Showtime Podcast with Lakers Legend Michael Cooper

Ep. 9 Pro Basketball Hall-of-Famer, The Iceman, George Gervin Twitter: @ShowtimeCooper

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Coop is joined by longtime rival of the San Antonio Spurs George "The Iceman" Gervin. Gervin talks about growing up in the inner-city of Detroit, playing in the ABA, then the crazy story of how he ended up playing for the San Antonio Spurs. Coop and Gervin also talk about the Spurs battles with Pat Riley and the Showtime Lakers and the Iceman discusses the current civil unrest and protests going on throughout the country and the world.

0:00 - 2:33 - Introduction, Gervin introduction

2:34 - 3:57 - Growing up in Detroit for Gervin, adjusting to college lifestyle

3:58 - 5:07 - How he got the nickname “Iceman”

5:08 - 7:38 - Gervin talks about the best players he faced growing up in high school and college, what was the difference between him making it and others not making it, how Gervin grew his game and became fundamentally strong

7:40 - 8:37 - Gervin on whether or not he had NBA aspirations growing up

8:38 - 11:03 - Growing up in Detroit and having to face and deal with racism

11:04 - 15:49 - Who was the mentor that helped keep Gervin grounded and focused, facing racism in the game of basketball, time spent playing in the CBA 

15:50 - 17:52 - Guys who played in the ABA at the same time as Gervin, what the league was like in his playing days, how the ABA got him ready for the NBA

17:53 - 19:14 - The story of how Gervin went from the Virgina Squires in the ABA to the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA

19:15 - 20:16 - What did Gerv think of the city of San Antonio when he arrived, what he thought about the coach of the Spurs at the time

20:17 - 21:25 - How much money did Gervin make in his playing days? He and Coop being the foundation for the league to grow

22:20 - 23:45 - Gervin says player’s in todays game are less skilled than they were in his playing days, not being able to get over the hump against great teams

23:46 - 25:15 - How a coach can impact a team in the NBA

25:16 - 26:32 - Gervin talks about playing with Mike Mitchell

26:33 - 28:43 - The story of George Gervin’s disdain for Pat Riley

28:44 - 31:48 - Winning the 1978 NBA scoring title on the last night of the season

31:49 - 32:40 - What made Gervin such a good scorer?

32:41 - 33:34 - Lighting round - Stan Albeck, Tim Duncan, Mike Mitchell, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant

33:35 - 33:55 - How did Gervin score the ball so efficiently with is smaller frame

33:56 - 35:26 - What can we do as a country to get better in regards to civil rights

35:27 - 37:39 - The George Gervin foundation and the importance of education

37:40 - 38:51 - The Michael Jordan GOAT debate - Magic Johnson, Kareem, Bill Russell and more

38:52 - 39:14 - Of the 50 greatest players ever, who isn’t on the list that should be?

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Showtime Podcast with Lakers Legend Michael Cooper

Ep. 8 Longtime Lakers Trainer Gary Vitti

Twitter: @ShowtimeCooper

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Coop is joined by longtime Lakers trainer Gary Vitti, who was with the team from 1984-2015. Vitti talks on being the athletic trainer for the Lakers during multiple title runs over multiple decades and what it was like to be one of the first who knew about Magic Johnson testing positive for HIV. 

2:47 When did Gary Vitti come on board with the Lakers?

6:50 Why did Gary decide to get into athletic training?

8:45 What happened when he took over as athletic trainer for the Lakers and how he helped to change the culture of the team in 1984.

13:20 Gary Vitti's relationship with Dr. Jerry Buss and Coach Pat Riley.

14:50 What made the Lakers organization so successful, especially during the Showtime era.

17:30 That time Kareem got Coop back for a prank.

21:45 Gary Vitti on his all-time favorite championship with the Lakers. 

24:19 On Pat Riley's challenge of guaranteeing a back-to-back championship and how that impacted both Vitti and Coop in their lives.

27:02 Gary Vitti on the story of Magic testing positive for HIV and the impact it had on society and how it felt about the virus.

39:50 What Magic said to Gary Vitti before he acknowledged he had HIV publicly.

45:42 The day Vitti's life changed forever when Magic sustained a cut during a game after testing positive for HIV.

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America is Burning: NBA Legends Special with Coop, Cedric Maxwell and Bob McAdoo

0:31-1:47 - State of affairs in the country. How are things on the west coast versus the east coast?

1:48-5:26 - Bob McAdoo on growing up in times similar to the way things are now, being a black man in the south as he grew up, dealing with racism

5:27-8:27 - Cedric Maxwell on what he had to go through growing up as a black man

8:28-10:11 - Michael Cooper hearing stories from his grandparents on what it was like to go grow up in the deep South and face oppression, plus his own dealing with racism growing up

10:12-16:47 - Black communities in the ‘60s who disciplined children together, the loss of prevalence of religion in the world today, agitators ruining the protests, integration of schools and how black players made white schools prominent

16:48-18:15 - Players of color choosing schools that used to not allow them through the doors changed the landscape of college basketball

18:16-21:46 - How can people such as Coop, Max, and McAdoo use their platform to help these movements, learning history of racism that occurred in the past 

21:47-23:59 - What the NFL owners did to Colin Kapernick for taking a knee, teaching kids to understand what’s going on in today’s world 

24:00-25:43 - How the event’s of today's world affects the Cooper household, the importance of understanding what is going on around you, knowing that voting matters

25:44-30:26 - Voting for the sake of the next generation, understanding that your vote matters because the people before you worked to gain that right

30:27-34:42 - The misconceptions regarding the protests, the potential of a July 7th blackout, opening people’s eyes with change

34:43-36:15 - The importance of not staying quiet, keeping the movement going

36:27-39:16 - Things happening for a reason, the movement going on has the potential to create change in the future with a vote

39:17-41:33 - Did you ever think a Black President was a possibility in your lifetime? Could a female President be on the horizon? The backlash after Obama’s terms in office

41:44-46:01 - Kareem Abdul-Jabaar being a figure in terms of standing up and protesting for what’s right, teaching kids how to live in the world today

46:02-50:02 - The symbol Kapernick created being turned into something other than what it was meant to be, the lingering effects and impact of coronavirus, not allowing focus to change from what it is meant to be

50:03-54:23 - The challenge of getting people to think about and be concerned with the same things, starting with one person before reaching them all to create change, passing knowledge on to the next generation

54:24-1:00:50 - The need for black people to build each other up and push forward, surviving through years of oppression and racism

1:00:51-1:04:23 - Remembering Wes Unseld

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Showtime with Coop: Mychal Thompson

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Coop is joined by Mychael Thompson, who won two championships with the Showtime Lakers. Thompson discusses his upbringing in the Bahamas, the top 5 players in the NBA today, a better competitor than MJ and an update on his son Klay's rehab.

8:35-9:40 - Introducing Mychal Thompson to the listeners

9:41-10:30 - Growing up in the Bahamas as Black Gilligan

10:31-11:55 - First love was soccer as a youth, love of sports other than basketball

11:56-13:15 - Getting involved with basketball, 61 rebound game, 22 blocked shots in a game, playing in the church league

13:16-15:12 - Why does he spell his name the way he does, sweet bells nickname 

15:13-17:36 - How did he find his way to Minnesota for college 

17:37-18:30 - Kevin Mchale joining Thompson during his time at Minnesota

18:31-19:46 - Mychal Thompsons aspirations to be the minister of the Bahamas 

19:47-20:31 - What is the best dish to eat in the Bahamas?

20:32-22:07 - 1978, first foreign player drafted to the NBA by the Blazers. How did he feel about that?

22:08-23:23 - How he felt about having to fill big shoes going into Portland (Bill Walton had led Portland to a title)

23:24-23:58 - Playing for Coach Ramsey...similar to Pat Riley?

24:00-25:47 - Favorite teammate to play with in Portland and Los Angeles

25:48-26:49 - Thoughts on joining the showtime Lakers

26:50-29:11 - Jerry West being the greatest executive in sports

29:12-32:53 - Lightning round 

31:32-32:00 -Ali specific portion of lightning round

32:54-37:43 - Thompson as a boxing fan and talking boxing with the rest of his Lakers teammates back in the day, great fights in boxing history, great competitors in the boxing world, top five fighters all time

37:55-38:21- Where did Thompson’s love of boxing come from, growing up as a lakers fan

38:22-39:23 - How much did approach to the game change when going to the showtime Lakers

39:24-40:18 - What Thompson like’s about todays game as compared to when he played 

40:20-41:46 - European guys who came over to the NBA with the ability to knock down shots from deep

41:48-42:23 - Thompson’s five best players in the NBA today

42:24-45:31 - Could the 80s Lakers beat the peak Warriors team from this generation? The progression of a jump-shooting team like Golden State to win a title, three greatest shooters even on a team

45:32-45:53 - Will we have a season return this year?

45:54-46:44  - How would you run a return to play?

46:45-47:20 - Who wins the NBA Championship this year, Clippers or Lakers?

47:21-48:03 - Who comes out of the Eastern Conference?

48:04-48:40 - Top three European players in todays NBA?

48:41-48:57 - How his Klay Thompson’s rehab going?

48:58-50:30 - Thoughts on the passing of Kobe Bryant

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Showtime with Coop: James Worthy and special Guest Cedric Maxwell

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Coop is joined by Hall-of-Famer James Worthy about growing up in North Carolina and joining Showtime as the number one overall pick. Plus Coop reunites two bitter rivals in Worthy and former Boston Celtic Cedric Maxwell. Subscribe and give the podcast a rating!

2:01 How Coop saved James Worthy by feeding him early on in his career.

3:25 Where Worthy grew up in Gastonia, North Carolina, sports was very influential in children's lives. 

6:19 Why does Worthy think he was able to make it to the NBA?

7:47 Why did Worthy pick UNC and what influenced him about Dean Smith? 

Worthy: "Coach Dean Smith had recruited and signed the first black player to the ACC and it was Charlie Scott. So I always was conscious of coach Smith and he almost lost his job because of that."

9:16 What did Coach Dean Smith instill in Worthy?

10:12 Where would James Worthy put himself on the all-time list of UNC Players?

11:49 What was Dean Smith like schematically when Worthy was at North Carolina?

12:46 What was Worthy's initial impressions of Michael Jordan at UNC? 

Worthy: "He utilized all his energy all the time and so once he learned how to let the game come to him a little bit.."

15:43 After he left UNC did he think he was going to play for the Lakers or someone else in the NBA?

Worthy: "Ralph Sampson decided to stay at school at Virginia, now what a big mistake that was in my opinion."

18:24 What Worthy thought when he first got to the Lakers.

21:29 James Worthy on his relationship with Jerry West.

Worthy: "He has the ability to see things that other people can't see. He sees the missing pieces."

24:51 Worthy's thoughts after breaking his leg during his rookie season in 1980.

26:09 Lighting round: One sentence each Kevin McHale James' Parents Domique Wilkins Magic Johnson Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Forum Club

31:30 Special Guest: Cedric Maxwell joins the show and James Worthy talks about when he handed Max the MVP trophy.

34:16 Cedric Maxwell and James Worthy go back to North Carolina where they both grew up.

38:30 Will James Worthy apologize to Max for pushing him from behind?

40:21 James Worthy and his relationship with Boston and Boston sports fans.

42:04 What really bothered Cedric Maxwell about the Lakers vs. Celtics rivalry.

Maxwell: "Our blackness was challenged."

43:20 What James Worthy respected about Red Auerbach.

45:21 Did these guys on the Lakers and Celtics really hate each other?

49:35 How the Celtics made the Lakers a better team and helped them turn misery into championships.

50:50 Cedric Maxwell's story about playing against Kareem for the first time ever. Kareem was Max's favorite player of all time!

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Showtime with Coop: AC Green Changes Showtime Powered by BetOnline.AG

Coop's former teammate AC Green joins Showtime to talk about when he used to eat Breakfast with the Showtime Lakers in college, his first experiences in joining Showtime, how he helped to change Showtime and then eventually how he brought Showtime back to the Lakers!

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2:23 How did AC Green get into playing basketball, while growing up in Portland, Oregon.

AC Green: "I was always the tagalong to the park. Mama always said 'take your brother.'"

6:08 How his future teammates inspired AC Green in college at Oregon State.

7:14 The Lakers couldn't get passed the hated Boston Celtics, did AC Green communicate with Jerry West before the Lakers ended up drafting him?

8:25 Coop and AC Green reminisce on AC's first Lakers training camp.

13:20 The moment Michael Cooper knew that AC Green was going to contribute to the Lakers.

15:21 When AC Green realized he had arrived.

18:45 Based on AC's religious background was it difficult to join the Showtime Lakers? 

AC Green: "There's no precursor to Showtime. There's no prerequisite class you can take, nobody can tell you, you've just got to experience it." 

23:02 How AC Green helped to change the Showtime Lakers. 

24:40 What is the most influential book to AC Green.

26:31 Lighting round: One sentence each Karl Malone Jesus Christ Adrian Dantley John Salley Pat Riley Kevin McHale Jerry West Kobe Bryant

29:55 Coop has a bone to pick with AC Green.

34:19 How AC became the NBA's ironman.

36:10 How AC Green brought Showtime to the New Age Lakers with Kobe, Robert Horry, Shaq, etc.

38:47 Best offensive players AC Green went up against in the NBA.

42:38 AC Green lost to Jordan's Bulls twice with the Lakers and the Phoenix Suns. Is he watching The Last Dance and what is his perspective on MJ's Bulls.

45:40 Would the Showtime Lakers have beaten the '91 Bulls?

47:31 What should the NBA do with the remainder of the 2020 season?

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Showtime with Coop: Insightful BS with Legends: Bob McAdoo and Larry Springs and what formed one of the greatest all-time benches in NBA history. What made their bench great and are teams built with as much depth in the modern game? Plus, who was the toughest player to guard in Michael Cooper's career?

2:40 What made the Lakers bench so great during the Showtime era?

7:13 Favorite memories from the Lakers bench.

15:23 Was it difficult for Bob McAdoo to come off the bench with the Lakers being a prolific NBA scorer?

20:18 Would you rather have the money or the championship ring?

29:50 Why the money matters more because no one remembers the champions.

32:01 Bob McAdoo thoughts on not being named to the NBA's top 50 players in history. McAdoo: "That's a disgrace."

35:35 Who scared you on the playground growing up?

41:20 Lighting round: One sentence each Larry Spriggs: Bob McAdoo ML Carr Bob McAdoo: Dave Cowens Bob Lanier Jack Sikma Randy Smith

46:50 Toughest defensive assignment for Michael Cooper?

50:50 Who were guys Coop respected as defensive players?

54:25 Memories from the 1985 Championship season.

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Showtime with Coop and special guest Lisa Leslie. Lisa discusses the start of the WNBA, winning championships and getting over the hump against Houston with Coop as her head coach. She also answers the question on if she could see herself coaching and discusses the late great Kobe Bryant.

2:02 How is Lisa and her family during the COVID pandemic.

3:04 Coop worked out every morning with Lisa while she was pregnant.

6:10 The great advice Coop the coach gave to Lisa Leslie.

7:08 What was it like coming up playing basketball when during a time when it was primarily a "man's sport." 

Lisa: "I can do anything but maintain my femininity."

9:01 The influence of the Showtime Lakers on Lisa and growing up in LA.

10:26 Lisa on the start of WNBA and what she originally planned after Olympics: "I went on to sign a modeling contract. I was in New York."

12:01 The WNBA wasn't just about basketball.

14:50 Would Lisa coach in the NBA?

16:40 Lisa and Coop on finally breaking through and winning the WNBA championship after Houston Comets won 4 straight championships.

20:50 The difference between a college and a professional basketball coach.

21:51 "The Dunk"

28:08 What was it like to get to the HOF?

30:51 Lisa's biggest influences throughout her basketball career.

32:58 Lisa Leslie on the loss of Kobe Bryant.

37:10 The influence of Kobe on the women's game and the impact it had.

41:41 Lighting round: One sentence each Kevin Durant Cynthia Cooper Steph Curry and Klay Thompson Magic Johnson and Larry Bird Hakeem Olajuwon Lauren Jackson

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1:28 Kareem on how his family is doing through the COVID-19 pandemic.

3:26 Kareem's thoughts on the 1980 season after the Lakers drafted Magic. What was it like to have Magic join an established team?

4:27 Did Kareem think Magic was going to be great from the start?

4:57 What was it like to play for a legendary head coach like UCLA's John Wooden?

6:05 How influential was John Wooden in Kareem's life overall? Not just in basketball, but in life.

7:20 How easy was it for some of those Showtime Lakers teams to defer their personal egos for the betterment of the team?

8:05 Coop: Magic was not a great individual defender, but he was very good defensively at one thing.

8:52 What would The Last Dance or camera crews following around the '87-'88 Lakers look like? Kareem: "I see these guys as my brothers still now, thirty years later. Those guys as my brothers we did something that will last a lifetime."

9:46 The birthday trick Coop and other Lakers played on Kareem in the mid 80's. Kareem: "You sow the wind, you reap the whirlwind."

12:17 Kareem: "Those were good times Coop. I remember one time we had to circle around back a half hour later to pick you up from the airport, because you got left at the airport."

13:01 How Kareem got into jazz and his dad's influence.

14:29 Kareem on the house fire that destroyed his famed record collection and how fans helped him to restore the collection.

15:35 Of the six championships, which one is Kareem's favorite title? Kareem: "We're the only team to win a world championship in Boston Garden other than the Boston Celtics and they got to live with that forever."

17:10 In the early 80's what was Kareem's favorite memories of the Lakers.

18:38 Kareem's thoughts heading into his final year with the Lakers when Byron Scott got injured before the NBA Finals vs. Detroit Pistons. Coop: "Every game [in that series] getting swept, we were ahead at halftime. They just had more than we did going down the stretch."

19:57 Kareem on his farewell tour and gifts that he received. Kareem: "It was draining in a lot of ways because I had to go out there and be genuine and that will take something out of you."

21:40 Kareem on being an English Major in college and how writing became a big part of his life. Kareem: "When I got into my retirement and realized 'you have to do something creative and positive with your life. You can't just stop living' and writing has always been something I've wanted to pursue."

22:38 Kareem on his relationship with Wilt.

23:43 Kareem on Kobe's passing. Kareem: "Kobe was an incredible athlete and parent. He really set an example in both areas that would be hard to emulate."

24:45 What makes Kareem laugh now. Kareem: "Sometimes I'll go passed the court and people will go: 'Take your shot,' and I can't even reach the hoop man, it's like 'Did I ever do that?'"

26:44 Does he get satisfied more from playing basketball, writing or acting?

27:15 Lighting round: One sentence each Herbie Hancock Bill Russell James Wilkes Barack O'Bama Langston Hughes Larry Bird

30:26 Deborah Morales is Kareem's manager and Coop asked her what it's like to manage his schedule and Deborah shares an incredible story about managing Kareem's schedule.

31:40 What's the oddest request Deborah Morales has ever had for Kareem.

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1:09 How much did growing up in the streets get McAdoo, Maxwell and Coop ready to play in the NBA.

7:20 Bob McAdoo's first impression of Chapel Hill, NC and what it was like to meet Dean Smith.

15:30 How did Coop develop his game?

21:40 Cedric Maxwell had to go everyday in practice against Larry "Joe" Bird and how the Bob McAdoo trade built the Celtics.

28:00 Was Cedric Maxwell correct when he said the 80's Lakers teams had a "penny ante" playoff schedule to come out of the West.

33:55 Cedric Maxwell: "We talk about going up against great players, and I had to deal with Larry Bird in his first year."

39:44 The Lakers vs. Celtics series were some of the best in the history of the NBA, but it's obvious to see why the game is not played like that anymore

44:20 What type of player would Cedric Maxwell, Bob McAdoo and Michael Cooper be in today's game?

54:50 Cooper believes that James Harden wouldn't be able to score on him. 

1:00:01 What Cooper remembers most about Lakers and Celtics rivalry and what he hated the most about the Celtics.

1:04:00 How is Bob McAdoo not in the HOF?

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