Latest / Bring The Thunder Podcast / 2026 NBA All-Star selections EXPOSED 🔒 Who Got SNUBBED?

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2026 NBA All-Star selections EXPOSED 🔒 Who Got SNUBBED? · Bring The Thunder Podcast

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You're listening to the Bring the Thunder Podcast, a podcast
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by fans, for fans. Yes, you are indeed, ladies and
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gentlemen, and welcome back to the Bring the Thunder podcast
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episode 37. Round of applause to you guys.
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We've made it through 36 episodes, 37 today.
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Really excited for this one. The All Star teams fully have
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been dropped a lot of controversy this year.
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We'll start off obviously with the starters in the Eastern
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Conference, Kate Cunningham, Jaylen Brunson, Jaylen Brown,
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Tyrese Maxi and Giannis. Originally you would think
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that's a pretty decent starting five.
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Well, the world versus USA format is just terrible this
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year, but we'll get into that. The reserves for the Eastern
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Conference, we have some good names, some some names you guys
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wanted to see, starting with Scotty Barnes.
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Jalen Dern makes it as the Pistons are the one seed.
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Jalen Johnson makes his first All Star appearance.
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I'm pretty sure Jack's pretty hype about that one.
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Donovan Mitchell, Karl Anthony Towns questionable, Pascal
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Siakam questionable and Norman Powell who's, you know, had a
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really strong case last year, but he was in the Western
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Conference last year so I'm actually kind of glad that he
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gets in there this year. He's been pretty, pretty elite
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offensively 2 years in a row here for the West, we got Curry,
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Donchette, Shea Yokich and Victor Wembinyama, the reserves,
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Deniadvia, Devin Booker, Kevin Durant and Edwards, Chet
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Holmgren, LeBron James and Jamal Murray.
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So with that being said fellas, I am going to just kick it
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straight to Gabe here to start. Gabe, we mentioned the two
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teams, the reserves and the starters.
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You got a couple guys that you think missed the cut this year
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that are deserving more than some people in there.
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Yeah. I mean, I think one of the
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biggest ones, that this isn't a unique idea just to me, this is
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one that everybody's talking about, and that's Kawhi Leonard
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not making it. Kawhi Leonard has had a very
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good season. I mean, the Clippers, I remember
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the very beginning. I know you guys will remember
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this as well, but at the very beginning of the year when the
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Clippers were, I mean, detrimentally bad, they've
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they've started to fix things, they've started to figure things
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out and Kawhi Leonard has played a a reasonable amount of games
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for normal. I mean, he's played 35 games
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this year, which for him, you know, you got to you got to give
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him credit when he plays a decent amount of games since
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that's not so common, but averaging, if you're rounding
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up, he's averaging 28 points per game.
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He's one of those guys that it just feels strange not
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mentioning him at all in this in this All Star game format like
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that. That's just something that
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surprises me. And As for who to replace him
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with, that's tough because there's several guys that I
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think you could put him over. And I mean, the first one I
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think of is Denny of Dia. I I just frankly, I just don't
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know if the stats equal up to what Kawhi Leonard has been
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doing this season. I know the Blazers have been
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really good. The Blazers have been breaking
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expectations, you know, for what everybody thought.
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But I don't know if you're asking me to pick between Kawhi
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Leonard and Denny of Diaz players, I'm gonna take Kawhi
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Leonard. I, I think Kawhi Leonard is
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genuinely just a straight up better player.
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I, I think he brings more. I think he's more dominant.
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He's more clutched. I think he's a better scorer.
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He's a better defender. Denny's got the got the size and
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the rebounding. And I mean, I'll give him credit
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for play making as well. But Kawhi Leonard's my pick
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here. So I'll, I'll open up with that.
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I mean, it doesn't have to be Denny who goes, but I just think
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that's probably the first one that I think of when I'm looking
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at that line up. And Kawhi Leonard is the one, to
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me, who absolutely deserves to get at least a mention.
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Yeah, I I'm going to agree with that one.
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I'm not going to say too much because I obviously have my own,
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but one of the things that Denny had the edge on Kawhi early was
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the record. Well, the Clippers have been the
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best team since Christmas in the NBA, and they've jumped the
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Blazers in the Western Conference standings.
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Kawhi not being on this list is insane.
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Satvir will kick it to you. One guy you think deserves it
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and one guy maybe not. Oh, man, I I guess for me out
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West, I've always been a Kevin Durant hater, will forever be a
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Kevin Durant hater. And I don't understand kind of,
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you know, putting him up this high.
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He's only had more of a recent stint of games where he's been,
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you know, carrying that rockets team.
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But overall, I think Shingoon's the best player on that Rockets
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team. If I had to, you know, flip flop
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anyone, at least on the Western Conference reserves.
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And then I'm looking out East here.
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Oh, man, this is also where it gets pretty tough if I'm going
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to take someone off. Oh, gosh, I guess Norman or
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yeah, Powell probably is the one guy that I could see getting off
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the roster or even Karl Anthony Towns is another name.
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Michael Porter Junior, I was honestly surprised he didn't
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make it. I know people are probably going
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to mention, you know, I guess the empty stats or whatnot.
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But I guess if Joel Embiid could, you know, have played a
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little bit better, he's been really good as of late.
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It's hard to argue for someone like that not to be in the
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Eastern Conference. So those are, I guess the first
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couple names that come to my mind, at least as far as also
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Kevin Durant being on the list or not Kevin Durant, LeBron
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James being on the list out West.
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Not shocking, but still. I think maybe we had the snub of
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like James Harden, who really carried this team while Kawhi
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Leonard was out and I feel like he didn't get the recognition
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for especially for his age. I mean, if a Norman Powell can
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get in there, I'm sure you can, you know, sneak James Harden in
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there as well. And have to agree with the Denny
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pick. I mean, take away the free
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throws and he pretty much is, you know, not as valuable as
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what his stats are saying. And I think me and Joe and
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anyone that's covered the Portland pre games, we've kind
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of been on him as the most overrated guy, at least on the
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team. And every time he faces us, he
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put some pretty abysmal numbers against the better opposition
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teams. He just kind of eats against,
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you know, lesser opponents. And then also, I mean the free
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throws are kind of getting out of hand, so.
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Jack will swing it to you. Yeah, before I get started, I
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just want to say two things. Jamal Murray and Jaylen Johnson
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making it is really cool, very much deserved.
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And it's it's refreshing to see players like that finally get
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respect and feels like it's not too far gone with all the snubs
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that did happen that if those guys got in, then I'm pretty
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happy with that. At least the second one is.
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Well, my, I guess my first snub is that Anthony Edwards should
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have been starting over Victor Wimbledon in the West as
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starters. If you don't agree, argue with a
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brick wall because I'm right. Anyway, going into my snubs.
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I mean, I've been thinking about this and I've kind of really
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questioning what it does mean to be an All Star.
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But then I guess popularity and how much of A highlight kind of
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player you are does affect that. So that's kind of why LeBron
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made it and some players like Kawhi didn't not maybe not my
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biggest snub because I think he might be a year away, but how
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like Norman Powell was last year.
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But Keonte George, I think the traction he got was really cool
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to see. And I mean, I wouldn't have
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minded seeing him in the All Star game.
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Obviously, I don't think it's too big of a snub, him not
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making it, but I'm happy that he did, like did at least get some
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talk. And I think he's one or two
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years away from getting it. But yeah, I have to agree,
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Denny, after you and deserves to make it for all the reasons you
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guys already said. But another two names I would
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argue is Pascal Siakam and Karl Anthony Towns in the East.
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I think both have been rather mediocre and disappointing this
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season, especially compared to them at their best.
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Katz definitely having one of the worst seasons of his career
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and Pascal's on the worst team in the NBA.
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And I just don't know how much All Star value that really has.
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They're not really putting up highlights or doing anything
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that the fan vote should sway in their way.
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So yeah, it was a bit confusing seeing that, but the East is
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pretty weak. But I think NB definitely should
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have made it over both of them. For me, I I agree with the
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Pascal and I I kind of I'm not going off topic when I say this.
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The NBA has a problem. You we shouldn't be one.
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We shouldn't be doing US Sabres world, the rosters, like I said,
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we'll get into a little bit. It's terrible.
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Like I think Jaylen Brown for the USA is the tallest guy in
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the starting lineup and for the world it's like Wembe Yokich and
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like SGA. That's just not all right.
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But with that being said, Pascal Siakam, we know he's a great
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player. He shouldn't be an All Star this
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year. His team is miserable.
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All Stars make their teams better.
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His team has been one of the worst in the league all year
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long. And I know that his, you know,
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starting point guard has been injured and they've had some
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other injuries there too. But Siakam can't get into the
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All Star game with thirteen wins.
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It just can't happen for me. I'm not a fan of the guy at all,
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but it's if you're going to let Pascal Siakam go to the All Star
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game with thirteen wins, you might as well let MPJ go to the
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All Star game. Michael Porter Junior has much
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more better stats than Siakam this year.
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Better stats, similar wins, but it's been extremely he's just
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been way better. When Porter Junior has played
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for the Nets, he's putting up crazy numbers, making eight to
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10 threes, 30 points. No matter, you know, however, he
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wants to get it and Cialkom's in a similar position.
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Like I always say. Well, MPJ won't do that on a
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contending team because he's not going to be able to shoot all
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the shots, right, because MPJ is getting like 20-5 shots up
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whenever he wants on the Nets. But Cialkom could do that on the
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patients this year. There aren't really any players
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around him. There's some decent players
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still, but he could still be taking over like MPJ does and I
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don't know, that just rubs me the wrong way that Tiaka makes
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it over. Porter junior Karl Anthony Towns
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as well. He's been pretty shitty.
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He's averaging 1911, which I guess is fine.
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The Knicks fans want him off their their team like that.
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That should just tell you this guy's not an All Star.
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And then for me, another one on the Western Conference.
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LeBron, I'm sorry, maybe it's because you know, he hasn't
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officially said it's his last year and people are speculating
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even though we all know it's going to be next year because
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he's going to win this tour, which is absolutely like he
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should. But there's a lot of better
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players. Like you guys brought up Kawhi.
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He's he's been better than LeBron all year.
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LeBron missed shit ton of games. Lucas still had them afloat.
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Kawhi's been carrying that shitty ass Clippers team on his
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back recently. I mean he's been one of the
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better scorers in the league. He leads the league in steals
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and they've been the best team since Christmas.
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So I don't know how he's left off.
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There's been speculation. There's been two things, one
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with his like money laundering thing that they don't want to
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put him in in the Jack had another good point earlier.
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It was just they want exciting players in the All Star game.
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Well, I just want the best players and I don't think LeBron
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deserves it over Kawhi. Also don't think LeBron deserves
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it over Alpern Sangoon. And I know some of you guys on
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the panel are going to disagree with me.
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I personally agree with Sapir. I think outside of the last week
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and a half stretch from Durant, I think Sangoon's been the best
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player on that team all year long.
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He's kind of there. He's kind of the guy on that
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team. Durant has the potential to
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score 36 to 40 points, but Sangoon's the probably their
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most consistent offensive player.
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He dominates the pain. He's not great defensively, but
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is anyone on that team outside Alman Thompson?
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I don't think so. Sangoon's a good shout.
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I think he's been better than LeBron this year.
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And then another guy that Jack mentioned, Keante George, he's
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been really good, right? And if we're going to put Siakam
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in there on the eastern side, why can't Keante George make it
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on the Western Conference side? I could argue that Keante George
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deserves over LeBron too. If you want to go compare their
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stats, I mean counties got better stats I guess it's the
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wins there but I I just don't enjoy that Lebrons making that
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this making it this year because he doesn't deserve it at all.
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There's another player who I wanted to shout out, but I think
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it's kind of crazy because of the team success that no one
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really saw coming. And this guy's been one of the
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big leaders on that team and that's Brandon Ingram.
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I mean, the Raptors are the four seed in the East.
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It seems crazy to me that he doesn't even get a nod.
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I mean, he's averaging over 24 points per game.
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He's I think it's over 24. Let me correct myself before I
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say something dumb. I am off 22, but still, he's
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having a very efficient season. And you want to talk about
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someone like Siakam, who he's got good stats, but his team's
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got thirteen wins. Why would why is why are we not
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giving the nod to the guy who's one of the leaders on a Raptors
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team that nobody saw being a top four team in the East when he's
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been a consistent player up for them all year?
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I mean, I know they gave Scotty Barnes the nod and you know,
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he's the leader. I'll give him that.
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But to act like Ingram isn't also a giant reason this team's
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gotten here, it's just crazy to me.
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I mean, he's been incredibly consistent.
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He's played 49 games this season.
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I mean, he's been constantly doing it, constantly helping out
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the team. And I've not heard of anybody
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even mention Brandon Ingram in in this sense.
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So that's a guy who you could easily switch, switch out Siakam
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for or Cat. It's just I I just don't get why
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no one's mentioning Ingram. Great shout, he's probably their
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best offensive player. I know Barnes is obviously their
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defensive anchor this year, but the team was shit until Ingram
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got traded there and this year we're starting to see that
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they're often flow a little better.
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Brandon Ingram definitely deserved a reserve spot in the
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East as well. You're right.
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Another one that I would make the argument for his former
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Thunder player Josh Giddy, 19, nine and 9:00.
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But then it leads me back to this, like what what are the
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conditions or the the terms to become an All Star?
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Because I feel like it's got a bit foggy now kind of drawing
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like crossing the line between a very good basketball player and
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also entertaining and like the highlight aspect because of the
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fan votes. So I think the whole All Star
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needs a whole rework. In my opinion.
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It's been pretty dismal the last couple years with the the mini
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tournament they've been running or people not trying and all
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that kind of stuff. And then like when you're
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thinking of who should make it, there's not really a set
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criteria as such. So you kind of jumble between a
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couple names and there's always going to be snubs in that sense.
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So I think they need to refigure the criteria and just go back to
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a normal game because I think they're doing too much when it
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comes to these games. And I would love to see it be
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competitive. But you got to check something
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on the line like home port advantage in the finals.
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That's been said for the last like 5 years but that's make it
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make it fun. That's the one right there.
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I mean, really quick SAP here, SAP here before I get to you.
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The MLB used to do it and their All Star game.
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It was the winner of would get home field advantage in in the
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World Series. And I mean what what's better
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than that? You want homecourt advantage in
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the NBA Finals? That's the only way they just
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got to get back to West versus east or honestly, even if you
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don't want to do that, get back to the drafting.
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You know, like when Durant and LeBron were drafting Giannis,
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LeBron, because this is terrible.
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We're we're going to watch. I mean, last year, I don't think
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it could get worse than last year's, but this year it's
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definitely going to come close to it.
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Zapper, do you have any more snubs?
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I do, I do. I have a couple here.
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I was looking through the list and I don't think Cat deserved
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it with all the names that we're mentioning out east.
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But has anyone mentioned the name Paulo Bancaro?
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Like are we forgetting this young talent out here out east?
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He's top 25 in NBA points and rebounds per game, also
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averaging about 5 assists nearly.
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And I mean his the record 25 and 3 is more indicated by his early
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misses, like of the games that he missed.
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I think otherwise he'd probably be more considered.
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But I think over a guy like Cat with the way his season has
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gone, I think he should definitely be in there.
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Mancura's a name. We could even mention Desmond
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Bain, 19 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists.
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And I feel like out east he he could at least deserve a nod for
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a magic team. I already mentioned Joel and B
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James Harden. Brandon Ingram's been mentioned
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and Kawhi, but the other name, this one's kind of peculiar that
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we're missing him. He doesn't come to mind.
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But Lori Markinen is averaging 27 points.
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I feel like, you know, he's someone that should be mentioned
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here. I think he's made All Star team
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three straight seasons since 2023 or something like that or
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up until that point. So for him to miss and us, you
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know, mentioning maybe Kiante, I think he he deserves a nod as
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well. I think a few of these reserves,
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quite frankly, like a guy like Sangoon, I don't think he made
17:27
it because they needed more guys on the Team USA.
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Like if they had another 7 foot big to that World Team.
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And I can bring it up, I don't know.
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I mean, it's going to be for for the starters, for Team USA
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believe it's like Cade, Jalen Brunson, like Tyrese Maxi, Steph
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and and Giannis or and Jalen Brown, like they're going to get
17:55
dominated against a team like Luka Doncic, SGA Yokich, Wenban,
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Yama and Giannis, sorry, and Giannis, Giannis is would be on
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the World Team. That's just not OK.
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That's just not OK. And I do believe that some guys
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missed a cut because of that. I also think that I'm not sure
18:21
if Donovan Mitchell is Team USA or not.
18:24
He's mentioned multiple times that he he won't be USA for the
18:27
Olympics, so why would he be Team USA for the All Star game?
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That's another player that goes to the world where the reserves
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for the US team are left with like Norman Powell, Dionne Dern.
18:45
Does anyone know if Towns is going to be Team USA because.
18:47
He's Dominican, or. He's or.
18:50
Bahamas or whatever he plays. For Dominican Republic, yeah.
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You're going to get like Devin Booker, even guys like Danny
18:59
Avia, Jamal Murray, they're going to join the world.
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This is going to be a shit show. This is really going to suck.
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And it's funny because like you're seeing like, sorry, Jack,
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I'm just going to finish up with like you just saw the Team US
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take home the gold. Well, now that you're going to
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get absolutely demolished in this All Star format because. 1.
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Missing some players and two, I mean, you got Yokich and went
19:27
Banyama on the same fucking team.
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You can't beat that. You can't beat that.
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Well, we have 5 MVPS and pretty much the starting lineup on, you
19:38
know, out West and yeah, the Team USA pretty much had no
19:44
chance. I guess this is what they wanted
19:48
to see, but I think they did it a little too late.
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Maybe in the 20 tens 2000s this would have been a lot more fun
19:53
for the US, but I think this is probably a eye opening
19:56
experience dude. SGA, Luka, Giannis, Wenbe,
20:00
Yokish. Against It's stupid and I just
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don't think that I think the NBA like commissioners and everyone
20:10
is just scrambling because All Stars been such a flop recently
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and if they sat down for one second and went who's actually
20:16
on the world and saw the potential teams, I don't think
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they would have gone with this idea.
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But I think it all just goes back to how terrible your side
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game has become and how they're just trying anything now to to
20:30
mix it up. But this is not.
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I don't think anyone is hyped for this year's All Star.
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That's a perfect transition here.
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I do want to get off the snubs. And whoever made it made it
20:41
already, right? So we can't even change it.
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What's one thing that all of us would do to make the All Star
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game itself good? Because clearly it's one of it's
20:53
probably, well, the Pro Bowl fell off really bad too, but
20:56
it's it's miserable. It's the worst thing I've ever
20:59
seen in my life. So Gabe, I'll start with you,
21:02
whether it's going back to the original East versus West, the
21:05
drafting, whatever you want. What would you do to make NBA
21:08
All Star exciting? I actually really like the idea
21:12
of drafting and not doing E 1st West.
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I think that's fun. It provides almost like a
21:17
playground PE type feel. You know where you got the 2
21:21
captains and you watch as they go back and forth drafting.
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I think that's fun. But in terms of what I think
21:26
needs to happen, I think there's several things to make All Star
21:29
Weekend better in general. 1 the dunk contest has got to get
21:33
better. Like we've ever since the Aaron
21:36
Gordon Zach have been dunk contest.
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It's just been, let's get 4 random guys, some who don't even
21:42
really dunk that well. Like they're good at dunking,
21:45
but they're just not like like this year's dunk contest.
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I don't even know who's in it so far, but I remember seeing one
21:50
person that I was like, why? Oh, it was, yes.
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Jackson Hayes. What, just 'cause he did one
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East Bay, he did a fast break East Bay and they're like, put
21:59
him in the dunk contest. Come on, bro.
22:02
So that's one thing is yeah, no, Mack will not be doing it.
22:06
He said that. So that's one thing.
22:08
This is not something that they Yeah.
22:10
And Carter Bryant, this is not something that the the NBA
22:12
necessarily can fix, but like players need to do the dunk
22:16
contest again, I don't know why guys like Jaw and Zion aren't
22:19
doing the dunk contest like the. NBA can fix that though.
22:22
Give an incentive. Shit ton of money.
22:24
Yeah, have an incentive based, but like even then they
22:28
shouldn't have to do that as my point.
22:30
Like it annoys me that all these guys refuse to participate in
22:34
unless there's some kind of incentive.
22:36
But yeah, OK, so maybe they provide an incentive that makes
22:39
it more fun. But going back to the game
22:40
itself, talking about doing it with, you know, drafting and
22:43
what not, same thing we just said, start providing a damn
22:47
incentive if that's what it takes to get them to try harder.
22:50
Please. Start, start giving whatever
22:53
incentive it takes because it's really on like the biggest
22:57
stigma for people who don't watch the NBA is that they don't
23:00
try. And then you turn on the All
23:01
Star game and it's like, wow, this is this is what people
23:05
think of the NBA is because there's all these guys who just
23:08
don't care. And if you guys know anything
23:11
about me, you know, I do not like Victor Women.
23:12
Yeah. But I will give him so much
23:14
credit for the way that he treats the All Star game and the
23:16
way that he's been trying to talk about the All Star game by
23:18
saying we need to be treating this like we want to actually
23:21
win. And I'm I think that's the way
23:24
it should be. I mean, they can have like,
23:25
there's definitely fun to be had.
23:27
I don't want him to start, you know, taking it so seriously
23:30
that it's not fun anymore. The reason they do it is because
23:32
you're watching the best in the world throw each other lobs and
23:36
get big blocks and do all these crazy stuff.
23:38
Why is there's no reason that the competitive competitiveness
23:41
is just gone? Like there's no reason for that.
23:44
No one wants to try that hard. They don't want to get, I don't
23:46
know if it's an injury problem. I don't know if it's a we're not
23:48
getting paid problem. If it isn't, we're not getting
23:50
paid problem. That's ridiculous because
23:52
they're some of the most rich athletes in the world.
23:54
But ultimately, if it takes providing yet another incentive,
23:58
do it. Because something's got to
24:00
change. This is just not fun anymore.
24:01
Yeah, I mean, it is the incentive, and I'll tell you
24:04
why. It just is what it is.
24:06
Like you said, well, they're the richest athletes in the world.
24:08
Yeah, that might be true, but they all want money.
24:11
You see what happens in the NBA Cup tournament, regular season
24:15
tournament. You know when they get
24:17
interviewed after win Oh, you guys look like you played like a
24:20
playoff atmosphere game and they're all like well, there's
24:22
money on the line. Well, if the NBA wasn't so
24:24
selfish, right, the NBA doesn't need more money.
24:27
Get rid of your dumbass in season tournament regular season
24:31
and throw that money to the All Star game.
24:34
That's all you have to do give these guys money.
24:38
If you win, you get this much money and they're all going to
24:41
want to play. That's literally.
24:43
All they have to do. I have a different idea where
24:47
you give other people things. OK, so the captains of each All
24:53
Star team, they choose a charity, the players, it could
24:58
be a draft, it could be E 1st West, whatever.
25:01
There's two teams, right? Because we're not doing a
25:03
bullshit four team tournament versus 5 points, whatever.
25:08
They spend a week volunteering for this charity, getting up
25:11
close. So it might be homelessness.
25:13
You know, they're out in the community really understanding
25:15
the issue. And then the winner gets like
25:20
donates however much money to their charity.
25:23
And I'd hope that would make them want to play a bit harder.
25:26
That's the only thing I can really think of.
25:27
But outside of that, like, I don't think there's a money
25:32
incentive you can give these dudes because they could just
25:34
like call up any brand and be like, Oh yeah, I want this much
25:37
money for an ad and then they'll get it.
25:39
So. But we need more players like
25:42
Wemby who changed the culture to it.
25:44
But I don't know. I've we've seen players like
25:47
Ant, there's been stories of him with the terminally ill children
25:51
where he wears their wristbands, that kind of thing.
25:52
And I think that side of NBA like gives them a bit of
25:56
motivation and meaning behind that their play.
25:59
And that's the only thing I can really think of.
26:01
But yeah, I don't know. And I mean, they've tried
26:06
charity based rewards before, but I think if you pair it with
26:11
like the NBA Cares program and really make it a full week of
26:16
charitable that causes, I think it could be could be quite cool
26:20
little exposure for for these charities.
26:24
And I mean good, good, good karma for the players, I guess
26:29
so, yeah. I'll drop in my idea.
26:36
There's two things NBA players care about and, and this is in
26:41
no particular order because I still have yet to figure out
26:44
what each of these guys actually care about, but it's pretty much
26:48
pride and money. So we're going to do a huge
26:53
jackpot, earnings of $10 million to the winner. 10 million's a
26:58
big enough cause for these to for these guys to go out and
27:02
play 5 to $10 million. You know, they could start it
27:06
off with five and then increase it every year by like 1,000,000.
27:09
This is the NBA we're talking about.
27:11
This is a billion dollar organization, but we're going to
27:15
be doing a 1V1 tournament because on top of the fact that
27:19
they love money, they hate losing 1V1 and having bragging
27:24
rights over the other player. And when you're directly faced
27:28
with your All Star competitor or let's say you're a reserve and
27:32
you're facing against a guy that was named as an All Star
27:35
starter, I feel like that kind of gives you that extra bit of
27:39
motivation to go out and play, you know, that much harder.
27:43
So you could do one bracket on the East and one bracket out
27:46
West and then both of the finalists kind of meet up in a,
27:51
you know, playoff atmosphere type vibe.
27:54
I feel like that would be really fun.
27:56
We haven't seen one. V13V3 has taken off really well
28:00
outside the NBA in WNBA, even around, you know, the older NBA
28:05
circle. And the reason that's taken off
28:08
is because we kind of like that personal battle and the guys
28:12
just seem to care a little bit more when it's a little bit more
28:15
isolated. So I think in A1V1 tournament,
28:19
if you saw like SGA versus Anthony Edwards, I mean, I'm
28:22
sure these guys would not just, you know, dilly dally around and
28:27
get embarrassed one way or the other.
28:28
So if they're involved in it, I'm sure they would try.
28:32
I bet you half of them wouldn't even sign up 'cause there's so
28:34
much pride. There's so much pride in ego in
28:37
the NBA that they don't want to get exposed.
28:39
But with A1. V Tournament.
28:41
I love the idea. I think every NBA.
28:43
Fan like imagine Jaylen Brown in A1V1 tournament absolutely
28:47
getting exposed 'cause he can't go to one side or the other.
28:50
Or like Julius Randle, same example, but like it'd be really
28:54
fun to just see like them, you know, isolated without their
28:58
teammates and like, let's say a guy like barely has a jump shot
29:02
and he's out there or isn't, you know, good enough with their
29:05
handles or their driving ability.
29:08
That would be a great time to like expose those guys and
29:11
having like a crowd, kind of like Rucker park type vibe where
29:14
guys are making fun of you after you lose or they're storming the
29:17
court after you win. I think that would add that
29:20
atmosphere that they're looking for.
29:23
So that's my idea. Yeah, I love all the ideas.
29:27
One thing I kind of got from this episode was NBA players
29:31
want money and they like money. And I think that's just like the
29:34
only way, really. I love Jack's charity idea.
29:39
Unfortunately, I just don't. I don't know.
29:42
I don't know if that's going to push him.
29:44
Yeah, no, I. They've done the.
29:46
Charity. They've done the charities
29:48
before and like they've even brought the kids of the
29:52
charities into the games and it was still not enough.
29:56
So like, I don't think that you could do anything.
29:59
I don't think it's going to be, but these guys make so much
30:01
money and if they want more money, like if they want the
30:04
sign that they'd get from the All Star, they can just start an
30:06
ad campaign and they'll get it. So I don't think money's a big
30:10
enough motivator. I think it's genuinely just got
30:12
to be dudes like Wembe who used to be a fan.
30:15
And, well, maybe it's even because Wemby's just like Next
30:18
Generation who kind of grew up with too, though.
30:21
So I don't know if we're, you know, we'll.
30:23
See, yeah, but maybe he grew up with the more mediocre All Star
30:27
games as it was declining and these guys like Katie and stuff
30:30
were grew up when it was fun, so they didn't understand what it
30:34
was like as a fan to watch it. Maybe maybe that's why Wemby's
30:37
coming in and saying he wants to change it.
30:39
But like, credit to Wemby. And I think that's the only real
30:42
way that this is going to change is the players just.
30:46
Well we know one thing caring about the fan going to show up
30:48
for the All Star game so. You better.
30:50
Hopefully you better. The last thing I was just going
30:54
to bring up was another unfortunate circumstance and the
30:58
last All Star game that was good and competitive was the year
31:02
that Kobe Bryant died. And it was just a couple months
31:04
after he'd passed away. And these players woke up and
31:07
said, all right, we're going to put on a show.
31:08
It's going to be really competitive.
31:10
They had a, the format was OK, it was for Kobe, but just a game
31:14
itself was extremely competitive.
31:16
And it's been shit ever since then.
31:20
And obviously we don't need anyone dying, but that was the
31:24
only time the players really kind of put on a real game.
31:30
Joe, can I add on to that fact? You just kind of sparked my
31:34
brain there. We also, since that moment,
31:37
we've also lost the NBA veterans from the NBA pretty much all
31:42
together. Like there's some out there that
31:45
kind of survived, but as far as like still remaining in the NBA,
31:49
like they had to be super athletes or whatever else.
31:52
But for the most part, like we used to have a lot more vets on
31:56
the rosters. And I feel like once that
31:59
decline occurred, the effort and energy in the All Star game is
32:05
also kind of declined as well. Because even the new guys that
32:08
come in, they're like, oh, if LeBron doesn't have to try, we
32:11
don't have to try in the All Star game.
32:13
And because LeBron, Curry and all these guys make it year
32:17
after year, they're more concerned about protecting their
32:19
bodies and the load management. So it's like a combination of
32:23
load management, these guys having the egos of, oh, we're
32:27
not, you know, we don't need to try our hardest.
32:30
And I guess that hunger isn't there when you've made it that
32:34
many times. But I think with the new Gen.
32:36
guys coming in, replacing the old guard is going to help that
32:40
a ton as well. I think that's a good point.
32:42
I think that's a good point. That being said, do you guys
32:45
have anything else on this topic or?
32:48
I do. I do have, I have one question
32:50
for you guys. So give me one bold prediction
32:55
for the game itself. Like if there's someone that you
32:58
think is going to win MVP, if you think someone's going to do
33:02
a Tomahawk 360 windmill on Wimbunyama or whatever, you
33:07
know, whatever your wildest imagination guess could be for
33:10
this game, someone's dropping 75 points, 50 points, 100 points.
33:17
I see Jack over there. What do you think, Jack?
33:20
One bold prediction. I think my bold prediction is
33:27
kind of predicting the players. I mean on this topic, the
33:29
players that will actually try and I think Jamal Murray and
33:32
Jaylen Johnson, those two are going to bring energy and
33:36
actually play the game. So that would be my bold
33:39
prediction that those guys are going to hopefully bring the
33:42
culture that won't be is trying to install in the Soul Star
33:45
game. Joe yes.
33:51
Yeah, I think, I think my prediction is that I'll be
33:56
turning it off. No, I'm joking.
33:59
It's a round Robin tournament. There's four games.
34:03
Each game is 12 minutes. So all this tournament BS is
34:06
still continuing to happen. Just breaking it down before I
34:09
give you my quick prediction. In the in the tournament, team A
34:14
will play team B in game one. The winning team from game one
34:18
will take on team C in Game 2, followed by the losing team
34:22
beating team C in game three. And then there's a championship
34:27
game. God, that sucks for me.
34:31
My, my prediction was is just SGA is going to win the MVP.
34:34
I don't even know how you get All Star MVP.
34:38
I guess you have to win the the championship, so you have to win
34:41
three games, 312 minute games. But I think there's one thing
34:47
that SGA doesn't have and it's an All Star MVP, so let's go get
34:50
that one. Final, final MVP.
34:54
Yeah, I think I have one personal thing who I like think
34:58
individual individually will do good at, but then another just
35:01
like general thing. I think we see AI, think we see
35:03
a poster. I'm definitely feeling someone's
35:05
going to just absolutely body someone.
35:07
I think recently more guys have been trying to play a little
35:10
more defense under the hoop. So I could see someone, someone,
35:14
maybe Wendy, we'll see someone going up trying to get a block
35:17
and just getting absolutely bodied.
35:20
But I think Tyrese Max is going to cook.
35:21
I feel like Max is one of those guys who absolutely is going to
35:24
be putting up threes similar to that a couple years ago when
35:26
Dame went crazy and was just pulling from 60 feet out.
35:31
I mean, I can see Maxi doing the same thing, just having a
35:33
ridiculous game just because I feel like he's he's one of the
35:37
younger guys who I think has the spark and he wants to have fun
35:40
but also wants to win. And I could see him being one of
35:43
the guys that's just going to absolutely light it up.
35:45
But what do you think? Cyber?
35:47
Oh man, if I had to guess, goodness, I think I know you
35:55
mentioned it split up into four teams.
35:57
I'm guessing, you know, Team World is kind of split up in
35:59
half. I think both the Team World
36:07
teams are going to beat the Team USA teams so badly that it may
36:14
keep LeBron and Steph Curry in the league that much longer for
36:19
2028 Olympics. I'm not even joking.
36:22
I think it may be just so bad that the analysts are going to
36:27
be so on that storyline of what are we going to do in 2028 when
36:30
we have to see all these Team World players that they're going
36:34
to be looking to guys like Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, LeBron
36:37
James, whoever, you know, these old guard guys that are getting
36:41
closer to retirement. Maybe not LeBron, obviously, I
36:43
don't think he's going to make it that far.
36:45
Maybe not. Maybe he is.
36:46
But I think they're going to look to those guys to stay a
36:49
little bit longer, at least for that 2028 Olympic run because of
36:52
this beat down that the Team World teams are going to do.
36:55
So yeah, I. Actually I could see that
36:58
happening. Like Steph and KD, definitely.
37:02
One last thing that I forgot to mention before we wrap up here.
37:05
The way these teams were or these All Stars were voted in,
37:10
if there wasn't an exact number of World players and USA players
37:16
voted in on each side, The commissioner, Adam Silver just
37:20
hand chose who he wanted to be an All Star this year.
37:24
So that's where we are with the NBA All Star voting the game or
37:28
the four games we'll see this year.
37:32
Shit show. But other than that, that's it
37:35
for me. Are you guys all set?
37:37
Yeah. All right, that's going to do it
37:39
here. Bring the Thunder podcast
37:42
episode 37. Thank you all for tuning in.
37:45
Can't believe it's been 37 episodes already.
37:47
We will be doing some stuff for the All Star game.
37:50
We'll let you guys know sometime during the week and maybe next
37:53
week, whatever. But if you guys are enjoying the
37:55
content, like the video subscribe to the channel, turn
37:58
post notifications on check out our prop wars if you haven't
38:02
seen it already. Episode 2 is fantastic.
38:05
Can't wait. We've already started recording
38:07
3. Not going to give any hints to
38:10
who's you know, shitting it up already, but it's definitely me
38:14
with that. But all right, I'll stop.
38:16
I'll stop. Thank you guys for tuning in.
38:17
We'll see you guys next time and Thunder up baby, let's go.