[SPEAKER_02]: Now playing open for this is open floor.

[SPEAKER_02]: Sports Illustrated's Chris Manix back at an NDA podcast with Sports Illustrated senior writer.

[SPEAKER_03]: I think it's time that the world gets to know my guy Chris Manix.

[SPEAKER_03]: I think your opinion shared by everyone and now it begins now it begins [SPEAKER_04]: All right, Michael Grady, you have come a long way.

[SPEAKER_04]: You have come from doing a radio show in your bathroom to doing a podcast in a hotel room.

[SPEAKER_04]: Maybe you haven't come that far.

[SPEAKER_01]: It's been a mighty long way.

[SPEAKER_01]: It's been a mighty long way though.

[SPEAKER_01]: And you were a part of those early years on radio and NBA guest on that show on a fairly regular basis, which I appreciated quite a bit.

[SPEAKER_01]: And yeah, yeah, we always appreciated you, and of course you may remember, you may not remember when I think it was when I was interviewing for the [SPEAKER_01]: Net's job.

[SPEAKER_01]: Um, I asked if I could put you down as a reference with which, uh, which I'm sure got got sure pushed it over the edge.

[SPEAKER_00]: That was it.

[SPEAKER_01]: That got that got it done.

[SPEAKER_01]: Oh, but no, but then just speaks to, uh, you know, our relationship and I really appreciate you coming on the show and being able to talk with us and and give us some credibility.

[SPEAKER_01]: And [SPEAKER_04]: two new NBC employees and you've got your, I mean, this is not surprising to me, since you, we talked about your show in indie, you can change do that show even when you want to Brooklyn for a little bit.

[SPEAKER_04]: You're doing an Indianapolis paste radio show, which I do think I was repeatedly said it was from your bathroom and you're toilet in Brooklyn doing a show in there.

[SPEAKER_04]: So now here you are, calling games for NBC, calling games for Amazon and calling games for the Minnesota Temples TV network, whatever that you've called.

[SPEAKER_04]: That's enough hours in the day.

[SPEAKER_04]: You know, stuff like, what are we talking about here, man?

[SPEAKER_01]: You know, I'm gonna, I'm gonna be in the air a lot, and you know, when I was an Indianapolis, I was, I was doing the radio show, which you'd be a guest on.

[SPEAKER_01]: I was the PE announcer for the Pacers, and I was also the sports anchor for the local ABC affiliate.

[SPEAKER_01]: So, on a Pacers home game day, I would do my radio show midday, [SPEAKER_01]: Then I would go to, you know, get a break, get a lunch, whatever, then go to the TV station, prepare the five o'clock and six o'clock sports cast.

[SPEAKER_01]: do the Pacer's game at the field house and then the game wraps up at 9.15 9.30 then I would rush back to the TV station to prepare the 11 o'clock sportscast.

[SPEAKER_01]: And I did that for a three-year period before Brooklyn came calling.

[SPEAKER_01]: But if you were to ask me at that time like, why are you doing all these things?

[SPEAKER_01]: I was like, if I was doing just one of them, [SPEAKER_01]: It'd be a dream come true from a kid that grew up on the East Side of Indianapolis.

[SPEAKER_01]: You know, the host of Radio Show or the BS Sports Anchor, the PA announced for a pacers team that was going to conference finals with Paul George and company.

[SPEAKER_01]: And I would say the same thing is true right now, it is going to be, it's going to be a craziest schedule.

[SPEAKER_01]: But it's a dream to be able to announce what the folks over at Amazon.

[SPEAKER_01]: It's a dream to be able to announce what the folks at NBC, especially with the nostalgia.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm the fan that I am today, and I know you're the same way.

[SPEAKER_01]: Because of those 90s in B.A.

[SPEAKER_01]: on NBC, Michael Jordan, New York, next.

[SPEAKER_01]: All those great teams during that era.

[SPEAKER_01]: Um, because of that period, I am the sports fan that I am today, so to be able to work with NBC is a dream.

[SPEAKER_01]: And to still be able to have that connection with the Minnesota Timberl's fan base, which has been good to me and my, I'm going into your four, um, there.

[SPEAKER_01]: So, no, it's a, it's a, it's a, I feel awfully, uh, fortunate to be able to have this opportunity, but yeah, not, not going to get a lot of off days.

[SPEAKER_04]: was was calling games always the end goal for you like I knew you as a radio guy then I knew you as a sideline guy but was getting that opportunity to call games the the dream.

[SPEAKER_01]: It was, and it started, you know, back when it was going back and beyond NBC, I've told this story before, but 1998 Bob Costa is calling Michael Jordan's final championship run and that game six in Utah and just the way that he called the game and they was able to put such a huge moment and historical perspective, which isn't easy to do, we're talking about a guy.

[SPEAKER_01]: Michael Jordan's caliber and the number of eyeballs that were watching and he was just, you know, so eloquent and poetic through those tense moments of the ball game and that just did something that that had an impression on me it had an impression on me live But folks are age would remember during that time if you were a fan of Michael Jordan or whatever player [SPEAKER_01]: There would be a VHS tape of, you know, great highlights or play whatever it may be.

[SPEAKER_01]: Jordan had some classics come fly with me and there was a maybe a four-diss DVD set that had every last one of Michael Jordan's videos but then also his classic games.

[SPEAKER_01]: And I can't tell you how many times I watch Game 6 from 1998, not just to see Mike's greatness, but again to the broadcast.

[SPEAKER_01]: And it's to the point where I can damn their, you know, recite certain moments, you know, in the game, especially the closing moments.

[SPEAKER_01]: So that's where the seed was planted.

[SPEAKER_01]: My junior year of high school, I was allowed to do radio for my local high school and so I started doing play by play then for football and basketball.

[SPEAKER_01]: That's where the seed was planted.

[SPEAKER_01]: The team, my junior year for the basketball, was pretty good and they made it to the regional round of the Indian High School Basketball Tournament.

[SPEAKER_01]: And that meant that they were going to play a late afternoon game at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

[SPEAKER_01]: And I remember walking into Hinkle Fieldhouse, I'd never been in there before.

[SPEAKER_01]: Never been in there before.

[SPEAKER_01]: For those who don't know, that sort of Butler Bulldogs play.

[SPEAKER_01]: It's where Bobby Plumpit is famous shot.

[SPEAKER_01]: If you don't know who Bobby Plumpit is, if you've seen the movie Hoosiers, [SPEAKER_01]: That's Bobby the only guy at the game with it.

[SPEAKER_01]: That's Bobby Plump.

[SPEAKER_01]: It was inspired by Plump's shot from myelin so and it was late morning and the sunlight was coming through the windows and kiss in the floor and Our equipment didn't work for the entire first half.

[SPEAKER_01]: It didn't start until the second half [SPEAKER_01]: But I still was so mesmerized by the moment and the action and the team lost that day But I was like, now this is it.

[SPEAKER_01]: This is it.

[SPEAKER_01]: So, you know my journey took you know, it wasn't linear I was all over the place in terms of my journey and I was Really focused on learning.

[SPEAKER_01]: I didn't go.

[SPEAKER_01]: I should be a play by play guy right now.

[SPEAKER_01]: You know I was fascinated by radio so I was a producer first and then I felt like you know I think I'm ready to be a radio host.

[SPEAKER_01]: I feel like I learned enough and then I eventually got that opportunity [SPEAKER_01]: And then I was ready to do TV and by chance, I was able to get that opportunity for the local TV station.

[SPEAKER_01]: And then once I got to Brooklyn and was able to watch, not just watch, but study, Iron Eagle, and Ryan Rooko on a day-to-day basis.

[SPEAKER_01]: After one of those five years up, I knew I was ready.

[SPEAKER_04]: what do you want when you're because one thing about Brooklyn even though they have sucked as a basketball team as a late and for a lot of those years.

[SPEAKER_04]: The broadcast talent that flows there has been second to none.

[SPEAKER_04]: Eagle, Ruko, Sarah Kustok, Richard Jefferson, [SPEAKER_04]: I mean, it goes on and on, I'm sure I'm no meeting somebody, but everybody that's there is at the top of their game, like what do you pick up in experiences like that?

[SPEAKER_01]: I mean, you know, for Tello is there, Mark Jackson was there, Michelle Beto was for a sign, you know, sign leader.

[SPEAKER_01]: That goes back to over there.

[SPEAKER_01]: And through all that talent, Frank DeGrace was the guy who was kind of at the controls.

[SPEAKER_01]: He was the great producer for yes network who is now with NBC and so.

[SPEAKER_01]: You, you know, people ask me about who I feel pressured before I don't feel pressured before games as much, you know, you feel you feel like this anxious energy, you know, when you get ready to go on camera and I'm a super competitor, so I'm excited when the camera comes on.

[SPEAKER_01]: But there are a couple of times where I was nervous before cracking open a mic and one was when I...

[SPEAKER_01]: I had my first game as a PA announcer in Indiana and I was a place in Red Porter who had been the PA announcer for 30 some years and then all of a sudden they give it to some 20 some kid and I'm in the arena with 16,000 people and I'm like, I hope they don't think I hope they don't think I suck.

[SPEAKER_01]: I hope I can create my own identity here and the things are going well.

[SPEAKER_01]: So that was one and then the other was, you know, I mentioned all the jobs that had an Indianapolis but I really wanted to see how far I could push this broadcast thing.

[SPEAKER_01]: And so I went I was gun hope for that Brooklyn opportunity.

[SPEAKER_01]: It was Brooklyn.

[SPEAKER_01]: It was New York.

[SPEAKER_01]: I grown up on music of Biggie and Jay-Z and just Brooklyn just it I was just so excited about the opportunity to be able to work there.

[SPEAKER_01]: And so so I get the job and that [SPEAKER_01]: first broadcast in New York when you know that you're on television in front of a New York audience and you know we know what they say about New York and if I had a two-year deal and if it wasn't going to work out I was like I can't go back to Indianapolis like that would just be just wouldn't look good and so there's this pressure and here I am first broadcast in Iron Eagle since let's send it over to Michael Grady.

[SPEAKER_01]: And it's one of those you got to be locked in and you got to be ready and it just how you use these cliches we hear all the time iron sharpens iron and that type of thing.

[SPEAKER_01]: When you're able to banter with iron eagle, Richard Jefferson, Orion Rugo, Sarah Kustok and those type of incredibly talented people [SPEAKER_01]: and I care about it, you know, I care about the game, I care about telling these stories, I care about these players, and sort of be around, you know, I just say broadcast royalty, and to see the way they go about their work, it was just an incredible experience.

[SPEAKER_04]: Now, I get it.

[SPEAKER_04]: I mean, on a lesser level, I had the chance to do a lot of stuff in Boston with the Celtics and NBC there and being around Mike Gorman every day, being around Tommy Heinsen every day.

[SPEAKER_04]: Later, I learned like Tommy taught me a lesson that I used to this day.

[SPEAKER_04]: I don't say anything of importance in rehearsal.

[SPEAKER_04]: Tommy in rehearsals for, you know, you know, you go through the, you know, 30 minutes before you do a quick rehearsal.

[SPEAKER_04]: That's how they did him boss, do a quick rehearsal.

[SPEAKER_04]: They run through the highlight packages, all that.

[SPEAKER_00]: Oh, yeah.

[SPEAKER_04]: Tommy would sit there and just grunt at the, like, my government would do the whole thing.

[SPEAKER_04]: Like he do what he was gonna say as the play by play guy.

[SPEAKER_04]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_04]: And they roll out at Tommy.

[SPEAKER_04]: And that was because Tommy what he would tell me later is like why would I say I want to save the good stuff for life Like why would I say anything so whether it's boxing or basketball whenever I go through a rehearsal I just kind of grunt I sort of not I'm like yeah, okay Yeah, yeah, yeah, blah, blah, blah, this somebody did something good all right back to you like that whole thing I learned that it's actually worked for me like I feel like I've had [SPEAKER_04]: As long as the rehearsal is good to see how the flow is going to go and you can see the highlight packages and what's going to be on there, but there's nothing worse and you probably experience this.

[SPEAKER_04]: There's nothing worse than having a killer rehearsal and then a shitty hit.

[SPEAKER_04]: There's nothing worse than that.

[SPEAKER_04]: Like I experienced that a lot early on in my career.

[SPEAKER_01]: No, this show is so true.

[SPEAKER_01]: It's so true.

[SPEAKER_01]: I do like to say what I'm going to say.

[SPEAKER_01]: Maybe it's a little bit different for the playboy.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think it's different for the playboy playboy playboy.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I want to get the cadence down.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm not necessarily, I'm not writing anything down, but I want to see the time and in pace and see how it flows off the tongue.

[SPEAKER_01]: And if I say it one time, then I know it's going to be locked in for when we, for when we do it the next time.

[SPEAKER_01]: But I love that.

[SPEAKER_01]: And I love that.

[SPEAKER_01]: Again, when you, [SPEAKER_01]: when you see people who have been doing it a long time where like royalty in this business and you're able to pull a little bit from them.

[SPEAKER_01]: You're still yourself, you're your criss-manics, but you've been inspired just like I've been inspired by different people and you're pulling pieces from different things and it's all embedded into your own kind of personality.

[SPEAKER_01]: And so I feel like my approach and broadcasts and is authentic, but [SPEAKER_01]: There's, I appreciate games that have a sense of humor not taking itself too seriously.

[SPEAKER_01]: So, and I love that about I am.

[SPEAKER_01]: And so there's a little bit of that with me as well because I appreciate it how he called the game and kind of been in the rules and he's on top of the action.

[SPEAKER_01]: He meets the moment.

[SPEAKER_01]: But you know what?

[SPEAKER_01]: If there's a moment that you can slide some levity in there.

[SPEAKER_01]: There's an irreverence to him.

[SPEAKER_01]: He's all, yeah.

[SPEAKER_01]: Games, yeah.

[SPEAKER_04]: He doesn't take it too serious, which I think is good.

[SPEAKER_04]: Hides and may not have been the for a 25-year-old up-and-comer.

[SPEAKER_04]: Hides, I shouldn't have tried to be Hides, because Hides was one of those guys.

[SPEAKER_04]: Like, he could have production meetings on the air.

[SPEAKER_04]: Like, I remember a game where Boston Plague Denver, and Denver had Yokech and Nirkich at that time.

[SPEAKER_04]: and Tommy couldn't get either one of them couldn't figure which one was which he's like which which what Russian or whatever which one is that guy haha it's just like there was some guys all of famers and multiple categories that can get away with that I couldn't have taken that [SPEAKER_04]: I couldn't have done that.

[SPEAKER_04]: That's, that's for sure.

[SPEAKER_04]: But Scouts, but Scouts and fun to watch do it.

[SPEAKER_04]: I'm glad Scouts work in the NBC as well.

[SPEAKER_04]: The question, I have for you, are you going to bring back the Bob costus monologue?

[SPEAKER_01]: You know what?

[SPEAKER_01]: I would love to bring back the Bob Cossus model.

[SPEAKER_01]: I love this set of tables.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yes.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yes.

[SPEAKER_01]: And I kid you not.

[SPEAKER_01]: There are certain things that I'll watch before a game.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'll try to watch something every game a little bit before a tip, but certainly if I'm like, okay, I just need to get my juices going.

[SPEAKER_01]: And I'll watch a costess monologue from the 90s that ends with, you know, Bulls Pacers next.

[SPEAKER_01]: And then the theme comes through and it's goose bump in do-sane.

[SPEAKER_01]: And it's like, I'm ready.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm ready to run through a wall and let's go.

[SPEAKER_01]: And so I'll queue [SPEAKER_01]: And it's kind of sad.

[SPEAKER_01]: And then what's that?

[SPEAKER_03]: It's a little bit sad.

[SPEAKER_03]: This is like, this is where you've got saved on your phone.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, it's like, it's like smelling salt for me.

[SPEAKER_01]: When it's time to go.

[SPEAKER_01]: And then the other thing that I have, and I, I told him this, I miss the boxing on HBO dearly.

[SPEAKER_01]: And I forget how many years ago it was now.

[SPEAKER_01]: They had their final broadcast.

[SPEAKER_01]: and they had a montage at the end that Lampley voiced.

[SPEAKER_01]: That was maybe, I think the whole thing is maybe like 13 minutes.

[SPEAKER_01]: But it's music, Lampley's narration, and some of his fantastic calls.

[SPEAKER_01]: Ward got a foreman, you know, a foreman, Mike Tyson's been knocked out all these incredible moments and that's what I watched the most before games [SPEAKER_01]: So, um, I, uh, these, these little things, so like the cost of tomorrow, I'm going back to your, going back to your question.

[SPEAKER_01]: It says to stage, it's a big part of storytelling.

[SPEAKER_01]: If you, you know, so many games start nowadays and it's just like, here we are, it's Orlando and Atlanta.

[SPEAKER_01]: Okay.

[SPEAKER_01]: Every game has a compelling element to it.

[SPEAKER_01]: I don't care if it's a Wednesday or Tuesday, whatever it may be.

[SPEAKER_01]: Every game has a compelling element.

[SPEAKER_01]: And so if it's a national game and there'll be national games every night of the week this season, set the stage, let's set the stage.

[SPEAKER_01]: This is Palo Bencaro, this is, you know, Trey Young, why does he have a chip on his shoulder?

[SPEAKER_01]: Orlando, what I'm just using those two, because that is an example, but it sets the stage.

[SPEAKER_01]: We know that heroes and villains is very compelling in any sport.

[SPEAKER_01]: And you can tell a story and then whether if you're in Orlando fan, Atlanta is instantly a villain, if you're a Atlanta fan, Orlando's a villain and if you're a neutral fan, [SPEAKER_01]: to latch on to.

[SPEAKER_01]: And I want to give fan something to latch on to one way or another.

[SPEAKER_01]: And a great way to do that is set and stage with what's the story line as we go in, you know, magic cocks next.

[SPEAKER_01]: Boom, John Tashko.

[SPEAKER_01]: That just gets me checked up.

[SPEAKER_04]: You know, if you're, if you need it, I can send you a disown montage of Chris Manix's greatest, like, you know, to replace your YouTube, that feels been gone for seven years, Mike.

[SPEAKER_04]: I'm just saying it has.

[SPEAKER_04]: I've got some incredible whiffs on there that I'd be happy to sit it over, sit it over, don't pile it since you're away.

[SPEAKER_01]: Lampley's a big big inspiration of an inspiration of mine.

[SPEAKER_04]: Oh, yeah, he was on my boxing show a couple of months ago when he had his book Come on, just a lot of great stories You got a little bit left from the tank.

[SPEAKER_04]: Do still do it.

[SPEAKER_01]: It's a fun fight.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yes.

[SPEAKER_01]: I read the book was great I was trying to make it out to one of his book signings [SPEAKER_01]: Because I never met him before and never talked on before, and it didn't work out because I was doing postseason stuff for the Timberwolves.

[SPEAKER_01]: So I sent him a DM.

[SPEAKER_01]: He hadn't posted anything else about his next stop, and I said, I was like, I'm just going to shoot a DM to Jim.

[SPEAKER_01]: And I said, hey, you have any more stops.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm broadcasted out of the DA.

[SPEAKER_01]: And he said, no, I'm going to head back to North Carolina.

[SPEAKER_01]: But here's my phone number, give me a call.

[SPEAKER_01]: And so I called them and we chatted for about 15 minutes and I shared my admiration.

[SPEAKER_01]: I shared the story of what I listened to before games.

[SPEAKER_01]: And he told me that ABC, I think it was ABC, maybe it was NBC.

[SPEAKER_01]: They let them call one NBA game and he said it must have been bad because they didn't give another game.

[SPEAKER_04]: but uh but he's he's he's he's an amazing broadcast overall but uh he was just so brilliant in boxing yeah it was great and the original sideline reporter yeah all sports he was the ABC put him on the sideline back in the day and he took that from there it's amazing how careers kind of right just go all over the map [SPEAKER_04]: Well, everybody knows that there are things you can do to reduce monthly costs and improve your finances.

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[SPEAKER_04]: So this season, tell me what the storyline is that you're looking forward to the most.

[SPEAKER_04]: One, two, whatever it may be, but like, the biggest storyline going into this season for you is what?

[SPEAKER_01]: Ooh, big storyline.

[SPEAKER_01]: It can't be like replacing Luke Garza in Minnesota.

[SPEAKER_04]: No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no [SPEAKER_01]: you know I can't there are there are several I don't know that there's one big one if I was to say a big one I didn't I would have to give respect to the to the raining champions and and okay see it's it's funny how a lot of people really didn't see them coming now of course I've been calling a lot of games in the in the Western Conference and that you know that Northwest Division so I [SPEAKER_01]: but they didn't just come out of nowhere.

[SPEAKER_01]: A number of those guys that are a part of that championship team were on terrible teams with OKC just a few years ago and they've slowly climbed and climbed and and built themselves into you know what looks like a juggernaut and not a lot of people honestly are talking about them as we get ready to start the regular season.

[SPEAKER_01]: And I know we haven't had repeat champions in a while, but they've got the rain in MVP.

[SPEAKER_01]: Jalen Williams continues to get better.

[SPEAKER_01]: We have not even remotely seen the best of Chet Hongren.

[SPEAKER_01]: Ludork can defend one through five.

[SPEAKER_01]: Outscruiso was an amazing pick up.

[SPEAKER_01]: Hardenstein was big.

[SPEAKER_01]: I got this Topic Kid who was lighten up some of the league for crying out loud.

[SPEAKER_01]: They didn't even have a real point guard on their roster.

[SPEAKER_01]: They're, when I talk about heroes and villains, they're going to be a villain, because, again, I don't think people appreciated them last season.

[SPEAKER_01]: I don't think they want to appreciate this okay C squad.

[SPEAKER_01]: So they're going to continue to develop a chip on their shoulder.

[SPEAKER_01]: Um, I think the attractive thing for a lot of NBA fans is just the player movement and so Kevin Durant and Houston and how is this going to work?

[SPEAKER_01]: And was just having a conversation in dinner last night on how is Houston really going to miss Fred Bamblet that month?

[SPEAKER_01]: I say no, I think writing never two weeks you got injured like it's no disrespect to friend.

[SPEAKER_04]: Great player.

[SPEAKER_04]: You put Amman Thompson at the one the kid told me I was down Houston for like a week Amman was telling me he's like this is before the injury He's like I have spent the entire summer trying to be a lead guard like preparing to be a lead guard So because he he filled in there when Vanvilly was out last year [SPEAKER_04]: And now he's just going to get the opportunity in maybe the biggest line up in NBA history.

[SPEAKER_04]: They put out there.

[SPEAKER_04]: Like I'm with you.

[SPEAKER_04]: I think look, Fred's a leader in that locker room and a veteran and all that stuff.

[SPEAKER_04]: But if like read Shepherd can play a lick, then they're going to be fine.

[SPEAKER_04]: Because I'm in can handle 30 minutes of game at point.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, and I'm very curious what this ceiling is.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think this is a fantastic team of dogs around Kevin Durant.

[SPEAKER_01]: Kevin can do a little bit of everything, but at his core, he's just, he's a walk in 28 points per game.

[SPEAKER_01]: And so you get some Tariys and around him, a men-tompson, running around with his haircut on fire.

[SPEAKER_01]: And the first back to the basket, though, in the post big man that Kevin was really ever played with, I think it's going to be fascinating to see how Edoca puts that together.

[SPEAKER_01]: And then all the studs who were just still getting to done and, you know, LeBron at his age, and what's that going to look like with Luca, [SPEAKER_01]: staff and you know I don't think anybody's expecting a ton from Golden State but there's just some fascinating teams I know I'm sticking on the West but from you know the Clippers and their old age to Minnesota of course and they're basically just running it back and they are their theme is just togetherness and being connected.

[SPEAKER_04]: What's going on out there because they're kind of running it back.

[SPEAKER_04]: like you get a little erosion like in the killouts and the killouts and the walkers I mean is Tarrant Shannon able to step into that role [SPEAKER_01]: Terrence a combination of Terrence Shannon Jr.

[SPEAKER_01]: and Jalen Clark are guys that will be able to step into that that role Both through second year players Jalen Clark technically third year, but he missed his whole first year with the Nikili's injury So they were both kind of technically rookies the season ago, but Shannon has an incredible motor He's like a running back when he gets the basketball.

[SPEAKER_01]: He just [SPEAKER_01]: blitzes through the fenders and attacks the rim with reckless abandon and he worked on his jump shot The whole summer and so when he gets on the on the court, he's just Electric and so that's some of this going to be exciting to watch and then Clark as a guy that just doesn't go out there and makes make mistakes He can he can guard multiple positions He was a defensive player the year in college when he was at UCLA and then he hurt his hurt his Achilles, but he showed some really signs He can guard some tough players, you know a season ago, so [SPEAKER_01]: I love the kill.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm going to miss the kill.

[SPEAKER_01]: He was he was he fit in so perfectly with that group So yeah, they're going to have to replace replace him.

[SPEAKER_01]: I think the big thing is this the point going spot and it's just you have You have my conley who somewhat say is he too old and then you have Rob Dylan hand what some would say is he too young and so In a and a Western conference where you know you're going to have to go through okay see [SPEAKER_01]: can either of them handle the pressure that they're going to get from that defensive back court, um, you know, to help run the offense.

[SPEAKER_04]: And Dylan Hannes is the wild card.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_04]: Like I think Mike can still play.

[SPEAKER_01]: Mike, oh, Mike, absolutely.

[SPEAKER_04]: And it gives him the easy, what do you shoot?

[SPEAKER_04]: Like 40% from three last year?

[SPEAKER_04]: Yeah, he's two point game wasn't good, but his three point game was better.

[SPEAKER_04]: I think he can still contribute as a starter, 25, 30, but Dillingham's got to be he's one of those guys you got to go to another level because they [SPEAKER_04]: It's a little, or even the slightest erosion in that conference can take you from like a top four seed to like eight.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yes.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_04]: All of a sudden Portland is nipping it.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_01]: Right.

[SPEAKER_01]: Which again, Portland is suffering.

[SPEAKER_01]: They're in the tough conference.

[SPEAKER_01]: But Portland is not going to be a walk in the park when you walk in the park.

[SPEAKER_01]: No.

[SPEAKER_02]: It only seems to be walking in the park as Utah.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yes.

[SPEAKER_02]: And they said they were on a beat.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_01]: Exactly.

[SPEAKER_04]: And the number one pick this year is that kid from Massachusetts.

[SPEAKER_04]: Let's go.

[SPEAKER_01]: And in the East, you know, the next, you know, and seeing it, they could really take that next step.

[SPEAKER_01]: But they'll be teams that'll be in the conversation or land, though, I mentioned, for sure, and land to, for sure, if they can stay healthy.

[SPEAKER_01]: So there'll be some teams in there, Milwaukee, we'll see, you know, you got Yannis, but you have some other guys that you're not sure if you can necessarily trust.

[SPEAKER_01]: So there's just, there's an immense amount of storylines across the league that's going to make it fun.

[SPEAKER_01]: There's, there's not just that one target.

[SPEAKER_01]: Again, if okay C was in L.A.

[SPEAKER_01]: and Sha'igildus Alexander was born in Chicago, we have a completely different feeling about okay C.

But no, they're in, they're in Oklahoma City, but they are clearly the best team, you know, in the league.

[SPEAKER_01]: And so because people are kind of taking their eyes off them, it kind of spreads the wealth in terms of attention and hope, but it's going to make for one hell of a collision course over the course of the season.

[SPEAKER_04]: I have no issue with Oklahoma City.

[SPEAKER_04]: Mahoghanies, I ate their seven times during the playoffs, solid steak over there.

[SPEAKER_01]: They are, it's, I don't have any issue with OKC either.

[SPEAKER_01]: I really appreciate the team.

[SPEAKER_01]: And I was so annoyed last off season.

[SPEAKER_01]: And I say this is a Minnesota guy when I was full-time play by play for the wolves.

[SPEAKER_01]: When they picked up Crusoe and Hardenstein, I'm like, oh my God, these are the two perfect guys to add to their roster, and even with injuries to Chad and then Hardenstein for a time, they just really never missed a beat, and so they're tough, and so obviously she's spent a lot of time in Oklahoma City, I love that note, I think he's just a great bad guy.

[SPEAKER_01]: That's a good one.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, he's tough, and underrated, and underrated, because he's understated, but a hell of a basketball guy.

[SPEAKER_01]: on their TV crew is great because he's from Massachusetts and they're standing and they're clapping and it's like it's almost robotic and then the nicest fanbase in the world.

[SPEAKER_04]: They've got better too because I think originally even when they were good back on the direct Westbrook days, I don't think they were great basketball fans then, and I based that on like, remember they used the P.A.G as a P.A.

[SPEAKER_04]: guy, you should know, it's like, we stick thunder sticks.

[SPEAKER_04]: Anytime a P.A.

[SPEAKER_04]: guy has to encourage the fan base to cheer in moments, that's not a good basketball.

[SPEAKER_04]: It's not like you don't hear that in New York or Boston, probably not even Indiana.

[SPEAKER_04]: Like you don't hear it like but like they stopped.

[SPEAKER_04]: I noticed they stopped doing that in this this generation I'm like all right.

[SPEAKER_04]: Well, they've been in Oklahoma since what 08 like it's almost 20 years like they're now basketball fans out there Not just sort of casual observers of the NBA.

[SPEAKER_04]: They're now pure Basketball fans don't need to be prodded into Declat you I think we're the Thunderstakes too, which is good, too.

[SPEAKER_01]: That was another dumb Dumbness that's definitely one of the toughest places to play in the league [SPEAKER_04]: Yeah, oh no question.

[SPEAKER_04]: I still look at like Boston, New York to me, one and two, as far as tough places to play, just because mostly maniacal fans there.

[SPEAKER_04]: But Oklahoma City in the finals, Oklahoma City was that was next.

[SPEAKER_04]: That was Indiana was great, too.

[SPEAKER_04]: But I thought Oklahoma City was was outstanding.

[SPEAKER_04]: Let me ask you one more thing.

[SPEAKER_04]: Back in the early days of NBA on NBC, those were the Dynasty days, right?

[SPEAKER_04]: Like you saw the Bulls emerge as this great team.

[SPEAKER_04]: The Pistons want a couple of championships.

[SPEAKER_04]: You have these legacy teams, go back to the 80s, Celtics, Lakers.

[SPEAKER_04]: We're at a new NBA where I don't want to say Dynasties are dead because Oklahoma City is one shape.

[SPEAKER_04]: It's a way from establishing a mini one.

[SPEAKER_04]: Denver, if they come out of the West again, could do the same thing, reestablish their little, little mini dynasty.

[SPEAKER_04]: But the NBA is legislated.

[SPEAKER_04]: Dynasties largely out of existence because of these rules.

[SPEAKER_04]: Is it better for you?

[SPEAKER_04]: You're a fan first and foremost.

[SPEAKER_04]: Do you like it better when there's this kind of parody or would you prefer there to be a boogey man out there for people to kind of That's it that's a tough one It's still a choice.

[SPEAKER_01]: I might be in my my feeling may not align with the ratings.

[SPEAKER_01]: I may I because I would lean toward parody [SPEAKER_01]: But I want to see greatness though, and if greatness is on some, you know, concocted super team that was bought, it takes a little bit of the left or away from me, even though rating to wise numbers may show like, oh, no, this is a big deal, everybody's drawn to watch to see them either win or to see them lose, and that's the draw.

[SPEAKER_01]: My feeling in those situations is from a storytelling standpoint.

[SPEAKER_01]: is that it takes attention away from all other stories around the league.

[SPEAKER_01]: Now all of a sudden, all the attention is generated toward this, this super team.

[SPEAKER_01]: And a great story and a different market is not being covered.

[SPEAKER_01]: When you have parody, [SPEAKER_01]: You can spread the wealth, and I think that's good for the game, especially when there's greatness spread around, and so, you know, Houston, you've got Kevin Durant and other guys that Shin Goon is outstanding, I mean Minnesota with Anthony Edwards and Denver with [SPEAKER_01]: If there was a, you know, Jonas and Milwaukee, if that was a super team that was just dominant in everybody and it was the big draw.

[SPEAKER_01]: I just think it takes away from a lot of stories and I think there are a number of great stories around the league.

[SPEAKER_01]: So I think some people are thinking, is it too much to have a national game, you know, every single night of the week?

[SPEAKER_01]: No, no, it gives a great opportunity for storytelling and spreading the wealth.

[SPEAKER_01]: And I think [SPEAKER_01]: Yes, you're going to have your diehard fans from Indiana like I just I really care about the Pacers, but there are a lot of just basketball fans out there and this is one of the things that I loved about boxing and you know you know Showtime would do this in HBO would do this with the with the 24-7 and you'd get a peek behind the curtain of these guys lives These spiders wise we have a step into the end of the zone.

[SPEAKER_01]: Okay.

[SPEAKER_01]: Okay.

[SPEAKER_03]: We do.

[SPEAKER_03]: We do.

[SPEAKER_01]: I mean you stopped watching boxing when I gave up I see a break out in 2018 okay Yeah, it was my bet, but it just gave you a damn show what they held [SPEAKER_01]: You're still talking about HBO.

[SPEAKER_01]: I can't let it go, but you know, to be able to tell those stories and if you were, if a big fight was coming up and you really didn't have a root interest, you would watch that show and then you just couldn't help it.

[SPEAKER_01]: You attached yourself to one guy or another because of something you related to in the storytelling.

[SPEAKER_01]: And I think the same can happen in today's NBA with parody, and so, you know, we could have a game between the Dunmatic.

[SPEAKER_01]: We Dallas and Utah, and we made, you know, tell a great story.

[SPEAKER_01]: about Anthony Davis, and someone who was neutral on Anthony Davis, all of a sudden goes, that's my guy.

[SPEAKER_01]: The USA documentary, Team USA documentary, they're going for gold on Netflix.

[SPEAKER_01]: I told a great story about, I think it was Band Mata Bio, and I'm like, I didn't know a ton about Band Mata Bio, but I was like, you know what, Band Mata Bio is my guy.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm going to move, Bam could go over 12 and I'm still going to rock with Bam because of the story that they told on this show and I think that's something that's missing.

[SPEAKER_01]: So I think you lose that with the, with the super teams, I'm, I'm, I'm personally all for parody.

[SPEAKER_04]: I, I, I, I tend to agree with you.

[SPEAKER_04]: Um, I think in the last 10 years, transactions have become the news of the day, transactions have become what the end-based about.

[SPEAKER_04]: That's fine.

[SPEAKER_04]: Like it keeps the league in the news year-round because people are talking about potential trades in July and August when there's no games to be played.

[SPEAKER_04]: But when games are being played, I do think that storytelling has been deemphasized.

[SPEAKER_04]: The number of outlets including broadcast that that, [SPEAKER_04]: Tell stories have dwindled over the years and that does it creates a connection if you can Tell a great story and have a fan graduate gravitate towards a pile of bank error Well, they might not seem more than three or four times a year That that matters in in today's lands.

[SPEAKER_04]: Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's another sports do it I mean, other sports are transactional as well, but I think being on NBC having Amazon on the mix He has pants still there.

[SPEAKER_04]: I think the the more storytelling we can get [SPEAKER_04]: the better is for the league because right now like the league I think parrot is good for regular season stuff because you more teams that matter and you're not just you don't have to league tilting at windmills out there.

[SPEAKER_04]: So I think that's where it comes into play more.

[SPEAKER_04]: If you can just tell all these stories, it just makes everything about the game much better.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, yeah, I, again, I totally understand that people say they would during that stretch when it seemed like the LeBron was facing Steph, you know, from multiple, you know, NBA finals.

[SPEAKER_01]: That was great.

[SPEAKER_01]: That was great.

[SPEAKER_01]: You know, I get it because those are two Titans in terms of popularity and, you know, you just knew LeBron when he was in a East was going to go to the conference final going to go to the NBA Finals.

[SPEAKER_04]: There were those old game of zones episodes where it's just like the run.

[SPEAKER_02]: I'm the new king of these.

[SPEAKER_02]: I'm the king of these.

[SPEAKER_02]: I was like, okay, sure.

[SPEAKER_04]: They're going to lose again.

[SPEAKER_04]: That's how it was every year.

[SPEAKER_04]: I think you do, you will see ratings dips in the finals when there's not the market team in the marketing.

[SPEAKER_04]: But I think the long run, having this kind of NFL style parody is going to matter.

[SPEAKER_01]: And again, I think this new MBA partnership not to guess up the new partners or anything like that, but I just think it'll help in that regard.

[SPEAKER_01]: I feel like when people are complaining, let's go back to June, when people are complaining that, oh, okay, CNN, Indiana, oh, that tells me that there hasn't been good enough storytelling.

[SPEAKER_01]: about these two teams because there was there was not a team hotter than Indiana in the East headed into the postseason.

[SPEAKER_01]: Indiana was rolling the turn of the new year through the postseason.

[SPEAKER_01]: So they had been red hot.

[SPEAKER_01]: So it wasn't and then if you add on that this is a red hot team and then you had cardiac, you know, Tyre's doing the things that he was doing, that was just a great opportunity there.

[SPEAKER_01]: And then okay, see you had been killing at the whole.

[SPEAKER_01]: you know, the whole season.

[SPEAKER_01]: So when people are like, oh, this is going to be a terrible finals.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm like, we didn't do our job.

[SPEAKER_01]: We didn't do our job as as storytellers, because this is a dynamic matchup.

[SPEAKER_01]: And I mean, we were one one popped Achilles away from getting an epic and epic game set.

[SPEAKER_04]: Sitting there and like watching it happen in real time.

[SPEAKER_04]: And here in that crowd that we talked about, which knew what happened, go from like up here all the way down [SPEAKER_04]: That was rough.

[SPEAKER_04]: Having the half in the playoffs three times, Damian Lillard, Jason Tatum, Tyre's Haliburton, Crazyman.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, that's insane.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm sure some research has been done because it was kind of the same motion for all three of those guys just planting and then boom pop.

[SPEAKER_01]: These guys are one of them.

[SPEAKER_04]: I believe the NBA is.

[SPEAKER_01]: you just can't have that you can't I mean we're talking to the biggest names in the sport.

[SPEAKER_01]: So these guys are running a lot more than what they did You know back in the day and the game is much faster and there's a lot more mileage on these guys.

[SPEAKER_01]: So they got to look into that because yeah, we got to protect these Protect these stars man.

[SPEAKER_01]: This is going to be a fun league, but but Tatum and Haliburton and look little will be missed this year.

[SPEAKER_04]: No question [SPEAKER_04]: Well, good to be teammates.

[SPEAKER_04]: My, yeah, I'm like here.

[SPEAKER_01]: I got took a while.

[SPEAKER_01]: I got it.

[SPEAKER_01]: Took a while.

[SPEAKER_04]: We finally got here.

[SPEAKER_04]: I would, I will tell you, though, like, unless, I mean, you're used to flying private, you know, does, is commercial going to be, okay, like you can go through the airport, like, you know?

[SPEAKER_01]: I know man, you've been trying for a little while now.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, I know, you know what I can't, is, and you can't control late flights, you know, when you're with the team, you're going to leave.

[SPEAKER_01]: It would have to take some insane act of God for you to not leave when you want to leave when you're with the team.

[SPEAKER_01]: Right.

[SPEAKER_01]: Um, I had a, I had a, I had a flight real quick.

[SPEAKER_01]: I had a flight over this, over this summer.

[SPEAKER_01]: I was going, I was going, oh, just, not longer.

[SPEAKER_01]: I was going to DC from Minnesota and we were delayed two hours before we left [SPEAKER_01]: And then finally we take off and I'm listening to my headphones and I'm prepping for my game and then we land and Then we get to the gate and then what do you do when you get to the gate?

[SPEAKER_01]: Everybody on buckles of seatbelt and the stand-up.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm buckling my seatbelt.

[SPEAKER_01]: I stand up I look at back.

[SPEAKER_01]: I'm the only dude standing [SPEAKER_01]: Well, the hell is going on so I do this awkward sit back down and then I look at my phone or whatnot.

[SPEAKER_01]: We're in Philly.

[SPEAKER_01]: They had made an announcement while I had my noise canceling headphones on that they had to make an emergency landed in Philly for fuel.

[SPEAKER_01]: So we were in Philly for two hours and then we finally got to DC and it was like one in the morning or whatever.

[SPEAKER_01]: But I say all that to say that better not happened during the year.

[SPEAKER_04]: I mean, look, it's tough for you like security checks, you know, connecting flights.

[SPEAKER_02]: I don't know man.

[SPEAKER_02]: You've done this.

[SPEAKER_02]: You've done this.

[SPEAKER_02]: You've done this.

[SPEAKER_02]: You've done this.

[SPEAKER_02]: You've done this.

[SPEAKER_02]: You've done this.

[SPEAKER_02]: There's not a lot of directs.

[SPEAKER_02]: I'm just telling you.

[SPEAKER_02]: I've done it.

[SPEAKER_02]: Not a lot of directs even from some of the major cities just to.

[SPEAKER_04]: Oh my gosh, you're gonna kill a man.

[SPEAKER_04]: I'm looking forward to hearing you on all these networks and glad you still doing some Minnesota stuff That's gonna be fun out there as well, man.

[SPEAKER_04]: Thanks for taking a few months to join me.

[SPEAKER_01]: Oh, always by the appreciate you