♪ ♪
[LAUGHTER]
>> THE THING IS, MAN, PEOPLE
DON'T FIGHT ANYMORE IN THE NBA
BECAUSE THEY WILL DAMN NEAR
THROW YOU IN JAIL.
SOMEHOW, WE ALL LOVE WATCHING
PEOPLE FIGHT ALL THE TIME,
EXCEPT IF THEY DO IT AND BACKS
ALL JERSEYS THE AGREEMENT ON THE
EVERYBODY WANTS TO CALL THE
POLICE AND SHUT THE BODY DOWN.
THERE IS A GENERATION OF FANS
WERE NEVER SEEN THEIR FAVORITE
PLAYERS GET INTO A FIGHT.
I ONCE SAW DR. JAY AND MOSES MOW
DOUBLE-TEAM LARRY BIRD.
[LAUGHTER]
THESE KIDS ARE BEING DEPRIVED.
>> BEAUTIFUL MEMORIES RIGHT
THERE.
♪ ♪
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> Bomani: THANK YOU!
WELCOME TO SEASON 2 OF
"GAME THEORY!"
ALL RIGHT.
WE GOT A LOT TO TALK ABOUT.
CHUCK, LET'S RUN IT!
>> WHAT DID WE LEARN IN
OUR SIX GAME SUPER WILD CARD
WEEKEND?
WELL, YOUNG QUARTERBACKS HELP
WIN PLAYOFF GAMES.
DAK PRESCOTT IS THE OLDEST AT
29.
>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE EIGHT
QUARTERBACKS REMAINING IN THE
POSTSEASON, WHAT DO THEY ALL
HAVE IN COMMON TO VARYING
DEGREES?
MOBILITY?
>> Bomani: IT ONLY TOOK THREE
OR FOUR GENERATIONS BEEN A FULL
QUARTERBACKS, THAT FAST IS
GREATER THAN SLOW.
[LAUGHTER]
USED TO BE IMPRESSIVE BACK IN
THE DAY IF YOUR QUARTERBACK AND
FINISH THE 40-YARD DASH WITHOUT
PASSING OUT.
BUT GOOD NEWS TO MY FOLKS, THIS
PROBABLY MEANS WE GET SOME MORE
BLACK QUARTERBACKS.
[APPLAUSE]
BUT IT'S A NEW BREED OF WHITE
ONES, TOO.
JOSH ALLEN AND DANIEL JONES OUT
THERE LIKE THOSE WHITE DUDES
THAT NOBODY KNOWS CAN DUNK UNTIL
YOU LOOK UP AND HE'S GOT HIS
CROTCH RIGHT UP IN YOUR FACE.
NOW THAT PEOPLE REALIZE THERE
ARE A FAST WHITE DUDES WHO CAN
THROW, YOU BETTER GET READY FOR
THE HOW THE "IDEAL QUARTERBACK"
CHANGES.
AND THEY THOUGHT -- ONCE THEY
REALIZE THOSE SLOW WHITE DUDES
MIGHT DIE, THEY STARTED
DEMANDING A LITTLE BIT MORE.
SORRY ABOUT THAT, SLOW WHITE
GUYS.
BAY DONE TOOK YOUR JOBS!
AND IT'S YOUR OWN PEOPLE DOING
IT TO YOU THIS TIME.
BUT I SEE YOU, AND I FELT.
IT ONLY TOOK YOU 100 YEARS TO
FIGURE OUT THAT MAYBE, JUST
MAYBE, IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE
A GUY WHO TOUCHES THE BALL EVERY
SINGLE PLAY THE ATHLETIC.
SOME REAL BRAINIAC SHIT THERE.
[LAUGHTER]
WHAT'S NEXT?
>> A TERRIBLE NIGHT FOR
TOM BRADY DOWN IN TAMPA.
THE DALLAS COWBOYS BLEW OUT THE
BUCCANEERS, AND THAT HAS MANY
SPECULATING IF IT WAS INDEED THE
FINAL GAME FOR THE 45-YEAR-OLD
QUARTERBACK.
>> THE MAN DOES NOT -- HE PLAYS
FOOTBALL WITH FEAR NOW.
IT LOOKED LIKE HE WAS AFRAID TO
TAKE CONTACT.
>> Bomani: YOU KNOW HOW MAD I
WAS SO MAD AT MYSELF ON MONDAY.
HONORING MARTIN LUTHER KING, AND
I FORGOT BECAUSE I WAS WATCHING
TOM BRADY.
WHAT WAS CLEAR WATCHING NIGHT'S
TOM BRADY WANTS TO BE A FOOTBALL
PLAYER, BUT HE DOES NOT WANT TO
PLAY FOOTBALL.
BECAUSE YOU CAN'T PLAY FOOTBALL
WITHOUT GETTING HIT.
YOU SAW HOW FAST HE WAS THROWING
THAT THING.
HE REALLY DOESN'T WANT TO GET
HIT.
OUT HERE PLAYING FOOTBALL LIKE A
SCARED COP.
YOU KNOW HOW COPS CAN TALK WHEN
HAVE TO EXPLAIN WHY THEY SHOT
SOMEBODY?
"HEY, I DIDN'T WANT ANY DANGER,
I FEARED FOR MY LIFE.
I JUST WANTED TO GET HOME TO MY
WIFE AND --"
ALL RIGHT, WELL, TOM BRADY JUST
WANTS TO GO HOME.
[LAUGHTER]
BUT IF YOU'VE GOT TO LET ONE FLY
WAY TOO EARLY TO BE SAFE, OH, HE
WILL.
OF OFFICER BRADY HAD BROUGHT HIS
GUN TO WORK, HE WOULD HAVE
DROPPED THREE STEPS AND SMOKE
MICAH PARSONS.
BUT THE REAL QUESTION IS, WHY
DON'T YOU JUST GIVE IT UP AND
START YOUR $375 MILLION CONTRACT
WITH FOX?
IT'S BECAUSE THESE GUYS ALWAYS
THINK THEY GOT ONE MORE COMEBACK
IN THEM.
SIR, IF YOU WANT TO COME BACK
SOMEWHERE, COME BACK TO YOUR
FAMILY.
[LAUGHTER]
NO MATTER WHAT, THAT WILL HURT
LESS THAN PLAYING MORE FOOTBALL.
LET'S HIT THE NEXT ONE.
>> WENT VIRAL IN A SHORT CLIP,
SHOT AT A POPEYES RESTAURANT.
>> THE POPEYES KID PLAYING D2
FOOTBALL AT COLLEGE IN OHIO,
WHICH MEANS HE CAN MAKE MONEY
WORKING WITH BRANDS ON NIL
DEALS.
>> DIEUNERST COLLIN, SIGNED A
NAME, IMAGE, AND LIKENESS DEAL
WITH THE RESTAURANT,
SOCIAL MEDIA PUSH TO GET HIM
PAID, ONCE USERS FIGURED OUT
WHERE HE IS NOW.
>> Bomani: SOUNDS LIKE A
FEEL-GOOD STORY, RIGHT?
BUT NOT THE REASON THAT YOU
THINK.
THE LAST THING THAT YOUNG MAN
NEEDS IS MORE POPEYES.
[LAUGHTER]
HE'S AN ATHLETE.
BUT THAT BOY HAS BEEN EXPLOITED,
AND HE WASN'T GETTING EXPLOITED
BY POPEYES.
HE WAS GETTING EXPLOITED BY US.
ALL OF YOU TWEETERS ARE THE
PROBLEM.
ALL THEY DID WAS STAND THERE TEN
YEARS AGO.
Y'ALL BE USING HIM TO BE FUNNIER
THAN YOU ACTUALLY ARE FOR YOUR
INTERNET FRIENDS.
Y'ALL BEEN STOPPING HIM AT THE
MALL AND DOING BAD IMPRESSIONS
ON HIM, JUST SEEING HIM, LIKE.
[LAUGHTER]
AND HE DIDN'T GIVE THEM A DIME.
THAT BOY DESERVES ROYALTIES.
POPEYES IS DOING THE WORK WE
SHOULD'VE DONE.
YOU FREELOADING MOTHERFUCKERS
SHOULD HAVE STARTED A GOFUNDME
AND GIVEN THAT BOY SOME CASH.
[APPLAUSE]
YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.
THESE KIDS IN THESE MEANS NEED
TO UNIONIZE.
WHERE IS
WHERE'S LIL TerRIO?
HE CAN BE THEIR JIMMY HOFFA.
♪ ♪
>> THREE-TIME CY YOUNG AWARD
WINNER.
>> MARIO RIVERA.
>> KAWHI LEONARD.
>> KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR.
>> MICHAEL GILCHRIST.
>> DAN QUINTIN BERRY, THE RELIEF
MAN.
>> MICHAEL JIM ON THE PHONE THE
OTHER NIGHT.
>> ALEJANDRO PINA.
>> THE BIG THREE, STEPH, DREAM
ON, YOU GUYS ARE INCREDIBLE.
>> MIKE PIAZZA.
♪ ♪
[APPLAUSE]
>> Bomani: YOU MAY KNOW
TONIGHT GUESS IS THE COHOST OF
"FIRST THINGS FIRST" ON
FOX SPORTS 1 OR FROM HIS PODCAST
"WHAT'S WRIGHT? WITH
NICK WRIGHT," BUT REMEMBER ON
"GAME THEORY," I AM RIGHT, AND
HE IS NICK WRIGHT.
WHAT'S UP?
[APPLAUSE]
ALL RIGHT, MAN.
WE TRIED TO BOOK LeBRON OR
SAVANNAH TO COME TALK ABOUT THIS
SEASON.
WE COULDN'T GET THEM, SO WE GOT
YOU TO TALK ABOUT
LeBRON JAMES.
BEING THE BEST 38-YEAR-OLD IS
ONE THING, WHICH HE ABSOLUTELY
HAS BEEN, BUT ESPECIALLY THE
LAST MONTH AND CHANGE, HE HAS
BEEN OUTRIGHT AND CREDIBLE,
EXCEPT THE TEAM IS BAD.
>> Nick: THE TEAM IS TERRIBLE
AND THEY SEEM TO BE FINE WITH
THAT.
LeBRON SIGNED AN EXTENSION
THIS OFF-SEASON AND WHAT
EVERYONE THOUGHT WAS THERE WAS
AN AGREEMENT.
OKAY, I WILL COMMIT TO YOU GUYS
FOR THE SHORT TERM, AS LONG AS
YOU GUYS COMMIT TO TRY TO WIN IN
THE SHORT-TERM.
AND INSTEAD, THEY ARE TROTTING
OUT THEIR LINEUPS THAT, FOR ANY
WINNING TEAM, THE GUYS WOULD BE
TENTH OR 11TH MEN AND THEY ARE
STARTING FOR THE LAKERS, AND
FOLKS ARE LIKE, OH, HOW MUCH
MORE HELP DOES LeBRON NEED?
HE JUST NEEDS STARTING CALIBER
PLAYERS AND IT IS AMAZING TO ME
THE LAKERS ARE SO CONCERNED
ABOUT A FUTURE SEVENTH GRADER TO
BE NAMED LATER IN THE FORM OF A
2029 FIRST-ROUND PICK, WHEN YOU
HAVE THE GREATEST PLAYER EVER
STILL PLAYING LIKE A TOP TEN
GUY, NOT LIKE THE BEST PLAYER IN
THE LEAD COMMAND ANTHONY DAVIS
BEFORE HE GOT HURT WAS PLAYING
THE BEST BASKETBALL OF HIS LIFE
AS A LAKER IN A WIDE OPEN
WESTERN CONFERENCE, BUT THEY
DON'T SEEM TO CARE.
>> Bomani: CAN WE TALK ABOUT
MY MAN?
I'M JUST SAYING, WHAT CAN YOU
SAY BAD ABOUT YOGA CHANEL?
THE ARGUMENT, THEY WERE NOT
WINNING GAMES, EVEN THOUGH HE
WAS DRAGGING BOMBS.
THEY HAVE THE BEST RECORD IN THE
WEST, AND HE LOOKS AS GOOD OR
BETTER AS HE HAS IN THE YEARS
BEFORE.
>> Nick: IN A JUST UNIVERSE,
NIKOLA JOKIC WOULD BE IN ROUTE
TO RUNNING AWAY WITH HIS FIRST
MVP.
HOLD ON A SECOND.
BUT IN THE UNIVERSE WE LIVE IN
NOW WHERE WE HAVE BENT AND
CHANGE THE RULES, LUKA SHOULD
WIN AT THE IRREVERENCE AS I HATE
JOKIC, NO, I JUST LIKE HISTORY
AND STANDARDS, THE STANDARD HAS
BEEN LEAGUE MVP YOU HAVE TO BE
ON A CHAMFER END.
WE CHANGE THE RULES TWO YEARS
AGO, I THOUGHT IT SHOULD BE
CRISP WELCOME EVERYONE VOTED FOR
JOKIC, CHRIS PAUL SWEPT HIS AS I
WOULD.
THEN THE RULE HAD BEEN, AT LEAST
BE A TOP 4 SEED.
JOKIC WAS THE SIXTH SEED, I SAID
LUKA SHOULD HAVE ONE LIKE LAST
THEY'RE LIKE, JOKIC, OF COURSE,
LOSES TO STEPH AND THE WARRIORS
IN ROUND ONE.
IT'S NOT HIS FAULT -- KIND OF
HIS FAULT BECAUSE YOU WERE THE
SUCCEED.
NOW THE 1 SEED AND HIS NUMBERS
ARE UNBELIEVABLE AND HE IS ON A
CHAMPIONSHIPS CONTENDER.
NOW THE WHOLE UNIVERSE IS
ALLOWED TO WIN MVP, DOES NOT
MATTER THE MAVS ARE THE 5 SEED,
LOOK AT LUKA'S NUMBERS, AND HERE
IS THE OTHER THING.
ALL OF NBA HISTORY, WE DID NOT
GIVE YOU BACK-TO-BACK MVPs
UNLESS YOU ARE ONE OF THE 15
GREATEST PLAYERS EVER OR STEVE
NASH.
WE BENT THE RULES FOR JOKIC.
ALL OF NBA HISTORY, YOU HAVE NOT
BEEN ALLOWED TO WIN A THIRD MVP
UNLESS YOU HAVE WON A TITLE OR
BEEN TO MULTIPLE FINALS.
LeBRON HAD NOT WON YET, BEEN
TO MULTIPLE FILES, MOSES,
MULTIPLE FINALS, THIS GUY HAS
NOT SNIFFED THE FINALS, GOING TO
WIN THREE STRAIGHT, SO THE PUSH
FOR ANYBODY AS THIS, LET'S SAY
HE WINS AGAIN THIS YEAR.
AND THEY GET SWEPT IN ROUND ONE.
JUST SAYING.
AS A HYPOTHETICAL PIER FOR NEXT
YEAR HE AVERAGES A 40-POINT
TRIPLE-DOUBLE --
>> Bomani: GIVE IT TO HIM
AGAIN!
>> Nick: THAT'S WHAT I'M
SAYING.
BO, WHERE THE SAME AGE, FROM AN
ERA WHERE THERE WERE STANDARDS.
SHOULD BE ABLE TO CARRY THE
TEAM --
>> Bomani: THE STANDARD IN
THIS CASE IS SOMEHOW THE DUDE IS
MAGIC JOHNSON AND LARRY BIRD
SLIGHTLY LESSER VERSIONS OF BOTH
AT THE SAME DAMN TIME!
>> Nick: HERE IS THE THING.
EVEN HIS BIGGEST FANS I DON'T
THINK REALLY BELIEVE IT.
DO YOU THINK THE NUGGETS ARE
WINNING THE TITLE?
DO YOU THINK -- IF JOKIC IS THIS
LEVEL OF PLAYER, HE HAS A
HEALTHY CAST, THE WEST IS WIDE
OPEN.
THEY SHOULD CRUISE TO THE
FINALS.
>> Bomani: IF THEY STAY
HEALTHY, THEY ARE WINNING THE
WEST.
>> Nick: ARE THEY WINNING THE
TITLE?
A LITTLE SCARED OF GIANNIS --
>> Bomani: SLOW DOWN, GIANNIS
IS THE BEST PLAYER IN THE NBA, I
AM NOT SAYING HE IS NOT.
ONE LAST THING BEFORE WE GO.
LAMAR JACKSON AND BALTIMORE,
WHICH TO ME IS THE STRANGEST NFL
SITUATION THAT I CAN THINK OF.
YOU DO NOT THINK YOU WILL BE
THERE NEXT YEAR.
>> Nick: NO, I DON'T.
LISTEN, I KNOW LAMAR WAS HURT.
I ALSO THINK HAVE THEY GIVEN HIM
HIS CONTRACT, HE WOULD HAVE GONE
OUT THERE AND PLAYED HER TO.
I DON'T BLAME HIM AT ALL FOR
BEING LIKE, YOU HAVE $0 TIED
INTO ME, NOT GOING TO RISK MY
KNEE.
IF THEY PUT HIM ON THE
FRANCHISE, WHY DOES ANYBODY
THINK HE WILL SIGN IT AND PLAY?
I THINK THE OTHER DAY AT THE
PRESS CONFERENCE THEY ARE LIKE,
HE IS GOING TO BE INVOLVED IN
THE OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR
SEARCH, AND LAMAR IS GOING TO BE
THERE 200%.
YOU BETTER GIVE HIM THE
$200 MILLION GUARANTEED.
HERE IS THE OTHER PROBLEM FOR
THEM, BO.
EVERYONE HAS SAID DESHAUN, KYLER
KYLER, DID NOT GET GUARANTEED.
WHAT IF JUSTIN HERBERT GETS A
FULLY GUARANTEED DEAL?
>> Bomani: JUSTIN HERBERT IS A
FAIR QUESTION.
MIKE BROWN AIN'T FULLY
GUARANTEEING A DAMN THING.
THAT IS THE TEAM THEY SAID WAS
REUSING JOCKSTRAPS.
I AM NOT MAKING THAT UP.
THEY ARE NOT -- THAT GUY IS NOT
GOING TO GET IT.
I DON'T THINK HE GETS 200.
I THINK HE STAYS, THEY
EVENTUALLY WIND UP PONYING UP.
WHAT I DON'T GET FOR BALTIMORE,
HE BUILT A WHOLE THING AROUND
HIM AND WE KNEW HOW INVESTED YOU
WERE IN HIM WHEN YOU MADE THE
DEPTH CHART, NOTHING BUT BLACK
QUARTERBACKS, IF IT WAS A WHITE
DUDE BEHIND HIM HE WOULD HAVE
BEEN HOPPING ON ONE LEG TO MAKE
SURE --
>> Nick: IT'S AN ODD STRATEGY
OF IT, OUR QUARTERBACK HIERARCHY
IS LAMAR JACKSON, AND THEN
INCREASINGLY WORSE VERSIONS OF
LAMAR JACKSON.
I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT FROM
THE BEGINNING.
BUT THEY ALSO BOXED THEMSELVES
IN.
IF HE IS GOING TO BE LIKE, I'M
NOT SIGNING THE FRANCHISE TAG,
YOU HAVE TO TRADE ME, THE ONLY
TRADE THAT WORKS -- I DON'T KNOW
CHICAGO WOULD DO IT -- IS LAMAR
FOR JUSTIN FIELDS 1 FOR 1P OR
YOU CANNOT TRADE HIM AND BE
LIKE, WE ARE GOING TO SIGN JIMMY
GAROPPOLO.
YOU NEED A VERY SPECIFIC TYPE OF
QUARTERBACK FOR THAT OFFENSE TO
WORK.
THEY BUILT EVERYTHING AROUND HIM
AND THEN DO NOT WANT TO PAY HIM
TO RUN THE OFFENSE.
IT IS A BIZARRE SITUATION.
>> Bomani: SEE HOW IT GOES.
NICK WRIGHT COME APPRECIATE YOU,
SIR.
>> Nick: THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
>> IF YOU HAD ULTIMATE POWER AT
YOUR JOB, HOW WOULD YOU FLEX?
>> FIRST OF ALL, EVERYBODY IS
GETTING FREE CATFISH, FRIED
CATFISH.
>> FREE CATFISH FOR EVERYBODY?
HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT RUNNING
FOR OFFICE?
>> THERE'S A LOT OF DUDES THAT
MAKE PIZZA, SO I WOULD HIRE ALL
FEMALES.
>> I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT
UNTIL YOU SAID IT BUT I'VE NEVER
SEEN A WOMAN TOSSING THAT PIZZA
UP IN THE AIR.
>> AM I RIGHT?
AM I RIGHT?
YEAH.
LET'S CALL IT LADY FIVE.
>> I AM ALL THE WAY ON BOARD
WITH THIS.
>> A LITTLE BIT OF WEED OUT THE
BACK, I DON'T KNOW.
>> HOW MUCH WITH THE WEED COST?
>> I WOULD SAY JUST A SMILE.
>> OH!
>> FROWN.
LADY PIE L.A.
>> LADY PIE ATLANTA.
>> WE HAVE TO GET BACK TO THE
KIDS.
>> I DO NOT KNOW HOW YOU'RE
GOING TO DO THIS FROM A CATFISH
SHACK THAT SELLS WEED OUT THE
BACK, BUT OKAY.
>> I NEED TO RETIRE.
>> YOU WANT TO BE AN OWNER, BUT
NONE OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF
BEING AN OWNER?
KIND OF LIKE A SHADOW OWNER?
>> YEAH.
>> IT IS FUNNY YOU MENTIONED
THAT BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT ON THE SHOW TONIGHT IS
LeBRON JAMES.
>> OKAY.
>> AND PLAYER EMPOWERMENT.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS?
>> I MEAN...
KIND OF.
>> AT THEM HAVING CHOICE,
BASICALLY?
>> PLAYER EMPOWERMENT IS ABOUT
CHOICE.
HOW MANY PLAYERS DO THINK I HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO DO THE SAME THING
BECAUSE OF LeBRON JAMES?
>> I'M GOING TO SAY 5-15 PEOPLE.
>> THAT IS PRETTY GENEROUS.
>> IS THAT GENEROUS?
>> PROBABLY CLOSER TO FIVE
VEHICLE LET'S JUST SAY LeBRON
AIN'T GIVING OUT NO FREE
CATFISH.
[APPLAUSE]
>> Bomani: ALL RIGHT.
THIS SEASON MARKS 20 YEARS OF
LeBRON JAMES IN THE NBA.
HE IS SET TO PASS KAREEM
ABDUL-JABBAR'S SCORING RECORD.
BUT MAN, IT IS HARD TO IMAGINE,
BUT ONCE UPON A TIME, ALL OF
THIS LeBRON SUCCESS WAS JUST
THEORETICAL.
>> JAMES IS YOUNG ENOUGH TO
HAVE BEEN BORN DURING
MICHAEL JORDAN'S ROOKIE SEASON.
>> SOME SAY HE MIGHT BE THE NEXT
JORDAN.
>> IF HE IS HALF AS GOOD AS ALL
I HAVE HEARD ABOUT HIM, HE IS
GOING TO BE ONE SPECIAL ATHLETE.
>> DOES HE HAVE THE SKILLS?
>> OF COURSE.
WHO KNOWS.
>> IS THE 18-YEAR-OLD FROM AKRON
TRULY THE SAVIOR?
>> I DON'T THINK YOU CAN REALLY
JUST BRING A HIGH SCHOOL PLAYER
IN AND REALLY JUST THINK YOUR
TEAM IS GONNA TURN IT AROUND
LIKE THAT.
>> Bomani: FOR THOSE OF YOU
WHO DON'T REMEMBER DIM AREA
SMILES, HE IS A DUDE WHO CAME
OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL AND DID NOT
TURN IN NBA FRANCHISE AROUND.
BUT LeBRON DID.
JUST LIKE THAT.
SOMEHOW LIVED UP TO ALL OF THE
HYPE.
AND MAN, THIS COULD HAVE GONE SO
BADLY.
NINE TIMES OUT OF TEN, IS OUT OF
THE LEAGUE BY 2011 AND SELLING
USED CARS IN AKRON.
CALLING HIMSELF "THE KING...
OF LOW, LOW PRICES!"
BUT INSTEAD, HE'S MAYBE THE BEST
PLAYER TO EVER STEP ON AN NBA
COURT.
BEEN ONE OF THE MOST
MARKETABLE ATHLETES ON THE
PLANET.
AND HE MIGHT EVEN STICK AROUND
LONG ENOUGH TO BECOME THE NBA'S
FIRST HELICOPTER DAD.
>> WHAT'S YOUR HOPE FOR BRONNY'S
FUTURE?
>> TO BE HAPPY AND FIND
HAPPINESS IN WHATEVER HE DOES.
WHATEVER IT IS.
I JUST WANT HIM TO BE HAPPY.
>> I WANT HIM TO GET TO THE NBA.
[LAUGHTER]
>> Bomani: YEAH, AND I WANT TO
WISH LISTEN TO OLD KANYE WITHOUT
FEELING GUILTY, BUT WE DON'T
LIVE IN THAT WORLD, DO WE?
OUTSIDE ALL OF THE ACCOLADES HE
HAS WRAPPED UP, LeBRON'S MOST
IMPORTANT LEGACY IS KICKSTARTING
THE SO-CALLED "PLAYER
EMPOWERMENT ERA."
>> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PLAYER
EMPOWERMENT, THE KING OF PLAYER
EMPOWERMENT IS LeBRON JAMES.
>> NO ONE, NO ONE CLOSE, HAS
TAKEN PLAYER EMPOWERMENT THE WAY
HE HAS AND PUT IT FORWARD FOR
THE REST OF THESE PLAYERS.
>> LeBRON PRETTY MUCH CHANGED
THE LANDSCAPE OF BASKETBALL FROM
A STANDPOINT OF A PLAYER FINALLY
BEING EMPOWERED TO DO WHAT HE
WANTS TO DO.
>> HE'S DEFINITELY THE MOST WOKE
SUPERSTAR WE'VE EVER HAD.
>> Bomani: HE IS STILL ON THE
FIRST PAGE OF THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY
OF MALCOLM X BUT HE IS THE MOST
WOKE SUPERSTAR WE EVER HAD.
SORRY, BILL RUSSELL, IF ONLY YOU
HAD MARCHED A LITTLE BIT HARDER
WITH DR. KING.
NOW LeBRON GETS CREDIT FOR
STARTING THIS MOVEMENT, BUT IS
FUNDAMENTALLY MISUNDERSTOOD.
BECAUSE PEOPLE LOOK AT PLAYER
EMPOWERMENT IN TWO MAIN WAYS.
THE FIRST, CULTURAL PLAYER
EMPOWERMENT.
RECENTLY THE ABILITY TO FREELY
SPEAK YOUR MIND ABOUT SOCIAL
ISSUES.
AND FOR LeBRON, THIS IS
LARGELY MEANT THINGS LIKE
CALLING DONALD TRUMP A "BOMB,"
OR MORE IMPORTANTLY, WEARING
HOODIES WITH HIS HEAT
TEAMMATES, PROTESTING THE
KILLING OF TRAVE ON MARTIN.
AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT, THIS
CULTURAL COMMENTARY HAS GOTTEN
AMERICA'S WORST AND DIMMEST ALL
RILED UP.
>> KEEP THE POLITICAL COMMENTARY
TO YOURSELF.
OR, AS SOMEONE ONCE SAID, SHUT
UP AND DRIBBLE.
>> Bomani: MAN, THAT LINE
ACTUALLY HITS SO MUCH HARDER IN
THE ORIGINAL GERMAN.
[LAUGHTER]
BUT POLITICAL COMMENTARY ASIDE,
THE OTHER PART OF PLAYER
EMPOWERMENT IS FINANCIAL.
THAT'S THE ABILITY TO FORCE
TRADES, ACT AS YOUR OWN GENERAL
MANAGER COME AND HAVE AN
HOUR-LONG SPECIAL FOR A
30-SECOND DECISION.
RUSH MARK
>> LeBRON, WHAT'S YOUR DECISION?
>> UM, IN THIS FALL, MAN, THIS
IS VERY TOUGH, IN THIS FALL,
I'M GOING TO TAKE MY TALENTS
TO SOUTH BEACH AND JOIN THE
MIAMI HEAT.
>> Bomani: YEAH, YOUR TALENTS
SAY "SOUTH BEACH," BUT HIS SHIRT
SAYS "JOB INTERVIEW AT THE
CHEESECAKE FACTORY."
[LAUGHTER]
NOW, LeBRON GETS CREDIT FOR
STARTING PLAYER EMPOWERMENT.
BUT I'VE GOT A SECRET FOR YOU...
IT'S NOT ACTUALLY NEW.
LEW ALCINDOR BOYCOTTED THE 1968
OLYMPICS, WENT MUSLIM, CHANGED
HIS NAME TO KAREEM ABDUL-JABAAR,
FORCED A TRADE TO THE LAKERS IN
1975, AND TRAINED WITH BRUCE
LEE.
THAT STUFF IS LEGENDARY.
YET LeBRON'S TREATED LIKE
CHE GUEVARA FOR MOVING TO MIAMI.
[LAUGHTER]
AND I USED TO THINK THIS
MODERN PLAYER EMPOWERMENT
MOVEMENT WAS A BIG DEAL, TOO.
EXCEPT THESE DUDES DON'T REALLY
HAVE POWER LIKE THAT.
>> LeBRON JAMES MENTIONED HE HAS
POWER.
NOW, I WILL DISAGREE WITH LeBRON
ON THAT.
WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF
BASKETBALL, LeBRON JAMES HAS
INFLUENCE AND LEVERAGE.
POWER IS FROM THOSE WHO OWN.
>> Bomani: YEAH, SEE, LEVERAGE
IS THE ABILITY TO TELL CAVS
OWNER DAN GILBERT YOU WANT TO
SIGN DWYANE WADE TO THE CAVS.
POWER IS THE ABILITY FOR
GILBERT TO WRITE AN ENTIRE
LETTER AFTER "THE DECISION"
TELLING YOU TO FUCK OFF IN COMIC
SANS COME AND YOU STILL GO BACK
AND WORK FOR HIM FOR YEARS
LATER.
OWNERS HAVE THE ACTUAL POWER.
THERE'S A REASON THOSE
GOOFY-LOOKING MOTHERFUCKERS GET
TO HOIST THE LARRY O'BRIEN
TROPHY BEFORE ANYBODY ELSE.
>> LET ME PRESENT THE
CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY.
[CHEERING]
>> Bomani: THAT TROPHY MADE
BANK IN THAT HARASSMENT
SETTLEMENT.
[LAUGHTER]
THE OWNERS OF NBA FRANCHISES
DON'T JUST HOLD THE POWER IN THE
LEAGUE, THEY HAVE ALWAYS HELD
POWER IN THE LEAGUE.
AND IN 1999, THEY TOOK EVEN
MORE.
>> THE OWNERS WANT TO CONTROL
LABOR COSTS, IN EFFECT, CREATE A
HARD CEILING OR CAP ON THE
PERCENTAGE OF REVENUES THAT IS
PAID TO THE PLAYERS.
>> THE SYSTEM THAT'S BEEN
CREATED, UH, WE THINK HAS WORKED
TOO WELL FOR THE PLAYERS
ECONOMICALLY THE LAST SEVERAL
YEARS AND NOT WELL AT ALL FOR
THE OWNERS.
>> Bomani: BEFORE THAT
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT,
THE PLAYERS' SHARE OF
THE MONEY FROM BASKETBALL
RELATED ACTIVITIES WAS 57%.
TODAY, IT CAN BE LESS THAN HALF.
NOW EXPLAIN HOW PLAYERS TODAY
HAVE MORE POWER, BUT TAKE HOME A
SMALLER SHARE OF THE PIE.
IN '97, MICHAEL JORDAN MADE MORE
THAN HIS ENTIRE BULLS TEAM
COMBINED.
THIS YEAR'S LAKERS?
THEY MAKE MORE THAN TWICE AS
MUCH AS LeBRON.
IF LeBRON WERE ALLOWED TO MAKE
THE SAME PERCENTAGE TODAY OF
LAKERS SALARIES AS JORDAN DID
THEN?
HE'D BE MAKING $101 MILLION A
YEAR.
THAT'S RIGHT.
LeBRON IS SO RICH, THE MONEY
FOUND IN HIS COUCH CUSHIONS
COULD CHANGE YOUR LIFE, AND HE
IS STILL UNDERPAID.
>> LeBRON JAMES REALLY IS THE
NBA'S BIGGEST BARGAIN BECAUSE OF
HIS HALO EFFECT.
>> THE MIAMI FRANCHISE BEFORE
LeBRON WENT THERE, 2009-2010,
WAS VALUED AT $364 MILLION.
LAST YEAR, IT WAS VALUED BY
"FORBES" AT $744 MILLION.
>> BECAUSE YOU CAN'T PAY HIM
WHAT HE'S REALLY WORTH, WHICH
MIGHT BE 50 OR 60, HE JUST GETS
TO PICK WHERE DO I WANT TO LIVE.
>> Bomani: LeBRON IS A BIG
REASON THESE TEAMS GO UP IN
VALUE, BUT HE DOESN'T GET THAT
MONEY.
THE OWNERS DO.
THAT'S NOT PLAYER EMPOWERMENT.
THAT IS, AS THE FRENCH SAY,
"GETTING PIMPED!"
[LAUGHTER]
YEAH, LeBRON CAN GET HIS COACHES
FIRED AND HIRE HIS BUDDIES, BUT
REAL PLAYER EMPOWERMENT WOULD BE
GETTING RID OF THE SALARY CAP.
OR REFUSING TO PLAY UNLESS
PLAYERS STARTED GETTING
A BIGGER SHARE OF NBA REVENUE.
AND YOU KNOW WHO HAS NEVER
PUSHED PUBLICLY FOR EITHER OF
THOSE CHANGES?
LeBRON JAMES.
BUT THAT'S BECAUSE HE DOESN'T
NEED TO.
FOR YEARS, HE'S BEEN GETTING THE
MAJORITY OF HIS MONEY THROUGH
ENDORSEMENTS AND BUSINESS
DEALINGS.
AND THAT'S THE MONEY THAT WILL
FUND HIS ULTIMATE GOAL.
>> WHAT'S YOUR THOUGHT OF THE
ATMOSPHERE WHEN YOU COME OUT TO
LAS VEGAS AND HOW THE FANS
RESPOND TO YOU OUT HERE?
>> OH, IT'S WONDERFUL.
IT'S THE BEST FAN BASE IN THE
WORLD, AND I WOULD LOVE TO BRING
A TEAM HERE AT SOME POINT.
THAT WOULD BE AMAZING.
I WANT THE TEAM HERE, ADAM,
THANK YOU.
>> Bomani: IF YOU EVER WANT TO
SEE YOUR FAMILY AGAIN.
[LAUGHTER]
IF THERE WAS REALLY AS MUCH
POWER AS WE THINK THERE IS IN
BEING A PLAYER, LeBRON WOULD
HAVE NO INTEREST IN BEING AN
OWNER.
HE'D WANT TO BE HEAD OF THE
PLAYERS' UNION.
INSTEAD OF PEOPLE THINKING HE'S
FUCKING UP ROSTERS AS A SHADOW
GM, HE WANTS PEOPLE TO KNOW HE'S
REALLY FUCKING UP ROSTERS AS AN
OWNER.
ULTIMATELY, PLAYER EMPOWERMENT
IS REALLY JUST LeBRON
EMPOWERMENT.
>> THIS NOTION OF EMPOWERMENT,
YOU'VE BEEN A LEADING VOICE IN
THAT.
YOU'VE CHANGED THE NBA IN A LOT
OF WAYS.
>> I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T LOOK AT IT LIKE THAT.
I LOOK AT IT AS, I MAKE MY
DECISIONS BASED UPON ME AND MY
CAREER AND MY FAMILY AND IF IT'S
CHANGED THE LANDSCAPE OF
SOMETHING, THEN HOPEFULLY FOR
THE GREATER GOOD.
>> Bomani: SEE!
EVEN HE SAYS THIS PLAYER
EMPOWERMENT THING IS ABOUT HIM.
HE IS EMPOWERING HIMSELF TO
BECOME AN NBA OWNER.
JUST LIKE THE GUY HE'S SPENT HIS
WHOLE CAREER CHASING.
MICHAEL JORDAN.
WHO ONCE SHOUTED, "IF YOU CAN'T
MAKE A PROFIT, YOU SHOULD SELL
YOUR TEAM."
WHEN MJ WAS A PLAYER IN THE
LEAGUE, HE SOUNDED JUST
LIKE LeBRON.
BUT NOW?
WHEN HE'S THE OWNER OF A
LOW-RENT FRANCHISE?
HE SOUNDS LIKE THE OWNER OF A
LOW-RENT FRANCHISE.
>> YOU'RE STARTING TO SEE A
LITTLE OF IT NOW TO WHERE ALL
THE STARS ARE STARTING TO GANG
UP AND GO ON ONE TEAM.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO HURT THE
OVERALL ASPECT OF THE LEAGUE
FROM A COMPETITIVE STANDPOINT.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE JUST ONE OR
TWO TEAMS THAT ARE GOING TO BE
GREAT AND THE OTHER 28 TEAMS ARE
GOING TO BE GARBAGE, OR THEY'RE
GOING TO HAVE A TOUGH TIME
SURVIVING IN THE BUSINESS
ENVIRONMENT.
>> Bomani: HEY, I SEE YOU
AFICIONADO.
GOT THE JORDAN EXCLUSIVE BEFORE
BIG-ASS JEANS MONTHLY.
POINT IS, YOU CAN'T BE A PLAYER
AND BE EMPOWERED.
'CAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY,
YOU STILL GOT A BOSS.
AND "EMPLOYEE EMPOWERMENT" FEELS
A WHOLE LOT DIFFERENT THAN
"PLAYER EMPOWERMENT."
YOU REMEMBER KEVIN DURANT TRADE
REQUEST LAST SUMMER?
LOOK WHERE HIS EMPOWERED AS IS
NOW.
>> KEVIN DURANT IS NOW
SUPPOSEDLY STAYING IN BROOKLYN.
>> IN A STATEMENT, GENERAL
MANAGER SEAN MARKS SAID DURANT
AND THE TEAM HAVE AGREED TO MOVE
FORWARD WITH THEIR PARTNERSHIP.
IN OTHER WORDS, IF DURANT WANTS
TO GET PAID HIS $50 MILLION
ANNUAL SALARY, HE'LL SUIT UP
WITH THE NETS, OR HE WON'T SUIT
UP AT ALL.
>> ARE YOU SURPRISED YOU'RE
STILL HERE?
>> NO.
>> Bomani: YEAH, LET'S PLAY A
GAME OF I GAVE YOU $50 MILLION
SO SIT YOUR ASS DOWN.
BUT THERE IS NO GREATER EXAMPLE
OF PLAYER EMPOWERMENT'S
LIMITATIONS THEN DURING THE 2020
NBA BUBBLE.
THAT IS SPECIFICALLY WHEN THE
PLAYERS, LED BY LeBRON,
THREATENED TO STRIKE FOLLOWING
THE POLICE SHOOTING OF JACOB
BLAKE.
THE BIGGEST WEAPON LABOR HAS ON
THEIR SIDE IS THE THREAT OF A
STRIKE, AND WITH THE ENTIRE
WORLD WATCHING, THE NBA PLAYERS
WERE SET TO DO SOMETHING
UNPRECEDENTED.
UNTIL SOMEONE WITH REAL WORLD
POWER STEPPED IN.
>> THERE WAS A TIME WHEN WE WERE
READY TO LEAVE, TOO.
THE LAKERS, MYSELF INCLUDED, WE
WERE READY TO LEAVE.
AND I'M LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE A
FRIEND, YOU KNOW, THE 44TH
PRESIDENT, THAT ALLOWED ME AND
ALLOWED CP AND ALLOWED US TO GET
ON THE PHONE WITH HIM AND GET
GUIDANCE.
>> GIVEN THE POWER THAT THE NBA
PLAYERS HAD, MY SUGGESTION WAS
THAT YOU USE THAT PLATFORM TO
SEE IF YOU CAN START ASKING FOR
SOME SPECIFICS.
>> Bomani: CALLING OBAMA TO
GIVE YOU ADVICE ABOUT GOING
AGAINST THE SYSTEM IS LIKE GOING
TO WAFFLE HOUSE TO LOWER YOUR
BLOOD PRESSURE.
[LAUGHTER]
LeBRON HAS NEVER PUSHED FOR
PLAYERS TO WITHHOLD LABOR,
WHETHER IT BE FOR FINANCIAL OR
CULTURAL REASONS.
WHEN TAMIR RICE WAS KILLED IN
2014, IN LeBRON'S CITY, HE DID
NOTHING.
HE DIDN'T EVEN SAY ANYTHING FOR
A YEAR.
SAID HE HADN'T HAD TIME TO
RESEARCH THE SUBJECT.
THAT DOESN'T LEAD TO CHANGE.
IF YOU WANT REAL CHANGE, YOU'VE
GOT TO ACTUALLY DO...
STUFF.
[LAUGHTER]
POWER IS NOT GIVEN, IT IS NOT
NEGOTIATED AROUND.
IT IS TAKEN.
AND IF YOU DON'T WANT TO TAKE
IT, PLAYER EMPOWERMENT IS
NOTHING MORE THAN A BUZZWORD.
NICE TERM TO SOFTEN THE FACT
THAT PLAYERS ARE DRAFTED INTO A
SYSTEM THAT DOES NOT ACCURATELY
VALUE THEIR WORK.
THE VERY SYSTEM LeBRON MAY ONE
DAY RUN.
AND WHEN HE IS AN OWNER OF AN
NBA FRANCHISE IN LAS VEGAS, AND
HE DOESN'T WANT THE PLAYERS TO
STRIKE, OR TALK ABOUT SOCIAL
JUSTICE, OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT
MIGHT MESS UP HIS MONEY, I KNOW
WHAT HE'LL BE TELLING HIS
EMPLOYEES...
>> KEEP THE POLITICAL COMMENTARY
TO YOURSELF.
OR, AS SOMEONE ONCE SAID, SHUT
UP AND DRIBBLE.
[LAUGHTER]
>> Bomani: HAPPY 20 YEARS,
LeBRON.
I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHICH FONT
YOU WRITE YOUR "FUCK OFF"
LETTERS IN.
[LAUGHTER]
AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.
IT IS OVER.
JUST LIKE LeBRON'S HAIR.
AND MINE.
[APPLAUSE]
>> IF YOU HAD ULTIMATE POWER AT
YOUR JOB, WOULD YOU TRADE OUT
ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT WERE
THERE TO BRING IN YOUR FRIENDS?
>> NO, THAT'S FUCK UP, THAT'S
RUDE.
THAT'S NEPOTISM.
THEY DID THAT IN CUBA AND MY
FAMILY LEFT, DON'T DO THAT.
>> OKAY, WOULD YOU ASK YOUR
EMPLOYER TO HIRE YOUR SON?
>> IF I HAD ULTIMATE POWER AS MY
EMPLOYER, NO, I WOULDN'T WANT MY
SON TO WORK.
>> THAT KID IS GOING TO BE
INSUFFERABLE.
>> YEAH, WELL, TAKE AFTER HIS
FATHER.
>> WOULD YOU MAKE EVERYBODY CALL
YOU THE KING?
>> I GOT FRIEND TO CALL ME SIR.
BUT I MAKE THE BAND DO IT
BECAUSE AFTER 30 YEARS YOU CAN
GET AWAY WITH IT.
>> YOU MAKE YOUR FRIENDS DO IT?
>> I DON'T MAKE THEM DO IT.
I THINK THEY CHOOSE TO -- I LIKE
TO THINK THEY CHOOSE TO DO IT.
>> I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO GET AN
INTERVIEW WITH THEM.
>> BENEVOLENT DICTATOR.
>> THAT'S WHAT THEY ALWAYS SAY.