Playoff Picture & Flau'Jae Johnson Interview | WHAT’S BURNIN | SHOWTIME Basketball

We got a bunch of stuff to run down for you today. First and foremost, we gotta start with the NBA. This playoff picture, Man, it's getting a little wild. You know. We're big Lakers, lebron guys, and we'n get into that in the second. But we gotta start with the East first, and the East has some some situations going on, so you know, we look at the play in seventh through ten.

We got the Calves, we got the Hawks, the Hornets, and I don't think anybody would have expected the Brooklyn Nets to be Tennessee right now holding off for deer

in these postseason playoffs. When you look at this squad, who has the best opportunity are getting out of the plane, And do you think there's an actual chance or world where the Brooklyn Nets don't get out of the plane and in their season is they're on Chilgan's Island in the near future, the Chilligan's Island at the it's a mess in the east right now, you know what I mean. It can it can go down a number of ways right now. We don't know who's gonna have tie breakers.

You know, we spoke to that a minute ago. Who's gonna have tiebreakers? Called me? Called me, Call me what you want to call me. I just think the Nets are gonna make a runt. I think they went through a lot this whole season. I think Kyrie and Katie handing out double Nichols, you know what I mean, whenever he wants to. I just thinking of putting them in a situation, in a in a in a play in it's gonna get a little ghet up, you know what I mean. I think, like I said, they've they've been

through enough this year. Those other teams are just so young at the end of the day, even when they're talented, some of them are deep, some of them are playing well at the right time. But two veterans like Kyrie, two champions, Kyrie and Katie, I think they're gonna be able to do on to make some noise in that plan. Do you think any issue with rama don Kyrie? Now, obviously he's got a fast what's sunning up the sundown?

We saw him eating on the bench last game. You know the cut, gotta get the get Yeah, yeah, I respected, But do you see the world if they have to go into Charlotte now face these hornets, MJ's in the crowd, you may or may not have LaVar Ball in the building as well, may be able to sway the balance, the mellow, you know, really playing in front of Pops may get Jello in there until you never know, you mean you never know he got time. Is it just a foregone conclusion that the next are gonna be able

to beat this hornet squad? If LaVar Ball there's there's gonna be a problem issue, you know what I mean, He's gonna he might bring in some extra energy. He's running in he's picking up on the A, T and T commercials, getting the bag with it with with with LaMelo. So I think LaVar bas LaVar ball shows up. It's gonna be interesting television. Okay, tell them a little bit. But I'm just stuck on this Katie Kyrie things. I feel.

I feel it. So when we look at that seven through ten, who can get out of the plane, get in the first round and actually make some noise? I was we talked about the nets. When we look at the calves of the Hawks, a squad like that, do you see anything realistically going on with them making some noise in the first round of the playoffs. The Calves are kind of limping in, you know what I mean. They're kind of limping into the playoffs again. The younger team,

you know what I mean? The Hawks playing well? Tray Young is Trey Young just enough? Is you know, he's had some brilliant playoffs performances already, But I don't know if he's enough to get it by But if anybody, I say if, if, if the Hornets can figure it out. You know that with Miles Bridge is playing the way he's playing, I think that they might be able to do it. When I look at this Hawk squad, I look at what Trades been able to complish. They got

that big win over the Nets. You know, this is a team if they can sneaking in that seven spot fast, these Celtics. Celtics have been you know since the All Star breaking. Before that, they've they've been on a crazy tear just running through the league. You know, squad is finally jailing together. I know early in the season there was talking about separating Jalen and you know I was, I was participating in that. You know, I think we are front. Yeah, yeah, that's how it goes, you know.

You know, so I we're just keeping it we but we keep it real. We don't change up for ship. We will will, you know, we'll either when we're wrong. But this hawks coming if they can get the seventh spot face the Celtics team. Yeah, you know, I think you know, some of the producers on the show, they have to mention. Yeah, yeah, but I think Trey going into any hostile environment, it's something to worry about. The

Nicks found out off the hardway last year. I have to you know, although he somebody might be getting mad, but I may have to agree with you, although I just don't know that well, the physicality of the Celtics the the defense, so they're gonna be out with Williams in the middle, you know what I mean. That don't hurt a little bit. But I think um Trey's got a good coach over there name McMillan. It's not like he got some young you know what I mean, new booty coach over there. So he got he got a

name McMillan over there. I played for Nate. I know how he's he's gonna act and have them dial in the playoffs. They're playing well right now. The Celtics at least gotta take them seriously. They used to rock the military box back into sognic. It's modified over the years, you know what I mean. He had the military box and then went to a professional more more of a professional look, and now I think he got a laying down.

But you can always steal see the remnants of the body, you know, you still see that that that's that nature and grind. Actually, like when he was in the Sonics day, Just wonder who was cutting his hair in Seattle When he went and asked for it, it was one dude, you know, for sure, lifetime lifetime bar for sure. So I've got to ask you. Now, Nets get in and it's looking like you know they're gonna be fighting for that ape spot. We get a NETS heat first round.

You know you've done all this, You've got the number one seed in the East, and you gotta face k D and Kyrie. You know, if you're spoke, if you if you're you're Jimmy Butler. Are you guys fighting in the locker room now? And gave me this is this is gonna lead to some fisticuffs that this is where the draw landed. You gotta now play k D and Kyrie in the first round. It could have led to that, you know what I mean At the end of the day,

I think that heat culture over there. They're supposed to be built for all that, through thick and thin, they're supposed to be able to rally together and you know, put together a good performance. But I don't nobody want to see Katie and Kyrie in the playoffs. I know it's talk about it's only those two players. They gotta

get some production for some other guys. But you know, all the Texas are you know, a third a third score somebody Patty Mills, Uh, somebody on that bench can step up, you know, or a combination of different players just to provide some some uh some type of support. So, but the Heat had played well all year. They got you know, bam Mo bio Defensive Player of the Year candidate Tyler Hero planning himself into a bad you know what I mean, the six Man of the Year kind

of did. So they're supposed to be. They're supposed to handle anybody, including the Nets. But you know what I mean, this is what the playoffs here for. So we'll see. Would you call it an upset if the Nets beat the Heat in the first round? I would, Okay, I would, although I'm rolling with the Nets, I would call it that. I mean, Miami seem have been holding it down all

the year. They had a little bit more stability than the Brooklyn Nets have, so it would be an upset, would you I don't know, I mean I think you know, starting the season, Kyrie couldn't play home games. Now that's been lifted, obviously needed that back. They need the baseball back, so they go. We did. We did the baseball back

to Kyrie could play without. But now seeing him be able to play, you know, a full seven game series hopefully kind of again, it's Ramadan Kyrie, but you never know, he might be giving man, or it could be you know, he might just not have enough sustenance at the end of the day. He could you know, you gotta have some calories. That's why you over there sneaking the peaches, you know what I mean. But Ramadon Kyrie could be the most brilliant thing we've ever seen in basketball in

a in a long time. But it could be the same. Remember when dream used what was going through Ramadan and sometimes it's production with did a little bit, a little bit of different story is a bit you know what I mean. Kyrie has you know, he's kind of rested. We hasn't played a full Eddie two this year, so I mean, it's gonna be interesting basketball this year. And I would just say last thing. Ben Simmons obviously has

not played all season and allegedly ramping up. I don't know, it's been a ramp like I mean, it's like in the longest round like Kendrick no multi mother ramp up. Yeah, we need to get the man out here and see what he can do. John, You've hooped at the highest level, won the championship in the NBA, I'll be see regular

season basketball playoff basketball, two completely different things. Ben simm Is coming back now, trying to get it going in the postseason, not gonna demand a much much from on the offensive side, but just having somebody like that, that presence on the defensive side. Is that gonna be enough now to shift the tide for the next if he does come back, Joey could it could now everybody's hurt. It's the playoffs. Nobody's at a hundred percent right now, you know what I mean. So I'm pretty sure he's

not being close to a hundred percent. Is he's had some time off. Like he said, he doesn't have to go out there and get it dub. He can go out there and facilitate, get some other people in the ball, bringing the ball up the court, tax some ball handing the responsibilities off. Both Katie and Kyrie play some deference, spare Kadi if from having to switch off on somebody. He really doesn't need to be switching off, you know

what I mean. So if they can get him on the floor in in in this postseason, I think it's it's gonna start again. It's gonna start moving things in the East again. So last question I got for you, looking at the East, who do you think is coming out going to the final? I was gonna ask you that. Uh, just because of how I get down, I can't roll with the Celtics. I'm proud of Yeah, I'm proud of m A and everything, but just because how I get down,

I can't roll with the Celtics. So coming out of the East and I might change this ship in in five minutes from now or in the middle of you know, in the middle of recorded you know, they're gonna pull it back up. Yeah, yeah, they got they got the receipts. Uh, right now, I'm gonna go with the Bucks. Okay, That's where I was gonna go. Pander for pop, you know, pandering for pop. My dad works for Milwaukee Bucks. Markus Johnson one of the greatest players Mimwakee history, Jersey retired

greatest basketball players in history. But the way Yannest is playing right now, Yannes has been on a tear and a mission. Obviously him and Joker have kind of moved to the forefront of the m v P race. But what Yannice has been doing. What he did the embad last week beat ups in a forty piece. You know what I mean, come on the mission, he's been on. I just think, you know, and you know they're one

of the the first championship fifty years last year. But this squad, boonholder, they know what it takes to win the championship now. And like I said, I can't really root for the Celtics. That's just you know, Celtics fans you know, have at it. You know, more power to you if you do make it. And the heat for me, you know, number one team in the East, but always just kind of they look like they're prone to get a you know, eat this deal really quick. So I gotta gotta give it. Gotta

give it to the Bucks as well. But let's move on to the Western conferences. As we look at the seatings seventh time. Right now we've got the Timberwolves, Clippers, Pelicans, and Spurs. There is a world where the Jazz could slip into that plane as well. And there's a world where obviously the Levin Sea Lakers now four games to go, uh, we're don't participate. Who do the Lakers have a legitimate chance? You know, four games left, they don't have tiebreakers with

either the Pelicans or Spurs. They gotta win out and they need you know, we've been saying they had to win out for the last four or five games. They've lost sixth straight. Do the Lakers even make the playing game? And you know we might not make it, Joe, you know, and it pains it pains me to say I want to be optimistic. You know, we obviously have friends and colleagues involved, but it's just reality. We have to accept that, you know what I mean. We're in this situation now

where we might not make it. So, you know what I mean, My heart says yes, but I mean we get it's a lot, it's not just in our hands, and we gotta win out. You know, the Spires got to do something. The Spires, Spires got control of it. The Pelicans ironically can do something, you know, to affect the situation. So yes, we do make it. So if you're the Pelicans right now traded for a D you got the Lakers first round pick, and I'm protected. That's

the thing. No matter in life of relationships, whatever, I always use protection. You need that protecting get burnt. The likelihood getting burnt is much higher in life, basketball, everything. So now, because not only are we gonna smack you out the playoffs. We're literally gonna take your pick. It's like a chance of it being a top four pick

a draft. So if you're the Lakers right now, this is like, not only are you worried about this season, but obviously rust can be able to opt in next year, you know, try to trade that that made the Wall deal. They wanted a draft pick. It's kind of like, you're stuck with this squad and this is what a thirty one win team, this is ah, this is a this is this is this is a it's tough moment A signed for the moment side. But now it was look

at these Timberwolves. Timberwolves obviously six games ahead of the Clippers. It's unfortunate to see what this squad has been able to do. Anthony Edwards, you know, the rest of the team, and they might not even make the playoffs with with this six game lead. Obviously, I like the playing because it gives more opportunity, It keeps that week before the

playoffs starts exciting. But now you got Timberland Jazz and there's a potential world where even the Nuggets can now slip down with the most valuable player and not get to the postseason. When you look at this, to the Pelicans or Spurs have a legitimate chance of actually making the playoffs. Clippers got Paul George back. Now when you look at the seventh through chan, you know who's the lock to get in. I don't. I didn't. I didn't see this. I don't look the schedule like that. But

I know they've got to start resting people. So if they got games against some of those top those top teams, you know, Phoenix, Memphis, Golden State, Dallast, they should they should be in, you know, in the move arresting people right now. So they're gonna have be holding a lot of starters back. So they got a chance at that whole four through five, six situations is gonna be interest. It's gonna come up to the last day, but they're gonna be watching a lot of scores at the last

at the last moment. So the West is up for grabs right now, depending on if they're if they're gonna rest starters or if they're gonna let him plast seat and resting starters. So I think they're gonna have a chance to sneak in. I mean, you've gotta squad like the MAVs. Now who's in the fourth seat. They could jump the Lakers for third. It's a it's gonna get it's gonna get a little interesting. But I think when you look at these playing squads of Clippers now got

Paul George back playing, playing some revitalized hoops. But I can't I can't root against these Pelicans. It just the way they've been playing the grid, their show and obviously coming back from twenty five point lead on the Lakers kind of had their number all season. This is a squad that looks hungry. You know. I was just out in New Orleans, drew out thirds well for final four, you know, eat some good gumbo, really, you know, in delivering. So I think this is a team and even the Spurs.

You know, the Spurs have kind of potentially set themselves up by getting the Tennessee but just haven't looked like they had it all year. Kind of them in the Lakers. I've said previously, you know, one of one of them is gonna lose their way into that tense spot. It's not gonna be you know, from the winning side of just hey, the other team lost more games, But can any of these seven through ten teams realistically make some noise in the actual playoffs. No, I think the Timberwolves.

I was gonna those Grizzlies to seven. Yeah, Grizzlies for me, I mean, I wasn't sold on them initially, But even the way the team's performed without Job, who's been playing at the MVP level this season, I think they're like fourteen fifteen and two without him something like that. It's been It's been remarkable what they've done without Job. I do like to what the timber Whelves are doing this year. Uh,

they might be able to like that. That would be the team on the on in that group that I think can actually makes some noise in the playoffs, unless Paul Georgia goes absolutely crazy. And you know, the Clipper has been doing well without him unless he plays plays at the m v P level caliber like he showed like clearly when he got back. I don't really see the Clippers are doing as the Pelicans are playing well, But I don't think they I don't. Yeah, I just

don't think they do it. So if it's anybody that's going to be take advantage of this whole log jam, it would be the Minnesota Timberwolves in my opinion, So that ask you who is coming out of the West. Obviously, the son has been the favorite all year long, honed it down top spot, only sixty one team this NBA season for Neix Phoenix. Can anybody get with them if they if they could, they would they would have buy now that when they've been in the first place for

a minute now running away from this thing. They're looking good on the health side, they got a good they're playing well on both sides. The time off of from CP three help Devin Booker a lot. All the Memphis. The Memphis is gonna be interesting. They're gonna be a tough out. But I think I'm gonna have to put you know, I'm gonna get to have to give the advantage, you know, CP three on the mission trying to get

a ring. You know, John is gonna have to be coming off of, you know, not playing, you know what I mean, taking some time off. Um, I think CP three is gonna be dialing and giving them advantage. Golden State. We don't know what's going on with staff, Yeah, we don't know if yeah, but Jordan Pool, I think it's filled that role nicely, really elevating that staff level. I mean, the words got some tough decision to make in the near future. But I think this squid they get stepped back.

For me, I don't I just don't see, you know, who can stop that team if they're playing at the level they can play with a staff for Clay and Jordan Pool in the Draymond Draymond rested that squad the way they go. You know, you know, I think everybody was kind of excited initially for like the Lakers NETS Finals, but now even the Warriors NETS Finals really worries anybody out The East Warriors Bucks, I think will be some enjoyable basketball, but we need some We need some big

market teams in there. I know, no disrespect to the Suns, but that Suns Plucks Finals. It was a struggle. It was a struggle to watch. It was, but it was cool. It would have been bad to go to I Phoenix ain't turn. I was at I think Game three or for whatever it was, but you know, turned. But yeah, but still small market turns small. Now it's time for on the Radar presented by Draft Kings. Now we're gonna like the defensive Player of the year category. We got

a lot of great guys in this situation. Marcus Smart from the Celtics obviously selfs got the best defense in the league plus one twenty, Bam at plus three hundred, Cal Bridges at plus three fifty, Rudy Gobert plus four fifty, Honest Trailing Deep at plus thirteen hundred, and Jaren Jackson Jr. At plus sixteen hundred. Smart could be the first guard to win since Gary Payton in nine six. This has

been one of the most interesting races and years. But I want to know, obviously from your league perspective, having done at the highest level, because my opinion is irrelevant compared to yours. I just give it because they give me a back. Who deserves to be Defensive Player of the Year this year? Who probably Marcus Smart. He's been locking people up for a long time. He's on the

number one defensive team in the league. Like Bandom out of Bio does, he switches out on the perimeter, guards multiple positions, you know, but we obviously know he blocked shots at the rim. Rudy is rudy, you know what I mean. He's gonna get donked on, but he's gonna get gonna paying a couple of them, you know what I mean. Janice is always gonna be there. I feel like through effort and beating, the effort and the beating, you know what I mean, always gonna have Jannice. I

think Jaren is just too young. So Marcus is that is gonna be that Jude. And it's like it's been a minute I played with GP who was ridiculous on the defensive end. Um, so I hope, I hope Marcus gets it. Actually, you know those other judices you nat some other year that got more years to earn it. When you look at the Celtic just the way that

they played at the highest level of the season. Obviously as a team, but Marcus smart Garden one through five, taking challenges, being up, locking up, not giving up buckets. You know, you've been some crazy stats in the past few games and him going against whole rosters and giving up like three or four points, which is you know, well, there's nobody there to call Marcus is buff right now either,

you know what I mean. He's tough, he's defensive minded, and I think in the league right now where you can't touch anybody, you know what I mean. The fact that he's still locking down people like whole Zeros. You know, when he ends up on you, I think is as as a big deal. And he's on the primarily on the best offensive player, you know what I mean, other the other guys on the list like Bam. Depending on the matchup that night, he might not be on the

wing player that you know what I mean. It's a high Jackson Tatum, you know, those type of caliber players. So he's been doing it in the East against some high level wings. So I think Marcus, Marcus Smart should take it on giving that trophy. Go ahead, give it to him. That's been on the radar, presented by Draft Kings. Now that's move. We're both out in New Orleans Final four. Let's talk about the women's tournament. First, Don Stanley came

through two piece, her second national championship. Just obliterated you kin, It was pretty much over after the first quarter. You know, Leah Boston, most outstanding player in the tournament, player of the year, just doing things, mrs double double, MS double double. Yeah. Yeah, looking like a like AI out there killing them. You know. South Carolina wall to wall number one preseason finished with the championship. When you got you a chance to look

at that game. Just what do you think about that squad with Don Stalley came through. Oh man, the the Louis de Louis de Louis in the four five four in the family number. My dad were fifty four. My brother, I'm looking like Jacks four. I don't know what's going

on back then, but here we are now. Yeah, Um, she was, she was, She did in this style and you know what I mean, she's the first, like well, she's the first black coach Division one men's are women's to win multiple titles, held it down from some from from you know what I mean, from day one being number one to the national Championship's gonna get you to the league, you know what I mean. Um, she's an

ex player. This is hats off to her and all the ex players, the uh ex players that become coaches, because that's one that's one for all the players, former players that want to become coaches, because that only shows you what you know, former players can bring to n C double a basketball, professional basketball, whatever that is. So Donna is a friend of the program. I know that. Matt and stack Hall I love her dearly. She's been on the show. So you know what I mean, great

job South Carolina. Shout out to Raven Johnson, you know what I mean, also a friend of the program. So I'm happy for South Carolina, happy for don Stay. Like you know, when I saw darn walk out with the jacket, it was like, ain't no way you can lose this game. If you're Jina RM and you look at that, it's like I'm getting I'm getting stunded on in off the course and she was gigging with the trophy, you know, getting it. Yeah, and Leo Boston out there obviously had

the memes last year, her tears this year. All smiles as they hoist that banner up. But you shout out to South Carolina for getting it done. Joined out by a very special guest. She's a hooper, she's a rapper. She did a little bit of everything, all American baller and she's participating in the k Showcase at the Irish and Classic. We got fla j. Johnson in the building. Was cracking. So where are you at right now? Because you look super turkeed UF you got you going down.

I saw my trip to do the interview. You know, we appreciate you. We appreciate you, queen. We appreciate you taking a break from the vacation to come chop it up with us a little bit. So you know, we're gonna talk touch on your whole career and everything you got going on. First But first of all, you're playing in the Irish and Classic showcase. You're the only woman

participating in the event. What does it mean to you to be a part of this event and to be representing, Like you're gonna have to represent out there, Like that's hard, you know what I'm saying, Like that's basically she can go into guys, but she can go boys. It's like hard a represent all the girls that look at at me and like, I want to play basketball. I want to do it on the highest level and be even honor you know what I'm saying, to be like the

only girl, Like that's the honoring. That's so I'm just happy to be a part of that for show for sure. What are you most looking forward to at the obviously in Classics? Man, I want to be a man, really, you know what I'm saying. I don't know what you know, he tried a little bit as well, money bag. Yeah, have you heard any of his stuff. No, I heard no, but I watched the documentary and I've seen it on there. I don't know that's hard. You'll get to see Alan

Irish is soon up about the Irish and Classic. If you could ask a I any question, what question would you ask him? I'm gonna ask about that crossover, like how he like, how it like, how he shipped with it? You know what I'm saying, because I've heard trying to mask the type of cross over, but I need that all the ship he did on Jordan's figure, how he did it? How he Yeah, that's probably the best question to ask. Talk us through. You just ended up signing

the ended up signing with rock Nation. Talk us through that, and have you talked to her of it? Though? No, no, no you ain't not. But now I signed up. I signed a distriction distribution bill distribution deal through rock Nation through EQ. So it's a deal where you know, I have creative control, not all my masters, and you know they just give me that beat rock Nation push, you

know what I mean. And you know they're all about artists on what they do, and you know what I'm saying, having created control, So it was really important to me. You know what I'm saying, Like I did. I was like, Mom, I own signed to you feel But Mom was like, if you think like a businesswoman and you own your masters and you got creative control, you you know what I'm saying, Like, it's a better difference. So I was just happy with that. I was looking out. So you

got a mixtape coming out soon. Obviously your Pops was a world right now rapper, uh, and you're following in his footsteps? How do you you know when you look at look at wrap, which would you say if you had to pick one that you're better at, what would it be? Like? What day is it? And I do both soft feel like you know you're getting that mold like when you're in the game a real you know, you're getting that mode where you're like in the trance and your energy so high like you just walked in.

I get that same energy for when I wrap it. It was like, I can't put it on the same scale. I don't know why, I just can't. I think it's coming at a good time right now though, because there's also obviously been a history of professional athletes, but you've got something that's doing that at a high level. Right now, So you might as well try to feel like you can do both at the same time well on any given day, because a lot of people paved the way for you to do that, and you definitely got that

energy about yourself. It looks like you'll be able to handle yourself, whether that be on the court or in the booth. So hats off to you, and keep pushing and keep pushing the boundaries. Don't be putting up. And this is what I'm all about. What I'm saying, like you got you gotta dream, you gotta chase it, you know what I'm saying. And some people they only blessed, be blessed, like one dream I was blessed with too, So it's like I'm definitely gonna take it all away.

We kind of have been to we kind of have been to play basketball then move on to another dream of something. So we definitely feel you on that one. So for those that don't know your Boosty's niece, what advice is he giving you about making that move to the rap guy, he really just said, like just stay focused on everything he got going on, feeling you just gotta handy over in it all the way through. You know what, I'm saying, don't take no shortcuts like like Boosty.

A lot of people don't know like he on the internet blah blah, but he really a real stand up guy, you know what I'm saying. And he don't gave me so much support that he didn't have to give. And it was so gene man, my uncle Bussy. He really like got me and my uncle mon when that street is the real center for sure. Recently a major hooper is like page Backer is Hayley van Lit and as the food have fut, I'm sorry for us, pronouncer, I've

signed major n IL deals. Have you spoken to them or any other college athletes about the state of n r L s and if so, what kind of advice have they been given you? Um, I haven't spoken to him, not not little college athletes about it. But you know, like it's kind of it's I feel like it's like the rat game, feel like people want you to represent

their brain and stuff like that. I've been doing that for a long time already, So it's like on a bigger scale though it's on a major scale, and so like its whole INNL suituestion, it's a blessing, like I'm so excited. Like that's one of the reasons that I really wanted to Like I picked the school that I picked and everything, because you know, the brand is important. So you know, brand or any other brand, it's a big one. It's a big situation. So you had it to l s U next year to get your hoop on.

What do you expect from yourself and from the squad next season? Now, I just expect me to do it. I know what I know to do, and that's ball out. But I really want to learn family, I want to learn and I want to grow as a player. I just want to be coached hard, you know what I'm saying. So we're my thinking. When I was being recruited, I'm like, well, I want to be coached by the best in coach Moke.

She obviously is the best. She didn't wanted to Coach of the Year, National Coach of the Year this year, so I said, I want to be coached by the best. So you know, I made it happy. I met coach MOKEI and she really believed in what I believed in in my music and my vision and my basketball. But she's like, you gotta give me a hundred ten percent on the court or whatever else you do. I'm supporting it and I couldn't do that, Mert. That goes into my next question. What can the LSU fans expect from

you on the court next year? Man? Just expecting me to do my thing. I'm a sharpshooter. I get to the basket and get a bucket, get my teammates in golf, just do whatever I gotta do to you know what I'm saying, help us win. That's all I want to do whatever I gotta do on the floor. Flies that.

We appreciate you pulling up. I definitely checked out some of your YouTube, some of your your stuff you got going on, so you you got a very very lucative You're on both sides coming up and for everybody who don't know, you know, get ready to see you make us some noise on the court and in the booth. So we'll see you over at the iverson Classic later this month. But we appreciate you pulling up towards Bernard Man.

I appreciate this interview. Man. Yeah, the albums and Classic is gonna be like Hobby at the l A Fitness. I'm hoping against the guys you know, I'm really excited. You know what I'm saying. How did the guys before before we let you go? How did the guys Well, I just saw some I know you saw it on social media the other the other day with everybody get out, the w NBA player getting into it at the l A Fitness. How did the guys? How are the fellers treat you when you come into gym respect that come

at you with smoke? How how does that turn out? Usually, let's say l A Fitness my show family, I've been playing with the guy they can't play in the nurses all the seven grades. So all the old heads they know me. But the new cats, you know what I'm saying, they're running. They be like no messy family and the new cats they just gotta they gotta get top. But now they talked to come like, oh I know who he is. I know he was and ain't having fund all that real heard that. We're gonna see you get

some buckets out there. Last two K showcase for short for sure, definitely looking forward to see you. See you in Memphis. Appreciate you, Like Jos said, appreciate you taking some time out on your vacation. Out there in the m I a be safe out there and we look forward to seeing you in Memphis. Thank you, thank you so much. So I don't know if you knew this. I know you, Dick had you've been in the Showtime Basketball family for a minute. J R. Smith first ever

guest on All the Smoke. Yes, he was now j R. Smith a member of the Showtime Basketball Family in addition to the NC State golf team. And he came back to All the Smoke with Matt Stack to just you know, show him where he's at now in life and give him a little bit more of that is um, So let's go and take a look. You recently got a chance to play thirty six with m J. First of all, how did that happen? And then how did the day go? One of my guys, uh, you know, black Man and

so from Jersey. He ended up hooking me up with a guy named David Storch out of He's from Chicago, just moved down here to North Palm Beach and him, MJ is real tight. They went back, you know, back in the Chicago days right close. I ended up playing and we played thirty six with Mike and it was like it was everything that you thought was gonna be. But like to him actually being around Mike and he talking ship like that ship was like damn, like he really be going in and he want to tell you

he was talking ship and didn't talk ship bro. And he nice though, Yeah, I want is he is? He nice? Nice? He nice? Nice? That's what I want to know. He nice though. This short game is like one of the pros. He I'm watching this, I'm watching ship he doing. I'm like, hey, yo, lucky for me, we kept our bad light. You know what I'm saying. So people he bet with in our group, they like these these like some some Boo ray Potts. Yo. If I not golf bro, uh nah, I say that.

I don't know. I just see a global Mike man like he he's seeing what he is elemental, being competitive and anything. And he when I first seen him, I thought about the h I thought about something, and I said, like, you know, he really got on joys like what else He's going ahead like it's as well. Bro. Everybody knows that I'm a big lebron fan, and I say, used to go, but I say he's a girl. Prefacing them

with Kareem Abdul Jabbar is the real go. So Kareem last week presenting Carmelo Anthony with the Social Justice Award named after him. Afterwards, did a little bit of media availability, had some some choice words to say about Lebron. Definitely praised him for doing things like opening schools and things like that, but Kareem also said that he had a lot of stuff he could be embarrassed about then real to what But you know, Kareem has been very vocal

about the COVID situation. Obviously, Lebron posted the Spider Man meme and tried to kind of, you know, do some damage control afterward with the media, jam them up about it. But when when you see situations like that. Obviously, Cap, you know, about to be seventy five soon, his social and in basketball career and everything, you know, unquestioned. But see him coming out Lebron. It seems like it's become a recurring theme this season. What are your thoughts on that, man,

Cap got a chill man, just gotta chill. Like you said, he's seventy five now, so I know he's seen multiple iterations of the of the world, you know what I mean, particularly the NBA and the United States of America. But you know, his position is solidified. He holds the same responsibility that he's saying the lebronos everybody, So he's got to be careful with his words and what that means. I know, he's you know, one of the biggest is not the arguably one of the best Lakers of all time,

you know what I mean. And we all know Lebron James and since it ive of being of his O G s and the history of basketball. So you know, nobody want to hear that from cat, you know what I mean. At the end of the day, I know I don't. I love both players. We're both Laker, Lebron and Kareem, you know what I mean, advocates, So um, they just need they just got a chill. They just need to get that over with. But hopefully that's the

last one. How do you feel about it? Yeah, I mean I think you know, Kareem, I think anybody in life, I mean, us sitting here, we have things we've done are life that we're embarrassed uff right, nobody lives life perfectly flawlessly. Lebron has done a lot of great stuff

for community. There be some stuff Lebron obviously my favorite player ever, but I haven't agreed with but also I respect him as a man, and when he explains himself and his abilities, you know, like you know, I think we look at Lebron and no athlete, in my opinion, has had to face more scrutiny or criticism, especially in the social media era where literally everything he does, Lebron coupposed to tweet about how he's opening up another school,

and it's just his mentions are flooded with your fraud and the bubbery doesn't count. I hate you chasing Kareem all that type of stuff. And I think even just seeing this year, year nineteen, uh, you know, put a lot on his shoulders, huge expectations. But he's come out play with you know, we saw that ankle injury. You know, Ad suffered the same injury back in February and just came back, you know, just came back from into March. Lebron rubbed some testing on it and came back in

drop thirty nine. So it's been a tough situation across the board. And when we look at the Lakers right now, Lakers are eleven seed. This team has so much hype, so much fanfare coming into it was ordained by the Square media as the chief. You know, I did it for me say I'm gonna run numbers up, but you know, like you still need to see this tape play. But after they got Westbrook, you have the Westbrook Melo, Lebron a d photos. So I want to know, what's the

most disappointing team in NBA history? Is this Laker squad in the mix for that that award? You're putting me in the best spot right now, Jim Man, I got some family over there, coach, Yeah, play this right, Gilanni. Please. Um. I can't remember a team more disappointing. And that's just

because of the timing thinking. You know, um that that team coming back not too far removed from a championship, the way Lebron is playing, I'm I'm a factor into it, the way Lebron is played this year, or you know, I'm with year nineteen. I just feel bad for the coaching staff that the players in the locker room. I feel blad for for Lebron. Um. I don't know if he had any decisions, you know, they always talked about if he has some decisions over the roster and you

know that's above our pay grade. But if it is so, then he got to deal with that. Are you're gonna own with that? The GM got to own up to that. Jennie gotta owe up to that. You know this is you know, this is what happens when you come over to the to the Left show, just because of the timing, the roster, how everything was laid out. I mean maybe because maybe and maybe it's our fault for looking for

seeing this team and being naive. Yeah, we got danker fans to be like, oh, it's gonna work out, don't worry about it, you know what I mean. We got three or four Hall of Famers, But um, it is what it is. At this point, I know everybody's probably thinking it, you know what I mean, we might as well come out and said, just because, like I said at the time, how much we invested into the Lakers. We know time is running out on Lebron, we know A d was supposed to take over the range for Lebron.

There's a multitude of reasons to make this one quite possibly the most depended. I just said that quite possibly could be the most disappointed teament. So when we look at the squad. Obviously a D injuries, the missing link, the real big three, Kendrick Nunne play game all season as a D alluded to uh after their last loss. But Lebron and a D, I think played with two games together season when I say the Lakers were eleven and eleven, so by that metric, there would have been

one which you put them right around the seed. Right. Yeah, it's a little tough, and when the West Brig trade happened, everybody was getting the memes out. You know. Definitely I'm included in that and definitely expected more from the squad. But I was say that they are the second most came in NBA history, behind going to State Warriors unanimous m v P Steph Curry seventy three wins, broke the Bulls record three one lead in the NBA Finals on the verge of history, and then what they do pp

down their leg. Brian came in one three straight. I don't think they lost back to back games all season. The Lean came through with the three piece beat them on their home court was more disappointing than that. Nothing. Now that you said that, you know what I mean, I'm glad you brought that back to the frontal lobe, you know what I mean, so I can get my

ship together. But uh you, you're right, you're right, the Brothers senior citizen right now, you're nineteen Lebron expectations through the roof and that yeah, reframing and when you want to talk about a goat to Jordan. Jordan in the latter part of his career where we're not making the playoffs, Mike was averaging a dub in his forties and major love for that. I think a lot of people knock those wizard years. For me, it's like dude with forty putting up a dub wing off of cigars and you know,

hit into whatever you're drinking turning up. But Lebron, you're nineteen to be able to do this, potentially leading the league and scoring. It's just sad, obviously the lifelong Lebron fan to see this year wasted. And for me, I

don't really care about all that stuff. I was hoping that, you know, going in this season, Lebron, we do only need to play fifty six games and the squad would be good, like a d and Rusk ready for the playoffs, exactly a D kind of step at the forefront now, which I think Lebron had kind of brought him here for.

Is I look, you know, I'm gonna ahead snatch his last finals MVP in the Bubble, the hardest championship in NBA history, and after that, I'm gonna be fatigued having to go to a pandemic laden Disney World, not even really turn up disney World more like Disney World. Prison win a championship a D. I need to go ahead and take over a D obviously suffered injuries. You never knock a guy for that. The injury bug happens that.

But you know, so looking at this squad, I definitely can't elevate this as a more disappointing than like I said, Warriors squad is disappointing though you know obviously l A, we blow up everything, We make everything larger than life. This team, you know, we had the memes, all this stuff ready to go, so extremely disappointing. But at the end of the day, they battle injuries, and when you go back and look at it, you know this team should at least been fifth or six seed in the West.

It is what it is now. I think we win four more games. Sneaking into this playing game and we're cracking. It'll make up for a lot too. For for whatever reason, even if we make this is if we can get into the playoff game, it'll be a big time thing for the city. That's how you reframe that ship man to keep us get they're positive. That's why they put that boy on T N T. Now I get it. Y'all should have seen him before the show. He goes

into a whole thing was as beautiful. Jack Nicholson deserves better. Flee Yeah, go go listen the whole Red Hot Chili Peppers Chili Peppers catalog, just you know, soothe your mind. But it's just sad to see. I remember back in the Polo that Don would be there. Andy Garcia and my personal favorite Lecter fan of all time, living legend. We'll be out of some violent situations in high school. Shout out Andy Garcia. But you know we'll see so you know, we appreciate y'all. It's been another episode of

What's Burning. Josiah Johnson, Julynnie McCoy man Sta could be back soon. I know some of y'all watched this like that, the same thing every single y'all gonna burn them out. Let's let's let them brothers breast. They're bringing you a lot of content coming back with were here and man's dangling and then because I didn't know who it is was on the thumbnail. All right, y'all, it's not about that.

We come with some is um as well, but what's burning available every week on Showtime Basketball YouTube and on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok at show Basketball. We appreciate you. Thank you,