Get A Bucket Show
Join a sports show where Tré discusses all things sports (i.e. basketball). With sports being a microcosm of life, this allows for a bevy of topics ranging from X's and O's to life decisions!
In basketball the basic fundamental principle is to Get A Bucket! We study and admite the greatest bucket getters, but also those who assist, defend, rebound as all aspects lead to Getting A Bucket!! Remember, it's important that we listen and learn from one another, so make sure to tune in and let me know your honest opinions! Trying to help the world through sports conversation!!!
Get A Bucket Show
Cleveland Cavaliers' Dominance, WNBA vs. NBA Tournaments, and NBA Rookie of the Year Contenders
Tune into Get A Bucket with your host Tré as I bring on a special guest Nick! Today we discuss what if the Cleveland Cavaliers weren't just a sleeper team, but a powerhouse shaking up the NBA? Our latest episode uncovers the unexpected thrills of the current season, spotlighting the Cavs' blistering 15-1 run led by Evan Mobley and Darius Garland. Join us as we dissect the Philadelphia 76ers' rocky start, hampered by injuries to Joel Embiid and Paul George, and explore the shifting landscape of the Western Conference with the Golden State Warriors at the helm. Is there a new wave of talent ready to redefine the league?
We shift gears to the WNBA, where the Commissioner's Cup stirs more than just competition. Is it overshadowing the NBA's in-season tournament in significance and fan engagement? We weigh both sides, pondering whether these tournaments justify their existence or simply drift into the background noise of the sporting world. From trends that spark curiosity to outcomes that predict future victors, we serve up a mix of humor and analysis that questions the true value of these contests.
Lastly, our special guest Nick joins me to tackle the race for NBA Rookie of the Year. We scrutinize standout performances from Zach Edey and Jared McCain, diving into their stats and impact. As we consider the journeys of promising talents like Dalton Knecht and Stephon Castle, we also explore the outside interests of players like Draymond Green and Paul George. How do their podcast ventures shape public perception and legacy? Tune in to hear the balance of sports, hobbies, and the scrutiny that follows.
Click https://linktr.ee/GABPod for more content!!!
What's up everybody. It's your favorite show, favorite show, get a Bucket. I'm your host, trey, and, as usual, I hope you're all having a wonderful, wonderful day. And, as you can see, I got my guy Nick on the screen again. What's good, baby. How's everything with you?
Speaker 2:I'm all right, I'm chilling.
Speaker 1:I feel it, I feel it, I feel it. You know he's a Bulls fan, right Sports advocate, but he's also talk a little hoops. You know what I'm saying. It's called get a bucket right, but, um, we're gonna stop him and then hauling and get right on into the show, you. So you about ready? Yeah, I'm ready. All right that that? Well, ladies and gentlemen, we are here. Listen, the NBA season. It's been kind of interesting. What's been your biggest surprise thus far?
Speaker 2:For me it's been just how good the Cavs are. I mean, obviously we expected them to be in, you know, hopefully in that middle to top half of that eastern conference. Uh, in terms of seeding, but 15 and 0. I'm sure nobody would have predicted a good old 15-1 start so far. And Evan Mobley has really been playing well. They've been using him, bringing the ball up and sort of starting the offense has really kick-started what was an average to below average group last year and turned them into a top 10, top 5. I forget where they are in terms of offensive rating, but they are really high up there and for a team that already was doing really well defensively. For that now, you know, darius Garland is also playing really well, back from all those injuries. You know, bless the knees, bless the knees, bless the feet. But yeah, darius Garland playing well, evan Mobley, you know, finally starting to show some of those signs that we were promised, you know, coming out of USC, okay, okay, cavaliers have been incredible, okay, okay.
Speaker 1:I can respect that. My only thing, though, is so I like the potential of the Cavs. People were talking about how the Cavs, people were talking about how the Cavs are trash. Last year, outside of Donovan Mitchell, and I'm like not necessarily, jared Allen went down in the playoffs. It was a little tough. So for me again, top of the top of the of the league, I mean it's early. The Jazz were up there at one point in time and then fell off. So I'd like to see how they're going. But they're definitely a big surprise too. I can't hold you, I can't even refute them not being the biggest surprise, arguably, the 76ers being 2-12. Yeah, it's 2-12. Damn, that's tough, bro.
Speaker 1:And again, joel Embiid goes out. Paul George goes out Twice he gets. And again Drell and B goes out. Paul George goes out Twice, like he gets injured twice. Tyrese Maxey goes out Like shout out to my guy Jerry McCain, though you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 1:Good stock, like I told y'all, and I also told y'all too, let the boy hoop and stop worrying about his fingernail polish. It's very important that y'all care about production. That's what matters. Also, let him live his life. But that is a big surprise. Also, the Warriors like they at the top of the West. I don't think a lot of people had the Warriors at the West, I mean at the top of the West. Hell, I don't even know if they had them at the top of our division. Like that was going to be tough. I don't think I did. But there's a few surprises this NBA season thus far, so it's been pretty interesting.
Speaker 1:I got to sneak this one in there, I guess Because, again, my stats guy Some teams have taken a little slight dip, just a few, but apparently it's. It's the former mvps, like yannis's team. Day ninth in the East. Again, it's early, ladies and gentlemen, it's early, but they ninth. Now the Nuggets, they are sixth, if I'm not mistaken. Best case fifth, fifth, shout out to the Nuggets. That's a little dip though, because dang, weren't they kind of just champions and then doing all right, like I thought they were doing pretty well? So fifth, could I mean it's not bad, but we could have higher expectations. And then, of course, the 76ers Bottom of the league, damn near. I think they actually do have worse Bottom of the league Like that's tough, and I say damn near because again they are tied.
Speaker 1:But they're still at the bottom. That's a little that there's about to be a new power shift, because the Celtics look good, shout out, jason Tatum, good stock, ok, so you look good, shea, and them. Even the Magic, when Paolo was playing, was looking all right, like I don't know. There's some young guns out there.
Speaker 2:I mean I think the Magic and not to date the episode or anything but the Magic looked pretty good yesterday too.
Speaker 1:We ain't got gotta talk about that. Shout out Franz Wagner. We ain't gotta talk about that. I hate this movie. Oh my god.
Speaker 2:I mean no, I mean there's definitely. Uh, I we're definitely in the middle of what I think is a changing of the guard. Um, we were talking about, you know not to bring up too much off-camera discussion, but we were talking about how you know not to bring up too much off-camera discussion, but we were talking about how you know Kevin Durant and guys like that. They, you know Steph Curry, they're both in their mid-30s now. You know LeBron's in his 50s, 60s I don't know what he is now, but I lost track. Even Embiid, even Embiid, you know the MVP not too long ago. He's 31. Yeah, 31.
Speaker 1:Like, by the time he gets to the next Olympics, he'll be 35. Like, anthony Davis will be 34, 36.
Speaker 2:Like we're seeing a change in the guard. You know I will give you full props. You called this last year with the Thunder saying they're going to get there faster than I anticipated. Anybody anticipated were like, oh, this seems gonna be pretty good once those draft and picks all come in. They're good now and they still have all those draft picks and on the way. So yeah, absolutely we're seeing a change in the guard. You know the Mavs are also like they're. They were in the NBA Finals last year, yeah.
Speaker 1:But they haven't got an MVP. That's regressing, though that's the thing, no for sure, but that's what I'm saying like changing of the guard. Maybe you know Giannis' team, the Bucs, well Luka see Luka young, but he came in at an early age. I'm talking about professionals, so, yeah, he is a little up there there too. Body wise, like age wise, I feel you on that.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, it does seem like that that that air, that new wave of air, is coming now. Um, I'm still 19 years old.
Speaker 1:That is, that is crazy. They keep running with that. Oh my gosh, that's funny. But now it's. It's so interesting because, again, I think a lot of people expect even even my lakers, we expect us to dominate. But I think people still look at braun like, oh, you gotta leave. Now I'm thinking. I'm thinking anthony davis gotta leave, man, because now we gotta we gotta usher in a new era. Right, like at some point in time. Even okc, they're gonna have to usher in a new era with chet, because shea's gonna hit like 31 at some point in time. So let's say he stays on the squad and let's say chet stays on the squad. Somebodywise Chet will be closer to his prime. So you've got to run it through Chet.
Speaker 2:So eventually you've got to and pay-wise Like can't pay every well.
Speaker 1:I think Shea will still have a solid pay. No for sure. I'm just saying, like you're going to have to make some tough decisions a few years from now. Well, I think they keep their big three at least point in time. Right now, jalen Williams, chet and Shea, and then after that they figure everything else around that. But yeah, again, everybody got to evolve and grow. No, no, no, dork can stay. He's got to take less pay.
Speaker 2:That's all, because then?
Speaker 1:if that you know what I'm saying. If you're trying to win and have fun, well, listen, you leave $15 million on the table.
Speaker 2:I mean he can go elsewhere.
Speaker 1:He can go elsewhere. You know what I'm saying? That's another discussion. Okay, all right, I got y'all. I got y'all. Y'all heard the buzzer. Y'all heard the buzzer. Ladies and gentlemen, we're not going to, we're going to stay scripted today. But, uh, when we come back I guess we have more sports to talk about. But for now, uh, let y'all tune into the commercial break real quick, so we'll be right back.
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Speaker 1:All right, ladies and gentlemen, we are back. Listen, nick, nba season right. Sometimes I feel like you know what, if I didn't have the sports show, would I be watching it as much? Like, does the end season tournament really draw me in? And it don't really draw me in and they don't. So I wanted to ask you personally how do you like the in-season tournament like from an entertainment perspective? Is it captivating you? Is it making you want to watch NBA by NBA League pass, all that good stuff like? What's your thoughts?
Speaker 2:well, maybe not a NBA League pass, maybe I like money a little bit too much for that, but one of the things I like about the in-season tournament is that, especially nowadays and early on in the season games 10 through 20, 25, you get those players who are established in the league. They've been doing this for seven, eight years and the fact of the matter is they know it's a marathon, they know that the games that matter are not yet. So the in-season tournament, I think, has done a very good job of making those players kick it up, not all the way to maximum overdrive or anything like that, but one gear, um, and if you can make game 20 matter, uh to somebody, and you can get them to. Maybe it's not playoff basketball, but it's not. You know, you don't go to sleep, you know, during the game. Add a little bit of competition. I think that's for the best.
Speaker 2:Last year we saw this, but we kind of wanted to hedge our bets a little bit. We didn't want to get too excited. We wanted to go okay, this is the first year. Anytime there's a first year of anything, it's successful because it's new. So we want to. You know we get people newly excited because, oh, new thing, but let's, let's see what happens what happens as time goes on?
Speaker 2:and so far you're still seeing that that competition it's not as fiery as last year, but it's still keeping up kicking that that up, that one gear, uh. So yeah, I think it's made early season basketball worth watching, um, even if that, unfortunately, that's not what some people you know want to talk about.
Speaker 1:Okay, okay so see, I ain't gonna lie, there was one day and I have nba league pass, right, right. So you know I can actually rewind, spin the block back and watch these games. So it's not a problem if I miss a game, right. But I definitely had the option to choose either watch basketball games or just watch some tv shows, and I ended up watching ncis, lucifer and all them like I did not pay attention to NBA.
Speaker 1:That day. I'm like you know what and I saw one of the days was the in-season game. I'm like you know what. I really don't care as much. I don't. It's not that appealing. Granted, let's look at last year the Pacers. They did get to the Eastern Conference Finals. Tip of the cap to them, right, I'm not that appealing. That was because of injuries.
Speaker 1:For me, if I'm being honest, when I look at the Commissioner Cup for the WNBA, I think that holds more value to the season than I do the in-season tournament, for whatever reason. That matters more to me. And also the trend seems a little bit better. Whoever wins the Commissioner Cup apparently loses in the finals. But hey, they get to the finals though. And those teams actually, it's logical why they got there. Like it seems like it matters more. We saw the aces in the championship, we saw the liberty in the championship okay, cool. So these teams actually seem like they matter and, and, and, and, and and. I'm not getting that with with, with the in-season tournament. So I'll be curious to see what happens at the end of the season and going forward too, because you said that it's not as fiery. So it lost a little edge, a little, a little, that's tough.
Speaker 2:With the WNBA. I think it's also much more indicative of future success because the season is shorter, so it's not as much of a concentrate Like players aren't as much concentrating on the fact that they've got. If they want to make it to the NBA Finals and win the NBA Finals, they've got to play upwards of 100 games in a year. So you don't have that lingering in the back of the mind. Now, one year of the like I said, of this in-season tournament does not a sample size make. Neither does two years. We have to see what this is like.
Speaker 1:So what's a fair amount of years?
Speaker 2:to give it for you. I want, if this is successful, for five years. I think that's going to be great.
Speaker 1:I know that's a long time and successful meaning that it's still viewed as entertaining.
Speaker 2:The competition level is still higher than it used to be.
Speaker 1:Okay, okay, then that will be worth in recent years. In recent years, yeah, okay, all right, that's interesting. I'll I'll have to think about what I would deem as it being successful, because I don't want to just limit it to like ratings, even though it does. Ratings definitely do matter. But, like competition matters, but like actual value, like what value? Like what does it ultimately do for the game? Like, is it really adding a value to it?
Speaker 1:Because if this isn't, I'd like to find something else to do, something like to do than just this, because now we're just wasting time. So, but again, if it is adding value, I'm not mad at you on that. I just think the Commissioner Cup's better, just a little bit. But I'm curious what y'all all decide actually about this here topic, because it's kind of an entertaining one, because again, wmba's, the trend has been kind of it's been two years and it's been kind of consistent so far. Again, the commissioner cup champ loses in the finals and the person who the team that loses in the Commissioner Cup championship, wins the whole thing. So I mean that seems pretty solid to me.
Speaker 2:But, to your point, let's give it more time, because if the NBA starts doing that too, If that trend does continue in the WNBA, we probably, if that trend continues, we might have to have an investigation.
Speaker 1:That'll be a little. That's funny, alright. So hey, wnba, don't have your teams be beating too much.
Speaker 2:Where's Eric Bischoff right now Is?
Speaker 1:he in the back.
Speaker 2:I'm like what happened.
Speaker 1:But, ladies and gentlemen, y'all heard the buzzer go off. What we're going to do is take a little quick hiatus, like I think the in-season tournament should do, but we're going to pay some bills, like the in-season tournament should be doing. So we'll come back after a moment from our sponsors.
Speaker 1:Hair Talk sponsors Careful air talk so All right, ladies and gentlemen, we are back. Listen, we're here at a nice little segment, right? I want to talk to you about the NBA Rookie of the Year, but I want to get your take on it, just your personal opinion. And then we also are going to look at stats and see how you feel, because again, he loved himself some stats. You know what I'm saying. And then we also are going to look at stats and see how you feel, because again, that's, he loved himself some stats. You know I'm saying like fish gotta swim, birds gotta fly, nick gotta follow some stats. So let's see what happens. But curious point in time, who's your rookie of the year? Leader?
Speaker 2:so, oh, I think, rookie of the year leader. I think one of the things that people worried about um after steven adams kept getting hurt and then departed, uh, from the grizzlies was who's going to be that traditional big um next to jaron jackson jr, who we've learned is probably better off in that four spot um with a traditional big next to him. And people looked at Zach Eaddy coming into the draft and they're like this guy's a dinosaur. He would have been. He's a George Murasan, sean Bradley. He's going to get killed in the pick and roll. He's not going to space the floor for you. He's a, you know, he's an artifact. He comes in the league and I think he's leading. This is where the stats come in.
Speaker 1:I ain't trying to cut you off, but to be clear, because I was just asking for an answer, see, and you're switching up on me too, ladies and gentlemen, because off camera, he said something else. So to be clear, who's your leading candidate right now? I think it's Zach Eadie right now. I think it's zach edie right now.
Speaker 2:Okay, all right, so zach edie's yours he's leading the all rookies, I think in my years for 48, I hear you.
Speaker 1:So for me I go jared mccain.
Speaker 2:I wonder why well, it has nothing to do with you, know where he come from, although he do come from good stock.
Speaker 1:Ladies and gentlemen, um, you did kind of share some light, I guess a little bit as to like you. Like Zach Eady, he stepped into the role of Steven Adams. He's been thriving. You say he's leading in win shares or per 48, although I don't care about the per 48 because there's no guarantee they're going to be playing the exact same way for 48 minutes. So I understand the projection. Yeah, I don't put that much stock into it, but I hear you though.
Speaker 1:Um, for me when I look at jared, it just came down to again pg goes out, mb goes out, maxi goes out. They ain't really been winning that much, but he's been the bright spot of the team. Yes, like the bright spot. He's been carrying the load on the shoulders and like and respectfully, that's a, that's a rookie on this veteran team. So it's like I can't put the blame of them losing on him at all. I can't. He's definitely been the silver lining of that team this year exactly, and on an injured squad. That's kind of like a saving grace. Now let's say, everybody was healthy and he was still doing this. All right, that might be an interesting discussion, right, but for right now, again point in time, I'm looking at Jared McCain Also. He's scoring pretty well 16 a game right now, 47-40-80 split, no 100.
Speaker 2:My bad he ain't missing out a free throw, don't say that If he misses a free throw in the next game, I'm going to like yeah, say 100.
Speaker 1:I'm pointing time right now. I'm just listing off what happened. Don't shoot the messenger.
Speaker 2:He better not miss his next free throw, he better not miss his next free throw, he better not miss his next free throw.
Speaker 1:But again those are tough because again now let's talk about stats now, because again that's what I saw right. But then we talk about stats. I listed off Jared McCain 16-2-2, defensively, 5 steals, no blocks, 47-40, 100 splits. Right, dalton, connect on my Lakers so y'all can tell I ain't biased. He's been connecting quite well because he's been doing 52, 46, 92 splits I mean three, the other day. That means 52 percent from the field, 46 percent from the three-point line, 92% from the free throw line. Like, take that.
Speaker 1:You take that 52% from the field, 46% from the three and 92% from the free throw line. It's crazy, but all right, cool. Zachary Richerche yeah, 12-4-1. Now his efficiency is not up to Dalton and Jarrett, right, Carlton, carrington, bub as they call them, 10-4-5. 42-39-80 splits, like those are pretty solid. Zach Eadie 11.7 rebounds, one assist and again the defensive end too. Zachary Richersey is at .9, .8. Bubb is at 1.2, .3. Zach Eady is at .9, and .9 steals one block. Stephon Castle, who I like him, I ain't going to hold you, it's just his efficiency. Like that would be the main thing. Like there's a couple of good players up here in this rookie class.
Speaker 2:Well, what's Castle shooting from three?
Speaker 1:28% that's why I said the efficiency and then from the field goal percentage, 39. Now what's helpful for me is he's shooting 72 from the free throw, so I'm like, alright, that at least shows it's not his mechanics.
Speaker 2:So it's just over time he'll get better, and I think he had a bad stretch as well, which might you know with the small sample size. But if Stephon Castle came into the league, his big issue was going to be three-point shooting.
Speaker 2:And I think he started the game. I think he started the year shooting pretty well from three, which is encouraging. So I mean, castle was my number two guy to mention because he's been incredibly impressive. You know, he walked in. It's like, okay, he's gonna give you a hustle, but maybe he won't give you much in terms of material. You know stats. Uh, he'll play his heart out on defense, he'll go get the hustle balls and the guy didn't at uconn but he's been playing much better than I expected him to play in the first few games of his career. And if castle continues to develop like that with Wamby, that could be an interesting take.
Speaker 1:Yeah, no, that could be an interesting team. I felt the same way. I forget who I told that to. I think it might have been Chris. But no, I agree with you. But off the stats, do you change your answer on the Rookie of the Year.
Speaker 2:Any, I think I would still give it to Edie. I think, as unfair as it might be, he's also going to get a bump. If memphis continues to, you know, play. Well, what?
Speaker 1:if 76ers improve, then definitely mccain should be in that conversation, um, but uh, I think so you value team success and rookie of the year play no, I'm not saying I do, I'm saying that people will.
Speaker 2:I'm putting Zach Eady up there for different reasons.
Speaker 1:Okay All right, cool, cool. So then let me ask you this then because you love your big men, what you love your big men Like you, love your centers, yeah, okay. So Alex Saar, washington Wizards, statistically, if we don't focus on efficiency, right, he's given 10.6 rebounds, 2 assists, .8 steals, 2.1 blocks. Now, when we're talking about again statistically, that's arguably the best stat line that I've read off today. But then when we get to efficiency, 35, 20, and then 70.
Speaker 1:What was he shooting from the field 35 percent from the field, 20 from three and then 70 from the free throw. Now my but, like my thing, is this though you can build around that, though you can, like you can, you can improve that because again, the free throw line cool, you know, like that little promise. Also, the 2.1 blocks and the .8 steals, that does help out, definitely. The negative two win shares was a little bit interesting. Wow, the negative .2 win shares, okay, okay, that makes more sense. That was a little bit interesting because again, I'm looking at everybody else, even Stephon Castle, his field goal percentage was 39. His three-point percentage was 28. He got .3, like dang. I would at least think the 2.1 blocks help him up. Like for me, I don't know, that seemed a little weird. Do you think Alex Saar is as bad as his win shares projects him to be?
Speaker 2:I'm certainly not panicking, but when you're 7'1" and you're shooting in the 30s from the field, if that first number is a 3.
Speaker 1:Well he, not the, Because you know Valanchunas is there, so Valley might be on the block a little too. He might not be on the block at times, and I'm not trying to excuse him as much. You know, I'm just saying he's young, it's his rookie year. Like as he gets older, bigs take about five years to develop. Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2:Not going to panic, but woof. That's probably why his win shares are well. Okay so that's not when he's on the floor. Their offense is probably not as good, because they do go to Valanchunas and Valanchunas is obviously older, more experienced and better offensively, More professional yeah, so that probably kills his win shares Right, especially if they alternate him and Valanchunas as the center.
Speaker 1:And his minutes aren't as high too. I think he's getting about 25 a game yeah. And again, that's 2.1 blocks in 25 minutes.
Speaker 2:So I 25 a game. Yeah, and again, that's 2.1 blocks in 25 minutes so I'm not gonna panic.
Speaker 1:I do like the 2.1 blocks per game. You said 20, he's like he's in the he's in that 20 range.
Speaker 2:The last time I checked and 2.1 block listen I this is what we said before the draft was sar was going to come in. He's underdeveloped offensively but he's really good defensively. He's long, he's athletic, you know he's a. I think I called him something like wimba yama zero, like uh, that's crazy. Uh, in terms of just the, the broad strokes of his draft profile. So this is not completely off of where I predicted he would be, um, and, in all fairness, even when my yama started off really slow, um, so to start the year, I think he was also in the 30s field goal percentage somewhere, or maybe low 40s.
Speaker 1:Well, I think this is that. I got to look back and check that yeah so it's not so, you're not, so, you're not, you're not giving up on Saar. No, let me ask you this then, before we leave then, are you, do you believe he can still win Rookie of the Year?
Speaker 2:He better get to working if he wants to, but do you?
Speaker 1:believe he can, though, Like do you feel like he can personally?
Speaker 2:I would not put any amount of money on that.
Speaker 1:Okay, all right, that's fair. That's fair, I don't know. It seems like there's an outside shot, but also they're trying to figure some things out in the wizard. So I, I'm like you, I wouldn't put money on it, but still there. To me there seems like there's a world, but it's also diminishing, like, and I'm optimistic as hell. Y'all know that, like y'all, y'all know I love to have a little optimism. But uh, you know, sorry, I wish you the best right alex, sorry, I I'm not gonna.
Speaker 1:Oh, that could work. Sorry, like that. Holla at me, bro, I got you I got. Holla at me, bro, I got you. I promise you, I got you. That's a sorry, that's a good one, sorry. Oh, that's a nice little one right there. But, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, what we gonna do is, uh, of course, take a quick little hiatus. I'm gonna pay some bills. Come right back, though we'll talk a little bit more hoop, so we'll be right back after a moment from. Uh, these sponsors, I don't like that smile.
Speaker 1:Sports is one of the few things that genuinely connects us together, whether with co-workers, friends, family. We all love the entertainment. Well, here on Get a Bucket, my goal is to talk about sports and its cultural impact, the WNBA, for example. The WNBA is loads of entertainment, from the new rookies battling, displaying their skill sets and preparing to take the league by storm, to the Titans and the MVPs of the league clashing for battles We'll always remember, from imagining the soon to be possibilities to admiring and treasuring the finale. Get a bucket is a platform where other sports analysts, hoopers, coaches and fans of the show come and talk about the WNBA, both negatives and positives. So if you haven't take a quick peek, at the very least you'll have a good time. Remember, sports is one of the few things that genuinely connects us together, so please tune in and stay connected.
Speaker 1:All right, ladies and gentlemen, we are back, nick, all right, so I got a basketball right. You know what I'm saying. I'm not a professional, oh God, see it clearly. You know what I mean. It's got to call space bait, but I got a show, though it's not a podcast. Specifically, it's a show, right, it's a get a bucket show. We on Wilder Entertainment Network. I say all that because obviously I'm not in the NBA and I think it's okay that I have a show or a podcast or whatever y'all want to call it right, but it's a show still. Do you think active NBA players should have a show or podcast during the season? What's your takes on that?
Speaker 2:Bit of a cop-out, but I think it depends on the player. Bit of a cop-out, but I think it depends on the player. I think if you can depend on that player to continue to bring you know to compete at a high level every night and it won't cause him to suffer any sort of consequences on the floor, fine. I would also much rather my player, especially my star player, have a podcast than be doing whatever it is NBA stars do during the nightlife. I'd rather them be recording.
Speaker 1:I'd rather them actually just be practicing.
Speaker 1:Or resting up or working on their body or working on their nutrition. Because here's the thing you could be studying film and you could be talking with your teammates about hoops. You don't have to talk about hoops on a podcast, especially if we're not winning. See, like we off air. I did ask him. You know I'm saying like all right, let's you, because he's a bulls fan. Let's use jordan as an example, right? Um, let's say jordan only won like three championships. Jordan only gets three championships but decides to get a podcast.
Speaker 1:How long you gonna want to listen to Jordan talk? Like I'm not going to want to listen, to talk too much longer if we keep losing, like after like three seasons. Okay, like maybe we might want to stop the podcast, maybe, or after that fourth season. Hey, bro, appreciate you, appreciate you, but like, definitely let's chill out on the podcast. That fifth season you cut it out. Like you know, I'm saying like it's it's a little tough because it's also viewed as a distraction. So it certainly can be. I, and that's why I'm questioning if players, like even someone as good as Draymond Green, hall of Fame players, should he have a podcast? Paul George should he have a podcast? He hasn't won anything and I'm actually curious. What do you think about that?
Speaker 2:I mean, especially for a guy like Draymond. I'm not worried about Draymond falling off, because what he gives, he's not going to lose track of that. Okay, he has Draymond. He plays like if he doesn't. He still is an incredible defender, he still goes out there and gives incredible effort as if he's not multiple-time all-NBA guy, multiple-time champion. But you're right, for a guy like Paul George, you don't have basically the social capital or the capital with fans or with an organization to do that. You're either. You seem to be and I don't like to speak poorly of paul george, because I think enough people do that already like you know, um, but you, you're right, you don't have a championship. In fact, you can't even be dependent on anymore to to perform in the playoffs, as much as that hurts for me to say, um. So why are we making a podcast? And and I love Paul George's podcast- too.
Speaker 1:It's cool. It's a good one. It's a good one.
Speaker 2:As a fan, it hurts me to say that, Because I like listening to Paul George talk about the game and dissect games and scouting reports and things like that. But you can't then just go out there and put up 20 points on 35% shooting in the playoffs. Your team needs better than that or not even be out there.
Speaker 1:It in the playoffs. We, your team, needs better than that, or not even be out there like it comes off like a lack of focus. Yeah, and again, I'm not saying, paul, listen, if you're listening. One, appreciate you. Two, I'm not saying, bro, don't stop doing what you want to do, right? I hope everybody in life does what they want to do to a degree, but like you still like this is. This is the conversation that people are going to have for you. If you don't produce, but still have the podcast, still have all these extracurriculars outside of hoops, which, as humans, we should, because, like later on, when you retire, you're not going to hoop no more. So what else do you need to do? Have something outside of the game of basketball, exactly so.
Speaker 1:I definitely get you having that prep work. What else do you need to do? Have something outside of the game of basketball, exactly. So I I definitely get you having that prep work. I definitely getting you having your passions outside of like, outside of the game.
Speaker 2:But when you don't win, it's going to be viewed as a lack of focus and not oh, he's trying to make himself and paul george is happy with that lot and happy with that, then absolutely I don't like he should not have to sacrifice just because some fans are unhappy, um, what he wants to do. Like you said, if he's had like um one of the best examples is is Shaquille O'Neal like, uh, could he have sort of put himself to the grindstone, maybe not gone out and DJ'd and partied and all these other things? Sure, he would have been having a lot less fun, though, and he's still like he's the kid who went'd and partied and all these other things. Sure, he would have been having a lot less fun, though, and he's still like he's the kid who went out and partied every night in college and still graduated with a 3.6 GPA.
Speaker 1:Now see, I'm a little biased with this one, though, because I felt like Shaq could have worked out a little bit more and got a couple GPA Sure absolutely. You're talking to a Laker fan, right?
Speaker 2:now, though and I appreciate you on them three I'm just saying, brother, you could have got a couple more. He's still a top 15. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:He's still up there.
Speaker 2:So if you're happy with that and I think you should be then great. He went out there and had the best time of his life. He's basically completing side quests at this point and is still having a good career and is still an incredible player. If Paul George is happy being the kind of player that he was I think he's gotten all NBA like five times, four times, something like that and having that legacy amongst fans whose opinions, sorry, don't matter, shouldn't matter then absolutely keep doing that.
Speaker 1:But you have to accept that as well, and that's what I was going to say too. It's okay if he goes this route, but when people are talking, I don't want to hear.
Speaker 1:oh well, the fans need to stop talking about because, again, you have that platform to do so and I don't want to hear the hypocrisy, I don't want to hear that. So if you want to keep the platform, that's great, fine and dandy. Same with and I keep it fair across the board too. Same with angel reese I love you got your platform out there, but at the same time, if your game slip, oh you know, folks is gonna try to get after you because they was doing that when you were actually dominant. So imagine what they're gonna do when you, when you, when you slip a little bit. So that's my only thing.
Speaker 1:It's the perception. Like jj reddick and braun, they quit there or they stopped their uh podcast. They didn't do it during the season. And I think now the perception like, let's say, let's say my lakers win the championship this year and the 76ers do what they are currently doing right now the notion, the perception might be we're more about business y'all more about play, play, which is cool, but when you get these big-ass contracts, that's where the frustration goes, which now when I say, oh, maybe we should lessen the years, the contracts, that'll start generating more legs of that conversation because, oh well, we're giving you this much and I mean you got a podcast but you ain't putting as much effort into the game, especially if folks stop their show to win a championship.
Speaker 2:The big concern that is something. It's a good note, that something that should be a concern is can the owners use this as leverage to acquire non-guaranteed contracts again?
Speaker 1:And if that?
Speaker 2:happens, that's a disaster for the players union, absolute disaster.
Speaker 1:I think you should have a conversation with people and let them know look as a profession, like as a professional, we're business, like shout out pat riley, but they were successful because they're about business. They have a culture there that is at least successful. Not everybody can do that and they don't win championships all the time, but they at least are successful. They get to the final sometimes we don't expect it, yeah. So I do think there's a good balance. You should be able to have a hobby outside. But I will say, using someone like Kobe, using someone like Jordan, like you said earlier, it'd be questionable if Jordan would have a podcast or a show. It'd be questionable if Kobe had a podcast or a show during the season, unless they pre-recorded and then dropped it off during the during the season. But that's the, that's how I think they do it during the season.
Speaker 1:But again, I ain't trying to knock y'all hustle, I'm just saying that's the perception that's gonna be, and it's gonna be bad if other teams stop their shows and win and you can't get one. That's's all I'm saying. So, but I mean, I mean, y'all heard the buzzer, ladies and gentlemen. So I, you know, we gonna, I guess, close up shop just like that. But, nick, I greatly appreciate your time. Man, that was a good episode, that was a good, that was a good little segment that I appreciate you. Do you have anything you want to say before we close up shop?
Speaker 2:yeah, um, thanks for having me on. I'm happy to do this. And uh, yeah, like and subscribe. Y'all heard him.
Speaker 1:He's a smart man like subscribe, comment, tell anyone who's anyone about the show. My name is trey. I'm the host. Get a bucket. Hope you all have a good one. Take care. Oh, I did not know you guys were still here. As you can see, we're at the back end of the show. No pun intended, but look, hope you all enjoyed it. And before you go, please subscribe to the YouTube channel, follow the IG account, share the content to anybody who's anybody and, most importantly, leave your thoughts and comments below. But I gotta go back and play Buddy in 2K, so let me unmute him real quick. Excuse me, hey boss, I'm back. Nah, you better catch this word.