Bomani Jones, host of The Right Time with Bomani Jones podcast, joined Wednesday’s edition of GoJo and Golic to discuss the recent NBA trade news and shed some light on the discourse around Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts.
Entering Super Bowl week, we have been bombarded with the amount of attention surrounding the Luka Dončić and Anthony Davis trade that it is to forget that De’Aaron Fox has been traded to as Senior like to call it the pick and roll capital of America in the San Antonio Spurs. Jones shares what this trade means for the Spurs going forward. He highlighted that the Spurs are finally shifting their focus toward winning after years of what he called a disappointing experiment. He pointed out that Fox was the first player to seize the opportunity to join Victor Wembanyama’s rising star, comparing it to jumping in early on an IPO. Jones also questioned why some Spurs players struggled to utilize Wembanyama effectively, emphasizing that having a player as tall as the rim should simplify things on the court.
With a 25-year-old superstar like Dončić being dealt in a trade, some question whether the idea of the NBA being the poster league for player empowerment has faltered. Jones highlighted how LeBron James wasn’t consulted about the trade, a move that would have been unthinkable in past years. Initially, he found it hard to believe, but he pointed out that NBA teams may have reached a breaking point due to skyrocketing salaries and new cap restrictions. This shift has led franchises to take back control, creating player uncertainty. Jones also challenged the idea of true player empowerment, arguing that it has always been more about leverage than actual power. He reflected on his time hosting Game Theory and how the concept of player empowerment was primarily centered around James. Now, even he no longer wields the same influence. With the latest cap structure resembling a hard cap more than ever, star players are losing control as their massive salaries make them less flexible within team-building strategies.
Shifting to the Super Bowl, the criticism around Hurts seems to be mounting despite the Eagles’ success. Although Jones has consistently recognized his talent, there seems to be a ceiling on how far he can take a team. He acknowledged Hurts’ impressive resume, from SEC Offensive Player of the Year as a freshman to a Heisman runner-up at Oklahoma. Still, he pointed out his passing ability limited his college teams at different points. The real question, Jones argued, isn’t whether Hurts is good but whether he can carry a team when everything is on his shoulders. He pointed out that the Eagles are stacked at nearly every position, making quarterback their weakest link, and it’s not necessarily because Hurts is bad, but because the rest of the roster is so strong. If the Eagles fall short, it’s more likely because of him than anyone else. Jones compared him to the other quarterback in this conversation, Patrick Mahomes, noting that there’s never a doubt when Mahomes is needed. He’ll get it done, no matter what. With Hurts, things have to align just right for him to thrive, but he’s not the guy you can hand the game to and expect to deliver every time.
A significant factor in Mahomes’ success is head coach Andy Reid, who has had an interesting character arc to be where he is today, leading the Chiefs to another Super Bowl. Jones explained that if Reid continues on this trajectory, the conversation around him will mirror how people talk about Bill Belichick. He highlighted Reid’s long history of success, noting that he led the Eagles to five NFC Championship appearances and a Super Bowl during his time in Philadelphia. Yet, moving on from him was one of those rare decisions that worked out for everyone because the Eagles won a Super Bowl before he did, and Reid had the opportunity to reset and evolve as a coach. Now in Kansas City, Reid has built a dynasty, with the Chiefs dominating their division for eight straight seasons. Jones emphasized that their success is so consistent that people barely even acknowledge their divisional dominance anymore.
Watch or listen to the full show below and tune into GoJo and Golic weekday mornings from 8-10 a.m. ET on DraftKings Network! See more about how to watch DraftKings Network here.
SHOW BREAKDOWN
Hour 1: Officiating Conspiracy Theories + LA Luka + NIL tax talk + Chiefs-Eagles Media Day takeaways + Pat Riley’s “Three-Peat” deal
Hour 2: NFL Chooses Love + Kevin Durant Rumor Mill + Bomani Jones & Cam Jordan Join the Show
VIDEO
Watch GoJo and Golic every weekday on Samsung TV Plus, Roku, Xumo Play, Google TV and DraftKingsNetwork.com from 8 to 10 a.m. ET. The show is also available via audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also follow Mike Golic Sr. on X at @golic and Mike Golic Jr. on X at @mikegolicjr.
