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Showtime Podcast with Lakers Legend Michael Cooper Episode 30: Today's NBA is Different Guest: Reggie Theus Michael Cooper @ShowtimeCooper and Ari Temkin @arisports welcome former NBA player and Coach Reggie Theus to talk about growing up paying baseball before basketball in Inglewood in the 70's, Reggie's time playing for coach Jerry Tarkanian, his time playing for the Chicago Bulls in the late 70's, and how the NBA is today. 0:20 Michael Cooper to Reggie Theus: "What are three things that help you make it to the NBA?" 2:37 When did Reggie Theus realize that he wanted to play basketball and not baseball? 5:13 What was it like growing up in Inglewood California in the 70's 10:00 How Reggie Theus got to University of Nevada , Las Vegas UNLV playing for coach Jerry Tarkanian. 16:03 What it was like playing for the Chicago Bulls in the late 1970's, and how Reggie Theus missed playing with Michael Jordan by 15 minutes. 19:40 Coops lightning round. 28:55 What does Reggie Theus think about today's NBA? Listen and Subscribe to the Showtime Lakers Podcast with Michael Cooper and Ari Temkin on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, and the CLNS Media Network mobile app.

Showtime Podcast with Lakers Legend Michael Cooper Michael Cooper @ShowtimeCooper and Ari Temkin @arisports welcome NBA legend and former Detroit Pistons guard Isiah Thomas (@isiahthomas). They discuss the secret to basketball and winning championships and how Isiah learned about this from the Los Angeles Lakers dynasty. Plus, Isiah's relationship with coach Bobby Knight, the Jordan rules, and more on the Showtime With Coop Podcast. 1:25 The secret to basketball...has nothing to do with basketball. Everybody thinks about the analytics of basketball and what is between the lines but the truth is basketball is about everything else. 4:31 Where did Isiah Thomas' love for the game of basketball come from? 8:34 What did Isiah Thomas know about Bobby Knight before he went to Indiana and what was his relationship with him like over the years. 13:16 Bet Online Ad Read 24:37 The Jordan Rules 36:27 Coops lightning round 41:39 Master Class Ad Read   Listen and Subscribe to the Showtime Lakers Podcast with Michael Cooper and Ari Temkin on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, and the CLNS Media Network mobile app.

Showtime Podcast with Lakers Legend Michael Cooper Michael Cooper @ShowtimeCooper and Ari Temkin @arisports welcome weekday sports reporter Rob Fukuzaki to talk about his history of reporting on LA sports, his thoughts on the Lakers championship win this year, what the Clippers need to do to win next year, and his foundation that helps kids in Southern California. Ep. 28 Guest: Rob Fukuzaki @abc7rob 1:17 Rob Fukuzaki went to La Verne College where he won broadcaster of the year three times in a row.  2:06 Whats the difference in LA Sports at this time as opposed to when Rob first got started? 6:15 Would Rob put an asterisks next to the La Lakers championship this year because of the bubble? 12:28 What do the LA Clippers need to do to win the NBA Championship next NBA season? 18:44 Michael Coopers lightning round. 23:29 Rob Fukuzaki shares some info on his foundation called the heads up youth foundation that helps kids in the Southern California area that come out of the foster care system and pick four or five of them a year to send to college. Listen and Subscribe to the Showtime Lakers Podcast with Michael Cooper and Ari Temkin on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, and the CLNS Media Network mobile app.    

Showtime Podcast with Lakers Legend Michael Cooper Michael Cooper @ShowtimeCooper and Ari Temkin @arisports welcome special guest Dahntay Jones to talk about his experience playing for coach Mike Krzyzewski at Duke University, playing with the possible GOAT LeBron James in Cleveland, and more on this episode of Showtime With Coop. Ep. 27  Guest: Dahntay Jones @dahntay1 5:03 Rutgers to Duke Transfer  10:30 Dahntay Jones thoughts on playing for coach Mike Krzyzewski at Duke University.  21:16 After college, where did Dahntay Jones end up after the draft? 24:22 Dahntay Jones experience with Jerry West. 29:35 Dahntay Jones was prepared to retire, and ended up signing for last regular season game for the Cleveland Cavaliers, who won the NBA Finals that year. 30:25 What was it like playing with LeBron James? 35:40 Dahntay Jones thoughts on the question of LeBron James being the GOAT. 39:05 Michael Coopers lightning round. Listen and Subscribe to the Showtime Lakers Podcast with Michael Cooper and Ari Temkin on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, and the CLNS Media Network mobile app.    

Showtime Podcast with Lakers Legend Michael Cooper On this episode of Showtime With Coop Michael Cooper @ShowtimeCooper and Ari Temkin @arisports  talk about the 2020 NBA Champions The Los Angeles Lakers, a possible four point line in the NBA, and once again if LeBron is the GOAT Ep. 26 Los Angeles Lakers 2020 NBA Champions 2:32 Magic Johnson is the reason LeBron went to the La Lakers 5:56 Ari Temkin: "LeBron is still the best defender in the NBA, when he wants to be." 11:10 Michael Cooper: "Draymond can't defend Anthony Davis, Draymond can't defend LeBron James, and Draymond can't defend Dwight Howard. He might be able to deal with JaVale McGee, but those three players, because of his size, their size and their ability to get up and rebound its gonna be hard for him." 11:49 You heard it from Michael Cooper first, the NBA will adopt a four point line.  15:07 The West is better than the East. 27:00 Doc Rivers in Philadelphia will put a new mindset in the young players. 27:31 Why talk about LeBron's legacy when he is still playing in the NBA? 30:05 Michael Cooper: "If he, and I think he's gonna get close, if he passes Kareem's all time scoring record, i've gotta give LeBron the greatest player to have ever played this game." 35:36 Michael Cooper: "If Adam Silver can pull off this with the group that he had, they're gonna figure out how to get the NBA back on tack again."    Listen and Subscribe to the Showtime Lakers Podcast with Michael Cooper and Ari Temkin on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, and the CLNS Media Network mobile app.

Showtime Podcast with Lakers Legend Michael Cooper Ep. 24 Pat Riley and Baskin Robins  Guest: Jorge Sedano from ESPN @Sedano   Michael Cooper @ShowtimeCooper and Ari Temkin @arisports welcome special guest Jorge Sedano from ESPN to provide his unique perspective in covering the Heat in Miami, where he grew up to now living in LA and covering the Lakers for ESPN LA and ESPN television. Like Coop, Sedano has a unique relationship with Pat Riley dating back to his years growing up in Miami and then covering the Heat. Plus, with LeBron on the precipice of another title, Coop, Jorge and Ari weigh in on Lebron's place in history compared to Kareem and Michael Jordan.  1:22 How Jorge Sedano got into broadcasting. 13:30 Jorge on the NBA Finals series between the LA Lakers and the Miami Heat. Jorge Sedano: "I just want it to be a competitive game. No one wants to see injuries, nobody wants to see blowouts, I think as fans of basketball we want to see competitive games night in and night out." 20:19 LeBron James' place in NBA history, especially if he closes out the Finals with another title. Jorge Sedano: "Lebron is the most gifted player I have ever seen." 23:21 Michael Cooper asks Jorge if he was starting a team today, what player, in his prime, would he choose as a starter for the team. 28:42 Coop's Lightning Round 33:52 The recent comments by Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets that they do not need a coach.    Listen and Subscribe to the Showtime Lakers Podcast with Michael Cooper and Ari Temkin on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, and the CLNS Media Network mobile app.  

Showtime Podcast with Lakers Legend Michael Cooper Ep. 23 What NBA Champion Teams Are Made Of Great Organizations: Jerry Buss, Jerry West Pat Riley, Greg Popovich, RC Buford and What Made them winners. Michael Cooper shares his expertise on the ingredients to winning organizations. "AT" Ari Temkin weighs in with his experience working for ESPN San Antonio covering the Spurs championship runs.  Plus, of course Coop discusses the Lakers on the verge of another NBA Finals appears. LA's "weakness" coming into the playoffs was thought to be defense, but luckily they still have the NBA's best defensive player in LeBron James and they've shown very few weaknesses at all throughout the playoffs.  Michael Cooper: @ShowtimeCooper Ari Temkin: @arisports Powered by Betonline.ag and Masterclass Sign up for account today and use promo code: CLNS50 to get a 100% bonus! Masterclass.com/showtime for 15% of Masterclass! Learn Jazz from Herbie Hancock or ball handling from Steph Curry! 2:14 Going into the playoffs, Michael Cooper was worried about the Los Angeles Lakers defense. Ari Temkin asks why Michael Cooper thinks the Lakers defense has not been a huge factor in this series against the Denver Nuggets. 7:59 This is the first time that Michael Cooper has been afraid of an opponent in the NBA playoffs, that team is the Miami Heat who will most likely beat the Boston Celtics. He, on the other hand, is relieved that this is not normal playoffs with 2 games home and 2 away etc. 10:17 MasterClass Ad Read 14:34 Michael Cooper begins to explain his ideas on what makes a good NBA Basketball organization. A good team starts at the very top of the organization and makes its way down. 18:26 Bet Online AD read 26:19 When bringing someone new to the team, you need player input. You cannot bring someone new into a team environment without hearing the current players thoughts on that person being brought in. 31:36 Michael Cooper: "You can't win with one style" 33:07 Michael Cooper: "All the way to that last guy with the mask on you gotta trust the process."   Listen and Subscribe to the Showtime Lakers Podcast with Michael Cooper and Ari Temkin on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, and the CLNS Media Network mobile app.

Showtime Podcast with Lakers Legend Michael Cooper Ep. 22 NBA's Two Greatest Sh*t Talkers  Guest - Rick Mahorn Twitter @badboyhorn44 Michael Cooper and Ari Temkin welcome Detroit Pistons "Bad Boys" enforcer, Rick Mahorn. In this episode, the former Detroit Piston talks about his time as an enforcer in the league, the 1988 NBA finals where Coops LA Lakers bet them in 7 games, and if he still holds grudges with guys he competed against. Michael Cooper: @ShowtimeCooper Ari Temkin: @arisports Powered by Masterclass Go to Masterclass.com/showtime and learn from the world's best minds! Get 15% off by visiting masterclass.com/showtime   02:20  It seems like today there is no actual hatred in professional sports. Looking back at your time in professional basketball were they actual feuds or was it just in the game?  05:14 Rick Mahorn talks about his senior year of high school, which was actually his first time actually playing basketball, and his nemesis.  07:32 Ari - "Did you have bad boy in you before you got to the Pistons, or did the Pistons bring out the bad boy?" Rick Mahorn talks about being a "bad boy" before joining the Detroit Pistons, and how the Detroit Pistons brought out the enforcer in him. 11:10 MasterClass:  11:14 What is the difference between you playing for the Washington Bullets and you playing for the Detroit Pistons? Do you consider yourself a dirty player or a thug? 16:06 Rick Mahorn- "I told Karl Malone first time I met him I got six fouls, all of them got your name on them."  Rick Mahorn talks about Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz, and that he knew how to set a pick. 21:38 In the lightning round, Rick Mahorn is asked about Dave Bing from the Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons and the Washington Bullets. He is also asked to talk about First Lady Michelle Obama, M. L. Carr, former Georgetown coach John Thompson, and former Detroit Pistons coach Chuck Daly. 27:26 Rick Mahorn is asked his opinion of Magic Johnson of the LA Lakers, and Isiah Thomas of the Detroit Pistons kissing before the 1988 NBA Finals game. 29:38 Michael Cooper- "How did the Bad Boys name come about?" 33:57 What did Rick Mahorn think of Michael Cooper as a basketball player? HE couldn't stand him, but he respected him. 35:46 Things you always need to think about in the NBA is merchandise and trying to sell things. You can sell a lot more merchandise with repeat championships, which is why in Rich Mahorns' opinion the LA Lakers beat the Detroit Pistons in the 1988 NBA Championships. 44:55 Why doesn't the former Detroit Pistons coach Chuck Daly get the recognition  he deserves?   Listen and Subscribe to the Showtime Lakers Podcast with Michael Cooper and Ari Temkin on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, and the CLNS Media Network mobile app.

Showtime Podcast with Lakers Legend Michael Cooper Ep. 21 Coops Ultimate Top 5 List  Michael Cooper and Ari Temkin talk about Coops top 5 all time NBA offensive players, Top 5 all time defensive players and Coop's unsung heroes.   Michael Cooper: @ShowtimeCooper Ari Temkin: @arisports Powered by Betonline.ag and Masterclass Sign up for account today and use promo code: CLNS50 to get a 100% bonus!   0:27 Michael Cooper lists honorable mentions for best offensive players in NBA history. These are the guys that didn't quite make the cut in his Top 5.  01:45 Kobe was doing things at the age of 17 that 26 and 27 year olds in the league couldn't even do. 02:01 Coop "One of the things about great players is that it doesn't matter what kind of defense you put on them, they are going to get to their sweet spot." 03:00 As Michael Jordan got older, he got better and more focused. A "real migraine headache" as coop puts it. 04:12 Ari "Was Jordan as good of a trash talker back then too?" 04:41 There was certain players that trash talk would not bother, and it was a waste to even try 04:47-06:12 Masterclass  06:22 Trash talk did not bother Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, and George Gervin.  06:50 5 - Coop begins his top 5 best offensive players list with Alex English. 07:18 4- Number four on the list is Isaiah Thomas, one of the reasons being he could put up 25 points on a bad ankle. 08:05 3- Number three on the list is George Gervin. "You coukd never ruffle him...you cant get him out of his game" 09:02 2- Andrew Toney, a different type of player with a weird shot, but he was a "hard baller" 09:34 1- Larry Bird tops the list of best offensive players "simply because you can never rest when you are on the floor with him." 10:02 Ari - "What was your approach against him (Bird) defensively?" 10:37 Coop had a better chance defending Bird if the ball was on the floor. 10:57-12:20 Bet Online Ad read 13:41 Coop starts his list of unsung heroes with Pete Maravitch, and says that he was the Steph Curry of his generation, without the speed. 14:31 Second unsung hero is "Tiny" Nate Archibald. "Picture Alan Iverson as a lefty." 15:33 Third on the list is Marques Johnson, an LA hero. The first great 6' 9" that could do it all. 16:21 Fourth on the list is Jo Jo White, a unique player who played with his hands. 17:27 Fifth on the list of unsung heroes is Derek Fisher. A lefty who played for the team with a big shot. 18:38 Ari does not believe that Coop and Fisher are similar players, but they do have some similarities. 19:14 Last on the list of unsung heroes is Kurt Rambis, a very good scorer, but he was always looking to do the right thing with the ball. Listen and Subscribe to the Showtime Lakers Podcast with Michael Cooper and Ari Temkin on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, and the CLNS Media Network mobile app.

Showtime Podcast with Lakers Legend Michael Cooper Ep. 20 Time for Conference Finals! Michael Cooper and Ari Temkin take a look at the semifinal series throughout the NBA and Coop is already ready the Conference Finals. Will any of these series go deep? Plus, Coop has five major  differences between the Showtime Era NBA and the modern NBA. Michael Cooper: @ShowtimeCooper Ari Temkin: @arisports Powered by Betonline.ag and Masterclass Sign up for account today and use promo code: CLNS50 to get a 100% bonus!   01:01 Michael Cooper thinks the Celtics are still going to beat the Toronto Raptors easily in the semifinals, even with OG Anunoby hitting a shot to beat Boston in Game Three. 2:47 Michael Cooper and Ari Temkin take a look at the other Eastern Conference series the Miami Heat vs. Milwaukee Bucks. The Heat lead the series, but will Milwaukee, the top seed in the East, still win the series? 4:07 What’s the issue with the Milwaukee Bucks? Why can’t they seem to get over the hump? Why has Giannis Antetokounmpoe the Bucks recently crumbled and been upset in the playoffs?  5:10 From a defensive superstar like Coop, what does he see that is making theHeat defense so effective against Giannis? 6:07 The Eastern Conference Finals between the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat will be a great series because it’s two very similar teams. Plus, is Coop rooting for Lakers vs. Celtics in the Finals? 7:37 Showtime with Coop goes out West, taking a look at the series between the Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets. 9:07 Is Kawhi Leonard a better on-ball or man-to-man defender than Michael Cooper? 10:35 A series very close to the heart of Michael Cooper and that would of course be the other Western Conference semifinal between the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets.  13:40 Why James Harden needs to play more selfishly, reminiscent of a Kobe Bryant quote: “If I pass you the ball, and you don’t hit the shot...I can do that.” 14:56 Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is someone that Coop noticed really stepped up in the Lakers series victory over the Blazers in the first round.   17:18 The bubble takes homecourt advantage and travel out of the equation in the playoffs, and yet at the same time it probably won’t end up meaning any upsets, and we’ll still end up with the best teams in the NBA Finals. 20:38 What’s different about the Showtime Era NBA and the modern game? Coop with five things that are different about today’s game. 1- The importance of team and not relying too heavily on one-on-one basketball. 23:10 2- Roles were clearly defined on the Showtime Lakers and in the NBA in the 80’s, that’s definitely a lost art in today’s game. 27:58 The third thing that is different is how bad shot selection is in the modern game. What would Coop classify as a bad shot? 29:30 The fourth major difference between 80's NBA and modern game is: Team Chemistry There's a great quote from Isiah Thomas: "The secret to basketball has noting to do with basketball, it's everything else. It's the restaurants, the hotels, dinners..." 31:33 The final major difference between the Showtime Era NBA and the modern NBA is the 3-point shot. It's insanity. The 3-point line was not as much of a regular jump shot as it is in today's NBA. 33:53 Coaching was also dramatically different. When you look at Pat Riley, Don Nelson, Casey Jones, Billy Cunningham and how much different coaching styles are today.   Listen and Subscribe to the Showtime Lakers Podcast with Michael Cooper and Ari Temkin on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, and the CLNS Media Network mobile app.  

Showtime Podcast with Lakers Legend Michael Cooper Ep. 19 The Hollywood Side of Showtime  Guest: Roger Lodge: TV game show and sports radio host, actor, radio personality, writer and producer. Lodge's acting credits include appearances on the ABC sitcom Full House, CBS's Yes, Dear, and UPN's The Parkers. Michael Cooper: @ShowtimeCooper Ari Temkin: @arisports Powered by Betonline.ag and Masterclass Sign up for account today and use promo code: CLNS50 to get a 100% bonus! Michael Cooper is joined by his friend Roger Lodge, actor and sports talk radio host to discuss the Showtime era Lakers, the Forum Club, his greatest memories of watching the Lakers in LA and what always stood out to Lodge about sports and what makes sports so transcendent.    01:01 How is it possible that Michael Cooper is not in the HOF? Roger Lodge makes the case for Coop to be in Springfield, Massachusets, in the Pro Basketball Hall-Of-Fame. 3:03 Let’s do some Coop Math with Michael Cooper. 4:33 A little history on Roger Lodge, growing up as a star basketball guard at Cerritos High School where he was teammates with Ben Howland, and also his time playing college basketball at tiny Whittier College.  6:07 The crazy story when Roger Lode wasn’t wearing pants when Whittier College played in Athens, Georgia against a guy named Dominique Wilkins and the Georgia Bulldogs.   Roger’s experience in the NBA All-Star 3-point shootout and how it differed from Coop’s experience in the same competition. 8:00 The important lessons that you learn through basketball and why sports and competition are really important lessons to instill in young people. 9:55 Coop’s 5 D’s: Determination, Dedication, Desire, Disciple and Decision Making 12:29 How Roger Lodge got to host the dating game show Blind Date. 16:30 Roger Lodge hosts the Michael Cooper blind date with Ari Temkin. 17:17 Memories of the Great Western Forum and the Showtime Lakers for Roger and his friend actor John Stamos. 19:00 Memories of the famed Forum Club. 20:54 Better Forum duo: Magic and Kareem or Kobe and Shaq? 22:30 Better Forum coach: Phil Jackson or Pat Riley? 24:53 Coop with anecdotes and the subsequent lessons he learned in playing for Pat Riley. 27:12 Was Coop’s 1985 championship for the Lakers over the Celtics the highlight of his Lakers career? 28:27 Coop’s lightning round: Dick ClarkChick HearnDick EnbergDr. Jerry BussKobe Bryant 34:30 Angels or Dodgers this year? What does Roger think about Major League Baseball in southern California. MLB players and NBA players are doing an unbelievable job for the sake of sports and entertainment, b/c of how much this has removed them from their families and the risk of getting COVID-19. 36:52 Lakers or Clippers: Who will win it all? Listen and Subscribe to the Showtime With Michael Cooper and  Ari Temkin on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, and the CLNS Media Network mobile app.

Showtime Podcast with Lakers Legend Michael Cooper Ep. 18  Greatest Players and Coaches in NBA History  Guest: Mychal Thompson Michael Cooper: @ShowtimeCooper Ari Temkin: @arisports Powered by Manscaped: Use Code CLNS to get 20% off AND Free shipping at manscaped.com  Mychal Thompson joins Michael Cooper and Ari Temkin on the Showtime Podcast to discuss the modern game, how the playoffs are shaking out in the bubble, what the NBA playoffs are missing and the greatest players and coaches in the history of the NBA. 1:20 - 3:51 They used to tell basketball players not to lift weights and that lifting weights would ruin your shot. Coop and Mychal Thompson discuss how much weight training and nutrition has evolved from the time they played to today. 5:10 - 6:10 Where does Mychal Thompson’s twitter game come from?  6:20 - 7:10 Overall thoughts from Coop, Ari and Mychal Thompson on the NBA bubble and the competition. Mychal Thompson says there’s something missing from the NBA playoffs. 7:25 - 8:10 Are the same indicators of NBA playoff success still in play? Does experience matter in the bubble and how much will a lack of home court advantage matter in the outcome. 8:16 - 10:05 Is the NBA too soft now?  Thompson: “The referees call every little bump especially on screens.”  11:25 - 13:36  Do the Blazers have a shot against the top seeded Lakers? Thompson: “Portland is not an 8 seed. When they’re fully healthy they’re a 2 or 3 seed.”   14:55 - 15:43 Other series around the NBA. Who wins: Boston Celtics or Philadelphia 76ers? Thompson: Celtics in 5 Ari: Celtics in 5 Cooper: Celtics in 5   15:44 - 17:12   Raptors vs. Nets Thompson: Raptors sweep Ari: Raptors sweep Coop: Raptors in 7   17:15 - 18:14 Mavericks vs. Clippers Thompson: Clippers in 5 Ari: Clippers in 6 Coop: Clippers in 7   18:16 - 20:03 Rockets vs. OKC Thompson: Rockets in 6 Ari: Thunder in 7 Coop: Thunder in 7 20:05 - 21:03 Miami Heat vs. Indiana Pacers Thompson: Miami in 5 Ari: Miami in 5 Cooper: Indiana in 7   21:06 - 21:50 Orlando Magic vs. Milwaukee Bucks Thompson: Bucks sweep Ari: Bucks sweep Coop: Bucks in 5   21:56 - 25:13  Coop’s lightning round: 1- Black Lives Matter: “Why would that even be a question?” 2- Calvin Natt: “Magic told me, ‘man, Calvin Natt that’s one guy I didn’t want to guard.’” 3- Bobby Gross: “Wasn’t required to carry the team, but he was the kind of player every team needs to win a championship.” 4- Michelle Obama: “Talk about an accomplished lady, huh?” 5- Ghandi: “Wanted to do it through peaceful means.”    25:23 - 28:00 Five best Point Guards in NBA history (not including current players) 28:03 - 29:08 Five best Shooting Guards in NBA history (not including current players) 29:10 - 30:48 Five best Small Forwards in NBA history (not including current players) 30:50 - 32:19 Five best Power Forwards in NBA history (not including current players)  32:21- 33:58 Five best Centers in NBA history (not including current players) 34:00 Who is the greatest coach of all time?   Powered by Bet Online + Manscaped Showtime with Coop Podcast on CLNS Media    

Showtime Podcast with Lakers Legend Michael Cooper Ep. 17  The Western Conferece Past, Present and Future and the Best Way to Carve out an NBA Career Guest: NBA Champion Antonio Daniels Twitter: @ShowtimeCooper Ari Temkin: @arisports Powered by Bet Online Coop visits with NBA champion Antonio Daniels on the influences he's had In his career, the players he watched growing up, the toughest player he ever had to guard and the modern game. As the TV voice of the New Orleans Pelicans AD also discusses the Pelicans and their future in the NBA playoff picture.   1:22 - 2:34 What got Antonio into playing basketball? Who were the players in the NBA who influenced him when he was growing up in inner city Columbus, Ohio. 2:48 - 4:04 Who was the guy while you were growing up that you had to beat and provided the best competition for you?  4:17 What are the ways Antonio was influenced by his late brother and what he taught him about the game of basketball. 6:25 - 8:26 How Antonio dealt with the loss of his brother and how he was able to find sanctuary in the game of basketball.  8:33 - 10:38 Antonio is the fourth overall pick in the 1997 draft to the Vancouver Grizzlies, what did he learn about the NBA from his time in Vancouver? 10:56 - 12:23 What was it like to join the Spurs and play for Gregg Popovich? AD: “He demands the most out of you. He doesn’t allow you to take shortcuts. He wants you to be the best version of yourself.”   12:54 - 15:27 Coop and Antonio discuss the similarities between Gregg Popovich and Pat Riley. Also Antonio Daniels on what makes the Spurs different. “If your top player never gets ripped, you lose your locker room.”   15:43 - 17:50 How Coop got into his role with the Lakers and how Antonio came into his role in the league and who they both got into spots where they had to specialize on defense first. “Your offense will eventually come. If your defense is there, you are going to put yourself into position to play.”   18:01 - 22:33 Coop’s lightning round: 1- Tim Duncan: “The greatest teammate in professional sports history.” 2- George Gervin: “On the most underrated players in basketball history.” 3- The Alamo 4- David Robinson: “Maybe the nicest guy on the face of the earth. Still today.” 5- Avery Johnson: “I got so many stories about Avery Johnson.” 22:40 Who was the best player AD played against while he was in the NBA? Michael Jordan? Kobe Bryant? What made those guys so difficult to guard? What made a guy like Allen Iverson difficult to guard? 25:38 What was Antonio’s perspective on the Lakers vs. Celtics rivalry? Who was AD’s favorite NBA player growing up? Coop: “Isiah Thomas, that boy gave me 25 on a bad ankle.” 27:00 What’s his perspective on the bubble as the TV voice of the New Orleans Pelicans. 29:05 Would this be an asterisk champion? “Whoever wins this championship deserves more credit than any champion in NBA history.” 30:32 The young New Orleans Pelicans and is Alvin Gentry the right coach? 32:38 What does Zion need to work on in order to improve? “There is so much that Zion doesn’t know yet, but that he has to learn to understand.”  34:20 Does Alvin Gentry get enough credit? Will he stick around with the Pelicans? 37:08 The importance of family in both of their lives and if there is a positive of the COVID 19 pandemic and subsequent quarantine, family is certainly one of them. Powered by Bet Online Showtime with Coop Podcast on CLNS Media  

Showtime Podcast with Lakers Legend Michael Cooper Ep. 16 Showtime From the Guy who Wrote It   Guest: Author, Jeff Pearlman Twitter: @ShowtimeCooper Ari Temkin: @arisports Powered by Bet Online Coop visits with Jeff Pearlman who wrote the book: Showtime: Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s. They discuss what he learned about the Showtime Era, great stories about the Celtics vs. Lakers rivalry and modern players who wouldn't be able to handle the NBA in the 1980's.   00:35 - 1:44 Why is Coop not on the cover of Jeff Pearlman’s book Showtime?   2:08 - 2:55 The importance of the Showtime Lakers and why Pearlman decided to write a book about the Showtime era of Lakers basketball.    4:50 - 6:21 The evolution of the Showtime Lakers and how the pieces were all put in place, and all of the different guys that moved through the organization. The Lakers were the type of team that were far more advanced in scouting and the rest of the league missed on many hidden gems.   6:45 - 7:25 Kurt Rambis was one of the best characters on the Showtime Lakers.   7:20 - 9:39 How Jerry West was different as a general manager and how he was able to put the pieces in place.   Jeff Pearlman: “He’s an interesting guy because he shows you when he’s wounded.”   9:45 - 11:02  Jerry West is one of the rare great all time athletes that also excelled in the front office, what is it about Jerry that made him successful in the general management and talent acquisition part?    11:08 - 12:37 When Coop was coaching the Lakers with Magic for a brief stint, Coop noticed first hand how and why it’s difficult for a great all time player to become a coach.   12:45 - 14:37 The role of Claire Rothman in the Showtime Lakers and her relationship with Dr. Jerry Buss.   Jeff Pearlman: “You can make an argument Claire Rothman belongs in the basketball Hall-of-Fame.”   15:16 - 17:34 The most interesting time period for the Lakers, and a year span that changed the organization forever. The World Champion 1980 Lakers had one of the craziest years in the history of pro sports.   17:42 - 20:24 When did Paul Westhead lose the team in 1981? Why was Westhead’s firing pinned on Magic Johnson?   20:47 - 23:04  What were the best things Jeff heard in his research for the SHowtime book about the Lakers vs. Celtics rivalry?   Jeff Pearlman: “I was very fascinated by Red Auerbach and just the lengths he would go to tilt the scales in their favor.”    23:37 - 26:20 Coop and Pearlman on the 1984 Lakers and the Celtics victory in the championship.    Cooper: “Their frontline: Bird, McHale and Parrish, was probably the best front line to ever play in the game of basketball.”   26:38 - 27:45 The story of Josh Rosenfeld and Robert Parrish.    27:55 - 28:50 Jerry West and the title for the Lakers over the Celtics in 1985 and exercising the demons of the Celtics past with terrible loses for those great Lakers teams with Jerry West and Elgin Baylor.   28:58 -  29:44 Why most who won titles during the Showtime era of the Lakers will say the 1985 Lakers title was their favorite championship.   29:55  - 32:18 The history of the Lakers rivalry with the Celtics through Coop’s eyes as a kid growing up in the Los Angeles area. Will Coop ever have a friendly relationship with any former members of the Celtics?   32:30 - 33:22 Is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar the greatest basketball player ever?   33:28 - 34:26 Will Jeff Pearlman ghostwrite Coop’s book: “A View from the Bench”   34:37 - 35:10 Jeff Pearlman on why Carmelo Anthony would not have worked in Coop’s NBA. Melo would not translate to the 1980’s era of NBA basketball. 35:25 What players from the modern era could play in the 1980’s?    38:29  The new book Jeff Pearlman is releasing about the Kobe/Shaq era Lakers.   42:00 Someone will write a great book from their experiences inside the NBA bubble.   Powered by Bet Online Showtime with Coop Podcast on CLNS Media

Showtime Podcast with Lakers Legend Michael Cooper Ep. 15 Lakers Stories, the '84 season and '85 title and Importance of coaches  Guest: Bob McAdoo   Twitter: @ShowtimeCooper Ari Temkin: @arisports Powered by Masterclass Coop and Bob McAdoo talk about the Showtime Lakers and particularly the 1984 season and how that loss led them to their triumphant championship over the Lakers in 1985. Plus, McAdoo and Michael Cooper argue about the importance of coaching in the NBA. 00:25 - 2:00 Covid is really getting bad in California and Florida where Cooper and Bob McAdoo are located.   Bob McAdoo: “They said 97% of the people in Italy wore masks.”   2:05 - 2:50 Coop sings and talks basketball and the bubble.   2:57 - 3:30 What Coop sees in the Lakers and what the addition of Dion Waiters means for the roster.    3:40 - 4:30 What Bob McAdoo sees in the Miami and the landscape of the Eastern Conference? Do the Heat have a shot?   5:05 - 6:20What is different or noticeable watching about these exhibition games in the bubble?   Coop: “It looks like those NBA 2k video games.”   6:38 - 7:00 Who is the best team in the Eastern Conference?   7:40 - 840  Experience tends to matter during the NBA playoffs, but will that be different based on circumstances this year in the NBA bubble?   Cooper: “Situations will benefit the veterans or those players that can handle the pressure.”    10:54 - 12:14 How important is coaching for team success in the NBA? How important is Frank Vogel to the Lakers success?   Coop:: “I think coaching is overrated.”   12:20 - 13:00 The importance of luck in winning in the playoffs. Bob McAdoo reminisces on the 1984 loss to the Celtics and the bad luck of injuries that derailed that season for the Lakers.   13:20 - 14:00   Why McAdoo thinks coaching is overrated. Coop defends his former profession as he won two championships as head coach of the Sparx and a D-League championship as well.   14:08 - 16:50 Coop on a coach that contradicts McAdoo’s claim about coaches being overrated in San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich.   17:53 - 18:40  Coop on a great example of a team with bad coaching and wasted talent and the Houston Rockets.   18:53 - 19:55 Would the Rockets have won a title with Gregg Popovich as their coach?   20:37 - 22:00 When the Philadelphia 76ers swept the Lakers in the NBA championship.The role of luck and bad luck in winning or not winning championships.   22:03 - 23:20 McAdoo and the best part of the Showtime Lakers.    McAdoo: “we only had one player that could only play one position.” 23:27 - 24:19 What was different about the 1985 Lakers and what they learned in their loss in 1984 to the Boston Celtics.   Coop: “After 1984, we came back with a vengeance in 85.”   24:32 - 25:55 McAdoo on the importance of coaching and Dean Smith with the North Carolina Tarheels.   McAdoo: “When he died, he sent every letterman a check for $200.”   26:00 - 28:50 How important is ego in the NBA and the ability for coaches to properly manage egos in the locker room.   29:00 - 31:10 Lightning Round   Xavier McDaniels Stokley Carmichael Tom Chambers Maurice Lucas 31:28 - 32:10 Could these guys guard McAdoo? Bobby Gross Joe Barry Carroll   32:16 - 35:49 Best memories about the1985 championship series with the Boston Celtics. What the psyche of losing continually as an organization with the Lakers and the Celtics and all of the pressure of so many Lakers teams that lost the title series to the Lakers.   35:53 - 36:40 The memory of losing in Boston in 1984 and the Lakers getting crushed on the floor at the Boston Garden. The memories of playing in the Boston Garden and the fans that were brutal.   36:44 - 39:01 Lasting memories for Coop and McAdoo and the Lakers winning the championship in 1985 against the Celtics.   39:05 Memories from back in the day with the Lakers and Celtics and the BS shenanigans they pulled to try to gain a competitive edge. Powered by Masterclass Showtime with Coop Podcast on CLNS Media

Showtime Podcast with Lakers Legend Michael Cooper Ep. 14 Becoming More Accountable with Jamaal Wilkes Twitter: @ShowtimeCooper Ari Temkin: @arisports Powered by BetOnline.AG Coop brings on his former teammate Jamaal Wilkes, who discusses playing at UCLA under John Wooden, his impressions of Magic Johnson when he was a young player and his feelings on the game today. Wilkes had quite the affinity for Wooden, and he opens up in the episode on the things that made Wooden different as a coach and why he's still influencing him to this day.   1:40 - 2:45 What was it like for Jamaal to grow up in Ventura? The Wilkes family moved around a lot when Jamaal was younger and finally ended up in Southern California.   2:45 - 4:15 How Jamaal got into basketball and what was his dad’s influence in his love for sports.    Jamaal Wilkes: “My dad loved baseball, did a short stint in the Negro Leagues. We loved baseball growing up. As I went into 9th grade, I was a tall kid and I had the chance to make the varsity, which was unheard of, and that meant I had to give up baseball.”   4:50 - 9:45 What was it like growing up in LA and being recruited by John Wooden to go and play at UCLA? What was John Wooden like as a coach?   Jamaal Wilkes: “I really liked USC and they told me: ‘You come here, you’ll be a Trojan for life and you go there and you’ll be a Bruin for 4 years.’”   10:06 - 12:03 How would you characterize John Wooden’s leadership style. What made Wooden such a legendary leader.   Jamaal Wilkes: “His whole thing was you are a work in progress.”   12:05 - 13:15 Jamaal Wilkes on Wooden’s Pyramid of Success and how the legendary UCLA coach would teach the pyramid to the team every year.   Jamaal Wilkes: “Every year he would show us how to tie up our shoes, how to lace up our shoes.”   13:15 - 14:56 John Wooden was asked once who his ideal player would be and his answer was Jamaal Wilkes. What does Wilkes think about that quote?   Jamaal Wilkes: “Let’s face it, no one deserves it and I like to think it’s more of a reflection of I gave him all I had when I was out there.”   15:20 - 16:08 Jamaal’s story in meeting Kareem Abdul Jabar for the first time when he was at UCLA.   16:10 - 19:17 What were the teams and seasons he remembers the most during Jamaal’s time at UCLA. Jamaal: “Coach Wooden had this bubble. We had a lot of attention and the alumni were very expectant and he just had this thing that we focused on what we did and tried to do it as well as we could.”   19:36 - 23:51 Jamaal went from winning all the championships at UCLA to winning a title in his rookie year with the Golden State Warriors.   Jamaal:” THey had a five year history of drafting number one picks who were total busts. One guy turned out to be a heroin addict. Going in, it was looking good at all.”    24:01 - 24:39 How was Rick Barry to play with? Was he as bad of a teammate as a lot of people claim that he was?    25:03 - 26:57 After Golden State, Jamaal went to the Lakers, and then in 1980, Magic Johnson joined the team. What were his impressions of Magic when he first got to the team?   Jamaal Wilkes: “I thought Magic was going to be a great player, I didn’t know it was going to happen right away.”   27:09 - 30:01 People forget how instrumental Jamaal Wilkes was in the decisive Game Six of the 1980 NBA Finals, after Kareem got hurt.     31:05 - 32:12 Coop’s lightning round: Bill Walton Jerry West Magic Johnson Langston Hughes John Woden     32:25 - 35:51 Wilkes on “Cornbread, Earl and Me” and being a movie star!   35:52 - 40:05 Where did Jamaal’s shot come from and how many coaches tried to change his shot over the years.   Jamaal Wilkes: “No one ever said anything to me...until I got to UCLA, my first week of practice and coach Wooden calls me over.” 40:40 - 42:25 What does Jamaal Wilkes think about the NBA Bubble and who is going to win the 2020 NBA Championship.    Jamaal Wilkes: “I think the NBA does have to try and finish the season. I think it would be psychologically devastating with everything else going on.”        42:47 - 43:50 Jamaal Wilkes on getting into the Basketball Hall-of-Fame and what the achievement means for him.   43:50 - 45:16 Jamaal is impressed and encouraged by what he’s seen recently with what is going on in the country over civil rights issues.

Showtime Podcast with Lakers Legend Michael Cooper Ep. 13 How To Turn In A NBA Career Spanning Nearly Two Decades. Guest: Drew Gooden Twitter: @ShowtimeCooper Powered by BetOnline.AG Coop welcomes Drew Gooden (@DrewGooden), who played in the NBA for more than a decade, and then played for Coop in the Big 3. Drew discusses playing at Kansas for Roy Williams, watching LeBron James play on his AAU team at 15 years old, and then playing with LeBron in Cleveland and what players are saying inside the bubble.   1:54 - 3:45 Why go to the University of Kansas being from Oakland, California?  Roy Williams told Drew: “I’m not going to promise you a starting position. You are going to have to earn everything here. All the other schools were telling me you can start right away.”    4:05 - 5:42 Drew’s experiences in being a high level recruit and playing in Sonny Vaccaro’s famed ABCD Camp.   5:46 - 7:02 How did Drew get into basketball and how much of an influence was his dad growing up? Drew on his dad’s influence: “A lot of my peers didn’t have that growing up and I think that helped me separate myself in life.”   7:14 - 9:59 On Roy Williams’ influence and how he almost transferred out of Kansas.   10:12 - 11:16 How the incident that led him to nearly transferring from Kansas taught him a lot about life and basketball.    Drew: “That taught me how valuable each possession is out there.”   13:17 - 16:52 Drew became the 4th pick of the Memphis Grizzlies, so what were his expectations after being a top 5 pick.    Drew: “The conversation with Jerry West was: ‘You know I’m the guy who picked Kobe right?’”   17:53 - 19:08 Where did Drew’s toughness come from? How did he develop his toughness to play so long in the NBA?   20:10 - 22:15 What’s with Drew’s number choices over the years. He wore: 0 and 90 in his NBA career.    22:25 - 25:46 Drew played with LeBron when he was first getting into the NBA, so what was LeBron like when he was coming up in the league?   26:04 - 27:42 Drew on LeBron’s development: “He didn’t really lift weights.”   29:33 - 31:00 Who is the toughest player Drew ever had to go against?   31:10 - 34:24 How much did the NBA change over the course of Drew’s career? Drew: “I came in the league as a tweener, which was a knock. But, later on in my career, that’s actually the best position you want, a tweener.”   35:12 - 36:35 Coop’s Lightning Round LeBron James Mark Cuban Barack Obama Horace Silver Michael Jordan Roy Williams   36:55 - 39:50 Drew’s thoughts on the restart of the NBA and the Orlando Bubble. Drew also discusses his conversations with Bradley Beal and Aaron Gordon about their decisions on playing vs. not playing in the Orlando Bubble.   39:58 -  41:15 Would Drew play in the bubble if he were still in the NBA?   41:25 - 42:13 Drew has a surprise team in the East that he thinks could compete for an Eastern Conference Championship.   42:14 - 42:21 Drew’s final 4 prediction for the NBA’s Eastern and Western Conference Finals.   44:44 - 45:06 Who does Drew pick to win the NBA championship in 2020?    45:09 - 46:40 Does Drew keep up with his Finnish heritage? Also Drew speaks in Finnish.   46:50 - 49:51 Coop and Drew on the Big 3 and Three’s Company Drew: “I look at the Big 3 as the Senior PGA Tour mixed with the WWE.” Showtime with Coop is presented by BetOnline.AG. Go to BetOnline.ag and use promo code: CLNS50 to score your exclusive bonus. Showtime with Coop is available on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartMedia, Radio.com, TuneIn and wherever you listen to podcasts. Also available at clnsmedia.com.  

Showtime Podcast with Lakers Legend Michael Cooper Ep. 12 The NBA from Andy Bernstein's Viewfinder Twitter: @ShowtimeCooper Powered by BetOnline.AG Coop welcomes Lakers team photographer, basketball HOF'er, Andy Bernstein.  Showtime with Coop is presented by BetOnline.AG. Go to BetOnline.ag and use promo code: CLNS50 to score your exclusive bonus. Showtime with Coop is available on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartMedia, Radio.com, TuneIn and wherever you listen to podcasts. Also available at clnsmedia.com.  

Showtime Podcast with Lakers Legend Michael Cooper Ep. 10 The Insane Story Behind the Coaches of Showtime Twitter: @ShowtimeCooper Powered by BetOnline.AG Coop and Ari Temkin discuss the return of the NBA, who the favorites are and what we think about the remainder of the 2020 season. Also, Coop discusses his least favorite part about the current NBA and lists his five favorite and five least favorite teammates of the Showtime era!   0:00 - 0:40 - Intro   0:40 - 3:09 - The return of NBA basketball and why it’s important, Avery Bradley’s decision to opt-out   3:10 - 4:53 - Balancing championship aspirations with guys who decide not to play to protect their families   4:54 - 7:39 - Will the adjusted schedule and bubble format actually work for the NBA?   7:40 - 9:55 - Parity of the NBA and who is going to win the championship this season?   9:56 - 11:38 - What should the approach to this restart be from a head coaches perspective?   11:39 - 12:26 - Do the attributes the Showtime Lakers had to win championships carry over to today’s game?   12:27 - 22:05 - Load management in today’s NBA - the positive’s and the negative’s, minutes in today’s NBA versus in the NBA of old    22:06 - 24:39 - Not thinking of the fan’s when it comes to load management, utilizing a team’s bench in place of load management    24:40 - 26:29 - The biggest differences between the NBA today and the NBA of year’s past   26:30 - 29:23 - What is meant by today’s game being played “inside out”   29:24 - 31:52 - The lack of physicality in the modern game and why it happened    31:53 - 34:35 - The loss of “enforcer” type of players in todays game, the rarity of elite jump shooting teams   34:36 - 40:27 - Coop’s five favorite Laker teammates   40:28 - 45:47 - Coop’s five worst teammates    45:48 - 46:07 - Outro    Showtime with Coop is presented by BetOnline.AG. Go to BetOnine.ag and use promo code: CLNS50 to score your exclusive bonus. Showtime with Coop is available on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartMedia, Radio.com, TuneIn and wherever you listen to podcasts. Also available at clnsmedia.com.  

Showtime Podcast with Lakers Legend Michael Cooper Ep. 10 The Insane Story Behind the Coaches of Showtime Twitter: @ShowtimeCooper Powered by BetOnline.AG Coop and Ari Temkin discuss the 1980 season, Magic's rookie year, and the loss of the father of Showtime Jack McKinney to a head injury that saw Paul Westhead become the coach. The story of how the Lakers found Pat Riley is crazy with twists and turns along the way. Pat Riley is synonymous with Showtime, but he wasn't meant to be Showtime's coach at first! 0:00 - 1:32 - Intro   1:33 - 5:52 - The 1979 Lakers and the coaching situation they were dealing with, how an injury kept Coop in Los Angeles his rookie season, sharing the court with Magic in summer league    5:53 - 8:12 - Jack McKinney as the Lakers head coach    8:13 - 12:34 - How McKinney, not Pat Riley, acted as the father of the Showtime Lakers and heavily influenced the way they played, McKinney’s bike accident and how it affected the Lakers   12:35 - 14:21 - The Lakers locker room reaction to Paul Westhead being named the new coach in place of McKinney following the accident   14:22 - 16:50 - Playing Philadelphia during the 1980 NBA Finals, Spencer Haywood’s dismissal from the team during the Finals   16:51 - 22:08 - The factors that aligned against the Lakers in the 1980 NBA season and how they had to battle to overcome the obstacles, Kareem’s sprained ankle in the Finals, Magic’s emergence as a leader for the team   22:09 - 24:02 - Magic taking his play to the next level after Kareem’s injury    24:03 - 26:49 - How the coaching style of Paul Westhead changed after the Lakers won the 1980 NBA Finals   26:50 - 28:51 - What was the issue with Westhead and what made the 1981 season so difficult for the Lakers?   28:52 - 33:15 - Pat Riley becoming Westhead’s assistant and the struggles for the Lakers in 1983   33:16 - 35:33 - The firing of Paul Westhead and what actually happened form Coop’s perspective   35:34 - 37:06 - How Magic needed to be free to play through his feel and Westhead affected that from happening    37:07 - 38:16 - Coop’s impressions of Pat Riley before he became the head coach of the Lakers   38:17 - 39:24 - How did Riley change from being the assistant coach to the head coach   39:25 - 44:38 - How did the offense and scheme change when Riley took over the head coaching role for Westhead, what was Riley best at as a head coach   44:39 - 50:07 - Do the Lakers still win five championships if Jack McKinney is the head coach the entire time? Plus some more on Riley’s greatness as a head coach    50:08 - 50:22 - Outro Showtime with Coop is presented by BetOnline.AG. Go to BetOnine.ag and use promo code: CLNS50 to score your exclusive bonus. Showtime with Coop is available on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartMedia, Radio.com, TuneIn and wherever you listen to podcasts. Also available at clnsmedia.com.