LeBron James on Playing in the NFL, Jordan's Pick-Up Games and Favorite Career Milestone | Ep 120

LeBron James on Playing in the NFL, Jordan's Pick-Up Games and Favorite Career Milestone | Ep 120

January 15, 2025 1h 7m S3E23 Explicit

92%ers this is for you! We’ve got King James himself stopping by on this episode of New Heights presented by Hershey’s. Shop Reese's Chocolate Lava Big Cup now at a store near you. 

LeBron sits down with Jason and Travis to talk all things Wild Card Weekend, how close he came to playing in the NFL, some of his favorite times hooping in Cleveland, the Championship that means the most to him, and his real thoughts on playing with Bronny. 

We also settle the debate on which league owns Christmas, get the backstory on a legendary pick-up game against Michael Jordan, and find out how much longer “this fuckery” can go on. 

Finally, as promised, we look ahead to the divisional round of the playoffs and blindly rank our favorite Will Ferrell movies. 

If you want to join us in supporting the relief efforts in California, please visit https://www.redcross.org/nfl

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Full Transcript

Wondery Plus subscribers can listen to new heights early and ad-free, plus unlock access to exclusive episodes of the show. Join Wondery Plus and the Wondery app, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify today.
Thanks again to our sponsor, Intuit TurboTax. Remember when doing taxes meant sacrificing your weekends to paperwork and crushing numbers? Not us, because we were just kids back then.
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I'm going to one million percent happier. Yeah.
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Start listening today when you sign up for a free 30-day trial at audible.com slash new heights. Dude, I'm pretty pumped.
I'm nervous, but I'm pretty pumped. I've always wanted to ask him just everything on my mind.
I know. It's going to be hard.
You're not going to have that much time. I'm not.
I don't even know what's on the rundown. I'll take care of the rundown.
You just you just free ball it lebron do you think i could play in the nba you don't want the answer to that he saw me try and dunk last week yeah all right let's fucking go welcome back to new heist ladies and gentlemen a A Wondery Show produced by Wave Sports and Entertainment

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I'm Travis Kelsey.

This is Jason Kelsey out of Northeast Ohio.

Cleveland natives.

Bearcat alumni as well.

Shout out to the Bearcats.

Hopefully they can get it going here.

Boys basketball, women's basketball here in the old Big 12.

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At New Heights Show with one S.

Jason, tell the people what we got coming.

92%ers, we got a banger.

We got a banger.

We got a guest.

It's been a long time coming. And with the playoffs here, the stakes could not be higher for him to come on the show.
He's the king himself. King James is here.
That's right. Northeast Ohio's finest.
Get ready for some fun. Yeah, he's going to help us recap the wild card weekend.
We'll talk a little Cleveland. Lots and lots of other fun because I've always wanted to talk to the king about everything Cleveland and everything basketball, man.
So this is going to be a fun one, man. This is going to be a fun one.
Yeah, before we get into LeBron, we just wanted to take a second and stop down and say that our thoughts are with everybody in the L.A. area.
I think we've all seen the footage. It's insane.
At this point, no people personally who have been affected by these fires and this tragedy. So our thoughts are with you.
There will be a link in the description if you want to support. That's redcross.org slash NFL.
I really don't know what's going to happen in the, even just the coming days, let alone the coming weeks and how this is going to get rebuilt. So just let you know, you know, we're thinking about you.
Everybody. Yeah.
We know this is not easy. How did you, did it feel special out there in Arizona at the Rams game? You know, I was walking through the, so normally we're out on the field and we're not in the concourse area, but because of transition, we couldn't have that set on the field in Arizona.
And when I was walking through the concourse area, I saw like the LA fire department hat that the Rams were co-signing with. I'm like, God dang, man.
Like, man, I don't know. It just like hit me right in the moment.
Oftentimes football can be a distraction from some of these things. And I always enjoyed playing when there was crazy things happening outside of the game as a way to kind of just not have to think about it for a little bit.
So I don't know. Hopefully the Rams went in on Monday, you know, gave the fans and some of the citizens some much needed escape from the things that are happening.
But shout out to everyone that's involved in helping prevent, rebuild, you know, just the emergency responders that are there helping out the people that are in need. Yeah.
It was pretty powerful seeing a lot of the LA fans in that place. I really thought Big Witt killed it in his speech.
That ain't the first speech I've heard from him. He always kills it.
He's always away with words. And he's obviously really personally connected to all this stuff, being out there in LA.
So yeah, let's get on to LeBron. Let's pick up some spirits and get this conversation going.
Joining us today, the 6'9", Ford from Akron, Ohio, the number one pick of 2003 NBA Draft, 2004 Rookie of the Year, 20-time NBA All-Star, four-time MVP, four-time nba champion three-time gold medalist and the nba all-time leader in career points that's right 92 percenters please welcome northeast ohio's finest mr lebron james let's go Oh! Oh my God.

Yo, Jason, that might be the greatest introduction of all time. Foul at the end with the powder.
Oh, my goodness, you guys are fucking unbelievable. This dude is just wearing the powder, too.
Right, right. Who's going to clean that shit up now? Kylie is not going to be happy about this.
Jason, you got to blow the powder away, Jason. You got to study the technique, man.
Put way too much in there. All right.
This guy looks like a fucking ghost, man. That shit's great, dog.
You started doing the powder what year? Was it your rookie year? No, I don't remember if it was my rookie year at Trav, man. I think it was maybe second year, maybe third year, but I used to just go up to the counter, man, go up there and put a little powder because, you know, I like the resonant on my hands and make my hands stick with the ball.
I was about to say, was that like a short move? Yeah, yeah. I just went up there and do a little bit of something and then just went to the game.
And then, you know, I started doing a little bit more and then started doing that towards the scorer's table, and I seen them kind of, like, you know, getting ready for me to do it, and then I started doing it like this, and I threw it up a little bit one time. It got a little bit more excited.
I was like, you know what? Fuck it. I'm just going to have it.
Yeah, yeah. It's iconic, man.
It's fucking iconic. Hell yeah.
All right, well, we're going to get into this right off the bat because I think this is incredible. Super wild card weekend.
Man. You've been working with DraftKings.
Yeah, yeah. You went five for six.
Look at this pick. Look at this pick strap.
Oh, baby. This guy knows some football.
You have the Chargers to win, Baltimore to win, Buffalo to win, Eagles to win, Commanders to win, Rams to win. That's crazy.
That's crazy. Are you, I mean, we know you played football back in the day at St.
Vincent St. Mary, man.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Has it ever actually like crossed your mind what you could possibly do in the NFL? No, absolutely.
Absolutely. Absolutely.
Like, have you ever like taken it like a serious thought? Like, man, what if I just did one year? Yeah. The only time I've like really taken it like super duper serious, I believe it was, I think it was 2011 when we had the NBA lockout and, you know, and I didn't know like when we were going to make the deal with the, with the owners and get our league back going.
So I actually thought about it a little bit back then I was still young enough, you know, to get out there with y'all. But, you know, that's the only time I've actually seriously considered it.
I've had serious dreams about this shit all the time. All the time.
And you know what? You already know. And my dream never actually – the ball is never kicked off.
It's like me in the warmups. It's me coming out, running my routes.
And then right when the game started, I was like, fucking wake up or some shit. I'm like, okay.
That lets me know I'm not supposed to be out there. There you go.
Time out. Come on now.
It's all the dreams. Yeah, we know exactly where.
Just to let you know, you're still young enough to get out there. We can see how you can get up and down the floor.
Who do you think your biggest comparison would have been in the league? Everyone always likes to say Gronk or maybe even Calvin Johnson. I was about to say Megatron, probably the closest.
It's probably like a mix between Gronk or Randy Moss a little bit, but he's a lot smaller than me. He runs a lot faster, but he's a lot smaller than me.
But like Megatron, we kind of have that same stature as far as build or whatever the case may be. Tony Gonzalez with him and his size, and obviously he played basketball as well.
I used to love his celebration when he used to dunk on the goalpost too. Oh, actually, I saw you do it too, by the way.
I tried. I tried.
I just smacked backboard on that one. I don't know if I got up there.
Just smack the glass. Oh, my God.
I used to be able to fly. I know.
The NFL had a nerve to fine you for that shit. I'm like, come on, man.
Relax. You already know, man.
Relax. It was fine.
Well, where they actually, Tony G helped me out with that one. But instead of throwing any money at me, I just told him to send it to the foundation.
Yeah, yeah. Send it to the foundation.
Shout out to Tony G for that. Yeah, give it up.
Give it up for Tony G. My dog.
Yeah. The only game you missed in that parlay was the Texans Chargers game.
What a, I mean, we know you're a big football fan. I guess what is, how do you watch the games? Like, how do you, how do you stay knowledgeable of all this stuff? You're a busy dude, man.
Listen, I try to watch as many, you know, NFL games, you know, college games, you know, high school games. And yeah, I'm very knowledgeable about the game.
I remember playing it, obviously. But just watching you guys out there and seeing the way y'all play, it's not just like as a fan, which I'm a fan of the sport, but also kind of like my IQ about the game.
So the Chargers-Texas game, I was off on that. I felt like the Texans, they hadn't played consistent football all year, you know, and obviously losing Stephon Diggs and losing Tank Dale.
You know, I just felt like pieces, you know, big pieces. And, you know, you know, my boy, you know, you know, my boy, you know, CJ Stroud has been struggling a little bit this year.
He, you know, he had the rookie of the year last year, you know, Ohio State alum, but he was struggling too losing those big guys and i felt like the charges was coming in on so much you know i felt like they had it i feel like they had an opportunity you know and coach they're coaching those guys really well this year but turnovers we all know the name of the game and sports especially in football man it's turnovers and that defense uh for the tex, they turned them boys over multiple times. You know, that's the game right there.
Yeah. Yeah, the defense balled out.
Some tough ones for Herbert, too, man, through some hands and deflections. Those are just daggers, man.
You mentioned Ohio State, man. I got to ask, man, did Trestle ever come and knock on the door? No, absolutely.
Did Trestle ever come? I know basketball was always there, but did Trestle ever come and knock on the door? No, absolutely. I know basketball was always there, but did Trestle ever come and knock on the door? Absolutely, man.
Trestle knocked on the door plenty of times. They wanted me to come up there and be a two-sport player, i.e.
Travis Hunter. We saw what Travis Hunter did this year with Colorado, but definitely they knocked on the door.
It's like if you come down to Ohio State, we want you to play both sides. And I would have definitely thought about that.
My best friend at the time, Sheon Cotton, went off to Ohio State full ride to Ohio State. He played for Ohio State football.
So that would have been super dope. I could have like roomed with him.
Played football during the fall, basketball during the winter and spring. So that would have been dope.
Man, Buckeyes, man. That would have been crazy to see you in a Buckeyes jersey.
That would have been dope. Maurice Claret was coming from around that Northeast Ohio area, too.
He was, I believe they had just won it. Yep, yep.
He was, you know, it was crazy. Ohio, Mr.
Football, when Maurice Claret won his senior year, I was top three in runnings for Mr. Football as well.
But he went crazy, man. He went to Warren Harding.
Warren Harding. He went insane his senior year and then his freshman year went on to Ohio State and they was able to beat that joggernaut of the Miami Hurricanes that year for the national championship.
But Maurice Correa was a beast, man. Beast.
Was that? Absolutely. 2002, right? This was 2000.
This would have been 2003

4. 3-4? Yeah, yeah.

3-4. Yep.
Yep. Man,

oh man. That team would have been nasty.

That was a fun game for a shot.

Something that happened over the

weekend is, you know,

we thought we could relate it to you because you're a big book

guy. You're a big book

guy. AJ Brown was

seen reading a book on the sideline

of the game. Did you

catch this? I did catch that. I was watching the game and I did catch that.
I can say I've watched the NFL for 35 plus years of my life. That's the first time I've seen guys eat Skittles, Marshawn Lynch.
I've seen guys with the oxygen tanks. I've seen guys meditating.
I've seen guys slam helmets. I've seen a lot of shit.
That was the first time I've ever seen a book been brought out on the bench. First time.
You ever seen that in the NBA? No, no, never. No? No, no, no.
Like just something to ease the mind. Just go ahead and read a few passages.
By the way, when A.J. Brown said the reasoning for why he did it, you know what? It was great.
And then they showed the clip when Saquon had the touchdown run and he slid. And you see Devontae and A.J.
like messing around with him like, man, go score that. He's like, no, man, no, chill.
I was like, the chemistry is still there. So, you know, the chemistry is still there.
They still there they've been playing good football that's all that matters you know I think that's 10 in a row for them they got it going so hey if it's working for them let them keep going man whatever whatever works you know I'm with you on that no doubt what about this Bills uh Ravens game staying on the topic of these playoff games we got Josh We got Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson. You had the tweet during the game.
Henry, King Henry. Yeah, man.
If there's anybody that can call somebody a king, I think we'll be right now. What do you like in this game? I mean, it's a tough one, man.
Obviously, I think Buffalo, you know, has – I don't want to say it's not surprising anymore, but they lost a lot of pieces in the offseason, you know, and a lot on the offensive end, too. And then they lost a lot in their secondary the offseason you know and a lot on the office event too and then they lost a lot in their secondary too you know Micah Hyde left and Poyer left and uh Chidavius uh Chidavius White left you know and you know all those receivers there so a lot it was a lot of like okay will they be able to get to this point where they are well they still got Josh Allen and Josh Allen has been, he's been unbelievable.
So, you know, for Lamar, listen, this is, this is what they want. You know, this is why they grabbed Derrick Henry.
This is why they, you know, made the change with the offensive coordinator to be able to get to the point where they could play either Buffalo or play Travis and them boys. They're like, listen, if you want to be crowned, you have to, you know, beat the top teams in the AFC.
And the top teams in the AFC over the last three, four, five, obviously 20 years if you're talking KC. These fucking guys.
It's Buffalo or it's KC. So, you know, this is, you know, in order for Lamar to get to where he says he wants to get, he has to go through Buffalo.
He has to go through KC. So let the games begin.
I can't wait to watch that one. Yeah, he's been knocking on the door, man.
He has been knocking on the door for sure. Yeah, he's been knocking on the door.
Yep. Henry definitely helps, man.
He was running. He was like a Clydesdale running through that hole.
He was fresh. I've seen him all season.
I don't know how. Man.
That was amazing. Absolutely.
It looks super fresh. Absolutely.
King Henry. I've been loving the commercials of you and Kevin Hart, man.
I'll tell you what. That's the one I thought because it was a celebration one in the middle of the season.
I was like, man, every time it came on, I was dying laughing. But the new ones, you guys got some heat, man.
You and Kevin are absolutely hilarious together, man. I can't wait to keep seeing these things unfold.
No, absolutely, man. Me and Kev is one of my best friends, man, when it comes to this.
And when we get on set, you know, we have a script. And then it gets to the point where we're just like, man, let's just riff.
And let's see what comes out of it. Let's just do it.
And whatever comes out of it because of our chemistry, you know, it's great working with Kev, working with DraftKings, being able to, you know, do things like that where it's just easy for us and uh we knock those things out very easily and they're happy that people love them you know because it's definitely fun it's definitely sure you already know i can only imagine how fun it is Cleveland connection is great exactly always all right let's talk about the holy grail of candy Reese's peanut butter cups that's right You know them. You love them.
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What is easier to do? An NFL

player going to the NBA or an

NBA player going to the NFL?

From a guy that

literally could have played both.

Everybody knows you could have done both.

I respect this decision.

This is a great debate.

I've been hearing and seeing people's responses and seeing people's questions or whatever and going back and forth. I want to say that I think it's easier for a basketball player to try NFL.
There's no question. Over the NFL player trying to get into the NBA.
I just, and I know we got some great athletes. I've seen Keon Coleman's highlights when he played, you know, and it's a lot of guys that's played basketball.
I've seen Zay Flowers play his high school highlights as well. Oh yeah, Zay Flowers.
Zay Flowers is super athletic, fast, quick guard. You know, but I would say basketball to football.
An NBA guy decides to go play the NFL, yes, it's going to take a gonna take a transition period you know for me it would have been like getting used to being hit again like like i remember just like in high school i was to go from summer uh from summertime playing basketball playing aau ball and then going into the fall i had to get used to getting hit again like that first three practices once you put on the shoulder pads and the helmets like getting hit again is the most important thing and then like you know getting the cadence back you know getting getting your routes back and all that but once you get into a groove you're like okay you know i got it it's like riding a bike football going to basketball it's a such more you know coordination and and and running and jumping it and it's like consistent. It's a way different.
It's consistent. With football, you say hike, whatever your cadence is, boom.
It's quick, quick twitch. And then settle back, reset, quick twitch.
Settle back, reset. Six seconds at a time.
Yeah, exactly. Six seconds at a time.
But in basketball, you could go on for four or five straight minutes with no timeouts,

no breaks.

And you got to,

you got to keep your mind fresh.

You got to keep your,

you got to breathe.

Like you got to,

you know,

Jason isn't,

Jason isn't,

isn't built for that one.

I was about to say,

listen,

I could have definitely played in the NBA.

No question about it.

Bron,

I got to know if there's one player outside of yourself who you think would be able to make the cleanest transition into the NFL, who would it be? I would say off top of my head, I would say Russell Westbrook or Anthony Edwards. I think Russ would be an unbelievable strong safety or free safety.
You know, his ability to kind of like – You think he's playing defense? I think so. I think so.
You know, and Russ, he comes with that natural aggression off top.

He does.

You're right.

You're right.

He got that Derwin James type aggression.

He's trying to hit somebody.

And I think Ant Edwards, I've seen a lot of his little league football highlights.

And also, I think he played in high school as well.

Oh, I got to check those out. He looked like he could make the transition as well.
But off top, I think Russ for sure. Yeah.
Anthony Edwards has a bit of that mentality as well. Yeah, yeah, for sure.
That's what I was seeing too. Yeah, for sure.
As fellow Ohioans, we got to talk about Cleveland. Did you know Trav saw you play when you were in high school? Oh, yeah, baby.
Cleveland State, baby. Have you guys ever talked about this? Yeah, yeah, I did.
We talked about this a couple of times. He came to Cleveland State and watched me rock out, man.
Man, I was in middle school, man. I was just trying to see the king, man.
I was trying to see it before it went pros, man. I wasn't sure if you were going to land in Cleveland.
Luckily, you did, and I got to see you play a countless amount of times up at the Gund Arena, then the Quicken Loans Arena. Yeah.
But, yeah, man, I saw you down at Cleveland State. How many times did you play at Cleveland State? I can think of two off the top of my head.
Yeah, yeah. I think I played at Cleveland State probably about five times.
You know, I know I played a few times early on in high school and then definitely a couple times in my senior year. So, it was definitely a fun time being up in Cleveland, playing up there.
You know, I even played at the Gundarina too my senior year. Oh, yeah.
Yes. You know, we played against Warrensville Heights, you know, my senior year.
And I don't like to talk about this too much, but my game, my senior year, had more fans than the Cavs had that year. Oh, there's no question.
I think the only time they had more fans is when MJ played in Cleveland. But, you know.
That's too funny, man. That's too funny.
That was good. I'll tell you what, man.
For whatever reason, man, I was still, like, one of the biggest Cavs fans, even though they were the worst team in the league. Darius Miles, Boozer, all those guys.
Ricky Davis, man, all those guys. You would get a few highlights a game, man, and still be ready.
Oh, yeah, for sure. Yeah, for sure.
You knew they didn't win a lot of games, but they're going to give you a couple of plays here. Ricky D, D-Miles, Smush Parker, Booz, all those guys on that team.
It was fun to watch, even though you know they wasn't that successful there, but it was fun to watch. Well, you turned them up, baby.
But you bring up a good point with, like, you bringing more fans to the gun than the Cavs did. I don't think people now realize just how big you were in high school.
Like, unless you grew up in that, it was so crazy. Oh, man.
Right. The level of expectation and fame that you had at St.
Vincent St. Mary.
Like, I've never seen anything like that to this day. No, you're right, Jason.
And the funny thing is like you say, like, and this is before social media. So you couldn't really, unless you was there in real time, you didn't know it was just word of mouth.
It was like, okay, I heard about this kid from Northeast Ohio. Like I heard about this kid.
It was like, okay, well, like who's trying to make a trip to Akron, Ohio? Who's trying to come to Cleveland? It's like, you know, but like, if you happen to be, you know, going to the Canton Football Hall of Fame or if you happen to be going to Cleveland to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame or if you happen to be in town and I happen to be playing, and you understood what the hype was all about, you know, why it was so much conversation. So I can only imagine if social media was around there we would have like I don't it would have been too much for Northeast Ohio at that point that's interesting yeah it's really like you were you were the last of like that legend era of like word of mouth yeah yeah for sure man back back when you were playing when I was playing like back guys had to literally be the absolute best to get some sort of highlight tape if you if like there was nobody just out here just get it just putting their highlight tape on YouTube and getting looks or getting clicks no no question Trav like right now like if you if you you could be anywhere in the world now and because of the phones and because of the things you can capture you can be recruited and get accepted back then when we played if you didn't have a coach to come see you live it was going to be hell and you showed up that day and you had to show up because they was all over the place like they was not just gonna come and keep coming back if you didn't show up like and you had to perform in front of those coaches and you knew you knew games that those big-time coaches was there, too.
So it put even more pressure on you to show out. Hell, yeah.
Absolutely. You're right about that, man.
We had to – like us three being Northeast Ohio kids, like we had to show out when those coaches was there or we didn't know if they was going to come back. Just missed the train.
Yeah, you missed the train. Yep.
Not only were you from the Northeast, you ended up going to the Cavs. Yeah, yeah.
You ended up bringing the first title to Cleveland. Man, man.
What was it? Like 50 years or whatever? I think it was 50, 57 years, 57 years, something crazy. 57, yeah, exactly.
I was like, fuck, I wasn't alive. I wasn't alive yet.
Why do I get this pressure? That's crazy, man. I do got to ask of your four championships, where does the one in Cleveland rank? I mean, the first one, it's hard to top the first one.
Ain't that the truth? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. We all remember our first one and we know the feeling that we had when we won our first one because of like all the disappointment before that.
You know, the hard work, the things that people don't see the nights that we cry about what the fuck we could have did better in order for us to get that first one and then you're able to prevail that first one is so so special so so dear but man it's nothing better for me than that cleveland one just because of everything like like you said the 50 plus years of years of no championship in Northeast Ohio. The seven years I was there beforehand and it took me to leave and to come back to understand or appreciate it even more.
Being down 3-1 with the greatest team, 73 and 9 Warriors with Steph and Clay and Draymond and coming back and winning that game and winning that series for the city of Cleveland for Northeast Ohio. That's why you saw the emotional.
You're getting me fired up right now, man. Hey, baby, this is for you.
You're getting me fired up right now, man. You saw me crying on the court.
It was like it all just like, whew, like that one. 2016, I would become an old man someday.
We will all become old men. I know we got great beards.
They're going to be all great at some point. You know what I'm talking about? I'm being on the sides.
Yeah, yeah. That year, that's one year I would never forget, 2016.
It was an unbelievable time. I came back and went to the parade, man.
It was absolutely epic, dog. I appreciate you again for doing it.
I know I told you a million times, man. It's the greatest parade, man.
Absolutely. For Cleveland one time, baby.
Cleveland would be the only sports town to win a series 3-1 and then baseball the exact next series. Lose 3-1.
We could have been on top of the world forever, man. We could have been on top of the world forever, but it's all good.
Cleveland, by the way, the Cavs look amazing right now as well. They got another opportunity.
We are rolling. Yeah, I hope they keep it going.
They got an opportunity to do something special. So, you know, I'm glad I was able to put on first, set the trend, and hopefully we keep it going.
Go Cavs. There you go, baby.
Well, now that we're in the NBA, you went viral a couple weeks ago, I guess now. Who owns Christmas? According to you, I love the NFL, but Christmas is the NBA.
We are sneaking in on that territory. Listen, listen, listen.
I saw the fucking numbers after the fact. You guys kicked our ass, all right? Okay.
From a viewership step, boy, y'all kicked our ass. You had, you know, the games weren't as great as they should have been.
They should have, yeah. But, well, you have fucking Beyonce come out there.
I think Beyonce. Mahomes and Travis, you guys go there and kick Pittsburgh's ass.
You know, Beyonce comes out there. But I had, you know, when you go out there and you got your little brother and he might get beat up one time and you're like, hey, we didn't lose that fight.
We're staying here. We didn't lose.
That's how I felt. I had to stand up.
I had to stand up for the NBA. Thank you.
You've had a couple of huge milestones recently. Recently passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for most points in your career.
That's crazy stuff right there. And obviously you and Bronny became the first father-son duo ever to play in the game.
I mean, what career achievement means the most to you? Besides the titles. We already talked about titles.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Like this type of stuff.
Yeah, yeah. Which one is the one is the biggest deal to you i think besides the titles you know obviously the titles rank right up there there's something that you you know when you when you get into it that's all you play for when you're able to get with a franchise and y'all all believe in the same thing it's like special man yeah we are competing for championships in every year without a question and when you're able to accomplish that it's like that's exactly what the hard work and dedication for.
But for me, you know, obviously when it comes to the titles, that's one separate thing. But to be able to be in this league and play in this league and also being able to do it alongside Bronny right now, that's like one of the biggest accomplishments and probably the number one accomplishment I've ever been able to do.
Like to work with your son. That's so crazy.
I've heard it from a lot of people. And, like, not only sports, you know, but I've heard it in business and walks of life.
And that's the greatest thing you could ever, ever have. And, you know, to see him every day, you know, grinding and going through the process of trying to become who he wants to become while I am, you know, sitting there and just watching him and doing the things that he wants to do and being able to just take it all in.
It helps me get some of the minutes and hours and years back that I did not have with him because I was playing so much and on the road and doing my own things and traveling. Exactly.
So to be able to get some of this time back now, man, it's pretty special. He's handled the hype and the scrutiny and everything so perfect and so well.
Yeah. You had the hype coming out, but there wasn't the expectations of being as great as you.
Yeah. And I didn't have to deal with, you know, we go back to the social media.
I didn't have to deal with the social media trolls either growing up. Oh, that's interesting.
You know, and I didn't have to deal with my father being this fucking guy that's on the pedestal. I have to deal with that.
Bronny has to deal with all of that. And if you ever meet Bronny, then you'll realize you'll be like, I'm such an idiot to look down on him or not want him to do great.
He is the most chill, easy, fun kid in the world. He goes to work.
He goes home, he takes care of his body, he plays his video games, he reads a little bit, and then he comes back and does the same thing. And he's like the best big brother that his little brother and little sister could ever have.
So, you know, but he's dealing with all that too. So, you know, but that's going to make him, I think it's going to make him to be even greater because having to deal with all of the things that he's dealing with and still being able to come back from a life-threatening situation and still have that motivation, still have the motivation.
He didn't have to. Bronny doesn't have to play basketball at all.
It's not like he needs the money. Yeah.
And he's a smart individual. He can do whatever he wants to do.
He can do whatever he wants to do. Like if he wants to be the CEO of my company, he could be that.
I'll give that to start teaching him right now to be that if he wants to. But he's like, this is my career.
This is my goals. And this is my aspirations.
And I want to play ball. This is something I love.
And I love that kid. He's awesome.
He's awesome. Can't wait to see him.
Keep going, man. Man, appreciate it.
At what point do you even realize that that's something that can happen? Like, I look at my kids. I'm like, bro, that's insane.
You're playing with your son in the NBA. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
You also had your first daughter when you were like 30. That's fair.
But either way, I just think it's amazing. And I don't know, it's got to be like, at what point do you like, I might be able to actually play in the NBA with like, was there a moment or like, it was that you know what, it's a video clip of me.
I was that somebody sent to me not too long ago. I think it was about seven years ago.
And it's so weird. It's either seven or five years ago, whatever.
I think Ronnie was either in the seventh or eighth grade. And it was my 15th year in the NBA.
And I felt incredible. I think that was the year I played all 82 games.
I played every playoff game. I think I played like 105 games total that year.
And I came out of that season and I felt so damn good. And I think somebody caught me like, you know, do you ever think that there's a possibility

that you may stick around

and possibly play with one of your kids?

I was like, the way I feel right now,

there is a possibility.

Yeah, it just hit you right there.

It hit me right then and there.

And God willing and damn bat crazy shit to me,

it happened.

Yes, absolutely.

It absolutely happened. But yeah, it's pretty cool, man.
Dude, yeah, that's awesome. Every big moment starts with a big dream.
But what happens when that big dream turns out to be a big flop? From Wondery and At Will Media, I'm Misha Brown, and this is The Big Flop. Every week, comedians join me to chronicle the biggest flubs, fails, and blunders of all time, like Quibi.
It's kind of like when you give yourself your own nickname and you try to, like, get other people to do it. And the 2019 movie adaptation of Cats.
Like, if I'm watching the dancing and I'm noticing the feet aren't touching the ground, there's something wrong with the movie. Find out what happens when massive hype turns into major fiasco.
Enjoy the big flop on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to the big flop early and ad free on Wondery Plus.
Get started with your free trial at Wondery.com slash plus. All right, well, we're going to get to this.
We got to ask, but you don't have to answer section. We're going to rattle off a bunch of questions.
Feel free. Love it.
Tell us to fuck off. Yeah.
Just tell us to fuck off, man. But we got to know the answers to these ones.
Yeah. We usually end all of our conversations with this.
So we got a list of questions. Again, you do not have to answer, but we do have to ask them.

There's a story about you playing in an infamous pickup game

with Michael Jordan when you were 16 years old.

What was it like?

Is that true?

Like, can you tell us how you played?

Yeah.

So when I finally was able to get on the court, first of all, MJ,

Antoine Walker, and the rest of those guys did not let young guys get on the court at all. And I was 16 years old.
I was sophomore in high school. And it takes a while to get on the court.
It's usually when the older guys, they get tired and they don't want to play no more. They like whatever.
But I did. And I was able to get on the court alongside.
I was on the court with Michael Jordan, Antoine Walker, Penny Hardaway. Legend.
Ron Artest. Michael Finley, all these guys.
Who guarded you? Nobody. I was unguardable.
Oh! Yeah! Listen, I was 16. I was 16.
I was 16. I was 16.
I was 16. I was 16.
I was 16. I was 16.
I was 16. I was 16.
I was 16. I was 16.
the baby fro? Yep, that was the baby fro. I was in Chicago at MJ's court.
It was called Hoops. There's a clip out right now of actually Metal World Peace talking about that moment as well.
Oh, man, I got to check it out. When I finally got out there, I was like, I'm busting ass, man.
It's time to show up. I was nervous as hell, like being out there of those guys.
But I'm like. Are you kidding me? I was like, oh, I'm about to go crazy.
And I did. I did, man.
That's awesome, man. I did.
That's awesome. Man, I wish I was in that gym that day.
That's crazy stuff, man. Well, you see all these shoes behind me, man.
You already know I'm a sneaker head. Oh, I know.
I've collected them over the years, man. Was it always Nike? You used to wear the T-Max at St.
Vincent St. Mary.
I think I've seen you wear the old Iversons. Was it always Nike? Trav, no, it was not.
It was not always Nike. It was Nike when I was a young kid, when I was a young lad.
Obviously, you know, I've been in love with Michael Jordan my whole life. So, you know, I saw him.
Penny Hardaway, you know, King Griffey Jr., Bo Jackson. I watched all these unbelievable sports figures.
So as a kid growing up, it was Nike. Once I got into the AAU program, started playing basketball, Adidas took us over.
You know, and it became Adidas. It was Adidas like from seventh, eighth grade to pretty much my junior, senior year.
They sponsored us every year. We played in all the Adidas tournaments, big time tournament in Vegas and all over the United States of America.
So it was it was Adidas. And then my senior year, the process began.
The recruitments, the Nikes came in and the Adidas was still there. Reebok came in and won.
You know, all these companies came in and I took on three pitches. I did a Adidas pitch.
I did a Reebok pitch. I did a Nike pitch.
The best pitch that I got where I thought I was going to end up was actually Reebok at one point. Reebok.
I went to their meeting. I went to their meeting and I sat down across from their CEO and the guys that was running basketball.
At the time, I don't know if you guys remember this, but Reebok had the NFL as well. Yes.
That's what it was when I first got in the league. Yeah, they had the NFL as well.
So they knew my love for football as well. So they had all the NFL jerseys, all the Pro Bowl-looking jerseys that was going to be the next year.
And I'm sitting across from the table. I'm a senior in high school.
I actually have to have – I actually go to – I'm going back to class the next day. They flew me in.
I'm going back to say visit, say Mary the next day, my senior year.

And the guy slides over a check to me at the end of the table.

It's me and my mom and Maverick Carter at the end of the table.

And he says,

if,

if you don't go talk to any other companies,

this is yours.

And I look at it.

I look at it.

10 million fucking dollars. 10 million.
Just right there as an 18 year old I was still stealing change out of my dad's fucking piggy bank. I was a high school senior man.
They gave me a check for 10 million dollars and if I promise not to go see anybody else I told him I need a break. They stepped out.
I need to fuck. I sat there.
My mom looked at it and me and my mom were living in an apartment and you know, section eight housing in Akron. I'm going back.
I don't have shit, whatever. And my mom looked at me she says son trust your gut if they're offering you this then who knows what the other companies may offer you okay mom yeah ma she's composed yeah she's super composed she's like we ain't got shit already so it's not like you know it changes our life.
Yes, maybe in the future, but I want you to trust your gut and do what you think is right. That's awesome advice, man.
So they came back in. Boop.
I said, thank you. I will, you know, I will definitely like to continue our conversation, but I would be remiss if I did not take those other pitches from the other companies.
I may have cried on the way home because I had to leave that to me. You're questioning.
Man, I hope I just made the right decision. I was like, I could have bought the building that me and my mom was living in with that goddamn money.
What? Easily. Easily.
I got a similar, my rookie year or my rookie contract. I'm coming up, I'm redoing my rookie contract.
And I decide, potentially, I'm like, okay, I think I might do this myself. I might forego and just be my own agent and negotiate my own contract.
And thankfully my agents were like, they talked me into like, no, no, no. We need to, you're going to want an agent.
Trust me. They sent over the first offer.
And I was like, all right, where do we sign? They're like, no, no, no, no. What are you doing? We can get it.
We can go high. We can go high.
Oh, man. That's funny as shit.
Yeah, that first time you get a check like that thrown in front of you. Oh, for sure.
You never forget. You never forget.
You never seen that many zeros in your life. Never, never, never.
Yes, yes. Man, that's too funny.
Have you seen this tweet from 2015? LeBron is 30. This fuckery won't go on for much longer.
Thank God. By the way, yes, I saw that tweet throughout all of my 30s.
All of my 30s. And I laughed at it so hard.
You put it up in the locker and you just put it right there? And you know what? I know what's funny. When I turned 40, the same fucking guy said, LeBron turned 40.
This fuckery won't go on much longer. That's fucking gold, man.
So good. So good.
Look at that. That's so good.
Oh, my goodness. Oh, my goodness.
He's going to be really upset when I turn 50. No doubt.
No doubt. That shit was fucking classic, man.
Brian, did you ever hoop in a Heights gym? I don't think I hooped in a Heights gym, man. I don't think so.
You know what? I was actually thinking about that. And if I don't, I know it was never a game.
I never played Cleveland Heights and Cleveland Heights, but I might have been there for maybe a summer league game or just for a run or something. Man.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Either way, man.
It's Northeast Ohio forever. I want to ask one more question, and I know you've talked about this before.
How did you do this? From the expectations that were on your feet. Trav, you touched on this.
I just never seen anybody, and I don't know that I ever will, handle every step of the way with such class and grace. I don't know, man.
It's just been remarkable to watch the whole journey and to see the whole thing happen. I know it's not over yet and keep on going.
I appreciate it, man. What is the wisdom? What's the wisdom to anybody else? Listen, J, Trav, man, one, knowing where I came from, you know, you come from Hacker, you come from Cleveland, you come from Northeast Ohio, you know that you are one or two and three and a billion.
And if you get that opportunity, man, one, you can't fuck it up. You just can't.
Yeah, man you know being from a you know single parent household and you know and just me and my mom i have no siblings you know seeing the struggle that my mom went through and things of that nature that was another thing that i was like okay you can't fuck her up like you just can't you know because now you're given this opportunity yeah then i started thinking about my career i was like what you want to be? And how do you want to be remembered? Like, do you want to just go on and play ball? Or do you actually want to be remembered when you're not playing ball? So like, I took that into consideration. I took that into serious account.
I was like, I want to be the greatest that anyone has ever seen in the sport ever. And then I was like, OK, but in order for that to happen, not only do I got to put the work in on the court, I have to make sure that I take care of the business off the court as well.
Like you can't be a shit show. You can't be a piece of shit.
You can't be doing things that affects anything that has anything to do with your profession and being available to your teammates, being available to the franchise, being available every time you get out there, that caused a distraction. I felt that.
And when I started to start my family, that was another part. And I knew Savannah was the one I started having kids.
I was like, I didn't have that male influence. My dad wasn't around.
I was like, okay, I can't fuck that up. So like, all of this is like piling on, piling on and piling on.
And yes, with the weight of the world on my shoulders. I remember I did a interview.
I wasn't even in the NBA yet. I think I had just got drafted.
I did an interview with like Bob Costas or something. I think it was him.
And he said like, how does it feel to know that if you're not a first round ballot hall of famer, people will look at you, look at you as a failure. I was like, I said first ballot hall of fame.

I'm like 18 years old.

I haven't even played the game yet. Like people look at me as a failure.

I was like that.

I was like, oh shit.

This is thought about that.

I haven't even thought about that.

Oh my God.

There's people out here that really want me to fail.

Oh my goodness.

And I, and I use that as motivation.

I was like, I got something for y'all.

I got something for y'all.

So man, it's a lot, but it's also just like to the young guys out there that feel the pressure, that, you know, feel like it's maybe too much. Like if you just put the work in, don't be an asshole.
Be a good person, you know, and dedicate yourself to the craft. The game will always be kind to you.
That's always. Take care of your body.
Eat well. You know, give your faith, you know, to the higher above because we're nothing without them, obviously.
And just be a good person, man. It's not hard.
It's not hard to say thank you. You're welcome.
How you doing? Have a good day. All that type of good shit.
Oh, yeah. It's nothing wrong with that.
Nothing wrong with it. Leading your life in the right direction, baby.
There it is. There it is.
You get rewarded. Yeah, you get rewarded every time.
It's been inspirational the whole way, not just as a player, but, I mean, off the field, what you've done from a business side. Man, I appreciate it.
Like, Trav, I know you know this, but the impact you've had on players, not just in basketball, but other sports who have seen the success you've had all walks of life. The empire you've created around yourself, the trust you've been able to have with the people around you.
I mean, all that stuff. I've taken notes since the jump, man.
I keep a lot of people very similar to me, close to me and around me in the business profession. And I took notes from you on it.
So I appreciate you doing the right things always and forever.

And I appreciate you coming on tonight.

Yeah, baby.

Thank you for taking the time.

This is an all-timer for us.

Yes, sir.

New heights went to a new height today, baby.

Let's go, baby.

Let's go.

Got the king, man.

Let's go.

Thank you very much, dog.

I love you, boys, man.

We said hello, man.

Absolutely.

So much love for you.

Best of luck to you in the next game, man. I'll be watching.
You know we get after it. Yes, I already know.
I already know. All right, my guys, love.
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Holy shit. Man, it's just never enough time with my guy, man.
I mean, that flew by. I just want to just grill him.
I just want to grill him. And I never want to grill him whenever I'm hanging out with him.
Like, I never want to just bring up. I'm not bringing up nothing.
So, was Nike always, you know what I mean? Just like. Put him on the spot.
If you had any advice for someone getting into business venture. Perfect.
Perfect. That's what I was going to do.
Yeah. Just keep grilling him.
Man, he's the best though, man. No doubt.
What a good dude, man. That was the Cleveland kid in me.
Whenever we talk to just some Northeast Ohio guys or girls, it just comes out of me. I feel like I'm like 15 all over again.
It's fun stuff right there. There is flower everywhere.
Hilarious. Absolutely hilarious.
You're like George Washington. Oh, look, it's George.
Quick divisional round. Look ahead.
Let's talk a little football. Even though we just talked the previous week with LeBron and DraftKings, any surprises from you specifically on last week's matchups and the outcomes? Nothing that's right.
In the playoffs, anybody can win. That's why it's the playoffs, right? So nothing that surprising.
Playoffs. You know, Tampa was one of my sleeper teams.
I really thought Baker Mayfield, the only part of the season where they dipped down a little bit was when Evans and Godwin got hurt. And they weathered that storm pretty well.
I keep thinking Washington doesn't have the roster this year, and they keep proving me wrong. So I'm going to stop thinking that.
You know what I mean? Like, I just, I keep thinking they're just a year away from having the guys to really get it done. But, man, Dan Quinn, Jaden Daniels has been playing out of his mind all year.
He's taking care of the ball, man. And they're stopping the run.
I thought Bucky Irvin was going to have a hell of a day. And he played well, but I don't know.
I keep thinking that there's, you know, somebody's going to have a game where they just kind of dominate the trenches on both sides of the ball. And it's just not happening.
Tampa Bay didn't play bad. Like it was a good game.
They had a couple of mistakes at the end that really hurt them. But Washington also was, I mean, they had a couple of fourth down calls that like kept Tampa in it.
You know what I mean? Like, I think the Washington punt, depending like what what? None? No times. No punts.
No turnovers. They were moving the ball.
They were putting together sustained drives. Like, I've been impressed with Washington all year, but I didn't think that this would be their year to compete with the big dogs.
And I've been proven wrong, clearly. Jaden Daniels has had a tremendous season.
Their whole defense has been galvanized on an organization and team that I think has lacked a lot of hope and leadership a little bit with the whole Dan Snyder thing. And I think Rivera is a phenomenal coach.
It felt like that organization was missing something. And for this to turn around this quickly has been remarkable.
Shout out to all those guys, man. And Bobby Wagner still playing lights out.

It's been awesome to watch. My man, Zach Ertz is out there balling.

Ertzie. Man, I love seeing him get after still in his career, man.

For sure. Shout out to Baker on a great year.
I know it's not the way those guys wanted it.

I'm just happy that he's found a home down there in Tampa playing well.

I mean, I'm right there with you. I thought that was the one upset that I didn't see coming.
And they got to really – I mean, I think they're the ones playing the Lions, right? They're playing the Lions this week. This will be a big one.
Yeah. I mean, if you can stop the run.
Bro, well, this is the one – like, I don't know, man. They play so well.
Like, they're so well coached on offense and defense, Washington and Detroit. But, like, every time I think they're going to get run on, Dan Quinn and this defensive line shows up.
Bobby Wagner starts making plays. Like, the Eagles had a couple big counter runs on them early the last time they played Washington.
Saquon had a big run. He was, like, yards in the first quarter damn near.
And then right after that, you see Bobby start scraping over the top of the tight end and ruining that play. It's a vet, man.
To put it in – Jonathan Gann used to use this word all the time. They're salty, man.
They find a way to get it done. They're a resilient group.
And now they find themselves playing in the divisional round. And it's been an incredible year for Washington.
I mean, I would be beyond shocked if they get it done against Detroit this week too. But, I mean, at some point, it's just they're having a great year.
The quarterback is playing really well. They're well coached, and it seems like they're a great group together.
So kudos to Washington for getting it done. Shout out to the commanders, baby.
Let's, let's speak into next week. Let's go ahead and talk some, some divisional around football, baby.
Okay. Okay.
Well, we got Chiefs Texans. How do you feel? 25 days since you last played on Christmas.
How about that? Got to feel pretty fresh. Well, I mean, I've been getting after it.
I've been getting after it. Never, never too fresh.
You got to keep the wear and tear on the body. You can't let your body get out of the zone.
You know what I mean? You got to stay in the zone. You got to, that's why we were in pads this week.
We had one or one practice in pads and we got after it ones on ones a little bit. And that keeps you in the groove, right? That keeps you feeling football.
It keeps it keeps you, um, kind of having that endurance, that muscle memory that you need to, to come out and, and, and play fast, man. But, uh, the Texans, I mean, you want to talk about playing fast, that D line, that defense, um, it's a, it's man, it's a real deal right there.
And, uh, and they showed it, they showed it this past weekend against the chargers on what they can do. Um they can create turnovers.
They're a tough team. They're a tough team, man.
And I'm excited for the challenge, man. Their secondary is very good.
They can match up with pretty much any team in the league. Their defensive line plays very aggressive.
They're well coached with D'Amico Ryans. Matt Burke, dude, it's crazy how many staff members I know for the Texans.
D'Amico Ryans I played with. Burke, the DC, was with me in Philly with Jim Schwartz.
Corey Unlin was with me in Philly. Billy Davis was the DC with Chip.
Nate Olley is the defensive line coach. Like, dude, I know the entire fucking defensive staff.
I was doing one of their games, and he just kept walking by.

I'm like, God damn, you old motherfuckers are over here.

They're well coached.

They play physical.

They play fast.

They got a great group.

Really do.

So it's going to be a challenge for you guys.

Shout out to Houston, and good luck this week.

You got any – what's the keys to victory?

The keys to victory?

Man, I haven't fucking heard about that. Play physical.

Just give the generic – Don't turn the ball over.

Don't turn the ball over.

Get out to a fast start.

Start fast, finish strong.

It's like the head coach for the keys to victory just has a running seven list

of what it could possibly be, and it's just how do I rearrange into three keys turnovers is always there take care of the football which i mean playoff football control the line of scrimmage big boys up front you guys control this thing that's uh that's going to indicate the outcome right there yeah no man got to play play complimentary all three phases got to play together like it's. It's not that hard, ladies and gentlemen.
Everybody knows that those are the things that you got to do. Okay, so the same thing that works every week for victories.
Got it. Okay, do those.
That's the one, Jason. That's the one.
No. Obviously, this team plays very, very well together, man.
And it's going to take all 11 on the field. Yeah.
I just said another one of them right there. You can't, you can't stop.
Like it always comes out to that. It's just the same thing every single time.
Um, no, man, got to punch him right in the mouth. Well, let's talk a little Eagles, uh, Rams.
Yeah. Rams coming into town.
You think Saquon scores instead of slides this week, Dude, I was like, just go score, baby.

He's like, I didn't want to put the defense back out on the field.

Is that what the –

I mean, yeah, you never know what happens.

It's very unselfish.

I remember a similar play happening where we ended up scoring a touchdown.

The defense goes back out there and somebody gets banged up

and misses the next week.

So it's like, yeah, I mean, I get it.

I'm going down at the one, though.

Yeah.

Get all of my yards I can.

But then, I mean, I don't know.

And that's why he's where he's at i'm here uh anyways selfless selfless absolutely selfless man and he's been like that the whole year um so he's just the ultimate team player i expect nothing less yeah definitely would have scored if it was me but you know that's why i't play running back in the NFL and get 2,000 yards. There you go.
You did average nine yards of carry, though, in high school. Oh, yeah.
I ran all over that turf over in Lakewood. I was flying on that AstroTurf.
These kids nowadays don't know what turf is. Yes.
You ever heard of AstroTurf? It's carpet over a parking lot. People don't astro turf it's carpet over a parking lot don't even know it's carpet over a parking lot people call uh well we play on now turf in ashley turf i'm like no this is different this field turf no this is completely different all right you don't this isn't carpet you don't have to put strips of tape so that your skin doesn't get scrubbed off we bring extra extra bottles.
When the trainers bring extra bottles of, what is it, peroxide? Yes. All right, because we're fucking all day just fucking dumping it on wounds.
Everybody leaves with a raspberry. If you didn't leave with a raspberry, I don't want you playing.
But I'll tell you what, when you're young and it doesn't hurt your joints, it's fine because you're fast. You are flying on that stuff.
You are fast. Yeah.
Everyone brings tennis shoes instead of cleats. It's like a reminder to everybody the day before.
And don't come with your cleats tomorrow, guys. I had those little nubs.
I had like actual AstroTurf cleats. Dude, yeah.
Those are the best. Yeah.
Well, that's impressive. Yeah.
I just had basketball shoes. It works too.
There There you go. But, yeah, no, I'm excited about this game.
I mean, the Rams, obviously, I was just there this Monday. They played a phenomenal game against the Vikings, Matthew Stafford.
They're clicking on all cylinders right now in L.A., so it's going to be a great game. It's in the link.
The Eagles got the better of the Rams last time they played, but the Rams have been getting better. They played so fast this past week, and I don't know if it was having the week off the week before where they rested some of their starters, but they look like a very, very good football team right now.
Oh, yeah. Matthew's still slinging that ball as good as he ever has.
Slinging it around out there. So, yeah, it's going to be a tough game for the Eagles.
But, yeah, it'll be a fun one. Let's keep this thing moving, man.
Hopefully we can get this dubbed this weekend, man, and keep our playoff hopes alive, baby. Hey-o.
Super Bowl hopes alive. Finally, last week, we promised we would do a blind ranking of Will Ferrell movies this episode.
Oh yeah, let's get it going baby.

That's right.

So intern Brandon, please do the honors.

I'm trying to remember all of Will's movies.

He's got so many.

So pulled these off of his top 10 on IMDb.

So.

Is this in order?

Are we seeing one? No, no, you're seeing them.

These are just numbers.

These are just numbers don't mean anything right now.

Just the first movie. Please.
I kind of feel like you would have gone in order you don't who's sneakier than that give me some fucking credit uh movie number one step brothers fuck this is the top this is definitely a top if not one it's top three i'm trying what's better than Step Brothers. Dude, it's so fucking good.

Like, I could watch it right the fuck now, which is damn near every movie Will's in.

I know.

I'm going, fuck.

It feels weird to put the first movie we see at number one.

That's a risk.

But we wouldn't be wrong.

That's a risk.

No, it's definitely not wrong.

I mean, this is a lot of people's number ones.

It might be my number one. I'm trying to like, I love old school.
I really do love old school. Stepbrothers.
But that, I feel like that wasn't as much. It gets better and better every time.
And Anchorman. I'm sorry.
I'm putting Anchorman. If this is Will Ferrell, a movie like old school, he wasn't the lead.
That's fair. That's fair to say.
You know what I mean? I will say this mean like although he did he did he made probably the most impression on me as a kid as frank the tank like does he get considered like his wedding crashers a will ferrell movie even though he's not the the main uh guy wedding crash he's mom the meatloaf oh yeah no you can't put him in a lot of one when i think of wedding crashes i don't think of well yeah you think of vince vaughn think of uh uh god dang what's the other guy with the crooked nose what's his name owen wilson owen was the crooked nose jesus jason i'm gonna put it at two or three just because i think anchorman's my favorite movie anchorman's my favorite i love i love it let's go to all right two second movie up we're thinking We're gonna forget about one talladega you're in my wheelhouse right now brandon you are in my fucking wheelhouse i mean it's gotta be three if we're going anchorman's one it's so good and it's one of those that every time you see it it just gets better god it's so good it's gotta be three it can't be one i'm just curious what else is on this list he's had so many movies it's hard to remember all of them all like off the top of your head i got i think it's either three or four i can't go lower than that it's the yeah it's three i'm going three it's two if it's not one it's so fun it's so fantastic so it's gotta be three i love the ballad of Ricky Bobby. Next movie.
Oh, so good. The Other Guys.
Great movie. Great movie.
God damn it. Does this go four? Fuck.
I mean, this one's more of an underrated one, and I don't exactly know why, because it's absolutely incredible. Dude, it is so good.
I'm going to say it's below Elf and Anchorman for me.

I also think it's probably below old school,

even though he's not the main in old school.

It's just more of an iconic movie.

Like this one never got the level of notoriety that all the other ones did for whatever reason.

And I don't really know why.

I don't really look at movie reviews or ratings.

I just watched the movies and this is up there for me.

So I'm going six. I'm going six.
No, that's got to be five. All right, I'll go five.
I'll go five. I'm missing so much.
I'll concede. His movies are so good that I can't even imagine putting anything at 10.
This is where we're going to have to start putting some of these movies down there, Travis. We have to.
All right, next one. Next movie.
Old school. See, just because it's...
God, he's front and center. It's Frank the Tank.
He goes streaking to the quad. You're fucking crazy, man.
Do you think KFC's still open? You're fucking crazy. I love you.
We're going streaking! But you're fucking crazy. Yeah, Frank, the whole town knows you had a good time last night i think i think elf and anchorman are one and four those are the two that we got four no no i'm saying elf and anchorman are one and four i'm saying seven i'm saying this is seven old school seven yeah i'm saying just because he's not the main yeah i just if i'm just rating the movie i'd put it up higher can No, dude.
There's so many good Will Ferrell movies we're missing. But this movie is fantastic.
It is. It's Vince.
Yeah. The cast is incredible.
The movie is great. Are we rating this on a Will Ferrell scale or just like the best movies that Will Ferrell has been in? I've been going off of a Will Ferrell scale.
Come on now.

Give me a number. Just go seven, dude.

Oh, seven.

Reluctantly, I just disagree

with it being seven. All right, then go six.
Find six.

I kind of want to go four.

Then go four. Fuck it.

Just get me through this. Jesus.

All right. We'll lock it

in at four. Next

movie, A Night at the Roxbury. That's what I'm talking about.
Well, this is a guilty pleasure for us. This one is just.
I'm so pissed that we didn't talk this. Because it started off on SNL and it fucking became a fucking.
Full on movie. And then I used to work out at Jake Laser's gym, Unbreakable, on Roxbury Road.
There we go. Shout out to Jake Laser and Unbreakable.
Okay, Larry Legend. Shout out to Larry Legend.
I love this movie. It is an all-time favorite of mine.
It is so fucking good. I feel like Night at the Roxbury, even though it's one of our favorites, objectively not one of his better films.
I think you got to go seven or eight. I'll go eight.
Eight? All right. Eight.
Locking in at eight. Next movie.
Elf. This is where we've ran into troubles.
We have to leave one open for Anchorman. I got you a little bit.
No, 100. I front loaded it.
I got you. So I say six.
Cool. Kicking in screen.
This is what I'm saying. This is what I'm fucking saying, man.
I mean, it's a good movie, but I feel very confident this is outside of that top six we have right now. All right, seven then, because it's up there for me.
You putting this at seven? Seven. Dude, I love kicking and screaming.
Is it better than Blades of Glory? I don't know. Is it better than Semi-Pro? No.
I think this one's 10 for me. All right.
I think it's a good movie. I mean, listen, there's not a bad Will Ferrell movie.
Night of the Roxbury should have been 10. Wait, where did you put that? 10.
10. This is 10.
Interesting. I love that.
Fuck it. Next movie.
It's so good. Semi-Pro.
I'll go 9, Semi-Pro. 9.
This is, yeah, we're on the same page. I fucking love Jackie Moon, though, man.

Jackie Moon is electric.

All of these movies are fantastic.

Next up, we have Blades of Glory.

Seven.

Dude, if you do not have Anchorman with this last film.

He's such an asshole if he doesn't have Anchorman.

He did.

I need to be top ten, so it has to be Anchorman.

I don't even need to see it.

All right. Blast movie.
I gotta my God. That shit is fucking gold.
Look at that cast. Oh, man.
I got to fucking grill my guy Paul Rudd about that movie, man. I need to know more.
I feel pretty good about this list. It's a solid list.
This is a pretty solid list. Would we change anything with it not being blind? I'd probably switch Night at the Roxbury and either Kicking and Screaming or Semi-Pro.
I think that one was kind of just a silly one where these ones actually like the character was like... I don't know.
I just felt like those characters were better. Night at the Roxbury is a guilty pleasure of ours though.
People are going to want Elf higher. Elf's going to get some tweets.
Well, initially, I was already Elf for four, but he's got so many great movies. I don't think Elf is better than...
I mean, I might put it above other guys. Probably other guys in old school for me.
I'm not putting it above old school. Old school is too iconic to me.
God damn, that's good. I love Talladega Nights with a passion.
It's so good. I feel very confident Anchorman and Stepbr are one and two, though.
Yeah. I think we killed the first, the top three.
Any issues with the list, please tweet at Jchat85. I think that was Jake.
Please let him know. Tell us how you feel.
Tell him specifically how you feel. Tell him he fucked up.
Get him. That wraps up another episode of New Heights.
That's right. Thank you to LeBron James for showing up and coming out.
Yeah, that was incredible. The best.
Still kind of crazy that that even happened. Make sure you're subscribed on YouTube to the New Heights channel and follow New Heights on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts.
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Once again, new heights is a one three show produced by wave sports and entertainment and brought to you by Reese's new chocolate lava, big cup. How about that, man? And Kelsey's going to have a fucking time of his life.
Follow the show on all social media at new heights show with one after fun clips throughout the week, guys. And thank you to our production for always making us look great and getting guys like LeBron James to come through, man.
Golly, what a guy. And thank you to the 92 Percenters for tuning in.
Hope you guys had a good one. And thanks to our production and crew for always thank you for did I say thank you? It'd be really funny if I just didn't edit any of that.

I'm an absolute imbecile.

Thanks, guys, to everyone.

The end.

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