Brown Men Won't Jump - NBA Basketball Podcast

Erik and A.C. react to the wild start to the NBA's free agency period. What will happen to Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in the wake of Durant's trade request? What on Earth were the Minnesota Timberwolves thinking to give up the farm for Rudy Gobert? Did A.C.'s Knicks make a $104 million mistake in signing Jalen Brunson? What should be made of the many star players who signed extensions? And what can Malcolm Brogdon and Danilo Gallinari bring to the Boston Celtics? 00:42 - Kevin Durant requests to be traded 11:30 - Kyrie Irving situation and the Los Angeles Lakers pursuit of him 24:09 - Minnesota Timberwolves go all in for Rudy Gobert 44:09 - Knicks get Jalen Brunson (and probably tamper too) 47:24 - Several star players sign massive extensions 53:06 - Boston Celtics acquire Malcolm Brogdon and Danilo Gallinari 58:13 - Which teams have had the best and worst offseasons so far? https://brownmenwontjump.com Edited by: Aswi

Erik and Anu are joined by Curry fan Gokul to recap the NBA Finals and what it means for Stephen Curry's legacy. 1:53 - Overall thoughts of the series. 6:37 - What went wrong for the Celtics? 21:05 - Any bright spots for the Celtics moving forward? 27:04 - What went right for the Warriors? 42:32 - Stephen Curry's Legacy https://brownmenwontjump.com Edited by: Aswi

A.C. is joined by Boston Celtics superfan Vivek to discuss the Golden State Warriors taking a 3-2 series lead over the Celtics in the NBA Finals. They cover Jayson Tatum's struggles, Andrew Wiggins' emergence, Steph Curry's unique brilliance, adjustments made by both teams, and much more. Plus they preview what to expect from the rest of the series. https://brownmenwontjump.com Edited by: Aswi

AC and Rahul breakdown the Xs and Os of Warriors-Celtics Finals series. Then they discuss the impact this series could have on the legacies of those involved. Finally, Rahul shares his betting wisdom as he reads the odds for this series. 1:32 - Reacting to the End of Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals 13:04 - The Western Conference Finals 14:50 - General Thoughts About the Finals 16:05 - Warriors Offense Versus Celtics Defense 26:49 - Celtics Offense Versus Warriors Defense 34:42 - How Will Legacies Be Changed By the Outcome? 52:02 - Betting Odds 1:03:35 - Finals Predictions https://brownmenwontjump.com Edited by: Aswi

A.C. is joined by returning guest - and Boston Celtics fan - Vivek to reflect on a pair of game 7s in which the Boston Celtics prevailed against the Milwaukee Bucks, while the Dallas Mavericks stunned the Phoenix Suns. 0:46 - Boston Celtics defeat Milwaukee Bucks. How did the Celtics win game 7? Are the Celtics the best defensive team in decades? Do the Celtics have a weakness that could be exposed from here on out? Did the Bucks' front office fail Giannis? 39:16 - Dallas Mavericks stun Phoenix Suns. What on earth happened to a once dominant Suns team? Are the Suns relying on the wrong types of shots? What does this series tell us about Chris Paul and Devin Booker? How great is Luka Doncic? Is the Mavs defense for real? 1:13:33 - Conference Finals Preview and Predictions. https://brownmenwontjump.com Edited by: Aswi

AC and Anu dive into three of the second round series in these exciting playoffs. Are Aswi's Sixers doomed without Embiid? Will the Splash Brothers be able to hold back the rising tide of the young Grizzlies? Can the statistically best team in the NBA be stopped single-handedly by one of the greatest players in NBA history? 1:12 - Philadelphia 76ers vs. Miami Heat 13:47 - Memphis Grizzlies vs. Golden State Warriors 35:48 - Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks https://brownmenwontjump.com Edited by: Aswi

Aswi and Anu are joined by our resident Jazz fan, Abhi to discuss Ja Morant's Ja Breaker dunk. Was it an all-time great playoff dunk? How does Abhi feel about the utter collapse of his Jazz at the hands of a mostly Luka-less Mavs team? Will Aswi or Anu come out on top as the 76ers try avoiding blowing a 3-0 lead to the Raptors? 1:30 - Ja Morant 4:29 - Desmond Bane 6:29 - The Utah Jazz 7:22 - Utah's defensive struggles 10:30 - Donovan Mitchell 14:29 - Rudy Gobert 18:54 - Sixers vs. Raptors 23:15 - Joel Embiid 28:53 - James Harden 33:21 - Pascal Siakam 34:57 - Tobias Harris 36:12 - Scottie Barnes 38:18 - Predictions for both series https://brownmenwontjump.com Edited by: Aswi

Erik and A.C. discuss the most shocking series of the NBA playoffs: the Boston Celtics sweeping the Brooklyn Nets. What on earth happened to Kevin Durant? How great is Jayson Tatum? And is Kyrie Irving the least self-aware player in the league? The boys also hold no punches in critiquing the flagrant unprofessionalism of Ben Simmons. Plus, the boys cover the intriguing series between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Memphis Grizzlies. What's to be made of the erratic play of Karl-Anthony Towns? How have the Wolves kept Ja Morant in check? And can the Wolves really pull off the upset as a seven seed? Boston Celtics vs. Brooklyn Nets 2:07 - Kevin Durant 19:01 - Jayson Tatum 23:26 - Boston's defense and outlook going forward 27:48 - Kyrie Irving 30:55 - Ben Simmons Memphis Grizzlies vs. Minnesota Timberwolves 37:36 - Karl-Anthony Towns 49:46 - Wolves' top-end talent vs. Grizzlies' superior depth 52:43 - Ja Morant 55:32 - Predictions for the rest of the series https://brownmenwontjump.com Edited by: Aswi

A.C. is joined by lifelong friend and Boston Celtics fan Vivek to discuss the exhilarating game 1 between the Boston Celtics and the Brooklyn Nets. They react to the final plays of the game, debate Kyrie Irving's antics, and marvel at the greatness of Jayson Tatum. The boys also look ahead to the rest of what's shaping up to be a truly memorable series between two heavyweights. 3:47 - Initial reactions to Game 1 7:12 - Kyrie Irving 15:34 - Jayson Tatum 22:23 - Al Horford 24:14 - Jaylen Brown 30:23 - Andre Drummond 32:40 - Ben Simmons 36:42 - Kevin Durant 38:38 - Predictions for the remainder of the series 42:48 - How far can the Celtics go? https://brownmenwontjump.com Edited by: Aswi

A.C. is joined by degenerate gambler extraordinaire Rahul to discuss betting on this year's NBA playoffs. Where do the value bets lie in each first round series? Which teams are worth betting on to make the Finals? And Rahul shares some fun prop bets to look out for. 1:32 - Phoenix Suns vs. New Orleans Pelicans 4:27 - Memphis Grizzlies vs. Minnesota Timberwolves 13:45 - Golden State Warriors vs. Denver Nuggets 19:32 - Dallas Mavericks vs. Utah Jazz 26:18 - Miami Heat vs. Atlanta Hawks 31:15 - Boston Celtics vs. Brooklyn Nets 39:57 - Milwaukee Bucks vs. Chicago Bulls 41:53 - Philadelphia 76ers vs. Toronto Raptors 47:47 - Finals odds for Eastern Conference playoff teams 57:30 - Finals odds for Western Conference playoff teams 1:03:39 - Prop bets https://brownmenwontjump.com Edited by: Aswi

With a heated neck-and-neck scoring title race between Embiid, LeBron, and Giannis, the season finale of the race is sure to be epic! Erik and Aswi talk shop about their guys going at it and what it would mean for the legacies of each of three guys to win it. Though the Lakers may missed out on the play-in this year, 8 teams are gunning for the last two playoff spots in their respective conferences. Who has the best shot and being one-and-done and who has the best shot of clinching their spot? 1:45 - The Scoring Title Race. Erik and Aswi discuss the state of the race and what it would mean for the legacies of the players in it. 22:41 - The Play-in Tournament. Erik and Aswi chat about their picks to come out of the play-in tournament and what they expect from the teams competing in it. https://brownmenwontjump.com Edited by: Aswi

In the wake of Will Smith's infamous slap of Chris Rock at the Oscars, Anu and A.C. couldn't help but think of times where NBA players lost their cool and took a cheap shot at someone else. From slaps to sucker-punches to clotheslines, the boys rank the top ten "Will Smith slap" moments in NBA history. https://brownmenwontjump.com Edited by: Aswi

As the playoffs are only a few weeks away, Erik, Aswi, and A.C. discuss the contenders in the loaded Eastern Conference. 3:13 - Boston Celtics. How has Jayson Tatum improved? Can the Celtics' elite defense carry their mediocre offense? Do they have the top-end firepower to compete with the other contenders? 15:03 - Philadelphia 76ers. How concerning are the 76ers clutch stats? Will their overreliance on free throws be their undoing? Can they survive on defense in the playoffs? 28:31 - Miami Heat. How concerning is Jimmy Butler's shooting slump? Is this year's Heat squad better than the bubble team that went to the Finals? Can Victor Oladipo help them? 39:10 - Brooklyn Nets. Are the Nets asking too much of Kevin Durant? How realistic is it for the Nets to go from the play-in tournament to the NBA Finals? Plus A.C. has a hot take on Kyrie Irving you don't want to miss. 52:01 - Milwaukee Bucks. Is this year's Bucks team as good as the squad that won the championship last season? Is there reason to worry about the Bucks' defensive statistics this year? How has Bud evolved as a coach? 58:07 - Which team wins the Eastern Conference playoffs? https://brownmenwontjump.com Edited by: Aswi

Erik, Anu, Aswi, and A.C. discuss this disastrous Los Angeles Lakers season and debate who's the most at fault between Russell Westbrook, the front office, Frank Vogel, and LeBron James. The gang holds no punches as they cover everything from Russell Westbrook's inflexibility to LeBron James refusing to exert energy on defense. Plus Erik - LeBron's most loyal "stan" - has an epic rant criticizing LeBron that you don't want to miss. 2:08 - Russell Westbrook 32:33 - Lakers' front office and the failures of last offseason 44:32 - Frank Vogel 55:07 - LeBron James https://brownmenwontjump.com Edited by: Aswi

Anu, Aswi, and A.C. discuss how frighteningly good Aswi's 76ers look so far with James Harden. How have they been so unstoppable? And do they have weaknesses that the right team can exploit in the playoffs? Plus, the gang covers the surging Boston Celtics and how they managed to turn around their season. 1:08 - Early impressions on how the Philadelphia 76ers look after trading for James Harden 10:28 - Joel Embiid 19:11 - James Harden 32:48 - Can the 76ers defense hold up in the playoffs? And who should play more between Danny Green and Matisse Thybulle? 40:31 - How have the Boston Celtics turned around their season? 44:06 - Jayson Tatum 49:01 - Jaylen Brown https://brownmenwontjump.com Edited by: Aswi

Your favorite history nerds Erik and Aswi are back to celebrate President's Day in the only way they know how: comparing U.S. Presidential history with NBA history. To change it up, this year the boys are comparing NBA sidekicks with Vice Presidents. From the first to the worst, Aswi and Erik nitpick their favorite Robins helping their respective Batmans from elite to mediocre. 2:11 - Introducing the topic 3:19 - John Stockton/Al Gore 12:00 - Scottie Pippen/John Adams 18:42 - Scottie Pippen/Henry Wallace 22:41 - Anthony Davis/Joe Biden 27:05 - Kobe Bryant/Harry Truman/Dick Cheney 37:00 - Nick Young/Dan Quayle 41:20 - Stephon Marbury/Millard Fillmore 49:47 - Ben Simmons/Hannibal Hamlin 53:13 - Mo Williams/Aaron Burr 57:20 - Michael Jordan/Teddy Roosevelt 59:38 - Fun Fact: James Buchanan 1:03:01 - Russell Westbrook/George H.W. Bush https://brownmenwontjump.com Edited by: Aswi

Erik, Aswi, and A.C. discuss all the big moves made before this season's trade deadline. Aswi basks in the glory of his Philadelphia 76ers finally acquiring James Harden in a package centered around Ben Simmons. And the boys offer their takes on everything from the Dallas Mavericks trading away Kristaps Porzingis to the Sacramento Kings acquiring Domantas Sabonis. Plus, which team stealthily won the trade deadline without making any big headlines? 1:08 - Brooklyn Nets trade James Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers for Ben Simmons 25:19 - Dallas Mavericks trade Kristaps Porzingis to the Washington Wizards for Spencer Dinwiddie and Davis Bertans 37:22 - Sacramento Kings trade Tyrese Haliburton to the Indiana Pacers for Domantas Sabonis 47:42 - Multi-team trade between the Detroit Pistons, the Los Angeles Clippers, the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Sacramento Kings 56:11 - Boston Celtics trade Josh Richardson to the San Antonio Spurs for Derrick White 1:05:03 - Stealth winner of the trade deadline https://brownmenwontjump.com Edited by: Aswi

Erik, Aswi, and A.C. discuss the latest rumors regarding the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers exploring the idea of trading James Harden for Ben Simmons. They also cover two of the big trades completed over the weekend: the Los Angeles Clippers acquiring Norman Powell and Robert Covington from the Portland Trail Blazers, and the Cleveland Cavaliers acquiring Caris Levert from the Indiana Pacers for draft compensation. 1:54 - Possible trade of James Harden for Ben Simmons. How would this potential trade help each team? Is there really any need to do this trade now instead of waiting for the summer? How much should the 76ers be willing to give up to make this happen before the trade deadline? Is Harden even the same dominant player he once was? 21:08 - Trade between the Clippers and Blazers. How does this trade improve the Clippers? What can we learn from the Clippers about team-building as a tax-paying team? What does this trade signal about the Blazers' intentions going forward? 35:10 - Trade between the Cavs and Pacers. How can Caris Levert impact this feisty and competitive Cavs team? What should be made of what the Pacers got in return? If there is to be a firesale in Indiana, which of their players would be most in demand? https://brownmenwontjump.com Edited by: Aswi

Erik, Anu, and Aswi discuss the starters selected for this season's All Star game and make their picks for who they think deserve to be named as All Stars in each conference. 1:52 - Reactions to the starters selected for the All Star game 18:17 - Eastern Conference reserves 38:52 - Western Conference reserves 53:31 - Other thoughts on this year's All Star game https://brownmenwontjump.com Edited by: Aswi

Inspired by Grayson Allen's MMA takedown of Alex Caruso, the boys share stories about some of the dirtiest players in NBA history. They cover everyone from Draymond Green to Bill Laimbeer plus plenty of under the radar candidates. 1:55 - Grayson Allen. What should be made of Grayson Allen's takedown of Alex Caruso? Did the Milwaukee Bucks cross the line with their tweet and defense of Grayson? And was the NBA too lenient to Grayson? 11:51 - Draymond Green 15:36 - Bill Laimbeer 18:24 - Rick Mahorn 21:09 - Dennis Rodman 24:38 - Bruce Bowen 27:41 - Chris Paul 29:25 - Karl Malone 31:25 - Dikembe Mutombo 35:28 - Serge Ibaka 36:52 - Marcus and Markieff Morris https://brownmenwontjump.com Edited by: Aswi

Erik, Aswi, and A.C. discuss why the dominant big man has had a resurgence in the NBA. And Aswi and Erik engage in a debate on two fronts. First, they cover who's better between Aswi's guy (Joel Embiid) and Erik's guy (Nikola Jokic). Then they get a little personal on a non-basketball topic as Aswi comes to term with his Green Bay Packers losing to Erik's San Francisco 49ers in a heartbreaking loss for the ages. Expect plenty of trash talk! 2:10 - Why did dominant big men disappear in the NBA over the last few decades? 7:38 - What has led to the recent resurgence of dominant big men around the league? 13:00 - Nikola Jokic 26:11 - Joel Embiid 31:53 - Who is better between Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid? 49:06 - BONUS - Aswi's Green Bay Packers lose to Erik's San Francisco 49ers https://brownmenwontjump.com Edited by: Aswi

Erik, Aswi, and A.C. discuss the impact of major injuries on four preseason contenders. How will the Nets fare in the wake of Kevin Durant's MCL injury? What happens to the Clippers if Paul George gets season-ending elbow surgery? On the other hand, how will the returns of Anthony Davis and Bam Adebayo help the Lakers and Heat respectively? Finally, the boys discuss the biggest story in the NBA: the reports that Frank Vogel is "coaching for his job." 1:37 - Brooklyn Nets. Kevin Durant is out for 4-6 weeks. Can the Nets stay competitive in the standings without him? Is there a move to be made to help them? 13:57 - Los Angeles Clippers. Paul George is out indefinitely and may require season-ending surgery. Should this impact what the Clippers decide to do with Kawhi Leonard, who is reportedly ahead of schedule? And can the Clippers stay in the playoff hunt? 23:01 - Los Angeles Lakers. Anthony Davis is cleared for contact and will return in 1-2 weeks, but Kendrick Nunn had a setback. How will these injuries affect the Lakers. And is it fair that Frank Vogel is coaching for his job? Will he actually be fired? 38:59 - Miami Heat. Bam Adebayo has finally made his return and Jimmy Butler looks healthy. Can the Heat make a standings run in a suddenly injury-riddled Eastern Conference? Are they a real threat in the playoffs? https://brownmenwontjump.com Edited by: Aswi

Erik, Aswi, and A.C. react to the entertaining game between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Golden State Warriors. The boys discuss just how great Ja Morant has become and dive into everything that has made the Memphis Grizzlies special this season. Plus they cover the impressive and long-awaited return of Klay Thompson and what it means for the Golden State Warriors this season. 1:22 - Reactions to the Memphis Grizzlies beating the Golden State Warriors 9:50 - How good are the Grizzlies and do they have a shot at making a run this postseason? 19:23 - Is Ja Morant already a superstar? What do the advanced metrics tell us about his game? 35:43 - Jaren Jackson, Jr. 43:35 - Desmond Bane 46:16 - Steven Adams, Dillon Brooks, and rest of the Grizzlies supporting cast 49:29 - What does the return of Klay Thompson mean for the Golden State Warriors? How has he looked so far? https://brownmenwontjump.com Edited by: Aswi

Erik and Anu debate who should win the Rookie of the Year race based on how the first half of the season has gone. 2:15 - What have Scottie Barnes of the Toronto Raptors and Evan Mobley of the Cleveland Cavaliers shown on the defensive end? 8:05 - What have Scottie Barnes and Evan Mobley shown on the offensive end? 14:13 - Erik and Anu each explain why his pick should win Rookie of the Year and the other's pick should lose. 19:56 - Do the other candidates for Rookie of the Year (Franz Wagner, Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green, Josh Giddey, etc.) have a shot at winning? And just how good has this rookie class been so far? https://brownmenwontjump.com Edited by: Aswi

A.C. is joined by avid gambler and returning guest Rahul to discuss all aspects of betting on this NBA season. They cover which teams have done the best (and worst) against the spread, advice for recreational betters, the value of betting against home favorites, how teams are doing versus their projected over/unders for win totals, betting on division champions, odds for conference champions, MVP odds, line shopping, and much more. 1:16 - Impact of Covid-19 on betting this season 4:16 - Best teams to bet on against the spread so far this season 11:18 - Worst teams to bet on against the spread so far this season 14:08 - Betting against home favorites 16:00 - Over/under win totals 31:00 - Division champion odds 43:45 - Eastern conference champion odds 50:16 - Western conference champion odds 57:10 - MVP odds https://brownmenwontjump.com Edited by: Aswi

To celebrate the start of 2022 and all we have to look forward to as fans of the NBA, Erik poses eight off-the-cuff questions that need answering. Erik and A.C. put their Nostradamus hats on and try to figure out everything from where Ben Simmons will be traded to who will win the MVP this season. 1:36 - Will Ben Simmons be traded by the trade deadline? And if so, where will he be headed? 10:25 - Which Laker is most likely to get his LeViction notice in 2022? 21:00 - Which coach will be fired first in the new year? 25:25 - Which team will climb out of the morass of teams floundering in the middle of the Western Conference? 32:55 - Who will wind up as the Rookie of the Year? 37:46 - Who is going to become this season's Most Valuable Player? 44:07 - Will the disappointing Atlanta Hawks make the playoffs? If so, can they get out of the play-in tournament? 51:04 - How many more times before the postseason will a fellow NBA player blatantly call Karl Anthony Towns a "pussy"? Happy New Year everyone and thanks for all your support in 2021! https://brownmenwontjump.com Edited by: Aswi

Our resident Jazz fan, Abhi, returns to chat about his red hot Utah Jazz! The gang recaps the Christmas Day games and gives their favorite moments of the day. Then the gang breaks down why this Jazz team is not the same as last year's 1 seed-Jazz. Has Donovan Mitchell taken the leap required to carry his team to the promised land? Is Gobert's limited offensive ability going to hold this team back? How have the additions of Whiteside and Gay impacted this team? What are the weaknesses of this Jazz team and are there any trades that could fix them? 1:30 - NBA Christmas Recap. The gang chats about their favorite moments from NBA Christmas 2021 and their thoughts on the games in general. 5:45 - The Utah Jazz. This season the Jazz have been on a tear. They have a beautiful, electric offense to go along with a good defense. The gang discusses why this Jazz team is different than last year's. 11:01 - Donovan Mitchell. Donovan Mitchell is having a career year, but will it be enough? The gang breaks down Mitchell's season thus far and what they have seen change in his game. 15:50 - Rudy Gobert. Has the Stifle Tower finally overcome his offensive limitations? The gang discusses the historic season the three-time Defensive Player of the Year is having. 21:04 - Hassan Whiteside. After a number of underwhelming seasons bouncing around the league has Whiteside finally found a home where his talents can shine? Is Whiteside the backup defensive big that the Jazz has desperately needed? 23:54 - Rudy Gay. At age 35, Rudy Gay's impact on this team cannot be understated. Abhi and the gang discuss Gay's role and how it solves some of the problems they faced last year. 30:00 - Weaknesses. Despite being a top team in the West, the Jazz has some glaring weaknesses that need to be addressed. 38:28 - Potential Trades. Abhi gives his wish-list of trade targets for his beloved team that he believes would complete them as legitimate title contenders. https://brownmenwontjump.com Edited by: Aswi

Beloved Canadian host Anushan rejoins the pod as the gang shares their Christmas wish lists for the NBA. Each host makes a wish for the team he roots for, for another team or the league as a whole, and for something he would change about the NBA. 3:19 - Wish for their own teams. Anu (Raptors), Erik (Lakers), Aswi (76ers), and A.C. (Knicks) discuss their wishes for the squads they root for. 32:38 - Wish for a player on another team or for the league as a whole. The gang discusses a variety of wishes from Covid-related issues to wishing proper recognition for a player that has quietly been dominant in his mid 30s. 55:55 - Wish for something that they would change about the NBA. The gang shares wishes ranging from rule changes they want implemented to changes to the way the league is covered by the media. https://brownmenwontjump.com Edited by: Aswi

In the 50th episode of the podcast, the gang marvels at Steph Curry setting the record for the most career three-pointers made. And then the gang dives into all the juicy storylines surrounding the disappointing Dallas Mavericks this season. 2:24 - Steph Curry. How absurd is it that Steph set this record in the middle of his prime? When Steph's career is finished, where will this record rank amongst the NBA's most unbreakable records? How has Steph's shooting fundamentally changed the sport of basketball? 17:57 - Dallas Mavericks. What should be made of the reports surrounding Rick Carlisle's tenuous relationship with Luka? How has Jason Kidd done so far? How responsible is Luka for this underwhelming season given that he showed up out of shape? https://brownmenwontjump.com Edited by: Aswi

Calling all sneakerheads! The time has finally come for us to chat about the NBA's robust impact on sneaker culture and fashion overall. This episode, Aswi is joined by the owner and founder of the Edura custom clothing brand, Hirey! Join us as we take a trip through the history of sneaker culture from the 70s to the present day. Then, HIrey pays homage to the custom kick designers who have influenced him and his brand. Of course, no conversation about kicks is complete without chatting about what our favorite kicks are! To round out the episode the boys list off their Top 3 Best and Top 3 Worst Dressed Ballers. 1:35 - Introducing the Incredibly Talented Hirey! Custom kick and clothing designer, Hirey, introduces himself and talks about his awesome brand, Edura. Find out how he got started and what led him to start a career in the custom game. 4:00 - The History of Sneaker Culture. From Converse jumping into the scene in the late 70s to Nike and Jordan in the 80s and 90s, to the early 2000s with Shaq, we discuss the different eras of kicks. What is it about basketball and sneakers that make them such a perfect pair? Other than Jordan what were some popular signature lines in the 90s? Did a young Aswi buy a pair of women's shoes at Marshalls or were they actually a pair of Iversons? 12:02 - Sneaker Culture Today. Where is sneaker culture now? Who is the undisputed Sneaker King in the NBA? What impact did the 2017 Nike deal have on kicks in the league? How has social media changed the landscape of kicks? 18:40 - Custom Kick Designers. Who are the folks making those viral custom kicks that players have been rocking on the court? Hirey talks about some of the custom kicks that his brand, Edura, have done for customers all over the country. 25:38 - Our Favorite Kicks. What kicks are Aswi's and Hirey's favorite to play basketball in? Are high-tops the only way to go or are mids and lows actually viable? What kicks do they wear when they just want to dress to impress? Enjoy as Aswi recalls a hilarious incident when Erik's need to dress to impress is dampened by the rain. 35:58 - Edura's Custom Clothing. It's all about the fit as Hirey talks about some of the custom clothing designs he's done. From jeans, to jackets, to backpacks, Edura has done some pretty crazy designs for popular YouTubers and TikTokers alike. 38:08 - Who are the Top 3 Best Dressed NBA Players? These days players' tunnel fits have become ingrained in the cultural zeitgeist of the NBA. Hear which players have consistently impressed with their style and swagger. 48:40 - Who are the Top 3 Worst Dressed NBA Players? Of course, if we are talking about the best dressed we HAVE to cover the worst dressed. Which players have a sense of style that is just...meme-worthy? Can a player be both among the best dressed AND the worst dressed?

Finally for the first time this season we chat about Aswi's beloved Philadelphia 76ers. To start the boys discuss the Ben Simmons issue and pitch potential trades that the Sixers could make to get rid of him. Hear what Aswi has to say about Maxey, Embiid, Tobias Harris, and the others. Despite all the trash talk, Aswi's Sixers rank 11th in the East. Is there a silver lining? 2:31 - Ben Simmons. What does the eternal Ben Simmons-apologist Aswi have to say about the current fiasco with his favorite Australian point guard? Is Ben justified in his approach or is he just shooting himself in the foot with it? 15:23 - Potential Ben Simmons Trades. What do the Sixers really need in return for Ben Simmons? Has the arrival of Maxey as a young star changed who Daryl Morey is targeting? Is Bradley Beal or CJ McCollum even worth trading for if Maxey develops? 20:30 - Tyrese Maxey. With Ben off the court this season, Tyrese Maxey has had an opportunity to shine. Is he the second coming of Allen Iverson for the Sixers? Is his meteoric rise to the spotlight finally cooled off or is he just getting started? How will the return of Embiid and Harris impact his game? 28:03 - Joel Embiid. In the game against the Celtics on Wednesday Embiid looked like a shell of himself. Have injury and Covid prevented Embiid from playing to this potential this season? Could the reason for his dip in productivity this season be due to the league's new rule changes? 30:55 - Tobias Harris. Is Tobias Harris just an empty-stat All Star? The boys discuss their thoughts on Tobias' performance in the playoffs last year and so far this season. Now that Ben is not on the court there is more space to operate. Will Tobias be able to use that extra space to let his midrange game flourish or will the effects of Covid hold him back? 34:26 - The Others. Aswi gives a quick shoutout to Seth Curry, Andre Drummond, and Danny Green. The question that remains is, who is the final member of the Sixers' starting lineup? 35:47 - The Silver Lining. With the Sixers ranking 11th in the East currently, why is Aswi still so optimistic about his team? How far will this current Sixers team go this season?

We talked about the most exciting teams last time so this time Aswi and Erik just HAD to follow it up with the teams they find most disappointing this season. The boys cover everything from the Sacramento Kings' recent firing of head coach Luke Walton to the turbulent reign of Westbrook in LA. Then, Aswi takes the kiddie gloves off and gives a fiery hot take about the Boston Celtics. 1:29 - Sacramento Kings. Will the firing of Luke Walton and elevation of Alvin Gentry to interim head coach make a difference? Who is the better player between De'Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton? Can they coexist? Who should the Kings keep between the two of them? Could Marvin Bagley succeed on another team or is he just too flawed of a player? 13:29 - Los Angeles Lakers. The boys chat about the current state of the Lakers and try finding a silver lining. Has the Westbrook experiment already failed? Will the eventual returns of Trevor Ariza and Kendrick Nunn help solve the Lakers' problems? Has the improvement of Talen Horton-Tucker made him the Lakers' only real trade asset? 27:56 - Boston Celtics. What is going on with Jayson Tatum? How has Ime Udoka's coaching tenure been so far? What is the ceiling of this Boston team if they do turn it around? Finally, Aswi gives his hot take on the current state of the Celtics. https://brownmenwontjump.com Edited by: Aswi

Erik and A.C. check in on what has been a very enjoyable season so far. They discuss how the rule changes from the offseason have made the NBA as watchable as it has been in years. And they discuss three of the most fun to watch teams this season: the Chicago Bulls, the Golden State Warriors, and the Washington Wizards. 1:51 - Rule Changes. How have the rule changes impacted the viewing experience of the NBA? Which players have been hurt the most by these new rules? How have the rule changes shifted the offensive and defensive strategy of NBA teams? 13:32 - Chicago Bulls. How have new additions Alex Caruso and Lonzo Ball allowed the Chicago Bulls to field an elite defense? What are the Bulls doing on offense to maximize their three offensive hubs in DeMar DeZozan, Zach Lavine, and Nicola Vucevic? 24:48 - Golden State Warriors. How have the Golden State Warriors been able to turn around Andrew Wiggins' career? Can Stephen Curry play even better? And is the Draymond Green of old back? 35:47 - Washington Wizards. The boys discuss the trio of former Lakers - Montrezl Harrell, Kyle Kuzma, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope - who are absolutely thriving on the Wizards. Can the Wizards surprisingly elite defense hold up? https://brownmenwontjump.com Edited by: Aswi

In today's episode, the BMWJ gang discuss the awesome NBA 75th Diamond Anniversary Team! How will the boys react to the voting process and the 26 new additions to the list? Is there a difference between "best" players ever and the "greatest" players ever? Who do they think does not belong in the top 75? Who were the biggest snubs from the list? Which players in the league now are guarantees for the centennial list? Enjoy as the boys answer all of these in the way only they can! 3:52 - The gang distinguishes between "best" and "greatest" players ever. 10:02 - Who are the 26 new players who were added to the list? 28:40 - What was the voting process to determine the list? 46:36 - Who did not make the BMWJ boys' 75 greatest players lists? 59:05 - Who were the biggest snubs from the list? 1:11:52 - Which current players are guaranteed locks for the centennial team?

Are the Bucks the favorites? Are the Lakers screwed? Erik and A.C. share their instant reactions (and overreactions) to the Bucks vs. Nets and Lakers vs. Warriors games. And then they gauge the panic meters and excitement levels for all four teams based on the sample size of one game played for each of those teams. Milwaukee Bucks vs. Brooklyn Nets 0:42 - Milwaukee Bucks 7:34 - Brooklyn Nets Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors 9:54 - Los Angeles Lakers 28:46 - Golden State Warriors 33:00 - How panicked or excited should fans of these four teams be based on that first game? https://brownmenwontjump.com Edited by: Aswi

Aswi, Erik, and A.C. discuss ten big questions that may define the upcoming season. 2:30 - What will Daryl Morey and the Philadelphia 76ers do about Ben Simmons? 8:48 - Will Damian Lillard ask to be traded from the Portland Trailblazers at some point this season? 16:21 - Will Jason Kidd be able to unlock Kristaps Porzingis for the Dallas Mavericks? 24:54 - How much center will Anthony Davis play for the Los Angeles Lakers? 32:54 - Will the Golden State Warriors get the Klay Thompson of old this season? 37:14 - Can the Los Angeles Clippers stay out of the play-in game without Kawhi Leonard for most or all of the regular season? 41:39 - What sort of impact will overcoming their playoff demons have on Giannis, Coach Bud, and the Milwaukee Bucks? 47:28 - Can Jayson Tatum take the next step towards becoming a true superstar? 53:19 - How good can the newly assembled Chicago Bulls squad be? 57:04 - Which rookie will have the biggest impact on his respective team? https://brownmenwontjump.com Edited by: Aswi

The boys share even more stories about the most infamous beefs in NBA History. In this episode, they focus on some of the more absurd beefs - from Kevin Garnett telling Carmelo Anthony that his wife "tastes like Honey Nut Cheerios" to Latrell Sprewell literally strangling his coach to Shaq's never-ending beef with Dwight Howard over the "Superman" nickname. 1:23 - Kevin Garnett vs. Carmelo Anthony 6:59 - Kevin Durant vs. Russell Westbrook 12:32 - Kevin Durant vs. Draymond Green 20:45 - Latrell Sprewell vs. P.J. Carlesimo 23:59 - Shaquille O'Neal vs. Dwight Howard 31:04 - Paul George vs. Damian Lillard 38:36 - Nick Young vs. DeAngelo Russell And if you like this episode, check out Parts 1 and 2 for more crazy (and true) stories about NBA beefs. https://brownmenwontjump.com

Erik, Aswi, and A.C. share more stories about some of the most infamous conflicts in NBA history. In this episode, they discuss legendary beefs with strange origins ranging from allegations regarding a player's sexuality to a geopolitical conflict a continent away. And in some instances, these beefs had unanticipated consequences that persist to this day. 1:03 - Matt Barnes vs. Derek Fisher 4:54 - Isiah Thomas vs. Adrian Dantley 9:58 - Isiah Thomas vs. Magic Johnson 15:25 - Isiah Thomas vs. Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen 21:51 - Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen vs. Jerry Kraus 29:47 - Drazen Petrovic vs. Vlade Divac 33:23 - Joel Embiid vs. Andre Drummond And be sure to check out Part 1 of this series on infamous NBA beefs if you haven't already! https://brownmenwontjump.com

From Kobe vs. Shaq to Chris Webber vs. Jalen Rose, NBA history is littered with infamous conflicts between players. And the origins of those beefs are often as interesting as the conflicts themselves. In the first of a multipart series, the boys shares stories about the most infamous beefs in NBA history. 2:05 - Kobe Bryant vs. Shaquille O'Neal 9:30 - Tony Parker vs. Brent Barry 14:17 - Jason Kidd vs. Jimmy Jackson 19:07 - Chris Webber vs. Jalen Rose 24:26 - Gilbert Arenas vs. Javaris Crittenton 30:53 - Scottie Pippen vs. Charles Barkley 35:45 - LeBron James vs. Paul Pierce https://brownmenwontjump.com

From his relationship with Adele to the lawsuit against his agency and the Ben Simmons situation, Rich Paul has been all over the news. Anu, Erik, and A.C. discuss all things Rich Paul and wonder if the empire he built is showing its first cracks. 3:14 - Rich Paul's “origin story” 7:16 - How did Klutch Sports become the most powerful and infamous agency in professional basketball? 12:16 - Is the reaction to Rich Paul by teams and other agents fair? And what should be made of the NCAA's “Rich Paul Rule”? 16:01 - Lawsuit against Rich Paul and Klutch Sports by Nerlens Noel 29:13 - Ben Simmons demanded to be traded out of Philadelphia but only wants to go to the “three” California teams. How much power does Rich Paul have to make that happen? 47:00 - What will happen to Rich Paul and Klutch Sports once LeBron James retires? https://brownmenwontjump.com

We are nearing the beginning of NBA preseason and the start of the NBA's 75th Anniversary year so naturally it was time for the gang to ask: who is the best player right now? Aswi and Erik give their top 3 players right now and argue the case for each one. And Aswi poses the question about whether or not Olympics performance should count towards a player's case. The guys also give honorable mentions to a few guys who are top 5 but not quite in that upper echelon. 0:57 - Our Current Top 3 Players. Who do Erik and Aswi think are in a class of their own? What sets these guys apart from the rest of the league? 3:35 - Giannis Antetokounmpo. Is the reigning Finals MVP the best player now after his utterly dominant Finals performance? 12:27 - Kevin Durant. Achilles injury be damned, Kevin Durant came back this year without losing a step. After a truly incredible second round playoff series against Giannis, has KD proven that his time on top has finally come? 19:54 - LeBron James. With Aswi and Erik being massive LeBron stans it was inevitable that they would include him in this list. Does the 37 year old King James still reign supreme or is he now the "Washed King"? https://brownmenwontjump.com

Now that the dust has settled on the league-shaking offseason trade in which the Los Angeles Lakers acquired Russell Westbrook, Erik and A.C. talk through every aspect of the trade and the Lakers other offseason moves including inexplicably letting Alex Caruso go for luxury tax savings. And Erik waxes poetic in a soliloquy about how Dennis Schroder's bet on himself backfired badly. 0:41 - Initial thoughts on hearing that the Lakers traded for Westbrook. 3:57 -Russell Westbrook. What does Westbrook bring to the Los Angeles Lakers? How does Westbrook fit with LeBron James? Can these two legendarily ball-dominant players work together on a court, particularly with Westbrook's lack of shooting? How can Westbrook help the Lakers when LeBron is not on the floor? And what can the sheer athleticism of Russell Westbrook do for a team that already employs LeBron and Anthony Davis? 18:18 - Identity Shift. The Lakers, who were the best defensive team in the NBA last season, have traded away much of that defense for offense. What does this shift in identity mean for the Lakers? Can a Frank Vogel team even be bad at defense? 22:13 - Kent Bazemore, Trevor Ariza, and Westbrook on Defense. What do Kent Bazemore and Trevor Ariza provide on defense? Can Westbrook be passable on defense? How can Frank Vogel scheme to take advantage of Westbrook's physical advantages and cover for some of his worst defensive tendencies? 26:20 - Defensive Sieves: Carmelo Anthony and Wayne Ellington. Erik and A.C. marvel at just how bad Melo and Ellington are at defense by virtually every advanced stat available. Will either of them get significant playing time? 34:06 - Lakers' Offensive Potential. The Lakers have added elite shooting around their new big three. How can the Lakers' take advantage of these shooters? 38:00 - Offseason Steals: Kendrick Nunn and Malik Monk. The boys discuss Rob Pelinka's double-heist of young players with upside when he got Nunn to take the mini mid-level exception and Monk to take the veteran's minimum. How will these players fit on a roster of veterans? 45:38 - Departures of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Kyle Kuzma. What will the Lakers miss with the departures of two of their core young players, both of whom played major roles in their championship? 51:57 - Lakers Get Cheap with Alex Caruso. Will the Lakers come to regret letting fan favorite Alex Caruso go for nothing in return in what appears to be purely a tax-saving move? Is it justifiable for a tax-paying team like the Lakers to care about avoiding avoiding luxury taxes in an all-in season like this upcoming one? 59:51 - Dennis Schroder's Bet Goes Bust. Erik covers how Schroder turned down a $84 million offer over four years from the Lakers only to wind up getting no offers better than a $5.9 million contract from the Boston Celtics. https://brownmenwontjump.com

As summer league is underway, the boys talk to Detroit Pistons fan Deesh about one of the summer league standouts: Cade Cunningham. Was Cunningham the right person to use the number one pick on? And the boys cover everything Pistons from the 2004 champion team, the legacy of the Bad Boys, drafting Darko, and the low point of following the Pistons over the last decade. 1:00 - Revisiting the Pistons picking Darko Milicic in the 2003 NBA Draft 4:06 - 2021 NBA Draft 12:03 - Cade Cunningham vs. Jalen Green vs. Evan Mobley 20:33 - Who was the best player on the 2004 championship team? 23:36 - What was the low point of the last decade as a Detroit Pistons fan? 25:52 - Legacy of the "Bad Boys" Pistons 30:51 - What should be made of Detroit's offseason? https://brownmenwontjump.com

The boys react to the Milwaukee Bucks winning a compelling and memorable NBA Finals. Aswi and Anu own up to being wrong about Giannis. And the boys discuss the performance of Giannis, where Giannis ranks all time, what the Bucks winning means for the NBA, and much more from the 2021 NBA Finals. 0:40 - Aswi and Anu come to terms with the egg on their faces after their strong takes on Giannis during previous podcasts. 7:14 - How great was Giannis? How has he grown as a player? The boys also discuss James Harden's comments about the Greek Freak having "no skill at all." 16:08 - Where does Giannis rank amongst the greatest NBA players ever after this playoff run? Just how high up those rankings could he climb? 26:31 - What does the Milwaukee Bucks winning the title mean for the NBA? Is the era of unchecked smallball over? Is the big man back? 39:02 - What did this NBA Finals tell us about Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton? 43:41 - Were Devin Booker and Chris Paul good enough in the NBA Finals? 48:14 - Giannis got 50 nuggets from Chick-Fil-A to celebrate his championship. What would the boys eat to celebrate winning a title? https://brownmenwontjump.com

Erik and A.C. share their awe at the dominant play of Giannis Antetokounmpo in what's been a captivating NBA Finals between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Phoenix Suns. 0:46 - Giannis. Just how good has he been from a historical perspective? Has his playoff run this year been underrated? Does Giannis actually have more to gain from winning this year than Chris Paul does? 7:02 - Bucks Adjustments through the Series. Is the criticism of Coach Bud fair? How have the Bucks adapted their defensive gameplan over the course of this series to adjust to the Suns? What does putting Giannis at the five do for the Bucks? 14:57 - Lack of Depth. Both the Suns and the Bucks are hurting from key injuries. How has the lack of depth affected the NBA Finals? 17:23 - Devin Booker. Throughout the playoffs, the boys on the podcast have been rightfully singing Devin Booker's praises. But Erik and A.C. wonder if the praise has gone a little too far. Is he really a superstar or even a consensus top 10 player? 23:17 - Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday. How much can we reasonably trust the Bucks supporting stars on the offensive end? 26:51 - Predictions for the Series. Erik and A.C. share their predictions about how the rest of the NBA Finals will play out. https://brownmenwontjump.com

Anu, Abhi, and A.C. preview the NBA Finals between the Phoenix Suns and the Milwaukee Bucks. What are the key matchups? Who are the players to watch? How will winning or losing the Finals affect the legacies of iconic players like Chris Paul and Giannis Antetokounmpo? 0:54 - Will this year's champion be remembered as an "asterisk" champion? And the boys discuss the painful histories of the franchises in this year's NBA Finals. 10:07 - Chris Paul 14:14 - Devin Booker 17:04 - Deandre Ayton 23:00 - Suns role players to watch in the Finals 25:28 - Giannis Antetokounmpo 30:22 - Khris Middleton 33:42 - Jrue Holiday 35:47 - Bucks role players to watch in the Finals 38:33 - How does the Suns' offense match up against the Bucks' defense? 44:49 - How does the Bucks' offense match up against the Suns' defense? 56:35 - How will a win or a loss in the NBA Finals affect the legacies of Chris Paul and Giannis Antetokounmpo respectively? https://brownmenwontjump.com

Sixers fan Aswi and Jazz fan Abhi share their misery after watching their teams undergo series losses that won't soon be forgotten. The gang covers every angle of these collapses including the play of Simmons and Gobert, coaching mistakes, flawed roster construction, and how these teams should address these concerns going forward. The boys also discuss how the Bucks overcame their own playoff demons and came back to beat the Nets. And is Kevin Durant now officially the best player in the world? 1:45 - Reactions to the Philadelphia 76ers losing to the Atlanta Hawks in seven games. 26:04 - Reactions to the Utah Jazz losing to the Los Angeles Clippers (without Kawhi Leonard) in six games. 48:49 - Reactions to the Milwaukee Bucks coming back from a 3-2 deficit against the Brooklyn Nets and winning game seven on the road. 1:04:34 - Is Kevin Durant the best basketball player in the world right now? https://brownmenwontjump.com

The gang covers the incredible performances by young stars in the first round of the Playoffs. Then, the gang discusses the back-and-forth series between the Atlanta Hawks and Aswi's Sixers. The gang also breaks down the Nets-Bucks series and analyzes what changes the Bucks need to make to turn the series around. Plus the gang makes their picks for the two series. 0:40 - The Changing of the Guard. With incredible first-round performances by Luka Doncic, Trae Young, Donovan Mitchell, and Devin Booker have proven that they are ready to carry the league into the future. 6:43 - The Sixers Even the Series 1-1 but the Hawks Won't Go Down Without a Fight. The Hawks are making the Sixers work. Can Trae Young and this young Hawks team pull off the upset and knock out the #1 seed in the East? 26:00 - The Dominant Nets Are on a Mission to Make the Bucks Stop Here. the Nets are having their way with the Bucks. Will the Milwaukee Bucks be able to turn this series around or is this Nets team too much for anyone to handle? 50:39 - The Gang Predicts the Outcomes of Both Eastern Conference Series. https://brownmenwontjump.com

The gang is joined by returning guest and Utah Jazz superfan Abhinav to discuss the Phoenix Suns' stunning upset of LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. And the gang covers Luka Doncic carrying the Mavs against a loaded Los Angeles Clippers squad. Plus the gang wonders if this is the end of LeBron's decade-long run as the best basketball player in the world and if there is an obvious successor to his throne. 1:36 - Phoenix Suns Defeat the Los Angeles Lakers. What caused the Lakers collapse? What roster and coaching mistakes did the Lakers make? What should be made of LeBron's play? Which players impressed for the Suns? What strategic moves did Monty Williams make to win the series? How far can the Suns go this postseason? 36:24 - Dallas Mavericks vs. Los Angeles Clippers. How is Luka Doncic destroying the Los Angeles Clippers? Do the Clippers have a chance of coming back in this series? What can the Clippers do to tactically to change the series? 53:34 - Is LeBron's long run as the best player in the NBA over? And if so, who is the best player right now? https://brownmenwontjump.com

The gang reacts to game three of the Lakers-Suns series. And then marvels at how the Clippers find themselves a few losses away from yet another postseason flameout. Plus, the gang discusses the jubilation of Knicks fans and what to make of the Knicks-Hawks series. 00:34 - Los Angeles Lakers vs. Phoenix Suns. Is LeBron capable of playing at the level he needs to for the Lakers to repeat? How are Andre Drummond and Marc Gasol playing in this series? What are the Lakers doing schematically to slow down the high-powered Phoenix offense? Is Chris Paul saving himself for later in the series? How should Phoenix guard Anthony Davis? 25:25 - Los Angeles Clippers vs. Dallas Mavericks. What has led to the Clippers being on the verge of yet another playoff collapse? What can the Clippers adjust to better stop the Dallas Mavericks' offense? How special has Luka Doncic been? Who will win this series and in how many games? And Aswi has a pitch for Kawhi Leonard. 44:56 - New York Knicks vs. Atlanta Hawks. Are the Knicks fans going too far in celebrating just one playoff win? AC explains what the Knicks winning means to the city of New York and why desirable free agents will finally start joining the franchise. How great has Trae Young been? What have the Hawks done to slow down Julius Randle? Plus what has Derrick Rose done to carry the floundering Knicks offense? And who will win the series? https://brownmenwontjump.com

The gang reacts to Game 1s in some of the most intriguing first round series in the NBA Playoffs including Lakers vs. Suns, 76ers vs. Wizards, Knicks vs. Hawks, and Clippers vs. Mavs. Erik (Lakers), Aswi (Sixers), and A.C. (Knicks) discuss how well their respective teams opened their postseason runs. And the gang discusses whether the Los Angeles Clippers are in trouble against the Dallas Mavericks. 0:41 - The gang geeks out over how nice it is to have playoff basketball back again. 3:06 - Los Angeles Lakers vs. Phoenix Suns 21:00 - Philadelphia 76ers vs. Washington Wizards 42:42 - New York Knicks vs. Atlanta Hawks 51:12 - Los Angeles Clippers vs. Dallas Mavericks https://brownmenwontjump.com