KG Certified

KG and Paul break down exactly why the defending champs got cooked in game 1, why Castle plays like a “red nose pit,” and how the Spurs ran out the youngest starting five in NBA playoff history without blinking. Plus, KG drops the never-before-told story of his summer with Wemby. Hakeem, the monks, the mentality download, and what really happened on that football field in California.

Over in the East, the Knicks erased a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit and stunned the Cavs in OT to seal a game 1 victory. Brunson took the game over and the fellas put him in the Top 5 Knicks of all time. The crew gets into Kenny Atkinson’s missing timeouts, how Cleveland responds psychologically, and Paul vs KG on whether the Knicks just got lucky or willed the win. They also drop their own legendary comeback stories — the 2008 Finals Game 4 (Boston down 24) and Paul’s 2002 Eastern Conference Final Nets game (down 26).

The back half goes Play GM: what Detroit does with Jalen Duren’s $287M supermax, a wild Reaves-for-Duren trade idea, KD’s most realistic landing spots (Houston, Washington, Minnesota?), and what Masai Ujiri’s full Mavs rebuild looks like after Jason Kidd’s exit.
00:00:00 - Intro & Show Opening00:00:39 - Victor Wembanyama’s 40/20 Game 100:02:10 - Breaking Down OKC’s Pick & Roll Defense Against Wemby00:04:38 - Real-Time Coaching & In-Game Adjustments00:06:14 - The Spurs’ Historically Young Starting Five00:07:30 - The New Era of Young Teams in the NBA00:09:02 - How to Build a Championship Contender Today00:09:44 - Assessing Wembanyama’s First Playoff Run00:11:06 - KG’s Summer Meetup with Wembanyama00:15:33 - What KG Took Away from Time with Wemby00:21:03 - Young Players Need to Seek Out Veteran Mentorship00:25:52 - PrizePicks Ad00:26:41 - Knicks Overcome 22-Point Deficit vs. Cavs in Game 100:29:41 - Kenny Atkinson’s Timeout & Adjustment Decisions00:32:39 - Biggest Playoff Comebacks: 2008 Finals & 2002 Nets00:39:44 - Jalen Brunson’s Legacy with the Knicks00:41:27 - Luck vs. Heart: Analytics Debate00:45:11 - Detroit Pistons’ Future & Jalen Duren’s Contract00:52:22 - GM Session: Jalen Duren for Austin Reaves Trade Idea00:55:39 - Where Does Kevin Durant End Up Next?00:57:16 - Mavericks Overhaul: Masai Ujiri, Jason Kidd Fired & Cooper Flagg00:59:48 - Closing & Weekend Vibes
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Lakers got swept by OKC and Paul Pierce is ready to say out loud what nobody else will: it’s time. KG and Paul break down LeBron’s 4th career sweep, the Pelinka–Redick ball moment that looks an awful lot like leverage, and whether Bron is pulling himself out of the GOAT conversation by sticking around.

Plus: Wemby’s ejection (and need for an enforcer) & Spurs are up 3-2 on the Wolves. Does Rudy Gobert need to sit? Plus reactions to Washington winning the draft lottery, AJ Dybantsa to Utah rumors, 76ers regrets on the Jared McCain trade, Jaylen Brown chatter, the Celtics’ utility big search, and the craziest offseason in a minute.

Rest in Peace to our fallen brothers: Jason Collins & Brandon Clarke
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Kevin Garnett sits down with comedian & actor Alex Thomas for one of the funniest and most real conversations of the season. KG and Inglewood’s break down Wembanyama’s first playoff run and the exact way KG would have guarded him. Why LeBron James at 41 is doing something nobody has ever done, and why OKC is steamrolling everybody in the West with no answers in sight.

KG and Alex get into the lost art of NBA trash talk, how Jordan talked over everybody’s head, why Larry Bird was the coldest shit talker of all time, and how the league evolved from the brutal physicality of the 80s to today’s three ball era. They also talk Rajon Rondo’s fit for the Pelicans head coaching job, and why Sam Cassell deserves his shot.
0:00 - Intro1:00 - KG gives Alex Thomas his flowers5:40 - Lakers talk & how KG feels about LeBron at 418:37 - Wembanyama’s first playoff run — KG gives him a grade12:57 - How KG would guard Wembanyama15:10 - The mental game & the art of NBA trash talk16:47 - Jordan talked over everybody’s head18:08 - Larry Bird: the coldest trash talker of all time18:47 - From the brutal 80s to the three-point era22:49 - OKC is steamrolling everyone — does anybody have an answer?26:38 - Rondo interviews for the Pelicans head coaching job28:40 - Why Sam Cassell deserves his shot34:47 - Flowers for Donte DiVincenzo & Minnesota Timberwolves talk35:48 - Pistons vs. Magic breakdown39:43 - Does health decide who wins the playoffs?41:25 - Alex Thomas comedy46:23 - Who Alex would play golf with47:45 - Top 5 comedians of all time50:13 - Michael Jordan, Kobe & the GOAT conversation54:44 - What’s next & the KG + Alex collab
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Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce break down the top playoff moment so far. The guys dig into Steve Kerr’s rumored exit and what the end of the Warriors dynasty means for the NBA’s changing of the guard — with KG speaking from his own “end of the run” experience. SGA wins another Clutch Player of the Year award and sets his sights on something no one since Michael Jordan has done: back-to-back MVP + Finals MVP. Also, Wemby drops the first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year vote in NBA history.

On the court: Sixers steal Game 2 from Boston behind Maxey attacking the head of the snake and rookie VJ Edgecombe dropping 32. The Spurs-Blazers series gets spicy with Wemby in concussion protocol and Danny Avdija going off. Nuggets-Wolves is the grittiest series in the first round. Lakers-Rockets: LeBron’s still LeBron, KD needs a point guard, and is Luke Kennard playing Reaves out of a roster spot?
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Kevin Garnett is joined in studio by the Grindfather, Tony Allen, for one of the most wide-open basketball conversations of the playoff season. KG and TA break down Victor Wembanyama’s first playoff series against Portland, the Giannis sweepstakes heating up in Milwaukee, the Knicks’ first-round pressure, Scottie Barnes’ two-way dominance with Toronto, and the Timberwolves’ new ownership energy under Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore.

They also get into whether Wemby can win MVP and DPOY at 22, how the playoff bracket is shaping up, and KG’s raw message to Ja Morant: call Zion, call Giannis, get off your pride and find the love of the game again.
00:00:00 - Intro00:04:42 - Play-In Tournament & Charlotte Hornets Path00:06:01 - LaMelo Ball Flagrant Foul Reaction & Praise00:11:01 - Philly 76ers Flying Under the Radar00:12:30 - West Playoffs: Lakers vs. Rockets & LeBron’s Role00:16:27 - Could Luka Dončić Return Mid-Series?00:22:38 - Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets Deep Dive00:26:42 - KG’s Trip Back to Minnesota00:31:30 - East Playoffs: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors00:36:31 - New York Knicks vs. Atlanta Hawks & Dyson Daniels Defensive Breakdown00:40:58 - Mikal Bridges, KAT & the Knicks’ Core00:45:32 - Nickeil Alexander-Walker Most Improved Shoutout00:46:33 - Victor Wembanyama’s First Playoff Series & Defensive Matchup Breakdown00:51:29 - Wemby’s MVP Case & Supermax Future00:57:53 - Take Wemby on a Tour of America01:00:22 - PrizePicks01:01:56 - Who Gets Shaken Up?01:05:05 - Is Mike Brown’s Job Safe? & Doc Rivers Discussion01:08:23 - Fresh Air Segment: Ja Morant’s Future in Memphis01:12:10 - KG’s Heartfelt Message to Ja Morant01:18:22 - NBA Summer League Film Festival & Outro
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