02x05 - Ring Chasing

[bunniefuu]

[Andrews] When a trade happens
between now and the deadline,

you are going to hear this sound.

[horn blares]

[pundit] There is no person

that we are going to hear more from
in all of that

than our senior insider, Shams Charania.

I would describe Shams
as the guy in the NBA

who, like, knows everything
before everybody else.

He's the guy
who breaks all the news in the league.

You know, so I think the majority
of us guys have him on notification.

I definitely have him on notification.

Shams, what are you watching most closely
as we inch towards the trade deadline?

[phone buzzing]

Hello?

[Shams] This trade happened overnight,
Saturday into Sunday.

I got a text
around 11:06, 11:07 p.m. Central

saying that the Lakers and Mavs
had completed a deal.

I start just texting
as many people as I know.

So, you know, you got a source saying
that there's a trade happening.

Then you got another source
saying this player is involved.

Then you got another source saying
these two or three players are involved.

Guys like Jalen Hood-Schifino,
Markieff Morris, Maxi Kleber.

You're like,
"Why are all these guys in this deal?"

"Why is Utah involved?"

Like, there's gotta be
something bigger here.

[cheering]

[Shams] It's 11:12 p.m. Central time.

I'd gotten
all of the details of the trade.

You're almost not even believing
you're tweeting this out.

Your hand's shaking.

I was even thinking in my head,
did the people that I genuinely trust,

did their phones get hacked?
When I hit send, I had five total sources.

From that point after that,

I think that was definitely
like a where-were-you moment.

[pundit 2] Breaking news on SportsCenter,

the Lakers and Mavericks making it
a blockbuster night.

Luka Dončić headed to the Lakers.

Anthony Davis headed to the Mavericks.

[pundit 3] You're trading away a guy
who is locked into your franchise,

who is 25 years old, who is All-NBA.

[pundit 4] This is the most stunning trade
in NBA history.

[pundit 5] We are trying to process it
as it happens.

Thought about it.
That might be one of the worst trades.

We'll see how it plays out.

I was like, "What the f*ck?"

"Is this real?
I think we're getting pranked."

No matter what you think,
this sh*t can turn for you quick.

I know it's kind of nerve-wracking,
you know, probably for Luka

and everybody in Dallas, LA,
AD, everybody involved.

I'm sure
their heads are spinning right now.

[Shams] You would expect a player
like that to have some level of control,

and… and he didn't.

That has a domino effect
on the entire NBA.

I had several players say,

"If Luka Dončić is getting traded,
I have to be next."

[cheering]

[rhythmic clapping]

[man] Let's go!

[man 2] Nine, eight,

seven, six…

[Shams] Every single trade deadline,
there's always a flurry of players

that are just gonna ask,
where are they going?

Are they going here? Are they going there?

[cheering]

[all] Oh!

[Shams] Given where
the Suns' season is right now,

they're fighting to just try to make
a play-in berth,

which, when you have
the highest payroll in the NBA,

you have three players on max contracts,

this is not
where the Suns are supposed to be.

This is not
where they are gonna accept to be.

[commentator] Suns are
just 8-13 on the road.

[commentator 2] Phoenix right now
is in a tough spot.

[commentator 3] They went all in
to get Kevin Durant.

It's kind of inexplicable.

It's stressful, man.

You can't sleep at night
when you lose a game, and…

Yeah, that sh*t stings, man.

But the battle is to keep fighting

and getting up with the enthusiasm
that this is gonna be the day.

This is gonna be
the possession that turns the season.

[Andrews] Big threes aren't put together
to just make the playoffs.

I don't see a path for Phoenix to improve
without making a pretty sizable trade.

[Durant] We see
that we're in some deep sh*t,

but let's just focus on
this small, little part real quick

and see how we can build off that.

[commentator] If you think Phoenix
is gonna pivot away from Kevin Durant,

you are wrong.

Phoenix is in business
to try to turn around the season.

[trilling]

-♪ Jahlil Beats ♪
-♪ Ah, ah ♪

♪ And True be on some hot **** ♪

♪ Like I talked to Shyste
When I shot **** ♪

♪ Like you seen him twirl… ♪

[Durant] Always means a lot coming here.
This is my home, bro. That's how I feel.

It's part of my DNA being in Brooklyn,
you know what I'm saying?

Every time I get a chance to get here
and play, man, it's been sweet, man.

So it's good to see the family again.

♪ Try to run down
And you could catch a shot, boy… ♪

[Durant] I always look forward
to playing against my former teams.

It's the people behind the scenes
I haven't seen in a long time.

I get to hug some people
I haven't seen in a while.

♪ Get up out my trap house… ♪

[Durant] Some great times, man.
Some fun moments, man.

But it didn't, uh, culminate
into a championship.

I thought it would be cool
to play basketball in New York.

Brooklyn, being a newer franchise
with a growing fan base,

it's the little brother that gets sh*t on
every day just for being there

when it comes to basketball.

The little brother of New York.

Sometimes, people
don't even wanna say that.

We… we can't even say we're in New York.
We just gotta say we're in Brooklyn.

And I'm a little brother,
you know what I'm saying?

So I felt that, in my heart,

that I really wanted to be
a part of something like that.

Kyrie was the draw.

I think, uh, Kevin always wanted
to play with Kyrie,

and that's how it initially started.

So when you get James Harden
to come there,

I mean, it's like the Super Friends
cartoon I watched as a kid.

Like, that's a lot of firepower.

[Silverman] He didn't want to obviously
waste any years of his prime.

So the best solution for that

was to get to another team
with some great players

to try to win championships.

If you watched the Nets
with those superstar players,

it was terrifying for the rest of the NBA.

[commentator] Screen and roll with Sharpe.
Instead, the cross-court feed…

[Kleiman] James and Kevin have
this incredible relationship

and, I think, missed playing together
from when they were in Oklahoma City.

So the opportunity to have James
come there and join them,

the three of them,

because they were artists,
could make this work.

[Harden] When I got there,
everything was good.

And then…

uh…

Ask him about that sh*t.

About why he left Brooklyn
like that. [chuckles]

Hopefully,
since he's on a Netflix special,

he's gonna be a bit more real
than he would be

if he was doing a press conference
about it.

[Harden] It was, like, COVID.

Never was fully healthy in Brooklyn,
so I was, like… I wasn't myself.

[commentator] Dribbling right at…

Yeah, I just… It wasn't… It was… it was…

it was a lot. It was a lot.

Yeah, it was… it was a lot.

What happened, bro?
We was looking good. [laughs]

[commentator] Boy, I tell you, the trade
deadline has rumors everywhere right now.

[commentator 2] The trade deadline
feels like it's around the corner.

Who knows what's gonna happen
between now and then?

-[man] Take it easy tonight, man.
-f*ck no.

Bro, we need a win.
We need a f*cking win, bro.

Man, I miss y'all, man. For real, bro.

-What's up?
-Would you sign for me, please?

-[Durant] How you been?
-Great.

Great to see you.

You made my wife the happiest woman
when you kissed my wife that night.

I just lost her.

-Yo, man. My condolences, brother.
-[Mr. Whammy] It's all right.

-My condolences, brother. Love you, man.
-Thank you.

KD, we miss you!

KD!

Man, lock that sh*t up, Deuce.
Lock this sh*t up, Deuce.

Corner, boy.

[commentator] Durant, the catch,
drives in on Evbuomwan,

fakes, and hits.

[cheering]

God, no, I see you. I see you.


so you know you gotta do something.

[commentator] Swing it.
Durant steps into it.

Put it on the board. It's a three.

Kevin Durant is closing in
on 30,000 career points.

He comes in 204 away.

[Durant] Go get T.
Go get T. Go get T. Go get T.

[commentator] In year 18 in the league.

That type of quick offense
is perfect right there.

-[buzzer sounds]
-[whistle blows]

[commentator] And they win this one
going away. 108-84 over Brooklyn.

[indistinct chatter]

[grunts]

Good sh*t, fellas.

Way to finish the trip off.

[Durant] It takes a lot, man,
when you're a new team

and you're trying to get things right
and you got a unique group of players.

You know, we trying to figure it out.
I think we were trying to figure it out

throughout the year,

but I still think we got a chance
to sneak in the playoffs.

[reporter] Is this game a prelude
to what we can see and expect?

Who knows… who knows what the teams
may look like moving forward?

A lot of stuff can happen in this league,

but, uh, yeah, I guess you can… I guess
you can say it was kind of a preview.

[Haliburton] Going to D.C.

I, uh…

Old Man and the Three,
JJ Redick's old podcast,

Tommy Alter, his co-host, and I
are good friends.

They said they were interviewing Obama
and wanted me to be part of it,

so, uh, no way I could say no to that.

♪ This'll be the realist *****
you ever quote ♪

♪ My president is Black, my Lambo's blue ♪

♪ I'll be damned if my rims ain't too ♪

♪ My mama ain't at home
And Daddy's still in jail ♪

♪ Trying to make a play
Anybody seen the scale? ♪

♪ My president is Black ♪

[woman] You have a gray hair.

Want me to pluck it? It's one.

-[Haliburton] What time is it?
-[man] 3:53.

-[man 3] Big toes.
-[man 4] Looks good.

-[Haliburton] Thanks. Appreciate it.
-[man 4] Looks nice.

Okay, he's en route.

-Hey, people.
-[man 5] How we doing?

-I didn't know y'all were suiting up.
-[Haliburton] There.

I… I… was like,
"This is a basketball podcast."

I thought that's what we were
supposed to wear. What's up, man?

Good to see you. How are you?
Good to see you. How've you been?

-Everything's good.
-That's good.

-[man 5] Y'all ready?
-[Obama] All right. Yes.

[Haliburton] So the last time
I saw you was in…

-[Obama] We were in Vegas. It was hot.
-Vegas.

It was hot.
But we didn't know you were coming either.

Had good fun, and I… I begged you guys

to, you know, bring home the gold,
and you did, so…

-[Haliburton] We did.
-I'm proud of you guys.

You know, that was sort of the swan song
for the old heads.

So, you know, you figure, wait your turn.

You'll… you'll… you'll be playing
for the next four or five of them.

-[Haliburton] That's the goal.
-Absolutely.

Looking ahead to this season, do you have
a list of your favorite League Pass teams?

Your four or five teams that you're--

I like how… Listen, I like
how… how the Pacers are playing--

-You say that 'cause I'm in front of you?
-Yes.

-[Haliburton chuckles]
-But also because you guys play with pace.

[Haliburton] Thanks so much.

-Appreciate you guys. Bye.
-Yes, sir.

I just took about ten, three. There we go.

Thank you. Ty, have a good season, man.
Stay healthy.

-[Haliburton] Yes, sir.
-All right? Do all that stretching.

[Haliburton] Yeah. I'll try my best.

-[man 5] Gotta get you to Indy.
-Cold plunge.

-[Haliburton] All of the above.
-The infrared thing.

-[Haliburton] Everything they offer.
-There you go. All right.

-[woman] You make it to Indy, let us know.
-I will.

[Jade] Aren't these the cutest things
you've ever seen? They're slip-ons.

[Haliburton] The cutest things
I've ever seen.

[Jade] Oh, well,

we thought that for the playoffs,

you know, when you go to the Finals…

Miu Miu moments.

[Haliburton] Are you guys trying
to sweet-talk me with Finals talk?

The world's gonna think you're bougie.

They're gonna get to know
the real Jade Jones.

Yeah. You want me to do a fashion show
for you? And it's Pacers colors.

Get it? 'Cause I'm number zero.

-This is awesome.
-I think Miu Miu was made for me.

This will be vintage to our kids one day.

[Haliburton] That's the most
Brenda Haliburton-coded thing ever.

You don't think our kids
are gonna wanna wear this stuff?

I don't think
you're holding on to this for 20 years.

-[Jade] I absolutely am.
-[woman] Absolutely. What? It's Miu Miu.

Babe, don't you know,
like, the college kids

that always had
all the vintage bags and stuff?

They got that from their parents.

[Haliburton] In 20 years from now,
when I retire,

I might just wear sweat suits every day.

-No.
-I might never put on slacks again.

[Jade] He is just such an amazing partner.

I feel super blessed,
but it is such a crazy ride.

It's, like, a bunch of highs, and there's
still lows that come in between,

but we are along for the ride together.

[Andrews] The Pacers and the Kings
made a trade,

and Indiana sent Domantas Sabonis
to Sacramento for Tyrese Haliburton.

So how did this trade come together?

When I got traded to Indiana, to pretend
it wasn't a major blow is probably wrong.

Like, it… it hurt, and it sucked.

[commentator] The Kings
have already gotten rid of the uniforms

in their team store.

[Haliburton] People
in the Sacramento front office

were telling me
to start looking for houses

because I was gonna be there a long time.

So when we got traded, there was this,
like, ultimate, like, shock, of course.

We were selling our furniture
through Facebook Marketplace,

sold all of our furniture in our house.

[Jade] It came to a shock to us
that he was getting traded.

Tyrese and I were both disappointed.
That was our first emotion.

I was crying because I had to
leave my friends and leave my job

and everything that I loved.
But I was hurting for Ty too

because he just
really didn't have the answers.

He was only in his second year,
so it just happened so fast.

Like, we were just getting accustomed
to the community and the team.

They get traded, they're expected to be
in the next game within 48 hours.

You have time to sulk for a little bit
and then you have to get yourself together

and get on the plane
to go play in the next game.

So then we were just off to Indiana.

[Haliburton] I honestly don't think
I've ever felt as negative about myself

as I did in November and December.

Yeah, I was definitely in a dark time.

You know,
not everything was… was clicking for me.

[commentator] Haliburton has yet to score.

I could tell he was feeling
a lot of pressure from it.

He was kind of, like,
in a freak-out mode, like,

"What's going on?
I've never experienced this before."

[Haliburton] For me, winning trumps all.

When you're in a position like mine,
the highest-paid guy on the team,

you're really only evaluated by

can you impact your team enough
to win games?

If we don't win,
it's gonna be the next man up,

and I'll be out of here.

I can be traded at any point.
Um, you know, I understand that.

That's the price you pay
to live your dream.

[commentator] Pacers with an opportunity
to get back to even,

and Haliburton misses the shot.

It got to the point where I was like,

"Should I, you know, kind of step away
for a little bit just for our group?"

"Would that be more… more beneficial?"

[groans]

My bad. Oh, I saw you late.

[Haliburton] I know that if I'm not right,
that our team isn't gonna be right.

And that is a weird…

[exhales] …a really weird, um,

feeling for me.

I just wanna win two games in a row, bro.

Last five games, okay? This is
actually gonna be really good for you,

because I put them in a category
that'll allow you to just see everything.

But, really,
there's only two things I look at,

is number one is, like, every single time
that you touch the paint.

So, like, you know how I was big on,
like, early in the season,

you not driving enough,
not being aggressive…

-Is this what I think it is?
-Yes, this is…

There's a specific play
that, just so you guys know,

he texted me right after the game

and was like,
"I never wanna see this clip ever."

-"Don't show it to me."
-No, I haven't…

[Hanlen] That's the one
we're leading off with

'cause that explains our relationship.

I haven't watched it.
I haven't… [chuckles]

I have not acknowledged this clip,
that it exists.

-[chuckles]
-[Hanlen] Ugh.

Wide f*cking open.

And again, this one,

to me,
he runs you off the three-point line.

You're driving downhill.
You're in a great position.

I'm like,
"Why is he not thinking 'score'?"

But just again, look,
every single time, paint touch.

And again, here,
paint touch, wide-open shot.

Then there's stuff like this where, to me,
a lot of times when you get to here,

you just end up
passing the ball laterally.

And you putting pressure
on the three-point line and stopping

because you know if you slam your brakes
right there and they go,

that's your shot or shot-fake and shot.

But then you hesi
and then getting downhill.

I mean, there you get layups.

I mean, it's over and over again.

To me, it's like,
"Okay, how do we get in the paint?"

Every time you get downhill,
good things happen,

whether it's you score, get fouled,
whether you guys get a shot.

You in transition hunting threes,

especially getting to the line
instead of giving it up early.

But this one was awful.

This one just hurt my heart.

You got a slow, big guy on you.

That should be attack every single time.

[Hanlen] I'm the as*h*le in his life.
You know what I mean?

I mean, there's some times
where I'll FaceTime him late at night.

He'll be like, "What's up, bro?"

I'll be like, "sh**t the effing ball,"
and hang up.

To me, it's just so obvious.

The more you put pressure on the rim,
the better you guys will be.

Every time I work with a guy,
I try to turn him into an as*h*le.

Being more of an as*h*le,
be more aggressive,

um, you know, have more of that it factor.

[man] Yo.

-Yo.
-[Haliburton] Who is this?

He said you can't force him left tomorrow.

[Haliburton groans]

Hey, bro, can I get your jersey
after the game? Can I get your jersey?

-Yeah, yeah, of course.
-Okay.

-Sign… No--
-You notice he didn't ask for yours back?

No. He…

-[Embiid] Zero points again.
-What did he say?

He said you're gonna have
zero points again.

Oh.

Okay. Okay.

The game of basketball
is a… a mental game.

And, you know,
you have to have extreme confidence

to do amazing things
out there on the court.

Ty was hoping
that going into the Olympics,

he would be able to contribute
to a USA team that was stacked.

[commentator] An all-star lineup…

[man] So let's talk about
the Olympic experience.

-Like, you didn't play a lot.
-No, I didn't play at all.

[Hanlen] He wanted to be out there
on the court with all these star players.

And then for him
not to get that opportunity,

sitting on the end of a bench
and not getting that playing time,

basically, the experience
with the Olympics

drained some of his confidence.

The best guys in our league have
an unwavering, unfiltered confidence.

Obviously, it was not great.

I'm a competitor.
I love playing basketball.

I wanted to be on the floor, of course.
But what can you do, you know?

I just wanted to be a part
of something bigger than myself.

[Shams] That team was so stacked,
even Tatum didn't play a lot.

So it wasn't really a surprise.

There's always gonna be
one or two players that don't play.

He had a great tweet
after they won the gold medal.

He literally was a group participant
that didn't participate, and he got an A.

[Haliburton] And now I'm going back
to Paris with the Pacers.

Every year, the NBA does a couple games
outside the United States,

uh, just to help build the game.

This time, it's going to be different

because I know there's no question
that I'm gonna get to play.

[suspenseful music playing]

[pundit] We know that Kevin Durant
and the Phoenix Suns,

they are very much struggling
on the court. They are down to…

on the verge of being out of the play-in.

They have now had to realize

that they may have to put Durant
on the trade block.

That's the stuff I don't believe,

'cause rumors just float around
every day, all day in the NBA.

[commentator] Two Western Conference
playoff hopefuls

featuring two of the greatest players
of all time.

And an important game for both teams
trying to climb the standings.

Here's Durant from midrange,
but he couldn't knock it down.

[Durant] I mean,
expectations really don't matter.

I mean, we can expect all we want,

but, like, we really have to focus more so
on what our habits are gonna be every day.

You know what I'm saying?
We can't come in there as players

and say, "Oh wow, man,
we expected to win the championship."

What does that really mean?
You don't even know if you're gonna…

who gonna be on the team
in February sometimes. [chuckles]

[commentator] Looney comes away
with the loose ball. Fouled by Durant.

What the f*ck are we doing?

g*dd*mn.

Y'all won championships without me, man.

That's the goal, win without me.
You got it.

[Durant] Gary Payton
cannot out-talk me, man.

He seen me in the Bay. He was just like,

"Oh yeah, I brought that fire back
out of him."

If you up here, I'm at the ceiling.

I got up on the roof!

Hey, look here! I'll get up on the roof!

Twenty years straight of this.

-[Payton] I'm on the roof!
-Twenty years straight.

I had to start off with him
just to check his temperature, you know?

'Cause he used to pressing people
and checking temperatures

when he was in the league. He was a bully.

Hey. You ain't seen
nothing like this before.

You ain't seen nothing like this before.

I can do everything.

Everything at an elite level.

That's just how we was raised,
to talk sh*t while we playing ball.

I grew up with that,
you know what I'm saying?

Going outside, I hit a three
at Barry Farms and talking sh*t

to the dude who ain't picked up
a basketball his whole life,

but he talking sh*t to me.

That's the banter I grew up in.
I'm used to that.

By the time you was my age,
you was the eighth man on the bench.

Ay, you gon' be looking at me
the same way!

-[Durant] You was the eighth man.
-I'mma do you the same way!

[Durant] And I like reigniting that
in the OGs, you know what I'm saying?

Like, yo, let me see
if you still got it mentally, bro.

You know what I'm saying?

[buzzer sounds]

[commentator] Phoenix 130,
Golden State 105.

-What's up, bro? What's wrong with you?
-My calf. Got them KD injuries.

[laughs] You're getting old. Old a*s…

Yeah, thanks
for sitting this one out. [chuckles]

[Curry] You hilarious as hell, dog.

Keep going, bro, I know this sh*t.
Keep going, bro. Keep going.

[Shams] The Warriors are dead set on
trying to find another superstar player

with Stephen Curry.

And that, of course,
includes players like Kevin Durant.

[energetic music playing]

[lyrics in French]

[Haliburton] We were in Paris for a week.

This year, we drew the lucky draw
to play the San Antonio Spurs in Paris,

who just so happen to have
the hometown hero, Wemby.

Oh, the Hoopbus is out there right now.

Pops, let's play horse.
Hey, let's play pig outside.

All his life, he has never beaten me.
So why would I start now?

That's a lie. I have video on my phone
right now of me beating him.

[overlapping chatter]

[John] No. No, wait a minute.

Hold on. Hold on. Hold on.
Hey. Hey. Hey. Hey.

Come on, man.

-If I miss, nobody post it.
-[John] Tell 'em again.

-Pretend it never happened.
-[John] Hit that for Dad.

[cheering]

-[man] One, two, three.
-Bonjour.

[man] Okay.

[laughs] Watch out. Watch out.

[man] Okay. Thank you, people.
Tyrese Haliburton, s'il vous plaît.

-What's up, Tyrese?
-I'm good, and you?

[Jade] It'll be nice to have
the Paris experience

without the Olympics going on,

to actually be able to explore more
with Tyrese in Paris.

It's the city of love, so I hope
that we get to go to the Eiffel Tower

or go to a romantic dinner.

Our relationship's going on six years,

so the clock's ticking a little bit
over here.

This finger's looking a little lonely.

[relaxing, upbeat music playing]

-[Jade] That's cool.
-[Haliburton] I'm right there.

-[Jade] Should we go take a picture of it?
-Nice!

Can you get it?

-Good?
-Oh, cool.

[Haliburton] To see, you know, my face
on signs in Paris was really cool,

you know, 'cause I'm just a kid
from Oshkosh, Wisconsin,

and I could never have dreamed
of being here.

[bicycle bell dings]

I don't wanna get hit by a bike.

Are we playing at the arena
we played the gold medal game?

I didn't play in that game,

so I don't even know what it's like
to play in that arena.

This'll be my first time
playing basketball in Paris. [chuckles]

What's the over/under on how many times
I crack that joke while we're here?

[calm music in French playing]

-Thank you.
-Ah.

-I'll do a cappuccino with just milk.
-[waiter] Yes.

-Thank you.
-Appreciate it.

I wonder if they're gonna, like,
just not care about us or, like, boo us.

-[Jade] I think they'll probably boo you.
-Yeah.

Tonight…

We got dinner tonight?

[Jade] We have a c*ck event
for the Pacers tonight.

-And then…
-Oh, and then Obi's proposing.

It's a big night.

[calm music in French continues]

[Haliburton] Pressure's on.

-Clock's ticking.
-Mm-hmm.

I'm gonna wait
until you give me an ultimatum and…

You gotta give me a real ultimatum
and pack all your stuff up

and be like, "I'm done,"

and right before you walk out the door,
I'll propose.

So romantic.

Yeah, let's wait five more years.

I like that idea.

Sure.

Let's see how long we can wait.
I'll wait till, like…

I'm gonna be a ten-year girlfriend.

[Haliburton] Puts the pressure on me,
you know, a little bit more,

which I'm not thankful for, necessarily.

But I will. I will soon.

Obi and Maggie got engaged,
so I knew it wasn't gonna be my time.

I had already accepted that.

But I'm like, "Maybe this year."

That, God willing, it'll happen.
[chuckles]

-Thank you.
-Thank you.

-Merci beaucoup.
-Merci beaucoup.

[Shams] Going into this week
and this season,

I don't think a trade
was something he was thinking about.

He has wanted to stay in Phoenix.

[Durant] Anything is up for grabs with me.
I could be traded.

Some things may never happen,

but some stuff, where there's,
you know, smoke, there's a fire.

[pundit] Kevin Durant,
one of the best players in NBA history,

is hearing his name's
in trade speculation.

You've got that swirling.

[Andrews] Nine former or
current All-Stars have been traded so far,

and there are still deals
that are being made.

♪ What do you mean? ♪

[pundit 2] The biggest rumor
in the NBA today

is that the Phoenix Suns
are now shopping Kevin Durant.

[Shams] The Warriors are legitimately
calling about every All-Star player,

players like Kevin Durant.

[Durant] Three days before,
it started getting noisy.

I was just like,
"Whoa, it's kind of hit me."

I'm no bigger than the program.
It can happen to me too.

[Andrews] If they're not gonna trade
Devin Booker,

if you can't trade Bradley Beal,

then the natural next place you look

is Kevin Durant.

[Durant] It's become
the Wild Wild West right now.

Nothing is too far-fetched in this league.

[Shams] From what I'm told,
there are multiple teams

making really aggressive calls
to the Suns on Kevin Durant.

I'm hearing real people that I respected,
that are credible in this business,

telling me
that this sh*t about to go down.

So I'm, like, on the phone,
it was heavy that whole night. I was like,

"No f*cking way they trying to do
this sh*t behind my back."

And they ain't said nothing to me.
I say, "Oh, that's f*cked up."

I understand the business.
I know I'm the guy.

If sh*t was going south, I would be
the easiest to trade, you know, so…

"But don't send me to the Warriors,"
I was saying.

I know if you gotta trade me,
like, make it

somewhere else but the Warriors.

It's not 'cause I don't wanna, like…
I didn't wanna go back to this storyline,

and then I don't wanna go
and gut the whole team.

First of all, I don't wanna get traded.
It's gonna be a lot of bullshit.

I'm gonna take the whole team away
from the next team I'm going to

and deplete them from everything they got
just so I can fit in there.

I'm not trying to go through
that sh*t again.

You know, especially with the Warriors,

'cause I'm like, "I don't wanna
go into that situation like that."

I just told the Warriors, I told Steph,

it's like, "I don't think it's
a smart move for either one of us,

basketball-wise."

"Just let us play the year out."

You know, I think that's what stopped
the trade more so than anything.

But they were still listening
to other teams

and just trying to get a gauge on

what I may cost, I guess.

[Shams] Multiple new teams, though,
did make some offers this weekend.

That included the Minnesota Timberwolves
and the Miami Heat.

[Andrews] This is still hypothetical,
teams are making calls,

but we are following this story
incredibly close.

[fans] KD! KD!

[overlapping chatter]

[boy] KD! KD! KD!

[boy 2] I love you. Please, KD.

-How you feeling? You okay?
-[Durant] Good.

Yeah.

Ready to rock.

It was very quiet.

Like, nobody really spoke to me about it.
I don't know.

That's a weird thing.

You know, sometimes you don't talk about
the business with your teammates.

You kind of let that

you know, be what it is.

When it's out of your control,
you just sit back

and wait and see what happens.

[announcer] Good evening,
and welcome to the Footprint Center.

[commentator] Now it is
Grizzlies and Suns.

There have only been seven players
in NBA history to score 30,000 points,

and Kevin Durant needs 26
to join that list.

KD can do it tonight.

[cheering]

[commentator 2] Great block by Bol,
but then he gave it right back.

[commentator 3] Durant misses the three.
Offensive board, Bol.

Durant cashes it in,
chipping away at 30,000 points.

We're on the watch tonight.

And big separation as Durant…

That one goes!

[Durant] Give me my f*cking basketball!

sh**t it. sh**t it.
sh**t it, m*therf*cker. sh**t it.

Ay!

That's not your game.

[commentator 3] Durant, two points away

from 30K.

-That is a massive number.
-Get out.

Durant drives.

Durant puts it up,
and he'll go to the free-throw line.

And Durant can join the group
in the 30,000 club here.

Sitting on 25 tonight

through the first three quarters.

Give him 26, and 30K for Durant.

Come on.

-[man] Let's go, boy.
-[man 2] Get back in it now.

[announcer] Suns fans,
with his 26 points scored tonight,

Kevin Durant reached 30,000 points
for his NBA career,

becoming just the eighth player
in league history

to reach the 30,000-point milestone.

Congratulations to Kevin Durant!

[cheering]

[Durant] To be amongst some
of the greatest to ever touch the court,

you know, that was always a goal of mine.

And I always wanted to be
a part of the history of the NBA.

And that's a small way
I could be a part of it.

[buzzer sounds]

[commentator 3] And the Suns
drop to 26-27.

[Morant] He one of the greats.
He one of the greats.

Uh, so I honored him with the ball.
He said he ain't care too much about it,

but hey, everybody don't get 30K
in this league.

[McMenamin] In the same week,

Kevin Durant became the eighth player
in league history to hit 30,000 points,

and we heard his name in trade rumors.

[reporter] Would you rather just play
the rest of your career in Phoenix?

[laughs]

Uh, man,
I'm gonna focus on Houston tomorrow, man.

We ain't gonna go there
right now. [chuckles]

[bell tolling]

I be struggling
to get my feet in shoes, bro.

[man] Every hotel you go to, you have one.
You just don't… Look.

-I don't know how to use it though.
-[man] Put in your foot.

Put this at the back.

All right, so put the spoon in.

[man] Like… Yup.

There you go. Easy money.

Mmm!

-Yo.
-[man] That's a game-changer right there.

Yo. About to get a shoehorn at the crib.

[Haliburton] Before the game,
I got two outfits.

The first one was black and pink,
and then the second one, you know,

was all black, had the black coat.

Feels more like a…

-This is very cool. I want this.
-[Haliburton] More like a villain.

Definitely wanted in that moment
to feel more of a darker moment,

like, you know, we're coming in
to, you know, to f*ck sh*t up.

The villain's
always got the trench coat on.

[bell tolls]

You know, I saw it
as like Undertaker or some sh*t,

and I thought that would, like, you know,

really fit into how the mood was going
into that game.

[bell tolls]

[intense music playing]

[Haliburton] That was needed

just because of where we were
in the season.

You know, that was a must-win for us.
We needed to win that game.

I feel like it was just necessary.

Need to come in with more attitude
going into that game.

I was thinking about just being
more aggressive, sh**ting the ball more.

Uh, I probably gotta be
more of an as*h*le, honestly.

[hip-hop in French playing]

[commentator] The Global Games
in Paris, France.

The Pacers and the San Antonio Spurs.

[Haliburton] My take on Wemby is
he's unbelievable.

He is something
our game has never seen before,

'cause he's so tall, and he can
sh**t the ball at such a high level.

Defensively, like, he's probably
one of the best defenders ever.

We were going into Paris
as the heavy underdogs.

[announcer] Un, deux, trois!

[Haliburton] I knew they'd come out
with a ton of energy.

Wemby's first game in Paris,
the crowd was crazy.

[commentator in French] And the jump ball
is won, as always, by Wemby.

He lost the ball,
and it was stolen by Tyrese Haliburton.

And Andrew Nembhard is going to score.
The Pacers had conceded 140 points…

-Alley-oop!
-[commentator 2] Wow! Well done!

[commentator] Wembanyama… Boom! Bravo!

[cheering]

[commentator] Come on, Wemby!

-[in English] Let's go, y'all.
-[announcer] Wembanyama!

Come on.

[commentator in French] Haliburton
tries a three-pointer. Ooh, nice!

[announcer speaking French]

[whistle toots]

[Haliburton in English] 3rd quarter,
they were sh**ting a lot of free throws,

and we weren't.

And we were winning that game by a lot,
and then the lead shrunk.

[cheering]

So I was getting a little frustrated
with the, uh, officiating

and, uh, going back and forth
with a couple of the refs.

And one!

Oh my… How?

-He pushed him first.
-How?

Man, he had the ball!

He caught… I lost the ball.

I know. He caught it here. I fouled him…

As soon as he caught it, he went up.
He didn't bring it down, did he?

f*ck it, don't blow the whistle, then!
Don't blow the whistle, then!

Let's just play!

[commentator in French] Haliburton
is leading the charge.

Ooh… He scores!

And one!

[buzzer sounds]

[in English] Yes, sir!

Yes, sir! Yes, sir!

Rick subbed me out
a little earlier than I typically sub.

I was like, "Oh, we're gonna get into it,
probably." [chuckles]

"Probably won't be good 'cause I'm miked."

I went all the way to paint,
holding my arm.

Go back in for him.

-Who?
-Shep.

I just remember him calming me down

and telling me to go back out there
and do what I do.

Go ahead, you got him.

[commentator 3] For Tyrese Haliburton.


four-point lead for the Pacers.

[Haliburton] My left!

[commentator 3] Haliburton
with that bucket's got 17.

[Haliburton] I took a deep breath,
went back out there,

and I saw the first one go in,
and as shots went in,

the rim just felt like
it was getting bigger.

[commentator in French] It was
Haliburton's moment.

Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh!

-[in English] No! f*ck no!
-[commentator 3] Haliburton's got 23.

That's the as*h*le I've been looking for.

He has it in him,

but it… it definitely takes a lot
to get it out of him.

[commentator in French] Haliburton,
they can't let him sh**t.

[in English] I wasn't missing,
so I wasn't gonna stop.

[commentator in French] Home or away,
it doesn't matter.

Tyrese Haliburton is on fire.

[in English] Let's go!

That's how we do it. That's how we do it.

That way. It's our time. Our time now.

-Let's go!
-[Jade] Shut 'em up!

[John] Let's go! Hey.

Shut 'em up.

[woman] Whoo!

-[woman 2] That's how we do it.
-That's right.

They got quiet.

[commentator in French] Haliburton
is ahead. He'll to score. And dunk, even!

Haliburton is feeling hot.

-Bank shot! An answer to…
-[in English] And one!

[commentator in French]
…Haliburton's moment.

Haliburton with a jump shot. Yes.

[Haliburton in English] You could feel
the crowd kind of, like, sighing

after every make, you know?

[cheering]

He loves to be on an away court.

He uses it,
and this is, like, where he thrives.

He loves to be the villain.
He loves to be the villain.

[Haliburton yells]

[laughing]

Yeah! Yeah!

Yeah!

[bell tolls]

[commentator] Indiana gets the win
behind 28 points from Tyrese Haliburton.

[Haliburton] Good luck
the rest of the year.

Honestly, at this point,
I could care less what people think

'cause, like, it doesn't matter
if I was the best person ever.

Like, people are still gonna find a way
to talk sh*t.

All that matters is what the people
in your locker room think

and what your coaches think.

It felt like a special performance.
It felt like a performance I'll remember.

Good seeing you.

[reporter] Last time, after Paris,

you said you didn't participate
in the group project

and got an A. This time, third quarter?

-I participated. [chuckles]
-[reporter] Yeah?

[Andrews] I'm hearing we need to check in
with our senior insider, Shams Charania.

He has some breaking news out of Phoenix.
Shams, what more can you tell us?

Malika, the Phoenix Suns have informed
all interested teams

they are not moving Kevin Durant.

Obviously,
the Warriors started this all off

with their pursuit of Kevin Durant
last week.

The Suns obviously kept Durant,

decided they would play out
the second half of the season.

We have five, four, three, two…

My friends, the 2025 NBA trade deadline,
it has come and it has gone.

[pundit] Both the Lakers and Suns
have little room for error

during the stretch run.

Durant hoping to keep
Phoenix's postseason hopes alive.

Phoenix trying to get into
the play-in tournament.

The Lakers, with three other teams
all tied for second

in the loss column.

[Durant] Come on, y'all.

[man] Let's do it again.
We played great last week.

[indistinct chatter]

-Together, one, two, three.
-[team] Together!

[man 2] Let's go. Let's go.

[Durant] But Luka Dončić,
you know, that's a different trade

than me getting traded
from the Phoenix Suns.

Luka Dončić is a 25-year-old superstar
who has been there for seven years,

who was expected to be there
for the rest of his career

and wanted to be there
for the rest of his career.

So him getting up and moving
in the middle of the night

is way different than me
who been in Phoenix for two years.

I'm not that attached to the city
as he is.

Luka probably shed a tear for real
when he got traded.

And then you go into LA
and you look at that situation,

it's like, "Damn, it's actually
pretty cool to be out here too."

[ref] How are you?

-Cool.
-Good.

-Don't matter to me. Whatever he choose.
-Okay.

[Durant] Just like anything in
this business, you move on, time goes on.

It's a new normal so fast in this league.

Now it looks normal
that Luka's a part of the Lakers.

Things can change so quickly,

and you can be used to something
so quickly, man.

[commentator] Meanwhile,
Phoenix 6-14 in the last 20.

[suspenseful music playing]

[commentator] On the step-back,

over Durant, hits a three.

You're not getting that in the playoffs.
You know.

[commentator] Dončić left, wide open.

The three's good.

[commentator 2] The Phoenix Suns
have no idea

who's guarding
one of the best men in basketball.

[Durant] We're not gonna stop him
from scoring, bro.

We can't come to a game and think about
stopping their best players from scoring.

-We gotta make it tough on him.
-I've never been open so much in my life.

[Durant] He's dragging us.
He's playing with us.

[Durant] Oh, y'all are gonna double-team.
I see.

[Dončić] I'll double you the whole game.

If you get screens,
we're going to trap you.

You don't call for a screen,
you're not getting doubled.

Nah, we're gonna double your a*s.

[commentator 2] To see the joy
that Luka plays with,

I think that's something
that's special for NBA fans to see.

[commentator] Dončić
all the way to the cup.

[commentator 2] Luka is outscoring
the Phoenix Suns by himself.

[Durant] Getting traded, it's
different feelings for different guys,

and it all comes down
to every organization in the sports world

is chasing rings.
What are we talking about?

You g*dd*mn trade the whole team for what?

'Cause you're trying to win.

What else is there
when you're trying to be on the team?

Like, okay.

[commentator] So Durant at the line.

Durant missing the free throw.

Your toe was on the line.
That's why you missed. You never miss.

Toe on the line.

[net swooshes]

[commentator] Durant off the dribble,
and Durant connects.

[Durant] Let's go!

-[grunts]
-[whistle blows]

[commentator] Durant,
he's up to 21 points now.

Luka Dončić, he's basically done
whatever he's wanted

against the Suns defense
as a scorer or a passer.

Dončić, five to sh**t,

pulls up, scores!

[commentator 2] Lakers look like
they're gonna take this one home.

[buzzer sounds]

[commentator 3] To the playoffs. Remember,

still trying to get in
the play-in situation right now

behind Dallas.

[Durant] Good luck, brother. Keep balling.

Every organization, I'm telling you,
that's the main goal.

Telling you,
they'll trade your a*s in a second

if you ain't focused on that ring.

If you worry about some other sh*t

and you ain't ring-chasing
in your mind every day as a player,

they're gonna trade your a*s. Telling you.

My mind is focused on being in the play-in
and grinding our way up.

If you're good enough
that you can chase a ring

and you got that opportunity
to go chase a ring, you're doing it.

I don't wanna go through
missing the playoffs.

It's more fun playing in the postseason.

But you gotta prepare for anything,
be ready for anything.

[Harden] I've never missed the playoffs.
You're focusing on game by game, so…

And it's a great accomplishment,
but I feel like something needs to happen.

[Brown] I think the playoffs is
the biggest fight of them all.

More than focusing on a dynasty,
we're just focusing on being healthy.

[SGA] Going into the playoffs,

we don't ever have to be
anything besides ourselves.

And we've done the best
with the regular season, statistically.

We should be the most prepared.

[Haliburton] Our goal is the playoffs
and get back to where we were.

I mean,
anything can happen in the playoffs,

and we know what we're capable of.

I just wanna win,
and I wanna continue to do that,

so, um, the goal
is to win the championship.

[dramatic music playing]

[ticking]

[suspenseful music playing]

[funky electronic music playing]