Celtics win 18th title, Kyrie struggles, JVG to Clips, Barkley retires, Perk joins the show

what's up everybody Welcome to the latest edition of the Stephen A Smith show coming at you as I love to do at the very least three times a week over the digital Airwaves of YouTube and of course ihart radio as always I want to take a moment to show my appreciation to my followers and subscribers we've now eclipsed and exceeded over 75,000 subscribers I appreciate the love keep it coming and I'm going to keep on coming I'm in a very good mood I'm in a very good mood because the NBA finals are over okay I am a very very very happy man because I sit here in front of your face right now and in in in airshot of all of you out there on iHeart radio tired as hell tired as hell because I'm exhausted because it's been a long season but nevertheless it ended the way it was supposed to end all right and that's where we're going to start today because where else to start other than in Boston the Celtics beat the Mavericks 10688 in game five to capture their record 18th NBA championship surpassing the Rival Los Angeles Lakers for the most all time the Celtics were led by Jason Tatum who had 31 points eight rebounds and 11 assists and of course cold star Jaylen Brown who finished with 218 and6 and also captured NBA Finals MVP honors last night by the way also marked the 16th anniversary of Boston 's last title in since 2016 and a 107th playoff game Brown and Tatum played together the most ever by Duo before winning their first NBA championship it was also a first title for head coach Joe Missoula president of basketball operations Brad Stevens and Veteran Al Horford who played 186 playoff games before his first title ever the most ever by the way the Celtics LED wire to wire and were up by 21 points at halftime this actually the 16year anniversary the Boston Celtics had won had won because they hadn't won since 2008 major major props to Jason Tatum uh because the man showed up didn't you know wasn't wasn't flowing offensively in games one and two but definitely showed up in games three and five and handled his business especially in the closeout game you see it right there 11 to 24 shooting 31 points eight rebounds 11 assists get to the basket when the jumper wasn't necessarily falling making sure he was assertive and aggressive enough to show that he was the star that Bel long being mentioned amongst the Stars Jaylen Brown had been a model of consistency throughout these playoffs and especially in the NBA Finals he showed up on both ends of the Court showed up was defending Luca from opening tappa game one okay you saw he finished with 218 and six only shot 7 to 231 field but who cares he took on the defensive assignment took on the challenge was a model of consistency and deserves all the praise in the world but before I give out any more praise or any more criticism or anything in between why should it come from just me you know what I'm going to welcome my analyst to the show because he is a guy that was on that championship team in 2008 was also a member of the team in the NBA Finals when they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers my colleague at ESPN the big boy himself the one and only Kendrick Perkin what's up big time how are you man how's everything wh what's up B what's happening I'm tired as hell I feel like you damn right we both tired and we both glad is over how surprised are you that it ended in five I'm very surprised I I picked look I picked the Celtics to win at seven I thought Dallas was going to give them uh uh more competition than that but you got to give a lot of credit to uh the Boston Celtics starting with the front office starting with the medical staff the training staff this team was built for the Long Haul um you could tell since training camp their number one goal was to win the NBA championship because it showed right when the Dallas Mavericks were breaking down when Luca donic was hobbling up and down the floor the athleticism stuck out like a swore thumb and when you saw jayen Brown and Jason Tatum Drew holiday they just the the game just looked faster right like they played at a different pace than the Dallas Mavericks and you talk about this starting five man uh even with Al Horford in that lineup I mean it's been the best starting five in basketball and and Stephen A I'm G say this I was one of the ones who who criticized Joe Missoula a lot I didn't think his style of play could work he coached his ass off I didn't know that Jaylen Brown and Jason Tatum could get it done they played they ass off uh and I also believed a while back that we would never see a back-to-back Champion I'm starting to rethink those things right now I gotta tell you I'm with you on the back toback because here's what I'm thinking Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown neither of whom are 28 years of age yet Drew holiday's locked in for the next four years Derek White's about to get his bag he's eligible for a 4year 120 to3 million extension Al Horford you probably won't want to retire even though if he does he would have earned the right to do so after playing as long as he's played and finally capturing that elusive Championship porzingis is going to be back with a vengeance we don't know whether he's going to stay healthy that's always a question mark with him but we saw from game one that the brother ain't nervous he showed up on a big stage and if healthy enough he can make things happen this might have been a sweep had he not been hurt to be quite honest with you so we got to be honest about that having said all of that right now how are we to look at Jason Tatum in your mind I'll get to Jaylen Brown in a second but Jason Tatum First Team all NBA now we're having discussions about him being in the conversation for being the top five player in the NBA as Jason Tatum would say what we going to say now what are we going to say now what do we say about Jason him now Kendrick Perkins that he's the NBA champion um that he's a he's a top 10 player in the NBA I I'm not going to jump the gun and say a top five but he's a top 10 player in the league right now um it's a few guys that I still have ahead of him to be honest with you I mean you know joic Giannis um Anthony Edwards I mean we could name some other step Curry like I don't have him in my top five I mean and that's okay he's a champion he's a champion he deserves to talk his noise uh and we saw growth with Jason Tatum we saw the great kg always used to tell us I always like to watch these young and upcoming Superstars around the league because I want to see if they're going to be able to grow in the area of making guys around them better uh he did that this postseason uh showed that he could be be a point forward he took a leap in that aspect and in the results they're the NBA champion he's a let me transition to Jaylen Brown because I got to say this I had him on my all NBA team 13 um I don't think there's 15 players in the NBA better than Jaylen Brown when you take into account his defense and his willingness to accept those assignments he deserves a lot of credit for that whereas a lot of guys don't necessarily elect to do that we know that he's been through a lot we know that there's some shine that he feels he deserves that he's been underappreciated what did this finals and this ultimately capturing NBA Finals MVP what has that done for Jaylen Brown in your estimation oh oh everything and you said top 15 I'm going with top 10 the Celtics have two top 10 players in the NBA Jaylen Brown made me respect the defensive side of things and respect two-way players even more the definition of a two-way player he got it done on both ends of the floor SAA he got it done on both ends of the floor he was efficient all throughout the post season on the offensive end he shot the ball extremely well defensively one could argue that he was the best defensive player in the postseason what he did to Luca in the NBA finals and look Luca is going to put up numbers I get that he has the ball in his hands he's too special of a talent to actually stop him or shut him down but when Jaylen Brown was guarding him he showed him it was levels to this Jaylen Brown had a clean sweep do you realize he have the Bill Russell trophy the Larry O'Brien Trophy and the Larry Bird trophy it all resides in jayen Brown House name me other young superstar that has those three trophies and I'll wait until somebody catches up with him listen right now we have to anoint him and it's not jayen underappreciated Brown no more it's jayen appreciated Brown damn it he's a top 10 player in the league I have to look in transition of the Dallas Mavericks and ask the question why did they lose this series the question that the answer that I come up with there's a multitude of reasons why Jaylen Brown's defense no question about it Boston's Collective defense we can't ignore that I'm gonna go to Kyrie Irving and I'm not trying to point all the blame to him Kyrie has had a sensation New Year Kyrie deserves all the praise that he's received we all know that we've been praising him for the longest time this year because he really really made up for a lot of stuff that he had gone through in the past and really really writed a lot of wrongs and was moving forward but this ain't about being critical of Kyrie this is about us pointing out how clearly Kyrie hasn't gotten over being critical about himself I believe Kyrie Irving was rattled in every game he played in Boston not Dallas he was an all World Player but in this in the city of Boston at TD Garden where he once played where he once wore that Boston Celtic uniform they clearly did not like him they were chanting Kyrie sucks every chance they got they were boring him profusely he was clearly affected by it whether it was tight one minute over anxious the next the bottom line is he ended up averaging 14.3 points on 34% shooting and 18% from three-point range in the three games that he played in Boston now that Kyrie has lost his fourth Final in five appearances what are we to say about Kyrie Irving and how are we to look at him in light of this performance specifically in Boston well I'm going say this is it's it's a prime example when your leader needs a leader right and it's another prime example why veterans matter we got to remember this sa during this run to the NBA finals for the Dallas Mavericks Kyrie Irving has been the leader on that team now all of a sudden you go into Boston and no matter how much you try to downplay it or Kyrie try to down play or he tried to address the problem and try to get his mentality together he needed a shower the on and that shoulder wasn't Jason kid or Jared Dudley or any other the assistant coaches he needed another veteran on that team that he could go to another veteran on that team that could put a key in his back uh I thought he you know he was phenomenal in game three and game four make no mistake about it uh but but Kyrie in my eyes is still one of the most skilled players to ever touch the down basketball uh that haven't CH that hasn't changed but what he's done I think what the Celtics did to him okay just think he he's going against all World Defenders uh Drew holiday and uh Derek white two of the and Jaylen Brown three of the most uh uh Elite Defenders perimeter defenders in the game Kyrie Irving what he done what he has done for the Dallas Mavericks this year and played a role I I know they fell short but I think at this moment that say I got to give him his flowers I got to give him his flowers he he has completely closed the old chapter of his book and the new chapter is looking really really strong right now and really great for him uh that's just me I just I just feel that way I have to disagree with you only on this sense perk he is the one that is clearly holding on to it now the rest of us have moved past it you know cuz we see him we see how he's blossomed we going to give him his we going to give him love he he hasn't Let It Go though because he was a completely different player in Boston than he ever was in Dallas he goes to Dallas he looks all World averaging 28 game 50% from the field 42% from three-point range the brother goes to Boston and all of a sudden can't handle the heat they're treating him like a Benedict Arnold and it's almost like he's like yeah it's a lot to get over that's how he came across yeah and he and he forgot to play and he forgot that it's just basketball but again you got to look you have to give a lot of credit again to the Boston fan base and to the Boston Celtics because they backed up their fan base right you if you don't think for one second that Jaylen Brown and Jason Tatum didn't have it in the back of their mind that Kyrie Irving left them and that they wanted to shut him down and beat them beat him in the NBA Finals people you're crazy and I'm crazy look they they had it on their mind let me say this to you ESS tell me how you feel feel about this sure Luca that's years that's where I was going I want to ask you though I want to ask you I want to be a co-host at Stephen ath show today I want to ask you here here's how I feel real quick and I want to get your thoughts on it Luca out of there six years five of those years First Team all NBA been to a Conference Finals right uh two seasons ago I believe it was with Jaylen Bronson this year go to the NBA finals uh get start does he start to get the Jason Tatum treatment that we get that we gave Jason Tatum in 2022 nothing else matters no more until he delivers a championship and complete the mission I'm just asking you you can make that argument but it's actually something worse than that perk worse we don't even get to ask him that first you know what the first question we going to ask Luca what's that how committed are you going to be you going to get in shape think about that when have we ever we ain't never questioned Jason Tatum's conditioning we ain't question LeBron's conditioning hell we ain't question KD's conditioning we ain't question Steph Curry's conditioning we ain't question Kobe's conditioning we ain't question conditioning of any of the great ones okay the I mean listen the last time we talked about anybody's conditioning it was with sha and that was only because Kobe was going off about the [ __ ] at the end of the day Shaq comes out there and he's like I ain't worried about the Sacramento queens and they went out there and showed them there's a difference between kings and queens and they ain't ready and that's how he treated them so we can't even get on Shack about that the point that I'm making is with Luca knowing you going up against Tatum knowing you going up against jayen Brown knowing those th those horses in the Western Conference that you did get through one could easily argue that Lucas's conditioning served as an impediment because he wanted to play at one pace and this is what I said the other today I said this today on my day job first dat every weekday morning 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon on ESPN I said it this morning big perk I said who's the ideal teammate for Kyrie Irvin I'm sorry I said think about it in terms of somebody that's Kyrie Irving with what Kyrie Irv was going through in Boston let me tell you the names I gave the audience kg number one I said that mouth on Kg kg would have been on the court on Park floor if he was an opponent of Boston and would have been telling them bump them H they kiss your ass what the hell you doing he would have been in his face like suck it up let's go he' have got on Kyrie Kyrie would have responded to that right another person that would have been an ideal teammate was Kobe cuz Kobe would have done the same thing and another person who would have been an ideal teammate before an entirely different reason is his old running mate he won the title with LeBron because unlike Luca LeBron can pay play whatever Pace you want you want to slow it down LeBron got that you want to speed it up play uptempo LeBron got that you understand LeBron could do it whereas Luca only wanted to play at one pace because he doesn't have the conditioning to keep up with with with with the pace that Kyrie could flourish at Etc what are your thoughts about what I just said no I'm I'm with you a th% everything you said is 100% accurate and I think that's that's going to be the growth for not only Luca but the entire entire Dallas Maverick team they're going to have to hit the play of development Luca is going to have to take that next step in his cardio we saw jish do it right we saw yish come back in phenomenal shape start the training camp the year that they wanted and you know what yish did he sustained that throughout the season right he made sure he kept the main thing the main thing we joked around and they had it circul in the video when Mike Finley took the beer out of Luca hand but that's another sacrifice you know Luca okay if that was on camera would are you doing behind closed doors if you're trying to be the best if you're trying to win the NBA championship it's going to have to start with your conditioning at the end of the day look Lucas is First Team all whack body okay I have a wack body yish have a wack body Paul Pierce Had A Wack body you know what A Wack body is they say is you could be in shape you're not going to to get a sixpack you probably get a four but the bottom is still going to have a little Pudge and that's okay you're in great shape all right you're in great shape but here here's the thing I was thinking about I was thinking about okay if the Dallas Mavericks want to make another run at it next year we know teams are going to get better in the off season you know who I'm looking at I want to get your I want to get your energy because I've been missing you the last couple days on first take but I want to get your energy on that okay all right Tim Hardway Jr that can find a way to move his money that's right okay he making about 18 19 million right you package up him and somebody else can they go out and get Klay Thompson can you go get Klay Thompson okay okay here's the problem with that here's the problem with that if I'm Klay Thompson that's not where I want to go why because Luc is too bald dominant see Klay Thompson is used to catching and shooting is as exceptional of a passer as Luca is remember Klay Thompson still plays at a higher pace and so that's problematic because Luca is going to look for his shot Kyrie's going to look for his shot Klay thomps is your number two option okay he's not used to being less than that and if he's going to be less than that he can stomach it if the pace of play gives you more bites at the Apple because you're jacking up more opportunities because you're playing at a faster Pace at the pace that Luc is going to play with because you know the ball's going to be in his hands of majority of the time I don't think there's room for clay I think the ideal place for Klay Thompson is the New York Knicks or the Philadelphia 76ers I would say the Los Angeles Lakers but they don't have a snowballs chance in getting them no no I'm I'm with you on that but here's the thing I understand and that's a great point you brought up about Pace but how much do you trust Jay kid I trust him a lot you don't think that he could make Luca get up off the pill look PJ Washington had a lot of shot attempts right you know what I mean in in that NBA fin I'm thinking to myself if that's Klay Thompson or Klay Thompson that his mentality is right because we know this past season Klay dealt with a lot of ups and downs with the organization and all this like uh we know this 42% from three for the second half of the season that's what I'm saying but we know if your mind is not right you can't be the basketball player you want to be I'm saying those shots PJ Washington was missing in the NBA finals and PJ Washington baled out I'm not saying they to get rid of him but you add Klay Thompson to the mix I'm okay with that with the Dallas mavers if they make some moves but I'm look what they got in that kid Derek Lely right I'm telling you right now hey the sky is the limit for that young man as well well let me ask you this perk is that your way of saying you don't believe that Dallas missed an opportunity because the the West is packed who's to say who's to say Dallas is going to get back anytime soon I I wouldn't pick them I'm not picking them to come out of the West next year because it's going to be too hard man like I could see it The Following season I don't see it this season I believe Minnesota Anthony Edward is going to be back we can't forget about what eay udoka is doing down there with the Houston Rockets you talked about this as well and then John Morant with the Memphis Grizzlies he's going to come back with with it on his mind as well so teams are going to get better the Denver Nuggets are going to clean up areas right they're going to make sure that they clean up their bench and get better in their roster moves because obviously they was missing Bruce Brown and Jeff Green I believe if they had Bruce Brown they would have beat the if they had Jeff Green and Bruce Brown they beat the Minnesota TI wolves agre I agree with that so so I'm just saying I I don't have Dallas going back to the finals next year I mean I wouldn't I mean you know you can't never count Luca and Kyrie out but I think they missed on the opportunity that's why when you get to the NBA finals that's say it's hard enough it's hard as hell to get there but when you get there you got to make sure you capitalize the Celtics knew that from 2022 and all I kept hearing Jason Tatum say is I remember what happened in 2022 it's not about to happen this year and he damn it him and Jaylen Brown stood on that who's the stiffest competition in the East to the Boston Celtics right now oh come on now we know who that is it's the New York Knicks healthy you get you get ogan noi back even with Julius r okay if they don't decide to move Julius R name me a team that's better than the New York Knicks right now I'm not taking the Bucks over them I don't know I don't know what the Philadelphia 76ers are going to do I don't know I don't know they may go out they may swing big for the SES fences and try to get Paul George that's neither here or there but currently constructed the Boston Celtics are number one bless you and and damn it it's the New York Knicks that are number two who now I hear they have huh I was getting ready to ask you if you're the New York Knicks you're a New York Nick fan you know a few of them who's the best fit is it Klay Thompson or is it Paul George man it's you know what it's it's it's hard because you don't want to take away what the Nova boys are bringing to the table right see I feel like if you add a clay Thompson if you add if you add a Klay Thompson or you add a Paul George you're going to take away from from Dante um I I I strongly believe that so I I think I think man to be honest with you I see you know what that say I run it I run it back with Julius Randall I really do I think kg told you this [ __ ] I run it back with J I run it back with Julius Randle because here's here's the thing when you're on the sideline and you're injured you watch your team have success without you because the Knicks had a successful season I don't give a damn with nobody yes they did yes they did you the being on the sideline and being injured and watching your team perform that's the that's the greatest teacher of them allall right because it's like oh dang okay I see that style okay so now I'm learning the game Julius is learning like okay maybe if I sacrifice a little bit more we could go we could go small ball I could be at the five and mix it up a little bit like those are the things I just want to see Julius come back and I want to see how they look together with OG jayen Bronson Josh Hart Dante and Julius and along with you know uh I don't know what's gonna happen with Isaiah hardenstein because he somebody might offer him a bag but that's okay because the Knicks are eye candy but at the end of the day the Celtics are the number one team the Bucks got some things they got to figure out I don't know what they want to do with Chris Middleton I don't know you bring him back cuz he looks old he looks old he looks old he looks old and guess what more weight being put on Damen Lillard's shoulder to help Giannis is not the greatest thing in the world and in my opinion if things don't work out for Milwaukee this year I think Giannis is going to want out of Milwaukee that's just my personal opinion no inside information or anything like that that's just how I'm feeling but I'll get to that another day I'll tell you this about Paul George compared to Klay Thompson if I want a shooter I want Klay Thompson mhm if I want a Defender who can give me some offense it's obviously Paul George which would give the Knicks the edge with Paul George remember the Knicks got 11 first round picks over the next seven years so you got assets to move to Golden State in if indeed you really really want to make that happen for all all the clippers for me though is this Paul George usually has to dribble to get his Groove and I already got Brunson doing that so it takes a way to some degree from Brunson I don't think Klay takes anything away from Brunson and and and not only that you could play him with Devan chenzo because clay can be a three for you when need be it would sacrifice some of Josh Hart's minutes but that would save Josh Hart give Josh Hart more less time but more energy when he's playing to come in there and be that defensive Wizard and that Energizer bunny that you need because even though joshh Hart hits threes he's not a sniper like Klay Thomson and Dante deenz I'm with you on that and you know you everything you said I agree you you know who's going to be the most important player for the Knicks and for them to have success next year it's going to be Mitchell Robertson yeah Health now we we we his health and he got to get his big ass in some shape I believe that he got I believe that he needs to drop about 30 30 pounds if he get that if he drops 30 pounds look man I'm telling you look out he could he could possibly go for defensive player of the year if he dropped 30 pounds before I let you get on out of here let's go back out west to the Los Angeles Lakers our colleague at ESPN JJ reck is emerging as a top candidate for that job you know I've been in the news because obviously I spoke out against the minda game podcast it wasn't against JJ reick it wasn't even against LeBron James and the podcast it was the timing of the damn thing perk you had to you you had the podcast when it first came out I was happy about it was happy for them thought we would all learn a lot about the game of basketball listening to JJ and LeBron and I still stand by that but then you got coaches that have called you've got other people that have lamented the fact damn it you knew Darin hand was on the hot seat why would you pick that time to have this damn podcast and now lo and behold here JJ re is the guy you doing the podcast with as the primary candidate for the Lakers job hell what are we supposed to think Stephen A that's what they're saying what do you say kendri Perkins well well one we already knew that JJ reck was getting that damn job they was just waiting for he doesn't have it yet it's not official yet we'll see go ahead yeah but he's the front run say and now the news is starting to circulate again right after the NBA Finals okay which I already heard what was going to happen anyway before even the Dan Hurley news Dro here's the thing that I got got to say right I think J JJ rdick knows his [ __ ] I really really do he is a brilliant basketball mind he is but the one thing the one thing that I have a concern with and I told JJ this to his face we had a conversation I said he's gonna have to adjust that arrogant ass Duke attitude he's gonna have to adjust you tell I'm quot you said that arrogant ass Duke at to him yeah yeah and he he look he laughed he laughed and we laughed at all but I was serious because think about this the two coaches that was coaching in the NBA finals were who a young Joe Missoula 35 years old and a Jason kid ex's and O's is one thing but going in that locker room and speaking that language and getting the ears and the attention of those players is a whole another thing and that's what I think the adjustment of of JJ r is going to have to be am I a bit disappointed that the Lakers didn't give a fair sh Fair shots or more interviews to other coaches like a Phil handy like Sam Cel that just won the NBA champ oh right I am I am but at the end of the day we know what was going on and that's probably why I got unfollow because on social media when LeBron you talking about when LeBron unfollowed you because you and he unfed Tweed out said people follow Jesus you know what I'm saying it's gonna be all right I'll be okay I'll be okay I'll has he spoken has he has LeBron spoken to you since no no no he hasen't and and I has his team spoken to you has his team spoken to you you know Rich Paul and reached out right you know that you know that you know that and look to be honest that's say it's it's no beef whatsoever here's the thing I'm going tell you this and with like as we wrapping up the season man look I appreciate everything that you have done for me real talk and this real [ __ ] coming from my heart everything that you have done for me as a mentor as a big brother in this media space and you know how much I bust my ass to be here and you also know that when you're a Hall of Fame player a franchise guy that retires you know networks not just here but other networks they roll a red carpet out for guys to come in into this space right I had to work my ass off to get to the point where I'm at today and I still got more work to do and what people don't realize is this job is just not a hobby for me I take this [ __ ] serious I approach this as my next chapter in my life I close the Basketball chapter in my life when people when I go up on first take I don't even want the the the the sidebar the uh graphic of showing Hendrick Perkins 2008 NBA champion 14 uh 14 year vet no no no no no I just want to be known as Kendrick Perkins NBA analyst this is the next chapter I'm trying to be great at that and if in order for me to do that you know I got to do my job and sometimes if it if it Ruffles some feathers or it may cause some you know people to getting their feelings so be it because if if it does then and we're talking about the game of basketball then you really not in my corner anyway look I'm going do my damn job I appreciate you ESS and I'm going keep going I always tell you that we don't have Thanksgiving we ain't having Thanksgiving din with them we ain't exchanging no damn Christmas gifts as long as you a fair and you ain't getting personal [ __ ] it if they G to have an attitude they GNA have an attitude you get over it life goes on having said all of that I think that when we look forward to what the culture has been like switching back to back back to the Court mhm here's what I love about Boston even though I picked the mask cuz I thought pingis wouldn't play at all and I couldn't believe he played and stuff like that but props to the Boston Cel I'm really happy for Jason Tatum and jayen brown because they got love for both of them I gotta tell you this what they've done by winning the championship last night I believe is the death of the big three we ain't GNA hear about that no more because now they showed you all you need is a big two and the right parts around them in order to win championships bump all that big three nonsense anymore KD I think KD Bill and Booker getting swept the same year that a big two in Boston won the championship it's put to death to the big three to that you say what I I'm with you but look it started from last NBA championship with yic and Murray it was just a followup and the nail in the coffin in the barrier with the flowers over it with them singing the gospel music with jayen brown and Jason Tatum did to it right that's all it was the big threes are over with get you two one A's or whatever you however you want to call it and go out there and do your home work and put the pieces around them much credit to Brad Stevens with gr spec they did that do you I know look I know we got a Goa but let me say this do you realize what it took for Brad Stevens and with gr B to make the move of trading Marcus Smart yeah yeah and I feel bad for Marcus Smart too cuz I almost want to get I almost want him to have a ring because of what he meant to the Boston Celtics but you do understand that porzingis did make them better and of course true holiday he of course Drew holiday absolutely and by the way Missoula listen I'm a Emil you DOA fan and I believe that if he mayoka was the coach of the Boston Celtics they they' have did what they did last night they might have did it last year I feel that way but I can't take nothing away from Missoula he has proven to be a hell of a coach he's got to get his flowers his props CU he showed up he really did I agree a th% you know Sam Cassel told me the other day that he's that Joe Missoula he said per per you know how he talk he knows his [ __ ] he's one of the most brilliant basketball mods I ever been around I'm tell you that that that that M he something else that's not a bad sell invitation that's not a bad one that's how he is but he telling the truth Sam Castell ain't no damn liar he ain't no damn liar I'm proud of you my brother you did a great great job this year covering the NBA you deserve your rest I'm going invite you you know down you know I'm I ain't going to tell every I ain't going to tell everybody where I'm at but I'm going invite you down to the crib for the buffet I got my sister Karma she already got the buffet set for you appreciate you big boy thanks a lot appreciate you love you brother same here my man same here one of only Kendrick Perkins hanging out with your boy Stephen right here on the Stephen A Smith show coming up one of the coaching candidates I've been touting for the Lakers is now heading to the Clippers as a lead assistant coach what does it mean for the Battle of Los Angeles plus my man the one and only Charles Barkley chuckster himself announced his plan to retire from TV after next season but will it stick I'll touch on that in more next right here on the Stephen A Smith show be back one more in a minute everybody knows I demand excellence and I'm in it to win it so that's why I have teamed up with the one and only prize picks okay America's number one fantasy sports app to help turn my sports knowledge into some big time money in case you already didn't know prize picks is a daily fantasy app where you choose two three or even up to six of your favorite players and then simply pick more or less on their projected stats it honestly takes less time than it does for Asia for Asia Wilson to up the court and hit that long range game winning three you know every basket strikeout or goal gets bigger and bigger and bigger each week so go now and download the prize pick app today to join a community of more than three million members and if you do prize picks will match your first time deposit of up to $100 yeah that's right you heard me so go to prize.com right now and use code SAS mind thises of course in case you didn't figure that out just use promo code SAS on priz picks to receive a first deposit match above the $100 and then let the games begin prize picks pick more pick less it really really really is that easy it's a surreal feeling we did it we did it I know everybody would wonder what would happen if we didn't win [Applause] I guess we'll never [Applause] know welcome back to Stephen A Smith show right here over the digital Airways of YouTube and of course iHeart radio now that the Boston Celtics are the best franchise in the NBA social media has had a lot to say about Jason Tatum who you were just listening to and his celebrations that have recreated iconic moments to say the least Tatum has openly expressed his admiration for late NBA legend Kobe Bryant he paid tribute to him dur during his this year's NBA Finals wearing a Celtic shirt identical to one Bryant wore during his pre-draft workout with Boston in 1996 as you can see right there fans have also accused Tatum of recreating the Celtics 2008 Victory when Kevin Garnett shouted during the postgame interview anything's possible remember that that was Kevin Garnett and if you saw what Jason Tatum did people are getting on them because of his quote unquote poor imitation not to mention when he said I guess we'll never know that was him mimicking Kanye West my response to all of this is very simple who gives a [ __ ] he's a champion y'all can stop that nonsense right now hate another day hate another day Jason Tatum is a champion the brother was first team all NBA the brother averaged 27 a game the brother in the NBA Finals game dropped 30 and 10 30 and 11 to be specific no Celtic in history have ever done that this is a Boston Celtics we're talking about winners of 18 championships in NBA history surpassing the Lakers at 17 okay and Jason Tatum did something nobody for the Boston Celtics have ever done has ever done in an NBA Finals so this ain't the time in seven years in the league the brother has been the five Conference Finals and two NBA finals and now he's a champion everybody stand down and shut the hell up he got his endorsement deals okay he got he's getting his bag he's in line to sign a 5year 315 million extension nobody's GNA blink at those dollars it'll be the highest in NBA history nobody's going to Blink at that especially after Jaylen Brown just signed last year for 34 million okay because he's Jason Tatum and when you've got that pressure on you Jaylen Brown got 304 million you waiting for your deal down the line on top of it all you had already been at the Conference Finals numerous times and an NBA Finals appearance and you failed to kick in the door including a couple of years ago when you lost to Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors all of this pressure was on Jason Tatum's back and he answered the call best record in the league 27 points per game NBA champ Championship after being named First Team all NBA when his teammate Jaylen Brown couldn't even make third Team all NBA although I voted for him to be on that team and he should have been on that team you feel what I'm saying to you it's time to shut the hell up this ain't the time to be talking about Jason Tatum the brother's a champion he's a champion and nobody can take that away from him I couldn't wait to get to this next story that I'm ready to talk about right now because I saw it in the news last week and obviously it's appropo that I comment about it it's a story that can't be good news for NBA fans no way in hell my man my brother the one and only Charles Barkley announced that he will retire at the end of next NBA season after the next NBA season Barkley joined NBA TV after the Mavericks gain for a win on Friday and he had this to say I have made the decision myself no matter what happens last next year is going to be my last year on television and I just want to say thank you to my NBA family you guys been great to me my heart is full with joy and gratitude now barley has been one of the faces of Inside the NBA for 25 years but it appears that TNT is going to lose NBA rights following next season with some combination or to some combination of Amazon NBC obviously ESPN and Disney of course ABC to be exact here's why thing ladies and gentlemen I'm not in any way calling Charles Barkley a liar I think that Charles Barkley is very sincere I just don't think it's gonna happen I don't think Charles Barkley's leaving let me tell you what I think is going on and it's just a thought I have not spoken to him have not asked him about it Charles Barkley loves those people over at TNT I'm not talking about just Ernie joh sha and Kenny Smith I'm talking about all the people behind the scenes and what Charles has publicly lamented was how Warner Brothers Discovery has handled the whole NBA situation and how he feels like TNT employees are being thrown out to pasture and it sickens him so he doesn't just want to go away and go somewhere else while 150 to 200 plus people find themselves looking for a new job because they they're out of a job courtesy of this move and that is the Charles Barkley you're hearing right now A Charles Barkley that loves the people he works with that loves a lot of the bosses he worked for that loves some of the colleagues he worked with on the air behind the scenes of course it's a family over there to him and he can't imagine wanting to be somewhere else working with or for somebody else while those people are looking for a job those say the same Barkley that said I've had my time and I'm about to give it up let those same people be out of a job and somebody tells Charles Barkley you know what your production company could produce your own NBA show and everybody will flock to you and he could keep those people employed I'm willing to bet my check Charles Barkley would do it just for them because no matter the fact that he's the round Mount of rebound he's the mouth that Roars he'll tell it like it is and or how he thinks it should be etc etc the brother's got a heart to go he's got a heart to go he's one of the best human beings you'll ever see in your life and those people are people he cares a great deal about and it's because he cares so much about them I'm not saying he's lying I'm saying don't believe he's going for good don't believe it I don't believe it for one second his voice is too powerful it's too influential is too enjoyable and he loves the game of basketball too much he ain't 80 he still got a lot of life left in him so I don't think for one second this is going to be the end I just think he's pissed off at the way colleagues at TNT are being thrown out to pasture in his eyes and he'd rather walk away than work for somebody else while they find themselves looking for a job because he feels that sick about it that's Charles Barkley if you know him that's what you know about Charles Barkley That's who he is that's who he is so what I would say to you is stay tuned anything's possible the other thing is one thing I will get on Charles Barkley about you know he talked about Jamal Crawford Vince Carter and others pass to Baton to them let me say this to you you ain't gonna find too many people on the planet that love that love Jamal Crawford more than me I love the brother my nickname for him was an1 he could Boogie on anybody the brother was spectacular especially one-on-one basketball the brother was spectacular love Jamal Crawford JC special and Vince Carter is a Hall of Famer and the best in-game dunker I think I've ever seen they're damn good at being basketball analyst and I hope their future is bright but when Charles Brockley says he's gonna pass the Baton Charles Barkley ain't making that call I can assure you that Charles Barkley is not going to decide who his successor is in that particular seat that he sits in it's not g to happen it's not going to happen they're good hell they're very good but I'm telling you it don't go down like that take it from your boy Stephen A I'm telling you what I know let me move on to Mr Jeff Van Gundy former head coach for the New York Knicks former head coach for the Houston Rockets former NBA color commentator extraordinaire for ESPN 18 on NBA games on ESPN in ABC that Jeff and Gundy just as I thought maybe he would he would get an interview for the head coaching job of the Los Angeles Lakers ESPN Adrien wowski reported this morning that Jeff Van Gundy has agreed to join the Los Angeles Clippers as the top assistant under Tyron Lou the 62y old Van Gundy spent 16 years as a TV analyst for ESPN before accepting a role as a senior consultant with the Boston Celtics this past season who just won a title last night Van Gundy has a strong relationship with Lou after having coached him for a season with the rockets and teaming up with him as members of the USA basketball staff I miss Jeffy and Gundy I miss Mark Jackson this is not me throwing any shade at Doris Burke JJ reick certainly the Hall of Fame of Mike Breen Doris Burke's a Hall of Fame of two this is not about anything like like that this is about the fact that Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson were truly in a team they were exceptional at their jobs they were riveting in a lot of ways they were an illustrious tag team that the basketball world enjoyed for more than a decade love them both respect the hell out of them and Jeff Van Gundy having a job back in the NBA I couldn't be happier for him he's a good man Stan Van Gundy his brother is a good man and by the way the other day I heard Stan Van Gundy on Dan levitar show speaking about how his now late wife Jeff Van gundy's sister-in-law had passed away after committing suicide I had no idea my heart felt condolences to the Van Gundy family back to basketball Jeff Van Gundy deserves to be what he wants in the game of basketball if it's a coach fine if it's an assistant coach fine if it's a color commentator fine I respect the hell out of Jeff and I'm very fond of him but it's one thing that we all have to understand and nobody speaks about this because everybody talks about stuff is unfair and you know he got let go in the world of business when Cuts take place Cuts take place there's hundreds of people who lost their jobs and it wasn't just at ESPN or at Disney have you seen what happened at meta have you seen what has happened at places like apple and Amazon and other places the climate that we're living in these kind of things happen I'm not saying it's right I'm not saying it's fair damn it is downright cruel when have we known the world of business to be otherwise and I got news for you I was sad to see Jeff Van Gundy go even sadder to see my brother Mark Jackson because obviously I'm a lot tighter with him than I am with Jeff Van gundi but I'm never concerned about them landing on their feet because of who they are how impeccable their reputations are and the kind of opportunities that will inevitably come their way I can assure you I know of plenty of people when they lose their jobs if they were to lose their jobs it wouldn't be quite that easy matter of fact it would be significantly more daunting so again in terms of Jeff Van Gundy I miss you buddy I wish him and Mark Jackson was still at our Network just like I'm happy that Daris Burke and Mike Breen and JJ reck are still there just like I'm happy Richard Jefferson and Ryan ruko are there doing their thing Tim legler let me not forget him who I think is an outstanding basketball analyst that should be doing more color commentary make no mistake about it I work with special people with my day job at ESPN but nothing's guaranteed nobody is safe that includes me and I'm speaking from experience remember I got fired in 2009 take nothing for granted in the world of business ladies and gentlemen no one's ever safe in this day and age numbers make calls not just people numbers dictate a lot never forget that never forget that coming up I get a lot of of jokes about my hairline in case you didn't know which I know you do but someone else in the Sports World showed off something that has me feeling a lot better about myself these days I'm I ain't gon to lie to you find out who plus javante tank Davis knocked out Frank Martin are we looking at the best fighter on the planet I'll give you my answer up next right here on the Stephen a SP show over the digital Airway of YouTube and iHeart Radio don't touch that dial we go anywhere be back in a moment welcome back to Stephen A Smith show right here over the digital Airwaves of YouTube before I get on out of here for this particular show I needed to revisit what transpired this past Saturday night javante tank Davis knocked out Challenger Frank Martin in the eighth round all right at MGM Grand's Garden Arena to retain his WBA lightweight title Martin was simply outmatched y'all he was outmatched against Davis's power and speed and skill and boxing IQ I've said it before I'll say it again if you get into the ring with boxing's number one attraction because that's who the hell javante tank Davis is okay you're getting in with a shock in blood infested waters some are calling the Baltimore native of mini Mike Tyson with a record of 30 and0 28 by knockout he's pound-for-pound one of the top five fighters on the planet easily and guess what he might be tops overall now there's some names to throw out there in fairness Terence Crawford we can't forget about him can't forget about him better BF all the better thef light heavyweight division can't forget about him okay you got to throw him some love can't get around that Canelo Alvarez can't forget about him my guy David benovitz 28 and0 29 and0 24 Knockouts the Mexican monster as so labeled Mike Tyson can't forget about him either I brought up Terence Crawford after his destruction of Erol Spen Jr we know that Terence Crawford deserves to be in the conversation but here's the deal this cat is 27 and0 with 24 Knockouts now he's special super ban to weight we don't see much of him I remember I saw him Knock Out n needo Donaire Nonito Donaire but the brother special no doubt we can debate the top fighter in the world pound-for-pound we can do that what we cannot do is debate who's the most exciting fire who's the biggest box office attraction in boxing that would happen to be javante Davis we just gota we just got to accept it he goes into the ring Frank Martin and him talking last stuff and I knew I I said something special listen Frank Martin's going up against them and you hear a lot of guys talking trash and javante Davis is a master at messing with your mind he's a master at messing with your head and getting inside of your head that's true but what really really stood out of my mind was when he was in the press conference leading up to the fight and he said to Frank Martin you really really took this fight a little bit too early he said you really really should have waited that's really the mistake you made you really should have waited Martin 18 and0 undefeated but with 12 Knockouts and what happened tank Davis comes out is especially after Frank Martin was telling folks went on Ryan Clark in the pivot podcast you know with Channon Crowder and Fred Taylor and those boys talking about how he buckled you know tank tank Davis's legs and all tank Davis is the Press what are you talking about that's a lie what what the hell are you talking about you don't make no sense blah blah blah blah he just lying and you know when I knew he was lying and Frank Mar was lying when tank Davis got in that ring Saturday night and from open and tap walked right to him and stalked him open and tap made him uncomfortable was in his face throwing Haymakers coming for him from opening tap and then The Knockout was beautiful swung a right hook came with the left uppercut from The southp Stance obviously and then he was completely caught by the off guard Frank Mar was wobbled and left the whole right side his face open and tank yeah and took him out there's levels to this Frank Martin is good he's a talented boxer but was very deliberate in his protection and what have you because boxing doesn't come that naturally to him so what happened is is that you protecting yourself protecting yourself protecting yourself and javante just set you up and ultimately wore you down and caught you and now we got to look at Frank Martin and just go like this because you're not going to get a rematch with tank Davis why would he waste his time with that so the biggest fight of your career of your life you blew because of the manner in which you got taken out that's what happens back to the draw board I think that Frank Martin is a talented fighter he'll make some things happen down the line in the future but we'll never look at him the same after that destruction we'll never look at him the same not to say that we won't respect them but we'll never look at him the same because he got destroyed by javante Davis and that's no shame that's no slouch but damn still in all you get destroyed you get destroyed and so now I'm looking at it javante Davis is the number one box office attraction who I want to see him against next is Shakur Stevenson I don't want to see him against Devin Haney because Devin Haney is proving to me that he's not a good punch taker so my thing is if you're javante Davis you catch Devin Haney oh my Lord oh my God you you you know you you survived three knockdowns from Ryan Garcia that ain't gonna happen against javante Davis so I don't want to see that fight and then I'm looking at tank Davis and I'm like damn at 135 you know you're a bit too big you know you look too strong maybe you should move up to 140 Tia Fimo Lopez stuff like that that would be an interesting fight but Shakur Stevenson with all the noise that's been made about him deserves a shot and and of course L manchenko cuz we know that LOM manchenko is a brilliant brilliant boxer but he's so small he's so small I'm not comfortable seeing L manchenko against javante Davis because my attitude is nobody has a shot against javante Davis if you can't punch with power that's not to say that lenko can't punch with power we saw what he did to cambos has beat the [ __ ] out of him but I'm saying to you against javante Davis I don't know I don't know I mean it would be very interesting very compelling but I wouldn't be worried about javante Davis getting knocked out I'd be worried about Loman chenko I want to see javante Davis in the ring with somebody perceived as having enough power to put him on the canvas too that's what I want to see that's what I want to see I don't think lenko gives us that I think Shakur steeve son might that's just where I'm at with you y'all that's just where I'm at with it before I get on out of here for today former professional soccer player turned Fox sports analyst Landon Donovan was on the network broadcast when fans noticed a chunk of hair missing behind his ear the broadcast didn't show a full view of the back of Donovan's head so it's unclear whether there is hair missing in other spots as well but the bizarre look at social media media in an uproar to say the least Donovan later explained that he was told it wouldn't appear on camera and in a text exchange with former teammate Mike McGee that went viral he explained that he had a hair transplant two weeks ago oh my God I didn't see that who's this friend of yours who is the friend that told you that ain't going to be seen on television it's not like he had on a hat or something who the hell told you that who the hell told you that would not be seen on television I don't ever want to hear [ __ ] about my headline again not a word I'm not doing bad I'm not doing bad at all put me up against that picture all day Lon Donovan I got love for you my brother respect for you I'm not I'm just I'm just having fun with you no no harm no foul but I ain't you ain't never got to worry about my headline like like that oh no oh no let me tell y'all something right now too and don't put it past me look y'all I ain't got no shame in my game I will go to ha Club for Men I'll tell you about it I'll let you come join me while I'm doing it I don't give a [ __ ] I could use my headline being about about this much closer I wouldn't mind that I ain't ashamed to tell you look you got a lot of fake stuff going on out here remember that Chris Rod Chris Rock once talked about you ladies now the fellas you know some of us need to be fake damn it some of us need two pag some of us need to shave it all up some of us need to get in the damn gym War whing around with our Ron Stu there a lot of [ __ ] we need to do as men but we ain't going to let the ladies off the hook did off the hook here remember what Chris Rock said in standup comedy before he said he said don't give a damn about y'all talking about women he said you a liar you a liar you you you a liar remember that when he did that stand up uh that comedy show he said you got heels on you ain't that tall you understand he said you got you you got green eyes your eyes ain't no damn green you know you got you got fake boobs you know he said remember that he said you wearing weaves your hair ain't that color he said You Lie every damn day but you want me to tell the truth F you that's what Chris Rock said not me but it was funny cuz it's kind of true it's amazing how many people particularly of the opposite sex get to do things to accentuate your beauty okay but the second a man tries to do something like that we got to go through hell now Landon Donovan I mean I don't know what the hell you would thinking showing up with that I don't know what you were thinking that's on you bro but I'm going to give you a pass in ways that a lot of women might not give you a pass but the fellas we going to give you a pass cuz we feel your pain we feel your pain and we here for you bro to a point ain't no way in hell I'd ever be seen with my public with my head like that I don't know what you were thinking and if you going to show out in public put a hat on what you don't do is be a part of a broadcast with your head like that and then you going to sit up there and say your friend told you they wouldn't see it damn cut him off friends like that who needs enemies get rid of his ass quick fast and in a hurry ladies I'm only playing with you you understand what I'm saying Ain't Nobody Got no problem with y'all accentuating your beauty in whatever way you choose it's a free world live it up girl live it up to each his and her own one person's ecstasy is another person's misery do you be all about you that's the final note nugget the info from your boy Stephen A I'm about to sign off until next time I'll be back with marrow until then peace and love everybody this the latest edition of the Stephen A Smith show signing off until next one

Channel: Stephen A. Smith

Views: 128,287

Keywords: Stephen A. Smith, Stephen A, Stephen A. Smith Podcast, Know MERCY, NO MERCY, FIRST TAKE, ESPN First Take, NBA Countdown, Podcast, Motivation, Inspiration, Stephen A. Smith Cowboys, stephen a smith, stephen a. smith

Id: 5UhtQ6L8bJw

Length: 64min 25sec (3865 seconds)

Published: Tue Jun 18 2024