Lakers Talk HOUR 2_09-14-26

0:00This episode is brought to you by Google Chrome. You think you know a browser, but Gemini and Chrome? That's new. It can help you with practically anything on the web, like restoring a vintage motorcycle from a 50-page restoration block, or finally break down that long article you've had open for weeks. Gemini and Chrome is here for it. Ready to make anything online makes sense? There's no place like Chrome. Check responses set up require compatibility and availability varies 18 plus. Well, to pour a little bit out for our sometimes board op slash producer DeAndre, who's going to be shocked out of the so-called shop, ATD Enter. One man leaves. Bo Nick's just not able to deliver. All he need to do is have just a normal game in Steve Mason. Nothing from Jalen Waddle out there. But no, he's going to be chopped as a mace lives to see another day. And I fell around one is a bat to come to a close. We have a couple of calls here to get to. Not sure what the topics are, but I know it's going to be a good one as we go to Jonathan

1:00in Temecula. I was just in Temecula two weeks ago. It was 99 degrees. And my son's played four games out there. I almost burned my body almost decomposed with my Minnesota Nordic roots. But I made it through Jonathan. What's happening? What's going on, fellas? How y'all doing? How is your summer? Great, man. How about you? Good man. Just been grinding with the podcast. My question is for both of you, who has the most pressure? Luca are Austin Reeves this season. All right, Jonathan. Thank you for the call. Geeter. Maybe he's also got to buy it on his show Tuesday. Big baby sports. There we go. Yeah. You go first because I already kind of talked about Austin Reeves. I'm curious because I could take this either way. I mean, to me, the more pressure always goes to the best player. And I get that Austin Reeves got the contract that to me. And I think Geeter, I could speak for you here that he deserved based on his play. Was it at the a near all star level last year? He would have been an all star. Had he not gotten injured and on Christmas day? So yes, he got money.

2:00But does he? Does the pressure ramp up on him? I don't necessarily think so. I think that when you are the clear team leader, when you are an MVP favorite heading into the previous couple seasons, when you've led your team to the finals, when you are, maybe the most talented offensive player in the world. I would put Yokech right there with him. You could put Shay maybe around. But I think Luca is a more talented offensive player than Shay. And he's certainly bigger. He can certainly get to his spot and score to me at a higher rate than pretty much anybody. So that level of talent and ability, being in his prime, being healthy, coming off of the offseason in which he for once did not play for Slovenia, and also just kind of being responsible for the Los Angeles Lakers. That to me is where I go is the player that has the most pressure. Yeah, and I think you're right. I mean, obviously, I think it always goes to your A. They're what we're talking about. You're MVP candidate. It's that guy. It's now his team. There's no more LeBron James in LA. He needs to win a championship here. He knows that he wants that.

3:01Oh, I mean, I'll just go the Austin route in terms of like, yeah, for what the same reasons I said earlier, I mean, Austin got paid a big number. And with that comes big responsibility. But I also think that Austin has always had that pressure on him. It was a pressure in a contract year. And he gets his contract and it's a pressure again. And this year because he was going to opt out, right? So he's under out to free agent. Under the free agent. He's been facing that kind of stuff forever. He is a very competitive guy. You and I know him a little bit. You know, more than me, but I know him a little bit personally. I've talked to him. I just by the way he is out on the golf course, just everything in life by how he's accountable after games, how pissed he is in that locker room when he does not play well or they lose. He understands the pressure of it. And he has to deliver Mike. There's no question about it. He has to be that number two. And he's got to be elite. Well said, Geter. We appreciate that call Jonathan. And it was so good that we don't have to go tomorrow. We're going to take a break here and then Ben Galover back from a rare vacation. Hang out Walrus. Yep.

4:02He is back. Yeah. Well, Walrus hang out. We'll try to get to you if you're still if you're still around after we talk to Galover. I also want a bird update from Galover. We know that he got a new bird. I want to know if he's taught the bird any new tricks. I don't know if the bird is saying either Trudel or Geter. He got it at this point. Boy, that'd be good radio. Yeah. So I don't even thought of that having the bird on the air. The first time that you think about it, the first time that you've ever heard a bird say your name potentially live. It might sound like Peter, but I'd be live on it. And can you imagine if the bird says either my name or your name before it says say like Kappy or Mason or Ireland or Sedano, how jealous those guys would get? Be unbelievable. And by the way, they would use that drop all the time here on the station. All right. That's the first thing that I'm going to spend about coming up next and then we'll get to the rest of the NBA. It's ESPN LA. He's Geter. I'm Trudel. Lagerstock. The weight is over. Football is here. And so is draft Kings. Draft Kings is now live in all 50 states. One app, every sport nationwide.

5:03New Draft Kings customers sign up with code LA and spend five bucks to get 200 in rewards within 21 days. All markets. That's code LA in partnership with draft Kings. The crown is yours. Gambling problem call 1-800-Gamber or 1-800-Myreset. Connecticut call 888-789-7777. Visit ccpg.org. On behalf of Boothill Casino in Kansas, Bettax pass through may apply in Illinois. 21 plus Void in Canada. Bet with Draft Kings sportsbook to get bonus bets that expire in seven days or trade with Draft Kings predictions to get predictions dollars that expire in one year. Event contract trading involves a risk of loss. Fans offer Void in New York. Non with drawable rewards issued as $50 click to claims every seven days for 21 days. Terms at dkng.co slash offer. Limited time offer. Nationwide based on sportsbook predictions and free-to-play sports contest availability. Very Spice State. This episode is brought to you by Google Chrome. You think you know a browser. But Gemini and Chrome? That's new.

6:03It can help you with practically anything on the web. Like restoring a vintage motorcycle from a 50 page restoration block or finally break down that long article you've had open for weeks. Gemini and Chrome is here for it. Ready to make anything online make sense? There's no place like Chrome. Check responses set up require compatibility and availability. Very 18 plus. Well, it's a telling intro for our next guest who is probably best known as an MBA expert and analyst, a senior writer for us here at ESPN National, his name is Ben Golliver. Around his neighborhood, he's known for gelato. That's exactly correct, eater. And you know, I was a little worried about our friend Ben Golliver. You know why? He took his first trip away from gelato. It's like leaving your kid at home for the first time, I think. I mean, remember when you left like your first dog, your dog and you leave your dog and your dog just kind of climbs up to the door and it's fresh. I remember the first time ever having a babysitter and walking two blocks and texting. See if we were okay. So I didn't know what was going to happen. I know. Before we bring Ben in, I'm going to actually Ben, can I share the text that you sent

7:05me when you dropped gelato off? I mean, did this music you were playing? I don't even put two and two together. That's right, buddy. Well, here's the text. Here's the text that Ben said, when I dropped him off, he stared at me through the hole in his travel bag for the entire drive down to the place he's dropped him off, heartbreaking stuff. Ben, how did you handle it? How did gelato recover? What happened when he saw you for the first time? What kind of noises did he make? Geter and I have really been thinking about this. Well, I got to say you're advised that he was going to bounce back very quickly and be excited to see me once I showed back up, was right on the money. Thank goodness. If not like he needed punishment, but I got to say that his set up at home is a little better than the set up at the veterinary clinic. You know, and so now he's back in his big mansion. He's eating fresh fruit and vegetables every day. I would say that uptick in his personality. He's been friendly areas. Been easier to work with. I've been loving it.

8:07So it's great to be reunited, but I got to say I was on a long road trip, Mike, and those days were passing slowly without it. It's definitely tough, heartbreaking stuff. Ben, is it safe to say that lesson learned for gelato and that he is resilient? That is for sure. I've never doubted that. I mean, he is using probably smartly tough. He's one of these birds. It's not afraid to just run into a glass window over and over again. So I knew he had the resilience. I knew he'd probably be a running back or a full back if he was playing football. But it was nice to have it proven. Song choice. Welcome back to Lakers talk. We just had, I'm not going to lie to you guys. We just had maybe the worst segment that you and I have ever done together on any air. And you know, look, I can take accountability for that. Yeah, I thought I was great. I mean, the main reason is that Michael wouldn't answer the call, right? And we were set up to talk to Michael Thompson.

9:07And so then had to kind of scramble. We were originally going to talk about it. And you bailed us out of it to an extent. Still wasn't great though. I mean, it wasn't great. And it wasn't great. And then you tried calling like Brett called Phil. Yeah, and trying to call Michael when straight to voicemail started, it started giving his phone number out. And I had to hang up on that real quick, which I mean, I couldn't even give him a phone number. Err, I couldn't even give him a message. So the great Michael Thompson though, it sounds like is here with us right now? Is that correct? Michael, are you there? Hello? Hey, there he is. Hey, what's up, Michael? Hey, Michael. I don't know, man. My phone's been acting up. I've been not getting calls here. I get my calls come through, but for some reason, people will call me. And the calls will not come through for some reason. I don't know what's going on. I think you're okay with that, Michael, because you're drinking a nice glass of red right now, watching my homes return and the chiefs absolutely drug the Broncos. Yeah, I hate these kind of games where the game, the opposition, the envelope site they didn't even, wasn't even already been ready for this game.

10:08I hate these kind of non competitive games. Yeah. All right. Well, Michael, I know that your cell phone is working though in the sense that you keep sending me clips of various TV shows that you're watching. Tonight it was curb. Usually you're sending videos of Archie Bunker, whatever. Usually something races that he said. That's kind of the main thing that you like to send us. Yeah, the good old days when TV was a lot less sensitive, sensitive as it is now. You could laugh out ourselves and not be so sensitive about things back in the 70s. And you need to see young to remember this back in the 70s and early 80s, man. You could say stuff that would get you canceled today. And you just have a big old laugh about it. Listen, Michael, I appreciate you thinking that I was too young, but I remember Archie. I remember the Jefferson's good times. What's happening? Sanford's son. That's what I grew up on. Wow, surprise you. You must have been four or five years old. I was born in 71. Wow. You see these? They're going to go like a little toddler. Yeah. Yeah, you know, he enters a little older than he looks, right?

11:09He's just a handsome man. He doesn't have the big forehead like me and Ireland. He's got the hairline. This kind of little lower in the front. He's got the natural tan from the beach. Yeah, you know, that's just how he rolls, man. Yeah, he's like Steph Curry and Ronaldo. He doesn't age. So, two kinds of. So, Empty, what's been on your mind lately? We don't have to just, we don't have to talk lakers the whole time, but what's the top of the line? Michael Thompson update? People want to know what you've been doing. I have been fascinated to tell. As you know, we talked about women's basketball all the time. Indeed, I have been fascinated by how much the WNBA and women's basketball just likes Caitlin Clark and refuses to acknowledge a greatness and her impact on the game. Do you see where she was not even starting for World Cup for Team USA and World Cup? And she just happens to be the most prolific guard in the WNBA, combining scoring and assist. She setting records. She combines the most points of any back court player in the WNBA history, but yet she cannot start for Team USA. That this is the strangest response or reaction

12:12to a superstar and a league and sports history. Michael, I'm glad you brought that up. I saw some highlights because I wasn't watching, but I did see Caitlin have some big impact in that final. And I saw the nice chemistry between she and Angel Reese, couple of nice dimes, couple big shots. But yeah, I mean, Caitlin Clark is the real deal man. So fun to watch. It is crazy to know her and Angel Reese. Sometimes we criticize Angel Reese and me. We critique her and last out of her game sometimes. But one thing that a young lady can do is rebound. She played great defense and she actually scored some baskets in Team USA and whenever she and Caitlin were on the floor, they were flowing there and sink. They looked like Malone and Stockton and they were leading the team. But then Carol Lawson and the old veterans on the team are jealous or envious and they would put them on the bench and not play them, even though they were the best one, two punch for Team USA. It is strange to see how petty the WNBA is

13:12when it comes to the young stars. It's weird. Well, okay, so I guess I wouldn't say it's the, it's not the WNBA with Clark. It's USA basketball. They left her off the Olympic team, Michael. Go a couple of years ago, that was obviously ridiculous. No, these are the same people and who involved in the WNBA. It's the same sort of response or reaction. They just do not want to let this woman take over women's basketball because they really believe it's more than just K.M. Clark that generates all this worldwide interest than they don't realize. It is her and her alone. Yes, there are the stars. It's the world. It's all a lead player. There's no question about it. But she is no splice. Reggie Jackson once said, she is the sprawl. That's Thursday drink. Well, I will say that her production is certainly unquestionable. So she's, I think she's third in scoring right now and tied for first in the cis. And the numbers are about like 22 and 9, which, remember, they only play 40 minute games. So I think this is something that you have to kind of constantly

14:14mention and adjust because, oh, it's not the same as Luca. Well, no, it really is because if you add an extra eight minutes or even if you give five of those eight, then those numbers are going to go up to basically 30 and 10. And so she's a 30 and 10 player in the WNBA, which is very impressive. This is a third year, guys. And I'll make a prediction right now. She's going to play a good 15 years in the league. I'll make a prediction, Gator and Trudeau. They will never, never make her or name her MVP of the WNBA. Never. I'll take that bet. Yeah, I think I will too, Mike. And I don't want to equate it to a young Kobe or a young tiger woods when they were kind of jumping onto the scene and there were some jealousy. So I know it's not the same thing. But I agree with Mike. I think she'll be MVP. You don't think so, if you're a free. Yes, you'll be. Come on. Never. She should be at she should have been MVP or rookie here. She should be MVP this year. She's the most valuable. I think as you will see, she's probably still the is a slightly better all around player, right? Our team won the title. Yeah, two years ago, as you will sin was doing things

15:15in last year. And then came in school. It's probably still the best player. No, not only is she setting records on the floor and she's taken the will be gone Indiana Pacis was a terrible team before she got there to a serious player. And I don't leave that. Not only that fact, but Trudeau and Gator. She is the only player, the only player in the whole league that makes them move to a big advantage because she's coming to town. She's the only one. They do this for any other player that that plus a player in the court makes the most valuable player in the game because of the amount of revenue she generates and interest she generates for the league. Yeah, there's no doubt about that. I'm just I'm saying MVP is still like the best player. And I think she's coming. She's she could be Asia Wilson, Asia Wilson, 26 points. 9.4 rebounds, 2.0 blocks leads the league and all that except for recess come more rebounds. It's the MVP is about the best player. It's the most valuable player on the team. That's the best which Vegas last year was, right?

16:16But you're missing a lot about the best player. It's the most valuable player. She's the most valuable player in the league. She brings the most value to the league moving forward. I think we can agree on that. OK, Michael, what else is happening? Oh, I got a question for Michael. US Open, tell me you stayed up late to watch. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. Well, yeah, Ben Shelton looks like America's finally found themselves a big time tennis player who can compete with center and Alcaraz because those are the big two. I also now very I'm 29. So he's still in his prime. He's going to be around for a few more. Yeah, but look, you know, because they had Taylor Fritz and yet Francis Tiafo. They were always around to meet the quarter finals. Maybe make a semi final here and there. But it looks like Ben Shelton at 23. It's here to stay for a while. But he's got a he's going to have a tough time though breaking through the top three because them three boys in front of him. They're all young. All in the mid to early 20s or even in a prime of 29 is a very up. So I guess Shelton can sneak in every now and then and will win a 10 big time major like Barb Rinka did during

17:17the Federer joke it's in the Nadal era. But but with center at 24 Alcaraz at 21 Alcaraz. 23. I think Michael. Who's that? Alcaraz is 23 now. Yeah, yeah, well, whatever 23, 23, what are they still young? So Shelton might win one or two majors, but I can't see him winning more than that. But those other three guys are around for the next five or 10 years. Gotcha. Empty any NBA story that has been a top of your mind lately. Like obviously we all follow the Clippers thing. Gita and I talked about that the first couple of segments that you're feel free to get a take off if you want on that. Or anything else that's been coming to your mind when you think about the NBA season starting in a couple weeks. Well, of course, a lot of storylines going on around the league. Not at all. It's co-I's going to be a Toronto with Scotty Barnes and RJ Barrett. And some other good young players that the rappers have. What is a place in the East now? If everybody's healthy, you can be toys. We always evaluate how things the strengths of teams as long as

18:18everybody is healthy. Philadelphia is right now the favorite. New York is still there, of course. But Philadelphia is the favorite. Very, very, very healthy. But the Raptors have put themselves in the top four in the East as long as co-I can play 75 games. OK, top four. I think I don't think that that's crazy. Like they were fifth last year. They add co-I. The question to me is like, how much does Detroit slip off of 60 wins with teams kind of taking them a little bit more seriously? Andy Dan Pacer's rise. Indie coming up. How much does Cleveland benefit from getting paid in Watson? Not really losing anything. How did the Celtics do? They had 56 wins. But now they're without Jaylen Brown. They got a healthy Tatum. Is there another team Orlando to me, Michael? Could still be very good? They get what I think could be a really good coach. Miami just got honest. They were 10th last year. So that's the thing with the East now. It's about 11 teams deep. And I agree with you about Toronto being good. But top four is no shoeing for almost any of those teams to me outside of the NICS and probably Philly if they can get reasonable health from Embed. Yeah, it's going to be tough.

19:19It's going to be a lot of fun in the East. West now is going to be good too. Obviously the top two are San Antonio, Oklahoma City. But who's going to be three, four and five behind those guys and everybody's healthy? Of course, Minnesota, we got to see how the back court of Mello and Anthony Edwards, how they mesh with the ball be taken out of Mello's hands. And he's going to mature and act like a grown up around Anthony Edwards and Rudy Goldberg and those guys. And Chris Finch doesn't tolerate that kind of juvenile behavior that he used to portray or display. And Charlotte, so how much he grows up is going to make an impact on Minnesota or if he doesn't grow up. And you also have a quarter of Lakers with Luca and his crew coming back with Austin. And Austin play up to all NBA level now. He's making $45 million a year or so. So it's going to be a lot of great storylines in the West too. MT, how excited are you for clay to have a new opportunity on the East Coast playing for Pat Riley's Heat with Eric Spolstra?

20:20And what they've done there, getting Yannis in there and bam, how healthy is he and just kind of taking that, you know, for us a little bit and giving us the whole scoop there and also you being able to watch those games before Laker games being on the East Coast. Yeah, four o'clock tips, four 30 tips. And I'll be getting to see the whole game before we have to do the pre-game show for the Lakers. But yeah, I'm excited for clay because the last two years in Dallas, he's a 34, 35, 36 year old veteran. And you don't want to be playing for in games that mean nothing. You know, you're not in the playoffs. You don't have a chance to make the playoffs. In the stage of your career, you want to play in meaningful games. What a place for contenders. So that's what he has now in Miami as long as bam and Yannis to play 77, 78, 79 games, you know, don't miss too many games and it's clay and telly Lawson and Tim Hardow, a junior. Those three guys can knock down their trees consistently, around a 40% clip from outside to give up the space look for for Miami because Miami's got two beasts in the paint. But it's clay and hardaway and Lawson and Andrew Wiggins

21:22can knock down their trees consistently. Miami can beat in the West with anybody. So Michael, I'm going to get right. We were discussing the whole Clippers thing and, you know, just taking accountability, which I was, they didn't do it first and then try to do 13 days later. For somebody that, you know, really hasn't made many mistakes in life like yourself, what's the last time that you had to hold yourself accountable, Empty? Like I know you've never done anything disrespectful to Julie. You know what you're right. I'm sorry. I mean, I was wrong. Have you ever been wrong, Michael? No, I haven't made a mistake yet. Life. So I don't really know how to do it. So I don't understand what Steve Baume and those guys are going through. But yeah, I was hoping that the NBA wouldn't hit the Clippers too as hard as they did. I was hoping that, okay, finally, I'm a hundred million bucks or 50 million dollars. Take away two first round picks and maybe suspend Baume or the officials for a year. But don't cripple the franchise. There's the punishment they put on the Clippers. It's not a crippled them for the next seven or eight years. And that's unfair to the fans.

22:22The fans are going to be the ones to suffer. So I thought two first round picks, a loss of two first round picks, a hefty fine and a long suspension would have been enough. How excited you that there was no Pablo Torrey when you were getting a bag of cash in the Bahamas on your way to Minnesota. Yeah, man. How do the gophers get you out of that 90 degree weather, Michael? You know the thing about it, if you're going to think that's a surprise me, Gator and true, that if you're going to cheat the way the Clippers did, right? Why do you put anything down in the email or on paper? Do everything by handshakes and word of mouth? That way you leave no paper trail. Like you did. I don't get exactly. Yeah, like just yeah. Yeah. What was the name of the guy that gave you the bag of cash? Was just one guy or would they send multiple different kind of like people that work for the, you know, the athletic department guy? I cannot divulge his name. No, no, no, no. Just exactly. Talk about that. But what happened to the gold old days of meeting in a back alley just one on one and

23:25closing down deals that way. Yeah, just a brown bag. That's all we need. Michael, how excited are you or it was the word intrigued? I don't know what you would describe kind of the post LaBron air as we get ready for the Laker training camp with with with a new look in in Luke and AR leading the way with Walker Kessler. Yeah, very intrigued. This is going to be a very fun year exciting year to look forward to Lucas now to face the franchise. Austin Reese is all NBA type player. Walker Kess is a all defensive type of a win protect us. So and you got a bunch of young wing new wing guys around these guys. So excited to see what Jay, Jay, Reddick and the staff are going to do with this new collection of players. But I think the legals will be very competitive this year. Not the famous to come out of West, but they're going to be a tough out once they get to the playoffs. All right, Michael. Just one more question about this. Clay has obviously signed a bunch of deals over the years, like a bunch of endorsement deals. The one I think about the most is probably the ante deal and you know, shoe deals are sort of one thing because all the best players in the league do that on the side. But Uncle Dennis clearly pushed a lot of this and you know, co-eyed to whatever degree

24:30he knew didn't know about different things. That's all at this point. We I guess we'll find out at some point. What was your like reflection back to the time that you were playing and just how much this stuff has changed going back to you having your own Nike deal and then Nike with a bunch of other guys, then Nike deciding actually we're going to give it all embedded all on Michael Jordan. So your deals essentially got pushed and then you kind of being near magic Johnson who probably had all of his stuff on the side relative to what happened with this current thing. Can you just kind of take us through the evolution of what it's been like to see NBA monetize in the way that it has been for players? Yeah, it's been monetized a million times more than when I was in the league. Thanks to David Stern and taking the game global and bringing in more sponsorship deal, more interest, more eyeballs around the world made it interest go up and made more companies and sponsors want to be involved with the league. So it all starts with David Stern and his vision to expand the league to even greater heights. And the money is just crazy now.

25:32Everybody wants to be affiliated with the league. The league has such a good reputation and so much fun. And it is the arguably the second favorite sport in America behind football. So it's crazy to see how much the league is expanding and how much money is involved and available to the players now as long as you play well and keep your nose clean. And come across as a good guy to the fans. Everybody can get a little piece of the deal as long as you do it above board. There's no reason for you to have to go under the table to try to get deals because companies are looking for players to sign up and push their brands for them, especially now with social media around. Michael, the YouTube chat has the exact same question that I was going to ask because I wanted to bring it back to the Lakers and Mike and I've been doing this show throughout the summer and we keep kind of asking different people. And I am very, I'm actually kind of excited to hear your answer because I can make an argument for any of the new guys who most intrigues you and who are you excited to see of the new guys. Walker Kessler, you know, he played five games last year.

26:34I want to see if he can be second team all NBA defense this year because a center. There's nobody's going to love that. The plant, uh, Wemba and John, but if he is a center that's the case at the all defense center, Walker Kessler has to average a double double and block three or four shots of the game and be a rim protective. He can do that because the Lakers have got scoring. You know, they can score with anybody, but if they can get up some solid rim protection, if he could be a combination of Go Bear and, um, and, and, and Wemba and John, like the middle somewhere in between there, then Lakers will have something special in him. Michael Thompson. It's great to talk to you as always. Is there anything else you'd like to get after your chest before we let you go? Yeah, I am sick and I don't know. True that I know you don't care, but I think that Gita might. I am so sick and tired of seeing this into all these boxes like Terence Crosford, Ryan Garcia, Shakur Stevenson. I don't know who you got anybody listening to me out there. A lot of our yellows are some Mexican Americans. They really love their boxing too. I'm so sick of these guys talking so much trash against each other and nobody gets

27:38in the ring to fight. I'm sick of it. You don't know what happened. What happened, Michael? We used to set up these fights and it was on and we'd all sit around and we grew up. Right. Use high versus her and turns versus Leonard, Leonard versus high glimpses. Let her go around the place is the fight the great, you know, to a day, a day to that probably told you little Mike to that about those times. But now the day the fighters all they do is just talk and never fight each other. Is duck each other? Exactly. Yeah, that's lame, Michael. Well, I'm glad you got that after chest. I hope that he's right. Yeah, you're right. I can't argue with you. That's the thing I'm most frustrated about in sports. How the great fighters of the day will just don't fight each other. So some stupid reason. Michael, years ago, this is late 90s, I was at a sterile beach, Mexico, at a beach volleyball tournament. Thousands of people gathered to watch on a big screen when Tyson bit, whole fields here. We just don't have that vibe anymore. I want to back. Yeah, because the good fighters out there for some reason, these idiots don't understand

28:39that you fight each other. You make 10 times the money fighting each other and fighting some other bum like you now. Hmm. Well, all right. Thanks for ending it like that. The great Michael Thompson. We appreciate you joining us and we will look forward to speaking to you and seeing you in a couple of weeks. Empty. Yeah, I can't wait to see you guys in the first preseason game. That's going to be fun. All right. There he is. Empty. The legend himself. Bring it Thompson. All right. We're going to take a call or two coming back and then we'll get to another one of our favorite guests, Ben Golliver in the second hour of our show here. He's Geeter. It's TrueDell. I'm Laker Stock, E. Espinali. This episode is brought to you by Google Chrome. You think you know a browser, but Gemini and Chrome, that's new. It can help you with practically anything on the web, like restoring a vintage motorcycle from a 50 page restoration block or finally break down that long article you've had open for weeks. Gemini and Chrome is here for it. Ready to make anything online makes sense? There's no place like Chrome. Check responses set up require compatibility and availability varies 18 plus.

29:45This episode is brought to you by Google Chrome. You think you know a browser, but Gemini and Chrome, that's new. It can help you with practically anything on the web, like restoring a vintage motorcycle from a 50 page restoration block or finally break down that long article you've had open for weeks. Gemini and Chrome is here for it. Ready to make anything online makes sense? There's no place like Chrome. Check responses set up require compatibility and availability varies 18 plus. All right, welcome back to Laker Stock. It's Gator Entrudell. Now, let me get a couple of walker takes off. Or let us do it together here. Walker Kessler takes. And then we will get to Walrus at the end of this break. So I don't know that it's just the time of the year, Gator, but the more I think about JJ Redick getting to design scheme featuring the room protection of this giant human who is much bigger than even like an Anthony Davis. He's like seven, two huge long arms, blocks off with both hands.

30:48You can just you can build a defense with not just Walker Kessler, but with the perimeter upgrades that they're getting in terms of ball pressure that weren't on the team last year. The only ball pressure guy that the Lakers essentially lost from last year was Marcus Smart. And Marcus who I thought was great last year, but is getting on an age and did have a pretty healthy season. Now you got Quentin Grimes who can pressure the ball. You got Colin Sexton who can pressure the ball. You got Zahir Williams. Thibal. Who can do it? You got Thank You Gator. You got Matisse Thibal. Who can do it? You got Bronnie still on the roster that can do it. Didn't play a lot last year and who'd see a do the row? How about Cameron Carr? Like you've got you've got a bunch of guys now and that means that you can play in a style that encourages the go for steals. Press up on them. Pick up full court. And if you get beat Walker Kessler's there. Now if Kessler's out, that's when I think then you're back to kind of doing what you did the last couple of years and just he's a main point of this. But like got to be healthy in a lot of minutes. Don't you think though that the deep like I'll put it this way

31:51to you. Can't the defense be better than what people think? Yes. Because of the things I just mentioned. Listen, Michael just said he wants to be second team all NBA. If you look at his body of work and you watch film and you read and listen to people who've covered him and the jazz, he's a pick and roll defender, excellent and drop coverage. Great rim protector, like vertical contester. He's got all those skills. Mike the question marks are like out in space on the perimeter. People like to test his mobility but he's gotten better. But let me give you his numbers. He only played five games last year. Give him to me. But let me tell you what kind of year maybe he was on his way to heaven. First game, four points, 13 rebounds. Second game, 18 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 for 4 from 3. Third game, 25 points, 9 of 12 from the field. 4 assists, 4 blocks, 6 of 7 from the 3 line, 1 of 2 from 3. Okay, that was game 3. Game 4, 3 and 9 didn't shoot a 3. Fifth game, 20 got hurt, 22 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 blocks,

32:532 for 2 from 3, 6 of 8 from the 3 throw line. 14 and a half points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 point 8 blocks, 75% from 3. So he was learning how to extend on the floor as well, which I think is super valuable guy. And that's that's without playing with not just one primary. That's my point. But that's my point. He was on his way to having a really good year. Austin Reeves and Luke Dodger are great at elevating guys. Relative to Kianta George and essentially Colin Zestin. If he elevates more than he was, and I know it's only a five game sample, but those are his numbers. You take those numbers in a heartbeat. Okay, he's got the ability, Mike, to give you 25, to give you 22, to give you 18, 12, and 4 blocks. On a team like this, absolutely huge. So I'm excited about Walker Kessler. I feel like if he's, if he's just one of those really good players, he doesn't have to be the all-star level or maybe on his way to being an all-star one day. He's worth the price. He was an absolute need and a must for this team.

33:54And I know they gave up a lot for him, but he is now part of that foundation with Luke Adonchich and Austin Reeves. The amount of easy buckets that he's going to get because of those two, I think puts a nice, it raises the ceiling on him as an offensive player. But of course, what they really need him to do is set the screens for those guys, get the rebounds for those guys, get the offensive rebounds to get them. He's a great offensive rebounder, which means extra possessions. And one thing I love about him is the fact that they asked him, would you rather have a game winning catch lob dunk or block a shot to win the game? He said block a shot. He said block a shot. That's what gets him excited. That shows me he's got a little dog in him. Okay, likes to defend, hangs his hat on the defensive end. And we need that big physical guy. And let's be honest, he's he's going to be in a fantastic mood. He just went from a place where they were like, hey, sorry guys, you're not allowed to win. Hey guys, you're not playing. I'm not trying to. I don't want you to come back from your injury.

34:55We can't afford it. We need another draft pick to to, hey, we love you. We're trading a ton of stuff to get you. Our best player in the league candidate specifically wanted to play with you. He wants to feed you wide open, al you dunks. He doesn't need to do anything. All that on offense that you want to do. And all you got to do is get him and Austin Reese's back on defense. Does that sound like fun? And by the way, if you do that job well, you will immediately be beloved by the biggest and most important fan base in the NBA. Shot 75% from the free throw line. Also, do you like the beach? Maybe you like the beach. Yeah, maybe you like to look at the blue. Maybe you like to walk on the beach. Sit on the sand. Do you like you like getting, not playing some, maybe let me ask you this. It's seven two. Would you like to be part of one of Gators of volleyball teams? Here's my answer to that. I would love for it to put them in the middle and let them stuff some balls and roof balls. But I, that's called blocking. That's the little terms for blocking. But you know what? I don't want that for other 10 years. I don't want that for another 10 years. Okay. I want to focus on the purple and gold. Okay. And then when he's ready to come out of the beach,

35:55I'll be an old man playing defense behind him. And I have no problem with that. But he just, he doesn't even need to jump. It's not as a hitter. Now, you know, you know what I'm saying? Like do you have, I've seen Phil Dow, Phil Dow's house or before? Is it wait, Phil Dow, Dow house or get listen, we made Luke and Rich into a pretty good volleyball players. We're going to make, we could make Kevin Love. Kevin Love got a little bit better. Nash, good volleyball players. What does feel like? Like, what was Phil like? Six, eight, six, 10, Phil Dow, how's it? What the great nine? Six nine. Okay. Gold medalist 2008 Beijing. Walker, Kessler's seven, two. Four time Olympians. And he could jump. So I'm just saying it's intriguing. Okay. Let's go quick to walrus and in Sino. And before we get to our next break, walrus, what's up, man? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Now keep it quick. All right. So first off, I am amazed that Toronto was actually willing to go through with the trade for Kauai. I mean, honestly, like they don't know what might be going on with that guy. I agree. Plus that's the first day. Went through with it. The two first and the swap. I was really surprised, honestly. And you know, Brandon Ingram, I mean, I feel for that, feel for that guy right now, man,

36:56because his career just got put into hell, you know, with that team. And then when it comes to the Lakers, guys, obviously Kessler, he's a story. But for me, it's Mamu. Mamu, who I honestly think is probably going to be the starter at the fore. And for me, he's got to be better than Rui Hachimura because that's something I'm just still upset about that they let Rui go. I know they cleaned house outside of Luka and Austin, you know, obviously, Bronnie's still being on contract, but Mamu has to really be the real deal. And if he is, then this Lakers team rather could be the real deal. Yeah. You're on a great night. Great show. Yeah. Thanks. Well, we're super appreciated. I think we're super appreciated. And we're super happy to see the people love Rui, like our guys. And he was a play off performer for the Lakers, and you cannot discount his shooting and what he was able to do and his percentage from beyond the arc. I do, I am excited and intrigued about Mamu as well. Because I think he's a playmaker. We talked about his grab and goes last week with Trevor Lane, his fact that he can triple pass shoot. What JJ wants, I am very excited about Mamu. Don't know if he's going to start, but that's going to be an intriguing and interesting time topic in training camp.

37:58All right, great call from Morris as always all way and quickly. Geeter covered most of it. So I don't have to. I would just say I view Quentin Grimes almost more as the more of like the Rui replacement. I get different positions. But in terms of he's going to be the one that spaced out in the corner. He's going to be the one that can shoot the open three at a high percentage and rack a closeout and really score at a high level. The difference here being that he shifts the team to more of kind of a being able to defend in the perimeter as opposed to have LeBron, Rui, plus Luca, plus a big out there and just not have a lot of foot speed, not have a lot of ability to chase. And to me, Mamu would if you put him in that spot, you once again become kind of a slow, laboring team. You're forcing Lucas to come out in the perimeter. So what I like more is Mamu coming off the bench and just really giving the offense, keeping the offensive level super high when he comes in. Yeah, you can play him at times with Kessler for a couple minutes here and there. But I'd rather start with somebody like a Williams or even a LaRavia or Vanderbilt that can just also move their feet defensively and can rebound.

39:01And then you can have grimes being out there attacking in that point of attack thing and let Mamu come in. But he's super important. I'm glad you mentioned him. I just don't I don't see the team build defensively being able to do as much if you have him out there. But hey, it could work because Kessler could make up for some of those mistakes in the perimeter as well. All right, coming up next, our great friend that we are very sad to see go from our fantasy guillotine league a week one. Nobody wants to be the one who comes in. I thought I was last night for about 17 minutes. And it's not just not just the paying the 50 bucks and not you flying home last night. Is that why when I was flying? I was announcing her most and I texted you and I said, am I am I out of this league? Yeah, and you almost came back four hours later and said maybe. I didn't like it. But I said, but Javante is probably going to take care of you. Anyway, the guy who's just going to be devastated is going to be joining the show next. His name is Jan Rae Hawkins. It's 70s being like Peter Trudeau. This episode is brought to you by Google Chrome. You think you know a browser, but Gemini and Chrome, that's new.

40:03It can help you with practically anything on the web like restoring a vintage motorcycle from a 50 page restoration block or finally break down that long article you've had open for weeks. Gemini and Chrome is here for it. Ready to make anything online makes sense? There's no place like Chrome. Check responses set up require compatibility and availability. Very 18 plus. ESPN's going to Super Bowl 61 and so can you enter for a chance to win the trip of a lifetime for take us to Super Bowl 61 plus a three-night stay at Disneyland resort where you and up to three guests can enjoy the magic of Disney plus the Super Bowl champion cavalcade. Enter at www.esPN.com slash SB LXI by December 31st, 2026 for your chance to win. No purchase necessary in 1236 at 1159 PM Houston. Open only the legal residence of the 50 US states in Washington DC who are 18 plus a time of entry for odds of winning and full official rules visit www.esPN.com slash SB LXI void were prohibited. Lakers talk here, Keeter and Trudeau and look, it's not sad day for some. It's a somber somber time for it's a tough time. A very good friend of ours who's been on Lakers talk plenty with us and hopefully will be in the future his name is young D.

41:18And so he's a great. Palm Springs local legend. And you know for a while, Geeter. It looked like you might be the one that would be out of the mix. I did. But Javante Williams carried you. He came back and took you to the promised land. You know who did not carry young Deandre. BonaX. BonaX did not. He just needed BonaX to do anything in the second half. Nor did George Pickens. The Texans defense got smashed by the bills. By the way, best defense and league. And I would say also. Bowers not playing. That's where I want Deandre as we bring you in here. I want to at least make one excuse for you, Geeter. Just mention the name. It would have been nice of Greg Bergman's raiders. Would have just simply disclosed that their star. They're stud. They're second round pick in a geese. They're stud. They're second round pick in a geese league of 18 teams. Which means that you took him over a stud quarterback. You took him over a stud running back. You took him over a wide receiver that would have gotten you more than five points like DeVante Adams.

42:20And it screwed you, buddy. And I feel terrible for you. Look, man. I went high on drafting. Brock bars. This is because when I selected Brock bars last year before he got hurt. His production on the field was one of a kind. I was like, I was very, really high on them. Especially you. You know, and that the raiders had the dolphins in week one. I thought that was for sure a good pick. And I know. Wait a couple of days before week one to announce that. No, yes, it should out for minimum of two games. And then I'm okay. I find out. I got George pickings. And in fact, plus Scott, besides not having a good gaming and some erud giant and George pickings does not see the ball that much on that side of the field. So I'm okay. And then it comes down to two guys. Bow. Jay Harvey. And honestly, it looked good at first because Bow niggas did the touchdown pass to Evan England in the first half. You relax a little bit. You thought, hey, maybe it's a minimum received Mason's time. Exactly. So I sat back. I was calm. I'm just a little bit. Then the second outcomes. And I just start to see how the chief defense are starting to blitz and bow and mix. And I'd be able to pick up the coverage. And he was just fumbling the ball. He was getting sad. Oh, my. Oh, this is over.

43:30The Broncos actually getting a turnover. The Broncos and they're getting a turnover. They get the ball at the chief 20 yard line. And I'm thinking they're going to go ahead and march down the field. And they did. Deon, do I know did you ever consider picking up Micah Secki? No, a fan. Colt Comet in Joku, Joe new Smith, Tommy Trimble, all these guys would have won you the league. Have you dropped a piece of trash on your bench and picked up a tight end to put in the spot for Brock Bauer's. Did you ever consider. Sorry for the hardening question. No, no, you're good. You're good. I did not consider only because I thought AJ Barner for the C-ox. I thought he released something. But guess what happened in that game? Sam Donnellins are going out so that the rely on Drew Lock, which Drew Lock did find. But that's what they have to say for to give him the rock. So again, I thought my draft was wasn't bad. No one that I had what the second to last pick. But it just came down to injuries. It just came down to Devon say Adam's not going to any production because of Rams and I show up for that game in Australia against the San Francisco 49. So it just came in to.

44:34I just like any production from any of my guys. So Deandre look, I you know, I get the money's one thing. I feel bad about that. It's just kind of like burning 50 bucks. But just. I know you enjoyed the league. You're looking forward to using your fab money on Steve Mason's players. And that's the thing that sucks the most about this right is that you got to give all your guys back. And then it's like, well, do I even follow the league? Do I see or do you just kind of just. You dejectedly just dismiss it and start thinking about 2027. Honestly, it wasn't even about the 50 bucks. It was more like I don't want to be the first one out of the G 18 lead. No one knowing that this is my first ever game to cheat G 18. I was looking to make a statement. I don't really go like I know how to draft. I know what type of players to select. But not being the first one out. I'm not like, I'm just saying for the rest of the box. It's as simple as Brock. If Brock, the worst he's going to do is 10 points, the worst, most likely to get 20 and you end up losing by what like four points or something like that. And that's it. You couldn't make up for the Brock, but I was screwed.

45:38I'm deeply upset as hard as how the Raiders handed that situation because Kubea, whether Raiders, he even said himself that, you know, it's most likely that he's going to shoot up and all of a sudden that news just comes out. So like I said, you know what it is where it is. I will be looking forward to be joining next year. Hopefully I ended with a higher because I was not expecting to be second to last draft. So. Yeah, it's a marvelous fault. Yeah, sorry about that. All right, Deandra, you got like you got like 15 seconds. We want to get any other takes off your chest. No takes all I know is that come next year. I'll be ready to go for the game to begin. Yeah, your boys are going to be at least. I'm not going to finish. I'm ready. Attitude. Deandra, we're going to miss you in the league. Hope you don't leave the chat. Yeah, thanks, buddy. No, we're not all right guys. All right, Deandra. I hate to see him go. I hate to see him go, man. He adds a lot of value to the league. It's a great kid. Took it hard there. And he was accountable. Unlike, unlike bomber in the glippers. I feel for him. And. Thank you for bringing it full circle. All right, that's that's what he does. He's a pro is Chris Gator McGee. My name is Mike Trudeau. Thanks to Funchy for producing once again.

46:42We will see you next week. Basically the last dead week before we really pick things up. Can't wait on Lake your side, baby. Yes, be an ally. Imagine if having your cake and eating it too was about banking, not baking. Silicon Valley Bank and First Citizens Bank have created a recipe that blends decades of innovation economy experience with more than a century of stability. Now, you don't have to choose between deep sector expertise and lasting financial security. Instead, you can enjoy them both. Silicon Valley Bank and First Citizens Bank. It's the best of bank worlds.