The Drought Is Over

What a week to be a sports fan. The New York Knicks are NBA champions for the first time since 1973, and the Carolina Hurricanes have brought the Stanley Cup back to Raleigh for the first time since 2006. 

Marcus and Carter break down both championship runs, celebrate the moments, and look ahead to the US Open right around the corner.

Carolina is loud right now. 🏀⛳

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Buckets and Birdies Podcast. Buckets and Birdies is a weekly glimpse into the worlds of basketball and golf.

SPEAKER_01 0:08

We'll also balance national sports trends with ACC Insights and provide a lens of notable happenings of sports in our home state of North Carolina.

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Two friends and industry professionals getting together to bring you 23 minutes of fun each week with shared experiences around buckets and birdies. He's Carter Bills, sports agent and seasoned consultant in the golf space.

SPEAKER_01 0:27

Joining me on the mic is national champion Tario Great, Marcus Guineard. Welcome to Buckets and Birdies.

SPEAKER_00 0:35

Welcome to another episode of the Buckets and Birdies Podcast.

SPEAKER_01 0:38

It's Monday, June 15th, and when you're here in this one, it will be Friday, June 19th, Marcus.

SPEAKER_00 0:43

That's right, because our new episodes drop every Friday at high noon.

SPEAKER_01 0:47

Thanks to everyone who's catching up with us on this one for 23 minutes of our thoughts for you and Marcus. We can start this one like we do every episode with our quote of the day.

SPEAKER_00 0:56

What do we got today, Carter?

SPEAKER_01 0:58

The quote of the day is play every game like it's your last. Jalen Brunson.

SPEAKER_00 1:03

I love it. I know that Jalen got that from somewhere, but um congratulations to the Knicks. Pretty exciting to see Jalen Brunson at the top of the NBA, as we have seen him on the top of the NCAA with his time uh with Villanova with his buddies who were also his teammates in New York, which is quite interesting. But uh congrats to the Knicks. Jalen Brunson certainly played like game five with his last with a historic NBA Finals performance. If I'm not mistaken, the last person to score 45 points in the NBA finals was his airness.

SPEAKER_01 1:36

That's good. I didn't know that. Last person to score 45 points, period, in the NBA finals was Michael Jordan. Is that right?

SPEAKER_00 1:43

I bel I believe so. And again, you can fact check me on that one. I'm not 100% sure, but uh, if I'm not mistaken, that was 1998. Michael Jordan scored 45 points in that final series. It wasn't like a game five thing, but within the NBA Finals series. But um, no doubt that Jalen Brunson, for I'd argue, the entire year, um, certainly in the playoff run, really put the Knicks on his back. Um, congrats to them. I remember in the last episode I said they hadn't won since 1978. It was in fact 1973. Three was the last time that the Knicks won a championship and uh well deserved. Um I know the city has been going crazy, been talking to everybody that I know um in New York. Uh, congrats to the Knicks.

SPEAKER_01 2:26

No doubt. And we will dive in to the Knicks in our bucket section, Marcus. But it seems like off the top, it's only fitting to say this past weekend was championship weekend. We had the NBA finals come to conclusion, game five, as you alluded to, with the New York Knicks winning the World Championship, and the Stanley Cup was crowned as the Carolina Hurricanes will bring the cup back to Raleigh and Carolina with the Canes winning the cup, Marcus.

SPEAKER_00 2:49

Yes, sir. Winning the cup. Um, last time we won was 2006. Um a 20-year reunion. Uh, you got Coach Brenda Moore, who was on that team back in 2006. Um, now he's leading the Hurricanes to a championship in 2026. You know, the Hurricanes have been kind of knocking on the door for the last couple of years. I know myself, I've been in the arena during their playoff runs recently. Uh the Rangers kind of had our number, the Panthers had our number. Um, so really excited that this team was able to get over the hump and and bring one uh to Raleigh. I know this city is um enthusiastic about hockey, right? It's a hundred degrees outside, and yet we're in here cheering for ice hockey, which I think is so funny. But um, you know, this area, as we talked about, um, you know, really has an affinity for sports. And and there's a larger sports question being talked about here in the triangle, right? Like, do we have space for an MLB team, etc.? But, you know, just seeing the fans and their loyalty and their passion for hockey, um, just really excited for not only the franchise, but for the city. It means a lot for the to this area um to have a major league team like that win in a championship. So hats off to uh to the Hurricanes.

SPEAKER_01 4:01

Man, it's funny you say that, Marcus. That that's exactly where I was gonna go. I feel like with all the success that the Hurricanes hockey team is having, you get a lot of chatter about Raleigh's the perfect market for an MLB team. The triangle would be a great home to a major league soccer team, and so on and so forth. I feel like I'm hearing a lot of that. It sounds like you are too.

SPEAKER_00 4:19

Definitely. Um, and there's some you know big players in town that you know I've been very fortunate to rub shoulders with who are a part of those conversations. And, you know, I think that there is a market for it. Um it took the Hurricanes a long time to get the momentum that they've you know they've gained over the 20 years, you know, starting out in Greensboro for a couple of years was challenging for them. But you know, I think that this is the market that those teams could grow into. You know, will they sell out every game if you know we get a new um you know, new professional team? Will they sell out every game in the first couple years? Maybe not. But just about 150,000 people moved to North Carolina last year alone. So our population is growing, things are you know developing here within the triangle and in the broader landscape of North Carolina. So for me personally, I I think I think it's an exciting time. I think there's a good possibility that we could be adding another professional team. And you know, these types of championships, these types of moments, I think help to push that that conversation along. So we'll see.

SPEAKER_01 5:16

No doubt. And the last time we spoke, Marcus, you were sitting squarely in the RTP area right outside the Lenovo Center, excited to go into game five of the Stanley Cup playoffs. What was that like? We checked in with you, you had that experience. Take us through that. What an exciting time.

SPEAKER_00 5:33

It was amazing, you know. And I had been uh to a game earlier in the season when they played the Ducks, they came back from behind. And, you know, the the crowd at the Lenovo Center is off the charts. The their energy is unmatched, uh, an incredible atmosphere to watch hockey. But as you can imagine, in game five, uh the series is tied. I mean, it it was absolutely bananas in there. There was more there are more adult men in that arena with their shirts off than I care to admit. But um the again, it was electric in there. I got to sit uh very close to the goal that we shot on twice. So I got to see a bunch of goals, which was great. Um, but again, man, just absolutely electric in the building. Uh the the fans there truly create an energy that that I don't think that you're gonna find in many other places. Um, certainly not more energy, maybe equal energy, but not more energy. So we're really excited to have been a part of that Stanley Cup run in that regard, just being in the building, being able to cheer. Uh, still got my game five towel that I'll I'll keep as a as a little keepsake from from this run, but awesome energy inside and outside of Lenovo Center, by the way. There's a ton of people outside of Lenovo Center, uh, which is really cool and and and one of my favorite moments actually from this game. I'm I'm walking out of the arena, walking back to my car, and who do I bump into? Boom, Governor Stein, big smile on his face. Get to shake his hand, give him a quick hug. And um, he was super excited about the victory, as you can imagine. I don't know if you saw that letter that he put out this morning, um, excusing everybody in the state of North Carolina from their morning duties because we were up late watching the hurricanes. So uh shout out Governor Stein. I appreciate all that he's doing for the state of North Carolina. But again, just a big moment for the state of North Carolina and and especially for here in the triangle.

SPEAKER_01 7:17

So for everybody, Marcus, did the governor write that or or did he give you his proxy to write that for him and put it out? I saw that go out. I didn't know if that came for the governor or or from Marcus Guineard.

SPEAKER_00 7:28

I don't know who it came from, but I definitely used it this morning. Uh had that up on my out of office this morning.

SPEAKER_01 7:34

For sure. For sure. Well, congratulations to the Hurricanes and championship weekend it was, as we talked about, that takes us right into buckets. And how about those New York Knicks? You talk about 45 points from Jalen Brunson, the first since Michael Jordan, and everybody, Marcus, wants to talk about how Victor Wembenyama is the face of the NBA. I think there's a 6'2 guard in New York City saying, don't forget about me, but somehow he does it humbly, he does it gracefully, he does it without being in your face, but he does it with a lot of grit, a lot of know-how, a lot of stick-tuitiveness, a lot of winning attitude. And I'll be darned if they didn't win in five. This guy said Nixon seven, this guy said Nixon six, Jalen Brunson said Nixon five, and New York City was alive. Wow. What a win for New York.

SPEAKER_00 8:22

Very cool to watch this all unfold uh the way that it did. Um, as you mentioned, we both picked the Knicks, but but none of us picked it in five. But with Jalen Brunson and his team, you know, I think really more than anything, um, you know, showed that they had a tougher mentality. They were stronger mentally than the Spurs. Uh, I think there's a lot of times out there when you watch the Spurs and the Knicks playing, and you thought that the Spurs might be the better team out there, talent-wise, execution, but but grit and never giving up and continuing to fight and believing in themselves and all the other words and and phrases you want to use down that line. I mean, the the Knicks showed that more than anybody. And I think that's what Jalen Brunson and the rest of his team talked about in every post-game interview, right? Like they were going to continue to believe in themselves, they're going to continue to trust their work, continue to trust each other, continue to just encourage each other and keep fighting. And that's exactly what they did. And this game, I thought for at least the first half, that the Spurs controlled the game again. Looked to me like they had control of the game, and yet the Knicks just kept knocking on the door, kept knocking on the door, maybe wore the Spurs down. I don't know. But ultimately, for me, I thought um that the Knicks just had a tougher mentality. I mean, they were they started the game one for 10. I think it wasn't until the the end of the third quarter, if I'm not mistaken, that they got their first bench points.

unknown 9:45

Right.

SPEAKER_00 9:46

I mean, like when you look around, you're like, man, the Spurs are absolutely controlling this game. But again, hats off to the Knicks. They did not give up, they continue to fight, and they earned to be on top of the NBA.

SPEAKER_01 9:57

So, Marcus, Jalen Brunson was asked in his post-championship interview, how do you describe this Knicks team in a word? And I thought maybe he'd say toughness to the point you and I were making. He said, believe. And you made that point as well. Every single Knicks in their post-game press conference seemed to reference the belief, the togetherness that that team had. And I think that can't be undervalued. Wimbenyama may be the most talented player in the world. Castle and Harper may be the backcourt that you want to roll the ball out to and let it go. But there's something to be said about the togetherness and the belief of this team. You know that better than anybody. Talk about championship basketball, not just making a championship, but winning a championship from experience at the next level, from doing it at the highest level in college basketball. Certainly the Jalen Brunson and the New York Wildcats, if we will, the Villanova Knicks have that experience of playing together for a long time. That matters, doesn't it?

SPEAKER_00 10:52

It absolutely does. And just to touch on a couple of things you said, one, you know, I'm excited about the Spurs and their young core and what that's going to look like as they move forward. I hope that those guys get to stay together. Obviously, the business of basketball will have its hand in those decisions, but hopefully that young core stays together because I think they have an incredible runway ahead of them to be a great team year after year. Um, yes, belief is that word. And I would have also thought resilient or to Jalen Brunson's point, confident, right? To have that confidence slash belief in yourself, in your teammates, and your coaching staff, and in, you know, in the game plan and all those things. And you're right, you cannot underestimate that. I I will never forget, you know, I was very fortunate to play for Coach Roy Williams. And every single time you got in the huddle, no matter what scenario you're in, he's walking into the huddle with confidence at a level that is hard to comprehend sometimes. You know, you're you're down six with 40 seconds to go, and he's talking to you like he knows for a fact that we are gonna win this game. And that type of confidence is something that's really hard not to soak up, not to believe in. And, you know, I think that there's an example, I can't remember exactly when, maybe it was game four when the Knicks are down bad. I think it was. That was game four, they're down 29, and they talk about Jalen Brunson coming into the huddle and talking to the team like, hey, we've got to believe that that we're still in this game and that we've got a chance. And sure enough, they pull it off, right? And so, you know, having that type of belief, that that uh almost incomprehensible, stupid belief and confidence in yourself and in your teammates is absolutely something that's gonna take your team to the next level. Obviously, it's gotta be backed up by by the work, as as Kat always talks about, believing in the work that he put in and Jalen Brunson as well. All those summers of work that he put in since he can remember, you know, it all culminates to these moments as your team goes out there and fights for the ultimate, ultimate goal. But that belief, that confidence, um, that there's really not a price you can put on that. If you don't have that, I mean, think about Kobe Bryant, uh, think about Michael Jordan. I mean, if you don't have that, that there's really no chance that that you can win a championship, in my personal opinion.

SPEAKER_01 13:05

Without question, I love the mention of Carl Anthony Towns there, and forgive the pun, but he seemed like a different cat in these NBA finals. And maybe it's through this NBA season, going back to them winning the regular season tournament, getting questions about being one of the better teams in the NBA. He seemed to have a cool confidence of, yeah, we're here, yeah, we're about the work, and the work's not done yet. We see that out of Brunson pretty much for his whole career, right? Now at center stage. I feel like we saw that out of Cat this year, and that that made for something special to have the inside game, the outside game. You talked at length about the value of an OG on an Obi on a team like this, a guy that does all the things. Uh Josh Hart. You got to have a guy that does all the little things we've talked about. I was looking at the box score, Marcus. Josh Hart was plus 15 in this game, scored 13 points, but was plus 15. They're just better when guys that are willing to die for loose balls, tip in shots, make the defensive effort that I know you love, they're just better. And teams are just better when you have multiple guys, let alone one guy. Everyone needs a Josh Hart. They've got a Josh Hart and an OG on Anobi combined with the Jalen Brunson at one and Carnthony Towns at five to anchor everything. And wow, it was it was fun to watch him make it come together. I'll tell you something else that's fun, and I think we got to give him his flowers is Coach Mike Brown. Coach Mike Brown has done a lot in his career to be applauded. This may be his best job yet. I sent you and Pablo something earlier today. Look at the history through the 53-year period you mentioned, but particularly post-Pat Riley, right? Pat Riley was with the Knicks, didn't win a championship. Jeff Van Gundy, tons of great years with the New York Knicks, didn't win a championship. Mike Dantoni, Larry Brown, Derek Fisher, tons of championship pedigree goes on and on. Tom Thimodeau did a fine job. Fine wasn't good enough. Kudos to Mike Brown for coming in and getting it done and helping the Larry O'Brien trophy come back to Madison Square Garden.

SPEAKER_00 15:00

Definitely, definitely got to give him a huge round of applause. And I'll start with Kat, right? I think that Kat at this point in his career was probably feeling some of that pressure, especially after last year's, you know, exit in the in the Eastern Conference Finals, was feeling like, you know, I'm at a certain point in my career right now. I've got to get just one step further, right? To really make a name for myself, to solidify my legacy. Um again, you know, he gets back to talking about that work that he continued to put in year in after year. And, you know, I think that this was that moment for him to really kind of break through and shine and show everybody that he's one of those elite players. He absolutely has the skill. There's no doubt about that. Um really excited that he got to a place that helped support him in that, right? Jalen Brunson talked about getting to New York a couple of years ago and the reason that he came and you know, taking the pay cut, et cetera, et cetera. Like all those pieces came together because everybody there had a similar goal, right? Everybody was on the same page to win a championship. You talked about guys like Hart and Ananobi and Alvarado and Shamit. I mean, Clarkson go down the line. Everybody was willing to accept their role, to believe in the broader good, um, to have confidence that everybody was going to execute their own role to the best of their ability. And, you know, that's everything that you always hear about with the championship team. And then with Coach Brown, Jeff couldn't be happier for him. You know, I don't know Coach Brown, but know a lot of people that have been in his organizations or around him as a coach. And I only hear great things about him. And so really just happy for him. You know, he's had a tough go at it the last couple of years, kind of getting bounced around. And, you know, you mentioned that fine isn't good enough. I thought he did a pretty good job at all, you know, all his other stops. And a lot of times, you know, uh, you know, upper management may not have agreed or thought that they needed to move on. And so glad that he found a spot and was able to find this type of success because, you know, for all I know, he's a fantastic coach, fantastic human, and I always want those types of people to win. And so a good person and a good coach, you know, finally gets recognition and gets to hold that championship trophy like he deserves.

SPEAKER_01 17:08

Well, congratulations to Mike Brown. Congratulations to Spike Lee, who doesn't miss a game, to Patrick Ewing and John Starks and Charlie Ward and Alan Houston and Larry Johnson, Marcus, all the guys in between. It was fun to watch them turn out and feel a part of this one almost like a college family like Carolina basketball would turn out when your Tar Heels go to the Final Four. It felt like that watching these Knicks. So congratulations to all of them. It felt like they all won and all the way to seeing Patrick Ewing hold the Larry O'Brien trophy for a moment. Pretty special for that organization and all that care.

SPEAKER_00 17:43

Yeah, congrats to everybody in the organization. And you know, you may have seen I you know I posted a couple days ago, you know, that that brief stint that I had, you know, playing for that organization, playing for their G team. Um felt very fortunate to get a call from Alan Houston to ask me to come play for that team in their inaugural season, but didn't get to interact with a bunch of, you know, with too many folks uh in the organization, the upper organization, but but certainly um, you know, very proud to say that I was a part of that organization even for a couple of months, um, even though it was just the G League team. Um, just really happy for that city and that organization. Some great folks. Shout out Dr. Sweet, their sports psychologist, who I have been in touch with since I played for the Westchester Knicks back in 2014. A great guy, happy uh that he is now an NBA champ as well. All right, Carter, as we transition from buckets to birdies, you know the game, nets and jackets. I give you a year, you tell me the NBA champion and the U.S. Open Champion. This year, let me explain. I'm gonna tell you, Josh Hart, you know I'm a big wine fan. Again, shout out to the Knicks for winning the championship. Josh Hart had a bottle of 1995 DRC Latash, Domain de la Romani Canti, Latache, 1995, which I think is just awesome. I have never had this myself, but but know that this is a lovely bottle of wine. Uh, hopefully we get to talk to Josh Hart on the wine podcast. We'll figure that out in a little bit. But your year is 1995. Give me the NBA champ and the U.S. golf champion in 1995.

SPEAKER_01 19:22

All right. Wow, I'm just glad, Marcus, I don't have to repronounce that wine. I will leave that to you, but it sounds fabulous. 1995, his heiress was playing baseball. He had just come back, right, off the year and a half hiatus. So I believe the Orlando Magic made it through the East, and Hakeem the Dream Olajuan, Artari Hill Kinney the Jet Smith, and the Houston Rockets won their second of two in a row for the NBA championship in 95.

SPEAKER_00 19:50

Yes, sir. Correct.

SPEAKER_01 19:52

And for the U.S. Open in 1995, I'm gonna go with Paul Azinger.

SPEAKER_00 19:59

Corey Paven. Corey Paven. Paven, excuse me. Cory Paven. Excuse me, Mr. Paven. And what I think you what you may find interesting is that this 1995 U.S. Open was the 95th U.S. Open, and it was played at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club.

SPEAKER_01 20:15

Oh, come on. Great pick. Great pick. I should have done my homework a little better. Well, speaking of great picks, that takes us right into golf, Marcus. It's U.S. Open Week. We are a major championship week again. I know one of our favorite weeks of the year is when we get to sit down and spend some time together in Augusta. Now we're at U.S. Open. To your point, they're going back to Shinnnecock. What are you seeing on the golf scene, Marcus? Who do you like to win the U.S. Open here in 2026 as the USGA goes back to Shinnnecock?

SPEAKER_00 20:42

Carter, I'm going to stick with my guy, Victor Havelin. I haven't seen him win recently. Please forgive me if I'm wrong, but I know that he's always going to be in the mix. I just like his demeanor. I know he's got it in him. I've seen him in some high stress situations perform very well. And I just I got to stick with my guy. That's my guy I'm sticking with, the Victor Highlin.

SPEAKER_01 21:02

I like it. His game's trending in the right direction. It's a great pick. He played pretty well up in Canada, TPC Toronto this past weekend at the RBC Canadian Open. So Victor Hoblin's a good pick.

SPEAKER_00 21:13

I like it. All right, Carter, you're the golf professional here. You tell me who you've got and why you think they're a good candidate to win the U.S. Open.

SPEAKER_01 21:21

You know, I have a tough time picking. I like so many guys. We talked a little bit last time. I think we're prime for this Rory McElroy, Scotty Scheffler, Dual Marcus is two of the best in the game, two of the best in the history of the game that are really in prime right now and making for great golf and great television and great theater. So I look for Rory and Scotty. I look for the amateurs, as I mentioned last time. Ben James played great in Toronto, who we talked about. I looked for Jackson Quiven to really set the world on fire. And my dark horse amateur Logan Riley, who made the putt to win the NCAA championship that we talked about. But I'll give you another one that we didn't talk about, another dark horse. My pick finished fifth at Shinnikok at the U.S. Open when it was last year in 2018. We know Brooks Kepka won it. He'll be back. He'll be threatening. He'll be marching. But I'm going to pick Patrick Reed. Patrick's sort of quietly regaining his stature on the PGA tour as he phases out of the post-live world, on the DP world, and making his way back to the PGA tour. Patrick's been up there for more than a week. He hasn't been playing every week like a lot of these guys. I know Patrick's got a place up there. Patrick is getting comfortable at Shinnnik. Patrick likes Shinnnik. And he's he's been practicing, he's got something to prove. And Patrick Reed on a mission is tough to beat. So I like Patrick Reed. Watch out for him.

SPEAKER_00 22:40

I like that. Thanks for joining us for another episode of the Buckets and Birdies podcast.

SPEAKER_01 22:44

That's 23 minutes of our thoughts for you. For Marcus Ginyard, I'm Carter Bills.

SPEAKER_00 22:48

We'll catch you next time.