Most Anticipated Games

0:00This is Angus Maximus. This bomber has one part of a pound of hot. Suzy cooked to honor Angus Speed. It's more face than a quarter pounder. The battle is closed! And for only $5.99, even regular juice can afford it. Like that guy! Give me that big ol' burger! Yeah! He holds Angus Maximus, only $5.99 is cold senior. A bill for a limited time of participating restaurants. Tax not included. Not valid for use within a combo or in combination with any other offer or discount. Do you hear that? That's sound right? That means that summer is officially here. It means that grown adults just sprint into the street for a frozen dessert shaped like a cartoon. But this summer, Mint Mobile has a better treat. Every plan, including unlimited, is $15 a month. And unlike Ice Cream, it won't trip down your wrist or look nothing like the picture does anyone have any cash! Give it a try at minmoble.com slash switch. A front payment of $45 for three months, $90 for six months, or $180 for 12 month plan required. $15 per month equivalent to taxes and fees extra. New customer offer for initial plan term only greater than 50 gigabytes, me slow and network is busy, see terms.

1:00Kitchen and bathroom professionals know what goes behind the tile matters. That's why trade pros trust Fiber cement, party backer board to keep tile firmly in place, resist cracking, and help block moisture. Chosen in over 40 million kitchen's and bathrooms, party backer board, what the best build on. Shop now at participating home depot, lows, and floor into core stores. For more information, visit jameshardy.com slashhardybacker. Welcome in Buzzbeat listeners. As you are listening to a summer edition of Buzzbeat Podcast and I am joined by Charlotte Hornets Radio Play-by-Play, Broadcaster Sam Farber. Sam, how are you doing?

2:07James, I'm doing great. It's always fantastic to talk to you. We don't get to do it enough. There's some kind of ocean between us too often. But it's always wonderful to talk Hornets with one of the most dedicated followers, which you most certainly are. And we just talked off had the last time we saw each other was the 2022 summer league in Vegas where I went there and we were watching Kai Jones James booknight, JT Thors, double overtime, buzzer, beta. So it's been a little bit of time. It's been a little bit while. But you're coming on the show today. I don't think there's a single player on the team from then that is still on the team now. I think it's a complete turnover. So you and I are the survivors. We are. And there's been a lot of change, which we'll talk a little bit about on this episode. We're going to be talking schedule today. Hornets schedule came out a couple of weeks ago. People can start to be looking out for those ticket packages, get a Hornets.com, we'll be able to find all the detail on there.

3:07But we're going to be talking about our top five home Hornets games for the season. And we're going to kind of go a little bit back and forth. And then we're going to talk about like some of the things we're looking for to you for the end of the season. But before we get into that. Some bits of the top of the head on the schedule, which I think are interesting. This year, the Charlotte Horn has opened the season with seven games in 11 days, which is quite a congested stretch straight off the bat. Normally that is kind of pushed back further in the year, but that's something that I know straight away is that is three road for home games to start the year. You can have a pretty good feel after 11 days. If the body wasn't sure after training camp, it's going to be after those 11 days. Charlotte down to 13 back to back games this year from a tide league high 16 last year. So that is trending in a positive direction. And here's an interesting stat. They lead the league in a rest advantage games for 16 this season. So we always talk about, you know, some nights teams just don't have energy, right?

4:10Happens in the NBA. We watch the NBA enough. Like how's this team, which has got this much talent behind this team. Like rest advantage is a big thing. Travel getting in late, you know, and having 16 games are rest advantage, which is league high. That could be big this year. So it's some interesting. They have more detailed schedule stuff. But let's get into it. Sam our favorite five Hornets games home games for the season. We're going to go maybe walk away up from five up to one. And I will let you go first as the guests. Give me the fifth best home game that you're most looking forward to this season. All right, this is tough because there's so many great matchups, so many great players throughout our league and different times of day and season where things are going to mean more. So there's a lot to choose from my recommendation to everyone is always choose them all. If you're in the market, you're able to go to Hornets.com and inquire about season tickets. They've been going very, very fast, but would definitely encourage you to pick them up. But if you have to pick just a few, my number five game for the upcoming season is February 13th,

5:17Revalentine's Day against the Dallas Mavericks. It's a Saturday afternoon game, 3 p.m. So family friendly tip time. I as a parent love that. I think it's great opportunity to take the youngers out there to the game and not have to deal with running right over bedtime. But on top of that, of course, this is Khan's revenge game in in part. You have a chance to go ahead to head with the guy he finished second two in the rookie of the year vote, Cooper flag number one versus number two. I personally thought Khan should have won it. I don't I don't think it should have been close, but it is what it is. This will be the opportunity for Khan, Canippel and the Hornets to get some revenge and show who truly was the best rookie of last year's class. And to remind those last year's matchup, they played once because when Dallas came to Charlotte, Cooper flag was on playing. They played in Dallas. It was a 12321 win on the road against Dallas. It was the the game where C on James kind of stole the possession, dived out of bounds through an underhand pasta con who got fouled by flag and hit those game winning free throws.

6:23Canippel had a career high 34 points, Cooper flag had a career high 49 points. It was one of the games of the season just all round one of the most memorable games. It really cut through nationally as well, which doesn't always happen with childhood, it's games we know that. And I think that is a national TV game as well. So it is, which means you won't be able to watch Eric Collins and Del Curry. So you should definitely go to the game in that case. If you can't if you can't watch them back at home. Okay, it was an honor. I'll mention, but it wasn't on my list. So this is good because we're going to talk about more than five games. I'm going to go with my number five. And it's 31st of December, 1 PM Eastern at home against the San Antonio Spurs because I think Victor Wombin, Yama is going to be one of those players that you will tell your kids, your grandkids. I was there. I saw him play. He really was seven foot seven. And there is no better way to end 2026 and hopefully getting to watch Victor Wombin, Yama play just the most unique.

7:24Can't miss playing the league coming to Manchester, my home city in January next year as well for an international game. And you know, these all time great semifix plays they don't play forever. So if he's healthy, get those tickets booked in now because it's going to be can't miss TV to see Victor Wombin, Yama in Charlotte. That one was on my list as well, a little bit higher than number five agree on all accounts. I don't know if Victor Wombin, Yama will achieve all time greatest status. Will he be someone like a, you know, I mean, he obviously had a career year last year and was tremendous. I'm not wishing this upon anyone, but there's the reality that there's been guys like, you know, Greg Odins and Ralph Samson's before where, you know, despite all the acclaim and Victor Wombin, Yama by the way has maybe more claim than anyone we've ever seen. You know, their, their body didn't hold up. And so three years in, we've seen two seasons curtailed at least in part by injury for Victor Wombin, Yama. I hope there are no more.

8:25I hope you've seen two, your point James, you take advantage of the chance to see those unique athletes any time you can just full disclosure was number three on my list, but I love that game. And another one family friendly start time New Year's Eve, you shouldn't be working on New Year's day anyways, but it starts it once so you can see the tip off Hornets versus Spurs Miller versus Wembee that draft class reunited again and then see the ball drops still by getting home in time for your New Year's festivities. You James, if you're home enjoying it, I don't know, it might might run a little close to midnight there on your side of the water. It certainly will be a little bit more difficult, but you know, I'm not missing that game. And another throwback to some league when Brandon Miller and Victor Wombin, Yama matched up in their first games as professionals. It was that first match, right? Number one versus number two. And actually both players struggle to some more Kai Jones exploded on Victor Wombin, Yama, if you don't know the dunk we're talking about, go back and find it. It's probably one of the most forgotten and underrated dunks in Hornets history, albeit some of the.

9:30And whether do match up someone to keep an eye out for is Moose City, a bar to Victor Wombin, Yama's fellow countryman played Victor extremely well in the previous match up when they played end Charlotte last year. Victor, Yama six or 15 from the field, Moose City, Barty defended him exceptionally well, like really made him comfortable Hornets 11106 was a great match up now the spurs got him seconds time round. I won't lie. I think the bar they got unfalatable and Victor was just special. But in Charlotte, he didn't face so it didn't face so well last time. So let's see how it gets on next time. I like it. I'll big fan that match. So that was my number three. So in between my number four match up most anticipated home games of the 26 27 season. We're going late in the year. This could have meaning on a lot of different levels, but it is as of now the one and only trip to the hive for the defending world champion New York Knicks March 26th of Friday night. I love Friday night at Spectrum Center, not his family friendly is start time, but still, you know, if you're going to have the kids stay up late one night, it might as well be a Friday.

10:35Next games are always have a certain kind of atmosphere and I love the fact that our Hornets fandom as the season grew on, you know, really kind of built momentum into those late season games. But whenever you have a chance to play the defending champ, I think you got to circle it in some part. So it's my number four. And last season, there was a noticeable difference in the crowds in Spectrum Center against the Knicks Boston, the Lakers where they were Charlotte Hornets crowds like they were not easy places to play and I helped that obviously Charlotte had the big win streak. But I mean, the Hornets played the Knicks very late in the year. I think they absolutely 110 to 96 win. They played them well last year, 140 win 103 that was in Charlotte. That was one of the best performances as well. That was, you know, to cap a five win streak. But yeah, seeing the champions come to town, it's always going to be an interesting one. They obviously handed it to the Spurs in the finals, right? So wasn't on my list wasn't on my full list of this, like said, there's a lot of good games. The final the final just didn't quite make it.

11:45My number four, 29th December, 7 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday, home versus versus Orlando magic. This is playing a revenge time, right? You know, we all know the end of last season, the way they went out against Orlando left a bit of taste in everyone's mouth. And this is will be one of the matchups circled on the calendar season to co-holders to say we want our revenge and the players will have a circle too. So I think that will be a big one. We want to, you know, they beat all I know, I think four times the regular season last year and then lost in the play in as we all unfortunately know. But I think getting revenge at home and Charlotte, that'll be a big big moment. For sure has the potential to be I'll be honest, it was not on my list. I think, you know, we are coming into a phase here for this team where I think rivalries are going to be deepened with certain teams. And there is for sure an opportunity both with Miami and Orlando division teams who we saw in the play in term at last year to build that.

12:50But to me, it's got to be more than one game and and but we'll see, but I have full confidence. The players are going to be very aware going into that game about, you know, what it what it might mean and what it would mean to our fans to see a different result than the last time Charlotte and Orlando got together. So good pick. I already went over my number three. That's New Year's Eve again against Antonio tickets for any and all these games available Hornets.com ticketmaster.com. I will throw in, but I'll save my honorable mention for the end here because I don't I don't want to steal your thunder on any of these. So let's let's see if we keep the street going so far we have had no duplicates. Well, let's get you on number two. Let's get number three goes your number two. I'm sure we're going to have a duplicate here fire away. All right, February 5th. This is always circled any Charlotte fan when this guy comes to town. It is must see it is Steph Curry and the golden state warriors coming on a Friday night. I love it when these games, love it with holidays or weekends or Friday nights. They just the best atmosphere you can imagine.

13:53Steph Curry is another you mentioned the thought process on telling your kids you saw Victor Wimbledon. I think that is a thousand percent true for Steph Curry. No one has changed the game more than Steph Curry, at least, you know, since MJ or Larry and magic. I mean, he is just an incredible town and incredible person seeing him play in Charlotte with the number 30 in the rafters is going to mean a lot as well. It's such a wonderful person wonderful family and an amazing player and even though golden states not quite where they were in the dynasty times. I think this is just one of those opportunities to see one of the greatest ever do it who always seems to put on a show in Charlotte. It's can't miss to me. Yeah, and obviously he was in Charlotte last year when they retired Del Curry, Del Curry's jersey. He was able to be part of that while playing in the game. And the best news about that game, Sam is the gold set worries are not on a back to back. So you know that Steph Curry is playing that game if he is able to walk.

14:55He's only played in Charlotte three times 2022 because of injuries and other things. So this is, you know, not something that even happens every single year. And, you know, Steph Curry is not the youngest player in the league. There are only going to be 70 more times you're going to have the opportunity to see him play in a war as uniform in Charlotte. Interestingly, the last three times he's played in Charlotte has scored more than 15 points. That's that mean that's a shot. Right. He is one of the greatest scores of all time. And he seems to sometimes struggle go back to the Queen City. Not that Charlotte Horn is fans are complaining. I'm sure someone like to seem go off, but maybe against other teams. So I think that's a good one pick not so much against Charlotte. Fair thought process indeed. I mean, I just remember him having, you know, these moments where he catches fire and it it brings me back to when I was a young fan and getting to see Michael Jordan in person and you know when I was able to afford that ticket and go on my own.

16:23Maybe a bit later in their careers. Okay. So that was my honorable mention, Steph Curry. So this is going to be interesting now. Right. How we have different ways to look at this. That was number six on my list. I didn't quite make my top five. Number three is third and November home against Detroit pistons. It's unrest at the nest. Take three. Obviously Charlotte played them in the final week of the regular season after the incident that happened last time and they collapse lay. I think lost the fourth quarter 25 10. It was quite a big loss because I think they could have moved up the play and standings if they weren't that game. And they definitely is attention between those two teams. You talked about rivalries earlier. And guessing this is one of the other ones you may be signaling towards against Detroit. And again, I think that is early in the season third and November. There's going to be a lot of energy in that crowd. There's going to be a lot of people out the game who are at last year's game. And they're going to want to make that an intimidating place to play for Detroit. And Charlotte, I remember that they've been beaten them last couple of times and Charlotte is about time to try and get one back. That is if Jalen Durham is back in the Detroit pistons, which we do not know for certain yet.

17:29That is the biggest storyline remaining in free agency slash trade debt, you know, all that stuff. So yeah, that that'll be an interesting one. It's interesting that we've taken two very different but very fan focused tax to looking at this schedule. I am kind of focused in on, you know, which individual players have maybe the biggest storyline and appeal. And you're looking at it from a which teams in which rivalries have the biggest storyline and appeal. So suffice it to say we could have done a top 10 list. And we would still leave plenty of great games on the cutting room floor. So there's never a bad night to be at Spectrum Center, but there are clearly some great opportunities for the upcoming season. Yeah. All right. I think we're up to your number one game. We're there. And honorable mention here. Of course, opening night October 23rd, we're less than two months away from tipping things off for the home opener for the Hornets against the Atlanta Hawks. Another rivalry game. Another team that, you know, they were jockeying for position with. And then of course, there's games like Halloween against LeBron James in the Philadelphia 76ers, Joe LnB Tyres Max, EVG Edgecom. There's some great ones in there. But I think that's a great thing.

18:41There's some great ones in there. But I don't think we could do a fair list without saying the most anticipated home game of the 26 27 season is anything other than February 15 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. It's president day. It's a noon tip time. So it's a holiday and an early tip. You can bring the kids out. And look, I don't begrudge any fan for feeling this way. Fans pay their hard and money to see their favorite players. And for many of them, Lamello Ball was that guy. He was a shooting star, a shining light. And he'll continue to be in the league. And, you know, we'll miss him in many respects. That doesn't change the fact that I think a lot of us. And certainly most of the experts look at that trade and say the Hornets got away with a King's ransom for one of the top players in the league. So all that being said, it's going to be one of the games everyone has circled February 15th noon tip time on president's day for the return of the league. For the return of Lamello Ball coming with Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves.

19:44It is the game of the year. The most anticipated if you could attend one game, that is the one you'd want to attend. I've got it number one as well. All the narratives going into that they'll be a lamellable tribute video. There'll be Nazarene against his old team. Josh Green will probably be there as well. Like it's just going to be again early in the day, very tip friendly time in Europe as well. You'll have a lot of European people. I think shooting in for that game as well. So yeah, especially out in Germany, we've got we've got that market cornered right now. Well, not us in Orlando, the Southeast division has a corn. You know, I've been waiting for the Hornets to come to London or Manchester UK for a long time. And now they've got half the German national team on there. I'm a little worried because they're not coming to London anytime soon, but they could be going to Berlin. So that's that's my now worry is I'm going to have to be looking at flights to get over to Germany to go watch the Hornets Europe. Okay, we've not talked about my number two. You had an honorable mention. Do you want to throw your honorable mention out because I'm curious if it is my number two.

20:49It might not be. So this is the one game I'm looking at from a strategic standpoint. And one thing I'm hoping the Hornets do better this coming season is get off to a faster start. Obviously injuries had a lot to do with it. But Charlotte dug itself a pretty big hole and that encompassed the Emirates NBA Cup games. And so Charlotte really didn't have a chance. They were basically out before that group phase got started this time around. The Hornets are not on the road for the first two cup games. And so I'm looking at November 25th against Chicago as a live game. And so I'm looking at that one saying that's the Emirates NBA Cup group final. That's an opportunity for Charlotte to, you know, maybe make it its way into the knockout rounds. It's also on Thanksgiving Eve. I'm a big fan of family friendly tip days and tip times. And so it being part of a holiday weekend. Everyone's coming home to the Queen City for Thanksgiving. I think that came against Chicago is one that could have a special atmosphere because Charlotte might be playing for something a little bit bigger than a normal regular season game on top of the fact that, you know, there is the holiday aspect and that element to it as well.

22:01Look, I the cup. I'm a big fan of the cup. I think a lot of Charlotte Hornets fans like, oh, who cares about the cup. Trust me, if you make the knockout stages, people are going to care like basketball that matters that has stakes that has athletes giving, you know, 110% is just an incredible thing to watch. It just makes basketball better. And I think if Charlotte can get off to a good start and have games, the stakes in the middle of like November time, like you say, I think that is only a good thing. So you don't need to sell me on the NBA Cup as a European soccer fan, the pressure, everything, the one game, when it takes all thing, it works. It's just proven it works. We see it in the Olympics, it works. I hope you have a good cup run. It is not my number two. My number two is 31st of October. Saturday gets to Philadelphia 76ers where you're going to have LeBron James, John Bead, Tyrese Maxi, Jalen Brown, BGEd, all coming to town. And that is just can't miss star power.

23:05Like if all of those guys are playing, it will probably be the hottest ticket. We said about Steph Curry said about Victor, women, Yama LeBron James, Tick, that box, Jalen Bead, can tick, that box on the right night. If you catch him, Jalen Brown is obviously great players. They are one of the future stars and faces of the league. Just an incredible team. Now the only thing I'll say though is the night before Philadelphia in New York on a back to back, which makes me think at least what a LeBron or MBE might not be playing against Charlotte that night. But it's early enough in the year that maybe they are still you know not being low managed yet to kind of tail into the playoffs. But my only reason it maybe wasn't that you know spot higher. It's also part of a three games in for night span all on the road. Indie to fill. Sorry Indie back home to Philly and then to Charlotte and four games in six days span if you rolled a calendar the other way. So it with travel between everyone I believe. So look I am very excited though. I know our fans are very excited for him.

24:17And James with this latest and perhaps last decision has truly changed the landscape and change the expectations for Philadelphia not that Jalen Brown didn't come with his own going to the 76 years but adding LeBron James their most definitely adds to the pressure. And I'm with you I think there's a serious question as to how many games that group collectively is going to play and you certainly have to to wonder if night two of a back to back is going to qualify in October. But however many stars are aligned for that one it should be a great atmosphere. We'll look forward to seeing what Eric Collins and Del Curry have by way of costumes for the broadcast that should be fun. But it'll it'll be a fun night one of many on the counter that was on my could be possibility list but just didn't quite make my top five that I certainly see why it's your number two. Yeah, I should if I could change my list now if I knew they're playing going to be my number two. But because of this potential chance that they might not be or one or more might not be then it probably should be down I should say actually maybe around like four and five something in that range I think you know if that's the case

25:26do we throw all Philadelphia games out the way I mean it's kind of like TV execs trying to decide are we going to put New Orleans on like I don't know if Zion's going to play so I'm you know yes if they're playing we want this game to go but I don't I don't know how many times and a lot of it is strategy but some of its reputation some of those guys just have not proven to be quite as durable which is unfortunate because as fans we want to see the best players I root for full hell for everyone because I want to see the greats of the game. Get to go ahead to head three four years ago. Let's be honest they probably do take the night off and Charlotte right it's it's viewed as an easy game we've seen Jason Tatum talk about you know or it's a Thursday night in Charlotte whatever after last season the hornets aren't sneaking up on anybody anymore like I know the mobile is gone. But this team sells a lot of talent and the way they play and the energy that they play with in the execution they have this coaching staff I don't think people are walking into Charlotte you know looking for as a pushover of will witness through a talent we don't have to turn up like so I think there is more of a chance you'll see more of this our place play against Charlotte last year because of what they did in the second half of the season and knowing what they capable of.

26:40I think that's definitely a fair point this team was rolling going into the end of last season and even with some changes I think the fundamentals of the squad the things they prioritize have only been strengthened by the moves they've made when you're looking at three points shooting rebounding they've gotten better in those categories on on the whole with the changes that they've made to the roster so it'll be a very exciting season but I would agree with you I think between the fact that taking is now banned basically or not not encouraged based off the way the rules have been reimagined here and the fact that Charlotte is not going to sneak up on anyone we're going to see a lot more competitive basketball yeah to throw a question at you about road games as you know play by play announcer on the radio what are the road game that you like to go to the most when you can look at the schedule and you look out and you go hmm I can't wait to go to that game there and it could be for like personal family reasons friends who live there there's a great Chinese restaurant down the road like what what is the place that like you look at and go okay I need to that's the first one I need to look in circle for my road condo oh man that that's a good question and like for everything you mentioned there at different city popped in my head like for great Chinese place down the room like man Sacramento's got a really good one that that's my for me coming from California originally and in the Bay Area and having my mom there and so much family going to San Francisco is just special

28:10going to you know broadcast in a city that I grew up right next to and it's such a spectacular palace for basketball their chase center they they really did a wonderful job it's a great place to work and broadcast the game and of course you got to see the greatest shooter of all time Steph Curry so at least for now Conn I see the the slam poster behind you I mean he's he's off to the best start of any shooter in the history of the game con can apple is but Steph Curry it it's just so much fun to be in that environment and then I would say you know New York they get in to go to Brooklyn and there arena and partake and all the fun stuff that that happens in New York I went to college in Washington DC I always look for that one they really are not bad cities in the NBA it's it's this wonderful five month long you know traveling circus type of atmosphere and every time you go on the road there's something new to look forward to and especially in this last six to 12 months there's been some tremendous basketball and great games to look forward to as well yeah speaking of China when I went

29:17San Francisco I went to China live in San Francisco Chinese restaurant just the best Chinese restaurant I've been to in my life it was incredible so if anyone was like recommendations that is mine I don't know if you've a better one that you know of as a local in there but that was one as a tourist I was like wow this is this is special it really like any kind of cuisine from that part of the world San Francisco I sent like they know they know what they're doing it it's tremendous yeah all right well let's look forward a little bit to the season and I'm sure you've been doing your prep right we're only a month away from training camp opening what is the thing that you can enjoy yourself back to as being most interested as you look up to the season whether it might be to to commentate on or to watch as part of the Hornets obviously you know you watch as much Hornets basketball as anyone what are you finding yourself drawn to well in terms of the strength of the roster I think it's the death and I think when you look in the last handful of years teams that tend to you know maybe be a surprise or creep up on people and have better years than were expected they tend to be really deep teams it's not always just oh we acquired say a LeBron James type person that obviously has an impact as well but it's you know a team like Detroit last year getting down to their G Lee guys and Dana Strenkins and him going from two way contract to being a mainstay

30:39it's you know squads like Orlando a couple years ago where they were just able to you know pound you with so many different kinds of lineups and as I look at this Hornets team right now you know one through 18 they are a really accomplished group of players and the thing I've been challenging fans to try and I kick myself because I feel at this game all the time try and come up with a two deep and then you know see how embarrassing it is to be like how did I come up with a two deep that didn't have C on James who played in every game last year or how did I come up with a two deep that doesn't include Grant Williams who has had such great accomplishment with the Hornets and was a driving force to winning so I think in terms of star power and particular stats there are things that we're looking for but I think the big strength that people are not talking enough about with the Hornets is the depth of a team that's going to have guys like Liam McNeely and T. Jean Salon ready to take next steps Royce O'Neal Grace and Alan ready to make a big difference in their contributions and some veterans who have made some key contributions to the Hornets already fighting for their spots as well.

31:44And when you look around the Eastern Conference I think there's a lot of teams that actually depth is their biggest weakness right the Mami Heat you got Yannis you got Bam and then like you're filling out the rest of the roster around it you got the Indiana Paces you've got Halibut and Siyakum and Zubach but like we saw their deep players last year who struggled when Halibut was out you've got the Philadelphia 76ers who we talk about like Grace starting five but again struggling to like fill out the team around that especially in the front court the Boston Celtics if they were to lose Jason Tam at any point they've struggled with depth style Detroit pistons so teams the teams are competing I feel are more fragile like the silversy very talented teams I feel like shall have a pretty solid baseline because of exactly what you said is the depth so I think it's a great point the one I come back to is is actually a player and it's now Zareed who I think is a fascinating player because you've only ever seen him in Minnesota and he's always basically come off the bench

32:47as most of his career he's now going to be starting a powerful word maybe we'll play some center we we don't know like how's the ability to and like what is like someone has been in a bench role their entire career their seven year career but has always been known as like one of the best bench players in the NBA like can he prove it as a quality starter when he's playing not 25 26 minutes per game but playing 32 minutes per game and closing games what does that look like I'm just like Paul must have fascinated to that because we just not seen him in that situation anywhere else so I keep coming back to Nazareed is he going to be 18 points eight rebounds or you know so you can be able to take a leak defensively I'm just sure I'm curious about what Nazareed looks like in the shalvanic system because we've seen what Charles Lee can do a shooters and he's one of the most versatile shooters ball handlers craters I think they're going to use him in some really creative way so I'm interested to see how Nazareed works out yeah I think the last thing you said there is so

33:50important how is Charles Lee going to use him because he has just this great mind for defense and also for finding ways to get the right players the right shots and Nazareed clearly fits the profile of what the Hornets are looking for offensively positional size great shooter for his position I mean look Miles Bridges was a really really good player Nazareed is a different level of three point shooter based off the percentages than anything we've seen at either the four or the five position in my time with Charlotte so he can truly be a game changer there and I think to your point you know what what is the move forward for him going from a six man role to a more of a starter role and I think it's all about getting him comfortable and him playing within himself and the flow of games like you don't need to go from being a 15 to 20 point guy to a 30 point guy just because they put you in the starting lineup continue to take the right shots and have the right efficiency and allow players like Brandon Miller and Connie Canippel to

34:53open you up for what you do best I think that's going to be the the bread and butter of Nazareed but he he's done this for so long he he does the same thing for other players he makes people better on the floor he's a winner these are some of the best qualities beyond just the skill set that Nazareed is bringing now to Charlotte all right Sam thank you very much for your time today best of luck heading into training camp I'm being on the road this season and thank you for joining us James it's always a pleasure to talk to you I appreciate the time and you let me know I mean hopefully we make the trip to London or to Berlin and create a different pathway for you to get to a home game for you but anytime you want to come out to a Hornets game in the Queen State we'd love to have all right thanks a lot Sam