A Timberwolves Celebration With Craig Kilborn | The Ryen Russillo Podcast

Ryen Russillo is joined by Minnesota’s very own Craig Kilborn to talk about his beloved Minnesota Timberwolves, their tenacious defense against the Denver Nuggets, and whether it can lead them to an NBA title this year.
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[@jjstraka1982]

Understand that for many people, not just in MN, sports fandom isn't something you jump on and off. You are born in a certain place and those are your teams, ride or die. Kilby grew up in MN, made it to the bright lights, and could have easily abandoned the team for another. But he didn't. That's a true fan.

[@PLF...]

Unless they "relocate" lol. Only happens in the US

[@justindavis1807]

Request: please have Kilborn on every month. Incredible interview. Just two dudes jamming. Love it.

[@jeffreyletourneau299]

Agreed

[@Sticktothemodels]

Can we talk about the dlo thing though That was weird

[@joesmith3542]

Loved this interview bc Kil is one of us but feels like Ryen has no idea when he can talk lol. Kil the best rambler of all time. Go wolves

[@mcs1113]

I went to high school with Craig in Hastings! Had a few art classes with Mr. Lange and Mr. ??? (short dark haired teacher with an odd thumb we all speculated had been a big toe transplant - good god, we were kids then…) Even at 8 a.m. in first class, Craig had a quiet “let’s get this party started!’ vibe, great sense of humor, which included everyone within his vicinity. Glad to see he’s done well!

[@sammalik128]

Two of my favorite hoops analysis personalities, and indeed, Craig offers some of the best and most nuanced analysis in the game.

[@razkable]

Minny needs a title badly

[@synapse913]

The karmic gods owe the people of Minnesota for the squandering of KG’s prime.

[@ljutko7]

❤😉

[@pgavin66mpls]

kilby dwarfs the unlettered clown show puppets on espn/fox any of the poverty of thought playa podcasts. so good to hear him.

[@spiroskaradakis9492]

Is that Craig Kilborne or Sebastien?!?!?

[@David-iv6je]

3:45 Maybe a rally without Gobert. But maybe not. Maybe it was smaller and faster on a team like that, like some Velociraptors on D. Or yeah, a wolf pack on D. It was terrifying, like the 04 Pistons who drove everybody nuts. (Poor Antonio McDyess never got his ring when they ran it back). I think this MIN squad can go small or big and still do well, because they still have a big in KAT. Ant is the new 1st team NBA player but KAT is essential for them to contend, because teams need two star options. The knucklehead needs not to commit dumb fouls or do any of his other KATish stuff that always held them back when he was first option. But what Gobert gives them is the flexibility to become the best defense in 20 years, or they take him off and they still have a league best defense but now 5 good to great scorers. No knock on Gobert: our newly minted DPOY provides the flexibility champions need. I think Denver is toast, since they lost their sixth man of altitude. They're doing great if they avoid a sweep. I'm not buying OKC as a contender. They are early, a step ahead of Orlando. Maybe the Celtics if Porzingis is playing? But even there they can only play 5 at once. Can they match the intensity that MIN is showing? It might depend on whether officials call it tight or loose. Hey, it always does. You know what happens when teams were allowed to rough up Steph Curry in the playoffs.

[@brianjauhiainen3954]

Fabulous episode 👏

[@StickyShoes34]

I cant believe that game 1 Knicks vs Pacers and game 2 Nuggest vs TWolves was played under the same sanctioning body lmao.

[@stanleyrizzo]

two good men here

[@uv6821]

Agree with kilborn on the guys who miss vs don’t miss games.

[@leroyduncan9368]

Nice, a third-person reference to top off the bougy

[@TannerLikesStuff]

great ep!

[@michaelstover6778]

It’s sad killbourn gives better analysts then most of ESPN and all of fox sports suppose experts. And of course arenas that dude is delusional

[@ljutko7]

🤦🫣🤫😉 he's not that smart man

[@cadepierson8892]

Hell yes

[@davidrace1050]

As a Knicks fan, I hate to say I agree. Thibs will not/can not adjust. There are in trouble if OG can't go.

[@zain4070]

THEY GOT KD BUT WE GOT JADEN MCDANIELS

[@mccauleyrorke1597]

Ryen has been a such hater of the Wolves for years as he tries to build the “trade Ant” case and so now it’s fun watching him pivot.

[@chriscary9269]

Can you guys please talk about what the hell’s going on with the ownership drama, and weather or not we should be worried about Glenn remaining the owner.

[@ortforshort7652]

Does everyone still think Jokic is in the GOAT conversation for centers? It's why you can't anoint people after a couple of years like they did Jokic. Minnesota figured out how to stop him. Now Jokic is suddenly human.

[@Monsterassassin3]

One game bro

[@ortforshort7652]

@@Monsterassassin3 You are only as good as your last game

[@Monsterassassin3]

@@ortforshort7652 by that measure everyone that has retired sucks cus their last game was bad

[@dehaman_4_144]

He was always bad on defense, which is 50% of the game. Media ppl like always had created a narrative and ran with it. Suddenly their narrative has cracks in it. He surely got exposed.

[@Monsterassassin3]

@@dehaman_4_144 yeah man, how about that game last night. Got exposed huh

[@iwannatalktosampson5852]

Kilborn pod 👀👀👀👀

[@evanwelch7649]

It’s crazy the 2000’s pistons were doing this to teams EVERY NIGHT

[@jamesh7469]

The Wolves doing it is way more impressive considering how much the skill level and tactics of the game have evolved since the '00s

[@arasmusen270]

So are the wolves but Noone watches em til playoffs

[@untexan]

And then they’d go down the other end and barely get 80 points. This is two-way dominance.

[@razkable]

The heat in 2012 got to this level

[@jamesmiller5331]

Remember when they lost the first two games of the finals against OKC? I brought that up to somebody today because even though I told him last year that Ant got next and that Minny was going into the finals before the playoffs started... you can't call a serious over because of the first two games. I remember how dominant that Miami Heat team was and then I remember after those first two games thinking to myself damn we are entering the Durant / Westbrook / Harden era. They would go on to lose four straight.

[@smittyque2567]

​@jamesmiller5331 You just made up your own history 😅😂 Miami split with OKC the 1st 2 games although if you ask a Thunder fan they got robbed in game 2.

[@dpistons149]

Lies they got pushed to a game 7 by an old boston Team

[@richborn6700]

I have a D-Lo jersey in my closet. I might give it to my daughter because I need a Throwback Nickiel to replace it

[@alexmeyer2222]

Kilborn has a hard time staying with a train of thought. Tough listen

[@Tydagoatt24]

The league has done a whole 360 Good drafting will take you Much further than good free agent signings

[@johnt6806]

Do you mean 360?

[@TunMan121]

you mean 180

[@Tydagoatt24]

@@TunMan121 thanks professor

[@charleybarley914]

the Wolves have made the Oppenheimer leap..I have becoma a destroyer of worlds. not sure who stops this. Just thought an erudite aristocratic sophisticate like minny's own Kilby would appreciate the "Oppenheimer Leap" reference cause I'm cultured like that lol

[@dehaman_4_144]

Culture comes from cult

[@brandonwoods682]

KAT is the reverse Marcus Smart. Smart is defense, but not quite the best, KAT is offense, but not quite the best. Smart is a Guard, KAT is a Big. Smarts bad offense is dumb shots. KATs bad defense is dumb fouls

[@slow_Jo]

We want OKC...then we want Boston.

[@sillylittlesheepjax6009]

OKC will own you

[@slow_Jo]

@@sillylittlesheepjax6009 naw

[@BigBear-sn3hm]

That's the guy who used to watch me sleep through my window at night. He should knock and identify himself if he is close, watch put

[@ljutko7]

Somehow yes, Denver will spenk Boston if they meet up 😉💯🤷🤫

[@matthogg2252]

When’s Olberman coming on ?

[@laredolassoo]

KAT is a star.

[@EnthusiasticLock-hn4qp]

Think of the playoffs like a video game from edwards perspective. Level one, Durant and booker. Level 2, jokic and Murray. Next Alexander and holmgren. Boss fight Tatum and brown. Game over.

[@60zeller]

Don’t sure about ft equating to fg per. Ja Morant Ft was 81 percent in college. Not a good jump shooter..yet anyway

[@roeyburns7947]

It's a measure to determine if you think they will be a good 3 point shooter more than jump shooter fwiw, based on natural stroke. JA has become above average 3 point shooter

[@richardkenny7555]

Durant to OKC?

[@Nugschris]

I mean no ones going to acknowledge that the officiating was clearly different in these first two ganes then the last few years? They letting them play football out there which is fine but that obviously gives Minnesota a big advantage.

[@ljutko7]

I really love Minesota! But u now see and must understand... We have Jokić and that's all what we need... Again sorry 😞 And this guy...my god OKC and Boston?way to be ahead 🤷😆😘

[@dougmaclennan8654]

1) Russillo and Simmons heep maximum derision on Gobert trade. "Worst trade in history of sports" ipso facto dumbest GM 2) Trade works. Wolves go to next level. Jazz nowhere. 3) Wolves fans come back to point out Russillo's 100% smugness. 4) Russillo can't understand why.

[@mccauleyrorke1597]

They are frothing at the idea of another Wolves - Celtics trade for Ant and will do whatever to plant those seeds

[@TheTeamOden]

I know the series isn't over, but add the clown Kilborn to the list of the people who thought Denver was dead and the Minnesota are the next MJ dynasty

[@WheresWaldo05]

Not me. I have no respect any guy who misses their kids birth for petty basketball. Ball means nothing in the grande sceme of life. It's not the point of life. So Craigs take at the end is absurd.

[@spencerdouglas1538]

I like the wolves a lot. But no team has any chance against them if refs are not going to call fouls.

[@TunMan121]

it's playoff basketball...whistles are harder to come by as you progress thru each round.

[@untexan]

Looks like the troll bot message of the day is the refs suck

[@dehaman_4_144]

You are too much on copium. Acceptance will come, need to give it time

[@nathanabraham4639]

You mean how Murray and molone both weren't ejected/suspended.. no room to talk if Murray is on the floor Friday

[@AliMohamed-bs2wn]

What happened to the awful gobert trade…

[@sQrin]

Just close your eyes and listen: .. He sounds like Trump 😂

[@kam_12_]

😂😂

[@swen6797]

Blazer over jersey obviously

[@jackaiello5616]

Media is doing a crazy number on the T Wolves and continue to ignore OKC. Especially this guy

[@aron.gortman]

Edwards got the most insane calls in Game 2, are you kidding me.

[@laredolassoo]

Lol

[@dehaman_4_144]

How much is your copium? Good stuff.

[@aron.gortman]

@@dehaman_4_144 Your momma.

[@mrgabgutierrez]

between kilborn simmons and van pelt russilo is just a sports ass kisser

[@joshuafricker3346]

Denver in 7

[@David-iv6je]

Nope. Sorry man. They're facing the best defense since the 04 Pistons and their bench is thinner than it was last year. (I like Braun, but Bruce Brown was a great "Alfred" as JJ Redick shared with us. Even Jeff Green was a nice long 3 and D guy worth 15 mpg. They're missing that.) MIN as a team and Ant in particular leveled up at precisely the right time. Great coaching, that. Oh, and Murray looks gimpy.

[@brianbett1367]

I could maybe get behind this if these first two were played in Minny, but man looking that pathetic in Denver I think it’s over man. Minnesota D too suffocating and Murray hurt its over.

[@leroyduncan9368]

No one gives a shit about how much money your friends have broski

[@Cultivated.]

Dude this guy sucks lol We do not always have to pay reverence to the old guard if they don’t have it anymore, sorry

[@Cultivated.]

Holy shit and then the take about not seeing your kids birth, dude I love basketball, but some things are more important fucking hell, hope his kids hear that Jesus fuck…

[@leroyduncan9368]

Ryen, you are often times soo fkn smug. This dude by comparison is like listening to an english duke. Please dont do this again.

[@chopin1975-tq3gx]

wolves vs celtics in finals; boston in 5...

[@CorePathway]

Boston is too soft.

[@nocturne311]

@@CorePathwayBoston hasn’t been soft all year.

[@lotus65]

T-Wolves in 6

[@dehaman_4_144]

This is playoffs, Boston doesn't have what it takes to stop Edwards.