The Ringer's BIll Simmons is joined by Kirk Goldsberry for an all-positive NBA discussion on the exciting NBA talent pool, the contending Cavaliers, and a better than advertised Eastern Conference (01:28). Then they discuss the surging Knicks, Victor Wembanyama's development, how the Hawks are finally rounding out their roster (18:10), the trade machine Nets, Nikola Jokic, the newly fun Pistons, the "zombie" Magic, how the Lakers are turning their season around, a fun 2024 draft class, the good-vibes Clippers, and more (49:37). Host: Bill Simmons Guest: Kirk Goldsberry Producers: Kyle Crichton and Chia Hao Tat Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Chapter 1: What are the positive storylines in the NBA right now?
I don't think they were ready for what was going to happen. Here's the Celtics stretch coming up that I'm going to be really interested in. Thursday at Minnesota, Friday at Houston, Sunday at Oklahoma City, Tuesday at Denver. And we're going to have a much better idea after those games. They'll play two awesome games, probably have one shitty game, and then one either or game would be my guess.
But last year, they would have ripped through and won all four of those games. And that's the difference. Last year's team had a chip on its shoulder. They wanted to rip through the schedule. Every time they lost, it felt like an accident. This year, we'll see. Could they go on four on those? I wouldn't be surprised. Let's take a break, and then I have a couple more for you.
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The all positive NBA podcast returns with Kurt Goldsberry's next one. What do you got?
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Chapter 7: How does player skill in the NBA compare to previous eras?
It's like scrimmaging in a hotel conference conference. What are those rooms called?
The draft, the draft workout video against the chair that you always call out.
Yeah. Well, playing off what you just said in the all positive NBA draft, I kind of love how weird the 2024 draft is and how many guys I kind of like. Reese O'Shea, mentioned him already. Steph Castle, all in. You get a little bit of a rookie wild where you're saying, but I'm all in. Messi on the Pelicans. He's a real center.
I think he's like 15 years old, but he's definitely a real center who will get a big contract. Jared McCain. This Jalen Wells kid on Memphis.
Mm-hmm.
Zach Eady on Memphis, who's averaging like 11 and eight. And you feel his presence in some of these games. And there's matchups against certain teams where it's kind of, I really liked him in the draft because I just felt like there's going to be games and nights where he just sucks to play against, you know, it's like, we don't have a guy. Porzingis is out tonight.
Now we have Lou Carnette, you know, trying to stop Zach Eady, uh, Dalton connect, uh, I like Donovan Klingon. Tristan Da Silva was a pretty polarizing prospect, but I think he's been a borderline revelation on the magic. Bob Carrington, who a lot of people liked. I don't think Saar, I'm not willing to say he's a bust. I think there's something there. I really like Bud Zealous.
I don't know how much you've watched him on Chicago, but I almost feel like they have to trade Zach Levine just to get him to play. I like the way that guy, I like how he runs the floor. I like how athletic he is. I like him. And I think he's a little feisty. He's got a little chip on his shoulder. And then Ron Holland and Dillingham and Jacoby Walter.
There's something there with all three of those guys. So that's a lot of guys that I think all have a chance to be a starter in the NBA, which is basically what we're looking for in the draft. There's no high ceiling superstar, Wemby type version, but it's a fun draft. Do you like this draft or am I overreacting?
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