Ant-Man's T-Wolves Put The League ON NOTICE, Giannis' Near Triple-Double & Duren's Preseason Debut! Part 1

0:00 Welcome back to Gil's Arena, presented by Polymarket, empowered by Playmaker.

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0:22 I'm merely a host, Josiah Johnson.

0:24 I'm here with NBA legend 2K Unk with badges, Theater King, and Non Zendaya.

0:30 Gilbert Arenas. What up, baby? Your voice is better. Some of y'all got rocked today in the theater. Man, we only go to 21 at 16, 19, man. He probably watching right now. Yeah, that was you. That was all you. If you're watching, that was you. Making his return from the Far East.

0:53 We got NBA champion of the world, Swaggy P, Nick Young, back on the couch.

0:57 This is a global international star, you feel me?

1:01 A global icon.

1:02 Ooh, I forgot what this little couch feel like, you know?

1:04 It's nice, though. You should be happy to be on this little couch. We watched it, Nick.

1:11 We seen him getting buckets.

1:12 CBA called. The Sharks called.

1:14 Sharks is like, hey, you want Gil Jersey, his number? I'm like, maybe.

1:19 I think about it.

1:20 I'm going to negotiate. You know, we can negotiate.

1:22 It's embarrassing, bro. It's embarrassing. You like that move, though. Low key. Low key.

1:27 That move was hard.

1:28 It was hard. It was hard. When I thought she was up, I thought she was going out as an ambassador. I did. I did. No, not some old, washed up nigga that you bring. No, you play for the Lakers? You play for Kobe? You play for Kobe, right? Here, play, play our local. Play the local. That's why I went out there. They treat me good. They went to 100.

1:47 Two's and three's. Who the fuck goes to 100? He played an NBA game.

1:55 He scored 70 on Brooks from Phoenix.

1:57 We're going to talk about you taking on.

2:00 Bajig in just a moment. You think Devin Booker going out there playing basketball?

2:03 I said Brooks, not Devin Booker.

2:05 You think Booker's going out there playing basketball? See what I'm saying? He mean Yeah, yeah, yeah. See what I'm saying? Yeah, yeah.

2:12 Kawhi played. They watching the game. They watching the old local. Yeah, Kawhi only went to 20, too. Kawhi played up to 20.

2:18 We're going to talk about that shortly.

2:22 But we got to.

2:23 Kawhi played to 20. I had to play to 100. He played a whole NBA game.

2:27 You know what I'm saying? That's why I'm going back. They treat me good. Every time I come here, I just talk about the stars and treat the role players like shit.

2:36 And we got former college player of the year, number two overall pick, played 10 seasons in the league, Evan Turner.

2:42 Man, what you do?

2:44 College player of the year? What you do? Oh, you're a video gamer.

2:49 In college?

2:50 National championship?

2:53 Attendee. Attendee. You was there. That's probably better. Pac-10, all first teams. Got hit with some glitter. Oh, you made all Pac-10?

2:59 I didn't know that. I did it every year I played. You didn't do it your freshman year? I was all rookie Pac-10.

3:06 Everybody's a rookie. I mean, all freshman, all freshman. Yeah, I made that.

3:11 And then I made all Pac-10, and then I was Pac-10 player of the year.

3:15 So it's different. It's levels. It's levels. Yeah, I was an NBA. I was fighting for rookie of the month when you was fighting for... Pac-10 player of the year. You know what I mean? It's levels.

3:25 It's going to be turned up in the arena today. We got a lot to discuss. Here's what's cracking in Gil's arena today. Ant-Man and the Y-Emberwolves put the league on notice for what to expect from this season. Will his squad actually back up all that talk? Giannis almost messed around and dropped a triple-double on the Nets. Which version of the Greek freak do the Heat need offensively to reach their full potential? And Jalen Duren did his thing in his preseason debut with Detroit. Do people, specifically Gil, need to stop sleeping on the Pistons? And mostly fans back for our Super Chat. So make sure you throw something in the offering plate. Drop your questions. We appreciate all the love and support you've given us thus far.

4:07 Let's keep the good times rolling. Shout out to our Super Chat for all that you do. But hey, I need to tell you all about this new sports trading app I discovered. It's called PolyMarket. It's the most exciting way to trade in sports, and it's a nationwide, federally regulated prediction market. Polymarket is the best prediction market, better than Calshi, DraftKings, and FanDuel. In the past, if you wanted a position on a game, you'd put your money in and get locked in until the very end. But Polymarket lets you trade games like you would a stock, buying in and selling out entirely on your terms. When your team drops to 20 cents, you buy the dip.

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5:14 And shout out to all our Twitches near and far. All our Twitches in the Far East. United States, North America, South America, everywhere you may be. Gil's Arena is everywhere you want to be. So make sure if you're watching on Twitch, you subscribe to our at Gil's Arena show channel.

5:28 And we appreciate y'all for all the subs. So we got.

5:31 Shout out to the Twitches.

5:33 Where are my Twitches?

5:33 Yeah.

5:35 Not in there.

5:37 Twitches around the world.

5:40 Not near none.

5:41 Minnesota may be the most turnt up city in the NBA this season with a young team led by two larger than basketball-like personalities in Ant-Man and LaMelo Ball. The Y-Emberwolves, big three of Ant, Melo, and Jaden McDaniels linked up recently for Ant's second annual Believe That Awards where Ant-Man handed out awards for categories like White Boy of the Year, which went to Justin Bieber, Main Character of the Year, which was won by Drewski, the Stood on Business Award, which went to Jaden McDaniels, and the Bring Your Ass Award, which went to LaMelo. So Ant-Man also put the entire league on notice for what to expect from him and his squad this season.

6:19 I ain't really got too much to say. We don't with y'all. We don't give a about you. Ain't no buddy-buddy going on. Like, when y'all see the Timberwolves come in town, y'all need to know they on Bulls. We gonna fire the out you.

6:33 We with the Bulls. Yeah, we on that.

6:38 Like, I just want y'all to know that what's going on. It's a bunch of boys this year. Yeah, get your season tickets. This is going to be turned up this year. Like, if you miss a game, you're going to miss out. Like, if you miss a game, you're missing out. Like, you got the light skin, you got the brown skin, you got the black skin.

6:51 That's what's going on, bro. Like, we can't have it, bro.

6:54 Like, you got three shades and it's how you want this.

6:58 The light skin, the brown skin, and the black ass N-word. Three shades in this bitch, however you want it.

7:05 A goat, man.

7:06 Swaggy, we're going to start with you. Making your return to China good to have you back in the house.

7:10 Oh, man.

7:10 Do you respect Ant-Man for letting it be known that white ember wolves are on that this season?

7:16 Yeah, and it's Ant-Man.

7:18 I think his personality is, like, on that line, like, borderline where he can say whatever he want, kind of like Trump, in a sense. Like, he's that type of, you know, person. And everybody love him, you know, um. You don't take what he say serious. He probably was like the class clown, but he get buckets, and he got like a little cagey feel. That's why I think everybody's drawn to the Timberwolves this year. When you got a player that can say what he will and back it up, he do both. Now he got people behind him like LaMelo, Jaden McDaniels coming into his own. He basically shut down Dillon by himself. So they're going to be scary. I like that he put the lead on notice, so.

8:04 Jaden McDaniel called the entire Nugget Squad trash defenders.

8:07 Named them by name. So, like, I see you have the Timberwolves blanket to keep you warm this NBA season. For sure.

8:15 I got the light skin, brown, and this black motherfucker.

8:19 Oh, let's shift over.

8:23 That's how we are. We the Timberwolves Arena.

8:25 Let's shift over to this side of the couch. And we heard Ant-Man put the league on notice. What do you think about and letting it be known what to expect from the Wolves this season?

8:37 I feel like he's always been that type of energy, bro. I feel like he always comes with that type of motion. I just think he's even speaking even louder because they got a point guard. I think, you know, looking in practice, the excitement that they have, it's going to be one of the best backcourt duos or most exciting backcourt duos in the league. So I think with talented players and confident players, they're probably like, I don't need much to really get over that hump. And, you know, that's what he's doing.

9:04 I'm going to shift over to you. You're Adidas brethren. Anthony Edwards. Letting me know that they're going to be on that. I mean, this is a....

9:15 We love the confidence. But you really got to be on that demon time if you letting everybody know you're on that demon time. Because now you know everybody's going to be prepared. Everybody's going to want to shut you up. So the fact that you are actually publicly saying We want the smoke. We coming to town. Don't go to sleep early. I mean, go to sleep early. Ain't no partying when we coming in. The fact that you're actually projecting that, knowing that you're going to get everybody's A game.

9:46 And that's what you waiting for? Whoa, that's dangerous. He really liked that, bro. Man. But him, but he put the tea, everybody. Yeah. Everybody in that motherfucker giggling. Like, yeah, we all, we all here. Hacking and smacking. Yeah, that's us.

10:02 Jada McDaniels, Debo, Jada McDaniels is Debo. LaMelo Ball literally hoops like it's whatever. He really do not care. Io DeSumo with whatever. Terrence Shannon Jr. literally with whatever. They got a four-time defensive player of the year. I feel as though, I mean, bro, he hoop, man, Shorty the elite, man.

10:21 So I don't think he worried head up about anything. I think when it comes down to just the end of the season, making sure he's healthy, making sure, you know, he's not fatigued. The past couple of playoff runs, he admitted that he got tired and even came back and had to have knee injuries. But, you know, adding LaMelo Ball, I believe he's decided the traps are going to come, but they won't come as frequent because you got to, the second best three-point shooter in the NBA as of last year. So I think he's going to be able to do a lot more and feel like it's his coming out party even more.

10:53 Yeah, I love it because he's talking. You couldn't do that back in the day. That's why I live through it, man. Can you imagine people talking like that back in the day?

11:01 Well, dudes are too scared to be calling out names, right? I'm saying in regards to, like, one playoff goal, he walking up to KD.

11:09 Well, you did a little bit.

11:12 But you didn't do it like that, like, in front of the camera.

11:14 I did.

11:16 No, you said some shit like I was mad they didn't cut me from the Olympics.

11:19 I did that all-star weekend.

11:20 The Olympics team, they cut me. All my feelings is hurt.

11:23 No, that was in the paper.

11:25 All my feelings. I want to play for the Olympics.

11:27 All-star weekend.

11:29 That's what you did. You didn't say that like that. All-star weekend. What'd you say?

11:32 Whoever didn't vote for me on my stage, whoever didn't vote for me. I remember that. East Coast assassin. I don't want to hear nothing.

11:40 And what'd you do the next game?

11:42 What?

11:42 What'd you do the next game after that? After you said that, what did you do the first game? How much you drop? I'm asking a question.

11:50 I don't know, man. My dog. I made second team all NBA day. My dog. My dog. I didn't even get, I wasn't, I didn't get voted for all-star. I was a sub.

11:59 That's crazy.

12:00 And made second team. That's the type of demon time I was on in the second half.

12:05 So you saying you relate to that?

12:11 I'm just saying. I'm just saying. You Ant-Man. I heard you in the practice. You did that in practice. I'm the best nigga in the world in practice. That was cool.

12:22 That was still impressive.

12:23 Yeah, it was impressive. It was impressive.

12:25 It was impressive.

12:26 I had a game-winner after. That's when I hit the Spurs after that practice. Game-winner on the Spurs. That's what I'm saying. What did you do after that? After you said that? Like, I waved Kobe off and took the game-winner shot.

12:38 Second team All-NBA. Swaggy, did it feel good to wave Kobe off? Yeah, hell yeah.

12:42 Man, it felt so good.

12:45 Like, I had Kobe. It was Gil's face on Kobe. Like, I was traumatized. So, waved him off, shot it. Because I was so tired. Like, Gil put me in the corner. He told the coach to, like, if they ain't ready, don't put them in the game. So, I got PTSD.

13:07 Post-traumatic? You had 34. Yeah. End of game winner. End of game winner.

13:12 End of game winner.

13:13 So after that all-star break.

13:16 See, stop.

13:17 It got rough for them. Damn, I feel sorry.

13:23 It was at 34, 26, 46, 37, 28, 33, 23, 39, 28, 34, 34, 34, 26, 29, 25, 31, 17.

13:24 Damn, who stopped me that day?

13:25 Yeah, 17.

13:25 It was Clippers. Oh, yeah, you was in L.A.? Okay. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You see, it got real dangerous. But I said I was going to be the East Coast Assassin, so Clippers wasn't even on my radar. Ripper's not an East Coast team? No. Okay, I get that. Yeah. He got real treasures around him. I had a motherfucker like this. Yo, yo, I fold it.

14:01 I fold it.

14:02 They quit on you.

14:03 I don't want none of this.

14:05 Oh, listen.

14:06 You would know how angry I was. How angry were you? Tell them how angry you were. There's a Paul Pierce game winner in Washington from the corner.

14:17 Right?

14:18 Rewinding one play. I hit it to put us up. Then flicked off Doc Rivers for no reason. Because he was a coach in the East Coast. That's how angry I was.

14:33 Do you think that helped your efforts or hurt your efforts? Disrespecting Glenn Doc Rivers like that?

14:39 No, I already got it. This is the second time.

14:40 So you've been disrespecting him for a long time?

14:42 No, this is the second. No, he was a part of these close coaches.

14:44 No, but you've been disrespecting him. So that's what I was doing. Why you say the story about Doc Rivers?

14:47 I was doing that every coach. It was getting that work.

14:50 You didn't say every coach. You said Doc Rivers.

14:51 No, because I'm saying everybody knows that shot Paul Pierce hit on the Wizards. The shot before that, you'll see me literally flicking him off. Then I sent him a fruit basket. My bad. This fruit basket.

15:05 Evan did that on us in the Lakers game. It was winning.

15:08 The last second he dunked, did a 360 dunk and shit. Like with two seconds left, you know when you don't let, you ain't supposed to score.

15:17 Nick was still trying to score. That's why I did it, bro.

15:21 Look at that, windmill 360 dunk.

15:22 Yeah, and I realized everybody was so mad. But I only did it to bother Nick.

15:26 I had to, but I had to say something because the coach was looking at me like, you know.

15:30 Wait, you said something?

15:31 I had to, but I didn't want to because it's happening to me. I was like, damn, man, why you got to do that to... You know, we went in the locker room. Coaches get mad at that type of shit. It was back.

15:42 It was some of the most unwatchable basketball. It was a tank sixers versus... The Colby-less Lakers. So it was a fun day for us.

15:50 Yeah, for sure.

15:52 Everybody else was probably doing something else. Okay, now you see how stupid people really are. Just listen to this concept. How much was y'all up?

16:01 We were up like seven.

16:02 Yeah.

16:02 Right around there.

16:03 Okay. Now, who shot the ball right before you shot it? He did. Okay. I made it. So he shot it. You made it?

16:10 Yeah.

16:10 So he shot it. That was fine. Nobody argued, right? You go and score on the person that just scored on you. they want to fight you now. You see how bad that looks? Like, he gets to play offense. Because you're winning, the loser gets to go and do whatever they want. If you come down and score or shoot, he want to fight you now after he just finished shooting.

16:34 That's basically what happened.

16:37 That is the craziest shit ever, dog.

16:40 They were probably mad. They weren't supposed to lose to us. I think that's why they were really mad.

16:44 For sure.

16:45 Like, I never understood that, man. I never understood. Like, you were trying to score on me.

16:51 Yeah.

16:52 You're going 100%. Yeah. And then if I get the ball, what am I supposed to do? Just waste the clock out, take some bullshit, and then you get to come back and play real office again.

17:02 No, there was no more seconds left.

17:03 I'm just saying it's period. That's how the end of the bench guys.

17:07 But that's how I viewed it. Like, you viewed it. I'm like, oh, y'all still shooting? Say less.

17:11 Yeah.

17:12 Say less. Yeah, that's it.

17:14 Say less.

17:15 Got to get them two points.

17:18 Went to the crib, man.

17:22 I'm shooting. I just got in the game, man. It's 0-0, man.

17:26 And I respect people that do that, too, especially when you be playing and you watch how hard the guys that don't play work. I'm like, damn, that's another game. You finna be over here for a full 48, maybe three hours, shivering.

17:39 Yeah, get going. Evan, I was so didn't give a fuck. I will score, then foul you. Just so I can get another crack at it. Just so I can get another crack at it. Then six seconds up, I score. Ah!

17:58 A high ball screen.

17:59 What game is he playing? As soon as he inbound the ball, try to steal it and like foul him. Oh, shit. Damn, man. Got one more motherfucking shot.

18:08 Shit.

18:08 I don't know what y'all talking about.

18:10 The game within the game. But three minutes took eight shots. Let's bring it back to this Timberwolves squad. So often nowadays, Swaggy, like we talk about, you want guys who are media trained, say the right things, project the right image. It seems like Ant-Man, LaMelo, who he calls Dip, they just don't care.

18:26 They're really coming in, ready to go. But is that refreshing for this league heading into this season?

18:32 For sure.

18:33 I think so.

18:35 You say refreshing for the league? The league may not like it, but people are going to watch the Timberwolves.

18:41 I mean, when y'all say he couldn't be the face of the league because he.

18:44 Talk like that. Yeah.

18:46 He could be the face of the hood, though.

18:49 Yeah. I think he's the face of the league, too.

18:51 Yeah, I think it's cool that even when you said you weren't speaking like that back in the day, it was like, yo, the athlete, his voice and everything has evolved. You know what I'm saying? So even just being that black and flagrant is kind of. marketable now, and susceptible, which is wavy, in my personal opinion. The only thing I'm saying is once you understand a one-two step, like, I'm used to Ant-Man jumping on a mic and cursing.

19:17 Yeah, yeah.

19:17 I pay attention to it much more and being like, damn, Shorty stopped cursing so goddamn much.

19:21 Bring your ass.

19:22 Yeah, but it's who he is. I think it's his personality. I think he's just, you know, unauthentically, you know, or authentically raw. So, I mean, that's just where.

19:32 He's at. It's refreshing if you... like as shoe contracts. Because if you look at some of the guys with those type of personalities, the shoe the shoe companies realize that that polished athlete is not what transcends anymore in today's game so Ant-Man can talk that same way and still go out and get a 200 million dollar contract from Adidas and he's fine John Moran can get in trouble and then you drop his shoe sold out so they don't that that clean image on the shoe company side that's gone, right? LaMelo got off, you drop his shoe, gone.

20:14 So back then, they wanted you clean in that department too. NBA is NBA. They're more corporate because their sponsors is billions and billions and billions. So I can tell if the NBA is pushing you, are you on the NBA magazines? Are NBA frontlining you? When we're talking about NBA commercials during other games, who's on those? Right? You remember the Christmas game. Yeah. Who's doing the jingle bell? Those, that's when the NBA is pushing you. The jingle bells.

20:44 All right.

20:45 Yeah, like when there was a point in time where they was pushing Dwayne Wade more than LeBron on the NBA side because of the tax member. Dwayne's clean. Yeah. Clean. So Sean, John, all that, they was pushing him out there.

20:59 Yeah, absolutely right because you don't know what the conversation is like behind those doors and at the end of the day, you're You guys all went through the CBAs when we were trying to elevate, and even when they threw in the drug policies or even the dress code, it was all about marketing and marketability and the underlying statement of making us look likable. I think sometimes, no matter what, especially going from being local for the sponsorships to going global... That's a little different requirement, you know, especially when we're trying to get on a level like the soccer players who present themselves in a different manner, you know? Is it a line that, like, Allen Iverson crossed a line where they, like, wanted to start the

21:41 dress code?

21:41 Like, what was that line at?

21:43 Because AI was kind of similar in a way, and then the NBA just said, you know what, dress code. Like, what was the turning point there?

21:53 It was more of how they were dressing on the bench. Oh, look at that. Right? Baggy sweats. We're talking about 70s everything. Yeah.

22:02 Right?

22:02 Getting your hair braided on the bench and stuff like that. Oh, man. Just the look of it.

22:08 That's what I'm about to say.

22:10 Is it a line that he can... It's just the look of it. Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash, Tim Duncan was one of the biggest voices ever. Derrick and Tim, like, how am I going to look in suits? You know what I mean? Like, I don't look good in suits. Like, they didn't want to wear suits. They didn't think, like, what am I? I come to the gym really early.

22:30 Who is seeing me? Blah, blah, blah. Right? So they didn't want to wear the suit stuff.

22:36 I said that to ask, is there a line he can cross where it could be, like?

22:40 For the NBA?

22:41 Yeah.

22:46 Man, when you look at NBA, when NBA is pushing you, It seems like they're pushing... It's a look, right? You got short hair, you don't have tattoos, and you're more family orange. Right?

23:00 That's... And Edwards has been fined previously for profane language, amongst other things, so.

23:06 And who's a single person that they pushed hard? Besides, like, since David Stern, not in the 80s and the 90s. I mean, not the 80s, like the 80s and 70s, like... Damn.

23:18 Hmm.

23:20 You did a Christmas commercial? Is it anybody out there? Like the NBA?

23:25 No, I can't think.

23:27 Dirk Nowitzki? You had a book?

23:31 I didn't really push him like that.

23:33 Did I? Was MVP in, what, 2000-something? Yeah, but he wasn't like... I'm trying to think. Yeah, I'm trying to think in my era.

23:42 Yeah, I can't.

23:42 Damn.

23:45 That's a good question, yeah.

23:46 Hmm.

23:48 But back to this Timberwolves squad. We can't hear y'all audio. Tell them to hit the refresh. If you're watching the show, go ahead and hit a quick refresh. It's the internet, YouTube, you know how it goes.

23:56 We're talking to Y. Amber Wolf. Somebody said Curry. No, Curry was... Bird magic, they was married. Joker? Joker's married.

24:05 Oh, shit.

24:06 You would never even know. Right? Oh, K.E., fool. There we go. The only one, but looking at this Wolf. Right?

24:16 Oh, James Harden a little bit.

24:18 A little bit, but not as much, but it is.

24:22 So Wolves made back-to-back conference finals a few seasons ago, lost in the conference semifinals to the Spurs this past season. Do the Wyomber Wolves have too much dip on their chip in the loaded West heading into the season? Looks great on paper, but do they need to be doing all this talking before they actually play some regular season games?

24:40 I think the only thing that they have to take care of is their interior presence. Even when you watch some of the preseason games, they've given up a few offers and rebounds, but at the same time, not having that interior presence or size or physicality going into the playoffs, I feel as though it's going to affect you. Playing small ball with Rudy Gobert and Jaden McDaniels possibly being your foreman, you're going to see some disadvantages when it comes to physicality or even just being on the board.

25:09 So I think, you know, they can score at the best of them. They have a superstar like they need to really close games. But, you know, it's going to come down to being physical and setting that tone in the interior presence. And can Rudy Gobert be able to handle that by himself alongside, you know, makeshift big men like Jonathan Kaminga or you might have to throw Terrence Shannon Jr.

25:31 In there or.

25:32 You know, some of those guys.

25:35 I like it.

25:37 You know, they back it up. And some people need that type of energy to play better. Obviously, they showed that they can play under that type of pressure. And it's no more like swapping jerseys. We ain't doing that over here in Minnesota. We're not hugging and being friends. We're on a mission this year.

25:56 Not on that buddy-buddy.

25:57 It was all fun and games when Wimby did it last year. So, you know, it's time for the T-Wolves.

26:07 And that's going to age real bad if they swap a jersey. For sure, right? They can't do no jersey swap? I would love to score 40 and they can then swap jerseys. That's part of the troll. At this point, man, listen. I'm going to tell you I'm coming so you can prepare. So it tastes better. I don't want to be a sneaky team. I don't want to be the team that sneaks up behind. No, I want to tell you I'm coming prepared. So the fact that they're talking is just no different than Wimby. When he said, I want to be the defensive player of the year, I want to be your MVP. He's putting the pressure on himself. They're putting the pressure on themselves.

26:52 And also, we forget, but last year before he got hurt, they were rolling. And he was playing at a high, high level. He got MVP of the all-star game. I think coaches know that. I think if you put yourself back before, you know, all-star break, before you got, like, the runner's knee, he was moving at an elite pace, and only injury could really stop him.

27:11 Disrespect, too. Yeah.

27:13 He wasn't an all-NBA because.

27:15 They did not hit the.

27:16 And they let, like, Luka, the dude from Detroit.

27:21 Yeah, but I think, like, it's... I think, like, this moment in general is coming from, like, The playoff runs prior to when he was going at LeBron and going at Kevin Durant. You know what I'm saying? That's one of the things that I think switches up, too.

27:42 My first pause. Your first pause? What happened?

27:51 I said.

27:55 Let them know when you're coming.

27:57 Oh, yeah.

27:58 Oh, yo. Yeah, I was... Yeah, I was... Like, you come into town, and then we cook you up. Then savor the taste. What? Ooh. What? Double pause. You know what I mean? Like revenge tastes better when it's cold. What's that shit called?

28:17 When he come, you want to savor the taste.

28:19 Yeah, same shit like that.

28:21 You want to savor the taste when he come, man. Yeah, because it's best served cold. It is best to do it like that.

28:26 Yeah, that was aggressive. Yeah, that was aggressive.

28:28 All right, well, it remains to be seen how the White Air Wolves will perform this season, but they will be a league-passed darling. I think they have 27 national TV games. They had 28 last season, ended up being 30 because of the The network's flexed a couple in. Yeah, they're going to flex them again. I think they're going to flex beyond that 30 range this season. But Swaggy, we got you back on the couch. You're out there in the Far East doing your thing. You've been away for a cool minute to get another.

28:54 Trip to China. I think I was arguing and shit.

28:56 Huh?

28:59 This time you went head-to-head with the best street baller out there, a dude by the name of Bai Jing.

29:04 Bai Jing.

29:05 Also known as the Cold Face Assassin. In the Star Street one-on-one battle, let's take a look at what went down. We got some highlights from Swaggies. Lil Swaggie in Big China. Unconfirmed reports you had to check in with D-Lo, Swaggie. I can't confirm nor deny.

29:19 Unconfirmed. Yeah, I seen him, man.

29:22 He ran.

29:25 So you played a game to 100, I think by twos and threes, if I'm not mistaken.

29:30 Yeah.

29:30 So 100, you beat Bai Jing 100 to 79, becoming the latest current or former NBA hooper to give him that work. Earlier this summer, Kawhi beat him 100 to 35. George also beat him. That score was 101-61. While Dylan Brooks played him as well and won by the exact same score as you, 100-79.

29:48 I can play in the league. Dylan Brooks did it. Nah, I got tired.

29:56 I ain't going to lie.

29:58 At half, I got tired.

30:00 It was 50-15.

30:00 I wanted to quit, but I just kept playing. You know, the fans wanted to see Swaggy. Then they was telling me to chill. Let them come back, man. Let them come back. So, to make it interesting, because they sell stuff on their live streams and stuff while you're playing.

30:18 They want to extend the game.

30:20 Yeah, so I let them come back, you know, just to make it interesting. And then.

30:26 You're up 50-15 at halftime. He outscored you 64-50. What happened? I went on the street.

30:31 What was he doing?

30:32 I think he made like 10 threes in a row after that.

30:37 Oh, yeah, a game like that?

30:39 I wasn't playing defense. Like, you know, the little... But 100 points is tough. Straight off the plane... I still got it, though. You know, I might get a 10-day. Man, everyone was talking about the 10-day, so I'm looking for a 10-day.

30:55 Or I could go play in the CBA. Just let me know.

30:57 If it's the money higher than sitting on this couch with Gil, I'm there, because I don't want to fuck with him no more. This is a breakdown every time I come. They show me love out there, B.

31:07 I need love, B.

31:08 Like, every time I sit on this couch, you sunning me, son. Don't do that shit. That's love right there. Baijin gave me a hug and everything.

31:16 Baijin.

31:17 When's the last time you hugged, BG? Show them some love, B.

31:25 Yeah, any response for Swaggy? When is the last time you showed Swaggy some love?

31:30 Yeah. I like one of your pictures. I liked it.

31:33 That's because I was talking shit to you.

31:36 You like the picture? That's love? Hey, man, fuck you, man. How long you been doing this, man? How long you been coming off the plane, got to go to a hunting?

31:45 That was my first time.

31:46 What did you do last time you went there? You know, I'm just a star, you know.

31:50 Doing star shit, running around, signing autographs.

31:52 Taking pictures. I was out there for NBA China. You know, Houston played Dallas out there. They called me. So you're out there playing. Hey, man, look, level up. You on the couch now, man, right? When you go out there, you be like, hey, no, I don't play. I don't want to feel old.

32:07 He's bad.

32:09 I don't want to feel old.

32:10 Y'all got the camp going on. I come in. I sway. Take a picture with the kids. Hey, y'all stop all that dumb shit. Here, take a picture. Y'all take the picture.

32:19 Cheese, cheese.

32:20 And then you're going on to the next one, the next one. You spend about 15, 20 minutes, right?

32:25 That's on a Friday.

32:27 Saturday, they take you to lunch or dinner, depending if you're tired or not. And then Sunday, they take your ass home. That's it. I do about 15, 30 minutes of real active stuff. Other than that, I'm in the hotel enjoying.

32:39 You don't want to be stuck in that hotel all day. It's lonely in there. Hotel's lonely, boy.

32:44 Let's go out. Yeah, think about that. I don't. Penthouse. Ain't shit change. That's why I'm fucking with you. No, I'm just saying, you know, that's a better world peace. He was there. He was.

32:57 We did.

32:57 I was like, hey, man, can y'all sit here in a couple cars? Put two cars over there.

33:01 I didn't show them late to our meet and greet.

33:05 He showed them late.

33:05 I said, damn.

33:07 Now, I remember we had to do, we had to do like some ones. They built a court in the middle of a flower garden. So it was this beautiful flower garden, and they built a court just for the ones.

33:19 Crazy.

33:21 They say, all right, Gil, you play the ones. I don't play ones. Shoot out. You go to him, I'll be the referee. That's what I'm saying. Give me my $ 250, 000. I'll see you guys in a couple months. Very fruitful. I'll see you guys in a couple months. This is a good-ass trip, dog. Swaggy, glad to have you back on the couch. Well, you're welcome. Your knees hurt, right?

33:50 Nah, I told you I'm about to make a comeback.

33:52 All right. Let's shift to some actual basketball. He scored 79 on Brooks?

33:58 Damn.

34:01 According to balls. Same guy?

34:02 Yeah.

34:03 So this nigga just flying. Damn, he's pimpin' y'all. Treating them like the work.

34:07 Hey, bring him on out here. That one-on-one video? That's what it was for, Kawhi?

34:12 Yeah. He just bring me all out there to play.

34:15 What's his street, like, what's his rep out there? Like, he be going crazy?

34:18 Yeah. Is he athletic?

34:19 He's the best one out there.

34:22 Can he jump?

34:23 Not like that.

34:24 Who he hoop like? Like Kyrie type shit?

34:26 Yeah.

34:26 Like Kobe phase and stuff?

34:27 Yeah. Okay.

34:28 Yeah.

34:30 I'm fake and all that. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

34:33 He's been like the best player for a while. How old is he?

34:37 I'm not sure.

34:38 I think he's 30.

34:38 Yeah. Yeah, he's been there for a while. He's been the best player of all time. All the little borderline people, they played before me. Like the Mike kid, the MK kid and everything.

34:49 Doing the one-on-ones, yeah.

34:50 Bro, if you want that bread, go there. Man, for real.

34:54 Let's get into some actual basketball. That is actual basketball. See, you acting like him now.

34:59 NBA. NBA.

35:01 So during heat training camp, head coach Eric Spolstra said Giannis was out there looking something like Magic Johnson with his ability to facilitate for the offense. Not everybody on this couch was rolling with that comparison, but the Greek freak lived up to the hype in his third preseason game, showing why he's still one of, if not the, best players in the league. Let's take a look at the highlights. Yes, it is the Nets, ladies and gentlemen. This is more for Giannis though. So he wrote without Bam out of bio, but Giannis held it down with a dominant two-way performance.

35:30 How you do that from the part of the game?

35:31 They tried to build a great wall around him. He can't build that wall around him? Trying to build that great wall. He can't build that wall around him no more, man. He said, no, no, no. Look, it's 10 to 13.

35:40 He running full speed.

35:42 But Giannis diamond up.

35:43 Bad, bad.

35:44 His wing is right there. So Giannis put up 20 points. Bad, bad.

35:46 15 rebounds, 9 assists, and 3 blocks in just 24 minutes of action. He was 8 for 10 from the field, but just 4 for 9 from the line. Miami shot 59% from the field, recorded 32 assists. They hit 15 of their 42 three-point attempts. But, oh, anytime you get to watch Giannis, appreciating the joy.

36:12 Oop, beating that.

36:15 That was a good pass by that big man. The Greek freak, my favorite, David Greco-Nigerian. Getting to work, getting to work. Now the business. Took his talents to South Beach.

36:30 Can't do that no more. Can't do that no more.

36:34 Play.

36:35 Try to tell him, can't do that no more. Play. Play had a good game as well. Watch out. Don't help. Oh, okay. And Bam ain't playing yet. Who's that? Nick Richards right there.

36:47 Giannis seems to have found some new life at South Beach, fully embracing heat culture. saying recently he loves every effing second of it, and it's almost like being alive again.

36:59 So, Gil, we'll start with you.

37:00 What should scare the East more, Giannis attacking the rim or Giannis controlling the entire offense?

37:08 What scared everybody before? Giannis attacking the rim, putting too much pressure on that basket because everyone is there to guard the rim. I mean, guard the three-point line. So the fact that you have a guy who wants to get to the rim, It kind of makes you play a tighter five-out shell drill. Now the difference is, now he has shooters, and it was the same reason I picked him. You have a guy who averages 30 and 12, and he's getting to the bucket, putting fouls on the board.

37:44 Now you have legit shooters around him. How are you going to stop him? How are you going to stop him? Now Klay's going to get open shots. Now Wade's going to get open shots. So it's going to be a very difficult team to stop once they get the motion. So Swaggy looking at that. He's quiet.

38:02 Like I said, no bam out of bio. Giannis taking work on both sides of the floor. Almost messed around and dropped a triple-double on the Nets.

38:09 It was the Nets. It's kind of like playing by Gene out there. Don't be surprised. Yeah, it is the Nets. But, no, he's actually looking good for him to– From the start of the game, got that motor going. It's going to be hard to stop him downhill. And as you get older, you know, you start getting better at other areas. And it's good to see him dropping passes like that, making dimes, looking for others. If he play like that, they still going to be fifth.

38:38 Seed, sixth seed.

38:40 This kid, yeah. I like that. Keep the same energy.

38:44 Like I said, he were... 15-42 from three. He started four of 17 from three.

38:47 So still....

38:50 Got to figure that out. But Giannis putting them in position to succeed.

38:54 Yep.

38:54 And it was Brooklyn.

38:56 It was the Nets, but the Nets are an NBA team. The gritty Brooklyn Nets. So, ET, let's shift over to this side. Giannis almost messed around, dropped a triple-double, 20 points, 15 rebounds, nine assists. Eric Spolstra, during heat training camp, said that him and Pat Riley were watching Giannis, reminded him of another big guard, or a big guard from the 80s, Magic Johnson. Gil wasn't necessarily rolling with that comparison.

39:18 Magic Johnson. Yeah, that's... A Greco-Nigerian magic.

39:22 Yeah, that's crazy. But, no, I think... I'm glad to see Giannis back to his natural form playing at a high, high level.

39:29 I think.

39:30 one thing that you guys said prior to is not so much paying attention to that offense and seeing if they can generate shots and keep the floor spread for Giannis to be able to attack. But other than that, if they mix that in with their defense, I think they'll have a chance to make a run in the playoffs.

39:49 I don't feel like the Giannis-Magic comparison is a one-for-one, but just his ability now to see the floor, find open teammates. He's not hitting them with the hee-hee-hees and all that.

39:59 I know. You could have used anybody outside of Magic. Who else?

40:03 Josh Lamar Odom.

40:05 You could have used anybody who can pass the ball. That's it.

40:08 It don't sound good. Y'all like to hear a comparison to other stars. Giannis don't want to be like you comparing him to Lamar Odom. You don't want to hear that.

40:17 Y'all got fucked up issues in your head, so you got to make a person feel good.

40:22 You know how you got the dotted line? You know what I mean? The little dotted inside circle? Imagine somebody jumping from there, right, and dunking. They say, ooh, shit, this jump ability remind me of Michael Jordan. You'd be like, wait, what? Come again? That's the same thing. Magic, one of the best passers in NBA history, And that's a comparison. Just a big, a big, a big that can actually just pass the ball. Eric Sposter and Pat Riley saying this.

40:54 Pat Riley.

40:55 Coach.

40:55 Pat Riley did coach them.

40:57 Yeah, he did. Don, the Godfather. He didn't coach Magic. He did. No, he didn't. He just sat there. He's seen them. He's seen them.

41:06 He watched a lot of practice.

41:08 He watched a lot of practice, and there's no way in practice he's seen anything. Just a guy who can play make at that size. I like that better. Don't put no name on it. Don't put the best goddamn.

41:21 But who could you compare that to, though, besides Magic?

41:25 LeBron?

41:25 Is he better a passer than LeBron? No. Is he better a passer than Ben Simmons? No.

41:31 You got 30 more levels to go down before. Pat Riley don't like LeBron like that. That's why he said magic. What you think offensively, what else do they need? Besides shooters.

41:47 A bucket.

41:50 I got to see him and Bam, like, really play. Because they need a guard who can get his own. And you always need a guard. But the fact that Giannis does it like that, I don't know. Is Giannis that guard who can get his own? Nah. Or somebody who's going to capitalize on free throws. He ain't a foul merchant. Meaning once they kind of get, like, in the penalty, they just take advantage. A nice six man who should be a starter. One of those types.

42:20 Do you.

42:21 What about like a Jordan Poole?

42:24 No. No, because he don't get fouled. Like, I.

42:30 Dude, you want Giannis with the ball in his hand the whole game.

42:32 No, what I'm saying is I don't need a guy who wants to make, like... Like, difficult shot makers. Right? Like, I need somebody... Like, Lou Will understands time clock possession. He understands, okay, like, when the penalty, I'm cold... I'm going to pump fake, foul me, I'm going to go to free throw. I need that type of guy. That's your nobody type of guy. I don't need a guy just out there chucking a whole bunch of shots, fading away, winning the penalty, been in the penalty for five minutes, and you shooting a whole bunch of fadeaway threes.

43:03 He did win a championship, man. Average 20 points on that team. Jordan Poole.

43:08 Y'all forgetting that?

43:10 He went to the Wizards and the Wizards fucked his life up. Or reality kicked in.

43:14 How reality kick in?

43:18 I mean, he wasn't a one. He was always a six man. So when you take a man off a bench and then try to lead your team, especially a young kid, it was tough.

43:27 After getting punched in the world saying that, yes, they can fuck your head up.

43:32 I do like Jordan Poole.

43:33 But don't just respect him like that. He's just going to be chucking up shots. He did win. No, he was on the winning team, yes. And he was the second leading scorer.

43:43 On the winning team.

43:44 Yes. And they won a championship. That means something.

43:48 If you don't have no responsibility to do nothing, it's easy to play basketball. Because no one is counting on it. If you go 0 for 10, no one gives a shit. No one's doubling you. No one's tripling you. They just go here, shoot that. That's how you get to play basketball. Now when you're the man and you got to play basketball or you're the second man and you got to play, you're the second best scorer or the third best scorer, but you're the fifth option on the team. They're not calling in, hey, Jordan, we're going to do some plays for you. You just go out there and play. Just do you. We'll control the rest of the game.

44:21 That's what was happening. You, 24, you're just not a player on the team.

44:27 So who averaged on that championship team averaged 19 points per game last season? Klay averaged 20, but obviously he was coming back from the injury.

44:34 But as I said, I just need you to just be free. We'll control everything. Right? That's that. Now you give them the own team and say, all right, you have to be Steph now. Where is he? That's real.

44:51 It's tough to lead a franchise, though, bro.

44:54 You have to have a different mindset. You have to have different skills.

45:01 Right?

45:01 You know what I mean? You really have to understand how to play basketball. And where you're good at. Where you're great at. And that's a thing. Like some guys, their game is built as six men. That's crazy.

45:14 I remember a couple years back, probably six, seven years ago, when they had Kendrick Nunn during the Jimmy Butler days, they were using– their offense was heavily going through Duncan Robinson randomly. They were running a lot of plays to get Tyler Hero going, but Kendrick Nunn was dropping 20 a game during that time. They need to find somebody in that regard that can actually– get a bucket going, but at the same time, I don't even know what their salary cap is because they don't have much to.

45:40 Really go out and go get. I got hotels. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. Condo rooms, you know what I mean?

45:48 But, I mean, obviously I think critical of this roster when Giannis first came, but now seeing it.

45:54 He was what?

45:55 I said some people were critical of this roster when Giannis first came talking about everything they needed, but when you look at the squad, obviously he's going to be the engine that runs it. His availability is going to be the most important thing, but Looks like they can do some work. I know you said that you felt like the Heat could be the number one team in the Eastern Conference.

46:12 That's sick.

46:14 But why'd I say that?

46:15 That's sick.

46:16 I calculated what? Philly not going full throttle. New York not really trying to fight for number one because they got to conserve it. I got to conserve my star for the playoffs, so I'm not going to be sitting there playing them 40-something minutes. Who else we had? I don't think Detroit's going to be back to where they were.

46:44 It just... You got to rest Giannis, too.

46:49 You don't want him playing that many minutes, too, though.

46:51 No, no, but because we play hard and we're going to be in shape, we can... Some of them games that we'll lose, we'll sneak and win, so.

46:58 Giannis, you got to imagine, at least going to play 65 games. Obviously, he didn't come... Him, Bam, they're going to play.

47:04 At least 65.

47:04 We're talking about his legacy, talking about everything. He wants to be a part of this great Heat tradition, this championship culture. That he has over there. Obviously been taking a lot of shots at former teammates at the Bucs.

47:13 Man.

47:15 Pretty consistently. So, I got them number one. They could. They could get it.

47:21 But is this roster a little bit stronger than I think people initially gave him credit for? You got Andrew Wiggins playing solid. You got Klay. Tim Hardaway Jr. Davion Mitchell. Who can get it done?

47:31 I'm just saying. Did this go to 144 yesterday? Bobby Porter came off the bench.

47:37 I mean, it's more shooters than you think, and I think Andrew Wiggins, his past few years has been underrated because he shot over 40% from the three. He's played, been a great two-way player, and he's been somewhat elite in that sense. So I think that's another guy to add instead of like a Clay Thompson type vibe.

47:54 Yeah, that just feels like Clay kind of a question mark at this stage of his career, but.

48:02 Yeah, you still don't want to leave clay open like that. But my thing, I don't know about Giannis having the ball, controlling the ball that much.

48:11 It's going to happen, or what else you get from it.

48:14 Yeah, that's what I'm saying.

48:15 You going to do Corey Maggette cuts or run Chicago.

48:17 Screens for post-ups? So, as a shooter waiting, they're going to have to have a lot of patience.

48:29 I got to see it. I got to see it because you're saying other things. They got to rest Giannis. He ain't going to be able to do that full speed shit any two games, including playoffs.

48:40 What?

48:42 That's why he's been hurt, though. I'm just saying he has been hurt the last couple of years.

48:47 That's just how you hoop, man. He's not playing unless he plays that way. What else is he going to do, finesse it?

48:55 He's learning to pass ahead.

48:56 You don't have to go all the way to the hole. He's learning it. I like that part of the game.

49:02 Listen, listen. I know you like what you see. It's okay. We know you're not rocking with them, but you can say, you know what, they played good tonight.

49:10 I like Giannis.

49:11 He's all right, yeah. Yeah, they did good. You know, 144 without Bam. 144 without Bam, you know what I mean? Because there's something he does that....

49:19 But you're going to need Bam, so you.

49:21 Yeah, yeah, I'm just saying he wasn't there today. He was going to 144.

49:25 That ain't how they're going to play when Bam's in the game. Bam's going to have that ball in his hand, too. That's all I'm saying. You remember when Ant-Man came to the Timberwolves? Y'all remember that when he got drafted?

49:39 Yeah. It was like midway through the year, right? And he's like, I ain't number one option now. I ain't number two. You remember that? You know, sometimes it don't take long for that tide to turn. If I say get your ass in that corner, boy, you're going to get your ass in that corner. But, no, no, him and Bam, him and Bam won't be good. Do Bam want to be in that corner? Bam is going to be Bam, man. Bam is going to average 20. He's going to get his numbers.

50:09 And adapt.

50:10 Yeah.

50:11 He's just going to adapt how he always.

50:13 Does, man.

50:13 Giannis, I would imagine, makes it easier for him. Yes, it does. Like, significantly. He's drawing a lot of attention. We keep hearing about this wall that defensively other teams have to put up leading to a lot of open shots.

50:25 Not even a magic comparison, but Giannis, for his size, I feel like, Very, very good passer.

50:30 But do you think those assists are going to bump up this year, averaging like five, six frames?

50:35 Dude's got to make shots. I mean, even when you say, bam, where's he going to be at? He has to start hitting that corner three.

50:40 Yeah.

50:40 Klay Thompson got to show up early in the season and start making shots. And you just got to hope Davion Mitchell shows up. And who's that Italian kid? What's his name? Poccioni or something?

50:52 They've got Pelle Larson on the squad, too.

50:54 Yeah, Pelle Larson. Like, those type of guys is– I mean, the system.

50:58 What did you say, five or six? Fontecchio.

51:00 Yeah, Fontecchio.

51:02 You said five or six? Especially if you've been in the five range, do you think that bumps up this season? Do we need, like, the 30 and 11 and five, Giannis, or do we need, like, the 25, 26, eight or nine, or excuse.

51:12 Me, 11 and eight? I mean, if his shooters are... Closer to a triple-double. What I'm saying, you have the shooters, you have exactly the right people who can make shots, right, for you to average eight to 10 assists. Right? You got lob threats. You got ducking guys. You got shooters. You got really good shooters.

51:32 Right?

51:32 So you got a lot of things going in your favor. So if he says, you know what, I want to average a triple-double, he can actually do it with the team he has. Because he has enough guys that can hit shots. When he drives, you're going to have to dive, but he will be giving up a lot of points. He will be giving a lot of these up.

51:56 That makes sense. He will be forcing to try to make a third option happen, though.

52:01 You know what I mean?

52:01 What if you take Wiggins from 15 points a game or 16 points a game and maybe 18, 20 necessary because no matter what, if you only worry about guarding two big men, that's that can get somewhat similar if it's a five-out or easy if it's a five-out set.

52:20 So, brings me to my next question. When you look at Giannis, you got Wimby coming off unanimous defensive player of the year. Obviously, he's going to up his production offensively as well.

52:27 Yeah, yeah.

52:28 But is Giannis the best two-way superstar in the NBA right now?

52:32 Let me get my charger. Our charger? Yeah. Like both of ours.

52:39 I mean, the best two-way superstar has to be– in my opinion, Wimby. It's hard to really top that, especially in the sense of him doing it in 30 minutes a game, just his natural abilities. He's 7'4. He's going to clear a lot of spaces, and I think he has a system that he really knows his game, so I think it's really a plug-in play for him, and he's got momentum.

53:04 Your phone charger. I got to look first before I just... I got to blurt out some shit. Go on.

53:12 Go ahead, Swaggy. Swaggy, sign.

53:13 What you about to do to me? What? What you talking about? I said I got to look at a stat. Oh, okay, okay.

53:20 I would say Jalen Brown or I.

53:26 Like Wimby or Jalen Brown just because they can score in more ways.

53:34 Shoot, attack, you know, make range, all that.

53:40 Shoot the three. And why your phone charges. Oh, it's coming back. Because I'm about the original wording of 2A player. And I'm not going to dilute it. Okay.

53:55 For regular ass niggas. Is there a regular ass nigga in particular you feel like you're diluting it for?

54:02 You said the best 2A. So hold on. I got to look at. I mean, you got Giannis averaging 32 to 60% from the field.

54:11 No, no, no, no, no, no.

54:12 That's not, that's not what we talk about on two ways. Hold on. But also defensively. Yeah. Okay. Giannis made that. Oh, he did. I forgot he did make that list. I think Jalen Brown did too. So I'm going to say if Jalen Brown made it. No, he didn't. Okay. No, he didn't. Um, So, two-way players, when you're talking about two-way players, people who are considered two-way players, it was you were a top scorer and you were a top defender.

54:53 Not just a good defender and a great scorer or a decent scorer and a great defender. You were great at both. You were elite at both. You were either one, two, or three in scoring and and you was a first-team defender, right? That's one of Michael Jordan's Kareems, right? You're talking about Cole. You're talking about Hakeem Olajuwon, Giannis. So when we talk about two-way, we borderline the idea of two-way. We're washing out everything. We're calling people, oh, yeah, you should have made a defense. You're an all-star type of player. No, you fucking ain't. Like, also, I mean, you have the label on it. You went to the game, right? Defensive player. Like, to consider yourself in that category, you need to accolade.

55:47 My father's cutting it. Does defense mean on ball? Like, literally guard the other guy's best player? Is it, like, just defensive general help side?

55:54 I want to see you on that list.

55:55 Okay.

55:56 Because certain people are sticklers because they'll be like, all right, Giannis and fully guard Brian this time or Brian and KD. Like, you know what I'm saying? Guard each other.

56:03 Yeah, I mean, some people can't guard each other. Yeah. Right, you know what I mean? So, like, I'm looking at when you say two-way. Kawhi? Kawhi, yeah. When you have that stickler on your name, it's because you are considered one, two, or three in scoring, and you're on the first team. So most of those guys, so when Giannis won it in or when he won MVP and defensive player of the year, that's how you get into that two-way. So the best two-way player would be Giannis. I don't think Shea made the first NBA defensive team.

56:42 Did Ant-Man make it?

56:44 But he will guard. Yeah, man, will guard. We know what a defensive player is, but when you're talking about elite, you know what I mean? This is like Hall of Fame. Okay, you have a good career. You have great defense.

56:59 But you got Giannis averaging 30 points per game, first player in NBA history, averaged 30 shooting, 60% or better from the field, did it twice. Obviously didn't do it last season, dealt with a lot of injuries. That's one of the defensive players.

57:08 No, no, that's what I said. He's in that list.

57:09 Wimby, though, had the best defensive season in NBA history, according to the Square Media.

57:14 Offensively. Offense is here. Under 30 minutes. So if we're doing categories, the group that I was saying is platinum, and then under there, you got gold. He's a gold until you get his offense up. You think, ooh.

57:30 You think you won't win the average in 30-something with that squad?

57:33 If you want to be considered... That's a loaded squad. I'm just saying, if you want to be put in the list.

57:38 That's going to be hard.

57:39 But 29 minutes a game, you think that's going to be hard. Averaging 30? That's thirsty. Man. That's hard. That's thirsty. So you want to put him in the list? You want to put him in the list? Like, imagine you in the list and you average 32 MVP in defense and you're on the defensive team. You want a nigga on the list that's not in that offensive category either.

58:01 I just think it's his impact, man. I get it. You know what I mean?

58:06 First team All-NBA, unanimous defensive player of the year.

58:08 Don't put you in that. Right? And he was in what? The threshold in the NBA? Let's try this again.

58:14 In 60 wins?

58:15 Let's try this again. I'm listening. When they gave it to those people, like when they gave it to the people, when they created it, the offense was one, two, or three. Like it was either the lead scorer or three. And I think Giannis was the furthest out of it. With third in scoring. And then it was first team defense.

58:33 So that was the stat of.

58:37 2A.

58:37 That's what made the elite 2A. So you'll go 2A. He'll go 2A. He get up in, he's third in scoring, which I don't think he can in this game, the way that the guards are scoring.

58:48 Is it harder for a guard to be in that, like the defense player of the year kind of category? I feel like it's like a big man thing now.

58:56 Yeah, it is. Cole, Jordan, LeBron. Yeah, LeBron made it in there, too.

59:02 They had them names, though. Like, since then, who has been, like, defense player of the year has been, like, big, right?

59:10 Yeah, well, Smart was the first one to win as a guard for the first time in a while.

59:13 See?

59:14 In a cool minute. I think Kawhi. Yeah, so let me see. Yeah, see, Kawhi wouldn't. He's today's. What was he in scoring this year? He had 27.

59:24 28? Yeah.

59:24 But was he top three?

59:28 No.

59:28 Everybody's averaging 28. He's taking teams. But he's 90, 50, 40 down there.

59:33 We know he's a great defender. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So when he won defensive player of the year, he's averaging 16. Yeah. He wouldn't be considered a two-way player.

59:40 But do you take it like the intangibles of like the Spurs, like the system, like?

59:45 Brother, I'm just looking at the list.

59:48 Tony Parker ain't going to let you average more than him.

59:50 That's all I'm saying. I'm just looking at the list, and I'm not going to dial it down.

59:53 I'm not going to dial it down. You're comparing everybody to Jordan, like Kobe.

59:59 Before Jordan, there was Wilts in the list. There was a list already, and that's how those guys made the list. We're going to water the list down. So it's like, okay, these are platinum. Next group is gold. So like Gary Payton, even though he scored 27, he will match gold. Tim Duncan would be in gold because you didn't lead the league in scoring or top three.

1:00:25 I understand.

1:00:26 I'm just looking at it. I'm just looking at how it originated.

1:00:28 Did he make all defense? Dylan Brown made it last year?

1:00:31 I don't think so.

1:00:32 He didn't? Oh, shit.

1:00:35 So the closest one who could do it would probably be Shea. Because we know he's going to be one, two, and scoring. And if he can get that defense award, he would be considered a platinum.

1:00:46 But he averaged two steals a game. And man, potentially, third and scoring.

1:00:51 Third and scoring. If he gets that defense, it puts him in that list. That's crazy. We'll be 13th in scoring. But like I said, 13th. Greatest defensive season. Man. I can't move your offense up. Like, I'm sorry. Yeah, but 24 in like, what, 12, 28 minutes?

1:01:06 25 points per game.

1:01:09 That's sick.

1:01:10 That's crazy. I ain't going to lie. I just have to be like, yo, respect. It ain't a take.

1:01:13 Yeah, I'm not saying, yo, you.

1:01:15 Tripping right there.

1:01:17 I'm fine. 51% of the field. It ain't my take. You want me to tell you everybody who was considered in that list? No, no. I didn't tell you what they averaged.

1:01:24 I understand what you're coming for. But you think Wimby will ever average 30? That's crazy. I mean, Tim Duncan, right?

1:01:34 All defensive team, the whole decade of the scoring, the scoring wasn't up there for him to get in the list. But do you think the Spurs learned their lesson last season?

1:01:43 I thought he made it last year.

1:01:46 We'll be playing like 29, 30 minutes a game last season, but got to the playoffs and that points looked tired. So do they need to ramp that up a little bit in the regular season? No, they were trying to conserve him for that postseason run. Now you've seen what it takes to get over the hump.

1:01:58 I don't know.

1:02:00 I just feel like this. finish submission, man. I felt like he celebrated too much after the Western Conference Finals. Once again, when you say get over the hump, I take a page out of Atkinson's book, but analytically, they.

1:02:12 Damn near won all four games.

1:02:15 When you sit there, just finish your breakfast, I don't know how his body is or works out or whatever, but 30 minutes or less or whatever seems necessary for a 7'4 big man who's been injured. As long as he shows up for 65 games and handles his business, I think it's It's part of the culture they build, and they'll be good.

1:02:32 Yeah, but now when you need him in that 38, potentially 40 range in the postseason, he's not accustomed to doing that.

1:02:39 I feel like it's coaching because when you get to that point, last year when he played 38 or trying to play down a stretch, it wasn't so much fatigue, or if you did see fatigue, it was trying to help him get closer to the rim. He started shooting 30-footers and facing up further, further, and further. I think now it's just starting to come down the system, and his teammates trying to find him in the right spots.

1:03:00 where it's going to be an easier bucket as opposed to getting your 7'4 guy 25 feet away and dribbling. I think it's everybody evolving in that sense and being more efficient with the time. You got the best player in the world, and his 30 minutes, he done won 60 games. He should be able to win. He should get that done.

1:03:24 Water down it again. Water down what? Y'all watering it down, man. Y'all can't do that, man. Y'all making that shit normal. Yeah, analytically, we won four games, but you didn't.

1:03:35 True.

1:03:36 But you did. The stat is you didn't. And I don't care how y'all want to water down shit that make it feel good. You didn't. I don't give a fuck what the analytics say y'all won. That trophy said who won, okay?

1:03:54 But I could have hit.

1:03:55 That's all I'm saying. Who was celebrating at the end of the motherfucker? And you're absolutely right.

1:04:01 I'm just saying, like, I'm not going to, like, we got more stuff to fix. Or it's not so much to fix much more than getting it together. That's all. Like, you shouldn't have to play a 7-4, dude, 38 minutes.

1:04:10 Yes, if I want to win. Spurs were happy just to make the playoff. You know what I mean? The 4-2 to 4-1 says I need to play this motherfucker a little bit more. And the analytics say we won, but reality, reality says I need to play with just a little more. That's real. That's real.

1:04:28 But coming into that season, Spurs were happy just to finish top six and make the playoffs. Now you get to the finals, you're up double digits every single game, blew a 28, 29-point lead game.

1:04:38 That was crazy. You're kicking your ass. You shouldn't have been able to sleep all summer. He did. A lot of sleepless nights. No, I'm just talking about all of them, coaches, staff, everybody, because at the end of the day... We didn't supposed to be here. We got here. And we was winning every game into the, like, we can't say, oh, next year.

1:05:05 That was your moment. Yeah, you're right. The stars aligned perfect for you to get. It was your history. It was your legacy. Like, when you're talking about Legacies and things that happen in everybody's careers, right? The Jordans, the Magics, right? Like Kareem going down and Magic doing what Magic did in that game. That's what created the legacy for him.

1:05:33 So when you're talking about Wimby, making that shot, the one you missed, right? Making that, winning the game, you winning this, not supposed to be here. That is how your legacy is starting, right? Right, so those are the moments that you got to capitalize on.

1:05:48 You can come back from that.

1:05:50 No, you can come back.

1:05:51 Kobe air ball, came back balling.

1:05:54 We're talking about in the moment.

1:05:57 When no moment's hit and it's yours, you got to. No guarantee you'll be back.

1:06:03 No guarantee Jalen Williams is going to be hurt again in the Western Conference Finals. You know what I mean? It's a lot worked out during that.

1:06:12 Like what's so funny is, They wasn't favorite to be where they were last year, and they got there. Same team, but they're favorite this year. Because they're going off of last year. Half the league tanking last year. Everybody moved around. Right? If you end up sixth, I'm not surprised. I wouldn't be.

1:06:34 I wouldn't say, oh, man, they're having a horrible year because this is what they did last year.

1:06:39 Right?

1:06:39 I'm not going to do that to them. Right? It would be unfair.

1:06:42 Because....

1:06:44 Your best players on a team, when I say your top four, your top four players are so inexperienced that I'm not going to penalize them for doing something that was not thought about. We didn't think this team would be good until 28, 29. That's when they should be mopping through people. The fact that they're doing it early is like, okay. I see it, but if you take two steps back, I'm not penalizing you for that. All right, so one more thing before we move on. So yesterday on this couch, I believe Shump and UET agreed that Kawhi better than Giannis?

1:07:24 I think so, 1,000%. In a game, I'm picking Kawhi to win me a.

1:07:29 Game, 1,000%.

1:07:29 You're picking Kawhi over Giannis.

1:07:32 So I count that better, and I think in certain situations he's a better defensive player as well. Go get a stop. I'm going to take his last five minutes over anybody's last five minutes.

1:07:43 That's an argument. Well-placed pause.

1:07:47 That was an argument?

1:07:47 Nobody argued it. I just had to think about it. There was discussion. Gil, you agree? Because I feel like we were still kind of. I didn't. I just can't. You know what makes it hard?

1:08:04 Giannis, 30, 10, and 5.

1:08:07 It has an MVP and a defensive player of the year that's in the same season. So it's like when you say he's a better defender, it's like, ooh. Like a wide-on kicker.

1:08:16 Nothing.

1:08:16 The only time he wasn't on the team is because he was hurt.

1:08:20 But defense is this. We've played in We know who's a better defender than who. Defense Awards now is weird. I asked a bunch of people who vote. It's a weird thing, because it's like rebounding. If you are in the area when someone misses, not if you make that person miss, right? So I'm like, how do you determine, like, okay, Ant-Man, who plays defense, and he's guarding somebody, making them turn, turn, turn.

1:09:00 and then Rudy gets the block. Like, who's really getting the credit for this? Or Rudy's there and he misses, and Rudy gets the rebound. But, like, is that Ant's defense? What if Ant's picked him up for, like, Alvarado?

1:09:16 Yeah.

1:09:17 How come he's not even considered in this award? He's picking people up full court, making them turn, deterring them from even dribbling the ball. He don't get credit for that defense?

1:09:27 Or even just getting the offense started like 15, 14 seconds. You know how big of a deal that is? 10 possessions a minute. The offense can't start it.

1:09:36 I hate people that try to pick me up.

1:09:38 Let's say you're the point guard and you're bringing the ball up. You bring the ball up 99% of the time. You play against him, you drop the 50 because you don't want to bring it.

1:09:46 Up no more.

1:09:48 Where's his credit for this? He just changed the whole offense. Send it down. Now your two-man hand on that? Yeah, yeah. You're right. But you don't have no award? You don't get no credit for that? That's what I'm saying.

1:10:03 It's a big-man award now.

1:10:05 Yeah, true.

1:10:05 I just think with Kawhi, it goes unmatched. Obviously, he won defensive player of the year. It's just, man, you can send him somewhere and he's going to turn somebody's water off. And I'm not saying Giannis isn't the same on-ball defender. It's just like when he wants to shut it down. He can take over a game literally locking up Brian or KD and then Going up against the next best defender and being like, it does not matter.

1:10:27 You understand what I'm saying? I think Jalen said it, that there should be a perimeter. Brown? I don't think it was. Oh, J-Dub.

1:10:43 It was J-Dub?

1:10:43 Jalen Williams. Okay, so there should be a perimeter award for defensive players and a big man, which is unfair to the past.

1:10:53 But it does make sense. It does make sense. Especially if you're guarding 55 ball screens a night. Like, you tell me a dude back there just waiting to block two shots out of 50. You're like, man, my shoulder.

1:11:10 It should be a third team potentially, too, if you've got three all-NBA teams.

1:11:16 That's real.

1:11:16 For sure. Obviously give up. Yeah, okay. No, no, no. Here's me. Correcting history. And I'm all about correcting history to make it fair across the board. There was no there was no finals MVPs when the league first started. I think they should go back in history and give those awards. Block shots. They wasn't back then when Wilt was playing. Go back And give him his shots. Give him his triple doubles and his quadruple doubles. So history is actually history. There's Eastern Conference and Western Conference finals.

1:11:56 MVPs now. They started doing it in 1999. Go back and give those guys their awards because if you're using awards and these to put people in their place, you have to go back and make it right. Isaiah Thomas. The reason I didn't have him in my top... Because I'm like, shit, he only made two All-NBAs. Not realizing.

1:12:21 There were only two teams. There was only two teams then. Now there's three. Either don't count.

1:12:25 Third team and just go off top two or just go off the first two or add that third team in.

1:12:30 Nah, nigga, because I made two of them. I'm going to go for the third. So you got to go back and give those guys. You know what I mean? That's the only fair way to do it. If you're going to use stats in these finals MVPs, then put it all together.

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1:14:14 Not sure why.

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