Nightcap Hour 1: Nightcap Hour 1: Big 3 WARN Wemby NOT To be SCARED of MSG + Stephon Castle SPEAKS on ACCOUNTABILITY + Pair of FINALS TIX SOLD for $36K + Jalen Brunson & Company’s REACTION to Mavs’ EXTENSION Offer

18:58Shannon Sharpe:And I think the thing is, if you go look at it, look at when he gets the ball in Brunson, he goes right to the paint. Because they're not going to put – they're never going to put Brunson on Fox. So Fox don't worry about that. He's going to get OG. He's going to get Bridges. He's going to get one of those guys, maybe Josh Hart. But the one thing, and so now, do I want Brunson on Champagne? Do I want him on Vassell or do I want him on Harper? So that's the guy. The thing is what I think they're doing a great job of, Joe, is that they're making it work on the other end. They're like, look, we're not going to let you save all this energy just to burn on the offensive end.

19:36Shannon Sharpe:We're going to make you expend some of this energy on the defensive end.

19:39Chad Johnson:And it makes sense because that's why Brunson is shooting about 41%, 42 % from the field in this series. They are making it tough for him. Now, we know Brunson, hey, listen, I ain't taking nothing away from the Knicks. Hell, you win 12, 13 games in a row in the postseason, you're a bad team, bro. You know, I'm giving them their credit. They've won in so many different facets of the game. It ain't really just been one person. I think Brunson has probably been the catalyst, but Cat has played great. OG has played great. Bridges has played great. Their bench has played great. They've been a great team in this postseason, taking nothing away from them.

20:15Chad Johnson:but you got to go at Brunson bro you got to make him work you can't let his ass off the hook you got to keep your foot on the gas now you know being in MSG game 3 we know he capable of going off you got to keep that boy on the raft boy hey keep him on the raft you got to control him early Joe hold on hold on hold on Uncle Joe we've said this every series matter of fact we've been saying this all season long not just in the regular season you got to contain brunson in the postseason you got to contain brunson but for some reason every time it matters most who shows up and make the shots that need to be made brunson there is no answer for him you can only hope to contain him contain him excuse me but when it's mattered most he shows up every single time so i don't think that's the answer even if

21:07Shannon Sharpe:you do stop him early well look if you go back if you go back and look Ocho he made that big shot and he made a free throw uh and look and he took 31 shots to get 30 points it was that it was that there was a period in the fourth quarter that they let him get away you know and I think you you got him under control you're controlling him for the better part of the game but it's just the fourth quarter that we know he has the ability to catch fire in any quarter the last thing I want him to do is catch fire with his clutch. Because now, I mean, he compromises us. The shot that he hit on Champagne and Ochoge, I just got to throw my hands up.

21:45Shannon Sharpe:I can't play it any better. I can't play it any better. He made a hell of a play. And that's the shot that he's hit in back-to-back games from that spot, the same type of shot. It's a very difficult shot to make, but he made it look easy. I wonder how many times he's practiced that shot in the gym all by himself in order to feel that comfortable on that stage in that moment to take and make that

22:11Chad Johnson:look the damn analytics always talking about we wanted three or a layup or a damn don't the the last couple games the first two games it came down to a mid-range to decide the game hey this is where the best this is where the best players the best score this is where they live this This is where they make their money. In the mid-range area, Arcan Ocho, when it's time to go to your money or get to your spots, you should always be able to get to the middies. So I look forward to Fox playing better, being more aggressive, considering the fact that I'm telling you the desperation that they got to go into New York with tomorrow night.

22:51Chad Johnson:Oh, my God. Hey, Boyaga, hey, you can't let them boys breathe in there. You can't let them make no run, and you damn sure don't want that crowd to get into it. Nope.

23:03Shannon Sharpe:Nope. And that's the thing. You look. And once they get going, because Cleveland did a great job in game one, they kept the crowd at bay until the last six minutes of the ball game. And once that avalanche started, they couldn't stop it. And do I think the Spurs are a better team than the Cavs? I do. but when a team goes on the run it it almost feels i hate saying this but it just feels like the effing nicks are a team of destiny like it's daytime it it does joe it just does i know it just does and we we've seen situations like this we've seen teams you're like go on a magic carpet ride and and and i think sometimes we say a team of destiny that means they're they're not very good and they're getting all the breaks and no don't get me wrong the Knicks are a very good team they're led by a small guy that's very very good and they got the role players and I hate calling Cat a role player because Cat is number one but I'm just saying you look at the Bridges and you look at the OGs and you look at the Hearts and you look at the Landry Shamit and you look at the Mitchell Robinson and Alvarado when he comes off the bench you look at those guys and when they come in they know exactly what their job is They do exactly what their coach to do, and they'll hustle play.

24:26Shannon Sharpe:Think about the other night, Joe. How many opportunities? How many second chance, Ocho? Rebound they got. They got one. They got it. Got another rebound. Got it. Alvarado beat the guy to the corner against the rebound. And guess what? The ball somehow ends up half-finding and sham it, and he knocks down the three.

24:40Chad Johnson:Yep, yep, I agree. They winning. New York is winning all the 50-50 balls. Not only that, they winning their hustle points. They outworking San Antonio, bro, period, point blank. Even though San Antonio has built a double-digit lead in these first two games, for whatever reason, that second half, they has been getting out of work. Hey, Al and Joe, is there a clutch award, or there's no such thing? No, it's...

25:03Shannon Sharpe:Shea won it this year. Brunson won it last. Shea won it this year. Brunson won it last. Okay, okay, okay, okay.

25:09Chad Johnson:Yeah, you got to... Hey, Ocho, you got to be one of them boys. You hear me? Yeah, hey. Listen, the way Brunson is playing, they need to add another clutch award for the postseason. Yeah, he... Hey, hey. He's been cool, calm, and collective under pressure. I give him that, bro. I'm talking about it seems like when it's clutch moments, his ass is going to come through, period, point, blank. I'm talking about every time. Every time. He's been great. Yeah, what the Spurs are going to have to do, most of the time the games have been close. And when it comes to the fourth quarter, and you know it comes to the nut cutting time, if they're trying to get the ball to Brunson, the Spurs better trap right away and get the ball out of his hands and make somebody else beat you.

25:47Somebody else is going to have to beat you. Yeah.

25:52Chad Johnson:They did a good job of mixing it up, I thought, in these first two games. I thought they trapped him a couple times. I thought they, you know, came off, you know, and just played like a little catch to where you kind of corral him a little bit. I think they mixed it up. It's probably why, you know, that's another reason probably why he's only shooting like 41, 42%. They didn't gave him a real steady die. You know what I mean? It was the same looks. They kind of mix it up from time to time. I turned off news altogether. I hate to say it, but I don't trust much of anything. It's the rage bait. It feels like it's trying to divide people.

26:34If we got clear facts, maybe we can calm down a little. NBC News brings you clear reporting. Let's meet at the facts. Let's move forward from there. NBC News, reporting for America. Love bread, baked goods and pasta, but not the way they make you feel? What if I told you there are macro-friendly options that don't taste like sawdust and sadness? Satisfying sandwiches, fully loaded bagels, noodles that can stand up to your favorite chunky sauces. All delicious, crave-worthy and smart. Each serving of Hero Bread has up to 19 grams of protein and 32 grams of fiber. And just 0 to 5 grams net carbs and 0 grams sugar.

27:13Hero Bread bakes with heart-healthy olive oil and delivers the soft, fluffy, flavorful experience you love. breakfast burritos, schmear-loaded bagels, real mac and cheese. Hero Bread bakes loaves, bagels, and tortillas that don't taste or feel like cardboard. Noodles that don't fall apart in hearty sauces. Plus, limited-edition small batch bakes like the 2-grams Net Carb Hero Croissant or 1-gram Net Carb Hero Cheddar Biscuit, handmade in a Sonoma-based French bakery. Shop now on hero.co. Use code IHEART for 10 % off. That's hero.co. Per serving, not a low-calorie food. Some products contain allulose.

27:46See nutrition info on hero.co over sodium and sugar content. Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile, with a message for everyone paying big wireless way too much. Please, for the love of everything good in this world, stop.

27:58Shannon Sharpe:With Mint, you can get premium wireless for just$15 a month. Of course, if you enjoy overpaying, no judgments, but that's weird. Okay, one judgment. Anyway, give it a try at mintmobile.com slash switch. Upfront payment of$45 for three-month plan, equivalent to$15 per month required. Intro rate first three months only. Then full price plan options available. Taxes and fees extra. See full terms at mintmobile.com. Hi, I'm Cindy Crawford, and I'm the founder of Meaningful Beauty. Well, I don't know about you, but, like, I never liked being told, oh, wow, you look so good for your age. Like, why even bother saying that?

28:33Why don't you just say you look great at any age, every age? That's what Meaningful Beauty is all about. We create products that make you feel confident in your skin at the age you are now. Meaningful Beauty. Beautiful skin at every age. Learn more at MeaningfulBeauty.com.

29:14support and much more online nationally or check out their 20 campuses across six states start when you're ready and get the support you need visit rasmussen.edu

29:27Shannon Sharpe:ah stefan castle is getting a little heat for comments he made today saying they lack accountability here's all three of his answers to provide context let's take a listen to what

29:37Chad Johnson:he had to say like i said earlier we feel like we gave them that game um you know on self-inflicted mistakes, you know, not just talking about, you know, the last play of the game or last couple of plays of the game, you know, I feel like throughout the game, we gave them, we gave them life in areas where, you know, we kind of, we could have took a lead and extended it. So, I mean, yeah, just, we've always had the next play, you know, next, next game mentality. And we weren't able to close that one out. But like I said earlier, it's first to four. So I think, I think we're confident we can go get the next one first.

30:08Chad Johnson:I think it's just human nature to come out with a certain sense of urgency you know especially after a loss um you know i probably shouldn't probably shouldn't go that way you know realistically you know you should come out with that same urgency whether you win or lose but uh i mean yeah now now being down 2-0 um our sense of urgency is probably the highest has been all playoffs uh especially it being the finals so um yeah i think i'm i think i'm ready to see how how we'll come out in this game this point this season it doesn't really matter whether you're playing at at home or away you know teams are playing their best brand of basketball so um trying to figure out how to win basketball games is you know the most important thing but um i mean yeah going down 0-2 at home is something that you know we definitely didn't want to do but uh i mean going back and watching it those were very winnable games and i think the next two are very winnable games too

31:03Shannon Sharpe:Joe, you have a problem with anything he said?

31:10Chad Johnson:Not really. Not really. I mean, he said he feel like they can go ahead and win games these next two games. At the end of the day, bro, you got to really believe it. You know what I mean? And like I've said before, I think this young Spurs team is capable. I'm not saying it's going to be easy, but I think it's capable. I think they're capable of going in there and winning game three.

31:37Shannon Sharpe:It's easy to say, hard to do. I like the – and like you said, I mean, everybody looks at the last play to win the turnover. But like you said, and we talk about it all the time, Joe, there are opportunities there that you got a double-digit lead. You can extend the lead, but you turn it over and let them get – now all of a sudden instead of making a 12, 14, 16-point lead, you turn the ball over three consecutive times and what could have been a 16 point lead all of a sudden it's down to eight that's it and i love the fact that he mentioned that because he said look we talk about the last play in a and that's not just to point that out but there are times in the game that we had opportunity to expand on the lead that we turned the ball over and they cut into the yeah i agree and and go ahead ojo i'm gonna say even with expanding even with expanding in into that lead early on the game whether it's the first first second second quarter or third at some point with the way the knicks have been playing the entire time they're gonna they're gonna run they're gonna run run and track you down anyway they're gonna run down anyway i mean because they just have in general well yeah they they postseason even with the leads being extended for some reason you know the game of basketball it's all about momentum and that momentum shifts from time to time because basketball is the game of runs yeah yeah so even if you do extend that lead, that's no all-out clue, okay, we're going to win the game.

33:00You're right. End of the game, as long as the game is close, that's where it matters. How do we minimize our mistakes? How do we minimize our errors? Play the whole shot clock out. Not shooting the ball with 18 seconds to go on the shot clock.

33:16Chad Johnson:Hey, that's been my thing for the Spurs. It's been times, this is why in the playoffs, in the postseason, bro, you got to value every possession. and they've built these leads, and then they go on and play in regular season basketball, meaning come down one pass shot. Come down, ISO, boom, boom, shot. No, bro, keep doing what you've been doing to get you to lead. Milking, milking whatever it is that y 'all got going that's working, keep milking it, keep playing great defense because they're a great defensive team. You talk about having Wimby behind you, but them damn guards, they pretty much keep guys in front.

33:51Chad Johnson:Yeah, they do a great job.

33:52Shannon Sharpe:Yeah, that's why Bronson is shooting.

33:55Chad Johnson:Absolutely, and it's just, if you just so happen to get by him, hell, you got to run into a 7 '5 guy back there. You know what I mean? So it ain't like it's Ole. It ain't like it's Ole. It's easy. You know what I mean? Like, it's been a tough series, bro. And I think they've learned from these first two games. And experience is the best teacher. We always talk about that. Unfortunately, they've had, you know, fourth quarters to where they've kind of collapsed. I think they've learned from that, and I think they'll be a lot better. Yeah.

34:24Shannon Sharpe:Plus the thing is, I think the difference is that no team has really had a cat. Cat is literally a threat out there. So Wimby can't just, like, help. Wimby can't be there in one step like he could against Portland, like he could against OKC. In Minnesota. He was guarding Hartenstein. Yeah, he was guarding Rudy. So those guys posed no threat beyond the paint or putback or drop off. So he could help. if they weren't in the paint and they were trying to pull him from the paint, but Rudy Gobert is not a viable option out past eight feet. So Wimby is not going to follow him out there. The difference is Cat is a viable option up to 28 feet.

35:07Shannon Sharpe:So now, if they do happen to get by their guy, there's no line of defense back there to deter them from getting all the way to the rim. Hey, I'm thinking about this. I don't know what the percentage is, Uncle Joe. Think about every time God damn Cat get that thing out 28 feet and he put the ball in the flow. He's going right by Wimby. Excuse me, I'm sorry for cursing. He's going right by Wimby every single time. He's going by Wimby and what you call it? And a court net. Every single time. So that's putting Wimby in the pickle. Not only is he going by me 28 feet out, when he's getting the post and he decided to back him down and use a little post game to be a little bit more aggressive and physical, he winning that too.

35:45Chad Johnson:Yeah. You losing in both elements, a catch game. Absolutely. That's why you got to give Mike Brown credit, Uncle Ocho. He took Cat.

35:56Shannon Sharpe:Yes.

35:56Chad Johnson:Instead of just keeping him on the block, he put him out there at the three-point line, the top of the key, and he's able to sit there like a quarterback and make plays while these other guys around him backpicking and they getting layups and he's making indecisions to where guys coming off with dribble handoffs. You know what I mean? Now Wimby got to guard that. He got to honor that. So if he's guarding Cat, it keeps him away from the basket. and now we can get easy layups, easy floaters. You know, it ain't that damn hard to score. And I think Cat has been doing a great job at that because he has a high IQ for the game and he can pass.

36:30Chad Johnson:It makes a huge difference when you got a big who can facilitate, who knows how to pass and can see things before they kind of actually happen. And Cat has been doing a great job at that, bro. That's why the game has been so easy, you know, for the most part for the Knicks. yeah he's and and that's the thing and give cat credit for playing as well as he has and we always

36:56Shannon Sharpe:knew cat had this and that's why so many people get on him like cat drive the ball just don't settle i don't think there's been a game where it's only been two but he hasn't settled cat's like i'm i i can i can go by you guys and if you come out here cautious with your hand down I'm going to let it go. And that's been the difference in the ball game. You know, he's averaging 20 points and 12 rebounds a game, and along with four assists. He's made a couple of hell of assists for corner threes to hit Bridgers and hit other guys that the ball found the basket. But I think Cat has been exceptional.

37:32Shannon Sharpe:In this series, no, he's played well all postseason, but I'm talking about this series. When you really need your big to step up because you've got to, first of all, you've got to match Wimby, and you've got to be able to draw him away from the basket. I've got to be able to lure the guard dog away from the front of the house in order to get in. And so if I want to get to the paint, Ochoa and Joe, to lay that ball in, I've got to get him out of there because there ain't no chance. You know what's funny too, Uncle Joe? What's that? He's a podcast game and him being – he's actually a three-level scorer too.

38:03The funny thing about it, we'll be always complaining about him in the regular season and always wanting to be out in space and shooting those threes.

38:09Chad Johnson:Yeah. He's using every aspect of his game right now and what we know he can do, and he's finally doing it when it matters most. But the funny thing about it is, is when we can't do nothing with him, despite his height, despite his presence and being as tall as he is, he ain't got enough bricks in his back pocket. He's not strong enough. Yeah. Why Cat is able to go in the post or take him off the dribble. So even if you take him off the dribble, once Cat get even with him or buy him, he good. He ain't got nothing to worry about.

38:37Shannon Sharpe:Nah. Right. And you see the thing is, like, when Wimby goes out to guard him, in a defensive stand, they always say, get you a base. Where he knows if he's going out to guard Wimby at a three, he can't get no base. Because with a base, my hands are here. Can't shoot the ball here. So he has to go out there like this. Now he doesn't have a base. Now Wimby can get on the edge of him. Every time, Cornette, they have to honor him. They didn't have to honor. I'm not honoring Hartenstein. Hartenstein, you full of crap. You ain't finna do nothing out there. But all you're going to do is get this ball, do a handoff, try to back pick somebody, and roll to the basket.

39:13Shannon Sharpe:That's not what – Kat can do those things, and we've seen him do those things. But Kat is looking, if you come out here cautiously, I'm going to shoot the three. If you come out here aggressively, I'm going to put it on the floor, and I'm getting all the way to the rim.

39:26Chad Johnson:And you notice when Kat is playing Wimby, he's always facing him up for the most part, fellas. He's rarely playing with his back to the basket against Wimby. to keep his options open. And if you notice, he put it on the floor a couple times. He might get a little left to right crossover. You know what I mean? He got a little handle to him, and he's using his quickness to get around Wimby. You feel what I'm saying? Yep. I know you got to honor this jump shot I got out here. So, boom, soon as you go for it, I'm going right around you. You know what I mean? I think Kett has been great at that. Not every time has he scored, but every time he's made the right play, whether it was a kick out the bridges, whether it was a kick out the OG, and you get all these wide open shots to where now you got the defense and the hucklebook and it's kind of breaking it down a little bit.

40:10Chad Johnson:You know what I mean? He's using Wimby's aggressiveness, meaning on offense when Wimby's guarding him being too aggressive. He go right around him every damn time.

40:21Shannon Sharpe:Well, look, whether I score or not, I just want to put something on your mind.

40:26Chad Johnson:Yeah.

40:26Shannon Sharpe:Hey, you know, when you try to get the girl back, hey, baby, let me put something on your mind right quick. You know, I just want to put something on your mind. I don't know if you got somebody maybe you do or maybe you don't but I just want you to know your boy here

40:41Shannon Sharpe:hey we go get a little nice little dinner you know get a nice little supper I just try to get to know you I just want to put that on a movie whatever you want to do I just want to put that on your mind Kat said I just want to put this on your mind Wimby this three this blow by I just want to put that on your mind I'm going to let you decide which one you want me to do but I just want you to know So that's what I'm saying. He's doing a little bit of it. And Cat has played phenomenal. Cat has taken a lot of criticism. You know, he's this and he's that. And, you know, having talked to Cat, Cat was – look, he loves his dad.

41:14Shannon Sharpe:And I don't want people to take this the wrong way. But he was so close to his mom. And when he lost his mom and he said – he's like, I watched her take her last breath.

41:23Chad Johnson:Woo.

41:26Shannon Sharpe:Joe, that's something you can speak to. You know – and when you're so close. I mean, yeah, I know, I know my granny, Joe, you know, your mom, I'm sure Cat knows his mom would have wanted him to go on. But it ain't that simple. It ain't that simple. So it took him a while. And I think, you know, everybody, look, everybody don't have the same mentality. Everybody doesn't grieve the same way. Some people, some people grieving might last a lifetime. Some people, they can get over in a day and they're back to being themselves. Right. But you have to allow people the space to grieve how they grieve and to get over in a manner.

42:09Shannon Sharpe:And I think sometimes as a professional athlete, and we've done a great, and most of us do a great job of this, is what we call Ocho and Joe Carp Park mentalizing. I've got this going on, and it's huge. But I also got this game going on. Now, I'm going to set this to a side. For two and a half, three hours, I'm going to go focus on this. for two and a half, three hours. And when those two and a half, three hours are over, I'm going to go back and pick this up and deal with that over here. There you go. Some people are better at that than others. Doesn't make you bad. It doesn't make you weak. A lot of people, oh, you weak.

42:48Shannon Sharpe:It's easy to say when you've never been in a situation. It's easy to say what you would do, what you wouldn't do, how you would handle it. but sometimes when a, you know, everybody doesn't process death the same way. And, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and it's quick because I think maybe in sports is that it's so easy to say, if somebody doesn't, if somebody doesn't perform as we think they should is to say they're weak. That because that's the easiest cop-out. Oh man, you weak, man. Hey, each is on.

43:25Chad Johnson:Everybody has a situation. And that's where the game becomes your safe haven, your escape. You know what I mean? Because like you say, within them two to three hours, bro, you don't even think about that for real. You know what I mean? You can really lock in, have fun, whatever it is you're doing. But once it's over with, it's right back on you. You know what I mean? So I know exactly what you're talking about. Yeah, I mean, he's right. He's right, huh? I mean, you got to think about all the problems we have. I don't know how you guys operate, but I'm thinking of some of the issues I had off the field and practice, being in that stadium, being with the fellas, game time, Sunday, in between those lines.

44:06You know, that's my peace of mind. That was my safe haven. And I understand once that's over, once I leave that stadium, it's back to reality. Whatever's going on in my life, everything sets back in. But I understood, you know, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, I got a sense of peace.

44:23Chad Johnson:Yep. Sunday I got a sense of peace for three hours and back to reality after that now speaking on death once they have death in the family especially a parent you know ain't nothing on it

44:34Shannon Sharpe:but you know how people are Ocho I think the thing is for me I often thought like if something would have happened to my grandmother when I was playing I'm a different player and I like to think I'm one of the strong guys mentally when it comes I can compartmentalize because I've dealt with a lot of things in my NFL career, but I was able to set that aside. But for the woman that gave you everything but life, that took you in, your brother and sister in, and loved you more than she loved her own and did everything she possibly could. I know my grandmother cried many nights. I know my grandmother prayed nights that I didn't know God was listening to her prayers because I damn sure didn't think he was listening to mine.

45:14Shannon Sharpe:That was my end-all, be-all, everything. Because here's the thing now, Ochoa, I'm looking at, and I really thought like this. Everything that I wanted to do, I was doing it for her. now she's no longer here what am I doing it for

45:26Chad Johnson:man boy you preaching to the choir you hear me oh we and that's what I don't

45:31Shannon Sharpe:think people I don't think people understand that enough everything I did in my life

45:41Shannon Sharpe:was for her and to make her proud when she's no longer here what's the point

45:51and you know i think people you know why people don't understand too long is they never understand it because they haven't been through it it's hard for you to understand some if you've never been through it you never lost someone close to you you never that meant

46:04Chad Johnson:you know that that meant a lot to you thanks apart from to understand they just say well we don't care that it happened once you touch that quarter once you touch that field we're expecting you to look like the player that you say you are or the player that we view you as yeah but it's hard for to understand and and i i think when you have deaths in the family especially a mom or grandma uh it when you go out and play through that fellas it's like a sense of calming if if if you can relate meaning like you never get too excited but you're in a calm state to where you just so focused and determined and that that's what it looks like to me from cat you know you you can tell in his post in his post conferences press conferences he's always talking about his mother and that's what i sense from him i sense a great calming from him uh he doesn't seem too overwhelmed for the moment he's just enjoying it and he's embracing it bro you know what i mean he knows how to you know put his stamp on this series and he's been doing it in these first two games and I think he's determined.

47:10Chad Johnson:The fact that he's a kid from up north, from Jersey, man, he knows what his legacy will be like to win two more games and be an NBA champion.

47:22Shannon Sharpe:Think about how they revere those old Willis Reed, DeBusher, Earl of Pearl, and Clyde. Hell, Phil Jackson was on the bench, and if Phil Jackson still get love, We know he came to be one of the three greatest coaches in NBA history, but he was on those teams. It's something about when you win championships in certain cities, you're mythical. You want to take, look at the Cowboys. Look at him. Look at Troy, Emin, and Mike. The Steelers, man, the Steelers go back, man. Hey, I remember we used to go back to the Steelers because we played there. And to see all those legends, to see Joe Green, to see Mel Blunt, But to see all those guys and all those guys on the side, like, damn.

48:08Shannon Sharpe:They are revered. You win a championship at the Knicks. I'll tell you what, Uncle Joe. What's that? Who's the mayor of New York City? Mandami. If I'm Mandami, if the Knicks, well, the Knicks are going to pull us off. At what game? I don't know. I had Knicks in six. But the way it's looking, I mean, Uncle Joe, it might be Knicks in four. I'm just being respectful I'm being respectful but if I'm Mondami I'm changing the Statue of Liberty to Jalen Brunson Oh man He might get a statue out front the Knicks might start putting statues of players out front Bill Bradley was also on that team he ended up becoming a senator

48:52Chad Johnson:Look look Hey look at it what is New York known for they're the Mecca of basketball Basketball yeah they're the Mecca of basketball. You know, you go to all these, the Rucker parks and all these parks they got in New York, man, it's tradition. You know, basketball is huge in New York, bro. Absolutely. So for them to get a championship in 2026, man, they're going to flip that thing upside down. You hear me?

49:22Shannon Sharpe:You're absolutely right, Joe. You're absolutely right. This is, I mean, it's crazy. And they're playing unbelievable. and the way they played and they've dealt with so much heartbreak. Think about the previous two years, Joe Howe has ended. Remember, they knocked off the ball from Celtics. They thought, it's Moose selling now? We done got the big, bad Wolfs out the way. We straight. We kosher. And then here come Andy.

49:47Chad Johnson:Snuck up on the air.

49:48Shannon Sharpe:Yeah. And so this, you know, they definitely don't want to let this opportunity to get squandered away. Hey, as Kobe famously said, rest your soul, Kobe. Job's not done. Job's not done. I'm ready for tomorrow. Who you got tomorrow, Unc?

50:14Shannon Sharpe:Oh, my goodness. Y 'all been wrong all series long. Yeah, we been wrong all season long, Ocho. Man, Ocho, we got to get at least six games, Ocho. I need Spurs to win. Well, you got the Spurs again. I'm going on my heart. I ain't going on my head. My head tell me the Spurs. Honestly, my head tell me the Knicks probably going to win by double figures. But my heart won't let me pick them because I really, really need them game seven.

50:39Chad Johnson:You think they going to kick their butt on game three? Joe, what you got? Joe, you still going for the Spurs? Yeah, I got the Spurs winning game three. I'm sticking with my gun. I'm going down blazing. I'm going down shooting this thing, partner. You hear me? I'm letting the clip go. Hey, hey, hey, hey. I need the Spurs. Joe, so you shooting all your shots and then throwing the gun at the end. I'm going to be running at the end. I'm gone. I'm gone. He ain't seen enough ass and elbows. I'm gone. Listen, I'm telling you, the Spurs need to feel the same way, man. Hey, hey, hey. They got to throw the kitchen sink at them boys, man.

51:11Chad Johnson:Hey. You right. You right.

51:13Shannon Sharpe:They can throw the kitchen sink all they want. Ocho, Joe, two seats, center court for game three, just sold on StubHub. Excuse me. 26 rows up. So center court, 26 rolls up,$36 ,012 for the pair.

51:34Shannon Sharpe:36 rolls up. 26 rolls up,$36 ,000. So basically$18 ,006 a pair. 26 rolls up. Hey, listen, this history. People want to beat him. Yeah. Everybody want to say his song. I was there. And even if they weren't there, they're going to beat people. They got words there. Boy, you ain't heard how many people say that they was there when the Mets won and when Derek Jeter hit the ball over the fence against the Diamondbacks and forced the game.

52:05Chad Johnson:Hey, they're going to have pictures and videos this time, though. Everybody got their telephone. They're going to let you know they was in the building.

52:13Shannon Sharpe:Everybody was there at the Belmont when Secretary won by all those lids, man. You should have seen it. Hey, that chestnut coat was running. Let's stop it. all of a sudden they said it was about 50 ,000 I've done been 600 ,000 people

52:25Chad Johnson:been added so look look look if game 3 like this game 4 prices go up fellas y 'all know that right oh for sure yes it's gonna be even crazier go ahead with your you're not playing for the game you're not paying for game 3 you're not paying for game 4 you're paying to be a part of history yeah you're right they say they was in the building yes yes damn man man think about it joe think about a lot of times when when famous people

52:59Shannon Sharpe:have they have a home going for famous people how many people show up just to say i was a part of it just to say i saw him the famous story is that the lady the guy took his daughter to babe ruth home going and and and the reporter asked say what she doesn't even know who babe ruth is she want to remember this. When she gets old, I tell her.

53:24I mean,

53:25Shannon Sharpe:when you see family members and they have I remember Drew Brees had his son and he had the earmuffs on. He don't remember that, but guess what? When they play that back and he's 15, he's 25, and he's married and has his own kid. That's your dad. That's your granddad.

53:44Chad Johnson:History.

53:46Shannon Sharpe:yeah history i was a part of that and so it's it's always great i wish you know my kid my kids got an opportunity to be there for the super bowls and to see that and to like to see them you don't get their hands i think but they were bigger than drew's kid my kid was yeah five not my kids were five yeah five about to be they're about to be six so they remember it and And then in 2000, they really remember it. Because now they're eight, nine. Man, it was to have them to be a part of that. That's one good thing about Ocho, about you and I having kids at the age in which we had them. Because they got an opportunity.

54:29Shannon Sharpe:Somebody don't have to tell them what their dad did. They got an opportunity to experience. And my son, you know, he's on the sideline. I mean, I got a photo of him. He's two. And my mom has him to me on the sideline. And, you know, he going, you know, he all excited. He on the bench high-fiving the guys. He just – he a part of it. He go in the locker room and he cool to have that moment. Hey. Boy, to be a part of this. And the fans have been waiting for so long. Oh, man. Long time. Go ahead, Joe. Go ahead, Joe. Hey, Uncle Joe.

55:02Chad Johnson:What's that? When you talk about history, you know, and what the Knicks have been able to do, what they haven't done, you know, in 53 years, is we get to play these clips back, right, that we've had on this show. We get to play back every series where the Knicks have played and me actually predicting the history we're talking about. I thought you were really talking about something. I am talking about something.

55:26Shannon Sharpe:I thought that too. I'm thinking you're really going somewhere with this. I'm going somewhere. If you think about it, I've predicted what we're seeing and witnessing series by series. so that in itself is also a part of history huh? we got to understand that this is why some people you can't you can't because you just don't know how to act listen I know how to act I'm nice and calm you see I'm nice and calm I'm humble about it how you humble about it you just brought it up and that wasn't even the topic we were talking about we were on the topic of history and I'm just telling you how I predicted history so that makes me a part of history

56:05Chad Johnson:come on Spurs

56:06Shannon Sharpe:I'm going to pull these clips up. Come on, Spurs. Don't it won't, because you know what? I'm going to have the editing team to edit this up out of me. That's one thing I can do. I have them edit what you predicted Spurs to win, have them edit right on up out of there. And so when you look back at 10 years from now, when you tell your grandkids that Papa predicted that, they say, where is it, Papa? Here we go. Then you're going to call Ash and say, Ash, Where's that clip?

56:41Shannon Sharpe:Jalen Brunson in his camp report.

56:44Chad Johnson:I turned off news altogether. I hate to say it, but I don't trust much of anything. It's the rage bait. It feels like it's trying to divide people. We got clear facts. Maybe we can calm down a little. NBC News brings you clear reporting. Let's meet at the facts. Let's move forward from there. NBC News, reporting for America.

57:31and 32 grams of fiber, and just 0 to 5 grams net carbs and 0 grams sugar. Hero Bread bakes with heart-healthy olive oil and delivers the soft, fluffy, flavorful experience you love. Breakfast burritos, schmear-loaded bagels, real mac and cheese. Hero Bread bakes loaves, bagels, and tortillas that don't taste or feel like cardboard. Noodles that don't fall apart in hearty sauces. Plus, limited-edition small batch bakes like the 2 grams net carb Hero Croissant or one gram net carb Hero Cheddar Biscuit, handmade in a Sonoma-based French bakery. Shop now on Hero.co. Use code IHEART for 10 % off. That's Hero.co.

58:07Per serving, not a low-calorie food. Some products contain allulose. See nutrition info on Hero.co for sodium and sugar content. Hi, I'm Cindy Crawford, and I'm the founder of Meaningful Beauty. Well, I don't know about you, but, like, I never liked being told, oh, wow, you look so good for your age. Like, why even bother saying that? Why don't you just say you look great at any age, every age? That's what Meaningful Beauty is all about. We create products that make you feel confident in your skin at the age you are now. Meaningful Beauty. Beautiful skin at every age. Learn more at MeaningfulBeauty.com.

58:49When it comes to advancing your education, you have more options than you think. At Rasmussen University, we find ways to remove barriers. not build them, like a new laptop if you're eligible, and enroll in select online or on-campus programs. That means flexible and engaging online courses and resources, tuition savings options if you qualify, exceptional student support, and much more. Online nationally or check out their 20 campuses across six states. Start when you're ready and get the support you need. Visit rasmussen.edu. This is Tav Ramos from Inside American Soccer, and this summer Topgolf is turning into the ultimate soccer destination.

59:26They're not just throwing games on in the background. Topgolf is going all in on soccer. They've got a new soccer themed game you can play with your group, special in-venue activations, exclusive food and drink items inspired by the global game, and at more than 60 locations, they've even installed full-size soccer goals so you can try to hit golf balls right into the net. And every match all summer long will be on throughout the venue, so it's a great place to watch with friends, hang out, compete a little bit, and enjoy the atmosphere. And if you want to keep the fun going all summer, you can get the Topgolf Summer Fun Pass, which lets you play every single day and bring up to five guests every visit.

1:00:08Get yours now at topgolf.com slash fun pass. Summer hits different at Topgolf.

1:00:15Shannon Sharpe:...percently laughed off the Mavericks for your$55 million extension offer in 2022 per Mark Stein. The Brunson camp basically laughed at them and said, we'll take our chances in free agency. Now, you guys had your chance. The Mavs have still had an option at that point of picking up your phone and saying, Jalen, we completely screwed this up. We're deeply sorry we've disrespected you. We want to make it right by offering him five years at 150. Joe, when you look at what they had, they had Jalen Brunson and they had Luka Doncic in their backcourt. Luka nor Jalen Brunson is there. How could they have fumbled this so bad?

1:00:53Chad Johnson:I don't know if Luka and Jalen could have really longevity-wise really played. I think this was a perfect scenario for Brunson to come to New York to have the ball in his hands, to be the dominant ball handler, to be the playmaker, the score that he ultimately wanted to be. I think flip-flopping with Luka, I'm not sure he would have been that effective, fellas. the way he is now. You know what I mean?

1:01:19Shannon Sharpe:The best thing to happen is Luka got hurt. And then he showed he could be a one. He could be a big dog. He could be a lead dog. Luka doesn't get hurt. I'm not so sure that maybe they would have. Maybe they would have. It's hard to say. But we don't get an opportunity to see because when Luka got hurt, we got an opportunity to see just how great he was.

1:01:42Chad Johnson:Yeah. And sometimes that's what it takes. And with that, you know, he's seen his value. You know, hold on, hold on. You mean y 'all going to lowball me with a$55,$50 million? Man, come on, bro. That's not even lowball. That's disrespectful. Come on. You know what? Don't even worry about it. I just play this damn season. I play this year out, and we see where the chips fall, where they lay at, and we'll figure it out from there. I've been in that situation where you have to turn down$50,$55 million, bro, and bet on yourself and go out there and act a fool. I know what it's like, and that's basically what Brunson done done.

1:02:13Chad Johnson:You know, he created that value for himself and, you know, took it and ran with it, bro. Going to New York, I think, was the best, probably the best decision he made. I agree.

1:02:26Shannon Sharpe:Bro, if Wally Pipp don't have a headache that day, do we know about Luke Harris? Oh, that's a good one. Drew Bledsoe, are we sure Tom Brady's going to get an opportunity?

1:02:39Shannon Sharpe:Sometimes something has to be moved in order for you to be moved in. and then guess what? He gets the lead. Luke is out, what, four weeks, six weeks? I don't remember how long, and Brunson acted a fool. He did. He did. He was a straight-up donkey, showed him, you know what.

1:02:57Chad Johnson:Yeah.

1:02:58Shannon Sharpe:And now, it's like, hold on, this dude's really good. He's like, yeah, but as Fat Joe say, yesterday's price is not today's price. Yeah. So, you should have got, hey, you should have got that. Years ago. Yeah. And now, we've priced ourselves out of what you can pay.

1:03:27Shannon Sharpe:Because him and Luka, you're not going to give him$150. I don't think they were going to give him$150 and then turn around and have to give Luka what they gave him.

1:03:36Chad Johnson:Right. And still be competitive to where you can continue to win him. Exactly. That's the Western Conference. You know what I mean? Like, at the same time, you still got two guys who aren't great defensively, but offensively, they juggernauts. They're supreme.

1:03:55Shannon Sharpe:They're supreme. And then when you got two guys like that making that kind of money, you basically got to just have marginal players that just want to take the ball out, rebound it. G League guys.

1:04:05Chad Johnson:You got to go get you a handful of them dudes just to fill out your roster. And that's basically, you look at, even when you look at, I think that's how Boston going to end up being in a couple years because they're still going to have to cut salaries with some of them guys. When you got Jason Tatum and Jalen Brown, yeah, that's$600 million of your cap. Yeah.

1:04:27Shannon Sharpe:Is it true? I mean, I read something where they say Jalen Brown put his$5 million condo up. I don't know if that's true. I've seen that too.

1:04:32Chad Johnson:I don't know if it's true. It's insinuating some things though. Yeah, I saw it on Twitter as well. I mean, maybe unless he's trying to downsize, which I highly doubt. Anytime you see someone's house, especially a player going for sale, most of the time that means that they're moving on. Or, yeah, he could be moving on coming home to the ATL. You hear me? Coming who? Coming to the ATL. To the Hawks? Yeah. I would think Jalen Brown wants to go somewhere. We had the opportunity to compete for a championship. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. What you trying to say? Oh, I ain't trying to say nothing bad, and I'm not trying to be disrespectful.

1:05:09I'm just trying to be realistic.

1:05:11Chad Johnson:You add him to what these guys already got. Obviously, you may have to lose a piece or two. You mean to tell me that him and Jalen Johnson won't be, you know, two of the best one-two punches in the Eastern Conference? It'd probably be one punch. I don't know about two. Oh, man, you tripping. You tripping. You tripping, bro. You tripping. You tripping. No, you ain't being realistic. Hold on. I know you're on your high horse because you picked a little. You're feeling good. I already know all that, but you got to chill, bro. I'm chilling, Joe. I'm just saying. You talk about a one-two punch, but I mean, as much as you prop up Jalen Johnson to be who you say he is, he hasn't been that yet.

1:05:49I haven't seen it yet, especially with the last series that we watched when the Hawks was playing. That was his first.

1:05:54Chad Johnson:Ocho, that was his first playoff series him playing in, bro. It was a learning experience for him. He going to be better next year. Trust me. It's still basketball, ain't it, Joe? Yeah, but he going to be better, Ocho. He's still young. he ain't seen by what 23? I mean Kobe was young too. Everybody, everybody learned a little differently, bro. Okay, okay. You know? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Give him a man some time. You mean, if we had JB, boy please. Okay, yeah, no disrespect, no disrespect. The way you and Unk been disrespecting my Hawks this postseason, boy, hey, we, yeah, I know Unk how you get into it.

1:06:26Chad Johnson:You always into it. You're guilty by association, all right? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I ain't say nothing. But I didn't say that. I was just over there. I know what you're thinking, though. I know what you're thinking. I know what's going on. Yeah. Hey, Joe, and just you hype him up to a point to where I'm expecting to see greatness, and I'm not seeing greatness. So when you hype him up the way you do, I'm just confused. Oh, Joe, we the only damn team. We the only team. Huh? Maybe we watching two different Hawks games. That's all. No, no, no, no. We the only damn team who done beat the Knicks in the past two damn months, ain't like.

1:07:01Chad Johnson:Well, where y 'all at right now? I know. OK, but we got a little building to do. That's a little stepping stone in the right direction. You hear me? Yeah. My bad. Where the hell them damn Heat was at this year? The who? The Miami Heat. Oh, I mean. All right, all right, all right, all right.

1:07:21Shannon Sharpe:You said they getting Giannis. Yeah, hey, but listen. But it seemed to me I be hearing a lot of buzz about Giannis going to the Celtics. Me too, man. Man, come on, man. I already told y 'all what the deal is. But all right. look I mean you know what guys and I think sometimes it's easy for us to look in hindsight and say yeah they should have did this but I can assure you if they thought Brunson was going to be this they probably would have offered him more than what they offered him you don't know I mean every time I don't think about all the time we see receivers and guys go hey man that joke will be hey he didn't pan out nobody talks about that they always talks about the opportunity that they you know everybody talk about oh this I was down on my luck.

1:08:03Shannon Sharpe:I was down to my last$2. And I turned this into a billion dollar empire.

1:08:08Chad Johnson:Look. Look at Shea. If y 'all think if the Clippers knew Shea was going to be this hell, they'd have told Paul George stay his ass where he at.

1:08:16Shannon Sharpe:And they'd say, Kawhi, you going over to the Lakers? Because we're not giving up Shea. Right.

1:08:22Chad Johnson:Right. So I think with that being said, when things like this happen to players or where they feel slighted because they've been traded, which it kind of makes you to some degree feel like, oh, man, these dudes didn't think I was good enough. You know what I mean? And now you take that, you pack that, you carry that on your back, bro, for the rest of your career. You know what I mean? I think that had a lot to do with how Shea ended up turning out to be who he ultimately wanted to be, was the MVP, two-time MVP. He put in the work. He put in the time. He was committed to his craft. Same thing with Brunson.

1:08:57He probably felt like, you know, the Mavs slighted him.

1:09:01Chad Johnson:Damn, y 'all only offered me 50, 55 M's for real? Like, come on, bro. You know what I mean? You know what? I'm going to take my talents elsewhere. I'm going to go to New York. Not only am I going to go to New York, I'm going to take less money so they can build a team around me to where ultimately in the next three, four, five years, we can be competing for a title. And here we are. Voila.

1:09:23Shannon Sharpe:Alicia Keys said, New York, where dreams are made of, there's nothing you can't do. Streetlights will inspire you. Well, Jolene Brunson got inspired, damn it. He got inspired. He went to New York and just been a damn fool since he got there. And he's now, he has an opportunity to be in Nick's lore. I don't know. You know, people are like, well, where do you rank him? I don't know. Look, I understand what Earl of Pearl and Walt Clyde, and I know what Willis Reed, I know where they ran, and Patrick Ewing. But it's going to be hard. It's going to be hard. It's going to be extremely hard Jalen Brunson get a title.

1:10:04Shannon Sharpe:Just say he ain't one of the two or three best Knicks players to ever put a make-up on.

1:10:09Chad Johnson:Yeah. That's going to be something else. He do that. Man, listen. If they win a title, it ain't just Brunson. They hold them coaching staff team.

1:10:19Shannon Sharpe:Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Mike Brown, definitely, definitely. He's been coach of the year. you know he's been to an NBA finals when Steve Kerr was out you know he coached that team but it didn't take you look you got KD and Steph Curry and Klay this right here doing this right here because they didn't change anything but the coaching staff they were the same exact same players the exact same players

1:10:45Chad Johnson:and you know sometimes it's timing too you know the Knicks have been through some grueling playoff series over the past few years They hadn't got to where ultimately they thought they should be, which is in the NBA finals. They came up short. And by adding Mike Brown, he's got a team who's experienced, who has great chemistry and continuity, and they are up and ready for the challenge, bro. Timing is everything. If you're a lineman in charge of keeping the lights on, Granger understands that you go to great lengths and sometimes heights to ensure the power is always flowing, which is why you can count on Grainger for professional-grade products and next-day delivery so you have everything you need to get the job done.

1:11:31Call 1-800-GRAINGER, click grainger.com, or just stop by. Grainger, for the ones who get it done. When it comes to advancing your education, you have more options than you think. At Rasmussen University, we find ways to remove barriers, not build them. Like a new laptop if you're eligible and enroll in select online or on-campus programs. That means flexible and engaging online courses and resources, tuition savings options if you qualify, exceptional student support, and much more. Online nationally or check out their 20 campuses across six states. Start when you're ready and get the support you need.

1:12:08Visit rasmussen.edu. Copenhagen Spit Free packs American-grown tobacco into pouches. Made for when your elbow's deep in an engine block. they're masked up torching deep cuts into stubborn pipes her helmet's on riding deep into back country when there's no time or space to spit grab Copenhagen's spit-free pouches find them in stores today not all varieties available in all geographies warning this product can cause mouth cancer if you've been sitting on a business idea for a while consider this your sign to do something with it you can even make it official today by creating a website with Wix Harmony.

1:12:51Just tell Wix Harmony what you want and it'll create the whole website for you. Business features included. But don't worry, you can still change anything by hand. It's your website, your call. Try it at wix.com slash harmony. That's wix.com slash harmony. Hey, it's Rach. And if you're like me, you want treats that are simple and taste amazing. And that's why I love Johnny Pops. They're deliciously made with simple ingredients and no artificial dyes. Whether it's a quick snack for the kids or a sweet moment for yourself, Johnny Pops are the perfect treat. And there's a kind deed on every stick to encourage everyone to share a little kindness.

1:13:32So next time you're in the freezer aisle, grab a box of Johnny Pops and feel great about what you're sharing. Johnny Pops, a better pop for a better world.