The Mike Wise Show

Episode #140 of the Mike Wise Show is the final presentation of this podcast that began almost three years ago. We revisit some of our favorite guests (Jamal Crawford, David Stern. Jeanie Buss, Marc Lasry, & Mark Cuban) and reflect on the journey of creating 140 different shows. Mike is joined by his producer and sidekick Bruce Bernstein as they discuss what made all of these guests so special and share some final thoughts as the Mike Wise Show calls it "a wrap" ... for now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Greg Anthony of Turner Sports is one of the top NBA analysts in the media. Greg won an NCAA Championship at UNLV in 1990 and played 11 seasons in the NBA. He also has a son playing in the league: Cole Anthony of the Orlando Magic, currently in his 2nd NBA season. Greg and Mike examine his relationship with Cole, Cole's mindset, and other great topics like LeBron James' battle with "Father Time" and the Lakers chances of winning another title. Perhaps the most compelling conversation surrounds Kyrie Irving and his banishment from the team because he is not vaccinated against COVID-19. Greg's take is one you may not have heard before, but it is incredibly thoughtful. Greg also explains the greatest challenge our society faces right now and it has nothing to do with sports.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Matt Steinmetz of 95.7 "The Game" in San Francisco has been covering the Golden State Warriors for 25 years. He's been there for the lean years and the championship seasons and has more institutional knowledge of the franchise than anyone. This week he joins the Mike Wise Show to discuss the Warriors hot start, their franchise culture, the key to winning another NBA Championship, and their indispensable superstar Stephen Curry. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on the Mike Wise Show, Mike and producer Bruce Bernstein are required to discuss the Aaron Rodgers vaccination kerfuffle, especially after Mike went on CNN to sound off on the Packers QB. But fear not, there's plenty of hoop in this show with a discussion of LeBron James' abdominal strain and whether it could be an injury related to his age. Khris Middleton is Mike's favorite player and Bruce explains why he thinks Middleton would have been an ideal San Antonio Spur back in the day. We also discuss the recent allegations against the Suns owner and the Blazers GM for reportedly presiding over toxic work environments . Finally, we discuss Mexico City's G-League team "The Capitanes." You will be entertained.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Scottie Pippen has a new book coming out and he is holding nothing back. Mike Wise and Bruce Bernstein discuss Scottie's feelings on Michael Jordan and his Bulls experience. The Washington Wizards have become the "Lakers of the East" with the addition of Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell, & Kentavious Caldwell Pope in the Russell Westbrook trade. Bruce shares his thoughts on why the Celtics have stumbled out of the gate, and the guys wax poetic on Stephen Curry, who keeps improving at the age of 33 and is leading the Warriors back into contention after two tough seasons. All of that plus Mike's experiences now that he and his family moved to Mexico. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mike Wise is back after his off season hiatus. Mike and Bruce Bernstein break down the first week of the season, including a discussion of the early growing pains with the Lakers, the rejuvenation of Carmelo Anthony, the Kyrie Irving vaccination kerfuffle, JA Morant's hot start, and other early season reaction. Mike also explains what he is doing in Mexico City while Bruce shares highlights of his son Mitch's weekend wedding.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the final installment of the Mike Wise Show's four part series on the North Carolina Basketball Family, Mike Wise, his co-host Bruce Bernstein and our panel of Tar Heel greats George Karl, George Lynch, and Matt Doherty share fun stories of their interactions with fellow family members and hoop legends Michael Jordan, James Worthy and Sam Perkins. Perkins tells a hilarious story about George Karl when they were together with the NBA's Seattle Sonics. Matt Doherty shares a golfing story about Michael Jordan that includes MJ's reaction when the former President of the United States wanted to play a round of golf with him. And when George Lynch was a rookie with the Los Angeles Lakers, he shared a memory of how James Worthy took him under his wing and made his rookie season a lot more enjoyable. And since this series of shows has a Dean Smith thread running through every episode, Tar Heel legend Brad Daugherty concludes the series with a story of how even when he passed away, Coach Smith left all of his "family" members with a sweet gesture to remember him by. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In part three of the Mike Wise Show's four part series on the North Carolina Basketball Family, Mike Wise, his co-host Bruce Bernstein and our panel of Tar Heel greats George Karl, George Lynch, and Matt Doherty explain how legendary coach Dean Smith, who was head coach from 1961-1997 had a perfectly aligned moral compass and encouraged all of his players to express their opinions when they felt strongly about them. He was keenly aware that in order for his players to grow as men, they needed the freedom to speak about social issues without fear.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In part two of the Mike Wise Show's four part series on the North Carolina Basketball Family, Mike Wise, his co-host Bruce Bernstein and our panel of Tar Heel greats George Karl, George Lynch, and Matt Doherty explain what it's like for people from varied backgrounds with different life experiences to be embraced and molded into a family that established bonds that began when they were teenagers and continued for the rest of their lives. Legendary coach Dean Smith, who was head coach from 1961-1997 is the patriarch of the family and while the great coach left the sidelines 24 years ago and passed away in 2015, he is still revered and celebrated by every player and staff member who worked and played at UNC. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this first episode of our four part series on the North Carolina Basketball Family, we examine how legendary coach Dean Smith took over a scandal ridden team in 1961 and turned it into something far greater than just a basketball program in his 36 years leading the team. Mike Wise, his co-host Bruce Bernstein and our panel of Tar Heel greats George Karl, George Lynch, and Matt Doherty, begin to tell the story of how Coach Smith established a culture on day one and always honored it. Along with our panel, we hear stories from UNC greats Brad Daugherty, Sam Perkins, and Coach Larry Brown. If you ever wondered about the special bonds between generations of Tar Heels, this series will explain the reasons and give you a glimpse into the program's very DNA. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Bobby Marks, ESPN's Front Office Insider is an authority on front office strategy, the salary cap, and player evaluation. In this conversation with Bruce Bernstein (filling in for Mike Wise), Bobby shares great insight on which teams will choose the "best available player" and who is likely to draft for specific needs. Bobby also gives a detailed breakdown of likely #1 overall pick Cade Cunningham of Oklahoma State and why he is "The Guy" in this year's draft. Bobby also has opinions on why teams shy away from drafting seniors who played four years in college and so much more..See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What was more shocking:A) Milwaukee winning 4 straight games after trailing the NBA Finals 0-2 or B) Giannis Antetokounmpo turning into Stephen Curry at the free throw line?Without question, it's B. On a special "Post-Finals" episode of the Mike Wise Show, Mike and Bruce Bernstein examine how the Bucks pulled off the series win against the Suns. From the brilliance of the Greek Freak to the grit of PJ Tucker, to the calm professionalism of Khris Middleton, to the relentlessness of Jrue Holiday, Milwaukee "shushed" all the doubters in the hoop world. As for the Suns, their future is bright but this young team faces a tough decision about point guard Chris Paul, who at age 36 is approaching the twilight of his career and may want a contract extension beyond next season. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Bobby Marks worked in the NBA for 20 years and was the Assistant GM of the Brooklyn Nets for five of them. As ESPN's Front Office Insider, Bobby is an authority on front office strategy, the salary cap, player evaluation, and all of the mind games NBA executives play with each other. In this conversation with Bruce Bernstein (filling in for Mike Wise), Bobby shares great insight on which teams want the "best available player" and which teams draft for specific needs. Bobby also gives a detailed breakdown of likely #1 overall pick Cade Cunningham of Oklahoma State and why he is "The Guy" in this year's draft. Bobby has opinions on why teams shy away from drafting seniors who played four years in college and so much more.. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Heading into game three of the NBA Finals, many were writing the obituary for the 2020-'21 Milwaukee Bucks. After going down 0-2 to the the Phoenix Suns, Giannis Antetokounmpo and his suddenly aroused teammates delivered a strong message that Phoenix still had reason to "Fear the Deer." With the Greek Freak leading the way, Milwaukee used two massive runs at the end of the second and third quarters to snuff any dreams of a Phoenix sweep. And with game four scheduled for Wednesday, Milwaukee can guarantee a long series with another win on its home court. Mike Wise and Bruce Bernstein discuss all that plus the breakout star of the Finals: Emily from the YouTube TV commercialSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The NBA Finals are scheduled to begin on Tuesday July 6th with the Phoenix Suns facing the Milwaukee Bucks. Mike Wise and his producer share their thoughts on how the injury bug has bitten every Suns opponent, but not the Suns. Mike and Bruce also discuss what a championship would mean for Chris Paul and his legacy. And towards the end of the show, they discuss the HBO series "Mare of Easttown" and the impressive performance from star Kate Winslet.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Khris Middleton has been seen as "Robin" to Giannis Antetokounpo's "Batman," but Middleton flipped the script on Sunday and Milwaukee couldn't be happier. Trae Young, the breakout star of the playoffs suffered a freak ankle injury when he stepped on referee Sean Wright's foot and he was hobbled the rest of the night. We'll find out on Tuesday if he recovers. Out west, the Suns rode a monster double double from DeAndre Ayton on Saturday to take command against the Clippers and could advance to the NBA Finals with a win on Monday. And Mike Wise and Bruce Bernstein discuss the recent coaching moves and whether an NBA team will have the courage to name the first woman to be a head coach in the league. Privacy Policy and California Privacy Notice.

Larry Brown is without question one of the greatest basketball coaches of all time. The Hall of Famer has coached 9 NBA teams, two ABA teams, and is the only head coach to win an NBA Championship (2004 Detroit Pistons) and an NCAA Championship (Kansas 1988). He has mentored and developed great coaches like Gregg Popovich, John Calipari, Bill Self, and countless others. With all the turmoil and open coaching jobs, who better to bring some perspective and insight to the always spinning NBA coaching carousel. Larry and Mike Wise discuss their mutual admiration for Rick Carlisle, who recently resigned as the Dallas Mavericks head coach as well as sizing up some of the candidates for jobs, many of whom either played for Larry or competed against him. As Coach says "I don't have a "Coaching Tree," I have a "Coaching Forest."

Adam Schefter of ESPN is the #1 NFL Insider with 8.4 million Twitter followers. But this 1989 Michigan grad has a passion for basketball and classic stories about the sport. At the 9:09 mark, he recalls his senior year in Ann Arbor. It was Glen Rice's dream season w/the Wolverines, winning the NCAA Championship. And it set the stage for all that followed, including the Fab Five. Adam has some great takes and a classic story about current Michigan coach Juwan Howard that very few have heard. At the 28:30 mark Adam has a fantastic comparison between Michael Jordan and Tom Brady. And as a lifelong Knicks fan and NBA fantasy GM, he is right up to speed on everything in the NBA. Hoop talk with a dash of NFL doesn't get much smarter than this.

This week Mike Wise does his famous "download" on the first round of the NBA Playoffs. Are the Clippers ready to win it all? Does the NBA need the Nets to advance with their star power? Is Trae Young becoming an all time great right before our eyes? Does Pat Riley really think LeBron James would consider rejoining the Heat? What is next for the Celtics franchise? And is Utah a worthy top overall seed? Lots of big questions and Mike takes all of them on.

Kyrie Irving loves to bring drama wherever he goes. His play has been sensational but his "off the court" actions have inspired lots of debate. Mike & Producer Bruce Bernstein discuss whether Kyrie is intentionally trying to sabotage the Celtics organization with some of his accusations that may influence future free agents considering the Celtics? As for the fans around the league, Kyrie and his teammate Kevin Durant have correctly called out bad behavior regarding the spitting, popcorn tossing, and bottle throwing by a handful of fans who are giving all the others a bad name.

Mike Wise and producer Bruce Bernstein share their thoughts on the first weekend of the NBA Playoffs. Are the Lakers in trouble against Phoenix? Does Trae Young have eyes in the back of his head? Does Luka Doncic have the Clippers' number? And should the Beach Boys do a remake of their hit "Barbara Ann" in honor of Ja Morant? Lots of analysis and laughs on the Mike Wise Show.

Howard Beck of SI.com has some of the best NBA takes anywhere. Howard & Mike preview all the key storylines of the NBA Playoffs, beginning with the Play In games on Tuesday and Wednesday. Are the Suns too inexperienced for a deep playoff run? Does Brooklyn have enough chemistry & defense to win big? Which two first round series are likely to go 7 games? All of this plus Howard's postseason awards picks, and yes, he's a voter. Check us out on the new Mike Wise Show from Pure Hoops Media.

Shaun Powell of NBA.com has covered the league for nearly four decades. But he is so much more than just a sports journalist. He is also a keen observer of the human condition whose nuanced views set an example that all of us should follow. Mike Wise and Shaun discuss the resurgent Knicks, The crew that Shaun has dubbed "The Notorious Big 3" in Brooklyn, the return of superstar big men like Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic, the difficulty of picking just six "All NBA" guards, the perils of the "Play In" games, and the most "dangerous" three hours of TV each night. Shaun and Mike, who have been friends for decades have the type of mature discussion that you'd expect from two legendary writers and broadcasters. Both are worthy of the "Curt Gowdy Media Award" at the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Brian Scalabrine is the co-host of The Starting Lineup with Frank Isola on Sirius/XM NBA Radio. Scal, a.k.a. "The White Mamba" is also the TV analyst for the Boston Celtics on NBC Sports Boston. His vast knowledge, irreverent takes, and joyful approach to the sport make him one of the most beloved NBA voices in the basketball world. He joins Mike Wise to examine the MVP race, explain why the media and players frequently disagree on the merits of players, and breaks down his own basketball "addiction." And we couldn't let Scal go without commenting on his beloved Celtics and whether they have enough of a serious approach when it comes to turning things around.

Fran Fraschilla was a successful college basketball coach who became an expert on the international game and has been an analyst at ESPN for nearly 20 years. In addition to calling college games, he is ESPN's NBA Draft expert on talent from around the world. With international players becoming some of the NBA's biggest stars, Fran's role has become more important than ever. On this week's Mike Wise Show, Fran & Mike discuss how non-American players have influenced the game and helped it evolve from being "dunk oriented" into a more flowing and unselfish style of play. If you saw how Luka Doncic carved up the Lakers defense on Saturday, that was a perfect example. Fran also sizes up some of the international players likely to be high picks in the 2021 NBA Draft. Fran even tells the story of making his Brooklyn high school's Wikipedia page and joining some of his famous HS classmates.

Jerry Colangelo has done everything in the world of basketball. The Chicago native played college ball for Illinois, was the youngest general manager in the NBA at age 29, owned the Phoenix Suns and the MLB Arizona Diamondbacks, is Managing Director of USA Basketball, and serves as Chairman of the Basketball Hall of Fame. His stories are rich in detail and include memories involving Jerry West, Michael Jordan, Dean Smith, and even Clint Eastwood. Jerry is one of the most fascinating people in NBA history and this intimate conversation with Mike Wise provides unique insight into one of the greatest basketball minds in the world.

The Mike Wise Show features interesting guests from the world of basketball. From owners like Jeanie Buss to coaches like Stan Van Gundy and George Karl to Hall of Famers like journalist Bob Ryan and photographer Andy Bernstein, they all share their stories with Mike. We have classic locker room memories from Derek Harper, stories about doing broadcasts with legends Hubie Brown and Dr. Jack Ramsay, and so much more on "The Best of Mike Wise 5.0."

Bruce Bernstein fills in for Mike and welcomes Ashley Nevel to the show. In the new era of news and sports coverage, multimedia journalists like Ashley wear many hats from content creator to "techie," to talent producer, to marketing director, and then some. She is currently covering the Denver Nuggets, but has a long history with the Phoenix Suns as well. Her own story is one of grit and persistence and she has some great stories about Charles Barkley, Dwyane Wade, Derrick Rose, and others. Ashley even tells a story of how the Chicago Cubs' "Steve Bartman" game influenced her in a profound way. Check out one of the fresh young voices in NBA coverage on the new Mike Wise Show.

Mike Wise has the week off, so Bruce Bernstein welcomes veteran NBA journalist Steve Bulpett to the show. Steve has covered the Boston Celtics since the 1980s and he shares his thoughts on how the Celtics will fare in the wake of Danny Ainge's trade deadline moves. Is Robert Williams III the answer at center? Will Evan Fournier provide enough scoring and playmaking to complement the current group? Does Fournier's presence mean that Kemba Walker's role could be affected? Steve and Bruce also discuss whether the Celtics play "too nice," and whether they need to follow Marcus Smart's example of grittiness if they expect to reach their potential as a team.

If you've followed the NBA over the past four decades, your view of the sport was partially shaped by Andy Bernstein. His lens has captured (and sometimes created) iconic NBA moments from Kareem and Dr. J to Magic and Bird, to Shaq, Michael, LeBron, & Steph. And of course, the one and only Kobe Bryant. Andy is literally a Basketball Hall of Famer, having won the Curt Gowdy Media Award from the Hoop Hall in 2018. His photos are iconic and his stories about Kobe, Bird, Magic, Shaq, LeBron, Steph, Barkley, MJ, & Kareem are incredibly rich in detail. Andy also hosts his own podcast "Legends of Sport," and his guests are outstanding. Andy, Mike Wise, and producer Bruce Bernstein (no relation) also share some really intimate memories of their respective friendships and experiences with the late NBA Commissioner David Stern.

Barbara Barker is the sports columnist for Newsday in New York. She helps Mike Wise celebrate Women's History Month with stories from the beginning of her career in the early 1990s when female sports journalists were fighting for equal access. Along the way she covered the Knicks and now covers the entire sports scene as a columnist. Barb sizes up the championship chances for the Brooklyn Nets, but also explains why the Nets may be a bigger "national" story but the Knicks still dominate NBA interest in New York. Barb and Mike also relive one of the most devastating April Fool's jokes ever played on Mike and it was Barb and some other "friends" of Mike that pulled it off. Even Patrick Ewing had a role in it! A fun listen with two great friends that will have you laughing out loud.

Bob Ryan spent 43 years at the Boston Globe and nearly three decades with ESPN. In his more than 50 year career, he has covered 20 NBA Finals, 20 Final Fours, 9 World Series, 5 Super Bowls, and 7 Olympics. But the NBA is where he left his lasting mark, covering the Boston Celtics since the days of Bill Russell. Bob and Mike Wise discuss the legendary Boston Globe sports department of the 1980s, Bob's experiences with Larry Bird, the magnificence of Bill Walton, the four Celtics on the franchise's "Mount Rushmore," why Brad Stevens is not the reason for the Celtics' current mediocrity, and why he stayed at the home of a player who was competing against the Celtics in the 1976 NBA Finals. Remarkable stories from a remarkable journalist who happens to be a great human being.

Ann Meyers Drysdale has had a remarkable life and career. One of 11 children, she became one of the most legendary athletes of the 20th century. She was the "first" to achieve so many things as a female athlete that they're too numerous to list here. She has some incredible life experiences and she shares many of them with Mike Wise. She is a member of 6 Halls of Fame, including the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA. If you want to be inspired, listen to Annie's story.

Mike Wise welcomes New Orleans Pelicans head coach Stan Van Gundy for a wide ranging discussion about his young team ("their defense has to improve"), gender equality among NBA coaches, Zion Williamson ("he is so smart"), his relationship with Miami Heat President Pat Riley, whether the All Star Game should take place, whether NBA teams should continue playing the National Anthem before games, and so much more.

On this week's show, Mike Wise and producer Bruce Bernstein planned to compare seven time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady to NBA greats Michael Jordan and LeBron James. And they did. But Mike and Bruce were also former colleagues of ESPN baseball reporter Pedro Gomez, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 58. Pedro's death shocked and saddened the entire sports media family, but especially the extended ESPN family members who loved, respected, and admired this trailblazing reporter. Mike and Bruce share warm memories of Pedro to begin the show.

Roland Lazenby has written more than 70 books in his nearly 50 year career. Among them are two profiles of Kobe Bryant written 16 years apart. Roland's relationship with the late Laker great was incredibly personal as well as professional. Mike Wise and Roland share stories about Kobe that really take you into the mind of the Black Mamba. The detail in Roland's stories makes for a very compelling listen.

George Karl should be in the Basketball Hall of Fame ... period. Only five coaches in NBA history have won more games than George and all are in the Hall of Fame or soon will be. In this revealing conversation, George and Mike Wise discuss the current state of American society, politics, the lessons Coach learned from Dean Smith at North Carolina, the best player he ever coached, why the title of "GOAT" is overrated, the new Brooklyn Big Three, and so much more.

Amin Elhassan spent 8 years at ESPN as an NBA front office insider. He is now joining the new Dan LeBatard/John Skipper "Pirate Ship" operation as their #1 draft choice. As Amin embarks on this new chapter in his life, he reflects back on his time at ESPN and sounds off on many topics, including how well the James Harden/Kyrie Irving/Kevin Durant marriage will work in Brooklyn. Amin also sounds off on how social media has affected news coverage, the NBA's situation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, his feelings about the new Star Wars series and tells an unbelievable Larry Bird/Dennis Rodman story. Mike Wise and Amin also play a fun "Word Association" game where they take no prisoners!

Bruce Bernstein fills in for Mike Wise this week and welcomes their Pure Hoops Media teammate Monica McNutt, co-host of the Buckets, Boards, & Blocks podcast. Monica shares her thoughts on last week's riot at the US Capital in Washington and how it looked to African Americans like 76ers coach Doc Rivers who saw how violent rioters were treated differently than peaceful demonstrators who happened to be minorities. Monica and Bruce also discuss how WNBA players mobilized to help defeat Georgia Senatorial candidate Kelly Loeffler by supporting her opponent, the Rev. Raphael Warnock who becomes the first African American Senator in Georgia's history. Monica also co-hosts "MSG A.M." on the MSG Network in New York and Monica shares her perspective on the solid start by the Knicks as well as the early "issues" surrounding Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets. All of this and much more on the new Mike Wise Show.

The Mike Wise Show debuted on January 14, 2019 and this is his 100th show. To help him celebrate the milestone, two of his best friends join him to look back at 2020 and look ahead to 2021. Harvey Araton, the legendary New York Times journalist and author and Frank Isola of Sirius/XM, YES Network, ESPN, and a 22 year veteran of the NY Daily News spend a great hour together. They reflect on the lives and deaths of David Stern and Kobe Bryant and pull no punches. All three men covered the Knicks for years and take a deep dive into the history of the franchise's dysfunction under James Dolan and even before he owned the team. They discuss how COVID-19 has changed the sports culture, how sports journalism has evolved, and discuss Harvey's new book "Our Last Season: A Writer, A Fan, A Friendship," which examines his relationship with the late Michelle Musler, a devoted Knicks fan with whom Harvey had a decades long friendship. The stories they share are rich in detail and are a fitting way to celebrate Mike's 100th show.

The 2020-'21 NBA season is just hours away and Mike Wise and his producer Bruce Bernstein preview the season. Is Brooklyn ready to win it all? Is Kyrie Irving a player, an artist, or both? Will LeBron's "Drive for Five" end successfully? Will Jrue Holiday be a difference maker in Milwaukee? What about the Celtics? Is Denver ready to win it all? Could the Nikola Jokic be the MVP? Will Rockets fans be angry with James Harden, who wants out of Houston after 8 years? All of this plus predictions!

Derek Harper played 16 NBA seasons, including 12 with the Dallas Mavericks. He also played on the 1994 New York Knicks team that lost in the NBA Finals to Hakeem Olajuwon and the Rockets. He and Mike Wise discuss a variety of topics from the greatness of Luka Doncic, to the leadership of Patrick Ewing and everything in between. "Harp" also tells a classic story about he and Pat Riley having a "heart to heart" in the shower after the game 7 loss in the 1994 Finals. And Harp makes a really candid admission about his role in John Starks' poor game 7 performance (2-18) in the '94 Finals.

Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News has been covering the Nets & Knicks for ten years. On this week's Mike Wise Show, Stefan and Mike discuss the task in front of rookie Nets coach Steve Nash, who will have to deal with Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, and finding enough minutes for a very deep roster. Stefan also sizes up the Knicks and their new coach Tom Thibodeau, a "win now" coach with a roster that is young and expected to struggle. Mike and Stefan also share stories of covering the NBA during the pandemic and the social media era.

Mike Wise is joined by Bruce Bernstein for a discussion of the recent free agency news, what lies ahead for Giannis Antetokounpo, why Michael Jordan invested $120 million on injury plagued Gordon Hayward, and why GM Rob Pelinka has put LeBron James and the Lakers in the driver's seat for a second consecutive NBA championship.

Tim Legler of ESPN just began his 20th season as the #1 studio analyst at the network. He is probably the best NBA analyst out there at this point in time. On this week's Mike Wise Show, Legs and Mike discuss the devastating Klay Thompson injury and what challenges Klay faces in his second consecutive missed season. Legs also explains how James Harden would fit in on the 76ers or Nets if one of those teams acquires him. Legs also explains how Russell Westbrook's legendary intensity sometimes has a negative effect on his decision making. The guys also discuss "Super Teams" and how they have evolved from the 1980's to the current era.

Former Rep. Katie Hill was a Member of Congress from California who served from January-November of 2019. Katie is also a fan of the Los Angeles teams, especially the Dodgers. Katie and Mike Wise discuss numerous topics that cross over from the sports world into society at large. Among them are whether basketball players should "shut up and dribble," the controversy involving transgender athletes competing against cisgendered athletes, and athletes using their platform to call attention to social issues. They also talk a bit of politics as well.

Last week was one to remember on many fronts. From the Presidential Election in the United States, to the continued scourge of COVID-19, to mass layoffs at ESPN, and to the expected return of the NBA in just over a month, 2020 continues to exhaust, exhilarate, and challenge us. Mike Wise is joined by Bruce Bernstein from Pure Hoops Media and together they do a download on the week but also talk about a hopeful future based on the spirit and ingenuity of the American people.

George Karl is one of the most successful NBA coaches of all time. He's #6 on the all time list of coaching victories and the five in front of him are in the Hall of Fame. George is a disciple of the great North Carolina coach Dean Smith, who not only coached basketball, but was a leader in the area of social justice when it was not easy to do. Coach Karl and Mike Wise discussed the upcoming election, how American society can begin to heal, what White Americans can do to address some of the racism that exists in the country, and his thoughts on the impact of Chris Paul both on and off the court.

Jeanie Buss represents the Los Angeles Lakers on the NBA Board of Governors. She doesn't like to be called the "owner," but her family has controlled the team for more than four decades. In this very revealing interview with Mike Wise, Jeanie shares some very emotional thoughts about the losses of her Mother, former Commissioner David Stern, and Kobe Bryant in the course of less than two months between December 2019 and January 2020. Some of the other topics Jeanie addresses are her current relationships with Phil Jackson, Magic Johnson, and LeBron James. Jeanie also tells Mike which legendary actress is her "Spirit Animal." Towards the end of the interview at 1:11:20, Jeanie shares her feelings about whether LeBron will eventually have a statue outside Staples Center. You will never meet a more "real" human being than Jeanie Buss.

It only took LeBron James two seasons to take the Lakers from the depths of the NBA to the top of the NBA World. If Dr James Naismith, the creator of basketball tried to create a perfect basketball player in his laboratory, that player would look a whole lot like LeBron James. Mike welcomes 50 year NBA veteran Dave Wohl, who won rings with the Lakers and the Celtics and was the Clippers GM. Coach Dave Miller, who covered the Lakers for ESPN Radio in LA as well as their regional TV network has great perspective on the Kobe Bryant "Mamba Mentality" that the inspired the new champs . The stories on this show are remarkable and the perspective the guys all share on LeBron and also Pat Riley is a Master Class in basketball talk.

Jack McCallum is a Hall of Fame hoop journalist, having won the Curt Gowdy Media Award from the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2005. Jack stayed up late Sunday night with Mike Wise to discuss Miami's Game 3 NBA Finals win, LeBron James' place in hoop history, a classic David Stern story, and how the Pandemic has affected our society. Jack spent 27 years at Sports Illustrated and also has a classic story involving a 1980's encounter with Michael Wilbon, David Aldridge, and the late Bryan Burwell.