FULL NBA Today | Giannis to Knicks? – Warriors trade Jonathan Kuminga? – Chris Paul next team?

FULL NBA Today | Giannis to Knicks? – Warriors trade Jonathan Kuminga? – Chris Paul next team?

The Bucks still without Giannis at Takoupo faced off against the Nets on Sunday. >> Bucks are two and seven without Yonder. >> Danny Wolf finished off with the lob. Bucks lose 127 to 82. Milwaukee went scoreless [music] the final seven minutes. Here’s Doc after the game. >> Tough loss for the Bucks, but today marks the official [music] start of the NBA trade season. That means that 90% of the players in the NBA are now eligible to be traded by their teams. So Bobby, what’s the biggest question [music] facing the Bucks now during trade season? >> Well, I it’s certainly the Giannis question is, but I think for right now I think is is there anything out there that can help improve [music] this roster here? When you look at they’ve got that first round pick in 2031 or 2032. That’s their only first they can go out and trade. They [music] have three players making $60 million in Kyle Koosma, Bobby Porters, and Miles Turner. What else is [music] out there? Remember John Horris last year made the uh Kyle Koosman trade. But if if it’s not Giannis, is there something else that [music] you can make to improve this roster who’s 11 and 16 right now and hanging on that last playing spot? >> All right, let’s move on to the Mavs and they’ve started [music] to find their stride. They’ve won as many games in their last six games as they did in their first 20. So Bobby, [music] what’s the big question facing the Mavs? >> Well, it comes down to Anthony Davis right now. If if you’re not comfortable extending Anthony Davis, who’s extension eligible [music] for 4 for 275 this off season, is it better off looking at trade options right now or do you want to wait until Kyrie Irving gets back to look at what the body of work is and then address this in the offseason here? Anthony Davis is going to be the center point as far as over the next six weeks. [music] >> One more, Bobby. Let’s go to Chris Paul. He’s not played for the Clippers since the 1st of December when he was sent home by the organization for a difference in leadership styles, we’ll call it. The Clippers will attempt to move CP3 this trade season. [music] But Bobby, could there be any other names that could join him? Well, they’re six and 19 right now. They they’ve certainly sitting in the bottom of the standings. They’re keep [music] continually tumbling back there. I I think the focus is going to have to be on James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, [music] and ICA Zub Zubac. They don’t control their first round pick until 200 and 30. Is there a deal that where you can take two steps back to take go three steps forward here as far as reset basically with a reset and I think the hardest thing to do is when you don’t control those picks and it’s a lot different than when Brooklyn was there with Shawn Marks who inherited that Boston trade where he can wipe the slate clean when that front office is still in place to take those two steps back as I as I said here but those would be the three guys looking at the Chris Paul situation is going to resolve itself. Yeah, Ramona, how do you see the Clippers approaching? >> I don’t get the sense that they are thinking about blowing it up. I think they want to get back to being as competitive as they can be. [music] They’ve been a little bit more competitive in these last few games. Their defense has been better. They they had Houston on the ropes and there was a couple of strange plays at the end of the game, which is what happens when you’re losing games, right? When you’re losing games, you keep finding ways to lose games. But they are closer. They are getting better. And I don’t think they’re ready to pull the plug on James Harden or Kawhi Lanner or any of those bigger names. I think it would be something around the margins just to change the vibe a little bit. >> I just don’t know if that’s enough, man. Like in the West, it’s so hard. >> Yeah, it’s clearly not enough, right? They’re six and 19. And the question is, they owe their first round pick to Oklahoma City, >> right? >> It’s unprotected, >> right? No, you can’t. I mean, the whole league needs them to win because they don’t want >> the Allar game is in LA. Steve Palmer’s a competitive guy. I don’t see them being comfortable trying to bottom out. I think they’re just going to keep trying to climb up the standings a little bit. I >> I would look at John Collins, who’s on an expiring contract. Brook Lopez who has a team option for next year. Bdon Bdonovic who’s has a team option that gets you to around 45 to50 million. This is a Clipper team that um potentially could have cap space in the 2027 offseason. A guy that I would pay attention to would certainly be Zack Lavine where you can take back his contract for [music] next season. and he gives him an athletic wing for this Clipper team and it doesn’t impact you uh financially in 2027 where they could be sitting on $100 million in cap space. >> Man, it doesn’t look good. But I don’t want to be the Grinch on Christmas. So, let’s get to Dunk the Halls Dunk game against the Suns, which means him and Dylan Brooks are going to go at it. Let’s start here. LeBron chase down. Yes. [music] Even at 40 almost one years old, he can still do it. >> Haven’t people learned >> they have not? >> Yes. >> No. But I’m still surprised when I see it. >> So, here’s how this thing went down with Dylan the villain and LeBron. They get into it. Refs get in the way. >> I mean, this has been going on since Dylan was in Memphis and they played that playoff series. And I always wonder like why LeBron lets him get under his skin because he always does. >> Dylan is doing his job if that’s the case. >> He’s very good at it. >> Here’s LeBron hitting a three. >> Like he’s agitated. He’s real Matt. >> Yeah, he’s big Matt. [laughter] Now, here’s where the Lakers blow this big lead. Okay, >> Luca though tries to stem the uh the comeback for the Suns. >> But here come the Suns again. >> Well, when you can shoot threes at the clip, they can. It’s to get back into games. >> Brooks from the free throw line gets that one to fall. >> Swing, swing, swing. >> Colin Gillespie. >> It’s been a good find for them. Gillespie been [music] terrific. Terrific. >> Marcus Smart rejected at the rim. Here comes Devin Booker. He misses, gets it back, finds Dylan the villain. LeBron hits him. He wants a foul. Then he gets in LeBron right up in LeBron’s face. >> Bumps him. Dylan gets thrown out. >> Second T. >> Yep. [music] LeBron misses the first technical. >> Oh, when he missed that. I really thought they were going to lose. >> Yep. But LeBron hoist this one. >> Is that a foul? >> Is it a foul? >> Booker did not think so. >> It was a swipe. How much contact was there? [music] LeBron. >> He missed the first one though. It was a little tight. >> Gets the other two. >> Is that a foul? >> One more look for the Suns. >> LeBron and the Lakers escape. >> They had us looking through today’s thread post. Content creator Rush posted. Lakers are now 9 and0 this season in [music] clutch games. >> Which is why they are near the top of the standings. >> Yeah, fans don’t forget to keep the conversation going on thread. You can scan the QR code and jump into the conversation. So, Bobby, does the Lakers record in clutch time pass the eye test? >> Was Was that an asterk next to that Laker number there? Because I thought that game was an asterk yesterday because although we counted as a clutch win, >> yeah, >> you were outscored 175 in the last four minutes of this game, you couldn’t get a bucket with LeBron and Luca on the court. You had a 99.9% chance of winning when you were up 14. And you’re lucky that you did not lose that game here. So, I wouldn’t I guess if I guess by what the stats say, I guess that’s a clutch win. I wouldn’t define that as a clutch win. I think they’re very fortunate that they were able to win it. They they did enough. A lot had to kind of go wrong, but I think you saw the impact that similar to what we saw Victor on Saturday. Yeah. The impact of Dylan Brooks to agitate LeBron throughout this game almost cost the Lakers a a win there. I mean, I I know Dylan gets kicked out of the game, they get a free throw at the end, LeBron misses that free throw, but I I think his impact on the Suns can’t be understated. Like, he has been everything they needed. They they get toughness out of him. They get an edge. They get competitiveness. [music] And the fact that he can still get LeBron this mad and throw I mean, LeBron played well in this game. This wasn’t Dylan throwing him off his game, but he he took a lot of energy out of him and I think he fired up the Suns to get back in this game. Plus, he shot the ball well. I was watching this game on the Lakers broadcast here in LA and I thought Stu Lance made a great comment about LeBron and that interaction with the official. He needed to be very careful because he could have gotten teed up or worse thrown out of the game in that scenario. >> All right. Of course, >> you know, we talked about LeBron, but we got to talk about Steph, too. Steph would not be outdone as he returned after [music] missing five games with a quad contusion. We start with the game Friday against the Timberwolves. [music] >> Steph and company coming out. Now, watch this pregame. I mean, this is insane. >> I mean, that’s how you tear away. >> That is not AI generated. That is not >> Is that a new thing for him in his pregame warm-up? Yeah. >> Worried about the rotation. >> I’ve been there when he’s done it twice. Here’s >> Oh my gosh. >> Curry from three, of course. >> And then early the first, >> Pat Spencer. >> They swing it. There’s Curry again from the top. And a couple minutes later, as we get ready to go to the third quarter, >> Curry with the crossover on Rudy. >> Oh, he loves doing >> and then the finish. Gets the bump, too. [laughter] >> Didn’t get the call though, though. Little over two minutes left in the fourth. Warrior Curry another three. >> Warriors now up one. Less than 30 seconds to go. T-Wolves up to Julius Randall. He’ll find Dante Devenenzo with a quick trigger. Warriors lose despite Curry’s 39 points, 127 to 120. Now, let’s go to Sunday. Curry and the Warriors facing off against the Trailblazers. We’ll start early in the third. >> Well, look, Portland is 3 and 0 against the Warriors [music] this season, and they win games because they force an average of 19 turnovers a game in those. >> But the one thing they don’t do well, they don’t [clears throat] shoot well three-point [music] wise. Correct. >> Yeah. Well, Curry continues his flurry in Portland. >> Here’s Curry >> again. >> I mean, that is amazing. Doesn’t matter. >> Try that at home. >> And look at this deep three. Like, it’s all these deep threes. Look at this one. Halfway between the three-point line and the low. >> Anybody else? That’s not a good shot. >> Yeah, >> it is for him. That’s for sure. He’s made a living out of that. >> Now, watch [music] this. Curry again. >> I mean, you know he’s coming, but you like every team that game plans against him knows he’s coming, but you can’t see him because he plays so far behind the defense. >> Jeremy Grant gets the and one. Blazers would lead after the free throw. Wouldn’t look back. Warriors lose 136 to 131. Curry with 48 points, including 12 threes. Here’s Steve Cerr not happy after the game. >> Uh, so we got to find a way to connect the game. And that’s my job. I’m not doing my job well this year. We’re 13 and 14. Uh we have enough talent to be much better. We’re losing all these close games. So, I got to find a way to to help these guys. Steph went for 48, but he didn’t get a lot of help on the offensive end as he scored three times as many points as any other Warrior. Bobby. All right. I know we’ve asked this question before. Is there any help coming for Steph? not at least for the next month here. They’re still sitting on that Jonathan Kaminga contract. He can’t although 90% of Lee can be traded today. He can’t be traded until uh January 15th. He’s been sitting on the bench collecting DNPs. The last two games they’ve given up 127 and 136 points. So, you can say certainly offensively, is there something more coming? I I look at it defensively as far as cleaning up. They’re allowing the six most turnovers per game. [music] They allowed a Portland team to shoot 20 of 31 from deep last night here. Um, but right now they are who they are until [music] they can figure out where the Kaminga situation is going to go. >> I do think there’s things they can do though and Jimmy Butler has talked about this with Anthony Slater at [music] several points during the season when they run their offense. It’s it’s this free flowing beautiful offense that’s designed with Steph Curry in mind. But when Steph goes off the court and Jimmy Butler is now your guy and he’s the head of the snake, Jimmy Butler needs to play a totally different game. He needs to he needs to play more of an isolationheavy game. They need to set him up for success and I think that’s what Steve Kerr is talking about there. I like that he owns that and I actually think there’s something they can do there. They just need to play a different style of offense when Steph is not on the court and Jimmy is their front of the >> I also think they’re young guys and Draymond has kind of alluded to this too. Need to play their roles, right? Is that fair to say? >> Yeah, I think that’s fair. I mean, where’s like Kaminga is the kind of guy that you would need in a game like this against Portland. Portland has a lot of young, long, athletic guys on the perimeter. They have 19 been averaging 19 turnovers a game in these three wins against the Warriors. That’s a lot, but it’s also a little just a little bit more than what the Warriors have been doing in every single game. They’re averaging 16 turnovers a game and that’s things that you can correct. >> Yeah. >> Well, we’ll see what happens with the Warriors as we move forward. But on a far more serious note here from the weekend, a mass shooting and made the headlines on Saturday. Two students were killed and nine more were wounded in a mass shooting at Brown University. The investigation is ongoing, but police currently have no suspects in custody. Brown canceled all remaining classes and exams for the semester, telling students they could leave campus. Steve Kerr, whose father was assassinated in Beirut in 1984, spoke pregame Sunday about the shootings. >> You know, the these shootings continue to happen and and um there is something we can do about them. you know, the the loss that all of the people involved last night, the loss that they’re feeling, um it’s exactly the same loss as all the Parkland um families um and every other mass shooting. Um nobody asked me about it today. I didn’t expect anybody to ask me. Um I doubt we’re going to do a moment of silence out there. Um because it’s human nature just to not want to deal with this stuff and it’s human nature just to just to think, you know, this is so horrible. Let’s just not even think about it. But we have to think about it. Think about do you want something done? Do you want your child to go to school terrified every day? Or do you want to actually take action? because that’s what a democracy is about where we demand that our representatives um protect us and that that option is there. So we can either you know just do what we’re continuing to do and let these things happen or make some demands. And so as you’re thinking about this today, think about what if it were your own family member. Thanks. probably back that one up this weekend. [music] Victor Wmanyama returned to the court taking on the 24 and one Thunder and his case for best player in the world just got here’s SGA and WBY after the game. >> Do you anticipate this becoming, you know, maybe the best rivalry in the league? >> Um, possibly. Yeah, there’s a good chance. They um like you said are young, really good. Um have a lot of talent, play the right way. They play good brand of basketball. I’m just glad to be a part of something that’s growing to be so beautiful and so pure and ethical basketball, you know. >> Hi there everybody. George Sidano in for Malikica Andrews, senior writer Ramona Shelburn with us and of course front office insider Bobby Marx. So Ramona, how does this rivalry now that we’ve got one drive Victor in your opinion? >> I I I He doesn’t It’s the only time that he actually seems not that polite. Like every other time he says even when he says, “I’m the best player in the I think it would be me.” Like his body language is reserved. He’s leaned back, but when he talks about Chad, or when he does things where he grabs the rebound after or he grabs the ball after Chad misses a free throw, like that’s the only part you can see the dark side. It’s the only part where you can see the not so nice side. And [music] I kind of like that that there is some rival. There is someone that gets through to him because [music] he’s so poised and he’s so ethical to use his word in every other thing he says and does on the court. >> I think they’re the best team that’s equipped to take on Oklahoma City. I think it would be naive to say that they found a secret formula that other 29 teams can do. But when you have Vic, a player like Victor on the court, and you saw it in the stretches when he was on the court and when he was off the court, he was plus 21 in 21 minutes here. The ability to defend like he did, the ability of the guards in uh in Oklahoma City not to get to the rim and just the difference as far as what he And then you add the guards with uh San Antonio with Fox, Castle, and Harper. >> Yeah, >> I do think they are the probably the team that we could probably label as a team that’s probably best built to take on a Thunder team. Listen, I was there and I could see the energy slipping away from the Spurs and then Mitch Johnson brought him in >> and immediately, I mean, the highlights don’t do it justice. If you watched it on TV, you could feel it a little bit, but in the building, you could sense it turning very quickly. And the Thunder, I hadn’t seen them in a situation like that since the playoffs, right, where another team is coming bringing momentum their way and then all of a sudden they can’t answer back in the way that they’re usually accustomed to. But man, he was a difference maker in a way that I didn’t think he could be missing all those games. And and it’s not just the the the stuff with Chad. I mean, Case Wallace tried to tackle him and he like bowed up on him. So, like he’s got a real edge to him for sure. So, look, and if you like Saturday’s matchup, uh you’re in luck cuz the Spurs and Thunder will face each other three more times over the next month and that [music] of course includes Christmas Day, a showdown in OKC. Let’s welcome in our Hall of Famer, Mark Spears, who’s in Vegas. Mark, you spoke to De’Aran Fox after the game. What did he tell you? is it’s very very interesting uh because a year ago dearan Fox is playing for the Kings and the head coach of the New York Knicks was coaching for a Kings. This is actually like >> 12 days uh year ago before uh Mike was actually fired by the Kings and then after that De’aran that was the last straw for him. He wanted out. So uh De’aran tells me now that he’s on the greener side of things that he he hasn’t stopped smiling since he’s gotten to San Antonio. I asked him like, “Hey, are you keeping up with the Kings at all? who’s definitely struggling. He said he doesn’t watch their games. About the only guy he’s been talking to is Keegan Murray and he certainly wishes him the best, but he’s ecstatic in Texas. His wife is from San Antonio. He’s playing with Wimi as you know been talking about. They got a chance to be really really special. And he said Mike Brown is family to him. Um which probably isn’t music to Kings fans ears hearing hearing all that. And uh but they’re both going to be competing against each other tomorrow in the NBA Cup finals. So, this is certainly a lot of irony going on here with this versus the King situation. >> Now, check out Mark’s piece with Fox on Anscape. It’s up right now for the full story with him and De’Arren Fox. We’ll be back with you in a minute there, Mark. Stick around. But let’s get to the Eastern Conference matchup between the Knicks and the Magic. Jaylen Brunson walking the red carpet. >> Let’s go late to first. Banero >> hits a Jay here. That’s what I love, his mid-range game. That’s something if he can develop consistently, he’s going to be pretty pretty impactful. >> Brunson on the other end strikes back. >> Then we go early second. Desmond Bane >> to Jaylen Suggs for three. He was incredibly impactful in the first half. 25 points. >> He’s really been good lately and was good in the first half and a bit tough. >> Yeah, unfortunately he dealt with a couple of injuries in this game. One looked like a groin, then it was a hip issue. He eventually went >> that and embarrassing >> midway through the fourth. Male Bridges on the kick out to Cat for three. Three minutes left in the fourth here. >> Former three-point champ. >> Here’s Brunson taking his time at the top of the key. Knocks down the jumper from the free throw line extended. Knicks go on to win 132 to 120 and advance to the NBA Cup finals. So they’ll face the Spurs on Tuesday. their first chance to win a chance championship of any kind for New York or as the Knicks are concerned since they last won an NBA title. >> Oh, you have to go there >> in 1973. I didn’t write that. >> Think they’ll put the banner up, but they >> I didn’t I didn’t put that banner up. Yeah, they >> I didn’t write it. Now, Mark Spears, it’s not the Larry O’Brien trophy, but Mark, what is the excitement level amongst Knicks fans right now in Vegas for this? >> Well, there’s no bigger Knicks fan than Spike Lee. You know that. You saw him at the game the other day. He put up one finger uh in regards to Tuesday’s championship game, but he says he got bigger dreams. He feels [music] like this Knicks team can win an NBA championship. And I asked him, “So, [music] what do you think about Mike Brown?” He said, “Well, he’s using his bench.” So, uh, Spikeley doesn’t want to jinx the Knicks. It’s been 50 years, but he thinks this team could win it. >> All right, Mark, thank you so much. We’ll see Spike in the house. I saw Spike, uh, at the Knicks game, and then he sat next to the Spurs bench after that. >> Really? Yeah, he did. It was It was kind of cool for the Pells after missing five games [music] with a left hip abductor strain. Dropping 18 and seven late to give his [music] team the edge over the Bulls 114 to 104. Ramona, what should we take [music] from this performance from Zia? >> Look, they are in a hole and they’re trying to dig out. But getting this guy back sooner than they were expecting [music] is a really good sign for them. I thought winning this game against the Bulls bluff eight out of nine. You got to beat these teams. These are the wins you got to win if you’re New Orleans trying to get back into it. >> All right, let’s move on to Charlotte where they were taking on Cleveland and they [music] went to Cleveland and they won an OT behind Brandon Miller who nailed [music] the tying three-pointer with under 5 seconds left in regulation. Hornets completely shut out the Cavs in OT. Bobby, what’s the biggest issue with Cleveland? >> Well, they they certainly have injur injuries right now with Evan [music] Mobley and Max Duce and Sam Merrell. My my concern is with Darius Garland who’s back [music] on the court, still dealing with that injury and working himself back in. 30% from the field, 28% from three, [music] just doesn’t look like himself right now. Let’s move on to the Hawks. They [music] got the win, but the bigger headline might be Jaylen Johnson rewriting the Hawks record book with his fourth straight triple double. Ramona, [music] what’s the Hawks ceiling this season? >> Well, it’s going to depend on how they reintegrate Trey Young when he comes back in a little bit. They just provided an update on him saying he’s nearing a return. Jaylen Johnson with all those assists. He’s going to be in in that role when Trey comes back. >> Well, we’ll see. But Jaylen [music] Johnson is bald now. There’s no doubt about that. >> All right. Our annual NBA on Christmas. >> Oh, familiarity breeds a little bit of contempt. >> I feel like that we have great great battles whenever we go out there. We have both teams competing hard. You never know what you’re going to get. >> The bounce TO BRIDGES. JOSH HART threading the needle and another heartbreak. >> Come on. Come on. Come on. >> Brunson left wing off the dribble. Black one down. >> Brunson with a highlight. The New York Knicks advance. >> One down. Man, enjoy this for a [music] second. See who we got on Tuesday and get ready. >> All right. [music] Joining us now, fresh off a win that sends New York to the NBA Cup final. The Knicks do it all win. Josh Hart joins us here. Josh, you guys went up against Orlando for the fourth time already this season. What does a game like that reveal in regards to the way you guys have played, especially when you consider how many times you faced off against each other already? Yeah, it kind of gave you a little bit of a playoff kind of vibe where you’re able to um you played them several times, you’re able to make counters, you’re able to um you know, know them pretty well, so it kind of gave that playoff kind of feel to it. Um obviously the energy was a little bit different, but um you know, we we we know them very well at this point. >> Yeah, no doubt. And you guys got the job done. Now Jaylen was obviously fantastic. He continued the great trend he’s had all season, but particularly against the Magic. But I got to ask you this. You roasted Jaylen after the game. barely 6 feet, not athletic, big head, big brain. Can you do me a favor? Can you say something nice to America for once about Jaylen just one time for us? [laughter] >> Yeah. Um uh he he is uh an exceptional uh basketball player. Uh a very ethical basketball player [laughter] and love being his teammate. >> That felt hard for you to do, Josh. That felt hard. >> Oh, for sure. >> But I just love you guys’ relationship. I love the way you guys continue to just give it to each other back and forth. All right, let me ask you this. You mentioned the word ethical. Now you guys are facing Webby and the Spurs. What kind of challenge does he and that particular team present after what you witnessed the other night? >> Yeah, they’re going to be tough. Um, obviously they got uh shooting, attacking, they play really fast in transition. Um, I think they’re [music] number one in the league in second chance points with WBY and and Cornet. So, um, we’re going to have to bring an all-around game. We’ll have to bring energy, uh, toughness, physicality. Um, it’s a good test for us, especially early in the [music] season. >> What did you guys learn from when you faced him last year during Christmas? >> He can shoot the hell out the basketball. That’s what I That’s what I learned. Um but no, it’s just um he brings he he’s multifaceted. Uh obviously he garners a lot of attention, but um you can’t sleep on Castle, Harper, um Fox, Vassel. So um it’s going to take a a full team effort, especially defensively, and then uh play fast and play our game on the offensive side of the ball. >> Yeah. And I was just going to ask you about that backcourt trio. I mean, you guys obviously have a lot of great perimeter players as well, but you know, Stefan was the rookie of the year and now he’s looks like he’s taken another leap. They, you know, Dylan is is fitting right into the NBA. And then, of course, you know, Fox, to your point, you know, how do you go about trying to defend such a [snorts] such a great talented group like they have? >> Yeah, it starts with transition. Um, you know, those guys, um, extremely athletic, extremely young, and they love getting out in transition, attacking the rim. So, we got to make sure we take care of the ball. Uh, shoot good shots and then get back and and load up in transition and make sure we communicate. But, uh, it’s going to be tough, but uh, you know, I think we’re we’re prepared. >> Now, listen, we know the Knicks fans love their team. They love your particular group for sure. And you know, they’re loud. We heard them the other night when I was in the building uh, when you guys were were finishing off the Magic the other day. What would it mean to finish this thing off tomorrow night and bring that cup home to New York? Um it’ll be huge. Um obviously whenever you have the ability to win a title or a cup or uh anything like that, you want to go out and do that. You want to be competitive uh and you want to win at the highest level. So um you know that’s something that we’d want to do. Obviously there’s uh 530,000 more reasons to do it. But um you know we we we’re competitive group and we want to go out there and win. >> No, no doubt. And those young guys, you know, particularly the guys on like the two ways, that extra money, I mean, the money’s good for everybody, but those guys for sure, I know you guys always love to play for those guys for sure. Now, let me ask you this, Josh. We’ve seen a lot of assists from you over the years, but we got a video here. This handoff to Mitchell Robinson on kids day might have been your most unique. [music] Okay, so let let me ask you this. Here it is. Hold on. You’re going back in the game now. We’re seeing the video. I don’t know if you can see it. Got to hand off to Mitch. All right. If you had to go through your list of teammates, where does Mitch [music] rank on the list of babysitters? [snorts] >> Yeah. Um, he he’s definitely at the bottom. Um, I think him, um, Yabu Pome, all the young guys are at the bottom. Um, I think JB and Cat are probably the top two. Muel will probably be third. Um, yeah, I didn’t think I was going back in the game on that one. Uh, that was definitely my bad. I apologize to Mike after that. But, uh, yeah. No, Mi Mitch would not be be babysitting anytime soon. >> Okay. Well, as long as he takes care of the paint, that’s all that matters for you guys for sure. Hey, Josh, thank you so much for the time. >> Exactly. >> We we will see you tomorrow. And now we welcome in senior NBA writer Tim Bontmps live from Las Vegas. So, Tim, earlier you dropped a piece on ESPN.com on the state of the inseason tournament, the NBA cup. how much players and coaches around the league have bought into it. How have they bought into it in your opinion? >> I mean, look, George, when this tournament got started three years ago, the goal of it was to increase attention on the first couple of months of the season. I think that certainly has happened. We have the tournament now in Las Vegas for a third straight year. You have the colorful courts across the league. And I think we’ve seen across the league players and coaches have gotten into the idea of trying to go win this championship. But just talk listen to Jaylen Brunson talking about [music] the opportunity to give some of the support staff on the team some extra cash if these guys are able to get a win tomorrow and even if they come in second get a couple hundred,000 in prize money. And we’ve seen players across the league talking about the importance for them to try to give the guys on two-way contracts or rookie contracts on their team some extra cash for getting through this tournament and winning. I think that was a [music] smart move by the league. And overall, I think we’ve seen attention and interest in the opening several weeks of the year pick up. And generally, especially coming out of that game Saturday night where you saw two highintensity games between the Knicks and Magic in the first one, then you were here George, that Thunder Spurs game was up there with just about any game we saw this season. There were a lot of people around the league who are quite happy with how that night played out and how this tournament has played out. Really, the only thing that’s been in question is the amount of excitement that’s been about the games being here in Las Vegas. Now, there’s always tweaks and stuff, uh, even though the tournament, I think, has been fantastic to watch really in all three seasons, but what possible changes could be arriving for the tournament? >> The biggest thing on the agenda going forward for the NBA, George, is whether the tournament’s championship game will be here in Las Vegas going forward. They’ve already announced before this season started that the semi-final games that were played Saturday night will be in home markets next year, just like the quarterfinals. But the expectation originally was that the cup championship game would once again be here in Las Vegas. Sources have told me though that that might not be the case and league is exploring the possibility of moving the championship game elsewhere next season. So we’ll see what happens with that, but I think largely otherwise terms of where this where it is in the schedule and everything else should be largely the same when it comes back in 2026. >> Fascinating stuff, Tim. Thanks for the time, brother. Appreciate Spurs guard Stefan Castle. I got a chance to speak with him on ESPN radio in the walk-off interview after the game. Steph, thanks for joining us. So, I want to ask you some of the questions I asked you the other night, which was you guys were at a real inflection point in that game early on, late in the first, early in the second. You’re down 16. What were those conversations like when you guys were down to the defending champs that way? >> Um, I mean, just doing what we were doing. Uh, I mean, honestly, we were getting the shots that we wanted. Um, a lot of shots weren’t falling for us early, but I think our defensive intensity kept [music] us kept us right where we wanted to be at in that game and then we started to figure it out. >> And then of course, Victor comes in the game and everything changed really at that point for [music] sure. Things started to tilt in your favor. Look, you’ve been around Vic now, this is year two for you. Just what it means to him to be on the floor in a game like that. >> Yeah. Uh, I mean I mean we say it all the time. we we we think he’s one of the best players in the league. So, um having him on the court on both ends, it just changed the game for us. There’s nobody in the league like him. So, uh to have him in a big game like this definitely helps. >> And I’m not trying to certainly diminish anything you just said because clearly he’s a game changer and you know, he said it himself, he could potentially be the best player in the game. Um but I’ll ask you this. You guys were nine and three when he was out. What did And you were out for a significant [music] amount of time in that stretch as well. I believe you missed 10 games during that stretch. What do you think the team learned about themselves during that time? >> Just uh how much we need to lean on each other um when guys are out, you know, injuries. Obviously, they’re unfortunate, but it plays a big part in some team season, but I mean that’s no excuse to go in there and have a different mindset coming into any game. So, uh just leaning on each other a lot more and just playing with, you know, supreme confidence. Steph, there were a lot of pundits out there who thought, “Oh, you know, there’s only one ball. You got Fox, you got Castle, you got Harper, but you guys have made this thing work.” What can you tell us about the chemistry you guys have been able to form so quickly? >> Yeah. Uh, I mean, like I said when we had talked after the game, um, I think it’s a lot easier to play with guys that you [music] enjoy being with off the court. So, um, just having, you know, that that bond off the court [music] along with the IQ that we have on the court and just wanting to see each other win, you know, it’s just just a recipe for success. >> Okay. I got to ask you this since you mentioned the bond off the court. I don’t know who’s in charge of the ax, but the Vanessa Carlton song. Okay. Who who thought of that? How did that start? Where did that come from? >> That’s all KJ right there. Uh, he he has the aux every game. He tries to get everybody involved. So, he got a he got a wide genre with with his tunes >> because that song that song is from like 2002. Were you I don’t even know. Were you born yet? I don’t think you were born yet, Steph. >> No, I wasn’t born yet. I was born in ‘ 04, [laughter] >> right? That’s what I’m saying. So, that’s an interesting song that you guys have gravitated to in your pregame routine. So, I think it’s kind of cool and kind of fun uh for you guys to have that. Now, let’s focus on the game at hand. Okay. Jaylen Brunson obviously clearly gonna be a focal point for you guys uh in general, but for you guys in the back court specifically, how do you try to slow down someone like Jaylen? >> Yeah. Um I mean, great player. I mean, guys like that, you can’t really stop them. So, uh you just got to do your best to slow them down, you know? It’s not going it’s not going to be one person to do it. It’s going to be a collective effort, but um I think we’re going to be super prepared. We’re going to be ready. >> And of course, you know, you win the cup, but then the prize money, too, is kind of nice. $530,000. Your teammate Kellen Johnson said he’d use the money to buy a llama. Okay. Now, we know that he’s got a big farm and all that stuff. What would you use the money for, Steph? >> I still I still don’t know. Um I’ve been buying Christmas gifts with the winning so far, but uh I mean, we’ll see. We got to get there first. >> All right. Well, sounds good. Uh listen, just don’t buy We don’t need two llamas in the Spurs locker room. Okay. Just do something, but just don’t get yourself another animal. Yes, exactly. Well, Steph, thank you so much. We’ll see you tomorrow. Uh, best of luck to you. Thanks for joining us.

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