Club 520 Podcast – "520 in the Morning": January 6, 2026

Episode Theme:
This episode of the Club 520 Podcast, hosted by former NBA All-Star Jeff Teague and friends, dives into the latest drama in both the NFL and NBA. The crew reacts to Kevin Durant’s “revenge” game, debates the Trae Young trade rumors, gives NFL end-of-season reflections and predictions, and delivers their classic humorous, unfiltered takes on sports and culture.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NFL Wild Card Reactions & Playoffs

• Ravens vs. Steelers Game Recap (03:14–14:00)

  • The crew dives into the dramatic conclusion of the Ravens-Steelers game. They discuss Lamar Jackson’s performance and the heartbreak of losing close games.
  • Daniel Jones: “You just gotta charge it, bro. As much as you be mad… it is what it is, bro.” (03:54)
  • Praise for Cam Heyward as a game-changing DT.
  • Discussion on whether Lamar carries too much responsibility for the Ravens’ postseason losses.

• Role and Pressure on Kickers (14:11–15:14)

  • Conversations about how kickers are treated after tough losses, rookie pressure, and whether missing a clutch field goal is harder than shooting a major free throw.
  • “You got one job, bro!” – Jeff Teague (14:12)
  • Anecdote about blessing the end zone with holy water after a missed kick.

• NFL MVP & Awards Debates (30:02–33:00)

  • Stafford and Drake May given as MVP picks, with Christian McCaffrey and Trey McBride getting Offensive Player of the Year considerations.
  • Highlight of team struggles affecting individual award races.

• Playoff Matchups & Picks (33:33–36:49)

  • Quick-fire predictions for AFC/NFC playoff games.
  • Some friendly team banter about the Jaguars, Broncos, Steelers, Bills, and more.

2. NBA Deep Dives

• Trae Young Trade Rumors & Hawks Future (40:05–44:48)

  • The team discusses the breakup between Trae Young and the Hawks, potential trade destinations (Wizards, Houston, Sacramento, Dallas), and the implications for Atlanta’s rebuild.
  • Jeff Teague: “Do we pay you this $200 million and we never gonna win, or do we try to find some other pieces…?” (41:42)
  • Is Trae Young a franchise player or better suited as part of a larger ensemble?
  • Jeff Teague: “I just don’t think you can build a team around a small guard… too many things got to go right.” (43:12)

• Atlanta: Small Market or Not? (44:02–51:35)

  • Spirited, humorous debate about whether Atlanta is a small NBA market.
  • “Atlanta is a major city, bro!” – Daniel Jones (44:02)
  • Consensus: Atlanta is big as a city, but still a "small market" in NBA economics and TV presence.
  • Classic back-and-forth on TV exposure—“You don’t ever see the Hawks on TV.” – Jeff Teague (48:01)

• Kevin Durant’s Revenge Game against the Suns (58:51–61:49)

  • KD’s return to Phoenix and game-winning performance dissected.
  • KD (quoted by Jeff Teague): “I’ve been scapegoated… all the issues we had as a team last year, yeah, it felt good to beat them, hit a game winner.” (60:40)
  • Discussion on whether Phoenix or KD benefitted more from the breakup.

• Lamelo Ball’s Future (83:51–84:23)

  • The Hornets’ young core, Lamelo’s future potential trades.
  • Jeff Teague: “I love Lamelo. I think he just need a new start, bro.” (83:57)

• Warriors’ Aging Core & Legacy Players (75:03–78:09)

  • Is it time to blow up the Warriors or let core stars retire on their own terms?
  • Memories of legendary NBA players in awkward “final stop” jerseys.

3. NBA Standouts & All-Star Debate

• Point Guard Rankings & Cade Cunningham (66:11–67:04)
  • Kade described as “top three” young point guards.
  • “He top two, top three.” – Jeff Teague (66:12)
• American vs. World All-Star Teams (89:42–91:18)
  • Discussion of how stacked the “World” team is nowadays, with names like Jokic, Giannis, and Luka outshining the traditional USA pool.

4. Classic Club 520 Humor & Locker Room Stories

• Relationships Affecting On-Court Play (62:53–63:16)
  • “Being in New York, bro… it’s a lot.” – Jeff Teague
  • The crew jokes about life, living in NYC, and relationships.
• Push-Ups as Punishment (93:21–94:02)
  • Amusing sports tale of a coach making a player do push-ups for bad plays.
• NFL-Style ‘Three Point’ Celebrations (83:22–83:39)
  • Crossover swag as NFL wide receivers mimic NBA’s on-court flair.
• Super Chat Chaos (15:15, 55:30)
  • Wild, troll-heavy Super Chat moments keep the crew on their toes.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Falcons-Hawks Breakup:
  • “He was our only bright star for what, the last seven years? And then Jalen Johnson come, who’s probably gonna be an All-Star this year. It’s like, we got a new star in town.” – Jeff Teague (42:14)
• On KD’s Revenge Performance:
  • “All the issues we had as a team last year… yeah, it felt good to beat them, hit a game winner.” – (60:47)
• On Small Market Blues:
  • “You don’t ever see the Hawks on TV.” – Jeff Teague (48:01)
  • “Atlanta is a major city, bro!” – Daniel Jones (44:02)
• On Playing Hurt:
  • “That was the scariest part about getting hurt. Like, that’s why I used to play through injuries all the time… I never wanted the team to like, win without you.” – Jeff Teague (42:48)
• On Cade Cunningham’s Ranking:
  • “He top two, top three.” – Jeff Teague (66:12)
• On All-Star World Team Stacking:
  • “We need to go against just Serbia… that five is crazy!” – Daniel Jones (90:09)
• On Relationships Affecting Players:
  • “Like, you not being out… you not hunting, you kind of lose your dog a little bit.” – Daniel Jones (63:04)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:14] Ravens-Steelers Postgame Analysis & Lamar Debate
• [14:11] Kicker Pressure, Rookie Blues, & Holy Water
• [30:02] Season Awards, MVP, Offensive Player Talks
• [33:33] Rapid Fire Playoff Picks
• [40:05] Trae Young Trade Rumors & Hawks Future
• [44:02] Atlanta Market Size Arguments
• [58:51] Kevin Durant Suns "Revenge Game"
• [66:11] Cade Cunningham in Top PG Rankings
• [75:03] Warriors, Legacy Player Dilemmas
• [83:51] Lamelo Ball in Charlotte
• [89:42] All-Star: World vs. USA
• [93:21] Locker Room & Old Coach Push-Up Stories

Summary

Club 520 packs sports commentary, comedic storytelling, and real locker room talk into a fast-moving episode. The conversation jumps from detailed breakdowns of playoff football (the agony of missed kicks and the nuances of big-man defensive play) to sharp and funny NBA analysis.

Jeff Teague and friends don’t just react to headlines—they deconstruct star player legacies, break down market economics in the league, and spice it up with stories and friendly roastings. The heated debate about Atlanta’s market size, reflections on Trae Young’s fit as a franchise player, KD’s emotional return, and high praise for young NBA talent (like Cade Cunningham and Lamelo Ball) capture the sports world’s dynamism. Classic “off the court” musings about relationships, market pressure, and the culture of sports media round out a rich episode worth revisiting.

For listeners seeking both laughs and sharp analysis on the biggest moves in today’s NFL and NBA, this Club 520 episode delivers—“out the gate.”