Episode 61: Mookie Blaylock with Neil Paine

Pod of Fame

Jim is joined by Neil Paine, senior writer for FiveThirtyEight, to break down the hall of fame candidacy of former NBA point guard Mookie Blaylock. Jim and Neil first talk about the unique connection between Mookie and Pearl Jam (4:22). Then, they cover how advanced metrics favor Blaylock, the misfortune of being in the Eastern Conference playoffs during the 90s, and Mo Cheeks (10:37). Next, they discuss a higher unusual statistic that Blaylock ranks first all-time, his stellar career at Oklahoma, and the tragic consequences of Mookie's off-the-court issues (33:50). Finally, Neil and Jim each build a Mount Rushmore composed of the best defensive point guards in NBA history (50:53), before reaching a final verdict on whether or not Blaylock belongs in the Basketball Hall of Fame (68:25).