Brian Winhurst in the hoop collective is presented by YouTube TV. Try it free today at youtube.com slash NBA 23 new users only terms apply cancel anytime.

Hello welcome to the hoop collective podcast. We talk about the NBA which we're doing on Thursday afternoon joining me from New York City where it's hazy and smoky Tim Botems sure is.

Hello everybody. It's a beautiful day here in Miami where a fan McMahon is down the street from me. We just watched the nuggets take game three last night. Mr McMahon how are you?

How do you partners? Hey, I noticed it was hazy and smoky in certain parts of Denver when we were there as well. That's correct especially after game one in the immediate aftermath of game one not so much after game two.

And our special guest here previewing game for the NBA finals joining us from his childhood home in Richmond, Virginia. You know we didn't say this but George Nian who joined us earlier this week. He was at his childhood home in Massachusetts. So we're on a role here.

It was childhood home coach of Utah jazz. I don't think I should call you first year coach. You're like in the summer after your freshman year. Will Hardy. Welcome. Second year jazz coach will Hardy.

Well, so will Hardy will Kessler. Which is it? Oh man. We'll stick with will Hardy for now. I get enough. I get enough crap about Walker. But thanks for having me. Because I live here.

I'm sure ESPN has called him many times. Kessler Walker. I'm sure that's one of my favorite things of the year was when will was in Toronto and they coming to New York the next day and I've backed back and believe the jazz won a game in Toronto and there was an AP story that in the bleed called will Hardy will Kessler.

I'm going to get into the game. You said you changed. You changed your name. Well, I got alerted that in quite sarcastic manner because it was on our website.

Yeah, there's nothing like getting crap from the opposing team though during the game. We had a couple a couple instances this year where guys on the court would make comments like I'm yelling something at the team and they would turn and go, oh my god, I thought you were Walker for a second.

Well, I met Walker last week in Denver for the first time. My I know this is how about this for analysis. Well, my god, is he tall. I don't know what he's listed as, but he's got to be over seven foot tall. Is he's like seven to I would say I'm now would say he's for sure seven feet. He's definitely above seven feet.

We'll give him seven one in the orthotics, but I'm not sure if he's a full seven to but he's a got a big frame. He's when you spend a lot of time with him, you reminded how young he is. There's a chance that he's still growing a little bit.

Right. But he has a he has real real size. Good length and you know, just working on getting stronger now.

He's also the most wholesome kid in the NBA. I'm asking Joker. I just want to ask how you doing. I said, do keep your day job. We're not doing this.

Lovey, dovey crap. You're not cut out. I actually like that because you know, what it meant describing is Walker came and like was like a member of the media for like his own website. It was just one of those things. We're happy to see him.

You'll catch has no time for the media anyway. Like he's he's under there under protest. And he gave he gave Walker like a passing glance like, okay, I recognize that you're up here.

But then just wanted to get through the questions. It's like, what all of everything else to no special treatment, which I I respected that.

I just think that at some point probably four or five years now when Walker can actually grow mustache, he should because if you're going to be the share, if you've got to have some kind of like, you know, intimidate and facial hair to go with it. So hopefully at some point he's able to do that.

Aren't you like the biggest Walker Kessler fan on the planet though?

Absolutely. I am the Utah jazz big.

I guess not the biggest because I don't have a vote, but I was not one of the two to give him a rookie of the year vote. Although I did think he was a solid candidate. I thought that was.

I thought Mr. Ben Karon Orlando had a pretty convincing case, but I do think the kids got a little future. That's for sure.

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