Chiney Ogwumike On The State Of The Lakers All Time Starting Five And Why Giannis Is Already A Goat

Courtside Club is presented for the people by Caesars Sportsbook.

You bet, you get, with Caesars rewards. Must be 21 or older.

What's up you guys? I'm Rachel Demita and welcome to the Courtside Club.

Today I am joined by two-time WNBA All-Star and ESPN Superstar,

Janae Ogwumake. Welcome to the Courtside Club.

I am so happy to be back with you. By the way, this is the only time we can actually have like a friend dinner

but actually working. I know. She's in town. I was like, oh, you're in town, great.

And it's like, can we do pod? And I was like, absolutely. We've been meaning to do this for years.

So I've known you since Adidas days, probably 2015, 2016.

What I think is so interesting is you were just kind of stepping your toe into this kind of

posting space, social media space. And to see you now, first of all, congratulations on your extension at ESPN.

It's incredible.

Thank you. It's a blessing. Honestly, it's really a blessing.

You know, I started off, you know how they say, started in the bottom, no.

I started off in like a studio that was like pretty much a closet in the fourth,

which is like pretty much the last building at ESPN that you had like the guy manual,

one person manually operating. It's called, well, I don't want to put shame to our studios,

but it's called PD41. One person manually operating everything.

And then I'm in an opposite corner and like doing my everything.

And I learned so much through SportsCenter Africa and the international side.

And they do amazing work. But to start from the small little studio to now have an amazing studio here in L.A.

and primarily working on NBA Today and NBA Countdown.

Yeah, it's a dream. But yeah, like if you asked me in 2015 when we first met, what do you do?

I was like, oh, I kind of like basketball.

But you're such a hard worker, though, like you deserve every bit of it because you were also like even with me

and I've like been in the hosting space for like a little bit longer,

but kind of just like.

Asking me, OK, like, I don't even think you had an agent at the time.

You were like, do you think I need this?

Or and then you were getting really good, like with your social media.

So I don't know. From the outside looking in, I'm so proud of you and like happy for you.

Well, right back at you because you're like you make conversations so easy.

And you've been doing this whole interviewing top tier athletes, but making it feel like you're a friend.

But I'm just like happy that I'm an actual friend and not just someone that just comes into the schedule once in a while.

But you're doing phenomenal as well.

You make it so much easier for me.

But I wanted to ask because you're a very unique talent in a way because you are still technically a professional athlete.

You are kind of doing both.

What first of all, what was that like kind of splitting up your time or being able to manage your time?

Because training in itself is a full time job.

Yeah.

And then television is not an easy task either.

Yeah, it's not been easy, but it's been so rewarding being a simultaneous professional athlete and a broadcaster.

And at times, you know, the first question people ask.

I always ask is, how do you balance it?

Yeah, I know.

I'm not great.

My mom was always saying today, where your husband at and all that type of stuff.

How do you have a life and be great at both?

And I've really had some adversity when it comes to injuries on the court and trying to find my way back there.

But now I feel like I'm at a great place.

You know, this is the first offseason that I've had that I'm not rehabbing from something, you know, coming back from something.

And on broadcast, I mean, this is my wildest dreams.

And so I just think that the way.

The way that society has moved, especially for women having voices and when people of color have been having voices and like one thing we learn in basketball.

And I think you and I are uniquely positioned to talk about it.

If you've got game, you've got game.

If you love the sport, you love the sport.

If you can hoop, you can hoop.

There's nothing else that really matters.

And so just centering myself with people that believe in that vision has allowed me to get to where I am today.

And so have you noticed a different level of respect that you've gained because you are an athlete?

Because you have a lot of great take.

Speaking on the NBA that I feel like even sometimes I'm like, girl, she knows what she's talking about.

Like, sorry, RJ.

Sorry, you know, Perk.

Like, yeah, Chanae's got it.

Well, I think it's because I can't afford to really make a mistake, because a lot of times as women, when you make a mistake, that mistake is magnified.

Now, mind you, there is a subset of the population that will say, look, we roast.

No offense, Stephen A.

Stephen A knows I love you.

I love him and everything.

But like we roast Stephen A.

We roast Skip for every bad take.

Which is true.

But as women, it feels like those are held on to you way longer, our mistakes.

And so I think every day I always try to come in with a unique perspective, which is that I'm a current athlete.

And so I know exactly what it's like to be in the locker room or I'll like the craziest thing that'll happen is I'll say someone's name and everyone's watching.

Like a lot of the NBA guys are practicing at that time or getting ready to practice.

And so it's probably up in their arena.

It's like I'll say an athlete and the next thing you know, I'll get a FaceTime live on TV.

And I'm like, bro, if I'm too busy.

If I'm too busy talking, I can't answer the FaceTime because you know I'm on air, you know, but it's just as funny like where you time, space, or where it is.

Wait, who's FaceTimed you?

I'm not going, I can't do it.

Can't do it.

I can't do it.

But like.

Even if it's like a friendly.

Oh, no, no.

They're all like.

Yeah.

They're not like mad at you most of the time.

Huh?

No, there are a number.

There are a lot of people that reach out that are great.

Yeah.

I can't.

I got to keep my sources.

Okay.

That's fine.

We can keep the sources.

I want to ask you some NBA questions.

Oh, dear.

I have some topics for you.

Let's get it.

Exclusive for the Courtside Club.

I want to know your sleeper teams right now in the NBA because we, I mean, we've heard

enough about the Lakers, the Nets, the Celtics, you know, these kind of buzz wordy teams.

Yeah.

What are your sleeper teams?

Who have you been watching?

Okay.

I think you'll like both of my sleepers.

Okay.

Let's hear it.

Let's start with the West.

We're going to go with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Okay.

People, the streets know that I rock with the Pelicans.

Yeah.

Just because I think CJ McCollum, he's just an excellent leader and you just saw ever

since he was implanted into that organization, just something shifted and changed.

It seemed like they had that, he had that command of like, hey, everything's going to

be all right and we're also going to play really great basketball and then I can also

help you get a bucket as well.

Right.

Zion being back and healthy.

B.I. is probably, Brandon Ingram is probably one of the most interesting stories because

he came into the Lakers limelight and was like, whoa, this guy could be potentially

one of the best players.

And you're starting to see that progression, but on his terms, I don't know if you saw

that crazy video about how like only in his free time, all he does is watch Michael Jordan

clips.

Oh really?

Yeah.

It's like, I just.

That's dope.

Yeah.

And I think maybe that's primarily during the off season or who knows, maybe that's

all he watches hoops in general.

But I was like, they've got a really cool thing happening, the Pelicans.

So I, I'm very high on the Pelicans.

Now in the East, I don't know what it is with me in Toronto and these Raptors.

Wait.

I was waiting for Cleveland cause you said I was going to like this.

But are they a sleeper now?

Oh, well that is true, but I don't think they're a sleeper now.

I would say the same about the Pelicans though.

I feel like, I don't know how much of a sleeper that they were at the beginning, but then

they kind of came out strong and we're like, oh, wait a second.

Okay.

So Zion really is healthy.

So this is what I'll say.

The Raptors have, well, I guess that I hurt my own argument because I was like this Raptors

have won a championship.

And so they expect, I don't know.

But that was a completely different team.

Exactly.

So that's why I think they can be a sleeper for sure.

No, let's hear it.

Okay.

I mean, I don't know.

I just have a thing.

I went and called the G league showcase in Mississauga, uh, out in Canada.

And when I went there, I was like, whoa, this basketball culture is different.

Like that's all they're like happy and nice and like, just like, there's no drama with

the teams.

It's just like, we just want them to be gray.

And also I'm very close to Masai Ujiri and he is just a phenomenal individual, both as

an executive within the basketball world, but as someone that's Nigerian American, just

what he has done for the growth of the game globally.

And then you win a championship and then, you know, Kawhi leaves and the team changes,

but then now Pascal Siakam is having an amazing season after having a couple of years of adversity.

Like there's so many people.

And then like Scottie Barnes, like how fun is that?

I remember talking to Masai and he was like, look, the year we were in Tampa, cause you

remember they had to, after the bubble, they had to play in Tampa for another year.

Oh yeah.

Yeah.

He was like, look, I felt really good about myself cause I had, I was like uniquely positioned

to be able to scout Scottie Barnes really well.

And so I'm going with Scottie cause it was like, people were saying, oh, why Scottie?

When you had like, I think it was Jalen Suggs and a couple other guys and Scottie just goes

out there and balls.

And I'm like, wow.

Like there's just like brilliance, but sorry, I'm, I'm a nerd when it comes to the Raptors

and I just love it.

No, that's great.

Because it's some team that we do not hear about as of late, especially when we have

like just these bigger teams.

But I think as we're seeing with even how the NBA standings are right now, none of the

teams we've been talking about are even in the top four in either conference.

Correct.

Like the warriors are having their law.

I think they just won last night, which was off of like Steph having to go for 50, right?

So it's, I, that's why I wanted to ask you with the basketball brain that you have, since

you are in LA, we have the Lakers and the Clippers early on.

I had a lot of people say the Clippers are going to be title contenders.

I don't believe it, but I want to get your take on both of these teams.

And if there's anything that the Lakers can do.

To kind of turn.

Their season around a bit.

See, one thing I love about podcasts is that I don't have a producer in my ear saying rap,

rap, rap, because usually after 60 seconds, they're like, Chanae, you've been talking too

long.

We got to move it to the other people.

So I'll give you my full thoughts.

Let's start with the Lakers.

I think, and this, I don't think it's a hot take, but like, they're going to have to move

someone.

They're going to have to move someone.

It's unfortunate that the experiment with bringing in Russ has not necessarily panned

out the way they wanted.

Because to bring in Russ, you need him to like knock down outside shots consistently.

But then you also need Anthony Davis to like be healthy and available and dominant.

And then you need LeBron James to keep doing what he's doing.

Because I was just saying, like, it blows my mind that we're in this era.

I feel like we're, I don't want to say we're getting old, but maybe we're getting older.

Where like, LeBron may go for 30, KD may go for 30, Steph may go for 30.

And their teams will probably still, you know, could still lose.

Yeah.

Like what is happening?

Before, like growing up, we were like, oh, it's a wrap.

Right.

It's a wrap.

No.

And so when I think about this Lakers team, I just think that unfortunately, LeBron said

it after like game one, we don't have enough shooters.

And even when you do shoot the ball better, it's not so sustainable for you guys to be,

for the Lakers to be successful.

And so I think someone is going to have to get moved and for them to balance out the

roster that they need to be.

And when you say someone, do you mean one of those three, LeBron, AD, Russ, or do they

move pieces?

I think it's got to be creative.

I don't know specifically who should be the one moved.

Let's be real.

LeBron ain't going nowhere.

I don't think LeBron's going anywhere.

Right.

Even though Stephen A had his hot take.

You gotta get rid of LeBron.

That's a really bad Stephen A impression, but you know what I'm going for.

Blast me.

No, I, Stephen A, the thing about Stephen A is he might say something, but a lot of

times there's a, there's a thread of truth within what he's saying.

Maybe it's not as accurate as what you need.

Like it's, it's not going to be LeBron.

Right.

But someone notably probably needs to, or will get moved.

Right.

And I, I personally don't think it'll be LeBron.

I don't, you know, they're trying Russ, but there is something going on where you have

to figure out how to balance out this roster because it's, it's not like when you have

LeBron James turning 38 in December and like a month, you got to make the most of that

now.

And I think the big key here is just that Rob Palenka said you get one shot at doing

this, which is why I can't say it's specifically one person.

It'd have to be the right scenario because they're going to pass up a lot of really good

looking things because they know that they've already mortgaged their future.

They have to get this right for LeBron and the Lakers to actually have a title.

So that's Lakers.

That's LA.

Yeah.

One half.

Yeah.

One half.

Oh, I was one of them people's girl.

You were one of the Clippers enthusiasts.

See the problem is like, they sent me a Jersey like two years ago with my number on it.

And like, oh, cool.

McKay on the back.

I think I have one too.

I can't even lie.

They were big in like social media and like promotion.

Oh yeah.

It was on point when they got the new remember the street edition.

Oh yeah.

The white ones.

It was like Lob City at the time too.

They're going crazy.

Anyway.

And I was like, oh, they love me.

So like, let me.

Well, they love.

They got you with a free Jersey.

They can't shoot.

Teams can get me one that says my name on the back.

I can get jerseys.

But like if it's, if you take the time to put my name in my number, it's a rap game

over game.

Come on.

Rock it.

Get my love back.

But yeah, I definitely was high because like, if you look at what they did last year.

They are role players like getting Norm Powell on him, giving you 20 points per game.

Reggie Jackson was shooting the ball.

Well, Luke canard a sniper getting Robert Covington.

Like there are so many pieces that fit perfectly.

And so even with Kawhi out and Paul George playing better towards the like, cause he

was available and playing, you had this feeling like, oh, like they're good potential.

Yeah.

Insert Kawhi.

This is one of the best two way teams in the NBA.

And then this year happens where a lot of the.

Players that you were excited about that they had lightning in a bottle last year are

not starting the year off as they needed.

But the biggest issue is Kawhi, you know, like after, was it two games?

I think when he started sitting, yeah, I think it was very early.

Yeah.

I think it was like after two games.

And I think I heard yesterday on our show that it was like eight.

So far it's been eight games straight that he's been out.

That's not a good sign.

So like on paper, the Clippers should be the top team in the West.

They're just.

Neck and neck with the warriors, but in principle, based on what we've seen with the health scenario.

Yeah, I've sort of been like, oh, I have to like get rid of that situation in my head.

I feel like that's been a bit of a trend in the NBA as of late, though.

Teams looking fantastic on paper or being like, I mean, come on.

There's no better example looking fantastic on paper.

And then they get on the court and they either don't have the capability of playing together.

Somebody can't stay healthy.

There.

The chemistry isn't there.

There's extracurriculars that are getting in the way.

And in a way, to me, it's exciting for these other teams

if us as the media can start giving them some attention.

Do you know what I mean?

Yeah.

But I also get sometimes that, like, drama sells.

Or these superstars that we've had their names in our mouths for years,

which you even spoke on.

You know, we have Steph.

We have LeBron.

We have KD.

We have Kawhi.

But now we have Ja, Zion, Luka.

Like, different names that deserve to be talked about.

Giannis.

So I was going to ask you, actually,

because we are seeing a lot of pro athletes who are greats starting to retire.

Like, you talk about Serena.

You talk about Federer.

You talk about Tom Brady for, like, a hot second.

But you know what I mean?

LeBron is, like, reaching 40.

Sue Bird.

Right?

We have, like, Candice that hasn't retired.

But you know what I mean?

Yeah.

Like, these are great.

This era of athletes.

Like, our era.

Yeah, our era.

So what is this next era?

Like, what do you see?

Like, who is going to be that next name when LeBron and KD aren't in the league anymore?

Yeah.

I think the cool thing about this next generation of sports kid,

the rising generation, you think of the Jamarants, like I said,

the Luka, Don, Chiches, the Zions.

But then you have to, like, also put in there, like, the Naomi Osaka's.

They grew up with.

They grew up with access to technology, and they grew up with a platform that was in their

firm control.

Yeah.

And so you're now seeing them authentically the way they want to be seen.

They can do it on their own.

Yeah.

And I think that's the way you asked about, like, how sometimes drama sells.

Like, unfortunately, we always have to talk about the Lakers, or we always have to talk

about the Nets.

Yeah.

Not saying unfortunately, because I love those, like, to talk about hoops, but now they can

create conversation on their own terms so that they're not missing out because one platform

has a way of doing it.

Definitely.

And to me, that's the coolest thing.

Is there one player in particular in the NBA right now who's, like, younger coming up that

you're just a fan of?

You know, not younger, but I'm, like, Giannis.

Like, Giannis is everything that the NBA needs to be, is, and is, like, going.

Mm-hmm.

He's already got the credentials as an MVP, a Defensive Player of the Year, a champion.

He's a two-time MVP.

He could be a three-time MVP this year, which would mean he'd join the class of Larry Bird,

Magic Johnson, and Moses Malone.

He could finish career as, like, five-time, potentially, MVP, maybe.

Who knows?

And he's just lovable, likable, funny.

He's so funny.

Like, relatable.

But then, you know, for me, coming from a cultural background that is literally identical,

Nigerian, and he's, well, he's Nigerian-Greek, but I'm Nigerian-American.

He's, you know, you know how I mean.

I just, I know he's not young, but I think he really, really, really, really, really, really,

really represents everything that's good in the sport because he has, and I don't want

to, like, make this comparison lightly.

I'm just, I think we're seeing a different version of it through Giannis.

When we think about Kobe and that Mamba mentality about how you approach every game, like, so

seriously, and you want to be great, you know, Kobe did it with that killer mentality, right?

Like, Giannis is doing it in his own way.

Every game, he just, he's out to prove something.

He has a chip on his shoulder.

And not saying that those two players are the same.

By any means, but, like, he's very intentional about every time he steps on the court, it

means something.

And you can just see it through his game.

And maybe because he's not, like, doing the most arrogant things on the court.

Right.

You don't really, it can fly by sometimes.

And maybe because he has 48 or 49 against my Rockets, he gets pulled out after 28 minutes.

Right.

You know, he's not getting those, like, 60s, 70s, you know, but I think holistically, Giannis

Antetokounmpo, I just am, like, that's, he's number one in my book of, like, NBA,

I love the league, and I love its players.

And globally, I think he's really affecting the game and kind of bringing that global

element.

But, like, he's the one, like, he's a special bridge.

He can bridge it from here in the U.S. where he's a Milwaukee Buck to playing on the Greek

national team to celebrating his culture in Africa.

Yeah.

Like, he's the full embodiment of a global game.

To making hilarious Instagram reels and TikToks.

The best.

The accent just, like, perfects it.

Yeah.

Let's get a bit more into the WNBA a little bit after halftime, but I have a halftime

game for you if you're down.

Okay, let's do it.

I want to know Janae's starting fives.

You've probably seen this on the courtside club.

Okay.

So, first up, we have our starting five NBA players of all time.

Ooh.

These are specifically your starting five NBA players of all time.

Okay.

My starting five of NBA players of all time.

Mind you, this is mine.

It's not like saying, this is what I think is the overall NBA unbiased opinion.

If you heard Jacoby's interview, you can say whatever you want.

Okay, good.

So I'm going to go with one, obviously, Michael Jordan.

Do I have to explain why or I can just drop them?

I think we all know.

Okay, thank you.

I don't have no explanation necessary.

Michael Jordan.

I'm going to go with LeBron James because if we have a GOAT debate,

those two go head to head.

And I love what LeBron represents for what an athlete can be in a business

as he's playing.

And then MJ just for all time.

I'm going to go with Kobe Bryant just because as a female hooper,

a woman's hooper, the impact that he would have had if he continued doing

what he did would have been tremendous.

He was our biggest ambassador, and Gigi is someone that's near and dear

to all of our hearts.

And just like that Mamba mentality,

that is something that I'm going to go with.

Something that is just universally understood, not even just in basketball,

but throughout the world.

So I've got MJ, I've got Bron, I've got Kobe, I've got Bill Russell.

Okay.

I'm on the WNBPA, the Players Association,

and so we've had a lot of conversations the last few years about the impact

of what playing can be, not just as winning and how you can change the game

in your community, but also through advocacy.

I think Bill Russell, we're celebrating him all year long.

Seeing that six there is super special, so he's up there for me.

And then last but not least, who did I put?

Oh, oh yeah.

So this is why it's like my list, right?

Okay.

I'm from Houston.

Okay.

Grew up in Houston.

I was going to say, like, if I was going to go Superbias,

I would have put like Tracy McGrady because he was my first favorite player.

But I'm going to go Hakeem Olajuwon.

Okay.

And when we talk about a global game, what he represented,

especially for me being Nigerian-American,

and just the dominance of like establishing the Houston Rockets like that.

My first autograph was Clyde Drexler.

So like, I'm an H-Town girl.

And so it's Hakeem.

So I think it goes, what is it?

MJ, Bron, Kobe, Bill Russell, and Hakeem Olajuwon.

I love that.

Okay.

Is that okay?

No, I love that.

And it's funny too, because I ask a lot of different guests

what their starting fives are in this specific question.

And I think it's really interesting to see different eras too,

because people will ask me like, who's in my starting five

or my greatest of all time.

And for me as a ball player and like growing up in basketball,

it's hard for me.

It's hard for me to put people in who I didn't watch

or like experience their era.

So like LeBron, Michael, and Kobe are all in mine too.

Okay.

But then I feel like that those second two spots

can go to like a Wilt Chamberlain or a Bill Russell or a Kareem.

Yep.

But I do like that you put Bill Russell in there too,

because I think if we talk about the greatest debate or whatever,

rings always comes up, right?

Yep, 11, right?

11.

And 13.

Right.

Like what?

So, you know, if we're going to talk about stats,

even if we didn't get to see a guy ever play in person,

like that's just something.

A hundred percent.

So how about your starting five in the NBA currently?

Oh, in the current NBA?

Yeah.

This one's getting spicy.

Okay.

This is maybe it's Giannis.

Oh, in the NBA, like playing right now.

Playing right now.

Okay.

Let me see.

Oh my, you know, I had to prep.

I had to prep.

Okay.

I think we're going to definitely go with Giannis.

Uh-huh.

We're going to go with Luka.

Okay.

Cause Luka's like pretty much on a tear, like averaging 30 point games,

like crazy, just ridiculous.

And Giannis is self-explanatory.

I'm going to go with Steph.

I know the Warriors are losing or have been losing as of late,

but he just reminded people like, I can still do this if I so choose.

Right.

But he knows.

I don't, I don't think this is going to continue for too much longer.

I don't think so either.

But I think I love it.

Cause Steph is always good with like a subtle statement and he's like,

look, I could do this, but we're going to develop these young guys.

Yeah.

Y'all don't forget.

Don't forget.

We'll be back.

Just wait until after all-star break.

Exactly.

Um, who else do I have?

I have.

Oh, now it got tricky.

It got tricky.

Cause like Steph, uh, Luka, Giannis.

I I'm going to go with Kevin Durant.

He's just got Eastern conference player of the year,

play of the year, Eastern conference player of the week.

And in probably the most difficult season start that we've imagined for the

Nets.

Right.

Managing a lot.

Yeah.

I think he's having a career best year, like averaging around 31, 32.

And so, and everyone knows.

And still coming off of injuries.

32.

Exactly.

Achilles.

Not too far removed.

I know the Achilles game.

Yeah.

So I think it's impressive what he's done.

And like, if we, we all know, like all he wants to do is hoop.

And so given all that he's had to navigate,

I'm going to put him in as four.

And then five was tricky for me.

Cause I was like, I love what Jason Tatum has done to start the year,

but I'm going to go with the Oak edge, the Joker, because my gosh.

Oh yeah.

And jaw was in there too.

Like in the mix as well.

But like the more I look at how much he,

how he affects offensively, it just blows my mind.

Now I'm not saying he's going to like win again, MVP.

I think two time is pretty good.

But yeah, he's definitely top five with how he produces.

So no LeBron in this one, in this current, in this current NBA.

Okay.

He's a, he's a victim of his circumstance.

Yeah.

If they were winning, Bron is easy up in there, but like,

I don't know how you can put a team that, well,

I'm trying to think what are the nets doing?

They're not, no, they were just recently three in one.

Lakers just won.

I just think the Lakers, unfortunately, I'm just, yeah,

he's a victim of his circumstance right now.

Cause there are a lot of guys that are putting up really decent numbers.

And I'm not saying LeBron is not a top five player over the last couple of

years, but like right now there are players that are moving things forward

for their teams.

So we have, we have Giannis, we have Luca, we have the Joker,

we have KD and then who was your first one?

And then I had Steph.

And Steph.

How could we forget Steph?

Yeah.

Now you're like, maybe question my LeBron.

There isn't, there's not a right answer to this.

No, I know.

I know.

And it's also the beginning of the season, so we'll see how it goes.

But I think Joker is also somebody who flies under the radar a little bit.

Yeah.

But I, in fairness, I do.

I mean, he's won MVP twice.

He shouldn't be flying under the radar, but he does.

Like we don't talk about him.

I think I just have like LeBron deference.

Cause we just did my whole top five of all time.

Like Chanae's list.

And so it's like, how do you have someone that's playing?

That's not in your top.

That's fine.

He's going to.

But yeah, I guess Steph is not in that either, but Steph made this.

So like, you know, there's a time and place.

LeBron's going to watch this interview.

He's going to have a chip on his shoulder and he's going to really step it up a notch.

Father time.

Take on father time again.

All right.

Last starting five WNBA players of all time.

Okay.

So I'm going to get funky.

Okay.

Number like, I'm going to go Lisa Leslie.

That's my big sis.

That's my mentor.

She has really been an example of like for women like us.

People that are, you know, women that play basketball, how you can do more than just

play basketball.

She's an entrepreneur.

She's a broadcaster.

She honestly, the coolest thing about Lisa is like she gives the best life advice.

Really?

Actually.

And I say life.

I mean, relationship advice.

Okay.

Her husband wrote an amazing book.

Shoot.

What am I going to say?

Like, oh, women have all the power.

Too bad they don't know it.

Really?

Yeah.

It's like, yeah.

So Michael Lockwood.

Yeah.

Women have all the power.

Too bad they don't know it.

Okay.

So winning at life if your husband writes that book.

Yeah.

Right.

Like, oh, by the way, she knows it.

She knows she has all the power.

Yeah.

Sorry.

I digress.

But Lisa, she's like the perfect example of being fierce.

But then for me, like I like to also show my femininity.

So Lisa's up there.

Okay.

Second, I'm going to put the comments just in general.

So I'm going to put Tina.

I'm going to put Cheryl.

I'm going to put Cynthia.

Oh, you're bundling them.

Okay.

I'm bundling them.

We'll let you slide this time.

I'm going to bundle the comments.

Okay.

And then I'm going to go Tamika Catchings.

Catch.

Oh, man.

Yo.

So, you know.

Where did she go to college again?

Shoot.

Why am I forgetting?

Tennessee.

Right.

Tennessee.

Yeah.

Isn't it?

So it's funny.

People always say like, what was your welcome to the WNBA moment?

Welcome to the league moment.

It was catch.

Really?

My second game.

We went on the road to play the Indiana Fever.

And I'll never forget.

I'm going to catch.

Yeah.

All right.

I'm not afraid.

I can do this.

How old are you at the time?

Shoot.

Was I 20 something?

Like early 20s?

22?

21, 22?

Yeah.

I'm going to go get this catch.

Like, I can do this.

I had no choice.

We were young and we're playing all the young players.

Right.

We're like early in the first quarter.

We're coming down.

She has the ball.

I'm like, okay.

Like guard.

I didn't have to guard many perimeter players.

Like when I was at Stanford.

So I'm like, okay.

Guard her.

Guard her tight.

Like show that you're engaged and that you're not going to back down.

She hits me with a cross.

Like bringing from right to left.

Like across the right elbow.

Drawing it back.

Your girl fell to earth.

You got dropped.

I got dropped.

Second game.

I got dropped.

Oh my God.

And I remember laying on the ground like a snow, like you're doing a snowman.

I remember laying on the ground and looking at that shot go up just the whole time.

It was the longest time.

Oh no.

Please be a brick.

Brick.

Yes.

Catch.

Sorry.

So catch is awesome.

Get yourself up real quick.

A lot of times you don't talk too much.

Maybe when you think about Michael Jordan, like defensively, what people do as to make

them a top player.

Catch defensively, one of the hardest to go against.

So.

Yeah.

So I've got the Comets.

I've got catch.

I've got Lisa.

And then I'm going to go with Diana Taurasi, the all time leading scorer in the WNBA and

coming back for her 19th season.

Yeah.

Crazy.

And then I'm going to go.

Of course, I have to put my sister in there.

Nneka Ogwumike.

I love that.

And the same way that I talk about like impact off the floor, Nneka being able to like be

the courtside club for my big sis, she had to shoulder a lot, especially from like 2019

to 2022.

As the president of the Players Association, there were so many weights that we're wearing

as WNBA players having to advocate and be the voice for so many issues, particularly

as a league that's predominantly black.

And she navigated that like better than I think anyone I've ever seen like navigate

a situation like that.

No, a true class act and an absolute superstar on the court.

Yeah.

And like helped negotiate a CBA that was considered not only a win for women in sport, but just

women in the workplace.

Yeah.

And just like, you know, it's like, you know, it's like a family planning rule with paid

maternity leave and just, you know, family planning benefits and just resources for when

you want to finish playing and just pay.

I know a lot of people want to talk about the WNBA players and pay, but like there were

huge, huge steps forward.

Like not many scenarios anywhere do you go and just double your salary.

Right.

So I think a lot of times we play, we're a prisoner to the comparison between our leagues,

but on our own, our league is doing really well and trending in the right direction.

And so big sis is my, in my, in my, in my, in my, in my, in my, in my, in my, in my, in

starting five all right people we're brought to you by caesar's sportsbook the greatest sports

betting app of all time see it's not just about the daily promos odd boosts or the hundreds of

ways to wager it's about the immortal words of caesar himself you bet you get with caesar's

rewards every bet you place on the app no matter the outcome earns towards exclusive perks at

caesar's rewards destinations everywhere hotel stays concert tickets bonuses and more download

the caesar's sportsbook app become a caesar's rewards member today and get more with every

wager must be 21 or older to gamble gambling problem call or text 1-800-522-4700 can you

actually let us under the hood a little bit to those conversations because you're familiar with

it just

as much as i am the the little chirping that we have from everybody else from from fans from people

even aren't familiar with women's basketball or the wmba who have everything yeah in the world

to say about it yeah um what has been done in this past year to where you feel like optimistic

with how the league is trending and just how women's basketball is trending exposure exposure

is the name of the game and like just to briefly touch on what you say a lot of times people speak

on the wmba without fully

immersing themselves in it because if you immerse yourself in it a lot of times the energy that

we receive on social media or just through people's thoughts about it that's not the same energy we

get in person and that's not the same energy when i walked on the street people like oh wow you you

were tall you play basketball oh you're a sparks player oh i see you on espn like it's all great

positive energy and why can't we keep that the same um where we have platforms whether big or

small so i would say that like i'm not a big fan of the wmba i'm not a big fan of the wmba i'm not a

big fan of the wmba i'm not a big fan of the wmba i'm not a big fan of the wmba i'm not a big fan of the wmba

the trend is that our game is growing sports women in sport like it's it's the place that has

opportunity to grow which is really exciting um and exposure is a key i've seen this and you've

seen this in real time you know being able to just sit at you know lapc which is what we call

our studio downtown in la and and sit next to i remember like i had my pinch me moment like

i'm laughing myself tracy mcgrady i literally went and said like oh my gosh you're my crush

man you were my childhood crush i said that on air and i'll never forget rachel nichols was like

i was like hoops crush but i was kind of crushed too but like mainly hoops crush

to commercial break commercial break and like everyone knew what i was saying and then here

was scotty pippen and i'm here and you have like this imposter syndrome of like why am i here

why i'm here because hoops is hoops and i play the game i played at a high level and i um well

trying to play it at a high level in the wb and i try my best to bring my highest level when i'm

playing but like there's this

idea that we have this imposter syndrome where why why when people speaks you know try to

diminish the w or diminish women in basketball women in sport that's not the way we do it like

we treat it normally we usually are like oh it's amazing that you're an athlete that you're capable

of doing these things and the best way we can keep changing that is by pushing exposure by

myself yourself sitting in these seats with a platform and um i think the w it's like it's

awesome my boss at espn is dave roberts

and he's the one that pushed for me to like back three years ago go on air with stephen a and

like go back and forth and the thing i'd hear a lot was on the street with like cheney i love

you keep giving stephen a the business and you know it's like once you just get there right then

people will start seeing and it'll shift people's perception of what oh it's not that she's a wmba

player speaking on the nba it's like she has great points she cares about the game and so that that

exposure i've seen in real time and now my boss is trying to like institute like a lot of things

like pre-game shows for the wmba or even hopefully a daily show the same way we talk

about nba today wmba today you know that's what normalizes things that equalizes things right

there was somebody on tiktok who it was a group of people having a debate and there was a female

basketball player in this debate but they said that women's basketball needs to lower the rim

to nine feet because the problem with women's basketball is that they're not dunking on each

and it really upset me in a way and i actually replied and and from the most basic level of if

you think about changing the height of the rim can you imagine how much less access women growing

up playing ball would have if you think about any i spent a lot of time outside playing basketball

like at the park or at whatever court it was or whatever so it was such a uh elitist way of

thinking that like oh yeah every every

hoop will have one 10 foot and one nine foot one for the guys one for the girls at the same time

how much did you play with boys growing up yeah to improve your game yeah all the time right yeah

and when i see arguments like that i'm like you know maybe i get it because you do care about

female but the question is do you though because my sister had a really good answer on a panel to

this and she said the conversation about changing the rim is to placate someone that is looking for

a reason probably not to support the women's basketball team so i think that's a really good

way to come in that play yeah you're just saying oh this will fix it and i'm still probably not

going to support it because i still prefer something else right instead of appreciating

what it is inherently right and when she said i was like oh okay yeah yeah like i'm on it but

yeah i i do i do agree there's a lot there's a lot of those little things that it's like hey let's

let's change the game to like change the uniforms right just change all of these different things

and what i'm seeing which i think is going to be the biggest asset to female hoopers and

females who are playing at division one or college level or pro level or maybe never even

getting to that point is the access with social media and the ability to become a star in your

own right with the platform that you have absolutely right if i'm if i'm invested into

you i'm going to want to see everything that you're doing i see you on tv then i'm like huh

i wonder how good she really is like let me turn on a game oh 100 you know that's what i get right

and so there's these young stars that are coming up i see them on tiktok like i see

girls in the locker room like at stanford at these different hayley and cameron probably you see on

like so good i'm like yes like do this like we get to see your personality we get to see who you are

as an athlete and then i'm more inclined to watch your game because no there is not as many wmba

w nba games on television as there is nba games right so there's not as many opportunities to

flick it on and watch but when you're familiar with these players and your fans of these people

girls that they are you want to turn it on yeah and that's the exact same um principle or idea

that we brought up with ja or zion or luca they're in control of their own brand and their image and

that's why even if they're not on nba uh channels they're still getting exposure and building to

become the faces of the league and so for for women it is largely social as well and i love it

and i'm so excited because this next generation of hooper is gonna be like they're gonna

know how to say no right you know what i mean we grew up we had to say like we had to say yes

yeah do this yes yes yes to create this one opportunity that you want yeah and i always

told people like growing up we had the you know the ladder to success and you have to take every

step no they're gonna there's more ownership that's available for players and at the end of

the day us young people having ownership is key because then we can create our own opportunities

and i love that how do you feel about nil oh you know look get your bread i

just wish i just wish we could retroactively get ours too right i always say if nil was available

when i played i would have played all four years yeah oh that's hilarious because i didn't i knew

i didn't want to play professionally and that's why i quit early when i did because i didn't feel

like i was getting set up to succeed after basketball yeah but if i could have been setting

myself up at the same time yeah you know oh yeah but yeah i i am so happy for every athlete that

gets money like get the money i'm

all about everybody getting their money while they can because that might be the only option

that you have you know professional ranks if i didn't have this to be able to be blessed with

this platform of being a broadcaster my trajectory based on my injuries could have really drastically

changed and i don't know what i would look like for my longevity right yeah it's not like yeah

it's not like things are super set in stone for any of us so nil i'm here for it i want people

to get paid i just wish us old heads could have got paid

right and i'm like everyone applies everyone i i think too for some of the female athletes

growing up because right young young boys right they see the 25 million dollar a year contracts

that some of these nba players get right and and for women that isn't an option as of right now as

for just your wmba salary but if you see these girls in college who are getting these brand

deals and kind of making a name and then you see people like yourself people like me who

transition their playing career into something else like it gives you another option to where

you can still take basketball or take whatever sport it is for as long as you can ride it and

then you can you know go into that next thing so i think overall it will help women's sports

it does seem a little bit like the wild west because i've been seeing like some of the money

some people make it needs to like settle out i think that there's gonna be some yeah like ebbs

and flows until we see like where it really stands we are reaching the end of the game so i have some

questions for you okay what is the best game you've ever sat courtside for

i've sat courtside for some really cool games but i'm gonna like take a

a creative way to this all-star game i think it was 2016 it was not a game it was a slam dunk

contest oh dope i think that was the aaron gordon oh zach levine and just like was was that was that

the one where

victor also was with the magic and did the mascot hovercraft i can't remember they all

so the the mascot one was aaron gordon oh when it was like yeah yeah it was like dancing yeah

so yeah the the one with where he jumped over the crazy and there had to be like three final

rounds because they kept tying that was the craziest thing i've seen court side like maybe

the best dunk contest in recent history for sure oh for hands down thousand percent yeah so it's

not a game but like that moment with like all the players university of the nba

that was it i'll take it so who's one person dead or alive that you'd love to sit courtside with

there are a lot of people that i would want to i think maybe and this is

recent and also by nature of where i work and live right now probably kobe yeah kobe just because

what he was able to do as an athlete but then he was transitioning into like just won an oscar

and his business is like i would just like to pick his brain on how to do it and i think that's

how he how he was able to build what he had built and where he saw things going because he cared so

much yeah he had like so many dreams and so many things and he was ahead of the curve in so many

regards of how he was positioning himself so i think the more i think about it i look a lot to

like athletes and like yeah i mean serena falls into the same category as like sis like you're

starting your ventures like right ventures like how do you go from athlete top greatest

tennis player ever to like now oh i'm gonna just do venture capital and like help create

opportunities so like those type of conversations of people that have walked in the paths that we

have walked and then like been able to create some real amazing things she needs to do like

a skill share course or whatever it is yeah or master class yeah like an online course i'll be

there hey serena what's good girl what is one event in history that you would have loved to

have been courtside for it could be a sporting event or other dang oh easy

answer okay is this 2016 again why is it why is 2016 so actually the funny thing is the

the best nba and wmba games i would have loved to be at the nba game seven calves oh yeah warriors

because that's like my favorite game ever crazy but the real answer is 2016 wmba finals game five

because my sister hit the game winner yes and i was in china what on facetime really like literally

completely ditched me and i was like i'm gonna be like i'm gonna be like i'm gonna be like i'm gonna be

like i'm gonna be like i'm gonna be like i'm gonna be like i'm gonna be like i'm gonna be like i'm gonna

practice all and was like on face i'm like trying to get in the i got in the championship photo with

mecca like while she's holding it to be courtside to see her hit a shot that brought a championship

like dang that's for sure the one moment in my life that i could be like dang i wish i was like

i'm always there always there well next time she does that you're gonna be on the court i'm gonna

be making the pass yeah making the and then you're just gonna tackle her after oh yeah and i was

joking like you won't see me we went to championship y'all won't see me like you'll see

yeah but y'all see me out of there i love it janae thank you so much for coming on courtside club

let everybody know where they can find you and what to look out for next uh you can find me

obviously on social it's just my name janae i also have a youtube channel so i'm gonna that's

kind of badass that it's just your first name as your handle so i had to like shout out to chris

heine i think it was chris heine that like had the name and i was like please can i how much you

pay him it was maybe like a couple grand

oh yeah you really wanted that i did i mean like why not but it was like i knew that if i wanted

it later it'd probably be way more expensive for sure and so i was like oh let me just smart move

yeah so i was like let me just do this but i think it was like a in by a couple of me like

probably two or so i don't remember i don't know but yeah today yeah on uh instagram on twitter

i'm occasionally on tiktok and i'm launching my youtube channel so i can because i do these

on air so i always break down the game typically it's leading to a huge matchup and i realized

soundbites on tv are like only 90 seconds and so i have as you can tell i love i have like so many

advanced takes so i'm doing it on my youtube as well i love that and your youtube channel

chanae ogwumike okay perfect but i think my guy said my handle is chanae but i think

the you got you'll find me we'll find it and you can find her on espn pretty much every single day

it is literally putting steven a in his place occasionally for fun

i love you steven a no shade steven we're all a fan but

chanae thank you so much for coming on courts like and i'm proud of you too boo you're the best

Need your own podcast transcribed?