Hello and welcome to the game theory podcast.

I'm your host Sam Vassini.

We are presented by The Athletic.

Today on the show, Tony Jones is in the building, and we're going to talk about something

that we have affectionately dubbed the Nick Batum All-Stars.

The guys that coming into this season

were in some way, shape, or form seemingly written off by the basketball commentariat at large.

And some of these guys are going to be star players that maybe weren't getting the respect

that they so richly deserved coming into this season.

Some of them were just going to be guys that we thought were done and frankly are not done.

So Nick Batum is the name that stands out there most.

But before we talk about them, I do want to start on Rudy Gobert because the whole

Rudy Gobert experience to me is very fascinating and nobody is closer to the Rudy

gober experience that doesn't play for the Utah Jazz or works for the Utah Jazz than Tony Jones.

So Tony, how you doing, man?

I'm doing good. I'm doing good. Thank you. First of all, thank you for having me on.

Listen, I feel like I'm no longer a guest on your podcast. Like, I just feel like I'm just,

you know, I'm at home. Like, I can kick my feet up and all that stuff.

That's what I want.

I want you to hold the microphone in your hand.

I want you to put those feet up on your desk.

And I just want you to, I want you to feel relaxed as we talk about Rudy Gobert.

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