AD's Resurgence, Trae Young Incident, Ja/Kyrie & Nike | WHAT’S BURNIN | Showtime Basketball

piece and the double nickel last night. Um, what do you think about this team? I mean, is it time to go all in? And and the rumor right now lan is Derosan and Vosovich for Westbrook and then and twenty nine future first round picks. Um, let's break this down a little bit. Talk about the team first and how they're playing, and then we'll get to, you know, to the possible trade scenario. I mean, the team is playing outstanding. I think I talked about this on the

you know, the first couple of USS burnings. You know, this team is just now jelling a D. You said it before, it's playing out of his mind. Lebron is finding a way to play complimentary, complementary ball next to a d Russ is looking good. The benches rounding out, getting used to figuring out how they're gonna, you know, put their imprint on the game, coming off the bench, playing you know, minutes on the road or at home.

So eight and two in their last ten, I know the schedule is flex favorable, but you have to pay the schedule. You know the schedule is coming out, you know what I mean, before you play the game. So I like it. I think Darvin him like I've seen a lot of d hands identity and the coaching staff identity is starting to materialize on the court. Like I said, eight and two, you gotta play the schedule eight and

two out of their last ten. If they can do this, you know every ten games, they're gonna start climbing up those standings. Yeah, I agree. I mean, I think the fact that we just have no patience for anything. I mean, if if we remember last year, the Boston Celtics were under five hundred, uh, come in January and turned it around into the best team in basketball uh statistically uh since then. So I just think this team is finally

starting to gel. Guys are healthy. And I think you hit it on the head, Gilanni playing a complimentary excuse me, Lebron playing a complimentary role to a D. I got a chance to talk to a couple of Bronze former teammates because I didn't. You know, everyone says that they want to play through a D. And I asked, will Braun allow a D to really take that shine and and both guys told me, Lebron wants a D to take it, you know what I mean, Like take it like, come take it like. If you don't take it, I'm

still gonna be me. But if you come and take it like he has took it into these last ten games, I'm gonna give it to you, you know what I mean. And and to me, playing through a D obviously shows that he's one of the most talented players in the n B. A uh. He's playing his way back into the m v P conversation, which he should be in every year. But it also saves Lebron for that stretch run. This guy's in your twenty. He can't carry a team. He shouldn't have to carry a team. At this point,

his numbers are still incredible. I think you made a great point. To Russ obviously is playing well and buying into his role along with the other bench guys. So I guess the question is I wanted to just see this team play together and all be healthy and figure out how their three stars can merge. And they're starting to do that. Right With that said, do you funk all that up and and and and try to trade Russ and those picks for Damar and Vosovic or do you sit on what you got for right now? I'm

satting Matt, this is too much talent. This is you know, d him, That coach and staff got him. You know we're looking at were turning the curve. This is too much talent just to throw away. We might be starting all over again with Jamar and back out over again and getting that team up to speed. And I don't know. I love Damar, Devotion, Compton, guy, USC guy California, Gut they were, you know, in the off season. I would

have loved to see him as a Laker. But right now things are going good with Russ, things are going with a D. The team Lebron. I think we I think the Lakers whole attack right now. I don't see them making that move. I think they can really bust the move with this team and blowing it up right now and adding two new pieces in the middle of the year. I don't know if I like that. Yeah, I mean, I think you you made a great point. I think people undervalue chemistry. I mean, all the one

paper tomorrow and Bussovic looked like a great situation. But like you said, they could start all over with the chemistry they've built, and I think that's what this team is lacked for so long. It's consistency in chemistry, and they're finally starting to get it. Do you want to blow that up? Happy? We don't have to make happy. We don't have to make those decisions, so we'll have

to sit tight. But anyway, they're playing good basketball, and they continue on another eight and to run, they're gonna find themselves right in the middle of the Western Conference. Standing so happy to see the Lakers starting to turn the corner and everybody be healthy and a d reminding everybody how motherfucking dope is Next up. The Pelicans have won their fourth game in a row six out of seven. Uh Egraham has been sidelined the last four games games.

Alvarado dropped a career high on Sunday with thirty eight Pelicans currently sitting in the second spot of the Western Conference. Uh, Pelicans have a lot to play with. Two. They've got a ton of first round picks from the Drew Holiday trade, a ton of first round picks from the Anthony Davis trade. Um. Do you feel like they're remove away from seriously being contended with all due respect to their second place ranking

in the Western Conference right now? Um? Or do you already feel like they're they're a dark horse and and and and they have what it takes to possibly make some real noise in the West. I think the thing that we keep coming back to is identity and culture right now, in chemistry like these, I think this is gonna be the NBA's issue moving forward with you know, people with a lot of draft picks, a lot of collateral to make these picks. How is that going to

affect your chemistry? Is it worth blowing up and using the assets to get other players to your team? Now, the Pelicans could be in a particular situation they can use another hog on that team with some playoff experience. But that team is Rosland right now without without b

I you know, so how do you like. I know, assets and are are a great thing, but this might be the look of the new NBA and where you know, the old eighties and nineties NBA where chemistry was everything, and you know, free agency just now really started in it too. Not like that but two thousands when the money blew up and people were switching teams, the player player movement was out of the way. But I would like to see the young Pelicans, you know, move alout

like Memphis the State Path. Well, I mean, I think Lina, if you look at it, the teams that are having success and the teams are always around at the end, or teams that have been together, they're not adding a bunch of pieces, you know, consistently. Um. I think with that said, I feel like this team is still one piece away and I'd really have to kind of look at their roster to see what that piece maybe. But I love C. J. McColls betan leadership and when he brings to that team. I think b I is one

of the most talented young players in the game. And Zion is just a monster continuing to develop his game. His his whole thing is just staying healthy. And then they have a lot of complimentary pieces. And I also want to shout out Willie Green. I mean, this is only what his second year, not even you know where. We're a quarter of the way through his second season, and this team has made leaps and bounds. I mean

partly because they're healthy now. But again, you talked about foundation and identity, you know, I think that's what Willie Green has helped bring to that team. You know, his all those years on the Golden State sideline, he he he learned how to move, and he learned how to implement what they're doing, similar to what Mike Brown is doing in in Sacramento. You know, he's establishing a foundation and an identity for a team. So I want to definitely say hats off to my brother Willie Green. Um,

I love the way this team is playing. Uh looking forward to see ing b I back out there. But I still feel like at some point they can use some of those picks and grab one more veteran um guy. They could still go out there and get it for him. So we'll have to wait to see. But I mean sleut to Willy Green and and and these boys for being second in the West. Right now, moving east, Trey Young's absence from Friday night's game versus Nuggets wasn't due

to a shoulder injury. Um. Apparently Trey came in to shoot around or came to shoot around morning, I wanted to get treatment. Nate McMillan said that if you don't come out to shoot around, uh, you won't start, you'll come off the bench, or you don't have to play, and Trey decided not to play. Um, neither of us of us are fans of Nate McMillan. Let's just put this out there. UM. I think he's done a good

job of again creating a foundation for this team. But I doesn't seem like he has the locker room anymore. And he's more of an old school type coach. And that's not a bad thing, but that's not what the NBA is anymore. I think there's maybe less than five coaches that are like these older, old school type coaches. UM, Nate McMillan's one of them. And with all due respect, I just feel like this game has kind of passed his ways. By his his his approach to the game,

all this stuff has kind of passed him up. Um, Gilanni, what do you think obviously about the relationship, because these days, having a rocky relationship with the star can get your ass fired. Um, but obviously you you know, you know, Nate not a very big fan of him either. What do you think about this situation? Shout out to Nate McMillan. He gave my contract to Calvin Booth in my free agent year and gave me had one of the most

weird post postseason meetings I've ever experienced in my life. Um, the gate was the game was past eight in two thousand when I was there, so you know, he didn't want you talking on your phone on the bus. He wanted to wear a college shirt, you know what I mean, all the bus riders for no texting. No, there was no texting back then. But you couldn't be on your phone. You can't be getting tickets for nobody. Uh, just that weird pointless ship just the point where ship point the ship.

And I'm sure that were for him in the NBA coming out of North Carolina State, that's whatever draft pick who was where he was carving his ness but and talking to uh the players the you know, de Jonte Trey and John Collins were at the crossover and talking to them and talking with I think John Collins uncle, it just seemed like the game was passing. Nate Um. Nate is very strong willed and strong mind. You know,

at the end of the day, he'll burn it. He'll burn this ship down before you know you can, before you show him out the door, He'll burn it down. He's petty like that. So um, I like, I like what Trey Young is doing it to be honest, you know. And they pulled this ship with me in the summer league one time and at my free agent year when I was trying to uh play just summer league, he I drove by myself because I lived in Los Angeles. He got pissed, told me I wasn't starting after in

the summer league. After I started in the league. So that was why I got out of Seattle. Ultimately, at the end of the day, I know he's widely respected as a guy who's contributed to excell those in the in the in the NBA game. But his time is over now. We've seen better coaches. You know, no offense get pushed out early, and I think that I think it's next time. Yeah, I think the writings on the wall and it's not necessarily a knock on him. I mean,

it's just adapt or or get left behind. And I think his ways, like you said, worked in the NBA he was coming up in. And if you can't adapt to this new, younger, uh culture, your days are numbered. So I don't think Nick McMillian will finish this season. Um, but we shall see next up. Money Talks presented you by Moneyline, the only money app you'll ever need. This is kind of a big deal right now, and it's

it's just it's just frustrating how people people are. Um. Dion Sanders was hollered hired by Colorado, leaving jack to stay behind. Will bring along his son, who through for over sixty six hundred yards and sixty six fucking touchdowns the last two season leading Jackson State. Um see you threw a bag at him. I mean, I don't think people know that Dianne was making only three hundred thousand at Jackson State. He will now be making northwards of

nearly six million dollars a year. And you hear everybody just complaining, you know, you're a sell out, you're this, You're that. You show me a motherfucker on this planet that is going to stay at one job that is paying him three hundred thousand when you can have a same job with better amenities, more exposure, and they're gonna pay you nearly six million dollars a year. There's no one that is going to do that, and if you do, you're a fucking idiot. So with all due respect to

what's going on, I mean, let's break this down. I mean, he's taking a lot of heat right now. I think that you know, we both agree that he did he did his job. He lift the torch, and now it's time for someone else to come and carry the torch. Uh. He brought some relevancy to the HBCU. He wasn't gonna

save it by itself, you know what I mean. But I think there's a few different ways we can look because obviously we can look at what is going to happen to Jackson State after he leaves, which is, you know, it's not gonna be obviously in a better shape than when he was there. And then also for the younger players that you know, believed in Dion that committed there. But I've seen a bunch of them d commit this morning. So um, let's just talk about this whole thing. And

take our time and break this down. Yeah, let's break it down. Money talks like you, I mean three hundred to three hundred thousand to to six million. Uh, come on, like, come on, guys. He this is his profession. He does it for a living. He's he has babies and kids, you know, and in a brand and looking after. I think he left Jackson Stay better than where he found it. Who's mad at that? At the end of the day, he did, like the torch, somebody else gotta come in there.

A Jackson State isn't the only school in the hbc A HBCU university. He lit the torch, blaze the trail for somebody to go out and follower. There's Ed Reid's tons of NFL coaches, you know, kindred spirits, the Dion that I feel that can be added to the HBCU situation and shout out to Colorado people sleeping Like I think this is Colorado hired three black coaches, Tucker Correl now Dion. So whatever is going on in Boulder that you know what to me is galvanized to them to

hire black coaches is a good move. Um, Colorado is a sleeping giant, you know. Aired b enemy. They put people in pros on the defensive on the offensive side, Durry and Hagen, So there's a sleeping giant getting to see Dion back, you know, Nike team. The whole u A thing was weird for me. I'm hoping we get to see Dion back in the Nike bag, see him some releases that you know, some of Dion's turf shoes.

They play on turf. So I think across the board and money talks, this is a great situation for everybody. His kid gets to come over and play against you know, uh what do they call it? Predominantly white institution talent, So it can you know, push his heisman numbers up. You know, I know Steve mcnaren wanting the HBCU, but maybe Shda wants to come up and play with the big boys. This is an excellent opportunity all around for

the Pack twelve, for Colorado, for Dion. Money talks, and I yelled across the board for you know, everybody on the team. I'm interested to hear you know your take as far as economics, you know, on the field, off the field, and you know, and just how you know, we need to leave Dion alone he did with his kid. Now it's time to go get his bag, and I don't think he stays there forever. No, First of all, all these people complaining, I want to see what you

donated to the HBCUs. So make sure if you see this edit in the comments, you show me your your uh, your donation to HBCUs before you're out here disrespecting prime. Um. You know on just on server the levels obviously HBCUs. You know the momentum has been picking up of late, but Gilani, at the end of the days, the facilities are terrible. With all due respect, you know that they're doing the best they can do. They need more money. We all know that. Um, the level competition isn't the best,

you know what I mean. So if you're trying to become a pro out of HBC, you have you have a It's a tall task. So for his son in particular, I mean, he's put up video game numbers in these last two years, I think this is gonna be a huge test and a step for him that NFL scouts really want to see. I mean, can he do this against the best of the best. Now he'll be playing against the best players who are all you know, majority of them are gonna get a real look at the league.

So can he do this on the highest level? UM? I feel bad for obviously the school because Dion just pumped so much life into that team and and his energy and his charisma and and who he is really captured. You know, the nation. You know we were all talking about HBC is because of Dion, you know what I mean. So I think for that standpoint is gonna be tough to overcome at Jackson State. UM. And then again the young guys that believed in and Deon and committed there

over you know, your normal typical d one offer. So good thing is is the transport transfer portal is up in Alive and these kids can hop in the transfer portal. UM. I don't know if you saw his speech to the current team. Louis told Yeah, he told the boys he's bringing luggage in his Louis and feel free to hop in that portal because it's only gonna make more space.

So Deon is not playing it. And again that's that's why I love Dion, you know what I mean, His interviews, his realness, Uh, I think you have to take a chance on that. And again for anyone who's saying that, why do it for the money? You're doing your sell out here this year, that you're not staying somewhere where you're paid three hundred thousand when you can nearly make six million doing the same thing. You're just not You're full of ship if you tell yourself you're gonna do that. So, Um,

you know, I wish Dion the best. I wish Jackson State the best. You know again, Dion lit the torch. And as you say, there's plenty of other former NFL guys that can come in here, not just at Jackson State, but just hit this HBC you and on if if you get you think about you get ten guys in the next five years to do with Dion did, even if it's only for a year or two or three years, just to pump some life into the system and show people that, hey, you know, there is some talent over here.

It's not the top D one talent. But I think if we continue to get these schools more money and opportunity, you'll continue to see more D one athletes go this route. Um, it's gonna help the whole HBUs system. So but I think at the end of the day. The HBCU whole system, not just Jackson State, should all be thankful for Dion sanders Um, even though they're probably all talking behind his back right now, because no one was talking about HBCU football,

nobody until Dion sanders hot back on the scene. So man, we wish him the best of luck in Colorado. We wish his son the best of luck. And I think he took some other players. I wish everyone the best luck. I think it's gonna be a great change. Again. Love to see Dion back and Nike because that under armored thing would cutting it. You'll be interesting to see how these boys, you know, blending the PAC twelve. The PAC twelve had a good reason this year with you know,

Oregon sc U c l A made some noise. So again I get a great Colorado's got everything in the bag, and and and and Dion is is a great guy to bring them back to life. Patswell needs some swag. Let's keep it a being that could use a little swag. Level of Dion is gonna be good for the pats Well. I mean, obviously Dion was able to come onto this uh you know, this HBCU platform and elevate himself, you know, along with the school. So who is going to be the next former player to do the same, you know,

I mean I know someone out there is. I mean, obviously Dion Is is one of a kind. But at the same time, this is a perfect platform to come and, you know, help build a foundation and get kickstart something that needs help being kickstart. On the flip side, the nl L side, imagine what Dion is going to do with the exposure he's bringing to this school for these kids.

I mean the n i L deals you know with Dion, I mean they were locking in in the n i L deals that at Jackson State, So imagine what the gonna be able to do it at a real Division one pack twelve conference school. I mean, he's gonna be bringing these checks in for these kids, you know, I expect that, you know, the student body to buy in and whether it's this year and next year, he's gonna have that whole stadium rocking the same way he had Jackson State. And again, to me, it's a win win.

I mean, Dion came in and did his job. He took the school to a new level. Who's gonna do the next Who's going to take it to the next level. But at the same time, you know, money talks, bullshit walks and money talked this time. And you know again, I don't know anyone who's gonna keep a three dollar job when you have a six million dollar job waiting for you. I don't know any player that's gonna be

pest about you know what I mean? The n I n I LS deals jumping from Zaxby's and under Armour into Nike, and you know, probably some other big name papers with bigger checks across the board. Money Talks, see you go and get you some dabs and get to keep that bread rocking facts Only that's Money Talks, presented to you by Moneyline, the only money app you'll ever need. Next up on the radar, presented to you by Draft Kings, let's take a look at the wind total for the Warriors,

who are obviously starting to find their stride. Over forty eight and a half winds minus one thirty above forty eight and a half winds plus one oh five. The Warriors have obviously turned it around, winning for their last five uh. DraftKings has them over under forty eight and a half whin Gelanni you're going over or under. See, we did this, we did this before, and I take that DA I went to save bro. I'm gonna go. I'm gonna go under. Oh really we'll go. We'll go under.

Just to make it interesting, you know what I mean? You know that the West, we talked about how the West is flip flopping. You know, there's there's been some gen They got the Beam in Sacramento, they got the Clippers with Kauai catches fire New Orleans. You know, yeah, I'm gonna going Lakers are coming. But with that said, I'm going over. I think fifty win team. I think this team is anywhere from forty nine to fifty three wins.

So I would definitely take the over with this team. Um, and again I think that you know, if you get fifty three wins, I think that probably puts you top four uh in the West, Um, which is where they want to be. Um. They're not tripping off a one or two. See they know, you know, once it gets going, their experience is going to do what it needs to do for this team. So I'm going to take the over. Lani is gonna take the under. What are you going to take? What are you gonna take it's your money.

Don't worrybody, We're gonna do with our closing thoughts. This just in. John Morant is next in line for his own signature shoe. I think we saw yesterday that Nike has completely cut ties with Kyrie, making him a sneaker free agent real quick. Before we get off the Kyrie Kyrie shoe was I don't know the numbers, but I know for sure it was one of the top selling signature shoe. If not number one, I'm pretty sure it

was number one. And when I tell you, I know it because I've seen it on the a AU level for the last handful of years. I think his color ways captivated this young world and parents were out there buying Kyrie shoes left and right. So unfortunate situation Nike decides to cut ties, um, but it's coming in on a perfect with with with the next star in line. I think if John Morant comes in and they do his shift the right way with the crazy color ways,

he is the future face of the NBA. And I have no doubt that one year from now or whenever his shoe come out, one year from the time is released, he'll be the number one or number two selling shoe in the NBA. If Nike does this that, I have no doubt. So congratulations to John Morant. Uh, super dope. I love it. You are the new NBA and you were going to be the face soon, so continue to elevate. My brother Gilanna, we had art Basil over the weekend on behalf of the n B p A did the

post up. Uh, let's talk about our weekend. Ah man, I'm still struggling fly delay. You know, Leddy got kicked off, the fly messed off the whole vibe. But you know, you know, it was my first time in our basil. You know, the post up is obviously obviously dope. Our basil is amazing. We didn't get a chance to see everything, but I think we were. We saw the things we were supposed to see. That makes any sense. You was there, you had the party the night before was dope. Miami

just does it a little different. We live in Los Angeles. We've seen some amazing ship but what we saw over in our basil, oh boys, Yeah, but it was a new level that it was definitely a new level. But it was good to see of creatives out in the streets, you know, you know at their own installations. You know, people have their own installations that you can walk to and you know and partaking and you know, talk with

the artists. You know, Our Basil has started as a little thing on the strip where they were actually you know, doing local art. Now it's a big, huge thing, party, brands money, it's a huge party. So I loved it. You did a great job. We got to work with bed. You know, we love catching up with bad at the post up and the cash and rap shit. Uh. I'd like to hear your take. You you were on the moods and you know you gotta actively speak and move around in politics. And how was your Was this your first?

This is your first? Yeah, this is my first Our Basil trip. Um. I enjoyed it. You know obviously we didn't we didn't really dive into it, you know like we would have did if it was five or six years ago. You know, I mean I think we did. The old people are Basil where we we we went to work, we went to dinner, We went to one event. At that one event, when I tell you this dude had a house on the water or was it was a hundred fifty million dollar house you guys had just

got offered. He turned down a hundred fifty million dollar offer. This thing is sitting on the water, boscyots everywhere. A gigantic yacht, gigantic who knows how much was was parked in his backyard. Uh. The who's who were there? We saw Shipped, the Kardashians, We saw Travis Scott, We saw fifty fifty and Travis Scott performed in this guy's backyard. I saw people about Cardi, about Cardi, yeah, fifty before and twice about Cardi performing in the backyard. These backyards

aren't your typical backyards. Cardi got a million flat for going in the backyard. I don't know what fifty and Drake got. Are excusing me fifty and Travis Scott, but they definitely got some bread um a lot of dope business opportunities that you and I ran across it that night. Uh saw a puffy. A lot of people were there. But that's what I love. My favorite thing was Obviously the vibe was crazy, but the business week got done. You know, the hopefully potential guests that we're gonna be

locking in from that one night alone was amazing. So overall, our Bowsl was dope. Shout out the n b p A for having us shout out the post. Up Um had a great time. Definitely stayed in our old people lane though. Yeah we only went out one night. That's all we needed because we got the business done and then we had dinner and I mean burned it down. And when you stay in your lane, there's never any traffic. That's it. Man. I hope you guys enjoyed this episode

of What's Burning. Sending love out to our brother Stephen Jesse Jackson. We hope they have been back soon. You can catch What's Burning available every week on Showtime Basketball YouTube and on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok at Show Basketball. We'll see you guys next week. Oh Ship, one more thing, ge Lonni, Happy birthday, motherfucker. You about to be uh forty five when I come back. Like Jordan wearing the four five, you don't look at day past fifty. So congratulations. Man.

It's a blessing to get old these days. It's a blessing to get old these days. My funcker's aren't seeing these numbers, man, So it's a blessing to get old, man. So happy birthday to my brother happy. We're gonna turn it up next time I see you and I love yeah. All right, we'll see y'all next week.