- 19 hours ago
Marc Spears, who covers the NBA for ESPN, joins Willard and Dibs to break down the latest on LeBron James' free agency, the impact that his family might have on his decision, the odds that he chooses the Warriors, and more.
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00:00Joining us now, not only on the River Islands guest line, but also dealing with the bear that is the
00:07Los Angeles area freeways, is our guy, the best, our friend, ESPN, Anscape, Mark Spears, joining us here on Willard
00:17and Divs on 95.7 The Game.
00:19Hey, Mark, how we doing?
00:21Well, I don't have any answers for you, but I did find some interesting quotes from LeBron James that really
00:27stuck out for me today.
00:30Okay.
00:30I don't know if you guys, I feel like I'm going to be a preacher right now and read some
00:35passage, but I think it's a passage that could be music to Bay Area fans' ears.
00:40I love it. Chapter 4, LeBronicus, verse 8. Let's hear it.
00:45Leaning into the microphone right now to listen to what you're about to say, Mark.
00:52The Book of James.
00:53Yeah.
00:55No, so LeBron James today, he spoke with Rich Kleiman at that sports fest or whatever it is in New
01:02York, which is a big deal, so I'd need to give you respect.
01:06But so Rich Kleiman asked him about family, and, you know, he mentioned how, you know, his son is like
01:15crazy.
01:15It's his former teammate, and his other son is at Arizona.
01:20And he said, but my 12-year-old daughter is pulling a lot of weight.
01:24He said, so going into my daughter, I was 4th of July, and my daughter came home, and being out
01:30with her friends and cousins and everything, I pulled her aside because she's of age, and now, like, anytime I
01:37leave, she's like, Daddy, where are you going?
01:40She's like, I'm going with you.
01:41He said, so he pulled her aside.
01:43He said, baby, I'm going to let you know.
01:44So I want you to hear from nobody else, but I won't be with the Lakers next year.
01:49I'll be playing somewhere else, so I won't be home all the time.
01:52You may not have an answer right now.
01:55You can give me an answer now.
01:57You can wait.
01:58You can write it down.
01:59I just want you to know how you're feeling about it because you mean a lot to me.
02:05Me being away from you means a lot, so the family portion is a big thing, too.
02:10My daughter and my wife, things of that nature, and I'm a big family guy.
02:16There's a lot of things that people are like, hurry up, make a goddamn decision, Brian.
02:21Like, okay, it's not about the team, not just about the team.
02:25There's a lot of factors I'm factoring in right now on what fits me best as a person,
02:32what fits me best, my happiness, and also my family as well.
02:38And he talked to Chris Paul about this as well.
02:42I'm reading from the book of James, because when you look at his options, right,
02:48like Philly, how far is that?
02:51Far.
02:523,000 miles.
02:53Far.
02:54Like, Cleveland is far.
02:55But it's home, right?
02:56Philly is home.
02:57I mean, Cleveland is home.
02:58Macklin's home.
02:59That's home.
03:00But if you think about it, and this is, like, said in all the highest of respect,
03:06I want to talk about his, you know, family in high esteem, like, you know, his daughter's
03:12like middle school, right?
03:15Pretty much L.A. is all she's known, right?
03:18Wife has been in L.A.
03:19They've been there for eight years.
03:21L.A. is a big part of their life.
03:23And I don't know if there's, like, a circumvention of rules or this, that, and the third,
03:29what's against the rules or not.
03:31But would it be against the rules for the Warriors to be like, hey, when practice is over,
03:35this plane will take you home for dinner.
03:38And they'll pick you back up and bring you back in the morning for shoot-around.
03:42Like, he could, this is the closest thing to home, of the option.
03:48And so, if family is involved, to me, the family box probably points towards,
03:56and obviously there's other, there's basketball part to another thing,
04:01but the daughter and the wife, not speaking for them, I don't know what they're thinking,
04:06but the family part would make me think that Golden State has an advantage.
04:11And the fact that he talked to Chris Paul also is intriguing to me
04:16because Chris Paul did play a year for the Warriors,
04:19and he commuted back and forth visiting, you know, his family, his wife and kids,
04:27two kids who were, like, middle school kids at the time.
04:32And, you know, his family is extremely important to him as well, and he made it work.
04:37But, so, I kind of heard in the Warriors camp, you know, people close to the Warriors that
04:48they think he's going out east.
04:50And I think they, in a lot of ways, people believe that Cleveland is the frontrunner.
04:55But, I just, I haven't given up on the Warriors because of the, the family aspect.
05:03And I think today, that part got reinforced by what he said to Rich Kleiner.
05:09And that makes a lot of sense when you think about, you know, being 42,
05:13and you start to look at your house, and he's got two kids already gone,
05:17and his daughter, I think, is about to be 12.
05:19And so, you've got to hold on and cherish these, these last memories.
05:23And one thing I was looking at, too, Mark, is LeBron's daughter is a volleyball player,
05:27and Steph's got a couple daughters who play volleyball.
05:30So, there might be some sort of a match there as well.
05:33Yeah.
05:34I mean, but she could, if he's playing in the Bay, she could just keep doing what she's doing.
05:42Yep.
05:42Because Daddy, because Daddy will come home, right?
05:45And I don't have a daughter.
05:46I definitely have a wife.
05:48She runs everything.
05:50So, I could only imagine, like, I really believe it when he says it's a family decision,
05:56especially when it comes to the two most important women.
06:00And I think his mom lives in Los Angeles, three most important women in his life.
06:05But, you know, his wife's also from Ohio.
06:08His mom's from, you know, Ohio.
06:10And I think that part can be attractive.
06:12But if he's at Golden State, nobody really has to change their life around.
06:17They can easily just come up in 50 minutes.
06:20Because here's the thing I was telling my buddies that I laugh about.
06:24There's levels, right?
06:25There's levels.
06:27Everybody's driven by these little tiny airports, right?
06:32They ain't for Southwest.
06:34They ain't for United.
06:35No, they're for the wealthy.
06:38He's on a little tiny airport for the wealthy.
06:41So, he can get in his six-feet, super-fast plane, fly to Santa Monica.
06:48Not Burbank or LAX or Long Beach or Ontario.
06:52No, he can fly to Santa Monica and land there and be home pretty quickly probably from there.
06:57You know?
06:58So, it's just that there's different levels.
07:02But playing for a team in the Bay Area allows you to still – obviously, you're not home all the
07:09time.
07:09And that's the kind of case of his life now.
07:12But at least it could leave some semblance of normalcy.
07:16Mark Spears with us on 95.7 The Game.
07:19Did I hear you say that you heard from some folks with the Warriors that they think he's going back
07:24east?
07:26Yeah, well, I talked to several people in Vegas over the weekend and they just got the – there was
07:34a sense from talking to these folks that they think he's going out east.
07:37Okay.
07:38I ain't going to believe nothing until it's done, bro.
07:40Right.
07:41No, me neither.
07:42You know, like, you can't tell me – and this isn't – let me say this very clearly.
07:50I'm not sitting here pining for LeBron to come to Golden State.
07:54I'm not.
07:56I'm just talking about what's available.
07:59And I know he's tighter with Draymond or any other player in the league.
08:04And Draymond keeps throwing little, you know, crumbs out there for people to decipher.
08:11So, these guys might be sending voice messages.
08:15Draymond's having dinner with them.
08:19He's doing a lot more than that.
08:21You know what I'm saying?
08:21He's going – he's leaving the country with him, Mark.
08:25Exactly.
08:27I mean –
08:28Exactly.
08:29So, the Philly thing is interesting.
08:31It's definitely interesting.
08:32And I think the Philly thing minded through a wrench in everything.
08:37Because perhaps the Philly like that was like, oh, I didn't think of him as a possible option.
08:42But now with Jalen Brown, I do, right?
08:45And it seems like the Philly's an option.
08:48I have people telling me he's not going to Cleveland.
08:51That's the one place he's not going.
08:53And I have other people saying he's going to Cleveland.
08:56And so, that part is – so, basically, I'm telling you, I don't know nothing.
09:00I'm trying to read the T-leaves.
09:02You know, I'm listening to what the Rich Klyman interview.
09:06And inevitably, like, LeBron may not know either.
09:09He still might be wrestling with it.
09:12But I do think the decision is going to come soon.
09:15The World Cup will be over.
09:16Once the World Cup's over, you know, the attention, the floor will be completely his.
09:23But it's shared until Sunday.
09:25Are you hearing anything about a possible documentary of the upcoming season?
09:31And if so, how might that play?
09:34You know, it's not a possible documentary.
09:36It's been being filmed already.
09:39Right.
09:40So, taking that in the light, where do you think the most compelling documentary would be?
09:44If I'm not mistaken, Clay's – you know, I don't want to put Clay's uncle out there.
09:49But I think he's been working on something with LeBron.
09:51I mean, LeBron – like I said, I thought he started something last season.
09:56I had already heard that.
09:58Yeah.
09:58I don't think that's new.
09:59No, actually, I guess I'm reading comments online right now that at this Rich Klyman event
10:05that you've referenced, Mark, LeBron sort of teased the documentary as something to look forward to
10:11in retirement life.
10:13He's had a doc crew from NBA Entertainment collecting footage for nearly a decade for this.
10:19Yeah, yeah.
10:20But I think it's even more now.
10:22I mean, because of who he is, NBA Entertainment is going to be filming it.
10:28But I think it's more behind-the-scenes stuff.
10:32Started last year from what I was told.
10:34A last dance, so to speak, that we probably won't see for about 10 years.
10:41Oh, wow.
10:41You think it'll be that long until it actually rolls out?
10:45So, it'll be more of a –
10:45I mean, we've got to figure out when he's done playing.
10:47He might be playing for another eight years.
10:49Who knows, right?
10:50Yeah.
10:51I mean, but it does sound like he – like, this won't be the swan song season.
10:57It sounds like, you know, where he's going, it's going to be more than one season.
11:03So, but, you know, there's some interesting choices.
11:09You know, I covered the Cleveland Cavaliers closely with a Donovan Mitchell diary.
11:14I think he'd fit in great there at home.
11:18He could, you know, join their frontcourt, which is missing a forward.
11:23I think that could be a great, you know, final chapter to his story.
11:28Obviously, there'd be a super team in Philly.
11:31How much will Joel Embiid play?
11:33I don't know if he does play.
11:34It's a scary team.
11:36But LeBron, he wouldn't have to carry even – you know, he'd have to carry even less.
11:41You know, some would say that maybe the Warriors' option gives you the least chance of winning the whole thing.
11:51But with those basketball IQs together, and once Jimmy comes back, or maybe they try to get Anthony Davis.
12:00One thing that's interesting about the Anthony Davis part is, you know, I saw Anthony Davis on Friday.
12:07He went to Trey Young's press conference.
12:10He's been working out with the Wizards.
12:13He went to his pre-season, summer league game.
12:16And if somebody was a short-timer, that's not the kind of thing that short-timers do.
12:22And I asked him, I'm like, are you coming back?
12:28And, you know, he basically kind of said, you know, it's up to them.
12:32We'll see you in August.
12:35And I know their GM is kind of like, he's doing everything.
12:41So you can take that for what it's worth.
12:44So I got the sense that their GM has no interest in trading Anthony Davis.
12:51But what that's probably going to mean is, you better take care of him financially.
12:55Because come August, when he's eligible, if this doesn't get taken care of,
13:01and, you know, you know, Rich Paul's coming with the torch.
13:07You know, trying like, hey, my, you know, but I can't, at the moment,
13:14Washington appears ready to try to be a playoff team.
13:20And, you know, so I don't think they're, you never say never,
13:26and who knows what August means, right?
13:30But everything I saw last Friday in Vegas suggested that Anthony Davis was staying.
13:36Mark Spears with us.
13:37He didn't have to be there.
13:39He didn't have to be there.
13:40Right.
13:40No, I get that.
13:42Mark, what about this?
13:44Just in listening to you talk about this,
13:46it sounds to me like you believe, and your people are telling you,
13:52that this is actually a decision, and maybe he doesn't know yet.
13:55I've had a very hard time believing that.
13:59You know, the LeBron we know, he knows where he's going right now.
14:03And, you know, Wynhorst and others have said that.
14:06Do you believe that he knows right now where he's playing?
14:10I mean, look, Wynhorst knows him as well as anybody, right?
14:15LeBron's even saying that.
14:16So I'm not going to act like I've been in LeBron's mind
14:19or talking to Rich Paul every day or anything like that.
14:22But when you have people, and maybe there's a front-runner in your mind,
14:27but until you sign the paperwork, like these college kids, right,
14:33might be mentally committed somewhere,
14:34but maybe that last pitch might make me feel a little bit differently.
14:39Until he actually signs the paperwork,
14:44if I'm Joe Embiid, if I'm Tyrese Maxey,
14:48if I'm DJ Edgecombe, if I'm Dylan Brown,
14:51and I heard they all met with him, you know, you're in his ear, right?
14:56If I'm Draymond, yo, bro, what wine we drinking tonight?
15:00What wine we drinking?
15:01Well, you know, I'm in New York.
15:03I just happen to be in New York, right?
15:04And guess what?
15:05Steph's with me.
15:07And that's his dog, right?
15:09Like, so he's going to hang out with LeBron.
15:11Like, until he makes a decision, regardless of what's in his mind,
15:17if I'm Draymond, like, you know,
15:20Steph just happens to be in New York right now because of the XBs.
15:22You don't think Steph's trying to talk to him?
15:26You don't think Steph could get time with him?
15:28Come on, man.
15:31There's got to be some Steph happening behind the scenes.
15:35And I just believe that until he signs, you know,
15:40don't hate the player, hate the game.
15:42Holler, holler, holler.
15:43Yeah.
15:43I mean, you know, the game is the game.
15:46And, you know, I'm hearing you say that he may sign a one-year deal
15:50and then jump in the portal and go somewhere else.
15:53But I'm wondering, Mark,
15:54what you think is the number one motivating factor he's looking at.
15:58The Bay Area mentality until, you know, until you choose.
16:04I'm hollering.
16:05That's how cats do in the Bay, especially in the town, you know?
16:08Yep.
16:09And it'd be a little bit of a full-circle moment, right?
16:11Because he played for the Soldiers back in the day.
16:14Yeah, yeah.
16:15It'd be a little bit different, though.
16:17Yeah, a little bit.
16:18I mean, I do wonder, you know,
16:24how much Warriors fans would embrace him.
16:27And I think being in L.A. the day that he decided to go,
16:33LeBron James decided to go,
16:34I felt more buzzed about Mexico playing in the World Cup that day
16:40than I did about him leaving.
16:42Yep.
16:43Yep.
16:43It was a weird deal for him in Los Angeles
16:48because any time I would ask a Lakers fan about LeBron James,
16:52they'd mention Kobe Bryant.
16:53And I've never heard of a player that any time you mention them,
16:58they would talk about a former player
16:59and almost feel like they're cheating on that former player by liking them.
17:03You know, and certainly LeBron James could have done a lot more
17:07to attach himself to the city of Los Angeles off the court.
17:13I think one thing he was robbed of is when they did win a championship,
17:18he didn't get a parade.
17:19That certainly would have endeared himself to the city.
17:24But I would think that at this stage of his career
17:27or what he's accomplished
17:28and what it would look like next to Steph, Draymond,
17:31a healthy Jimmy,
17:34that the Bay, as odd as it might sound,
17:38would definitely embrace him at this stage of his career.
17:41I think, Mark, you are beyond right.
17:45We're sitting here in these chairs talking to these people every day
17:47and sports radio has its own sort of inherent negative vibe to it sometimes.
17:52And so we do hear from people who are like,
17:55I don't want LeBron and Steph to team up,
17:58but I really think that's a vacuum.
18:01And outside in the world, friends, people I run into, listeners, whatnot,
18:07I think LeBron to the Bay would be widely, widely accepted and loved.
18:14I mean, Rich Klyman was out here.
18:18I think, you don't think he and Rich Klyman talked about it?
18:21Sure.
18:22No, Rich Klyman was out here with Kevin Durant.
18:24So he knows what it's like and the professionalism of, you know,
18:29Lakewood and company and how they treat people
18:31and who coached the Olympic team.
18:35Steve coached it.
18:36So there's certainly some familiarity there.
18:38He never got coached by the coach from the Sixers
18:41or the coach from the Cavaliers.
18:45So I do think that, I do think the Warriors have a shot, right?
18:52From a basketball standpoint, being in the Western Conference,
18:57of the top teams interested, I guess Miami included,
19:01I would say Warriors are probably fourth in potential to win a title
19:06when you think about Oklahoma City,
19:07when you think about San Antonio.
19:09Just being realistic, being real, right?
19:14But financially, off the court,
19:16I don't think he'd make more money
19:18than putting that uniform on next to Steph.
19:23Financially, off the court,
19:24when you see guys from Apple, you know,
19:28billionaires from Apple and, you know,
19:33DoorDash and Waymo and Yahoo
19:36and all these tech people sitting there.
19:39And you don't think the greatest tech giant in the Bay
19:43ain't going to want to get next to this man
19:45and maybe make him the money up that he's missing this year?
19:50That $50 million?
19:51You don't think they could make that $50 million up for him?
19:54By opening night.
19:56And I was not even talking about the wine.
19:58Yeah, well, no, let's talk about the wine.
20:01Going to LaCoya or Cardinal or Verite,
20:04like, he had the pick of the litter.
20:10I actually think he'd have the best time in the Bay.
20:14I agree.
20:15I agree.
20:15I mean, Miami, like, you just lost your starting backcourt,
20:19so that's 40 points missing per game.
20:23Windhorst said today he thought that was the best place.
20:25I'm like, well, who's throwing the ball to him?
20:29Who's the backcourt?
20:30Davion Mitchell and Tim Hardaway, Jr.?
20:35You know?
20:37The Philly thing is scary, though.
20:38That's a scary team.
20:40And I do think if he went to Philly or Cleveland,
20:43they would be capable of getting to the finals with that team.
20:46Mark, that's all great info.
20:49It's great perspective.
20:50We love hearing from you, man.
20:51Travel safe, and we'll have you again soon.
20:54Oh, and real quick, Martin Luther called.
20:56I don't know what his famous singer Martin Luther called on earlier.
21:01Yeah.
21:02Yep.
21:03Yeah, man.
21:04Buy his album, people.
21:05He said you got to buy two of them on vinyl,
21:07so you got some purchasing to do.
21:11Oh, I didn't know he said on vinyl.
21:12Shoot, I'm a big record head, so yeah, that's no problem.
21:15I got my boy.
21:16Yeah, I just got a record for Father's Day.
21:18I'm big in the vinyl.
21:20Well, we got to go shopping, bro.
21:21Let's do it.
21:23Amoeba.
21:23All right.
21:25Wait, real quick, what y'all predicted?
21:28I need it now before.
21:30What y'all got?
21:31I'm reading this interview with Kleiman and James.
21:34He's coming to the Warriors, Mark.
21:36Yeah, but I think he's coming here.
21:39All right.
21:40We'll see.
21:40Yep.
21:41Lock it up.
21:42Cal State Market has the Warriors at 32%.
21:45Cleveland's only at 36, Mark, so it's getting tight again.
21:49Thank you, brother.
21:51All right, peace.
21:52Okay.
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