percentage, the net rating, the three point percentage, all goes up when Jason Tatum doesn't play. Those aren't opinions. In the Eastern Conference Finals, in the NBA Finals, Jalen Brown was the MVP, not Tatum. That's not an opinion. In the Olympics, the second to last game against Serbia, coach's decision they wouldn't play him. In the gold medal game, he had two points. These are not opinions. You are trying to make him Yokich, Jannie Stephan, Lebron, and Luca I'm not. I'm just saying he's not in that class. And all the numbers prove it. I mean, and by the way, you know who else proves it. Shoe companies Lebron, steph Katie and John Morant have their own brand. Tatum doesn't. He's got a shoe under Michael's brand. So the Olympics, what did it prove he shrinks against with great players around Eastern Conference Finals, what did it prove? What's production data prove when he doesn't play. I'm not saying he's not a star. At the NBA at any one time has two superstars, maybe three, and then about twelve stars. I'm just saying he's not in the three, he's in the twelve, and people are outraged by it. I think it's you know, that's why the face This all started with the face of the league stuff, and I think in terms of face of the league, he's more Tim Duncan, where he's efficient, productive, good guy, excellent player, can win you championships, but there's not a lot of aura there. There's not a lot of personality. I don't think that's a criticism. So you're the one trying to get me to compare him to superstars. Has a lot of good soccer players and not a lot of messies. And Ronaldo's at any one time the world's got two of them. Now the world's got fifteen other great soccer stars. But at any one time in bape Messe Ronaldo, it's got about three superstars, global stars, and this is a global league and Tatum's not a global star. I've said this before, is that we talk about Michael Jordan, he hasn't played forever. We talk about Magic and Bird and doctor j. You know who we don't talk about, Tim Duncan, Karl Malone. They're great players. Jason Tatum's gonna retire four years later, there'll be no Jason Tatum talk doesn't mean he's not great. You're the one jamming him in to this global elite group. And I'm just saying numbers don't prove it. You know, do you know what his nickname is?

So?

So?

The NBA Twitter is a thing, and they make up nicknames all the time. This year they've given seven new players nicknames. I didn't. I'm just going to tell you what the nickname was. His nickname. Tatum's nickname the Anomaly. That's that's the nickname they gave him, the Anomaly. Does that sound like it would sell shoes? So so, so, I think his nickname should be the Password because he's commonly forgotten. But I'm going to get shots for that. I threw a couple up there. All Right, we're being snarky, but I would we're just being snarky. We can have fun, right as an entertainment.

The NBA Twitter is a thing, and they make up nicknames all the time. This year they've given seven new players nicknames. I didn't. I'm just going to tell you what the nickname was. His nickname. Tatum's nickname the Anomaly. That's that's the nickname they gave him, the Anomaly. Does that sound like it would sell shoes? So so, so, I think his nickname should be the Password because he's commonly forgotten. But I'm going to get shots for that. I threw a couple up there. All Right, we're being snarky, but I would we're just being snarky. We can have fun, right as an entertainment.

You need to read those out loud for the radio audience because they're so disrespectful.

You need to read those out loud for the radio audience because they're so disrespectful.

The miss army Knife. The last one is terrible seventy five cent. He misses in the fourth you know missing.

The miss army Knife. The last one is terrible seventy five cent. He misses in the fourth you know missing.

I know, I know who's work that is.

I know, I know who's work that is.

I'm familiar with the somebody on our staff thought they were.

I'm familiar with the somebody on our staff thought they were.

I know he's a funny guy.

I know he's a funny guy.

But listen, whatever you can tell it is so disrespectful. But the people are putting him in this Rinaldo MESSI class. I'm just saying he's more Wayne Rooney. Okay, I'm just saying he is great. Wayne Rooney was the biggest star in England. But he's not Messy.

But listen, whatever you can tell it is so disrespectful. But the people are putting him in this Rinaldo MESSI class. I'm just saying he's more Wayne Rooney. Okay, I'm just saying he is great. Wayne Rooney was the biggest star in England. But he's not Messy.

So he's a second tier star at the end.

So he's a second tier star at the end.

My whole life, the NBA's had Like when I was a kid growing up, Doctor j was a star, George McGinnis was. I can name twenty guys that were great. And by the way, Shaq and Kobe were stars. Okay, those were superstars.

My whole life, the NBA's had Like when I was a kid growing up, Doctor j was a star, George McGinnis was. I can name twenty guys that were great. And by the way, Shaq and Kobe were stars. Okay, those were superstars.

Okay, so your top tier stars right now, Yannis Curry.

Okay, so your top tier stars right now, Yannis Curry.

But the top superstars globally Stephen Lebron are one and two.

But the top superstars globally Stephen Lebron are one and two.

Right.

Right.

I think Luca now that he's with the Lakers, that elevates his brand probably twenty five thirty percent. That's a superstar. Jannis is classic. Yannis is much more like Duncan, where the NBA playoffs four years ago, when he was the best player in the league, they put him on a noon game. Okay, the NBA shoe company tell you if you're a star. Shoe companies tell you he doesn't have his own brand. John Morant does. Now Jahn Morant blew it because of his immaturity. But the leak. All these shoe companies are like Steph Lebron, MJ. They saw John Morant and go that is a sizzle.

I think Luca now that he's with the Lakers, that elevates his brand probably twenty five thirty percent. That's a superstar. Jannis is classic. Yannis is much more like Duncan, where the NBA playoffs four years ago, when he was the best player in the league, they put him on a noon game. Okay, the NBA shoe company tell you if you're a star. Shoe companies tell you he doesn't have his own brand. John Morant does. Now Jahn Morant blew it because of his immaturity. But the leak. All these shoe companies are like Steph Lebron, MJ. They saw John Morant and go that is a sizzle.

So so Anthony Edwards is a bigger star than Jason Tatum?

So so Anthony Edwards is a bigger star than Jason Tatum?

Is that?

Is that?

What is that fair? No, they're both stars. Neither one of those are global icons. They're not.

What is that fair? No, they're both stars. Neither one of those are global icons. They're not.

Yeah, I would agree with they're not.

Yeah, I would agree with they're not.

And by the way, Yo Kitchen is closer to Tim Duncan than Lebron.

And by the way, Yo Kitchen is closer to Tim Duncan than Lebron.

If you're Jason Tatum and I say a global icon, who cares.

If you're Jason Tatum and I say a global icon, who cares.

I'm a winner.

I'm a winner.

I go to the Eastern Conference finals of the NBA Finals every damn year.

I go to the Eastern Conference finals of the NBA Finals every damn year.

That's what every guy in Woosta is saying today. And I'm good with it.

That's what every guy in Woosta is saying today. And I'm good with it.

Yeah, and you know what else, there are ninety five percent of the league would kill to be in the finals.

Yeah, and you know what else, there are ninety five percent of the league would kill to be in the finals.

Tatum, I agree to win, and I agree with that too. Yeah. The argument is people are offended when I get them actual data that the team is ten and two without him and offensively net rating field goal three point points.

Tatum, I agree to win, and I agree with that too. Yeah. The argument is people are offended when I get them actual data that the team is ten and two without him and offensively net rating field goal three point points.

That might be that he took off games against crap teams and the Celtics are gonna smoke.

That might be that he took off games against crap teams and the Celtics are gonna smoke.

Him any or it could be the truth.

Him any or it could be the truth.

I mean, what about his fifty one burger in Game seven?

I mean, what about his fifty one burger in Game seven?

Oh?

Oh?

You forgot about that? One?

You forgot about that? One?

Game six in Milwaukee had like forty five. I'll never forget and listen. I don't even like the Celtics. In fact, I hate all Boston teams because I'm from New York. I love Jason Tatum. A lot of Lakers fans, by the way, thought Jason Tatum would be a Laker at some point because he's like mister coch.

Game six in Milwaukee had like forty five. I'll never forget and listen. I don't even like the Celtics. In fact, I hate all Boston teams because I'm from New York. I love Jason Tatum. A lot of Lakers fans, by the way, thought Jason Tatum would be a Laker at some point because he's like mister coch.

This this is the classic. I'm adding contextualization. You viewed as hate, Like I said, brock Purty, I'd pen forty million.

This this is the classic. I'm adding contextualization. You viewed as hate, Like I said, brock Purty, I'd pen forty million.

Wait don't you think you were trending yesterday because of the hate.

Wait don't you think you were trending yesterday because of the hate.

No, that's not my issue. I'm just telling.

No, that's not my issue. I'm just telling.

I'm just if you're a glazing Jason Tatum, it would not have gone viral and got two million views or whatever. Right if you're saying he's really great. But if you're taking some shots at him saying he's not a globe, no, like I said, there are no shots.

I'm just if you're a glazing Jason Tatum, it would not have gone viral and got two million views or whatever. Right if you're saying he's really great. But if you're taking some shots at him saying he's not a globe, no, like I said, there are no shots.

There are no shots. He's closer to Duncan Karl Malone, who we don't talk about. They retired two minutes later. They're not a topic. Dominique Wilkins retires. By the way, Dominique Wilkins never made the Dream Team. Great player, never made the Dream Team, ever made the Bully. But Scotty Pippen did because Scottie Pippen was Robin to batman on the world's best team. Scotty, I mean, so again, Scotty Pippen is one of those players. He's not as good as Tatum. Tatum's better than Scotty Pitchen. Oh no, no, well, Scotty's good. But the difference is Michael, they were the rolling Stones that the Bulls were this un the biggest basketball brand I think in my lifetime. They were the only team that surpassed any Celtic team or any Laker team was Michael Jordan.

There are no shots. He's closer to Duncan Karl Malone, who we don't talk about. They retired two minutes later. They're not a topic. Dominique Wilkins retires. By the way, Dominique Wilkins never made the Dream Team. Great player, never made the Dream Team, ever made the Bully. But Scotty Pippen did because Scottie Pippen was Robin to batman on the world's best team. Scotty, I mean, so again, Scotty Pippen is one of those players. He's not as good as Tatum. Tatum's better than Scotty Pitchen. Oh no, no, well, Scotty's good. But the difference is Michael, they were the rolling Stones that the Bulls were this un the biggest basketball brand I think in my lifetime. They were the only team that surpassed any Celtic team or any Laker team was Michael Jordan.

You could argue that modern teams right now, with the global reachs of social media and TV games, that the teams now are way.

You could argue that modern teams right now, with the global reachs of social media and TV games, that the teams now are way.

More popular than they were in the I'm just saying relative to the era and so that this idea about Jason Tatum, I'm just giving you data. Don't let facts get in the way of feelings. I'm just giving you the data points you're getting worked up over it. I'm just saying, he's not lebron He's not Steph he's not Messy, he's not Ronaldo, he's not Peley in his prime, you know. I mean, he's not Madonna or Bruce or the Stones. He would be he would be a multi Grammy winning band Weezer.

More popular than they were in the I'm just saying relative to the era and so that this idea about Jason Tatum, I'm just giving you data. Don't let facts get in the way of feelings. I'm just giving you the data points you're getting worked up over it. I'm just saying, he's not lebron He's not Steph he's not Messy, he's not Ronaldo, he's not Peley in his prime, you know. I mean, he's not Madonna or Bruce or the Stones. He would be he would be a multi Grammy winning band Weezer.

I love we First better than Weezer, really good.

I love we First better than Weezer, really good.

Okay, come on, I love Tatum and yesterday I said he he reminds me a little of Clay Thompson. Again, he's better than Clay Thompson. But Clay Thompson played alongside a player who often in the biggest games, Clay Thompson felt like the second best player. Good God, every time Jalen and tATu Murney this big series last year, it was Brown taking the shots. Now, I think Tatum's better than Jalen Brown, not as much as people think. I think it's closer than you think. But Tatum's better. But just it's not perfectly analogous, but I do think he's got more of a Karl Malone Tim Duncan. Joki is fascinating because he's easily the best player in the league and he has no brand and doesn't want any one. So Tatum wants it.

Okay, come on, I love Tatum and yesterday I said he he reminds me a little of Clay Thompson. Again, he's better than Clay Thompson. But Clay Thompson played alongside a player who often in the biggest games, Clay Thompson felt like the second best player. Good God, every time Jalen and tATu Murney this big series last year, it was Brown taking the shots. Now, I think Tatum's better than Jalen Brown, not as much as people think. I think it's closer than you think. But Tatum's better. But just it's not perfectly analogous, but I do think he's got more of a Karl Malone Tim Duncan. Joki is fascinating because he's easily the best player in the league and he has no brand and doesn't want any one. So Tatum wants it.

Well, how do you know he wants it?

Well, how do you know he wants it?

Tatum has said I check all the boxes. Like last week in the story he said I could be the face of the league. I mean, you know what's funny about it? If I'll give you an example, go back to Duke. So when he was at Duke, Jason Tatum, did he lead him in scoring? No? Wasn't it Luke Kennard. What was he the most talked about player? No, that was Grayson Allen Well who was the star? Mike Sherzewsky, he was the four on Duke. No, I mean no, No, Grayson Allen was the most controversial and talked about. I think I don't think he was the leading scorer and ss Chefsky was always the star of Duke.

Tatum has said I check all the boxes. Like last week in the story he said I could be the face of the league. I mean, you know what's funny about it? If I'll give you an example, go back to Duke. So when he was at Duke, Jason Tatum, did he lead him in scoring? No? Wasn't it Luke Kennard. What was he the most talked about player? No, that was Grayson Allen Well who was the star? Mike Sherzewsky, he was the four on Duke. No, I mean no, No, Grayson Allen was the most controversial and talked about. I think I don't think he was the leading scorer and ss Chefsky was always the star of Duke.

Yeah, I don't totally.

Yeah, I don't totally.

All I remember is coach k is the last guy to stop Jason Tatum basically couldn't get out of opening weekend in the NCAA Tournament.

All I remember is coach k is the last guy to stop Jason Tatum basically couldn't get out of opening weekend in the NCAA Tournament.

I remember that brutal law. Take a break.

I remember that brutal law. Take a break.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays and neon eastern non am Pacific.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays and neon eastern non am Pacific.

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.

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.

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.

We talk about everything life, sports, relationships, what's.

Going on in the world.

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

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.

I mean that says something, right.

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.

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.

Most interactive show on planetar.

Most interactive show on planetar.

Be sure to check out Covino and Rich live on Fox Sports Radio and 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 non 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 and 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 non Rich wherever you get your podcasts, and of course on social media that's Cavino and Rich.

Ryan Day the Ohio State Buckeyes national champs favorite next year as well as joining US Live. You know, I was thinking about this this morning. I was thinking about this years ago. Mike Krzyzewski when they did the one and done he didn't like it, and then I asked him about it and he goes, I didn't like it. And then three years in I realized I was losing to all these one and done guys. So maybe it's time for me not to be stubborn. Your sport, Ryan has become incredibly transient. I means just what it is. Was there a moment when it all came down the hill transfer portal Nil? Was there a moment where you said this is a I don't know if I like this is it? We're gonna just do high school guys? Or did you buy into it? Ten minutes in?

Ryan Day the Ohio State Buckeyes national champs favorite next year as well as joining US Live. You know, I was thinking about this this morning. I was thinking about this years ago. Mike Krzyzewski when they did the one and done he didn't like it, and then I asked him about it and he goes, I didn't like it. And then three years in I realized I was losing to all these one and done guys. So maybe it's time for me not to be stubborn. Your sport, Ryan has become incredibly transient. I means just what it is. Was there a moment when it all came down the hill transfer portal Nil? Was there a moment where you said this is a I don't know if I like this is it? We're gonna just do high school guys? Or did you buy into it? Ten minutes in?

I mean, I I you know there's still things going on that I throw my hands up right now. You know, there's so many changes I think about you know, the nil, the transfer portal, the conference realignment with eighteen teams, so now you know in the Big Ten we travel.

I mean, I I you know there's still things going on that I throw my hands up right now. You know, there's so many changes I think about you know, the nil, the transfer portal, the conference realignment with eighteen teams, so now you know in the Big Ten we travel.

To the West Coast. Then you have the playoff change.

To the West Coast. Then you have the playoff change.

Like just just those four things, those are just four things that have all happened. Those are like major, major changes. So you just had to be comfortable being uncomfortable in solving it and getting it because nobody cares, like there's all kinds of things that happened, you know, in the last month or so that you know, after our game we can get into later, but nobody cares about Like what matters is putting your talent, you know, a talent accusation on the field, and putting them together and putting a team together. So as much those things have changed, to me, I felt with this team it was about the kind of timeless principles of hard work and sacrifice.

Like just just those four things, those are just four things that have all happened. Those are like major, major changes. So you just had to be comfortable being uncomfortable in solving it and getting it because nobody cares, like there's all kinds of things that happened, you know, in the last month or so that you know, after our game we can get into later, but nobody cares about Like what matters is putting your talent, you know, a talent accusation on the field, and putting them together and putting a team together. So as much those things have changed, to me, I felt with this team it was about the kind of timeless principles of hard work and sacrifice.

And loyalty and resilience that separated us.

And loyalty and resilience that separated us.

So I'm a friend of Chip Kelly and he you know, he's told me about your ship for years and years. And I said, I said, I predicted before the season. I said, Ohio State's gonna lose at Autson. I've been in too many games there. You can't hear yourself think, I don't think anybody in the country is going to beat this Oregon team at Dotson. You got close. I said, Ohio State's gonna beat him. They're gonna meet, They're gonna beat it later. And Ohio State's got better personnel and Ohio State's gonna beat him. But one of the things I theorized, I said, Chip Kelly is a real advantage that you're not going to notice until the playoff. He has he knows how to stagger these games because college football now feels like pro football. You can lose late in the season. It's not a death now. It's about staggering. It's about slowly unveiling take our audience into the value of Chip Kelly in that playoff that I can't see, you know, guys like me can't see, but inside your building the additive value that Chip gave you, that had a little NFL field to it.

So I'm a friend of Chip Kelly and he you know, he's told me about your ship for years and years. And I said, I said, I predicted before the season. I said, Ohio State's gonna lose at Autson. I've been in too many games there. You can't hear yourself think, I don't think anybody in the country is going to beat this Oregon team at Dotson. You got close. I said, Ohio State's gonna beat him. They're gonna meet, They're gonna beat it later. And Ohio State's got better personnel and Ohio State's gonna beat him. But one of the things I theorized, I said, Chip Kelly is a real advantage that you're not going to notice until the playoff. He has he knows how to stagger these games because college football now feels like pro football. You can lose late in the season. It's not a death now. It's about staggering. It's about slowly unveiling take our audience into the value of Chip Kelly in that playoff that I can't see, you know, guys like me can't see, but inside your building the additive value that Chip gave you, that had a little NFL field to it.

Well, yeah, well, I think like you said, when you're talking about now sixteen sixteen games in a long season with a playoff format at the end of the year, it starts off with even this time of year, making decisions on how you want to proceed like for instance, we decided to huddle on offense this year. We had never done that. Certainly Chip hadn't done that a lot, you know, with his background in tempo. But but that decision was a huge decision and that you know, we wanted to continue to evolve as the season went on.

Well, yeah, well, I think like you said, when you're talking about now sixteen sixteen games in a long season with a playoff format at the end of the year, it starts off with even this time of year, making decisions on how you want to proceed like for instance, we decided to huddle on offense this year. We had never done that. Certainly Chip hadn't done that a lot, you know, with his background in tempo. But but that decision was a huge decision and that you know, we wanted to continue to evolve as the season went on.

But but then, you know, really have our best football for the end of the year.

But but then, you know, really have our best football for the end of the year.

And I think having the NFL experience, and I would think a lot of teams would tell you, you know, in the NFL and in September, there's you know, sort of the preseason October, they're finding their identity and then by the time they get to November and December, like now, now they're going.

And I think having the NFL experience, and I would think a lot of teams would tell you, you know, in the NFL and in September, there's you know, sort of the preseason October, they're finding their identity and then by the time they get to November and December, like now, now they're going.

To play for for championships and everything's on the line.

To play for for championships and everything's on the line.

And I wouldn't say that that's the way it is in college right now, but it's it's trending towards that, and having somebody that's been in that position before, certainly with his experience in the NFL, it made a big difference.

And I wouldn't say that that's the way it is in college right now, but it's it's trending towards that, and having somebody that's been in that position before, certainly with his experience in the NFL, it made a big difference.

So you have a player, you have two players. And I had said this, I had an NFL general manager tell me a month ago that if Jeremiah Smith and Caleb Downs were in this class, they'd probably be the second and third guys taken. They're unbelievable players, and you guys have done a really good job. And I think this is really hard, especially now you're paying players that you have these superstar players, and yet it felt like such a team. You felt like such a team, your sideline, your body language. Is it harder when you have you know, Ohio State's one of four programs maybe three that gets those guys. When you have literally NFL players they're just not eligible, yet you're paying them. You're not paying everybody big money in the NFL. Everybody's doing fine in college. There's a little gap. Is that hard for you to massage as a coach?

So you have a player, you have two players. And I had said this, I had an NFL general manager tell me a month ago that if Jeremiah Smith and Caleb Downs were in this class, they'd probably be the second and third guys taken. They're unbelievable players, and you guys have done a really good job. And I think this is really hard, especially now you're paying players that you have these superstar players, and yet it felt like such a team. You felt like such a team, your sideline, your body language. Is it harder when you have you know, Ohio State's one of four programs maybe three that gets those guys. When you have literally NFL players they're just not eligible, yet you're paying them. You're not paying everybody big money in the NFL. Everybody's doing fine in college. There's a little gap. Is that hard for you to massage as a coach?

Well, I think it starts with the identific I mean, there's a lot of NFL players that you know aren't in at Ohio State. You know that that maybe just aren't the right fit for for who we are, and so we try to do, you know a great job of identifying, you know, the right people that fit us. You know, there's a lot of great players out there, but what you know, Ohio State's not for everybody, and you know, we try to make sure that we bring in the right folks that fit our culture. Because again, like you said, these guys are making money now, so it's now even more important to bring in the right fit. And then what you say to them in the recruiting process you better follow through with because they can literally walk out the door tomorrow if they wanted to. So you know, it's really forcing everybody to really, I think, follow through with what they talk about on the front end.

Well, I think it starts with the identific I mean, there's a lot of NFL players that you know aren't in at Ohio State. You know that that maybe just aren't the right fit for for who we are, and so we try to do, you know a great job of identifying, you know, the right people that fit us. You know, there's a lot of great players out there, but what you know, Ohio State's not for everybody, and you know, we try to make sure that we bring in the right folks that fit our culture. Because again, like you said, these guys are making money now, so it's now even more important to bring in the right fit. And then what you say to them in the recruiting process you better follow through with because they can literally walk out the door tomorrow if they wanted to. So you know, it's really forcing everybody to really, I think, follow through with what they talk about on the front end.

But then these guys still want to be held accountable, you know, and.

But then these guys still want to be held accountable, you know, and.

Coaching them hard and giving them life lessons and building trust within the building is very very important. And I think you know our fan base and being in Columbus and what comes with that. You know, our guys understand that there's a big obligation when you come to Ohio State what comes with it. So you know, the fact that we were able to overcome some things this year and then prevail on the back end certainly is going to you know, carry over into the season.

Coaching them hard and giving them life lessons and building trust within the building is very very important. And I think you know our fan base and being in Columbus and what comes with that. You know, our guys understand that there's a big obligation when you come to Ohio State what comes with it. So you know, the fact that we were able to overcome some things this year and then prevail on the back end certainly is going to you know, carry over into the season.

You've got a bunch of guys that are going to be very good. I mean, you're really a factory now you've become the best. You know, you guys have done a little bit Alabama did so Saban was a defensive coach, and by the time he left Alabama was known for wide receiver and quarterbacks. Ohio State in my lifetime was running backs, oh linemen, linebackers, and now it's wide receiver. You and I've said this. I told Urban Meyer this once. I said, when you have receivers as good as Ohio State, you got to feed them. And I said, I think it can hurt your run game in physicality. How do you simultaneously build power football. It's easy for hardball with the Chargers now, by the way, because they don't have superstar receivers. Once you have four of them, is it hard for you as a coach? Okay, we want to be explosive, but we want a little nineteen eighty five Ohio State too. Is that hard for you?

You've got a bunch of guys that are going to be very good. I mean, you're really a factory now you've become the best. You know, you guys have done a little bit Alabama did so Saban was a defensive coach, and by the time he left Alabama was known for wide receiver and quarterbacks. Ohio State in my lifetime was running backs, oh linemen, linebackers, and now it's wide receiver. You and I've said this. I told Urban Meyer this once. I said, when you have receivers as good as Ohio State, you got to feed them. And I said, I think it can hurt your run game in physicality. How do you simultaneously build power football. It's easy for hardball with the Chargers now, by the way, because they don't have superstar receivers. Once you have four of them, is it hard for you as a coach? Okay, we want to be explosive, but we want a little nineteen eighty five Ohio State too. Is that hard for you?

Oh?

Oh?

I think it's a great conversation, Colin.

I think it's a great conversation, Colin.

I think it's a great point because when you're in the Big Ten, like you've got to play smash Moult football, but then you also got to be able to go out to the Rose Bowl or down to the Cotton Bowl and play Texas and Oregon and attract me, you know. And so that's the combination of things that we're constantly trying to make sure we balance out, and the only way you can do that is if you have on selfish guys, so like you know, to have Trevon Henderson and quin Shawn Junkins together in the backfield together and let young players see that their unselfishness and willing to sacrifice being the guy or a number of carries so that they could play really, really fast and really physical down the stretch.

I think it's a great point because when you're in the Big Ten, like you've got to play smash Moult football, but then you also got to be able to go out to the Rose Bowl or down to the Cotton Bowl and play Texas and Oregon and attract me, you know. And so that's the combination of things that we're constantly trying to make sure we balance out, and the only way you can do that is if you have on selfish guys, so like you know, to have Trevon Henderson and quin Shawn Junkins together in the backfield together and let young players see that their unselfishness and willing to sacrifice being the guy or a number of carries so that they could play really, really fast and really physical down the stretch.

Made a big difference.

Made a big difference.

I think, yeah.

I think, yeah.

And the only way that that happens is if guys are unselfish and to your point, you know, if you have selfish guys who just want the ball and don't understand how important is to establish their run.

And the only way that that happens is if guys are unselfish and to your point, you know, if you have selfish guys who just want the ball and don't understand how important is to establish their run.

It's not going to work. And vice versa.

It's not going to work. And vice versa.

You know, if you have you know, running backs who want certain number of carries when the ball needs to get thrown out to some of our receivers, it isn't going to work.

You know, if you have you know, running backs who want certain number of carries when the ball needs to get thrown out to some of our receivers, it isn't going to work.

So buying into the team is critical.

So buying into the team is critical.

You know, There's been a couple of moments in my life when I had my first child that I literally was floating, like I didn't feel like, I'm like, what's happening to me? I got salty discharge, I'm crying you know, and so we have had that too. We've all had personal moments, but I want you to pivot now to a professional moment because there is a difference between work and home, even though we love both. Take me back, So, the moment you knew you were going to be national champion, who was the first person you thought of?

You know, There's been a couple of moments in my life when I had my first child that I literally was floating, like I didn't feel like, I'm like, what's happening to me? I got salty discharge, I'm crying you know, and so we have had that too. We've all had personal moments, but I want you to pivot now to a professional moment because there is a difference between work and home, even though we love both. Take me back, So, the moment you knew you were going to be national champion, who was the first person you thought of?

Oh?

Oh?

Well, for me, it was my father, you know, And I didn't really make this public before, but since you asked me, I'm going to answer the question. You know, I lost my father on January twentieth when I was nine years old, and I saw when the schedule came out that the National championship game was on the same day that I lost my father, And so, you know, I just knew that he was with me that day, and that was the.

Well, for me, it was my father, you know, And I didn't really make this public before, but since you asked me, I'm going to answer the question. You know, I lost my father on January twentieth when I was nine years old, and I saw when the schedule came out that the National championship game was on the same day that I lost my father, And so, you know, I just knew that he was with me that day, and that was the.

First guy that I thought of. Oh, that's a great story. We've said this before. You know, you were at a good program. When you get heat for losing occasionally to Jim Harbaugh, Georgia right now, it's the best program in my opinion, it's the best program in college football, nil transfer portal coaching destination. It's Ohio State. Do you ever ever just get to go for a walk in the park? In Columbus put a baseball up on and not get noticed, or do you sometimes feel like, man, it's a lot, it's a lot coaching the buck guys in Ohio State. How's that land for you?

First guy that I thought of. Oh, that's a great story. We've said this before. You know, you were at a good program. When you get heat for losing occasionally to Jim Harbaugh, Georgia right now, it's the best program in my opinion, it's the best program in college football, nil transfer portal coaching destination. It's Ohio State. Do you ever ever just get to go for a walk in the park? In Columbus put a baseball up on and not get noticed, or do you sometimes feel like, man, it's a lot, it's a lot coaching the buck guys in Ohio State. How's that land for you?

It is a lot, it is, but that's what you signed up for.

It is a lot, it is, but that's what you signed up for.

And I remember when the first press conference, you know, I was there with with with Urban and you know a lot of people just kind of asked, you know, how do you follow up Coach Meyer a legend, and what if you don't do this? And what if you don't do that? And I just kind of had the mindset of what what if? What if we do? What an opportunity uh to be at a place where there's just such great tradition. And you know, my wife that night were on the bed together. I had three young kids, knowing that we were probably the first, you know, family to go through this with young kids, you know, going through elementary school and now into junior high and high school. And she kind of cried and she said, this is the last time our family will be normal.

And I remember when the first press conference, you know, I was there with with with Urban and you know a lot of people just kind of asked, you know, how do you follow up Coach Meyer a legend, and what if you don't do this? And what if you don't do that? And I just kind of had the mindset of what what if? What if we do? What an opportunity uh to be at a place where there's just such great tradition. And you know, my wife that night were on the bed together. I had three young kids, knowing that we were probably the first, you know, family to go through this with young kids, you know, going through elementary school and now into junior high and high school. And she kind of cried and she said, this is the last time our family will be normal.

And I didn't even understand at the time, but she did and she was right.

And I didn't even understand at the time, but she did and she was right.

But but you know, it's it's it's it's part of the job. It's part of the obligation, and I think for this game, so many people have come up to me across the country when I've traveled to different places, and the first thing they say is thank you, just thank you for what you did this year. And they tell the stories of where they've been across the country or who they were when they watched the run that we went on, and it just makes you realize that Ohio State football is bigger than any one of us and the obligation that we have, and it's just a you know, it's an honor to be the head coach Ohouse State.