Welcome to What's Burning. I'm here with Matt Barnes, Stephen Jackson, all the Smoke Dynamic duo. Matt, you look like you've had an early morning today. It's a long one rege. You know. You know my last style. I get up early, you know, send some emails, hit my morning joint, take the kids to school, go to work out, rush back here, meetings all day. It's just it's just a day in the life. But I'm blessed and happy to be here with you guys. You know, it's just a regular morning stack.
He's all good. I love I love the fact that my boy stayed busy. You know what I'm saying. He keeps me pink pulling off all the stuff he got going on, So let him stay busy. He might be Jamaican. We're gonna get to all of Matt's little side projects later in the show. But first, guys, we got to talk about the big news. Kyrie trade is official. Luca Kyrie tandem will have their first game together Wednesday night here in l a versus the Clippers. So just give
it to me, Matt. What do you expect of this pairing? What do you think I expected to take time. I look at it as I mean, how blessed this Kyrie been to be able to play with the Lebron James Um, Kevin Durant and and and Jayson Tatum. And now you get a chance to play with Luca Um. You know, obviously the obvious thing that stands out Rachel is either both ball dominant guys. But I'm to the to the to the notion of great players will figure out away to coincide. And you know, whether this is the long
term play a year rental, I don't know. I expected to take a little time to get going, but I expected to be very exciting. Yeah, they still want to play away from me. Rage uh, you know, I love Luca, I love Kyrie. I think it's gonna be excited. Basketball is gonna be musty TV. They got it one of the best point guards of all time to coach both of them and put the positions to be successful. Really just go out there in space the court and let
these two guys do their job. But even and even if it's for a short term, Rachel is gonna be good to see. But it's not gonna be championship. Basketball is not gonna be what we expect to see from Luca and Kyrie. I think they still want to play away, but but just just just for the excitement of the game for the NBA is good. Its must be basketball
right now. And another thing too, rape real quick. I mean, obviously on the offensive side, it looks what does it look on the defensive side to lose uh yeah, to lose a Fenny, to lose a Finnie Smith. I mean, with all due respects Luca, he's not much of a defensive guy. He does absolutely everything else but defense. Um, Kyrie works at it, but he's not the best defender.
Christian Wood is not really a defender. Um. So their core guys that they need to go to for offense aren't necessarily go to guys on on defense, you know, So they're gonna have to really j kids are gonna have to get that that team that team defense helps side, extra efforts, all that kind of They're really gonna have to work on the offensive in or they're just gonna be a team too that's gonna try to outscore one and we know in the playoffs that's not gonna work.
And I agree with Jack, I don't think they're championship contender. But I think, you know, they could be scary and get hot and and you know that's very terrible. By the way, Christian Wood not the best defender. I mean, isn't just numbers wise. Isn't he like one of the worst big men defenders in the whole league. I mean, that has been I don't want to lay it on him. I didn't want to lay him on it laid on him that hard. But yeah, you get what I'm saying.
You know, Jason Kidd when he took over, they were so strong in defense. I think they were top ten, maybe seventh in the league. They finished all season with Phinney Smith they this year and then they just you know, gave that away. So I look, I get it in a Western conference, especially this year where it feels so wide open, if you want to gamble on Kyrie with Luca, especially when Kyrie has to be like really mentally in it because he knows he's playing for a contract, I
totally get trying to take that risk. But I am interested to see what works out, and especially long term. You know, Kyrie, just when you talk about straight availability, that is the thing always about Kyrie from a basketball standpoint, that worries me most is we all know. I mean, he's one of the most just talented players of all time,
just full stop period, right period. But you know he never played I looked at I've never played more than fifty four games this season for his entire time with Brooklyn, And when you looked up winning percentage because of I think a lot of the availability issues with Kyrie. They're fifty win percentage Without Kyrie, it's at win percentage. So they got so used to playing without him it almost
turned into a wash. I don't know, like that is my question when you go in terms of do they offer him a sort of long term deal this summer, because if they don't give him an extension, which has been reported, they're not going to do that this season. They want to see how it plays out. Then you get to the summer, he is available for a four year level max, right, So are you going to give him the whole bag for that kind of availability? What would you what I mean, Stack, you're a huge Kyrie fan.
I know how much of a monetary and year long risk would you take on Kyrie knowing s his health and availability issues for all kinds of reasons over the last few years. Well, I mean, it was a lot going on, you know, when he was in Brooklyn, you know, and even though a lot of people talk about he didn't show up to work rates, well, he couldn't right. He couldn't work because of the vaccine situation. And then if you see now they're giving people money for missing work.
All the people that missed work because of the vaccine New York, a lot of people are getting back paid, but they're not speaking on that for NBA players. So he he wasn't wrong for not having to take it because a lot of workers getting back paid, so they wouldn't be doing that those people wasn't wasn't wrong for I mean, he wasn't right for standing up for themselves. And Kyrie was in that same situation because he was
in New York. But a lot of situations you can't explain racial Regardless what's going off the court, you have to be available, and I understand it as a basketball player. You have to be available. You have to beat up for your teammates, and that's one thing. You can't let the stuff off the court affect that a lot of people had hands in it to to affect his play too. But at the end of the day, you have to take responsibility for your own acts. Like you said, I'm
a big Kyrie guy. I understand what he does on the court is special. He's one of the top team players in the league right now, and if anybody get a chance to land him, they will. And I don't think that the situation he was going through in Brooklyn will occur again, because, like you said, a lot of stuff has passed on. I just think he's so good he's gonna continue to get chances until he just can't play anymore because he's that goddamn good. And and it's
it's a good question, you know what I mean. We we we think his heart is in l A. So if they don't extend him, he becomes a free agent. I remember, Rachel, you said a long time ago that the Lakers best move maybe just be able to keep Russell the entire season because his money comes off the books. And then that's going to allow the Lakers to have flexibility. And you know, if Kyrie is available, uh, they will end up getting him. So this is exactly you know,
that's exactly where he wants to be. So, like I said, it's gonna be interesting to see how this Dallas situation plays out. It could be a one year rental, but you know, I think he was trying to make a splash. You know, you got two of the most dynamic offensive players and in an offensive driven league. So if there's any this is the year. I've never seen the West this wide opening ever. But you're right, they gave up
a lot. If this just ends up being like a five month rental or whatever, it is, like think about how much they gave up. And then you heard lebron yesterday in his interview with Michael Bloban. He said, oh, to me, Kyrie gives us a chance to win a championship. You know, in his head he's got Anthony Davis and Kyrie, the two teammates he's ever fit the best with. Of course they're going to go after him this summer if
he's a free agent. I don't it's just it's and then it not to cut you off rage, but I feel like under Bronze guidance and leadership, I think we'll get to see just basketball Kyrie, which we've seen the last two and a half months. It's been absolutely amazing. But then you think, too, when it's time for Lebron to make a move on. You have got damn Kyrie, Kyrie Irby and Anthony Davis, you know what I mean.
So obviously you're gonna miss the dynamic of the world, is gonna miss Lebron, but you still have a great core to continue to build, right And Kyrie's health is the other issue, just you know, he definitely because of his size and just the way people go at him and defend him, He's had a bunch of injuries. Like it's just it's so many question marks going into this as always going to be interesting to watch it unfold. I do want to ask you guys, though, about the
other side of it with the nets stack. If you were Kevin Durant, where would your head be right now in terms of being in Brooklyn? Well, I mean if I was Katie. I mean, I'm I know him and mccarie had a conversation about all this, and uh, you know they both have to be responsible for their own decisions and their own careers. Um. Obviously, I think Katie respects the fact that if can come with a decision, I mean, come with an agreement with Brooklyn. Obviously, the
decision to to move on. I think Katie respected that because it's about you know, it's about business at the same time and taking care of yourself and making your money. But I know in the back of his mind he like, damn, he would go with you know, I got here. I gotta go with this ship again. You know what I'm saying. I gotta I gotta come back from injury. I gotta come back from injury. I gotta try to wild this team to the playoffs and try to get this team
as far as we can with whatever we got. Um. I don't anticipate him being there long. Rage. I think he's gonna kind of force his way out of there some type of way, probably not this season, but um, I know in the back of his mind he's gonna come out and be a professional and do what he has to do for the team. But he knows, damn, I gotta go through this ship again, missing my my, my so called best friend. UM. I think it's obviously
the clock has taken on Katie's career, which is unfortunate. Uh. You know, he's still one of the greatest players, uh in this game, and he'll go down as an all time favorite. But something to keep in mind is you know, he's writing his his his ending, you know what I mean. We're not saying, you know, it's it's It could be three to five years. We don't know how long it is.
But the one knock on k D has been he hasn't won his team like his team hasn't won it, So it could be now that, hey, they've pretty much clean house. I don't think Brooklyn has done making moves before the All Star break. I think they're still gonna try to make a splash. Ben Simmons hasn't been able to give them too much. You know, I know the knee is is is a little worse than people are are understanding. But at the same time, availability is needed, uh not. I just you know, I just I've heard
some things. Um so you know, to me, I think they could possibly clean house for k D and um you know allowed him to kind of Hey, you know, we we handed the keys to Kyrie. It didn't really work, but you know, Katie still is a superstar, top five player in the game. We trust Katie because he's shown us loyalty. He shows us whenever he's healthy, he's gonna play, He's gonna give us his absolute most every time he
steps on the floor. Let's try to rebuild a team real quick, and I think that you know, the management would be up to that. You know, obviously you don't want to have to lose all three of these guys. So um. But on the flip side, I can see him possibly getting traded. But I just think he'll stick it out because the knock on him is his team hasn't won it. No matter where he goes, it's gonna he may be the best player, but it's still gonna be so much in the next few days. So I'll
never say never. I cannot imagine the Nets intend to trade him be or this trade deadline, because if they did, they would have wanted a different package for Kyrie right, They would have wanted younger players, they wanted more draft picks. They clearly we're looking for guys that can help them win. Now there's all these rumors, and maybe by the time people are watching or listening to this, Spencer Dimwiti would
have already been traded. I don't know. As we sit here today, he is a net um, but he is certainly rumored to be on the block as they try to upgrade even there at point guard, so we'll we'll see what happens with them. You know, it's funny this past summer, when Katie was specifically asking out, I kept saying, if I'm the Nets, I am not trading Kevin Durant. You have him locked up for the next four years.
And no matter what you get, even with key d as you said, Matt being on sort of the backer you know, last third or whatever of his career, like, you're not getting value for Kevin Durant, and even if you get draft picks and all that, Like, I'm sorry, are you going to draft to Kevin Durant? I mean this is this is in the group of one of
the best players of all times. So I just think your odds of replacing him are and to me, I would just do whatever you had to do to keep him on the roster, even if he asked for another trade. I mean, we all lived through Kobe Bryant going on the radio and asking to be traded, and Jerry Buss at the time said, no, I'm sorry, I'm not doing it.
You're Kobe Bryant and you're gonna be a Laker. So I don't know if I'm the Nets I just focus everything on Kevin Durant Matt As you said, he's got the chance now to prove what he can do by himself or you know, with with players that aren't superstars, and um, I think, I don't know. I think it could be fun. It could be a lot less drama than it's been in the past couple of years. So
you know, we'll see how it is. If you guys were Russell Westbrook, would you feel some kind of way about Lebron going on TV and saying I'm disappointed that didn't happen because he would have been dealt yo' I mean, it ain't get any person, it's business. I mean, this ain't the first time Lebron didn't Senu waited that he wanted Kyrie. You know, just ain't the first time, other
than even even other people to say things. But I think at this point, all things that been said about Russ, everything he's been through, from the fans, from the organ's age to everybody and still being professional, I think he got the media. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, you know, I think I think he should be numb at all at this point. Rage Yeah, I mean, Jack, I think that's a great point that the fact that, you know, think about how much you can say what you want about
is playing. This guy's the first about the Hall of Famer, and people don't obviously don't care currently what you've done in the past because they currently need to win. And I get that. But the thing about what this guy has done to be who he was his entire career, sacrifice, go to the bench, become a six man, buy into that role. And he's not playing bad. I mean, he he his his turnovers are the issue. You know, you can complain about his shooting, but I like how aggressive
he is on the offensive end. Um, but he's had to sacrifice so much. And then, like you said, it's not only the l A fan base, it's not only the media now, it's you know, inside the room as well. So I mean, I just want to take my hat off to Russ for remaining a pro, going out there, playing being available, playing every single you know, every single game possible, uh, and just going out there and doing his job. This is a tough and but like Jack said to we get that this is a business now.
You know, I don't know what it's going to be like in the locker room still, but at the end of the day, we understand it's the business. Lebron is on the end, on the back end, and he wants now and it just kind of, you know, it kind of is what it is. So again, I just wanna applaud Russ for just going out there and staying professional and being available. Yesterday in Darvin Ham Darvin Ham actually went on for a while about Russ has been a
total pro. He's always ready in this situation. It gets it. But I do think it's interesting. I mean, it's just interesting to have the leader of your team go on TV and say I'm really disappointed that the trade that would have sent russeurs Perk away didn't happen, and then they suit up together the next night. So we'll see
what happens these guys. It's not only the leader, it's not it's not only the leader of the team is the best player, you know, arguably the best player ever, you know what I mean, Like damn like that that that makes it that much harder, I think. But you know, like like Jack said, he's probably he's probably none of the other best players ever. Steph Curry right likely gone at least through the All Star break. He had such a crazy, nasty injury report that had a bunch of
names and words that I could not pronounce. But what I understand from people who know much more about medicine than me, is it's basically a version of a high ankle sprain. We will see. I don't know, what do you think? Like, who steps up? With him gone? And Clay Thompson had what twelve triples the night so he could be good candidate? You said a version of a high ankle sprain? It was his knee or is it
it's his ankle? I think, I think if you go look it up what they initially announced, I would repeat it for you right now. But I seriously cannot pronounce half of the words that they threw out there. It doesn't make no sense. We can throw it on this greame, but like it's seriously, it's it's not good. But that's what the medical people in the media media medical people are saying. It's like a shimmy ti ankle kind of situation. I don't know, But who steps up, Like, who's who's
going to make that happen? Go ahead, Jack, Well, obviously the pool has to keep up his play. He has to continue to be aggressive. And and and, But you know, I think it's definitely Clay. Clay has been up and down this season. He's starting to get into a flow. I think with step being out, Clay has to come out and be way more aggressive. He has to, he has to try. He has to try to put up put a couple of thirty thirty five point games together, especially with step being out that there's a lot of
pressure on Pool to carry the offense. But for the most part, a lot of those young guys got to step up. But Clay is my guy. He has to go into his bag and put out some of those thirty point games. Rachel, I think we're gonna be able to see if this team because you know, I still haven't really pushed the panic button somewhere. I mean, the
panic is probably the wrong word. But I think this time with Steph being out as and be important because I think everyone has to step up, including the coaching staff. I think the best case scenarios, this team really gets their ship together right now, so when Steph comes back after the All Star break, you can plug steff in because you know what Steph is gonna consistently give you. You You know that, So if the rest of the team can get their ship together from and all means ship together.
Like they've been playing bad. But you know, there are five hundred teams. So if if the rookies can get on track and really find out where they're gonna be DiVincenzo has been playing well. Jamachael Green is back now. Like Jack said, Clay has to continue to step up. Pool has to get his game under control, but continue to put out you know, a high level of points. Uh, Draymond needs to stay Draymond. Right now, I think Day needs to step up a little more offensively, be a
little bit more aggressive. When we've seen him do that, um, you know, from time to time this season. So I just think as a whole Steve Ker's best case scenarios. This is when and I'm not saying we're gonna win a ton of games, but I don't think this, you know, I think they should win more games than they lose with step out. So I think right now we're gonna see if this team can put it together. So when
Steph comes back, they could really make that run. But if they play below five basketball and stuff comes back, I don't think they're gonna have a chance to compete at the end of the sea that we were talking a couple of months ago about the Warriors just having that fatigue, right, I mean, they've been in the finals so many times over the last five years. This is a good problem to have, obviously, or more than five years. Actually, sorry,
I don't even misspeak on Golden State's behalf. It feels like forever that they've been in the finals all the time, and like you don't care about the regular season as much. Everyone knows it, right, those guys just feel like, great, we can turn it on one accounts. We need sixteen runs at the end. That's it, um. But there's got to be a point where you've got to be playing well going into the playoffs. Golden State is still seven and twenty on the road, seven and twenty on the road.
Now they're twenty and six at home. But you they're going into the playoffs, there's I think the number seven seats as we sit here today, like they're not going to have home court, so you need to clean that up. No matter how good a team you are, when is too late, Like when is it too late to get your act together? I mean, is Week one of the playoffs too late. Is it the end of March too late? Like, what's what's the end of the then then the March
is too late. Rachel, you you you, you gotta you have to you have to really be mid marcha beginning to March. You gotta you gotta be. Like in playoffs, in playoff form, everybody has to be on the same page. Guys.
You have to have to be practically healthy to the point where coach can run off like seven eight games in a row with playing this key guys, guys that here gonna have this, that's gonna having his playoff on the playoff Ross said playoff rotation, and then the last two or three games of the season he can kind of rest those guys. That's the situation you want to be and you want to be in the foot and
feel good state. You want to have the eight man rotation healthy, all those guys playing about seven eight games before the season of hard and resting them if you going into the playoffs. I agree, I think they need the month. You know, you know, Jack can can test post all star breakers. When the season starts, it's gonna be anywhere from thirty games, depending on what your first
half look like. But that's the rut. But I think you need a month and then, like Jack said, you want to get them in a good rhythm and then kind of wind them down going into the play Also that you know that you limit their minutes, they continue to get treatment, they continue, so they're as fresh as they possibly can be, particularly for this team, because you know Golden State as an older team, so you need to you know, revamp Draymond's legs, steps legs, Clay's legs, uh,
so on and so forth. But if you're looking at the bigger picture of this year's playoffs, I'm just giving you a hypothetical. What if it's the Lakers at eight healthy. What if it's Golden State at seven healthy, or or or in Phoenix healthy. What if those there's the bottom three teams versus Denver, Memphis, and Sacramento. There's gonna be some ship going on in that first round, and and it would be you know, it wouldn't be surprised if there were three upsets, you know what I meaning. It
can completely go the other way as well. But that's how wide open and crazy this season has been. Where you think, you know, I would have put the Clippers down there but they're playing well. I think they may end up being a top three definitely a top four seed, but they might even slide up to a top three seed. Um. But just it's been such a crazy season and if
and obviously, like every season, health is the key. But if those three teams I just mentioned are healthy and they're at the bottom of the West, the top of the West is gonna be scared. I wouldn't want to be in the number eight spot because the Nuggets are still playing crazy basketball right now. Denver is tough with all dues, respect and I feel like Denver gets disrespected because they've done everything. They've played great. But I'd like to me like I look at them as how I
used to look at Utah Ustaw. I used to have a run of just great regular seasons and then when they get in the player I just have to see it in the playoffs. I'm not saying Denver. Denver is the best team in the West. They're deep, you know, Jokers arguably could be the three time m v P. But I just have to see them do it in the playoffs. That's why I think, to everyone else's mind, they need to see that too. That's why we feel
the West is so wide open. Yeah. I mean again, this goes back to why Dallas said let's take a crazy risk, because if you're going to do it, this is a season to do it, all right. One word answer is Draymond Green Warrior after this season? When you said Draymond Green has to step it up? Is this his final run with the Warriors? Oh? If he's if he's willing to take a drastic pay cut, I think he'll be. Uh if he still if they win in he expect to bag the bank. I don't think it's
gonna happen. Um. Yeah, I think he'll have to take a cut. Um rage. Do you know does anyone to do? Could they give hypothetically, could the Lakers give Kyrie big money next year and give Draymond some good money to or No? Not really, They only really have room for one big other player. But look, if if Kyrie hangs on in Dallas or if they extend him, maybe you give that money and Draymond. But then that also gets into the question how old do you want your team
to be? Right? I mean, Raymond's advanced in years as Lebron is. Draymond takes a beating out on the court, his game is aging in a different way like I don't It's just it's a tough thing. I don't think Draymond taking a bunch of pay cuts because you know, we've all met Draymond and he's a smart, batist guy. But also you know, you don't know what the market is going to be for him. Does Detroit did the
Piston throw a creezy amount of money at him? Say come home to Michigan and be our team leader, you know, be that that presence we need. I don't know. It's going to be interesting, But that's the other thing I'm looking at with the Warriors, with this last chunk of the season and the playoffs. Draymond has said he's not sure if he's gonna be with the team. I mean, he knows. This is an open conversation, So I don't know if there's like that galvanizing if he can play
with Braun, he go and play with Braun. Trust me. He just said that Braun breaking a Bron breaking the record, and they got a game somewhere else. He's gonna be a Bron game. So I guarantee you if you get a chance to play with Braun and l A he go home, It'll be interest. It'll be interesting to see what he prioritized, you know, Rachel, I think he brought up some good scenarios. Do you want to go home and get mac you know, as much money as you get. We don't know if it will be a max, but
finish at home. Do you want to continue winning? Do you want to take up and be one of those rare guys that says his entire career with one organization? Do you want to go play with Braun for not as much money, but a chance to just be a part of that whole mix. So I think it'll be very interesting to see, uh, you know what what happens postseason with him. You guys were talking about the tough teams in the West, and obviously Denver to me is still that team that a lot of people don't want
to see. The Grizzlies used to be one of those teams. Right, you'd say, no one wants to see the Grizzlies in the first round. Memphis is a lot eight of lost eight of their last nine ever since the Shannon Sharp game, as I think it will be for Ashly, things have gone downhill there and look part of it when when there is turbulence, you can't ignore the fact that Memphis only has two players who are older than twenty eight years old, Steven Adams and Danny Green. And Danny Green
hasn't even played yet. I mean, this is a thing that when there is a bump in the road, you need a VET. And we've talked for years, guys about how there's fewer vet presences in the NBA because of the roster changes and the rule changes. How badly do you think the Grizzlies need to look for a vet before they trade deadline? Well, they need more than the vet rate. You're not saying they need more than the VET. I mean I like joh I like the passion of
his team. You know, I like the confidence, but it at some point you gotta come to reality. You know, you have to look in the mirror and accept what's real. And uh, I don't think they. I think they have a hard time doing that. Yeah, we know you're a real confidence team, but on the grand scheme of things, y'all not know we're close to the championship molde of a team at all. What the championship team looks like,
you know, y'all competitive team. Yeah, you'll kind of remind me of of of our Warrior team when do we believe days we were a young competitive team. In our mind we was the championship team, but in the the grand scheme of things race we was we would know where close to being ready and Utah showed us the second round. So, uh, they in that same situation, they and I think they need another star, Rachel. I don't think they, uh, they shouldn't be comfortable with the team they have. They gotta
they gotta make some other moves. I don't think it's a VET. I think it's another star. A VET only gonna do so much for for a team, for the young guys, because you can you ain't be able to get them all inline rights. Only one and two might listen. All of them ain't gonna listen. So they needed and that's just being real. They're gonna they need another start to to to get the way they want to be.
I agree one thousand percent. Um. You know, although I feel like all locker rooms should have vets, that's a different group and it would take a very crafty VET to be able to, you know, capture these young fellows. Mine especially because you know, their second in the West and and they've had some success. So I think first and foremost this and I love the way they played. I just think they need to humble themselves a little bit.
I think, you know they're doing the talking is louder than the play, and you don't never really want that to be the case. I think this team is still gonna be fine. I think they've hit a rough rough patch during the dog days of the season. Um, I think they're gonna be able to regather, regroup. But I think with Jackson is is my is key and I've been saying this a lot on ESPN, is who is there for sure? Number two? You know, obviously Bain is having a career year. Uh, you know, hats off, Tames
be playing really well. Is Jaren Jackson that consistent guy? I think Jaren Jackson hasn't been as consistent as you would like someone to be that second, like Robin to Jos Batman. We know what John is gonna give you, uh, regular season and playoffs. He's just a killer, playing a simple Who is going to be that number two options that could consistently give you that twenty to twenty two, twenty three points sometimes give you thirty UM in the playoffs,
and I don't know. Although I think Jaren Jackson and some of those guys are capable of doing like scoring thirty in the playoff game, they're not going to be that consistent guy. You know that it's going to be your dog. The the the brown to Tatum in the in the PG two, Kauai that some of these other teams that really have a chance to win a championship
have you also have all the off court issues. You've got the incident in Indiana the other night right where Joh's best friend got into it physically with some of the Pacers staff and then got in an suv that John Moran also got into. He was in that suv and the Pacers say that someone trained a red laser on them and there was no no no one confirmed there was a gun, but that was the sort of implication.
The NBA investigated it um, they said they couldn't prove anything one way or another, but they left it open um. Job's best friend is now banned from not only on being on the road, but he's banned from Memphis home games for the rest of the year. Jaws also in the lawsuit because of the physical altercation he got into earlier in the season. I mean, if you guys were giving advice to John right now, Stack, you've dealt with some of this stuff, what would you tell Job right now?
I tell him the distance himself from anybody that don't have the same vision or the same purpose of the same people don't feel the same way about him losing everything. You know what I'm saying, You have you have to care. You can't care about these things because I care about it. You have to care about it because you don't want me to lose everything I worked for. Right It's it's
a different situation. You caring about it because I care about You want to care about it because I care about it, because you don't want to lose what I'm doing for you. If you care about me and you care about me losing all these things, and I just think the job he has to get to the point where he got to understand who he is. You know, I've been in situations where, you know, I started making money and I felt like money can fix everything, and
that's not realistic, right you. You you have to make the right decisions for yourself because everybody around you is not and uh, I have to also correct myself to right. So it's one person I know that can go out and get that locker room, but it's Jerry's in the raptors and that zebo. Well look at some wis that's serious. I just think that the jaw has to to understand what's at stake right now, you know what I mean? And and you know we don't know the whole side,
the whole story, what happened. Who's with them? Uh? You know, obviously Sandon Sharp went in and and try to give him some unk advice. Um the other day that you know, he made some good points, some things I didn't necessarily agree with, but at the same time, I think he was saying that to try to help him. I just think John has to understand what's at risk. I mean, obviously, his talent is unbelievable. This guy can make a ton of money not only playing the game, but he just
sided you know, he just got a signature shoe. Uh, the endorsements are going to continue to come off the court as well, so he just has a lot more to lose. So you just have to understand. I mean, if if you know, we can't tell him who he can and can't hang out what you know, you obviously want to have a tight circle that have your best interests at heart, But at the end of the day,
some people are your people. You know. Sometimes I think they'll get to a point if you realize you've gotta let somebody go, because a lot of times you outgrow people, but you you know, they hang on somehow, some way. So he just had to understand that, you know, he's going to continue to elevate, and certain friends are meant for certain levels, and it continues to get smaller and tighter, and you're gonna bring something with you. You just can't bring them all with you. So I just hope that
you know, he understands what's at risk right now. You know, some shi it you just can't do. And and and me and Jack have both done some ship you just can't do, you know what I means. So yeah, yeah, So we're not trying to tell you know, hey, you yeah, hey, how you shouldn't were the last people to say you shouldn't do that. I just, you know, hope is you know, just as as as people who have been through some ship and not even on the level he's on because
of who he is. Just understand what's important, man, understand your vision, Understand where you're going, and everybody can't go. And if I could, if I can show, if I can share one message with Rachel, would be what I learned. The biggest thing I've learned. Everybody is not mente fit to be. Everybody is not meant to benefit from your blessing God. God would take something away from you because you got somebody benefit that he didn't, that he didn't
attend to bless And I learned that the hardway. So Jie, everybody's not God blessed you for a reason. He didn't bless everybody around. But how hard is that You're twenty three years old, you're an NBA player, and this happens to a lot of guys. How legit hard? Is it? To? Very hard? It's real hard. It's hard. But also this is something you're gonna have to You have to learn how to stay now the family too. And I'm not talking about his situation in particular, but I'm just talking
about in general. You just have to learn how to say no. And it's it's Rachel, It's not easy. You know, he could have really grew up in the in the sleeping in the same bed, and you know, with someone who may he may have to let go at some point. But at the end of the day, you just have to realize that. You know, if they're a liability, you know their their name doesn't matter if your name is gonna get dragged. And they don't play in nap Town.
They don't play in nap Town. I've been in this situation. You have there, Jamal tensely too, So they don't they don't play in that time. And like I said, right,
you just gotta try to avoid putting yourself in the situations. Right, there's no need for anybody around him to have a gun with a beam on him with him in the car and nothing like that, even if it's legal, right, And he shouldn't even put himself in a situation if if you know, his guys are yeah, yeah, if he's in the guy it's not proven, right, But if he's in the city with guys knowingly just had an incident and knowing it would be, it make more of sense for him to stay with the team and go you
know what I'm saying with the team. You know, sometimes you gotta make decisions like, like I said, right then, Matt made some bad decisions. So we can speak and hoping that we can share these things and people won't make the same mistakes we made. Yeah, it's tough. I I have a lot of empathy for guys, especially young guys who haven't lived all the experience. You guys have to have to make those choices. I think it's difficult, and we're watching him deal with it in real time.
It's also interesting if you look at the Grizzlies going forward, right, because the odds keep changing with all these teams acquiring new players. So here's some odds present and by draft kings that struck my eye. To win the Southwest Division, the Grizzlies have been a super heavy favorite. They still are minus five fifty. The MAVs four and a half games behind the grizz there at plus five fifty. That's
a huge swing. But the Dallas Mavericks just got Kyrie Irving and Memphis has lost eight of its last nine. So what are your odds? Guys, who do you think comes out of that division? Do you think the MAVs or the Grizzlies are gonna end with a better record? I think the Grizzlies are again. I think they've hit a rough patch and in the dog days of the season. Um, we still feel there there there possibly a player away
from winning a championship. But they're still good enough to win the Western Conference, I feel, um And with all due respect to the adding of Kyrie Irving, I don't I still don't know with with that move, and that's a hell of a move. I don't know if Dallas can still win the Western Conference. And I could be wrong. Lucas Lucas Amaniac and Kyrie could be a maniac two out there, just you know, being unstoppable. But at the same time, I just feel like Memphis has a better team.
I think they're going through a rough stretch right now. I think they'll be able to shake this. Think they'll be able to humble themselves and come back and get back to playing good basketball and they can represent the Western Conference. I just don't know if they have enough to win it. I wouldn't say Dallas is a better team, but I think the jig is up on Memphis. I think yeah, I think yeah. I just think they ain't fooling nobody no more. Race Like like there was a
surprise to a lot of people. They walk into a lot of us people like, yeah, they talking, but can they really do it? So they're surprising a lot of teams. But at the same time, I don't think the they can go in they hire with what they have. I think they're gonna, they're gonna they're stuck right there where they are with Dallas, it's a new excitement. You know, they might not have the better team than Memphis, but
it's a new excitement. You got to two better players with Kyrie and Luca and no telling what they can do. Luca has will Dallas to a lot of wins without Kira. Just imagine what he can do with him. Wow, that's that's that's a lot. That's bold on Memphis. I'm interested to see what happens now. You got my Jack. As always, we got to hit our legendary moment presented by top shot NBA All Stars approaching guys and you know a ton of memorable moments and All Stars, Matt, what is
your most memorable All Star moment? When Magic Johnson came back after pronouncing HIV positive, I think it was in Orlando. He came back and when the m v P um, you know him being my favorite player growing up. That was my number one. Also, it gives me chills to even say it right now, and the fact that we just had him on you know, the show not too long ago. But yeah, definitely Magic Johnson coming back after retiring and win an m v P. Jolani's in the
room here with me. By the way, he just raised both of his arms up high, so he got an endorsements. Come on, man, you already know what edition showtime? What about Ustad? Mine was my rookie year when I played in the Rookie All Star Game. I think the best All Star game was. I got a chance to see Stephan all and is prone the team together, something that
the whole world wanted to see. They was down like fifth eighty points in the fourth quarter with a small line up, and they came back and took over that game. It was one of the most competitive All Star games I've ever seen, and everybody just expected the West to win because of the stack team they had. But it was a great Austin, great experience in DC. Jeff who was who was? We don't even have to keep this on if we don't want to, but who was on that.
I don't remember who was on those teams. Who was on well, I think the East. The East it was Tracy McGrady, Vince called step on my berry, Uh, Alan Ibinson, and I can't think who the fifth person was. But you know the West had Tim Knock. They had all a big guy. Yeah, so supposed to be it was supposed to be a beat guy. But Ai and uh step stepped up. Yeah. I remember them coming back and putting the work Alan iverson in d C making them not gonna shock you. That's my top one, but I
do give was pretty excellent. Top Shot guys is doing a great deal with What's Burnham Right now, they're giving away a free moment the first one thousand new users to scan this QR code and pointing Twitter QR code that's imaginary right now in the studio, but you'll see it on your screen. They'll be able to create their account claim their very first Top Shot moment. You get
either Anthony Davis or Jayson Tatums. So it's pretty good. Um, So start your NBA Top Shot collection today at NBA top shot dot com and get close with an ever to the game and the players you love. Clutch points guys, I gotta tell you. So they always come up with interesting stuff, right. Are you on any of their feeds? M yeah, I've seen their stuff on socials. I like. I like some of the odd articles they put together. One caught my eye yesterday. Um smart investments players have
made while in the league. I just want to throw some of these numbers at you. Iggy invested in zoom On Drake Guardalla in two thousand eighteen, so that was pre COVID, right. He has reportedly made four thousand percent returns his initial investment. Yeah, our guy Baron Davis invested in Vitamin Water early. We don't know exactly how much, but Coca Cola bought the company for four point one billion dollars. That's with a B, so Baron made out.
Kobe invested six million into body Armor, apparently the lesson this year invest in sports drinks. Body Armor sold one for eight billion dollars and Kobe earned four hundred million dollars from that investment. Carmelo Anthony invested five hundred k in Mophy you know the phone chargers company, right, so he got right when they were starting out. He like was an angel and mr. Nine years later Apple buys them, Mellow cashes out from a five thousand dollar investment, he
made five million. Uh. And then you've got Lebron James two thousand eight. He was asked to where the Beats headphones in exchange for a small steak in the company. And we all know the end of that story. Gentlemen, Apple again bought Lebron made about thirty millions millions just to put them on. Right, is that insane? I don't know if he's the winner of all that might be Lebron right, because he didn't even have to put any money down. He just made thirty millions putting some money.
Players are doing that a lot more than when you guys played. Although man, I feel like you're into everything. Yeah, I mean nothing big like these these big dogs. And then we also forget guys like Junior Bridgeman who did didn't know the food chains and and and who made a ton of money. Vinnie Johnson from the Detroit Pistons is the monster out in Detroit, you know, with his
his car. So I just think it's encouraging and and it's dope, and it's I feel like now players are It's when Jack and I were in the locker room. We weren't talking about investing. We were talking about um, cars, clothes, jewelry, women. Yeah that that was next women, houses, you know, all that kind of stuff after that long yeah so yeah, so yeah, so it definitely wasn't you know, what are you investing in? And all this kind of strategic cool
stuff where it made financial literacy cool. So I just think these are great stories to continue to encourage some of these younger guys to like, yo, basketball is dope, but it's just the tip of the iceberg. And and you know, continue to, you know, look up to guys like this and and and soak up games, surround yourself with people, and and and invest in understanding that the
power in like Lebron, you are your own business. A lot of times for these younger guys, you don't have to put a ton of money and if any, because you are you know, you're such a huge catch. I can't tell you how many companies I'm in just for
being me. And I wasn't even the star. So just that you know, these young up and coming stars, man, just continue to you know, and and and this even goes back to job, you know, just continue to move the right way because you know, you represent brands, you know, and you're supermarketable. You're the new wave, You're it. It's going to be your NBA one day. So just understand big picture, man, and and and just know that basketball
is just the beginning. Yeah. Man, it's funny. You know you run into people who are in basketball fans, right, and they ask you things. Uh, someone asked me the other day how the UM card dealer guy was doing to the Lakers. It took me a long time to figure out who that was. And they were talking about wrestling Russ Right, doesn't Rust have car dealerships? Yeah, I mean, dudes, dudes are doing a bunch of dopes it just before we go, guys, we gotta hit Lebron. Now. We're taping
this on Tuesday morning. I don't know when everyone out there is watching or listening to it, but as of today, Lebron still needs thirty six points to pass Kareem. Lakers are at home tonight against the thunder Matt You had asked producer Nate over here to see what the odds were for this historic feat by Lebron, and I want to show them to you. DraftKings is giving plus one thirty if he breaks it tonight. Mine is to five
if he does it on Thursday. And I do have to note, okay, see is on the second night of the back to back. They were up in the bay last night Clay Thompson dropped forty two on them. So do they bounce back? You night wanted to prove something and not want to be the team that Lebron breaks the record against? Or what does does Labron do it Tuesday night against Oklahoma? Se? I don't think so. I think Lebron is you know, the Lroun is so strategic
and always looks a big picture. He's writ in his ending, So why not wait till Thursday night nashally televised game on T and T against Kareem's old team and do it there? So I see Brun dropping you know, maybe a nice twenty five tonight, uh and and and breaking it against Milwaukee just just a bigger storyline. And you gotta think he's always up to something as far as writing his story. I you know you know what, man, I disagree. I think I think you're gonna do it
at home. It can't be it is at home that games at home? Both yea, yeah, well yeah, well, no, I agree with you. Then I agree with you and T and T Thursday night. So I think that's it's the biggest stage if they if they both at home. Uh, I agree with y'all. Okay, see, ain't going want nobody to come out just blast. They might let everybody on their team use all six Today files and done a lot to breakfast record. Uh and uh yeah, yea, yeah, I agree with y'all. Geinst Milwaukee, man, I didn't think
about that against Kareem's old team. I gotta be I gotta agree with you on that one. I think they'll Rachel, Oh, go ahead, No, I was gonna say, could go ahead? Now you have you have such a you know you you're someone who has a good relationship with Kareem. What do you think, um, this will will Kareem building in the building? Do you have any insight on that it will this be? Because we've heard in the past he's not very happy. Even Magic said like, I don't think
Kareem's gonna be happy with this. So as someone who has a you know, a relationship and an open line of communication, like, how do you feel like this? Will you know this this will pass? Because these are two
greats in history, both Lakers. What are your thoughts? Yeah, I mean, look, anything could happen, right, And if anyone could pull off Kareem being in the building, it's Genie Buss because she has curtured those relationships for so long, and maybe she went to Kareem and said, I need you there, I want you there, please do it for the Lakers organization. I would not guess that Kareem would be in the building tonight just from what has gone on between the two of them in the past. And
I just don't think that's been Kareem's way. Um, but we'll see. I mean there's been some really graceful passing in the torch, right when Steph Curry broke the three point record, and the way Reggie Miller was so just gracious and amazing, and Ray Allen was so amazing during that whole process with him. I don't anticipate the same thing when Reggie different. Yeah, Reggie mill is different. Bro. Yeah. See, here's the thing. I don't know what. Maybe he's gonna
do it. I want him to do it tonight. I want him to do it by scoring thirty six in one night, because it's it's like comactic to me, Like, I know it's a big T and T game. I know it's Milwaukee Bucks like all that stuff, and then you've got you know, the team Cream play for and the other team Cream play for and all that stuff.
But I don't know, do you really want him to break it and on like the sixth point in the first quarter, Like I want him to break in on a game in the fourth quarter where it matters where he's like dropped at age thirty nine, he's dropped nearly forty points, Like that's that happens, right, That's more fun. That would be dope. But I agree with you, I
think that would be dope. But I also think like a big game against Milwaukee Weather wherever, whatever point he gets it at and they end up winning, like a thrilling game in l A, you know what I mean. I just think that you know, they could lose that game. Man, There's no question they can lose both these games, Rachel, They can lose both these games. So I think I for more money on them winning a game where Lebron scores thirty six than on them winning a game against
Janice and Milwaukee. For Lebron has well he better do it against Okay, see there, because it ain't no problem. Is that Mike coming thereintet? Yeah, we can all dream, We'll see I don't know, all right, guys, thank you so much for being here today. Uh you know What's burning? Available every week on Showtime Basketball YouTube and on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok and Show Basketball. See you all next week