March 11, 2025 • 28 mins
The smoke is THICK this week as Matt and Geno dive into LeBron James' heated confrontation with Stephen A. Smith. Can the Lakers make a real title run this year? Geno is cautiously optimistic about their chances, but what does LeBron battling through a groin injury mean for their playoff push? Former NBA veteran Keyon Dooling joins to analyze the suddenly red-hot Warriors, the Clippers finding their groove with Kawhi and Harden, and USC sensation JuJu Watkins dominating women's basketball. Plus, the crew previews March Madness, reacts to Rick Pitino's controversial recruiting strategy, and breaks down Steph Curry's surprising new assistant general manager role at Davidson.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome back to Unplugged. We got a good one for
you guys this week. We got my brother key on
Dueling stopping by. Also, the neighborhood hater is back. He
said he wants a new name today. I guess we'll
have to decide if he gets a new one or not.
We'll be discussing a few topics going around, but particularly
we're going to touch on the stephen A and Lebron
James situation. Recently, everyone's known Lebron has taken exception to
(00:22):
stephen A's disrespect of his son, Bronni James. He walked
up to him in the middle of a Knicks game
and addressed him. Let's take a look at that. Well,
(00:51):
here's one of the things we think that may have
upset Lebron that stephen A said, take a look at
this clip.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
I am pleading with le Bron James as a father.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Stop this.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Stop this.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
We all know that Bronni James is in the NBA
because of his dad.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
So obviously that situation went viral. I think stephen A
himself said he wanted to sweep it under the rug,
but he woke up the next day with the buzz
of social media, his agency, ESPN, everybody wanted to address
it and wanted him to address it. So here's the
clip of what he said.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
That wasn't a basketball player confronting me. That was a parent,
That was a father. And I can't sit here and
be angry or feel slighted by Lebron James in any
way in that regard.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
So fast forward, just a couple of days ago, Lebron
caught up with this former teammate and buddy Richard Jefferson pregame.
Here's what they were talking about. So before I go
(02:09):
into my point of view, let's bring the hater in.
Welcome you're bringing You're bringing bottles in, Bro, It's not
even it's not even happy our nowhere yet you see
what I'm saying, Yeah, Captain, save them. So, Gina, we
had a real debate in our in our group chat
about this very situation, and some of you guys made
(02:29):
good points, but I took it from a father standpoint.
I think I'm one of the few individuals who's been
a player who obviously has kids in this basketball space
and now is in the media. And although I love
Steven stephen a is my guy, talked to him often
saluted him for his new hundred million dollar deal. By
the way, congratulations, But I don't always agree with what
(02:53):
he says. Now, I don't know exactly what was said.
I think we think we have a gist of what
kind of pissed off Braun. But what was your take
on Broun's reaction to what not only Steven A's been saying,
but a lot of people have been saying.
Speaker 4 (03:07):
Well, let me just first say, I'm not a father.
So when you did say that in our chat, it
kind of I stepped backed.
Speaker 5 (03:12):
A little bit.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
I want to respect a little bit.
Speaker 4 (03:14):
Yeah, but at the moment, you know, both guys could
be right and both guys could be wrong in that situation.
Cause Lebron I waited to come and talk to him
after the game. Yeah, I guess. Also, what was Steven
ain't supposed to do with six eight, two hundred and
sixty pounds, Nothing except sit there and stand there, same.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
Thing the rest of the NBA will be able to
do with it, right, nothing.
Speaker 4 (03:31):
I heard the comment that he got mad at Yeah,
I would have been mad too if I was Lebron.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
I just think it's interesting because again I took it
straight as the father when I seen it, it wasn't
about Lebron the superstar. And oddly enough, you know, when
Steven A kind of addressed it, he said, you know,
he was talking to me as a father, and that's
how I look at it. And everyone wants to say, well,
you know, granted your son's in this space now, he's
fair game, and like I said, two things can be true.
He is fair game now. But I think it's it
(03:58):
holds a different amount of what's the word I'm looking
for it Just when Steven stephen A is at the
top of the list now he's the number one black
sports media guy in the game, well deserved just signed
a huge deal. So I think when he says thing,
it carries more weight, you know what I mean, because
like I said, he hasn't been the only one that
(04:18):
said it. And let's keep it real. These kind of
altercations have happened a lot in the past, probably less
during social media because people can kind of go to
war of wards. But when I first got in the league,
if a writer or someone says some shit you didn't like,
the next time you saw him, you were going to
address that, and that's happened a lot, so that's something
that's not too uncommon. But I just think my whole
(04:39):
stance is lebron has probably been the most scrutinized superstar
in the history of sports, period, and I think he
knew he what he signed up for. Now on the
flip side, the father side understanding Broni's path to the league,
some people say he belongs, some people say he doesn't
belong by the way he's killing in the G League
right now at twenty one, one, five and five. NBA
(05:01):
numbers have been very solid, but he's still young, he's
still growing. Never in the history of the NBA has
the fiftieth fifth pick ever been this big of a
deal ever. But I just think again, when Steve and
A says it hits different with some guys, and granted,
could he have handled it a different way, And that's
what you guys are saying, this is this was this
(05:22):
was Braun, you know, wanting everyone to see. And I
didn't look at it that way at all. I just thought,
as a father, he's seen the dude. It brought the
rage up, and I'm gonna address that shit wright where
I'm at. I don't give a fuck where I'm at.
I'm at the airport, I'm at the game. I see
him in LA Live. I'm gonna address And I think
that's how I kind of took the situation. But I
think you think at the end of the day, people
(05:43):
have to understand man. Like again, Lebron signed up for
this at the face of the league. He's worn the
cape for a long time and he's been scrutinized heavily.
Whether he deserves it or not is up to the
people scrutinizing. But it's different man, when you you you
have your kids and your children.
Speaker 4 (05:57):
Well, I know one thing, I'm never talking about Brownie
respectfully again because.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
He might slap the shit out. But he said a
few things in this area about Bronnie.
Speaker 4 (06:05):
But I was in a dark place. Due okay, okay,
you know we were in tenth place, nine tenth place.
Speaker 5 (06:09):
It goes.
Speaker 4 (06:10):
But Bronie, Man, I want you in the game. Let's
be successful. Let's get you in the game. Man, Let's go.
Speaker 5 (06:14):
Man. Wha who is this.
Speaker 6 (06:18):
To say?
Speaker 1 (06:18):
Lebron checking stephen a shook you. Yeah, but I thought
you said they can't whoop us, They can't whoop me.
Oh no, It's like I thought it was all the smoke,
but I wasn't talking. I wasn't talking bad about Bronnie.
Speaker 4 (06:30):
Yeah, myg No, I love you, Bronie man. I hope
the best for you.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
Don't know, It's just a tough situation. And again I
think there's a blowover. But I just think people have
to take a step back again. I mean, yeah, we
get paid a lot of money for you to be
able to say whatever you want, but talking about our
kids is different, whether our kids are pros or not pros.
I would always take offense to it. And people already
know how I moved. Some of my my crew asked
me earlier what I've done, And you guys already know we're.
Speaker 4 (06:53):
All the time.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
You already know what kind of time I'm all. So again,
love stephen A. Don't always agree with what he says.
And again he's not the only person that had his
criticized or critique. There's been a lot of noise around
Browny and I think bro I sue le BRONI for
you know, not really flashing back. He said a few
things here and there, but to have the world always
talking about you at nineteen twenty years old cannot be easy.
And I think his dad's kind of prepped him for
(07:15):
with the mental toughness it's going to take to succeed
in this league. But again, man, wish them the best,
you know, wish Bronni the best steal. But let's move
on to your Lakers. These boys have been looking solid.
Eight out of the last ten, what sixteen, sixteen and
four in their last twenty night last you.
Speaker 4 (07:32):
Guys did have beon doing that stress because me happy
as bathing business?
Speaker 1 (07:35):
Or come on, last fifteen games they're number one in
the league in defense, and Luca's eleven games they're number three,
they're thirteen. Overall, these guys are playing with a new energy.
Luca has taken a huge load off Lebron. You and
Ray particular, who's sitting behind the camera, were real Luca haters.
Speaker 5 (07:58):
Oh yeah, oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
Has your opinion changed it all?
Speaker 4 (08:02):
Absolutely? But let's be honest. I never hated it on
Luca before he put on our uniform, right, but you
still hate it though a little bit. If you want
to tell him sorry, you can tell him right there
in that camera.
Speaker 5 (08:12):
Note let's hold tight on okay, Okay, let's get through this.
Speaker 4 (08:14):
Next ten days, okay, because ten days is aggressive. Okay, so,
but yeah, I was wrong about Luca. He makes us
look good. He's giving Lebron a break.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
Huge thing for us, right, huge break. I love that
Bron can go to the bench now for extended amounts
of time. I love that Lebron defers to Luca pretty
much the whole entire game until the fourth quarter so
he can save his energy. We've seen spurts of Bron
in the third and fourth quarters. It looks like it's
a few years ago, like where he's taking off on
people late in the game. I think this Luca experiment
(08:43):
has been extremely successful up to this point. Obviously, the
goal for the Lakers is always to win rings, but
I think they've put theirself in a position to possibly
come out of the West now and right now. Come
out of the West, they got to be healthy. I
think they got a little reality check with Boston. I
think Boston ran the shit out of them in the
first and you saw their legs get a little tired
in the second half. Bad news, Bron growing forty how
(09:08):
was he forty one? Forty years old? And a string
growing and we're about six weeks from the playoffs? Are
what are Laker fans thinking, and what's your level of
concern with Bron's injury.
Speaker 4 (09:18):
I think we want to step back right now. I mean,
it couldn't have happened at a perfect time. Let's see
if Luca can hold it down like while Lebron is gone.
I mean, you know, you guys were on my ass
about talking about Ar being untouchable, but now it's we
kept you. Now it's time to step up big now.
So am I optimistic about it?
Speaker 5 (09:36):
Yeah? I am.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
I like the pieces this team has had. I mean,
I think Connect is playing with the chip on his
shoulder since he almost got traded. Obviously, Ar has been
playing great the last few games, but overall has had
a great season. Someone who's really stepped his game up
as Jackson Hayes oh Man, I think he's turned into
a young Tyson Chandler Ish the constant lob threat. I mean,
(09:57):
he's he's eaten and they need that. And I think
they missed him in Boston definitely. But I think overall,
man eight and two in the last ten, sixteen and four,
I think we got to give j J some.
Speaker 5 (10:09):
Credit man Coach of the Year candidate and talk to him.
Speaker 1 (10:12):
I saw I saw Bubbs at the sc UCLA game,
and we went back and talked at halftime, and I
just asked him what it was like. I was like,
you know, it's just like I see if you knew
gray hairs, He's just like, you know, I love this shit.
I love this I love our team. I love what
we have. He thinks they have something special. And you
were a little skeptical.
Speaker 4 (10:28):
Of him at the beginning too, right, Absolutely, I mean
the dude came off the little league circuit.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
He came off coaching the Lakers like no one's ever
done that.
Speaker 4 (10:35):
Yes, but obviously I took for granted his knowledge about basketball.
You know, I was wrong and he got us looking great?
And was I right again? Because I think at the
very beginning I said, JJ is going to be great
at this.
Speaker 1 (10:46):
I just wanted to know it. It's hard for you
to admit when you're wrong, and I'm right, I tell you,
And it happened to.
Speaker 7 (10:53):
Happy here you guys, good lord. Word is you don't
want you don't like your name the hater? Yeah, because
I'm a lover man. Okay, you know what I'm saying,
What would you like your name to be?
Speaker 1 (11:03):
Because you've made a mark in the social media world
with the name and your presence, like give me, give me.
Speaker 5 (11:09):
I am in l A l A.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
You step around the city with me and see all
the love that I get out here. Man, So come
on now, okay, you're who you are because anyway, don't
get me started.
Speaker 5 (11:19):
Here we go.
Speaker 1 (11:21):
Yeah, I get the love with you.
Speaker 4 (11:23):
Man.
Speaker 5 (11:24):
I got the green light off you out here, so.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
Green out here, green light was on me.
Speaker 5 (11:31):
Just say thank you next time.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
Man. So what do you so you want your name
to I'm gonna have to talk to the team. LA's
finance is what you want to go?
Speaker 5 (11:37):
Yeah, that's what they called me.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
Anyway, who I've never I've known you for half my
life and I've never heard no one say that.
Speaker 5 (11:44):
Here we go.
Speaker 4 (11:45):
Everyone has ever said I want me smiling and happy. Yeah,
they don't have.
Speaker 1 (11:49):
To be saying yeah, well LA's finest.
Speaker 5 (11:51):
Man.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
We appreciate you.
Speaker 4 (11:52):
Absolutely, Happy birthday to man started next week. Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
I want to welcome back back in my guy Kean Dueling. Yes,
Sir KD. The Warriors have found something since picking up
Jimmy Butler. Ten and two since he's joined the team,
fourth best defense, seven best offense. During that stretch, Butler
and Curry. What has been your assessment of this trade
(12:19):
since it's gone down.
Speaker 6 (12:20):
Man, the Warriors come out and play real.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
We need the glass bottles.
Speaker 8 (12:25):
They've been killing it. It's fun to see, you know,
Steph get that extra boost, right because like he's one
of those players that, like, you know, once, once he's gone,
you know what I mean, the game is gonna miss him.
So to see him playing on this level, to see Jimmy,
you know, coming and putting his imprint on the team.
And they're gonna get healthier when they get Kaminga back,
(12:48):
They're gonna get healthier, They're gonna have a different element.
Speaker 6 (12:50):
They're gonna be a very very dangerous team. Man in
the postseason.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
Well, I think, I mean, similar to what Luca has
been able to do for Lebron, Jimmy is someone that
can carry the Warriors over a stretch of time to
allow Steph to steal some more minutes on the bench,
you know, since losing Clay and losing Jordan Poole and
then you know kd All kind of Steph sidekicks that
were able to carry the team at times. Jimmy gives
them that and then also that tenacity on defense and
(13:16):
in Playoff Steph and Playoff Jimmy, Playoff Draymond is something
I'm definitely looking forward to. You know, what's interesting to
me about this is obviously OKAC sits at the top
of the West, young hungry team and have been, you know,
record wise, one of the best teams in lead the
entire year.
Speaker 5 (13:32):
But they're young.
Speaker 1 (13:33):
When I look at the Western Conference, I look at
the Lakers, I look at Denver, and I look at
Golden State or all teams with experience with veterans that
could very well represent I mean, this could be the
year that okay See runs through the Western Conference and
represents the West in the finals. This can also be
the year that okay See stumbles in the second round
(13:55):
and one of these older, veteran, more experienced teams takes
this one last run at the Western Conference before Oklahoma
City really takes over.
Speaker 8 (14:04):
I agree one hundred percent. I agree with you. You know,
like styles make fights. I think nobody is really afraid
of OKC. I think people would.
Speaker 1 (14:13):
That's and that's not even disrespectful, you mean, that's just
many me and you talking because we know experience is
what wins in the playoffs.
Speaker 8 (14:22):
I would rather avoid Joker at all costs, right, you know,
just because he presents such a mismatch. He's a matchup
problem on both ends. And he's just he's just he's unbelievable.
And like I said, styles make fights, so I would
I agree nobody's ducking Okay, see.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
Smoke Kawhi hit the game winner on Sunday Hard and
drop fifty in this past week, the Clippers winners of
their last three. Kawiss played twenty one games this season.
He's playing a lot of minutes right now, KD. He's
at twenty two six and three forty six percent from
the field. What has kind of been your outlook on
the Clippers? I mean, James's resurgence, Kawhi is rounding into shape.
(15:05):
Is he playing too many minutes? I don't know, but
this team is looking very solid. Not something we mentioned,
but again, another team with a lot of experienced guys
that have won championships before. One of the best coaches
in the league. Thoughts on those two guys in particular, though,
Kawhi and James and the way they've really been able
to kind of get their games back in shape.
Speaker 8 (15:23):
This is the time of year where you see those
teams rev up like leading into the playoffs, right combine
missing Why missing time one is he's got degenitive issues.
It's not that they're load managing and things like that.
He's got real issues that he's gonna have to deal
with long after basketball ends. But you got t lou
(15:45):
championship pedigree. He gets the most out of his guys.
Norman Powell got an opportunity to be highlighted this year.
So now as he goes back to the third option,
you have an extra weapon. They have size, they have versatility,
they have the pedigree, and they're another team who's very
very dangerous.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
Agreed, very dangerous. It's funny how these older teams have
kind of been playing under the radar the entire season,
and now you know, the as players, we know, season
really really gets going after All Star and now you're
seeing these older teams round in to form right at
the perfect time. So it's gonna be fun. I'm definitely
(16:25):
looking forward to these these Western Conference plays and playoffs. Sure,
so you know, do do old habits die hard with
the Clippers? You know Kawhi win healthy in the playoffs.
I mean he's got what finals, two finals, MVPs right,
two finals MVPs and two championships, but he hasn't necessarily
been able to get there and be healthy. Harden has
(16:47):
a you know, a history of kind of struggling in
the playoffs. If Kawhi is healthy, are these guys able
to kind of shake off these old habits and really
be able to make a run come playoff time.
Speaker 8 (16:57):
I think they can make a run. Long they don't
run up against Denver. I think Denver is a mismatch.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
So avoid Denver at all costs in the Western.
Speaker 8 (17:07):
At least in the first round, right, because you can
hit a rhythm, you can hit a stride, you can
kind of get things going, and then you have days
to recover in the playoffs, right, so you can you know,
you can recover and and kind of you know, change
the game play and things like that. But it's yet
to be seen. I think James is matured as a player.
(17:28):
I think he's still playing at an extremely high level.
I think he's he's so much more unselfish. Though he
passed the ball and you know, made assists. I think
he makes winning plays now, in particular on the defensive end.
I saw possession the other day where he got like
five deflections in one possession, and that's just something we
haven't seen. So I think these guys understand the height
(17:49):
of the moment. I think they're hungry, and I think
they believe that in a seven game series we can
be in or compete with anyone.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
Switching gears to some women college basketball shout out to
the Bruins. Yeah, yeah, yeah, Big Ten champions. Obviously sc
kind of had their number this season, and you say
it was able to get them when it counts. Hopefully
we'll get a chance to see them in the tournament
face each other. But Juju Juju has been absolutely incredible.
(18:19):
Shout out to her. Big Ten Player of the Year,
probably will win National Player of the Year. She passes
Kaitlyn Clark for the most points through two seasons any
women's college basketball player in the history. She's number two
in scoring right now, behind Hidalgo. I think at Notre Dame,
is it's safe to say that the Juju Watkins effects
is here. I just saw this morning she signed with
(18:40):
United Airlines. I think she is just absolutely killing it
on all fronts, on and off the court. But what's
up with this Juju effect? We got something really coming
down the pipeline.
Speaker 6 (18:49):
Huh juju effect is real, brother.
Speaker 8 (18:51):
You know, she brings the style and grace to the
game outside of just her play and her skill set
on the court. She glows, man, you know, from a
ponytail to her swagger to her smile. Like all the
things that she brings, you know, off the court, she
brings them just as good on the court. She's unbelievable.
She's a three level score. She can dribble, she can shoot,
(19:13):
she can pass. I was so impressed. I saw her
working with I think it was piel Handy this summer,
and she had her right hand wrapped up and I
saw her getting all that left hand work in right.
And so when you see her now, last year she
was right hand dominant. She went right quite a bit,
but now she's got all these different counters going left
and she's just unbelievable.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
Man.
Speaker 6 (19:35):
She's so good for women's basketball. I think her timing
is perfect.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
Man. She's special, very special, And I'm gonna jump out
there right now. People may get mad. I think if
she continues on this trajectory, she has a chance to
be the greatest women's player ever. And that's sayed a
lot because a lot of great women have come before her,
particularly Cheryl Miller, who drops this Thursday, and all the
Smokeman she.
Speaker 6 (19:53):
Checked out to see it.
Speaker 1 (19:55):
But there's been a lot of amazing women. Obviously Kaylyn
Clark is taking the world by storm. But ju You
is different. I've seen her in person. She's a big,
solid frame and she's still nineteen. Like she's not one
of these whole back, double hole backs, red shirt like
this is. She's the real age, she's supposed to be,
in the real grade. She's supposed to be. But just
the way she plays, and I don't want to disrespect
(20:17):
her game by saying she plays like a man, because
she's the best, one of the best women in the game,
but she plays like a man. Bro likes her rhythm,
the way she gets to her spots, the way she
goes downhill and gets these and like it. Is so impressed.
I was sitting in courtside with my whole boy, Tracy Mills,
who's her cousin at UCLA when they beat us before
we went to the Big Ten tournament, and just seeing
(20:38):
that up close, it's absolutely incredible. Man, So the sky
is the limit. I'm happy for her and her family
and her team. I'm obviously happy for the Bruins that
were Big ten champs, and hopefully we get a chance
to collide with them one more time in the NCAA's
men's tournaments. Right around the corner, which means, what programs
do you feel have the best shot in the final four?
(21:00):
Half to a mint, I haven't followed the men's as
much as I've actually followed the women's this year, but
any men's team stick out to you that that really
has a chance to make make a good run.
Speaker 8 (21:10):
I'm gonna say this, next to the next, to the
Western Conference, the Eastern Conference, in the euro League, the
SEC is the best league in basketball outside of those things.
I think they have so many teams. I think they're
like eight to ten deep in that conference where they
can be beat on any given night. Obviously, Duke having
(21:33):
Cooper Flag is a favorite. They've had an incredible year.
There's some sleepers in there. Penny Penny Hardaway's Memphis Memphis
Tigers are a sleeper to me.
Speaker 6 (21:45):
Penny is doing a.
Speaker 8 (21:45):
Really good job down there, and I think that program
is gonna continue to grow. I think they just got
about twenty five million dollars in NIL money from FedEx
and so I'm expecting big things from Penny on that
down there in Memphis. But if I had to make
a choice, I'm gonna go with the best player I think.
I think Duke. They're well coached, they're balanced, they have
(22:06):
the pedigree. I don't think Cooper will get an opportunity
to play in the NCAA tournament.
Speaker 6 (22:11):
Again. I think he's just a one and done.
Speaker 1 (22:13):
He's out of here. Huh.
Speaker 6 (22:15):
He's man.
Speaker 8 (22:16):
You gotta he gotta, he gotta make it happen in
my opinion, and so I still think Duke is the
favorite to win it all. But those SEC teams are
gonna be very dangerous, especially the ones that are seated
a little bit lower.
Speaker 1 (22:26):
Ken, I want to ask you real quick, and this
is kind of even off script. The age of college
basketball players these days. A new rule that JUCO doesn't
count against you. You can do two years of JUCO
and coming as a freshman. Still, we're seeing Auburn who
just got knocked off this weekend by Alabama. Great game,
(22:47):
they came down the wire. Obama got him. But that
Auburn team, like their average age is older than the
Oklahoma City Thunder. They got a twenty six year old
on the team, twenty five year olds, some twenty four
year olds. It's it's just so much different from when
we played, you know what I mean, Like one, we
didn't do the whole backs and you you red shirted
if you were really hurt, like I think the portal
(23:09):
and this is not a knock on the kids at
all because they're just utilizing the system. I think this
obviously is an NC double a problem. But I commented
on something a few weeks back where Rick Patino said, like,
we're not even recruiting high school kids this off season.
They kind of pissed. That kind of pissed me off
because I mean, when we were coming up was for
kids turning into men. Now it's for pretty much grown
(23:30):
ass men that probably aren't going to go to the league,
you know what I mean. If you think you're and
I'm saying it's all the respect. If you're twenty five
to twenty six playing college sports, unless you're a quarterback,
you're probably not going to go to the next level.
And I just kind of feel like you're taking up
space for young kids with you know, that are supposed
to have this type of opportunity. So what are your
thoughts on just kind of the way the NCUBA has
(23:51):
these kids allowed to play. You got twenty six year
olds playing against eighteen year old and young people. So well,
that's how it is the league. But this is not
the league.
Speaker 5 (23:57):
This is college.
Speaker 1 (23:58):
Yeah, so what are your thoughts on that.
Speaker 8 (24:00):
My thoughts are, Matt, if you let these guys come
out early, right, and they go undrafted, let them come
back to school, right, so they're still young enough where
they can still grow, cope, debate, get developed, make some
money through n I LS and things like that. What
happens is when guys leave for the draft and they
don't get drafted, you know what I mean, Like you
(24:20):
you lose a whole demographic of young players that you
could potentially welcome back into the system. And so I
think there's a loophole for the older guys in the
late bloomers, you know. And not to minimize what they're doing,
they're showing stick tuitiveness.
Speaker 6 (24:35):
Most guys aren't going to play in the NBA. Come on,
come on now, three.
Speaker 1 (24:40):
And fourth syllable words, I see it.
Speaker 8 (24:42):
But most guys are not going to play in the
league anyway, and so to be able to you know,
have that college experience, come out with a degree, you know,
extend you know, your adolescent years a little bit. I
don't necessarily have a problem with it because it's not
stopping our top talent from being one and done, are
going to the ote, are going overseas to play and
(25:05):
coming back to the league, and so I think it
leaves some room for the college game to, you know,
still have some competition, have some competitiveness, but it's a
little bit more difficult for the younger guys because their
bodies aren't as developed. In the college game, you can
still bump and all that as well.
Speaker 1 (25:19):
So Okay, I like that's interesting because I don't agree,
Like I'm not on the I'm on the side of
I feel like this is for colleges, for these young
kids that are coming in that are eighteen nineteen to
try to develop, to see if they do have a
chance to man, dang, that.
Speaker 6 (25:33):
Was not eighteen when he came to UCLA.
Speaker 1 (25:36):
He was nineteen. But that's an overseas kid. That's a
little different, you know what I mean. But I feel no,
I'm definitely not mad because, like you said, most kids,
unfortunately aren't going to go that's just the nature of
the game. Plus nil is so crazy right now. So
these kids are still getting a lot of bread during
these opportunities. So, like I said, I don't fault the
kids at all, like take advantage of the system that's provided.
(25:57):
But I just think the NCAA, you know, like most
times it's awesome shit right now that I think they
need to fix that, Katie before we get you out
of here. Steph Curry being named assistant GM at Davidson,
I think boje Ha just kind of started a trend now,
you know, Masterpiece over New Orleans. Now Steph just signed over.
The assistant is Davidson. What are your thoughts on big name,
whether it be players or personalities becoming gms of colleges.
Speaker 6 (26:22):
I love it. I love it when your gift makes
schome for you.
Speaker 8 (26:26):
And you know, too often, man, you know, we get
put in boxes right and like you don't have to
do this, or that you can do this, and that
he's setting himself up.
Speaker 6 (26:37):
For a post career.
Speaker 8 (26:39):
It's it's his school that he went to, so he's
an alumni, he's got a vested interest in that. And
who better than Steph right to represent your program Steph
is not only just a great basketball player, but he's
a great human being. He's a great ambassador for the game.
He understands business. I mean, he's just really cracked the
(26:59):
code and get it all out. So I love to
see us getting these opportunities, bringing in Pete to New Orleans,
like he put New Orleans on the map to a
certain degree. And Pee, you remember p used to come
up at U c l A and who.
Speaker 1 (27:11):
Yeah, Pee, he used to try to fight me.
Speaker 5 (27:13):
We can talk.
Speaker 6 (27:14):
Did that ball touch saying he was gonna shoot it?
Speaker 1 (27:17):
You know, every other time. Couldn't tell him nothing.
Speaker 8 (27:19):
But it's great to see that man because he has
the business acumen, the resume, and the passion and the
love for the game. Obviously his kids play college ball.
They little Romeo always had a love for the game.
Speaker 6 (27:30):
So it's good to see. It's good to see our guys,
you know, taking their place in the game.
Speaker 1 (27:34):
Absolutely. Man shout out to Steph, master P and woj Man.
I love the presidents they're said, and looking forward to
more guys getting the opportunity to do the same. And
women love to see some women getting those roles too,
So Katie Man, thanks for your time. We'll definitely tap
back in soon.
Speaker 5 (27:48):
Man.
Speaker 1 (27:49):
Enjoy your week.
Speaker 6 (27:50):
Man, Thank you Bro. Always appreciate y'all having Well.
Speaker 1 (27:52):
That's a rap for this week on Unplugged. Thank you
for joining us. You can catch this on all the
Smoke Productions YouTube and the Draft Kings Network. Don'll help
a good.
Speaker 3 (28:00):
One speaks to the planet. I go by the name
of Charlamagne Tha God and guess what, I can't wait
to see y'all at the third Annual Black Effect Podcast Festival.
Speaker 5 (28:16):
That's right, We're.
Speaker 3 (28:17):
Coming back to Atlanta, Georgia, Saturday, April twenty six at
Poeman Yards and it's hosted by none other than Decisions Decisions,
Mandy B and Weezy. Okay, we got the R and
B Money podcast. We're taking Jay Valentine. We got the
Woman of All Podcasts with Sarah Jake Roberts. We got
Good Mom's Bad Choices. Carrie Champion will be there with
her next sports podcast and the Trap Nerds podcast with
(28:37):
more to be announced. And of course it's bigger than podcasts.
We're bringing the Black Effect marketplace with black owned businesses,
plus the food truck court to keep you fed while
you visit us. All right, listen. You don't want to
miss this, Tap in and grab your tickets now at
black effect dot Com Flash Podcast Festival
Welcome back to Unplugged. We got a good one for
you guys this week. We got my brother key on
Dueling stopping by. Also, the neighborhood hater is back. He
said he wants a new name today. I guess we'll
have to decide if he gets a new one or not.
We'll be discussing a few topics going around, but particularly
we're going to touch on the stephen A and Lebron
James situation. Recently, everyone's known Lebron has taken exception to
(00:22):
stephen A's disrespect of his son, Bronni James. He walked
up to him in the middle of a Knicks game
and addressed him. Let's take a look at that. Well,
(00:51):
here's one of the things we think that may have
upset Lebron that stephen A said, take a look at
this clip.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
I am pleading with le Bron James as a father.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Stop this.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Stop this.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
We all know that Bronni James is in the NBA
because of his dad.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
So obviously that situation went viral. I think stephen A
himself said he wanted to sweep it under the rug,
but he woke up the next day with the buzz
of social media, his agency, ESPN, everybody wanted to address
it and wanted him to address it. So here's the
clip of what he said.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
That wasn't a basketball player confronting me. That was a parent,
That was a father. And I can't sit here and
be angry or feel slighted by Lebron James in any
way in that regard.
Speaker 1 (01:48):
So fast forward, just a couple of days ago, Lebron
caught up with this former teammate and buddy Richard Jefferson pregame.
Here's what they were talking about. So before I go
(02:09):
into my point of view, let's bring the hater in.
Welcome you're bringing You're bringing bottles in, Bro, It's not
even it's not even happy our nowhere yet you see
what I'm saying, Yeah, Captain, save them. So, Gina, we
had a real debate in our in our group chat
about this very situation, and some of you guys made
(02:29):
good points, but I took it from a father standpoint.
I think I'm one of the few individuals who's been
a player who obviously has kids in this basketball space
and now is in the media. And although I love
Steven stephen a is my guy, talked to him often
saluted him for his new hundred million dollar deal. By
the way, congratulations, But I don't always agree with what
(02:53):
he says. Now, I don't know exactly what was said.
I think we think we have a gist of what
kind of pissed off Braun. But what was your take
on Broun's reaction to what not only Steven A's been saying,
but a lot of people have been saying.
Speaker 4 (03:07):
Well, let me just first say, I'm not a father.
So when you did say that in our chat, it
kind of I stepped backed.
Speaker 5 (03:12):
A little bit.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
I want to respect a little bit.
Speaker 4 (03:14):
Yeah, but at the moment, you know, both guys could
be right and both guys could be wrong in that situation.
Cause Lebron I waited to come and talk to him
after the game. Yeah, I guess. Also, what was Steven
ain't supposed to do with six eight, two hundred and
sixty pounds, Nothing except sit there and stand there, same.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
Thing the rest of the NBA will be able to
do with it, right, nothing.
Speaker 4 (03:31):
I heard the comment that he got mad at Yeah,
I would have been mad too if I was Lebron.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
I just think it's interesting because again I took it
straight as the father when I seen it, it wasn't
about Lebron the superstar. And oddly enough, you know, when
Steven A kind of addressed it, he said, you know,
he was talking to me as a father, and that's
how I look at it. And everyone wants to say, well,
you know, granted your son's in this space now, he's
fair game, and like I said, two things can be true.
He is fair game now. But I think it's it
(03:58):
holds a different amount of what's the word I'm looking
for it Just when Steven stephen A is at the
top of the list now he's the number one black
sports media guy in the game, well deserved just signed
a huge deal. So I think when he says thing,
it carries more weight, you know what I mean, because
like I said, he hasn't been the only one that
(04:18):
said it. And let's keep it real. These kind of
altercations have happened a lot in the past, probably less
during social media because people can kind of go to
war of wards. But when I first got in the league,
if a writer or someone says some shit you didn't like,
the next time you saw him, you were going to
address that, and that's happened a lot, so that's something
that's not too uncommon. But I just think my whole
(04:39):
stance is lebron has probably been the most scrutinized superstar
in the history of sports, period, and I think he
knew he what he signed up for. Now on the
flip side, the father side understanding Broni's path to the league,
some people say he belongs, some people say he doesn't
belong by the way he's killing in the G League
right now at twenty one, one, five and five. NBA
(05:01):
numbers have been very solid, but he's still young, he's
still growing. Never in the history of the NBA has
the fiftieth fifth pick ever been this big of a
deal ever. But I just think again, when Steve and
A says it hits different with some guys, and granted,
could he have handled it a different way, And that's
what you guys are saying, this is this was this
(05:22):
was Braun, you know, wanting everyone to see. And I
didn't look at it that way at all. I just thought,
as a father, he's seen the dude. It brought the
rage up, and I'm gonna address that shit wright where
I'm at. I don't give a fuck where I'm at.
I'm at the airport, I'm at the game. I see
him in LA Live. I'm gonna address And I think
that's how I kind of took the situation. But I
think you think at the end of the day, people
(05:43):
have to understand man. Like again, Lebron signed up for
this at the face of the league. He's worn the
cape for a long time and he's been scrutinized heavily.
Whether he deserves it or not is up to the
people scrutinizing. But it's different man, when you you you
have your kids and your children.
Speaker 4 (05:57):
Well, I know one thing, I'm never talking about Brownie
respectfully again because.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
He might slap the shit out. But he said a
few things in this area about Bronnie.
Speaker 4 (06:05):
But I was in a dark place. Due okay, okay,
you know we were in tenth place, nine tenth place.
Speaker 5 (06:09):
It goes.
Speaker 4 (06:10):
But Bronie, Man, I want you in the game. Let's
be successful. Let's get you in the game. Man, Let's go.
Speaker 5 (06:14):
Man. Wha who is this.
Speaker 6 (06:18):
To say?
Speaker 1 (06:18):
Lebron checking stephen a shook you. Yeah, but I thought
you said they can't whoop us, They can't whoop me.
Oh no, It's like I thought it was all the smoke,
but I wasn't talking. I wasn't talking bad about Bronnie.
Speaker 4 (06:30):
Yeah, myg No, I love you, Bronie man. I hope
the best for you.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
Don't know, It's just a tough situation. And again I
think there's a blowover. But I just think people have
to take a step back again. I mean, yeah, we
get paid a lot of money for you to be
able to say whatever you want, but talking about our
kids is different, whether our kids are pros or not pros.
I would always take offense to it. And people already
know how I moved. Some of my my crew asked
me earlier what I've done, And you guys already know we're.
Speaker 4 (06:53):
All the time.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
You already know what kind of time I'm all. So again,
love stephen A. Don't always agree with what he says.
And again he's not the only person that had his
criticized or critique. There's been a lot of noise around
Browny and I think bro I sue le BRONI for
you know, not really flashing back. He said a few
things here and there, but to have the world always
talking about you at nineteen twenty years old cannot be easy.
And I think his dad's kind of prepped him for
(07:15):
with the mental toughness it's going to take to succeed
in this league. But again, man, wish them the best,
you know, wish Bronni the best steal. But let's move
on to your Lakers. These boys have been looking solid.
Eight out of the last ten, what sixteen, sixteen and
four in their last twenty night last you.
Speaker 4 (07:32):
Guys did have beon doing that stress because me happy
as bathing business?
Speaker 1 (07:35):
Or come on, last fifteen games they're number one in
the league in defense, and Luca's eleven games they're number three,
they're thirteen. Overall, these guys are playing with a new energy.
Luca has taken a huge load off Lebron. You and
Ray particular, who's sitting behind the camera, were real Luca haters.
Speaker 5 (07:58):
Oh yeah, oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
Has your opinion changed it all?
Speaker 4 (08:02):
Absolutely? But let's be honest. I never hated it on
Luca before he put on our uniform, right, but you
still hate it though a little bit. If you want
to tell him sorry, you can tell him right there
in that camera.
Speaker 5 (08:12):
Note let's hold tight on okay, Okay, let's get through this.
Speaker 4 (08:14):
Next ten days, okay, because ten days is aggressive. Okay, so,
but yeah, I was wrong about Luca. He makes us
look good. He's giving Lebron a break.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
Huge thing for us, right, huge break. I love that
Bron can go to the bench now for extended amounts
of time. I love that Lebron defers to Luca pretty
much the whole entire game until the fourth quarter so
he can save his energy. We've seen spurts of Bron
in the third and fourth quarters. It looks like it's
a few years ago, like where he's taking off on
people late in the game. I think this Luca experiment
(08:43):
has been extremely successful up to this point. Obviously, the
goal for the Lakers is always to win rings, but
I think they've put theirself in a position to possibly
come out of the West now and right now. Come
out of the West, they got to be healthy. I
think they got a little reality check with Boston. I
think Boston ran the shit out of them in the
first and you saw their legs get a little tired
in the second half. Bad news, Bron growing forty how
(09:08):
was he forty one? Forty years old? And a string
growing and we're about six weeks from the playoffs? Are
what are Laker fans thinking, and what's your level of
concern with Bron's injury.
Speaker 4 (09:18):
I think we want to step back right now. I mean,
it couldn't have happened at a perfect time. Let's see
if Luca can hold it down like while Lebron is gone.
I mean, you know, you guys were on my ass
about talking about Ar being untouchable, but now it's we
kept you. Now it's time to step up big now.
So am I optimistic about it?
Speaker 5 (09:36):
Yeah? I am.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
I like the pieces this team has had. I mean,
I think Connect is playing with the chip on his
shoulder since he almost got traded. Obviously, Ar has been
playing great the last few games, but overall has had
a great season. Someone who's really stepped his game up
as Jackson Hayes oh Man, I think he's turned into
a young Tyson Chandler Ish the constant lob threat. I mean,
(09:57):
he's he's eaten and they need that. And I think
they missed him in Boston definitely. But I think overall,
man eight and two in the last ten, sixteen and four,
I think we got to give j J some.
Speaker 5 (10:09):
Credit man Coach of the Year candidate and talk to him.
Speaker 1 (10:12):
I saw I saw Bubbs at the sc UCLA game,
and we went back and talked at halftime, and I
just asked him what it was like. I was like,
you know, it's just like I see if you knew
gray hairs, He's just like, you know, I love this shit.
I love this I love our team. I love what
we have. He thinks they have something special. And you
were a little skeptical.
Speaker 4 (10:28):
Of him at the beginning too, right, Absolutely, I mean
the dude came off the little league circuit.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
He came off coaching the Lakers like no one's ever
done that.
Speaker 4 (10:35):
Yes, but obviously I took for granted his knowledge about basketball.
You know, I was wrong and he got us looking great?
And was I right again? Because I think at the
very beginning I said, JJ is going to be great
at this.
Speaker 1 (10:46):
I just wanted to know it. It's hard for you
to admit when you're wrong, and I'm right, I tell you,
And it happened to.
Speaker 7 (10:53):
Happy here you guys, good lord. Word is you don't
want you don't like your name the hater? Yeah, because
I'm a lover man. Okay, you know what I'm saying,
What would you like your name to be?
Speaker 1 (11:03):
Because you've made a mark in the social media world
with the name and your presence, like give me, give me.
Speaker 5 (11:09):
I am in l A l A.
Speaker 4 (11:11):
You step around the city with me and see all
the love that I get out here. Man, So come
on now, okay, you're who you are because anyway, don't
get me started.
Speaker 5 (11:19):
Here we go.
Speaker 1 (11:21):
Yeah, I get the love with you.
Speaker 4 (11:23):
Man.
Speaker 5 (11:24):
I got the green light off you out here, so.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
Green out here, green light was on me.
Speaker 5 (11:31):
Just say thank you next time.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
Man. So what do you so you want your name
to I'm gonna have to talk to the team. LA's
finance is what you want to go?
Speaker 5 (11:37):
Yeah, that's what they called me.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
Anyway, who I've never I've known you for half my
life and I've never heard no one say that.
Speaker 5 (11:44):
Here we go.
Speaker 4 (11:45):
Everyone has ever said I want me smiling and happy. Yeah,
they don't have.
Speaker 1 (11:49):
To be saying yeah, well LA's finest.
Speaker 5 (11:51):
Man.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
We appreciate you.
Speaker 4 (11:52):
Absolutely, Happy birthday to man started next week. Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
I want to welcome back back in my guy Kean Dueling. Yes,
Sir KD. The Warriors have found something since picking up
Jimmy Butler. Ten and two since he's joined the team,
fourth best defense, seven best offense. During that stretch, Butler
and Curry. What has been your assessment of this trade
(12:19):
since it's gone down.
Speaker 6 (12:20):
Man, the Warriors come out and play real.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
We need the glass bottles.
Speaker 8 (12:25):
They've been killing it. It's fun to see, you know,
Steph get that extra boost, right because like he's one
of those players that, like, you know, once, once he's gone,
you know what I mean, the game is gonna miss him.
So to see him playing on this level, to see Jimmy,
you know, coming and putting his imprint on the team.
And they're gonna get healthier when they get Kaminga back,
(12:48):
They're gonna get healthier, They're gonna have a different element.
Speaker 6 (12:50):
They're gonna be a very very dangerous team. Man in
the postseason.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
Well, I think, I mean, similar to what Luca has
been able to do for Lebron, Jimmy is someone that
can carry the Warriors over a stretch of time to
allow Steph to steal some more minutes on the bench,
you know, since losing Clay and losing Jordan Poole and
then you know kd All kind of Steph sidekicks that
were able to carry the team at times. Jimmy gives
them that and then also that tenacity on defense and
(13:16):
in Playoff Steph and Playoff Jimmy, Playoff Draymond is something
I'm definitely looking forward to. You know, what's interesting to
me about this is obviously OKAC sits at the top
of the West, young hungry team and have been, you know,
record wise, one of the best teams in lead the
entire year.
Speaker 5 (13:32):
But they're young.
Speaker 1 (13:33):
When I look at the Western Conference, I look at
the Lakers, I look at Denver, and I look at
Golden State or all teams with experience with veterans that
could very well represent I mean, this could be the
year that okay See runs through the Western Conference and
represents the West in the finals. This can also be
the year that okay See stumbles in the second round
(13:55):
and one of these older, veteran, more experienced teams takes
this one last run at the Western Conference before Oklahoma
City really takes over.
Speaker 8 (14:04):
I agree one hundred percent. I agree with you. You know,
like styles make fights. I think nobody is really afraid
of OKC. I think people would.
Speaker 1 (14:13):
That's and that's not even disrespectful, you mean, that's just
many me and you talking because we know experience is
what wins in the playoffs.
Speaker 8 (14:22):
I would rather avoid Joker at all costs, right, you know,
just because he presents such a mismatch. He's a matchup
problem on both ends. And he's just he's just he's unbelievable.
And like I said, styles make fights, so I would
I agree nobody's ducking Okay, see.
Speaker 1 (14:40):
Smoke Kawhi hit the game winner on Sunday Hard and
drop fifty in this past week, the Clippers winners of
their last three. Kawiss played twenty one games this season.
He's playing a lot of minutes right now, KD. He's
at twenty two six and three forty six percent from
the field. What has kind of been your outlook on
the Clippers? I mean, James's resurgence, Kawhi is rounding into shape.
(15:05):
Is he playing too many minutes? I don't know, but
this team is looking very solid. Not something we mentioned,
but again, another team with a lot of experienced guys
that have won championships before. One of the best coaches
in the league. Thoughts on those two guys in particular, though,
Kawhi and James and the way they've really been able
to kind of get their games back in shape.
Speaker 8 (15:23):
This is the time of year where you see those
teams rev up like leading into the playoffs, right combine
missing Why missing time one is he's got degenitive issues.
It's not that they're load managing and things like that.
He's got real issues that he's gonna have to deal
with long after basketball ends. But you got t lou
(15:45):
championship pedigree. He gets the most out of his guys.
Norman Powell got an opportunity to be highlighted this year.
So now as he goes back to the third option,
you have an extra weapon. They have size, they have versatility,
they have the pedigree, and they're another team who's very
very dangerous.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
Agreed, very dangerous. It's funny how these older teams have
kind of been playing under the radar the entire season,
and now you know, the as players, we know, season
really really gets going after All Star and now you're
seeing these older teams round in to form right at
the perfect time. So it's gonna be fun. I'm definitely
(16:25):
looking forward to these these Western Conference plays and playoffs. Sure,
so you know, do do old habits die hard with
the Clippers? You know Kawhi win healthy in the playoffs.
I mean he's got what finals, two finals, MVPs right,
two finals MVPs and two championships, but he hasn't necessarily
been able to get there and be healthy. Harden has
(16:47):
a you know, a history of kind of struggling in
the playoffs. If Kawhi is healthy, are these guys able
to kind of shake off these old habits and really
be able to make a run come playoff time.
Speaker 8 (16:57):
I think they can make a run. Long they don't
run up against Denver. I think Denver is a mismatch.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
So avoid Denver at all costs in the Western.
Speaker 8 (17:07):
At least in the first round, right, because you can
hit a rhythm, you can hit a stride, you can
kind of get things going, and then you have days
to recover in the playoffs, right, so you can you know,
you can recover and and kind of you know, change
the game play and things like that. But it's yet
to be seen. I think James is matured as a player.
(17:28):
I think he's still playing at an extremely high level.
I think he's he's so much more unselfish. Though he
passed the ball and you know, made assists. I think
he makes winning plays now, in particular on the defensive end.
I saw possession the other day where he got like
five deflections in one possession, and that's just something we
haven't seen. So I think these guys understand the height
(17:49):
of the moment. I think they're hungry, and I think
they believe that in a seven game series we can
be in or compete with anyone.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
Switching gears to some women college basketball shout out to
the Bruins. Yeah, yeah, yeah, Big Ten champions. Obviously sc
kind of had their number this season, and you say
it was able to get them when it counts. Hopefully
we'll get a chance to see them in the tournament
face each other. But Juju Juju has been absolutely incredible.
(18:19):
Shout out to her. Big Ten Player of the Year,
probably will win National Player of the Year. She passes
Kaitlyn Clark for the most points through two seasons any
women's college basketball player in the history. She's number two
in scoring right now, behind Hidalgo. I think at Notre Dame,
is it's safe to say that the Juju Watkins effects
is here. I just saw this morning she signed with
(18:40):
United Airlines. I think she is just absolutely killing it
on all fronts, on and off the court. But what's
up with this Juju effect? We got something really coming
down the pipeline.
Speaker 6 (18:49):
Huh juju effect is real, brother.
Speaker 8 (18:51):
You know, she brings the style and grace to the
game outside of just her play and her skill set
on the court. She glows, man, you know, from a
ponytail to her swagger to her smile. Like all the
things that she brings, you know, off the court, she
brings them just as good on the court. She's unbelievable.
She's a three level score. She can dribble, she can shoot,
(19:13):
she can pass. I was so impressed. I saw her
working with I think it was piel Handy this summer,
and she had her right hand wrapped up and I
saw her getting all that left hand work in right.
And so when you see her now, last year she
was right hand dominant. She went right quite a bit,
but now she's got all these different counters going left
and she's just unbelievable.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
Man.
Speaker 6 (19:35):
She's so good for women's basketball. I think her timing
is perfect.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
Man. She's special, very special, And I'm gonna jump out
there right now. People may get mad. I think if
she continues on this trajectory, she has a chance to
be the greatest women's player ever. And that's sayed a
lot because a lot of great women have come before her,
particularly Cheryl Miller, who drops this Thursday, and all the
Smokeman she.
Speaker 6 (19:53):
Checked out to see it.
Speaker 1 (19:55):
But there's been a lot of amazing women. Obviously Kaylyn
Clark is taking the world by storm. But ju You
is different. I've seen her in person. She's a big,
solid frame and she's still nineteen. Like she's not one
of these whole back, double hole backs, red shirt like
this is. She's the real age, she's supposed to be,
in the real grade. She's supposed to be. But just
the way she plays, and I don't want to disrespect
(20:17):
her game by saying she plays like a man, because
she's the best, one of the best women in the game,
but she plays like a man. Bro likes her rhythm,
the way she gets to her spots, the way she
goes downhill and gets these and like it. Is so impressed.
I was sitting in courtside with my whole boy, Tracy Mills,
who's her cousin at UCLA when they beat us before
we went to the Big Ten tournament, and just seeing
(20:38):
that up close, it's absolutely incredible. Man, So the sky
is the limit. I'm happy for her and her family
and her team. I'm obviously happy for the Bruins that
were Big ten champs, and hopefully we get a chance
to collide with them one more time in the NCAA's
men's tournaments. Right around the corner, which means, what programs
do you feel have the best shot in the final four?
(21:00):
Half to a mint, I haven't followed the men's as
much as I've actually followed the women's this year, but
any men's team stick out to you that that really
has a chance to make make a good run.
Speaker 8 (21:10):
I'm gonna say this, next to the next, to the
Western Conference, the Eastern Conference, in the euro League, the
SEC is the best league in basketball outside of those things.
I think they have so many teams. I think they're
like eight to ten deep in that conference where they
can be beat on any given night. Obviously, Duke having
(21:33):
Cooper Flag is a favorite. They've had an incredible year.
There's some sleepers in there. Penny Penny Hardaway's Memphis Memphis
Tigers are a sleeper to me.
Speaker 6 (21:45):
Penny is doing a.
Speaker 8 (21:45):
Really good job down there, and I think that program
is gonna continue to grow. I think they just got
about twenty five million dollars in NIL money from FedEx
and so I'm expecting big things from Penny on that
down there in Memphis. But if I had to make
a choice, I'm gonna go with the best player I think.
I think Duke. They're well coached, they're balanced, they have
(22:06):
the pedigree. I don't think Cooper will get an opportunity
to play in the NCAA tournament.
Speaker 6 (22:11):
Again. I think he's just a one and done.
Speaker 1 (22:13):
He's out of here. Huh.
Speaker 6 (22:15):
He's man.
Speaker 8 (22:16):
You gotta he gotta, he gotta make it happen in
my opinion, and so I still think Duke is the
favorite to win it all. But those SEC teams are
gonna be very dangerous, especially the ones that are seated
a little bit lower.
Speaker 1 (22:26):
Ken, I want to ask you real quick, and this
is kind of even off script. The age of college
basketball players these days. A new rule that JUCO doesn't
count against you. You can do two years of JUCO
and coming as a freshman. Still, we're seeing Auburn who
just got knocked off this weekend by Alabama. Great game,
(22:47):
they came down the wire. Obama got him. But that
Auburn team, like their average age is older than the
Oklahoma City Thunder. They got a twenty six year old
on the team, twenty five year olds, some twenty four
year olds. It's it's just so much different from when
we played, you know what I mean, Like one, we
didn't do the whole backs and you you red shirted
if you were really hurt, like I think the portal
(23:09):
and this is not a knock on the kids at
all because they're just utilizing the system. I think this
obviously is an NC double a problem. But I commented
on something a few weeks back where Rick Patino said, like,
we're not even recruiting high school kids this off season.
They kind of pissed. That kind of pissed me off
because I mean, when we were coming up was for
kids turning into men. Now it's for pretty much grown
(23:30):
ass men that probably aren't going to go to the league,
you know what I mean. If you think you're and
I'm saying it's all the respect. If you're twenty five
to twenty six playing college sports, unless you're a quarterback,
you're probably not going to go to the next level.
And I just kind of feel like you're taking up
space for young kids with you know, that are supposed
to have this type of opportunity. So what are your
thoughts on just kind of the way the NCUBA has
(23:51):
these kids allowed to play. You got twenty six year
olds playing against eighteen year old and young people. So well,
that's how it is the league. But this is not
the league.
Speaker 5 (23:57):
This is college.
Speaker 1 (23:58):
Yeah, so what are your thoughts on that.
Speaker 8 (24:00):
My thoughts are, Matt, if you let these guys come
out early, right, and they go undrafted, let them come
back to school, right, so they're still young enough where
they can still grow, cope, debate, get developed, make some
money through n I LS and things like that. What
happens is when guys leave for the draft and they
don't get drafted, you know what I mean, Like you
(24:20):
you lose a whole demographic of young players that you
could potentially welcome back into the system. And so I
think there's a loophole for the older guys in the
late bloomers, you know. And not to minimize what they're doing,
they're showing stick tuitiveness.
Speaker 6 (24:35):
Most guys aren't going to play in the NBA. Come on,
come on now, three.
Speaker 1 (24:40):
And fourth syllable words, I see it.
Speaker 8 (24:42):
But most guys are not going to play in the
league anyway, and so to be able to you know,
have that college experience, come out with a degree, you know,
extend you know, your adolescent years a little bit. I
don't necessarily have a problem with it because it's not
stopping our top talent from being one and done, are
going to the ote, are going overseas to play and
(25:05):
coming back to the league, and so I think it
leaves some room for the college game to, you know,
still have some competition, have some competitiveness, but it's a
little bit more difficult for the younger guys because their
bodies aren't as developed. In the college game, you can
still bump and all that as well.
Speaker 1 (25:19):
So Okay, I like that's interesting because I don't agree,
Like I'm not on the I'm on the side of
I feel like this is for colleges, for these young
kids that are coming in that are eighteen nineteen to
try to develop, to see if they do have a
chance to man, dang, that.
Speaker 6 (25:33):
Was not eighteen when he came to UCLA.
Speaker 1 (25:36):
He was nineteen. But that's an overseas kid. That's a
little different, you know what I mean. But I feel no,
I'm definitely not mad because, like you said, most kids,
unfortunately aren't going to go that's just the nature of
the game. Plus nil is so crazy right now. So
these kids are still getting a lot of bread during
these opportunities. So, like I said, I don't fault the
kids at all, like take advantage of the system that's provided.
(25:57):
But I just think the NCAA, you know, like most
times it's awesome shit right now that I think they
need to fix that, Katie before we get you out
of here. Steph Curry being named assistant GM at Davidson,
I think boje Ha just kind of started a trend now,
you know, Masterpiece over New Orleans. Now Steph just signed over.
The assistant is Davidson. What are your thoughts on big name,
whether it be players or personalities becoming gms of colleges.
Speaker 6 (26:22):
I love it. I love it when your gift makes
schome for you.
Speaker 8 (26:26):
And you know, too often, man, you know, we get
put in boxes right and like you don't have to
do this, or that you can do this, and that
he's setting himself up.
Speaker 6 (26:37):
For a post career.
Speaker 8 (26:39):
It's it's his school that he went to, so he's
an alumni, he's got a vested interest in that. And
who better than Steph right to represent your program Steph
is not only just a great basketball player, but he's
a great human being. He's a great ambassador for the game.
He understands business. I mean, he's just really cracked the
(26:59):
code and get it all out. So I love to
see us getting these opportunities, bringing in Pete to New Orleans,
like he put New Orleans on the map to a
certain degree. And Pee, you remember p used to come
up at U c l A and who.
Speaker 1 (27:11):
Yeah, Pee, he used to try to fight me.
Speaker 5 (27:13):
We can talk.
Speaker 6 (27:14):
Did that ball touch saying he was gonna shoot it?
Speaker 1 (27:17):
You know, every other time. Couldn't tell him nothing.
Speaker 8 (27:19):
But it's great to see that man because he has
the business acumen, the resume, and the passion and the
love for the game. Obviously his kids play college ball.
They little Romeo always had a love for the game.
Speaker 6 (27:30):
So it's good to see. It's good to see our guys,
you know, taking their place in the game.
Speaker 1 (27:34):
Absolutely. Man shout out to Steph, master P and woj Man.
I love the presidents they're said, and looking forward to
more guys getting the opportunity to do the same. And
women love to see some women getting those roles too,
So Katie Man, thanks for your time. We'll definitely tap
back in soon.
Speaker 5 (27:48):
Man.
Speaker 1 (27:49):
Enjoy your week.
Speaker 6 (27:50):
Man, Thank you Bro. Always appreciate y'all having Well.
Speaker 1 (27:52):
That's a rap for this week on Unplugged. Thank you
for joining us. You can catch this on all the
Smoke Productions YouTube and the Draft Kings Network. Don'll help
a good.
Speaker 3 (28:00):
One speaks to the planet. I go by the name
of Charlamagne Tha God and guess what, I can't wait
to see y'all at the third Annual Black Effect Podcast Festival.
Speaker 5 (28:16):
That's right, We're.
Speaker 3 (28:17):
Coming back to Atlanta, Georgia, Saturday, April twenty six at
Poeman Yards and it's hosted by none other than Decisions Decisions,
Mandy B and Weezy. Okay, we got the R and
B Money podcast. We're taking Jay Valentine. We got the
Woman of All Podcasts with Sarah Jake Roberts. We got
Good Mom's Bad Choices. Carrie Champion will be there with
her next sports podcast and the Trap Nerds podcast with
(28:37):
more to be announced. And of course it's bigger than podcasts.
We're bringing the Black Effect marketplace with black owned businesses,
plus the food truck court to keep you fed while
you visit us. All right, listen. You don't want to
miss this, Tap in and grab your tickets now at
black effect dot Com Flash Podcast Festival
Hosts And Creators
Stephen Jackson
Matt Barnes
Popular Podcasts
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy And Charlamagne Tha God!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Decisions, Decisions
Welcome to "Decisions, Decisions," the podcast where boundaries are pushed, and conversations get candid! Join your favorite hosts, Mandii B and WeezyWTF, as they dive deep into the world of non-traditional relationships and explore the often-taboo topics surrounding dating, sex, and love. Every Monday, Mandii and Weezy invite you to unlearn the outdated narratives dictated by traditional patriarchal norms. With a blend of humor, vulnerability, and authenticity, they share their personal journeys navigating their 30s, tackling the complexities of modern relationships, and engaging in thought-provoking discussions that challenge societal expectations. From groundbreaking interviews with diverse guests to relatable stories that resonate with your experiences, "Decisions, Decisions" is your go-to source for open dialogue about what it truly means to love and connect in today's world. Get ready to reshape your understanding of relationships and embrace the freedom of authentic connections—tune in and join the conversation!