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KD to Houston?! SGA Got His Ring. Lamar Better Win This Year. episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 26, 2025 · 1H 54M

KD to Houston?! SGA Got His Ring. Lamar Better Win This Year.

from Dead End Sports · host Dead End Media Group

The NBA just got flipped on its head again. The Phoenix Suns ship Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets in a massive deal—Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the 10th pick, and FIVE second-rounders are headed to the desert. Who won this trade, and is Houston a legit top-3 West team now? We also break down the Thunder winning their first NBA title and what it means for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s legacy. Plus, the Ravens add Jaire Alexander—does that turn the heat up on Lamar Jackson’s title hopes? And don’t forget about Cam Ward. The Titans’ young QB might be the most disrespected #1 pick in years. Is it time to change the narrative? 🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! https://streamyard.com/pal/d/4546989716668416 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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KD to Houston?! SGA Got His Ring. Lamar Better Win This Year.

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TRANSCRIPT · AUTO-GENERATED

This is the place where sports screens get a lot of data sports. I'm going to be in it. Join me on the show. We have C-Folks, Shelton, drinking spike and Nick.

What's up, y'all? Well, no, no, no, no, definitely. I don't know what you're sipping on, bro. True juice.

Can you say it? True juice. I guess so. I don't want to know.

I'm going to be tired. Yeah, I take care. Appreciate everybody tuning in. Make sure you guys leave a comment.

You can become a member as well if you want to help support the show. And hit the thumbs up button. And then you can also catch the audio replay and all that stuff. On Spotify, Apple Podcast, where we get your podcasts.

But yeah, man, we have quite a few things to talk about this evening, of course. OK, see when the title, we did a reaction to that the night of. It's been a couple of days, so we've had a chance to kind of think about it. And we have Fivo and Spike are with us now, and they can give their thoughts on everything that went down.

And the trait, man, Katie, got traded again. And we'll talk about that as well. And some of you know about news too. So before we get into all of that, let's get into our best performance of the week.

The pitch is funny. Best performance of the week, man. We didn't even need a pitch. I forgot to say that that's my bad, but it's SGA.

That look a little bit like SGA. So we're going to roll with it. But it's the day that he needed to do. Because A.

It's funny. From the MVP to throughout the playoffs to even it wasn't a signature performance. I wouldn't say that. But he was good enough to make sure that his team didn't lose to a very feisty Indiana team.

So throughout this whole playoffs, throughout the season, people were doubting him. Saying that they weren't experiencing up. They weren't old enough. That wasn't the fire enough.

SGA still did what he needed to do to come out on top and make OKC champions. So shout out to SGA. Best performance of the week, best performance of the NBA year. I love what he did.

Look at one of the best seasons ever, wasn't it? They said it was top three. I mean, this is my good. Have done regular season MVP for led the league in scoring.

It's going to be P and I want to say first team on NBA as well. Only him and then Jeff Dunning. So that's the best. I will say I like to joke that Rob consted SGA I put his damn picture.

But this is this is a testament of how much you think this looks remotely like SGA. That shows with that superstar name. Yeah, if he had braids, that would be SGA. Wow.

All right. It's like get that random big off our show. Yeah. That was the first one.

All right. But man, let's get into it, man. A lot of things actually happen with the NBA with trades and stuff like that. Spike is ready for it to die, but it isn't being resuscitated with the offseason that started with a trade that we discussed last week and now a new trade that took place with everybody's favorite player they want to play on every single team in the NBA that is Kevin Durant.

The Phoenix Suns have agreed to a, I guess, a blockbuster trade sending 15 time NBA all star Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets for Jalen Green. Dylan Brooks, the 10th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Trev and five second round picks. Who do you believe won this trade? I feel okay.

I'm going to use the Rockets won the trade because Houston is in a wind down mode. And like Ken said in the intro to this topic, we love KD damn near everywhere in NBA. Why? Because his game fits everywhere and anywhere.

He doesn't need the ball to be effective. He doesn't need to take 40 shots of game. That's where he points. You know, he just fits.

He can play off ball on ball. And even though he's no longer a really good defender, he's not the weakest link on defense either. And he still has elite size in NBA. So all that being said, for me, the Rockets won this trade.

However, I do like what Phoenix got in return. One of the things that's lost is that the traffic that they got in return is their own traffic. So that's a little irony there. However, you get Dylan Brooks, right?

Dylan Brooks is a tough guy and Phoenix lacked toughness. And I don't see him getting moved again. Jalen Green could potentially be moved again because just like what KD on the Phoenix roster, I said from get go, Bradley Bill, the book and KD don't fit and Jalen Green is no better in terms of fit. So for me, I see Jalen Green moving on.

I like it for Phoenix because they got something that they needed. But now they have multiple picks to move on. They got another player in terms of Jalen Green to bring in something that fits roster-wise. Obviously, they're going to re-up the book.

And at the end of the day, I've heard rumblings that they might buy out Bradley Bill, which just tells you how bad of a contract that is. But Houston won the trade because there went now KD got old man game. He's going to be the same KD this year. He may be the same KD next year.

And beyond that, we don't know. But with the ascension of Amand Thompson, Saint-Goon, and just that coaching staff being, I think this is going to be their third or fourth year. They're in a good position. They're going to be a contender in the West.

But I wouldn't call him title favorites yet. People, I could just say that was good to get those three together. I don't remember you saying it wasn't. No, go rewind to take.

I'm going to go take it because I don't know. You didn't like the Phoenix setup. No, I say I was the only one, Lou. I don't mind.

I was like a bull with me. I said I had a book card. Did you like the Brooklyn setup? Which version of KD when KD went there with James Harden and Kyrie?

You mean KD? You said KD. Yeah, KD, excuse me, KD. Um, I thought it was a whole bunch of dudes that were all offensive, no defense.

I, on paper, it looked good. But I didn't think that there was going to win anything. The reason I asked, I wonder when we're going to get away from this golf process, adding KD to a team is going to make that team better when that hasn't happened since Golden State. Back to Brooklyn.

No, it hasn't happened in Brooklyn. Has it happened in Brooklyn? What, what they went in Brooklyn? They were better.

You know what I mean? You said a better team, bro. You didn't say win. For half of one season, you're right.

I have a one season. They were a better team. But the rest of the time they sucked and they sucked when he went anywhere but Golden State. So I'm wondering why Houston would even jeopardize this.

I get if you want to move on from green, even though you've only given him one playoff appearance and let him choke in that one playoff appearance. But he's obviously supposed to be a superstar from the regular season that he had. I'm not settling for KD if I'm Houston. He's too volatile a player in the sense of I don't know if he going to get into it with the head coach.

I don't know if he going to not like one of the young players. Like he's been doing this since Golden State. Even going back to Oklahoma City. He can't get along with people.

So inserting him as a piece is close to a championship. It doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Yeah, the talent is there. I get that.

But I don't want that headache. If I'm adding the rockets. He's a headache, bro. He's a headache, bro.

He's been a headache everywhere. He's going to do it. I was just going to say he was a headache in Oklahoma City. He was a headache in Golden State.

He was a headache in Brooklyn. He was a headache in Phoenix. Like I don't even understand how y'all are missing this. You're giving me a headache.

Hey, look, we need to have a pre-show so that way we can limit the bad takes that spike has on basketball because that is arguably one of the worst takes. And you've had a lot of bad things in terms of basketball. He is where near any. KD is the epitome of a guy that just gets along to get along.

Like he goes in. He's a professional. He goes out there. He does his job and he does that at a very high level.

He goes on. You talk about the same KD that wasn't on speaking terms with Phoenix head coach during the year. You talk about the same dude. Who's that?

Who's that? Who's that? No, the head coach. It matters because the start player on the team not having conversations with him.

It matters in Brooklyn because they asked you to come here or you asked these niggas to come here talking about Kari and James Harden and then y'all fall out. It matters in Golden State because he asked you to come here and y'all get in the fistfight down there on the court. It matters in Oklahoma City because you can't get along with Westbrook because he's a sin to be a star. It's KD.

He's the common denominator. And I've got a lot of attention. And I think they's going to go well. And I agree with almost everything Luke said, I'm not going to say that saying was a headache, but they did have reports that he did have fights in Phoenix.

But nonetheless Phoenix one is trade. You needed to move off of KD. You were not going to win with him. We've seen it.

Prove is in the pudding. You're not winning the championship there. And I also, although it is a district by subtraction because you needed to move on from Jalen Green. I said it the whole time.

I've never been a fan of Jalen Green. He's not going to develop the way you thought he would have been Houston. I don't think that adding KD to that core of young talent, super talented guys is going to help. And the reason why I say that is he takes a lot of attention.

As far as having, I get what you're saying, he feel like he don't need the ball. Yeah, he does. He doesn't expect to take those shots, which could start to grow to some of those other guys. You look at some of the guys, like I'm in Thompson, you look at Smith, these guys were coming into their own and developing nicely.

You had a KV to that. They made something out now to help. But for the most part, it's gonna stunt them and kind of set them back a little bit if you ask me, because it takes the ball out of their hands. And you lost the ball.

We had a whole season pause with the ball in their hands. You know what I'm saying? And they barely, what y'all say, they barely got out of the go to the stage. No, let's take it.

And wrap the rail the season with second seat. Yeah, and two season goes so as Memphis. Would you wanna be Memphis now? Sticking with that roster?

You're supposed to have a fourth seat team. No, I'm saying two seasons ago. Two seasons ago, they were the second seat. But we saw a last bit.

I correlate because you have a young roster with a second seat on the West. Because we've seen a lot of tech and things not do shit in the West. I guarantee you, Memphis wouldn't have brought Katie in to help this situation. Memphis would love that had Katie now.

Are you kidding me? Now, but when it was the second seat about their head. Like, no, they still didn't want Katie anymore. Listen, there's no optimism.

This is, Katie is who we are. I think he is. Why is he not sticking anywhere? What's the issue with him?

Because the organization's a shit ball. No, every organization. Listen, listen, listen, the two organizations that he excelled at when he built his career was OKC and Golden State. We can look back from then to now and say OKC and Golden State are stable, probably one of the most stable, well-run organizations in the league.

We're correct. Then he went to Brooklyn and Phoenix. He went to the Nets and the Suns. Those are hard to...

Voluntarily. Voluntarily, I'm saying he went there. Players that were good on the roster. He put other people around it too.

And in Brooklyn that wasn't his fault. Because he couldn't control what Kyrie did. That's something that we talked about. We discussed.

Lou, we talked about that too. Don't make that face. We discussed what can Katie do with that. If your homeboy that you worked with, they ain't trying to get vaccinated.

What you gonna do? You can't do shit. And then in Phoenix, he did ask to go there. Because obviously Brooklyn was a shit show.

He doesn't know that he was rolling up to the Dookie show. Because it was just another shit show. That's in a different form. And that's where we are now.

Now he's back in a stable organization in Houston Rockets. It sounds like bad decision-making by Katie. Yeah. If he was smart, he would have just stayed OKC or Golden State.

Like you said, those two. Well, that was good. He's chasing himself. He had to get out of the way.

He's still even into the data. Like he was going to be at the dream on something. Like, Dream on was willing to get over that shit. Because Dream on wants to win rings.

Katie don't care about winning rings. If he didn't even stay at the office. But that's Dream on squad more than it would ever have been. KD squad.

That's big personality on that team. But we've always said that Dream on was the leader of that team. Not the best player, but the leader. That's the leader of the team.

No, step was the best player on that team. The leader of that team is Dream on. The voice of that team is Dream on. The personality of that team is Dream on.

Because you have a whole bunch of life getting pretty boys over here running around shooting threes and stuff. And he was the guy that was getting people's face, chucking guys, setting heart picks, getting everybody's doing all of the dirty work. And that was the grit that we knew go to state to have. It didn't come from step.

Clay added to that. But he was a quiet guy. He was a confrontational. You know, say a professional consummate.

Go out there. He talked his shit like, hey, you know what I'm going to take my shots. And then the third. But he wasn't getting in people's face.

That character of that squad has always been Dream on. Dream on has been the leader. KD, if he wanted to deal with that, that's one thing. He didn't want to deal with that.

So that's why he bounced. I don't disagree. I said it now in hindsight. And even in the moment, he decided to go there.

He should have stayed there because now you rewrite the narrative. Now you go win however many championships because you're arguing the best team ever. Now, OK, anybody say, you know, but at the end of the day, your take on him being a headache and Shelton saying that he's going to stun some growth. Shelton, I'm going to address you because I feel I feel like this.

When you have a superstar, right, that can score in many different ways, I feel that other guys need to elevate their play. And here's the thing. KD doesn't have to have to ball all over the time. Of course, he was going to take the last shot.

He's one of the best scores in NBA history. None of those other guys on that roster is going to be that. Nobody has that label and nobody's going to grow into that. They can all be really great players, even NBA all-timers, but in different ways, not from a scoring perspective.

KD can also be the corner guy. And you swing the ball to me. He doesn't always, let me get the ball. I'm going to take you off the dribble this, that and third.

The ball can move around. And when it finds KD, KD is going to get a bucket. Everybody else got to do what they do when they get the ball, right? So I don't think it's going to stunt them that much.

I think, honestly, it's going to help them because KD is going to attract the double team. Nobody on that roster, they were number two all year. But nobody on that roster commands a double team. The closest one to doing that is Jabari Smith, the closest one, Saint Goong because if he has a mismatch and we know that he's a great value version of Joker, or he tries to be a great value version of Joker.

But at the end of the day, KD is going to open up shots for everybody else on that squad. You just got to make them now. You're going to have wide open shots because you're going to have to run two, three guys at KD, especially KD at three, four, five in a row that we've seen him do. And at the end of the day, y'all talked about the lack of winning in Phoenix.

I don't disagree. But you look at his numbers. And also when he was off, right, when he was hurt or away from the team, they were like three and 12, three and 17, or something ridiculous like that when KD didn't play. And when you look at KD's numbers, still efficient.

Still efficient. He hasn't fallen off much. Ethnically, no, he's not the same guy. But getting buckets, come on, man, he's still 25, five to five anywhere he goes.

Yeah, that's fine until they want more from you though. And I think it's a problem that he's right into. Like it's fine. It's fine that you can go play basketball and still get your numbers.

And you had his attitude. But like, oh, yeah, I'm just here to hoop until somebody needs more from you. Like they need to go to state. Like they need it in Brooklyn.

Like they will need it in Houston. So has he gotten to that stage in his career? Well, he'd be like, yeah, you know what? I'm here to do the other things too.

I can help the young guys. I can take the night off and make sure that I'm getting people involved. He doesn't care anything about that. We've seen that numerous times.

Like all the ones that play basketball. You act like I'm saying something is foreign. Nick, you've seen this. Okay.

So who will want to leave for us? Who will want to leave for playing with Russ? That's the best time in his career. That's because he's good as what he is.

This isn't that conversation. You always try to make the KD conversation about his career, his legacy, and how you just, either you are, oh, show me what's the loss of money on KD. He ain't never forget him. The whole point of this conversation is about the trade.

All they gave up was Jalen Green for KD. If I told you right now, who was right now? Jalen Green, the KD on your basketball team. What would you say?

Jalen Green. Okay. If I'm a rocker. Hey, next time, bro, next time, bro.

Like, no, no, no. I don't even know. I got to get out of the rocker. I'm a rocker.

I'm a Jalen Green. I'm a KD. I can't even be the savior. We've never seen that happen.

I'm a gas student. Same question. I would ask you if you could have a saline green or a Kevin Durant on your franchise team, if you're an NBA owner or a GM, whatever, who are you? Who are you?

Kevin Durant. Kevin Durant. I would rather have KD at this stage than give a green. What about you?

Because I know people have something to say. I still really have KD, but not a huge amount of money. Ain't nobody. I'm not a non-nautilus.

It is, man. And the reason being is I just saw what, okay, see, team B with their roster, which at a certain point in time, who would have thought none of them would have been what SGA is today? Because he didn't start off that way. He grew into that role.

We know KD ain't an alpha male. He's not an alpha on the basketball. How are you saying that? He left me left.

Okay. He couldn't get over the hump. He left Golden State because it was Draymond's team, correct? No, he couldn't control Kyrie and Brooklyn.

Everything y'all said. It shows me that he's not. First of all, no one has ever been able to control Kyrie. Even LeBron can control Kyrie.

But what about the second of all, the second of all, it's insane for y'all to say Kevin Durant is a two time, not only champion, but finals MVP. Who was the alpha on those Golden State Warriors team? Who did they defer to in Golden State for the shot? No, they did not defer.

Y'all just said. He wasn't the leader, but who was the number one option offensively? Kevin Durant. No, it was Kevin Durant.

Kevin Durant was one B. No, no, no, no. In the half court, KD was 100% the number one option. In the full court game, it was a, who do you want to guard?

Clay Thompson that ran over there in the corner or stuff Curry that's trailing and hit a 43 pointer. You had hella options, but in the half court, that offense flowed through KD first. Not saying that they didn't get no shots and they ran on Officer Club. Obviously they did, but KD was the most unguardable person on that roster.

Right. Hold on, man, that way. I was on just because I wanted to get Q's thoughts on the trade. I mean, we're at the point in time where like, I don't think it really matters what Kevin Durant goes.

I mean, it's not really a seismic shift for me that he's all-time scorer. He's definitely like one of the 10 best scorers you ever seen put the ball on the floor. But I think a lot of the reason why we're having this contentious moment about who's team was and all that stuff is because of his past and because of shortcomings and because of whatever character flaws in a basketball context that people perceive and just the alpha, beta conversations that kind of dominate his career for the last eight years since leaving Steph Curry, I don't think he's, you know, people say he hasn't done anything, you know, but if you ask KD, KD's always just been a guy that kind of just wants to hoop. And for me, I, once he won the second finals, I think he's just kind of packed it in respectively and he's acted like that.

And it's hard for me to look at a man who's saying, yo, I'm just kind of like chilling in whatever happens. It's hard for me to look at that man and be like, you know, so gung-ho to want him to do all these great things. And if you don't want it for yourself, how can I want more for you than you want for yourself? So it doesn't matter really where KD goes.

He's an advanced agent, the NBA still adds a lot to that Houston team. He's going to help Jabari and he's going to help him develop their game immensely. He's going to be an additive and email you, don't go to use him so much more than he could use a JLN Green. I think JLN Green is, man, he's just not for me in terms of NBA pro, but he has so much work to do in terms of the shot selection, efficiency and being a plus on the defensive end as well.

And I don't know if what Phoenix is really doing with this trade, but you can always say if you're a team that's on the come up and you feel like you're on the cusp of some success and adding a top 10 score that can still get you 24 or 25 a game. It's got to be a W in terms of that for Houston. Phoenix, on the other hand, not really sure what the direction is here. Bradley Beals, probably going to get bought out.

He'll get to pick where he wants to go because he has no trade clause. If I'm the book, I want out immediately, get me to San Antonio, get me somewhere where I can actually have a real future. And then just let JLN Green and whoever else is going to lead your tank be the commanders of that tank because... Are the Rockets a top three team in the West after this, right?

Yes. I think they're a top four team. Top four team. I think they're great because they would say it in place last time.

I think they'll get it in place last year. They won't sneak up on people anymore and actually I do think that Dylan Brooks' personality is going to be missed. I don't know if much of his game is going to be missed, but just setting the tone and being the baby that is robbing, he thinks he is. You know what I'm saying?

That's going to be missed in the locker room because Katie, you're trading a very lax of days of cool. It is what it is personality and for a guy who's like, I want all the smoke and I think that's going to be something that they need to find a different leader in. You think so, Sheldon? It's tough to say, but I really don't.

I think they'll be like four. I think they'll be like four. You think they'll be worse? Yeah, I do.

I think they'll be like four or three. Yeah, three is worse. I'm saying top three because I think they're going to be like, the west is better. You don't think so?

No. So the Lakers made a mid-season trade. They should be better. And obviously we'll see what happens and they just sell for $10 billion and we'll see everything that happens with the Lakers.

The Clippers are still in the midst. In my opinion, not a championship contender, but there's going to be a top five, top six team in the west. Spurs. The Spurs are going to be up and up.

Right? So the west is going to be better. Yeah, the best two teams. Me and me.

Oh, wait. No, no, that's all getting too shut. I was like, I'll just name the teams. I'm going to name the two teams.

I'm going to name the two teams. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm from the city of Minnesota and Denver.

I think Denver is going to take a step back up this year. I think Joe was going to put it together. I think that's the worst thing I think about. Minnesota is taking a step back.

Joe put it together. It's hilarious. There's still so many moves to be made, guys, in terms of draft, in terms of signings and you're going to be in different moves happening. Dallas, if Kyrie can come back.

Yeah, I know. Anthony Davis, they could. It's not even about necessarily listing a bunch of playoff teams, but we're listing that during the course of regular season games that teams like Houston could sneak up on you and put dog fights in regular season against certain teams. They're not going to go that way.

It might not go that way for other teams as well. So it's going to make the scene a little bit more muddled because there's going to be more talent in the west. Only teams in the west of me that are not really going to be factors is your usual suspects. It's going to be New Orleans.

It's going to be a mess. Sacramento is going to be a mess. And beyond that, the Lakers could get better. If they get somebody like, there's a lot that can happen here into the top top six guys.

Okay. So Katie doesn't move the needle. Not enough. Not enough.

Not in the regular season. This is not a regular season move. KV is not at this point in his career at the advantage age of what is he 36 going to be 37 next year. You're not playing for regular season positioning.

You are playing for titles. What do we see with the Houston Rockets against the Golden State Warriors? They got exposed because they didn't have a number one option. They didn't have a guy that you could say, Hey, go give me a bucket.

Yeah, they played great defense, but you can't play defense on Chef Curry when he shoot at 40 points shots with two people in his grill and he's still knocking it down and we see that throughout his entire career ever since he had the ankle surgeries to stay healthy, right? Because don't forget, we almost had an opportunity that Chef Curry didn't become the chef. But at the end of the day, this move for the Rockets is all about the playoffs and KV in the playoffs. How do you guard that?

We know where the ball is going. They went seven games in their first year as a very young team in the playoffs against a very experienced team. They argument could be made that they learned a lot in this series and bringing these guys back. They could take a leap and build off that experience.

But the thing is though, Ken is, Jalen Green is still a question mark. What's ever granced without Jalen Green? I understand that Jalen Green is a question mark. I'm in Thompson is a question mark offensively.

What do they become this season? We don't know. We 100% know what AD is. But the logic for Houston, the logic for Houston is that that's funny.

But the logic for the whole on cue first round exit can at the end of the day, right? It's also the squad that's around you. And this squad we know from email who don't go down is that they're going to play hard notes to defense. And I agree with you, losing out on Dylan Brooks is like their version of Dream on Green.

He is the character. He is the personality. He is the engine that pushes that team forward. They are going to lose.

They're going to miss that. But what they did not have was a goal to score when you need it. And Jalen Green is a question mark. We scored 30 and then scored four.

Jalen Green is too much of like a work in progress, too much of a project. All the miscellaneous words that you want to throw at somebody when you're not sure who you're going to be. And we could look up and he could be the guard version of the Andre Aiden in a couple of years or we could look up and he could have put it together. Now he's like, you know, a divergent of Devin Booker.

Like who knows? He's in that much of limbo with his game. But to your point, Cam, what FIFA was saying in like layman's terms is that Kevin Durant is a final four minutes of the game score. When it's 98, 97, and it's like three minutes and 12 seconds left and people getting tight and Amantam's missing threes.

Katie, Jimmy, pull up like at the freetall line. Like, hey, one, two, dribble pounds, you know what I mean? That's what you're saying. And then you're allowing Amantam's as a defender to be more of an off ball, Romer, who can be just an absolute terror.

You could probably run some pick and rolls with Katie and Shanguun. You can even in spurts, not like running sets, but Katie has some experience running small ball five with the Warriors and they can probably spell that for a couple of possessions if they need to go small. This is a better move because if you like you said, they did this without getting green doing anything for them. So basically you're swapping out a zero for at least a consistent 23, 24, 25 point per game score.

And he's prolific top ten. So this is the difference between winning the game that you normally lose and getting the next round and losing a seven to go with. So simple matter. That's one way to look at it or they're building on the experience they had as a unit as a team as a very young team and taking that and the, you know, the ability to go in there, you know, but how well does that work out at Phoenix?

Four minutes game, four minutes game. That's a whole, that's a whole different thing. Ken, you're acting like Houston gave up. Shanguun gave up.

Oh man. I don't know if it says a Harrison Barnes or a Katie type of deal. So, but no, no, no, no, no, no. Let's not switch.

Let's not switch the players involved. That's not saying this happening. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Okay.

Your, your, your point is that this is a young core and that they learn something in the playoffs. I don't disagree. I do think that they learn, but they lost one guy. They lost one young guy.

The real core of the Houston Rockets is still there. Shanguun is still there. Jabbar Smith is there there a month after this. So that's what it's so your point is not a void because the core that would have learned something because Dylan Brooks is Dylan Brooks.

We know who he is. He's not getting better. He was also another team. It's still the same person.

I don't know what they're going to be next season, but the core is there. When's that going to lead in that quarter? I don't know. I mentioned that.

It's because he's playing game on his team. I think it was in June 1st. Yeah, I was going to say I was thinking. We'll see.

Rigidio, Katie, do that. Yeah. I told you this two years ago, they're working out. That's not getting to get their own pit.

And I was from Sweden boys, member for 44 months, appreciate it. And while we only stop it also from Sweden boys, Sunstrated, Mckael Bridges, Kam Johnson, and four unprotected first for Katie two years ago at the deadline. New ownership is off to a bad start. Good news for Katie is Ume, I saw one of them.

So he got it. He got his guy. He got his closer. And we'll see what happens.

So I'm sure when we get there, we have definitely a lot to talk about, but let's not talk about losers. Let's talk about some winners when we come back up with this quick break. Dead in hip hop for the last 14 years have covered the culture with authenticity. Some of you may remember the Golden Era of hip hop or the blog era to present day when you had the great Kegil Amar versus Drake beef.

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Let's talk about Sunday, the Oklahoma, Oklahoma, see thunder, took care of home court advantage and defeated and entered Indiana Pacers team 103.91 to win their first NBA championship in franchise history. What does this championship run say about SGA's legacy? Shelton. It says that he is on his way to being what nobody knew he was.

I guess that's the best thing you could say. The first one and the way he did it was so impressive because of all the accolades that he got along the way, but it's still early in his career. And like, you know, certain others, it's going to take another year at least before we start putting him on the level of some of the guys that we mentioned as far as core guys in the league and as far as, you know, being considered for the face of the league. So I think that this championship means a lot.

It meant a lot. It took seven games to do it, which many felt it shouldn't have, but at the same time, it's going to take another year for people to be believers. Believers are what? SGA?

Yeah. Yeah. Interesting. Yeah.

And his legacy. What's that use up Spike? I think that he did what he needed to do. You know, I don't think that there was a signature moment in this finals for him that way you're not going to put him with Jordan, Kobe, or LeBron or anybody like that yet.

But I do think that he still has a year to capitalize off of this high. He's been able to do what he needed to do. He was the best player on the floor for four and seven games. And being that his personality is what it is.

And he's not the flashy over the top guy. He ain't going to talk to you like it was his. He's not going to be as spectacular as LeBron James. He's going to be a range.

He's going to be efficient. And he's going to do what he needed to do in the game. That doesn't translate well to face of the league. But next year, if you get a 29 points a game MVP type season and he leads his team back to the finals, I don't think people are going to be able to reject it.

So yeah, this set the foundation. It was a good foundation set, but it didn't take that lead to I'm here now. Like he's at the door. He ain't came in yet.

So, uh, people, so it looks like you disagree. I don't know how you won a championship. I don't know how you win finals MVP regular season MVP. All first team all NBA and all the other players that was Michael Jordan and you still outside the club.

Are you? No, what I am saying? No, we're talking about SGA. And all I'm saying is that there's only one other player to do what he has done.

Like we being that player, the greatest I ever played. So you're saying that he's outside looking in. That's what I'm looking at you. Like you crazy as hell.

He has arrived. Now here's the thing face of the league. This end of third, that's a media thing. You know what I'm saying?

That's 100% a media thing. Because at the end of the day, the player who wins the most is the guy that everybody's chasing. Therefore that person becomes quote unquote the face of the lead. This is SGA's coming out partying.

He's talking about that he ain't have no signature game. He didn't. He didn't. Bro, if SGA did not play at the level that he played then boys would have even without Hallibur.

They would have lost in the end. Yeah, I said he was the best known court. But he still have a signature game. He didn't have anything to make you look game.

The way he called me after his finals, the way he looked at LeBron, the way he looked at Mike, even someone that lost the finals like AI. The way you look at those people when they were on their stage is different from how you look in the SGA now. If you're telling me the SGA is in their club. I vote to put Spike on paid leave during basketball season because I don't understand what the hell is that?

SGA is a top three player in the NBA. And he didn't say you wouldn't. We tell him I said we tell my history, bro. You talk about people in the NBA.

You compare his nigga to Halliburton. I'm talking about all the time history. That's the question. That's what we ask him.

Is he there yet? No, he's not there yet. I don't disagree. I don't disagree with Spike.

And I also feel where people is coming from. I'm more in the middle of the two because for me, and this I'm willing to say that I'm being ignorant because of how we think of the NBA and how we look at superstar makes it to the finals. Superstars make it to the finals and they beat other superstars. I've maintained.

I'm consistent. I don't think Halliburton is a superstar. And I don't think that means that Indiana is a bad team or anything. It just means that the best teams that played together made it to the finals.

SGA had a fantastic season. I think he is, for lack of a better term, he's like, he's just unseasoned greens, rice and chicken. It's going to do the body real good if you keep eating like that. No, but it's actually really good for you.

But the issue is that there's no flair in unseasoned chicken, rice and greens. If you do look at the nutritional value, it's a much better thing what you can get with that. That's why I feel like his game is very simple. It's very sweet.

It's very smooth. It's like, all right, get to the cup. Lay it up. There's not an insane amount of athleticism here.

He talks about this when he says that he watches Tape on Steve Nash and he watches God guards. We're not the most explosive and the most athletic. My issue is not necessarily that he's not an athlete, but I would be lying if I said that how I understand the game and how I see superstars doesn't have, like I've said last, last episode. It's like a superhero quality to it.

There's something otherworldly that you're looking for in superstars. And Halliburton doesn't have the other world equality and neither does SGA to me. That's why I think some people are going to look at this and say, okay, great season. You deserve MVP.

But I need to see this one more time. That's what I'm saying. Because there are other stars that they feel like he hasn't seen yet. I don't think that people look at Halliburton like a star.

Like I said, I don't think that people look at John like a superstar, even though he's insanely athletic. He doesn't elevate the Grizzlies like that. He hasn't beaten the LeBron a KD type. And that's ignorant and I'm willing to concede that it is ignorant.

But that is what we look at sports to be like, tightens at the top, flashing. What about Joker? What about the series against the sports? So I'm not going to disparage him.

I'm going to say he West Coast, Jason. That's more clutch than that. I was going to say he did a little bit more than it wasn't a question about Jason Tatum, Jim Ryan, on MVP. So it wasn't a question about SGA being the leader of this team.

So we can't really, I get what you're saying and I get it because I see that comparison too. I think he's a little more than that. But at the same time, it's really hard to put him on that list. Oh, he's dumb.

Nice. I'm just a little Jaylen Williams was balling, bro. I think Jaylen Williams might be better than this. He's funny.

He's like, he's done that way. I'm not thinking about it. My thing is like our expectations of being nuts for what we consider someone who's at the door versus in the club. And you're doing a finals MVP title that all day.

You at the door. Is this the next? Here's my problem though. And I'm not saying we've had seven what seven champions in seven years.

You got to kind of, I want to see some consistency before I start putting him. What's more consistent history? What's more consistent history? Show.

What's more consistent history? Because no matter what we say, how we feel, history books will say that SGA was the best player on the best team throughout the whole season, regular season, throughout the playoffs. Anyone finals MVP, anyone in the title. But history's going to say, and everything else is just kind of like, to me, what's the thing?

I was going to say, Nick, you say to yourself that people forget about this champion by Monday. I said people forget about the paces. And the series, I'm like, that's what I'm thinking. That's what I focus on.

That's what I focus on. Yeah. That's what I'm waiting on today. That's what I'm waiting on.

Got it. That's what it's called. That's why they're watching everybody. That's why they're writing this out.

SGA play. It's unseasoned chicken. To me, this final is run. Show.

He's one of those superstars where it's like, you acknowledge him, but you don't want to be him. It's kind of like Aquaman of the Justice League. He's up there with the big dogs. But nobody's dressing like a big Khalil girl.

I don't want to be president of the moment because we are in the era of parody and nobody's repeated like the three champions are having the three multiple-time champions of this era have been KCP Alex Caruso and Ruhati and The Celtics just blew it up and I'm sure that we're gonna talk about them But everyone thought that this was gonna be the Celtics era and then you see how just one injury has you blown up an entire team So and by the way thunder gonna get ravaged by that second apron. They don't have to pay way too many guys There's so much talent And I mean shit like but for me SGA is a phenomenal player. He's great I'm just very tough with who I allow in that superstar club like to me that's good That I I reserved that I reserved that for like people Like Money to go see SGA play when you come to see The class that you're putting in me you pay money to see and you pay money to see Luca I'm not paying money to see actually come meet me and raise jump shots wrong. No, listen I'm saying is again regardless of how we do that's all about our history We're gonna say how we feel the history looks at him as a superstar He did something that only superstars me from people talked about a list that only him and Michael Jordan off And we all that's a question is and this is a this is a league that had LeBron magic bird Kobe You named a couple don't think it's too blue and ain't done the shit that he did Gets some of the best players if not the best player in the whole fucking league, you know It's just like I don't know what else I can say to say like oh, yeah He can't be there if you don't want him at inside in the main sectionary.

That's fine But he had the bar at least I got a question I got a question we are then we talk about Indiana. Oh Out of all seven games Who had the most memorable game? Everybody Every every game like I hate that comes out for us like I'm hate on him because I think he is one of the best players in the world But um game one where we're talking about Halliburton game two where we're talking about the whole okay team It's a well-oiled machine. They play really great Game for people talk about that is Indiana choked no one says like people don't talk about that people don't talk about that.

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