Big Shot Bob Pod with Robert Horry Podcast Playground

We go big with Robert Horry on the Lakers hiring JJ Redick, who brings no coaching experience to arguably one of the biggest coaching positions in the NBA. Rob has said previously he thought the hire wasn’t the best move for the Lakers, and says he thinks for the Lakers to find any success with this hire is to have some amazing and experienced coaches on his staff. We also debate whether those assistants are putting themselves in line for when JJ fails, how much the podcast with LeBron influenced this hire for the Lakers, and what truth there is to the concept that LeBron and JJ had no discussions about this job before it was offered. Monty Williams getting dismissed from the Pistons with 5 years left on his deal also hits the floor, and how surprised we are that the Lakers didn’t take a look at Monty before hiring JJ. Plus we dive into the Cavs hiring Kenny Atkinson over Borrego, the massive extension for Scottie Barnes in Toronto, the Caruso-Giddey trade being a steal for the Thunder, and all the strangeness headed into Wednesday’s NBA Draft. And somehow the Rockets are being presented as in “win now mode” which we’re not really seeing, and if they have the clout to lure another star to Houston. Finally a really dope Big Shot of the Week to a New Orleans reporter, and a game based on JJ called “First Timers”.

This week’s bonus show opens with a question about Mikal Bridges and his future in Brooklyn, after the Nets have reportedly turned down multiple trade offers that would have landed them a bunch of first round picks. Rob loves Bridges but reminds Brooklyn that they are in a full rebuild at this point and they should take anything they can get to build for the future. Listener questions this week include whether or not the NBA should start showing the introduction of the starting players on TV, and Rob says he didn’t even realize they don’t do it anymore because he used to love seeing them. And do the Lakers NEED to have a head coach by the Draft? Rob says maybe not this season but you always want a coach’s input on the picks you make for the future. We also debate if the New Orleans Pelicans should pay Brandon Ingram his $55 million a season extension, and dive into the wild LEGO theft ring in Rob’s neighborhood in Southern California.

We kick off this week’s show fresh off the Celtics winning the NBA Championship, and Rob says Boston’s coaching and defensive effort is what got it done against Dallas. And despite a dominant season, Rob does NOT believe the Celtics will win it again, as he thinks that bigger teams from the West will break through and match up better against them then Dallas did. As for the Mavericks, Rob thinks this was a “one shining moment” for them, because teams like Denver and Minnesota will be back in the mix and will find a way to get better. We also discuss Jaylen Brown winning the Finals MVP, Doris Burke making history, and Joel Embiid saying that Boston is not the new dynasty in the NBA, because he will get healthy, and so will Milwaukee in the East alone. We also debate who teams like Philly and the Bucks can add to take that leap to eclipse Boston in the East. It’s also starting to look like Klay Thompson will hit free agency (if reports are to be believed) so Rob weighs in on where Klay would be the best fit. Plus with Charles Barkley announcing he’s retiring from television after next season, Rob believes it will change the landscape of sports television, especially NBA, because of his dynamic personality. Audio of the week is from Snoop Dogg who was in the booth for the Brewers and the Reds, and him calling baseball is electric! We also feature some classic audio from NBA history with Ron Artest shooting a huge three in the Lakers-Celtics finals 14 years ago, and a really inspiring Big Shot of the Week from a doctor in Africa. And it’s been 30 years this week since Rob was playing against the Knicks in the NBA Finals when the OJ chase broke out, which leads us to this week’s “Back to the Future” Price is Right game!

We open this week’s bonus show with a quick update on Kristaps Porzingis’s health as the NBA Finals roll on. Plus we get right into listener questions, as people want to know Rob’s thoughts about San Antonio possibly trading for Darius Garland to pair with Victor Wembenyama – and Rob loves that move if it indeed comes together. Scottie Barnes also offers relationship advice to streamers, saying to find a good girl at the Mall?! Who goes to the MALL anymore? We also talk about Father’s Day gifts and what Rob and Jenners prefer to do with that day, proving Jenners is acting way too old for his age. And with Darvin Ham back in Milwaukee on Doc’s staff, we break out the conspiracy theory that he’s getting set up to take Doc’s spot if this season doesn’t pan out. Rob also loved James Harden’s reaction to catching the bouquet at a wedding, and we all speak on the guys we know that will never get married.  Plus the bull named Party Bus that got loose at an Oregon rodeo has Rob reminiscing about how GREAT the rodeos are in Texas, which we had no clue about. Finally, after the woman who lost the speed walking medal for celebrating too early, we ask Rob about times he got caught celebrating too early.

We kick off the week in the midst of the NBA Finals, as Rob is headed to Bogota, Columbia for an NBA Finals viewing party. And we get deep into the first two games of the Finals, with Rob and Rob both nominating Jaylen Brown as the early MVP, and Harper says he’s not surprised by this series so far because Boston doing what they do best by suffocating the Mavericks. And we’re all waiting for either Luka or Kyrie to take over a game or two and extend the series. Rob also weighs in on Shaq’s comments that he wasn’t the best player on the Lakers during their title runs, as he disagrees with the big fella, saying he was both the best and most dominant player on the floor. Dan Hurley also shot down an offer to coach the Lakers this week, leading Rob to reaffirm that JJ is going to be the hire, as he does not think Borrego is a good coach. And Rob feels like Caitlin Clark needs to earn her stripes in the WNBA before expecting a spot on the Olympic team, because as he goes through the roster of all-time greats that are playing, she just doesn’t stack up yet. Plus some more Hall of Fame love from Rob from Rudy Tomjanovich, a really cool Big Shot of the Week, and Rob and Harper square off in a hilarious round of Shootout!

Tracy McGrady says Steph Curry still has not cracked his Top 10 all time, so the debate ensues from the start of the bonus show about where (if at all) he’d fall on our lists. And after Luka got his beer poached in the WCF celebration, we ask Rob what those locker rooms are like after a big win… and Rob says there was NO celebration after winning the Conference Finals when he played, they just went home and started working on the next series. We also have an American Gladiators reboot coming to Prime, so we get into some of our favorite shows from our youth that we think deserve a reboot. Listeners want to know how much of the Olympics Rob will watch this summer, and which sports, plus did Rob ever go the celibacy route like Lenny Kravitz, and a look at Justin Jefferson’s record setting NFL contract has us taking a look at the deficiencies of other NFL teams. And the argument about who the best player in the league is between Jokic, Luka and Giannis.