All-Star Weekend Recap, Pressure On Lebron & Lakers Ft Jamal Crawford | WHATS BURNIN | ShoBasketball

three legends up here, hey man. But in between au coach and I see you in LA. The next night, I see you on T and T. Then the next couple of days I see you. It all start being man of many hats. Hey, I'm taking the map Matt and say I'm trying to run in trying to follow blueprint. Yeah, hey, showtime Matka talk maka hey, he badly got badly got time to shoot our show. That's the business Man show. We're so happy to see. That's got like eight blueprints.

So if you're following the Matt blueprint, you've got to gather them all up because it's got like nine or ten going. We're gonna get it, though, Jamal, you had never been a judge before, right, Rachel, I've never been an All Star before, So it was crazy. Way I promise you. I always felt like I should be there, if I deserve to be there, and when I didn't make it, I just never went. I wasn't going just to kick it. So wow. Yeah. Yeah. So the fact that I got asked to be a judge, you know,

that was pressure. But then I was like, I'm embracing I'm just gonna enjoy the weekend. And to answer you a question about what it was like, it was great. I felt like I was on path until somebody on the other end I ain't gonna saying no names, start doing his thing on the scores table. So I had to juice up the scores a little bit to average out the young fellas. Hey, Maal, what was it? What was I saw you too? I saw you took JJ. What was it like to have your son and enjoyed

that experience? You know, it's crazy and you know is too, like he just absorbed everything, like every single thing, he absorbed every moment he was watching everything. He met Yannis and he's like, Yannest, I watched your doc. Yanest, Like, what'd you learn from it? He said to work hard, and you honestly, that's why you work hard and listen to your parents. But everything somebody told you to see him. Just like the wheels were spending, he's been working. His

workouts have been totally different after that. I love it. I love anyone who says, listen to your parents. I'm all for that. Well, if that was your first All Star weekend, I do have some news from you for you. They're not all in Utah, so well it will get better, you know why. Rache I had nothing to compare it to. So for me, I was like, all right, I had to do like nine different things. I'm like, all right, I mean it's go from place to place. And my son was good, so it was all right. And it

was close to home. In flights to Atlanta been killing me. So the facts Utah was all right with that, yeah, And it's just it sucks race for you to say that, Marhurst my heart to say that's your first time, because you definitely deserve to be that multiple times in your career. It sucks to even hear that, bro I had those ten lows. I was gonna let go like they were gonna be crazy if I ever got in the game. Oh,

I'm glad that you got the Dunk Contest experience. I will say I saw this wave about the Dunk Contest and I need you to put it in perspective for us, because afterward, Magic Johnson tweeted Mac McClung personally saved the Dunk Contest with his performance tonight. Shack said the same

thing on the air with you guys. Lebron said, after what he said, McClung is now up in Dunk Contest history with Vince Carter and m J. Was it really at that level for you guys because it was fun, I was in the building, but that level really well race the bar. The bar wasn't really at high from what they are coming off of last year. So I think that's where everybody's excitement is coming from. But nah, not Jordan this. We can't be prisoners at the moment

with that one like that was it was good. It was really good, and it was exciting in the gym, but you know, the bar was really really low. So he had a great, good Dunk Contest with those guys, like two of the best dunkers ever, Like it was Matt, Matt, Matti, solid man I had, we had Madden Alan Hovison game. He's a great kid man and I've always been rooting for him and he's a dunker, bro, that's what he does.

But I don't I don't put him on the level with Zach Lavine and Gordon like that dunk contest was on another level. So I definitely don't put him on the level with m J and Vince. But for what he's but but saying he saved the dunk contest this year. He definitely did that. The best move Philadelphia did this year Will signed him to a two way contract so he could participate in this slap dunk contest that I'm glad they did that. I'm happy for Matt because he's

a great kid and he works hard. For sure, he seemed like a great kids crazy because when he got rolled. I looked at Dominique, I says, this was like for you and m J did in Chicago. He looked at me like said, man, you better. I said, you right, My bad, Nue, the spirit moved me, My bad, my far He was in the moment, fam that was in the moment Fan I took the score cards and put up on hunting. I was in the moment, me back down the life. I mean, I'm very he does seem

like a really nice kid. That cardigan he was burying in the next night was amazing. Um, you know, I'm glad that it was, and it was fun. It was fun being in the building for all that. But I am I am surprised at the wave of oh my god, this is incredible because you point out he's not actually even in the NBA, and I mean, they signed him to this two way just a couple of days ago.

He's going right back to the G League. He made it the G League partly on sort of his YouTube dunk highlights to begin with, and he's turned into a really nice player. Is the dunk contest? Should it just be that from now on? Should it just be like dunkers dunking and like not really NBA players so much? I mean, what direction are we going in? They don't want to do that, right, they don't want to do that because it's it's some guys on Instagram called the

flight Brothers. Yes, and they'll make it so unfair where nobody can even get in this dunk contest, So they don't want to do to that. I think they need to make it fight NBA players if they opened if they opened up that kid, Rachel, it's gonna get ugly and NBA players won't have a shot. He's right, No, NBA players aren't really participating anyway, though. I mean, like,

what's happened? What's what are we doing here? But can I ask you guys this, wouldn't you want to see like a one on one tournament six four and lower, six to five and taller put up five million dollars? I bet you everybody would jump in and let's let's get the way classes going. Let's see who's we ain't got to argue about Kyrie and Steph who win? Or Kyrie and Dame or pound pound for pound. Let's see who's who and what's what? Hey, man, you're doing big

things over there. TNT make that happen. Hey, we're gonna sit there, We're gonna sit the dunk contests out this year. We're gonna play this one on one tournament cutthrow Well, Matt, let me ask you, guys, do you think people's probably getting away their brands and everything else to be scared of if they lose. I mean, that's the you know, the reason why I feel like guys are or maybe it's not cool enough, but yeah, I think a lot of pride and ego goes into what guys are doing

that weekend. Definitely. Now that's why I don't think the one on one will work all because they're too scared to compete in the games and and and the main game that everybody want to m compete. And you heard what Kobe said, and this game is supposed to be competitive. Everybody want to see the top guys go in and have a high level pickup game, right and and and that's it's got away from that. Even Jalen Brown was like,

this is a this is a glorified layup line. I wanted to play basketball and he and he was one of the guys that's hurt. So for one of the guys is wearing a mask with damn there broken eye socket or whatever he dealing with and uh and uh and want to go hard in an All Star game. What about the guys that's not hurt? So you know what I'm saying, I wish just got back to a competitive game. Yeah, it's embarrassing. Like you when we are growing up seeing Kobe against MJ. Like, that's what made

the All Star Game what it was. You had the best players in the world going at it to separate who's who and what's what. Now it's like, you get your dunk, I'll get my dunk. That's boring, like and it's actually kind of disrespect for the basketball if I'm being honest, that's not what could What could the league do to get the players to be competitive? Right? Mike Malone afterward called this the worst game basketball game ever played in history. I mean, I don't think what can

you do? Cut you off? Yeah, Rachel, the league can't do any The league can't do anything. It's gonna be up to the players to decide. It's going to be up to it. It's gonna be up to a star to push the you know, like set the tone. Like you can't even get players to play games, Matt, you know exactly, like Jaw or Luke or Tatum, one of the one of these next up and coming superstars. I feel like really has to be like, yo, check this out. This is what we're doing in this game. We're not

going to disrespect the area. Got to play it hard. We're gonna play it the right way. But as far as the league, there's nothing the league can do about any of this. It's going to be all whether stars start participate in the dunk contest or guys play hard in the All Star Game, it's always going to be up to the players. That's what That's what I said, man, When the very very best players set the tone like Yo, we're not coming in bullshit, and like we're going to

get it right from the start. And you come with that men's haw, like it's named after Kobe. What's the best way to honor Kobe? But to compete? Like what are we doing? Yeah? Agree? Thanks? All right? So, but how do you get that to actually happen? Right? Because you got guys even in the game, like you said, Jalen Brown, he's willing to go at it. How does that actually happen? Does it? Does it have to be like a Kobe? Does it have to be one of those guys? And there's no other way to get it

going go ahead? Like Massad's gonna have to be the biggest nights like Braun and those guys gonna have to set that tone. They're gonna have to come in with their energy because you know what, Rachel, it's gonna have to be the two captains, basically, you know the guy. The guy's just picking the teams. And I really feel this to give him miss props. I feel like if the Greek figg wasn't hurt, he would have came with

that energy because he play like that everywhere. Yes, I mean, look, I still like watching the best players in the world. I'll be on one court. You look around on those nights and it is pretty incredible. We did see John I get a ton of love over the weekend, the fans really reacting to him. We saw the fans really reacting to Luca a lot too, And it's funny, Jamal, I heard you talking recently about the love for Luca's game.

You were saying how well deserved it was. But what caught my ears you were asking where was all this good will for James Harden during the Houston days, And I wanted you to explain more where you see the parallels between the two guys and the different reactions though you've seen to them. I'm so glad you asked about that because they ote me the next day people it was I'm like, are y'all not seeing what I'm seeing.

I'm not saying they're the exact same player, but the style of play, the way they player is almost identical. It's like one's left hand, one's right hand. They have the ball, their usage rate is way higher than everybody else's. There's other guys that standing around them. Why they do their thing? They step back and I'm not I wasn't this in Luca West. So I love his game, Lucas code. But my thing is people say, oh Hard won MVP, Yeah he wont MVP, but don't forget it was frowned upon.

Oh you can't win that way, you can't play that way. It's it's not basketball. But with Lucas, like we've embraced it and we should. But give Hard in his love too, because he was doing this and the numbers he's doing. He has sixty point triple doles. They went to the Western Conference finals, so it's very very similar. Lucas younger and all that, and he has so much room to improve.

And I get it. This isn't just about Lucas more so about let's give Hard in his love because he was doing crazy, crazy numbers at that time, not just one MVPs, but actually doing numbers, and people were were kind of you know, some people crowned him. A lot of people frowned him. People people with the NBA had to change rules because of James Harden. He had mastered the game. He had now sunk the game, and he was one of the toughest matchups in the history of

the game. You know what I mean. He was strong, he was quick, he was smart. Uh, he great shooter, great free I mean it's they had to really had to change the rules. I mean, they had to change the free throw rules because of James Harden mastered the game. So I agree, like, I agree like obviously not same players, similar styles, but numbers definitely reflect uh similarities. And they both and they both are great players. Excuse me race

that they're both are great players. But just like Kobe said, that's not winning basketball for neither one of them. I don't care who's doing it. It looks exciting, you love watching it. They're gonna be looking like the top players in the league. But it's not winning basketball. And that's what it bought down to. Well, I mean That's why

they wanted to get someone in with Luca. Right to your point, you can't when you have one guy and you're depending on him that much, you can't win a championship. I don't know if Kyrie is going to be that guy. I think there's got to be a little bit of a style difference issue. Lucas a little bit more layered when he I mean usag Ate is obviously just as high,

but his attack is a little bit more layered. I think with James some of the sort of you know, dribble dribble dribble, the way he would attack being so consistent. Is that part of why the reaction is a little bit different Because I voted for James for MVP that year unequivocally, like I had no issue with that. I thought he absolutely had an MVP season, and I was always surprised that there was sort of more of that

negative spin on what he was doing. Yeah, I think Lucas is more layer, but I think it's still similar though it's still very similar, Like it takes a special person to play with a guy like that, because you have to be comfortable with like, you know what, I'm not gonna get the ball as much, or if I do get it, I'm getting off of all the work they've already done. I think the love for Luca and

the comments is basically that he's younger. Well, yeah, he's younger, but their style of play is very, very similar in the way they're thinking the game and how they're breaking down the game. Well, look, it's going to be interesting to see the Kyrie Luca combination. We all got some other new team formations because the buy out markets still going on, even though we don't have games back up yet. Jamal, it's funny to get bought out. You have to be making a lot of money to begin with. So there's

something about the quality of Blayer you were. You were bought out once. What is that whole experience? Guys going through it this week? I thought I walked away from them. I was bought out. Okay, my fault. According to our trepid that's the same thing, that's the same thing brought I walked away. Yeah, I thought I walked away. Now, I think at the end of the day, you're willing to go up some money for happiness. There's no price

on peace of mind. And if you feel like there's a team out there who lets you be you, who'll let you go, and you get back to the whatever lever you feel like you're at. It's worth it. And so for a guy like Rust, for example, I bet he's happy as hell because he's like, you know what, I'm going to A team's gonna embrace me. They want me to be me, and whatever I gave up on the back end, I'll get that back with more so

I'll get my respect back now. I think that's the type of mindset you're in when you're going and things like that. I think what makes my be What makes that interesting though, is obviously we'll get into the detail about the Russ situation. But from what I was told, Rust and Lebron live across street from each other, like across the street for real, Like he's on the other

side of the street from what I heard. So how interesting is that going to be if that's true that you know, shit, he's gone now, but he just went down the hallway to La and Russ is It's gonna be an interesting think they both go out and get the paper and the driveway in the morning. Yeah. Interesting. Fourth of July. Uh, hang outside with all the family times so that's gonna be fun. Man. But man, was it like Russ over Lebron's on fourth of July before

they even became teammates, like they were all kicked it. Yeah. I just kind of wonder, you know, as I mean, this is a little off talk, but like asids going on, Like to me, it kind of seemed like, and I could be wrong that that Braun was the one that was recruiting Russ, you know, I mean, for Rust to be a Laker and all this kind of stuff, because you know, you hear from Damar that DeMar thought he

was going to be a Laker. So fast forward to this whole situation and kind of, you know, you expect it from the media, you kind of you can expected from the fans. But then I wonder what Russ was thinking when when you know, Broun's like, you know, with the whole Kyrie thing, He's just like, Damn, I thought, you know, I mean, I thought you wanted I thought you wanted to be here. But it just shows you

know what kind of businesses is. Obviously, you can't fault Braun because at the end of the day, like this is his legacy, he's leaving, you know, he wants, you know, he wants to go out on top. So if he feels like someone else can come in and give him a better chance, you know, that's the movie's gonna make

at this point of his career. But I just wonder kind of do you know, Rust don't speak much, but I really just wonder what's going on in his head when he's just hearing all this shit, Like damn well. I like for him personally, Braun was so happy because I said before him, like the Lakers issues way bigger

than Rust. That's he's a scape goat. So in fact, I've never seen somebody in the same season get his respect back the way he did with their home fans, you know what I mean, like with home base, because they were don't shoot that home like this is like we go playing Philly and they're doing that like this is home for him. So but I see him it's

Hill all the court and off the court. I think Jack, you know, I think Jack said something in a post yesterday where he remained solid though the whole time, no matter what he went through what he heard. I mean, that's the one thing about Russ. Every single night he shows up and then and then you got no disrespect.

You got people reporting all he was a vampire in the locker room, like let's not kill on his name, let's not razy like you can feel how you feel and everything, like we all know stuff that we would never say, you know what I mean, especially when somebody's gonna have to try to get a job. We all knew rusting them by out like that's that just wasn't including me. And we see we've seen it done before. Though they did it to Ai, they did it, they did it to a lot of that. We love that

with stars, you know what I mean. They when they get to the careers and they're not marching to the beat they want them to, or they have a bad game or a bad year, they automatically write him out and forget about all the years of Russ average and triple doubles or where he's stand you know in basketball herestor he forgot about all that. But we didn't as players. So it's our job to defend him because we have

had bad years. We've been in those positions where the fans and everybody against us until we make a shot to make them happy. You know, it's it's what have you done? Lately. But at the end of the day, like I said, Russ, I commend him because he stayed silently, stayed a professional and stayed doing this thing. And I said he was going to the Clippers. I'm happy for him too. But I also I think all three of

us can contest that. You know, it's not about although it hurts sometimes when we hear everything, It's about what our peers think about us. It's not what the media thinks about us, now what the fans think about us. It's how we're respected amongst each other, you know what I mean. And I think that's the biggest thing. And I know for a fact, hate him or love him,

Russ is respected around the league and always has exactly well. Look, Paul George went out hard for him, right publicly, especially after all this has been going on, and it's interesting conversations right before the break with some front office people on that team. Paul's recommendation definitely meant a lot to them. But I was told it wasn't enough, that wasn't going

to do it entirely, that they were looking for. How willing was Russ to accept what they wanted him to do on the court and Obviously with the Lakers, there was a bunch of is he gonna start, He's gonna come off the bench. He obviously did really well on that six man role. With the Clippers, they had better shooting. So what they want from him is to drive to the basket, which, by the way, he can still do. He has top twelve in the league still in drives. They want him to push the pace they wanted to

kick out to the better shooters. Do you guys feel that Russ has the discipline at this point in his career because even with the Lakers, once he accepted the role and we praised him a lot on this show for what he has done this season, he still wasn't It wasn't great shot selection, He wasn't always making the right decisions out on the court. Do you guys feel that he is up for playing with this level of guys, really doing what they need him to do as a

point guard, because that's the need that they have. I do race because they definitely need help rebounding and he's one of the best rebounded point guards ever. Also, also, I think he'll love to be in this role because he's wanted rightchel the best feeling in any job that you have is being wanted by the people there. Right, It's hard to play when you when you know you got teammates talk about it behind you back, when you got the front office, think about trading you, when you

got all kinds of stuff going on. So it's hard to perform like that. But when you got an organization and you got star players on the team that want you there, that know what you're capable of, it's gonna be easier to buy in. And that's why I say I'm happy to Russ because it's gonna be an easy situation for him to fall into. Or you gotta just control the team. You gotta get the ball to Paul

kawhire rebound and that's what he's best at. Yeah, for me, I think he's gonna do whatever it takes because the spirit is back. He's like like Jack said, his spirit is back. When your spirit is broken and you know, mess with and you don't know who's who, and you know, like they in my corner, they're not they're talking about behind my back. Whatever it is, he's gonna wear such pride.

He's gonna play hard and he ever has and he knows where he's at he knew the whispers of what people were saying, like this is gonna be a golden opportunity, not only when a champion ship to revive his career and put him into place where he gets the respect he's so deserves, because what he's done aving and triple, we never thought we'd see that again for years. Like Russ is a Russ is a top seventy five guy, without a doubt, with his spirits back. T Low's gonna

empower him. He's not gonna hold he doesn't do well against him. I think he's gonna show up and show out. That's what I wanted to I think t lou is the right coach for this situation. And we praise Darvin ham because Darvin Hamm was the right one to get Russ to buy into coming off the bench. Because there's not too many coaches. Maybe we can name just those two that he really would have bought into and respected enough to come in and buy into that role. Russ

is gonna be Russ. And I think you know, Rachel, you said, you know they're asking him to get downhill, which he's great at, and fine shooters, which he's always been good at. So if that's what his ask, and then like Jack and Jamal are saying, you know, this is a second chance, this is a revival. Hopefully he can revive his career because you know, being quite honest,

you know, there's probably not a lot of teams. I think Russ's future is really going to hinge on this next twenty five game, plus this playoff run, because you know, there's just once they start talking a certain way about you and Jack, we could offend these motherfuckers all they want, but the GMS and they start feeling a certain way. I really think this is one of the most critical runs of Russell Westbrook's career if he wants to play beyond this, you know what I mean. So I'm with

the rest of the guys. I think he's going to be completely bought in. I think he is going to be an asset to this team. And you know, with the other moves the Clippers made, this is definitely We've been saying it all year. I mean, it hinges on Kawai's availability, but this is the deepest team in the NBA and they have a great shot of not only coming out of the West. And that's saying a lot with Phoenix and these other teams. But they have a

great opportunity to win a championship this year. WHOA, Okay, so that's high praise. I was just gonna say, look, and they climb up past fourth. Right now, they're fourth. They've got the Nuggets, grizz and Kings ahead of them. And as you say, the Sons are going to be making a move in this last the season. The MAVs would like to be making a move. You think their championship contenders may absolutely, but the three teams in front

of him. You know, with all due respect to all three of those teams, we have to see it in the playoffs. We've seen you know, Kawhi's won championships pgs. Taking this team to the Western Finals without Kawhi, you know, had lost Kawhi. So you know, you add these solid I really love the Mason Plumley pick up, you know what I mean, just super solid, big plays, hard, does his job. Eric Gordon's getting another chance. Bone Higlands is a wild card that's probably gonna win you a game

or two, win the playoffs. Just off dropping thirty five forty you know, possibly thirty thirty five points. So um, Kawai's health is going to be critical for this team. But I love the moves they make. And again, I love this Russ opportunity because we are all just such fans of Russ and I just think he deserves to go out the way he can in what better way than to really catch fire with this team. You know, sign a two or three year deal and you know,

finish at home. All Right, you guys backing him up on Championship Contender? Are you backing him up? Yeah? I mean yeah, you got you got rush All and a healthy Kawhi and the experience to t Lou I give him a shout of rage and then you know what, just imagine that Russ bringing helping the Clippers bring that first championship home. I think that'll be a great fan Yeah. I like the move. I like their team before the moves. I love their team afterwards. And people forget, Yeah, people

forget like Kawai. We don't see him enough to be like he's top five. I know in the playoffs he's top five, Like he's the top five playoffs without doubt. Like everything he brings to the table is what you want, Like Russ is gonna bring toughness. He's gonna bring grit, He's gonna hold them dudes accountable because players in the locker room look at Russ like we do, so we hold him to the highest standard, and you know he's not going to back down. So to MAT's point, the

teams in front of him, I'm not really scared. If I'm the Clippers. It's like we can go win a game anywhere with this croup and like Bones Highland, those dudes are underrated. They can go when you a quarter to get the stars back on track. I love the Clippers what they're doing. Like I said, I just think those teams in front we have to see it in the playoffs, you know. I mean Sacrament is completely new

to this space. You know, Denver, I say before, you know, similar to what the Jazz were doing a few years ago. Great in the regular season, we have to see it in the playoffs. And then Memphis. Memphis has done a lot of talking. We got to see wins in the playoffs. Go ahead, Rachel, Well, I just Denver fans are listening to y'all and they're screaming right now at the TV, being like we made the Western Conference Finals. I mean this team has had some experience. Yeah they haven't gone

all the way. They have a shot. They have a shot too, but you know they haven't done it as well. Race. You know, you got the back to back MVP, possibly three time MVP and yeah, and you can't get to the finals. Like, so that team hasn't shown hasn't shown anything, Race, but of being a dominant regular season team. If they show us something this season, then maybe they'll continue to be in that conversation. But with that said, I do like what they got going on this year, Like they

got everyone's healthy. You know, they got the pieces they feel like they need. So the Western Conference, we haven't even talked about Phoenix. Like Golden State, you always got to give them a chance because they got experience. It's going to be a battle to come out of the West this year. Rache, Who do you trust more in a playoffs here if they're messed up? Would you trust this new look Clippers team or would you trust Memphis or New Orleans or Denver. Oh, I'm trusting the Clippers

over Memphis, especially with the experience. I'm trusting them. I just trust them over New Orleans. I want to see what the Nuggets turn into I know they're not the popular trendy pick. I'm I'm blown away by this Sun's lineup, and I think that if they can play together and stay healthy, I think it's it's it's ridiculous to sleep on them, even where they are in the bracket right now.

But I'm not willing to write the Nuggets off. They've got the what's going to be the three time MVP, and they're a good team, and they've been the top seed for a reason, and I just I don't know. I feel like a lot of people are always like, oh, you know, Denver, they haven't shown us that they can do it yet. They haven't shown you you can win. But they've They've got some pretty impressive stuff going three time MVP and about seventy five pick and rows in

the playoffs. Yea, the figure that out defense and played I've never even played defense, but I'm telling you, I know what's coming. I wouldn't you know. I wasn't doing that. Jamal. Jamal be quick to go on a tear and then end up on a dude like get me four a sec, give me for a second, Well, switch off from straight. But I didn't know what time it is. Give me a pouting here, so I still look good. What's that like during a playoff game when you feel like that?

Oh man, I know the whole world's watching. I just ran off age of ten and I know I may give up six backs. Look me, get a couple of fouls, a lock up, and everybody wins. All right, we get our act back together. I want to talk to you guys about pat Ev signing with the Bulls. That is his hometown team. But guys, he mentioned on this Potty also had a chance to go to the Warriors, and I wanted to read you the quote he said. It

was between Golden State and the Bulls. Obviously, it's always good to play with a lot of great talent and Golden State, but you know there's a lot of guards over there. I figured I could make up playoff pushed with the Bulls right now and kind of pop them up a little bit. The East is kind of weak, he said. He said, I'm excited. I get to pack my Sunday school, I get to take my baby girl to school. I get to pick them up. I get to wrap my city on my chest. So there's a

lot there. Love that he's home. With the kids. Big fan of that. Um, let's start with him saying the East is kind of weak thoughts. You know, if you know, you know Pat Bab're gonna always throw something out there. You know, he always gonna rough or little feathers. But I think the best thing about it is he's he got to get a chance to go home and play in Chicago, be with his family, like you said, pick

his kids up from school and stuff like that. This might we talk about the last couple of games matter for somebody's career. He's in. He's in this situation too. He'd been bounced around a lot, and you know, he really, he really hasn't been a fact on any team besides talking, you know. So I love I love Pats energy and effort in his love for the game, but he's not productive anywhere. And if he gets a chance to end his career in Chicago, if he doesn't play well, it's

a good look. Yeah. I think I think for Pat his value really is with young teams if you're trying to show how to work and how to you know, be a pro, or teams that are right there in the championship, like really championship contenders and he can just be a good vet locker room guy, holding guys accountable. I'm not sure how he fits in with the guys in the middle, with the teams in the middle, you know, and how he provides that kind of value on the court.

But for him personally going home, you know, obviously we just saw the news Alonzo Ball being on all year. If he can get some minutes at the point guard position, playing off at duros and playing off a zach Lavine guys like that, you know, I think that's where he's best suited. Uh yeah, I mean I agree with both these guys. First of all, it's interesting, Matt. I mean we've we've talked about this before. Do you pick at

that time in your career. Do you want to go to a place like Golden State, which you guys keep telling me every week still has a chance to win the title, or Chicago, which we all know. I know he's saying, oh, I want to give them a bit of a pop. They're not contenders. So what do you think of him making that decision? I mean, I just Golden States backcourt is Pool Curry Thompson, and I know I'm probably missing some other people Devincenzo's Devincenzo's been playing well.

So it's just like it's loaded over there. Uh, you know, you have a chance to go home. And where's Chicago sit? I'm not from. Are they middle of the pack? Where they at right now? They need a lot of help? Producer Nate. What's Chicago ranked right now? Seated? Do you guys know they need a lot of help? Okay, Chicago's eleven right now. I mean, I get playing time versus not playing time. I get it. But that's the question right when you're at this stage of your career. I'm

always fascinated by guys who I mean. Vince Carter was always really open toward the end of his career. He said, I want to go where I can play. He would go on these teams and he said form B he said, I know everyone thinks I need a ring. He's like, I don't need a ring. I still want to hoop and play basketball. So it's kind of a little bit of what Pat Bev has decided here he's going for the minutes. I was just curious what you guys thought about.

I just think his journey has been incredible, know what I mean, It's been well documented what he had to pay. It pay out of his contract to get in the NBA, and and and he's made some good money. And now at the end of the time, rich I think he knows the clock is ticking on his career, Like why not get it, Like, you know, Golden State, although we feel like they have a great shot, you know, why not go home? Why not go home and be that little push that maybe helps them get in the playoffs

when no one's saying they're gonna win. But be that little you know, go home and be able to help them make the playoffs. So I'm happy for him because we all know, you know how much time this game takes away from your family. I mean that's why I retired my first year into a three year deal when I was fortunate enough to win a Golden State, because I just had missed my kids so much and I wasn't getting to see him. So, like Jamal says, I mean, you know, you can't pay for happiness. Uh, he's happy.

He's home, he's at the crib. And if this is his last team and he can play here a couple of years, I mean, it's a it's it's a you know, an amazing accomplishment what he's accomplished and been able to do in this league. And then too, you know, everybody goal likes to win the championship. You know, that was my goal. So a lot of guys, a lot of some guys come in to the league, right you want to make a name for itself, make some money and

get on. You know what I'm saying. I was blessed to win one early where I didn't have to worry about that towards the end of my career. But a lot of guys, you know, I know, I've heard I heard it from a lot of guys don't come in the league thinking they want to be a champion. And

that's what separates a lot of people. What what's killing me though, is the fact that some of these ventures thirty four, thirty five, and we're talking about them being out the league like crazy, Yeah, they're needed, Like where's Mellow at right where's Isaiah at right now? Like all these guys are needed? Like how can you learn to be a pro and be a vet if you don't

have that around you? Like I called the Rising Stars game other day and the G League game, the Rising Stars team average age was just as young as the G League team. Like who's who's leading who? Crazy? It's crazy, So we need those vests. These guys got real careers, not just being a league and make mistakes and not really be able to learn from and be held accountable. Yeah, it's it's it's with all the respect, it's the blind lead the blind because these young kids, they've never been

through nothing. And then if you can't produce on the court early are they keeping you? You know, we can name Iguadala, we can name uh Udonis, but outside of that, like vets that aren't giving you minutes or aren't producing, they don't have those no more. But we have talked about this with Charles. But you know, when we all came in the league, there was guys, whether you know, thirty six, thirty seven, thirty eight, whether they are playing or being productive on the court, they were just as

important off the court. And sometimes they're bridge between the players and the coaches. They're ogs for the younger players. They just there's so much quality, you know, there's just so many good things. They bring two teams, but just the league has transitioned out of that. Owners have transitioned out of pay and they'd rather, you know, pay potentials. They pay, you know, they they'd rather pay potential. Yeah.

The CBA is a little different now too, and interesting as they sort of get a new one together whether they're going to correct that at all, But doesn't look like it. Feels like the league is still trending really young. If you have some old guys still going places, Kevin Love, we call them an elder statesman at this point. Maybe Cal five time All Star, Olympic champion, of course, NBA champ. He'll bring a ton of experience to Miami's locker room.

Does he change your opinion on the heats playoff chances though, Jamal, what do you think? Not for me? I think honestly they need what he brings to the table. I'm just not sure how much he can give, especially and we all know Miami's notorious for how they work from practice. They don't care if you're ten years in fifteen years, in two years, and you're gonna work and for k Love and guy like that. He's accomplished so much and played heavy minus all these years. I'm not sure that's

a spot I would have went to. I think he could help him win a playoff game, but I wouldn't look for him to help, like be contributed in the playoffs every single game. Not at this point. I think I kind of think this is a good move for kay Love because I feel like he feels like he's been wrestling in the last couple of years and he wanted to give it another shot to win the chip.

I think this is a good shot for Miami because now Bam can be the center and they have a really a real four that could split it, that could spread the court and also be big and help rebound. I like he Love. I think this. I think this is an opportunity for him to give what he got, you know, and to see what he got in Love

in the tank. Let me say that for him, because I think he challenging himself and this is a great opportunity because I think he's gonna play a lot, especially in the playoffs, with that experience, with being able to spread the court. I like Kay Love and bound By to buy you together in Miami. I think it gives him a better shot. I'm not gonna say championship team rate, but it gives them a better shot. I mean, I just I like what he could bring to the team.

I just don't know, you know, like Jamal said, I don't know how much he has left. Um. I think he's a good, good piece. I mean, experience, can shoot the ball, h could still rebound, tough, uh tested all the things you want in a pick up at this point. But like he said, we just have to see how much you saw husband to tank. You know, if he can give them, you know, twenty to twenty five minutes and be a you know, fourteen and eight guy, that's

gonna be huge for them. But you know, we'll have to see if that's still in, you know, if he still has it. Yeah, I thought Miami missed more like I thought they need another premiter score, like somebody at the trade their line. Not a buyo guy, but the guy at the trade their line. We're like, okay, because Jimmy's good be in the robbin. He's good with setting guys here, he's good with being a defender. He doesn't

have to be the focal point of offense. But if bam, you know, maybe in foul Tremor doesn't have the goal or Jimmy's you know, by same thing, who's that guy? Besides Hero can consistently get a bucket when things slow down. Miami plays a slow face anyway, Like who's the guy that can go get a bucket every single time or generate a quality look? And that's why I thought they were missing another like third or true third guy to

be that guy in the primeter. Well, sometimes when you can't get what you need, you go get what is available. They did here. I do think the three points shooting is attractive to them. I mean this is more of a fit thing with them. What he does is what they need. I don't know if he's going to move them out of where I think they're sitting at seventh

right now. It's interesting the Calves are in fourth. I mean it's possible that they could end up either seeing each other in the playoffs or start jostling each other's playoff positioning. So I don't know how that's gonna work out. If he's gonna want a little dig at his former team, I don't know, Jamal, you recently said you want Mellow back in the league, not just in general, but you want him in Phoenix, right, I do talking about all guys moving around, Yeah, I think he'd be a perfect

fit for them, Like the way they'll play. It's not gonna be much defense being played anyway. Phoenix is gonna be a team to get timely stops. They ain't locking up nobody, So why not because I'm saying that, because they're gonna say, oh, he doesn't play defense, like they ain't playing defense anyway. They lost their best defenders. Like, let's they're gonna get timely stops. Let's get Mellow in the league and let him go out in his own terms.

I feel like whenever a guy's paid that much to the game and done that much for the game, he should be able to leave how he wants to leave. What you're like, twelve or fourteen, fifteen years and more, you should be able to leave how you want to leave. That's the way to do things. And Mellow deserves to play. He did everything that was asking about him the Lakers and all. He doesn't want to come off the bench. He did that. Oh he's still shooting a hypercentage from three.

He did that, he averaged double figures. Let's let him go out the way he wants to go. He deserves to go out for a shot in the championship. I mean, I think that I'd love to see him play. The only reason why I don't think that'll happen is because they picked up T J. Warren and Ross, which were two solid I don't think people are talking enough about those two pickups when you add a Kevin Durant and then you add because my thing was they lost depth.

You know, so before they got Terrence Ross, I could have seen Mellow all though their different positions at the end of the day, their scores, you know, and and Terrence Ross is a little younger, so I thought that that would probably eat up because I think the didn't Seeps say something about he wanted Mellow. Yeah yeah, yeah, yeah, So I think, you know, before the Terrence Ross had come and again, even though they don't play the same position, they still do the same thing at the end of

the day. That I thought that could have worked there. But I really liked, you know, those two Warren and Ross. I think they added more depth to their team. But I'm with you, May, I would love to see Mellow get another chance. But it's just I mean similar, I mean, I wanted to see you get another chance at the end, you know what I mean. So it's just it's weird that, you know, when you do so much work. You put so much work in this game really shows you that

it's a business day online. And they called me the other day and said, when I come out for ten day, I said, no, I can't have it. Mest of my game and I can't have it. I'm good now, I'm good. Yeah, yeah, nah, I mean I would love to see, you know, get get another run um, but it's just it's it's a co business at the end of the day. And we mentioned a couple of guys that are probably on there.

You know that that really our start or you know that the Russ and you know this is kind of his last, you know, show improved type situation because the league for some reason, you know, it goes away from guys faster than guys wanted to. If a team called any of the three of you, now, do you feel that you could go out and give him a ten day if they gave me three weeks to get that ten day, Yeah, I can go out and give him any I give him a ten day coaching job. Yeah,

I'll come, I'll come watch, I'll come watch. I'll come watch practice for ten days when I'm not working. See, I knew him. I was going to be the only one who would say, yeah, I could give it. No, No, I've just heard Matt talk about his back. You know that's Hey. MAT's a hell of a coach, though. You gotta see him coach. He's I've been stealing from him for real, because he's so so fired up. I was that rookie coach fired up, and now he didn't call

me down. He'd be so zin until they don't call it a foul, until they don't call foul fries there late when they should have got one, and then you see a real vat is this mail? Okay, I can't see you, but I got an idea because I'm in Seattle, and I got a nice You don't need you don't you don't need to see you know exactly. It's all fine, Jamal. I just like knowing that you're the one who's going to carry all of us. We appreciate it. Let's go

down the radar presented by Draft King Sports Book. We are in the final stretch, guys, of course of the season. Draft King says, odds in the West, this is so interesting. Who's going to participate in the playing tournament? Lakers specifically, everyone's got their eyes there there at minus one ten, and Lebron mentioned this in his All Star press conference. He said, these upcoming twenty three games, he called them some of the most important in my career, and any

pause for a second he goes regular season. But he did make the point that the Lakers haven't been making the playoffs. He does not see himself as a guy who sits out the playoffs for two seasons. Um, what do you think, Matt, where are you in terms of the Lakers actually making the plan. I think it's on AD's health. I think they can make the playoffs if

Ads healthy. I think they made some solid moves. Um, you know, so, I think if you can say you can't go against Ad and Lebron, if Ad is healthy, I think this team will you know, come out of the play in situation into an actual playoff seed and and you know, maybe win a game or two in the first round. Yeah. I don't. I don't think, no disrespect.

I just don't trust AD's health. I really don't. Not to carry that kind of low like this team was built for him to be the guy and it hasn't had We've seen incredible feats Lebron's doing he's a one on one with how his longevity and durability is. Lebron is supposed to be the guy who's set an ad up and taking over at the fourth quarter. We're using the Bron's juice first through two weeks, He's going the whole, the whole everything. So for that, I feel like they

won't make the player. I think out of the twenty three games they have to go like seventeen and six in that home stretch, when you have teams Jos Jacquelin between fourth position in twelveth position, I don't think it happens. These games might not might be the most important, It might not be the most important to him for his career, but to a lot of people looking at his career, it is because for him to go two seasons without making a playoffs, that says a lot, you know, especially

being in that Laker uniform. They expect greatness. You just you just broke the scoring record and the last thing we expected for Lebron James to not being the playoffs, especially with a player like Anthony Davis on his team, that says a lot for them to not make the playoffs. So it's bigger than than than he's saying. I think in the back of his mind he knows that they have to get in this playoffs. If they don't, a lot of people are gonna be saying a lot of

different things about him. Currently twenty seven and thirty two, they're in thirteenth place. If they don't make the postseason at all, if they don't even make the plan, are we going to start hearing some whispers about whether Lebron stays with the team or not. That's definitely coming. That shouldn't even be important, Rachel. We're talking about we're talking about Jordan and ghost status. That's that's what he needs to be thinking about, not moving out with other teams.

You are the leading score in NBA history. Now it's about winning. That's about carrying teams and separating yourself from a lot of these conversations. Not making the playoffs is not helping those conversations. Regardless where he goes, if he goes to another team, that really doesn't matter because he teamed to continue to getting older. For me, Rache, he

just trying to play with his son one year. If he doesn't win this year, I don't think winning the championship is gonna be his focus just playing with his son. They definitely not winning a championship this year. None, it's gonna be bigger than winning the championship, exolutely, exactly, Yeah, absolutely, it was two things to check off. All time leading scorer,

play with Ronnie Man. What can you say about a career like, right, I mean, I just think you know when we continue to say, he's riding his ending right now, So Jack, to your point, he's well aware. I think what this means. I think he is downplaying, but I also think he's being like he's being open with you, like these next twenty three year very important, Like I can't miss the playoffs in this uniform two years in a row. So he's done his part, like he's been

unbelievable these last three years. This is right. It's sad because the player is so great, they need they need a better team around him. Well, I just hope at that same standard though, Oh for sure, for sure, he's gonna be hill with that standard. But he's he, I mean, he's Jack Man is after thirty points at thirty eight, it still looked like you got juice left. He's still dunking like second year, and I ain't say his first year,

but like his second years still facts. But I mean he's gonna be looking at say Phoenix and you've got that team, and who's stacked on that team? I mean Lebron doesn't have a team around him like that, absolutely not. But his thing he has to get in the playoffs. So just get here and I'd be phoinished, but you have to get in the playoffs. Yeah, just get there. That's my thing that I think people are looking at him just to get there. No, I know, I just

been in the summer. I just didn't know if his eye was going to start wandering to what other guys have that he doesn't have. But we'll see, we'll see. They have to tell you. Everything has to get told to Ron before everything all starts happening. You know who's going on? Yeah, they don't. They don't possibly get a chance to land Kyrie this summer race. Then we can talk about them bouncing, all right, All right, Well we'll see what happens there. We got a legendary moments broad

sented by top Shot coming up now. Guys in top Shot last week allowed users to pre order a highlight reel from the Dunk Contest winner that was a special commemorative moment, and Bam turned out to be a crazy in demand moment. Users can still purchase theirs up until February twenty fourth at three o'clock Eastern. Stack of the Dunk contest. What was sort of the best dunk Mac had to you or what was for the best moment

to you? I think I think for me was his first dunk because a lot of people anticipate what we was gonna do. A little shark white kid, can't he really jump? A lot of people ain't been watching Instagram. I don't know too much about him, but that first dunk Rachel to line two people up, jump over and

grab the ball, tap the backboard, then dunker backwards. I think that that set the tone that this that Matt was here for real, and I was happy he was able to make it because a lot of guys they missed that first dunk and they keep trying to make it and they don't get up to a good start. Matt neil this first dunk and was able to win it. Yeah, that first dunk was crazy, and I didn't know what he's gonna do because if you think about it, he had those two come out and they were in a

different position. Then when he got my man got on the other guys shoulders and then he did what he did. I had to watch the replay. I didn't see the actual tap at first, but when he did, this is ridiculous. And he didn't miss a dunk like that's underrated. He didn't miss one of his dunks. That's appreciate multiple chances. But I don't know as a judge rate I would definitely rate a guy higher if he made the first one, not if he did like the fourth one. Yeah, exactly.

And once I saw you know that he did it, I had to start saying fifty out loud to some body wouldn't come out and try to give him. Laura scoring forty six, so I had to say fifty fifty, all right, How much collusion is there up there? Though? How much collusion is there between the judges? Well, see I got criticized, but it wasn't much collusion, to be honest with you. I just saw with the temperament they had to fill the room and the end of the room was as cold as ice. I said, man, you deliver,

that's the deliver. Deliver. And I just said, Nick, we gotta we gotta hold it down because it was an average scores, so we had to make sure the right person got the average sport well, Karmelone said, going into the dunk contest, he was not giving any charitable scoring and he definitely had the whole time through. He had sort of the harshest critiques of everybody going through. Yeah, got enough giving back. Yeah, yea, here you go. Men, go ahead, look at my Lake Washington. Yeah, here we

rate savers. Come on, Hall of Favorite Saving. You're asking me say this is a five alarm fire. You're asking me to come. Here's what I'm gonna say. Did you know that you can start your NBA Top Stot collection today at NBA topshot dot com. You can get closer than ever the game and the players you love. Sign up. All right, guys, we got the Iverson Classic rosters just announced. We got DJ Wagner, Robert Dillingham, Justin Edwards. Several players

from last year's game were projected lottery picks. Stack. This is your baby, along with mister Allen Iverson, our greatest living American. How far has this tournament come in the past few years? Man, Rachel, I'm just I'm honored. To say that I was been there from the start. Man. You know, a lot of us played in the McDonald's game, and that was the biggest game coming up. But the uh, this game is something that I wish I could have played in for a guy like out Anobson, God we

look up to in a mile so much. Right, But this is definitely different than any All Star game or high school game that I've been to when I was playing rache because just to the events during the week, the hands on you have so many NBA players come in and give these guys advice about life basketball, you

go to the museum. I think what Bobby and Jill have built along with showtime coming on, I think it's been beautiful for the guys and for NBA players to get involved with young guys and everybody get on the same page that week wherever the game is and this year is in Jersey. So shout out to everybody that's been involved in this game. Like you said, you got DJ Wagon and Robert Daling hamming. The game is gonna be real exciting and also it's a possibility that you

might see a Jackson boy in the game. They too, Oh well, I mean, can we expect, Matt, expect you guys, come come on. Yeah, let me check my palm pilot. Yeah, I need to be out there for that. I just saw Ai at All Star weekend and I still I turned into a little kid, like it don't matter what it is. Like if I was a youngster coming up and I got invited to this game, I would have called a greyhound from seattlera memfis to get in that game like this is this is a stacking the cruise.

There's no way I would have missed this. We were watching some footage of Alan talking in the locker room before last year's Classic, and we're watching him and he's given this hype up speech and it's incredible and the footage is still hanging in the air and Matt Barnes goes, yeah, watch Ronald McDonald do that. Huh. Now, Ronald can't give

you the same James's chucking that cross over. Nah. I just think Also, what makes this game dope, um is the guys that do come back out and and like you said, Jack really put their hands on these kids and help give them the game and show them the path and just a different way of thinking unlike any other game. You know, it's a brotherhood. I unfortunately missed it the last two years, but I'll be out there

this year. But the way these older players come back and and kind of our mentors over the weekend and kind of give these kids the game before they get to the game is, I think, is what makes it special. So I'm excited for it. Uh my palm pilots that I'm free, so I'm gonna be out there, Jack, you do not have a reliable palm pilot. Jamal, I'm so happy you could be here with us today. So backing that, what what which? Which? Mall did we get? We got? We got mixed tape? Mall rate, we got mixed tape.

I'm telling this is definitely the funniest episode of What's Burning. And this is why I can't be because I really can't be a professional with mall on the same I wish I was there with y'all. Hey, hard on, Can I ask y'all something for real? It's crazy? And I told that this man y'all interview Will Smith, Magic Johnson, Charles Burn right, like to see where y'all have gone, Like this is y'all or beyond even I don't know if you thought you'd be interviewing Magic and the Will

Smith and everything. How do y'all feel? You two specifically the popcorn, the pop when the popcorn start popping. You taught me this a long time ago showtime. When that popcorn start popping, that smell gets you in game time and get you in games there. Yeah, you know what I mean. And it's the same. It's the same with this.

You know, every opportunity we get, you know, me and you talk a lot, especially about well you and Baron Davis are tour and then Matt, You, Baron Davis and matter fe people that give me the most props of my game and basketball everbody when we play to now. So we've we've always had these conversations about not getting out just do but to be in a situation, you know, to be able to be brought in this space by the goat Rachel Nichols, to be able to be what

I what I built with Matt in this space. It's it's been all a blessing, bro. So we just take advantage of opportunities because we don't always get them. Yeah, No, I just think it's we want to inspire and encourage, you know, I just think it's such amazing to see the wave, if not just in podcasts, but just in media period. Like we can tell our own stories now and we know how to articulate our thoughts, you know,

to viewers, and I think there's an appreciation for that. Um. So we just want to do our part to continue to do that, continue to inspire, continue motivate, uh, you know, continue to raise the bar and and and challenge each other because I think this is a dope space with a lot of money in it, and we can all keep getting this money, just like we're getting the money in the league. And for you, right for you you being back, like, man, how's that baby? Yeah? We all

mister presidents. How you feeling? How are you feeling well? Because I get to be back with you guys. I mean it's funny. There's all kinds of people out there in the basketball space, right, but you want to talk about why Matt and Stack have been so successful and just skyrocketing up. It's because they're real, right, And that's

what all showtime basketball has been. Like, you got people on here saying real shit, and that has been one of the most fun things for me to be back and kind of being able to talk about stuff is that no one's given presentations here um on behalf of anyone or anything. Everyone's really talking what they feel. And I love that and I love That's what this This

has kind of become the space Jamal Jamal. Name another show that Rachel could be hosting and someone could like to joint in the middle of the show, and nothing happened to happen. It's nothing happened to nobody. Nothing happens to nobody. It ain't proud to votus. Now. We appreciate you, man, We look forward to having you back. You know, whenever you get some time. We know you're busy, but whenever you get some time, whenever pop in on us, it's family.

Whenever you already know, congrat and congrats to your new gig too, bro doing big shit on t Yes, sir, I appreciate it, Bro, I appreciate what She's always inspired. And Rachel saw something all of us before because she she talks to me years ago when I wasn't even thinking about media, like you're gonna be pretty good, and you know, and she obviously had you guys like, so you gotta she gotta not for talent. Yeah, without a doubt, I'm a good talent scout. It's not hard, y'all. Guys

make it easy for sure. Well, Maul, we are requiring you to come back soon. Everyone else out there, you can catch what's burning every week on Showtime Basketball YouTube and what else that and on Twitter Instagram at TikTok Show Basketball Boom. He's got it, You got it. Good day y'all. Y'all you know, thank y'all appreciate it. M h m.