How Does Giannis Compare to Hakeem? | The Bill Simmons Podcast

The Ringer’s Bill Simmons is joined by Kenny "The Jet" Smith to discuss the upcoming NBA draft, parallels between Giannis Antetokounmpo's title win with the Bucks and Hakeem Olajuwon's mid-'90s Rockets, and the slew of Ben Simmons trade rumors.
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[@BinniamEskender]

I like the input from Kenny here. Availability is the best ability… and the way Milwaukee sustained, retooled, adjusted and maintained themselves this season and playoff, they deserve the championship and was the best team.

[@ciaojay7025]

It's also a reflection on how good their medical staffs taking care of their players

[@sammyttheg412]

It's more a reflection of their underperfromance in the bubble. The teams that went deep in 2020 playoffs got decimated by injuries

[@MrAcedelux]

Reminder they didn't have their starting SG in Donte for the whole playoffs, and he was a big part defensively

[@cvkg7015]

@sammy tv i mean maybe. celtics and nuggets lost a key player that i guess you cld blame of that. but miami just sucked and AD just showed up out of shape and is always injured so hard to blame the bubble

[@davidkelln9225]

@@sammyttheg412 okay, but only 4 teams went deeper.

[@rsaurers14]

I need to hear Charles and shaq's. Commentary on this first 5 min of Kenny rewriting his own history

[@apiah09]

😂

[@agoshgaur5335]

Right. Comparing himself to Pippen is really something

[@StocktonSmurf]

Lmao true

[@abcsorensen]

Kenny was an All-American. Don't be disrespectful.

[@ehi80]

😅🤣🤣😂

[@frankmaitland2569]

Hakeem is still the most underrated player in the last 50 years.

[@matthewpulizos3444]

Easily his defense was on another level

[@keithmaher9482]

@@matthewpulizos3444 I watched him get a quadrupole double against my bucks with 10 blocks

[@matthewpulizos3444]

@@keithmaher9482 hey go bucks! Live in Milwaukee so big fan too. But yeah dude was unreal

[@machinelearner3942]

@@keithmaher9482 And now you're champions and your superstar is also a Nigerian who wears 34 and could get a quadruple double with 10 blocks... Everything Full circle.

[@apmahardhika]

@@machinelearner3942 and not only that they come from the same tribe

[@vaughnresperjr]

Watching Giannis reach that level of greatness was special. I agree with Kenny that the right team won. The best ability is availability.

[@umberto488]

The best ability is ability

[@IsMoKeDgRaPeS]

94/95 Olajuwon could honestly be the best center ever and I HATED rockets. The centers he ran through was ridiculous. It was like seeing lebron or Mike obtain all the stones like thanos. Shyt was special to watch!!!!

[@nocuh]

Dream Shake is my all-time fav swag shot. It carved up HOFers

[@cryptodeity]

You’re not wrong. No one brings him up anymore and the dude had it all. Tall and agile as hell. Moves like a guard and blocked shots … That kat was a special player

[@Kodreanu23]

I think mentioning Hakeem and Giannis in same sentence is blasphemous. The arsenal of moves of Hakeem is so much levels higher than Giannis' overruning people to the hoop (not to mention how many offensive fouls).

[@endless_waltz18]

MJ even said the player he would love to be teammates with would be Hakeem!

[@kchen2884]

@@Kodreanu23 the footwork and arsenal of moves is no contest. Hakeem is in a class of his own. But I understand the comparison in terms of sheer dominance on both ends of the court. Giannis was special this post season

[@Tyrunner0097]

I see Giannis as a hybrid of Shaq and Hakeem. He has Shaq's power in the paint, with some of Hakeem's athleticism and natural ball skills. As Giannis continues to develop better shooting outside the paint, it will be even more apparent.

[@skmz1592]

He’s on pace to the be the greatest. One thing he has is that Kobe’s killer mindset

[@castlewhite1577]

That sounds fucking terrifying lol

[@corbinbates2708]

Giannis as great as he is would get owned by both Shaq and Hakeem Imho

[@CrownMe13]

Kenny Smith playing himself talkin about he would go 3rd

[@MoonKast_TV]

no way he should go that high i just left a comment about Pippen. I'd take Pip at 2. Pippen had one of the longest careers of anybody in that draft

[@PuffDoe]

What pick was that lil nigga ?

[@slsstar100]

@@MoonKast_TV You are inlcuding what you know about their careers. They aren't. Just the skillset they had when drafted in combination with todays game.

[@mannyneva1760]

@@MoonKast_TV Pippen was a walking trash bag until he started training with MJ…you would’ve been fired 🤣✌🏽

[@MoonKast_TV]

@@mannyneva1760 pippen made the starting lineup toward the end of his rookie year. No walking trashbag sounds like you want to tell jokes in the comment section. Its cool though

[@seankelly4594]

The ego kenny has is laughable he really thinks he would go 3rd overall over scottie pippen

[@WhalesWilly]

The older he gets the greater he thinks he was.

[@MoonKast_TV]

@@WhalesWilly he's trying to gas himself up to get into the hall of fame lol.

[@michaelcavanaugh4433]

Yeah, kinda silly, but I think he was trying to say if there was a draft of those players today with today's NBA game. His shooting and dunking/athleticism would be rated high.

[@scottipippen6554]

But he is right though, considering their skillset in 87 and todays way of play. Pip couldn`t shoot the 3 in college as good as Kenny. Was really very, very, raw. Pretty much only Kraus saw something in him..

[@CBarber22]

He said Scottie would go 10th lmao

[@broaddusmarines]

I remember that NBA draft from 1987. I watched it as a junior in high school. There’s NO WAY the Bulls were going to draft Kenny Smith. He wasn’t on their radar. Those scouts were drooling over Scottie Pippen. Even in a hypothetical redraft, there’s no way Kenny Smith gets drafted before Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant, Reggie Lewis, or even Kevin Johnson. Heck, I’d take Mark Jackson over Kenny Smith in a redraft. Mark Jackson was one of the most intelligent point guards and a great leader. Kenny Smith has always been delusional about both his college and NBA pro careers. Only HE would take himself #3 in that draft. He was a solid role player on a championship team. He would have been an afterthought if he was still in basketball purgatory in Sacramento. He should thank the basketball gods he was traded and got to ride Olajuwon’s coattails.

[@Watchingvideoslikeu]

Yeah Kenny and Stephen Jackson act as if we didn’t watch them play NBA basketball.

[@chedbeckford8067]

I laughed so hard when kenny said he would go number 3 😂. He was a good player, wouldn't even say above average.

[@selfmade8884]

@@Watchingvideoslikeu Stephen jackson was actually a good player. Kenny was a good role player. Stak averaged 20ppg four times and was the second best player on the “we believe” warriors. If stak wouldn’t have got into the brawl he definitely would have had an even better career.

[@Watchingvideoslikeu]

@@selfmade8884 The “we believe” year was the only winning season he had in Golden State. He was a good player but sometimes on his show when he talks about himself vs other all stars if you listened to him you would think he was on their level but he wasn’t. He was also in Indiana for 3 years. They went .500 once. They missed the playoffs once, and they had the year with the brawl. If Stak was coming off your bench and you weren’t dependent on him your team was ok but if he was one of your main guys your team probably wasn’t that good.

[@selfmade8884]

@@Watchingvideoslikeu That’s revisionist history. Stak saved the spurs on many occasions. He probably would have made an all star team if not for all the off the court stuff. Any guy that can consistently get 20 ppg in the NBA is a good player. He never got the chance to be “the guy” because of his own issues but he was every bit as good as some of the guys he mentions on his show.

[@yahshgarcia3689]

simmons, russillo & a former 80s/90s player like kenny should do an old school redraftables. like ‘84, ‘85, ‘87, ‘91, etc that’d be so cool

[@tristanphipps2458]

Yes yes!!!

[@NewGoldie]

Absolutely

[@mertekren5745]

plus jackie macmullan :p

[@dgdkavsj5512]

Kenny saying he would go 3rd is hilarious anybody with sense would have taken Kevin Johnson and Scottie over him no matter the era Kenny be feeling himself too much 😂

[@itshardtofindaname]

Horace grant and Marc Jackson would gone over him too

[@smesh8318]

Doesn’t have his big bro Shaq to tell him to shut up 😂 Kenny “I’m from NY” Jett

[@davidjackson9680]

Kenny would fit very well in today’s game he just had awful knees he averaged 17 a game at one point

[@MysticMungusSlungus]

I turned it off after that. Scottie won 55 game without Michael, he’s one of the best small forwards ever.

[@dgdkavsj5512]

@@davidjackson9680 he would fit well I think KJ would fit better though KJ super underrated

[@stackntax1308]

So Kenny saying if they redid the draft in 2021 he would go 3rd over Scottie pippen STOP IT KENNETH

[@ckaiborbor]

I could see it, he was further developed coming out of college & his style is very much a asset in today’s NBA. Giannis was the 15th pick not too long ago, right?

[@kweefsweat5628]

Kenny is getting more delusional by the year

[@Rob-dd3ck]

With Kenny, the older he gets, the better he was

[@Watchingvideoslikeu]

@@ckaiborbor it certainly didn’t Pippen long to develop he became a full time starter in his rookie during the playoffs. After the bulls fifth playoff game he became a full time starter in his second season he averaged 14 points on 48% shooting along with 6 rebounds 4 assists 2 steals and 1 block he would increase his scoring over the next 3 seasons and two years after becoming a full stone starter he would become a champion. You do remember Magic Johnson playing bully ball with MJ in game 1. You remember how the bulls solved that? Yeah with Scottie Pippen.

[@machinelearner3942]

yea WILD lol

[@roots6884]

If giannis tried to emulate hakeem hed take his game to another level

[@joskaizer9521]

I see glimpses of hakeem whenever he does that transition spin. He should incorporate in the half court like hakeem.

[@thedivinekingllc.7327]

Real talk.

[@davidjackson9680]

@@joskaizer9521 it’s exactly why I laugh when people say giannis doesn’t have skill you try to spin like that and have that Body control and touch at the rim cause he almost never misses his skill is raw but it’s still skill and his potential is horrifying

[@thebode6684]

Add a baby hook and back to the basket dream shake....Gawd!

[@thefly1203]

Giannis will never have the touch Hakeem had.

[@joeltorre2200]

Hakeem is inside the top 15 of all time. He is still greater than Steph and KD. He is basically within the top 12 all time greatest players. his twin titles and mvp as well as being the all time shot blocks leader were the caveat. his 94 season is probably one of the greatest and most dominant season for a superstar. MVP, Finals MVP and DPOY. Only player to do that.

[@matthewparker9802]

Hakeem top 10

[@mb5030]

Top10 easy

[@Dnero518]

Hell yeah Hakeem definitely top 10 to me. There's really only a few guys I'd choose over him if u could have anyone in their prime. His effect on the entire game offensively and defensively being the number 1 option on offense and the defensive anchor. Imagine if Embid and Gobert was one player but more athletic than either of them. He was incredible.

[@stephenscott8632]

Kevin Johnson is a HOF. Politics is why he isn't in yet, there was no year Kenny Smith was ever q better player then KJ

[@DrPhill96]

KJ won nothing. The Jet was a stud in several playoff series with Houston. The Finals against Shaq ( 7 three pointers ) was his best.

[@jht4052]

Hakeem is only player I would take over Jordan if I were drafting

[@bsmoove2800]

I take Ewing too over Jordan people forget before his bad knees or those taking the Bulls to the limit every series with no other superstar on the Knicks

[@ballin3230]

@@bsmoove2800 stop it, Ewing was not as good as jordan. Jordan had more skill, even if Ewing didn’t have bad legs jordan still would’ve been a better player.

[@mrmacross]

@@bsmoove2800 Based purely on the buzz each player was generating before his draft? Yeah, there aren't many prospects that had more hype than Patrick Ewing. Maybe Shaq because he's bigger. LeBron because of his young age combined with advanced physicality and basketball skillset. But if you're talking about NBA career performance, picking Ewing over MJ is nuts.

[@bsmoove2800]

@@ballin3230 that's y'all problem a player with more skill set don't make u the better player y'all really confused because y'all always trying to spin the narrative of the truth it's not about who got the most skilled it's who got the most impact the best player prime example Jordan needed Pippen just to equal Ewing and Olajuwon impacts alone on their teams don't forget that Pippen was a Mvp candidate in 94 without Mike Pippen dam there carried Chicago back to the nba finals without Mike otherwise head up Chicago couldn't beat neither Houston or New York in a series because New York was Chicago biggest threat in Jordan career all those series went to the wire Vs Ewing without any other superstars on his team prime example put Jordan back at the point guard and give him John Starks and give Ewing Scottie pippen as his point guard he wins 6 championship Ewing or Jordan same is to be said with Olajuwon no matter how much y'all hate to admit it if other superstars had a pippen caliber side kick on their teams Jordan name wouldn't be what it is today it would be the question can he win a championship off his skill set

[@ballin3230]

@@bsmoove2800 no Jordan has a bigger impact on the team, you act like Scottie came into the league a great player. He just built chemistry with Jordan and Jordan helped him improve his game. MJ literally helped Scottie develop into a dominant player, that is impact on a team. How is Jordan considered the GOAT and doesn’t have bigger impact any player ever? That makes no sense, the biggest part of being the GOAT is how that player dominated the league and how much they contributed to their team’s success. The bulls ruled the 90’s point blank period and MJ has 6 rings to Ewing’s 0. He was the best player in the league on the best team for the majority of the 90’s. When did Ewing have the best team in the league……… never. I don’t understand your argument when it is clear Jordan had better impact on a team and the ENTIRE LEAGUE. How Mj not have more impact? Knicks never beat the bulls when it matters for a reason.

[@WhelmedButReady]

Hakeem to me is a legitimate Top 7 player all time. Hes the second best center ever if onlu by a hair. It's Kareem 1 and The Dream 1A IMO

[@conkov5968]

Plus the limited help he had compared to these great centres. Best teammates Hakeem got was 1 year of Ralph Samson, a past his prime Clyde (was still good though) and an old af Charles Barkley.

[@at0mly]

Agreed 100%.

[@omb3d80]

i mean in totality he played with three top 50 players of all time and a top 25 center

[@conkov5968]

@@omb3d80 Yes but only 1 was actually in their prime and that prime was for 1 year

[@torhowell5202]

Yea but if you had to take one to win a series you'd take Hakeem. Kareem was great when he played with the best pg of his era. Without he did ummmmmm.....

[@CrownMe13]

Kenny u woulda never been Scotty

[@kellerthedog]

Did Kenny really put himself over Scottie Pippen? Kenny Smith was a role player, marginal at best.

[@machinelearner3942]

Nah he was better than marginal. He can be annoying and he's on tv next to legends so it's tough, be he was a pretty damn good player. Early in his career he was a GREAT dunker and athlete, and an all around scorer who had range and averaged about 17 ppg. He was well known for being a 3 point sniper. So he was no scrub by any means but yea people get tired of him talking so they just flat out say he's a bum and NAH he doesn't go over pippen BUT then again scottie didn't play in the ncaa-- he played in the NAIA...in a world where Anthony Bennett went no. 1 in the draft where Giannis went 15, it's quite possible a GM might have seen kenny in college and said "major d1 hops & 3's top 5" and seen scottie and said "no name league - late 1st round"

[@kellerthedog]

@@machinelearner3942 they were using anecdotal evidence and he still took himself over Pippen. Modern nba is way more competitive than his era. It’s his pride. I get it

[@RayasNegroOvejas]

Well, his reasoning was what people knew at the time for the draft and how the game is played today; not necessarily what we know of Pippen now. Was Kenny a role player in college?

[@machinelearner3942]

@@RayasNegroOvejas Kenny was an All American in college on a highly Ranked Carolina team lol. People in these comments are rewriting history. In today's NBA it would be a toss-up b/c scottie pippen was a relative unknown at the time so he only went that high because he was coveted by the bulls (who traded seattle for him prior to the draft). He was a project; very talented defensively with court vision offensively but very raw. So objectively speaking even in THEIR draft it was possible for Kenny to have gone over scottie, let alone this post steph era where kenny would have what everyone's seeking see: Buddy Hield

[@MoonKast_TV]

@@machinelearner3942 in todays era i still think pippen would go high because of "upside". pippen dominated the pre draft camps and his stock shot up. with social media i have him no.2

[@vaughnresperjr]

Great analysis of Hakeem & Giannis, but there is NO way Kenny would go 3rd if they did the 1987 Draft over.

[@NutritionIan]

Kenny was great in college at North Carolina so it’s reasonable that he would. He’s not drafting based on total nba career success, just based on how they were coming into the draft. And he said modern NBA and his game is perfect for modern day NBA

[@frankmaitland2569]

Hakeem and David Robinson get overlooked but GIANNIS is the only player at Center who is close to their Category. Shaq always with the oh I was the most dominant but he wasn't skilled like The Dream

[@WhelmedButReady]

Agreed, my only rebuttal to what you said is that Giannis is a PF. He plays alot of Center, but Brook is their starting 5. He's more of a 4. In any case, he's one of the most dominant big men of all time

[@timbrown9796]

What u talking bout, giannis ain't close to neither, stop it y'all. Dude good in his own way

[@omb3d80]

@@timbrown9796 Giannis is one more FMVP away from surpassing Hakeem he’s already surpassed him in regular season MVP’s and has matched his peak value

[@timbrown9796]

@@omb3d80 your boy will never pass Hakeem, how old r u, u don't know the game. Go look at my boy stats, n he ,played center not likey these fake dudes 7 ft tall scared to play center. Hakeem would of gave him the business

[@timbrown9796]

@@omb3d80 the dream got 2 fmvp, n he went against Shaq, n pat Ewing n your boy beat ayton, who is a joke, not near there class 🤣🤣🤣

[@Watchingvideoslikeu]

If Kenny went to the bulls who would’ve guarded Magic, Clyde, Barkley? Because that was Scotties job in addition to being their de facto point-forward, while also giving anywhere from 14 to 22 points. Like stop it Kenny

[@TannerLikesStuff]

Yeah, it’s kinda wild how Kenny just didn’t acknowledge the difference defensively between Pippen and himself. So what if he wasn’t lights out from 3, dude is a top 5 defender ever

[@Watchingvideoslikeu]

@@TannerLikesStuff lol I know right

[@Lordandmaster26]

i mean they have Michael Jordan, defensive player of the year and 9 time all defense first team...

[@Watchingvideoslikeu]

@@Lordandmaster26 I mean Kenny played 5 seasons with Hakeem so it’s not like he was the answer to any superstars prayers

[@MoonKast_TV]

@@TannerLikesStuff pip was actually deadly with the pull up 3 and midrange bank shot. players didnt focus on it as much then. coaches wanted inside out game. they had kerr paxson hodges for the 3's

[@davincerica7232]

Yeah Kenny today you'd be drafted ahead of Pippen... This guy is something else LMAO

[@broaddusmarines]

Pure delusion.

[@davincerica7232]

BILL WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS??? If Kenny gets drafted to Bulls they don't win shit... Stop this nonsense

[@kweefsweat5628]

😂😂😂😂

[@buffaloben2153]

You don't know if they would have won a ring or 6 rings cause it never happened. If you know how the butterfly effect work you know what I'm talking about because there could've been more than a million other possibilities, for instance if Kenny was drafted to the bulls maybe MJ would've left the bulls but they could've won 7 or 8 rings. You don't need to act like you know everything in a what if situation cause you think you know what would've happened but your just way to ignorant to see that this take is just fucking dumb.

[@WhelmedButReady]

It wasn't about saying they'd of still won championships. Kenny himself didn't even say that. It's about him saying he was envious of not playing with a great player that would put him in a position to win the title. He got that with Hakeem, which is why he said he was only jealous for a few years

[@MoonKast_TV]

@@buffaloben2153 i dont think kenny is a great fit with MJ. Jordan needed guards who could play without the ball. Pippen kept the ball moving and ran the triangle which made it easier for the him to score.

[@davincerica7232]

@@WhelmedButReady yeah but both him and Bill were kinda like "ou if I was on the Bulls Michael and me would've been a nasty duo"... Like cmon... And the other guy can butterfly me all he want's, but they sure aren't winning 6 nor close without Pippen...

[@hrvojemilicevic3309]

Giannis is more athletic, but in everything else Hakeem is superior

[@brianlarkins4250]

If Kenny smith went to the bulls and Pippen went to the Sonics. The Sonics would have been a dynasty what crack is Bill Simmons and Kenny smith talking about Kenny YOU weren’t that good stop it. Pippen is the difference in the bulls being a dynasty and the Sonics this jordan meat hugging feast is annoying as fuck

[@abdirahmaanh]

Repeat it for the old heads in the back their ears are filled with michael special stuff

[@MoonKast_TV]

i agree 100% imagine pippen on that 94 sonics team with gp and kemp. the defense would be the best ever. remember the rockets couldnt beat seattle they caught a break when seattle got bounced early. the swarming trapping defense would be next level

[@chedbeckford8067]

As usual Kenny talking about Hakeem lool

[@vlassischatzis8574]

because he was his teamate winning 2 rings together. like rodman talks for MJ why it even suprise you

[@siircartiier]

it’s dope he says something good about him

[@RayasNegroOvejas]

He got asked about him…

[@yvans.]

@@vlassischatzis8574 Well that’s weird because Rodman also won championship with the Pistons.

[@thefly1203]

Kenny Smith saying get should’ve been drafted ahead of Scottie Pippen was hilarious ! Guy is delusional

[@residentgomez]

he didn't say should have he said would have

[@willzsportscards]

Great interview. To those who are too young to have seen Hakeem...best defender ever. Yup. You can put Russell, Rodman and a few other guys in the conversation...but to me it's Hakeem.Just look at the stats and count up all those rebounds, blocks and steals....and also...what you don't see if how no one would go to the hole since they knew he'd be there and the result would be no bueno. The ultimate intimidator. If he played in today's game he'd basically be Giannis with touch.

[@nextoesc]

Marc Gasol

[@stardestroyer44]

appreciate your insight

[@paulcervantes528]

@@nextoesc dude...

[@joskaizer9521]

Nah different playstyles,giannis is way more freaky and athletic than hakeem physically while hakeem is more skilled. Hakeem would be faster lighter smaller joel.embiid

[@paquinraino8180]

@@joskaizer9521 Hakeem, just like David Robinson was as athletic as Giannis. In your head you have the 32-33 yo Hakeem who won in 94' and 95' but all their young self was athletic asf

[@DelishusBlackMan]

This was actually lit af. Thought Kenny wouldnt be as open or down to earth, but damn this convo was great. Good shit Simmons

[@tyleredgeworth5942]

Every other year, bill says “The top 3 guys in this draft would be a definitive Number 1 pick in any other year”

[@yvans.]

The crazy things is in this case on this draft that’s not even true.

[@yvans.]

@Arnell Smith that the top 3 guys in draft would be a definitive number 1 pick.

[@scottjeffrey3472]

kenny smith drafting himself over scottie pippen is peak kenny smith

[@CBarber22]

I can't believe Kenny said Scottie would go 10th in a redraft and Bill just nodded like that's not batshit crazy

[@camdensmith8772]

And he would go 4th like what😂

[@kinggx8105]

Two of the greatest Nigerian nba legends I have seen with my own two eyes 🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🔥🔥… (I know Giannis nationality is also 🇬🇷 so don’t come at me with that bs)

[@isaidwithcheese8926]

Man not only are they Nigerians but they are also Yorubas

[@alo.5141]

@@isaidwithcheese8926 yo.... I was wondering if they were Yoruba! I used to tell ppl as a kid that Hakeem was my cousin 😂😂

[@nrz1111111]

@saidwithcheese, yes they are Yorubas

[@kchen2884]

Giannis’s game is take another leap once he trains with Hakeem to master his footwork

[@RASTAGOOB]

Game over!!

[@rodneymckinnon9075]

He doesn't need Hakeem foot work , he dominates without it !

[@socraticmethods3447]

Hakem the dream

[@ceerez1002]

I prefer the videos rather than the podcast version so I can see Bill do that weird thing with his arms 0:25 once every episode 😆

[@LoganNagol]

no way Kenny going before David Robinson, Reggie Miller, Scottie Pippen, Kevin Johnson, Horace Grant, Muggsy Bogues, Mark Jackson, or Reggie Lewis lol ,

[@brandonfranzen5191]

Talking nonsense two minutes in talking about Scottie pippen going #10 Kenny is out of his damn mind

[@ecoterrorism_liker7251]

hakeem was better

[@charold3]

Kenny is a smart man, clearly, but he ain't in any era #3. Pip is, in retrospect, either 2 or 3 and maybe even 1. As good as Giannis is, I'd still take Olajuwon over him. In fact. I might choose him over any center, tho Wilt, Kareem and Russell are obviously up there.

[@kerhin]

There’s no comparison between Hakeem and Giannis. We have to put this topic in context. Hakeem played in an era where the league was full of great centers. The game was way more physical during Hakeem era than it is today. Also the lane was more congested which made it more difficult to score in the paint compared to today’s spacing of the court. Plus you have all the rule changes like no hand checking or putting an elbow in the back of a player which make it easier for today’s players to maneuver on the court. Giannis is a good player but isn’t on the level of Hakeem.

[@rayfuentesjr]

What is Kenny talking about? Glen Rice and Vlade Divac were only on the same team together when they were in Charlotte from the 1996-97 & 1997-98 season. So this was already after Hakeem won his two rings.

[@ryzie1234]

Could have been a 3 team trade

[@dark_helmet7611]

I think he confused Vlade with Rony Seikaly but the rest is correct. I lived in Houston at the time, it was all over our media and everyone hated it.

[@arnabiarnab3037]

Kenny Smith really just said he’ll go third…as if Scottie, Kevin Johnson, Mark Jackson, or even Reggie Lewis weren’t in the same draft

[@gaffle-411]

Lolol… he doesn’t compare. I’d take Hakeem and his unstoppable footwork + no. 1 all-time shot blocking ability any day over Giannis.

[@jmar5127]

Kenny you were not that great stop the cap. Just cuz u can dunk and shoot thress dont mean u go 3rd if it was todays game. Look at the shooter the pacers took this year, he wemt in the teens. PIppen goes 2nd behind Robinson. He always tried to make it seem like he was a star. U were a role player bro. Relax.

[@austingreen1274]

Did Kenny just say he would be drafted above Scottie Pippen? You smokin good bro. 💨

[@ballerproductions1408]

Gianis compares to Hakeem because of the two way impact, but Hakeem was just way more skilled

[@armin38822]

If Scottie went 5th in 87 than he's going at least 3rd in 2021.

[@MoonKast_TV]

i have him 2 behind david robinson

[@morecowbell235]

When Giannis breaks into the top 15 in blocks and steals, then we can start to play what if and compare. Next.

[@coreyhumphrey2183]

Pippin would have been drafted 2nd. Athletes first no matter the era

[@diogocosta1305]

Great convo overall and Kenny has some great insightful takes but how is he taking himself over Scottie in a redraft? 😂😂😂 Scottie, in any era, would be a better and more valuable player than Kenny, who was really good but he was like a tier or 2 below all star level, Scottie was more like a tier below the true superstars

[@NutritionIan]

Because Scottie didn’t have the college career he had, and their talking theoretically

[@diogocosta1305]

@@NutritionIan this is not about college careers though

[@NutritionIan]

@@diogocosta1305 yes it is, it’s about who would get drafted in what order if the draft happened in today’s era. You don’t know how someone’s career is going to pan out on someone’s draft day, all you know is what they did in high school and college. That is what Kenny means, he’s not saying he’s better than scottie, but he would have for sure been drafted ahead of him because scottie didn’t have as good of an amateur career as Kenny. Edit: they didn’t say “redraft” they said if draft occurred in the modern nba where three point shooting is valued

[@diogocosta1305]

@@NutritionIan a redraft is usually based on the pro career they had not what they had done in college, PG13 for example would be a top pick in a redraft based on what he has achieved in the NBA not based on his amateur career... And Scottie would still be a great pick in today's NBA because of his playmaking and versatility on defense

[@Jacob-bh8mq]

The trade Kenny is referring to is Glen Rice and Rony Seikaly, not Vlade Divac. Divac was in LA, not Miami.

[@omb3d80]

Crazy that Hakeem’s value was so low

[@damnman45]

That makes sense. I was scratching my head on that one.

[@hub3rty]

I immediately went to the comments to check I thought it was a 3 team trade lol

[@hadeselgin]

Hakeem never got enough credit he deserves, going Bruce Almighty on these contemporary centers.

[@enthusiastofopp7013]

Kenny's comment about going 3rd isnt absurd, but since he's always tooting his own horn everybody looking at him sideways. Solid commentary as always minus the self serving shout outs.

[@frankmaitland2569]

Damn Kenny put on some Earphones

[@finerbiner]

The Dream was poetry in motion. He moved more like MJ than Giannis.

[@elnardowebster2842]

no one moved like Hakeem.

[@TejBBF223]

Someone should for real give Giannis the number to Hakeem imagine Giannis with those post moves.

[@AceTheCap823]

very different styles of basketball, other than both of them being 7 footers wit extremely good agility they have nun in common

[@donaldpriola1807]

A ridiculous comparison. Completely different players. Why have this conversation? Giannis is great in his way, and Hakeem is an all-time hall of famer. The end.

[@chas_post23]

Wait why did Kenny put himself and Reggie over Scottie? 🤣

[@karlanthonymargate7362]

Because he said they way the game is being played now and both are better shooters.

[@chas_post23]

@@karlanthonymargate7362 I know but it’s still not true lol. They might have been better shooters but in a redraft, there’s no doubt Scottie goes 1-2 with David Robinson. Pippen was an elite defender, passer, and wing scorer. He impacted the game constantly on both ends. Shoutout to Kenny but there’s no way he goes in the top five in a redraft. Robinson, Pippen, Reggie Miller, Kevin Johnson, Horace Grant, and Mark Jackson were better. Kenny in the next group with Armen Gilliam, Reggie Williams, Muggsy Bogues, and Reggie Lewis.

[@karlanthonymargate7362]

@@chas_post23 Marc Jackson would probably go lower as he wasn't really a very good shooter for a point guard. I can see Kenny getting drafted a bit higher because he was an athletic guard who could penatrate, bring the ball, and shoot. Today's game are suited for those types of guards. He'd probably bring the ball up and shoot it himself. Reggie might get drafted a bit lower because he's more off ball and no team in today's game actually run plays that set multiple picks to set him up. Teams would probable just put him in the corner waiting for a kick out. Scottie would still go high but teams nowadays put a lot of premium on shooting 3s in his position, I wonder how a pre-draft scouting report would look like for him to be honest. Seeing that we really don't have power forwards now, would probably just play him at the "4 spot".

[@ersanozon7863]

LMAO kenny wasn't even an all-star

[@alexcroninvgc]

The hand checking argument is so annoying at this point. The removal of the illegal defense call made offenses in the 2000s slow to a crawl without the hand check

[@morecowbell235]

The older kenny gets, the better play he was.

[@MoonKast_TV]

Theres only one other player i would take in that 87 draft over Pippen and thats David Robinson. Pippen is the forefather of the 3 and D positionless wing that we see in the league today. Paul George, Kawhi, even Greek Freak. Pippen was the first player with wingspan that could switch and play multiple positions. i may not agree with Pippen's views on tv but the disrespect is sad. Jordan wouldn't have won anything with Kenny Smith. Jordan couldn't play with a ball dominant guard and Kenny Smith couldn't handle the defensive assignments trap and press like Scottie. In this social media era he would have been discovered faster. Reggie Miller didn't have handles and kenny is a rotation player that shouldn't go top 5

[@lowbudgetechie]

Wo,, Hakeem taller than Giannis, 🤔🤔🤔, 😳, Damn crazy handle for such a big guy

[@dmaymartin6020]

Greek not locking up shaq bruh

[@DW-rs1pr]

Lol. Kenny saying he could deal with Michael when he can't even deal with shaq

[@noahcunningham3166]

kenny said he would go 3rd... Bruh...

[@DYLTHEVYL]

Really happy that Giannis’s greatness is being recognized by “The Jet.”

[@frankmaitland2569]

Ben Simmons is the most overrated player in 25 years. He's a center playing guard. Even the 2 weeks he was at LSU he was overrated.

[@MoonKast_TV]

2 weeks at lsu 😂😅 and a cup of coffee lol

[@goncaloreis2154]

The disrespect on pippen’s name

[@jIvEztImE]

Classic, this dude blamed being in the wrong era for his legacy. AND has the audacity to say pippen wouldnt of been pippen in this era

[@mb5030]

Hakeem the greatest center ever

[@TheKnicksRealist]

Kenny always bringing up New York 😂

[@gel0121]

Queens get the money lol

[@babbaganush9659]

I always feel like Kenny Smith is lying.

[@JJtrooths]

Member when he walked off the set lol then came back 20 min later lollol I stopped listening to him then.

[@jon-snow-GOT]

Kyle Lowry is a very physical player especially for a guard so that point don't make no sense

[@tke27]

Kenny must have been referring to Rony Seikly instead of Vlade Divac because Vlade and Rice didn't play together until 1995. But good interview. As a Rockets fan I remember back in 92 all the trade rumors I would see in the news paper and on the radio. Glad it didn't happen.

[@KingOfAllNoobs]

This was awesome. I love hearing nba stories

[@joshuablack8221]

Chuc is the best analyst, and Shaq is Shaq, so often Kenny’s points are overshadowed and disregarded during the show, but Kenny has great basketball knowledge and knows the game just as well as those two guys 💯

[@TonyActMontana]

Both 🇳🇬

[@skip1837]

Stop it with this Durant shit .. BOTH of his sneakers was on the line .. TF

[@atipsy69]

They were also on the line when he airballed it in OT. If he didn't airball and his shoes weren't on the line (twice), the Nets would have won the championship - Bill Simmons

[@alex_walters]

Kenny really thinks he’s one of the best players of all time 🤦🏻

[@alecsanderhamilton9224]

Thank God Chicago had Pippen and not Kenny Smith... We would have been Houston Rockets from 87-92 and not Chicago 87-92 with Kenny for Pippen. Thank the dang Lord ten fold !!! Praise Allah por eso 🙏...

[@alecsanderhamilton9224]

Hakeem Olajuwon 1984-85 1.2 spg 2.7 bpg es igual a 3.9 defensive stops 🛑 per game with 20.6 ppg and 11.9 rpg 1985-86 2.0 spg 3.4 bpg es igual a 5.4 defensive stops 🛑 per game with 23.5 ppg and 11.5 rpg 1986-87 1.9 spg 3.4 bpg es igual a 5.3 defensive stops 🛑 per game with 23.4 ppg and 11.4 rpg 1987-88 2.1 spg 2.7 bpg es igual a 4.8 defensive stops 🛑 per game with 22.8 ppg and 12.1 rpg 1988-89 2.6 spg 3.4 bpg es igual a 6.0 defensive stops 🛑 per game with 24.8 ppg and 13.5 rpg (84-85 thru 88-89) 36.2 mpg, .518 shooting %, .672 ft %, 4.5 orpg, 7.6 drpg, 12.1 trpg, 1.9 spg, 3.1 bpg, 5.0 defensive stops 🛑 per game with 23.0 ppg 1989-90 2.1 spg 4.6 bpg es igual a 6.7 defensive stops 🛑 per game with 24.3 ppg and 14.0 rpg 1990-91 2.2 spg 3.9 bpg es igual a 6.1 defensive stops 🛑 per game with 21.2 ppg and 13.8 rpg 1991-92 1.8 spg 4.3 bpg es igual a 6.1 defensive stops 🛑 per game with 21.6 ppg and 12.1 rpg 1992-93 1.8 spg 4.2 bpg es igual a 6.0 defensive stops 🛑 per game with 26.1 ppg and 13.0 rpg 1993-94 1.6 spg 3.7 bpg es igual a 5.3 defensive stops 🛑 per game with 27.3 ppg and 11.9 rpg (89-90 thru 93-94) 38.8 mpg, .515 shooting %, .746 ft %, 3.4 orpg, 9.5 drpg, 12.9 trpg, 1.9 spg, 4.2 bpg, 6.1 defensive stops 🛑 per game with 24.4 ppg 1994-95 1.8 spg 3.4 bpg es igual a 5.2 defensive stops 🛑 per game with 27.8 ppg and 10.8 rpg 1995-96 1.6 spg 2.9 bpg es igual a 4.5 defensive stops 🛑 per game with 26.9 ppg and 10.9 rpg (94-95 thru 95-96) 39.2 mpg, .515 shooting %, .740 ft %, 2.4 orpg, 8.4 drpg, 10.8 trpg, 1.7 spg, 3.1 bpg, 4.8 defensive stops 🛑 per game with 27.4 ppg _________________________________________________ 1984-85 Blocks + Steals per game leaders 1. Mark Eaton 6.0 stops 🛑 per game 2. Hakeem Olajuwon 3.9 stops 🛑 per game 3. Sam Bowie 3.4 stops 🛑 per game 4. Michael Jordan 3.3 stops 🛑 per game 5. Michael Ray Richardson 3.3 stops 🛑 per game 1985-86 Blocks + Steals per game leaders 1. Manute Bol 5.4 stops 🛑 per game 2. Hakeem Olajuwon 5.4 stops 🛑 per game 3. Mark Eaton 5.0 stops 🛑 per game 4. Alvin Robertson 4.2 stops 🛑 per game 5. Charles Barkley 3.8 stops 🛑 per game 1986-87 Blocks + Steals per game leaders 1 Hakeem Olajuwon 5.3 stops 🛑 per game 2 Mark Eaton 4.6 stops 🛑 per game 3 Michael Jordan 4.4 stops 🛑 per game 4 Manute Bol 3.9 stops 🛑 per game 5 Patrick Ewing 3.7 stops 🛑 per game 6 Alvin Robertson 3.6 stops 🛑 per game 7 Ron Harper 3.5 stops 🛑 per game 8 Clyde Drexler 3.4 stops 🛑 per game 9 Larry Nance 3.3 stops 🛑 per game 10 Charles Barkley 3.3 stops 🛑 per game 1987-88 Blocks + Steals per game leaders 1 Michael Jordan 4.8 stops 🛑 per game 2 Hakeem Olajuwon 4.8 stops 🛑 per game 3 Patrick Ewing 4.3 stops 🛑 per game 4 Mark Eaton 4.2 stops 🛑 per game 5 Benoit Benjamin 4.2 stops 🛑 per game 1988-89 Blocks + Steals per game Leaders 1 Hakeem Olajuwon 6.0 stops 🛑 per game 2 Patrick Ewing 5.0 stops 🛑 per game 3 Manute Bol 4.4 stops 🛑 per game 4 Mark Eaton 4.3 stops 🛑 per game 5 Michael Jordan 3.7 stops 🛑 per game _________________________________________________ 1984-85 1.2 spg 2.7 bpg es igual a 3.9 defensive stops (2nd in league) 🛑 per game with 11.9 rpg 1985-86 2.0 spg 3.4 bpg es igual a 5.4 defensive stops (T-1st avg, 2nd total in league) 🛑 per game with 11.5 rpg 1986-87 1.9 spg 3.4 bpg es igual a 5.3 defensive stops (1st in league) 🛑 per game with 11.4 rpg 1987-88 2.1 spg 2.7 bpg es igual a 4.8 defensive stops (T-1st avg, 2nd total in league) 🛑 per game with 12.1 rpg 1988-89 2.6 spg 3.4 bpg es igual a 6.0 defensive stops (1st in league) 🛑 per game with 13.5 rpg (84-85 thru 88-89) 4.5 orpg, 7.6 drpg, 12.1 trpg, 1.9 spg, 3.1 bpg, 5.0 defensive stops (1st in avg, 2nd total in league) 🛑 per game 1989-90 2.1 spg 4.6 bpg es igual a 6.7 defensive stops (1st in league) 🛑 per game with 14.0 rpg 1990-91 2.2 spg 3.9 bpg es igual a 6.1 defensive stops (1st in avg, 2nd in league) 🛑 per game with 13.8 rpg _________________________________________________ 1989-90 Blocks + Steals Leaders 1 Hakeem Olajuwon 6.7 defensive stops 🛑 per game 2 David Robinson 5.6 defensive stops 🛑 per game 3 Patrick Ewing 5.0 defensive stops 🛑 per game 4 Scottie Pippen 3.8 defensive stops 🛑 per game 5 Michael Jordan 3.5 defensive stops 🛑 per game 6 Manute Bol 3.4 defensive stops 🛑 per game 7 Benoit Benjamin 3.4 defensive stops 🛑 per game Jordan & Pippen 7.3 defensive stops 🛑 per game vs Hakeem Olajuwon 6.7 defensive stops 🛑 per game 1990-91 Blocks + Steals Leaders 1 Hakeem Olajuwon 6.1 defensive stops 🛑 per game 2 David Robinson 5.4 defensive stops 🛑 per game 3 Patrick Ewing 4.2 defensive stops 🛑 per game 4 Michael Jordan 3.7 defensive stops 🛑 per game 5 Scottie Pippen 3.5 defensive stops 🛑 per game _________________________________________________ Hakeem Olajuwon playoffs (84-85 thru 95-96) 41.1 mpg, .530 shooting 🌠* %, .716 ft %, 3.5 orpg, 8.2 drpg, 11.7 trpg, 1.7 spg, 3.5 bpg, 5.2 defensive stops 🛑 per game with 27.8 ppg _________________________________________________ Hakeem’s defensive prowess was in full force throughout the 1994 postseason. He grounded some of the best frontcourt players of the 90s into dust. Here’s a breakdown: During the first round against the Portland Trail Blazers, Hakeem helped hold Clifford Robinson to 41.2% shooting from the field. In the second round versus the Phoenix Suns, The Dream helped hold superstar Charles Barkley to a 45.7% mark from the field. During the Western Conference Finals, he helped stymie another superstar, Karl Malone, into hitting only 43.3% of his attempts. In the penultimate round against the New York Knicks, Hakeem ruined superstar Patrick Ewing’s life, forcing him into a measly 36.3% shooting clip from the field.

[@alecsanderhamilton9224]

Hakeem did play in the burgeoning soon to be best conference Western Conference from 87-88 to 91-92 when on top of Los Angeles, West Teams on the rise despues Eastern Conference dominance of Boston, Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Detroit, were Dallas, Denver, Utah, Portland, Houston, San Antonio, Phoenix. LeBron played in the East during the 00's Pistons, 00's Pacers, 00's Nets, 00's Celtics, 00's Bulls, 00's HeaT eras ☘️... None of those teams were the 87-88 to 90-91 Lakers, the 87-88 to 91-92 Jazz were every bit as great if not greater than the 00's Pistons, Celtics and HeaT and those are the 3 best franchises of the 00's East and only Detroit of those franchises won consistently thru-out the decade. Utah was flirting with a championship from 88 to 2000. The 88-92 Blazers were better than any of those 00's East franchises and went to two titles and lost to two dynasties the Bad Boy Pistons of 59 wins and the 67 win back to back champion of 6 total championships Chicago Bulls 🐂.... Who did the Nets lose to in 02 and 03? 58 and 56 win Lakers and Spurs teams that were lucky to break 100 pts per game in the muddy 00's era NBA. Dallas of 1988 and Denver of Alex English had more skilled teams than the 00's Baby Bulls and 00's Pacers. The 88 Mavericks were as deep 1-12 as the 03-05 Pacers. San Antonio and Phoenix won from 88-89 for Phoenix and 89-90 for San Antonio like 55 wins per season for 5-10 years minus like two seasons in transition in 96 for Phoenix and 97 for San Antonio.... Only the 00's Pistons were that steadily excellent for 5-10 years in the 00's East and the late 80's early 90's West had five teams like that in Utah, Portland, Houston, San Antonio and Phoenix. Not even counting the Sonics from 92-98 or the Lakers from 87-93 and 95-03... LeBron isnt even greater than Hakeem Olajuwon.... Its only a travesty the Hakeem Rockets 🚀 didnt compile a skilled team of gunners around Hakeem like Boston could afford to do for Bill Russell in a 8 team league in the 1960's... Otherwise Hakeem Olajuwon is the #1 basketball player of all time and the Nigerian only played basketball 🏀🧺 from 17 years old forward ⏩.... And im a native Chicagoan and proud annoyingly Puerto Rican loud 🔊📢 Jordan Jocker from a people that make New Yorkers seem like people from Kansas .... And i say Jordan, Magic, Bird, Kareem, SHAQ, Duncan are all so very lucky the 88-92 Rockets squandered half of Hakeem's 84-97 prime.... Because with a healthy Sampson, or simply just a less war on drugs afflited 1986-87 roster even if Sampson has to still be traded for Sleepy Floyd and the Rockets 🚀 attain or replace Sampson with Otis Thorpe @ PF with Floyd, Lloyd, Reid, McCray, Wiggins then the Hakeem Rockets spend 88-92 winning or living in the conference finals and nba finals and Hakeem dents the legacies of Jordan, Magic, Isiah, etc... And the balance of rings goes from Jordan 6 Magic 5 Bird 3 Isiah 2 Hakeem 2 To more like Hakeem 5 Magic 3 Bird 3 Jordan 3 Isiah 1 And we have a whole different NBA historic timeline and Hakeem with 5 rings vs 2 is now incomparable to olayers like Duncan and SHAQ. Duncan was not Olajuwon defensively. David Robinson was closer to Olajuwon than Duncan was. Duncan is fortunate he played in the SHAQ Ben Wallace Jermaine O'Neal Arvydas Sabonis Rik Smits era And not the Kareem, Moses, Ewing, Robinson, SHAQ, Mourning, Mutombo era.... Back when Divac and Smits could hardly crack top 10 with Daugherty Mutombo and Mourning instead of battling in Conference Finals and NBA Finals with SHAQ in the early 00's as top 5 Centers.... Look at Robinson's steals + blocks per season. He is the only one that sniffs Olajuwon... They used to give DPOYs to olayers like Draymond Green because they only played defense not offense and were special teamers and everyone gets a trophy type guys. From 86 onwards Olajuwon deserved the DPOY award. He deserved closer to 5, 6, 7 or 8 DPOY awards. Hakeem was a magnet 🧲 to the ball defensively and could guard all 5 positions. Screw that hokey phrase. Hakeem could guard Jordan 94 feet and stifle him, and fold up SHAQ and Wilt in the post. Hakeem is that kind of unicorn 🦄... A #1 all time diamond 💎 in rough unicorn 🦄....

[@livewire3145]

bill still showing his rockets/dream hate , rockets were always the team that gave the bulls fits ,

[@adkinsisaac79]

Seems like KD isnt happy unless you hand it to him on a golden platter.... Wait, KD wasn't happy in Golden State when it was on a golden platter. KD is the greatest unhappy malcontent.

[@superdopehiphop]

Hakeem is my favorite center ever and I’ve been going to 40+ games yearly since 1987 in great seats. I always say if Hakeem switched careers/organizations/coaches/teammates/GMs with Russell Wilt Kareem Shaq Duncan He’d have as many or more titles then them and if they were in his situation they’d all have 0-2 rings max! Many ppl don’t know 94/95 playoff runs Hakeem had #1 most made FG ever and #5 most! His first 11 years in playoffs (107 games) he averaged 28 12 3 2spg 4 bpg 53 FG% Hakeem was also 11-5 head to head vs MJ 84-85 to 94-95. He would of def won 95 finals vs Bulls had they made although in 94 they prob lose as Bulls still had Horace Grant and Rockets no Clyde yet but it would of been close. PS Shaq literally said Hakeem was GOAT big man in mid 90s interview!

[@superdopehiphop]

Kenny smith saying he’d be over Pippen is hilarious! It’s called a redraft! Of course Pippen would be #1 or #2. Not sure if this it prop up MJ or what (he’s my Co GOAT and Mount Rushmore Athlete), but Pippen OBJECTIVELY is a top20-40 player all time somewhere! I’m a huge Reggie Miller guy too with season tickets great seats since 1987-88 his rookie year, but he can’t objectively be anything but 3rd behind Admiral/Pippen. Also Pippen wasn’t drafted by Bulls he was drafted by Sonics then traded to Bulls.

[@louieb8530]

No comparison. Hakeem over Giannis everyday. Hakeem possesses so many skills that Giannis can only dream about

[@rodneymckinnon9075]

Giannis can defend better that shaq or David robinson ectt. He would guard Hakeem and block his shot !

[@walterbrown2997]

Hakeem Olajuwon won back-to-back titles with the Houston Rockets during the time where Michael Jordan retired ! GIANNIS AT 26 AND 8 YEARS the Milwaukee Bucks just won his first title who knows can the bus go back-to-back against the Brooklyn Nets ?

[@alextobias1320]

Like what I said Giannis is the best and greatest 7 ft tall in all NBA players is advantages in all position,ballhandling,Power Forward,Center,3 points shots,play one on one driving to the basket compare to Kareem,Hakeem,Robinson,Ewing,Bill Russell,Wilt,SHAQ,etc.

[@russellst.martin4255]

Kenny confused Reggie Wiliams for Reggie Miller and Rony Siekaly for Vlade Divac within a span of 20 minutes.

[@TheONE-kq3mm]

JUST STOP….they always trying to compare people. Let EVERYBODY occupy their own space 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@chadbinette3201]

So Scottie pippen would go ten? Cause of 3 point shooting.? Didn't Ben Simmons, worse free throw shooter then Shaq just go #1 four years ago? Maybe three years ago. Now it's lebron, Russ and AD won't work no three point shooters. Yet nets, Durant ( arguing with teammates over a women's basketball at Olympic practice, making fake Twitter accounts to argue with anyone who will mention his name) , kyrie ( wanted out of clevland, wanted his owner team and is now the third best on a team, wanted out of Boston, had been injured 4 of the last 6 playoffs) and harden ( Houston gave him everything and anything he wanted, cp3, Russ, John wall, and demanded a trade anyway ). No worries who's gonna take the ball up. I'm not even a lebron fan but the lakers didn't make this move without talking to lebron, Russ and lebron talking and if not Russ, lebron, and ad talking. And now adding Carmelo and Dwight. Like the Karl Malone, Gary Payton days again.

[@superdopehiphop]

Kenny hates on LeBron so much it’s comedy. “MJ Westbrook and Kobe had what Hakeem and Giannas have.” Makes him look idiotic to say Westbrook over LeBron. This notion that LeBron isn’t an all around relentless great players is insanity. Also Kenny like all players from the era tries to act like current era not as good. I watched the 80s and 90s and while it was more physical there also weren’t nearly as many great world class athletes or skilled players who can shoot from anywhere paint to half court Damn near! Kenny also hates on LeBron because human nature wise he wants to protect MJ GOAT legacy and LeBron is the only player still possible theoretically to pass him or make it very debatable based on what you look for. MJ from NY, UNC, 80s like him and he doesn’t want to let that go. He had LeBron outside of his Top10 and that’s when you knew he was biased goober on that topic. Even troll Skip Bayless had LeBron 7 or 9! I do agree with his Simmons take honestly.

[@robbywilder8589]

I get the vibe that Kenny doesn't think Scottie was that great of a player. He mentions Robinson and Miller as the stars of the draft. This is an example of why Scottie is probably lashing out. He gets underappreciated. Scottie is probably the best overall player in this draft, but I'd probably pick Robinson...but it'd be a close decision. Kenny Smith was just a decent player who seems to think he could have filled the Pippen role in Chicago. Yeah, no. He'd have been a slightly better Steve Kerr/John Paxon on the team. And Reggie isn't in the same league as Scottie and Robinson. He was a good scorer and a great shooter who was very clutch, but that's about it.

[@LegendaryGamesPodcast]

Milwaukee didnt steal ist 2021, it were the Bubble Lakers in 2020 that won (by coincidence with luck) a title that was only possible because of the long pause and the resting for AD and LBJ

[@Cotswolds1913]

Giannis is so much better leveraging high % shots at the rim, whereas Hakeem had this tendency to fade into more difficult shots, & didn't have the size & length of a Duncan, Embiid, Kareem or Shaq to employ that level of power game. Perhaps the best tough-shot maker ever as a center, but he leaves a bit of offense on the table in that respect. Giannis however brings a whole other element in the open floor, w/ more dynamic playmaking. Meanwhile Hakeem is without doubt the superior defensive anchor, & his spot up J in the half-court is better. I think their peaks are super close.

[@samjackson3940]

Why can’t you put the whole podcast on. You lied to us bill about the ringer not changing under Spotify. I miss the full podcasts. Thanks for selling your company and changing.