Ryen Russillo

Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic are the only two players in the NBA who can guarantee a good shot on every possession

Jokic gives you the best chance on every possession of anybody in the league. He is a genius... I think Luka's number two where it's like if I needed a bucket I might pick him over Jokic because he can put it and drive a little bit better.

Victor Wembanyama is already a massive success and will meet every expectation

He's incredible. Everything about him this year individually for him is a massive success... His personality just seems so genuine in that he's been mentally built to take on the responsibility that he's gonna have to take on for a franchise at a young age.

I hate expanded playoffs in any sport and prefer leaving teams out

I don't like that there's this many NFL teams in the playoffs. I think it's stupid. I'm big on—I know it's gonna shock you—I like leaving people out of things. I hate expanded anything.

Only Jokic, Luka, and Giannis are untradeable for the Wembanyama pick

Jokic, you'd hang up. Luka, you'd hang up. Giannis, you'd hang up. Embiid, you'd trade him. Tatum probably [trade him]. Booker... the list is probably like three guys. ... Normally I'd go, well wait, I don't wanna trade a guy who I know has already done it for somebody that I've never seen actually do it. But that's how special Victor is.

Wembanyama is not as good a prospect as LeBron was because of injury risk

Anybody who says [Wembanyama] is the best, like he's better than LeBron as a prospect, I would completely disagree just because LeBron body-wise was NBA ready. ... He's going to get hurt. It would be shocking if he doesn't have somebody roll into his legs at some point. ... I just don't think the human body is supposed to move like a created player in an NBA video game.

Scoot Henderson is the 'dog' version of Chris Paul

I know you guys are gonna love my Scoot Chris Paul comp. Because, you know, we're talking about all first team all dog guys. ... Scoot was like one of the few guys that was like, I'm gonna go at [Wembanyama]. Like he had that mentality and it worked a few times.

Cam Whitmore is the #1 'dog' in the draft class

Cam Whitmore is definitely on that list. Maybe number one overall the Villanova freshman. Watching him play is like every time he gets the ball he is going left and he beats everybody every single time. ... He went hit him so strong. ... This guy's at level 11 energy this early into the game.

James Naji's wingspan and energy make him a legitimate NBA rotation prospect

James Naji... His wingspan however is seven seven and the way, like as soon as he checks in the game... it would be kind of like shit he's in. ... He's very raw, but as soon as he checks in the game, things are just different and it's because of his energy, his size, his strength, and I think he actually has a chance to make a roster here.

I like Olivier-Maxence Prosper and Maxwell Lewis as sleepers in the Draft

I'm gonna give you two Olivier-Maxence Prosper. The kid from Montreal played at Marquette. I like him. And I also like the kid from Pepperdine, Maxwell Lewis who's probably like late first, early second. ... Prosper, he's just so intense that I, I have a hard time believing like that kind of guy... you actually got somebody who's getting a second and third contract here.

Brandon Miller's involvement in the Alabama shooting won't affect his draft stock

I think there's concern up until they watch the tape, you know, to be realistic about it. ... I just haven't heard anybody say because not that many teams are even in the mix. ... I think we all know with sports... it felt like it kind of went away a little bit too. ... His shot making at that size and what you think you'd be able to do defensively... he's exactly what you want in today's NBA.

I enjoy being bummed out because it provides an excuse to do nothing

I started realizing that I kind of enjoyed being bummed out because then it gave me an excuse to do nothing, right? Like, Hey, maybe you should start working. Nah, can't dude. Like, I'm just not there. And I started being so comfortable with it that I'm at least glad that I, I I was like, okay, wait a minute. Like, you may not be super happy and get through this, this phase, but this isn't an excuse for everything.

I have reached a point in my career where I am completely confident that I am simply very good at my job.

There was a moment where I went, 'Hey, you know what? I'm fucking good.' I'm just good at this job. ... The collection of what I am now at this point, my abilities, I was like, 'I'm fucking good.' ... Once you're like, 'Hey, you know what, I'm pretty fucking good at this,' I think you become even better because now you've freed up all this other room to just continue to execute.

The NFL cares less about its fans than any other major professional sport

There's no major sport that its owner group gives less of a fuck about fans than the nfl. Yeah. ... I get maximizing every dollar that you can make. But I think the NFL usually takes it to a level where you start going like, dude, is it, is it this important?

Being excited to open the mail is a sign that you are getting old.

My first pick was going to be opening mail, but I think I should change it to excited to open mail. Because I had a stack of stuff... and I was like, 'Look at me opening this shit.'

Starting conversations with 'Did you know that in World War II...' is a definitive sign of getting old.

I'm going to say anytime you start a question with, 'Did you know that in World War II...' I'm in the middle of this Vietnam book... it's fucking killer. ... I don't want society to just abandon the people that need the help the most, but I'm in the middle of this Vietnam book.

The Pelicans are the deepest team in basketball

New Orleans has the deepest team in basketball and if Zion's there and ready to go in the playoffs, he's still that hard of a matchup.

The Boston Celtics are the best 'health bet' to win the NBA title

I think Boston's so much. Cause I feel like they're the best health bet. You feel like all of their guys are going to play. And the one person that's the biggest question mark is, is Rob Williams who, you know, they can still probably be really good without him.

The Phoenix Suns organization is now impatient and will be aggressive in the trade market under new ownership

Never ever underestimate the power and the impatience normally of new ownership. I don't know exactly when this ownership transition thing is supposed to happen, but what I've heard is that they're gonna try to be aggressive with this thing... Phoenix seems to be calling about everyone.

LeBron James has never understood how to be a true partner with an organization

I love LeBron as a player... However, he has had it in his head that like he can't be a partner with a team. It's very weird... The way it was explained to me was that LeBron always wants ownership to know that there is pressure that they can never take a day off... it's not necessarily like having a great partner.

James Harden has little regard for competition and has no problem tanking on his own to force a trade

Harden who has such little regard for competition at times, who had no problem completely tanking on his own. We talk about teams tanking, Harden tanked on his own for two different organizations in 13 months and is okay with it.

Victor Wembanyama is the best prospect I've ever seen, but LeBron James was a better prospect coming in due to his body type

When people say [Victor Wembanyama] is the best prospect they've ever seen, it's not bullshit, it's not hyperbole, but if somebody says he's a better prospect coming in than LeBron, they're full of shit, because LeBron had the perfect body type immediately you knew exactly how he was gonna fit into a game.

The NBA currently has the highest talent level in its history, making it hard to be impressed by individual stat lines

The talent level is that high. When I look at like the seventh, eighth, ninth guy and some teams, sometimes I just laugh going, this guy doesn't even play. It's the most talented time I've ever seen... But I hesitate to be as enamored with some of these crazy stat lines that we see because I'm like, this is kind of what we've seen the last five, six years with just teams selling out.

The NBA Finals will be Boston over Memphis

Boston over Memphis. There it is. Okay. That'd be a fun series.

The Warriors will be even better during the 2022-23 season

I think the Warriors are gonna be even better. [Ooh.]

Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving deserve no sympathy because they don't play in enough games

I have no sympathy for any of those guys. Whenever I see anybody on TV being like, 'well, you know, they could have done a better job with their buy-level exception,' I'm like, stop talking. It's about one thing: the guys don't play in enough games and if they did, this team would actually be pretty good.

Sam Hinkie was too unapologetic about tanking and didn't play the media game well enough

Because [Hinkie] didn't play the game with us, we got more mad at him. Yeah. Like he definitely could have done it and done it a different way. Been better with the media been more open pretended he wasn't really doing it even though everybody like teams are tanking, but we don't wanna be told it. It's fucking crazy. Right? And that's why like it to me is a, is a clear relation to how politicians talk to us.

The Golden State Warriors are going to be even better this season

I think the warriors are gonna be even better. Ooh.

I have zero sympathy for Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving because they don't play in enough games

Sean Marks is the guy when you, you basically were like, Hey sign Deandre Jordan... You're getting everything you want and then you still want everybody fired... Just play in the fucking basketball games. And maybe things will work out... I have no sympathy for any of those guys. Whenever I see anybody on TV being like, well, you know, they could have done a better job with their buy level exception and I'm like, stop fucking talking. It's about one thing the guys don't play in enough games.

The Phoenix Suns will win the 2023 NBA title in six games

I know the truth. I've been able to—the Chris Paul thing. I'm good to go. I can't wait. Suns in six next season.

Chris Paul will not be a successful head coach because he lacks patience

I actually don't know if [Chris Paul] would have the patience for it. You can keep holding these guys to a standard that they're never ever going to meet, because they don't even comprehend that that's possible. I don't know if those guys [like Chris Paul] are the best coaches.

Paolo Banchero is the best player in the 2022 draft class right now

I don't think there's any debate that Paolo [Banchero] is the best player of the three of [Jabari Smith Jr.] and Chet [Holmgren] right now. The job is to go star hunting. Paolo just took over as a 6'10" playmaker dribbling off a high ball screens. To me that's what the game is.

Jabari Smith Jr. will be a better shooter in the NBA than in college

I still think [Jabari Smith Jr.] took a lot of bad shots because Auburn's guards were terrible. I think he'll be even a better shooter in the NBA.

The high-end talent in the 2022 NBA Draft ends after Jaden Ivey

Everyone's talked up—does it end after those three guys [Banchero, Holmgren, Smith]? I think it ends after [Jaden] Ivey. I do think he's that good. There's just something to be said about a guy that moves unlike everybody else. They don't make a lot of people that move on a basketball court like Jaden Ivey.

Jeremy Sochan will be a winning player that every NBA team wants

I just think that [Jeremy] Sochan's got some way that he's wired, that he's going to impact games in a very unique [way]. I think he's the kind of guy, if it goes right, that every team's like, shit, we need somebody like that. He gets out there with his edge, his athleticism, and he just impacts basketball games.

Benedict Mathurin has the most 'dog' in him of any player in the draft

If you're just traveling on dog alone, dog alone, it would be [Benedict] Mathurin. He's got some juice to him too.

Ousmane Dieng is better than his lottery projection because of his size and elite playmaking mind

I like [Ousmane Dieng] more than where he's promised in the lottery... he has the mind that works... he's so big and he has the mind that works, he's just like, 'Oh cool, two guys are with me, let me just throw it over the top of you.' He's legitimately 6'10... I don't think he'll be there for where he's promised in the lottery.

Shaedon Sharpe is a candidate to be a draft bust because of concerns about his head and limited tape

The [Shaedon] Sharpe part of it is a little weird for me... to this point, it hasn't made a ton of sense to me. And when I watched the [tape]... even his answers to stuff sometimes I'd be like, 'where is this guy's head at?' Even though I get it, he's really, really young. But the stuff that he even saw that I had access to, I didn't really like.

Chris Paul might not care as much about winning as his die-hard fans do

I've been seeing this guy [Chris Paul] and it's, I mean, this is long-term and you know, like in every relationship there's always somebody, the relationship seems to matter a lot more to... It's getting to the point where like, I don't want to say, like, I'm not, I'm not trying to be a victim in this, but like, you can care about somebody for so long. And then you wonder, I don't think this person could care as much as I do.

The gap between regular season NBA teams and playoff teams has never been wider

The regular season can be very misleading. And I've been kind of on this for the last couple of years where I feel like there's never been more of a separation between what playoff teams look like and regular season teams look like.

The Atlanta Hawks are already acting entitled and 'bored' despite not having won anything yet

The Atlanta Hawks halfway through the season were like, 'Yeah, we're sort of over this, we're sort of bored.' Regular season? Like you guys haven't done anything... Who do you guys think you are? You haven't even made your name tag yet.

Marcus Smart should be the NBA Defensive Player of the Year

I think Marcus Smart cared even more so because he was having such a good season and wanted to make a push to show that he could be defensive player of the year, which is hard for guards... I'd rather have [his knowledge] than some super athlete that's just freelancing.

Jayson Tatum is now capable of going punch-for-punch with Kevin Durant

Tatum has added that part to his game and can still go off for 40 in a playoff game. So you're right to expect the Tatum maybe hangs punch-for-punch with Durant. I think he's still a sliver below Durant, but that's not saying much to say you're just behind who I think is still the best offensive option in the NBA.

James Harden is a quitter whose personality can't be trusted when playoff situations get tense

I have a problem with anyone who's a professional athlete who is okay deciding that they're just not going to be competitive twice in a year because they don't like their situation... if you're okay sucking on purpose and having it happen that many times in a very short span, then why would I bet on your personality when everything's tense and it matters.

The NBA Finals will be a Suns-Bucks rematch with Phoenix winning the title

Phoenix, Milwaukee. I think it's a rematch. Phoenix wins.

Erik Spoelstra is the best coach in the NBA

I'm going to take Spoelstra... He's the best coach in the NBA.

Ty Lue is the Bill Belichick of the NBA

I'll take Ty Lue... someone called Ty Lue the Belichick of the NBA last night.

Brian Kelly is a winner and will have an awesome staff at LSU

Brian Kelly wins everywhere he goes... I think Kelly's a winner. And I think he's going to have an awesome staff. I think there's always a little hesitancy when you're from there [the South]... but he's a winner.

The NBA should get rid of the three-point line

I think they should get rid of the three really... I think much like the shot clock, where they were like enough of this... I think he should get rid of the three really.

Accusing someone of being 'triggered' for replying to a comment is a lazy and incorrect assessment of how the internet works

If you actually knew what that was like [working in media]... you would never say to somebody, 'Oh, you're triggered,' because you're like, 'Wait, so the one time I decided to say something... and you think I'm over here fucking sad about it?'

The 'Hangover Theory': Regret and life-change desires disappear by Tuesday

When you're hungover... it fucking goes away. It goes away. It doesn't feel like it's going to go away... and you're like, should I take a foreign language? Maybe I finally learn an instrument... And then by Tuesday, you're like, what a fucking weirdo I was for 36 hours.