Hour 2:  KAT’s Big NBA Finals Game 1, plus Basketball Hall of Famer Chris Webber

4 Jun 2026 · 46 min · 16 chapters

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In short

Hour 2 of The Rich Eisen Show focuses on NBA Finals Game 1 and the Knicks’ momentum, plus NFL/NBA context and a deep-dive with Basketball Hall of Famer Chris Webber.

Guests

  • Chris Webber (Basketball Hall of Famer; former NBA star; discusses Pistons/Kings ties, coaching perspective, and Knicks-Spurs matchups)
  • Teron Armstead (earlier segment; five-time NFL Pro Bowler; talks NFL season/defensive linemen and schedule logic)
  • Adam Mansback (author; appears later in hour 3, not central to this hour’s NBA discussion)

Key claims and notable examples

  • Knicks’ Game 1 win vs the Spurs surprised; Jalen Brunson hit a “ridiculous” shot; Knicks’ resilience grows as games progress.
  • Carl Anthony Towns’ performance is framed as the key matchup: physical defense on Wembanyama, strong rebounding, and offensive aggression (10 of 18 points in the third; plus-14; 12 rebounds; multiple blocks/fouls).
  • Advice to Chet Holmgren: don’t watch his tape—watch Towns’ Game 1 tape for fearlessness.
  • Mike Brown’s philosophy: push the pace, ball movement, spacing; Spurs’ late-game 3-point struggles (3-for-19 in the fourth) hurt them; better shot selection and more paint pressure needed in Game 2.
  • Webber emphasizes leadership and composure: Brunson calming teammates during ref complaints; “shut up” to refocus energy.
  • Spurs adjustments for Game 2: change pacing, more threes, and Wembanyama living in the paint with varied moves (free-throw-line work, post/pivot/reverse).

Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.

Chapters

Tap a time to open that second in VO

Discussion on Teron Armstead

1:12 to 1:50

Rich reflects on his conversation with NFL player Teron Armstead.

“Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles.”

NBA Playoff Predictions

1:50 to 4:40

A caller shares bold predictions about the Knicks and their playoff performance.

“It's, you know, honestly, we call, by the way, Teron, we call this a Jewish goodbye in my house.”

Carl Anthony Towns' Performance

4:40 to 7:58

Rich analyzes Carl Anthony Towns' gameplay in the NBA Finals.

“Called them to the media and all these people.”

Emotional Moments and Personal Stories

7:58 to 12:42

Rich shares heartfelt reflections on family and the emotional aspects of sports.

“But you're putting him in that position to have to do that.”

Final Caller and Fan Reactions

12:42 to 14:00

Dustin from Arkansas calls in to discuss sports fandom and player dynamics.

“And I do hope that that does rub off on his teammates.”

Dustin Calls in About the Patriots

14:00 to 16:35

Discussion about sports predictions and fan reactions, including a call from a listener.

“you predicted the Patriots to have over the last two seasons calling in for the win-loss.”

The Importance of Living in the Present

16:35 to 17:06

Exploration of the pressures on athletes in high-stakes situations, focusing on Carl Anthony Towns.

“At Pella, they find the products that meet your needs and their experts install them.”

Chris Webber Joins the Show

19:24 to 25:28

Chris Webber discusses the NBA Finals matchups and player performances.

“Chai's and Show radio audience is back with our Disney Plus and ESPN app feed.”

Team Chemistry and Success

25:28 to 28:00

Chris Webber reflects on the importance of team relationships and chemistry in basketball.

“How does that manifest itself, do you think, Chris, in a game like Game 1 of the NBA Finals?”

Chris Webber Discusses NBA Finals Insights

28:00 to 36:20

Chris Webber shares his thoughts on player preparation and performance in crucial moments.

“And until you have a coach like Thibodeau, until you had the heart of players that were just like him with that toughness.”
Show all 16 chapters

Chet Holmgren and Giannis Trade Discussion

37:01 to 37:23

Rich Eisen and Chris Webber debate a potential trade involving Chet Holmgren and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

“And for a limited time, college students get the best of both worlds.”

Chet Holmgren and Giannis Trade Discussion

37:27 to 39:49

Rich Eisen and Chris Webber debate a potential trade involving Chet Holmgren and Giannis Antetokounmpo.

“First of all, I wonder if Milwaukee would do that.”

Upcoming Guests and Show Updates

39:49 to 40:40

Rich Eisen previews upcoming guests and discusses recent topics on the show.

“I think Chris was just trying to be polite, and he didn't want to throw.”

Listener Call from New Jersey

40:40 to 42:01

Rich Eisen takes a call from a listener discussing their love for the show and Knicks basketball.

“Just had a nice chat with the author, Adam Mansback.”

New Jersey Sports Fan Insights

42:01 to 44:54

Listeners share their perspectives on the Knicks and local sports culture.

“That's how I felt because I went to get them.”

NBA Finals and Knicks Expectations

44:54 to 46:59

Discussion on Knicks' playoff performance and strategies for the NBA Finals.

“A 19-year-old with a very aware sensibility of what's gone down there, man.”
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Transcript

Automatic transcript. May contain errors.

0:00Chris Webber:Good energy in. Good energy out.

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0:42Rich Eisen:This is The Rich Eisen Show. Hey, everybody.

0:46Chris Webber:Can't get enough of The Rich Eisen Show? You're in luck. You can find us everywhere. Watch us weekdays on Disney +, from noon to 3 Eastern. Miss the show? We've got a podcast so you can listen anytime. But here's the best part. Our YouTube channel. Subscribe at youtube.com slash Rich Eisen Show and you'll never miss a moment. Now, on with the show. They stunned the Spurs in San Antonio. This is the Rich Eisen Show.

1:16Rich Eisen:And he knocked it down.

1:18Chris Webber:Jalen Brunson, a ridiculous shot. Live from the Rich Eisen Show studio in Los Angeles.

1:24Rich Eisen:These guys are resilient, man. And they get better as the game goes along. Earlier on the show, five-time NFL Pro Bowler, Teron Armstead. Coming up, Basketball Hall of Famer, Chris Webber. Author, Adam Mansback. And now, it's Rich Eisen. Hour number two of the Rich Eisen Show is on the air. Teron Armstead can't quit us. He just can't quit us. He's just leaving right now. It's, you know, honestly, we call, by the way, Teron, we call this a Jewish goodbye in my house.

1:58Rich Eisen:We were still talking about the possibility of Miles Garrett getting 30 sacks this year. You really think that's the case? Teron said it's not. I know it's not. But it's not like there's no slouches. There's some really good defensive linemen that he's now going to be on the same line with, too. Yeah, and the teams are going to have to figure out how to block all of them. I know. So. But he did say it's not as crazy. I know. But at the end of the day, when you put him through the win-loss ringer, he said 16-1, that they're going to rest their starter. Nobody's punting. I don't think. Only Bill Pullian takes a knee on a perfect season.

2:37Rich Eisen:Remember that he did that? Yeah. He let the Jets in the playoffs because of that one year, I think. So we can't say no one would do it. They didn't win the title that year. So what was it for? I guess. Good point. Yeah. Neither did the Pats, I guess. Him taking a knee on that season, and again, and I just describe it to Bill Pullian and the Colts, change the way that the NFL put their schedule together. They're like, screw this. We're going to start putting division matchups at the end of the season. So even if a team rips off all these wins, it still matters. It still matters potentially to win a division.

3:10Rich Eisen:Which was smart. That was a smart story. That was what happened. Yeah. Once upon a time, against the Colts, the Patriots were holding and holding and holding, and they changed the rules.

3:22Rich Eisen:it's too early for you to get me going what do you mean early what are you talking about this is hour two this is hour two it's june though i think what is that i don't know what you mean

3:31Chris Webber:oh we can't we can't let's change the rules

3:37Rich Eisen:bill poley i'm just i'm just i'm just spitting facts get out of here yeah maybe bill will get in the hall of fame this year we'll see we'll we'll we'll check back on his resume See if it's improved, Danny. Can't believe that happened, by the way. Let's go to Willingham in Virginia. What's up? Willingham. Hi.

3:57Chris Webber:Thanks for taking my call. Thanks for making it. I'm calling to guarantee the Knicks were sweet, sad ankle. Oh! To the fact. I am guaranteed. The sweep? Come on now. You there?

4:07Rich Eisen:Come on now.

4:08Chris Webber:I'm guaranteed. See, this is what happened. Okay. Like, the Widdlers are on the tit-bag. They thought the Knicks were being rested. They weren't rested. They were down with Cleveland. They thought they were going to lose their comeback. They're just here for the Knicks. The Knicks have become like Domex. They're everywhere. They're going to have the fan there and see what happened with San Antonio. Like running a marathon. They are tired. Not just body tired. Mentally tired. They are drained. And what the Knicks know did, they punch them in the mouth. They won the game. They shouldn't have won.

4:41Chris Webber:Called them to the media and all these people. But now what happened, the Knicks won up on him. The Knicks playing with House Barton. And when the Knicks take him this time, when you get him in Madison Square Garden, there's going to be too much pressure for us to say, thanks for taking my call.

4:56Rich Eisen:Thank you for the call. Willingham in Virginia. Okay. Overreaction Thursday. I love it. I like his name. Let's just go here, though. That's dope. Me too. That's a dope name. Let me ask you this. If the Knicks do what Willingham in Virginia just said. Break out the broom? Would that be the greatest playoff run in NBA history? Yes. Now, that loss twice, two one-point losses to Atlanta. Yeah, back last year. No, no, it feels like last year. That would be 15 stray wins. No, they're at 12 right now. They're at 12 now, 13, 14, 15. 15. 15 and 2. I mean, oh, man. No, they need 16 wins. They need 16 to win.

5:39Rich Eisen:Right. Yeah, they got one. Yeah, they got one before. They got one before. That'd be 15 straight. Right, right, right. 15 straight. Yeah, 15 straight. 16 and 2. To run. Right, to run. And the margin of victory. That's what I'm talking about. The margin of victory, I think. Oh, man. I think it would have to be. The Lakers went 15 and 1 one year, right? Back when it was a three-game.

6:00Chris Webber:Shaquille O 'Neal, Kobe Bryant. Like, respectfully to the Knicks, there's nobody that's on that level on this.

6:08Rich Eisen:That makes the Knicks more impressive. That's what I'm saying. It's in the ether. That's what I'm saying. It's in the ether right now. It makes it more impressive. The Knicks to rip off 15 in a row and potentially have a, one would think, point differential in that 15-game win streak of over 300. I mean, that would be the greatest we've seen. And all these Ziggy's that you see on the screen with their brooms and everything in Cleveland. Warriors go 16-2 or something. Oh, my God. Well, but let's calm down. I know that. Let's quote Del Toto quoting the wolf. Let's not quote the wolf. Let's just invoke the wolf and move on.

6:42Rich Eisen:Get your next game.

6:47Rich Eisen:So Chet Holmgren got a lot of crap for what happened in game seven, right? A lot of it deserved. One of two from the floor. And after he was asked, you know, how to improve, what is he going to do to improve? And he said he was going to check the tape. And I would just say to Chet. Don't watch the tape. Don't watch your tape. Yeah. Don't watch your tape. Don't watch it. Watch Carl Anthony Towns tape from game one of the NBA final. Big bodega. Because Carl had zero fear. Cat came in and pounced. He played great. He came into this game with a plan and an intensity. And he was beating Wembon Yama off the dribble on the regular.

7:36Rich Eisen:Now, Richard Jefferson had many great lines last night. One of them was, for most people, beating off the dribble on the three-point arc going to the basket, you're out of position. But he's always in position because he closes out like the condor that he is, the alien that he is. And I think he even blocked a couple shots by being, quote-unquote, out of position. For sure. But you're putting him in that position to have to do that. You're also putting a body on him defensively. You're also shooting threes. You're also facilitating. but you're basically looking at him in the eye and saying, okay, let's play basketball.

8:16Rich Eisen:You're being aggressive. You're being competitive. You're not shying from the moment, which is what, quite frankly, it looked like from Holmgren. And Carl Anthony Towns, he had 10 of his 18 in the third quarter last night. When the Knicks were down by 14, he started it with OG. And then Brunson finished it. 7 of 15 from the floor. He made all of his free throws, four of them. He had 12 rebounds overall. Block shot. He got his money's worth. He had four fouls. One of them, he got popped for an offensive foul because he, did you see that one? He was going for a layup on Wemby and he was the one who created the contact with the hook underneath.

8:55I don't like that call, but I get it.

8:58Rich Eisen:I mean, Wemby was in position and then suddenly the contact was Carl trying to pull a fast one. I mean, he was plus 14 last night, which is only bettered by Josh Hart's plus 22. And that dude was not even on the floor in the first half. Josh Rodman. But the thing about Carl Anthony Towns, too, is he's just so – I just love his heart, man. I just love his essence. I love his spirit. I just love his love. He just approaches everything with his love. We've met him. The only person he doesn't approach with love is TJ because he's a Cowboy fan. But even that's done with love, I think. you know when he sends mariachi bands here and he just thinks of you with balloons and flowers when the only roast the ones you love you only roast the ones you love as we've seen from the roast master general who's also a lovely guy too he's also he's definitely spent a lot of money on me you know yeah he has because he loves you honestly he just approaches life in such a way that in the past has been called soft let's be honest right yeah no doubt it's been called soft Yeah.

10:01Rich Eisen:And now here we go. Game one, NBA finals. I'm coming into Wemby's house. Who cares? And then afterwards, he went on inside the NBA. Kenny the Jet Smith asked him a great question about a mindset, about anything that he felt different, anything that was different when he came to work on Wednesday night. And here was his answer.

10:24Chris Webber:I don't know what it was, but I just felt a calm and a peace that I don't know had to become from the woman above. So I felt really confident about today. I felt good. You know, I felt like a kid. It felt like it was just fun out here. This is something that as a kid you always dream about. You always hope that you just hope to be an NBA player, let alone to be in the NBA finals. And all day, it was just a weird feeling. It felt like I was a kid getting ready to go play my Saturday AAU games and Sunday AAU games. And in a way, I felt like I was seeing her in the stands. And it was just, it was fun.

11:03Chris Webber:It was really fun. And it was really comforting because, you know, game one of the NBA Finals, you're told how the pressure is going to be and everything is. And I don't know. It felt like a certain presence was here that was very comforting and very loving. And I felt like I could have fun out here in game one of the NBA Finals, which is the weirdest thing because you would expect to have the pressure at the highest.

11:25Rich Eisen:I love this guy. I texted him. I saw that last night. I texted him on the spot, and I'm like, you're one of my favorite Knicks ever. Ever. He hit you back? He did. Oh. That's shocking. Figured he'd be locked back. I don't know. I just wanted to meet him in terms of being emotionally present. You know what I mean? I didn't care if he responded or not. And I wouldn't have told you that he responded if you didn't ask me point blank. And he's referring to his mom, Jacqueline, who Jacqueline Cruz Towns passed away due to COVID complications in 2020. He lost multiple family members. And I'll bring this up on a day.

12:09Rich Eisen:It's your mom's birthday. You know, and you have to bless the fact that, you know, your mom is there. And he, you know, as Larry Fitzgerald just lost his dad. You know, I lost mine six years ago. I feel like my dad's here or seven years ago coming out this December. Wow. He's here every day. He's here every day in the way that I go about my business or the way that I live and love. And, you know, and same thing with Fitz, with his dad who just passed away. And Kat, I just love how emotionally present and intelligent he is. And I do hope that that does rub off on his teammates. because last year the whole storyline was he was rubbing his teammates the wrong way because there was a problem defensively and this and that.

12:55Rich Eisen:It just went down the tubes against the Pacers, and you don't know what to believe and what not to believe. And right now the Knicks are three dubs away from the Canyon of Heroes parade for the ages in New York City. Dustin in Arkansas back on the Rich Eisen Show. What's up, Dustin?

13:13Chris Webber:Hey, Rich. Thanks for taking the call. You got it, bud. And I'm really glad you played that clip of Carl Anthony Towns. I'm pulling for the Spurs. My David Robinson jersey, I had one from sixth grade, does not fit anymore if you can believe such a thing. But if he wins, then I'm happy with that. Like, yeah, it sucks that my team's going to lose, but he is such a good guy that I can't get mad at him.

13:41Rich Eisen:You know, and I kind of think, you know, Knicks fans are rubbing people the wrong way, but maybe not the Knicks themselves. But sixth grade jersey, number 50? Yeah, it doesn't fit anymore. The Admiral, David Robinson. Yeah. Yeah. 50, I think, is also the aggregate number of losses you predicted the Patriots to have over the last two seasons calling in for the win-loss. Dustin? Jeez. Am I wrong?

14:06Chris Webber:Even my girlfriend, Raven, who does not follow sports, she listened to that clip and is still giving me grief about it, like to this day.

14:13Rich Eisen:She's so Raven. Listen, Cooper wants a piece of you, Dustin. Yeah, big time. My son wants to talk with you. Yeah, he needs to chat with you.

14:23Chris Webber:He doesn't think you're really a Patriot fan.

14:25Rich Eisen:He thinks you've been trolling for two years.

Read the full transcript

14:27Chris Webber:I will answer any question he has, truthfully and honestly.

14:31Rich Eisen:Dustin in Arkansas making himself available. There he goes. I appreciate him calling in about this. How about that? He said, I'm so glad. Listen, I understand fans get wrapped up. There's also, I believe, Chris Haynes reporting today. Two fans were the ones that were barking in a derogatory manner at Jalen Brunson. He went up to Scott Foster afterwards. He dropped that on Dan Patrick's show today on DP's program. And that moron ran out on the court last night. Compose yourself. But I do appreciate that there is a, you know, Dustin wearing his Admiral jersey is saluting Carl Anthony Towns for his living in the present, which is so tough to do for all of us.

15:25Not to go, you know, too deep here, but it's so tough to live in the present.

15:31Rich Eisen:And you were rightfully saying yesterday you thought the under was going to hit, and it did. Because game one jitters for everybody. And Carl's like, I'm stunned at what piece I had in a game where everyone's telling me it's the biggest, you're going to, the stage is going to be bigger and you might be smaller because of it. And he was small. When he first started taking, and I know this is not his first game against Wimbanyama by any stretch, but just seeing him. Cat is huge. I know. And he looks small. He's next to Wemby.

16:06Chris Webber:Because I went and I found a picture of me and Kat. I'm 6 '3", as you know. So I'm looking at a picture of me and Kat. And I'm like, man, this dude hovers over me. And he's that much smaller to it. There's another human being on Earth?

16:19Rich Eisen:It's half a foot smaller than whatever. It's noticeable. Chris Weber, when we come back, perfect guy to talk about all this. 844-204-RICH, number to dial right here on the program. 844-204-RICH is, in fact, as I've said, the number to dial right here on the show. When it comes to your home, Pella Windows and Doors are the experts at taking care of you and your home. At Pella, they find the products that meet your needs and their experts install them. That means working with a company that builds and installs a quality product with real pricing, real simple, really beautiful. And when a trusted name like Pella chooses to partner with The Rich Eisen Show, well, that says a lot.

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19:31Rich Eisen:Chai's and Show radio audience is back with our Disney Plus and ESPN app feed. Good to see you, Chris Weber, my Hall of Fame friend. How you doing, C-Web?

19:39Chris Webber:Good to see you.

19:41Rich Eisen:So when you were last on the show, you were on with Suze, and you said there's going to be a blowout in game six for the Spurs, reaching a game seven, and lo and behold, that happened. Did game one surprise you of the NBA Finals?

19:54Chris Webber:Game one did surprise me. You know, not too many times am I a fan of the teams that isn't like my Pistons or my Kings, but I'm a fan of this New York Knicks team and the way that they play. However, in the beginning of the season, I picked San Antonio to win it all. And it's against kind of common sense being that they haven't had their proverbial moment of kind of needing to kind of get back in the game. They haven't had that big moment of let down and had to fight back and have that story of climbing uphill. But I think they're in a unique situation with Coach Popovich still. you know, being at the helm with their talent that they have, being loaded with guards.

20:43Chris Webber:But the way that Big Bobby Brunson came in and other guys played yesterday was just incredible.

20:49Rich Eisen:I was saying, you know, how Chet Holmgren mentioned how he was going to check his tape to see how he could get better after that Game 7 loss. And I was just saying moments ago, he should check Carl Anthony Towns' tape from Game 1. because he he there is no fear man right from jump last night with him what did you see about

21:11Chris Webber:that matchup yeah and to me that's the most important matchup and maybe why at times I didn't necessarily uh know if New York was going to prevail is because how physical is he going to be inside that's that's the main question and to me he did a great job of defending uh Wimby uh out on the perimeter, but then again, you have a seven-foot guy trying to go by you. You should be able to do that. I was more impressed with his rebounds. If Carl Anthony Towns averaged 12 rebounds during this, I think they'll win the series. Why? Because it helps control the pace. They get out, they get to run faster.

21:48Chris Webber:And that means that he was in close to the basket on possessions. And when you, you know, that may seem a little common sense, but that really means like, where was he in the lane? where was he helping on defensive rotations? Well, if he's always near the paint, that's what you want your big guy to be. And then on the offensive end, you know, Wendy has to guard and recognize this guy can shoot threes. He can get by you. But what I really love in knowing Mike Brown is that they put him at the free throw line extended and let him, you know, really go to work. And in that way, he can be a facilitator and take a lot of pressure off of the offense, off of the dribbles of Brunson.

22:27Chris Webber:So, yeah, Towns played well.

22:29Rich Eisen:Yeah, and you see every time Josh Hart grabs a rebound, he had 15, which was a game high for everybody on Wednesday night. They're looking to run. That's a Mike Brown concept. Obviously, the Knicks aren't the only team to do such a thing. But you said knowing Mike Brown the way that you do, how do you see the Mike Brown philosophy working here in a way that clearly wasn't working in previous years for the Knicks, Chris?

22:57Chris Webber:So they have a defensive-minded coach in Thibodeau who's a great coach and can get your team to that level. However, at this time, you need coaches that can get you the ball in spots with play calling, with decoy plays and others to get easy looks for their superstars. And though Brunson made some of the toughest shots ever, he was getting good looks and missing them. And when you have that good kind of frustration, you know you can turn that on at the end. He wants passing. He wants ball movement. He wants spacing and yes to push it. And that's why when you see a team like San Antonio go three for 19 in the fourth quarter, right?

23:34Chris Webber:Now, I remember doing a famous game of Golden State against Houston. And they missed something like 17 threes in a row. And I remember the criticism they got there in that game seven. When that same criticism needs to go to a San Antonio, you know, when you're missing those three-point shots, you got to find a way to get inside and get to the bucket or get to the free throw line. because when you miss free throws against teams that love to run and you take bad shots, your offense is your defense. And so those long rebounds, they're going to go and get an easy two. So I look for much better discretion in their shot selection come game two from San Antonio.

24:09Rich Eisen:Yeah, Mitch Johnson was talking about how Wembenyama needs to live in the paint more. That was a conversation after the game that makes me think this will be an emphasis in between games for sure. And when Banyama says, I just need to play better and everyone else will play better and we'll be fine game two. Do you agree with that, Chris?

24:33Chris Webber:I kind of do agree with it. If you look, it was close down the stretch. It was until the last two minutes when, you know, a team took off. So I do agree. But however, you don't want to be close with New York. They play so hard. I love their heart. I love the connectivity of the players. And so you just don't want to let a team be able to use passion when it's close, especially on your home floor. I mean, who, you know, Brunson gave him 60 piece a couple of years ago. I mean, he's confident. The big fellas are confident. Carl Anthony Towns yesterday, you know, was doing his thing. And so they're feeling great right now.

25:07Chris Webber:And I think if you're San Antonio, I do love the candor of Wimby Yama. I love the fact he says he wasn't worried in the slightest, but they're going to, you know, I love it a lot more if they come out and prove that.

25:18Rich Eisen:I'm about to ask you a question I can't believe I have not asked you yet, ever, let alone over the last several months as you've been a regular here. Being a guy so closely associated with his college teammates and what that was like from back in the day with the Fab Five, the Nova Knicks together. How does that manifest itself, do you think, Chris, in a game like Game 1 of the NBA Finals? Bridges who didn't really, his stat line didn't jump out and Hearts did at the end, but and Brunson, we all know what he's doing right now in his career. How much is playing together in college and winning in college manifesting right now, do you think?

25:58Chris Webber:So, man, this one rubs me kind of, this one rubs me a little bit. So throughout my whole career in talking to GMs, coaches, and now consulting teams and others, I've always tried to put emphasis on relationships. Because if you're already good at what you do, you're talking about coming back and you're going to be interviewing people from SportsCenter. And so all you guys have the same jersey on, but you had different names on the back of the jersey. And as long as you could trust that other guy with a different name, then you wanted to work with people that you like. You want to work with people that you have accountable, that held you accountable, that in your off time you could...

26:38Chris Webber:And I don't think teams really understand that enough. And hopefully with the way that, you know, these guys are playing, it could show that it means a lot when you play with guys in college or high school and you have that relationship, AAU or whatever, and you're both going for the same dream and goal because you're not competing against each other. You already have your check signed. And so it goes back to the schoolyard. It goes back to holding each other accountable, not overdoing it, having a history with each other. How about that? And so I think that, you know, New York has definitely shown that.

27:11Chris Webber:And speaking to a GM earlier this season, he was laughing and saying maybe I was right about that.

27:19Rich Eisen:I could say so. It does help, though, to have one of the three become generationally brilliant. Like maybe statue worthy if three more wins happen over the next two weeks in Brunson, right?

27:32Chris Webber:You're so right. But let's say that Brunson is not going to happen. It doesn't make another shot the rest of the game and play, or the rest of the series and play 48 minutes a game. Do you trust his effort? Yeah. I would say yeah. And that's part of it. You know, the effort of guys that, you know, you really do care who's standing right there on your side. And no, Brunson's generational. However, you know, he was at Dallas, and people didn't think he was generational, scoring the same amount. And until you have a coach like Thibodeau, until you had the heart of players that were just like him with that toughness.

28:09Chris Webber:And then you have the city and the fans behind it to kind of keep amplifying that. So, yeah, I really do believe that he would have been, you know, this great anywhere else. But I tell you what, I think he would admit that, you know, did you see that live video when he found out that his teammates were being traded and how genuinely happy he was? I think a fan showed him, you know, wow, you're about to get your teammates on his team. So you really can't quantify how important it is having your friend on a team with you while you're chasing the dream.

28:41Rich Eisen:Hall of Famer Chris Weber here on the Rich Eisen Show. So I think we've already, again, hit a little bit on Brunson, but I want to expound on it. What is it like in the fourth quarter? How do you do what Brunson seems to have the knack for doing? We're all looking for a secret sauce. What is it, Chris?

29:02Chris Webber:I think you're built for it. I think that it's a concentrated focus and a time that you can go back and trust your work, whether it is being in the gym all the time or, you know, I've known Brunson before he was born. I went to the McDonald's All-American game with his father. And we've always been close. And if you look on that videotape, if you look online and just see the workouts that he put his son through, I guarantee that a son would say at that moment during those times of his life when he couldn't see the end of the road. And if it was going to make him better, being in the park with his father and shooting those shots, that it's harder than what he's doing now because of the mental approach and where he was.

29:44Chris Webber:And it made him who he is today. And so I think that you prepare for it. I think the fact that, you know, I think, I hope that he's showing players that you better have a mid-range game. Like, he's not just sitting out there shooting threes. And neither does the best shooter in the world, Stephen Curry, just sit out there and shoot threes. He's one of the best finishers in the game. And to me, what he, what SGA and others are showing, that you can't be a standoff there specialist and shoot a bunch of threes. that you have to have the heart to take him into the hole and miss some layups and to be physical.

30:21Chris Webber:And I think that his mental mentality is tough. I think it is the way that he was raised and the expectations put on him about who he could be. And I think he just worked his ass off. And that's why, you know, only a few, you know, players really can shine, you know, in moments consistently like he has in the fourth quarter.

30:39Rich Eisen:I don't know if you heard this soundbite from Mike Brown last night about Rick Brunson's contributions. We always talk about Jalen's, but since you know Rick from back in the day and you're a Mike Brown guy, I don't know if you heard this about what was going down with the Knicks in the third quarter, second quarter, things aren't going their way and they're carping at the refs. I didn't do a good job of keeping my mind present in the game, and neither did our players. We were all bitching too much at the officials, and Rick Brunson was great. He told me to shut the hell up. Sorry, Mom. He told me to shut up or be quiet, and he told the rest of the team to be quiet and leave the officials alone.

31:17Rich Eisen:And, you know, it was great of him because we were all kind of losing our mind. And I did it. The rest of the guys did it. And it helped us put our energy elsewhere, especially in the second half. Is that track for you, C-Wend?

31:31Chris Webber:That tracks for me. I'm telling you, that's who his father is. That's who he was as a Knick. That's who he was as a player. That's how he is with his son. And that's why his son is that way. And, you know, you always, you know, I think context is great. And you have to realize he was with John Chaney at Temple. He didn't have the luxury to talk. He was told to shut the hell up every single day. So, you know, you want leaders like that on your team. And, you know, Mike Brown is cool, man. He was an assistant coach way back with me in the Wizard Days for his first job. And even going to championships and being from Golden State, He's kept that humility.

32:11Chris Webber:His context comes from Kerr. His context comes from Popovich. And he empowers those assistant coaches. You never hear a coach say an assistant coach's name in a scrum. You know, and giving credit to, you know, my staff, my staff. And so I just think the little things like that is why so many people believe that against all lives, because they're still going up against Goliath. No matter how great the Knicks are, they still weren't favored to win this series. And so you need people like that in the locker room to remind you who you are, to calm you down, to give you that focus. And it's good to see Coach Brown giving props to his assistant coaches that do so much of the work.

32:56Rich Eisen:How does constant carping at the refs sort of tear a team down, though? How does that manifest?

33:03Chris Webber:Because, like, shut up, be playing. Like, you know, certain times the reps are doing that. And there's other times, you know, you get tired of whining, you know. And if you can't whine in a practice, if you're on a good team, there's no whining in a practice. Matter of fact, the coach will let it go and let you get filed so that you have to learn how to get back on defense after you've been filed so you can change bad habits. And so who wants to sit there and cry all the time? It doesn't work. A call has never been changed because a guy went to the ref and said, you know, that wasn't going to file.

33:35Chris Webber:And so I think it keeps you focused on the big goal. Like, come on, what are we crying about this now? We got bigger things ahead of us. At least the times that I've got on this board, when teams were crying too much, whether it was myself or other players, it's been that. It's a refocusing of are we giving them that much power? Are they in control? Are we going to change this and go out there and be dogs and get it?

33:56Rich Eisen:Chris Weber here on the Rich Eisen Show. All right. So we kind of touched on it earlier that when Banyama needs to camp out and the paint more. What else? What do you think the Spurs can do, needs to do to get a different result in game two? Chris?

34:13Chris Webber:I think the Spurs are going to have to switch up the pacing. I think that trying to have Wim Bamiana win a track meet is not wise. It's not wise because it wears them down, and it's not wise because when you get shots, he's not maybe in position or where he'd like to be or you're not getting the best shots. I do expect their team to knock down more three-pointers. And if they do, you know, you're going to be in trouble. And I'm not saying that he has to be at the, you know, in the post, but he needs to throw a different array of moves. He needs to be at the free throw line where it's one dribble and he can just dunk and step in there where he doesn't have to cross you over or pump faith, but he can just do that, reverse inside, pivot, and take you right to the hole.

34:57Chris Webber:And then, you know, just give you a steady dose of his game, but in different areas. is he's so talented. Sometimes when you're so talented and you don't have the experience of playing against a team or being in a certain round, you can have empty impact and you don't want to have empty impact. Again, going back to guys like Shaq, and we always talk about who could have played and what generation. Well, you know, the numbers Wendby are putting up are incredible, but if he puts those numbers up and no one gets in foul trouble, or if he puts those numbers up and he doesn't, you know, stop guys from coming to the lane because you saw that Brunson was hitting mid-range jumpers.

35:38Chris Webber:So your shot blocking may not be as effective, but it's how do you wear the other team down? And to me, it's not with always taking long threes. It's making them worry. If Josh Hart switches out on you, you better go into the post and dominate and punish them and make them change their strategy. But until we see that, I think New York's going to have a chance. But Wimbledon is playing great. And I think, you know, as he said, after the game, he knows what he has to do. He'll make an adjustment. And they haven't lost after a game one loss. So I expect him to come back and to be great.

36:12Rich Eisen:So before I let you go, last one for you. Since we haven't spoken since the Spurs made the finals over the Thunder, if you're Sam Presti and you have an opportunity, I'm not saying he does, but if you do have an opportunity to send Chet Holmgren to Milwaukee and get Giannis back, do you do it?

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37:35Made him think.

37:36Chris Webber:Yeah. First of all, I wonder if Milwaukee would do that.

37:42Rich Eisen:Okay. I'm just saying if you could, if Milwaukee does that. Because you know he's on the market, and you're like, okay. You can send Holmgren and his contract. And picks. And picks to Milwaukee and get Giannis back and team him up with the kids you got in SGA. Do you do it?

38:01Chris Webber:No, I'm trying to convince Milwaukee to take all my picks and let me keep Chet. Chet is a once-in-a-generation body. Well, two, because it's him and Wendy. But the way that he can move and he's fluid. You know, I didn't expect Chet to be better than Wendy. I didn't expect Chet to score a bunch of points in game seven. I think that was shame on us or the media that thought that he could do that or that's who he was. He's never been that player. However, if he's your third best player, I mean, just think about the luxury of Towns, what he has with OG and what he has with Brunson. Just think about that piece.

38:45Chris Webber:If Chet can have that and be that third player, I think Chet, I mean, how could you score over Chet and Giannis? I would be scared of that. That'd be the best of length in there. So I try to get rid of picks that, you know, I don't have young guys because they have some young guys on their bench, but I'm not getting rid of check.

39:04Rich Eisen:Okay, Chris, thank you again. I love chopping it up with you. We'll do it again next week. In the meantime, enjoy the NBA finals, certainly because with Myles Garrett coming to Los Angeles, the NFL season is over on June 4th. NFL season.

39:19Chris Webber:The Lions are my team, but Stafford, That's my quarterback, so I'm happy for Stafford.

39:26Rich Eisen:You must be over the moon right now. Great to see you, C-Web. We'll chat soon. Hi, brother. That's Chris Webber. Hall of Famer Chris Webber right there. I love that. Made him think. He did. I thought we glitched for a second. Did we freeze? No, I saw that wasn't a freeze. I panicked. Brockman, I was like, what's going on? That was almost an end of Sopranos type delay right there. Had to think. But he had to think. He had to think. I think Chris was just trying to be polite, and he didn't want to throw. No, I think he thought about it. I think I made him. I threw him that curve. I threw him that Lord Charles, that Dwight Gooden 06, Lord Charles curveball at the end there.

40:10Rich Eisen:Let me tell you what I'm doing. Sending Chet to Milwaukee for Giannis. Facts. I'll even get him a real estate agent. He could just move into Giannis' old crib. Even swap. He'd have to kick his brothers out. Well, they're coming. You know that. 844-204-RICH-NUMBER-TO-DOLL. Your phone calls. In hour number three, the author of Go the F to College, Adam Mansback, is in our green room. He's going to come out and have a chat. The Rich Eisen Show, the podcast.

40:47Rich Eisen:Just had a nice chat with the author, Adam Mansback. You may. Did you ever read Good Night Moon, Chris? Yes. OK. We did that all the time, Susan and I. And then and then. Adam wrote this book that became a New York Times bestseller and was big in our house as well, called Go the F to Sleep. And then didn't Samuel Jackson do the audio version? Indeed. And now is Go the F to College. and as soon as I heard Adams in town, you know, like Liz, it's like, you don't want them on. I'm like, I'm like, absolutely. I want them on church. Would you take them? I'm like, sure. Let's do it. Cause, uh, now my son, I used to read, uh, good night moon to is going off to college.

41:37Rich Eisen:Going after college. Um, Suze will be on the program in hour three as well. She stops by in advance of today's, um, episode of women's sports now. So that's coming up. Phone calls galore. She also had donuts dropped off outside. Yeah, I saw that, too. She dropped off the donut. That's just not for me. Yeah, well, we know that. She texted me. She's like, donuts at the door. I'm like, now's your chance. Okay. What do you mean at the door? She leaves them at the door. Yeah, they get right behind the studio. She's literally doing a drive-by. She just drops them and keeps going. Oh, okay. Yeah. Very good.

42:09Rich Eisen:So she leaves them outside. Come get them, fat boy. You get off the elevator. Come get them, fat boy. Has been told. That's how I felt because I went to get them. All right. Let's go to Ross in New Jersey. Ross in New Jersey. Ross. What's up, Ross in New Jersey? What's up, sir?

42:27Chris Webber:Going on, Rich.

42:28Rich Eisen:First time caller. I love the show, man. Oh. Attaboy. Where in New Jersey are you calling in from?

42:34Chris Webber:Bergen County, Elmwood Park. That's about 20 miles outside of New York City.

42:39Rich Eisen:So I'm right around the inner radius of this Knicks run, man. Well, Ross. I'm in a drive from MetLife, too. Okay. I know exactly where Bergen County is. I mentioned how I turned 30 during the 99 NBA finals between the Knicks and the Spurs. And I turned 30 in a bar called Denial. And I mentioned how Dr. Jack Ramsey and my Uncle Myron were in the same room. You never mentioned Uncle Myron. Uncle Myron and Aunt Isabel lived in Bergen County. River Edge, New Jersey. There you go.

43:08Chris Webber:Oh, yeah. I'm in River Edge all the time. You know Elmwood Park right on the river? Right off of Route 4. Yeah, I know where you are. Yep. Yep.

43:16Rich Eisen:That's East Coast folks.

43:17Chris Webber:What's up, Ross?

43:18Rich Eisen:What's going on?

43:20Chris Webber:Yeah, listen, the Knicks are taking this area by storm. And obviously, Rich, you know what your Jets, I mean, the misery, I don't need to explain it to you. It falls right on the Mets. The Knicks were probably the biggest culprit of it all. Out where you are now, you guys, you get Stafford and Garrett, Otani comes running over there, Rich, get richer. Out where you are now and with us, I mean, let's be honest, there's just some people here, I don't know if you know the personality, Evan Roberts, he's got a quote, winners win, losers lose. and the New York Knicks probably felt like one of the biggest losers in the world of sports, so much so that us fans were pretty much kind of paranoid that the Jalen Brunson contract, the day it was signed, would not turn out well.

43:57Chris Webber:I don't think even the most optimistic of Knicks fans, and I don't know if there were many back 10 years ago to the day, could have seen what Jalen Brunson and so on turned into. Listen, man, I'm 19 years old. You've got to go back 13 years before I was born. The last time any of my teams won a championship was the 1994 New York Rangers. And obviously, you know, your Jets, the Mets, kind of like that Long Island fan, they don't have anything since 86 with the Mets. So the fact now where you've got cities like Boston win titles every other year, you know, even L.A., Denver, even only having one sport in each of the big four, kind of seem like they have one every other year with the Nuggets and the Avalanche.

44:32Chris Webber:The fact that we're not only getting a run period, but this type of run where you win 12 straight the last time they lost a game was night one of the NFL draft.

44:40Rich Eisen:I mean, I don't think the most optimistic of New York sports fans could have even dreamed of this ever happening, man. Ross in New Jersey, Rackham. That is the way to describe exactly what's happening in that area, sir. Great call, dude. Well done. Thank you, man. You be well. That's Ross in New Jersey. A 19-year-old with a very aware sensibility of what's gone down there, man. So he's a Jet fan too, then? I just don't. Here's the thing. It sounds like it. I don't want to go in this direction yet. because when you start going in the direction of what it means and what it's looking like and whatever, this is just the beginning, man.

45:16Rich Eisen:I mean, a series only begins when a road team wins in the playoffs, so I guess technically the NBA Finals has just begun. Has begun. Right? But you can run away with it in your mind because the Knicks have run away with every series they've had. Every game. once they finally turned something on against the Atlanta Hawks in the first round. Yeah. And so you can run away with it by saying they're about to do that again to the Spurs, and I would just counsel against that sensibility. Let's see what happens Friday night. But if they go back to Madison Square Garden up 2-0, they would be giving they would be giving the Spurs the same dose of their 1999 medicine which is going to Madison Square Garden up 2-0 except they did it at home they did it at home what was the stat 70 % of game 1 winners end up winning the championship it is a massive advantage massive advantage not just because you've already established some sort of ability to execute on the floor, but you also now have that house money mentality going into game two and knowing all you got to do from now, all they have to do.

46:43Rich Eisen:And if you told the Knicks fans this going into the season, all you got to do is win your three games in Madison Square Garden and you got to parade. That's all you have to do. Tall order, but you'd rather say all you got to do, win in Madison Square Garden. And it's a wrap. Holy crap. And that rhymed.

47:29Chris Webber:The Rich Eisen Show Podcast. on ABC and the ESPN app.

From the publisher

Knicks fan Rich weighs in on Karl-Anthony Towns more than holding his own against Victor Wembanyama in New York’s NBA Finals Game 1 win over the San Antonio Spurs .Knicks fan Rich weighs in on Karl-Anthony Towns more than holding his own against Victor Wembanyama in New York’s NBA Finals Game 1 win over the San Antonio Spurs.
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