What's next for the Toronto Raptors + Ranking the top 7 Canadian NBA players with William Lou

[00:00:01] Speaker A: Welcome to the Canadian Basketball show, your go to spot for the latest news, stories and analysis on Canadian basketball. I'm your host, Lee Ban Osmond. On this week's episode, we're going to be talking about the end of the Toronto Raptors season and ranking the top seven Canadian players in the league. And who better to bring on the podcast to talk about the Raptors than a guy with the number one show covering the team, William Liu. Oh, hello and welcome. My guy, Will. How you doing, bro? [00:00:28] Speaker B: You know, I'm so proud of you, man. Like, I actually, you know, we were here for. For episode one, just like behind the scenes and watching this thing sort of take off. I know how much passion you have for the podcasting project. You know, you're still one of the youngest people in that media room in Toronto. So I'm just so proud of you, man. Like, I look at you and I'm just like, you know, I just been itching, man. I've been itching, itching to come on this show, man. That took 25 takes, by the way. [00:00:55] Speaker A: Yeah, people don't know that was the intro to the pod that we had, like, kind of a to get people hyped up for it. But, yeah, you got me crying in the club right now, man. Appreciate those kind words. [00:01:05] Speaker B: We're both crying in the club right now, man. But let's talk about the Raptors. Let's talk about Canada basketball, man. [00:01:09] Speaker A: Yeah, like I said, we're going to be talking about the Raptors in the first half, and in the second half, we're going to be ranking our top seven Canadian NBA players. No set criteria. I told Will, go off whatever you want potential, go off season alone. Go off accomplishment, whatever you want. Your list is your list. But before we get to that ranking, you know, I listen to your podcast all the time. How the hell did you get through this Raptor season, bro? I tuned out probably near the end of those final games. How were you doing react pods? How were you covering the Raptors, bro? [00:01:38] Speaker B: You know, I was towards the end of the season especially because, like, basically March and April, the Raptors schedule was like the easiest schedule of all time. It was like tanking versus tanking, right? Raptors, I think down the stretch they were playing like Orlando Robinson. I think he was like the third most minutes played in the last month and a half. And then they just cut them in the last week of this. They're like, yeah, we're good, man, we're good. Like, they. They use that full trial, that free trial as Much as possible. Now I remember some of those games, like you and I going down to the arena and just like, you know, why we here? Ask each other, why are we here? And like every day I'm coming to work being like, what can I say about this team right now? You know, I mean, I know people don't necessarily want to hear about Colin Castleton or Orlando Robinson, you know, I mean, some of these other guys, I mean, Jared Roden, you know, I mean, like, it was, it was kind of crazy just seeing guys sort of coming and out. But I, I think the, the main thing is like, I think Raptor fans are still really invested, you know, I mean, I think especially the die hard fans, like they're realizing that it's year one of the rebuild. They've hit the hard reset button. A lot of the players that people knew, you know, they moved on. Pascal, OG the only time you see them is now in the playoffs, you know. Kawhi. [00:02:45] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:02:45] Speaker B: You know, I mean, these guys are cooking for other teams now, but I think for the Raptors, like, they're trying to like reset their team, get a bunch of young guys. And so if you're a really diehard f you tapped in this year, you know, you saw four pretty good rookies for the Raps and you know, and then we banter a lot on the pot. I can't even lie, man. We were just talking about anything. [00:03:05] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah, your comment section was. But I, I feel like they were genuinely like interested in what you guys are talking about. So it's good to see just like obviously, you know, the support you have. [00:03:14] Speaker B: You know how it is, man. I think it's like you want to maintain the community more than anything else. Right? Like, even if like the, the team is bad, like you still want to be able to sort of like keep that attachment, you know, at least get people to tap in once in a while and have a good time with it. I mean, listen, as a Raptor fan, man, at least 15 of those 30 years, they were super lean, man. Super lean. So this was one of those 15 for sure. [00:03:36] Speaker A: What's your biggest takeaway from this season and maybe the plan going forward? The front office has. And obviously you were at the end season pressers. [00:03:45] Speaker B: Oh yeah, yeah. We'll talk about the end of season pressers. Nah, biggest takeaway, I think for me coming into the season was like they were going to give Scotty Barnes like this like clear Runway to do whatever he wants. Right. And I think it was like a good time to sort of Experiment with like, everything that he can do. Right. You know, Scotty's played a ton of minutes, even dating back to a rookie, and. But at the same time, like, he was playing within the contract of other players, you know what I mean? Like, Fred Van Vlieta is the point guard, Pascal Siakam as the star player, you know, a lot of other established veterans around him. And so this was the first time where he was like the clear cut leader. No one else really contesting him at his position. Right. I don't think there was any redundancies. Basically, Scotty was the only guy who can do what Scotty could do in this team. And they were just trying to make him do anything, right? They were like, for a while, they were like, yo, shoot 10 threes a game. For a while, they were like, yo, you're going to become demarta Rosen in the mid range. For a while, they're like, we want you to be defensive player of the year. Like, they just made him do like 10 different things. And I think the biggest takeaway for me was just like, you know what? After experimenting all season, he's just got to get his efficiency up, like, across the board. Whether that's like as a point guard, the efficiency of the turnovers and the passing, the decision making, like, he needs to be as efficient as possible on that front. And then I think obviously the outside shooting was just a real struggle for him towards the end of the year. They were like, yo, his hands messed up. But I'm like, but he shot under 30%, like pretty much the whole year. Right. So whatever that takes to get his three point shot to like, even a respectable level, you know, I'm not expecting him to be like Kevin Durant or anything, but, you know, even get to that 37, 38%, I feel like that should be like the minimum for what it takes to be a star player nowadays, unless you're one of these, like, dominant centers, which he's not. So they got to get his efficiency up. But at least this year they experimented him with every single role and hopefully they have some clarity in terms of like, what's the best one for him. [00:05:33] Speaker A: Yeah, I love that. Just letting him do whatever kind of the court. [00:05:36] Speaker B: Yeah, but the amount he was doing, whatever. [00:05:38] Speaker A: Yeah, that's the thing. I'm like, you don't need to shoot that many threes. [00:05:42] Speaker B: No, man, he would just come down. He's just like, pull up. And I'm like, all right, that's what we're doing. I want it. [00:05:48] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah, but expectations for next year, Obviously a lot of what they're saying is they want to compete next year. Personally, you doubt that I what I would do if I was the front office. [00:06:01] Speaker B: You tank again. [00:06:02] Speaker A: I would. Hey, next year's class 2026. Darren Peterson, AJ DeBancer, Nate Amant. Oh my God. [00:06:10] Speaker B: Yo, we got the Somali Danny angel over here, man. Jeez, this guy gonna tank again. [00:06:14] Speaker A: I'll be honest, I just don't think we're gonna be that bad to tank. So I'm cool with it. I'm cool with it. So, but what are your expectations for next season? [00:06:22] Speaker B: You know, this is why, this is why it was interesting because we were talking about this in the media room about what the expectations are for next season, right? And I think we asked the players that towards the end of the season and the players, Scotty, Emmanuel Quickley, the two of those guys at the top of my head were like, you know, we should make the playoffs. Expectations to make the playoffs. I think Scotty said no excuse not to make the playoffs next year. We got to make a run. I was interested to see whether the coaches, especially with Darko and then also Masai, most importantly, what they were going to say when they were asked that and they did not use the word playoffs for next year. I think Messiah's exact words were if Scottie said that we're going to follow him, but that's not a hard like we're going to expect to make the playoffs. Because they also asked, Messiah was like, what do you expect, right? Not just following Scotty, what do you expect? And he was like, I expect us to continue to grow. Which I think is open ended, right? [00:07:14] Speaker A: Smart decision, smart warning to be fair. [00:07:16] Speaker B: It's kind of a win win, right? Like if they make the playoffs to make a jump next year. I think that's a great reflection on a lot of the young players on that team. I think Scotty's got to take a step forward offensively. Again those efficiency points have to come up. But I think the health of the players, I think, you know, if you get iq, rj, all these guys healthy together at once. Brandon Ingram is the biggest piece to add in mid season and obviously for tanking purposes they kind of held him out for the whole post trade deadline. But of course we knew they were trading for him with the intention of re signing him. So it's basically the same as signing him in the offseason. I'm excited to see what he does and if they like honestly the pieces on paper aren't bad. You know, it's not like the Raps have got no talent, right? So I think if they stay healthy, best case scenario, they probably win like 45 games, you know, and they're in the playoffs and you know, I think people are pretty happy. On the flip side, that draft is really good, man. And of course, very few people do a one year rebuild. Right? Like, you know what I mean? If you say you're going to go into a hard rebuild and you're going to rebuild and everything like that, that's usually more than one year, you know. So I think the Raptors give them 20 games next year and if they're not like 13 and seven, they might start, you know, pulling some of the shenanigans they did this year and they certainly capable of that. [00:08:25] Speaker A: I wouldn't mind it. I honestly wouldn't mind it. But if they compete, I think like, I wouldn't mind that either too. Like, I'm like you said, win, win situation. I'm cool with them in the playoffs and seeing how Scotty plays there and. Yeah. And just seeing the next steps for this team. But as we're talking about the draft, seventh best odds for the Raptors. What player do you like the Most in the 2025 NBA Draft for the Raptors? [00:08:50] Speaker B: Man, I feel like, I think the Raptors have like this like 32% chance of jumping into the top four. That's where they need to be in this draft. [00:08:57] Speaker A: Oh, that's what you're hoping for? [00:08:58] Speaker B: Cause like, I don't know, the more I'm looking into the draft and I think this year we've looked into the draft more than, you know, previous seasons because the Raps are pretty intentional. They're pretty clear about like, how they want to approach the season. And they were like, it's going to rebuild. Right? That was media day. The front office being like, yo, it's going to be a rebuild. Guys like lock in. We rebuilding. So I'm like, okay. So I think even back in November I was like, all right, let's. Let's do scouting report podcasts on the future of prospects. We know this team is not going to be it. [00:09:26] Speaker A: November is crazy. [00:09:27] Speaker B: November was crazy. We were talking about Cooper Flag. We're talking about, you know, Ace Bailey. We're talking about. Who else were we talking about that time? Jaegor Damon had a lot of like. [00:09:34] Speaker A: He'S falling off at that time. [00:09:35] Speaker B: Yeah, he fell off hype wise. Still kind of believe in the talent. [00:09:38] Speaker A: But, you know, yeah, one of the best passes in this class? Sure. [00:09:42] Speaker B: Yeah. I mean, he's like a big point guard, man. I mean, like, you know, if the Raptors love those title guys, he's a project six, nine guy. Right. But yeah, I think that's the, the range because I, I do feel like there is like this basically between 4 and 10 you see a lot of different names, like moving up and down. I think the consensus top three are there, but past that, I don't, I don't really know. I think for the Raptors wise, I, I really wouldn't mind adding a center to this group. And there's in that range with Derrick Queen and. Come on, Malak. Malach took a huge hit just because the one game people all tapped in for with the final four and then it was like no rebounds, you know what I mean? I was like. But that's not representative of his whole season and he had a very, very unfortunate situation that was nothing of his own doing affecting him there too. I don't think that that's fair. Do you know what I mean? Like, I don't feel like, you know, he's, he's a guy who can't grab a rebound, but I think he'd be a great fit. I think he's probably the more bankable talent. Just because you look at the size and the athleticism and you're just like, at minimum, this is like a Clint Capella type of center who, you know, can be a starter in the league for like five, seven years or what. I mean, I think with Derek Queen, what's interesting for me is just that the big body and then he's got a handle. He's. He's like light on his feet, he's quick. Right now he's more of a four than he's a five. And he doesn't shoot it that well, so it's like hard to fit him in the NBA. I feel like if this was 2004, Derrick Queen definitely going top five, you know, in terms of that style when it was like the age of power forwards. But I like his game too, and I think that especially for the Rafts, like the way they want to play offense, they run a lot of their offense through their bigs. You know, they play a lot through the post. It's not a really guard oriented offense and I want a guy with skill there, especially offensively. And as much as I like Malawatch's like, overall ability, he's not a playmaker at all right now. [00:11:25] Speaker A: At all. Yeah, I don't know. [00:11:26] Speaker B: What do you do between Those two guys. Who do you like? [00:11:28] Speaker A: Man, I like Moloch, to be honest. He's my favorite. I watched him at Hoop Summit last year. And did he grab a rebound? If he gets drafted by the Raptors, I'm gonna post a clip of him dunking on Al Rashamshit. A nasty. A nasty dunk. [00:11:41] Speaker B: Wait, why is he dunking on his. [00:11:43] Speaker A: They were. They were scrimmaging against each other, so. [00:11:45] Speaker B: Wow. [00:11:45] Speaker A: And he was feasting, like, in the. In the game. In the hoop stubbing game, he didn't look that great. But in the practices, like, I think he probably looked like the best player on that world team. So was he, like, handling outside aj Was he, like. [00:11:55] Speaker B: Was he getting. Was he creating his own shot or wasn't really? [00:11:57] Speaker A: It's still, like. I think it's a work in progress, but you could see, like, he has that touch. Like, I think he can develop into a shooter eventually. We'll see. But I'm just looking at, like, you know, Masai, these guys. Basketball Without Borders, he went through there. I'm just reading off some. He Was named the MVP of Basketball Borders Africa camp in 2023. Was selected the defensive MVP at Basketball Borders Global Camp in, I think, at All Star Weekend. I think he looked one of the best players, too, there. I remember watching that camp, and obviously, you know, these guys know them well, right? [00:12:30] Speaker B: Oh, man. I think the Raptors. I once talked their director of African scouting. No, it was Sarah Chan, actually. Oh, yeah, yeah, Sarah Chan. And she was explaining sort of like the network of scouts and sort of the depth of which they're. They're scouting Africa in particular. And I would cautious. I would caution to say that the Raptors probably have, like, at least double the amount of scouts in Africa than any other team in the league right now. And so. And you look at a guy like Al Rishamsha, like, that was literally Kama Maluach's, like, roommate. So they know each other well. I think they're actually really good friends. So it would be kind of cool to sort of reunite those guys. But I think just on the skill set alone, I mean, bro, the guy has a standing reach of 9 foot 8. It's the same standing reach as Wemby, man. And he's not as athletic as Wemby. He's like, don't expect Wemby, but you tell me he can high five Wemby. Like, you know, like, that's crazy. [00:13:24] Speaker A: And he's only 19. [00:13:25] Speaker B: And he's 19. [00:13:26] Speaker A: So I'm just, like, thinking, or I think he'll be 19 on draft night. But yeah, I'm just looking at the upside. I'm like if you know those messiah, you know that whole front office has been watching this guy for a while and they've seen the progress. So yeah, I think in that range, if we're looking for a big. Do you think they need to draft big? Are you or just are you based off like they need to go off of best talent available? [00:13:48] Speaker B: I mean I feel, I agree with best talent available and I think that that's what they'll say every single time. I, I feel like at least just to my, my view of it, I really do see like 4 to 10 as like relatively similar in terms. It's not like a standout talent on there that's like this guy's can't miss, you know, I mean you'd be taking swings regardless. And I do feel like you're giving your prospect a better chance to develop if you actually have a path for him to play, you know. And I think that like the center position, the front office has said multiple times, both. Bobby said it after the trade deadline, which side said it after the season they need a young big in the system. So I'm. I'm just saying like I. Yeah, all things being equal, I would actually prefer a big. [00:14:28] Speaker A: Yeah. If they're not going for a big. I really like Trey Johnson at Texas. [00:14:32] Speaker B: Trey Johnson's nice man. [00:14:33] Speaker A: Lucky getter. He's just man sneaky passer too. He's a very underrated passer. [00:14:37] Speaker B: Yeah, he doesn't want to pass. But, but, but to be fair though, he could really score. Like why would you, why would you pass if you could really score and. [00:14:43] Speaker A: Nobody on the Texas team was doing anything for him to pass the ball. [00:14:46] Speaker B: So you see a little Joe Johnson in him. Little young Joe Johnson. [00:14:51] Speaker A: Maybe because he like a little more. [00:14:53] Speaker B: Physical for a shooting. Yeah, like he could post. He likes the post. [00:14:55] Speaker A: Yeah, he does. He likes. [00:14:56] Speaker B: I think he was asked an interview, like if you had one position where you want to get the ball on the court, where would it be? And he was like, I want in the post. [00:15:01] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:15:01] Speaker B: And I'm like in the post. [00:15:02] Speaker A: Interesting. [00:15:03] Speaker B: A lot of. I feel like a lot of young shooting guards don't have post up games anymore. [00:15:06] Speaker A: Interesting. Interesting. If any Raptors people listening. Trey Johnson. Gimme Trey Johnson. If, if, if also the clog at shooting guard is coming, I'm gonna say. [00:15:15] Speaker B: How many shooting guards you want, man? [00:15:16] Speaker A: Someone gotta go of it. [00:15:17] Speaker B: Yo, what we playing man? Grady Dick Jacoby. Walter. I love to see Johnson. [00:15:21] Speaker A: I love to see it. [00:15:22] Speaker B: Ochao Baji. [00:15:23] Speaker A: Oh, somebody gotta go. [00:15:24] Speaker B: Yes. Well, two of them gotta go at that point, man. [00:15:27] Speaker A: We'll figure it out. We'll figure it out. But switching on to. Obviously it's kind of late. I'm asking this question. Kind of late. You know, I'm about to ask you the hot mic situation. For the record, Lee Van Osmond was not there. [00:15:39] Speaker B: Oh, okay. [00:15:41] Speaker A: I, I, where were you, bro? I was just like every other fan, I was watching it. [00:15:45] Speaker B: Why were you at home? [00:15:46] Speaker A: I was watching on YouTube. [00:15:47] Speaker B: Don't you work at the Charles Starboard? Why were you not in the room? [00:15:49] Speaker A: We had Doug Smith in the building, so he was, he was covered. [00:15:52] Speaker B: Doug Smith is crazy. [00:15:54] Speaker A: Hey, I didn't hear Doug, I didn't hear Doug on the recording. [00:15:56] Speaker B: So. [00:15:56] Speaker A: Hey, Doug's clean. But all I'll say is I was watching it like every other fan. [00:16:01] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah. [00:16:01] Speaker A: And I remember hearing the voices. I'm like, should you be hearing that? When did you guys realize the bike was still live? I know it's late. I'm asking you this like two weeks later. But like, come on, I want to hear this story. [00:16:16] Speaker B: You know what? Honestly, one of the first people to tell me the mic was still alive was you. Yeah, you actually DM me, bro. You're like, yo, that mic is live. [00:16:24] Speaker A: Yeah, but it wasn't like nothing was said at that point that I texted you. I was just like, yo, the mic's live. Yeah, we can hear you guys. [00:16:30] Speaker B: So I think at one point, I think in some of the videos that circulated, you actually see a white woman walk across the screen. That's head of Raptors press relations Jennifer Quinn. [00:16:40] Speaker A: Shout out to jq. [00:16:41] Speaker B: JQ walked across and she's like, hey, guys, I just found out that the mic is live. And so I think that's literally when people in the room like actually realize what the situation was. So to sort of explain the whole situation, there is a podium in the middle of the front of the room and then there's like probably 30 people between cameramen and reporters or whatever just in the back and photographers. Right? So there's like a pretty cramped space. There's one mic in the middle. Brandon Ingram was the first player to speak. And then afterwards, I think Scotty Barnes came right after him. So there was like no break in between. I think actually the mic got bumped because Brandon Ingram was like really quiet. He's quite guy, he's a super soft spoken guy. Right. So I think just because of the volume that he was speaking at. I think they bumped up the mic volume louder, cranked this up. Yeah, yeah. But then Scotty came up afterwards, so it's like all chill. And then after Scotty, I think I forgot who came up afterwards. Maybe rj. [00:17:34] Speaker A: I think it was Jakob afterwards. [00:17:36] Speaker B: It was Yako, maybe, but it was like at least like five minutes in between. So after Scotty left, there was like just people went back to sort of having conversations with each other. Right? [00:17:46] Speaker A: And can you break down, like, yeah, because I think people thought everyone's having one discussion. [00:17:50] Speaker B: Like I said, There's 30 people in there. The 30 people are not having one discussion. Of course there's like, literally, I would say at least five or six different conversations. I was sitting on the right side of the room, and so there's a couple of conversations that were happening near there. I was like, right side, kind of towards the front. So you've heard my voice in that. [00:18:06] Speaker A: Mm. [00:18:07] Speaker B: And then so people started pinning me on all these different things. Yo, the first three seconds, yo, my mentions last week was terrible, man. Like, I was like, damn, am I a horrible person? Like, what is happening in these mentions? [00:18:18] Speaker A: What was the worst thing you got? What was like, crazy. [00:18:21] Speaker B: Lots of stuff, man. Some racist stuff. You know what I mean? Come on, yo, you're a snake. I'm like, honestly, like, you know what? The whole situation is like this, like. So after that was said, I was like, what? Because if you listen to the Scotty presser, one of the last questions he. He answered was like, you know, we expect to make the playoffs next year. There's no excus. So before he actually gave that answer, after he was asked about the season, he looked over, he left, and there was another press relations officer there, Phil Summers. [00:18:48] Speaker A: Shout out to Phil. [00:18:49] Speaker B: And he looked at Phil like, full on laughed. And then he was like, nah, I expect us to make the playoffs. You know what I mean? [00:18:54] Speaker A: He knew that question was going to come, right? [00:18:55] Speaker B: I think he knew. I think I don't even know what it was. I think that's what, like, piqued my curiosity. So that's what I was asking him about was like, do you think Scotty went off message by promising playoffs for next year? [00:19:07] Speaker A: Interesting. [00:19:08] Speaker B: And so that's the discussion. And I was like, really curious to see, like, if Darko is going to sort of back him up, if Messiah is going to back him up. Is this the new message from the team? Because we had yet to hear from anybody else all season. Everyone was like, nah, man, it's what the future is about. The future is about the future. And then finally we hear the word playoffs. We're like, oh, that's interesting. Did he go off script? Right? And then. So I think there was another conversation that evolved from that of, like, you know, you know, essentially, did he get, like, media training for the season? And media training, I think, is, like, a very nebulous word. Obviously, Scotty, who's been in the public spotlight since he was, like, probably 13, 14, has definitely received and done tons of interviews. So in terms of media training, like, there's lots of sort of aspects to that. I think one thing particular, the Raptors did this past off season because it was a effort by the organization to sort of get Scotty to sort of improve his, like, not even communication skills, because I don't think Scotty has any issues communicating, but just sort of, like, working on sort of how he can, like, deliver his message a little more concisely, a little more clearly. And so the Raptors themselves actually gave Scottie, this coach to sort of work with. And I think that this has been, like, a development that's happened also throughout the season, where in the media room, we're like, yo, Scotty's given, like, way better answers. Scotty's been, like, more responsive. And it was like. It was something that even for us as reporters who have to actually, you know, deal with this kind of stuff, like, we're like. We're really appreciative. Like, I've had multiple conversations with the PR staff about sort of just, like, what's changed and sort of like, the growth in his. Like, it's weird to say growth in his game, but I feel like it actually is a growth in sort of how he's come across and how he's delivered. So that's where the conversation went, I think, because you could only really hear bits and pieces of the conversation because it's a hot mic, but it's, like, probably 5 meters away from everyone else. People immediately thought that, like, this was a negative conversation about Scotty, and it just wasn't like, I was there for it. I took part in that conversation, but it was not a negative conversation towards Scotty. I think the other comment that really people sort of picked out was something about Jonathan Mobile. I don't know. That was a different conversation happening in the room. [00:21:16] Speaker A: No snitching. I don't know who it was. So, well, talking about Scotty's improved, just media. [00:21:23] Speaker B: We've been. [00:21:24] Speaker A: We've both been in and shout out To Alex, too. Alex had a really good turn of life piece. Just talking about it. Go check that out. He had it, like, I think it was in November, December, early on, just about it. But I also think Scotty, like, he's gotten better, but also, like, he's allowed us to, like, be part of, like, what he's thinking about. [00:21:48] Speaker B: He's let us in a lot more. Yeah, yeah, yeah. [00:21:50] Speaker A: So I want to shout him out for that because. For sure. [00:21:53] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:21:53] Speaker A: No one has to, like, he could just be like, nah, screw this. Honestly, there's been a lot of stories in the past about Scotty that people have. Can be like, he could just say, screw the media. I'm not going to talk to you guys about this. Or what is. I'm not gonna be in depth. [00:22:04] Speaker B: That was the sophomore year. [00:22:05] Speaker A: Yeah. So, like, that was legit the sophomore year. [00:22:08] Speaker B: Right. [00:22:08] Speaker A: So he could just be like, screw. [00:22:09] Speaker B: It was a real thing. [00:22:10] Speaker A: But he went out of his way to be like, you know what? I'm gonna give y'all better answers. I'm gonna take my time. [00:22:16] Speaker B: He was very generous with me. Yeah. [00:22:17] Speaker A: Like, he's. And he's not, like, giving you, like, quick, short answers. Like, he's pausing and he's asking you if he doesn't. Whether it's like, repeating the question. Be like, okay, I want to actually give you a good answer just to understand what you're asking me. That's was. I'm like, shout out to Scotty for that, you know? [00:22:30] Speaker B: Yeah. I don't think you can go to any media person that's covered the Raptors this year and been like, yo, what do you think of Scotty? And they're like, nah, he's not giving good answers. Like, he. He has done a really good job of telling his perspective. And I think that, like, this is a very important distinction here, because, like, you mentioned, players don't owe their openness to the media. And I think that a lot of factors, including sort of how players get received and how they get covered and how they get sort of portrayed, can really influence how they approach the media. I think that this affects even the very top. Like, you see LeBron, for example, LeBron having a very public beef with ESPN and Stephen A. Smith in particular. So that's like, there's not a. There's not, like, you're not owed anything. If anything, it's like, the onus is a little bit on the reporter to be able to establish a rapport, to develop trust, and then ultimately to sort of, like, keep that as A two way street. Because ideally that is a two way street. I think also behind the scenes too. I think so one thing that happens, you know this a lot, but like after practices and stuff like that, sometimes reporters will request like, hey, I want a side. I want a side conversation with the player. So like the player will talk in a scrum. Everyone's available and the quotes are everywhere. But sometimes they want an exclusive one on one and have a chat off to the side. I've seen Scotty like this year, Grant at least like 30 of those. [00:23:43] Speaker A: Damn. [00:23:43] Speaker B: He's been super generous with sort of his time with everybody. So I think that like, yeah, there really was a marketed improvement on that front. I think maybe just even in the relations back and forth. So I think that's where the confusion was online. Was like, yo, why is everything. Everyone dissing Scotty and was like, no, we're actually just like really praising or noting that there was this like growth in the game. And I think more than anything else, we were just. I was just personally curious, like, yo, he just had playoffs. That's very different from the messaging we got from everybody else. [00:24:09] Speaker A: Yeah. Listening to it online, I'll be honest with you. I couldn't tell whether someone said young. It was someone dumb. I couldn't tell. Watch it online. So, like, I can't say for certain. Like this person said this. [00:24:19] Speaker B: Sure, sure, sure. [00:24:20] Speaker A: I don't know how anybody, unless you're in the room and you're having that conversation with whoever, unless you heard that you could come out and say that I wasn't there. Like I told you. [00:24:27] Speaker B: Yeah, that's not the conversation I was in. You know what I mean? Again, so that's the other part. I listened to you the same thing. The thing that was interesting for me was just like, first off, I mean, if a reporter actually did say that Jonathan Mo's dumb, I think that that's completely unfair. I think that that honestly should have been checked in the moment by whoever else was in the conversation. I think for me, the reason it's unfair, in addition to sort of just being slanderous, is just like mobile. A really smart guy. But he's really like, he's. [00:24:54] Speaker A: That's why it doesn't make sense. That's why it makes sense to me. I'm like, what? [00:24:58] Speaker B: Yeah, I'm not. I'm not gonna lie. I don't know one person that has a beef with Mopo. [00:25:01] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:25:02] Speaker B: Like, I can see people being like, all right, Scotty, you know what I mean? Like, you know he used to work. [00:25:05] Speaker A: On a shot or like. [00:25:06] Speaker B: Yeah, but like, bro, like, that's all basketball. Yeah, that's all basketball. Like, I think the mobile part was just like. And I totally understand the Internet's reaction to this, because everyone just wants to protect the players. [00:25:16] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:25:16] Speaker B: You know what I mean? Of course, like, people don't necessarily like media in any context, but I think, especially in this market, and I think that's, like, honest, that that's probably just a call for like, media to maybe improve in that. In that aspect instead of just, like, getting you better access or telling better stories or even just sort of how we come across across. Like, I'm not saying that there's no responsibility here, but I. I do find the situation a little bit. It. It was kind of blown out of proportion for about a week, and my. And my mentions were going crazy. [00:25:42] Speaker A: I was going to ask. [00:25:43] Speaker B: They kept saying. I was saying everything. I'm like, yo, it wasn't. I. I. I podcast for a living. You know what my voice sounds like? [00:25:47] Speaker A: Yeah. Outside, like, the first three seconds where you said, I don't. I forgot what you said. But, like, it wasn't anything. [00:25:52] Speaker B: It was about the, the messaging. Like, he said, play us. [00:25:54] Speaker A: You know, I didn't hear your voice again, so I'm like, oh. I was like, damn, they killing my boyfriend. [00:25:59] Speaker B: Yeah. But I was sweating, though, because I'm like, it's a hot mic. Because you never know. Like, you don't remember every conversation, every little detail that you said. [00:26:06] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:26:06] Speaker B: So I'm like, shit, did I say something bad? [00:26:08] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:26:09] Speaker B: But then I was like, not like, I, like, went back to the moment and. [00:26:12] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah. [00:26:14] Speaker B: You know, you need one controversy per year. [00:26:16] Speaker A: Yeah. No, I love the honesty, especially not being there. So I'll repeat again, I was not there. Lee Ben Osman. Hey. I was at home enjoying it like the rest of you guys. But do you think this will impact relationships with the media and some of the players? Because, listen, Chris Boucher posted it on his ig. He did pipebomb, obviously. I don't know if Chris is coming back, but I don't know if he made it. But. [00:26:38] Speaker B: And Scotty poster. [00:26:39] Speaker A: Scotty, y'all be chatting something like that. [00:26:42] Speaker B: Something like that, yeah. [00:26:43] Speaker A: Do you think this might impact player media relations especially? I feel like Scotty would be able to, like, know what voices those were, even if anything was said. [00:26:52] Speaker B: But. But the thing is, like, the audio is really warm, so, like, it's hard to tell, like, who's saying what, so I totally understand of mis the confusions around this whole situation. I. I think, you know, just to tell a personal story. So, like, earlier this year, I interviewed Grady Dick. Like one on one. We were like. Basically I was like, noticing that Grady was going to the rim a lot, and he had like a couple different finishes, like a couple reverse finishes, like a, you know, just a couple of nice finishes, basically. So I was just like, watching a couple. Show him a couple clips. And I. I mean, this is just a bad approach, but I was just like. There was this graphic that went around of like, you know, Dick struggling to finish. It was just like. No, it's. It was a real graphic. So I was like, I. My idea was like, let's go disprove this graphic by showing, like, you know, finishes. But then I. Usually Grady's, like, in a really good mood. He's pretty jovial. Like, he's really down to make a joke. [00:27:42] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:27:44] Speaker B: And then so I actually showed him this graphic and he was like. He's like. He's like, oh, no. Like, come on, man, where's this conversation going? And I was like, okay. I realize in the moment, I'm like, oh, yeah, he don't. He's not. He's not going for this. So I was like, you know what? Just forget that. Let's just watch the clips. And we did the interview afterwards. Grady was like, you know what? Like, we had a great time, whatever. Like, I've interviewed Grady a couple times, so he knows who I am and stuff. But then he, like, the. The PR officer who, like, helped set up that conversation was like, hey, you know, just Grady wanted to talk to you a little bit after the game just about that interview, and sort of just like how that one part about that joke is going to come across. So I'm like, yeah, no problem. Right after the game, we just chatted. It was like a super mature conversation both ways. He's like, honestly, I'm just trying to come across as more mature. He's like, I'm not even. Like, I'm not offended by the joke. It's not like I haven't made a joke about that in my time. But he's just like, I'm just personally trying to come across as more mature. And I'm like, you know what, Grady? That's my bad as an interviewer. I should have checked with you with that off camera first before we did that on camera. And also, more than anything else, we're just gonna cut that from an interview. Cause that wasn't important. My goal was to sort of Highlight your improvement as a game. My point with this story is just like, that's an actual. That's how this stuff has handled behind the scenes, you know what I mean? And there's like, me and Grady, like, you know, dapped it up afterwards. I was like, I'll see you at All Star. I think you're gonna make rising stars. He's like, I don't know. I'm like, I think you're gonna make rising stars, man. And he ended up being the only raptor All Star representative at that weekend. And it was great to sort of chat with him and his family a little bit down there as well. So people sort of, sort of can like, hash some of this stuff out. In this case, I'm not even sure what is supposed to be hashed out in particular. [00:29:14] Speaker A: But yeah, shout out to Grady. Honestly, like, yeah, even like, you know, he could have been like, cool, pushed it, not talk to you. But the fact that he came up and you guys had a whole convo. [00:29:24] Speaker B: I think that's where again, like, you need to have that openness. If that's the first time I've ever interviewed Grady, then he'd probably be like, I don't know, like, what am I supposed to say to this guy? I don't know if he's just weird, but then, because he actually knows who I am and stuff and like, there's like a built in rapport and then, you know, you involve Baptist PR in this. Like, this whole situation was like, was handled immediately. And it was even a. It was just like a joke that really went nowhere, you know what I mean? And now I understand Grady a little bit better and that conversation will really never come to light. So that's kind of how a lot of this stuff gets handled behind the scenes. [00:29:53] Speaker A: Yeah, I love it. I obviously don't go to locker room a lot unless I'm doing some Canadian basketball stories. I'll go talk to rj. I'll talk to AJ Lawson, shout out to Branson. But every single time I've got in, everyone's just chill. [00:30:06] Speaker B: Everyone is chill in the locker room. I'm not gonna lie to you. It's a pretty open sort of space. There's not, I don't know, like, it's weird because we're not really co workers. Like, we swoop in once in a while to talk to them and it's like super official or whatever. But, like, in general, like, it's pretty chill behind the scenes. At least that's what I know of. You know what I mean, so I'm. [00:30:26] Speaker A: Just hoping this doesn't change it, but, you know. [00:30:28] Speaker B: You think so? [00:30:29] Speaker A: I don't know, man. Like, I'm posting on ig. Like, I like, those guys, they're not thinking about it day to day. [00:30:37] Speaker B: I was gonna say, you think they're gonna be thinking about this, like, six months from now when we see them again in training camp? [00:30:41] Speaker A: I see. I see Scotty, he's traveling, I think, was it. [00:30:43] Speaker B: He's in Thailand. Yeah. [00:30:44] Speaker A: He's living. He don't care. But I do think, yeah, like, it's still something, like, on the back of mind, like, yeah, these people, these especially, like, our. Like, you. You know what our media is, like, it's not. It's not as diverse too, you know, so, like, hearing a bunch of random people talking trash, I'm like, hey, I'm gonna treat y'all differently. [00:31:06] Speaker B: I'd be. Again, I'd be more than happy to sort of set up a conversation and even explain, even just in my part, about the whole situation. But I mean, again, like, I. Most people are really friends with the media in the first place, you know? I mean, and I don't think that there was, like, that much thing that was said bad, other than the Bobo thing, which, yeah, was kind of out of nowhere, I'm not gonna lie. [00:31:25] Speaker A: Yeah. I still don't know what was said, so I'm not gonna comment. And you weren't there, and I wasn't there, so. Hey. But I like Masai's approach to how he dealt with it. My side was like, yeah, that was. That was very fun. I was like. I was waiting for my side to comment on it. I didn't know what project he's gonna take, but I think Masai knows, like. Like, maybe. I don't know if it's just chatter at the end of the day, but it's like, hey, hey, man. [00:31:45] Speaker B: I mean, I'm not saying that people don't talk about the players. [00:31:47] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:31:48] Speaker B: I mean, you know what I mean? Like, you and I've been in plenty of media rooms. [00:31:51] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:31:51] Speaker B: We discuss, like, the players. We discuss the coaches. [00:31:54] Speaker A: We just like the front office. [00:31:55] Speaker B: We talk about fans. Like, that's. That's normal. I. What. The one part I really didn't appreciate was the hot mic situation. And I think a lot of people were like, you guys are reporters. How do you not know it's a hot mic? I'm like, man, I worked at a TV studio for three years. There's a bright, big sign like this one behind me. That says on air. And if the light's off, then you're off air. It's not like, oh, you just on air all the time. You know what I mean? And so that doesn't necessarily excuse, like, any conversations that take place. You're ultimately responsible for sort of how you. You interact, especially in a workplace. But it is sort of, like, disorienting to be like, all right, like, this is getting broadcast. You know, I mean, it's just a random conversation. Which, again, was not what it seemed, I promise. [00:32:34] Speaker A: Yeah, take take was word for it. Because I. I feel like if worse stuff was said, you. You definitely know people out to, you. [00:32:44] Speaker B: Know, and honestly, if worse off was that, like, people should be held accountable. That's like. That's part of the whole conversation. [00:32:49] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:32:49] Speaker B: Like, I'm not trying to escape accountability with any of this, you know? I mean. [00:32:52] Speaker A: Yeah, so let's hard pivot, obviously. Forget about the hot mic. [00:32:56] Speaker B: Let's go. When we talk about Canadian basketball players. [00:32:58] Speaker A: On this show, right before we get to that break, I want to ask you, who's your pick for to win the title? [00:33:03] Speaker B: Man, I hate saying this on camera every time, but the Boston Celtics. [00:33:06] Speaker A: Why, bro? [00:33:07] Speaker B: Didn't you see the poll came out this week that the players were like. Even the players were like, the Celtics are going to win. [00:33:12] Speaker A: Players had that. [00:33:13] Speaker B: Yeah, they're like the athletic pulled like 90 anonymous players. [00:33:16] Speaker A: Damn. [00:33:17] Speaker B: And they were like, yeah, the Celtics. [00:33:18] Speaker A: I mean, I don't know if I can live with another Boston title. Back to back, bro. [00:33:22] Speaker B: Who's better? I mean, who do you think? Okc. [00:33:23] Speaker A: I want okc. Okay. [00:33:25] Speaker B: I mean, I want OKC to win, man. I want Boston to win. But they're. They're the best team, man. [00:33:30] Speaker A: I'm celebrating that title like, it's mine. That shade. Okay, See that shade title, that Lou door title. [00:33:35] Speaker B: Yeah. Why they're gonna need some people to celebrate it, man. Because, like, how many people live in okc, man? Like, a hundred thousand? 200,000? It's, like, smaller than Hamilton, man. No, seriously, what's the population okc, man. Look it up right now. Who's gonna be at this parade? There was 2 million people at the. [00:33:49] Speaker A: Raptor parade, but I'll give it to credit to their fans. [00:33:52] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:33:53] Speaker A: You see the. All the more in the shirts, like, it's actually like a playoff environment. But then you look at I'm. I'm like, cool Lakers. Everyone's. Everyone at Staples center, everyone's dressed to impress. [00:34:05] Speaker B: Like, what else you got to do in okc? [00:34:07] Speaker A: Though, hey, that's true. [00:34:08] Speaker B: You know what I mean? Like, you got to consider, like, the context of the situation. You're in la, you have a lot, you know, I mean, like, you're like, I'm going to Laker game, but I'm going to something else afterward. I might go to something before. You know what I mean? Like, I might have two things that night, and the Lakers is just the first thing. [00:34:21] Speaker A: That's true. [00:34:22] Speaker B: OkC. OkC game. And then you go home. [00:34:24] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah. [00:34:26] Speaker B: I'm just. I don't know, man. I don't. [00:34:28] Speaker A: Yeah, we'll see, though. [00:34:29] Speaker B: Shout out to the fan base, though. I do love. They have a very supportive fan base. [00:34:32] Speaker A: Yeah, well, gots Boston. I got okc. We'll see what happens. But after this break, we'll be ranking our top seven Canadian NBA players. I think a lot of hot takes might happen on this, but we'll see. No set criteria, like I said. But, yeah, tune in after this break. You'll listen to Kanye Basketball Show. We'll be right back. Welcome back to the Canadian Basketball Show. I'm with my guy, William Liu. Hello and welcome, my guy. We're ranking now the top seven Canadian NBA players. I told you, like I said before, no set criteria. Yeah, you could go off of past accomplishments, you could go off the season. You can go off potential, whatever you want. Your list is your list. And before we get to that, what's your criteria, given that I just told you, go, whatever. Go however you want. [00:35:35] Speaker B: Listen, first and foremost, I judge you on what's your impact on winning. Have you impacted winning at a high level? And that, for me is like, number one. Right. And if there's any tiebreaker, it's gonna come down to that. I think number two, it's about your current ability and what you have shown. And then I think on the third thing probably is just, like, potential, you know, where you're gonna grow. But, you know, I respect winning, man. I respect. I don't want you. I don't want to come here like Messiah Jerry. But the game is about winning. Yeah, the game's not about a bucket. The game's about a bucket if you win. [00:36:12] Speaker A: So before I get jumped for my list, why are you hyping up this list like crazy? [00:36:17] Speaker B: Who's on this list, man? [00:36:19] Speaker A: Honestly, I do feel like the top seven are kind of clear. [00:36:21] Speaker B: That's why. That's what I thought. [00:36:22] Speaker A: But actually, I don't know. We'll see. We'll see. Okay, okay, okay, okay. But I'm going off of talent. [00:36:29] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:36:30] Speaker A: Going off potential. [00:36:31] Speaker B: Okay. [00:36:31] Speaker A: And what you've done in the past. [00:36:33] Speaker B: So you're looking into the future. [00:36:34] Speaker A: I'm looking into the future. [00:36:35] Speaker B: So there's no Kelly Olonek for you on your list? [00:36:37] Speaker A: Hey, he might be 20, yo. Come on. [00:36:39] Speaker B: Respect Kelly, man. This guy treated Kelly like Jordy Fernandez treated Kelly last summer, man. [00:36:45] Speaker A: But yeah, and I do think I'm weighing potential. [00:36:49] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:36:49] Speaker A: Heavy. [00:36:50] Speaker B: Okay. Okay. So this guy got Shade in chart number two. [00:36:53] Speaker A: Hey, we might talk about it. I don't think that Hyp. We'll talk about it. So let's cut with your number one person. Who's number one in your list? I feel like it's quite. [00:37:01] Speaker B: Why are you even asking this, man? You know, it's Shay, man. [00:37:03] Speaker A: Shay. [00:37:03] Speaker B: No one's even close to Shay, man. Yeah, like, it's kind of crazy that, like, we have this level of player in Canada again. I think that, like the last time we had anything close to this was Steve Nashley passed before that, never like, you know, it's. It's inconceivable that we have a guy in Shea who had a season and we'll see. His playoffs are ongoing. But, you know, we both believe in OKC to go far. I got them going to the finals, you got them winning the finals. But like, you know, it's. It's kind of inconceivable that this guy came out of Canada, out of Hamilton. Like, he is probably the best one on one scorer I've seen since Kobe. You know, like, that's a compliment. It's crazy. His bag, his ability to even this year, he added the three, started shooting and pull up threes for fun. And then his team, again, going back to winning, just won 68 games. So he should be the MVP of my books. I'm tired of hearing all this. Jokic, like, his numbers are great. His numbers are great. He had a great season. Unbelievable. But the game is about winning. And OKC won 18 more games with Shay as the number one guy. [00:38:03] Speaker A: Yeah, obviously for me, I got Shea. I don't think we're blessed, right? [00:38:09] Speaker B: Oh, yeah. [00:38:09] Speaker A: In terms of camp, this is the guy that's going to be leading us into the World cup until Olympics in the next four years. [00:38:15] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:38:15] Speaker A: And I'm just like, who better? Like, I want. Honestly, I'm looking at. Now that LeBron, now that Curry, all these guys are the vets, Durant, all these legends are leaving. Who do I want leading my country? I think I'm picking shame better than any person in the League, I think. [00:38:29] Speaker B: Especially too, it's like the amount of time Shai has proven it to you in crunch time, especially 14 gallon, right? Like, man, I still think back to 20, 23 World cup when they're in Asia and they're down 10 in the fourth quarter against Spain. And it is Shay making every single play offensively, defensively. That leadership potential, that guy's not afraid to take a big shot too. Even the France game, which is super painful to talk about in the Olympics, when Callan lost in the, you know, in the knockout rounds, like, like, if you watch that game, Shea was dragging them like crazy in the second half, trying to bring them back. I think they got within five and then whatever, they didn't have enough. But like, he's shown that ability to lead the team over and over again. I feel like the leadership in terms of like whether he decides to play or not actually dictates a lot for the whole program on the senior men's side. And I think he's shown nothing but devotion to the program too. So, yeah, respect to Shay, man. I mean, this guy was like, Wasn't he playing like the warm up some of the qualifiers, man? I feel like this guy was playing like, like one of those. [00:39:25] Speaker A: Like he was like 16, I think, at one point. Not like just with the team in the 2016. I forget what year it was. But yeah, he was like there as a high school kid. [00:39:33] Speaker B: So yeah, he's, he's, he's dedicated, man. And he's a mature guy too. I feel like for a lot of these young stars, they're not that serious, you know what I mean? Like, you don't see John Morant leading Team USA anytime soon. [00:39:42] Speaker A: Hell no. [00:39:43] Speaker B: You know what I mean? So I feel like we're also blessed in the. That Shay is just like a really mature guy too. [00:39:48] Speaker A: Model citizen. Model citizen, yeah. [00:39:50] Speaker B: Absolutely, man. [00:39:51] Speaker A: More of a question than I think Shay obviously was our number one guy. Has Shane surpassed Steve Nash for you all time. And he passed him for me years ago. I hate this convo, but I feel like some people, some people think it's debate. I don't, I don't think. I think it's. I think Shane's been the best Canadian basketball player of all time for a few years now. [00:40:10] Speaker B: Here's the thing. You too young. You weren't. How old were you when Steve Nash was winning MVPs, man? You were like five years old. Seven, maybe seven years old. [00:40:17] Speaker A: Hey, but I could watch those seven seconds or less, sons, man. Come on. [00:40:20] Speaker B: Seven years or less in the game. [00:40:21] Speaker A: I got tape, I got him, like. [00:40:24] Speaker B: About him like Wilt Chamberlain or Bob Koozie back in the day. No, listen, I, I was, I was probably around like T like 12 in that range when, when, when Steve Nash was coming up. And I got to say, like, I, I don't think I'm alone in this. Like, basketball was not covered much in Canada, like at all. Like back in the day, there used to be three TV channels you can watch sports on, like sportsnet, tsn. And then you had the score. Felt like to me, the score was the only channel that was like, we actually respect basketball as a sport and we will show it to you and we will actually present the game in a cool way. And I remember for me getting into basketball and deciding essentially like, what sport I want to follow. The score used to do like court cuts. The score used to do like all these highlight reels. And that was the exact time when Steve Nash was coming up with the seven seconds or less. And I was like, yo, this. It was blowing my mind that this guy was Canadian, man. And he was incredible. He was leading 60 win teams as well. Two time MVP. He revolutionized the game like, like so many point guard since have copied the style in which the Phoenix Suns played, but especially the style in which Steve Nash played. I know the numbers aren't that crazy. He probably only averaged like 17, 18 points even as an MVP. But like you, I'm just telling you, man, like watching him like the way he would have like eight assists in the first quarter set everybody, he was tough as hell, man. Even in, in like crazy like playoff moments. Like, you got to go back to some of the playoff moments he had. Like the battles he had with like Jason Kidd. Like, Jason Kidd was probably like the other best point guard of that generation before, like Chris Paul and like Darren Williams took over, man. Like, there's some legendary battles that Steve Nash was in. And as a Canadian too, I was just like this guy was. But Shea's a better player though. [00:41:58] Speaker A: Okay, you gave me a history lesson. [00:42:00] Speaker B: I love Steve Nash. Steve Nash made me love basketball in a large way. Like, I don't. You know, people talk about the Vince Carter effect. Like I wasn't around for like I was just immigrating the Canada when Vince Carter was hot. So I was like, all right, cool. Like, I'm more worried about learning English like, than dunking. But like when I learn English and I'm like actually watching sports, I'm like, Steve Nash was crazy. So like, for me it was like that. That's the significance of Steve. But if I had to pick just one player to win a game, I think Shay. So I'm sorry, Steve. I'm sorry, Steve. [00:42:28] Speaker A: But Rowan Bear, what do you think, man? You, you, you were teammates of Steve Nash. Tell me now. Now you got Shayla. [00:42:33] Speaker B: That's tough, man. That's like his, that's one of his best friends, man. Like, yo, you want one of your best friends or your best player on the program? That's tough. I think the one thing is, don't underrate what Steve Nash did, because not only does he have two MVPs, Shay's gonna have his first this year. And it would be a robbery if Shay doesn't get it this year. [00:42:50] Speaker A: I think it's done. I think he want it. [00:42:52] Speaker B: Okay, I agree, but you never know, man. The media loves Shokic, like, to an incredible degree, no matter what he does. But I think, yeah, that's still two to one for Steve Nash. And also, like, all the stuff that Shay has done in terms of, like, he has yet to go to the conference finals, hopefully he does that this year. You know, Steve Nash did that, you know, with the Suns. And then I think the other thing, too. Steve Nash also had 61 seasons, so. And I think Steve also led his team past the group stages in the olympics, too. In 2000, again, I was learning English. [00:43:19] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:43:19] Speaker B: So I'm not worried about what's happening in those damn Sydney 2000. Yeah, you weren't. You were barely even. [00:43:24] Speaker A: I was 1 years old. [00:43:25] Speaker B: You were 1 years old, guys. Yeah. So respect Steve, though. I, I, I, I'm not gonna lie to you, man. Steve Nash, that 13, honestly, he made two jerseys to go platinum, man. If you walked around in Toronto back in the day, like, you see Steve Nash 13 Mavericks jerseys, and you see Steve Nash 13 Phoenix Suns jerseys. Yeah. [00:43:43] Speaker A: So shout out to Steve. Yeah. Better, Shay better. Sorry, bro, but, yeah, I think that's, that was sad. We knew Shay was going to be number one for both of us. Now, getting to number two, who's your guy at number two? [00:43:56] Speaker B: This is why I respect winning at the highest level. Because for me, it's still Jamal Murray. I know Jamal laid an egg for Team Canada. I know that Jamal being rusty and that kind of screwed up the chemistry for Canada a little bit. I'm not putting this loss on Jamal. I don't think that's fair. You lose as a team. You know what I mean? But Jamal was not clearly, like, at his best for Team Canada in the Olympics. Where they needed him the most. But, like, I mean, even you watch the playoffs now, man, Jamal is crazy. This here's the thing. I feel like for a lot of guards, their production goes down in the playoffs. The level of physicality just goes to another level. And so you need to be bigger and stronger to play through that. Somehow Jamal Murray, he turns his level up higher in the playoffs. And it's so rare. Like, there's like very select few players who do that. Like, Kawhi is another prominent example. But we know a Kawhi. He's just chilling. He's like, I'm waiting and then playoffs, I'll cook you. You know, Jamal's like, regular season, you're like, dog, what's wrong with Jamal? What's going on with Jamal? Why can't he make an all star team? [00:44:54] Speaker A: It's the whole narrative. Every year it's the same cycle. What's going on with him? And then. [00:44:58] Speaker B: But here's the thing with Jamal. Like, he averaged so in the playoffs, he averages 24 games. In the regular season, he's never averaged more than 21 in any season. So somehow in the playoffs, he ends up scoring more in terms of his whole total career. In terms of 40 point games in the regular season, he's only got six. In the playoffs, he's got five 40 point games. This guy's led his team to a championship. This guy had. It was like him and Jokic getting triple doubles together when they won that triple when they won that championship in 2003. And who knows what's next? I still got to respect Jamal, man. Especially in the highest, most difficult moments in the NBA. Jamal is delivered in a way that no other Canadian besides Shay and Steve Nash have. Okay, who's two for you? [00:45:40] Speaker A: It's Jamal Murray. Okay. [00:45:43] Speaker B: You made me defend Jamal like crazy. [00:45:45] Speaker A: I thought you're gonna go, we're not there yet. Jamal to me is clear cut number two, I think one of the greatest, like non all Stars. [00:45:50] Speaker B: Yes. [00:45:51] Speaker A: That we're seeing in this generation. Obviously, Jokic's right hand, steady playoff performer. [00:45:57] Speaker B: That's the only thing you can knock him for because, like, he's. He's had the benefit of playing off of Jokic. [00:46:01] Speaker A: But anybody, everybody else on this list, like, is like, come on. I don't think they could. Maybe Wiggins, we could say, could be improved it maybe. I think Golden Sea was the right situation, but I don't think anybody can be like a right hand to Jokic. [00:46:13] Speaker B: I agree. [00:46:13] Speaker A: Second option that we have on this list going Forward other than Shea. Right. So, yeah, Jamal Murray to me, stamped, right? Champion. Obviously, the Canada basketball stuff. [00:46:23] Speaker B: Yeah. What happened in the Olympics, man. [00:46:25] Speaker A: We talked about it on the podcast. [00:46:27] Speaker B: I know you and Oren broke it down. [00:46:29] Speaker A: I don't blame him a lot for a lot of this stuff. I think it was a tricky situation. It's so hard to put Shay and Jamal together on paper. When you look at it, you're like, that's gotta be one of the greatest backwards. Right? You think that, but then obviously you think about who's gonna have the ball, who plays off ball. It's not as simple as, like, you see on paper. Sure. So, yeah, I hope. I hope Jamal plays for the national team again. [00:46:56] Speaker B: Me too. I also hope his health holds up. [00:46:59] Speaker A: Yeah, that's the thing too, because I think he was kind of ramping up for when the Olympics were starting, so I think that was probably an issue too. But he stand for me, Jamal. I think he. To me, honestly, Jamal, actually, I'm not going to go that far. [00:47:15] Speaker B: Yo. Also, the 2015 Pan Am Games, Jamal Murray. [00:47:18] Speaker A: What do they know about that, man? What do they know about that? [00:47:21] Speaker B: What do people know about the Pan Am Games? Let's be real, man. But he was cooking, though, and that was in Toronto. At least. I hope people actually got to see that in person. He was pretty special. [00:47:28] Speaker A: Yeah. So, yeah, Shay, Jamal, one to two. I think that was quite obvious. Let's see if we're still on the obvious trend or if we're going separate ways here. Who's three for you? [00:47:40] Speaker B: Yeah. I'm not gonna lie, I'm not even totally sure I believe this when I say it, but Andrew Wiggins, number three for me. [00:47:45] Speaker A: Same here. [00:47:45] Speaker B: Really? [00:47:46] Speaker A: Wow. [00:47:47] Speaker B: Okay, you make the case for Andrew then, because I was still a little undecided, because at this point, you could go a couple different directions. [00:47:52] Speaker A: I just think the legacy this guy's had obviously came in as a number one pick. [00:47:57] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:47:57] Speaker A: So much pressure, right? [00:47:58] Speaker B: First ever Canadian number one pick. [00:48:00] Speaker A: Yeah. Was it. [00:48:01] Speaker B: Was it him or Bennett? Was it Bennett first? [00:48:02] Speaker A: I think it was Bennett. Bennett was first. Yeah. [00:48:04] Speaker B: Okay. First ever Canadian back to back. [00:48:06] Speaker A: Right. We're gonna excite first from Thornhill. Vaughn is crazy, but to me, just like the two way. What he did to Jason Tatum, obviously Jason Tatum, but what he did to Jason Tatum, and he was the second option on a championship team with Curry. To me, that just says it all to me. It was like, I'm looking at that Golden State run if Wiggins is not playing, if he's not playing great defensively. I think he was the second leading scorer on that team. [00:48:33] Speaker B: He was, like, the leading rebounder for that team, too. Yeah, he rebounded the hell out of the ball. [00:48:36] Speaker A: So just like, his whole career arc is kind of interesting for me. Going from this guy that's supposed to be the next, like, you know, called him the next LeBron James from Canada, man. [00:48:44] Speaker B: If you guys did not see what Andrew Wiggins was doing in high school, man. A McMaster gym. [00:48:49] Speaker A: Yeah, that. [00:48:49] Speaker B: That. That specific. The reason I'm saying my master gym is those highlights. I don't even know what they were. What. What was the event happening there? I just remember seeing that in the background. I'm like, oh, I go to Mac. Like, that's kind of cool. Like, this is the first time I've seen anything related to basketball that's, like, really prominent that's happening in this gym. The high school mixtape for Andrew Wiggins. [00:49:08] Speaker A: Oh, my God. [00:49:09] Speaker B: The mixtape for anybody, bro. Like, it's like him and Zion are like one and two for me. Or, like, craziest high school mixtapes. Like, bro, he was doing anything, man. Like, yeah, he looked like he was going to be like Tracy McGrady at worst, which is crazy to say. [00:49:22] Speaker A: And he was like, I would see the first star, notable star to come out of Canada that everyone's like, okay, this is the guy. This is the guy. [00:49:29] Speaker B: Even Bennett, like, Bennett, who was the number one over pick. It was like the draft was, like, really murky at the top. It was like, no clear, like, cut. Who was going to be one, who was gonna be two, two, three, even four. And then he kind of emerged towards the end. So that's like, a little different. Like, this was like, everyone knew they were tanking for Wiggins. And then that draft, I think, expanded to Jabari Parker and Joel Embiid as well. And I guess Embiid is the best player in that draft. But the hype around Wiggins was crazy, man. [00:49:54] Speaker A: Yeah. But, yeah, I think Wiggins, to me, snapped, obviously. Champion rookie the year two zero. [00:50:00] Speaker B: Yeah, I think so. Yeah. [00:50:01] Speaker A: So he has the athletes. To me, it's weird because he got. [00:50:04] Speaker B: Traded, like, right away. [00:50:05] Speaker A: Yeah, he did. [00:50:07] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:50:07] Speaker A: Tough. But shout out to Wiggins, though, man. I feel like his legacy, obviously, with the Canadian basketball team, kind of. [00:50:14] Speaker B: Yeah. What's the story? [00:50:14] Speaker A: It's murky. [00:50:16] Speaker B: Mr. Canada Basketball. Why doesn't Wiggins. Why is it always a question mark? [00:50:18] Speaker A: It's always a question mark, man. I think it's. It's a lot. It's a lot of behind the scenes stuff that maybe we're not privy to. So. And yeah, I just. I think he's wanted to suit up. I think he wanted to suit up. [00:50:31] Speaker B: He's never played. He's played. [00:50:32] Speaker A: He played. [00:50:33] Speaker B: He played. [00:50:34] Speaker A: He pulled up when they lost. Who they lose to in that 2020 or Thomas Satoranski. Yeah, man. [00:50:39] Speaker B: Like, oh, man, he went through that. [00:50:41] Speaker A: He went through that for us. [00:50:42] Speaker B: By the way, Wiggins hit some crazy shots down that stretch there too. [00:50:45] Speaker A: Exactly right. [00:50:45] Speaker B: He was like for that team because I think Shay wasn't playing for that team. He was the number one guy for that team. [00:50:50] Speaker A: And for me it's like he's proven to be a second option on a championship team. [00:50:56] Speaker B: I mean, he. Not that level of player all the time. [00:50:58] Speaker A: Obviously not all the time. But I'm saying everybody else in this list, I don't think it's proven that yet. Or. [00:51:02] Speaker B: Yeah, that's fair. That's fair. [00:51:03] Speaker A: Could even say there. So that's why. [00:51:05] Speaker B: 1, 2, 3. [00:51:06] Speaker A: 1, 2, 3, set. This is where we might get. I might go off, off the rails just. Just to have some fun. [00:51:13] Speaker B: Okay. Okay. [00:51:13] Speaker A: I might get some backlash for this. I want to hear his name first. Let's see. [00:51:17] Speaker B: Yeah, I'm going with RJ Barrett. [00:51:18] Speaker A: Okay. [00:51:19] Speaker B: And the reason I'm going with RJ is I'm a Raptor fan and I watched a lot of RJ and I feel like RJ's improvements have not fully been recognized by the. The bigger basketball audience at large. Also, I feel like RJ's played pretty well for Canada basketball as well. You know what I mean? Of course he's been consistently either their second or third best scorer in the tournaments that he's at all time moments still when he had the. What do you have? 37, 39U17. [00:51:45] Speaker A: Oh, yeah. Oh, see, that might change it for me. [00:51:48] Speaker B: Now that's generational. That's a generational performance. Canada versus USA in the gold medal game, I think. Where were they? Like Egypt or something? [00:51:53] Speaker A: Yeah. And they. That team was a very like. That team shouldn't have one goal. They beat Calipari. We talked about it on the podcast with Oren. They went up against. Who's the third pick in that 2019 draft? Cam Reddish. Oh, I mean, quickly. [00:52:09] Speaker B: Yeah. Kevin Herder. [00:52:10] Speaker A: Kevin Herder, yeah. [00:52:11] Speaker B: They had like lots. [00:52:12] Speaker A: I mean Richard was on that run like a NBA guys caliber starters. [00:52:16] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:52:16] Speaker A: And RJ was the only one I believe. I think Emmanuel Miller who just honestly now in Chicago. But they beat them with A bunch of esports guys. Yeah, me and you watch esports. [00:52:28] Speaker B: I mean you watch more than almost anybody I know. [00:52:31] Speaker A: But they beat Cam Reddish. U sports guys took down Cambridge with RJ & Co. [00:52:35] Speaker B: So that was legendary. [00:52:37] Speaker A: That might change my perspective now. [00:52:38] Speaker B: RJ I feel like is also like pretty consistent with the scoring. I think the big knock against him was the efficiency, was the defense. I mean you wouldn't know this unless you watch the Raptors in attacking season but like he's genuinely improving those aspects of his game. Man. The weird thing with RJ is the free throws are like, like literally like I don't know man. He shot worse than Jakob Proto from the free throw line this year and Jakob shoots a one handed free throw but he's shot free throws well in the past. That's the one thing you couldn't really knock him for was that he used to be like a 75, 83 point free throw shooter. I think the three's gone up for him. I think he's shooting three better and then he just gets the rim man, like and I think that maybe the missing piece is he's been on all losing teams so you could definitely say like does he affect winning by being such a prominent player? Should he have his role reduced? That's a fair question to ask but I think think if you're going to ask that question you also got to acknowledge that he's actually made a lot of improvements. So I'm going to support my guy rj man. [00:53:27] Speaker A: You're going to support your guy rj? I'm going to support my guy from London on tier. I'm going to get a lot of hate for this Shadyn Sharpe. I have him number four. I have Shane Sharp. [00:53:37] Speaker B: Oh my God. [00:53:37] Speaker A: I'm going off the potential here. [00:53:38] Speaker B: Is this because you and I were at the game in Portland when they came to Toronto and he had a career high 36. [00:53:44] Speaker A: Let me read you his stats to close out the season. [00:53:46] Speaker B: All right? [00:53:47] Speaker A: OK. 37, seven, five on 13, 23 shooting. That was his last game. Okay, 21, 10 and five. Another game. [00:53:55] Speaker B: Okay. [00:53:55] Speaker A: 17 points. Five. You know, a little calm 17, you know like he's. [00:53:58] Speaker B: Yeah sure, 17 is still good man. [00:54:00] Speaker A: And then in Toronto, 36 points. [00:54:03] Speaker B: Yep. [00:54:03] Speaker A: 14, 23 shooting, seven rebounds, five assists. Completely unstoppable in his hometown. I think that was the most points scored by a Canadian opponent in Toronto. [00:54:12] Speaker B: It felt like 30 of those, 36 were pull up jumpers too. Like pull up threes, pull up midis. Yeah, he was. Those are buckets like bucket buckets. [00:54:19] Speaker A: And let me double check Shane Sharp's age. [00:54:21] Speaker B: He's like 23. [00:54:23] Speaker A: This brother. Shane Sharp is 21 years old. [00:54:27] Speaker B: What? [00:54:27] Speaker A: He is 21 years old still. I remember. You know what, he should have been in the Wemby draft. That's what, that's my thing about he skipped the year. He obviously didn't play at Kentucky. Yeah, probably. I think it was a really smart decision, honestly. Ended up going to the draft early. But he should have been in the Wemby draft. He went. I think he would have went top two top three in that draft. When you think about it now, if you're redrafting, just he's on the same. [00:54:48] Speaker B: Team as Scoot and he's better than Scoot. Right. [00:54:50] Speaker A: So I'm going off potential here. I might get a lot of hate for it because RJ is a proven guy. [00:54:55] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:54:56] Speaker A: But yeah, my problem with RJ is like, do I think RJ could be top two, top three guy on a championship level team? Not really proven to me yet. [00:55:05] Speaker B: Yeah, no, I don't, I don't think that's. [00:55:07] Speaker A: I think Shane Sharp has that potential. [00:55:09] Speaker B: Really? [00:55:09] Speaker A: I think he has that potential. [00:55:10] Speaker B: Why is he taking over Portland though? Portland. Portland's begging for somebody to lead the team, man. Who in Portland's like, yo, this is my team, you know, you gotta take this from me, like, nobody, man. Are you talking about Anthony Simons? You're talking about Danny Aldia? You're talking about AKA Big Oren. He'll get a big Orangefeld. Who are you talking about, man? Delano Banton. Like, you know what I mean? [00:55:29] Speaker A: Like, shout out to Delano, shout out to Dallino. [00:55:30] Speaker B: Shouts out like Scoot Henderson, you know, I mean Donovan Clingan, you know, I mean, who do they got Jeremy Grant making? Yeah, Jeremy Grant, like the Tobias hairs of the west, man. [00:55:39] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:55:39] Speaker B: That guy cashed out. [00:55:40] Speaker A: Yeah. What did he do? I just think for me, for Shaden, it's like he can create his own shot. Natural score, great footwork, man. Sky's the limit. [00:55:50] Speaker B: You gotta go in the gym, working together. [00:55:52] Speaker A: Yeah. He just right situation. See that Portland team ends up, you get another star next to him. [00:55:57] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:55:57] Speaker A: I don't know if he's the number one guy yet. Wait to see. He's still 21. [00:56:01] Speaker B: I know, I know. [00:56:02] Speaker A: So I'm just like, I want to go off the potential. [00:56:04] Speaker B: Right. [00:56:05] Speaker A: I know. RJ's still young too. That's the thing. [00:56:06] Speaker B: No, I mean if you're talking about potential, he got more potential on rj, which is crazy because RJ was like hyped like crazy. You know what I mean? But he does have more potential than rj. He's more athletic than rj. [00:56:15] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:56:15] Speaker B: So he should be in the dunk contest first and foremost. Shaden, like go to the dunk contest first, man. I'm tired of seeing Andre Jackson Jr. At the dunk contest. That's not what the NBA is about, man. The NBA is not about Mac, but Klung, man. Mac, enough. You did great. [00:56:28] Speaker A: But like brought that guy back for like, they spun him back like three times. Insane. [00:56:32] Speaker B: You think Adam Silver made. Adam Silver's definitely like, yo, one team in the NBA. I don't care who it is. They have to sign Mack McClun just so we have contest once a year. [00:56:42] Speaker A: Which is a shame, man. Just, just, just get rid of dun. Contest at this point. [00:56:45] Speaker B: Like, like Christmas ornaments, man. They're like, yeah, yeah. Once a year we're gonna bring them out and then we'll just pack them away. [00:56:53] Speaker A: So. Yeah, hot take. I have Shaden. [00:56:55] Speaker B: Okay. [00:56:55] Speaker A: Sharp number four. Please don't be in my mentions. Please don't be going crazy. [00:56:59] Speaker B: But you know, that's a valid pick. It's a valid pick. Even though Shaden was in my top seven. [00:57:03] Speaker A: Top seven? He wasn't in your top seven. [00:57:05] Speaker B: I respect winning, man. I mean, he can be top seven for sure, talent wise. But I mean, like, what's his. What's his history with the Canada program to. [00:57:11] Speaker A: He'll be there. [00:57:12] Speaker B: I mean, factor that in, right? R.J. has been. I mean, he's had moments for. [00:57:16] Speaker A: That's why when I think about the U17 USA match. Yeah. [00:57:21] Speaker B: RJ played great. [00:57:22] Speaker A: I might be thinking way too ahead. That's my thing, right? [00:57:24] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:57:24] Speaker A: I don't be thinking way too ahead. [00:57:26] Speaker B: So I got you. [00:57:26] Speaker A: We'll see. But yeah, Shaden number four for me. [00:57:30] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:57:30] Speaker A: Who's your fifth guy? You said it's not shady. You said she's not in your top seven. [00:57:33] Speaker B: I'm kind of like right now, man. He's not my top seven right now. [00:57:36] Speaker A: Yeah, sorry. [00:57:36] Speaker B: So who's your five winning man? Winning man, I'm gonna go with, man. I can't believe you're saying this, man. Dylan Brooks, man. Give me Dylan Brooks, number five. [00:57:44] Speaker A: That's crazy. [00:57:45] Speaker B: Here's the thing. Dylan Brooks. If you weren't there for that World Cup, Dylan Brooks was counting the second best player. [00:57:50] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:57:50] Speaker B: Like, what do you have? Like, what do you have? Like 40? [00:57:53] Speaker A: Yep. [00:57:54] Speaker B: Was that 40 against USA or is. [00:57:55] Speaker A: That 40 against it was either 37, something like that. [00:57:58] Speaker B: Yeah, like, Dylan Brooks was going crazy. I think Dylan Brooks also, like, he's been in the league a long time. He's been part of winning. That's the part, too. Like, he's led his teams. Well, he's not led his team, but he's been part of playoff teams. Right. Both in Memphis and in Houston. I mean, the Memphis tenure ended weirdly, but I will have to say the Memphis Grizzlies did not get better by losing Dylan Brooks. So it's not like, you know, that's. That's a hit against them. And then the Houston Rockets improved a lot by adding Dylan Brooks. And this is like a really. Like, you could talk me to Lou Dort. You could talk me into even Andrew Nemhardt. Those are the other guys I got on the list. But right now, I got Dylan Brooks. I also just like Dylan Brooks, man. I like the swagger that he got. I like that he's, like, not afraid to, like, beef with people. I like that he actively wants to beef with people. This guy's like, I'll sterile LeBron. I don't care. You know what I mean? Like, and that takes, like, a lot of heart, man. So I respect Dylan Brooks a lot. [00:58:47] Speaker A: So, yeah, for me, obviously, five will then be RJ Barrett. [00:58:51] Speaker B: Okay. [00:58:52] Speaker A: We kind of talked about in depth. I'm kind of regretting that decision just because, like, the U17, that, to me, like, that should put you in your own. [00:58:59] Speaker B: That's an all time moment, man. [00:59:00] Speaker A: That's all time moment. That's what I'm like, bro. [00:59:02] Speaker B: I was at Wonderland, and me and my friends were just like. Like, we had to, like, get off the rides and just watch it over a phone. Like, there's, like, five people huddled around a phone, and he's shooting some free throws to ice it out. [00:59:10] Speaker A: Yeah, rj, if you listen to this. Yeah, don't. Don't take this serious. I just kind of want to spice things up, too. So five, obviously. So you have. So let's go through your five. So it's Shea, I got Shay. [00:59:23] Speaker B: Jamal, I got Wiggins, I got. Who did I got this for? Oh, rj. And then I got Dylan Brooks, Dillon. [00:59:31] Speaker A: Brooks, and for me, I have Shai. I got Jamal, I got Wiggins, I got Shane Sharpe, and I got RJ Barrett. For you, what was, like, the toughest part about breaking down this list or coming up with seven? [00:59:45] Speaker B: I think, again, my criteria is just, like, I respect it, especially if you've led your team to Winning or played a big part in winning teams. I'm not even trying to, like, I believe in shade and sharp, too. You know what I mean? But at the same time, I'm like, like, for, for players on younger teams that put up big numbers, I'm like, I still need to see that translate to a winning environment, you know, that's why I had, like, it was hard leaving Lou do off this list. Like, ultimately, he's off your list. I mean. Oh, we're still going to go. Okay. Yeah. Well, Lou. Lou's number six for me, so. Yeah, two, six for you. I think Lou is like. Is Lou the best defender Count has ever produced? [01:00:16] Speaker A: It's tricky because I think some would argue Dylan. I remember. I remember Jordy saying in the FIBA World cup that Dylan Brooks is the best defender in this tournament. [01:00:27] Speaker B: Wow. [01:00:27] Speaker A: I remember him saying that. [01:00:28] Speaker B: Okay, so I respect that. [01:00:29] Speaker A: That's kind of like. [01:00:30] Speaker B: That's interesting. That's eye opening. Yeah. [01:00:32] Speaker A: Is that how people really feel? [01:00:35] Speaker B: I don't know. I mean, I feel like Lou Dord. [01:00:37] Speaker A: And he's also. I think he's been part of. He's has a defensive all team selection. Dylan Brooks, already. [01:00:43] Speaker B: Yeah. I mean, both these guys are elite defenders, man. This is why Canada's like. I mean, we're, we're blessed to have these two wing defenders, man. For me, Lou's just like, even, like, as physical as Dylan Brooks is, Lou's a little bit more physical, man. Like, I'm just imagining who. I mean, I, I probably. I can't get a buck on any of these guys. But just the thought of playing as Ludor, I'm like, yo, stop harassing me. [01:01:05] Speaker A: No, for real. [01:01:06] Speaker B: And honestly, Ludor, if you don't, you don't get enough credit for this. Lootor is incredible at flopping around screens, bro. This guy sells a moving screen better than anybody in the league. Yeah, maybe, maybe, maybe Jalen Brunson, honestly, at this point. But like, no, Lou just, like, has to just be so incredibly annoying and difficult to play against for six for. [01:01:25] Speaker A: Me, I'm sticking with the young agenda. [01:01:27] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:01:27] Speaker A: I'm going Ben Matheran. [01:01:29] Speaker B: Benedict Matheran. [01:01:30] Speaker A: I'm going Ben Matheren. [01:01:31] Speaker B: Well, you pick Benedict over Andrew Nebhart? I'm going Andrew Nebhardt starts over Benedict. [01:01:35] Speaker A: I don't give a damn. He is wired to score. He's aggressive. [01:01:39] Speaker B: That's all he does. [01:01:40] Speaker A: I think this guy should have his own team eventually. [01:01:43] Speaker B: I agree. I agree. [01:01:45] Speaker A: I don't know. [01:01:46] Speaker B: Yeah, he's got to leave Indiana. [01:01:47] Speaker A: He's up for contract in the summer, so it'll be interesting what happens there. [01:01:51] Speaker B: I think he changes teams. [01:01:52] Speaker A: Yeah. I wonder if he's in Indiana long term. I don't know if that fit is. [01:01:55] Speaker B: Well, I think first off, I mean, and this is not an NBA pot necessarily, but like Indiana, they need to resign Miles Turner, like, they have no other options. And that is also a small market team that is not going to pay a luxury tax. So they're going to have to shed some salaries. And Benedict, I think, probably doesn't have the opportunity. They've already committed to Andrew Nevhardt. Yeah, but the Indiana Pacers themselves already said they'd rather have Nemhard than Benedict. So why you? Why you? Why you got Benedict over here? [01:02:20] Speaker A: My problem is the playoffs. Last year, Nemar took a big leap, right? [01:02:25] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:02:25] Speaker A: I just haven't seen an extended leap from that. [01:02:29] Speaker B: Okay, what do you think was going to happen this year? He's going to make all Star, but they have, like. They have like, five scores on that team. [01:02:34] Speaker A: I'm expecting you to average more than 10 if you're taking the lead, man. [01:02:36] Speaker B: But you know what? [01:02:37] Speaker A: In the playoffs, Ben's averaging what, 16? [01:02:40] Speaker B: Yeah, because Ben's averaging one assist per game. [01:02:42] Speaker A: I love it, though. I love the killer mentality. I love it. Like, he's not. [01:02:46] Speaker B: Nah, I respect Benedict a lot, man. I respect him a lot. [01:02:48] Speaker A: He'd rather take a. A Kobe fade away. Three players contested on them. Pass it to a wide open. Tyrese Halliburton. [01:02:55] Speaker B: Is that Teacher McConnell over there? [01:02:58] Speaker A: I'm pulling that. Yeah, I love it. I love the. So, yeah, I'm sticking with the young agenda. I'm going off potential. I like Ben Matheran at number six. [01:03:06] Speaker B: And he draws fouls, too. That's the thing. Like, I like, for a lot of shooting guards, like, really rely on the jumper and stuff. Like, he got the physicality to play through contact. He takes bumps, he draws fouls. Like, that's all tough. I remember there's a game in this rookie season when he was just like going back and forth with Jamal McGlure on the raptor bench. And I'm like, yo, you're a Canadian. Talking to Jamal McGlore like that. And then he also was backing up on the ground. I think the Pacers won that game, too. And he probably had like 20 plus. So I respect him, but I considered him. He was hard. He was hard for me to cut. Number seven for me was Nem hard. [01:03:38] Speaker A: I know someone that works Ben Mather out in the summer. And he tells me like, that energy you talking about, talking trash does the same thing. If there's a clip of him talking trash to Gilbert Renas son and he's up and coming, man. At least his son's like 16 and he's talking trash to a 16 year old. He's talking trash to a high schooler. [01:03:56] Speaker B: Okay. [01:03:56] Speaker A: Like Ben's not like, not want to play with. So that's why I'm like, I like the mentality. [01:04:00] Speaker B: I like that energy potentially. [01:04:02] Speaker A: So Ben's my number six. The last spot. [01:04:05] Speaker B: Yeah, man, Last spot. Give me Andrew Nemhard, man. [01:04:07] Speaker A: I'm not. [01:04:08] Speaker B: Listen, I think Andrew Nemhard is very underrated. [01:04:10] Speaker A: Okay. [01:04:11] Speaker B: I think in the playoffs he shows his value. I think that he's hit how many game winners now this guy hits one game winner a year, which for a role player is pretty rare. You know, he's not afraid of the big moment. He is. Indiana's like go to defender against anybody. Granted, Indiana's defense, not that good. [01:04:29] Speaker A: Atrocious. [01:04:30] Speaker B: At the same time, I think he does a good job defending. I think for team Canada, it's. It's weird because there's so many guards and it's so hard to, you know, break in and he's probably their youngest one, but I believe in his future potential a lot, man. [01:04:43] Speaker A: Do you think he starts for Canada. [01:04:44] Speaker B: Basketball in the future? Yeah, yeah, I do. Yeah. And I think that you need guys like this. Like, I think that like for. If you had him in a championship level team, he'd be like, Drew Holiday was for the, the Celtics. You know, he's. He's tough, man. And his mentality. He also talks trash too. [01:04:59] Speaker A: He does. I. I saw podcasts about that. [01:05:01] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:05:01] Speaker A: Like the biggest trash talker you don't expect. Yeah, he talks crazy. Yeah. [01:05:06] Speaker B: He got a lot of confidence too, man. Yeah. I had a chance to sit down with. With Andrew and also bro. I mean, just knowing like his dad and like sort of like the, the family background he comes from, like, this guy's not gonna back down from anybody. The only reason I got him seven is because he's talking about Rora. That ain't a real place. He was like, yo, I'm from Toronto. I'm like, you from Aurora? Yeah. I actually asked him. I'm like, is Aurora even gta? [01:05:29] Speaker A: Nah, that's not. [01:05:30] Speaker B: That's not even Greater Toronto area. [01:05:32] Speaker A: That's not. That's not. [01:05:33] Speaker B: That's great. Is Toronto area. You got to expand that, man. This guy's Almost in barrier at this point. [01:05:37] Speaker A: Seven for me. I got Dylan Brooks. So. Okay, that's kind of where I end off. I think he's just a guy that will give you like 14 consistent 2 to 3, like 40% 3 point shooter. And yeah, I just think about the Olympic run or the World cup run with Shay. Like he was like, I'll be the second guy especially beating USA Basketball. Right. So. And can create his own shot, I think better than the guys that I have off this list. I just think he's. He can get to his shot better than most. Maybe, maybe you can argue Andrew Nemhard, but yeah, yeah, I just think, I. [01:06:10] Speaker B: Think Andrew still has to learn how to play and be effective feeble wise. Yeah, but one thing that was impressive with Andrew too is like in 2019 when they went to China for the World cup and Nick Nurse is coaching that team. 18 year old Andrew Nemhard was. Was playing in that rotation. [01:06:21] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:06:22] Speaker B: And I was like dog, an 18 year old playing in a senior men's basketball setting is crazy. [01:06:26] Speaker A: So what happened to some of them? Man, they had my guys glued to the bench in that bro. [01:06:30] Speaker B: Because they were trying to figure out if it was him or Jamal, man. They had to make a decision. [01:06:33] Speaker A: Yeah. You know, decision too late. [01:06:35] Speaker B: And also either way neither of those guys performed law so I'm not even give them any outs. [01:06:39] Speaker A: Also I'll stat here from my guy, Brian Swain. Good follow. If you're looking for Canadian basketball stats. Dylan Brooks. Most threes in the season by Canadian NBA player this year. L door was 16 behind him. So. Okay. Yeah. And Jordy called him the best defender in the FIBA World Cup. [01:06:56] Speaker B: I respect that from coach. [01:06:58] Speaker A: So yeah, let's go through our list and let's talk about honorable mentions again. So Shay we agree on. [01:07:05] Speaker B: I got Shay, I got Jamal, I got Andrew Wiggins, I got R.J. barrett, I have Dylan Brooks, I have Lou Dort and then I have Andrew Nemhardt. [01:07:15] Speaker A: And I got Shay, I got Jamal, I got Wiggins, I got my guy. Shannon Sharpe. London, Ontario. Come on, man. [01:07:21] Speaker B: Shout out to London, bro. You cut the esplanade. [01:07:23] Speaker A: Come on, man. I've been to London though, man. There's nothing to do there. So there's nothing to do in London. And then I have RJ Barrett, I got Ben Matheran and I got Dylan Brooks who is. Who just missed the cut for you. Honorable mentions. [01:07:37] Speaker B: Yeah, I mean Shane Sharp and Benedict Matheran for me, like, absolutely. I think they could definitely. They have the ability to. They have more potential than some of these other guys. I think, especially for these young guys, it's so hard for them, especially on the rookie scale contract, you got to figure out what your role is, and then what's going to get you paid. You got to get to that next contract. And I feel like for both of these guys, they're still sort of sorting out how they can affect winning and what's the best situations for them. It might not be the team that drafts you. You know what I mean? Like, your situation might be with some other team, and then that's when you break out, you know, like, for example, like, Josh Giddy got traded this year. Like, he wasn't getting paid by okc. OKC was like, yeah, we're okay. We have a bunch of. We have, like, 16 other wings that we like more than you. [01:08:14] Speaker A: We don't need you. [01:08:15] Speaker B: But then he goes to Chicago. Now he's like, all right, now I'm the man in Chicago, and they gotta pay me in Chicago. So I think that that's probably something similar is going to happen for those two guys, but I believe in their talent. I believe in their skill. Zach, Edie, come on, man. We didn't even have any big. So I think this really illustrates Canada's issue with the. [01:08:30] Speaker A: I know you tweeted about Jeremy Gore, Montreal kid that posed with Hakeem at camp, bro, he didn't. [01:08:35] Speaker B: He didn't pose with Hakeem. He made Hakeem look like a kid, which is nuts. What. What's. [01:08:41] Speaker A: Where's. [01:08:41] Speaker B: Okay, so where are. What's happening in Quebec where, like, you got him and then Olivia Rio. [01:08:45] Speaker A: It's the poutine, man. I'm telling you. Yo, it's the poutine. Po. [01:08:49] Speaker B: What are they putting in these poutines? [01:08:51] Speaker A: It's a lebanquist. You know about Lebanon? [01:08:57] Speaker B: No, actually. Why don't you go to Montreal more often, man? You know, literally, nobody loves poutine. Honestly, if it was the poutine, you'd be 10ft tall at this point, bro. [01:09:05] Speaker A: I just hate the Mount Royale. That. That journey. Going up there, too crazy. [01:09:10] Speaker B: Why are you going up the mountain, man? Go around the mountain. [01:09:13] Speaker A: But who else? For me, I got Lou Dort. Honorable mention. [01:09:17] Speaker B: Yeah, of course, of course. [01:09:18] Speaker A: Got Nikia and I got Nemhard. Those are the three. I just don't think Nikhil's tricky, those guys. It's tough. Lou Dorr, I think, should have been one of the three finalists for Defensive Player of the Year this past year. [01:09:29] Speaker B: He's great. [01:09:31] Speaker A: I don't know, I just like the guys that I have. I'm like these. I like bucket getters, man. [01:09:35] Speaker B: I know. I could tell. [01:09:36] Speaker A: You can tell. [01:09:36] Speaker B: I could tell. [01:09:37] Speaker A: I got the Shane shot. I got the. [01:09:38] Speaker B: I could tell. [01:09:39] Speaker A: I want someone that can give me a bucket when I need to. Blue door. I don't know if he can do that by himself. Nakil used to be that guy in high school. Used to be. I like, I want to give him a. [01:09:46] Speaker B: But he's changed his game, though. He's changed his game to be a three and D guy. And I respect that a lot too because he's really carved out a great. Because at first he was like running around like three or four different organizations before he got like settled in Minnesota. And I'm curious to see where his future is because Minnesota also Lowkey has like a financial crunch too coming. I mean, where do you think Will Riley's going to be at that on this list? Because I know you've been. You've been putting me on Will since the start of the season. [01:10:09] Speaker A: You're like, hey, I told you, bro. [01:10:10] Speaker B: Yo, I was watching Raptors Wizards. You were watching Illinois. [01:10:13] Speaker A: I was watching Illinois. [01:10:14] Speaker B: I was watching the Ally Night, man. The. [01:10:16] Speaker A: A lot. Yeah, man. I was listening to all the pod. Yeah, man. Will Riley, I think he gets stronger. [01:10:24] Speaker B: Yeah. [01:10:25] Speaker A: He might be top three on this list. [01:10:27] Speaker B: Wow. No, because he thinks his skill level looks really. [01:10:29] Speaker A: Like he's a hard worker. [01:10:31] Speaker B: So. Okay. [01:10:31] Speaker A: I think that goes a long way, right, for. For anybody. [01:10:34] Speaker B: What about your man Delano Banson? [01:10:35] Speaker A: Man, Delano Benson? [01:10:38] Speaker B: I don't want to make you. I'm not putting you on the spot, man. I think I want no beef with Rex, though. It's okay. [01:10:43] Speaker A: It's all good. I think Delano, it's cool to see him now. Like, like I was talking to somebody in Portland when I was out there. Just they're not sure if he's going to be there long term. [01:10:52] Speaker B: Okay. [01:10:53] Speaker A: They do think a team's going to pick him up. [01:10:54] Speaker B: Like, he's very talented. [01:10:56] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:10:56] Speaker B: So especially now that he's shooting the 3. A lot more confident now. [01:10:58] Speaker A: And yeah, he's. I feel like he's found his game in Portland, which is cool to see now. So I'm really happy for him. Just his story, obviously. You know, I covered him when he first came into the league. So a guy that I've been enjoying following. Good to catch up with whenever I see him. So. Yeah. Yeah. I do think that he's Keyshawn, by the way. Keyshawn George. [01:11:18] Speaker B: Yo. Come on, man. [01:11:19] Speaker A: Shout out to keyshot. Yeah. [01:11:20] Speaker B: Yo, pod bump. You know what I mean? [01:11:22] Speaker A: Yeah. First podcast. [01:11:23] Speaker B: Hey, listen, one. One thing I really got my respect from Keisha was when he came to Toronto and he played, he was lucky. He was giving RJ bear problems. [01:11:29] Speaker A: Yeah. [01:11:30] Speaker B: I was like, wow. Like, he was. Because RJ's physical. RJ, like, knows how to, like, get under. You draw thousands of that. Keyshawn did a great job. I think, like, five blocks or something like that. So eye opening for me. [01:11:43] Speaker A: Yeah. A name that I'll watch for, especially maybe the summer, suiting up for Canada on the FIBA America Cup. So, yeah, those are our lists. Top seven honorable mentions. Let me know what you guys think, though. Who got it right? Who got it wrong? Don't hate me. I'm just a Shane Sharp, is it? Apologist? Is that what they call it on Twitter? [01:12:04] Speaker B: That's not even apologize for, man. [01:12:06] Speaker A: That guy got buckets in buckets. [01:12:08] Speaker B: So he might be the third best bucket getter in all Canada right now. So. [01:12:11] Speaker A: So I'm banking on the potential. So, yeah, those are our lists. Let us know what you guys think. But this has been another episode of the Canadian Basketball Show. Follow us on all social medias, on Twitter, at the CBS pod, on Instagram, at the Canadian Basketball Show. My guy, will. I feel like everyone knows where they. [01:12:28] Speaker B: Can find you, but yeah, yeah, man, listen, I'm. Hello and welcome. Podcast for all your things. Raptors related, NBA related drafts coming up. You know, we might have to call you, dial you in, get your. Get your thoughts. Cause I know you've been. I mean, listen, you got to give you your respect, man. Like, the way that you put in your own time and effort, your own money, honestly, into some of this stuff to go all around the globe to, like, watch these players tell these stories of Canadian basketball players. Like, I got nothing but love and respect for you, man. You know, I think this was like three or four years ago now that I, you know, we were like, yo, we got to get Lee Van. Who is this guy? Let's get him on the show. Shouts to friend of the program, Evie Kwong, who was a mutual friend, and he was like, we gotta get leaving on the show. We got you on the show and not seeing you rise, honestly, like, this is exactly the voice and the platform that especially Canadian basketball fans have needed, man. The coverage of you guys that you guys did out of Portland was beautiful, man. Hearing you interview these people, too, you know, I mean, I feel like you got that natural, like, Charisma to, like, got a little riz on camera, you know, making people comfortable, making. Making a little chicken parm jokes. You know what I mean? That's two. I'm like, oh, man, you gotta do this for Keyshawn George. We're gonna do it again in Portland was crazy. So I respect that, man. And I think that this is exactly the type of young voice, the type of storytelling this game needs. So I'm gonna put you on the spot, man. You guys, if you're not tapping into this show, I don't know what you're doing. You're not a real basketball fan of Canada if you're not listening to the Canadian basketball show. [01:13:54] Speaker A: My Guy. My Guy. Appreciate you so much. You can be at the combine, right? [01:13:57] Speaker B: Hey, man, I'll be at the combine. [01:13:58] Speaker A: Okay. [01:13:59] Speaker B: You're gonna be my vet at the combine because you already been to the combine. [01:14:02] Speaker A: No, I haven't been to the combine. This is my first time. [01:14:03] Speaker B: Oh, really? Okay. All right. [01:14:04] Speaker A: So I'm excited. [01:14:05] Speaker B: I'm. [01:14:05] Speaker A: There's gonna be. I think a few Canadian guys there. Ryan Nemhard might be there for. And a few others. Xavier Lee might be there. [01:14:11] Speaker B: We'll see. [01:14:12] Speaker A: Yes. And yeah, just committed to Florida, so shout out to Xavian Will Riley, obviously the top guy. So, yeah, excited. We. I'm take you out to some good par, man, if we got some time. [01:14:22] Speaker B: Oh, my goodness. [01:14:23] Speaker A: RPM Italian in Chicago, man. [01:14:25] Speaker B: You go to Chicago and we be eating chicken pork. [01:14:29] Speaker A: My mind, I booked a hotel, and I didn't realize how close it was for my favorite spot. [01:14:33] Speaker B: Olive Garden. No, yo, we were in Vegas. This guy's like, yo, I can't wait to go eat an Olive Garden or Weiss felt. I was like, please. [01:14:43] Speaker A: And I did. And it was a great. It was a great experience. But you. [01:14:46] Speaker B: Unlimited breadsticks. [01:14:47] Speaker A: Yeah, but, yeah, man. Next time you guys will see us. Both of us will be at the Combine. So excited for coverage on that. Excited for. For what you're going to be doing there, too, following the top guys the Raptors should look at. So, yeah, tap in with Will. Tap in with the show, but appreciate y'all for listening. This has been the Canadian basketball Show. I'm your host, Lee Ben Os.