Ty Answers the "Is Russell Wilson a Hall of Famer" Question

Russell Wilson announced yesterday that he is retiring from the NFL. This seemed inevitable. He wasn't on a team, no one seemed interested, I don't think he was willing to be a backup and it was time to walk away. At first blush, after he announced his decision, I instantly thought, well he is a hall of fame QB. But, as I have been thinking more and more about it, is Russell Wilson a hall of fame player?

There are certain current QBs playing right now that I think are sure fire hall of fame players. I think Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson are shoe-ins. They kind of helped usher in this new era of QBs. The dual threat QBs that are coveted by certain teams. Allen and Jackson, at least to me, have been the guys who ushered in this new era. Without them maybe we don't get Jalen Hurts or anyone else that plays like him. I believe Patrick Mahomes is a first ballot hall of fame QB. He is a winner, puts up tremendous numbers and led a dynastic team in the Chiefs. I do think, unfortunately, that Aaron Rodgers will be a first ballot hall of fame player. He has the numbers, has a ring, has multiple MVP awards and will most likely be inducted as soon as he is able. The jury is still out on guys like Joe Burrow, Jalen Hurts, Justin Herbert and Matthew Stafford, amongst others.

I have also pondered other players who have been out of the game for a bit now, and are coming up on their possible induction. I don't think Eli Manning is a hall of fame QB, but I bet he gets in. He was the QB of the Giants when they beat those dominant Patriots teams in the mid 2000's. Drew Brees reminds me a ton of Rodgers, with better numbers. Brees is a surefire first ballot hall of fame QB. And then we have guys like Phillip Rivers and Alex Smith. Rivers had tremendous numbers and had a very long and fruitful career. But he never won a ring or an MVP. I don't know if he gets into the hall of fame or not. I do believe he has just as much a case as Eli Manning. Alex Smith is a good story, coming back from his horrific injury. But he doesn't have the numbers, the wins or the allure of the other QBs eligible or already in the hall of fame.

Which brings me to Russell Wilson. Wilson was kind of a surprise star in the NFL for a bit. The Seahawks took him in the later rounds to be Matt Flynn's backup. Flynn proved to be a flash in the pan, and Wilson started almost immediately in Seattle, and they had great success. They won a ring. They went to multiple Super Bowls. They crushed the Broncos when they had what was supposed to be one of the best offenses in the history of football. Wilson was the MVP of the game and looked like his success would continue for a while. They had the second Super Bowl won, until the team decided to throw the ball on the one yard line instead of just handing it to Marshawn Lynch and just letting him fall into the end zone. Wilson has the big game experience of a hall of fame QB, and even a ring. Wilson has the stats too. He put up some big numbers throughout his career. He has multiple 4,000 yard plus passing yards seasons. He has a 40 passing TD season and a 34 passing TD season. He always threw more TDs than interceptions. He had teams in playoff contention almost every season.

Then the trade to Denver happened. He really went downhill during his run in Denver. He couldn't move like he did before. He became a little too obsessed with his own fame. He wanted the limelight more and more it seemed. And that affected his play. He was replaced by, I believe, Jarrett Stidham during his final season in Denver, and made his way to Pittsburgh. He split time with Justin Fields there, due to injury, but he only lasted a season. Then he went to the Giants, and that was a pain to watch. He just wasn't the same. And without getting signed this offseason, he made the right choice to hang the cleats up for good.

In looking at his past stats, and his career as a whole, do I think he should be a hall of famer? No, I don't. He had a great career. He proved tons of doubters wrong. He won a ring. He became famous. But he benefited from having a generational defense with him in Seattle. They had Marshawn Lynch. They had a great o line. Wilson benefited from all of that, as he should have. But, in looking at those Seattle teams he played for, there are a few guys I'd put in the hall of fame before him. I'd put Marshawn Lynch in over anyone else on that team. I'd think much harder about Richard Sherman than I would Russell Wilson when it comes to the hall of fame. Earl Thomas has a better shot in my opinion too. Russell Wilson was a very good, very competent NFL QB. But is he a hall of famer?

I say no. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Thoughts on the AJ Brown and Myles Garrett Trades

The NFL had two big trades that occurred while I was at the movies yesterday. I have thoughts on both deals.

AJ Brown was moved from the Eagles to the Patriots for some picks. This was an expected trade. I feel like I have been hearing that Brown was going to be traded since last season, and it always seemed like New England was going to be the destination. He wanted out of Philly and it seemed like he wanted to go to the Patriots.

This does give the Patriots a legit number 1, but it doesn't move the needle as much as others may think, at least in my opinion. Brown is a very good wideout. He can get separation, he is fast for his size, and speaking of his size, he is a big dude. But he is older now. He may have given the Eagles his best playing days. His prime may be over with. And Drake Maye is not nearly as good as Jalen Hurts. I know Jalen Hurts has his detractors, but the dude has a ring, he is one of the better dual threat QBs in the NFL and the guy knows how to throw the long ball. I think we all saw the height of Drake Maye's ability last season. I don't think it will get any better than what he showed last season. And while he had a solid season, it went downhill by the end of the year. He became a game manager. The Patriots got to the Super Bowl due to their defense. They only scored 10 points in the AFC title game. The defense is their calling card.

While AJ Brown will add a new weapon to the Patriots offense, this move feels similar to Deebo Samuel joining the Commanders last offseason. It looks all shiny and nice on paper, but when it came to the games, he was essentially a nonfactor. I get that vibe from this move. The Patriots are going to win games by running the ball and playing suffocating defense. Adding AJ Brown probably feels nice right now, but when the season starts, I don't think it will really move the needle all that much. The Patriots are also a big bet to take a step back this season. That didn't change when they acquired AJ Brown yesterday either. Last season seemed more like a fluke than anything else.

Now to the big time trade that will actually make a humongous difference.

Myles Garrett is now a member of the Los Angeles Rams. This is a humongous deal. Garrett is the best defensive player in all of football. He is a one man wrecking crew. He can disrupt an entire offensive line's game plan. He is a sack machine. Offensive lines sometimes need three guys dedicated to  blocking only him. He is on a Bruce Smith/Reggie White level at this point. Hell, he may be better than both of them. Garrett has separated himself from every other pass rusher in football. This is such a bigger move than the Packers getting Micah Parsons last season, and I loved that move. This instantly makes the Rams Super Bowl favorites going into this season. They were in title contention last season, and they seemed to be missing something on the defensive side of the ball. They lacked a genuine pass rusher. They have the best one in the game now. Adding him to this defense is a big time deal. He's now the number one piece on a defense that includes guys like Trent McDuffie, Poona Ford and Kam Kitchens.

Sure, the Rams had to trade Jared Verse and a bunch of high draft picks to get him, but who cares. I know the Rams don't. Sean McVay has always been a "f them picks" type of coach. They did it when they acquired Matthew Stafford, and won a Super Bowl I might add. And now they have done it to get Myles Garrett. I also read that Aaron Donald is maybe thinking about coming out of retirement to return to the Rams. If he were to come back, the Rams defensive front could be one of the best ever assembled. I know that defensive players never win the MVP, but Myles Garrett could be the one guy to change that. He is that good and that important to his team's success. And he got out of a bad situation in Cleveland and is now playing for what a bunch of people feel is one of the best run organizations in all of pro sports. Garrett was already a star, but playing in LA will only amplify that, and he is going to ascend to some of the highest heights in professional sports.

This was a baller move made by a franchise who is all in. This was the trade of the offseason, and maybe of the past 10 years. What a day. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty's 2026 NBA Finals Preview

The NBA Finals are set. The Spurs slayed the Thunder, and the Knicks easily dispatched of the Cavs. Lets preview the finals.

The Spurs-Thunder game seven was pretty great. I will fully admit, I was very wrong about the Thunder. They looked unbeatable to me. They were rolling when they got to the West Finals. SGA won his second straight MVP. The sidekick players were hitting their shots. They were winning without free throws and their defense looked ferocious. And the Spurs paid no mind to any of that. I loved how free and loose they played. The Thunder could not get anything in the paint when Wemby was in the game. He neutralized Isaiah Hartenstein and, to an even bigger extent, Chet Holmgren. The Spurs played better defense. They got more steals and blocks. They got the loose balls. Julian Champangnie was hitting his threes. Stephon Castle played fearless and free. Dylan Harper announced himself as a future superstar. De'Aaron Fox, when he came back from injury, ran the offense to perfection. The Spurs played a better series than the Thunder and they got the coveted game seven win on the road. I thought that they were maybe a year or two away from this type of contention. They proved me very, very wrong, and I love it. This Spurs team is young and fun. They fly up and down the floor and play exquisite defense. And Wemby is the most unique basketball player I have ever had the joy to watch play. He is from another planet. He does things at his size that shouldn't be possible. He makes the games fun and he seems to really care. This kid is amazing.

The Knicks, after a minor threat in the first round, have been on an absolute roll. They have won 11 straight playoff games. And it's not like the games are all that close. The Knicks are blowing teams out. I know in game one of the East Finals the Cavs took them to overtime, but the Knicks overcame a 14 point deficit in the second half, and I think they won that game by 9 points. They have been playing some of the best basketball in the entire playoffs. They are making threes at an outrageous rate. Landry Shamet has been on absolute fire since being reinserted into the rotation. Jalen Brunson is doing what he does, quietly I might add, and I think he has somehow become underrated for what he brings to this team. OG Anunoby, coming off his own injury, has been remarkable on defense, which is to be expected, but he has been equally as good on offense. That is such a plus for this team. Mitchell Robinson, who does have a broken pinky, has been a beast on the boards and is rim running with the best of them right now. Karl; Anthony-Towns has gone to a whole other level. He is still scoring like he usually does, but he is also passing at a high level and he is playing the best defense he has ever played in the NBA. Mikal Bridges got out of his slump on offense and is now the two way threat he was when he was on the Suns. Miles McBride is playing crucial minutes, Jordan Clarkson has bought in on defense and Mike Brown was the right choice to coach this team. I may have been a little critical of it when he was hired, I was wrong. He was the missing piece the Knicks needed to be where they are right now.

Ever since game seven of the West Finals ended I have been sitting and trying to figure out who I think is going to win. The backcourts are so different. Brunson and Bridges are a unique blend. Bridges is long and tall. Brunson is short and stocky and can get anywhere on the floor on the offensive end. Fox, Castle and Harper are a wonderful trio in the backcourt. Fox is the level headed veteran here. He is also lightning quick and he seems to be fully healthy. Castle is wildly athletic and can get to the rim with ease. Harper is a similar build to Brunson, but he is younger and a little more reckless in a good way. The front court battle should be interesting. The Knicks have a two headed monster here. Mitchell Robinson will be able to beat up the Spurs big men. But he may not be healthy. He is going to be very important in  this series. The Knicks need him out there. Karl Anthony-Towns should make the Spurs big men work a ton. He can score from anywhere on the floor and he is playing, as previously stated, the best defense of his career. Josh Hart is more of a guard, but the way he crashes the boards and attacks the rim makes me see him more as a frontcourt guy in this series. He needs to make shots, but Josh Hart could be another decisive player for the Knicks.

The Spurs have Wemby. Wemby is amazing. He can do it all and he can do it all at a very high level. There was a moment in game 7 of the West Finals where he caused a deflection that turned into a steal, got a pass about three feet behind the three point line, pulled up and splashed it. I audibly guffawed when this happened. He is incredible. Luke Kornet is playing solid basketball right now. Julian Champengie, as said before, can stretch any defender, and he plays good defense. And Harrison Barnes is going to be needed in the Finals if the Spurs want to win it all this year.

I'm still struggling with who to pick. I genuinely like both of these teams. RD is a Knicks fan and my dad roots for the Spurs when the Bucks are out or no good. I like a bunch of players in this series. I like both coaches and  both coaching staffs. I'm so pumped to watch the Finals this year. And we will have a new NBA champ for the 8th straight year. That rules and shows that the NBA has true parity.

As for my pick, give me the Spurs in seven with Wemby bringing home Finals MVP. They slayed the biggest dragon on the road, they're young, they seem to have the it factor right now and they have Wemby. Sorry RD, but this feels like the Spurs ring this year. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Chet Holmgren is a Liability, Not an Asset, for the Thunder

I'm so excited that we are getting game 7 of the Western Conference Finals. The Spurs and Thunder have been the two best teams in the NBA all year, so it only makes sense that they are going the distance to see which team will represent the West in the Finals. But that is not the crux of my piece today.

Chet Holmgren is a good basketball player. He has his limitations offensively, but he is a force on the defensive end of the floor. He proved that and then some in the Finals last season. He was an absolute menace. I was actually ready to eat crow after his defensive performance last season. I thought he was going to be more of a liability when he entered the NBA. I thought he was too skinny and too limited to be a real force. It didn't help that he missed all of his rookie year due to injury. I figured I had him pegged. But then he stayed healthy and played well. I believe he was in the all star conversation the past two years, and he has become a mainstay on the all defense teams.

In this series all of the stuff that had me worried when he was a prospect is coming back to haunt him. He has been an absolute nonfactor in this series. The Thunder won't even play him as the only big on the floor. Victor Webanyama has been absolutely eating his lunch all series. Wemby is on the fast track to being one of the top players in all of basketball. He is an alien unlike anything else we have ever seen. The things he does on the court should be impossible for someone his size. But he does it and he is doing it all against Holmgren. It is wild to me that people tried to compare the two of them when they were coming up in youth, high school and higher level basketball. There's no comparison, and Wemby is making sure we all know that. There's clearly some animosity from Wemby that people would even consider these two players on the same planet talent wise. I love that Wemby has taken that personally, and every time he faces Holmgren, he is making it a point to not just beat him, but humiliate him in the process. The modern NBA has too many friendships. We need more rivalries like I watched when I was growing up. And it looks like, at least from Wemby's point of view, that he does not care for Chet Holmgren.

The most glaring thing during this series, it's not just Wemby who is abusing Holmgren. Guards on the Spurs are going right at him. Devin Vassell, in the game last night, went right at him when he was the lone rim protector and scored an easy layup. Stephon Castle, who has no fear, doesn't think twice when rising up at the rim to meet Holmgren. Dylan Harper, who has been going hard at Lu Dort too, has zero fear when going to the rim against Holmgren. It has been a masterclass from the Spurs at attacking the guy who is supposedly on Wemby's level as a shot blocker or disruptor. That notion has to be gone now. Even the most loyal Chet Holmgren fan would have to agree that this is now the case. And maybe this is just a bad matchup for him. Maybe the Spurs have all the right answers to the things he is supposed to be elite at doing on a basketball court. But he has just not shown the capability to be anywhere near Wemby's level in this series. Wemby is, far and away, a better basketball player, on both ends, than Chet Holmgren. I like Isaiah Hartenstein,  but when he is the only big the Thunder trust against Wemby, what does that mean for Holmgren's future with this team.

These two teams are going to be at each other's throats for the next four or five years hopefully, and if Hartenstein is more reliable, maybe the Thunder need to look in a new direction for Holmgren. Maybe they can offload him to a team in need of a big center. The Thunder are going to have to make some hard decisions on key players soon, and maybe Holmgren will be at the top of that list now. He has not had a very good series. And maybe his luck changes, he hits some threes and blocks a few shots in game 7. But I would be looking into possible deals, which I'm sure Sam Presti is already doing, to see what the Thunder could get for Holmgren. He is simply not at the level he needs to be if he is going to be a formidable opponent to Wemby and the Spurs. And this series has shown us that tenfold. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Can the Knicks Actually Win it All

The New York Knicks are back in the NBA Finals. Let’s discuss.

This has been a long time coming. I remember the last time they made the Finals. I was 17 years old, the season was cut short by a strike, the Knicks were the 8th seed and they went on a magical run. It was awesome. I've bounced around being a fan of a few NBA teams. As a kid I was all in on the Seattle Supersonics. And the moment Seattle gets a new team, hopefully soon, I will be right back on the fan train. I'm all in for Seattle basketball. When they moved to OKC, I became a Thunder fan. It was easy enough to follow them there, and having a young Kevin Durant made it an easy transition. Then KD left and I was, again, looking for a new team. I toyed with the Suns, but Phoenix fans are an odd bunch. This was when I landed on the Memphis Grizzlies. They're close to Saint Louis and I liked what they were doing at the time. During all of this I have always quietly rooted for the Knicks. They're the one team from New York that I've always kind of liked.

I first fell in love with the Knicks when they had Patrick Ewing and John Starks. I had the famous John Starks poster on my wall when I was a kid. Patrick Ewing was one of my favorite players growing up. I was all in when they had Allan Houston and Larry Johnson. When they shifted to Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudamire, I still found it fun to root for them. There were some very lean years post Carmelo, but still, watching them play at Madison Square Garden was something to behold. Then they got Jalen Brunson. I was stoked to see him leave Dallas, and to go play on one of the biggest stages there is in professional sports, I found it easy to root for him. He took a chance on himself and it is paying off. I liked Mitchell Robinson the moment he declared for the draft. He is an old school NBA big man. He's mean and gruff and gets boards. He can also dunk a ball very hard. Mikal Bridges was one of the reasons I was contemplating being a Suns fan. Now that he is playing for the Knicks, it is so much easier to root for him. Acquiring OG Anunoby has been such a great deal for them and he is one of the best two way players in the game. I have always liked Karl Anthony-Towns. I liked him in college and when he was on the Timberwolves. I don't get the hate he gets on the internet. He is a very good offensive player, and it looks like he has finally learned how to play solid defense. Hell, I even enjoy the bench guys. Miles McBride is a bucket off the bench. I don't know if Landry Shamet has missed a three in the playoffs yet. Jordan Clarkson is getting minutes again and even he has bought in on the defensive end. This is a fun team to root for. And even the whole James Dolan of it all hasn't turned me off. Maybe it's due to him being less active or maybe it's due to Leon Rose being a bit more in charge. Dolan's awfulness hasn't hindered this team as of late. I thought they pulled the plug too soon on Tom Thibodeau. I was wrong. Mike Brown has been a perfect hire to get the best out of this team while also giving players proper rest during the season and playoffs. Josh Hart still seems like he could play 48 minutes every night this late in the year. That's due to Brown knowing when and where to give his players rest and to let them play.

Personally I like all three teams left in the playoffs. The Thunder are an absolute machine. They are well coached, have the two time MVP, have depth and play hellacious defense. I don't care about all the "foul baiting" and complaints. The Thunder are a legit dynasty in the making. The Spurs are young and fun and have an alien on their team that may be the best player in the world already. They're so unlike the Spurs of old, who I also liked, but still have that winning DNA. Stephon Castle is awesome, Dylan Harper has star written all over him, Julian Champenie can't miss and Wemby is amazing.

The Knicks are my personal favorite of the teams left. They're classic. They have the most iconic uniforms in the NBA. They have the best celebrity row. Nothing in the NBA makes me happier than seeing Spike Lee and Tracy Morgan courtside at a Knicks game. They are tried and true fans of that team. I like the guys on the team. They're playing beautiful basketball right now. It would be amazing if they could actually win the whole thing. They might have a good chance if the Thunder and Spurs keep beating each other up. The NBA is better when the Knicks are relevant. I remember when they hosted a first round playoff game in 2021, after not making it for years, and the Garden was rocking. Imagine how nuts it is going to be hosting a Finals game. I cannot wait.

I'm all in on the knicks for the Finals no matter who they end up playing. I want them to win it all now. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Giannis to the Lakers Doesn't Make Much Sense

I saw a headline on Bleacher Report this morning that said, "Giannis X Lakers trade ideas". Let’s discuss.

This took me back a little bit. I understand that Giannis' time in Milwaukee is pretty much over. He may return for all we know, but it feels like the writing has been on the wall for some time now. Giannis wants to go somewhere that he can compete right away for a title. He is older now, more injured and I'm sure he sees that his time left as a dominant force in the NBA is close to done. He was so awesome in his prime. He brought a title back to Milwaukee. He was the best player in the league, at least in my opinion, for a three or four year stretch during and post pandemic. but it feels like he is ready for the next chapter of his NBA career and he wants a change of scenery.

There's a few teams that make sense, if they can pull it off. The Warriors make the most sense to me. Sure, they're in the West, but put Giannis and Steph together, and I'd put them in the playoffs for sure. The Nets have all kinds of picks and young players they can move. And Giannis would instantly make the Nets a strong East team. The Raptors have always had eyes for Giannis, and if they could pull off a trade that doesn't involve Scottie Barnes, they could get a seat at the table. The Knicks may not go after him now that they're two wins away from the Finals. But if they were to rock the boat, that is where Giannis wants to play. The Cavs and Hawks seem less likely to trade for him now, but each has their own merits to go after him. The Hawks need a vet to keep that young team focused. And the Cavs need a force that is not afraid of any moment. And the Heat have always and will always be in the conversation for a star player. They have the means to get it done, and I wouldn't be shocked if that is where he ends up.

This whole Lakers addition is baffling to me. They would have to mortgage their future to bring him in. they would have to trade every pick they own. They would most likely have to add future picks. As far as players, I'd ask for the moon from the Lakers. I'd want Austin Reaves, Jarred Vanderbilt, Marcus Smart, Jake LaRavia, Bronny James and Deandre Ayton. Hell, I'd probably ask for more. If the Lakers want to be taken seriously, if they want a seat at the table, this would be my ask if I'm the Bucks. This isn't the Mavs giving up Luka Doncic for Anthony Davis. The Bucks front office is smarter and they have been playing this game with Giannis for over a year now. They don't have to trade him for scraps. They should get the farm, at the very least in picks, from whichever team or teams they're dealing with. With the Lakers, I'd want it all.

The 29 other teams in the NBA need to stop giving the Lakers whatever they want. Teams don't have to do that anymore. They are not the glamour franchise they used to be. Sure, they have new ownership coming in from the Dodgers, but the NBA has a salary cap. NBA teams can't just buy any player they want like they do in the MLB. The Dodgers get everyone and anyone because they can pay more. That's not the case in the NBA. There's so many more rules with the cap and I think the Dodgers people are going to find that out sooner rather than later, and that is going to drive them up the wall.

Also, if the Lakers were somehow able to get Giannis, what does that mean for LeBron? Is he already gone? Has he moved on? Or is he willing to take another backseat and be the third option again with the Lakers? I get it, he will be 42 next season, but he is still productive, and I think he still wants to win. And if Bronny is traded, would he follow him? Does he still want to wait and play with Bryce?

There's so much more than just the sensationalism of Luka and Giannis teaming up in LA. This would ravage the Lakers depth and youth. Luka and Giannis always seem to get hurt. JJ Redick is an overrated coach. He would have to do actual work to try and find guys on the cheap that could help this team. And vets who may want to play there would have to deal with taking on way less of a load based on what they excel at on a basketball court.

I hate this idea. I feel like any major media outlet is simply obsessed with getting star players, current and former, to LA. They want these big time players in big cities. They're so mad that San Antonio and Oklahoma City are going to be running the league for the next five to six years. That drives them up a wall. I would be stunned if Giannis ends up in LA. I would also despise it. I don't think it will happen, but I certainly hope it won't happen. This would not be good for the NBA. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Ode to One of the Greatest Dunks in NBA History

I want to take some time today to talk about one of the greatest dunks I have ever seen.

Last night the Spurs and Thunder played game two of the Western Conference Finals. Two games in this has already been an epic series. I hope it goes the full seven games and each team plays their damn hearts out. Game one was one of the best basketball games I’ve ever seen. It had everything one could want as a basketball fan. It went back and forth, went to double overtime, had one of the best three's made I've ever witnessed and was just simple and pure joy for all basketball fans' eyeballs. Last night's game wasn't as epic, but it was still a good game that went down to the wire, for the most part. But we were still gifted an amazing play that will live in my head rent free forever.

I'm not fully sure when it occurred in the game, but there was a moment that Stephon Castle took Isaiah Hartenstein's body and soul on an in-game dunk. The Spurs set a few ball screens for Castle that left the middle of the lane open. Now, for the casual fan that may not know much about Steph Castle yet, he wants to attack. The three point shot was open, but if you give Castle a runway, he is going to absolutely go for it. This is one of the many reasons I have already become a Castle fan. This kid is not scared of anyone, plays the game with a cerebral attitude, makes silly mistakes but I give those a pass, and just goes for it. He is still young and still has incredible bounce. He is all about using what suits his game best, and that is an easy fan to get my fandom. And that is exactly what he did last night. I know the Spurs didn't win the game, and I do think OKC may have figured something out last night, but this play was one of the many reasons the rest of the NBA should be very afraid of what the Spurs are currently building. When Castle saw that he had this open lane, he didn't get cute or try to wait for a three point shooter to get open, he attacked. He saw that there was only going to be one player playing defense in the post, Hartenstein, and I'm sure he knew in his mind's eye that he could attack. Castle took the ball, took a few hard dribbles and elevated. He looked like he was going to jump out of the damn gym. It looked like he was going to stay floating in the air forever. Hartenstein, and I give him credit, slid over and looked to attempt to block the dunk, or maybe draw a charge. Once Hartenstein decided to try and block the shot, that meant he was about to end up on a poster and become a viral meme. Again, I give him credit for not backing away, but man oh man did Castle try to end his NBA career right then and there. As Castle started to jump, he also cocked the ball back. This was when we all knew he was going to attempt an all time dunk. As Castle cocked the ball back you could see that Hartenstein wasn't going to be able to meet him at the rim. Either he mistimed his jump or just simply couldn't get high enough to get his fingertips on the ball. As Castle started the dunk we all knew he was going to slam it down, we just didn't realize the authority he was going to use. It felt as if Castle summoned all the great, hard dunkers of all time as he flushed the ball through the hoop. It looked like a mix of a Shawn Kemp, Moses Malone, Darly Dawkins and Dominique Wilkins dunk. He combined all of these great dunkers into one monstrous dunk. As Castle crammed the ball through the hoop, I couldn't help but make a guttural sound. It was that damn impressive to me watching this dunk. Castle jumped so high, cocked the ball back so effortlessly and smashed the ball through the hoop so hard that it was one of the most beautiful combinations of athletic ability that I've ever witnessed. And as he yelled and stared after making the dunk, I couldn't help but clap in my living room, where I was sitting with my son who was equally impressed.

This was an amazing dunk. Seriously, go pull it up on the internet and watch it right now and you will find yourself as impressed as I was last night. I was already a Steph Castle fan before last night, but now I'm a superfan of him. He reminds me of a great mix of old school and modern basketball, and last night's dunk was the best homage he could pay to the old school dunkers.

What an amazing dunk. I'm still in awe. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Thoughts on the Mavericks Letting Jason Kidd Go

The Dallas Mavericks and Jason Kidd have parted ways. I don't know if this was truly a mutual decision, or if the new president of the team, the wonderful Masai Ujiri, wanted a change at the top of the team. Either way, Kidd is no longer the head coach.

This felt like it was coming the moment the Mavs hired Ujiri. Anytime a new GM gets hired, the whole coaching staff is usually in trouble. That's the way it has been and continues to be. When a new GM comes in, they are going to want to bring along their people and people they trust. That's why it is a little crazy that Nick Nurse was retained by the 76ers after they let Daryl Morey go. That was not the case in Dallas. It seemed like, from the moment Nico Harrison was let go, Kidd's time was not long for the Mavs. I thought he could have stuck around if they had a better year, but they were not very good and they "only" got the ninth pick in the upcoming draft.

This job opening should entice whomever the Mavs hire. I have read that they are targeting a few young assistants, and that makes perfect sense to me. The Mavs have the bones of a solid starting five. Cooper Flagg is a star. If he can stay on the floor he is going to be a perennial all star and an easy player to build around. Kyrie Irving is coming back next season, and that will be a major boost. While older, and a little off his rocker, Irving can still handle and shoot the hell out of the ball. He will give this team a true point guard and true floor general. Derrick Lively will return to the lineup fully healthy. He is a good, young rim runner and a solid defensive force. Daniel Gafford still has something left in the tank. Max Christie had an okay season last year. And they still have Khris Middleton and Klay Thompson, who could be used as trade chips. The Mavericks aren't great, but they aren't horrible either. This isn't like the situation in Sacramento or Memphis. This is a team that has a true budding superstar, a solid group of vets and a lottery pick in this year's draft. I believe that whomever they hire will be put in a solid situation.

I saw that the Mavs were targeting a Spurs and Timberwolves assistant. That makes sense to me. Those guys are young, have helped to coach young superstars and understand modern NBA offenses. I'd trend more towards the Spurs assistant simply due to how well the Spurs play defense. They made the right choice in giving Mitch Johnson the head coaching job last year after Popp left, and he seems to have hired the right guys to his staff. The Spurs look to be building another dynasty of sorts, and coaches are going to get poached left and right. That's the way of the world in the NBA right now. The Mavs should avoid really good coaches like Billy Donovan and Tom Thibodeau, and go young. Donovan and Thibodeau have more than proven themselves, but they're also old school and that may not mesh well with the Mavs current roster.

As for Kidd, I don't really know where he goes from here. He had gifted and great players in Dallas, but he also willed those teams to higher heights than I thought they could reach. He led them to a Finals appearance. Up until this season, the Mavs were perennial playoff threats. He held them accountable on the defensive end, save for Luka Doncic. But he was also super prickly with the media and front office. He seemed short with the people he didn't like there. And this past season showed that he is not a builder of a team. He needs stars in the room the moment he takes a new job, if he takes a new job as a coach. I could see him taking a year off, or being an assistant at some glamour team. I wouldn't be shocked if the Lakers were somehow able to hire him as an assistant for a year. I could see a team like the Hawks hiring him onto the staff to tweak their defense a bit. But, maybe a job opens up sooner rather than later and maybe Kidd will be at the top of that, or those, teams list. He could go coach the Kings or the Wizards. The Wizards even have some big names, and they have the top pick in this upcoming draft. He could go be an assistant with the Bucks if they retain Giannis. Kidd will have his choice out there, but if you were to ask me what I think his next move will be, I think he will take a year off, do some broadcasting and wait to see what jobs open up next year. I don't think he wants to be an assistant again, and there's always turnover in the NBA year to year. Some teams will be looking for a new head coach next season, and it wouldn't surprise me to see Kidd at the top of those teams wishlists.

Time will tell, but this seems like a good move for both sides. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Rodgers and McCarthy are Not the Right Fit for The Steelers

Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers are giving it another year. It is so hilarious to me that this is happening. This is going to explode so loudly in their faces. I feel really bad for Steelers fans, and that is a hard feeling for me to get to with this team.

I've never been a Steelers fan. I always kind of rooted against them. I loved when they had Lamar Woodley, but I could separate my fandom for him from their team. But now they are dipping back into the Aaron Rodgers mess and, with Mike Tomlin out as head coach, this is going to be a mitigated disaster.

Mike Tomlin was one of the best coaches the NFL has ever seen. He squeezed every inch of talent he could out of his rosters. He won a Super Bowl, but what is almost as impressive as achieving the  highest honor in football, he never had a record below .500. Every year that he coached in the NFL,  a long spanning career, he always had a winning record. That is pretty cool. But he is out and the Steelers had the wise decision, I'm being sarcastic, to go out and hire Mike McCarthy.

Look, McCarthy has a Super Bowl ring as well, but he doesn't even come close to the career Tomlin had, and will have again soon, as a head coach in the NFL. I was up close and personal to the whole Mike McCarthy experience. In fact, I was incredibly close to the McCarthy and Rodgers experience. I'm a Packers fan. I have been ever since I was a kid. And when these two got together it was wildly inconsistent and frustrating. The Packers teams that McCarthy helmed and Rodgers QB ed were very, very talented. They won the NFC North a ton. They were always in the playoffs. They could run and pass the ball. The defense was competent, and got really good when they acquired Charles Woodson. But they only won one ring. They would bow out of the playoffs way too early every season, and it would be due to some odd or weird coaching error. McCarthy is awful with clock management. He seems to only focus on offense. He was, at one time, considered a QB guru, but I never really saw that. He was prickly with the media and the fans and he just really got under my skin. When the Packers moved on from him it was such a great day. I have my own issues with LaFleur right now, but he is so much more innovative and fun as a head coach than McCarthy ever was during his tenure.

Rodgers was, and still is, just a jerk during his time with the Packers. He won an MVP and a ring, but he also was a liar and self obsessed. He still is for that matter. He thinks he is better than everyone. He is a curmudgeon, and not a fun one. He was hard to root for and I was stoked when he left. And these aren't some new feelings I have about him. You can ask my father and RD, I was bummed about him the moment the Packers drafted him. I have never, ever been an Aaron Rodgers fan. So, with both of them gone from Green Bay, and with LaFleur and Jordan Love taking their places, who have flaws of their own, it has been so much better to be a Packers fan. It helps that they're still relevant too.

Now the Steelers are going to have to deal with all of their nonsense. The whole offseason back and forth between the two of them should have been all the Steelers needed to move on. With Tomlin out maybe it was time for the Steelers to fully rebuild. They could have taken a QB higher in the draft this year, but they decided to draft another QB that needs a ton of work. But the Steelers gave in. They gave Rodgers all the time he wanted and all the money he asked for. They let him hold them hostage. And, if his last stint as head coach was any indication of what's to come, the NFL has passed Mike McCarthy by. He is not prepared or ready for modern NFL offenses. He still thinks he can win with a 42 year old QB. He is going to let Rodgers run the show, and that is going to blow up in his face. Rodgers is too volatile and too old. McCarthy is too stubborn and doesn't have a backup plan at QB. The NFL is better when the Steelers are relevant, but as long as they have these two egomaniacs at the highest levels in the organization they are not going to be very good. The defense needs to reload as well. They have dudes to replace. They don't really have a solid run game. The receiving corps is going to grow to despise Rodgers very soon.

I think this may be the worst move of the whole offseason in the NFL. I look at this signing as being worse than the Rams taking Ty Simpson 13th overall in the most recent draft. This was an odd decision, but maybe I shouldn't be surprised. Mike McCarthy is trying to stay relevant and keep the Steelers in the playoff conversation, but the game has passed him. And Rodgers is too egotistical to realize that his prime was over over a decade ago. This is a poor move that is going to end not very well for the Steelers. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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R.I.P. Brandon Clarke

Brandon Clarke has passed away at the age of 29. This is very sad and upsetting to me.

For people that may not know who Brandon Clarke was, he was a professional basketball player for the Memphis Grizzlies. As most of you know, I'm a Grizzlies fan. And Clarke was a bonafide fan favorite. When he wasn't injured, you just knew that when Clarke entered the game, he was going to give it his all and maybe make a play or two during his minutes on the floor.

I first became aware of Clarke during his college career at Gonzaga. He was newcomer of the year the season after he transferred there, he had to redshirt, and he was a third team all american. He also scored 35 points in a tournament game, surpassing Adam Morrison's Gonzaga record. He parlayed all of this into being the 21st overall selection in the 2019 NBA draft. The Thunder drafted him, but traded him about two weeks later to the Grizzlies, where he would spend his entire NBA career. He was a first team all rookie player and he became a spark plug off the bench. He would get anywhere from 20 to 22 minutes a game and he was a double digit scorer and 5 rebound a game player. He would come in, ignite some kind of run, get the crowd into the game and he was a blast to watch. I was fortunate enough to go to a few games live, and when he would enter the game the crowd would give him a nice ovation and he always did something cool at the games I attended.

Then he got hurt. He tore his achilles, and when he went out, the Grizzlies suffered. They needed his tenacity and grit. He embodied the team and the chemistry that they enjoyed when they were winning a lot of games. Him being out hurt rebounding and defense. He did all he could from the bench, but his absence on the floor was noticeable. He only played in two games last season, and only six the season before that. He did appear in 64 games during the 2023-24 season, but you could just tell that he wasn't the same player. The injury had a real effect on his game and what he did best.

About a month ago Clarke was pulled over, after a chase, for possession of a controlled substance. I really thought nothing of it at the time. I read that it was CBD, which I have used before, and just kind of dismissed it. I shouldn't have done that. There has been no release of the cause of death, but early reports seem to say that it may have been an accidental overdose. I don't know if that is true, I'm not reporting anything at all, but if true that is a real bummer. I know that the scene of his death there was drug paraphernalia found, and that is never a good sign.

Twenty nine is too young to be gone. He was a professional athlete in tremendous shape. I know he had an achilles injury, but that did not change the way he looked or how he felt. I'm worried that there may have been some undiagnosed, or not released mental health issues with Clarke. Mental health struggles are real and upsetting and I just wish, if this were the case, that Clarke would have sought help. The possibility of an accidental overdose is scary as well. You never seem to know what may be put in some substances these days, and I worry that Clarke may have just been trying to take his mind off things and overdid it. I'm also very upset for his family. Having a family member go so unexpectedly and so young is tragic and devastating.

I'm going to miss him as a fan of the Grizzlies and a fan of the game of basketball. Clarke was the quintessential bench spark plug that the Grizzlies needed. Rest In Peace Brandon Clarke. I hope you have found peace wherever you may be right now. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

Thoughts on Who the Grizzlies Should Draft with the Third Pick

The NBA draft lottery occurred last night and my favorite team, the Grizzlies, got the third overall pick. Let’s discuss.

I am stoked about this. The Grizzlies had a bad, bad season, but now they have a very high lottery pick. They traded Jaren Jackson Jr, I hope they trade Ja Morant next, and maybe get off some of the old contracts. I want this team to go young and start a small, but quick rebuild. If they can find a team for Morant, attach a player like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and maybe get a future pick or two, that would be ideal for me. I want them to move on from the older players, who had some success that I will be forever grateful for, and start building around Cedric Coward and Zach Edey, that would be the best thing moving ahead. And they can really kick start the fast rebuild with this third overall pick. And I don't want them to trade the pick either. I want them to keep it and take one of the three players I'm about to talk about. I know the idea of attaching the pick to get some win now guys is enticing, but don't give in Grizzlies. Keep the pick.

Looking at their roster, I'd like them to take a front court player or a taller wing player. The backcourt has, for now, Ja Morant, Scotty Pippen Jr and Ty Jerome. So, while a player like Keaton Wagler or Kingston Flemings may be desirable, I want them to stick with the current guys, and if they were to trade Morant, maybe try to get a point guard in return. I also think, that given a full season of health, and no expectations, Ty Jerome and Cedric Coward could run the offense. I'd love to see Coward, who is listed as a forward, but is 6'5, get some run as the lead guard. That would be interesting to me. As I get deeper into the roster, what they need is true front court talent. Brandon Clarke Jr is old and often injured. I still have hope in Zach Edey. O-Max Prosper hasn't lived up to his draft position. Santi Aldama is soft and more of a three point threat. They need beef. They need strength. They need a low post presence that can stretch the defense at times.

My top choice for this pick, the guy I want them to take with this pick over anyone else is Cam Boozer. He would start right away. He won't replace JJJ, but he will help in that area. He is big, 6'10. He is a good post scorer. He can shoot the three. He is a solid three point shooter. He is a decent rebounder. He does need to get leaps and bounds better on defense, but that can come with coaching. I don't want the Grizzlies to overthink this. It should be an easy and simple decision. Take Boozer, don't waste everyone's time. Do the right thing and do it fast.

If they go in some other direction, or Boozer is already gone, there are two other players I would like them to take here. Caleb Wilson had loads of potential, and he is a highly talented offensive prospect. He can get anywhere he wants on the floor. He is an excellent shot creator. He has no fear going to the rim and he can shoot from the outside. His defense leaves a ton to be desired, and he missed a big chunk of last season due to injury. You could tell that UNC missed him greatly when he went out with his injury, but that is good and bad. I think Wilson is a high risk, but also very high reward player. If he hits, Wilson could be a perennial all star. But there's also the possibility of him flaming out, and that frightens me a bit. And then there is my, if this kid is here for some unknown reason, and even if Boozer is still available, they would have to draft AJ Dybansta. Dybansta is my favorite prospect in the whole draft. I think he is the best overall player by leaps and bounds. He is primed and ready to play and contribute from day one. You can build an offense and a team around him. He works his tail off on defense and he will only get better. He made BYU a watchable basketball team last season. He has all the tools you want in a player, and if he "slips" to the Grizzlies at three, they need to snatch him right away. He would be the best thing that could happen to the franchise right now. I'd want them to trade Morant asap if they are somehow able to draft Dybansta. The team will be his from day one. But, since he is so good and coveted, I am sure that the Wizards are going to take him first overall. So that would leave the Grizzlies with Boozer or Wilson, and I'd want them to take Boozer.

This is my hope, but we will see what they do when the draft rolls around. Time will tell. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

The Lakers Need to Grow Up

The Oklahoma City Thunder are currently 6-0 in the NBA playoffs. And they haven't even looked all that dominant yet. They are still playing exceptional defense and players other than SGA have been showing up and showing out. Now don't take for granted that they played an overmatched Suns team in the first round, and have been matched up with an injured and older Lakers team. But the Thunder earned the number 1 seed, and outside of maybe the Spurs and Knicks, the Thunder will overmatch any team they play. They earned the right to have the easiest path to the Finals.

But what the Lakers resorted to last night, the gall they had, the nerve that their coach and team had, to question the refs was so unsightly for me as a basketball fan. For the Lakers, for JJ Redick, for LeBron James, and most notably, for Austin Reaves to have a beef with the refs, to wait and speak to them after the game, to call them names during the game, this is a horrific look for a team that gets pretty much everything handed to them.

For those that may not know, the Lakers seemed to have an issue with how the game was called last night. I didn't watch the game last night, it was too late for an old man like me, but I did read about it this morning. And the way the media covered it this morning, you would have thought that the Lakers were screwed by the refs. That wasn't the case when I dug a little deeper. I tend to look at stats after a game, especially when players openly complain. I went to the stats fully expecting the Thunder to have shot something like 40 free throws to the Lakers less than 20. That's usually the case when a team goes this far. That is what it is like whenever I see that Duke escaped a men's college basketball game. But, the stats told a different story. The Thunder went 21 of 26 from the free throw line. The Lakers went 18 of 21. Five free throws is not some kind of massive advantage. And while I may not understand my son's math, I do know how to add and subtract. And by my count the Thunder only shot five more free throws than the Lakers, and only made three more. So, if you look at the score from last night, 125-107, take away those three points and the Thunder still would have won by 15 points. That's quite a lot of points in the NBA.

So, while the Lakers may have this huge beef, and go and cry to the media about it, and have Austin Reaves calling the refs derogatory names, the refs are not the reason why they got beat by 15, and why they will most likely be ousted in the next two to three games from the playoffs. And it will only get worse after that.

JJ Redick is a crybaby and not the tough guy he portrays himself as. His gripes and complaints are so outrageous that it's funny to me. There's an episode of "Brooklyn 99" where Jake Peralta, played by Andy Samberg, tries to be the bad cop in an interrogation. He goes on this whole rant and lets it rip. And when he is done, the person being interrogated starts to laugh at him and compares him to a muppet. That is the exact same way I look at JJ Redick when he goes on one of his little rants.

LeBron James, who I adore, is one of the worst complainers the game has ever seen. He is an all time great, second greatest player of all time in my opinion, but he is a top notch flopper and complainer, and it has only gotten worse since Luka Doncic joined the team. I understand why he is doing it, at his advanced age he needs every advantage he can get. But for him to complain about not getting enough calls, or his muppet of a coach to say he has the worst whistle of any superstar ever, get over yourselves.

But the worst one, the one player who should keep his goddamn mouth closed is Austin freaking Reaves. This dude is a joke of a player. No one would know who he was if he was on the Lakers and not teammates with LeBron and Luka. Do you all remember Matthew Dellavedova? Yeah well, he's out of the league now. He thought he could thrive without LeBron and he was proven wrong very quickly. That's Austin Reaves. Remember PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford? They were the missing pieces when the Mavericks made a run to the Finals with Luka as their main guy. Now they barely play on a terrible Mavs team. That's Austin Reaves. I so hope that the Lakers overpay him and are stuck with his albatross of a contract. His offense, which is supposed to be his one thing, is inconsistent at best. He is a horrific defender as well. There were moments when he was literally hugging SGA while trying to guard him, and when SGA pushed off, Reaves did the flop of the year. I'm so over this dude and his fake tough guy attitude. If he were on any other team he would be a pure afterthought. And the only way his stats look any good during the regular season is because he gets the joy of having a Lakers jersey on and the refs calling phantom fouls for him all the time. So, for him to go at the refs, for him to lead this weird charge, for him to be the one waiting and speaking to the refs for the Lakers, that is laughable to me. He is such a middling NBA player. He is not even close to the superstar he pretends to be. He is fake tough and will be irrelevant in about a year or two.

This holier than thou attitude that the Lakers were showing last night is why the NBA is becoming borderline unwatchable. No one takes any accountability. It is always someone else's fault. And of course it was the Lakers showing the whole NBA watching world that this is becoming a big problem. I am not a Thunder fan anymore, but damn am I rooting hard for them to obliterate the Lakers in the next two games and send them home whining and crying. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Thank You Timberwolves for Ending Jokic's Season

I just want to thank the Minnesota Timberwolves for ousting the Denver Nuggets last night in game six of the first round of the NBA playoffs.

I have made it very clear how much I despise watching Nikola Jokic play the game of basketball. I find him to be boring, only plays one side of the floor, gripes too much to the refs and gets unwarranted recognition. Yes, he is a wonderful offensive basketball player. He makes incredible passes, makes some of the luckiest shots I've ever witnessed and rebounds the hell out of the ball. He gets the ball out of his hands very quickly to start fast breaks, and he is the hub of everything the Nuggets want to do on the offensive end of the floor. But the fact that he has three MVPs is nuts. The fact that some, namely Zach Lowe, have called him the "greatest basketball player in the world", is very far fetched. The fact that others within the media seem to think he will go down as one of the best to ever play the game is categorically wrong to me. He doesn't play defense. His holier than thou attitude towards basketball has grown tired. I'm so goddamn sick and tired of the people who seem to love his love for his horses. His attitude and actions in this series were gross and tired. When he tried to fight Jaden McDaniels for making a garbage layup was some of the fakest toughness I've ever witnessed on a basketball court.

And he has plenty of good players surrounding him on the Nuggets. He is not the only guy who contributes. Jamal Murray, who McDaniels had in shackles, is an all star and key cog to this team's offense. Aaron Gordon, when healthy, fits like a glove. Bruce Bowen is a solid 3 and d guy. Tim Hardaway Jr is a solid three point shooter. Christian Braun is supposed to be a lockdown defender. Peyton Watson had a great season and looks to be a solid starter on this team. So to heap all of this praise on Jokic feels unwarranted and unnecessary.

If he is this all world, all time great player, he should have led the Nuggets to a sweep in this matchup. Or at worst, a 4-1 win. The Timberwolves came into this series limping. I understand that Aaron Gordon has been injured all season. But so has Anthony Edwards. And Donte DiVencenzio tore his ACL at the beginning of game three. Ayo Dosunmu missed last night's game with a calf strain. Injuries are part of the game, but the Timberwolves got ravaged by injuries to very important players. DiVincenzio was the starting 2 guard. He made teams guard the three point line. Teams had to gameplan around him. Dosunmu was a perfect addition at the trade deadline. He was the sixth man they desired. He brought an energy and speed that this team sorely lacked. And Anthony Edwards is one of the better, younger players in the NBA right now. He has gotten better every year, is an all NBA caliber player, an MVP candidate and one of the most fun players to watch. All three of them were out last night. And while Gordon may have been out, the Nuggets had everyone else, and the supposed "best player in the world" all healthy.

Well, Rudy Gobert put Jokic in chains. He couldn't do anything. He would try and gripe and bully and do all of his moves, but it was to no effect. Gobert went back to his old days and completely locked down any and everything Jokic tried to do. He made Jokic so angry, so flustered, that he literally tried to fight dudes on the floor. That was what he was reduced to in this series. Murray couldn't do a thing, especially when McDaniels was guarding him. McDaniels did such an amazing job on him. It was a joy to watch. After McDaniels came out and said that everyone on the Nuggets was bad defensively, he had to back it up. And he did. So much so that McDaniels was the star of the closeout game last night. The lights weren't too bright for him.

I just loved seeing this Nuggets team get beaten and knocked out by a team that no one gave much of a shot, myself included. The Timberwolves seemed dead on arrival and the Nuggets were playing offense very well. I should have, and this includes others, taken into account how bad their defense had gotten though at the end of the season. They were horrendous on that end, and all the Timberwolves had to do was slow down the offense just a bit, which they were able to do. I don't care what the Timberwolves do from here on out in the playoffs. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if they don't put up much of a fight against the Spurs. The Timberwolves, undermanned mind you, took out the media's darling team. They beat the team that all the white writers and podcasters over at The Ringer wanted to win it all. It was glorious to see Jaden McDaniels rip their heart out and show it to them. I loved seeing all these role players on the T'Wolves take it to this supposed title contender.

Thank you Minnesota. Thank you Chris Finch. Thank you Mike Conley, Naz Reid and mostly, Jaden McDaniels. The sheer fact that I don't have to watch or see the Nuggets and Nikola Jokic anymore during these playoffs is such a gift and I will be forever grateful to the Timberwolves. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

The NCAA Tournament Needs Less, not More, Teams

In our current time it seems that over abundance is the name of the game. As Americans we all seem to want more. This is not a good thing. Instead of having one burger on a bun, we need two or three. Pizzas can't have just one topping, we need the ultimate meat feast pizza. No one can just get a 12 oz steak, we need at least 24 ounces. Nachos can't just be cheese and chips, we need jalapeños, sour cream, pico de gallo and some kind of protein. And this doesn't just include food. Cars are getting bigger. I drive a SUV myself, but mine is on the smaller side. Some of these SUVs and pickup trucks are far too big. I've seen some trucks that have a lift just to get in. TVs are also getting bigger and brighter. Homes get built, then added on to. It is a mess to be honest with you.

This is happening even more in sports now. The NBA used to have eight teams per conference in the playoffs. Now there's ten. MLB has added two extra wild card teams. The NFL has added extra games. And now the men's NCAA basketball tournament announced yesterday that they're upping the number of teams that make the tournament. They decided that 68 wasn't enough, so they went up to 76 teams eligible for play.

March Madness used to be 68 teams. Hell, I remember when it was 64. There were no "play in" style games back when I was a kid. It felt like 64 teams was more than enough. I mean, I believe that when the NCAA tournament started there were only 32 teams that would get in. But now the committee decided that they needed to add eight extra teams to this overstuffed tournament.

I don't get it, and to be honest with you, I'm not a fan of adding anymore teams. I love the first weekend of the tourney. I am such a fan of the sheer fact that I can turn on my tv at 11am and watch multiple games throughout the entire day. And adding eight more teams will allow me to watch more games. But by the end of the day I am exhausted and kind of sick of watching basketball. The tournament gets better as more and more teams get eliminated. I'm sure that's due to the best teams, for the most part, just keep winning. Now though we are going to have more watered down and crummy basketball games.

If 76 teams were allowed in this year's tournament we would have gotten teams like Indiana and Auburn in the field. They were not very good this past season. Sure, Auburn won the NIT, but like RD says, that means they were the 69th best team in the country this past season. Sometimes teams have bad seasons and they shouldn't be rewarded with postseason play. This has been happening recently in college football with 5-7 teams getting bowl invites. I mean no disrespect to those teams and their players and coaches, but 5-7 is not good enough to get into a bowl game. If I had my way, 6-6 wouldn't be good enough. I feel like you should be over .500 to get into a bowl game. Now, we are going to have some men's college basketball teams that are 16-15 that get into the tournament because of the conference they play in. I keep going back to Auburn, but they were something like 18-15 last season. But because they play in the SEC, they would have gotten an invite if the field was 76 teams.

The addition of extra teams is going to hurt mid majors as well. More and more power conference teams are going to get invites over mid major teams. Miami (of Ohio) had to get in by winning a "play in" game last tourney, yet they had a record of 34-1 going into the tourney. But the discourse over the conference they play in and their strength of schedule, they will get overlooked in the future for teams that play in what others consider a better conference. In the end I fully understand that this is all about money and getting more games on tv. College sports are a money making endeavor. Many, many people, myself included, flock to the tv to watch games whenever they're on. And adding more teams is only going to give the horrific NCAA more and more cash.

And that is the biggest bummer of this whole thing. There's no transparency anymore. They want more money, they don't care who they have to step on and they will do whatever they can to get it. This is going to make the tourney less fun, but the NCAA doesn't care. They will get richer and fatter off people like me watching more and more basketball. This stinks, but it is only the start. I wouldn't be shocked if they add more and more teams in the next few years. This is the way of the world. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

The Dillon Brooks Act is Getting Stale

Well, Dillon Brooks ran his mouth again, and his team paid the price again. Let’s discuss.

There was a time when I rooted for Brooks. I found him to be a fascinating college player. I loved his tenacity and want to win. I will always remember when he made a late shot in the NCAA tournament when Oregon played Duke. I thought nothing of it at the time, but then Coach K decided he had to say something. Brooks listened, but I'm sure he didn't care. I found it to be sour grapes from Coach K. His team got beat, Brooks didn't stop until the whistle and it was a meaningless shot that wouldn't have changed the outcome no matter what. Coach K is a punk, and I'm sure Brooks thought the same thing at the time. He ended up in Memphis, and being a Grizzlies fan meant I was going to root for him. That is the way I root. If you're on my team, I'm going to go to bat for you. But then he got kind of good at defense. He became the Grizzlies 3 and D guy. That was where he shined and he did his job well. But the Grizzlies got a little too big for their britches. They started talking shit when they hadn't won anything of importance. And Brooks was at the front of the line when it came to shit talking. The Grizzlies had a solid season awhile back and ended up playing the Lakers in the playoffs. And instead of trying to just win the series and go onto the next round of the playoffs, Brooks and the rest of the Grizzlies decided they had to talk. Brooks in particular must have thought his new job was to trash talk, and to call out the biggest and best players. He went after LeBron James. He said that he "pokes bears". This was not a good look. This scared me. And when the Grizzlies were easily taken out by the Lakers, Brooks was silent all of the sudden. During the series he would talk to anyone that put a microphone in front of his face. But when he couldn't hold up his end of the bargain, and LeBron clowned his ass, he was silent. That pissed me off more than when he first opened his mouth. The sheer fact that he would talk, but then not back it up, that is a punkass move. That is clown stuff. That is what selfish little kids do. He was finally traded to the Rockets, and that was all I needed to root against this dude. And he brought back the trash talking, which made it even easier for me to clown on him. He would do this nonsensical stuff where he would just stand in one spot and stare at the opposing team. I believe he thought he was being intimidating, but he just looked like an idiot.

I don't know why and how he decided this was going to be his new thing, but it didn't work. While Brooks isn't a bad NBA player, he is a role player who is a mid tier 3 and D guy. He doesn't strike fear in any opponent. No one is worried about what he may do on the scouting report. Teams don't gameplan around him when they go to face whatever team he is playing for. The Rockets wore tired of his schtick after a year and traded him to the Suns in the Kevin Durant deal. He had an okay season for the Suns, but when they ended up as the eighth seed, and had to face the Thunder, he started up with the shit talking. He called Shai Gilgeous Alexander "frail". He griped about the refs. He was back to his Grizzlies days when the media would show up in the Suns locker room. And he got his ass cooked in all four games. SGA was scoring so easily that, at one point after a made bucket, he smiled and pointed at Brooks as if to say, this dildo can't guard me. Lu Dort did something similar during a scuffle for a loose ball. When Brooks openly complained about the refs to the media, the Thunder decided they didn't even need free throws to win. In game three SGA went 15 for 18 from the field, with Brooks as his main defender, and scored a playoff career high 42 points. Brooks will be more known for getting crossed over time and again this series than for anything else he may have done. And when the Thunder finished off the Suns in a sweep last night, Brooks all of the sudden wanted to be best friends with SGA. He went up and hugged him. Brooks and Devin Booker talked about how good SGA was at basketball in their press conference last night. All of the nonsense that Brooks was saying for two weeks was suddenly gone and now he seems to love SGA.

Dillon Brooks is a fake tough guy in the modern NBA. He may talk shit, but he has yet to back it up. He keeps going after the best and he keeps getting thwarted. I would just prefer if he would go back to his early NBA days and play gritty and grimy basketball. He doesn't need to shit talk, he doesn't need to be in front of a microphone, he doesn't need "poke bears". He just needs to play hoops. But I'm stoked that he is no longer on my favorite team. He is so much easier to root against than for, and if that makes me a hater, as Kendrick Lamar says, "I'm the biggest hater". Dillon Brooks is a joke of a "menace" in today's NBA. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Thoughts on the First Round of the 2026 NFL Draft

On Wednesday I wrote my NFL draft preview. Round one happened last night and I have some thoughts.

The first few picks went as expected. The Raiders got Mendoza and he has the skills to  be their franchise QB. He just needs time. David Bailey went second overall. I told you all that the Jest canceling a meeting with him meant nothing to me. They knew he was good, they wanted him and they took him. This was a smart move. I think Jeremiyah Love has all the skills in the world, but he will be behind a mediocre line and I just wouldn't take a running back this high in the modern NFL. I hope he proves me wrong, but drafting a pure running back at 3 overall scares me.

It was pretty chalk after those three, until the Rams took a massive swing at 13. The Titans needed a wideout, and while I would have taken Jordyn Tyson, who wound up at 8 with the Saints, they went with Carnell Tate, who should be good. The Giants took Arvell Reese, and he and Abdullah Carter and Kayvon Thibodeaux have the ability to wreck backfields. The Chiefs traded up and shored up their secondary with Mansoor Delane. Sonny Styles brings aggressiveness and will be a tackling machine for the Commanders. The Browns drafted the best o lineman in the draft in Spencer Fano. The Giants got some much needed o line help with the very next pick in Francis Mauigoa. Cam Skattebo and Jaxson Dart will adore him. The Cowboys traded up to take the best player in the draft, in my opinion, in Caleb Downs. I hate that the Cowboys actually did something right and they just drafted a star. Miami took Kadyn Proctor, and if he can stay on the field he should protect whoever the Dolphins throw out there at QB.

Then we have the weirdest pick of the night. The Rams, who traded up to 13, took Ty Simpson, the QB from Alabama. This makes zero sense to me. The Rams are a win now team. They could have gotten Simpson later in round one. Matthew Stafford was the MVP last year. Simpson will get next to no time on the field. He may be the second best QB prospect in this draft, but every other QB is miles behind Mendoza. It appears that Sean McVay didn't like this pick. This is very weird and has left me with a ton of questions still today. I don't get it and I don't think I ever will. Time will tell, but this felt like a reach and a bad pick.

The Ravens set things straight, getting Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry some much needed protection in taking Olaivavega Ioane at offensive guard. The Buccaneers got a great edge rusher in Ruben Bain Jr. This reminds me so much of when they took Warren Sapp in his draft. The slide and the potential are very similar. And after these picks, nothing was too wild. I love that the Eagles jumped ahead of the Steelers so they could take Makai Lemon. Apparently the Steelers wanted him, and were ready to pick him, but the Eagles jumped in and swiped him. That's hilarious to me. The Lions drafted Graham Glasgow's replacement in Blake Miller. The Chargers took Akeem Mesidor, and if you don't know his story, go read about him. This kid deserves all the credit in the world and he fully changed his game to make it here. Kenyan Sadiq had a little bit of a drop, falling to 16. But the Jets have someone they can finally count on to catch passes and make plays. I feel like the Browns got a steal when they took KC Concepcion at 24 overall. He is a very good wideout and will give Shadeur Sanders a solid target in the passing game. The Bears got a good player in Dillon Thieneman. He should start very soon and will help the secondary right away. And the Jets made another solid pick when they got Omar Cooper Jr, one of Indiana's wide receivers. He is consistent and smart. The Jets had a good night last night,

Rounds 2 and 3 are tonight and there is some first round talent still available. My man Derrick Moore from Michigan should get picked tonight. Some other guys still on the board are Jermod McCoy, Denzel Boston, Avieon Terrelll, Zion Young and Casshius Howell, among many others. Jaishawn Barham, another Michigan guy I love, is still on the board as well. This is when the draft matters most to me, and many others. This is where you find the diamonds in the rough. This is where you can really build your team.

Last night's round one was mostly chalk, except for the Rams and Cardinals. And, as I mentioned above, I fully believe the Jets had the best night and they look to be going in a solid direction. Time will tell, but they made some good moves. On to night two. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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Ty's 2026 NFL Draft Preview

The first round of the NFL draft starts tomorrow night. I'm not the biggest fan of this multi day draft, but it is a tv show and I'm sure whatever network airs the draft will get a ton of viewers. I know my son will be watching along with a bunch of other people. I will not, but I will be keeping track of where some of these players start their careers. Anyway, with the draft coming up, I will do my preview of some players and my thoughts on them. Unlike the past, where I would rank a few players, I'm going to go through some surefire first rounders and my thoughts on them. I'll name a player, give a sentence or two on my idea of how they'll be as a pro and then move on. Let's stop wasting time, let's get to the preview.

The player on the top of everyone's list seems to be Fernando Mendoza. And if I was listing players, he would be on the top of mine as well. Mendoza is a ready made quarterback prospect. He has all the tools to succeed in the league and he is football crazy. I respect his decision to stay home with his family for the draft. The only downside, he will be playing for the Raiders, who are a moribound franchise. Mendoza has the talent to turn them around, but it is going to take a few years.

Caleb Downs may be the best defensive prospect in the draft. If I were a defensive needy team, I'd try everything I could to move up and draft him. He is great in coverage, he can hit and he's an incredibly smart player. If not for Mendoza being in this draft, Downs would be the consensus number 1 player.

David Bailey is a great edge rusher. He plays the game with anger and joy. He is a throwback style player. I love his motor and his desire to play. I don't read much into the Jets canceling a meeting with him. Bailey has all the tools to be a pro bowl caliber player.

Arvell Reese is another buzzsaw off the edge. He has a super mean streak. He can be impossible to block at times. I know he spent a ton of time in Michigan's backfield last season. He is as good a player to build a defensive line around.

I'm a little skeptical of the Jeremiyah Love ascension. Don't get me wrong, he is a great player. It is his position that worries me. Running backs have such a short shelf life in the NFL. He is going to need to improve his pass catching and blocking if he wants to be an every down back. I think if put in the right situation, he could succeed. But that all depends on where he gets picked.

Ruben Bain is another edge rusher who many had as the top player going into the season. He didn't have the massive year statistically wise than many expected, but that is because he was double and triple teamed all year. He also showed up big time in Miami's playoff run, and their defense was the main reason why they made the run to the title game.

Outside of Mendoza, none of the QB's really do much for me. Ty Simpson is inaccurate and not very mobile. Drew Allar was not as great in college as he should have been, and he's coming off an injury. Carson Beck is older than a bunch of starters currently in the NFL. And Garrett Nussmeier just got some unfortunate medical news.

Outside of Love, this running back class is thin. Kaytron Allen is eligible, but he split time in Penn State's backfield. Navy's running back is eligible, but all Navy does is run. This running back class is devoid of true, deep talent.

What about the pass catchers? Jordyn Tyson and Makai Lemon may be the best players in this class. They both have separating speed, great hands and run solid routes. Denzel Boston is tall and quick. He could be a future number 1 wideout on an NFL team. KC Concepcion is solid and may be the most rounded receiver in this class. Kenyon Sadiq is the top tight end and he is the best tight end in this class. He should have a solid career.

The o line has some studs. Kadyn Proctor, Spencer Fano and Francis Mauigoa are the top tackles and I would be very happy if my team needed an o lineman and they drafted one of these guys.

The cornerback class is deep and talented. I already mentioned Caleb Downs, but we also have Mansoor Delane, D'Angelo Ponds, Avieon Terrell and Jermod McCoy. These dudes are all talented and can start from day one in the NFL.

The linebacking group falls off after Sonny Styles and CJ Allen. I'm not high on Jacob Rodriguez at all. He is a pure college player. Josiah Trotter needs time to grow into an NFL player. And Jake Golday seems to be a step or two too slow for the NFL.

Who would I be if I didn’t talk about a few Michigan players that are in the draft. I loved watching Derrick Moore at Michigan and I'm going to love watching him in the pros. I am very hopeful that Green Bay will take him. That would be ideal for me. Marlin Klein has the tools to be a solid NFL tight end, but he struggled to stay on the field for weeks at a time. Dominic Zvada is a good kicker. He won't get drafted, but he should get a chance somewhere and I could see him sticking around the NFL for a long time. And I am very hopeful that Donovan McCulley can find a place and stick around. He is big, has great hands and is faster than you think. He and Andrew Marsh gave me the most hope when Michigan would throw the ball last season.

That's it for my NFL draft preview. I'm sure these kids are excited to see what the future holds for them and I'm stoked to see where they end up playing next season. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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Runners and Walkers are Always Wanted

Nike messed up with their most recent ad. Let’s discuss.

The Boston Marathon was held last weekend and prior to race day Nike ran an ad that read, "Runners Wanted. Walkers Tolerated". Seems pretty harmless on its base. Most people who run keep in constant motion. That's the way it is. And when you are heading to Boston to run the marathon, I'm sure you run the entire race. But the whole "Walkers tolerated" part is what seems to be sticking with the general public and with me.

I fancy myself a runner. I have been doing it for over a decade now. I have come a very long way and I feel better when I run four to five days a week. But part of my running journey, a good portion of it in fact, has involved walking. When I first started running I would run hard for about a tenth of a mile and then I would walk. That type of cross training is what got me so interested in running. As I continued to go out exercising, I would run more and more of each distance, but there was always some form of walking involved. After I ran my first half marathon I decided I was going to do more trail running. I always liked hiking, and adding running to that seemed like a logical choice. But any trail runner will tell you that walking is a part of trail running. Sometimes us trail runners call it walking, but most of the time we call it "power hiking". That is just a fancy way to say walking. Pretty much anytime I see a steep hill during a trail run, that is my excuse to walk. I like that I get that minor break during a trail trot. It is a nice change of pace and that is when I get fuel into my body. It is an excuse to do all the little things needed when doing a long distance trail run. All of this is why this whole ad has sparked controversy and made me angry and made me want to talk about this today.

The biggest thing that made me angry, the reason why I fell in love with running, why I have continued to do it, why it means so much to me, I have never been judged by the community. Running was so great because I was accepted instantly. I wanted to run and the veteran runners didn't chastise me. They didn't tell me I had to be faster. They didn't try to coach me unless I asked. I was let in and made tons of friends because no one was judging anything I did while exercising. This whole "Walkers Tolerated" thing feels like judgement. It feels like I am lesser than because I walk during some of my runs. It makes me feel talked down to. In the end, it makes me feel bad. And that should never be the case when doing a sport, especially one that is an individual sport. Team sports have way, way too much judgement. I played football, baseball and basketball growing up. Locker rooms and playing fields are toxic. Everyone has some kind of foul stuff they say with little to no repercussions. It gets nasty and hurtful. It could be a bummer for the most part. That wasn't the case with running, until Nike decided to run this ad.

I despise this. Walking is still a form of movement and exercise. Walking means you're moving. People who decide to walk during a race shouldn't be made to feel lesser than. That is not the whole idea. Runners come in all shapes and sizes and genders. It has always been this way and will continue to be. But if big companies, with a lot of pull have their way, running will become just as toxic as other team sports. Running doesn't need to judge. The sheer fact that you're outside doing some kind of physical activity is more than others do. Don't make fun of me for walking sometimes. Don't talk down to me because my pace may be slower than a lot of other people. Don't make fun of me because I've only ever run one marathon in my life, a trail marathon, that took me seven and a half hours to complete, and I walked a decent portion of it to finish it off.

This is in bad taste and poor timing. I cannot believe that this got passed by a bunch of other people who are the higher ups at their job. I hope this gets rectified and taken down. I don't like this statement and I don't like that some people have decided that all runners need to be judged. That is what bums me out the most. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

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Thoughts on the NBA Future for LeBron

Some reports have come out this afternoon that LeBron James may retire or he may consider leaving the Lakers for three other teams, the Warriors, Cavs or Clippers. Let’s discuss.

This is not a shock to me. Ever since the Lakers traded for Luka Doncic, you could see that they were going to start building the team around him. He is younger and he is a star. That is the game the Lakers have always played. They picked Kobe over Shaq. They drafted Magic Johnson to replace Kareem Abdul Jabaar. They brought in Pau Gasol to play with Kobe. They tried getting Gary Payton and Karl Malone a ring. That didn't happen, but Payton eventually got his. They tried bringing in Steve Nash and Dwight Howard. The Lakers are the biggest game hunters in the NBA. So when they shockingly acquired Luka, I'm sure Lebron and his team saw the writing on the wall. I don't think that's fair to the second greatest NBA player of all time, but this is the modern landscape in the NBA.

I should mention that LeBron has also said he wouldn't mind returning to the Lakers. But, if he wants out, I think that retirement may be the best option. Sure, going back to the Cavs would make for a great final season. He could reap all the benefits of a "farewell tour" and be on a team that should be competitive next season, especially in the East. But he would have to take a tremendous pay cut, which shouldn't affect him at all. He has more money than he could ever spend. Also, the Cavs could look really different next season. James Harden said today that he will go into the offseason as a free agent. I read today that the Cavs would explore a trade for Donovan Mitchell if he doesn't sign an extension. Jarrett Allen is always on the trade block. Max Strus has barely played this season. And Evan Mobley hasn't taken the leap everyone expected he would on offense this year. Let's say the Cavs flame out of the playoffs earlier than they hope this year and there's some changes. I'll say they trade Mitchell and Allen for picks. And let's say LeBron takes the pay cut to play there. That would mean they would have a 41, soon to be 42 year old LeBron James. A year older Harden, Evan Mobley, who may just be a defensive force. And a bunch of young, unproven guys minus Max Strus. I know that they play in the East, and Harden and James could be fun. But that would not be a title contending team to me. I'd say, unless he gets real news that this team will mostly be intact next season, the Cavs would not be the best choice.

The Clippers mention doesn't make much sense to me. Paul George and James Harden are gone. Kawhi Leonard may be gone, and is often injured. Ivica Zubac is gone. LeBron will be teamed up with players like Ben Mathurin, John Collins, Derrick Jones Jr, Darius Garland, Kris Dunn and Brad Beal. That is not a contender. Not even close. Especially in the West. And even if Kawhi does comes back, LeBron would have to take a massive pay cut and still play the gauntlet that is the West. This one is the least likely to me. I mean, he wouldn't have to move, which would be nice. But I don't think he is going to move anyway. If he does leave the Lakers, he won't live in whatever city he gets traded to or signs with. But the Clippers makes no sense whatsoever. They are not in the best place, they just got beat by a team that didn't even really want to play the other night and who knows what is going to happen with Kawhi, on and off the court.

The Warriors makes the most sense of a team he would leave for in free agency or a trade. Stephen Curry and LeBron have amazing chemistry. They have shown that they love playing off one another, be it an all star game or in the Olympics. They compliment each other very well. They are both getting older though. I do think LeBron would buy into Steve Kerr's system as well. He would get to play fun basketball at an older age. He and Draymond Green are also buddies. They get along, which is wild to me. But Green is older, and looking like it. Moses Moody won't play next season, he is recovering from an injury, but when he comes back, he is a great cutter to the rim and he would get lots of dunks on passes from LeBron. Kristaps Porzingis, if he can ever stay on the court for an extended period of time, would open the lane for LeBron. And the Warriors have some bench guys, but they are an old, old team. And LeBron would be the oldest player on the team if he signs there. And they play in the West as well. But the chance to play with Steph may be too good for him to pass up. And then we have retirement. I think this makes the most sense.

LeBron has done it all in the NBA. He is an all timer. He has won everything any player could ever dream of. He has multiple rings. He is, as I mentioned before, the second best to ever play the game. And he has kids that he can watch and root for. Speaking as a father who's coaching career just ended, but his kid is still playing, it is so much more fun to watch and be a fan. It's the best. I get to root my face off for my kid. LeBron would get to do this at the highest level. And he is 41 years old. The time has come. Father Time always wins. And while he has looked solid this year, he has missed time with some older people injuries. So, whatever he decides, I think hanging it up is the best solution. He has nothing more to prove. He is an all timer and I would applaud his decision to walk away. Time will tell. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Is This it for Doc Rivers?

Doc Rivers has walked away as the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks. Or they fired him. Or it was mutual. I have heard all three things being said since the NBA regular season ended. Let’s discuss.

Doc Rivers is an okay coach. He does have a championship ring. He started his head coaching career in 1999 when he took over the head job with the Magic. He was there for four seasons. He even won coach of the year in 2000. He brought the Magic back to relevancy. He had the Magic at or above .500 every season he was the head coach. He took them to the playoffs three times. He was let go after the Magic started the 2003-04 season 1-10. He did try to lure Tim Duncan away from San Antonio, but that didn't work. If it had, that would have been a real sliding doors scenario for the NBA.

He wasn't out of a head coaching job that long. He took over as the head coach of the Celtics in 2004. He had the most success while with the Celtics. The first three years only had one playoff appearance, but in year four they won the whole thing. This was when the Celtics got Paul Pierce some help trading for Kevin Garnett and adding Ray Allen via free agency. This was one of the first "super teams", and this team won it all. KG got a ring. Ray Allen got his first ring. Paul Pierce more than proved his worth. And the Celtics won it all with an excellent defense. They could have won it all the very next season, but injuries slowed them down in the conference semifinals. They made it back to the finals the next year, getting beat by the Lakers. But Doc Rivers had proven that he could win, and take teams to high heights, as long as he had a great roster.

Doc stuck with the Celtics for three more seasons, but in the 2013-14 season he took the head coaching job with the Clippers. The Clippers were supposed to win it all. They had all the players they needed, they just needed a proper head coach. Doc Rivers was supposed to be that guy. He was the missing piece. And while those Clippers teams were fun, they never made it out of the conference semifinals. They would have these wonderful regular seasons, only to see any hope of a long playoff run die in spectacular fashion. Those Clippers teams were full of arrogant assholes too. Blake Griffin was only a ferocious dunker, nothing more. Chris Paul was a pain in the ass, who would find ways to blow games at any given moment. Deandre Jordan couldn't stay out of foul trouble. The players would pour drinks on opposing teams fans. They allowed Josh Richardson to rain threes on them. They let the Thunder, led by KD and Russell Westbrook, beat them early in their run. These Clippers teams couldn't get out of their own way, and a lot of that falls on Doc Rivers. He did have to navigate the whole Donald Sterling thing, and I do think Doc Rivers did a good job with that fiasco. But the rings never came.

Next he took over as the head coach of the 76ers for the 2020-21 season. This seemed like a good fit too, but we have the whole Ben Simmons of it all. Simmons could have been great, but he got in his own head. And when Doc Rivers didn't take his side, he became known as not a players coach. The media ripped him for this and it made his time as the 76ers head coach fraught with criticism. He was blamed for Simmons flaming out. He was told he was taking Joel Embiid's side too much. He tried to bring on his type of players, but it didn't amount to much. Those 76ers teams were loaded with talent, but they never got out of the East semifinals. I do think that this team could have won a title if they had a better head coach.

Rivers was then assigned to take over when the Bucks fired their young coach. Apparently Giannis didn't like that coach and they gave the job to Rivers. I thought this was going to work. It did not and it did not to epic proportions. Doc Rivers never really had a hold on this Bucks team. He never had his full complement of players. Someone was always injured. They didn't get out of the first round of the playoffs the last two seasons. Part of that is due to injuries, other parts are due to Rivers coaching inadequacies. The Bucks were very bad this season, and it looks like Giannis is on his way out. This whole Doc Rivers Milwaukee Bucks marriage never worked. It did the opposite of that. This was bad on all counts. And no matter what Rives says or the front office says, the Bucks are not in a good place right now. This team may actually need a full tear down. I mean, they're paying two people, Damian Lillard and Doc Rivers, that don't even work there anymore. They still have Kyle Kuzma. They gave Myles Turner a humongous contract last offseason. More changes than just a new head coach may need to be made here. And this bums me out because my dad is a Bucks fan and I want him to be pleased with what his favorite team is doing and the direction they're headed in.

This may be the end of Doc Rivers as a viable head coach in the NBA. He may get a spot at one of the soon to be open head coaching spots in the NBA, but not with a big time franchise. Maybe the Pelicans or Wizards will target him. But teams in big cities or with big name players, I'm sure they will pass on Rivers. At least he has a championship ring. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

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