Stephen A. RESPONDS to Tyrese Haliburton's distaste for the NBA's 65-game rule 👀

I got some NBA stuff on my mind that I wanted to get to because I was incredibly passionate about it this morning on Nashville television and I wanted to revisit that topic um in a more intensive fashion or in a more intense fashion that's the first order of business for me today I wanted to address the comments made by Indiana Paces point guard Tyrese halberton and what he had to say on the NBA's rule of a 65 game minimum players must reach in order to be eligible for awards like the most valuable player award award and all NBA honors check out what halberton Tyrese halberton had to say here quote I think it's a stupid rule like plenty of guys like plenty of the guys in the league he goes a step further okay but this is what the owners won so as players we got to do our job and playing 65 games if we're able to so that's what I got to do take care of my body to be able to play in those games and I think you're seeing other players in the league kind of face the same thing as long as the owners are happy that's what he said I disagree with some of what he said it ain't about the damn owners it's about you not Tyrese halberton but the modern day player and what you've regressed into and the lack of appreciation you've showed for Pioneers who came before you that put you in a position to get the money that you're getting but before I delve any further and deeper into it I wanted to show you and air for you what I had to say on first take on ESPN this morning that's my day job this is me talking to my man Mad Dog Christopher Russo of the Mad Dog Channel on SiriusXM Radio channel 82 this is what I was saying to him and host Molly kierum just this morning on this very subject take a look they came up with a strategy that's going to compel you to play in those games to ensure that you earn your damn money because the people who built this league for you that's what they did Michael Jordan couldn't have set out games Michael Jordan could said Patrick Yan couldn't have set out games all of these people that's played in the NBA the Kareem the wils everybody that helped build this game they couldn't have set out these games but they did you know they didn't do it why didn't they do it because it wasn't just about them it was about the league and really propping up the league and making sure you live up to a standard that was set before you they did it for the future generation of players and and and some of these players not most not all but some of them have basically gave the proverbial finger to the lead to the media to the public and the NBA said damn that amen giveing myself amen but it buffers even more it's augmented even more by the great Irvin Magic Johnson who tweeted out his response to those very comments I made on first take this morning this is what he wrote on X formerly known as Twitter quote I was so happy to watch first take this morning and here my great friend Stephen A Smith and mad dog talking about the new NBA rule where players have to play in 65 games for at least 20 minutes to be eligible for MVP Defensive Player of the Year most improved player the all NBA teams and the all defensive teams fans were upset after spending money to see their favorite players not play so my friend NBA Commissioner Adam Silva had to take action and implement this new rule it's good for the League TV Partners ABC ESPN TNT NBA TV the local TV partners for all 30 teams sponsors the NBA and last but not least the fans you know I love when my boy Magic Johnson watches my back and look out for me thank you brother you know I love you check this out what about Will Chamberlain remember the great Wilt Chamberlain ladies and gentlemen in 1962 wil played all but eight eight possible minutes for the Warriors he said single season League records for minutes per game at 4 48 and A2 and minutes played 3,882 minutes 48 and2 minutes that is more minutes than is in an actual game there's nobody that's doing that in this day and age we understand the level of parity exists the game is harder it's faster it's more physical there's more wear and tear in your bodies we get all of that this conversation is not about injuries it's not about injuries it's about people who were sitting down even though they were healthy enough to play because they wanted to preserve themselves and prevent themselves from getting injured while they were collecting a damn check that's what this is about it's about you choosing to go to work when you want to cuz contract guarantee and you know come hella high water no matter whether you take days off or not you're going to get paid now if everybody was like that and that was the culture of the league and that's what it was built on it would make more sense that's not what it was built on Michael Jordan played 15 years in the league nine times he played all 82 games 12 to 15 times he played 78 games minimum 12 to 15 years we see that car Malone played all 82 games 10 times John Stockton played all 82 games 16 times Gary Payton played all 82 games nine times even Kobe Bryant played all 82 games four times he came in the league in 1996 we don't see that you see the numbers up there Scotty Pitman Five Seasons Dennis robman Five Seasons I already mentioned the other names to you notable Hall of Famers and the number of 82 game Seasons they play what are we seeing today we seeing cats taking games off you want me to go down the list can I get it on the board please show me the list let's start with it let's talk about kawh Leonard Kawai Leonard has only played in at least 65 games in three of his first 12 years in the league and by the way ladies and gentlemen he hasn't played 65 games in the season since 2017 but guess what unlike Michael Jordan who averaged $4 million per season in his career or a host of other players who SP who paved the way for these Moder day players kawh Leonard has already earned 2 765 million through this season Kyrie Irving you didn't think I was going to get forget about him did you Kyrie Irving handle magnificent handle ball handling skills finishes at the basket a superstar talent in this league has only played in at least 65 games in four of his first 12 seasons and he hasn't played 65 games in the season since 2019 through this this season Kyrie Irving will have earned $270 million Anthony Davis Los Angeles Lakers bravo bravo I made my God he's only missed three games this year beautiful thing everybody's making a big deal out of it you know why because Anthony Davis has played in more than 60 games in each of his first six seasons but he's only topped 60 games once in the last 5 years he will have earned $266.25 missed games preseason over the last four years when you Rave about Anthony Davis missing only three games this year and you applaud him because clearly he's worked out and he was ready he didn't get ready he stayed ready and as a result he's balling for the Los Angeles Lakers de season do you know the part that you're leaving out well evidently you're saying that he must not have been doing that before this passed off season that's why you're applauding him so all of these years you were collecting this money you weren't prioritizing being in pristine health so you could come into the season ready to roll and of course there's Bradley Bill formerly of the Washington Wizards now a member of the Phoenix Suns played in at least 65 games the season in four of his first seven years through the 2018 2019 season including a pair of 82 game Seasons By the way he's legitimately injured nobody's questioning that but he hasn't played in more than 60 games in the season since bill will have earned $ 267.9 million through this season why am I bringing all of this up I'm bringing all of this up because everybody wants to talk about New Media New Media New Media you heard Jer M GRE say that right you hear other people alluded to that right especially former players right most of who I got nothing but love and admiration for but that don't mean you always right the same media you snub your nose at the same media you have these podcast just to articulate and disseminate a message that says yo you can rely on us cuz they ain't going to tell the truth where's your truth where's it at how come you didn't do that walk over here with me and I'm looking at my producers here put this damn stuff on the board when I tell you to put those names up on the board put the names of people that was missing games what about the load management what about dudes who weren't hurt but sat out a game and go into the stands because the coach wants them rested Greg pop that's what the rules should be called because he's the one that started all of this remember when they had a game in Orlando years ago and after the game in Orlando they had a back toback the next night in Miami against LeBron and dwade and the crew and Greg papovich not only didn't have Tim Duncan mono jobi and Tony Parker in the lineup the man sent them home through the Orlando Airport on Southwest Airlines how the hell we do we know that because they were at a Chick-fil-A in the airport online and people were s filming them say what the hell is this they supposed to be playing in Miami on national television tonight drove former commissioner David Stern crazy got rested so this is what they did you got cats sitting out games they'll blame the team which sometimes is true they'll blame the coach or the strictly conditioning coach or the medical staff which is a true a lot of times than people realize a lot more time than people realize but it's also on them it's also on them you see Ben Simmons with the shades with the cardier and and and looking like Zoolander one of his zoot suits on looking fly with a smile on his face knowing he collected 20 30 million a year when people came to see him play and he played one game in the last three months look at these all stars right here 27 Allstar selections this past 22 23 season look at this information none played in at least 80 games eight played between 70 to 79 games 16 played in at least 65 games and 11 played in fewer than 65 games these are all stars Marys who people get stuck in traffic for and go on public transportation for and spend their hard-earned money on and you gave him the finger with all of these damn Miss games can you just oppose that to former All Stars like Jordan's last year in the league do we have that stat because see it's worth mentioning notable Hall of Famers number of 82 game Seasons I already gave you all of these stats when you had Jordan and those boys in All-Star games the people that were in All-Star games with them barely missed any games and they weren't making these guys money doesn't it always come down to the money follow me over here doesn't it always come down to the money yeah it does you know why because it's the money that compels some of the players not most not all but some of them and the teams and the leagues not the league itself but the teams and the executives and the owners to tell the public kiss our ass and the players follow suit I've had people tell me some dudes didn't want to participate in the slam dunk contest or other events for Allstar Weekend we ain't getting PID why should we do it we ain't get paid I'm sorry you making 40 million cuz this play was making 40 million at the time and his reps was talking about he ain't they ain't paying him well damn you ain't getting paid enough when's enough and why do I seem so pissed about this it's not just on behalf of the fans it's not just behalf on the league that's trying to negotiate a new television rights deal and obviously that's going to elevate the salary cap which is going to be more money for the players to dig their hands in and welld deserved by the way because when you play you are the star attractions you are the product you deserve the money but that's not the point of this discussion you know what the real point the point of this discussion is particularly when we talk about New Media New Media you forget that it's the old old media that enabled you to get all of this who was fighting for the players let me give you some names the late Ralph Wy the late Sam Lacy Michael wilbon William C Rhoden ja adande David Aldridge Mark Spears Shawn Powell that's just the name a few and those are just the black dudes you had white dudes in media the Mike lupers of the world the Mitch albums of the world the Barons of the world and others fighting for players to get paid Jackie MC Mullins Christine brenens the list goes on and on everywhere you look there was media members black white male female everywhere fighting on behalf of players but now that you got your money we knew media we don't need y'all well guess what y'all ain't that much needed either cuz you can talk but it don't stop me from Talking nor willb or any of my contemporaries in this business who got something to say about it remember I'm not talking all I'm not talking most LeBron James is a treasure and a tribute he's earned his stripes D way did too he just got his knees messed up Kobe Bryant definitely dead Michael Jordan definitely dead Kareem definitely did worthy in those boys definitely did biring those boys he heard his back definitely did but some of these cats out here today walk around like entitled Brad that's

Channel: ESPN

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Keywords: espn, sports, stephen a smith, stephen a. smith show, stephen a. smith, stephen a smith first take, espn first take, stephen a. smith first take, first take stephen a. smith, first take stephen a., stephen a., stephen a smith 65 game, nba 65 game rule, 65 game rule nba, tyrese haliburton, stephen a smith tyrese haliburton, nba on espn, new york knicks, first take, espn nba, stephen a, nba

Id: vlvsH4u4dDk

Length: 15min 29sec (929 seconds)

Published: Fri Feb 02 2024