All The Smoke

Mad Max’s Hilarious Summer League Stories, BOLD 2026 NBA Predictions & Brutally Honest Giannis Take

11 snips
Jul 7, 2025
Vernon "Mad Max" Maxwell, a former NBA player known for his time with the Houston Rockets, joins the conversation to share hilarious tales from his 1988 Summer League experience. He offers candid predictions about the Houston Rockets' future and discusses the recent NBA trades involving the Jazz, Heat, and Clippers. The group also examines how Myles Turner's move affects Giannis and shares insights into the current turmoil within the Milwaukee Bucks. Expect laughs and honest basketball discussions!
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INSIGHT

Mad Max's 1988 Summer League Hustle and NBA Insights

Vernon Maxwell recalls his 1988 Summer League experience in Las Vegas where he wasn't even signed but went out and dominated to secure a contract. He shares tales of playing tough and proving himself, highlighting the grind behind making it in the NBA.

Max also offers brutally honest takes on current NBA trades and team dynamics, particularly criticizing the Milwaukee Bucks rebuild and Giannis's discontent with the team. He emphasizes the need for big men to assert themselves inside rather than just shoot threes, drawing from his old-school perspective.

This episode also features insights on Summer League's importance for rookies like Bronny and discusses recent trades involving Norman Powell, Miles Turner, and implications for teams like the Clippers and Rockets.

ANECDOTE

Mad Max's 1988 Summer League Tale

  • Vernon Maxwell recalls his 1988 NBA Summer League experience in Las Vegas where he played impressively despite not being signed.
  • He had to prove himself by performing well and ended up making an impression through his strong play.
ANECDOTE

Summer League Memories and Challenges

  • Stephen Jackson shares his 2002 Summer League experience playing with the Spurs where he felt he was performing well.
  • Matt Barnes recounts his own frustrations being cut early, then playing in Fayetteville, NC, often troubled by frequent fights due to the military town environment.
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