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Nightcap Hour 1: Shai & Chet TAKE DOWN the Knicks + JJ Redick DOWNPLAYS CONFRONTATION With Luka + Celtics ANTICIPATING Jayson Tatum’s RETURN + Iso Joe AGREES with Max Kellerman that MJ could average 40-Point TRIPLE DOUBLE + Mr. Tendernism JOINS Nightcap

80 min
Mar 5, 2026about 2 months ago
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Summary

The Nightcap crew discusses the Thunder's dominant win over the Knicks, JJ Redick's sideline confrontation with Luka Doncic, Jayson Tatum's anticipated return from Achilles injury, and debate over whether Michael Jordan could average a 40-point triple-double in today's NBA. Guest Mr. Tendernism joins to discuss his barbecue business expansion.

Insights
  • OKC's defensive intensity combined with offensive firepower creates a dual-threat identity rare in modern NBA—their depth allows them to guard multiple positions while maintaining scoring punch
  • Player retention in winning cultures depends on financial security and legacy considerations; younger players with guaranteed wealth may prioritize championships over additional max contracts
  • Modern NBA analytics discourage mid-range shooting, but elite scorers like Jordan would adapt by increasing three-point volume while maintaining their scoring prowess through multiple offensive levels
  • Achilles injury recovery timelines vary significantly (9-19 months); returning too early risks re-injury, but waiting risks losing competitive windows—teams must balance medical clearance with strategic timing
  • Coaching decisions on player minutes in blowouts involve competing priorities: individual stat-chasing vs. injury prevention and team continuity
Trends
NBA teams prioritizing defensive versatility and full-court pressure as sustainable competitive advantagePlayer empowerment in free agency driven by financial security rather than championship pursuit aloneAnalytics-driven offensive philosophy eliminating mid-range shots in favor of three-pointers and rim attemptsSurgical technology advancement reducing recovery times for major injuries (from 75 minutes to 15-20 minutes for arthroscopic procedures)Barbecue/food service as lifestyle brand and content opportunity for athletes and personalitiesCoaching staff utilization of real-time player statistics and foul tracking during gamesYounger NBA generation less deferential to veteran superstars compared to previous erasFranchise stability concerns around max contract retention as teams face salary cap constraints
Topics
NBA Defense Strategy and Full-Court PressureAchilles Injury Recovery and Return-to-Play TimelinesPlayer Contract Negotiations and Free AgencyMid-Range vs Three-Point Shooting AnalyticsCoaching Decisions on Player Minutes ManagementMichael Jordan Hypothetical in Modern NBAOKC Thunder Team Chemistry and Roster ConstructionJJ Redick Coaching Style and Player ManagementJayson Tatum Injury Recovery and Boston Celtics PlayoffsNBA Scoring Titles and Individual Achievement vs Team SuccessBarbecue Business Expansion and FranchisingSurgical Technology Advancement in Sports MedicinePlayer Respect and Hierarchy in Modern NBATeam Camaraderie and Off-Court BondingRoster Depth and Defensive Versatility
Companies
Oklahoma City Thunder
Discussed as model defensive team with elite depth; beat Knicks 103-100 with Chet Holmgren's 28 points
Boston Celtics
Analyzed regarding Jayson Tatum's anticipated return from Achilles injury and playoff positioning
Dallas Mavericks
JJ Redick's sideline confrontation with Luka Doncic discussed; team beat Warriors 129-101
New York Knicks
Lost to Thunder; shooting struggles (10-35 from three) analyzed as key factor in defeat
Golden State Warriors
Defeated by Mavericks 129-101 in game where Luka-Redick sideline incident occurred
Charlotte Hornets
Mentioned as team with strong shooters including LaMelo Ball and other perimeter threats
Phoenix Suns
Referenced in context of Luka's previous game struggles and need for bounce-back performance
Destination Smokehouse
Mr. Tendernism's barbecue business; evolved from coffee shop to smokehouse operation
People
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
OKC star with 26 points; on 122-game streak of 20+ points, approaching Wilt Chamberlain's record
Chet Holmgren
OKC center with career-high 28 points and 6 three-pointers; key to team's defensive identity
Luka Doncic
Mavericks star involved in sideline confrontation with coach JJ Redick over playing time
JJ Redick
Mavericks coach who benched Luka in blowout win; downplayed sideline confrontation as normal
Jayson Tatum
Celtics star recovering from Achilles injury; anticipated return within 10 months of injury
Michael Jordan
Discussed hypothetically regarding scoring capability in modern NBA era
Max Kellerman
Sports analyst who argued MJ could average 40-point triple-double in modern NBA
Rich Paul
Sports agent who disagreed with Kellerman on Jordan's modern-era scoring potential
Jalen Brunson
Knicks point guard; shot 5-18 in loss to Thunder
Kevin Durant
Referenced for 17-month Achilles recovery timeline as comparison for Tatum's return
Rudy Gay
Referenced for shortest post-Achilles return (under 9 months) since 2015-16 season
Scottie Pippen
Referenced regarding back injuries and their impact on Bulls championship runs
Dennis Rodman
Referenced as part of Bulls championship team chemistry and training regimen
LeBron James
Referenced regarding three-point shooting evolution and game adaptation
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Referenced regarding defensive strategies and paint dominance in modern NBA
Quotes
"They guard, bro. They play defense. If you look at the Knicks, their shooting percentages was horrible...these dudes sit down in their chair, they move them feet, and they guard, and their defense is what fuels their offense."
Iso Joe JohnsonEarly game analysis
"The better Chet Holmgren is, the better this OKC team will be, which can lead them to be a dynasty, meaning winning multiple championships."
Iso Joe JohnsonThunder analysis
"I think he's probably going to give it a chance...I think considering the fact of where they're at in the standings, which is second in the Eastern Conference, I think they feel like they still have a window."
Iso Joe JohnsonTatum return discussion
"The cream always rises to the top. Like, I do think MJ would probably average about 40 in this era. He was so dynamic. He was fast. He was quick. He was explosive with an unstoppable turnaround, mid-range jump shot."
Iso Joe JohnsonJordan debate
"When I rolled that oxtail man one day on the side of the building black diamonds and it came off like an orange...I knew it was on something and I said oh look that's tendonism."
Mr. Walter Johnson (Tendernism)Business origin story
Full Transcript
This is the biggest night in podcasting. The countdown is on to our 2026 iHeart Podcast Awards. Live from South by Southwest, March 16th, we'll honor the very best in podcasting from the past year and celebrate the most innovative, talented creators in the industry. It's truly a who's who of the podcasting world. Creativity, knowledge, and passion will all be on full display. And the winner of the iHeart Podcast Award is... See all the nominees now at iHeart.com slash podcast awards. Audible is a proud sponsor of the Audible Audio Pioneer Award. Explore the best selection of audiobooks, podcasts, and originals all in one easy app. Audible. There's more to imagine when you listen. Sign up for a free trial at audible.com. Shoot your shot on PrizePix and get $50 instantly in lineups when you play your first $5. That's right. 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That's ethos, E-T-H-O-S dot com slash nightcap. Again, that's ethos.com slash nightcap. Application times and rates may vary. Oh, well. I didn't hear no countdown or anything. Sorry about that, guys. Welcome to another episode of Night Count. Obviously, y'all know who I am. I'm your favorite up. My partner and co-host, Liberty City's own, Bengals Ring of Fame honoree, a former pro bowler and an all-pro, that is Chan Ochocinco Johnson. And the third member of the Big Three joining us two nights a week, going to three nights a week, y'all know him, University of Arkansas alum, Little Rock, Arkansas native, a seven-time NBA All-Star with the Atlanta Hawks, and recently nominated for the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame, here he is, ISO Joe Johnson. Joe, what it do? What's happening? What's happening, fellas? Hey, you know what I just thought about you? I can't hear you guys, but I will keep going. Please make sure you hit that subscribe button. Please make sure you hit the like button and do us a favor. Go subscribe to the Nightcap Podcast feed wherever you get your podcasts from. We would like to personally thank each and every one of you for your eyes, ears, and your word of mouth. all the support that you've shown Uncanocho Nightcap over the years. We could not have done it without you. We will continue to shine. We will continue to glow up only because of you. We cannot thank you enough for your support, especially over the last year. Again, thank you for your support and your continued support. Those looking to purchase a bottle of Shea by LaPortier, head over to LaPortierCognac.com if you cannot find it in a state or city near you. It is the best tasting premium VSOP Cognac on the market. Try it. Compare it against other cognacs. It does not matter the make. It does not matter the brand. Just try it for yourself and you'll see. We have the best tasting premium VSOP cognac on the market. Please drink responsibly and stay safe. No. Hey, Ocho, say something. What's up? What? What they do? Hey, Joe, you can hear me? What's happening? Yeah. Hey, Joe, I've been in the lab, Joe. What you been doing? Hey, don't worry about it. Just get that knee together, boy. Oh, oh, oh, oh. Get that knee together, boy. Okay, okay. Yeah, I'm just letting you know. Hey, I booked my ticket, too. I'm letting you know ahead of time. I booked my ticket for March 16th. I'm going to be in on the 15th so we can go to the Hawks game. What's that? That's the Magic City night? Yeah. You trying to do something by two, son? Uh-huh. I thought you said we can go. I already booked my ticket. I'm going to make it happen. Say class. I'm going to make it happen. Okay, I'm deleting. I booked my tickets. So, you know, I frequent Atlanta maybe once a year. So this will be my one time. Oh, boy, you're going to have a good time. What you going to do? Man, you know, old neat old, you know, if the water don't rise and, you know, don't get too high. Oh, you've been having surgery soon. I went to Ortho today. I got another. I'm going to get two opinions and see. You know, he said, you know, probably the best thing for us to go in there and get it taken care of, get it scoped, get it snipped a little bit. 15, 20-minute procedure. I'm going to see what the other guy says. And so we're going to take the best of the two scenarios. The one thing I do know, we're not going to leave it as is. It's painful, and I'm not taking any pain medicine for that. So we'll get that thing resolved, and then you know your boy will be out there running again. You know I'll be out there. Go ahead, Ocho. Yeah. And now we're going to ask you, a 15, 20-minute procedure, what's the rehab time like? He said I'll be sore for about 15, 20-minute procedure. about a week Ocho because anytime they go into the body oh that's it you're gonna be sore uh but you're it's probably four to five weeks okay that ain't bad that ain't bad I go to rehab he said uh it's an in and out procedure so you go in that morning you'll be out that day and then I do I'll start rehab the next day yeah you know what I need to stop playing around and do like all jokes aside Joe what's that I need to get this damn cataract removed out my right eye because I can't see it all it's even I I couldn't see to begin with, now a cataract has built up so much. My right eye, my whole right side, great. So, hey, I got a question. How in the hell you think you gonna beat me in anything with one eye? Joe, I played my whole career with one eye. I only had one eye since 1994. Okay, I like that. You look, one thing about me, I'm gonna use everything to my advantage. You know, my- You gonna go to my right? If my opponent got a weakness, you best believe I'm going at it. But Joe, that's not a weakness. I played my whole career with one eye. You ain't going to be able to keep up with that with no one eye. Joe, you too slow, Joe. Who? You 6'8". All right. All right, Ocho. Joe, I mean no disrespect, but it's going to be real funny when they say, God damn, boy, that nigga Ocho gave a Hall of Famer that work. Okay. All right. Okay. All right. The Thunder go on the road in Madison Square Garden and take down the Knicks by the score of 103 to 100. Chet Hongren had 28 points, eight rebounds. The eight, Holmgren had a career high with six three-pointers. Shea Gilgis had 26 points as he continued his streak of at least 20 points. I think it's 122 now. I think he's a couple of games behind Wilt Chamberlain's record, which I think is 124, 126. But Chad Holmgren had 28. Shea Gilgis had 26. Lou Dort had 16. That rounded out, but they did a great job. the Knicks got a valid scoring but it was not enough OG had 16, Carl Anthony had 17 Josh Hart had 10 Mikael Bridges had 15, Jalen Brunson had 16 and Landry Shammott had 14 but they shot terrible from the three point line 10 to 35 and that was really the difference in the ball game, Shea hit a step back three, he only shot one three tonight Joe and they put OG on him and he drove to the basket and he snatched the pull Let that three go, and that was really the difference in the ballgame. Watching this game, Joe, you can see the Thunder are starting to feel like themselves. It looks like they're starting to gain some confidence back because they feel the best player in the NBA is on our roster now. They don't have J-Dub quite yet, but you can tell they're starting to feel themselves again heading into the playoffs. Oh, yeah, and they're not fully healthy, but they're still grinding our wins night in and night out, fellas. They just beat Chicago last night without Shea. Shea played tonight. The one thing that's glaring for me about OKC, Uncle Ocho, they guard, bro. They play defense. If you look at the Knicks, their shooting percentages was horrible. Brunson was 5 for 18. OG was 6 for 17. McHale Bridges was 6 for 17. These dudes sit down in their chair, they move them feet, and they guard, and their defense is what fuels their offense. Now, they do have a guy in Shea who can get to the bucket, get to the spots whenever he wants, and again, he just makes the games look easy. But I've said this from last season, even throughout the playoffs, the better Check Home Grid is, the better this OKC team will be, which can lead them to be a dynasty, meaning winning multiple championships. They look good, man. They're in a great spot. Obviously, you know, coming down to the wire with the season, they get healthy. They still going to be a scary team to deal with in the seven-game series, fellas. Hey, Unc and Joe, normally, right, when you think about basketball in general, you have every team has its identity. Sometimes it's defense. Sometimes it's offense. Most of the time, you really don't have a team where on both sides in transition, you're good on offense and defense. How the hell are they able to sit in a chair and play defense the way they do and still have the offensive prowess to score at will like they do as well? Shit, they ain't that. Go ahead, Joe. Go ahead. They in great shape, Ocho, to be able to play both sides of the ball. You got to be in shape. Obviously, yes, they're one of the youngest teams still in the league. So they cause a multitude of problems. And they're one of the only teams, like I've been saying, who pick up full court and wear you down in the fourth quarter to where they can still, you know, be fresh. Yeah. I think the thing is, Ocho, plus the fact that you look at it, the guys that are really sitting in the chair, those are not your guys that you're counting on to give you 20, 30 a night. Shea can play defense, but that's what you got Lou Doris for. That's what you got Caluso for. That's what you got Casey Wallace for. That's what you got those other guys for. That's what you got a seven-foot guy in the backdrop, Chet Holmgren, to check anything that gets past those guys. So we know and they understand this is who we are. Isaiah Joe, okay. Chet, I mean, Shea, shoot as many times as you like. Chet, you're our next guy, especially now that J-Dub isn't there. But when you get J-Dub back, you got another guy that can sit in the chair. They go – they can – at every point in time in the game, they're going to have three of their five guys that can sit in the chair. Absolutely. That's at the bare minimum. Now, you must have run and go out there with Caruso, and you have Dord out there, and you have Wallace out there, and you have Joe out there. Yeah. Now you got four of your five. J-Dub was an all-defensive player. He can play defense. They're loaded. And they say, you know what? We get some really easy shots. We get some easy runouts when we turn you over. So they bought in. Everybody understands. I love the fact that when somebody does an interview, everybody's standing around. Now they might be, hey, check out my outfit. They might be shucking and jibing. But that shows the closeness and the camaraderie that they have. Everybody doesn't have that. This is a team that's to be reckoned with. As long as everybody understands their role, this is who I am. Hey, Chet, I mean, Chet got a max deal. J-Dub got a max deal. Shea got a max deal. Now, we ain't got no more max deals that can come around, Joe. We ain't got no more max deals that can come around. Everybody understands that. Now, you're going to be in a situation where you can win a lot of games and win championships, but somebody at some point in time, they're going to start picking off those pieces like you see in the NBA NFL Ocho, guys start like, hold on. They winning. He's been there. He knows what it's like to win. Let me go get him and see if we can put that in our locker room. But I love the way this team plays. I love the closeness of this team and being a part of a winning culture. Guys genuinely – normally, normally, I'm saying this always, maybe there are situations where guys don't like each other. But all the winning that I've been a part of, guys were really, really close. They did things together. They went to the movies together. They did cookouts together. They went bowling together. They did a lot of things together, played cards. We were constantly going to somebody's house. We were at Baltimore. We were at Ray's house, and Buffy, his mom, was cooking. Or we was at Denver. We was doing things, going to the movies, bowling. This team is close. You can tell they're close. Yeah. Yeah, you can. And I think that helps them, too, on the court, Ocho. You know, that closings that they have together, you know, spending a lot of time with each other off the court. But I think just because they got these max contracts, I think these other guys who I would probably call them like fillers for the most part, I think they all stay. I think even a couple of them may even take a pay cut just to stick around because just think about it. If they make it to the finals this year or if they even win another title, I mean, now they can definitely be amongst history. So I can see this team kind of sticking around for quite some time. I think it makes it easier for them to leave now, Joe, because I got two rings and somebody's going to give me five years at $70 million. You see, at what point in time, Joe, how many rings do I need? You know, I'm 26 years of age, and somebody's about to drop me, you know, let's just say $70 million for five years. Somebody's about to give me $100 million for five years, and I got two rings. Well, I'm good. Now it's about securing my family to make sure everybody's great for the next 35, 40 years. So we'll see how it plays out. I mean, everybody says, oh, I want to be here. I want to be here. I want to be here. And then somebody like, damn, boy, that's a lot of money, Joe. Yeah. They was like, hey, you know what I think? I think ISO might want to stay in Phoenix. And Lano said, Joe, we got this little package for you over here. Come on. What you think about it? What you think about it? I like Phoenix. Hey, hey, hey. Let me take my bag. I got the gold. Let me go. Joe, say, hey. Yo, hold on. What's that? Valley, Paradise Valley. Is that in there? Uh, uh, uh, uh, Scott. You got Scott's Valley, you got Paradise Valley, right? Ooh. They got nice homes out there. The sand, the cactus. Ooh, it's nice out there. It's nice scenery. I spent a lot of- You don't know what I'm talking about, Joe? Nice scenery? Yes, sir. Hey, hey, hey, hey. Oh, it's nice. Hey, oh, Joe. Hey, it's nice out there, man. You got TLB? Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Man, I had a time when I was out there. You hear me? Hey, that's a long way, boy. No, ride the corner for me. Yeah, I mean, I'm just saying for me, you know, I'm really on the West Coast. I'm just thinking about it. Obviously, remember we went to the Super Bowl in Arizona? That goddamn flight, man. Jesus Christ. From Miami? Well, everything as far as you coming this way from Miami, It's just like everything is far coming this way. If you're on the West Coast going East, whether it's New York, Jersey, Miami, Jersey, it's bad as hell. Now, it's easy for me to go there because I got the wind at my back. You got the, yeah, you were just reading. Oh, Lord. That's a long flight, bro. Man, I done got up and I took my little quick nap, go to the bathroom, four hours, four hours. Hell, I felt like I was late for three. Oh, yeah. But that's the part about going overseas, Ochoa. I remember we went to Australia. Man, I done watched four movies. Done took me a nap. We still got 12 hours. Yeah. Wait, how long the flight to Australia? 18 hours. That's about how that flight was. We went to China. Yeah. Well, it's a long time to be on a plane. What? Whew. Lord. This is the biggest night in podcasting. The countdown is on to our 2026 iHeart Podcast Awards. Live from South by Southwest, March 16th, we'll honor the very best in podcasting from the past year and celebrate the most innovative, talented creators in the industry. It's truly a who's who of the podcasting world. Creativity, knowledge, and passion will all be on full display. And the winner of the iHeart Podcast Award is... See all the nominees now at iHeart.com slash podcast awards. audible is a proud sponsor of the audible audio pioneer award explore the best selection of audiobooks podcasts and originals all in one easy app audible there's more to imagine when you listen sign up for a free trial at audible.com i'm daniel jeremiah and i'm greg rosenthal and this is 40s and free agents the games may be over but the nfl never stopped this is my favorite part of the calendar. Yeah, mine too, Greg. Free agency, the combine, the NFL draft, pro days, trades. This is where teams reshape their future. This is where Daniel Jeremiah makes his money on 40s and free agents. We break down every move that actually matters. From my draft evaluations, mock drafts, and team fits. To my top 101 free agents and how real rosters are built, cap space, contracts, and all the tough decisions included. You got quarterbacks on the move. We got teams rebuilding. It's hope season. Absolutely, it's hope season. We'll tell you what's real, what's noise, and what it means for your favorite team. Smart analysis, real conversations every week. I don't know about the smart, but definitely analysis. Listen to 40s and Free Agents on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. JJ Reddick downplayed his sideline argument with Luka Doncic saying the exchange was very normal. Video emerged showing the interaction during Saturday's 129 101 win over the Warriors. We got the video? Take a look at this, Joe and Ocho. Boy, that's so reminiscent, boy. After being subbed out of the game, and Luka avoided Reddick on the sideline, causing the coach to walk after him and Gar exchanged words with him on the bench. After Reddick walked away, Luka jumped up and potentially continued the argument, but Jerry Vanderbilt quickly hopped up, started clapping in front of Luka to de-escalate the situation. Joe, how normal is this? Is this very normal? Is this somewhat like what's really going on? Nah, this is pretty normal. I think he probably, what, he must have messed up when coach took him out. He didn't want to come out. Luke was trying to get that scoring title. Look, I'm getting it. Hey, listen, let me tell y'all something. That's normal, bro. When you're in the game and you mess up and you can't get a chance to get back and he take you out, you know what I mean? You walk over there with a little attitude. You see he ain't want to even shake his hand. You know what I mean? That's pretty normal, Uncle Ocho. You know, you come back, you're like, man, damn all this, man. You know what I mean? Hey, Uncle Joe, I remember I had same incident. Obviously, this is basketball. Obviously, that's a meaningful game that they're playing. but every time in the preseason Joe Joe in the preseason come you know the ones hey they said before the game start alright the ones y get one series and then we all coming out man who you think don want to come out the game You Everybody went off the sideline I'm the only one still on the field waiting on the twos to come in. Hey, hey, even if you done caught a pass or not. Yeah, I done caught a pass or not. Most of the time I ain't catching them because they just, you know, they just doing vanilla stuff. Hey, Joe, I done had Coach Lewis. He done had to call a timeout to get me out the game. I refuse to come out. I'm coming to the sideline he walking towards me I'm going straight to the end of the bench we laugh about it today man but I don't think he understood I needed to be in those preseason games I just needed to catch that rhythm I needed to catch that speed of the game just to get my body acclimated to it because no matter how much you practice game day speed is completely different no matter how much you practice man I think Luka wanted to get the Hey, we scored easy. Luka got a quick 28 easy. So you know what? I'm trying to win the scoring title. And so it's game like this here, Joe. Hey, let me go on to get me a little 35. Let me go play an extra three minutes. Let me get me three more minutes. And then I'll come sit on the sideline. JJ probably thinking, nah, in that three minutes, a lot can happen. You must rather step on somebody's ankle. Somebody hit you, do this, and get out of the ball game. Because, you know, the thing is, like, when you got it going good, you know, Joe, you know you got it going good. And they say, hey, man, you know you got this many yards. Really? Man, I go in there and get me one catch. I'm going to get one catch. I did this in college. I said, coach, I said, coach, all I need is one catch. I need one catch. I'm going to have 200. I said, coach, I'm going to catch it. I'm going to go out of bounds. He's like, all right, home. We're going to throw you one. He threw me that smoke right I faced up. Down the sideline, I went. You were gone. Hey, Joe, do coaches understand, especially it might be different when it comes to basketball. If Luke is in rhythm, if Luke is hot, maybe JJ's not thinking about him being able to get that scoring title and wanting to come out the game. Don't they have some type of situation or understanding, like, let me stay in, like maybe eye contact while he's in the game and say, I'm good right now, just let me be? Man, them coaches be aware. They be aware of what's going on, Ocho. Don't let them fool you now. Don't let them fool you and think that they don't know what's going on. They got people on the sideline that's telling them. So, hey, Joe got four fouls. Ocho got five fouls. Shannon got two fouls, so he good. They got people that study giving you that information. You know exactly what's going on. Yeah, Ocho need 10 more points. He had 20,000 points or something like that. Like, they know, bro. They know. So, yeah, they know he in for the scoring title. Right. For sure. Hey, but Joe, if they know he in for the scoring title, why would you take him out? I mean, whose side they own? I don't know, Ocho. Look, the thing is, the last thing that you want to have happen, you leave him in there, you're already up 30 points, Ocho and Joe. And you know what comes with that. And he must run and get hurt. They're going to say, why was he in the game? Right. And then you're going to say, man. I got you. Oh, really? So now you let a guy put his selfish needs, trying to win a scoring title over the bigger, more important needs, which is the playoffs. So I see both sides of the equation. I've been on both sides of the equation. I remember we've played the Chiefs. Mike took everybody out. They came up there and told Mike, Shannon has six for 99. 84. I done took my helmet. I done strapped my shoulder pads. Because we already beaten. We already beaten. We at home. I already took my pads. 84, you back up. I was like, huh? You need a yard for 100. Okay. Let me get on back in there, Ocho, and leave me the 100. The 100 look better than 99. Right, right. So we gonna run something simple. We gonna run a boot, down flat. Watch the end down to the A gap, reverse out. Go to the flat. Watch the end down to the A gap, and he don't throw it to me on timing. He tried to pump, pump, throws it late, he gets picked. Oh, man. Oh. The dance of boy. Man, Mike, boy, Mike turned so red. Ooh, I said, Lord, have mercy. I'm like, bro, I'm sorry. But you should have threw it to me the first time. But I see both sides of the equation. Because sometimes, like, when you're in a rhythm, Ocho, and Joe, you know this in basketball, Joe. That thing cooking and you can't do no wrong, you shooting off wrong foot, you don't matter what, you throwing stuff up there, it's going in and you getting A-in-ones. And everybody knows Luka can heat up. I mean, he don't need to see but a few go into the basket and that's your ass. That's it. Yeah. That's it. He see a few go into the basket, first of all, his first shot gonna be a three. He gonna check it. He gonna get that step back. He gonna pull you. ain't going to shoot that step back. Don't let him see it go in. A couple of them go in now because you got your hands. Oh, yeah. You got your hands. So I understand. But like, you know, JJ just left the game. What Joe? What five years ago? Yeah. Probably about five. Yeah. So the thing is with him, he knows you get these guys. And, you know, you give these guys a little leeway. That's not like you and they're doing no stuff like them old school, like a Phil or Pat Riley and stuff like that. Oh, no. There you go. There you go. Hey, hey, hey. Even Unk said when he was in college, his coach let him go back in there. Shh. Coach Nolan Richardson ain't having none of that. I don't give a damn. How many points you got? You sit your ass right over here with me. This game. That was the only time. That was the only time he ever done that because I remember we played. This was my senior year. And, you know, obviously, you know, we want to have a good season, you know, try to make the playoffs. but you know, scouts gonna be there. Sterling Sharps, little brother, a two time All-American, conference player of the year. We wanna see what he put on. Man, Ocho, I was like, man, I was in peak shape. I'm talking about, hey, them worked out. I didn't have to work in the fields. I didn't have to do no work. Hey, I'm just training. I'm good. I show up, I'm 228. I'm talking about, ugh. Chisel. Got in a fight with a sword and lost. Cuts everywhere. Yeah, yeah. Cut like a small bag of dope. That's what I'm looking like. That's what I'm looking like. I'm just saying. That's between us now. So I go out there in the first half, we had halftime. I got like, I got five catches for a buck 50 and two touchdowns. We up 30 to nothing. So I'm saying to myself, I'm about to get me 300. I said, they throw me another, they throw me another five. I'm gonna get 300. Right. Man, Coach talking about. He said, home, home, you done for the day. I said, come on, coach, let me get, at that time I had never had a 200 yard game. Nah, home, you done. Man, he told me after the game, he pulled me aside after the game, he said, son, you got the best chance of any player I ever coached to be great at the next level. Son, if something happens to you, I'll never forgive myself. I thought about it, I was like, all right, coach. but I showed that about five games later. I never had a 200-yard game, Ocho, and then I came and strung through them things back to back to back. There you had 200 back to back? I went 7 for 221. I went 9 for 202, and then I go 10 for 205. God damn, huh? Well, cutting up, wasn't it? I sprinkled in like a 7 for a buck, 54, and three tubs in there, too. Yeah, yeah. This all in one season? Yeah. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Well, we're eating one. Oh, nine games. I had 13 on the yard, Ocho. Nine games, 18 touchdowns. Damn. Well, you would have been over if I played. I played for you, man. But I was paid. Hey, Joe. Hey, Joe. I would have locked on your ass up out there, man. Ocho, Ocho. Hey, you got to realize. Think about it, Ocho. You see me. I'm a receiver. I'm getting off the bus. I'm 6'2", 225. And I'm talking about. Yeah. This is the biggest night in podcasting. The countdown is on to our 2026 iHeart Podcast Awards. Live from South by Southwest, March 16th, we'll honor the very best in podcasting from the past year and celebrate the most innovative, talented creators in the industry. It's truly a who's who of the podcasting world. Creativity, knowledge, and passion will all be on full display. And the winner of the iHeart Podcast Award is... See all the nominees now at iHeart.com slash podcast awards. Audible is a proud sponsor of the Audible Audio Pioneer Award. Explore the best selection of audiobooks, podcasts, and originals all in one easy app. Audible. There's more to imagine when you listen. Sign up for a free trial at audible.com. I'm Daniel Jeremiah. And I'm Greg Rosenthal. And this is 40s and Free Agents. The games may be over, but the NFL never stops. This is my favorite part of the calendar. Yeah, mine too, Greg. Free agency, the combine, the NFL draft, pro days, trades. This is where teams reshape their future. This is where Daniel Jeremiah makes his money. On 40s and free agents, we break down every move that actually matters. From my draft evaluations, mock drafts, and team fits. To my top 101 free agents and how real rosters are built, cap space, contracts, and all the tough decisions included. You got quarterbacks on the move. We got teams rebuilding. It's hope season. Absolutely. It's hope season. We'll tell you what's real, what's noise, and what it means for your favorite team. Smart analysis, real conversations every week. I don't know about the smart, but definitely analysis. Listen to 40s and Free Agents on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I had a shield back then. I had a shield. Yeah. had it you know we used to have them great cutoffs oh yeah oh that's so bad look like i had tennis balls in my stomach like i swallowed my five to six tennis balls so i got it hey hey i got off the bus first man that's that boy been out there in that sun so I'm good and crispy looking like charcoal you know what I'm saying I'm I'm getting fingerprints on charcoal that's how black I was on Joe but I was toe up but man I get it I get what I get Luca's point of view I also get JJ's point of view I do yeah because Remember, Joe, the previous game they played Phoenix, and he struggled shooting the ball, remember? Yeah, yeah. So he said, hey, this is my get-right game. Right. That bounce back. Yeah. So I'm not surprised by this. I'm not surprised by J.J.'s response to this. I don't know if anybody's ever been around J.J. I've been around him a little bit. Yeah, he's a fiery personality. Like most guys from Duke are. Yeah, I love Perry. You go back and look at Kristen Layton. You look at Bobby Hurley. You look at JJ. You look at Grayson Allen. You look at those guys. Yeah. They got a little edge to them. So I'm not surprised. I'm not surprised that Luka responded in the way that he did, but I'm also not surprised that they ended up taking him out of the ballgame. the anticipation of a Jason Tatum return is building in Boston there's circumstantial evidence is piling up to suggest that it's going to happen any day now if Tatum had to decide to set out the season it would have given himself about 17 and a half months of layoff before the next season kicks off mid-October basically the same timeline as Kevin Durant but should Tatum suit up for the Celtics this week through he'd be returning in about 10 months after he went down in the closing minutes of Game 4 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Knicks last year. The 10-month return would mark the shortest post-Achilles absence for a starting player since the 2015-16 season in which Rudy Gay came back under nine months with the Kings. Joe, you think Jason is doing the right thing, or should the Celtics protect him and say, No, bro, we see you next year. I think he's probably going to give it a chance. Okay, Ocho. I'm not sure that I would. I think considering the fact of where they're at in the standings, which is second in the Eastern Conference, I think they feel like they still have a window to where they can compete for a championship if they had him because they could have used him tonight against the Charlotte Hornets. Did y'all see that? I saw it. Man, Charlotte, hey, they got some shooters. You look at, hey, look at LaMelo Ball shooting off the left foot, wrong foot. You got Miller. You got Kneffle. You got Coddington. Hey, they not playing. Bridges. Yeah, but I think Tater Mills is going to come back. I think he's going to come back. I mean, he got his money. He got 300 M's. I mean, yeah. There's another one out there waiting on him, too. This one's going to be 400. right because he ain't but what 27 probably 27 28 yeah I think he gonna come back because you know the east so wide open they gonna feel like they really got a chance I can see him coming back this year yeah well that's tough go ahead don't show what you thinking that's tough it depends on how he feels it depends on how he feels they're playing so well too being number two in the east you know coming out if anything I would chill the rest of the season I'll chill the rest of the season and maybe come back during the playoffs I would say maybe come back during the playoffs and if as well as they are playing and do you really need to come back and you know hurt yourself a little bit more coming back too soon I mean it all depends on how he's feeling it just it's kind of iffy to me you know honestly coming back messing up that continuity messing up you know the rhythm of the team and some of the things that have been going so well having him come back I'm not sure. I mean, Joe, you're better off suited to understand it much better than I am is they've been playing so well. You insert him back into the lineup, and then he's – obviously you're a little rusty because you haven't played real live basketball. Yes, you practice, but game play is completely different. I think it would throw things off. You're going to have to deal with a little bit of rust, Ocho, but if he's able to come back, like they're going to take him. Like I said, this window of opportunity that they have, to get a chance to come out to East still. The only thing about him coming back during the playoffs is that the intensity is going to be revved up so high. Yeah. It's like, I don't know if he tested that Achilles really, really right now. I'm sure he is as far as weight training and getting out there playing two on two, three on threes. But, man, it's a different ball game, bro, when you get out there and you go to run around and try to get some of the boys off your back. That's a different game, man, that high-intensity playoffs. atmosphere. I think what has happened, you guys are both correct. They're playing better than they even anticipated. And because they believe the East is so wide open, we get him back. We are a major player. Right. Because now we feel we have two of the top five guys in the Eastern Conference. With JT and JB, it's hard to say there are five players better than those two. Now, you might like Brunson or whomever you like in the Eastern Conference. But they have two of the five best players in the Eastern Conference. And we feel that if we get JT back, why can't we come out? Can we beat the Knicks? Absolutely. Can we beat Cleveland? Absolutely. Can we beat Toronto? Absolutely. So that's the way they're looking at it. It's like, you know what? Who knows what's going to happen next year? Somebody can make a power move and swing, and all of a sudden Giannis might end up somewhere, and we're not in the same boat. this time as we were last year at this time. So they're like, you know what? Let's go take full, let's try to take full advantage of this opportunity. It's, you know, the key leads to just, and I understand technology is so much better because the guy was explaining to me today, Ocho, the surgery that I had on my knee back in the 90s, it took an hour, took 75 minutes to do that same surgery in 15, 20 minutes now. Damn. The surgery where it used to take three, four hours to do hip surgeries, to do these same surgeries in 75 minutes to an hour. Even breaking the bone, taking it out, putting it in there because mostly everything is robotic now. Ain't nobody doing no scaffold. They set that robot up. Wait, the robot doing the work? Yeah. Nah, I'm good. I'm good. I'm good. I'm good. Hey, that robot. Hey. Hey. Hey. They say in a few years, they say in a few years, if you ain't no electrician or plumber or something, boy, your job is expending. Oh yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah. Damn. Well, you know. These robots gonna be out. These robots gonna be out. Ocho, you know back in my younger days, I did a little plumbing, you know what I'm saying? A little plumbing? Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I tell you, hey, hey. I told you now. I told you about laying your best pipe down in the rent houses now. I told you. I told you. I told you. I saved something, you know what I'm saying, Joe? I saved something, I saved it, you know? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I ain't put all my best work. I already know. Yeah, I already know. But you wanna put down a mean demonstration? Yeah, yeah, yeah, just let me know. Dang. If I never in need of some repairs, I know who to call. You know what I'm saying? Hello. You never know. Hello. Hello. But it sure seems like he's gearing up to come back. And I think the thing is that you want to be in a situation where he gets probably, say, 15 games in before the playoffs start. Playoffs start, yeah. So I think that's kind of the situation that they're kind of gearing up for. And if you read the tea leaves and see where everything is going, that's kind of how it's shaping up I would be a little hesitant because knowing the last thing you wanted to do that again and knock on wood pray that don't happen I just hope everything goes according to plan the Kevin Durant timeline seemed great to me because KD doesn't seem like he missed a beat it doesn't seem like he missed nothing well he took a whole year off he took 17 months because remember he heard it And then they had a 2020 season. Then what you call them happened? The COVID happened. Yeah. So he took that time off and then he came back. So he didn't come back to what, like November? So that happened in, yeah. So it's going to be, we'll see, yeah. Because he tore that in June of 2019. And he didn't come back until like, what, September? October because the ending so yeah so he didn't come after like November December because remember they came right I don't see KD I see Jason Tatum I don't see Kevin Durant on this thing Okay. Okay, KD, yeah, 2018, 2019, 18.4 months, yeah. John Wall took off almost two years But I think John Wall his mother had passed or something in between that also But hold on I think he re it He might have did Yeah he re it I think he re-injured it at home or something. You're right. Damn. Which is common. Somebody else did that too. They ended up re-tearing it, which that's no fun. Yeah, but you got to be careful. Yes. You got to be careful, especially if you feel anything. Obviously, he's doing what's necessary. They got the right doctors, the right resources, and medical people there. Man, that pushing and that jerky, irky movement, playing basketball, I don't know, boy. It got me nervous. It's not even me. DeJounte Murray took 13 months. But it's normally if you project it out, Rudy Gay was less than nine months. But if you look at it, most of the time, it's about 12, somewhere between 12 and 14 months. Yeah. When Halliburton come back? Halliburton's going to take this whole year off. Yeah, he off this year. Yeah, because I don't think they in contention to do nothing. So he won't be back. He will not be back until – so he tore it in June of last year. So July, that'll be 13. August, September. so at bare minimum they don't play until 16 months. He's going to be 16 months at the bare minimum. Starting next season. John Watson tore his. He's done for a year. It's going to be remember Ocho? He tore his. He missed all the season. So now we're looking at 18, 19 months. 19 months. Damn. Was it him who re-injured his at home too? I think he did. Yes. Yes. Yep. Yep. You got to be careful, man. Anything of a sudden, the scooter stops or something, you know, you got to go on that scooter. Woo. Rich Paul and Matt Kellerman disagree on how MJ would do in the modern era. Matt says MJ would average 40-point triple-double today. Rich says these kids today, they're not bowing down to nobody. They're not just going to sit around and let you shoot every shot. Joe, who do you agree with on this one? No, I agree with Max. I think, you know, the cream always rises to the top. Like, I do think MJ would probably average about 40 in this era. Okay, Ocho. He was so dynamic. He was fast. He was quick. He was explosive with an unstoppable turnaround, mid-range jump shot. Are you kidding? It ain't but a couple guys shoot the midi now. Right. You know what I mean? if you ain't shooting a three or dunking something at the rim, ain't nobody shooting no in between. 40 points on middies. That means he's going to have to get up eight to ten threes a game. And he said, I don't like to shoot the three because it takes away from my aggressiveness. Now, something's going to have to change, Joe. But he's a two-way player. He's going to get at least eight to probably six to 12 points off defense now. The way these boys shooting this, it's a faster pace. He ain't necessarily probably going to shoot a lot more threes. I mean, he'll probably take a couple more, but for the most part, he was so relentless in getting to the basket. Who's going to be able to stay in front of him? Nobody. Nobody. Nobody going to stay in front of him. I agree with Max, too. You have to think, during Jordan's era, they played a little bit more defense, Joe. They was a little bit more aggressive. Yeah. When you go to that goddamn hole, they're going to meet you. But they're going well for you. You guys are looking at it like Jordan or who he is and what he's become. Now imagine him being on a team and he's not Michael Jordan yet. So now you think they're going to just say, okay, shoot 27 times a game. Because when he averaged that 37, he was shooting about 27, 28 times a game. And the way these kids are wired now, these kids don't really respect anything. It's easy to say they respect Jordan now because Jordan is retired. But look at him on your team. It's hard, man. These guys, these kids different now, Joe. They're not like you, Joe. They're not like you and I. We would have easily. Okay, man, okay, do your thing, bro. These kids, like, I'm trying to get mine. Even if they didn't care, Joe, Uncle Joe, it's still Jordan. He's still going to get his regardless, regardless of whether they respect him or not. No, they got to pass you the ball, Joe. I'll give you a prime example. You get a couple of guys like Kobe. Kobe wasn't conceding-ish the Shaq. He's not. He didn't. And what happened? They broke it up. Kyrie got fed up. He ain't conceding. What happened? They traded him. They broke it up. So you got to look at, not like Jordan now, with the Jordan brand, the Jumpman, the NASCAR and all that. You got to look at him in a today's game player. These guys, they don't respect much, Ocho. And that's the thing, though, Uncle Joe, even if they don't respect it. We're talking about skill set. What he's able to do, right? What he's able to do. Jordan is one of the few players. I mean, there are a few players that can play in any goddamn era and dominate, especially this era. But I got to give you the ball, Ocho. I just ain't finna take the ball like I just handed it to you and just turn it over to you now. I've tried to get mine too. I mean, hypothetically speaking, we're talking about Jordan at his best. I'm assuming being in today's game, he putting up 40 a game. Ocho, but you got to realize back then there weren't a whole lot of players. These guys now are more skilled. They're more skilled guys now than they were then. Absolutely right. You look at that guy. Them guys couldn't shoot everybody on the team now to shoot the three. Yeah, I understand. Okay, you had a Steve Kerr, you had a John – you had a Paxson and a Craig Hodges. That's three guys on the board. Every once in a while Jordan would get hot. But Jordan is about a 32% three-point shooter. These guys now? Do I think Jordan would dominate? Yes, but I think he's going to have to get some threes up. I just don't believe as aggressive as he is to the basket. I just don't know if getting to the basket and shooting the midi, Joe, I don't know if that's enough. You've got to hit the three. You've got to get six, seven threes up. I think he would definitely increase his three-point percentage, but the fact that could nobody stay in front of him? I just, I don't see how he's... And they let you play zone battle, Joe. Yeah, I know, but he ain't gonna... Man. I think the thing is the 40-point triple-double. That's what's throwing me off. If you say he gonna average 40, I give you that. But a 40-point triple-double? That's gonna be tough. That's the point. I'm not saying he couldn't average 40. Oh, absolutely, he could average 40. Oh, yeah, okay, okay, okay, okay. It's the 40-point triple-double that's throwing me off. Yeah, a 40-point triple-double is tough because what Yoke is doing is tough. So to add, he probably needs another 10 points to be at 40. He's shooting, he's 29, 10, and 12. He's averaging 12 rebounds and 10 assists. Yeah, 40-point triple-double. And rebounds. But 40 points, he getting that. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm not doubting that. Well, hell, I'm telling you, if you got Shea doing what he's doing every night before injury, he just came back. What, he had 26, 27 tonight? Yeah, yeah. And remember he had 35 the other night and he went out because he was on a minutes restriction. Hey, hey, hey. And then when you look at them old Bulls teams, even, I mean, Michael Jordan leading the Catalyst, man, them dudes was yoked up on Camo Cho. I'm talking about boy, them boy was cut up. Dennis, I mean, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodgers. Whole bread, yeah, yeah, yeah. They had the breakfast club to where they met and they lift weights and all that before practice. Them dudes didn't play no games, man. You know, they was – And plus, you got to think about it, Joe. To average a triple-double as a guard, you got to – I mean, what Russ did is unbelievable because you got to chase down a lot of loose balls to get that 10 rebounds a game. And that's what we get Russ traded for because we're like, damn, this man, Russ is the best rebounding guard we've ever seen. A guy that's 6'3", that's getting rebounds like that. But that's a lot of effort that you got to exert to go chase down rebounds. The hardest part, I think, is assist because you got to count on somebody to make the shot. I'll give you the best situation, but if you blow the layup or blow the bunny, you cost me. 40 points, no question in my mind, Michael Jordan can average 40 points. Hell, I think Larry Bird, the way he shot the ball, I think he could average 35. But then when you start talking about a triple-double, whoo. That means you got to go out there hunting. Yes, yes, yes. And that's why they gave Russ so much slack, because they felt like he was out there stat-padding, you know, getting them triple-doubles. But he out there hunting for them rebounds. You're right. Every time that ball was up, that ball was going in there getting them. Now, if you were big, you up under the basket. You're going to get a lot of them. Right, right, right. But as a guard, you got to make a conscious effort. You got to make a conscious effort. Get your head down there. Yeah, you're right. Now, Jordan's in that kind of shape because Russ is in that kind of shape. to exert that kind of energy, to push the pace like he's pushing the pace, to go get the rebounds, the box out, to go way over there and track down the rebounds, that's a lot of energy. No doubt in my mind that he could average 40. But it's that double-digit assist and double-digit rebounds, and I was like, I don't know about that now. I think that's asking a bit much. What did he average? 37-8-8? Ooh. Dang. Yeah, he averaged 37-8-8 the year he won the MVP. Or was it 35? I think 85-86. What year was it 87-88 that he won MVP and Defensive Player of the Year? He's the first to win them in the same season. I ain't going to even lie. I don't know what – I know it was early in his career. Yeah. And I think that's the thing. it's got to be early in your career. Because, boy, you ain't fit to be no 28, 29, chasing behind that basketball like that. That's what I'm saying. You've got to tip your hat to Russ. Do you understand for a guard to get that many rebounds? Do you understand the kind of effort, the energy, the effort that he got to put forth every single night? I don't think people understand that part. I'm talking about the nights where you don't feel like that. You really got to go out there and exert that energy to really get them rebounds, get them assists, you know, to score them points. Like, that's tough, bro. Mm-hmm. Yeah. But, look, just to put the ball in the basket, the way he could put the ball in the basket and you couldn't hand check him, yeah, it's going to be hard to keep him. Hey, but the problem is, Joe, they might get mad because they don't like you shooting. Either you dunk the ball or you shoot the three. You ain't shooting no midi. They get mad if you shoot the midi. Yeah, the analytics. Analytics, analytics, oh, we don't want to shoot the man. Damn that. I'm getting to this spot. I'm pulling up. This cash. What y'all talking about? They messing up the game, man, taking the middie out, bro. I had Shump on the podcast and Shump say, man, the guy, hey, he was at the three-point line. He fake got up. Guy came flying out the sky. He put the ball two bounces, shot the middie. They took him out the game. They're like, what you mean? That's a bad shot. That's a bad shot. I said, what you mean? The guy flew past me. He's like, yeah. Now, once he fly past you, hey, gather yourself, shoot the three. Right, right. He's like, really? A 15-foot two-point shot is a bad shot now? Damn. Hey, that's all they taught us growing up. Shoot that 15-footer. That's how my uncle used to talk about. Hey, man, when I was in high school. When I was in high school, hey, man, hey, you got to get that 15-footer in your game, man. You got to get that 15-footer. I'm like, all right, bro, I'm working on this 15-footer. Now you need that 22-footer in your game, Joe. You need that 22-footer in your game. You need it. Hey, look, I'm going to keep it real. You need it all. Like, you know, the great ones, the great scores, guys who really love to score, they got everything in their arsenal from them little touch shots that we call floaters, middies, to the 22-footers, to the three, to the two, three steps behind the three-point line. They call them four-level scores, man. And this is why I believe. Hey, Joe. Hey, Joe, Joe, go ahead. I was going to ask Joe What's your midi looking like right now? Cash Cash You think so? Man listen I mean hold on Joe but you're saying Your midi is cash but it's a cash When somebody guarding you that's the difference Look if you're trying to say when you guard me I shoot that town man on you Ocho I don't even see you when I go up to shoot it And I let that gooseneck That's that gooseneck you see that? Hey Joe can I say something real quick? I mean no disrespect I know, but you got to bring the ball up. How you going to bring the ball up when I'm in your face? Well, in my shot pocket. So in basketball, you got shot pockets. Right. And I work on high pickups. So by the time I pick it up, that's like up there, you know, close to where your eyes are. You ain't going to see none of this here coming, partner. Don't even worry about that. Just get it out of the net. You can't stop it. Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey. That's it. Get it out of the net. Hey, Unk, listen, Joe really thinks shit sweet. Like I can't wait till we do this little one-on-one. I mean, like it ain't what you think it is, playboy. I know I play your sport. I respect you and what you do, but it really ain't finna be that. Hey, you knee high to a duck's ass, man. You ain't gonna be a dude. Nothing with this here, partner. You too little. You too little and you ain't got enough bricks in your back pocket, homeboy. Joe, I'm 6'4", 205. Joe, what you mean I'm too little? I've been around you, partner. You ain't no 6'4". Okay, I'm 6'3". I'm 6'3". But also, the one thing we know, the really great players can evolve their game. You look at LeBron. LeBron didn't shoot the three. I mean, he's struggling a little bit. He's struggling a little bit. But you see, he's like, you know what? If I want to stay, I'm going to have to shoot this three. Look at Brook Lopez. Brook Lopez has found a way to stay in the game because he's never been a great rebounder. But guess what he's been able to do? At seven foot tall, he's been able to go beyond the three-point line and make an honest living doing that. And so Jordan would have gotten better. Jordan would have gotten. So the 40 points, I ain't even worried about the 40. The 40 is easy. That's easy. You're hoping you don't get 45, 50. Because think about it. In basketball, fellas, you got, all you do, bro, is go to the gym and shoot jumpers all day. So if you do that every day consistently, you know, repetitions, repetitions, repetitions. man you gonna become a hell of a shooter so that's why when LeBron first came into the NBA Uncle Ocho he wasn't no great shooter he had to work on that he had to work on that then he became a pretty good shooter you know what I mean you can't do nothing with what he got going on and the thing is kind of like what they did the same thing with him they do the Giannis build a wall you gotta keep him out of the paint keep him out of the lane pop you tell him back off give him back if you want to shoot a 17 footer let him have it Just don't get so close that he can go by you and dunk on your head. There you go. And the really good guys, they're going to adapt. They're going to find a way to get the job done. They said Jordan couldn't go this way and he couldn't go that way. All I know is nobody could put the ball in. And they told me, this guy's a better scorer. All I know, that man had a bunch of 30-point seasons. You don't win 10 scoring titles without being prolific and putting the ball in the basket. Yeah. 10. and said he won seven consecutive, took a break, and said, you know what, I'll be back. And won three more. Hey, Uncle Joe, what if Jordan never did take that break? Do you see any more championships in that window where he was gone? Yeah, yeah, he would have got two more. I think he got bored. I think he got bored, Uncle Ocho. That's why he wanted, you know, obviously his dad passing, probably weighed a lot on him. Yeah. And him wanting to go try baseball to see if he – he was so good at basketball, I think he was like, you know what, I think I can take this greatness to baseball. I want to challenge myself. Yeah, yeah, yeah. He went out for that challenge, took a couple years off, came back and picked up right where he left off it. Man, nobody done that. Yeah. That's crazy. I think the thing is, man, it's easy to say yes, but we've seen, you know, an injury here or an injury there, and it changes the whole landscape. because we saw Scottie Pippen's back. I gave out on him, and it almost cost him a series against Utah. Absolutely. And before they really started winning, Scottie had problems with migraines, and we saw how that impacted them winning. So, man, so many things have to be right, and for the most part, he never got injured in the playoffs. That's crazy. Well, nothing was reported. I mean, I'm sure he had bumps and bruises, but he really never had. And he never had a teammate. He didn't have a teammate to go down like when San Antonio was going and they looked like they were going to give Golden State all they could handle. And Pacheep shot and Kawhi lands on his ankle. Yeah. Boom, he out. Yeah. Kyrie and Kevin Love, he's out. Magic one year, Magic hurt his hamstring. And then James Worthy hurt his hamstring. The Bulls were very, very fortunate. not to have any serious injuries. But to put together a streak like that, Joe, where they won, you know, three and three, but to put it together and to go eight straight years is hard, man, to keep all that rub on the tree. Because think about where you're going. Your mentality got to be different. You play in the June every year, Joe. Yeah, think about it. Damn. Your mentality got to be different, Uncle Ocho. Like, these dudes never got satisfied with winning, with success. You know what I mean? They was always, okay, boom, let's win another one. Boom, let's win another one. Like, bro, mentally, it's got to wear and tell you because you're going to the end of the season every year and then picking right back up with, man. Oh, we got a very special guest joining us. Now it's time to welcome Mr. Tenderism himself, Mr. Walter Johnson. Mr. Johnson, how you doing? You muted. Unmute yourself. It was old school like that. I don't know what. Hopefully somebody there can help. He's muted. Bear with us just a second. Somebody with him. if i if this world were mine take your time old school we got this barbecue it's just it's just getting tender it's just getting it's gonna fall out the bone when it come on it's gonna fall out the bone y'all so just bear with us just a second can y'all hear me yeah we got you now I don't know why y'all was trying to crack on me talk about hey but anyway why y'all do me like that mine. It's cold, man. I can do y'all like that. Can you see me? We know once you put them glasses on, I said, thank you about to get worked out now. Yeah, and that's a fact, Jack. Hey, hey, look here. Can you see me? We can see you. I can see you. All right, everything cool? Everything is peachy on this end. Hey, man, I appreciate you. The honors, man. You're accepting me on your show, Sean. Thank you. No, thank you for coming on, Uncle Nocho and Joe. We really appreciate you. Can we go back to the beginning? How did you become involved, and how did this destination smokehouse, how did this thing take off? Hey, you know, I'll tell you what it was. See, we started at a place. It was a shop. Okay. It was a coffee shop. Okay. And I went in about four or five years ago, and then I made some gumbo. I've been with them there since. And so we flipped the coffee shop to a smokehouse Okay yeah yeah so you go in there it was a coffee shop you go in there and make some gumbo and you turn it into a smokehouse now i i found out about destination because i see you and you talk about you shaking the stuff the the uh the brisket and the beef ribs and it's falling off the bones then you started doing oxtail so from the time we got to the coffee shop turning into the smoke house until we are now, how did we get from that to this to where we are now, Mr. Johnson? Tendonism. Tendonism. Tendonism. That's how we got there. Oh, tendonism. That's a fact. You coined the phrase tenderism. Yes, sir. And so now it seems like everybody started like, man, got this thing going on because a lot of people in the beginning thought it was your shop. They didn't realize that you had, you know, you fixed the gumbo, but you were not the sole proprietor or you wasn't the proprietor of the shop. So how did we end up, is there a fallout? Are you still cool with the owner? What's going on? Because I'm hearing that you open up a shop in Texas, might be having something coming to Atlanta. So how did we get to where we are now, Mr. Johnson? Hey, man, this is how we got there, Sean. Houston, let's talk with Houston. Okay. I spoke to a gentleman one night. He said, I got two restaurants. Okay, cool. I looked at the restaurant. Now, what I will do is go out there and help him open the restaurant so he can get him a team. But I'm in California. And then moving to Houston. Hey, man, I ain't no young chicken no more. Hey, you still with Elway? No. Let's be for real about this. Yeah. You ain't off Federal Boulevard no more running up down that field. So, man. What you talking about that? Don't worry about it. I was right around the corner from you. Yeah, at that time. Yes, sir. Yeah. As a matter of fact, when you asked me that question, you made some cognac too, man. You can email my cognac tonight. No, I'm just, hey, man, don't be playing with me, man. Southside Chicago. I can get it to you. Hey, man, just get it to me, man. Look at here. Southside Chicago or the Westside? You grew up on one of them, sir. I did. I grew up on the South Side. Okay, everybody's saying street, stuff like that. But anyway, I don't know too much about South Side. I know you know about that L, though. Yes, you do. Yeah. I was after Mr. Johnson. I left at a very... So now, I left at a very young age. Me too. You're going to help a gentleman open up a restaurant, one of two restaurants. Go ahead. I will. You will. Is there anything brewing in Atlanta? In Atlanta, I got to go down there and talk to a guy. It's Steve Barbecue. So I'm going to go down there and check him out. And if he needs some assistance, if he got it together, cool in the gang. I'm going to let him know if Mr. Tendonism approve of it. You dig what I'm saying? If you don't have it together, I'll tell you some tweaks, twocks, you know. I'll put that snap back on me. You dig what I'm saying? Yes, sir. Hey, hey, tell me something. Mr. Tendonism, hey, you tell them the difference between barbecuing and grill. because, see, a lot of these cats think they putting meat on the grill and they think they got the tendinism. Tell them the difference between the barbecue because I'm sure you probably over there using a smoker. I use a smoker, barbecue, two bricks, an oven grill. Hey, man, look at you. I've been doing a lot. Boy, I get out of that fat rat cheese factory. Where you at? I come to your house. I'm a cook, Sam. You tell me, Mr. Sharp. Tendinism. When I finish tendinism, you don't need no teeth for the meat. That's right. Hey, Mr. Johnson. We, hey, listen, my last name is Johnson too. We might be related because you got the gift of gab. Hey, man, I don't know. Hey, man, look at you. Hey, wait, wait. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey. Hey, look at you. I don't know if y'all trying to get no money. I ain't got no money. Hey, anyhow. Hey, Sean. Oh, that's going to blow the hell, Mike. Hey, Josh. I ain't a whole lot of brothers, though. Ooh, we. I ain't going to talk about. Wait, you ain't got no family down here in Miami? No, I don't know, man, because there's a whole lot of us. Yes, sir. Yeah, I had a brother. Ooh, wait. One sister. Where you from? I was born in Gary, Indiana. I know about that South Side, too. Oh, yeah. Down 94. That's right. That's why you're so familiar with Chicago. You're right around the corner. I'm familiar with it. Boy, look at y'all. I don't even want to tell you. Anyhow, we're going to move right along from Shantown. Yeah, but no, man, I spent a whole lot of time in the South. Yeah. Learning different trades about cooking. So did you ever envision that the tenderness and what you had started, did you ever think it would blow up like this? So when did you realize that, you know what, we might be on to something? when I rolled that oxtail man one day on the side of the building black diamonds and it came off like an orange yeah I knew it was on something and I said oh look that's tendonism and then from that point on man look just keep it like this but hey it is what it is tendonism yeah yeah hey Mr. Johnson for those of us that are watching including myself if we want to try the tendonism and see what it's all about. Where can we go? Only thing you have to do is send your address, get in touch with Mr. Joe, Dr. Joe White, and I'll come right over to your house in your backyard, front yard. Oh, you cooking? You cooking? Oh, you sure? I can cook. You don't think I can cook? You can grill here? What did I just say, Shark? You say you cook. You say you cook. Hey, man, it's P.P. Poke. All right, man, don't be playing with me, man. So, I ain't got no smoke. I just got one of them hardware grills, you know, the little round ones. Yeah, you got to worry about that. See, Home Depot ain't too far from you, and we just go get you a smoker, put it in the backyard, and I get dizzy. Yeah, that's how that goes. You don't get smoked on again until you use it. Hey, oh, no, man. Look here, we ain't buying it. You know, hey, man, you got to pay, man. Come on, man. You know, hey, Just on, man. Yeah, I ain't got no problem buying the grill, but I don't know how to cook on no grill. I don't know how to grill. I'm going to teach you, man. Hey, man, you know. Hey, man, come on. Just on. Let me take the glass off so you get a good look. Well, I'm going to take mine off, too. But let me tell you, while you cook it, I'm going to be in the house watching TV. Let me know when it's ready. Hey, no. Hey, hey. I want to learn a little something. I want to learn a little something. Hey, man, look. The only thing y'all got to do is set it up, and I'll drop down. Hey, I remember. Matter of fact, sometime this summer, Mr. Johnson, you know, I have all my kids. I got about 27 kids. You got 27 kids. Yeah, go to Swift Meat Market right now and start buying meat. And then we can work it out. Yeah, 27 kids. Okay. I definitely want to cook for you. You got to help me out. 27 kids. All the luck I have. Yeah. Yeah, I got a lot of help. That's all right, man. You can have them all. I'll just be that uncle. Yes, sir. I appreciate that. We going to do that. We going to do that. I'm going to stream that on Twitch. All right, yeah. What's the – if I said, okay, come in. I need you to cook. I got my family just close. It's going to be like 15, 20 of us. What you cooking? I cook the oxtail, the beef ribs, pork chop. I mean, then put some sides on the side. Yeah. Well, the only thing you got to do is tell me what you want. Go to the store and get it. I'm going to put it on the grill. Tendon is going to come out of it. You ain't going to leave your teeth at home, though. Yes, sir. Hey, hey, hey, I'm looking for some of that brisket. Hey, man, look here. Only thing I have to do, go get about five of them brisket. I put all of them on at one time, and the oxtail, and the pork chop. Hey, man. Pork chop? You don't like cooking pork ribs? I like ribs. Hey, man, I cook you some ribs, man. It don't make no difference with a St. Louis or Sparrow. That's the difference. You asked me about smoking. so you can smoke some ribs or you can put them on the grill there are two different things about smoking that he going to carry and smoke the meat slow but short now grilling that's a fast cook you got to watch it but anyway y'all want to do it fast cook slow cook slow and steady all day long slow and steady Well, I might go ahead. Before you come, I might go ahead and get on this egg right here. I might go to Home Depot tomorrow, get on this egg and work it out. So, you know, me and you have a little competition. And I had a tender rhythm too. Hey, let's not worry about competition. Stay with Elway now. Okay? Hey, you ain't going to get a touchdown. You ain't going to be tight in right up to Elway. Yeah, you ain't going to make Elway look crazy. Hey, Elway, I'm going to do something to you. Me and Hermione, let's try the easy stuff, Mr. Shaw. email me that cognac. No, I'm just playing. Okay, okay, okay. Yeah. No, but I love them oxtails. I love them oxtails off the grill. I mean, off the smoker now. Okay, one thing you got to do, man, is get the smoker. I show up and show out. Yes, sir. Hey, how much, Mr. Johnson, how much does smoker cost? I don't know a couple hundred dollars. Let me talk about a little smoker. Now, if you want to go get a great big smoker, then you go. Hell no. No, just go down there to Home Depot. You want an offset. Okay. It's sit on the side. It's round. It's black. Yeah. Yeah. Just go get that. Okay. Call me up. Hey, y'all got them jets, right? Yeah. Just pick me up, man. Just pick me up, and I'll come over there and get busy. Where you in Houston? We'll fly to Houston. No, I mean, California. Oh, you in California? That's right. Okay. Yeah. Hey, hey, hey, but you about to get ready to come here to Atlanta. Where you going? I'm going to come check you out. I'll be there on the 13th and 14th. On March? Yes, sir. It's a Fed Bill. It's Steve's Barbecue. Yeah, Steve's Barbecue. Fed Bill, Georgia? Yeah. You know, I saw him. I think if I saw him, I think I saw him on IG on TikTok. Okay. Yeah, that's where I'm going. I'll be there. Hey, you know what I do is come down there 13th, 14th. You see what we can do. Yeah. So you like a hired gun. You like a high barbecue gun now, huh? You just go around and take your talents anywhere. Hey, man, I'm trying to tend to near the whole world. I want to go there. I ran, tend to near some Campbell's. You know what I mean? To Dubai. You understand? Yes, sir. Hey, so you opening up your own restaurant? Hey, man, I just want to tend to near some stuff. I come by people's house and tend to rack up. Man, I ain't getting no younger, man. You think I'm going to get up early in the morning? You know, it's 4 o'clock in the morning. Yeah. Okay then Alright then Hey I'm a little bit older y'all Okay Hey Hey man I don't know why y'all Ain't sent me the 401k No I'm just fine No I'm just playing Hey I like having fun man I like having fun I mean we I mean we Look We still follow you We always gonna support you No matter where you go Hey It don't matter You can go across the world You can go wherever If you got a social media page And if you go close by we gonna show up and we gonna support you. Hey, where you at? I'm in Vegas. Hey, you next door to me? Yeah. I just left California about two years ago. I was in LA for two years. I mean, for eight years. Hey, you on the north side, south side? Vegas, I'm in Summerland. Y'all know where there's a hospital? Fort Apache? Oh, yeah, absolutely. Actually, I am. Hey, man, I don't know nothing about Las Vegas. You know something about it. You over here talking about Florida Apache. I know. It's that Tropicana, Decatur, Rainbow. I don't know too much about it. Lake Mead. Hold on. What you know about Rainbow, Lake Mead, Tropicana, Decatur? I ran across through there because I might have been working at the MGM at the time. But anyhow, yeah, let me see. Some more of them places out there. Yeah, man. No, my daughter stay there right now. Oh, really? Yeah, she does. Well, I tell you what, when you come visit us, I'm going to have this moment ready. Hey, man, look at you. Do I need cherry? Do I need cherry? Oh, what type of wood do I need? Hey, get the hickory and let me handle it from there. Matter of fact, I'm going to call Joe right now. Hey, Joe. Hey, man, we're going to Vegas. No, I'm just playing with you. Hey, man. No, y'all right down the road four hours away. Yeah. Yeah, I know. Well, if that's the case, you might want to put the car on the road. Hey, man, if I can put it on the road tonight and come down there, hey, We need to stay at one of the hotels or something, man, because, you know, we got to do this right. Hey, Joe, you listening, man? Hey, man, it's Mr. Sharp trying to get me down there, man. But we got to take care of that thing. No, just for... Hey, but anytime you want me to come, Mr. Sharp, you just, you pick a date. Just for the date? I say you pick a date. Oh, okay, because you know what? We might have, like, we have a nightcap get-out, and we bring all them boys in, and, you know, you cook it up. Yeah. Hey, boy, look at here. night cap, afternoon cap, morning cap. I would do what I do. I have oxtail omelette. What you talking about? Yeah, you ain't here before, have you? Okay, man. I ain't never heard that. Don't you know I'm a country baller? I do country things. I do. Yeah, absolutely. And I love eating. That's a fact, Jack. Yeah, sure. It sure is big. We just talk. Man, it was so great to have you on, Mr. Johnson. Hey, man. You're doing good. It's great being there, man. I'm hanging in there, man. I ain't going to give up. Yes, sir. Where can people go to donate to your GoFundMe? You got a GoFundMe account set up. Right. It's Walter Johnson GoFundMe page. Okay. Yeah. We're going to get something to you, Mr. Johnson, because we really appreciate it. We appreciate everything that you've done. We love the fact that you came on and you talked about what you're doing, not what has transpired in the past. You didn't sort anybody up. You didn't talk negative about anybody. All you talked about was positivity and about how you can move forward. You had fun with Ocho and I and Joe, and we really appreciate that. So we're going to get something to you. We look forward to seeing you. But this is not the last you've heard from Nightcap. You will hear from us again. I want to come down there on the show since you're not so far away. You down there with Long Vegas. Boy, the luck of here. You want to come on a live show. Hey, man. Yeah, I want to come, man. We sit up and talk. We kick it. Yeah. Okay. Just set it up, man. We'll definitely set it up. The next live show we have, you're going to be on it. You're going to be a guest on it. Okay. Hey, man. I'm a ho. You had to have two, man. Yes, sir. Hey. We got it. Hey, I appreciate it, though, man. I appreciate it. Yes, sir. I do. Thank you so much. Thank you, Mr. Johnson. All right. That's the man that coined the brain tendonism. Here he is, Mr. Johnson. That's a fact, Jack. thank you for joining us tonight we appreciate your time I appreciate y'all talk to y'all and get me there cool in the game I'm done so he has a GoFundMe account we're going to pin that link in the chat alright then appreciate it appreciate y'all y'all take care stay safe God bless all absolutely booyah yo you gotta be free to visit cause he coming out there at 13 14 Ocho coming down on the 16th you gonna be busy that week hey man I ain't got no time not to be busy I'm gonna be busy the rest of my life yeah man I'm trying to get it yeah I wanna see what he's talking about I'm gonna go check him out just stay right there at the night camp I'm going to check y'all out And bring y'all team together And we're going to feed them See Jesus said feed them Then I can give them the word Yeah because you can't do nothing I know Boy look here I see you You think I can't see you I know you eat You get what I'm saying You look here Yeah sure You ain't going to be eating by yourself though I eat too Okay that's what I'm talking about Yes, sir. You like hot water, cornbread, black eyed peas. Woo! Cornbread? With the iron skillet? Oh, my God. Hey, what about the candy am? Hey, what about the candy am? Man, come on. You know the candy am? Dude, don't be crazy. You know we love candy am. Family, family. We look. I don't tell y'all. Get me there. You get me there. We're going to make it happen. Hey, you know what? We're going to make it happen. We're going to make it happen. Cooling the game. I promise you, this summer, we're going to make it happen. Yes, sir, Mr. Sharp. We might have to start early in the morning and take a break because it get real hot and do a midday in Vegas. Hey, man, look. Yes, sir. Let me see, I stayed on Fort Apache. I think I stayed on Lake B right off a rainbow. Yeah. Uh-huh. Tropicana. Yeah. I know how hot it get. Yeah. It gets warm. I ain't worried about no heat because, hey, in the kitchen, If you can't stand the heat, you shouldn't be in that kitchen. Okay. Hello. You know what I mean? Yeah. Yeah, we got you. But y'all make it happen. I show up. We're going to make it happen. We're going to let you get on out of here, Mr. Johnson. Thanks for joining us tonight. Yes, sir. We appreciate that, and we look forward to seeing you real soon. All right. God bless y'all. Remember that I say this right here. What's that? That word life, if you take the L and E off life, you'll have if you wake up. Right. Huh? That full-air word. Powerful ain't it. Booyah, gone Appreciate you Mr. Johnson Have a great rest of your evening You do the same Thank you Thank you Yeah, yeah, yeah I guess you don't get mad many people to talk to Hey Mr. Johnson Yeah Man, that was great We're going to get him out here I'm gonna bring him out here. I'm gonna have a Home Depot deliver me a little smoker. And I'm gonna get him out here, see what he puttin' down. Yeah. Yeah, hey, man. Hey, Joe, I'm sure gonna do somethin' with the kids, man. Yeah. You know, Grandma House gonna be done in the summer, huh? So you know we got- Oh, yeah, so you're prisoned, break it in. Hey, I'ma break it in the way it used to be. Back in the days, Grandma have all the kids over, man. You know, gotta get that tradition back going, man. Damn. That's awesome, man. Man, he was so bad. He was so geeked. The whole show to my band, thank y'all for coming and having me on Nightcap. Man, he was geeked. Man. We was geeked to have him. Right, right. Hey, look, when y'all go to having these events with Ong now, y'all make sure y'all send that invite, all right? Yeah, yeah, we got you, Joe. We got you. Hey, Joe, you want us? What you talking about, man? Yeah, well, I had to just reassure some things. You know what I mean? Nah, Joe, I don't know. I don't know. We bragging too much, Joe. I don't see, here you go, here you go. Here you go. Hey, hey, hey, hey, don't worry about it, Unk. I got you, I got you. Hey, hey, hey, we being good. I'm gonna take care of him. Don't worry about it. You gonna take care of who? You. Hey, you ain't gonna be able to brag too much longer, boy. Hey, man. Y'all just gotta chill, all right? Well, just chill. We gonna, hey, hey, hey. Let's blow up, wherever Unk go, let's blow up that spot. Bad. Bad. I'll say he traveling. He traveling with that tendinism. This is the biggest night in podcasting. The countdown is on to our 2026 iHeart Podcast Awards. Live from South by Southwest, March 16th, we'll honor the very best in podcasting from the past year and celebrate the most innovative, talented creators in the industry. It's truly a who's who of the podcasting world. Creativity, knowledge, and passion will all be on full display. And the winner of the iHeart Podcast Award is... See all the nominees now at iHeart.com slash podcast awards. Audible is a proud sponsor of the Audible Audio Pioneer Award. Explore the best selection of audiobooks, podcasts, and originals all in one easy app. Audible. There's more to imagine when you listen. Sign up for a free trial at audible.com.