The Daily Zeitgeist - MJGMB #69: Wemby’s World and True Trail Blazers with Cassidy Hubbarth & Spencer Haywood

Episode Date: July 14, 2023

Miles and Jack have an exciting double-feature for you as they were pleased to catch up with ESPN’s Cassidy Hubbarth in Act 1 & 2 to discuss Victor Wembanyama’s debut, NBA Con and Summer Leagu...e action before they were also honored to be joined by Hall of Famer Spencer Haywood in Act 3*. The trio discussed an upcoming biopic Lionsgate is currently producing about Haywood’s life, as well as Spencer’s overall impact on the NBA draft and player agency.  *WARNING: excessive background noise in Act 3! You have been warned!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcript
Discussion (0)
Starting point is 00:00:00 I'm Keri Champion, and this is Season 4 of Naked Sports. Up first, I explore the making of a rivalry. Kaitlyn Clark versus Angel Reese. Every great player needs a foil. I know I'll go down in history. People are talking about women's basketball just because of one single game. Clark and Reese have changed the way we consume women's sports. Listen to the making of a rivalry.
Starting point is 00:00:20 Kaitlyn Clark versus Angel Reese on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of iHeart Women's Sports. I'm Keri Champion, and this is Season 4 of Naked Sports. Up first, I explore the making of a rivalry. Kaitlyn Clark vs. Angel Reese. People are talking about women's basketball just because of one single game. Clark and Reese have changed the way we consume women's basketball.
Starting point is 00:00:47 And on this new season, we'll cover all things sports and culture. Listen to Naked Sports on the Black Effect Podcast Network, iHeartRadio apps, or wherever you get your podcasts. The Black Effect Podcast Network is sponsored by Diet Coke. Captain's Log, Stardate 2024. We're floating somewhere in the cosmos, but we've lost our map. Yeah, because you refused to ask for directions.
Starting point is 00:01:09 It's Space Gem, there are no roads. Good point. So, where are we headed? Into the unknown, of course. Join us on In Our Own World as we uncover hidden truths, navigate the depths of culture, identity, and the human spirit.
Starting point is 00:01:21 With a hint of mischief. One episode at a time. Buckle up and listen to In Our Own World on the iHeartRadio app apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts trust us it's out of this world guess what welcome back everybody miles and jack got mad boosties has returned for day two of NBA Con and Las Vegas Summer League. We were very blessed. I think we can just call it the Con. I don't think it means the NBA at this point.
Starting point is 00:01:50 There's only one. It's the Con. Wait, but is that good? Oh, yeah. Do you want to call something the Con? The Big Con. Yeah. That's a good point.
Starting point is 00:01:58 What we mean is NBA Con. And we're catching up with ESPN's Cassidy Hubbard to talk about Summer League and about her phenomenal podcast, Hoops Paradise. If you don't know. On iHeartRadio. On iHeartRadio, talking about the Philippines, love of the game, and also currently sideline reporting here from Summer League. We'll talk all
Starting point is 00:02:16 about that. But first, let me introduce myself. I'm Miles Gray. And I'm Jack O'Brien. And this is Miles and Jack on Matt Boosties. We do need to sing loud because there's a little music in the background. It's all right. I think people would rather hear us sing. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Starting point is 00:02:32 We can do some off-key versions of DJ so far. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Not so bad. But I will compete with him. I'm an only child, so I will try and out-scream and amplify DJ. I'm an only child. After this show, I want to break your brain to see if you're okay. I'm a podcaster
Starting point is 00:02:48 now. You are raising a podcaster. That's what you need to know. Cassidy Hubber, thank you so much for joining us here. We're here in Vegas. The energy is palpable. It's tangible. It was crazy last night. So we're recording this
Starting point is 00:03:03 the day after Wembing Yama's debut. Yeah. It was exciting that you could actually hear people's energy. When he walked onto the court for the first time, just when he would put a shot up in warm-ups,
Starting point is 00:03:21 people were like, It was all roller coasters. The second he went up oh oh and then just silence too it was really interesting like how people were like i don't know i think maybe so overcome by the expectation of what they wanted to see that i felt like barely anybody was cheering yeah yeah i mean the energy was definitely big last night for the first half. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And leading into it. And the energy even leading into the game.
Starting point is 00:03:51 Thomas and Mac was filled even for that great Rockets-Blazers game, by the way. Yeah, that was amazing. That game was awesome. Bummer that both Scoot and Amend got hurt. that whole scoot and a man got hurt. But that was a perfect setup as like Wemby was hanging in the, you know, hallway where he was like, everyone had their phones out
Starting point is 00:04:13 and he could see over all of them. He was like hanging on the ceiling. I don't know where you guys were seated, but like that's... Nosebleeds. So maybe you saw it. But we were actually just trying to get a vantage point that was similar to
Starting point is 00:04:26 weapon. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Fair point. Fair point. But like just him watching that game, everyone watching him and the game,
Starting point is 00:04:34 that energy was, was insane. And then also like, there's that, there's that area called the pit, which is behind like by the entrance and kind of behind where the media seating is and that is a really really electric place because it's where a lot of the gms and coaches and reporters kind of like network right summer league because that's kind of what this
Starting point is 00:04:58 um whole vibe is out here especially for people in and around the league is, is networking, feeling optimistic about the new year that usually like you're able to kind of bob and weave through there's like pathways. I had the hardest time getting to my seats, um, because people were shoulder to shoulder and that has never happened. Not for the Zion debut, which I also did not even for, you know, I don't know if you guys remember how big Lonzo's debut here at Summer League was. That, for me, was like the first time where Summer League just felt like a big event.
Starting point is 00:05:33 I will say, like, the way the crowd was reacting to Wemby felt similar to the way the crowd was reacting to Zion. But Zion put on more of a show because he fed to the crowd with his pregame dunks. I think just people were more curious. We had seen what Zion did in college. I think we've been talking about Wemba Nyama for
Starting point is 00:05:55 a long time, mostly for NBA people for the last year. People were just curious. They've heard so much. Sure, you watched some French League games, but they wanted to see what he was about himself. I don't know if he knew what he was about last night. He was
Starting point is 00:06:11 trying to figure it out. It was a lot. I feel like there was just a lot of pressure. You could see a little bit of frustration, but that's going to happen. That's perfectly healthy and natural. That is what every NBA player has to be able to do is like net. All right.
Starting point is 00:06:28 Now things have started. Now you have to like, be able to put up with a little bit of frustration when the game is just like not going exactly as you pictured it in your head, you know? And it's interesting because he mentioned, you know, in the pre draft interviews,
Starting point is 00:06:42 he said to like our Malik Andrews, um, I don't feel pressure. I've never even felt pressure even in school. Anything I've done, I've never felt pressure. I'm just good at everything. That's why I identify with him.
Starting point is 00:06:57 Everything's so natural to you. Everything's so easy. And then, boom, comes to Las Vegas. Gets his first real scandal into, you know, obviously everyone wanting to talk to him, into his first debut. I think into, you know, playing with these guys really for the first time, trying to figure out the principles of not just the NBA, but Spurs basketball. That's something he told me. He's like, I'm still learning the principles. And then you mentioned last night,
Starting point is 00:07:25 he goes, I didn't really know what I was doing out there. Yeah, but I mentioned that because, I mean, look at those stats. You only have five blocks. I don't know about you guys. I'm out on this guy. You were disappointed by five. I'm out on this guy.
Starting point is 00:07:35 I'm expecting 15. A couple of those blocks, by the way, were with his armpit. Like, he was so... Yeah, like, he's just so long. He would miss time things and, like, easily block them. Like, so, I would say my big takeaway is an NBA fan is, first of all, I think a lot of people had never seen him miss a shot because, like, the version everyone was getting was just the highlights. Condensed highlights, yeah, yeah, yeah. him move on the court like he knows where to be it's just he he probably needs to like you know
Starting point is 00:08:06 pick up the the tempo a little bit more of like what you know how everybody's moving and stuff like that but defensively it's it is he's going to be a game changer like you you can just see it right away like nobody wanted to attempt a shot in the quadrant of the court that he was on not even like challenge him but like he was just affecting shots everywhere even his version of like the cornet contest like felt dangerous like when he was like i don't know i'll just go up i'm like he might block that the cornet contest is the move where you jump up it when you're in the paint and someone's shooting three uh that we saw luke cornet do with the cics this year. He did get dunked on, though. Yeah, he did get dunked on.
Starting point is 00:08:46 But I will say, he was also doing the thing that Giannis did in that highlight in the finals. He was guarding the person who threw the alley-oop and then very nearly blocked the dunk. Yeah, I agree. I agree with that not being a full poster. It doesn't tell the full story, for sure. Cassidy, famously, you know what you're
Starting point is 00:09:05 talking about when it comes to basketball. I don't. We're idiots. We should open everything. Usually we do. We just got so excited about the Wemba Yama thing. We're kind of idiots. Now, I saw those stats like you said. I said, he only had five rebounds. This guy's a bust. Can you explain to me
Starting point is 00:09:22 and the other fans who are very worried why we are completely wrong and off base? It's one summer league game. That's fair. That's fair. That's fair. Come on. Look, that's the nature of summer league.
Starting point is 00:09:35 That's also part of the fun. That's also the reason why there's an NBA con right now in Las Vegas because of the success and interest level in summer league because NBA fans love talking about the NBA and like controversy and you know debating and so you're fine okay to live in that world no I'd rather not if it makes you happy no I want to be in the sun you know over here in reality yeah he's a very unique player. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like, what you guys are saying from my vantage point, defensively he's going to be a problem. Offensively, there is a problem right now that I think is fixable.
Starting point is 00:10:14 They just got to learn how to play with him. The spacing with a 7'5 guard? Like, how do you figure that out? Yeah, yeah. So, I think that was definitely on display last night. Like, give him time. Give him some time under pop. He's already having dinners with Tim Duncan and, you know, David Robinson.
Starting point is 00:10:35 Some good wisdom sharing going on there. Tony Parker. Like, he said himself, I mean, I have the best role models you could possibly ask for. Right. And so will there be a lot of pressure on him? Yes. So, you know, and is he deserving of it? People who are more in the know, more experts in, you know,
Starting point is 00:10:58 watching his development say he absolutely is. So I'm going to trust that and trust the process, and we'll see how it plays out when he actually is focused on winning basketball games. Even to his credit, people are asking, how did you feel about your debut? And he said the thing is, honestly, I felt like I didn't know what I was doing out there. That kind of, to me, demonstrates his mentality that he's not so attached to it. And he's transparent enough to be like, yeah, what you saw was me. I met these guys very recently. He's very authentic he's you know like even i mean i know
Starting point is 00:11:30 we're past this britney spears situation i was there on wednesday yeah and um i heard you pushed her into his back is that true see if we were viewed today um just like, you know, even in having like hearing him kind of address that, he just plainly, you know, said what he knew and what happened. Yeah. He could have had a prepared statement because there was some legal matter. Yeah. But I just saw like an authenticity of like, yeah, I didn't know. Yeah. Like I felt something.
Starting point is 00:12:00 Yeah, I didn't know. Like, I felt something. I would have freaked out, got my people on doing some big PR spin campaign about, like, how she was coming for him or something. I don't know. Yeah. There's, like, a humble. He was just like, I don't know. It was a weird thing. They were very crowded.
Starting point is 00:12:16 Yeah. And they told me to just keep walking because if we stop, it'll be a bottleneck. Yeah. It makes total sense. Yeah. It makes total sense. It's going to be interesting to see just how he takes on the pressure that he says he's never felt
Starting point is 00:12:28 in his life and how that materializes throughout the NBA season because it will be there constantly. Especially given that he already has eyeballs on him in Las Vegas Summer League and that's an indicator that people like ESPN
Starting point is 00:12:44 are going to want to put him on national TV if you're already grabbing attention during the summer. Yes. It's going to be alright. It's going to be alright. I almost burned my jersey. It's not your fault.
Starting point is 00:12:58 I'm a highly reactionary person. We've seen more games out of Brandon Miller. Yeah, he looks great. He looked great last night. And he loves unlimited fouls. But he didn't commit a foul last night. Yeah. I think he did look good last night.
Starting point is 00:13:15 I think he wanted to prove a point. Scoot Henderson looked really good. Scoot looked really good. I really hope that his shoulder injury is not too serious and they won't shut him down because I just had a feeling like he, you know, he felt like he should have been the number one pick. Obviously, Wemenyama was always going to be the number one pick. But the question of, you know, who should have went to, should Sharliv taken Scoot, regardless of, you know, the fact that him and Lamello play the same position. I think that's going to be a conversation that happens throughout the season.
Starting point is 00:13:47 But Scoot was electric. Like, he had that arena just as hyped, I thought, as Webminyama. We had the misfortune of showing up right after he got pulled in. Oh, yeah. After he got his 13 points. But after watching everything, like, the other replays and stuff, it was, I definitely, I wish we had left a little bit sooner to get there. But, yeah, like the other replays and stuff, it was I definitely, I wish we had left a little bit sooner to get there. But yeah,
Starting point is 00:14:08 it was what it was. Yeah, he looks awesome. And so did Jabari Smith Jr. Like I love that he's playing in Summer League. Yeah. And his answer was like, um, did you see our record last year? Why wouldn't I play? We won 16 games and I'm 20 years old. Why wouldn't I play? Yeah. We got there just in time for the Jabari Smith Jr.
Starting point is 00:14:24 show. The show. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And then the game winner at the end, that's peak summer league. Yeah. It feels like March Madness. And then they turn around and do the next game. And they're like, are you ready for Wemby? Yes. It was awesome.
Starting point is 00:14:38 Yeah, it is a little overwhelming. And then tonight, I have the Pacers and the Wizards. Ben Macklin's expected to play. And that guy could have won six man of the year. Okay. So I'm loving these second year guys, you know, wanting to come out here, just get some running. Why not? You know, like you're still young.
Starting point is 00:14:57 Right. Just because you got, you know, meaningful minutes doesn't mean that like playing summer league, you know, races that. Right, right, right, right, right. Yeah. Just one more thing on Wemby on the offensive end because another smart NBA person, my good friend Robert Ori, once said to us about...
Starting point is 00:15:16 He was on the show and now we're best friends. Uh-huh. Did he let you have one of his rings? He offered it to me, but I thought it was a little awkward. He didn't tell you to get out of the way yesterday. He did. When you tried to introduce yourself again.
Starting point is 00:15:28 When I tried to hug him. Did you really? And did you get muffled? Yeah. He's like, what are you off like? It's me and Jack. Okay. All right, man.
Starting point is 00:15:38 But he was talking about with regards to actually Luca, he was saying that Luca is. Congrats to Luca, he just got engaged. Yes. Is, like, too slow sometimes for defenders to, like, know what he's doing. Like, he's so methodical and, like, his movement on the court, like, it feels like... Wait, how is this working? Because he's, like, actually a step slower, but that is, like, throwing the defense off and he knows exactly what to do with that step
Starting point is 00:16:05 and i feel like with wimping yama on offense and i can't like put it to words exactly what it was but there was something with like pace and like him maybe trying to like rush it a little too much and like there's going to be something he figures out with regards to like how to use his not not necessarily slowness but you know his like being methodical and you know he has great footwork for a big guy and i i think there's going to be something there and i think like when he puts it together it's going to be interesting and it's not going to look like another any other nba player it will what you mean it's sort of like trying to hit an off-speed pitch where it's like not necessarily coming at you the fastest, but as you try to predict where it's going, it's very difficult. And I think with, like you said, because it's amazing how far the ball just travels like within his wingspan that most people would begin to be, you know, shifting their weight.
Starting point is 00:16:58 At one point he crossed over and like the whole defense had to shift because when he crosses over the ball goes from one side of the court to the other i mean i think watching him is going to be a similar experience for fans as watching nicole yokich like truly trying to understand like how he impacts the game and whatever his magic is going to be at his size. Yeah. So that's a pretty good bar. The passing was really good last night. Yeah. Like he dropped some dimes. He picked up, you know, Brandon Miller a couple of times on D as well.
Starting point is 00:17:32 Yeah. Look, it wasn't going to ever be like. Yeah, like watching Space Jam, the final game or something. Right, right. You wanted it to dunk. You wanted it to dunk from half court, didn't you? Yeah, exactly, exactly. That's what to dunk. I did. You wanted him to dunk from half court, didn't you? Exactly, exactly.
Starting point is 00:17:47 That's what all these fans like you are like. Why didn't he dunk from half court? My only concept of basketball comes from Space Jam. And I'm like, where are the Monstars?
Starting point is 00:17:55 It's the only basketball he's ever watched until last night. And I was kind of freaked out. I was like, those guys, I don't see any Monstars out there.
Starting point is 00:18:07 I'm Carrie Champion, and this is season four of Naked Sports, where we live at the intersection of sports and culture. Up first, I explore the making of a rivalry. Kaitlyn Clark versus Angel Reese. I know I'll go down in history. People are talking about women's basketball just because of one single game. Every great player needs a foil. I ain't really near them boys.
Starting point is 00:18:27 I just come here to play basketball every single day, and that's what I focus on. From college to the pros, Clark and Reese have changed the way we consume women's sports. Angel Reese is a joy to watch. She is unapologetically black. I love her. What exactly ignited this fire? Why has it been so good for the game? And can the fanfare surrounding these two supernovas be sustained? This game is only
Starting point is 00:18:50 going to get better because the talent is getting better. This new season will cover all things sports and culture. Listen to Naked Sports on the Black Effect Podcast Network, iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The Black Effect Podcast Network is sponsored by Diet Coke. Wake up with football every morning and listen to my new podcast, NFL Daily with Greg Rosenthal. Five days a week, you'll get all the latest news, previews, recaps, and analysis delivered straight to your podcast feed by the time you get your coffee. No dumb hot takes here, just smart hot takes. We'll talk every single game every single week,
Starting point is 00:19:28 but I can't do it alone. So I'm bringing in the big guns from NFL media. That's Patrick Claiborne, Steve Weiss, Nick Shook, Jordan Rodrigue from The Athletic, and of course, Colleen Wolfe. This is their window right now. This is their Super Bowl window. Why would they trade him away?
Starting point is 00:19:48 Because he would be a pivotal part of them winning that Super Bowl window, why would they trade him away? Because he would be a pivotal part of them winning that Super Bowl. I don't know why, Colleen. Catch the podcast, the NFL Daily with Greg Rosenthal every day. Subscribe today and you'll immediately be smarter and funnier than your friends. And who doesn't want that? Listen now on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. All right, here we go. It's Cam Jordan from New Orleans Saints here to tell you it's going down on season two of my podcast, Off the Edge with me, Cam Jordan.
Starting point is 00:20:17 Can't stop it. You know what's going to happen. Can't stop it. That's right. Catch new episodes every Wednesday, all season long. That's what you look for in year 14 to do more. And I'll have my friends who happen to be some of the NFL's biggest stars. Join me on the pod. We'll give you a player's perspective of the biggest storylines, trends, and did that really just happen moments from around the league. And you know, we'll have fun doing it.
Starting point is 00:20:43 Oh, and I'll have a special guest each month join me to mix it up a little bit. Who is it? None other than... Psyche! You'll have to tune in to find out. So tap in to Off the Edge with Cam Jordan's podcast, your ultimate playbook for all things football
Starting point is 00:21:00 and not football. Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Since we are at NBA FanCon, I kind of want to ask you about your fandom because we're always curious about this with people who cover basketball. Do you have a team? Are you a fan or because of your professionalism and being around the game so much you've transcended fandom and you're purely across the board enjoy the game so i grew up in chicago okay during the jordan years so sir blazers i i did love clyde drexler i really did
Starting point is 00:21:39 um but yeah it just that that was basically a big part of like how I'm in this business and you know, my love for, for sports and specifically the NBA. Right. Am I a Bulls fan now? Yes. I pay attention to them, but not as like, not as much as I did growing up because I have to pay attention to the entire league. And on top of that Bulls, the Bulls are not on national TV as much as they used to be.
Starting point is 00:22:07 Sure, sure. So, yes, where is my fandom? My fandom is for the NBA. And I think that's kind of at the heart of my passion for my job, is that I try to lean into that passion of loving the NBA and being interested in the personalities of not just the players but the leagues and the teams and you know the drama and the transactions and all the different milestones in a in an NBA season and the energy around each days in the calendar that kind of like get you excited for whatever is coming up
Starting point is 00:22:46 next so yes in a long long-winded answer my biggest team is the nba right right right but i think even right so like with this season too and wendy we're starting we're always reminded of like international appeal of the game and for you you said I've heard that you had the Bulls fandom reinforced in the States. And also when you go to the Philippines, too. Was there a huge contingent of Bulls fans in the Philippines? I mean, I haven't been to the Philippines since I was in college. But the Philippines just have massive love for the nba they love the warriors and lakers those are the two biggest yeah right is that because so many filipinos end up coming
Starting point is 00:23:33 to the west coast so it is sort of like yes yeah yeah yeah like i know california last night there were a lot of filipinos there for the warriors lakers game yeah yeah um which was pretty awesome to all of our international listeners as well you got anything Jack? can you talk about it? you're hungry, you said you know how to say that in Tagalog I'll try to help you sorry the mic is cut now
Starting point is 00:23:56 can you talk about Hoops Paradise because that's a show where you and Nico you know talked about how the special connection between the Philippines and the NBA. And, uh, you, you had a great, like episode five, you had a great conversation with Raymond Townsend, the first Filipino NBA player, um, also caught up with Spoh. Uh, and yeah, can you just talk about like what the journey was like on that show? I mean, it was awesome.
Starting point is 00:24:27 It was like hanging out with not just Nico, who is, you know, my brother from another mother, but, you know, Peter and Grace working on that, who are producers. Yeah. They were showing off their shoes. Nico got us these Jordans from the Philippines. Right. Okay. Sorry, Ness.
Starting point is 00:24:41 Sorry. We've been up here for two days recording. This is the first time Peter has clapped for the show because that is exactly what i did and that's the only way you gotta shout out steven white drop the god yeah you know we got them all right no but it was it was an it was actually a beautiful journey for me personally it helped me reconnect with my heritage and also, you know, being able to kind of learn just more about the passion. I experienced it when I'm at games and, you know, I have a lot of Filipino fans reach out to me and like, you know, we love the NBA. It's great to see a Filipino, you know, cover the NBA and on the sidelines. And that means everything to me. And working
Starting point is 00:25:27 on this podcast, it was kind of like Nico was educating me along with the viewers just how deep the passion is in the Philippines. And being able to speak with Spoh, this was before obviously the playoff run, he kind of has a similar experience. We were both actually born in the same town. Oh, really? Yes. Wow.
Starting point is 00:25:47 And we both are mixed with, you know, kind of the same descent. His mom is Filipino, just like mine, and his dad is of European descent. So we're like, are we brother and sister? Cousins for sure on some level right here. But he was just, he's awesome. And he's obviously going to the Philippines this summer and he said that listening to Hoops Paradise
Starting point is 00:26:09 he told me this during the playoff runs. He's going to do that on his way to the Philippines. I held him to it. I saw him yesterday but I'm going to hold him to it when he gets back. Like screenshot that you subscribe. Yes, seriously. Leave a review. Yes, the review is the big thing. People are like, I think Eric, seriously. Leave a review. Leave a review. Yeah, please.
Starting point is 00:26:27 The big thing. People are like, I think Eric Spolster reviewed this. A few Filipino flags and then we good. Yeah, yeah, exactly. Yeah, yeah, for sure. I thought you were going to say he listened to the show and it inspired their playoff run. Oh, no. Yeah. Jess, can you edit this? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Let's take that one more time. Insert that.
Starting point is 00:26:42 So you said Eric Spolster credits the podcast for their deep playoff run. Let's take that one more time. Insert that. And so you said Eric Spolster credits the podcast for their deep playoff. Credits Hoops Paradise for making it to the NBA Finals. It's the power of these podcasts, I gotta tell you. Alright, well, I think it's time now. It's time? Yes.
Starting point is 00:26:58 Cassidy, you're on the show. You're on Miles and Jack got mad boosties and we have a segment called the Rapid Fire Round of Questioning. Now we're gonna ask you some questions. Okay. we have a segment called the rapid fire round of questioning. Now we're going to ask you some questions. Okay. Just give us your take. Just fire it right back. Just give us a quick,
Starting point is 00:27:10 succinct answer. If we start talking on and on, we need you to just help guide the segment because you're a professional and we are, am I, as you mentioned, idiots. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:27:20 Yeah. We don't quite know what we're doing and we like to keep the title that this is the fastest question and answer segment in all sports podcasting. So please, we're counting on you. Why am I sweating? Okay, let's go. It's fine. Jack, you went first last time.
Starting point is 00:27:33 Yeah, why don't you take it? I'm going to go first. Here we go. We're talking teams that we want to cover in the offseason. Now, the Spurs are obviously a shoe-in. What's a team you're expecting big things from? We talked about, you know, obviously OKC, Orlando, Phoenix, Portland. Who else do you want to throw in the mix and why?
Starting point is 00:27:52 Lakers. Okay. Yeah. You know, they made some interesting moves. I mean, they were in the Western Conference Finals. Like, they brought back pretty much, you know, all the main characters and then added Gabe Vincent. So they're always going to be interesting because what does LeBron have left in the tank?
Starting point is 00:28:11 Yeah. I think the Bucs, they made great moves as well. They were the favorites. Giannis is posting all over social media like, I'm focused. I'm going to come back. So I would say I'm interested in the Bucs in the East and I guess the Lakers in the West.
Starting point is 00:28:30 I feel like the Lakers don't get enough attention on this podcast in particular. The Lakers. And just generally media-wide. They really are not talked about. They should talk more about that guy LeBron James. That's right. They as in us
Starting point is 00:28:45 as I wear an ESPN polo shirt. Alright, we are in the middle of NBA Con. There are like little games all over the place. There's a 20-foot hoop over there that I dunked on earlier. There's a free-drop contest. Yeah, dunked on a 20-foot hoop. No big deal. There's like a
Starting point is 00:29:01 half-court shot contest over there. Can you pitch me an nba con feature it doesn't have to cohere to the laws of physics or reality uh our super producer brian was saying he wants to like be able to like feel what it's like to dunk like somehow maybe with like crouching tiger hidden dragon wires um i i'd like something that allows me to walk around in the world and feel like I'm the size of Victor Wembingama. Like if they just like created a mini miniature room specifically. I'd want one.
Starting point is 00:29:32 It's a court shrunken down to my scale. So my six foot one frame feels like it's six, eight and the ball's just a little bit smaller. It's just a little bit lower. Yeah. That's my wishlist. I mean, look,
Starting point is 00:29:44 I was thinking about like a bouncy house type of basketball situation, but I feel like that's done. Yeah. I keep seeing videos of Drake's concert and his hologram that he has, like, that he sits next to on a couch. Yeah. It would be cool to do, like, holograms of, like, legends and that type of visual. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Or it could be cool to do like holograms of like legends and that type of visual yeah yeah yeah um or it could be weird too but uh i think it could be fun um i don't know i got i have to do another couple like laps and see if i you know inspiration yeah i would love holograms too just a made-up panel of just everybody. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:30:25 And you could just like pretend like you're hanging out with a bunch of your friends. Yeah. You really don't like create like a table of like you're out to dinner. Like look at the dinner party I was at in Vegas. Right. Put like a Carbone background. Right, right, right. Hey, I was at Carbone.
Starting point is 00:30:39 I was hanging out with LeBron. You know, fool everyone. Here's my next question. Best time ever. Somebody who, you know, travels the. Here's my next question. Uh, somebody who, you know, travels the league and knows the teams pretty well. What's the best NBA city to catch a game in? And what's your favorite thing to eat in that city? Okay. Um, it's hard for me because I base everything on where my seat is and how easy it is for me to do my job in terms of NBA cities.
Starting point is 00:31:06 Because the first thing is, like, obviously I would say MSG, but I also hate doing games in MSG because my seat is so uncomfortable there. Oh, really? Yeah. Like, we have, like, a little... This is going to... I'm not going to go into me complaining about my seat. I actually want to know.
Starting point is 00:31:21 What is it like? Well, it's... I'm like... It's narrow. There's no desk. I'm balancing my laptop and my... It's as if you're in a normal seat.
Starting point is 00:31:31 Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's a lot. And then I'm in the crowd, and so people are always reaching down on my computer. Did you pass me that beer right there? Hey, behind you. But that's also with the jazz arena used to be, I would have to walk up into the stands and, like, go, excuse me, excuse me,
Starting point is 00:31:52 excuse me. Oh, wow, wow, wow. Every time I was, like, go down to do a coach's interview. So those two places, I don't love doing games. But the cities. But the cities. Like, Salt Lake City did an amazing job with All Star. And New York is New York. I'm from New York. Alright, so best meal? Best meal
Starting point is 00:32:15 in New York? Sure. That's really hard. You don't have to tell me unequivocally this is the best thing. But for you, what is your go-to? I mean, there's so many. I live there. I've never been to New York. What's good to eat, Cassidy? Take me somewhere. Well, I don't think you can go wrong with, like, there's so many good Italian spots in New York.
Starting point is 00:32:35 In New York? I've never heard this. I'm just going to leave it at that. I can't find a good Chinese place, and I can't find a good Mexican for some reason. But I think that's a me problem and not an NYC problem. Yeah, yeah, yeah. All right. And finally, the question everybody's here to hear you answer.
Starting point is 00:32:51 Jack, which is me or Miles? Which is me. I'm just picking between you? Yeah. Yeah. I have more history with Jack. Yeah. I mean, this is.
Starting point is 00:33:01 That wasn't the answer. Hold on. I just thought that sounded like I thought you were maybe weighing the options. Okay. Sorry. Oh, that's. I don wasn't the answer. Hold on. I just thought that was kind of like... I thought you were maybe weighing the options. Okay, sorry. Oh, that's your... I don't know how to answer this question. Now she's already seen how graceless I am in victory.
Starting point is 00:33:11 Wait, wait, wait. Are we talking about like, this is my, you know, partner for two on two? Like, are we talking like, what is the question? Yeah, all right, for two on two then. But you also get points because you just,
Starting point is 00:33:22 you busted out the Mabuhay. Yeah, you know. Wait, are you Filipino? No, I'm Black and East. But I grew up around a lot of... But do you get get points because you just, you busted out the Mabuhay. Yeah, you know. Wait, are you Filipino? No, I'm Black and East. But I grew up around a lot of, oh yeah, that's why I have to know that.
Starting point is 00:33:30 That's why you gotta learn it. No, you, you really could, you know, and that's what Filipinos do. We just go up to around Filipino. Yeah, yeah.
Starting point is 00:33:39 Filipino. I'm Filipino. You Filipino? Yeah, yeah. No, but I love pancet. So, you know, let's go. All right, so.
Starting point is 00:33:44 So now it's one to one. I don't know what's going to be the tie Yeah. No, but I love pancet. So, you know, let's go. All right, so. So now it's one-to-one. I don't know what's going to be the tiebreaker. Dang. Dunked on that 20-foot hoop earlier. If we're doing the. I don't know anything about basketball. Okay, who's your favorite team? Who's your favorite team?
Starting point is 00:34:02 Sixers. I think I got gotta go with him. I've covered a lot this year. Okay. And so I've been on the kind of like a Sixers beat. So that's how I, that was the, I think that's a good answer.
Starting point is 00:34:17 I can live with that. Cassidy Hubbard. Thank you so much for joining us on miles and jack up Matt boosties. What a guest. Where, where can people find you? Follow you follow you see you hear you all that good stuff i'll be on the sidelines next two nights or saturday and sunday depending on when you listen to this um and then i'm out catch me on the beach yeah yeah yeah i'll see you in the fall yeah the sidelines. And also don't forget to download, subscribe, comment,
Starting point is 00:34:48 and expulstrate Who's Paradise wherever you find your podcasts. Thank you so much for having me, guys. Thanks for doing it. Well, this wraps it up for this edition of Mad Boosties live from NBA Con in Vegas.
Starting point is 00:35:00 Check us out on hashtag Mad Boosties B-D-O-O-S-T-I-E-S and we'll see you next time. Bye. Bye. I'm Carrie Champion, and this is Season 4 of Naked Sports, where we live at the intersection of sports and culture. Up first, I explore the making of a rivalry,
Starting point is 00:35:21 Kaitlyn Clark versus Angel Reese. I know I'll go down in history. People are talking about women's basketball just because of one single game. Every great player needs a foil. I ain't really near them. Why is that? I just come here to play basketball every single day, and that's what I focus on. From college to the pros, Clark and Reese have changed the way we consume women's sports.
Starting point is 00:35:38 Angel Reese is a joy to watch. She is unapologetically black. I love her. What exactly ignited this fire? Why has it been so good for the game? And can the fanfare surrounding these two supernovas be sustained? This game is only going to get better because the talent is getting better.
Starting point is 00:35:57 This new season will cover all things sports and culture. Listen to Naked Sports on the Black Effect Podcast Network, iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The Black Effect Podcast Network is sponsored by Diet Coke. Wake up with football every morning and listen to my new podcast, NFL Daily with Greg Rosenthal. Five days a week, you'll get all the latest news, previews, recaps, and analysis delivered straight to your podcast feed by the time you get your coffee. No dumb hot takes here. Just smart hot takes. We'll talk every single game every single week, but I can't do it alone. So I'm bringing in the big guns from NFL media. That's Patrick
Starting point is 00:36:35 Claiborne, Steve Weiss, Nick Shook, Jordan Rodrigue from The Athletic, and of course, Colleen Wolfe. This is their window right now. This is their Super Bowl window. Why would they trade him away? Because he would be a pivotal part of them winning that Super Bowl. I don't know why, Colleen. Catch the podcast, the NFL Daily with Greg Rosenthal every day. Subscribe today and you'll immediately be smarter and funnier than your friends. And who doesn't want that? Listen now on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts,
Starting point is 00:37:06 or wherever you get your podcasts. All right, here we go. It's Cam Jordan from New Orleans Saints, here to tell you it's going down. On season two of my podcast, Off the Edge with me, Cam Jordan. Can't stop it. You know what's going to happen. Can't stop it. That's right. Catch new episodes every Wednesday, all season long.
Starting point is 00:37:28 That's what you look for in year 14, to do more. No days off. And I'll have my friends, who happen to be some of the NFL's biggest stars, join me on the pod. We'll give you a player's perspective of the biggest storylines, trends, and did that really just happen moments from around the league. And you know we'll have fun doing it. Ha! Yeah! Oh, and I'll have a special guest each month join me to mix it up a little bit. Who is it? None other than...
Starting point is 00:37:54 Psyche! You'll have to tune in to find out. So tap in to Off the Edge with Cam Jordan's podcast, your ultimate playbook for all things football and not football. Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Well, well, well, people, welcome back to NBA Con. Miles and Jack got mad at Boosties. We are here for a very, very special discussion.
Starting point is 00:38:21 and Jack out. Matt at Boosties. We are here for a very, very special discussion. We have probably the most iconic guest we have ever had on this show. Yeah. The most doesn't seem like we should be sitting
Starting point is 00:38:35 next to this person. Instantly classes up the podcast by having this man even sit next to us and entertain our questions that sometimes border on not the most intelligent, but we are here to have some very intelligent discussion with Hall of Famer Spencer Hale. What is going on, Spencer?
Starting point is 00:38:54 Thank you so much for joining us. This is just incredible. And what you guys are doing with your podcast and with NBA Con, it's just, I am so floored by everything and how it was put together in a short period of time. And also last night, for an example, I mean, it was
Starting point is 00:39:13 insane over at Thomas and Matt. Yeah. We wanted to talk a little bit to you about that. Summer League is going on. This is obviously some big moments for people entering the league. You yourself, I mean, we're going to get into that obviously some big moments for people entering the league. You yourself, I mean, we're going to get into that. A very storied entry into the league and things like that.
Starting point is 00:39:30 But, you know, what do you think, you know, what is this like for these guys that are showing up here and they're sort of on the precipice of entering the league? Like, what's sort of that experience like? You know, it's a great opportunity, really. I mean, you've got players like Garcia last night. I didn't know who he was. And I'm watching him from Golden State.
Starting point is 00:39:48 I'm like, oh, somebody. If Golden State don't sign him, I would go after him. Because he's game ready. And he's been playing in Brazil for, I guess, four years or five years. Yeah. It was so special. That was one of the guys I was watching. And I watched Wendy and the other kid from Alabama, Miller.
Starting point is 00:40:18 So I was just watching the players, and then I was watching guys who were not in the spotlight, but yet they are going were not in the spotlight, but yet they are going to be in the spotlight because they are going to make some things. So I sat up there last night in my home watching games all night. I'm like, well, they had the Lakers on last, so I had to finish that one off. But it's just so exciting for the city, for the city of Las Vegas, and for the fans to be here on the weekend to be a part of this. This is just an awesome time.
Starting point is 00:40:51 Yeah. There was one moment during the Blazers game. We're all watching Scoot and, you know, Jabari Smith Jr. And then this guy gets out there. He's a little smaller. He starts, like, banging threesrees, like fading away out of bounds like hitting threes, and I was like, that guy looks familiar
Starting point is 00:41:09 it was Antoine Davis who like came three points shy of breaking Pete Maravich's he's Maravich, but guess where he went to school? Detroit Mercy hello! that's right and everybody is talking about you know, he's too small.
Starting point is 00:41:27 He don't have the body. He is. He can fill it up. He can fill it up. Yeah. And a guy like that, he's making his worth right now. Yeah. And then if you know, if you miss out on the NBA, you can go to the G League, you can go
Starting point is 00:41:44 to Europe, you can go to the G League, you can go to Europe, you can go to China. Well, I mean, if you go to China, you might be stuck with a contract and they won't let you come back. Right. Yeah, right away. So you have a pretty unique rookie season in that you won Rookie of the
Starting point is 00:42:00 Year and MVP of the ABA. And MVP of the All-Star Game. And ABA. Please sprinkle some respect on that. So these people won't be thinking, well, he averaged 10 and 10. No. I averaged 30 and 20.
Starting point is 00:42:18 And 19. Yeah, we saw that. So, you know. Yeah. And I was 19 years old. So all of these young guys who are like oh my gosh he's gonna mature when he get to be 25 i was like man i had played and i went to the supreme court i've done everything right all right and i think that's a huge thing to talk about
Starting point is 00:42:38 right because a lot of people don't realize how you are a seminal figure in the league that we have today. Just for people who don't know, kind of describe the situation, because we would not have people like Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, other people being able to do it. Michael Jordan. Michael Jordan, yeah. Not doing the four years after Heisman. Walk me through that process.
Starting point is 00:43:01 When I was in the ABA after that first year I jumped to the NBA. The NBA said that I was ineligible to play because I hadn't finished four years of college and you had to have four years
Starting point is 00:43:19 out of basketball. I mean four years after your high school class. I graduated before you could go into the NBA. And so I sued them for the rights to play. And we had, like, my case started off like, well, okay, I have a 10-game injunction against me. So I had to sit home with Rick Wells, you know, who was the Golden State Warriors. Oh, okay.
Starting point is 00:43:47 He was the general manager up there. He was our ball boy. Oh, really? You're just chilling with him? I know. In Seattle, he was our ball boy. Lenny Wilkins was the
Starting point is 00:44:01 player coach. He played and coached. Tom LeSherry was the player coach. He played and coached. Tom LeSherry was the associate coach. And our assistant coach was Rod Thorne who was the player coach.
Starting point is 00:44:16 Right. We had no one on that team had on a suit. Everybody had on a uniform. Everybody had on a uniform. Everyone was wearing a uniform. I think coaches should still have to wear the uniform. Don't you think that would be funny?
Starting point is 00:44:31 Like in baseball. The majors weren't there. Some of the outfits they're wearing today, I was like, eww. It's a lot of warm-ups now anyways, right? Put on a suit or something. So they would get a 10-game injunction against me, right? Put on a suit or something. So they would get a 10-game injunction against me,
Starting point is 00:44:47 and then I would get a 10-game stay to play. And when I would walk out on the floor, they would say, Ladies and gentlemen, we have an illegal player on the floor, number 24. This game is being played under protest. All right.
Starting point is 00:45:03 Wait, opposing to you, like when you were playing an away game? Yeah, the away game. Okay, one particular night I was playing in Chicago against the Chicago Bulls. Chet Walker said he hurt his ankle while I was warming up. And they sued me for $600,000. What? That was the battle. Wow? That was the battle. Wow.
Starting point is 00:45:27 That was the battle. So you're up against all this. So I go through all of this stuff, and I go through the lower courts all the way to the district, and we got to the Supreme Court where Thurgood Marshall, Justice, I think it's Warren or Douglas or somebody who else was the head justice at that time. On March 1st, 1971, said we cannot stop this young man from playing basketball in the NBA because we are allowing our players, our our our young men to go to war in Vietnam and places like
Starting point is 00:46:08 that at age 18. And yet we're asking him to stay in college. And at the same time, my family was dirt poor in Silver City, Mississippi making $2 a day. So I was like trying
Starting point is 00:46:24 to get my folks out of that. And you don't have a small family either, right? No, it was 10 of us. So that makes it real important. So then they hand down that decision and that's what changed the NBA game as we know it. Because
Starting point is 00:46:40 from that point on, the NBA, we only had 16 teams, I think. And right away, because of this ruling, the NBA were able to say, oh, we can go get Bob McAdoo. We can go get all of these players from the college early. They will come into the NBA, and we can expand. And that's how the expansion came about, through this one little old dude
Starting point is 00:47:04 from Silver City, Mississippi And it ain't no silver It ain't no city Do you think the Chief Justice There's probably some legal reasoning But do you think He was just a fan of your game And wanted to see you get out there
Starting point is 00:47:22 And put the ball in the hoop And that's why No, they were't going to. He's like, I got to see this guy ball. Did you see him in the NBA? You know, I got to see it. I got to see it. No.
Starting point is 00:47:35 That was a good one. I don't know Thurgood. We'll see what he can do. I'll vote on his side. They're doing the movie of my life, so I got to incorporate that. Yeah, I got to incorporate that in. Thurgood Marshall said, hey, I got to go see this guy play. His turnaround is like the head of his shot by a couple of days. And he can rebound.
Starting point is 00:47:58 Man, I want to see him play. So this case is done. Exactly. Now let's go watch him. Yeah. So this case is done. Exactly. Now let's go watch them.
Starting point is 00:48:04 Yeah. But from this case, you know, it is estimated that in players' revenue, in players' salary, it has been somewhere around $60 billion. Yeah. Yeah. A lot of money made by people. You think about it. I have no idea who I am. Well, the domino effect
Starting point is 00:48:25 right because like that's what i say like you've not only like when you think about this is from 1971 until now right and you think about all the people that have been able to enter the league early and you know famously we talk about lebron james right what would that what's that scoring title look like if he doesn't he would be 800 he would be 8341 points short of Kareem. Okay, so you did that math. I did the math. You did that just now again. He's a savant.
Starting point is 00:48:53 And what does he tell you? Any hard feelings? No. He's Kareem's. Remember when I was going through this case, the Players Association Union, they didn't support me. So when I won the case, it was still a little difficulty. So we got to Milwaukee to play the Bucs. And normally they would take their team downstairs and say, well, let them sweat it out up there.
Starting point is 00:49:22 Let people hit it with real bottles. And Kareem didn't go downstairs he stayed up so we've been buddies from 1971 i'm sure he teases you though probably yeah why did you mess up much yeah letting all these young guys come in early yeah and i think it i think that's what's so important too like when we have the opportunity to sit down with you for us it's like you don't have Letting all these young guys come in early. Yeah. And I think that's what's so important, too. Like, when we had the opportunity to sit down with you, for us, it's like you don't have the league as it is today without your trials and tribulations and the work, the foundation that you laid the groundwork for. And it's nice to see people like, you know, I always see people like Heaven Garnett.
Starting point is 00:50:00 Garnett, man. He's very consistent with giving you your flowers and pointing to the, like the work that you've done. How, you know, like, and he talks about sort of like this generational wisdom in the game. Like, do you see that evolving or do you like, what's the importance of, you know, people like you or people who have experienced the league and know the ins and outs of things and being able to transmit that knowledge down to these guys who are entering the league, especially in a time like this where we're seeing so many guys come in. That is one of the things that all of us old heads talk about. We need to be around the young guys to just impart this information and to understand it so that they can appreciate the game. Like, okay, for an example, I was talking with one of the handlers for a job. Yeah. for an example. I was talking with one of the handlers for Ja. And we were talking and
Starting point is 00:50:47 he said, you know, maybe if Ja knew that you went to the Supreme Court that you had to struggle through all of this to get where he is today and to use that experience as
Starting point is 00:51:04 he wouldn't take the NBA for granted. What are some things, like pieces of wisdom that you would pass down to a rookie coming in and say, hey, Spencer, drop some science on me. What's something I need to know?
Starting point is 00:51:20 Well, I would drop the knowledge on them stating that back in the day, before I got my contract, Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell were arguing over who was going to be the highest paid player in the NBA. And the salary was $125,000 per year. Not per den. Who was getting $12 per year. Not for them. We're getting $12 per day. But anyway.
Starting point is 00:51:50 And Red Auerbach said, well, you know, I want to make you the highest paid player, Bill Russell. He reached in his pocket and gave him $1 more. Yeah, there you go. That'll do it. That's history. So Bill Russell said, hey, I'm the highest paid player. I'm the best player. I'm in. I'm in. Let you go. That'll do it. That's history. So Bill Russell said, hey, I'm the highest paid player. I'm the best player. I'm in.
Starting point is 00:52:07 Let's go. And so those kind of stories and just knowing the history of the game and knowing the beauty of this game, how far it has grown. I mean, you've got guys who are making $260 million, all of this stuff here. And so when I was hanging with LeBron, I was telling him, I said, hey, you know, you owe me. And I said, no, I don't want them to get nervous about that percentage. I was explaining to him.
Starting point is 00:52:41 I mean, I did the math. I already did the math on the numbers. So I was explaining that, you know, you're making like $50 million a year. You will be $200 million short. Right. Because you've got four extra years. Yeah, yeah. That's right.
Starting point is 00:52:55 Exactly. So things to think about. LeBron is a listener, so something for you to think about it. He did a special for me on Showtime called the what is it called? I can't think of the name of it right now. That's the problem with getting old.
Starting point is 00:53:16 I've already got that. It's called The Case on Showtime. But he did a nice, wonderful special the case. Oh, okay. Yeah, it's on Showtime. But he did a nice, wonderful special on me about the rule, is what it's called. Right, right, right.
Starting point is 00:53:32 So a lot of players are beginning to learn about what I've done and who I am. It's a wonderful time for basketball, just looking around and hear what you guys are doing. And look at what you're doing with your podcast.
Starting point is 00:53:48 It's just huge. Oh, we wouldn't have this show also without you. Yeah. Well, I know that, but I'm one to go on a slay. Yeah. I started recording straight out of high school, you know. Yeah, yeah. They used to say you couldn't.
Starting point is 00:53:59 Yeah. Yeah, yeah. They used to say a couple more years in junior high. On the court, you went against some of the best. You are one of the best. What are your thoughts on the current state of the big man in the NBA? Because, I mean, we got Embiid. I'm a Sixers fan.
Starting point is 00:54:20 We got Embiid. We got Jokic. We've got some unconventional big men like Giannis. But six to eight years ago, everyone was like, small ball's the future. Big men are over. What are your thoughts on where it's headed? Big men will never be over because you have to play the game. You have to play it inside and not outside and outside and in, unless you're Golden State.
Starting point is 00:54:46 Right, right, right. That's a completely different story. That's right. But I look at a guy like Boogie Cousins, Dwight Howard, I can't understand why they're not in the league. I mean, that's just me. But then I look at a guy like Jokic. I mean, what a player.
Starting point is 00:55:09 Yeah, man. I mean, fundamentals can take you where talent can't take you. Right. The fundamentals of the game can take you where talent can't take you. Because I look at him, I look at, do you know the last three MVPs are non-Americans? Yeah, that's right. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:55:36 So the game is so big. Also big men. And also big men. So the theory that we're going to be a three-pointed shooting contest is not valid. Did you think that you would see the position evolve in this way, where now we're seeing seven-footers who are now point guards and anything like that? Or is this kind of... Well, we're just going through a phase. But I still believe that you have to play with in and then you go out.
Starting point is 00:56:06 Because if you throw the ball into the center and you cut off of him, you run to your three-point line or whatever, you can get a good shot. You've got to throw it out. If they double, if they don't, you do the other side. Joke. Right, right. So the game is just evolving. and it's constantly evolving and evolving and it's just so one thing i'm i always think about with like the evolution of the game is just how
Starting point is 00:56:34 the physicality and how different things are and everything i could already see a smile on your face what yeah i've boy i would have loved to play right now. Talk about it. Talk about it. Yeah, yeah. I would fall over. What were things that you were like, that was normal
Starting point is 00:56:54 when I was playing that to now you're like, that's a flaker. Well, Dave DeBuscher, Gus Johnson, Wes Unsell, Elvin Hayes. I'm just going
Starting point is 00:57:03 with the forwards. Sidney Wicks is another guy that you don't hear about. Maurice Lucas, we banged. It was like a bloody war. To see guys no touch and you take that three-step, hero step.
Starting point is 00:57:23 It's all good for basketball because you're bringing everybody else into it. And so you can make the adapts. You can adapt to the game, but nevertheless... Hey, look at that. There's a Sonic jersey. Hey. Hey.
Starting point is 00:57:38 What the heck is going on here? And there's a Laker. What's going on here? They know you're coming around. What was, like, the most physical game you ever played in, in terms of, like, or were there ever times, like, you got really rocked and you're like, okay, I can't show anything. Well, yeah, I got rocked a few times with Baltimore Bullets way back in the day
Starting point is 00:58:01 when I first came into the league. I know you all are wondering out there, is there such a thing as Baltimore? Oh, yeah. Yes. It exists. There was the Baltimore Bullets back in the day, which is the Washington Wizards today.
Starting point is 00:58:18 Yeah. Yeah. And there's a team called the Seattle Supersonics back in the day that is now OKC, but back to Seattle. So what happened in that game when you were playing against Baltimore? Well, Gus Johnson and Wes Unsell suppressed me. I fell to the floor, and I said, Lenny, can you give me a hand, man? He said, get up on your own.
Starting point is 00:58:45 You're in the NBA, sir. Wow. I was like, welcome to the league. Yeah, I bet. Because I had came over from the ABA, and it was like these guys are trying to test you. Test me. Then I went from Baltimore. We played the New York Knicks, and there was Dave DeBuscher, Jerry Lucas, Willis Reed.
Starting point is 00:59:07 I was like, oh my God, this is real ball. So it was just a rugged kind of game. But I'm kind of partial to the non-touch somewhat because we lost a lot of players because of the physicality of the game. And so we didn't get a chance to get guys playing 20 years, 15 years, 15 seasons, unless you're Kareem. And you got Skyhook. You know, when I was with the Lakers, he was telling me, you know, with your hand, I can teach you how to shoot the Skyhook.
Starting point is 00:59:43 And I kept looking at him like, do you know if I get that close, I'm going to jump over and dunk it. Or I could just dunk it. So I lost five years of my career because I didn't listen to Kareem. He seemed like he had it figured out. Because Magic, the three of us were working on the skyhook, and Kareem was teaching me in Magic the Skyhook. And Magic stayed with me and I didn't. I went someplace and got out.
Starting point is 01:00:12 I did! For a fact. It is what it is. Different priorities back then. Yeah, it is what it is. 1980s. No, it wasn't just that. I fell into a bad place. Yeah, right, right, right. Well, I'm glad you got out. Oh, yeah. 39 years of survival. Congratulations. Most I drink is water. But it is Aquafina, so I won't
Starting point is 01:00:31 tag you for that. Well, you know, hey. What was the medical, like, you know, when you felt that, when you got hurt, were they, like, sticking your swollen foot in a ice bath with some
Starting point is 01:00:46 beers in there or like what was one of the things okay another thing that was was cool that i i was i thought it was kind of crazy but i was wow the guys was at halftime they're smoking cigarettes and hey you know it's cold in boston right now give me some of that brown whiskey right it was different yeah and then when you got hurt it was like you get hurt in the first half and you like you walk in you cry out crawl the locker room, and guess what? I got a big old horse needle here for you. We're going to shoot you up, and you get your butt back out there and play.
Starting point is 01:01:32 And then we would get out of the game and finish playing. We'd get on the bus, go back to the hotel. No restaurants was open. Right, right. Because it's 10 o'clock. So we had to go search for food. And, you know, it was just life. because it's 10 o'clock. So we had to go search for food. And, you know, it was just life.
Starting point is 01:01:49 And young players need to know these stories because they're flying on planes. And we were flying. Hey, I was the MVP, and I'm flying on a plane in the coach. With your frame? Yes. What was that even like? Would you even physically get in a seat? Yeah, you were like
Starting point is 01:02:05 doing like a cannonball position with your knees to your chest. That's what basketball used to be like and where we are today. So the appreciation level should be so much higher. Yeah, and I think it is
Starting point is 01:02:17 as more people learn and learn. And I think that's why, you know, we got to thank you again just for coming on our podcast because, yeah, it's not often that we get to speak with people who have had such a lasting impact on the league. And in a way, too, that's so subtle that I think more and more people
Starting point is 01:02:35 are learning just how important you are. So as a fan, I want to thank you. As a Laker fan, I'm going to thank you many times. But yes, thank you so much. Yeah, well, you know, them guys are always telling me Magic and Cooper and all of them. If you had a stained sub, we would have had
Starting point is 01:02:53 five in a row. Guys, don't lean on me so hard. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But Jay, they said it from their lips to your ears. You know what I mean? It is what it is. Well, thank you so much, Spencer, yeah. But, Jay, they said it from their lips to your ears. You know what I mean? It is what it is. Well, thank you so much, Spencer,
Starting point is 01:03:08 for joining us on Miles and Jack. I'm Matt Boosies, and thank you guys for listening to this very special episode live from NBA Con in Las Vegas. I'm Carrie Champion, and this is Season 4 of Naked Sports. Up first, I explore the making of a rivalry. Kaitlyn Clark versus Angel Reese. Every great player needs a foil.
Starting point is 01:03:36 I know I'll go down in history. People are talking about women's basketball just because of one single game. Clark and Reese have changed the way we consume women's sports. Listen to the making of a rivalry, Caitlin Clark versus Angel Reese, on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of iHeart Women's Sports. I'm Keri Champion, and this is season four of Naked Sports. Up first, I explore the making of a rivalry, Caitlin Clark versus Angel Reese. People are talking about women's basketball
Starting point is 01:04:06 just because of one single game. Clark and Reese have changed the way we consume women's basketball. And on this new season, we'll cover all things sports and culture. Listen to Naked Sports on the Black Effect Podcast Network, iHeartRadio apps,
Starting point is 01:04:20 or wherever you get your podcasts. The Black Effect Podcast Network is sponsored by Diet Coke. There's so much beauty in Mexican culture, like mariachis, delicious cuisine, and even lucha libre. Join us for the new podcast, Lucha Libre Behind the Mask, a 12-episode podcast in both English and Spanish about the history and cultural richness of lucha libre.
Starting point is 01:04:43 And I'm your host, Santos Escobar, emperor of Lucha Libre and a WWE superstar. Listen to Lucha Libre Behind the Mask on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you stream podcasts.

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.