The Mike Wise Show: Recent Episodes
Pure Hoops Media
The Mike Wise Show is hosted by basketball journalist and story teller Mike Wise. Mike's weekly guests are a "Who's Who" list of players, coaches, executives, journalists, and influencers of hoop culture. Nobody tells a story like Mike and his Wise Ass friends. Each weekly episode of The Mike Wise Show will be available on Monday mornings.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Mike Wise is still on his off-season break, so we have some of his favorite shows that you may have missed.
In Part II of Mike Wise's conversation with Hall of Famer Bill Walton, among other subjects, they discuss
- Bill's loving but complex relationship with UCLA's Hall of Fame coach John Wooden
- Bill's continuing admiration for legendary musician Bob Dylan and the time he introduced Dylan to fellow Hibbing, Minnesota native Kevin McHale
- Bill's final meeting with cancer stricken teammate and dear friend Maurice Lucas, who passed away in 2010
- Bill's "Mount Rushmore" of opposing players
- The 1986 Celtics and Bill's famous reaction to the Larry Bird/Dennis Johnson steal and winning basket vs. Detroit in 1987
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Mike Wise is still on his off-season break, so we have some of his favorite shows that you may have missed.
The word "Legend" doesn't even begin to describe Hall of Famer Bill Walton. In part one of a very special conversation with Mike, Bill discusses all of these issues and more:
- Our current societal strife and how we can improve relations with our fellow citizens
- Taking his Celtics teammates to a Grateful Dead show in 1985
- Bill's "Bike for Humanity" events to aid those affected by the COVID-19 virus
- His feelings about the late NBA Commissioner David Stern and his lasting legacy
- His recommendations for books that all of us should read
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The Pure Hoops Media crew is still enjoying its summer vacation, so we're presenting some of our favorite shows that you may have missed the first time around. September 22nd would have been the 79th birthday of the late NBA Commissioner David Stern, who passed away in January of 2020. David's final interview took place on October 29, 2019. It was the basis for a two part podcast on The Mike Wise Show. David was in a wistful and reflective mood that day and shared many personal anecdotes. In this tribute to the late great Commissioner of the NBA from 1984-2014, Mike uses David's own words to tell the story of a man who may only have stood 5'9" tall, but was a giant in the world of basketball.
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Mike Wise is taking some time off to recharge for next season, but we want to share some of our favorite interviews from the recent past. Shortly after the Lakers won the 2020 NBA Championship, Jeanie Buss joined old friend Mike for a visit. Jeanie 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 revealing interview, 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 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" member of the basketball family than Jeanie Buss.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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..
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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.
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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..
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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 commercial
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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.
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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.
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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."
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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."
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Bruce Bernstein fills in for Mike Wise on a late Sunday night and welcomes former player, coach, and executive Dave Wohl along with Catch and Shoot co-host Aaron Berlin from Pure Hoops Media. The guys break down Miami's game #6 series clincher over the Celtics, the upcoming NBA Finals matchup with the Lakers, and a discussion of the incredible LeBron James and his impact on the Lakers and the sport.
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Michael Lee is a Senior Writer at The Athletic, who has covered the NBA for two decades. In a Sunday night download with Mike Wise, the guys break down the Lakers' huge win in game two against the Nuggets as well as examining why the Anthony Davis/LeBron James bond is so tight. Michael and Mike also discuss the Heat/Celtics series and chronicle Goran Dragic's journey in Miami. We also hear a classic clip from Goran describing the vibe in the Heat organization.
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Cassidy Hubbarth of ESPN has been patrolling the sidelines for the network's NBA coverage in the Orlando Bubble. Cass shares stories about life in the Bubble, her challenges covering the NBA Playoffs in such unusual circumstances, her feelings about the "virtual fans," her observations and interactions with LeBron James, her thoughts on a Lakers/Clippers Western Conference Finals matchup, and so much more.
Check out the Quick Hitter version with Cassidy on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfpg2r5OHdZX6sw2_OhRSEA
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Marc Kestecher, "Kesty" to his friends has been the Voice of the NBA on ESPN Radio since 2016. He has been with the network since 1999 and has worked with an array of NBA analysts including Hubie brown, PJ Carlesimo, Jon Barry, the late Dr. Jack Ramsay, and countless others. His distinctive voice and delivery give every event he does a "Big Game" feel. In this conversation with Mike Wise, Kesty shares stories about the analysts he has worked with, what it's like broadcasting playoff games in the "Orlando Bubble," and why his experiences with former coach George Karl during their Albany CBA days have left a lasting impact on his taste buds and wardrobe.
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Sports, particularly basketball once again finds itself at the forefront of social change. The NBA and WNBA families are showing leadership at a time of societal strife and the message is being well delivered and well received. Monica McNutt and King McClure, the co-hosts of Buckets, Boards, & Blocks from Pure Hoops Media share thoughts and personal stories from their own lives with Mike Wise. King has a specific memory from his college days that was painful and outrageous, but had a silver lining. This discussion does more than just cite the problems, it discusses solutions that are based on justice and fairness that are easy to embrace.
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Todd MacCulloch is a unique member of the basketball family. He was a legit big man who battled Shaq in the NBA Finals two straight years with two different teams ('01 w/Philly and '02 w/the Nets). He was forced to retire due to a foot condition just as his best basketball was in front of him. His take on life, his budding acting career, his story telling, and his sense of humor have combined with Mike to make this the podcast the one you need to hear.
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Howard Beck is one of the most distinguished basketball journalists in the country. He joins Mike Wise to discuss what he has seen on the court in Orlando, his feelings on the activism promoted by the NBA and its players, whether the Mavericks have a chance against the Clippers in the first round of the playoffs, whether the Bucks are a lock to come out of the east, and why the Miami Heat are a scary matchup for any potential opponent. The guys also discuss the mental health aspects of life in the "Bubble" for weeks and months.
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Alton Byrd's basketball journey has taken him from San Francisco to New York to the United Kingdom to Sacramento to Atlanta and back to Long Island. Along the way, he was a three time All Ivy League point guard at Columbia University, the first African American general manager of a British sports organization, and in his current gig, he is running the Brooklyn Nets' G League franchise. This week Bruce Bernstein fills in for Mike Wise, and Alton shares his thoughts on basketball, life, race relations, business, and how the G League balances the goals of developing talent while trying to win games and G League championships.
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Harvey Araton is one of the most influential basketball journalists of our generation. The 2017 recipient of the Curt Gowdy Media Award from the Basketball Hall of Fame joins Mike Wise for a discussion of basketball and its place in society as we navigate these turbulent times. Topics include the meaning of "heroism," the many challenges facing Commissioner Adam Silver, the NBA's issues with the Communist Chinese government, how Harvey sees the LA Clippers' chances for an NBA championship, & much more. A very thoughtful discussion on some complex topics.
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Dave Wohl is a unique basketball mind. Drafted out of the University of Pennsylvania in 1971, he has spent nearly a half century as a player, assistant coach, head coach, assistant GM, general manager, and commentator. He was on Pat Riley's staff with the Showtime Lakers, winning a ring in 1985. He was with Doc Rivers on the Celtics, winning a ring in 2008 as the Celtics' assistant GM. He was GM of the Clippers from 2014-2017 and has been a frequent guest on various Pure Hoops Media podcasts. His perspective on the keys to success in the Orlando "Bubble" are based on experience, analytics, and good old fashioned Hoop IQ acquired during 49 years of NBA experience. Although he has seemingly been around forever, his ideas are fresh and forward-thinking.
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Mike Wise welcomes six of basketball's greatest characters for some classic stories from their careers. Bill Walton on David Stern & John Wooden. Isiah Thomas on racial issues. Grant Hill on establishing credibility as a player and proving he was more than the son of successful parents. Chris Mullin on David Stern's vision for the 1992 Olympic Dream Team. David Stern himself on the struggles of building a league composed of mostly African American players and the pride he had in his successor Adam Silver. Mullin, Walton, and Dave Cowens on their teammate and (in Mully's case) coach Larry Bird.
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Mike Wise shares classic stories from five legendary coaches. PJ Carlesimo on the 1992 Dream Team and how the Monte Carlo scrimmages were legendary, Mike Brown on how the Spurs and Warriors are similar organizations, Jeff Van Gundy on the day the Knicks fans almost made him cry (in a good way), Larry Brown on his favorite Allen Iverson memories, and George Karl on Phil Jackson's special brand of hospitality.
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Garrett Temple of the Nets is one of the most socially conscious athletes in the country. The striving for equality and understanding runs deep in his family. His father Collis was the first African American to play varsity basketball at LSU in 1971. His father attended LSU at the same time as notorious racist and antisemite David Duke and engaged in heated debates on campus with the future grand wizard of the ku klux klan. Garrett has a positive message of understanding between the races and he shares many thoughts with Mike Wise on how to improve race relations in the United States.
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Jason Whitlock, formerly of FS1 joins Mike Wise to debate some of the hot button issues facing the country. Among their topics: why sports is a meritocracy, how social media causes some people to "virtue signal," and much more.
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Mike Wise welcomes Monica McNutt of "Buckets, Boards, & Blocks" and Bruce Bernstein from Pure Hoops Media for a discussion of events shaking our world and where there may be some lessons from basketball that could help us through them. We have seen leadership and positive contributions from hoop legends like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, current player Jaylen Brown, and several others. Mike, Monica, & Bruce discuss important issues like diversity, leadership, societal tension, and the striving for acceptance. But we also look for ways to improve through understanding, respect, and doing things that might make us uncomfortable but will ultimately be better for our society.
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Hall of Fame NBA writers Marc Stein and Sam Smith, legendary coach George Karl, and Phil Jackson's close friend Charley Rosen share classic stories of Michael Jordan, the Bulls dynasty, and their feelings about The Last Dance. The "gambling controversy," the "greatest shot ever made," and what Jackson told Toni Kukoc about his native country's military prowess are just a few of the great stories they share with Mike .... and you!
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No member of the media was more present during the Bulls dynasty than journalist Sam Smith. He was the Bulls beat writer for the Chicago Tribune, author of The Jordan Rules, and still covers the team for Bulls.com. His memories are vivid and he has plenty of them. Sam's description of how Michael Jordan and David Stern settled the whole "gambling investigation" was not in ESPN's documentary but Sam reveals some stunning details of their meeting.
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Mike Wise and his producer Bruce Bernstein share thoughts on Michael Jordan and his leadership skills. Included is a clip from Mike's October 2019 interview with late NBA Commissioner David Stern, which was David's final in-depth interview. At the 18:55 mark, Mike and David discuss MJ's retirement where David shot down the idea that he forced Michael into retirement. We also hear David's reaction to MJ's memorable Hall of Fame speech in 2009. Another great story at 26:19 comes from Mark Jones of ESPN/ABC who recalls the time that Ron Harper got Michael "but good" in an exchange on the team bus. If you can't get enough of The Last Dance, here's some more!
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George Karl coached six NBA teams and 1999 regular season NBA games between 1985-2016. His 1996 Sonics battled Michael Jordan in the NBA Finals before losing in 6 games. But there is so much more to George than just the games he coached. He has survived cancer twice, played in the ABA, spent time with Phil Jackson in Montana, raised a son who walked on at Boise State, played in the NBA, and will be a future NBA coach. George calls Michael Jordan a friend, and has learned to appreciate rap artists like Gucci Mane. At the 38:48 mark he admits his guilt when Sam Perkins tells a funny story about him. He has stories about coaching Allen Iverson, Carmelo Anthony, and his great Seattle teams. He is one of the most honest people in the basketball family and this show is guaranteed to make you smile.
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Marc Stein has been covering the NBA for more than 30 years. He has been a beat writer for the Lakers and Mavericks, was embedded with the Warriors for an entire season for ESPN's SportsCenter, was a national NBA columnist for ESPN.com, a panelist on numerous ESPN NBA shows like NBA Tonight and NBA Coast to Coast, and is currently a national NBA writer for the New York Times. He's even in the Basketball Hall of Fame as the 2019 recipient of the Curt Gowdy Media Award, the highest honor a basketball journalist can receive. This week he shares stories about covering the Bulls in the 1990s, when and how the NBA should resume operations, ideas on ways the league can permanently honor David Stern, and how his life has changed since becoming a Hall of Famer.
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Phil Jackson dubbed the 1997-'98 season "The Last Dance," because everyone on the Chicago Bulls knew it was their final chance to win another NBA Championship. Charley Rosen has been Phil's friend since the early 1970s, has written books with him, and has many stories about their time together. In the show, Charley discusses (@13:35) Michael Jordan's obsession with winning, (@ 31:10) his thoughts on the Jackson/Jerry Krause relationship, how Phil's dismissal and MJ's retirement likely cost the Bulls two more championship runs, (@32:30) why Phil pushed Jerry Krause to trade Charles Oakley for Bill Cartwright, who was more of a badass than people realized, and (@36:12) a classic Dennis Rodman story about how his defense in an exhibition game (after his retirement) actually bordered on sexual assault. Charley's first hand stories are amazing.
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Roger Mason Jr is simply one of the most thoughtful and brilliant basketball personalities anywhere. In his conversation with Mike Wise, he discusses his incredible personal story, the perfectly calibrated moral compass of the NBA leadership, his role as a Union executive in providing health care for NBA legends and their families, how his time leading and guiding the Big3 was a great experience, and why the loss of Kobe Bryant "The Dad" affected him so much.
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Jamal Crawford should be a future Hall of Famer," but is definitely a Hall of Fame human being. He joins Mike to discuss some of the initiatives he is involved with to help others during the Corona Virus crisis and his message is very inspirational. At the 21:30 mark, Jamal shares the incredible story of how he found out about Kobe Bryant's death. He has 7 solid minutes of great Kobe stories. Jamal also addresses some of his plans for the future and tells a great childhood story about his friendship with former NFL star (and current NFL Network/CBS Sports analyst) Nate Burleson. Barbara "Barbi" Barker of Newsday also joins Mike to discuss a classic April Fools prank that she and several accomplices (including Patrick Ewing) pulled on Mike back in the days they covered the Knicks in the late 1990s.
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ESPN's Tim Legler is one of the brightest hoop minds in the country. He is deeply appreciative of the high school coach who shaped him, his beloved dogs, the importance of setting aside politics in a time of crisis, the leadership shown by the NBA's management and players, and why the movie Hoosiers still resonates more than 30 years after its release.
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Mark Cuban spends 30 minutes with Mike Wise and you'll come away from this show with a renewed appreciation of his leadership skills and properly calibrated moral compass. At the 2:20 mark, he describes having replaced Donald Trump as President in 2015. Other highlights: (9:25) No Mavericks personnel have asked for special treatment during the crisis. (12:00) How sports will lead the way in overcoming the crisis. (13:50) The advice he has for small businesses and his Shark Tank partners on how to recover economically. (18:45) His feelings about the idea of a proposed exhibition game floated by Commissioner Adam Silver. (22:45) Why nobody should be playing political blame games right now. (25:10) Whether he will ever run for President. (25:28) What members of American society will learn about ourselves when this crisis is behind us. It's an inspirational conversation with someone who is the very definition of a moral leader.
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Mike Wise welcomes Eric Newman and Bruce Bernstein of Pure Hoops Media for a discussion of how our sport fits into a world forever changed by the Corona Virus. Topics include how Rudy Gobert and "Jazz Nation" will reconnect, how players and management are opening their hearts and wallets to help those workers who are in financial trouble due to the cancellation of games, and how the lack of sports at a time of crisis is a completely new phenomenon.
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Michael Sweetney was the 9th player chosen in the legendary 2003 NBA Draft that produced LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. After a brief career that saw him battle weight problems and depression, he sought help and has recovered to the point that he is now an assistant coach for the Yeshiva Men’s team that has reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division III Tournament. He shares his story and hopes others will follow his lead and seek help instead of suffering silently.
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Mike Breen has made some of the most iconic calls in recent NBA history. As the "Voice of the NBA" on ESPN and ABC as well as the longtime voice of the New York Knicks on MSG Network, he has electrified audiences with his signature "BANG" call which has punctuated some of the most exciting moments in basketball. Mike will join fellow ESPN icon Michael Wilbon as co-recipient of the Basketball Hall of Fame's Curt Gowdy Media Award this coming September in Springfield. "Breeny," as he is known to his friends joins Mike Wise for a fun conversation about his career, the origin of "BANG," how he almost gave up on a broadcasting career, and why Knicks fans remain so passionate in spite of the team's struggles.
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Today, 2/24 is when the hoop world celebrates the lives of Kobe Bryant, his precious daughter, and the other friends who are gone. Howard Beck covered every step of Kobe's career starting with his rookie year back in 1996-'97 season when Beck was the beat writer for the team. From his LA Daily News days through his career at the New York Times, and now at Bleacher Report, Howard's stories are incredible. On this day of the memorial service, Howard and Mike examine why Kobe meant so much to so many people.
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In Part Two of Mike Wise's conversation with Larry Brown, the Hall of Fame coach discusses how his own identity was forever tied to Allen Iverson. Larry also explains the real story behind Iverson's famous "Practice" rant, why he felt the late commissioner David Stern was disappointed in him as a coach, why his "coaching tree" is really a "forest," how Raiders owner Al Davis steered the son of a famous player to Kansas, and more classic hoop stories.
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In Part one of this two part conversation, Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown shares stories of Kobe Bryant, why Allen Iverson would have never accepted "Load Management," his biggest regrets as a coach, and why he wishes he had built a better relationship with Knicks owner James Dolan when he was Knicks coach. All this and so much more in the first half of this epic conversation!
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Kobe Bryant's death leaves a giant emotional void in the city of Los Angeles and in the Lakers organization. In the week since his untimely death at the age of 41, the outpouring of emotion across the basketball universe has been staggering. From Lakers owner Jeanie Buss, to GM Rob Pelinka, to LeBron James and all the players, Ohm Yougmisuk explains how the Lakers organization is emotionally gutted. Ohm's comments are always insightful and fans of Kobe and the Lakers will understand exactly what Ohm is talking about.
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Mike Wise had many encounters with Kobe Bryant starting with Kobe's very first days as a Laker in 1996. Over Kobe's 20 year NBA career, Mike racked up many vivid memories and along with his producer Bruce Bernstein, they have a late night conversation where Kobe is the only topic.
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John "The Chief" Martin has produced over 4200 events for ESPN Radio over a 25 year career at the sports network. He has worked with Hall of Famers like Dr. Jack Ramsay and Hubie Brown and had close encounters with players like Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley, among many others. He can tall a story with the best of them and remembers events in great detail. His story about nearly being mugged in New Orleans with John Madden is an absolute classic. The Chief will keep you entertained and share some behind the scenes info you will never hear from anyone else.
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Tamir Goodman was known as “The Jewish Jordan” when he was a top 25 high school basketball player in 2000 but turned down a scholarship from the University of Maryland because his Jewish beliefs forbade him from playing on Friday night and Saturday before sundown. He eventually settled in Israel where he became a professional player and is now a coach. There has been a recent spike in anti Semitic crime in the NY area where some Jews have been attacked by Blacks. Tamir is a a passionate believer that basketball can heal the rift between the Jewish and African American communities. His story is a great example of of how it can work.
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Youth will be served and 9 year old Oliver Wise shares his perspective on the sport. Mike tells Oliver the timeless story about being Magic Johnson's personal chauffeur as a 15 year old in Hawaii. Once "Dad" grabs the mic back from the kid, Mike and "Producer Bruce" share their unique takes on the best stories of 2019 and some of the craziness that lies ahead in 2020. Here's a sample: Why load management builds stronger teams, why James Harden is an offensive genius, and why LeBron James is the best all around player ever. That's just a taste ... Happy holidays everyone!
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Normally, a story about a book is pretty dry. But this is no ordinary book and no ordinary story. Andrea Chamblee's sportswriter husband John McNamara was murdered in the Capital Gazette mass shooting in June 2018. He had been researching a book on Washington, D.C. area high school hoops for 13 years. Five weeks after his death, his beloved wife walked into his office and discovered all of his research material and notes about the book. Andrea then decided that her mission was to complete the book and make sure it was published. In this compelling interview, Mike and Andrea discuss the love story between Andrea and John, the feelings of loss and loneliness, the challenges she faced in completing the project, and the triumph of finally publishing the book and watching it become the number one basketball book on Amazon. Andrea is a remarkable human being and the book is a tribute to her late husband and his dedication to the sport he loved so much.
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Enes Kanter of the Boston Celtics is one of the most courageous players in the NBA. Along with his skills on the court, he possesses a social conscience that echoes the courage of previous activist athletes such as Muhammad Ali. He has paid a heavy personal price for speaking out against the authoritarian rule of President Erdogan of Turkey. Kanter's family back in Turkey has been harassed by the government and Kanter has been called a terrorist and enemy of the state by the government. He discusses the arrest warrant issued by the Turkish government that prevents him from traveling internationally. That means he may face arrest if he travels to Canada for the Christmas Day game against the Raptors. He has a compelling personal story, some great anecdotes about playing against OKC's Steven Adams in practice, and explains why he no longer respects LeBron James "off the court." And he spills about his "Cheat Days" and why they are such fun. This is the best 27 minutes you'll listen to this week!
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Mike Wise welcomes six prominent NBA journalists to share great stories about the league, its players, and "off the court" issues like the conflict with the Chinese government. Mike's guests are JA Adande, Harvey Araton, Chris Broussard, Marc Stein, Jason Whitlock, and Frank Isola.
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Tim Corrigan is the Senior Coordinating Producer of NBA games for ESPN and ABC. He produces every big game including the NBA Finals, the ABC Prime Time games, the Conference Finals on ESPN, and the marquee Christmas Day game. In this lively interview, Tim describes his job (2:00 mark), reacts to Jeff Van Gundy's description of him (3:11), and what it's like to be surrounded by stars on both sides of the camera (3:45). Tim has produced events well beyond the NBA world. He shares memories of the 2004 World Cup and the passion of Brazilian soccer fans (7:00). And one of his best stories was producing the famous LeBron James chase down block in the 2016 NBA Finals and why it was right up there with "Michael Jordan level" heroics (10:18). Mike and Tim discuss Mike Breen's famous "BANG" call (11:43), their shared memories of watching Lindsay Nelson do Notre Dame football games on tape delay (16:20), the leadership skills and hoop IQ of Mark Jackson (29:00), and the NBA coach who is most like legendary football coach Vince Lombardi (31:48). Fans of the TV industry will enjoy Tim's perspective on all the different people who contribute to the production of the NBA games we all enjoy.
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David Stern was NBA Commissioner from 1984-2014. In Part II of his conversation with Mike Wise, David takes a deep dive into the relationship of the NBA with China as well as explaining how the league became an international sport. David and Mike covered much more ground, including his biggest regrets. You'll be surprised when he tells you which Hall of Fame coaches he should have suspended for bashing the refs and the league office. And speaking of refs, Mike asks him about Tim Donaghy, the former NBA official who bet on games. David will recall his reaction to the FBI agent breaking the Donaghy news to him. Stern also shares thoughts on Michael Jordan, Nelson Mandela, former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, and why the quality of journalism isn't what it used to be. This is David Stern as you have never heard him ... until now.
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David Stern was NBA Commissioner from 1984-2014. He was a visionary who helped the league grow from a sport that had its biggest games shown on tape delay to a worldwide phenomenon seen in nearly every country on the planet. In Part I of this two part interview, David discusses his humble beginnings working in his father's deli to his work as a lawyer for the NBA, to his reign as Commissioner, to his vision to make basketball a global game, to the recent controversy involving China, and even his reaction when HOOP magazine airbrushed Allen Iverson’s tattoos for a cover photo back in 2000. David also discusses his successor Adam Silver, how he originally brought him to the league, and his opinion on the quality of his performance as Commissioner. This was an exclusive interview and a rare podcast appearance for David. With Mike Wise, one of the preeminent basketball journalists of our time asking the questions, David Stern showed a side of himself that few have seen or heard.
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Mike & Eric Newman examine the Warriors' tough times, the resurrection of the Lakers behind the LeBron/Anthony Davis duo, and the "KAT fight" between Joel Embiid and Karl-Anthony Towns. Bruce Bernstein also previews the two part David Stern interview that will be the subject of the next two Mike Wise Shows. Bruce shares personal stories of his 16 year relationship with the legendary Commissioner Emeritus of the NBA, including a "Behind the Scenes" account of how the interview was arranged. And we also hear a preview from Stern about how he was enraged over the way Allen Iverson was treated by HOOP magazine 20 years ago.
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Torrel Harris is a longtime agent and also the father of 76ers star Tobias Harris. During the off-season, Torrel negotiated a $180 million dollar contract for his free agent son. It was the 5th highest deal in terms of total salary in NBA history. Torrel and Mike discuss the aspects of representing a child as well as Torrel's history of repping others. One of those players was Hall of Famer George "Ice Man" Gervin. Torrel has some good stories about his relationship with "Ice." Torrel also has a great story about how he was able to talk his way into the locker room and introduce Tobias and his brother Terry to Michael Jordan at a Knicks game when they were kids. Torrel also shares stories about the importance of players giving back to the community and how Tobias learned this lesson at a very early age.
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Harvey Araton and Mike Wise are two of the greatest basketball journalists of our era. They have a thoughtful discussion of the entire Daryl Morey/China/NBA/LeBron James controversy. From David Stern's original reservations about doing business with China (@4:50), to Adam Silver's handling of the entire situation (@9:00), to the league being strategic in its causes (@11:00), and how China needs the NBA even more than the NBA needs China (@19:00). Harvey and Mike dive even deeper, examining the question of LeBron James' statement about Morey that some took to mean "Shut up and just be a GM," the executive equivalent of "Shut Up and Dribble." (@ 30:00). You have heard a lot of words spoken about this topic, but none are more insightful than these.
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Todd MacCulloch is one of the most entertaining basketball personalities anywhere. He started at center in two straight NBA Finals, battling Shaquille O'Neal both times. His career was cut short by injuries and he is now a professional pinball player. His stories about Allen Iverson, Shaq, and comedian Dave Chappelle are insightful and funny. His story about how he ended up in one of Chappelle's skits is classic. Todd also describes what it was like guarding Yao Ming and accidentally catching a bald eagle ... while fishing! Todd is guaranteed to make you smile and his story telling skills are outstanding.
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Chris Broussard has been covering the NBA for more than two decades. He and Mike Wise discuss the bloodletting at Sports Illustrated (1:20) and why Twitter is a bad place to break stories (4:10). The guys also take a deep dive into the legacy of LeBron James, whom Chris has known since their days in Akron (8:53). Chris tells the story of how he healed the rift between LeBron and ESPN (14:00) and how LeBron finally learned that Lakers fans are only impressed with Championships (18:40). Chris also believes that Mark Jackson has been blackballed in his attempt to get another coaching job (25:00).
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Mike Wise’s guests are always thoughtful and sometimes controversial. In this episode we hear some great exchanges with Jason Whitlock, Hall of Famers Dave Cowens and Chris Mullin, Jeff Van Gundy, Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry, JA Adande, Marc Stein, and Mavs coach Rick Carlisle.
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Dave Cowens was a two time champion, Rookie of the Year, and MVP for the Boston Celtics. He was one of the most intense players ever to take the court. In a wide ranging conversation with Mike Wise he shares many opinions and stories. Among them are his feelings about the death of former teammates John Havlicek and Jo Jo White (@2:15) ... what Larry Bird was like as a rookie when they were teammates in 1980 (@4:07) ... the story about knocking Shaquille O'Neal's father's teeth out in a pickup game (@7:37) ... why the best Celtics team he was on did NOT win the championship (@18:40) ... his memories of Celtics boss Red Auerbach (@31:10) ... what Bill Russell told Auerbach about him (@34:40) ... his work with the NBA Retired Players Association and how it helps the legends of the game (@37:23) ... two wild and memorable confrontations with fans in Texas (@49:45) ... and what it was like coaching in the WNBA (@56:15).
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Jason Whitlock is a proud contrarian whose controversial and frequently unpopular views are always backed up by facts. Jason and Mike disagree on almost everything and this week Jason is on fire with blazing hot takes on the NBA as well as football stars Antonio Brown (at 3:07) and Cam Newton (at 8:30). At 16:40 Jason's take on Kawhi Leonard coming to LA is fascinating. Mike and Jason mix it up over the calculated moves of LeBron James (at 18:50), the Raptors outreach to Toronto's Muslim fans (at 23:23), the relative merits of NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (at 26:05), the social justice commentary of Gregg Popovich and Steve Kerr (at 33:30), and the legitimacy of the CTE crisis in the NFL (at 40:51). Two smart guys disagreeing about almost everything, but doing it in a civilized way.
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Seven time EMMY Award winner Todd Kapostasy is the director of the new ESPN 30 for 30 "Rodman: For Better or Worse" that debuts on Tuesday September 10th. Todd's epic documentary examines Rodman's life in a way that we have never seen before. Among the topics covered: (7:46) Why Dennis cooperated on the project. (10:22) Was he paid? (20:00) Isiah Thomas on why Detroit gave Dennis something that no other team gave him and a shocking statement from Dennis himself about his Pistons teammates. (27:00) Was he really going to kill himself in the Palace parking lot? (30:30) Rodman's relationship with the LGBTQ community. (33:00) Why he never cared about getting buckets. (41:30) How the media enabled Rodman's antics. (47:00) His relationship with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. (53:00) The cost of Rodman's fame. Todd is an exceptional story teller and his insight on Rodman is incredibly perceptive.
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Dave Wohl has had one of the most amazing hoop careers ever. He was a first round pick in 1971 out of an Ivy League School (Penn). He played for 6 seasons, coached for more than 30, and has been an executive with the Celtics and Clippers. He has incredible recall and can tell a story with the best of them. At 1:00 Mike and Dave play "Six Degrees of Dave Wohl" and got back to Dr. Naismith in 5 ... the connections are amazing. At 6:50 he describes the dead spots on the old Boston Garden floor and how visiting teams needed to know where every one was. Perhaps his greatest insight is on Pat Riley (9:00 mark) and why being a "Control Freak" was one of his greatest strengths. Dave was also in LA when the original Shaq/Kobe beef started back in the late '90's. At 15:10 Dave breaks it all down. he has classic Doc Rivers stuff (25:00), some good stories from Dave and Kurt Rambis' time in Minnesota (31:30) and an absolutely hilarious Kevin Loughery story (36:30). This is just a taste of an amazing conversation.
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Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry joins Mike Wise for a discussion about owning an NBA team, his association with the show "Billions," (1:54) and coming to the United States from Morrocco as a seven year old boy (18;58). Among the topics they discussed are Giannis Antetokounmpo's future (9:13), the progress the franchise has made in his 5 years as co-owner (8:45), his thoughts on fellow owners Mark Cuban and Jeanie Buss (28:30), the culture they're creating in Milwaukee (11:24), and why the Bucks chose not to stay at hotels owned by Donald Trump (32:00).
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Jeff Van Gundy joins Mike Wise to discuss his coaching and broadcasting careers. They discuss Jeff's years as Knicks head coach, the challenge of coaching a great player like LeBron James when their skills start to decline, his relationship with broadcast partners Mike Breen and Mark Jackson, and how he almost had a relationship with actress Jodie Foster when they were both attending Yale.
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Rivalries have always motivated players as they strive for greatness. Fourteen high profile NBA players share memories of their first or most intense rivalries and some will surprise you.
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Legendary Dallas Mavericks Head Coach Rick Carlisle spends a revealing hour with Mike Wise. Rick shares his thoughts on female coaches in the NBA (26:50), the greatness of Dirk Nowitzki (6:47), how Bill Walton turned him into a Grateful Dead fan (38:28), his enduring friendship with musician Bruce Hornsby (44:09), his experience as a member of the 1986 NBA Champion Boston Celtics (34:30), and his 14 years as President of the NBA Coaches Association (21:25). You might think you know Rick Carlisle, but this podcast will show you aspects of this great coach's personality that you never knew.
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Mike is joined by former and current coaches Jeff Van Gundy, Isiah Thomas, Mike Brown, Chris Mullin, and PJ Carlesimo who share their stories and perspectives on coaching in the NBA and in college.
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Since its first episode on January 14, 2019 the Mike Wise Show (which started out as The Wise Ass Show) has featured conversations with some of the top basketball personalities on the planet. There have been current and former players, legendary coaches and journalists, and even team owners, broadcasters, and executives. In this very first "Best Of Mike Wise" podcast, you'll hear some of the funniest, most insightful, and substantive conversations between Mike and his guests.
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Chris Mullin is a Hall of Famer both on and off the court. In college at St John's, he was the Big East Player of the Year three times. As a member of the original Dream Team at the 1992 Olympics, he was teammates with Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, and other immortals. As a Golden State Warrior, he was part of the famous Run TMC trio with Mitch Richmond and Tim Hardaway. His list of achievements is far too long to be documented here. He is also one of the finest human beings anywhere. His story about what went through his mind the day he decided to retire is a classic.
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"Mr Big Shot," also known as Chauncey Billups joins Mike Wise on this week's episode. He has great stories about his favorite coach Larry Brown and how their relationship took off once Chauncey grasped one very important aspect of Larry's personality. Chauncey also has a good story about his very first night at ESPN and how an overnight McDonald's run was all that stood between him and possible starvation. OK, that might be a slight exaggeration. Chauncey also describes his relationship with fellow NBA Countdown personalities Paul Pierce, Jalen Rose, and Michelle Beadle.
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Mike Wise welcomes fellow Pure Hoops Media podcast host Eric Newman as they survey the wreckage that is the Knicks' franchise just 24 hours into the free agency period. Meanwhile across the river in "Brooook-lynnn," Nets fans are giddy at the prospect of adding Kyrie Irving next season and Kevin Durant as soon as he is healthy. Mike and Eric handle every angle of the NYC NBA story.
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Marc Stein is one of the most distinguished NBA writers in the country. The recipient of the 2019 Curt Gowdy Media Award from the Basketball Hall of Fame has great stories about his quarter century of covering the sport. Marc shares his thoughts on the Anthony Davis trade to the Lakers, why Stephen Curry is the most selfless of superstars, why the Knicks shouldn't be allowed to ban the New York Daily News from their media events, and some classic stories about his 15 years at ESPN.
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ESPN's Front Office Insider Bobby Marks joins Mike Wise to discuss the Anthony Davis trade, the ultimate destinations for Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard, and how the Warriors dynasty may not be over, but just on hold until Klay Thompson recovers from his injury.
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Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry joins Mike Wise for a discussion about owning an NBA team, his association with the show "Billions," and coming to the United States from Morrocco as a seven year old boy. Among the topics they discussed are Giannis Antetokounmpo's future, the progress the franchise has made in his 5 years as co-owner, his thoughts on fellow owners Mark Cuban and Jeanie Buss, and the culture they're creating in Milwaukee.
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Jeff Van Gundy joins Mike Wise to discuss his coaching and broadcasting careers. They discuss Jeff's years as Knicks head coach, the challenge of coaching a great player like LeBron James when their skills start to decline, his relationship with broadcast partners Mike Breen and Mark Jackson, and how he almost had a relationship with actress Jodie Foster when they were both attending Yale.
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Mike Brown, the associate head coach of the Golden State Warriors has coached the greatest players in basketball during his more than 20 years as an NBA coach. As head coach of the Cavaliers, he and LeBron James led the team to the 2007 NBA Finals. As head coach of the Lakers, he coached Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, Steve Nash, Pau Gasol, and Metta World Peace. In San Antonio he coached Tim Duncan and David Robinson. And in Golden State as the top assistant to Steve Kerr, he is currently coaching Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson. Mike's great sense of humor, his humble nature, and his stories about the greats of the game will make you smile and also help you understand what makes the Warriors tick.
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J.A. Adande has been covering the NBA for nearly 30 years at the Washington Post, LA Times, and ESPN. You've seen him doing sideline reports on ESPN's NBA coverage, participating on ESPN's Around The Horn, reporting for SportsCenter and NBA Coast to Coast, and now he is in the world of academia. J.A. currently is the Director of the Sports Journalism program at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. Mike and J.A. discuss the greatness of Giannis Antetokounmpo, the legacy of Larry Bird, his favorite athlete interview, and why Michael Wilbon has made such a difference in his life.
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Mike felt that only one day of celebrating Mother's Day was totally inadequate. So he doubled up and had some fun conversations with Pamela McGee (Mother of Javale McGee of the Lakers and WNBA player Imani McGee-Stafford of the Atlanta Dream) and Lucille O'Neal (Shaq's Mom). They are two of the strongest, most caring, and loving Moms and they have some classic stories about their kids. Pamela had a great career of her own with National championships (USC), Olympic Gold (1984), and a great WNBA run. Lucille is President as well as a co-founder of the Mothers of Professional Basketball Players Association. She also recently completed her studies and earned her doctorate in humane letters. Everyone should honor their Mom and listen to this show.
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Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic joins Mike for a 30 minute discussion before he heads back to Slovenia for the summer. They discuss his upcoming decision on whether to opt in with the Heat for the 2019-2020 season. Mike and Goran also break down why Nikola Jokic is such a unique player. Other topics include a breakdown of how the European style of player development focuses on team success as opposed to the creation of individual stars. And Goran describes his first interactions with Luka Doncic when the Mavericks rookie was 5 or 6 years old.
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Antonio Davis, the 13 year NBA veteran joins Mike Wise to discuss a number of issues from his new role with the Players Union to his "cerebral tough guy" style as a player, to the issues affecting players who leave the game. Antonio discusses his own struggles after his career ended and the program he is setting up with the union to help former players navigate the challenges of their lives after basketball. And he also tells a surprising story about his college coach Don Haskins regarding the 1966 UTEP National Championship team and the legendary "All African American" starting lineup.
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ESPN Front Office Insider Amin Elhassan joins Mike Wise and they examine a number of "Big Picture" issues from around the NBA. They probe the mindset of Kyrie Irving and whether he will ever be content with his situation, regardless of the team he is with. Mike and Amin also warn Kevin Durant that while the Knicks and their fans are praying for him to come to the Big Apple, he may be in for a rude awakening if he is not able to produce immediate results. Amin also explains "The LeBron James Experience" and how many Lakers fans have come to the realization that some of his baggage is heavier than they anticipated.
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Mike welcomes two Hall of Famers to this week's show. 2018 Inductee Grant Hill, a part owner of the Atlanta Hawks as well as an announcer for Turner Sports and CBS discusses everything from the Lakers turmoil to the evolution of Duke's Coach K to the developing identity of the Hawks, and even tells the story of how singer Anita Baker introduced him to his future wife. Jack McCallum was the recipient of the Curt Gowdy Media Award from the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2005. He was a senior writer at Sports Illustrated for nearly three decades and he discusses the departure of Magic Johnson and the future of the Lakers franchise.
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Harvey Araton's new book "Elevated: The Global Rise of the NBA" is destined to be one of the best basketball anthologies in memory. Harvey has curated and connected some of the best basketball feature pieces of the past 30+ years. Howie Schwab is simply a college basketball savant. He's a legendary researcher who became an on air personality and is currently the Bracketologist for FOX Sports. They relive Virginia's worst loss ever and it wasn't last year vs. 16 seed UMBC in the tournament. Howie and Mike also size up Monday's NCAA title game between Virginia and Texas Tech.
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Mike is joined by three time NBA Champion Bruce Bowen as they discuss his incredible San Antonio Spurs experience, the impact of Manu Ginobili and Coach Greg Popovich, his controversial dismissal from the Clippers over his Kawhi Leonard comments, how basketball is and isn't being taught properly today, his past issues with mental health and hi mission to help young people in similar situations and much more!
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Jason Whitlock joins Mike for an depth discussion on LeBron James as they cover the influence of Muhammad Ali’s legacy in the area of social consciousness, athlete promise and the privileges that come with it, the role of black athletes as spokesman for social causes, present day realities about journalism and much more!
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Isiah Thomas shares incredible stories of his upbringing on Chicago's rugged West Side, his recruitment by coach Bob Knight at Indiana, why his 1992 Dream Team snub still hurts, and his controversial comments about racial issues in the 1980's NBA.
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Tim Legler of ESPN joins Mike as they discuss Legler's incredible basketball from the hardwood to the studio including the team that gave him his first opportunity, his desire to coach division one college basketball, how he views the Michael Jordan LeBron James G.OA.T. debate, the influence of AAU basketball on present day NBA player movement, stories about former Washington teammates Chris Webber, Juwan Howard and Rasheed Wallace, the future of Kyrie Irving and more!
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Mike Wise is joined by long time basketball story teller Ric Bucher of Bleacher Report and creator of the podcast Bucher & Friends as they talk everything from their time together coming up at the San Jose Mercury News, the Lakers struggle to make the playoffs, the MVP battle between Harden and Giannis, Kyrie Irving and the Celtics, the state of the Warriors defense with Boogie Cousins, Lee Jenkins front office gig with the Clippers, Scott Perry and the Knicks front office, advice on raising kids and much more!
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Mike Wise is joined by former NCAA & NBA head coach, and current basketball analyst P.J. Carlesimo as they flashback 30 years to Seton Hall's memorable 1989 Final Four run, P.J.'s close friend Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim and the unfortunate tragedy he was recently involved in, the 1992 Dream Team experience including the friendship formed between Larry Bird and Patrick Ewing, the Latrell Sprewell practice incident 20 years ago and much more!
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NBA All-Star 2019 special edition from Charlotte as Mike is joined by Bleacher Report's Howard Beck and Eric Newman to talk NBA All-Star weekend, where journalism is today, the unique New York connection between them and much more!
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In mid-February of 2019, Mike was joined by Lakers owner and president Jeanie Buss as they talked about righting the Lakers ship, Magic Johnson's recruitment of LeBron James, her breakup with Phil Jackson and much more! While the conversation took place 8 weeks before Magic resigned in April, it is a revealing window into the thought process of the "Boss Lady" in LA.
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Mike is joined by former Suns GM Ryan McDonough as they break down the Knicks decision to trade Kristaps Porzingis, address a report about the Suns pursuit of Porzingis in 2017, the looming NBA trade deadline, his family connection to Whitey Bulger and more!
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Mike and Frank take a deep dive into the Knicks, who show us why lottery picks don't mean what they used to; Klay Thompson not a Top-10 guard in the west? Ridiculous.
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The time Garrett Temple's dad debated David Duke at LSU; Inside the dust-up with teammate Omri Casspi.
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A three-time winner of the Sixth Man of the Year Award, Jamal Crawford has played for 19 coaches in 19 seasons -- and he can name them all. And what about that time he gambled away his brand new Mercedes after playing craps at Michael Jordan's restaurant during his rookie season? Welcome to the Wise Ass Show.
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Ever been boar hunting with Shaquille O'Neal? Mike Wise has, and he wants to tell you all about it. Join the veteran basketball journalist (most recently of the Washington Post, New York Times and ESPN), as he pursues the best storylines around the NBA and shares them each week, on the Wise Ass Show via Pure Hoops Media.
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