From guarding Larry Bird to calling Nikola Jokić, Scott Hastings has seen basketball’s evolution up close. Tom Green sits down with the former Razorback, Detroit Piston, and longtime Nuggets analyst for a wide-ranging conversation on lessons from Eddie Sutton, life in the NBA’s toughest locker rooms, and what makes Jokić truly one of one.
Scott Hastings joins Tom Green to reflect on a life lived across basketball’s biggest moments — from facing Larry Bird in the 1979 NCAA Regional Final to broadcasting Jokić’s nightly brilliance. Hastings shares stories of Sidney Moncrief and the iconic Sports Illustrated “High on the Hogs” cover that drew him to Arkansas, his time under Hall of Fame coach Eddie Sutton, and his wild journey through the NBA — from Dominique Wilkins’ Hawks to the Bad Boy Pistons’ championship run. He recounts lessons from Bill Laimbeer and Brendan Malone, his transition to broadcasting, and how curiosity shaped his second career. The episode closes with Hastings’ admiration for Nikola Jokić and his warning to fans not to take this era of Nuggets basketball for granted.
00;00;02;11 - 00;00;37;19
Tom Green
Hi, there. Welcome back to the other Tom green show. I was thinking, because here we are in the first week of November, that it was. Let me do the math. 34 years ago this week that Magic Johnson announced that he was retiring from basketball due to contracting the HIV virus. Well, what I remember about that, I was working at channel nine at the time as a sportscaster, but that afternoon the word was breaking, and, I was put in front of all of those action cams as we cut into programing in the afternoon for an NBC or ABC at the time, a special report.
00;00;37;21 - 00;00;59;10
Tom Green
And, it was kind of a big deal to put a sportscaster on in the afternoon during the soap opera is to introduce what would then be a live report with Magic Johnson announcing this. And it was a huge story. So I, I intro the special report. They did the special report, of course. Everything around the world then focused on magic that night.
00;00;59;10 - 00;01;21;08
Tom Green
It was very early in the season. I think it was the fourth game of the year for the Denver Nuggets, and they were playing the Minnesota Timberwolves. I learned a good lesson that night because everyone after that game wanted to talk to a Timberwolves. It was, Tony Campbell because Tony had been a teammate of Magic's. He was really the only way we could in Denver localize the story of what magic meant.
00;01;21;11 - 00;01;41;17
Tom Green
So we all go into the locker room and instead of covering the game, everyone wanted to talk to Tony Campbell. I don't know if I asked or someone to ask, but the first question to him is, how did you hear about magic? And he kind of picked his head up and looked around and then he just pointed directly at me and he said, you told me.
00;01;41;19 - 00;01;59;25
Tom Green
And I it was a great lesson in remembering that when you are delivering the news, sometimes you can get lost in the stories of the day and they are stories and stories, but they may not be stories to you, but they are stories to someone. And on that day, it was a big story that affected Tony Campbell very much.
00;01;59;25 - 00;02;17;25
Tom Green
And it was a great lesson to me to remember. There's always someone who's taking a story like that very personally, and to treat it with such care and respect. Make sure you do so. Another man who played in that game is our guest today. We're going to visit with Scott Hastings here on the other Tom green show.
00;02;21;19 - 00;02;24;28
Unknown
10.49 47 Arkansas
00;02;24;29 - 00;02;25;23
Unknown
run.
00;02;25;26 - 00;02;26;19
Speaker 2
They you like two.
00;02;26;19 - 00;02;32;22
Unknown
Great boxers out there Jim. They're just going ahead and taking their team. Put them on the back and saying I'll take it from here.
00;02;32;24 - 00;02;39;12
Speaker 2
Third again going low. Earth gets it away quickly. But that's just too long. And it's taken down by the freshman Hastings
00;02;40;01 - 00;02;47;08
Tom Green
Yeah. The freshman Hastings taken down the rebound Larry Bird. He didn't make many shots that day did he.
00;02;47;11 - 00;03;07;21
Scott Hastings
No he didn't he didn't make the biggest win of that game, that's for sure. But you know the one thing I really remember that I remember two things that game one bird. And then we had Sidney Moncrief. Yeah. Who I think was the fourth pick and that that upcoming travel. Terrific player, fantastic player. Hall of Fame player, I believe.
00;03;07;23 - 00;03;28;23
Scott Hastings
And they went back and forth. I mean, I think I think Sid had 29, bird had 34 or something like that. And it was back and forth. But I do remember it was Bob heating who was 71. All we get called for travel and where he gets trip, they go travel, come back down, boom, boom, boom.
00;03;28;25 - 00;03;48;15
Scott Hastings
Bird comes off like a little dribble hand off with Hayden and I jump out and I think I'm going to block this shot. I timed a perfect guy. Got off Hayden right there. And bird kind of puts it down. Just touches my fingernail. He gets and there's a great picture in Sports Illustrated of him shooting that left hand lefty.
00;03;48;15 - 00;04;15;28
Scott Hastings
I remember with the ball on his palm throws up, it goes in and we, lose the Midwest Regional finals. And you know the feeling, just like you're talking about Tony Campbell right there in the the inches the fractions of fractions of six inches, that could have changed the whole world. The NBA was saved because of magic bird, right?
00;04;16;01 - 00;04;38;09
Scott Hastings
I mean, I was playing league. They were talking we only had 23 teams. And they were talking about losing 3 or 4 teams. Magic Bird comes in and changes the entire trajectory of the NBA. Well, if we won that game, would it have been Sydney Magic, you know, in the iconic final? Would that would that have had the same impact, the impetus of, bird magic?
00;04;38;12 - 00;04;55;28
Tom Green
It was, an amazing game. I got a chance to watch it again. One of the things I noticed, because I was watching the game, getting ready for this interview, is, there was an era, and this is 1979, the regional final in Cincinnati. Indiana State goes to the final. Four, referees used to call traveling.
00;04;56;01 - 00;04;56;24
Scott Hastings
Well, I got.
00;04;56;28 - 00;04;58;08
Tom Green
Because there were a bunch of them in that.
00;04;58;08 - 00;05;15;22
Scott Hastings
Game. I think I got two and one one. I went right by bird, laid it up, and I still I still don't know if I traveled, but they obviously called it, so I guess I did. But yeah, I had one on my because I remember laid it up good. You know my boy. So that just went by Larry Bird laid this up.
00;05;15;28 - 00;05;17;04
Scott Hastings
And, now.
00;05;17;07 - 00;05;35;26
Tom Green
You're so young then you really were. I mean, a freshman, and you played the entire game. You were relied on Eddie Sutton. Yeah. Can you imagine? I mean, you look at 18 year olds now, and the world's being asked to them, but you, in watching the game, you seemed comfortable. You didn't seem like you were out of your depth.
00;05;35;29 - 00;06;09;01
Scott Hastings
Oh, I started midway through my freshman year. And we had guys that were like, you know, Mr. Arkansas basketball that were freshmen. And we had the number two, the runner up, mr.. Indiana basketball that year. And we had we had some big recruits and I was was Mr.. Kansas. But, yeah, I don't know. Listen, Coach Sutton, you know, finally got in the Hall of Fame after he passed away was a phenomenal coach.
00;06;09;07 - 00;06;31;02
Scott Hastings
You know, you've had coaches, you've had mentors in your life that you'll just never forget the lessons they taught. And you always tell a story about him one time my freshman year. Maybe this is where the calmness came from. Were losing a home game by five points. Probably like two minutes to go maybe, or something like that. Just before the shot clock.
00;06;31;02 - 00;06;34;13
Scott Hastings
And you can actually stall game. Just hold the ball. Remember the four.
00;06;34;13 - 00;06;34;26
Tom Green
Corners.
00;06;34;27 - 00;06;58;04
Scott Hastings
North Carolina four corners. Guilford. Yeah, yeah. And we came at a time and I remember just anxiety ridden coming over that thing. And coach said look there is it. Relax. You guys are going to win this game. And it was it's the first time I've ever heard someone say, dude, you're okay. And we're down at home and we sure enough we came back and won that game.
00;06;58;04 - 00;07;09;07
Scott Hastings
And after that I was like, oh man, that's that's the first time I was spoken confidence into by a coach. And, and so I guess maybe I don't I surprised nervous as heck.
00;07;09;10 - 00;07;29;15
Tom Green
How did you end up at Arkansas? Because I always think of I love photography, and I still remember the Sports Illustrated cover would have been when you were a senior in high school of Sidney Moncrief, high on the hogs. Manny Millan took that picture, and I'm just like, oh my God. He was playing with Delfin Brewer. Then. Had you already decided you were going to be an Arkansas Razorbacks?
00;07;29;16 - 00;07;50;11
Scott Hastings
No. One of Arkansas's assistant coaches the year before, coach the Pittsburgh high school. Bob Cleveland. Right. And he was also the tennis coach. And I played tennis. Yeah. So and we, you know, first time ever in Pittsburgh was kind of a big school compared to the little independents. And we beat the snot out of them twice.
00;07;50;11 - 00;08;11;06
Scott Hastings
I had good games and I remember him talking to me at tennis tournaments. I mean, because you're in the same league and. Right, you see all these different tennis matches, we'd have and it was, hey, I'm going to Arkansas this year. I'm going to tell him all about it will tell about you. That's all cool. And I really know much about Arkansas, but they were the first ones.
00;08;11;08 - 00;08;16;24
Scott Hastings
And back then there was pretty strict. Okay, you can't even send correspondence till this date.
00;08;16;26 - 00;08;23;27
Tom Green
Well, let's straighten out one thing. Independence is, is is in way down in southeastern Kansas. You're almost in Oklahoma, right?
00;08;24;01 - 00;08;30;02
Scott Hastings
Well, I'm like, I'm like an hour and 15 minutes from Tulsa in an hour and 15 minutes from Joplin. So we're right there in it.
00;08;30;02 - 00;08;35;23
Tom Green
But as a, as a kid in Kansas, did you want to play it? Q k state.
00;08;35;26 - 00;08;36;14
Scott Hastings
Q.
00;08;36;16 - 00;08;39;11
Tom Green
Q is where you wanted to go. Who is the coach then?
00;08;39;14 - 00;08;40;05
Scott Hastings
Ted Owens.
00;08;40;11 - 00;08;44;11
Tom Green
And did Ted want you to come play at Ku?
00;08;44;14 - 00;09;08;26
Scott Hastings
As a boy growing up in my hometown, I would say 90% of the town was Ku fan. The other 10% were probably K-State at that time. And so I always wanted to go to Ku. I remember in subclass, when we first got to use a router. Right. Made a thing Kansas Jayhawks and I put a little plastic and made it red and blue and and, I always wanted to go to Ku.
00;09;08;28 - 00;09;31;18
Scott Hastings
We won the state that year of the MVP of the tournament. I was all state. And the Topeka and Wichita pay paper. I was the player of the year in the Topeka paper, blah, blah, blah. And they told me they recruited me, but they never asked me for an official visit. But they said, we have four scholarships for our fifth choice, K-State, recruiting me hard.
00;09;31;19 - 00;09;37;17
Scott Hastings
And for you and I, we remember these days when when you were a rival. Yeah, you were a rival.
00;09;37;19 - 00;09;38;18
Tom Green
It was serious.
00;09;38;24 - 00;09;49;27
Scott Hastings
And I took a visit to K-State and and Neely and I became great friends and and and I loved it there. But that was K-State. And it was just hard.
00;09;49;28 - 00;09;51;14
Tom Green
Not you couldn't cross that.
00;09;51;20 - 00;09;52;05
Scott Hastings
It was just.
00;09;52;05 - 00;09;53;22
Tom Green
You had was Jayhawk blood.
00;09;53;22 - 00;10;14;06
Scott Hastings
Yeah. I couldn't I couldn't cross it. But also was the first one on me. They sent me letters. In fact, our state tournament, they sent us a blow up poster, sent me a blow up poster of that dunk, and it's called high on the hogs. Yeah, it's one of the great, great covers. I still remember it. Right.
00;10;14;09 - 00;10;34;08
Scott Hastings
And Sidney's like, well it has I mean he's like, oh my gosh, we had that. And we would tape it up for our state games in our locker room. And so all the guys would touch it going out to the locker room. Yeah. So I guess they kind of had a a head start if you will. Went down there, the campus a lot of people don't know much about Arkansas.
00;10;34;08 - 00;10;55;15
Scott Hastings
But you go there. The campus is beautiful, right? The people were great. I had a great visit, so I committed while I was there. They flew me up the next day to sign me. Ted Owens called my eventually become my father in law, who was a two sport played for Fogg Allen again. Oh, wow. So he he's a deep.
00;10;55;17 - 00;10;55;28
Scott Hastings
Yeah.
00;10;56;05 - 00;10;56;28
Tom Green
Deep in the blood.
00;10;56;28 - 00;11;22;28
Scott Hastings
Won the big seven golf championship. Was in the Kansas Golf Hall of Fame Dave Dennis and, but he was in the hospital with bronchitis and Terrell Owens calling him said, hey, we want to get Scott up here for an official visit. Signing goes. Well, you got about 15 minutes because Eddie Sutton's in town. But it was it was it was the greatest thing that I, I want to say it was an accidental decision, but it was where I needed to be.
00;11;23;01 - 00;11;49;02
Scott Hastings
It was more of a teaching. I needed to be taught. It was just. It was just great. I did go back, but daughter in of going to Ku. Right. And was back for a game. It was the 100th anniversary of Ku basketball. Oh, wow. And there was my father in law was honored. And there's, Dean Smith was there, and he's sitting there in line talking with Dean Smith or, you know, Dean Smith.
00;11;49;02 - 00;12;07;17
Scott Hastings
You know, I mean, pretty cool, iconic, pretty cool. And I saw Ted, so I went up to to him and introduced or reintroduced myself. And he knew me a scholar. And he told me, he goes, you're the biggest mistake I ever had in recruiting. Oh, wow. And we should have had you here. And just that's my fault.
00;12;07;17 - 00;12;10;22
Scott Hastings
I'm sorry, blah, blah, blah. So that was kind of, you know.
00;12;10;27 - 00;12;26;18
Tom Green
Well, it's funny how you I, I do this a lot on this show in particular. You look back on your life and all the things that happened to you, not necessarily by you, that shape you. And you look back and I go, boy, that was a good accident. You know, that was a that was a I didn't know what I was doing, but it worked out for me.
00;12;26;18 - 00;12;26;27
Tom Green
Right.
00;12;26;27 - 00;12;29;26
Scott Hastings
So I was bitter. Bitter with Ku.
00;12;29;28 - 00;12;32;07
Tom Green
Did you ever get to play them. Did Arkansas play.
00;12;32;07 - 00;12;47;24
Scott Hastings
That. No. My freshman year, the, the you saw that Indiana State game of that season, right? 7879 US and Indiana State were both in a regional that was at Allen Fieldhouse.
00;12;47;25 - 00;12;48;11
Tom Green
Oh, okay.
00;12;48;18 - 00;13;14;01
Scott Hastings
And I remember actually going to dinner the night before the games. And there's Indiana State. And we go looked at them and every you know there's bird because every new bird was and but we go to play we were stayed in Allen Fieldhouse I have a great game. I'm one of the guys they bring up to the podium after the game and my line and the local papers, I probably knew this was, you know, me forever.
00;13;14;04 - 00;13;19;02
Scott Hastings
I'm trying to get better being passive aggressive, I really am. That's the one thing I'm really working on.
00;13;19;02 - 00;13;20;09
Tom Green
How's it coming?
00;13;20;12 - 00;13;40;01
Scott Hastings
It's a process. It's a process. It really is. But. So I'm up on the podium. Goes, how does a Kansas boy get down? I said, listen, my whole life all I wanted to do was be a Ku Jayhawk. So it's an honor to play here, blah, blah, blah. And next day the paper, you know, local kid always wanted to be a Jayhawk, blah, blah, blah, blah.
00;13;40;09 - 00;13;45;20
Scott Hastings
So that was my passive aggressive way to get back, I guess, at the program.
00;13;45;22 - 00;14;06;28
Tom Green
I want to talk to you about broadcasting in a bit, but let's stay let's stay on the court as a player. Extremely successful four year player at Arkansas with really good teams. There you go to the pros and you drafted by the Knicks. And I was just thinking it wasn't necessarily a good fit because I think of a guy who grew up in independence, a worldly guy, but a guy then went to fame.
00;14;07;01 - 00;14;08;08
Scott Hastings
Worldly then, trust me.
00;14;08;08 - 00;14;17;11
Tom Green
Were you I mean, was New York too much? Wrong place. I mean, they had some good players in the team. I mean, you had Bernard King and Ernie Grunfeld were there.
00;14;17;14 - 00;14;41;03
Scott Hastings
And guys are still buddies of mine today. Cartwright and I only played a half year. Bill and I were talk all the time whenever our teams met. I saw Ernie till he got fired at Washington. Fact my first time I drank too much on a road trip was with Ernie Grunfeld. I didn't realize that Eastern Europeans. That's when I found out that I don't want to get into a beer drinking contest with eastern.
00;14;41;09 - 00;14;42;03
Tom Green
They're the pros.
00;14;42;07 - 00;15;03;22
Scott Hastings
Yeah, because I think I was in bed by 6:00. Yeah, it was, it was, it was, we went there. They actually flew me in for the draft. The NBA did, and like I said, I was only 23 first round picks, and I was supposed to go somewhere between, I think they said 12 and 19 somewhere in there.
00;15;03;24 - 00;15;28;24
Scott Hastings
So they flew me in. First round goes, not picked. They're the first pick in the second round, 29th. Right. But I remember getting there and I'd just gotten married, but had come off my honeymoon to that, the draft. And we're like, looking around going, boy. And I remember my wife at the time saying, I don't care where you get drafted as long as it's not here, you know, because we're open.
00;15;29;00 - 00;15;53;14
Scott Hastings
We're open up the window. There's this nasty brick wall looking out the window of the hotel, and sure enough. But listen, Uber was great. I'm still great friends with U-b. Mike Vitello was an assistant. Yeah. And so, I mean, it was really great from that standpoint, but I but I heard you be one time talking to a guy about, you know, he said big white guys and I.
00;15;53;16 - 00;16;01;17
Scott Hastings
Yeah, I guess he talked about make sure they got learn to get on the block and play the back to the basket. But you know in my game I was never a back to the basket guy.
00;16;01;18 - 00;16;03;15
Tom Green
You were tall small forward.
00;16;03;17 - 00;16;28;02
Scott Hastings
Yeah yeah I always said I was a point guard. Trapped in the center's body is what I always said. But he had a certain style, and that's what it was in the early 80s. You had a certain style with what big guys are supposed to be. The when the pick and pop that you see in today's game. But, I did also realize, and this probably UB's credit and then even Mike Fratello I got traded Atlanta and Mike Vitello came out.
00;16;28;04 - 00;16;57;00
Scott Hastings
Kevin lot of fired. Mike took over the next year. And in fact they go you got be excited. You had Mike in New York. I'm going yeah this is going to be great. But I played there 5 or 5 years for, But it was just devastating. I learned then, okay, my parents and grandparents were teachers and probably made 36, 38,000 a year.
00;16;57;01 - 00;17;20;22
Scott Hastings
40,000, you know, good living for for a little small town in Kansas. So they got but we never were for want. I wouldn't say we were middle class, but it felt like we were there. But I realized 125,000 or 150,000 a year was if my mom said that to me, you know, you just need to be happy and work hard because, you know, you make it one year.
00;17;20;22 - 00;17;25;19
Scott Hastings
Would it take me 3 or 4 years to make? And it really hit on me. And I realized, you know what?
00;17;25;22 - 00;17;26;17
Tom Green
She's right again.
00;17;26;17 - 00;17;34;05
Scott Hastings
Let me be ugly. Let me, let me be an enforcer. Let me be a bang bang set screen guy and stay in the league as long as I can.
00;17;34;07 - 00;17;55;01
Tom Green
And the chapters of your NBA career are so interesting. It wasn't long in New York, but playing in New York was obviously interesting. And the coaches you played for, but you go to Atlanta, you know, the Dominique Wilkins show is in full flight. You end up on the worst team in basketball for a year. In Miami, you go to the best team in basketball in Detroit.
00;17;55;04 - 00;18;16;10
Tom Green
And then you find your home, your forever home in Denver. And I just think, you know, some of that you drove some of those choices were choices you made signing here or signing there. Sometimes you're traded, but, you know, you think of that life. Was there a favorite stop for you in the NBA? Because the Dominique Wilkins era, to me, seemed like a lot of fun.
00;18;16;12 - 00;18;44;22
Scott Hastings
To this day. Some of my best friends was that with a five and a half years I spent in in Atlanta, in fact, I cell phone somewhere. I got a we got a text read of about nine guys have just reconnected in the last year. Yeah John battles Bud Webb Kevin Will as Cliff Livingston. Doc Rivers, Randy Wittman, you know all all these Tre Rollins, all these guys that were that were together for that.
00;18;44;22 - 00;18;48;21
Tom Green
Team could have won a title for if not for bird and that Boston club.
00;18;48;22 - 00;19;13;13
Scott Hastings
I always thought we were like usually the second or third best team for about 2 or 3 years. We either couldn't get by Detroit. Lost them in a playoff loss game seven in Boston to Boston the year they wanted. It was just it was like, okay, we can't get over this. But, you know, and so it's always one of those one of those teams, you know, but it's like it's like the Karl Malone thing.
00;19;13;16 - 00;19;17;04
Scott Hastings
Yeah. Utah was fabulous for a whole lot of years.
00;19;17;11 - 00;19;18;21
Tom Green
Wrong years.
00;19;18;23 - 00;19;35;06
Scott Hastings
Wrong years. Got any Michael Jordan. So I think that was a little bit with us. I mean we won the years L.A. When we went into L.A and beat them by 17. Yeah. And I mean, we were a good team, well coached by Mike and, but, yeah, just could never get over that hump.
00;19;35;08 - 00;19;53;26
Tom Green
If a youngsters listening to this or if you're watching this, try to explain to them what Dominique was, because Dominique I, I'd never seen anything quite like him. I mean, even when you go back to the Connie Hawkins and and all that, doctor Javon, I mean, Dominique might have been the best in game dunker there ever was. Oh, maybe.
00;19;53;26 - 00;19;55;07
Tom Green
Doc?
00;19;55;09 - 00;20;15;10
Scott Hastings
Yeah, doc was more fluid. Dominique was more powerful because he'd get up and dunk on. You. Might want to get out of the way. We were practicing one time, and like I said, you know, I've known you for a long time, and we get each other and bust each other, but I. I used to tell you the truth of what really happened.
00;20;15;11 - 00;20;40;02
Scott Hastings
Right? We're at, Morehouse. That's where we we had a practice at Morehouse University, and we're in a practice, right, for the playoffs, and something happens, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. We get into a breakaway, Dominique goes up and this is in practice. But it's we're scrimmaging. Gets up and tomahawk dunks us one his foot. To this day I don't know how this happened.
00;20;40;04 - 00;21;05;13
Scott Hastings
Is inside the net and the ball goes through the net, hits his foot, backs back out and goes to the top of the building at Morehouse. And we all just stop because that was his foot. And I mean, if you're going to contort yourself, are you at home right now? Okay, how how high was my feet off the ground if my foot's up there in the rims of ten foot?
00;21;05;15 - 00;21;13;16
Scott Hastings
Yeah. He was he was special. He would. And listen, we played in the year. That team and him when you could just beat the snot out of a guy. Right.
00;21;13;21 - 00;21;15;04
Tom Green
Rough game.
00;21;15;07 - 00;21;30;24
Scott Hastings
If he played now and you couldn't touch him, good luck. I mean, I think he I think he's got some sort of record. I think he I think he averaged over 28 points for 8 or 9 seasons in a row. Incredible. I mean, that's a that's unbelievable in a physical era.
00;21;30;26 - 00;21;51;18
Tom Green
So you love it. You're in Atlanta. Not so fast. You go down to Miami, an expansion team that's going to have the worst record in the league. And then you go to the Pistons. So, I mean, try to the juxtaposition of those two is interesting. Going from the worst team to a you went to a championship team and won another championship while you were there.
00;21;51;21 - 00;22;13;02
Scott Hastings
Yeah, I, I was on a team that won 50 games. That's still to me, a staple in the NBA is if you get 50 wins, you're pretty good team in the NBA. It's still 30 years later. Same thing. To Miami 15. And we had to win the last game of the year to win 15. And then then you win an NBA championship.
00;22;13;05 - 00;22;50;13
Scott Hastings
And and it hit me right there. The difference. Listen you always got to have the requisite talent. You know you know you probably done stories and talked about the Rockies and everything else. But the difference between that championship piston team, the 50 win Atlanta team and an expansion team is night and day. And it's it's you can you can feel it from the day I got it I got I, I after our first practice, Bill and beer took myself and David Greenwood out for dinner and it was it was a scene straight out of The Untouchables with Sean Connery.
00;22;50;15 - 00;23;12;03
Scott Hastings
You know, they pull a knife out, you pull a gun, they send one of your arms to the hospital. You said, well, there's to the morgue straight out of that. Bill said on one thing and Dave and I and, you know, Bill 611 or whatever. And I'm David Greenwood myself are 610. But but we're sitting side beside, you know, like on the other side of the talking, right at talking right at us.
00;23;12;05 - 00;23;27;08
Scott Hastings
And I'll never forget this word Windsor, Canada. And he goes, we're a guard team, no. One. And I'm and I can't even do the veracity of how Bill was doing it. No one touches our guards.
00;23;27;10 - 00;23;27;27
Tom Green
Isaiah and.
00;23;27;27 - 00;23;51;07
Scott Hastings
Joe. Isaiah, Joe Johnson. Yeah. He goes anybody touches our guard we knock that player out of the game. And I went for a crack and a smile. Right right. And it was straight out Sean Connery. And it was a little smile. And and that was our philosophy. We protect our guards because our guard stay healthy. We win. But it was a mentality not only with the players.
00;23;51;10 - 00;24;13;23
Scott Hastings
Jack McCluskey, the GM, Mr. Davidson, the owner. Ball boys, ball boys. Chuck Daly, Chuck Daly, obviously Hall of Fame coach, but it was it was it was the first time ever it was on that talked about. We're here to win a championship. I mean games moment. Who cares. We're here to win a championship. We didn't have it in Miami.
00;24;13;23 - 00;24;33;27
Scott Hastings
Obviously expansion was I just let's just, like, get blown out, right? Right. If we were within ten inches the fourth quarter, we were exciting boys, I think. But in, Atlanta was always just win 50. That was Detroit was totally different. And I've tried to share this message. I thought Shanahan brought this message as a Bronco coach.
00;24;33;28 - 00;24;50;11
Scott Hastings
Haven't been around them. It's about winning championships. It's not about winning ten games or 12 games or 50 games in the NBA. And that mindset permeated, I'm telling you, Tommy, from the ball boy, right to the owner and everything in between.
00;24;50;12 - 00;24;56;16
Tom Green
Who did it start with is it Laimbeer? Listen, Chuck or I, somebody had to be the genesis of that.
00;24;56;16 - 00;25;16;15
Scott Hastings
I think it started with Jack McCluskey. Right. The general manager who I think was a career marine or something like that. I mean, he was a military guy, little short dude, just saying. The greatest general manager I played for, and he and Isaiah were I mean, I mean, they'd go at each other, right? I mean.
00;25;16;17 - 00;25;19;04
Tom Green
Two small guys who would. The small guys.
00;25;19;07 - 00;25;39;07
Scott Hastings
And it's about battling with. Yeah. It just I think it probably started with Jack and then Isaiah and then lamb barely brought him. He was dead into it. Joe Dubois in a quiet way was in there. I, I heard Joe one time. That's the toughness of Joe. He set the record for the business for most minutes played.
00;25;39;09 - 00;25;54;23
Scott Hastings
And his dad he passed away in the NBA finals that year. It had a foot amputated, a leg amputated because of diabetes. And somebody goes, hey, Joe, aren't you getting a little tired of your thumb about asking Chuck, you know the load management.
00;25;54;29 - 00;25;57;01
Tom Green
Let's do what we call load.
00;25;57;01 - 00;26;08;05
Scott Hastings
Yeah. This is 1990. You talking about Chuck about maybe give me some load management. He goes, listen, I got a dad that doesn't have a leg and I've never heard him complaint. Yeah, I'm going to complain about playing basketball.
00;26;08;05 - 00;26;09;07
Tom Green
Not in my DNA.
00;26;09;07 - 00;26;16;06
Scott Hastings
No one is dead. So that was that toughness too. And the Mark Aguirre had the Chicago toughness. He was I always thought he was a pretty boy.
00;26;16;08 - 00;26;20;10
Tom Green
We played you know he's an offensive player. But when he got to Detroit he had to do more.
00;26;20;11 - 00;26;25;21
Scott Hastings
Well he was but he was. He was tough too. But it just it just permeated the.
00;26;25;21 - 00;26;33;10
Tom Green
Whole it fit the town too. You were like, if you think in Miami, you know, you can be tough, but in Detroit you kind of have to be tough or else they won't know.
00;26;33;10 - 00;26;45;22
Scott Hastings
Miami, they were fine. And Ronnie sickly for wearing, loafers without socks. Okay. Which, yeah, that's a did anybody ever watch Miami Vice? Yeah, it's Miami, it's Miami. Right.
00;26;45;25 - 00;27;04;03
Tom Green
What about Brendan Malone? Did you. He was the assistant who came up with the Jordan rules, so to speak. And it sounds like the Jordan rules, you know that was how you protect your guards. But if you're going to beat Michael Jordan, he has. You have to punish him for every inch he gets. And it was Brendan Malone, Michael Malone's father, who got credit for that.
00;27;04;05 - 00;27;25;08
Scott Hastings
Yeah. Listen, Brant and I live close to each other, and I would, I would usually pick him up and drive him back and forth to trips, like to the airport. So I had a long time to talk to him. Got really close with Brendan. Great. Dude. Just loved him to death. But yeah, I mean, you know, we it's so funny.
00;27;25;08 - 00;27;43;08
Scott Hastings
It's kind of like you remember you were doing nine sports in it and in those those first two Superbowl teams. Offensive line never talks, right? Right. Now, as far as the cameras on there, you can sit there and talk to him and be yes and get everything else for a podcast. But you know that you want, but nothing on camera.
00;27;43;10 - 00;27;59;21
Scott Hastings
Back then no one talked about that. In fact, everybody be dumb. What do you what are you talking about? Yeah, well, was basically don't let him get the ball double if he gets it. And if he goes around, put him on his butt. That was that was the simple three rules. That's all it was.
00;27;59;23 - 00;28;11;05
Tom Green
Other teams may have felt the same way. But when you talk about Laimbeer, when you talk about the character that Detroit Pistons team, every player knew the deal. And every player knew you'd be measured by every play.
00;28;11;05 - 00;28;34;21
Scott Hastings
Bills. The only guy. Listen, I would, I got divorced a bunch of years ago and went through therapy for 5 or 6 years because I always said with is your fault, her fault? Both your faults, nobody's fault. It's a kick in the scrotum. And we talked about it, and everybody has a facade. We have an image we want people to see us as.
00;28;34;21 - 00;28;53;18
Scott Hastings
And I was that guy forever. And ever when, I suppose, when I first got in the media. But probably even when I played. But saying that Bill, Bill's the guy you see on TV and, that's just him. That's the real thing. Yeah, that's that's just this is an old western with a fake facade for the. That's Bill.
00;28;53;25 - 00;28;56;10
Scott Hastings
He's he's a butthead in person too.
00;28;56;13 - 00;29;06;04
Tom Green
Well, he's got he's loving. He had a long run as the most hated player in the league and everywhere but Detroit. Yeah I mean they they couldn't stand to see him coming. And they hated him more when he was leaving.
00;29;06;10 - 00;29;21;19
Scott Hastings
Do when the WNBA started his career for forward NBA because he brought the mentality to women's basketball. But he was he and he and Rick Mahorn was his assistant coach. Yeah. How scary is that? If you if you think about it. Right.
00;29;21;22 - 00;29;24;27
Tom Green
We're just starting this league guys. Don't you know it's like slapshot.
00;29;25;02 - 00;29;29;08
Scott Hastings
I mean they start off by winning a couple a row. Oh my goodness.
00;29;29;11 - 00;29;39;10
Tom Green
How did you get to Denver I mean it was a choice you made I mean because now I look at you and I think you're such a part of Denver, but you hadn't really been here.
00;29;39;12 - 00;30;06;25
Scott Hastings
No. It was funny when Doug was coaching here, and I was only a free agent one time in Atlanta, was a free agent. And for me, I still had the hopes of being one of those guys who could shoot it. Would Doug let all these big guys do? Yeah, they got to shoot all the time. And so I was I'd love to play in Denver because, you know, you don't have to just put your back to the basket.
00;30;07;00 - 00;30;09;22
Tom Green
Chase Rasmussen. So all the big guys.
00;30;09;25 - 00;30;38;23
Scott Hastings
Were lesbians and probably even day. And it was great. I don't I don't think would have survived. Just back to the basket. Players know that when their strength so I always, always thought I get a chance for San Antonio. Always like San Antonio. But Bibbs an upside and back with Atlanta. And then I always tell everybody I was drafted once, then traded, then drafted, then traded and traded.
00;30;38;25 - 00;30;40;07
Tom Green
So the other draft was the expansion.
00;30;40;11 - 00;30;58;12
Scott Hastings
Expansion to get you to Miami. So I actually I actually for a guy who played 11 years and averaged 1.8 points a game, I was never released. I was never cut. So it's like a badge of courage for me right now. How's your stats? I never cut them pretty good, but but, so I got traded actually for,
00;30;58;15 - 00;31;22;21
Scott Hastings
Oh. What's Orlando Orlando Woolridge. Orlando Woolridge traded to Detroit here. They were looking for more scoring and whatever. Talking with guys since they thought it was a horrible trade. But came here and then played with one of the nicest guys in the world, but maybe the worst coach in pro basketball history. And Paul Westhead. Yeah. And then got Dan's first year.
00;31;22;29 - 00;31;26;14
Scott Hastings
Yeah. It was actually fantastic. I thought he did a good job.
00;31;26;16 - 00;31;47;10
Tom Green
So when you leave you've you've already been a guy who is now evolved into someone with tremendous media savvy. Your personality is built for this. And you know, when we talk about the small town guy ending up in New York, now through 11 years in the NBA, you've become a guy who can handle yourself. As a matter of fact, in your last season, that was the year you did Letterman.
00;31;47;11 - 00;31;57;24
Tom Green
You, you went, right after the last game before the All-Star break up to New York. And, the the reason they had you on was because of the 1.8. Right.
00;31;57;28 - 00;32;19;20
Scott Hastings
Well, the reason they put me on is life magazine. What's the cover of, Charles Dion was on the cover? Yes, yes. Did a whole, like, mid middle spread on me, like 4 or 5 pages, 3 or 4 pages. Of the they called me the best 12th man and best or best, best 10th man or left that 12th man.
00;32;19;20 - 00;32;40;27
Scott Hastings
Something like that. 12th man. In basketball. So did this whole article that, was one of your goals of, you know, I was always had a dream of being on David Letterman, who at the time was, you know, the king of late night. Yeah. Late night. Johnny had retired and everything else. So next, I know you get a call from the producers and and got put up there.
00;32;41;01 - 00;32;52;02
Tom Green
So you media savvy, you were friendly with media almost everywhere you went. You were very comfortable on camera there. Probably had like two more if you played 25 minutes a night, but at least you were a good in it.
00;32;52;02 - 00;32;53;27
Scott Hastings
I don't like me more.
00;32;53;29 - 00;33;09;04
Tom Green
So, but when you when you leave, is it your first step when you retire from the game? Is your first step? Do you think about coaching where you asked to coach or do you think I want to? That's too hard. I want to just talk like like Tom green does and do your thing for a living.
00;33;09;06 - 00;33;28;17
Scott Hastings
Listen, I still I still want to be you and get into a Hall of fame and all that fancy stuff. I want to be Tom. Great. Who doesn't? I don't know. You know, a little known secret. I believe I was voted my last two years league, and so it must have been both years. And in Denver, on the all interview team tour.
00;33;28;24 - 00;33;33;03
Scott Hastings
And I'm on it with, like, magic and Charles Barkley and blah, blah, Bo and me.
00;33;33;06 - 00;33;35;23
Tom Green
But funny smart guy. Listen to Jack.
00;33;35;24 - 00;33;53;21
Scott Hastings
I call him you still. He's called me. Remember he used to do the little column in the front of Sports Illustrated? I was his, quote, guy out of the West. I guess. Yeah. You know, it's really funny, I got to. I always loved to be a coach. And to be honest, you. That dream probably didn't stop till about 5 or 6 years ago.
00;33;53;21 - 00;34;20;05
Scott Hastings
Maybe. I had always thought my natural turn would be play. Get in the coach. Always, always stay the game. After about four years, five years in the league, I had a revelation that I'm probably going to play tons. So let's learn. Okay. And I used to mope and sit at the end of the bench instead. I change that around and sat right next to Fratello or Chuck or whoever might be less.
00;34;20;05 - 00;34;39;27
Scott Hastings
I was eating popcorn with Chuck and then I'd go down the other end, but I tried to be more involved and engaged in every game. I, I really paid attention to timeouts and huddles. I rode with Brendan Malone in Detroit, back and forth to airports, picking his brain. So I had I had his my head, my plan.
00;34;39;27 - 00;35;00;25
Scott Hastings
You know, there's there's a great line. Joe Goodell, if you ever want to make God laugh, just tell him you're playing. Right. So my plan was I was always going to go right into coaching. And when I retired and our buddy Tim Wicky was the president at the time, he said, hey, listen, we're going to put you in the media.
00;35;00;28 - 00;35;17;18
Scott Hastings
We're going to let you know, I was working with coach, and he's trying to get me to go the fan right away. Right. Which got me a bump at Get away. So thank you. Thank you for that. We'll put you to media for your doing. The bubble slide you over onto the bench. Well, I think he lives leaves in a couple of years.
00;35;17;18 - 00;35;23;15
Scott Hastings
Right? You know, 33 years later, I'm still still I'm still doing, still waiting for the call.
00;35;23;17 - 00;35;42;21
Tom Green
I want to share something with you. Because you mentioned in the car with Brendan Malone when I worked at ESPN in its infancy. So this is 1980 and 81. There was a guy who worked in the tape library and what he would do, he would also get sent to Bradley Field to pick up guests. He had to drive from Bristol to Hartford and drive him back and.
00;35;42;21 - 00;35;43;22
Scott Hastings
Tell you the limo for.
00;35;43;22 - 00;36;00;16
Tom Green
You. And he had he had to drive, you know, Dick Vitale and whoever. And he said, he told me one day, said, I learned more in that 45 minute ride because I would pay attention to who I was driving, where that guy was. George Bowden Heimer, who went on to become the president of ESPN.
00;36;00;19 - 00;36;02;21
Scott Hastings
So he started as a driver.
00;36;02;25 - 00;36;11;13
Tom Green
Well, he was in the tape library. He just wanted he wanted to be in the door. And I'm not sure if that was his, you know, but it was an entry level job. But you can learn a lot in the car.
00;36;11;14 - 00;36;30;27
Scott Hastings
That's a heck of a story, too, because I was in the FC of ESPN two. I they were bringing me over and I was working for ESPN too for a while. It's amazing. And I don't know if it's still like that or not, but but there's every young kid coming out of journalism school wanted to get to ESPN especially.
00;36;30;27 - 00;36;46;18
Scott Hastings
They wanted to do electronic media, and they had I mean, all these young, hungry dudes and gals that would sit in these tape libraries and just be looking up stuff and getting ready in the information. And yeah, it was amazing. The information, like the Dan Patrick. Well, you talk.
00;36;46;18 - 00;36;54;15
Tom Green
About the 90s when you were leaving, getting ready to leave, playing. When I was there in the 1880s, they'd hire anybody with a pulse. That's how I got in.
00;36;54;15 - 00;36;55;15
Scott Hastings
There was.
00;36;55;15 - 00;37;06;08
Tom Green
Like, they just needed someone. So you get into broadcasting, you do CoA, you're very easy. You know, as far as taking phone calls or doing color on basket.
00;37;06;11 - 00;37;08;15
Scott Hastings
I remember that day on Talk radio is just like.
00;37;08;15 - 00;37;30;09
Tom Green
Let's let's keep it hot brown. You know, that was the best. But when you started, you ended up doing football color. And I thought that was interesting because that's you can take some arrows for that. Who's the basketball guy doing color. And it was because you'd worked with Dave. You and Dave were in the afternoons, so you and Dave would do the Bronco games.
00;37;30;11 - 00;37;40;26
Tom Green
Were you apprehensive about doing football or were you, thin skinned about the critics who said, why is a basketball player telling me about a football game?
00;37;40;28 - 00;38;00;24
Scott Hastings
I was naive. And I just thought it was broadcasting right. I think there's a whole lot of, you know, especially play by play, they don't classroom. There's a whole lot play by play guys. You're like, well you didn't even play anything right. You know. Yeah but it's okay. I just happened to play basketball. Got a letter in football in high school.
00;38;00;24 - 00;38;21;08
Scott Hastings
No, I mean I imagine. Yeah. Come on. So I was a little naive. There was a synergy from our show. Our show is pretty successful on the drive. And then they just wanted to keep that energy, and. And they were still doing football. So then we still had something going on from game to shows. And, and I was lucky,
00;38;21;11 - 00;38;22;10
Tom Green
Got some good years.
00;38;22;10 - 00;38;45;09
Scott Hastings
I well, I got some great years. I my first two years call them Broncos game live in a Super Bowl. I thought that's just how it's supposed to be to us all Brian. Greasy pass basically. And you know Gerald Davis. Yeah. And and that was it. But, I was fortunate because Elway and I were basically the same age, and I had met him as a player when I was playing the nuggets.
00;38;45;09 - 00;39;05;09
Scott Hastings
He'd come in the locker room one time. We'd kind of piled around, and I remember you used to have all those golf tournaments, company noise and vibe, and he'd always put me either with his high school teammates or his college teammates. And so we were buddies. Steve Atwater had a connection. Castillo went to Arkansas. Yeah. And then I just.
00;39;05;16 - 00;39;27;14
Scott Hastings
And I was so blessed and fortunate that I started pal around with the meat heads, the offensive line guys. So I got to know Neyland and sleds and Habib and Tony Jones and Wright Zimmerman. I don't know if anybody in the media ever got to know them at all, but he'd be there and just be look at, because I would go over there and do an interview with like, Shannon Sharpe.
00;39;27;14 - 00;39;28;17
Scott Hastings
Got to know Shannon Sharpe.
00;39;28;17 - 00;39;29;05
Tom Green
Right?
00;39;29;07 - 00;39;46;16
Scott Hastings
And then I'd come back and I would just pal around with the offensive linemen in the locker room for 10 or 15 minutes and and stink. And I would go back, I would go back and play darts for 20 minutes back in the equipment room. But I had mentors. I remember sitting up one time with with Steve.
00;39;46;17 - 00;40;02;13
Scott Hastings
He wasn't playing in a game I think was a preseason game, and he'd sit beside me and I kind of got my thing pulled away, and he's telling me, oh, this is going to be a this can be a blitz we're blitzing here. What the hell? This could be a double digit. Look at the two safeties. It's you know and I learned so much.
00;40;02;13 - 00;40;41;27
Scott Hastings
What a clinic a clinic. Yeah. And they were kind of patient with me and they gave me time. So I was I was fortunate and I always said this time, and I don't know if years of covering this view would agree. Every sport is exact same thing, only the Exynos change, right? You know, football, basketball, whatever. But the lives that the the athletes leave, the the insecurities the athletes leave, the camaraderie that the teams all have, the the will and focus determination that you need to to win.
00;40;41;29 - 00;40;48;02
Scott Hastings
There's nothing changes. And I had to learn X's. No. But to me that's the easiest thing in the world.
00;40;48;05 - 00;40;49;18
Tom Green
You already spoke that language.
00;40;49;24 - 00;41;02;15
Scott Hastings
So I mean, yeah, but I got to know the players and you could you can empathize a little bit more, you know, it's, you know, the now the money. So great. I think empathy from fans to players is.
00;41;02;15 - 00;41;03;17
Tom Green
Harder to come by, harder.
00;41;03;17 - 00;41;22;21
Scott Hastings
To come by. But back then they weren't they weren't stupid. I mean, I always try to make it a half a million, which is still pretty nice, more than most, but it ain't 60 million, right? Right. But there is more of an empathy. And so I just approach it like that. I want to know the guys. I want to know their beat.
00;41;22;23 - 00;41;24;26
Scott Hastings
Shanahan was great with me.
00;41;24;28 - 00;41;41;28
Tom Green
Will you? I've always been curious, and I think that's what paid off. Like some people think, I already know what I already know, and let's just leave it at that. You were curious, wanted to know more when you said X's and O's. It reminded me of Doug Moe because when Doug and I did the fan, we were the first guys on the fan.
00;41;41;28 - 00;42;00;24
Tom Green
We were going head to head against you and Dave on that drive. It was very competitive. We started doing that and the reason we did it is because the fan had the nugget contract, so they wanted Doug. Well, then all of a sudden the avalanche come to town while we were in the midst of starting our show. So Doug and I would do our show sometimes from McNichols.
00;42;00;24 - 00;42;20;24
Tom Green
The Avs would play that night, and he and I would sit up in the upper deck in the end zone and watch hockey. Doug didn't know anything about hockey was great, you know? And then I realized he sees everything. He sees the X's and O's. He sees it totally different than than someone just sitting watching the game. It's that player coach thing.
00;42;20;24 - 00;42;23;05
Tom Green
The way you view things, it does translate.
00;42;23;05 - 00;42;42;19
Scott Hastings
It can anyway it I yeah I had a conversation a long time ago with a youth soccer coach guy from England. We talked about my daughter and I said they're going to move her from 18 to beating, as any good dad will just just tell me why I wasn't angry or madder. And he goes, well, I said, what she do good.
00;42;42;20 - 00;43;05;14
Scott Hastings
Well, she's she's probably our best passer on our team. She's our best competitor. She's a great leader. She sees the the field as well as any. But we got she's like 1010 right. And I go, what she. Well she can't kick the ball from one end of as well. How many guys be blows you of. Well one.
00;43;05;17 - 00;43;23;10
Scott Hastings
And I said so you telling me best leader, best passer best competitor blah blah blah blah blah. He said he got he got upset. And maybe I take this for granted after you just said what you said, Eagles, you're going to tell me I could watch a basketball game and tell who the good athletes and everything are a goal?
00;43;23;13 - 00;43;47;28
Scott Hastings
I would hope so if you're a coach. I said if you're good. So yes, you know, it's the first time, but you brought a little clarity to that because it listen, I made it. It's tough for me to watch sports, on television now, right? Like Friday night, the nuggets are playing a national game. I my I get antsy because I'm coaching to me.
00;43;47;28 - 00;44;11;06
Scott Hastings
And being an analyst is coaching without without any authority. Right. It is what it is because I'm looking for back screens. What's moving. Where's the guys going what they're doing. And football's the same thing. In fact, it was Esau the game. Me one of the greatest pieces of advice as far as being an analyst of sport. He's white talking best while he goes.
00;44;11;09 - 00;44;25;18
Scott Hastings
Don't overstate the obvious. Right. Well, how do you not overstate the obvious if all you're doing is watching the ball? Yeah, because oh, what a great run. Well, we just saw that, you know Darryl Davis that just reeled off 35. Why yeah.
00;44;25;18 - 00;44;26;23
Tom Green
How something happened.
00;44;27;00 - 00;44;49;24
Scott Hastings
How did that happen. So I was that I don't listen I never got to school for being a TV analyst. Go okay. Why these play? So I'm always looking even to this day. You know, I did a game last night. I'm always looking for the why, you know, not just, you know, why did this? How? Yeah. Did this happen as opposed to, you know, jumping up and down on me.
00;44;49;24 - 00;45;11;03
Scott Hastings
And now I was a good monkey boy. I always told Dave because Dave, Dave's brilliant when it comes to the excellent football, his 11 state championships. All right. Mind you that. Yeah. And there was many times I'd see a wrestler. So I always call myself the Monkey boy. Oh boy. Which is perfect. I got the pro in the monkey boy.
00;45;11;05 - 00;45;30;23
Scott Hastings
Should have been an advertisement, but no, I just I want to give you the how, why things. And why can't I do that for football? Yeah. And there was guys, I can't even remember who it was. There was a, ex NFL player who started doing the sideline stuff. And then maybe the look up became a play by play.
00;45;30;26 - 00;45;49;13
Scott Hastings
And he told our old friend Don Martin, he said Scott inspired me because of the basketball can do color. Why can't I ex-football player do play by play. And so he moved and had a long career. I think if Fox don't play well play. So I don't know I was naive I didn't think any bad thing about it.
00;45;49;13 - 00;46;06;12
Scott Hastings
Plus I knew all the guys and Shanahan was great to me. And you know, Gary Kubiak, I would every road trip probably see Gary, for the hotel and spend ten minutes just talking things over. I had great teachers and, and people that would talk to me and help me.
00;46;06;12 - 00;46;31;01
Tom Green
So that said, you know, you doing basketball is is extraordinarily natural and valuable to viewers. And that's the thing you try to, you know, explain or show or show something that maybe a viewer didn't see. And I think that that's part of why it's worked so well for you. And, you know, the broadcasts are great. And now you you've been broadcasting a great team too for the last few years, and that makes going to the arena a lot more fun.
00;46;31;03 - 00;46;38;02
Scott Hastings
A lot easier to broadcast. Yeah, yeah, I mean, I was I think I did a game, I was fortunate the hands like year.
00;46;38;05 - 00;46;38;18
Tom Green
Yep.
00;46;38;18 - 00;47;04;26
Scott Hastings
1111 wins. Yeah. I was working for TNT so I escaped. I was still in the NBA, but but Bernie decided we were paying too many ex coaches. Let's put him over there in color. So I, I was fortunate I get to work with, you know, some great broadcasters over at Turner. So, it's tough to do when, you know, there's, as Doug would called when you, you know, hope are going into the game, but.
00;47;04;26 - 00;47;14;21
Tom Green
Now you really get to, and, you know, there was the TV blackout thing that happened for a long time, which I thought was incredibly expensive for sports fans in Colorado.
00;47;14;21 - 00;47;15;09
Scott Hastings
Especially this.
00;47;15;09 - 00;47;35;00
Tom Green
Era. Well, that's what I met with McKinnon and Jokic both at the in my car at the Prime of their careers at the top of their games. But now you every night get to watch him play Jokic. And it's it's got to be especially for a guy your size who understands the game. Just ridiculous sometimes to watch him play like what do you say.
00;47;35;00 - 00;47;36;02
Tom Green
What do you do is every.
00;47;36;02 - 00;47;57;26
Scott Hastings
Night the the you feel redundant after a while. Yeah. Because how many great things can you say Malone. Since I think last year or something. And David, David's already said a once or twice this season through seven games, is it I, I hope we don't take this for granted. Yeah, I've tried to share that on the radio too.
00;47;57;28 - 00;48;07;06
Scott Hastings
I said, you know, you know, you cover sports for a million years. You don't see this every day.
00;48;07;06 - 00;48;08;15
Tom Green
In your town, especially.
00;48;08;15 - 00;48;32;13
Scott Hastings
In your town. Yeah. We get to watch highlights of LeBron or magic. Michael or Larry or Kareem or Moses or a key. Yeah. You know, we can keep going. Yeah. Dominique they're not here. We saw Alex English but he was so not assuming what he did. And it never led to the national attention that the Joker I mean Joker's now worldwide global figure.
00;48;32;15 - 00;49;00;11
Scott Hastings
He is a global figure because he's not only done the NBA, he's got an international stage and done stuff too. Yeah, I, I am amazed, because it and it's hopeful for me because I think I'm seeing more teams start to play like Denver, instead of just pick and roll screens 2 to 3, you're seeing more movement and more guys getting around.
00;49;00;13 - 00;49;13;06
Tom Green
Right. You know, and Steve Nash was that is is how he made the game so much better because his four teammates knew he'll find him and the other team knew if if we're not paying attention, he's going to make us look bad. And Jokic is like Steve Nash now.
00;49;13;07 - 00;49;21;28
Scott Hastings
Well what was the Matrix and Stottlemyre with two different teams. And they were okay players right. But they weren't what they were in Phoenix where they.
00;49;21;28 - 00;49;24;02
Tom Green
Know.
00;49;24;04 - 00;49;45;11
Scott Hastings
Yeah it's special man I've I've I was fortunate and I'll pile myself on the back here because I saw it about his late first, second year. I said, dude, there's something different about him. I said, and I remember telling somebody in the as D. Mac likes to call it the muggles, you know, the people that cover teams.
00;49;45;14 - 00;50;05;28
Scott Hastings
As a dude, I think he's going to be the best player it's ever played here. Oh well, no, you can't be real blah blah. Legal playing a game in London 6 or 7 years ago and I'm already fired up on Joker. I'm thinking, this guy's right there, you know, and I this I played against Alex and Dan and I've seen great, great players.
00;50;06;00 - 00;50;25;12
Scott Hastings
But I'm not I'm not seeing this guy so I would Isaiah Thomas was in London and I said, I want you to watch this guy. I said, I think he's the best player the nuggets will ever have. And he reminds me of Vladi or somebody because I thought he was a very good presence. Can't do the things.
00;50;25;12 - 00;50;25;27
Scott Hastings
Joker.
00;50;26;00 - 00;50;28;26
Tom Green
Sabonis you think of a big man who can really pass.
00;50;28;26 - 00;50;48;24
Scott Hastings
And we're played in London. And I talked to Isaiah at half time and he goes dude and this and this. This is kind of in the world. In the world of NBA was introduced. It was amazing how many NBA people and executives and everything were in the London game. And I go, what do you think he goes to.
00;50;48;26 - 00;51;08;01
Scott Hastings
So he he ain't Sabonis right. And he's magic. Wow he's Magic Johnson. He does stuff like Magic Johnson does. And since that time and Isaiah and I share text back and forth. Everyone smile when Joker does. Well I mean what do you have a 60 2020 game like.
00;51;08;01 - 00;51;12;09
Tom Green
You one of one of the like even last night 30, 1515 against Miami.
00;51;12;12 - 00;51;17;12
Scott Hastings
Which which Oscar had 11 of them. Number two on the list is Joker with seven of them. Right.
00;51;17;12 - 00;51;18;11
Tom Green
With more to come with.
00;51;18;11 - 00;51;42;27
Scott Hastings
More to come. Yeah. I'm I'm privileged, I hope, I hope and listen, here's the interesting thing. Do they surround him this year with a lot of other players. Tim Hardaway Jr same mindset Bruce Brown's the same mindset Bruce was okay in other places but he thrives here. This is where you see thrive. He's he's Stottlemyre with Nash right.
00;51;42;27 - 00;52;07;27
Scott Hastings
Yeah. But if they keep surrounded him it is games not predicated on speed. It's not predicated on playing above the rim. If he stays healthy and and they keep surround him with. Good. He could play at this. Yeah. I mean, maybe he starts averaging 20 instead of 25. And I guarantee what's going to happen. He's still going to average 14.
00;52;08;00 - 00;52;17;18
Scott Hastings
So I'll be shocked if he does it this year next or soon. I think this year I if I've said it this year I think you lead the NBA in assists.
00;52;17;21 - 00;52;35;07
Tom Green
Yeah well assists aren't at a premium as they used to be. And for him they're just they just flow I mean you you look up at the end of the first half oh he's got 11 already. You know it just like I remember the two of them were sweet this year in a sweet dish there. And then you realize, oh, there was that one and that one and that one.
00;52;35;07 - 00;53;01;01
Scott Hastings
He just he I keep stat the unofficial stat sheet every night. And I it's just same JP joker passes. Yeah. And it's it I write down shots that are missed right. So an opportunity for an assist. Perfect. And I put two dots by it. It like I think if a guy gets assists, gets the basket gets fouled misses the shop, gets two free throws.
00;53;01;04 - 00;53;29;25
Scott Hastings
Well that pass led to him getting to the free throw line. And it's still points on the board. Ought to be some signification of that. But the other night I can't remember what game it was. He had 11 I think assists something like that. 1112 ten 1112. Right. There were 17 missed shots off of his 17. Yeah. And you know no one's going to make them all.
00;53;29;26 - 00;53;50;16
Scott Hastings
But if someone did you're talking about a dude just would have dropped would have almost 30 you know. So that's that. And so I don't know why I started keeping that, but I keep that last night he had 15 or 16, 15 and 16 assists. There was another 12 or 14 of guys three times guys got free throws out of it.
00;53;50;18 - 00;53;58;07
Scott Hastings
And the other guys just missed some wide open shots. And I'm like, dude, if, if, if they ever hit a higher percentage.
00;53;58;07 - 00;53;59;11
Tom Green
Have a big night. Yeah.
00;53;59;19 - 00;54;01;06
Scott Hastings
He could average 18, assist a.
00;54;01;06 - 00;54;04;04
Tom Green
Game, have one of those Scott Skiles nights or one of.
00;54;04;04 - 00;54;05;15
Scott Hastings
Those where all the time mid.
00;54;05;15 - 00;54;06;29
Tom Green
20s on us. Yes.
00;54;07;02 - 00;54;08;00
Scott Hastings
He didn't care.
00;54;08;02 - 00;54;21;21
Tom Green
Well he got more to come with with Joker this year. You got more to come down the road as well. Love hearing you in the afternoons. You guys have a great time. Well, you mentioned Mac. We should at least say Tyler's name so he doesn't feel like you left him out.
00;54;21;21 - 00;54;25;23
Scott Hastings
And he. He does pout. He does pout once in a while. So we do guys like Tyler.
00;54;25;23 - 00;54;41;24
Tom Green
But we love hearing you in the afternoons. Levy on the nuggets broadcast. It's been great knowing you all these years. I really appreciate you taking a few minutes and sharing all this. This. I like the historical knowledge because there are people who hear you on the radio and maybe didn't know Scott. Scott used to play a bit Scott pretty good.
00;54;41;27 - 00;55;06;18
Scott Hastings
And that was I was a bum. But, well, well, I give you one quick story and you'll appreciate because you know Doug so well we beat in that 15 win season in Miami. We beat Denver I think in overtime in Miami okay. And I'm guarding Alex. And it's really funny Alex and I have laughed about this. And they kept me on.
00;55;06;18 - 00;55;20;13
Scott Hastings
And I got to play a lot of minutes a game because I was playing Alex really well. Right. And I told Alex and you know, every set I defended, you know, all I do is try to beat him up. You defenders. Well he had 52 that night.
00;55;20;16 - 00;55;21;25
Scott Hastings
He had he had.
00;55;21;27 - 00;55;27;03
Tom Green
Alex could do that though. Or you'd look up at the end of the game and think he had a quiet night. And there's 38 on the board.
00;55;27;10 - 00;55;45;08
Scott Hastings
Yeah. 52 we, I think we won the game and it's the first time I heard it. I didn't know much about Doug and he hit a big three late or I did something and and I can't remember what he called me. What? His favorite line is something like. Yeah, we got some no hoper out there, you know, hitting shots and beating us, you know?
00;55;45;10 - 00;55;49;00
Scott Hastings
But either way, he knows me.
00;55;49;03 - 00;55;49;28
Tom Green
He knows me well.
00;55;49;28 - 00;55;56;13
Scott Hastings
And I know you'd appreciate it because, I mean, it was a it was a compliment. That was kind of a couple. Yeah. That was a backhanded complement for Dougie.
00;55;56;13 - 00;56;00;14
Tom Green
He's the best. Scott thanks so much. Thanks. Appreciate it buddy. Very nice to come down.
00;56;00;17 - 00;56;01;27
Scott Hastings
I love you. You know that right?
00;56;01;28 - 00;56;04;11
Tom Green
Thank you. I love you too. And I appreciate you saying.
00;56;04;11 - 00;56;07;24
Scott Hastings
It real good. Hope this is great success for you.
00;56;07;26 - 00;56;09;05
Tom Green
Well, we're having fun.
00;56;09;07 - 00;56;10;04
Scott Hastings
It's your turn now.
00;56;10;11 - 00;56;17;09
Tom Green
I well, from my real job, but this is talking to interesting people about stuff that interests me. And if it interests other people, then it'll be a success.
00;56;17;12 - 00;56;22;04
Scott Hastings
And by the way, I get to do good deeds. You are. Congratulations on that. All the same thing, man. That was.
00;56;22;06 - 00;56;25;24
Tom Green
Surprising. Yeah, but that's that's cool. The Colorado Broadcasters.
00;56;25;24 - 00;56;27;29
Scott Hastings
Association is the first year they ever did this.
00;56;28;01 - 00;56;41;02
Tom Green
Yeah. Just to explain, it's a little tricky because to be in their inaugural class, I would have said, you got to be kidding me. I mean, you think of Bob Palmer and Carl Akers and Ed Sala and, you know, there's a hundred people that would.
00;56;41;04 - 00;56;42;02
Scott Hastings
Zap, zap.
00;56;42;05 - 00;57;02;02
Tom Green
Oh, there are I could talk for 20 minutes about people who should have gone in. So there's an older group called the Broadcast Pioneers of Colorado that used to have a Hall of Fame and did this for years, and I think they just stopped doing it. And I think that group is now being subsumed into the Colorado Broadcast Association Hall of Fame.
00;57;02;08 - 00;57;13;28
Tom Green
So it's the first one they've done as the CBA. But all those great broadcasters who've done so much in Colorado broadcasting over a century are already in. But under the CBA.
00;57;14;00 - 00;57;25;24
Scott Hastings
You and I could do a whole show on this. Listen, guys, we've been around and worked with and go yep yep yep yep oh yeah that guy. Larry Zimmer called the buffs for 40 plus years. Yeah.
00;57;25;26 - 00;57;30;09
Tom Green
No no. All those people that we got to know how lucky.
00;57;30;16 - 00;57;30;25
Scott Hastings
Though.
00;57;30;26 - 00;57;55;08
Tom Green
You think of. And you really got to know them both you as a player and as a broadcaster. And me just floating around on the periphery as a broadcaster. And you think of I always, I used to refer to the newsroom as a great place to get accidental knowledge, because you just walk around the room and you hear a snippet of that and something about that, and they're talking about this, and you find things that go, I should I should look into that.
00;57;55;08 - 00;57;56;27
Tom Green
I should learn more about that if.
00;57;56;27 - 00;57;57;28
Scott Hastings
You're willing to learn. Yeah.
00;57;57;28 - 00;58;01;21
Tom Green
You have to. You have to be curious. As we talk serious and humble.
00;58;01;23 - 00;58;04;15
Scott Hastings
I hope. And listen, you're a snarky dude.
00;58;04;15 - 00;58;04;23
Tom Green
I can.
00;58;04;23 - 00;58;09;16
Scott Hastings
Be. Yeah, but you. But you're also very humble when you when it when it's put to you.
00;58;09;18 - 00;58;32;02
Tom Green
I have good reason to be humble. Well, I talked about it at the Hall of Fame, and I said, I've heard so many people at Hall of Fame inductions talk about. It's a humbling thing. And I always thought that's a nice thing to say. And then when they put me in, I realized it is humbling because you realize you have this much to do with your success.
00;58;32;02 - 00;58;50;16
Tom Green
You know, it's all those people around you, the people you work with, the people you compete with, the people you work for, both bosses and viewers and listeners. That's how you get into the Hall of Fame. And you, you're the constant, but you're not the reason. All that other stuff is it.
00;58;50;18 - 00;59;19;08
Scott Hastings
I was put in the got in the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame few years back and you know, same thing trying to be glib and funny and whatever. And then I look over and there's my high school coach, there's my eighth grade coach, there's all there's a guy that that his name is Craig Knowles, and Craig watches, they said, when you get famous till you start in the NBA before the NBA, and it was the Null Basketball Association, he's there.
00;59;19;08 - 00;59;34;26
Scott Hastings
I mean, he was, you know, a mom and dad got divorced and he was like the first kind of older kid that took me out of the wing and all these pieces. That and you think, oh, look what I've done. I'm in the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame. He went, except without him, without him, without her, without her, without him.
00;59;35;02 - 00;59;35;21
Scott Hastings
And it is.
00;59;35;27 - 00;59;36;18
Tom Green
That this still get.
00;59;36;18 - 00;59;40;02
Scott Hastings
Long. And that's when the tears come. Know I said, you guys, you know.
00;59;40;06 - 00;59;40;27
Tom Green
Exactly.
00;59;40;28 - 00;59;42;28
Scott Hastings
You're giving this thing to the wrong person.
00;59;43;00 - 00;59;45;06
Tom Green
Well, we humbly say goodbye.
00;59;45;09 - 00;59;50;18
Scott Hastings
Both of us, over. Give me a reason to miss the show today.
00;59;53;06 - 01;00;15;17
Tom Green
It's great visiting with Scott. Of course. Scott talked about winning that NBA championship with Detroit, but what I found out about Scott is that he had won another championship as a young man. He went down to Brazil with the USA junior basketball team. They ended up having to play Brazil in the finals. But when I looked at their roster, it was a pretty good team.
01;00;15;17 - 01;00;33;25
Tom Green
Scott was a big part of it, but they had James Worthy, Sam Perkins, Sleepy Floyd and one of the great nuggets of all time was going into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame this year. Fat lever I'd like to go to war with that team. Pretty much any time. That is it for this week's edition of The Other Tom Green Show.
01;00;33;27 - 01;00;37;02
Tom Green
I hope you really enjoyed it and I hope you come back next week.