Hour 1: Jalen Brunson joins the show

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 1: Jalen Brunson Joins the Show

Date: July 15, 2026
Hosts: Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg (Don La Greca off this week)
Special Guest: Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks NBA Champion, Finals MVP)

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Episode Overview

Hour 1 kicks off with NBA champion and Finals MVP, Jalen Brunson, fresh off the Knicks’ historic title run. The hosts dive into Brunson’s unforgettable past month, his mental approach, the injury he played through, the iconic Larry O’Brien trophy, his upcoming appearances, and expectations for the ESPYs. The Knicks’ run, the city’s response, and Brunson’s thoughtful, humble disposition anchor a wide-ranging, insightful conversation.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Life After Winning the NBA Championship

• [01:13] Alan Hahn brings Brunson on and asks what the last month’s been like:
  Jalen Brunson [01:25]:

  “It’s been a roller coaster, honestly. Everything after we won was just amazing… the parade and all that… and then kind of getting back into real life, realizing… probably best to get my surgery done for my wrist. So that kind of brought me back down. But… I would do it all again.”

2. Brunson’s ‘Even-Keeled’ Mentality

• [01:58] Peter Rosenberg praises Brunson’s unflappable demeanor, comparing him to Eli Manning and Derek Jeter:

  “Is that something you’ve always had? Or is that naturally your mentality?”
  Brunson [02:29]:
  “I think it’s naturally my mentality now. I had to work to stay even when I was younger… It became a characteristic of mine that I am forever grateful to have… It’s helped me, obviously, on the court and off.”

• [11:25] Peter Rosenberg later reflects:

  “You’ll never see a more efficient and actual answering of each question… Never impolite, with humility and some laughter… but thoughtful. Every single moment of it.”

3. The Only Thing That Matters in New York: Winning

• [03:00] Alan Hahn revisits a passionate past conversation about winning:

  “Now that you got the trophy in your hand, does it make sense?”
  Brunson [03:29]:
  “Absolutely. That’s always been a goal of mine. And… doing it here has made it ten times… better.”

4. Finals Comeback: Inside Game 4

• [04:01] Peter Rosenberg asks about overcoming panic in Game 4’s comeback.

  “Did you have any ‘what if we don’t get this?’ doubts?” Brunson [04:48]:
  “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think about the what-ifs… but I was just trying to have my mind focus on just the present… Our goal was to get it to 15 for the fourth quarter, and we did that.”

5. The Legend of the Larry O’Brien Trophy

• [06:22] Alan Hahn:

  “Is there a place the Larry O’Brien has been the last month… that you’re like, it shouldn’t be here?” Brunson [06:22]:
  “Putting the trophy in the passenger seat, buckling it up and just driving home with it… I had it on my kitchen counter… watching Love Island in the basement. We kind of just made it one. We made it one.”

6. Wrestling Appearance, Playoff Superstitions & Social Media Blackout

• [07:06] Rosenberg, a wrestling fan, teases Brunson’s planned MSG WWE appearance and asks about playoff “Danhausen” references and superstition.
  Brunson [07:53]:

  “A little bit of both. I was off social media during the series. I knew what was going on… but my mind is solely focused … I just tried to stay focused and control what I can control. It was working, so I just let it be.”
  [08:38] Alan Hahn: "Exactly. Don't touch the money."

7. Playing Through Injury

• [08:38]: Hahn brings up Brunson’s wrist surgery. Brunson [08:54]:

  “I don’t… remember (the play) … I just remember being at the free throw line in the fourth quarter of Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, and my wrist started to feel weak… but I wasn’t going to get anything done… during that time.”

  • [09:43] Hahn: “Still 15 in the fourth quarter, 45 in Game 5 with the bad wrist, adds to the legend.”

8. Brunson’s Transition to Being a New York Icon

• The hosts discuss Brunson’s growing legend off the court, comparisons to Derek Jeter, and his relatability and humility—never giving the media “fodder.”
  Rosenberg [27:15]:

  “He’s everyone’s dream… does everything right… he doesn’t do anything for himself. What are Jalen’s politics? What do you know about him except what he likes…? That’s Jeter-esque.”

9. The “Roommates” Podcast & Media Savvy

• [12:52] Hahn notes Brunson’s communications chops, his “Roommates” podcast with Josh Hart, and its sold-out Fanatics Fest event—featuring Aaron Judge as a guest.

10. ESPYs & Public Recognition

• The team runs through Brunson’s and the Knicks’ nominations at the ESPYs, projecting likely wins, and what it means for the city.

  • Best Male Athlete: Jalen Brunson vs. Messi, Ohtani, Stafford
  • Best NBA Player: Winner announced mid-show as Jalen Brunson (43:48)
  • Best Championship Performance
  • Best Play: OG Anunoby’s tip
  • Best Team: Knicks

  [43:48] NBA Today Announcement

  "And the ESPY for best NBA player goes to ... Jalen Brunson!"

  [45:20] Kendrick Perkins (NBA Today on ESPN):

  "He arguably had one of the greatest individual runs in NBA history… closing it out on the road. The last person to do that was Michael Jeffrey Jordan. And the story… a second-round pick going to New York… making them relevant again… delivering the championship."

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• On the championship run:

  “It's been a roller coaster, honestly... I would do it all again.” — Jalen Brunson [01:25]

• On remaining even-keeled:

  “It became a characteristic of mine that I am forever grateful to have.” — Jalen Brunson [02:29]

• On the importance of winning:

  “Doing it here has made it ten times more… better.” — Jalen Brunson [03:29]

• On clutch mindset in Game 4:

  “I was just trying to have my mind focus on just the present… Our goal was to get it to 15 for the fourth quarter.” — Jalen Brunson [04:48]

• On taking home the trophy:

  “Putting the trophy in the passenger seat, buckling it up and just driving home…” — Jalen Brunson [06:22]

• On social media blackout & superstition in playoffs:

  “I was off social media during the series… I just tried to stay focused and control what I can control. It was working, so I just let it be.” — Jalen Brunson [07:53]

• On wrist injury timeline:

  “I just remember being at the free throw line… and my wrist started to feel weak… but I wasn’t going to get anything done during that time.” — Jalen Brunson [08:54]

• On winning NYC over:

  “He’s everyone’s dream. He does everything right… Just be like Jalen Brunson.” — Peter Rosenberg [27:15]

• On best NBA player ESPSY:

  “And the ESPY for best NBA player goes to… Jalen Brunson!” — NBA Today [43:48]

• On his legacy:

  “Brunson does win best NBA player. Tonight’s ESPYs… That Emmy thing bothers me even more…” — Alan Hahn [46:34]

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Timestamps: Key Segments

• Start–01:13: Housekeeping, show intro, Don out, hype for Brunson interview
• 01:13–03:29: Life after championship, what the last month has been like
• 03:29–04:48: Revisiting “winning is all that matters,” how the title changes things
• 04:48–06:22: Game 4 comeback, mental approach, focus during adversity
• 06:22–07:53: Stories of the trophy, personal/family moments, “making it one”
• 07:53–08:38: Wrestling, playoff superstitions, social media blackout discussion
• 08:38–09:43: Wrist injury, playing through pain, when/how it happened
• 09:43–14:00: Hosts debrief, marvel at Brunson’s humility, processing interview
• 14:00–20:00: ESPY nominations breakdown, odds for Knicks and Brunson, fan votes
• 27:15–29:43: Comparing Brunson to NYC icons, what makes him special
• 43:48–46:03: NBA Today announces Brunson as Best NBA Player winner at ESPYs

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Episode Takeaways

• Jalen Brunson’s humility, work ethic, and even-keel mentality underpin his meteoric rise in New York sports. He’s compared to legends like Jeter and Eli for both his character and his results.
• Brunson’s playoff performances, especially clutch moments in Games 4 and 5 of the Finals, deepened his legend and endeared him even more to the city and fans.
• His experience with the championship trophy—treating it like a family member—adds a layer of relatable joy and fandom to his star player persona.
• His media savvy, new ventures like the ‘Roommates’ podcast, and ability to handle pressure and expectations are lauded.
• The hosts (and subsequent callers) sense a clean sweep for the Knicks and Brunson at the ESPYs—a fitting capstone to the season. Early results confirm at least “Best NBA Player” for Brunson.
• Listeners call in to express deep pride in both Brunson’s humility and the team’s journey, and to debate ESPY outcomes and New York’s national appeal.

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Noteworthy Listener Reactions

• Fans express pride in Brunson’s humility and “human” approach ([31:44])
• Callers debate if the Knicks will sweep ESPYs but acknowledge fierce global competition ([32:49, 36:10])
• “I’m a homer. I love the Knicks. They’ve taught us all playoff long never to count them out.” ([35:02])

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Summary in a Sentence:
Jalen Brunson’s illustrious first championship month—marked by humility, resolve, and city-wide adoration—cements his place among New York’s modern icons, as the Knicks and their stoic captain stand poised to sweep the ESPYs and continue winning hearts far beyond the court.

Transcript

[Alan Hahn]

MLB TV on ESPN is your home for every out of market game, live or on demand.

[Don La Greca]

Catch your favorite teams and players plus MLB Network and ESPN app features like

[Alan Hahn]

multi view, syncing your stats, key plays, bets and fantasy all in one place.

[Don La Greca]

Sign up now for MLB TV in the ESPN app.

[Alan Hahn]

Separate subscriptions required. Blackouts and other terms apply. Visit stream.espn.commlbtv for more information. Todd Cool man. Han, Don holding his hammer and Rosenberg rappug.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Don doesn't hold a candle to that pumpkin pie haircutting freak. This isn't North Dakota. This is New York.

[Alan Hahn]

This is Don, Han and Rosenberg.

[Caller/Listener]

The best threesome I've ever heard on

[Alan Hahn]

ESPN New York and streaming live on YouTube. 3 o' clock in the greatest city in the world with Peter Rosenberg. I'm Alan Hunt. Don legreca is off this week, but you know what?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sad.

[Alan Hahn]

Instead, let's begin the show with the newly minted sports icon here in New York.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Thank you.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, not just you. Oh, sorry, no, no. NBA champion finals MVP Jalen Brunson.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's how you start.

[Alan Hahn]

Jalen, thanks for a few minutes here, bud. It's good to talk to you. Do me a favor. Describe the experience of what the last month has been like for you.

[Jalen Brunson]

That's a loaded question. It's been roller coaster, honestly. It's been obviously once we wanted everything, everything was up high and everything was amazing. The parade and all that just like just everything after we won was just amazing. And so, and then kind of getting back into real life, realizing that probably best to get my surgery done for my wrist. So that kind of brought me back down. But, you know, it's, I would, I would do it all again.

[Peter Rosenberg]

One of the things I admire about you most, Jalen, from watching you in this market for the last couple of years, is how even you are. You, you, you have that, that Eli Manning, Derek Jeter, even Steven. You don't go too high or too low. And you even seemed that way in winning the championship. Watching you that night on Inside the NBA with your dad, were you. Is that something you've always had? Do you have to work to stay even? Or is that sort of just naturally your mentality?

[Jalen Brunson]

I think it's natural naturally my mentality now I think I had to work to stay even when I was younger and just kind of working at that and getting better at that as I grew older. It kind of just became a characteristic of mine that I am forever grateful to have. It's, it's, it's, it's helped me, obviously, on the court and off the court. But that's just how I've been. That's how I was raised. It's. It's been things that. It makes things easy when I have to do certain things and how I approach it.

[Alan Hahn]

And, Jalen, I. I've never been even killed, so I don't know what that experience is like. But I remember a conversation you and I had a couple of years ago when I was saying to you something with a lot of passion in the moment, and I said, listen, all the accolades, all this stuff is great. People are going to love you here. But in the end, all that matters is winning. And I remember walking away thinking, because I was so passionate about what I was saying to you, I'm like, this guy thinks I'm crazy. But now that you got the trophy in your hand, does it make sense?

[Jalen Brunson]

Oh, absolutely, Absolutely. Yeah. So it made sense then. And because that's just. That's always been a goal of mine. And obviously to achieve it the way we did too, is it was obviously more special, but it's an incredible feeling and something that doing here has made it 10 times more just better. The experience has been better. Just obviously being in the city and been amazing, to say the least.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now, just to get into a little bit of the finals, because we have you here and this was such an epic moment. Game four, when you guys make the comeback, you start making the comeback. I had the feeling, watching from home, I go, all right, the fact that they made this a game means that there at least will not be panic in this room because to have dropped both games at home, one be a blowout, I would have started to sort of worry about the tenor of everything. But once you guys made the run, I thought, this is already a good sign. Did you have any thoughts, like, during. Cause it was such a long comeback. Did you have any thoughts about what if we don't get this, where will we be?

[Jalen Brunson]

Or.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Or were you always firmly focused on we can still get this game?

[Jalen Brunson]

I mean, I'll be lying to you if I said I didn't think about the what ifs after. But I was just trying to have my mind focus on just the present, just focusing on just singles. And I get 20, then the 15, then the 10, 5. It was just our goal was to get into 15 for the fourth quarter, and we did that. It was like 90 to 75. And so once you did that, obviously, I think we were in striking distance and we continued to make our run and do things that we needed to do. I Just. I thought about it. I really did. But I think once we started to make the run, I was truly focused on that.

[Alan Hahn]

The aftermath of that game is one I'll never forget. On that court. It was like being at Rucker where everybody just stormed the court. You'd never see that at the Garden, but it was. It was an incredible atmosphere. But the trophy that you've had, almost as if it's like, you know, a limb of yours. Now you, everywhere I see you, I see the trophy. And obviously it's something that we've seen. The Lombardi, the Stanley cup, like, this is it. It has like a legend to it. So I need you to tell us, is there a place that the Larry o' Brien has been in the last month, Whether it's with you or someone else that you're like, it shouldn't be here. Like, it's going to have a legendary story attached to it? Is there one place that you can tell us about.

[Caller/Listener]

Now?

[Jalen Brunson]

I gotta think. One thing I remember is giving up that plane. And three, one is just literally putting the trophy in the passenger seat, buckling, buckling it up and just driving home with it in the car. I remember that vividly. Yeah, with the windows down, too. I remember that vividly. I had it on my kitchen counter.

[Alan Hahn]

Come on.

[Jalen Brunson]

While you and breakfast, we were watching something. I think we were. Me, my wife, some friends were watching Love island in the basement. We had it right there in front of us.

[Alan Hahn]

It's been everywhere.

[Jalen Brunson]

We kind of just made it one. We made it one.

[Alan Hahn]

Larry's your good friend now.

[Peter Rosenberg]

One place we now know you will be. It's been confirmed. I won't lie, Jalen. I was hoping we keep it a surprise, but you will be at Madison Square Garden. It's been announced Roman Reigns has invited you to Saturday night's main event. And you will be in the house. I'm very excited to see what they do with you and what you guys get to do. And obviously you don't want any spoilers here, but. But one thing I noticed, Jalen is being a huge wrestling fan. I can spot, you know, other fans mentalities. You seemed very reluctant, even on Jimmy Fallon, to acknowledge any of the Danhausen stuff during the whole thing. Was that purposeful? Like you just didn't want to even mess with any sort of juju? Or were you just not really paying attention to it that much?

[Jalen Brunson]

I mean, a little bit of both. I was. I was off social media during the series. Like when we had like the. The breaks in between. I. I Opened it back up for a little bit, but I was pretty much off of social media. But I kind of knew what was going on. I knew, like, the beginning of it. I think, obviously, when I'm in that mindset of playoffs and everything, like, my mind is solely focused on if you ask me questions. It's about the game, it's about this.

[Caller/Listener]

So I'm.

[Jalen Brunson]

I'm not, like, too focused on whatever's happening outside. But, yeah, I. I definitely took into account what was happening, and I just. I just tried to stay focused and control what I can control. I didn't want to. It was working, so I just let it be.

[Alan Hahn]

Exactly. Don't touch the money. Jalen Brunson joining us right now on the show. You did mention it earlier. So I do want to ask because I couldn't find. When. When did the injury happen to the wrist? And how you. How you doing now?

[Jalen Brunson]

I'm good. It's obviously going to take a little bit of time, but, yeah, I don't. There isn't a play where I remember it happening, like, legit happening. I just remember being at the. The future line in the fourth quarter or in the third or fourth quarter of game two of the Eastern Commons finals, and then my. My wrist is starting to feel weak. And then I was just like, where is this kind of. Where's this pain coming from?

[Caller/Listener]

And,

[Jalen Brunson]

yeah, from there, put on. It was just trying to figure out what was going on and how I can proceed because I was. I mean, I wasn't. I wasn't coming. I wasn't going to get anything done.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, no.

[Jalen Brunson]

During that time. Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

No. And it's amazing, though, still 15 in the fourth quarter, 45 in a game five with the bad wrist, adds to the legend. Hey, enjoy tonight. Enjoy this weekend and enjoy some rest. You well deserved. Thanks so much, Jalen, for coming on with us.

[Jalen Brunson]

Of course. Appreciate you guys. Thank you so much.

[Caller/Listener]

All right, man.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Appreciate you, dude.

[Jalen Brunson]

All right.

[Alan Hahn]

The captain.

[Don La Greca]

How about that?

[Alan Hahn]

He doesn't even remember when it happened. It just started to bother him.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hear that?

[Alan Hahn]

Then the finals.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I kept trying to picture it when we first heard that it happened, I

[Alan Hahn]

kept trying to picture I'm psycho. I went back and looked. I'm like, every game, I took notes, like copious notes on every single game. After every game, I have pages of notes about the games from game one against Atlanta all the way to the end.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And you never had a shaking address, Nothing about. I feel like I remember a play where someone came in on a shot, didn't block the shot. But there was a like hand during the regular season.

[Alan Hahn]

Something happened.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But yeah, maybe I'm just not in

[Alan Hahn]

the playoffs that anything stood. I thought he fell when he landed that he brace himself and then something happened there. It might have, but I didn't take note of it. So it clearly wasn't something that dramatic. I mean, look, the dramatic stuff was when the ankle bent a couple of times.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Game one in the finals, when the knee, When Barnes fell into his knee. Like those were things I wrote down in capital letters like, oh, keep an eye on this.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

None of that ever came back, of course.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And of course in game five and

[Alan Hahn]

then game five, Wembley.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh my God.

[Alan Hahn]

But the fact that he felt it and just was able to play through it, then had a just unreal closeout game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

How crazy is it by the way, though? You know, I asked him the question about being even.

[Alan Hahn]

That's a great question.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But listen, but listen to. On the call, like just this is the 10 minutes we talked to him.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Just every single question. He paused just enough before each answer. Where you go, he's still there. Right. Because it would be a little second. Because he listens, processes and then actually answers. If you go back and listen. I think we only asked a total of like five or six questions. You will never see a more efficient and actual answering of each question. Not short. Never impolite with. With humility and some laughter and being a normal guy.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But thoughtful.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Every single moment of it.

[Alan Hahn]

His answers were efficient. Some of your questions.

[Caller/Listener]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

I mean, you were in dpa.

[Caller/Listener]

I didn't.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't go dph.

[Alan Hahn]

I know you were close.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The one. The one.

[Alan Hahn]

The game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The game.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, it was the game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The game one. The game one.

[Alan Hahn]

The Dan housing one was fine because you had to do a little bit.

[Don La Greca]

I had.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, I had to get the plug in, but I'm getting the plug in for the guy.

[Alan Hahn]

Game four, like, no, I was.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I was two and a half. I did the math. I was two and a half seconds short of Dpietro. That's where I. Once you cross stayed under, I stay shut.

[Alan Hahn]

So there's the Mendoza Line, then there's a dpa.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't know. I thought the same thing. You know, that was a bit long. Wasn't DPA truck, but it was a bit long.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, so you mentioned Saturday night main event at the Garden. So Jaden will be. Jalen will be there for that. Jalen will be a fan fest. Fanatic fanatics fest. This whole weekend. Tomorrow the roommates Podcast, which is. You talk about a thing that has blown up into something big.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

He was a communications major in college, Villanova. Like he was, you know, he is somebody that, you know, you talk about his ability to process answers and to give thoughtful responses and stuff. I mean, that's all stuff that make for a good broadcaster. That podcast has really become big. Him and Josh Hart.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh Real Deal.

[Alan Hahn]

And, and. And Matt Hillman and. And they're doing their show for the second year now at Fanatics Fest. It is tomorrow. And Aaron Judge, you talk about a get.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't think you can get in

[Alan Hahn]

there, by the way.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think that one sold.

[Alan Hahn]

That one sold out.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't. I don't think you're getting it on no anymore.

[Alan Hahn]

But. But you can watch it. But you can watch it.

[Jalen Brunson]

It's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's fully sold out.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, I'm saying, but you can watch it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What do you mean?

[Alan Hahn]

Well, the whole idea of a podcast get people to watch.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You mean it. We moon it goes.

[Alan Hahn]

Not just show up.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It'll probably air on Fanatics Live.

[Alan Hahn]

It's also going to be on there

[Peter Rosenberg]

and it'll be on there on their stream. But if you wanted to be there.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, if you wanted to be there.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sold a.

[Alan Hahn]

Buy those.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But it's not shocking that Thursday, which is the big Knicks day, is the first to sell out.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, of course.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And he sold, I believe, like it might have been a thousand.

[Alan Hahn]

A thousand meet and greets. Oh, my God.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Do you remember what the price was?

[Alan Hahn]

Yes,

[Peter Rosenberg]

it was over 900.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes, it was a lot. Did you know how much his jersey sold for?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I saw, I saw the game one jersey.

[Alan Hahn]

Game one jersey.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The game one was at 50. Was it 50,000? A hundred thousand? 200,000?

[Alan Hahn]

It was. I thought it was a record, but

[Peter Rosenberg]

it was game one, remember?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, but I thought what was the total?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Jacob, can you meet the total? Yeah, I might have been set up

[Alan Hahn]

because I remember seeing some reports started at 50,000. Yeah, but it's. Some reports had it at. It was. Became a record because that's. That's an auction. So tonight's the ESPYs and that's it in Lincoln center here in New York. And again, why it was great to get Jalen today is because he's. He's attending and he's got a very, very busy schedule. So he carved out some time to join us and we took him right at the very top because, I mean, why, why wait? You can get the captain. You get the captain.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let's. Let's get right to it. It's good. Listen, I'll tell you what, too. You don't see this every day in radio. I'm going to go ahead and I'm going to make an executive call live on the air.

[Alan Hahn]

On the air.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm going to go ahead and call for the 5 o' clock rear of that interview.

[Alan Hahn]

No, I like it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think you have to.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. You don't normally do it, but this

[Peter Rosenberg]

was Jalen Brunson fresh off the title.

[Alan Hahn]

But he's so he. And he's so.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You think. You don't think he came on because Don's not here. You don't think it's. It's coincidental?

[Alan Hahn]

I don't think so.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, you don't think so. But is it possible?

[Alan Hahn]

You think it's on the table?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Is it possible he was listening last night?

[Alan Hahn]

I don't want to believe that. I do know this, though, that I have tried a couple of other times to have him join us.

[Jalen Brunson]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

And you know, he has been like, I kind of joked like you've done every show. You have one left.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, one left, baby.

[Alan Hahn]

There's one left. But Tonight on the ESPYs, he and the Knicks are up for several awards. So the ESPYs tonight, Brunson is up for best male athlete in men's sports. He's dealing with this as competition. You tell me where you'd go. Okay, so it's Jalen Brunson, best male athlete in men's sports.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Do you have the other nominees?

[Alan Hahn]

Best athlete on the sheet. Okay, Messi, which he's having a hell of a run here.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let's see what happens today.

[Alan Hahn]

Ohtani, very good. And Matthew Stafford.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think Brunson is going to win from a popular.

[Alan Hahn]

Remember, this is a fan vote.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Fan voted.

[Alan Hahn]

But Messi's very popular.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Messi's very popular.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't think Ohtani or Stafford can win this now.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They won't have enough.

[Alan Hahn]

I think it's. It's Brunson and Messi because Brunson was a month ago. Messi's right now. And that's something to watch.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And going for the Golden Boot. Yeah, but. But I still like Brunson.

[Alan Hahn]

All right, how about then? Brunson is also nominated for best NBA player. His competition.

[Jalen Brunson]

Go ahead.

[Alan Hahn]

Wemby Jokic, sga.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I like him. I think. I think. I think he'll probably still win it.

[Alan Hahn]

Best NBA player.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, but it's, it's. But that's Fidel Van voted. Correct.

[Alan Hahn]

This is fan voted.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's ultimately popular.

[Alan Hahn]

How do you not appreciate what he's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And he's the most popular player like who was more popular this year? Sga. Who the season ended up being a disappointment in the end. Wemby didn't exactly end up. End up leaving covered in glory, although his year was amazing. Obviously I don't hate him there. I like him there.

[Alan Hahn]

And then there's best championship performance. I think he's got to win this. No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, tell me the other ones.

[Alan Hahn]

Aaron Frankel from the women's. I mean, that was unbelievable.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay, that was a big.

[Alan Hahn]

Connor Hellebuck because of his gold medal performance. Sure, sure. And Tegan Cavan from Texas softball.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This you're not given. This competition isn't strong enough. These arms are not long enough to box with God.

[Alan Hahn]

Best championship.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm sorry, guys. Am I being rude to say that

[Alan Hahn]

should be an easy Brunson win some more for the. For the Knicks. Okay, the OG Tippin in game four we were talking about.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What's that nominated for best play. What's it up against now?

[Alan Hahn]

You got the golden goals. I mentioned Franco, Jack Hughes, obviously. Right. So you have the two golden goals, men's and women.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And the golden. By the way, the women's one was particularly dope in my opinion from a standpoint.

[Alan Hahn]

That was the incredible goal. UConn buzzer beater against Duke.

[Peter Rosenberg]

UConn buzzer beater Against Duke. Was it?

[Alan Hahn]

That was a good massive play. It's one of the all time great plays. Caleb Williams game tying touchdown against the Rams. I'm going to go with. Not going to put that one in the.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I don't.

[Alan Hahn]

They needed a football one and they got that. But come on, look who's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Look at the game, buddy.

[Alan Hahn]

Mick Jagger.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Look at Mick Jagger taking in the white shirts.

[Alan Hahn]

It looks great.

[Don La Greca]

All right.

[Alan Hahn]

So that's so OG stood that tip.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Am I pretty big?

[Alan Hahn]

The hockey ones are pretty.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They're big. But they were a while ago and like. Sorry. Olympic hockey and NBA Finals. I know Toothless Jack.

[Alan Hahn]

People remember that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, it was a. Honestly.

[Alan Hahn]

And remember those won it. Oh, geez. Tip gave him a 31 lead again here. Locally it's an iconic play.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

But nationally, I don't know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I still think nationally there was more talk about. Anthony, you're a good person to ask because you're so.

[Don La Greca]

H. Peter.

[Caller/Listener]

Because.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hey, how you doing? You're so deep into the hockey.

[Alan Hahn]

Sure.

[Peter Rosenberg]

However, you stop screaming at me, please. I'm sorry, but however do you think that nationally. Do you think that the. Let's be real let's be realistic and start. The women's one was in the middle of an afternoon on a weekday. Let's go with Jax.

[Alan Hahn]

I was watching the route. I ruined it for you guys because I saw it happen first.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yes, that was Sunday morning at least. Do you think there was as much national conversation. Am I crazy for thinking there was more national conversation for the OG than for any of those other plays?

[Don La Greca]

I don't necessarily think that that's crazy. And I think that you're right, Peter, because of course everybody's going to say, oh, the Jackal. I think that the Frankel goal is far more. It was a way better go because again, it's best play. Right? So it's best play. And this isn't even a bias in New York here. You can make the argument that as crazy as that goal was, you could still give an argument to say that OG's tip, because you see the way it develops. He inbounds the ball, he knows he's got to go for the rebound, and he's over two other people to make that tip.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Flying through the paint.

[Don La Greca]

I think the battle's between the women's goal and the OG goal and the OG tip. I think OG's tip wins.

[Alan Hahn]

And let's remember also that it capped off one of the greatest comebacks in the history of.

[Peter Rosenberg]

England's got an opportunity.

[Alan Hahn]

Sports already.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They do not score.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, okay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

19th minute still 00. Argentina, England and that.

[Alan Hahn]

All right, so then the next one that the Knicks are up for is best team. Now, this is one that I think

[Don La Greca]

it's every championship team.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. So you got the. The Aces from the wnba, the Dodgers, the Aces, the Hurricanes, the Dodge Cup. Right. Hurricanes, Indiana, national championship, which was a hell of a run.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That was. I. You know what?

[Alan Hahn]

Texas Longhorn softball, back to back champs, of course, Seahawks, super bowl, and the men's and women's US Hockey.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This is going to be seen tonight when it happens because I'm going to be right. It'll be seen as like east coast biased. You know, ESPN, the Nick run was pretty. ESPN's in Connecticut and New York and. Okay.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, the SP is usually in la, too.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, they're going to clean up.

[Don La Greca]

I could see that being sentimental value for the US Men's hockey team on that one, though. I don't think they win it, but I think, you know what?

[Peter Rosenberg]

If you're going to pick one, that that would be a good one to do it.

[Alan Hahn]

But the Nick run, though, had something special about it that everybody got caught up.

[Don La Greca]

Are you saying clean sweep, Peter? Are you saying Knicks clean sweep?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think it's, I think you think it's a sweet more hardware for the Knicks clean. I can't say clean sweep. But I cannot see them losing many categories. And I was talking to people in other cities.

[Alan Hahn]

The best athlete in men's sports, best NBA player, best championship performance, best play. That's OG and then best team overall sports team, which is all the champions.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You gave me. All the people in championship performance. Everybody who had a championship, but the individual championship performance.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, best championship performance. So you have again, Aaron Frankel. Right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hallibuck pitcher back to back.

[Don La Greca]

I'm just telling you what their statistic is. It's pretty impressive.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It doesn't matter, right? I, I, I'm going, so who.

[Alan Hahn]

Peter's saying clean sweep. What are you all saying? 800-9193776 and do you care on the SPS?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I wonder if Dom would finally be in on the ESPYs. You know, it's hard to win. Don.

[Don La Greca]

No.

[Alan Hahn]

You think he's out. It was in his backyard. What do you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But he called the police pull to get it. Grab a hose. I'm very interested tonight because of that. It's good.

[Alan Hahn]

A judge, by the way, is also up for an sp.

[Don La Greca]

That's best player. MLB player.

[Alan Hahn]

MLB player.

[Don La Greca]

Otani will probably win that.

[Alan Hahn]

Raleigh and Skeens, I'll tell you. Otani. You're taking Otani.

[Don La Greca]

Well, here's why it's not fair. He literally does both. He pitches and he hits.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don La Greca]

If you're going to go buy one,

[Alan Hahn]

really good at both.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But again, it's a popularity contest.

[Don La Greca]

I know it's sacrilegious, Peter, but he's doing both.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I agree. You know how I feel. I'm sort of in the camp of Ohtani if he's playing. As always.

[Don La Greca]

I voted judge. I'm a Yankee fan.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don La Greca]

A lot of Yankee fans will vote judge.

[Alan Hahn]

That's the thing, though. This is not a, this is not a panel of experts. This is fans fans. So who just is getting the popular vote? I did not see a lot of vote promotion though, did you? I did not see a ton of promotion.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I didn't.

[Alan Hahn]

So that's why I'm curious to see, like how much it's actually done. Look, it's nice. It's fun. It's a way to cap off the championship year for the Knicks and for Brunson. If they can get something out of this, it'd be fun. And that's going to be Tonight, I'm sure they're going to be all over the coverage. You're going to see them in different situations, and that's always great, too, just to see them one more time. But then it's time for everybody just, you know, go on a nice little vacation for Brunson to heal up, chill out that wrist.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Alan Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Alan Hahn]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us, us, wherever you get your podcasts. All right, we got calls 800-919-3776. If you missed it, we had Jalen Brunson join us at the top of the show.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I know, I've heard. No, he's the, he's in the Knicks.

[Alan Hahn]

He's that kid, the kid from Dallas. They got that Villanova guy, you remember.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I know him. Yeah, I remember.

[Alan Hahn]

Pretty good player. You know, it's when he signed with the Knicks, Bart and I were doing our shows together and we were still national and we had got him on the show, like literally when he signed.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, really? Right away?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, it was great. Yeah. And it was, it's funny, like to get like the next time I had him on my show was after he won a championship. Like, that's the stuff like when I was taught, when we were talking to him in my head, I was going, you know, the last time I had him on was the first day he got here, which is incredible.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That was the last time you had him on radio. On radio with many a TV interview.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. Yeah, we've had a few. But yeah. Did I ever tell you that how. Because now that he's probably gonna have at least one SB tonight. Right? He'll get something tonight. I feel like he's not gonna walk away empty handed tonight. He's got everything sweeping, but, but, but he's got the champions. He's got the finals mvp. He's got the Eastern Conference finals mvp. He has all these accolades and you know, what really, like, sticks in my craw. He could have had an Emmy.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Could have had an Emmy?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. My interview with him, when he was named an All Star for the first time, that was like. That moment was one of the. It went viral. And this is now, what is that? Three years ago?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Was it up for a sports Emmy?

[Alan Hahn]

It was. It was present. Yeah. And it didn't win. And I couldn't believe it. Tell me what was better than that? I'd have to go back video. Well, I'd have to go back and watch the intensity.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And then I'd have to know what else was nominated. I can't just be your sycophant.

[Alan Hahn]

Come on, man.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What else was there?

[Alan Hahn]

I'm mad, though. I'll never get over it, because it should have been an Emmy, but it's not. And I wouldn't have kept it. I would have given it to him, right to him, because what did I do? I stayed quiet. I did what I never do. Well, shut the hell up and let the moment happen.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I told you, on tv, you do it well. It's on radio that you can't shut the bleep up.

[Alan Hahn]

But still, like, that's always one that, like, really annoys me.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I gotta rewatch the clip, though. I don't. I don't fully remember the moment. I gotta see it again now. I know it was a moment, but I don't remember what the moment was.

[Alan Hahn]

He just. He welled up with tears and he couldn't answer me, so he just stopped. And I just. He's so.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Again, he. So he knows even that he knows how to, like, be dramatic in the right way.

[Don La Greca]

He.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I've said this many times, he'd be a great wrestler. Well, he does do a great job, and we'll see what he does on Saturday night. But I said this many times when I've done, like, media outside New York talking about the Knicks. He's everyone's dream. You mean, like, he's all I want Jaden Daniels to be. He's all. He's all you dream Jackson Dart to be.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's all you hope Jack Hughes can be. He's all. He does everything right. And again, I want to point that out because I know he spent a lot of time on.

[Alan Hahn]

But he's very Everyman, too.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, no, he's not.

[Alan Hahn]

Which is such a relatable thing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But he. But just like we were having that complicated conversation about Jackson D and Geno Smith and doing the right things. Just be like Jalen Brunson. He doesn't do anything for himself. What are Jalen's politics?

[Alan Hahn]

What is the one thing we knew? Great point.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What is Jalen. He likes wrestling.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He likes, like, nerdy entertainment stuff. He does his podcast, and he has a good time talking with Josh Hart.

[Alan Hahn]

He's funny as hell.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He's funny, has a good time, but it's, like, deadpan. He likes Mariska Hargitay.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What else?

[Alan Hahn]

He loves the show. Like, that's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He loves svu.

[Alan Hahn]

Yep.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The one thing I didn't get to ask him about.

[Alan Hahn]

He likes Justin Bieber. Not afraid to just.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He loves Bieber. And I wanted to get to ask him about if he was aware that after they won. We'll do it next time. Highlights of his wedding went, like, all over the Jewish community. Like, did you know Jalen Brunson's married to a Jewish woman? Went, like, everywhere. And showing him wearing the yarmulke and stuff at the synagogue. It just went crazy. But besides that. You really don't know.

[Alan Hahn]

No. And that's smart.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And that's a calculator and a market and an owner and all the different people. You got to please a million people.

[Alan Hahn]

Isn't that Jeter esque? What did you know about Jeter other than number two? Only the good things.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Pinstripes a lot. Ladies liked him, Right.

[Alan Hahn]

The calling card was assigned. Baseball and a.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Know about his gift baskets. But that came way later. We didn't know that till way later.

[Alan Hahn]

But like, that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, you didn't. And that. And now. Do you understand what I was saying about dart? It's not about whether you, like the president don't like. It's about giving anyone fodder. Jalen Brunson doesn't give you fodder. Even the Stephen A. Stuff. You could tell. And if we had more time, I wanted to ask about that, too. You could tell he's not gonna be angry about it. He's not holding a grudge. He just sat there. When Stephen A sort of did his mea culpa was like, cool.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, great. We don't need to be.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm not giving the media more to talk about it. And I'm also not giving you the satisfaction or giving you too much. I'm just gonna be like, cool, yeah. He's so good, dude.

[Alan Hahn]

And then he had him on his show.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Did you see that? And then had him on his show

[Alan Hahn]

at the Garden playing the game. And he let. And he let Stephen A do the whole thing. And it's in a weird way, and I love Stephen A. But what Jalen did there was just sit back and go. Not beg, but just sort of like grove a little bit. I'll let you.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

And I'm not going to say anything. But you're gonna do in front of all these people.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And not only that, the ultimate revenge. And not only that, not only that, you're gonna pay me back for everything by showing up and doing my podcast. Because you're a huge star, and you're gonna show up and make our podcast. And Steven's happy to do it. Hey, Steven loves Steven hasn't met a camera he doesn't like. And his Knicks won the championship. Yeah, so.

[Alan Hahn]

So it's a win for him. It's a win for everybody. So what's. What's great is that Santiago, Ray Santiago, who, of course, not only is a producer on our morning show, he also is the producer of Knicks and Rangers coverage on ESPN New York. So he went through the whole run as well on the Knicks on the MSG radio network, he said that wouldn't it be something if the Knicks did win best team? Because you know what that would mean. Who coaches the Aces? Becky Hammond get a win overheard. So he's looking at that as that little savage kind of petty things that you can just walk away from. That could be one of them. But still, he definitely has become something special here in New York. And it's not easy to be like that. You have to have that personality. But it is that a great example of when people say, like, what do you want from me? Be like that. Be like Jay.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's not easy. By the way, we're making it sound like it's easy, and it's not.

[Alan Hahn]

Definitely not. You know, it's easy, though, Talking to the people. 800-919-3776. Yeah, the SPS are tonight. We had talked to Jalen Brunson about all things going on in his life, including what he did with the Larry o' Brien while I was with him, including buckling it up in the passenger seatbelt on it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That made sense. I've seen. I mean, that's what Sami Zayn did with the world title a couple weeks ago. So you want to take a drive with your baby? Makes sense.

[Alan Hahn]

Never let it leave my sight. David and Elizabeth's gonna start us off. Hey, David.

[Caller/Listener]

What's going on? What's going on?

[Alan Hahn]

What's happening?

[Caller/Listener]

Radio. What up, fellas?

[Peter Rosenberg]

What up? What up?

[Caller/Listener]

So, not for nothing, man, it was beautiful, man. Like, yo, I love that about him. The captain comes just like you Guys, he's even killed like you guys were saying this super mellow chill. He's not humble. Like, you know, he doesn't come on the show like, yeah, you know, I, I bodied the whole playoffs. Which he could have said. But no, he came on humble and you know, was this letting you know how the experiences the run, you know, his outstanding, you know, summer that he's having, it's just beautiful to see, man. And you know, shout out the Knicks organization. Shout out you Hollywood hunt. Always giving us beautiful insight. You know, what's going on with the team, what's really going on behind the scenes and radio Rosenberg, I want to say this. That was an interview that you could just have diarrhea that you dream about. I know I said it wrong, but it's funny to me.

[Jalen Brunson]

Appreciate you gentlemen.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I appreciate it. You just want to get the drop and I just wanted to drop it for you here.

[Alan Hahn]

Don't worry about it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I had diarrhea that you dream about.

[Alan Hahn]

It's Anthony's. Oh, that really makes. Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Takes it to the next level.

[Alan Hahn]

Let's take Brandon in. Is that South Carolina Brandon?

[Caller/Listener]

Hey guys, how we doing?

[Alan Hahn]

Good.

[Caller/Listener]

I have a couple quick thoughts on the SDS and one all Star game point. If I can go for it with the SB awards. Best player. I think he should get it. I was worried about Otani with, you know, the Japanese vote, but he was also nominated the last two years and hasn't gotten it. So I don't think they really care about the sbs.

[Alan Hahn]

It's messy, I'm thinking because it's more, you know, front of mind. Right. What's happening in the World cup. And he has just been otherworldly. Messi's feels like the guy that would be the biggest comp competition.

[Caller/Listener]

Yeah. And plus like you said with the recency bias which should help the Knicks in most of them, like with the best team. But I'm not a big college football fan. But you gotta remember that Indiana team program from worse to first.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Caller/Listener]

Is an unreal story. So I think that might be the biggest competition there. Yeah.

[Jalen Brunson]

Yeah.

[Caller/Listener]

And then of course with the best play. You guys kind of said it. But with the golden goals and stuff, obviously huge. Oh, geez. Was the only one though. Like if his doesn't go in, they lose. Those guys don't score the golden goals. You know, overtime still going. So I think he gets that one.

[Alan Hahn]

Fair. That's a good one. What do you got on All Star?

[Caller/Listener]

Yeah, I agree with you guys yesterday, I think, I mean we don't need it. At this point. I, you know, I followed along on like Gamecast to see what the Yankees are doing. Once they were out, I didn't really care. Like, I guess I want the AL to win. But also, the night didn't. Came in. Chapman was on the mound and I was like, I kind of hope he blows it. So I don't see really, you know, that it serves the purpose anymore.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, we're gonna get into that. Thanks, Brandon. In 4 o' clock hour, we're gonna get into that because you're gonna hear something that Buster only said, that it's. If you didn't want to believe us, you might want to listen to a guy who lives and breathes baseball.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But you got to give yourself more credit than that because when we get into it, you deserve, you deserve some flowers. It was, it was a. Listen, I'm not saying it was a shocking take that you had. It was the logical take, seemed like, but. But you really had it validated by everybody, including the players in the game.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, you could tell. You could definitely tell. So that'd be four o'. Clock. More your calls. Coming up, we have Andy in Missouri. Andy,

[Caller/Listener]

hey, can you hear me?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, we got.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sure, we got you.

[Caller/Listener]

Hey. Hey. Yeah, I think, I think in regards to the ESPYS tonight, I think, why not the Knicks sweep at all? You know, I mean, they have taught us all playoff long never to count them out, to just keep on believing, even when the odds are stacked against them, never to quit. I mean, this is what they do. They come out and I'm a homer. I love the Knicks. I'm a fan of the Knicks. Thankful and so excited that they won. Of course, always. Why not? You know, why not sleep at all? And so that. That's right, that's where. That's where my head is at for tonight. And all the awards and the ESPYs.

[Alan Hahn]

I love it. I love to thank you, Andy. I'd love to see how mad and he gets if they, like, if one doesn't go their way, because it could happen. And then you just like, try to figure, like, why the hell. You know what I mean? Like, why that team. Like, it is. It was a national story, but it's very New York story. Something to keep in mind. But again, it is a fan vote, so anything can happen. Griffin in Connecticut doesn't think the Knicks can sweep tonight on the ESPYs. Griffin, how are you?

[Caller/Listener]

Good, how are you? I just, I'm not being rude about the Knicks. I just, I. I'M looking all over and all around the world and some of these. Some of these things I just feel like are going to take all the world. Like I'm worried about. I'm sick and tired of everything aboutani every. That's why okay's gonna win best baseball player even though we think judge or someone else should win just because I feel like Ohtani all around the world will get everybody. Messi will be all around the world will get everybody. I understand the Knicks are great but I feel like New York they'll get. But I don't know if all around the world and also with best play when. When the guy was talking about the Braille and Mullen stick. If that doesn't go in the best comeback doesn't become complicated and that's become accomplished and they don't win. So that's the other thing to look at and that's. That was his only three of the game too. So that's. It just. It's just hard because you're looking at all around the world. I'm not taking anything away from the Knicks.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, I think it's going to be mostly it's going to be national. I don't think you have a lot of ton of votes from all over the world.

[Alan Hahn]

The Yukon Duke game had like that crazy enemy and remember it was more the turnover. He started the shot was great but I think didn't we spend more time talking about the turnover maybe. Right.

[Don La Greca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Like that than we did the shot.

[Peter Rosenberg]

The shot was. It was a great shot.

[Caller/Listener]

That was a good look at it. Another category I want you guys to look at. To me, best comeback athlete. It has to go to the Savage King. Who the. The soccer player. I understand the rest are great but they all came back from injuries. This girl had a cardiac arrest on the field and came back and played.

[Jalen Brunson]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Those are the best stories back from life.

[Caller/Listener]

Desperate.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Caller/Listener]

And performed. And these they just came back from injuries.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, but these are. That's the fun. I like those categories the most because it reminds you of some stories that you might have forgotten about throughout the year. Griff, thanks so much. 800-919-3776. We'll continue with your calls. 4:00 clock. We get into what we saw last night in Philadelphia. An All Star game. Yes. Cody Bellinger won the mvp. He had one hit and he won the mvp. But what was said after the game and actions before the game and during the game and even during the game suggest some things about the All Star Game that we need to get into and we'll do that at four o'.

[Caller/Listener]

Clock.

[Alan Hahn]

But you know what, Peter? If you had to bet, if you could bet on the S. Well, here's the thing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

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[Alan Hahn]

thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Alan Hahn]

Catch this show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. All right, let me tell you about Ring's End here real quick. We talk about championship rings, but I got to tell you about Ring's End. And you know what, it's a big win if you and your contractor are working together and you need like windows, doors, you're upgrading or updating your kitchen, you know, anything that you would need around the house when you're doing work on the house. Because look, we all do that and you have a great contract like I do. Well, you want to go to a company that you can trust that makes the best, the most high end product lines that you can go in, you can touch and feel and try. You know exactly what you're getting. Who is that? It's Rings End and they are a regional brand. They are not national. So they're local, they know the area well and they have plenty of places you can go in. Eight full service lumber yards in Connecticut and Westchester county. Twelve freestanding paint centers as well. They're family owned and operated since 1902. They've been around a long time. Everybody and I use them for this gorgeous French door that we put in that's part of a project I've been telling you guys about at my house. The door is in. It just looks spectacular. And now the rest of the room that we are building is now falling into place. My man Michael and His son Zach working on that as we speak. So if you have a project you want to do at your house and you need something like windows, doors or kitchen items or any type of lumber, look, this is the place you want to go. So if you can't go to any of the locations, just go to ringsend.com tell your contractor, work with Ringsend. Ringsend.com 800-919-3776 is the number. If you missed us talking with Jalen Brunson to start the show, we'll play it. We'll play some of the hits. He did talk about his injury, the wrist injury that he, he told us when he felt it, and obviously he was going to play through it and he doesn't have and you know, what he thought might have led to it and then how long it might take. So he talked about that. He talked, of course, about just this run that the Knicks were on and what this last month has been like for him since they did win the championship at the ESPYs tonight. Up for many SB awards himself and also the Knicks. And then tomorrow, his roommates podcast that he does with Josh Hart and Matt Hillman that is going to be at Fanatics Fest. It is sold out. But keep an eye out for the podcast, of course, as you probably would do every week, because one of their guests is Aaron Judge. And I wonder, Peter, if you're Aaron Judge, look, there was a time almost a year ago where Brunson would be the guy asking Aaron Judge for advice about being a captain and a leader in New York. Does Judge ask Brunson?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't think that will happen.

[Alan Hahn]

But, you know, you don't think Judge looks at Brunson like, what was it like? What'd you do? What'd it take? No, you don't think?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Nope, not a chance.

[Alan Hahn]

God did something you can't do yet.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think it's very unlikely. Listen, maybe judges in rarefied air of being a young man who's capable of doing something like that, but that's not easy, man. A lot of men do not feel comfortable saying to someone who got it done faster, hey, man, how'd you do that?

[Alan Hahn]

You don't think that he would say, like, I don't know, I've been to a World Series. You didn't break through. What was it like? What did you guys do to break through?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, that's the kind of thing I think media people think they would ask. That's what you would ask. That's not what I don't think that's what an athlete's asking another athlete maybe. But it's hard. It's admission of. It's admission of. I haven't figured something else out that you have.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, Aaron Judge is up for best MLB player.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay.

[Alan Hahn]

And he's up against Ohtani and Cal Raleigh and Paul Skeens.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, I'll tell you who's not winning, by the way, is Cal Raleigh or Paul Scheme.

[Alan Hahn]

Paul Skeens good though.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Skeens is really. I mean he's big and good. I still think it's Jedrotani though.

[Alan Hahn]

Brunson was up for is up for best NBA player and he's up against sga, Jokic and Wemby. Well, we have breaking news.

[Peter Rosenberg]

There's already a winner.

[Alan Hahn]

We already know announced just a few minutes ago on NBA today. The ESPYs are tonight 8pm on ABC

[Peter Rosenberg]

and they can't do every award during the show so they do some earlier ones.

[Alan Hahn]

So what they'll do probably is put up a graphic and say best NBA player was and the winner, Jalen Brunson, best NBA player.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Told you so. We're one for one.

[Alan Hahn]

I told you he was coming out with something.

[Peter Rosenberg]

We're one for one now with sweep. It will continue that. By the way, that's an indicator. You know there's more. You think so they're not doing. You think Brunson's not accepting athlete at immense. You think Brunson's not accepting an award on TV tonight?

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, come on. So well, they're going to bring the Knicks up at some point because they're in New York. They're going to have a Lincoln Center.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They're going to have a moment.

[Alan Hahn]

All right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So if they guys, I hate to I hate to get to inside TV here.

[Alan Hahn]

Take us inside.

[Peter Rosenberg]

These are not surprises at this point. The SBS know who's winning awards take

[Don La Greca]

us behind a curtain.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So yeah, given that they're trying to plan a show and make it the best show possible and they're limited time

[Alan Hahn]

they always want to they go well,

[Peter Rosenberg]

Brunson's won X amount of awards. Which ones should we be doing at the show and which ones can we afford? Oh, let's give this NBA today because

[Alan Hahn]

if that's the only one he won they would make it a come up and receive the correct you know what.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So there's more.

[Alan Hahn]

You. You.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I know what I'm talking.

[Alan Hahn]

You have a game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They don't give these jobs to Chip you.

[Alan Hahn]

You have a gift.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't know if you know there's WWE teaches You a little bit about how to work a show and set it up to make it hot. It is so there will be more for Jalen Brunson in the Knicks tonight.

[Alan Hahn]

This is the when NBA Today broke the news. You want to take a Listen? And the SB for the best NBA player goes 2, 3, 2, 1. Jalen Brunson.

[Jalen Brunson]

Jalen Brunson.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't like that lack of excitement.

[Caller/Listener]

Shelf is getting a little bit crowded for Mr. Brunson.

[Alan Hahn]

With all the accolades that he has

[Jalen Brunson]

added in the 2026 season.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Perk's been calling him big body Brunson all year long.

[Alan Hahn]

Why did he deserve to get this nod?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Perk, Tell me why he did. I mean, seriously, when you look at the run that he had, he arguably had one of the greatest individuals, individual runs in NBA history for us, Winning the championship, averaging 32 points in the NBA Finals, having an epic comeback in game four, in game five, 45 points to close it out on the road. The last person to do that was Michael Jeffrey Jordan. And the story, the story. A second round pick going to New York, making them relevant again, bringing that franchise back to life, and then all of a sudden, delivering the championship.

[Alan Hahn]

There's no reason.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Three years of misery for that New York fan base. I mean, tell me, who else was

[Alan Hahn]

supposed to get it? All right, so that's, of course, Kendrick Perkins, friend of the show. We love Perk. Also that you heard in the background was my good friend Mark Spears. Mark J. Spears, one of the great, great writers we have at ESPN. And another great writer and reporter is Tim McMahon. You hear him on the hook.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That was the whole. That was the whole group.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. And Malika, of course.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So, I mean, I know who the. I know who the face is.

[Alan Hahn]

You know? Yeah, of course. So you and me. All right, so Brunson has one trophy already in his pocket. He has an espionage ad. You know what that does for me? Makes that Emmy thing bother me even more.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's not. Listen, it's not like part. Why.

[Alan Hahn]

How could that not.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You're acting like it was one of his egot. It's. It's a. It doesn't matter.

[Alan Hahn]

Feels like an egot.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's not.

[Alan Hahn]

Feels like it could have.

[Peter Rosenberg]

First of all, it was. It wasn't a Primetime Emmy, so it doesn't count.

[Alan Hahn]

Damn it.

[Jalen Brunson]

Sorry.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Sports Emmys aren't part of the egot.

[Alan Hahn]

All right, so the ones that I have don't count?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No. You're telling me you're not.

[Alan Hahn]

You're not paperweights. I got paperweights. Is that what I got?

[Peter Rosenberg]

How many?

[Alan Hahn]

One, though, of all.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like, should we replay the moment? We keep talking about it. We should replay it.

[Alan Hahn]

There's nothing. It was more visual, right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's just silent because all you're hearing,

[Alan Hahn]

you're hearing the crowd kind of just like get into it because you have to see his eyes. And then he puts his hand to cover his eyes. And my instinct was shut up and let this moment happen. And I thought, like I was thinking when they were doing the, they were putting together the, the Emmy nominees packages that they send in. And like, the producer at the time told me he's like, this thing's winning by a mile. Like, it's. Nope, nobody's going to be.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, told you. You should have him fired right away when you. When he was wrong, immediate dismissal.

[Alan Hahn]

I didn't because I wanted to believe it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

He led you wrong. It's all right.

[Alan Hahn]

It's a shame. All right. Well, Brunson does win best NBA player. Tonight's ESPYs again at 8pm on ABC in the ESPN app. Thanks for listening. Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't want to know how the

[Alan Hahn]

sausage is made, man. I just want to know. It's good. Hear more of Don Allen and Peter weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app, and your smart speakers.