48 Minutes with Legendary Hoop Journalist Peter Vecsey

0:00 ... Ross Geiger hello and welcome .... introduces co-hosts Bruce Bernstein and Michael "World B" Freer and teases our guest Peter Vecsey. This week's show (#142) is dedicated to former Mavs player Maxi Kleber, who will now be a Los Angeles Laker.

0:59 ... Ross live commercial read for BetOnline.

1:39 ... Bruce introduces Peter Vecsey and mentions some of his memorable nicknames.

2:45 ... Peter discusses his best nicknames and shares a great story about Joe Barry Carroll, whom he dubbed "Joe Barely Cares." Peter famously dubbed Larry Bird "Larry Legend."

4:35 ... Ross asks for Peter's reaction to the Luka Doncic/Anthony Davis trade and how none of the newsbreakers who cover the league had any clue it was happening.

10:32 ... Considering the principals in the deal, Peter shares his thoughts on some of the other deals that were historic but he feels than none were ever bigger than this one.

12:54 ... Peter tells why Dallas MAY have traded Luka and tells a story about how former Mavs coach Rick Carlisle left the Mavs because he did not like coaching Luka.

16:13 ... Why did the Mavericks want the often injured Anthony Davis?

17:15 ... The Lakers needed a big man, so naturally they traded their Hall of Fame big man.

20:12 ... Peter reacts to DeAaron Fox going to San Antonio and why he liked Fox prior to this season but has soured on him this year.

24:15 ... Bruce makes a joke about how the players for Archbishop Molloy H.S. in Queens (Peter's alma mater) were big time ballers and he joked how he was ahead of his time as a high school player.

24:53 ... Bruce takes a shot at Zach LaVine, who was traded from the Bulls to the Kings and how Sacramento's GM seems clueless. Peter goes on to discuss Billy Donovan, his first NBA interview that was done for SportsChannel at Hofstra University where Bruce also worked.

27:26 ... On being inducted into the Hoop Hall of Fame in 2009. Surprisingly Peter has little regard for the Hoop hall and Jerry Colangelo who is the boss.

31:23 ... Peter is annoyed that K.C. Jones is not in the Hall as a coach when he was voted one of the top 15 coaches of all time. He relays a great story Larry Bird told him about how K.C. got through to Dennis Johnson when other coaches could not.

36:22 ... Bruce asks about Michael Jordan and John Stockton and their 2009 Hall of Fame speeches. Peter tells a great story about how he took a big gamble during an interview with Stockton that he did for NBC where Stockton was tight lipped but how Peter eventually got him to open up.

39:21 ... World B initiates a discussion of the top players of all time ... Peter takes exception to the suggestion that MJ and LeBron are the two best ever. Peter ticks off many others who are up there.

41:42 ... Kobe is also right up there and Peter shares some moments from their discussions over the years. Their relationship was very close and he tells the story of how Kobe got his unusual first name.

44:44 ... Ross asks about the 65 game rule for postseason awards and Peter is in favor of it. Peter is NOT in favor of Adam Silver's idea for 10 minute quarters.

46:47 ... Bruce asks about the new All-Star game format and how the event has become unwatchable. Peter thinks the new tournament format may help make it more appealing. He is not impressed with the new women's 3 on 3 league but transitions into a story about how K.C. Jones allowed him to work out with the Celtics teams of the 1980s and play full-court 4 on 4.

50:12 ... World B asks Peter who his favorite interview subject was ... and it was Larry Bird. Of course, there's a couple of good Bird stories there! And there's a great story about how Bird signed a photo for Peter's son as a birthday gift. Peter truly misses being around Larry.

53:17 ... Peter shares some Bill Walton stories and how he helped Bill get into TV at NBC. We exchanged some Walton stories.

55:10 ... Bruce asks about the MVP race and how Nikola Jokic probably won't win it this year due to voter fatigue but that Shai Gilgeous Alexander is deserving. Peter feels OKC's record this year helps SGA. Peter goes onto discuss Lu Dort, whom he watched at Arizona State and is a key reason for OKC's success.

58:48 ... Peter predicts OKC will win it all this year ... he praises Isaiah Hartenstein of the Thunder and can't believe how good he has become.

1:00:06 ... Ross thanks peter and says goodbye

TRT 1:00:51

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