News Flash: the OKC Thunder and San Antonio Spurs STILL Don’t Like Each Other

Opening night delivered the Spurs and the Thunder, and the verdict on The Rich Eisen Show came fast. "Yeah, they don't like each other."

That part was understandable. The more interesting question was how long it will take San Antonio to figure itself out now that Dylan Harper is, as Rich put it, "rightfully a starter."

## Three Guards and a Rough Night for Wembanyama

The Spurs are going with three guards: De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle and Harper. "You're not going to bench Dylan Harper coming off the bench. Those days are over, right?" Rich said. "You're starting Castle and you're starting Harper and you're going to start Fox."

Victor Wembanyama, meanwhile, had a night to forget. He missed his first 12 shots and went 1 of 13.

One of those misses had a Michigan flavor that Rich could not resist. "My guy Aday Mara from the University of Michigan blocked him, started a break that he finished," Rich said. "That was his big moment. Welcome to the NBA."

After the game, Wembanyama talked about needing to go back to playing the basketball he likes. "I've got no reason to be hesitant, no reason to not be myself," he said. "I'm good when I have fun." The crew's read was that he is overthinking it, and Rich figured it will take some time to adjust.

## Longer and Younger in OKC

The bigger concern for the rest of the league is in Oklahoma City. Rich said the Thunder are going to keep running out Mara, Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren.

And he vouched for Mara personally. "I can attest as a Michigan Wolverine, Mara does it all," Rich said. "He runs the floor. You can run the offense through him. He can block. He can shoot. He can post up."

His conclusion: "They got longer and younger. That's a problem."

## Magic's Opening Night Recap

With the rest of the association tipping off that night, the show turned to its favorite source for instant analysis, Magic Johnson. His post: "What a great opening night in the NBA. Detroit beat Boston 121-113. Philadelphia spoiled NY's ring night with a 106-100. And the Thunder beat the Spurs 116 to 10. Exclamation point."

Somebody dropped a digit. "Sometimes we can't distribute properly, even Magic." The crew pictured Magic toggling between the ESPN app and Threads, cutting and pasting and hitting send too fast because he got excited. "Forgot the one."

Someone in the room came to his defense. "Magic knows people are busy. He doesn't want to waste your time. He just gives you the facts." Rich, for his part, called Magic "the 21st century version of Sports Phone," the old line Rich used to dial for instant scores at 25 cents a call. His parents were not thrilled when the phone bill came. "Richard, what is this?"

Magic did post a follow-up breaking down the Sixers' win, crediting their second-half defense and six players in double figures, led by Tyrese Maxey with 28 points. "The key to the Sixers victory was Anfernee Simons' three threes in the second half," Magic wrote, along with Simons' 13 points off the bench.

That drew a "What did I say?" from the room.

And as one of the first replies to Magic's post put it: "Just facts."