Welcome to this League Uncut in the rule of twenty four hour NBA news miters. You lo, Chris Haynes. It's time, Perk Stein, It's so time. This League Uncut is underway and on fire. This should be a good.
One friends, Thanks for joining us for another edition of this League Uncut. Mark Stein here with Chris Haynes. It
is going to be a good one. A special one because we have a special guest, the official NBA Draft expert of this podcast, because at this point in the draft process, we're only talking about one guy, and no one knows Victor wembin Yama better than our guest today, Nicola Batoum of the La Clippers, is here to educate us on his countrymen and do a little dunking on Chris Haynes since he told Chris Chris could have been the number one draft expert in the media if he
would have just listened to Monsieur Batoum when he told him three four years ago about this kid. Chris did not heed the advice, and look what's happened. Now, Look what's happening.
I'm pretty sure I was in good company when we heard about Victor three four years ago. I wasn't alone, so I don't feel too bad. But definitely Nick Nick tried to put me on game years ago. He definitely did.
How did you know? How did you know instantly that this kid was going to captivate us all and get us? I mean, there will be fifty eight players instead of the usual sixty drafted on June twenty second. But all anybody's talking about is the is the French Feenix.
I mean, he is special. Now. The first time I saw that kid he was fourteen years old, was in twenty eighteen. I heard about him a little bit, but didn't really know him. And you know, when I got like, I mean, I like scanning young guys. I used to go to different your camp, like watch young guys in your play. I like to do that. I mean I saw presently it's a seventeen and so Yanni's at sixteen seventeen, like all those guys, I saw them like at the young age before they get drift. I like scanning do
stuff like this. But when you when I saw him for the first time, like I never seen like something like this before. It was only fourteen years old. There was like sixteen sixty eleven. I saw told kid at that age, but not moving like this, not dribbling like this. I was like, maybe it's too early to say something. But I start following him, and when he turned like fifteen sixteen, I was like, oh God, my biscuit might be like different, like literally different to what we've seen before.
And he is actually.
Stein next, say the way he described as years ago. He was like, Nah, he's the next He's the next best thing in the NBA. And I took that as meaning like he's the next best kid from France. He was like, no, I'm talking about the next best kid that's going to come to the NBA. He's going to be the face of the NBA. Nick when you were when you were looking at him, scouting him and seeing how he moved. I remember when I started hearing a little bit little things about him, like what did you
compare him to? Like what who was somebody? Like if you're describing him to people that didn't see him, what was the best way that you were able to describe his game?
I mean, when I when I start describing like what I've seen, like a couple of years ago, people didn't believe him as like like the dude okay, the easy coop person because he's huge. Was Rudy because the tall guy from France, so it's easy to compare him from friends because he lost playing. He just was named today Defensive Priiod of the Year and the French Dick too. He was number one in block and Defensive Period of the year as well, so they got MVP too. We
got everything. But I'm like, okay, the guy. Can you imagine Rudy shooting like pausing gis. That's how I described him first, Then he had the end those, but now he had the end those. Now I was like, okay, because can you imagine Rudy as pausingis and shooting size and the shooting abilities. It was like running like Yannis. But now you can't dribble too. At seven four, people was like yeah, right, yeah, come on, Nico. He's not
too good about real life. I'm like, you see, I know it sounds crazy, but it's coming.
You know, you know him, and really over here, none of us really do. He's only been in the States. There were the two games in Vegas. He spent some time training last summer in Dallas, but he wasn't really in public view, So I mean We've just had so little access to the person. How do you think he's handling all of this attention and all of these expectations, because look, I think it's he is the most anticipated draft prospect since Lebron And to me, that's enough, Like
that's just saying that is crazy. But in the last few days, I mean the projections for him have gone five steps beyond that. How do you think he's going to handle that?
I mean, he is blessed and lucky to have a great entourage. I mean I've known his family. I know his mom father, his brother, and sister have made them a lot of time. His family is great. No agent, we have the same agent, the same representatives. I mean there great. I know, Like was walking with him and the coach, yeah this year. The coach who coached him this year was the coach who coached me before I got in the NBA. I could program me to being this,
get me ready to be in the NBA. So I know what's going through right now, like on daily basis. But he's a smart kid. I mean that's what I'm shocked.
Like with him, when I met him, and uh and me and Tony Parker, we're on the team with Tony Parker in France Jodic team and we signed, we played, he played for us last year and uh, I mean he's been on the pressure, but he knows, I mean, he knows who he is and what he can becoming, what he has to become, I mean at this point and what he has to do, Like the pressure doesn't be crazy, but he knows exactly what he has to
do and how he had to do it. And that's what I'm all pre impressed about him so far.
Nick, covering you, especially your time when I covered you with the Portland troubles, it seemed like it was just inevitable at some point you would end up with the San Antonio Spurs. It just seems like at some point you were gonna partner with Tony Parker over there, get to play under Pop. And I know at times you thought you probably thought the same thing. So what what was your mind? Well, what did you think about when san Antonio warned the lottery got the number one pick?
Now you know where Victor's head.
I mean, it's like the story. The thing about the NBA is about all about the storytelling. It's like when Dirk was about to retire, of course is going to end up in the MAVs. We all know, like the best Big York stuff, and like what like man who's gonna get him?
Of course is going to end up with.
The MAVs and the next twenty years after Dirk no whiskey. We all know that. And so when you saw Vic, it's like, yeah, it's gonna be Spurs. We all knew that last year already when you.
Said, Dick All you said the lottery is fixed, Nick, is that what you allude to it.
I'm not saying it's fixed. I'm not saying that. But the NBA is so crazy about this storytelling stuff like the destiny of everything. I mean, everything is destined by this league. And he's gonna end up in anyway. So and that's a perfect land. I mean I knew I saw like the Rocket, the Houston Rockets stuff like the reaction when the Rockets went number four. Then some guy is mad about it, but uh, I mean that's a perfect spot. I mean Tony left. Tony is the great
greatest French plioval time. He might be, if everything walks out with him, be the next best French peroval time. So and being walking Tony step after what Tonya has done for that frenchise. That's a good challenge for him because okay, Tony got six all start four rank that is Jersey ups there do better than him beat that.
Do you think French fans because of Tony, because of Boris d l do you think French basketball fans wanted him to end up in San Antonio? Is that I'm guessing that's probably a popular landing spot, I think, as opposed to the Tree or Houston.
I think so. Yeah. I think I think, like he said that last night too, I think France are happy because he's going to end up there. I think so. I mean, because what Tonya has done there. I mean yeah, I mean I think Puppy is happy. I think the French eise is hatpy, but I mean it's a perfect landing spot for him. Perfect.
You mentioned Luca, and you know Luca. Luca was the euro League MVP before he came to the NBA, and there were still skeptics because the EuroLeague it's not on here. People don't realize that, yes, that actually is the second highest level of basketball in the world. And I think teams realize now. We probably should have put more stock into what Doncic is doing at Real Madrid as big a club as there is outside of it, outside of the NBA. The French League is obviously good, but the
French League is not on that level. Obviously, his team only is playing domestically this season. He's not playing in the EuroLeague. So how big of a jump is he facing going from the league he's in right now to playing against the LA Clippers on opening night. Let's just throw that out there as a maybe.
That's what that's what I love about this country. Actually, Victor Prenodic last year he did play, and I don't think people know that. I mean they just find out about him after Vegas, Okay, beat the Jedig team. I mean he played great against the Jediic team two times in three days. Yes, but the year before he was seventeen years old, he didn't dominate the league like Lucas. What Luca has done in Jodic is insane. At that age,
nobody has done that. I prayed Yodic before I got draft, getting Narraedy, Marco Berny, like a lot of guys plan Yodick. We're no near to be like top twenty players in the Jodic. It was Ruca was the MVP and he won the damn thing and it was final for MVP. It's insane or he's done, but still like he's a god. It's about Domino God and Luca was technically his body was technically ready to be in the NBA. Viig is seventy five. He's still growing. Actually, I think he's still growing.
I think his body need to ADDPT just because he's just he just turned nineteen two months ago and I saw him like last week, was seventeen years old. We're playing in new league, facing him like big monster guy. I practice first and then in games, and I saw some stuff from him at seventeen years old and the second best team in the league. I was like, Okay, yes, people are going to go hid him in the NBA in two years. But he mean he's going to be ready.
I mean my rookie. I mean, I don't compare myself to him. But when I my first training camp, when I got there, I was nineteen years old, and you see that guy I try to get hitch. I'm like, man, I've been there two or three years ago already. The thing was then tried to body you in practice because young I mean in Europe, we've been there two at fifteen sixteen years old. So when you came in came to the NBA, the yes, I'm stronger than a man.
We've been through that, so we're not intimidate body. So but the thing is the thing with Vic, yes's gonna face and bid yr Kish Yannis like Zubash from guys like that, like Bam, like big dudes. Yes, it's gonna be tough for him to adjust, But tell me one nineteen year old kid at seventy five with like we got. They all been through that, all of them besides Check, but all of them pretty much bent through that. So
it's gonna have some adjustment physically, that's for sure. But when it's gonna be twenty two to twenty three, it might be crazy.
Actually, So Nick, when to hear you say that it's going to be a little bit of a learning curve, Like you said, it's going to have to adjust and adapt. But the way everybody is promoting him and comparing him to Lebron James, that hype is very it is very similar.
But Lebron came in day one, and it is there a.
Concern that because you're saying right now, you still think, you know, it's gonna take a while. You saying when he gets twenty two to twenty three, is there concern that with all the hype that he's getting in his rookie year, he's not really dominating or or showing his prowess at that stage. Is there any concern that backlash will will come after that?
I mean, I mean if you listen to people like they're gonna wait for him to have MB number like thirty three and twelve. Yeah, I like the kid, but I don't think it's gonna happen. I hope he will. I mean, I hope he's gonna I've read that no numbers, but I don't think it's gonna happen next year. I need the first year. We don't know, but maybe not. But uh, like I say, he's seventh big men guy.
Lebron was ready. Lebron was like six eight, like two forty fifty some dude like man body ready for the NBA, Like the man was ready to go for big guys. Has always been different. I think for the big men's and he's a big guy. But I think when I heard like that, he's the best prospect ever I don't reayy like that. I think it's it's like a dream, you know what I mean, Like we all think like to play basketball, we have to be tall. We have a tall guy, we play like a small guy. I mean,
it's just something we've never seen before. So the biggest prospect ever maybe, But he's like the fantasy we always dreamed of as a basketball player. I think that's what it is. It's just the fantasy, the dream guy you can create a somewhere. Okay, this is it. It's more like this.
Yeah, because I haven't seen him play a ton, but everyone I talked to who has, they always bring up the movement that this guy, nobody his size has ever moved like he does. Do you do you agree with that?
Is that?
Is that the accurate scouting report?
Yeah? I agree? I mean you can't see the kid like bring the boat up and do spin move like full speed, even like a sixties guy can struggle to do it. So yeah, I mean he yes, some ability is like pretty insane for a basketball player before his size. It just amplifies.
So what did what do you do? Nick?
As far as your role is, you're a mentor of his. He's somebody who looks up to What do you do as a guy who's going to look after this guy, just like Tony Parker is going to do?
What do you do? What's your role in his life moving forward?
Every time I got a chance to talk to him and be around him, I was like, I have nothing to say to him. Actually I just tried. I don't. I mean, he got it. You know. That's the crazy craziest spout about him, is you got it, bro, You're good. No. I'm working out in the same gym in France every year every summer, and that's the gym where he plays, like this year and last summer. So I was working out before the practice. I got got the gym before
the practice. I used to see him like we're walking in, you're walking out before the practice, and just by talking to him like I'm like, bro, you can go right now. He's ready mentally. I mean, he doesn't need advice from us, like from any of us, maybe like how to adjust to the life in the US instill. He just knows exactly what to do and how to operate, doesn't He's not like overreact to who he is what he can become. I don't think he doesn't. He doesn't care about people
what said, what people say about it. I don't think he cares about that. The best broke there of all time, he doesn't care about that. But he knows, he knows, he's he's they're waiting for him. He knows that. So I can't I can't just say to him when I see him, just yeah, keep walking on your game. I mean, you have everything to be amazing, so just keep walking.
You keep referring to him as Vic obviously, I'm sure you've caught on. And in the States, we've just invented this nickname for him, Wenby, But I'm guessing that nobody in France uses that.
Or I mean, maybe maybe just start doing it that you do.
But but for you, I mean among his French peers in the NBA, you guys, that's not his nickname for you guys is It's.
Gonna be a rookie for a year. So it's gonna be a rook like everybody's gonna be a rookie. I'm gonna start with rook and then we see. But I don't think when they current Winby, I don't think it's gonna cura like that. Vic vic Or Victor, but Wenby, I don't think so.
You mentioned you share earlier. You guys shared the same agent Boona India. I remember talking with Boone probably about three years ago, and he told me he was on the verge of retiring.
I don't, I don't. I don't see that. I don't see that happened that.
I told that. I told that to the almost talking to that, I say that, I'm like this kid, the junct was about we talked about retirement. I'm like, yeah, extended carry. I think pubably be the same. I don't know if Funk was on the verge of retire. Good call. I'm pretty sure around for a couple of years.
So he's coaching. He's coaching to at least eighty seventy to do at least eighty. I mean, I absolutely love international basketball, and obviously the last couple of major competitions, France has emerged as the number one team in Europe, the number one threat to the United States. I was in China in twenty nineteen when France beat the and I States in the quarterfinals, sent the pop coached US to a humbling seventh at the World Cup, the lowest
finish in program history with NBA players. Obviously, in the Olympics, you guys won the first game, the US rebounds and wins the gold medal game. What does Victor web Minyama do for the French national team and the USA France rivalry.
I mean he's gonna, I mean, he's gonna had so much stuff for US. I mean we still have a good team, but that we need fresh young players. We have a good one coming out because you see other team around, I mean the World Cup for example, in the World Cup. At the next Olympics, I think it's going to be the two great especially in the Olympics, it's gonna be the greatest SIBAS competition of all time. If anybody comes, it's going to be insane. I think
it's going to be insane. But you watch teams like Austraia is going to be loaded, Canada is going to be loaded. The US and gonna be the US anyway, Spain is always the no matter what. Serbia man, we got this kid playing Denvers not bad at all. So and then all the guys around Grace with Jannis, I mean I might be missed some teams, but you know what I mean, so when you can have I mean, we're good. We're good. We've been a tough four pretty
much every time in every competition. Now we're the only team. We got a medal in the last zero Row Basket World Cup and Olympics were the only team we've done that, so we know we okay, but we still need new guys because the other team got better. And when you have a guy like this, I mean, I take it. I'm good with.
It, and I can't resist ask you because I wrote about this in September, because, like I said, I absolutely love international hoops, which is still now in the United States. Like because of the way you're describing the World Cup, I'm hoping that this World Cup is one that we really get into and pay more attention to it than we have in the past as a basketball community. Olympics obviously everybody is dialed in for that. But in September I wrote a story about how it's France and the
USA fighting to convince Joel Embiid to commit internationally. Because Joel Embiid has said he's not going to play for Cameroon, where he was born. He's either going to play for the French or the United States. During the season. I tried to get Joe to talk about it. He said, I'm not touching it till after the season. But I mean, you guys, you already have Rudy Gobert, you're adding Victor Webbin Yama. Don't tell me you guys are also getting.
Joel embiid Shita.
What do you think? What do you think?
I wish? And to be honest, I don't know, but I heard the stories. I know like he wasn't a verse between us and us. I know that. I don't know if you took I mean, if you took a decision or no. To be honest, I have no idea. I know it just finished the big season, got the MVP, got hurt. I didn't get his nie stuff. So but yes, if we had a guy like him in our roster, I moved to the punker position. Actually, but.
And there's room for it all. Coach Kala can handle a three headed center rotation. If that's what you end up with all those guys.
All of them, why not put three and you're at and you're.
At the one.
I'm the one.
I mean, it's easy and the one. I just bring them up and get it inside and do what you have to do. I don't care.
How many more Olympics you got, Nick.
One, that's it. I got this work up. I gets into the Olympics, and you know if I played those two, I would have played four Olympics, four work up and got five year olds. I'm good. I think I've done enough for my country.
Start you'll cut you well.
Last summer?
Is it is it?
Still?
Is it?
Pride?
Is it?
Anger? I mean I know how I can well, I don't know. I can only imagine how badly you guys wanted to win that gold medal game. How did you come away from from from that?
I mean, we knew we just beat this team two times in the row twenty nineteen, the opening night and uh a, the Olympics, so we knew they were like coming for us. And Katie was amazing that game. Katie had a big game. But that's a three pound game with ten seconds to go. I mean, I know, five poon game. I think with that, with that, I think we cut it to two or three with two minutes to go, So we were right there. We knew we
could have done it again. But no, they're amazing. No, the guy we are player they made play at the end. German was good at the end for them. Remember he made plays a German only can't do. But they made plays. And I mean we were mad, but no, I remember in the locker room we were not. Nobody was sad or crying, like we were pissed, like and that's what I love. But that team because and people ask me, like, what's about French basketball, And I'm like, ten years ago,
we're just happy to be there. Now we passed because we lost by five the USA team at the Olympics. Go with a game that means this is where we are right now. This is where the international basketball is right now, Like the dream team stuff is over, like taking pictures with them, like were pretty much teammate with them now. I mean then was a starting point guard and them is I'm pretty close to him because we
pray to get I'm close to him. So I'm not impressed technically impressed by him in a good way, you know what I mean. So but now I think when we lose against now, now you lose against the USA team, you piss because like, damn, maybe we could have done it. When you beat them, like okay, we've done it. Just move on, to keep on because next time they're going to be trying to get at us, and then you have to be a ready for them and try to
beat them again. But this is this is still the best team in the world no matter what, no matter what they're going to bring, they don't, You're going to be the big team. Yeah, they beat team is gonna better have the better roaster than anybody else anyway. I mean, the Olympics did have Steph Curry or Lebron James or whatever. This got KD and JT and damon whatever. So but that's the beauty now about the all gam is He's not like the USA like he's dropping. He's just the
world is getting better. We're just getting better. And uh there's one day maybe able to be damn every time, but maybe and we never know. But this still the best team in the world.
Nathan.
I would talk about you on on on this podcast during the playoffs. It was like a running joke for for a few episodes about how you.
Would blame me for your team Clippers losing.
When did you When did you start to recognize that I might be the black cat?
When did you start to realize that?
I think I don't know which game we play. I was like, damn, every time I see you were losing and win Golden State, go to State, should run Golden States. I'm like, yo, you're my guy. But we are all in three, So.
I think I was telling the story about how you know, as a as a TNT side reporter, I go behind you guys, bitch through.
A time bouts, and you're just staring at me, like bugging me.
First off, I think we're like fifteen, we are fifteen and a halftime, like, ko, why was great? PG was cooking? Like up thirteen or fifteen a halftime, I'm like, oh, and on this crazy run man, and the fourth like we're down fifteen now.
I was like, I'm like, and I'm trying not to laugh because I'm right by your bitch, right by your bitch.
I'm trying not to laugh.
I don't want people looking at me think about later that y'all lose it, like it's Nick's fault.
Man.
But they won the But in the playoffs they won the first game with you there, right.
Yeah, But that's when I knew. When a new were on tn T, I texted Mar, I'm like, please don't don't be now serious. Go somewhere else. I don't want to see you.
He gave.
He gave me a hug right after the game where they beat the He said, all right, bring it there, you're good.
You should have got the game ball.
I should have. I should have, I would say, Nick. With the Clippers, every everything ended abruptly, how have you processed the season and how it ended?
Stuff? For sure? You know when you come in the season with you expectation. We had expectation, we got big goals. I mean you see the roster we had, no we had Kawhi was back p g over everything. So yes, we came in the season with expectations. For sure. We made some move that trade deadline, like, okay, you see the roster we have, but we can be good and we have some good stuff we have, like good games that you know when PG went down and we uh
three weeks before the playoffs, No, that was tough. And then Kawhi went out after the second game. We tried, I mean, we still try to fight anyway. You know. That's beauty with tyoo Is, He's going to get us sweeting no matter what who was on the court or and Russ was great as well. Ross was really really good for us. It's tough. I mean, it's tough when you missed the two best players, like because we run everything around them, so we try to survive. When the
Sons were at a good team, they got it. Roting book was amazing and KD was KD and uh, you know it was a was a tough one because were in five. But that's pretty much close game every time. When we did wet beside game four, I think, but we see it came back at the end. It was like a tire game, a close game everything every every time. So but we can't do it. So I don't know what's gonna happen, But we just hope we'll get those two guys back and and well because we know we
can't do it. No, we can't do it. So so we're gonna get take care of what we have to take care off and be ready for next season.
It appears that the Suns and maybe another team or two out there are trying to steal your coach. How confident are you that the Clippers can hang on to tylu No.
We know how ty Dole is for us. I mean, I mean, I mean, I love that coach. He pretty much said my career. So that told that last year, this dude saved my career. So we need him. I mean we don't want him to go anywhere. You know, we respect him, we want him, we love him, and we wait it hope like that mean that shows you, like like I saw some team wanted him and which she wanted him. I mean that's show like who he is, what type of coach is. He's a good, great, great coach.
So but that's why I want to keep him because I don't need to seem I don't see him in Phoenix or Milwaukee. I don't as a creepers.
I don't want when you say he saved your career, what did he do? Like what what specifically did he do?
You know what happened my last eighteen months because COVID happened with the honest. So when Steve Clifford their fire to bring like a new coach, new management knew everything. So I wasn't in their plan anyway. So yeah, I was pretty much out of the leg That's what I thought that when I got waived and I signed with the Clippers. You know, I signed with them to be honest, I didn't have a lot of expectation. I knew they told me to come over and I could help them.
Sometimes my gol was to, Okay, if I can't be in rotation some game, that's cool. But this dude put me in the starting lineup quite away, and they came out of the bubble like after the big loss, but in their expectation too, And because ma Chris Morris was out, he said, not you're going to start for us, You're going to play for us. And he put me in a situation like I could have the team because you said, yeah,
you're gonna play for me. Don't don't. I don't care about what happened the last two years out of literally literally don't care. Like I know you. I know what you can bring to a team full of people that we have, and I know it can mix with those guys because I know my role. I'm gonna just say I'm a glue guy. I'm a guy try to fit in with what I have around me. And when you play with guys like having my team, it's pretty much that's what It's easy for me because my goal is
to make their life easier. So and it works pretty way with him.
And Nick, you talk about lose saving your career. You got a new contract out of it, and Nick, I don't know if you know this, but I actually broke your your deal, your your contract with the Clippers, and I have to I have to admit, but to with A source gave me the news.
It gave me the number. I said, are you sure that? Are you sure this is right? Are you sure this this number is correct? This numbers it seems the same little high, same little high, like are you sure you were like that? The person was like, yes, yes, this this is the number. When you think about did you did you envision that? Did you envision sign and get another two year deal? And people could look up your number out there, it's public knowledge. But did you did you see this happening?
I got three bigger offer?
You got bigger? Is that right?
Three more? Three three offer way begger than this one way? Trust me?
Your wow?
Well? Okay, well I got added three years thirty five.
Three years thirty five, Nick, since we're all Nick, since we're already devosing the number devoted the teams, Nick, no.
I tried three thirty five? So what made you? What made you go with with this deal? With the Clippers.
Tyler, I'm like, I'm going nowhere. I'm staying with it. Really, I'm sticking with him. I don't want to go anywhere else. I don't want to go. I mean, I don't care what's happening, if Kawhi Pg's coming back. I mean, I just I mean, these dudes like trusted me when I wasn't my lowest. So yeah, I'm not. I told that I'm not living. At least you kick me out, you give me a new contract, a pretty good one. So yeah, I'm gonna stay. Of course, I'm staying.
Before we let our draft expert leave, can I ask him a soccer question because I know mister Botoom likes his football. Please, I want to ask him at least one good, proper footy question before we.
Let him go.
So you've had Messi at PSG for the last couple of years. I was actually the beginning of the season, I was. I was able to see PSG in a Champions League game in Israel. All three guys scored. It was the first time ever that Messi and Bappe and neymar At all scored in the same game. It's gotten messy for Messi but are you going to walk away from this glad that he was there for a couple of years playing for PSG.
What's the.
Put your fan cap on and tell me what tell me kind of how you how you look at this situation.
You know to be as an athlete. I can't understand that when you spent twenty years in one spot and you're pretty much a god for half of those times you a god down there, and you changed to a new team and you're not the same at thirty four years old. I can understand like it might be tough to adjust, So I'm not mad about it, because especially when's when you want the work up against us in the middle of the season, I can't understand that the
adjustment can be different. So I'm not mad about Messi. He tried, he came over. It wasn't supposed to be I mean, it was supposed to stay in Barcelona forever. Anyway, it was supposed to end up like plays okay on that jersey. He came over with us, he played some game, he tried. I was happy to see him with that the PSC jersey, But I don't know what it's going to happen next year with him I saw some crazy numbers also for him, like maybe going to another team.
I was going back to Barcelona. No, I don't know what's gonna happen, but I'm not. You can't be mad. He's one of the great spirit of all time, so to play for us, so I just appreciate it.
And I just thought of one last thing, and then we promised to let you go.
I got one.
If I got Victor wen min Yama, can I got one last thing?
Oh okay?
If Victor wenman Yama can be all the things we we are saying, he could be. Well a French athlete being that good in the NBA, is that even bigger than like what Mbappe is now because it's not you know, it's not football, it's not a European sport. For a Frenchman to come and conquer the NBA, how huge would that be?
He might be bigger than him bad they actually and Babe can become like great can at the Battle door, you wont the World Cup already, can go anywhere and make all the money wanted. He can do everything because it's that great. But if Victor become like whatever, m VP's rings whatever, like all of them at the end and it become one. I mean, if everybody is online, we talk about international players, if everybody is online, because the best international player right now ever is a Chemo
Aduan or Duptin whiskey. They wanted to are the two best in the NBA. If he beat those guys in twenty years, yes, it'd be the greatest French artet of all time.
Yes, Nick, where are you at right now? You're in France, Sorry that you're in La Okay. I wanted to ask you.
I saw your your tweet and I wanted to give you time to acknowledge acknowledge them. This is a gentleman that I saw in Arenas and I would talk to him every now and then.
But I never knew his name.
But I just obviously you see the afro, you see him taking the photographer, So he was always a cool face to see. And uh, can you just talk about I saw the tweet the brother past. I didn't know that I saw your tweet. Can you just I guess I give you time just to just to mention him.
Yeah, I heard the news about Chris. Chris was a photograph photograph photograph from France. He's one of those dudes who just tried to leave the NBA, the American dream. It just came over from France, was passionate about taking pictures in the NBA. Just met his trail to the NBA ended up being like court sized for so many many years in the NBA games. I mean pretty much
see something Rookie. I've seen him basby been traveling around and he just swapped part of the French family because no, we have like a little French figgers, got some trainers, but we got guys like him as well, like media members and him as a photograph taking pictures like yeah, I mean, I know the eydelices of his career, but he took the picture of Noble Brown Duncan jet terry in Boston, like when the Brown played for the Miami he got he took the picture like that picture was everywhere.
I know, I knew it was really very part of it because I was the idelight of his work. And I know he was married, got a wife now and what happened. So I'm just just sad for his wife, his family, and I mean every close one just convalescence because he was a great guy. You know, I've been around. I mean, I talked to him, We have dinner with him a couple of times. And I heard when news yesterday. I just went into confirmation, like it's not a fake.
We never know what happened with stuff like that. So and Iden's this morning was like he was true. So yeah, I mean just said was one of the French guy, French family in the NBA. We just also a good guy.
Gonna miss some familiar brother. Like I said, the Afro stood out, but he was a cool dude. So I was sad to see that news. So my condolences to him and his family as well.
Yes, sir, well, look, thank you for everything that you shared with us today. This was fantastic to get your perspective on Victor wembin Yama, since you know you know much more about him than we do. And we appreciate your, uh your draft expertise, which Chris and I are both sorely lacking.
I mean, he could have against some sum beceieve he said to me four years ago, but he nick, you.
Know how many people come up to me and say, this kid is the next great thing coming up?
How many time I told you that for Luca and Vic that's it.
You did do Luca. I was a little bit Yeah you did, Yeah, you did do Luca. I didn't know he was gonna come and dominate that one. I knew he was gonna be okay. So I hope for too. I'll listen to the next one.
Let me know when you see the next fourteen year old. I will not ignore.
Uh. Beck.
We appreciate you man for a couple but no, man, you know it's always a pleasure. Man. But you know I got numb of love for you and the family mans to the wife, I said hello, but thank you brother.
With thank you guys, thank you very much. And that'll do it for us. See you next time.
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