Charles Barkley on Final TNT Season, Wildest Olympic Experience, 76ers Title Chances & More

The podcast episode features PG, Dallas Rutherford, and Jackie Long discussing their recent travels and experiences. They delve into the creative process behind character development with Lena Waithe, highlighting the balance between actor input and producer direction. The conversation shifts to PG's transition to the Philadelphia 76ers, his excitement, and the challenges of adapting to a new team environment. They also touch on the NBA's evolving international competition, the legacy of NBA on TNT, and the impact of legendary players like Dr. J and Moses Malone. Special guest Charles Barkley shares insights on his career, the importance of veteran mentorship, and the complexities of fame and financial responsibility.

• Discussed recent travel from Vegas to Augusta to Philly and return to LA.
• Mentioned additional stop in Chicago and continuous work travel.
• Highlighted the character’s evolving story and its increasing complexity.

"We had a long trip. We went from Vegas to Augusta to Philly. Now we back in LA, man."

• Emphasizes the extensive travel and busy schedule.

"It's Chicago, so he could be gone the second."

• Acknowledges the possibility of further travel and commitments.

• Lena Waithe’s creative control over character development.
• Actors' experiences with new and challenging roles.
• The balance between following scripts and improvisation in acting.

"Lena W is literally, she's so dope. She's playing with like so much with the characters right now."

• Highlights Lena Waithe’s innovative approach to character development.

"Some people might let you improv to play with it a little more, add some lines."

• Discusses the flexibility in acting and the varying degrees of improvisation allowed.

• Issues faced during podcast production in extreme heat conditions in Vegas.
• The importance of a comfortable environment for effective podcasting.

"We went to Vegas and it was about 119 degrees outside."

• Describes the extreme heat conditions faced during production.

"The air conditioner broke during that time and man, it was burning inside of that room."

• Highlights the challenges faced due to a malfunctioning air conditioner.

• Progress in the mortgage brokerage business.
• Obtaining the California license and its implications for business operations.

"We have a brokerage and we have about 22 loan officers on our team."

• Provides an overview of the mortgage brokerage team.

"We just got that cleared, and now it means that we can fund loans in California."

• Explains the significance of obtaining the California license for business expansion.

• Paul George’s experience joining the Philadelphia 76ers.
• Interactions with the Philadelphia media and front office.
• Personal reflections on the transition to a new team and environment.

"It was dope to be on the stage with Josh and Daryl being introduced in front of the Philly media."

• Describes the positive experience of being introduced to the Philadelphia media.

"Everything is a clean slate, so it was cool to throw that on and take the photos."

• Reflects on the fresh start and new experiences with the team.

• The significance of having Reggie Jackson on the Philadelphia 76ers.
• The comfort and familiarity brought by having a known teammate.

"Reggie is someone that I'm familiar and comfortable with, and so to have him there definitely helps."

• Emphasizes the positive impact of having a familiar teammate in a new environment.

"We had an amazing chemistry and knew how to win together."

• Highlights the successful past collaboration and chemistry with Reggie Jackson.

• The rich history and legendary figures associated with the Philadelphia 76ers.
• Personal aspirations and visions related to the team’s legacy.

"When you think of the guys retired and up in the banners, who played there, and the iconic figures."

• Acknowledges the legendary figures and rich history of the team.

"I was envisioning it though. I'm a visionary."

• Expresses personal aspirations and vision of becoming part of the team’s legacy.

• Charles Barkley’s excitement about Paul George joining the Philadelphia 76ers.
• Positive remarks on the team’s summer acquisitions and future prospects.

"These people are so excited to have you in Philadelphia."

• Highlights the excitement and high expectations surrounding Paul George’s addition to the team.

"The Sixers have had the best summer of any team in NBA."

• Commends the Philadelphia 76ers for their successful summer acquisitions and improvements.

• Philadelphia has a passionate and demanding fan base that expects high performance from their team.
• The fans' energy and support are motivating but come with high expectations and accountability.
• The recent team additions and cap space management by the Sixers show their commitment to winning.

"Now I've been in Philly multiple occasions now since I've officially signed and you can just feel the energy that man we going to do something like this team is for real."

• The speaker feels the positive energy and potential of the team in Philadelphia.

"You want that passion behind the fans and you want them to push you and you want them to, you know, at the end of the day, man, we rocking with y'all but we gonna hold you accountable."

• The speaker appreciates the passionate and demanding nature of the Philadelphia fans, which drives the team to perform better.

• Joel Embiid's performance in the Olympics has been subpar, potentially due to his fitness levels.
• There is a need for Embiid to improve his physical condition to avoid injuries and enhance his performance.
• The Olympic experience could serve as a wake-up call for Embiid to take better care of his health and fitness.

"I hope this is a wake-up for Joel this Olympic experience he has not played well and I'm hoping he's like yo man I got to get in better shape."

• The speaker hopes that Embiid's poor performance in the Olympics will motivate him to improve his fitness.

"If we don't win the championship or go deep in the playoffs it's going to be because of me and you know he's been he keeps getting hurt and like I said he got to take some responsibility for that."

• The speaker emphasizes that Embiid's health and performance are crucial for the team's success.

• Playing for Team USA involves adjusting to a different dynamic due to the high level of talent on the floor.
• Players need to find ways to contribute beyond their usual roles in the NBA.
• The importance of staying engaged and challenging oneself in different ways is highlighted.

"It's a different dynamic when you play Team USA right because you have to, it's a little bit of a deferring thing that I think he's going through because there's so much talent on the floor."

• The speaker explains the challenge of adjusting to the high talent level in Team USA.

"When I played on that 2016 team my mindset was more so geared towards I'mma pick dudes up 94 feet like I'mma pressure the hell out of whoever I'm guarding."

• The speaker shares their experience of adapting their role to contribute to Team USA's success.

• The Olympic experience can be a valuable learning opportunity for players.
• Players need to find ways to help their team win, even if it means adjusting their usual playing style.
• The experience can make players' lives easier when they return to the NBA by teaching them to play with great teammates.

"You got to find a way to help the team win like for me I was like okay let me play a defense that which wasn't my strong suit."

• The speaker highlights the need to adapt and find ways to contribute to the team's success.

"When I got traded to Phoenix and they gave me Dan Marley and Kevin Johnson I'm like damn this the easiest 26 I've ever got in my life."

• The speaker reflects on how playing with great teammates made their performance easier and more enjoyable.

• The competitiveness of international teams has increased, but the USA still has the best players.
• The USA's depth and talent are unmatched by any other country.
• There is no excuse for the USA not to win the gold medal if they play hard and unselfishly.

"Have the International Teams gotten better 100% they still not better than the United States."

• The speaker acknowledges the improvement in international teams but maintains that the USA remains superior.

"If they lose we can't let them back in the country we can't."

• The speaker humorously emphasizes the high expectations for Team USA to win the gold medal.

• The Dream Team's experience in the 1992 Olympics was extraordinary, with immense public attention and security measures.
• The Olympics are considered the greatest sporting event, with athletes dedicating their lives to participating.
• The experience highlighted the privilege of living in America compared to other countries.

"It was so crazy when we left practice well no when we were going to practice going to a game there was probably a 20 the bus was probably 20 30 feet from the hotel man it was 5,000 people out there for practice for game."

• The speaker describes the overwhelming public attention during the Dream Team's time in Barcelona.

"The Olympics are the greatest sporting event in the world these people spend their whole life just to get to the Olympics they ain't even got no chance of winning."

• The speaker emphasizes the significance of the Olympics and the dedication of athletes worldwide.

• The next season will be the last for NBA on TNT, which is a sad development for fans and the team.
• The relationships built over 24 years are what the speaker will miss the most.
• The uncertainty and job loss faced by colleagues are deeply affecting.

"The people because you got to understand something if you've been at the same job for 24 years."

• The speaker values the long-term relationships formed over the years at NBA on TNT.

"It really hurt me it really hurt me that people of my friends was talking like that and I was like man I ain't never been in that situation in my life where I was going to lose my job and I had a family to take care of."

• The speaker expresses empathy and concern for colleagues facing job loss and financial uncertainty.

• TNT filed a lawsuit regarding the rights to match an Amazon offer for NBA broadcasting.
• The NBA's stance is that TNT could only match offers from traditional networks like NBC or ESPN.
• Adam Silver, NBA Commissioner, is considered too smart to lose a lawsuit over this issue.

"We filed a lawsuit but what I think... the NBA said you can match but they meant ESPN or NBC, you don't get to match the Amazon offer."

• TNT's lawsuit is based on a misunderstanding of the matching rights in the original deal.

"When we signed the original deal like six, eight years ago y'all had to match NBC or ESPN... Adam's like yeah that shit's not going to work."

• The NBA is not expected to concede to TNT's lawsuit.

"I don't think Adam would leave himself open to lose a lawsuit... I think he's too smart."

• Replicating the success of NBA on TNT is difficult due to lack of chemistry-building opportunities on other networks.
• ESPN is mentioned as frequently changing their teams, not allowing for long-term chemistry.

"ESPN, which I love, they never give anybody a chance to get any chemistry... they're all just kind of throwing stuff at the wall."

• The long-term success of NBA on TNT is attributed to the time allowed for building team dynamics, even through initial rough patches.

"I'm positive we had some rocky roads when Shaq first came on... it started out with Ernie and Kenny, then I came on... let's figure it out."

• Shaquille O'Neal's initial over-the-top antics were adjusted to fit the long-term format of the show.

"Shaq was trying to outdo himself... we had to sit him down like yo man, we got seven more damn months of this."

• Bringing new talent onto TV can be challenging as many freeze up despite being charismatic off-camera.
• Charles Barkley emphasizes the importance of being natural and conversational on TV.

"We always bring in guys we think gonna be great on TV... they get on TV and they freeze up."

• Encourages new talent to talk naturally about basketball, similar to casual conversations.

"The number one thing you have to do is like yo, I'mma talk to you guys like I'm talking to you guys right now."

• Personal experiences of overcoming initial TV jitters and focusing on natural conversation.

"It took me a minute... just talk basketball... Ernie gonna ask me a question, I'm like well this is what's happening."

• Charles Barkley was initially unhappy about being drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers due to salary cap issues.
• Attempted to avoid being drafted by gaining weight, but was still picked by the Sixers.

"I was like no, hey hell no... I went on an eating spree... flew in to Philly, man I'm like 299."

• Moses Malone played a crucial role in Barkley's career by mentoring him and helping him get in shape.

"Moses, can I come see you after practice... he said son, you fat and you lazy."

• Malone's guidance led to significant improvements in Barkley's performance and career trajectory.

"One of the greatest players ever met me before practice, after practice... changed my whole career."

• Transitioning from player to TV personality involves understanding the different expectations and leveraging one's playing experience.
• Advice from Kendrick Perkins helped in adjusting to TV by focusing on speaking from a player's perspective.

"Kendrick Perkins was sitting to my left... just speak basketball... that went a long ways for me."

• Emphasizes the value of player insights over pure analytics for TV audiences.

"People at home, they don't understand X and Os... they want to hear your perspective from a basketball player."

• Barkley highlights the importance of simplifying basketball commentary for the general audience.
• Uses relatable analogies and personal experience to explain game dynamics.

"I'm gonna tell you why the play worked, I'm gonna tell you why the play didn't work... people at home, they don't understand X and Os."

• Draws parallels between basketball and other sports to illustrate the importance of expert insights.

"Every time a quarterback throws an interception, it's not his fault... when I'm with actual football players, they'll be like yo Chuck, that was not the quarterback's fault."

• Uses humor and cultural references to connect with the audience and make commentary more engaging.
• Emphasizes the importance of relatability and authenticity in sports commentary.

"All black people love Checkers... we didn't have no damn chess in the hood... but we always had Checkers and dominoes."

• Reflects on the importance of mentorship in his career and the impact of veteran players.
• Encourages current players to seek guidance and learn from experienced professionals.

"Moses Malone... one of the greatest players ever met me before practice, after practice... changed my whole career."

• Highlights the value of veteran insights and the role of mentorship in professional growth.

"As a great player, you're playing chess... them other [players] out there playing checkers."

• Moses Malone played a pivotal role in helping lose 50 pounds, which was crucial for his NBA career.
• Malone's mentorship extended beyond just weight loss; he worked with before and after practice.

"He got me from 300 to 250, and like I say, the rest is history. That was the best thing that happened to me in my NBA career."

• Malone's guidance was instrumental in transforming 's career trajectory.

• The veterans like Dr. J, Moses Malone, and Mo Cheeks provided invaluable life lessons.
• Billy Cunningham, the coach, held accountable for fitness and performance.

"Those guys taught me so much about life; they taught me how to dress, save my money, and warned me about people turning against me when I started making a lot of money."

• The veterans and coach played a significant role in professional and personal development.

• Fame and wealth come with their unique set of challenges, including dealing with family and friends.
• Survivor's remorse is a common feeling among successful athletes.

"The worst people you're going to encounter are your family and friends. They are going to want your money, and if you don't give it to them, they are not going to like you."

• Managing relationships becomes complicated as one's financial status changes.

• Grant Hill's mom advised against taking care of family and friends financially to avoid becoming an enabler.
• The first time you say no to financial requests, relationships can sour.

"Do not start taking care of your family and friends. They are going to love you as long as you give them money, but the first time you say no, your ass is no longer."

• Financial management and setting boundaries are crucial for long-term financial stability.

• Expressed gratitude towards older NBA players and black individuals who paved the way.
• Acknowledged the struggles and contributions of past generations.

"Anytime I meet an old NBA player or an old black person, I make sure I tell them thank you."

• Recognizing and appreciating the sacrifices of those who came before is essential.

• Finds impersonations flattering and humorous.
• Believes impersonations signify that one is a special individual.

"When somebody does an impersonation of you, I think this shit's hilarious. Keep going, brother."

• Takes impersonations in good spirits, seeing them as a form of compliment.

• Plans to move to warmer weather once it gets cold.
• Expressed interest in playing golf and spending time in Arizona.

"Once that temperature hits like 60, my black ass is heading back to Arizona."

• Personal preferences and lifestyle choices are influenced by weather and comfort.

• Praised for his long-term success and resilience after a severe injury.
• Expressed excitement for the upcoming NBA season and support for various teams.

"You've been a hell of a player for a long time. I'm proud of your success."

• Shows camaraderie and support for fellow NBA players, encouraging them to reach their potential.