Hour 1: Knicks Opener Revealed

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 1: Knicks Opener Revealed

Date: August 11, 2026
Host(s): Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg, Don La Greca
Platform: ESPN New York & YouTube

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Episode Overview

This hour’s episode centers around the unveiling of the NBA's opening week schedule—with special analysis and excitement for the New York Knicks' title defense and banner-raising. The trio breaks down why the Knicks-Sixers opener makes sense, the broader NBA scheduling strategy, how expectations feel different for Knicks fans now, and what defines a modern dynasty. They also touch on the NBA vs. NFL battle for holiday attention and field some calls from listeners on Knicks fandom and sports trivia.

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Main Discussion Points & Insights

Knicks’ Opener & Scheduling Drama

• Knicks to raise championship banner against 76ers and LeBron James on Opening Night (7:00 PM, NBC)
  • This matchup is spotlighted for its drama, with LeBron joining the Sixers and the Knicks defending their crown.
  • Don Hahn: "The weird thing is... the Knicks will actually be the second game of opening day. But opening night will have the banner, LeBron, Jaylen Brown, Sixers—plenty of drama."
  • The first game: Celtics at Pistons, 3PM in Detroit—odd timing debated at length.

Why a 3PM NBA Opener? (03:39–11:38)

• Afternoon tip-off likely caters to international primetime audiences (London, Paris), mirroring NHL initiatives and NCAA tournament vibes.
• Rosenberg (05:19):
  "The first thing you think of when you see a game at 3 o’ clock on a Tuesday, you’re thinking, where is that game? Is it in Europe somewhere? ...Instead of giving them the international game, they're live. Give it to them so they can put it on television in primetime."
• This new slot could also be about streaming trends, workplace viewing, and targeting kids coming home from school.

Media & TV Partnerships – Tripleheaders & Streaming (06:03–11:38)

• NBC gets a feather in their cap with a tripleheader, using the afternoon window when there’s little sports competition.
• The "opening day as an event" parallels MLB traditions, but adapted to modern TV habits and network competition.

Knicks-Fan Mindset: From Anxiety to Euphoria (12:42–23:04)

• Title win has shifted Knicks fandom from anxious and miserable to excited or even surreal ease.
  • Don Hahn (13:44): "In the past, there was the anxiety of getting off to a good start and there was always that concern ...I'm telling you, Don, ...Is there any anxiety whatsoever going into this season or is it all whatever?"
  • Rosenberg: "You won the title without him [LeBron]. You didn’t need him… And now he’s chasing a ring. ...He’s in Philly, and now he’s going to watch that banner go up. And he had nothing to do with it." (15:21)
• The hosts debate tension about "spotlight stealing" by LeBron and whether the Sixers are really a threat to upstage New York’s moment (14:09–15:25).

Christmas Day Scheduling & NFL Invasion (17:09–19:42)

• Knicks will play the Spurs (Wembanyama) at noon on Christmas Day—early slot seen as a perk, not a slight.
  • NFL games begin at 1PM, so NBA wants to capture the early audience, matching up tradition with viewing realities.
  • Rosenberg (17:22): "People are complaining that it's at noon. I think it's good that it's at noon... then go home, open all presents in the day."

Dynasty Redefined: What Counts in Modern NBA? (22:29–37:00)

• The nature of "dynasty" is debated—back-to-back titles are less likely due to roster movement, salary cap changes ("second apron"), and league parity.
  • Don Hahn (28:28): "I don't know if you can do dynasties anymore in today's NBA because of the, the way the, the, the system is with the second apron."
• Consensus: Two titles in a short span (3–4 years) with consistent contention equals a mini-dynasty by today’s standards.
  • Rosenberg (29:30): "If we are working within those parameters and I told you that you got two in a three or four year span, would that hold the same weight as back to back? Yes."
• Parallel examples: 1990s Giants and Devils; success measured in sustained runs, not just repeats.
• Knicks’ current window with core (Brunson, Hart, Towns) is their shot.

Listener Calls: Knicks Fandom Psychology (37:13–40:15)

• Caller Steve: Knicks fans feel excitement and confidence, not anxiety or complacency. Defending the title is the focus, especially with new threats (Sixers, Heat).
  • Steve (37:52): "Most of them are excited. They want to defend this. I think a lot has to do with the juice now in Philly and Giannis down in Miami. So I think there's just a real confident excitement most people I know going into next season."
  • Knick fans aren’t worried about draft picks anymore—a psychological shift.

X-Factor: Jalen Brunson’s Impact & Team Mentality

• All agree the team’s distinct culture and Brunson’s leadership mean they're not likely to get complacent or dramatically falter, even under a bigger target.
  • Don Hahn (38:44): "Jalen’s just a different dude, man."
  • Don Hahn: "This group doesn't think they've actually played their best yet...if they're going to get better at something, it's going to be, how about we just blow teams out in the first half instead of waiting for the second half to come back."

Rivalries, Villains & Banner Raising Theatrics

• The hosts fantasize about inviting every Knicks nemesis (LeBron, Reggie Miller, Trey Young, Jordan, Wilt) to witness the banner ceremony.
  • Rosenberg (16:56): "Bring them all in. All the villains. Bring them all in to see that banner get raised. So I love the fact, Trey Young—that it's the Sixers. Trey Young, you're not playing, you come, come, come to the game. We want you courtside."

Hall of Fame Players Who Became Hall of Fame Coaches? (47:48–50:23)

• Call-in trivia: Is there any Hall of Fame player who later became a true Hall of Fame level coach or manager?
  • Names discussed: Earl Monroe, Jerry Lucas, Joe Torre, Lenny Wilkins, Larry Bird, Gretzky, Maurice Richard, Phil Jackson, Pat Riley, Jacques Lemaire, Steve Kerr, Bobby Cox.
  • Consensus: It's extremely rare—great players rarely become great, Hall-worthy head coaches due to mindset, expectations, and commitment issues.

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Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• Don Hahn (03:16):
  “Jaylen Brown is that petty that he’d be that guy, like Joker expression, just watching the banner go up.”
• Rosenberg (05:19):
  “The first thing you think of when you see a game at 3 o’ clock on a Tuesday—you’re thinking, is that game in Europe somewhere?”
• Don Hahn (13:44):
  “Is there any anxiety whatsoever going into this season or is it all whatever, you know what I mean? …I feel like I lost a part of my fandom because I don’t have that feeling of just perpetually being miserable."
• Rosenberg (15:53):
  “Now he's got to watch [the Knicks raise the banner]. And he had nothing to do with it.”
• Don Hahn (28:28):
  “I don’t know if you can do dynasties anymore in today’s NBA because of ... the second apron.”
• Rosenberg (29:30):
  “...Two in a three or four year span, would that hold the same weight as back to back? Yes.”
• Steve, caller (37:52):
  “Most of them are excited. They want to defend this. ...There’s not an anxiety, there's not a complacency."
• Don Hahn (38:44):
  “There’s a guy on this team, he’s different, man. ...Jalen’s just a different dude, man.”

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Engaging & Memorable Moments

• Banner Drama: The hosts enjoy the prospect of LeBron and other nemeses being forced to watch the Knicks' banner ceremony—framing it as "great theater." (16:56)
• Fandom Therapy: Multiple references to Knicks fans dealing with the end of their “miserable” era and not knowing what to do without the “anxiety” of always losing (13:44).
• Christmas Scheduling Strategy: Lively analysis about NBA claiming what early holiday hours it can before the NFL swallows the day (17:09–19:42).
• NCAA Tourney Parallels: Comparing the 3PM NBA opener to the all-day March Madness viewing experience (08:32–09:47).

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Thematic Summary & Tone

The episode captures a sense of renewal and expectation—not worry—for Knicks fans, while also treating wider NBA scheduling strategies as the game's evolving “theater.” Alan Hahn and Peter Rosenberg deploy a blend of analytical and comedic banter, poking fun at NBA tradition and hyping up the drama unfolding both on the court and in the calendar.

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Key Timestamps

• 00:53–02:45: Mets/Yankees updates, intro to NBA schedule
• 03:39–11:38: Why a 3PM NBA opener? International/TV strategies
• 12:42–23:04: Knicks’ fandom redefined post-championship
• 17:09–19:42: Christmas Day NBA vs. NFL scheduling
• 22:29–37:00: Modern dynasty criteria; Knicks’ window of contention
• 37:13–40:15: Caller Steve: Knicks psychology post-title
• 47:48–50:23: Hall of Fame player-to-coach rarity trivia

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In Summary:
This episode is a vibrant, optimistic look at New York basketball’s new normal—where the main stress is whether Knicks fans can get used to being on top, and whether back-to-back is necessary for greatness. The podcast balances NBA macro-theater with micro-Knicks therapy, all in a tone as self-aware and punchy as ever.

Transcript

[Commercial Announcer]

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[Don]

Don.

[Rosenberg]

I'll be licking the television screen. Licking it like it's ice cream.

[Don]

Han.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, the type of music I listen to would make you cry. And Rosenberg, I expect to be called ball coach.

[Rosenberg]

This isn't North Dakota, this is New York.

[Don Hahn]

This is Don Hahn and Rosenberg.

[Don]

The best threesome I've ever heard on

[Don Hahn]

ESPN New York and streaming live on YouTube.

[Rosenberg]

Real one of the big city. Don Hahn and Rosenberg on a Tuesday in the red hot summer, Peter continues his vacation. So Alan and I are handling the four till 6:30 and then it's the red hot Mets and the Braves.

[Don Hahn]

Break them up.

[Rosenberg]

Break the Mets up. Six, seven. How about that?

[Don Hahn]

Six, seven.

[Rosenberg]

They finally found something to do with Senga. He might be the closer. Now we'll see as Devin Williams is on the DL. But the Mets are just raking on the road. They swept the Guardians who needed the games. They, they took two out of three from the Pirates who were buyers at the deadline. And now that's, I think that's a seventh time they've beaten the Braves this year. So they're 7 and 4 against the first base place Atlanta Braves. I mean there's the rest of the season and let's not forget that they're still, you know, 14 games under.500 and the season is over. But still they're playing well. Yankees and Mariners as they start a series. Mariners trying to stay alive in a awful American League West. And we'll see if the Yankees can score any runs tonight. It's a talk about a Tuesday. We'll do that at 4:30. Another Anthony Pusick led at 6. But we have an NBA schedule.

[Don Hahn]

We do.

[Rosenberg]

It's funny when you, when you win a championship now you care about these things right now it's a little bit more exciting.

[Don Hahn]

Me personally, I would always, I always had to care about it.

[Rosenberg]

But now everybody cares.

[Don Hahn]

As you know, when the NHL schedule comes out, right, it becomes now I know where I'm going to be.

[Rosenberg]

But now everybody.

[Don Hahn]

This was the most predictable, wasn't it? This. Come on. You. Did you really think that it wasn't going to be Sixers at Knicks.

[Rosenberg]

Well, it makes sense, but didn't make sense. I mean, here people complain. People just complain.

[Don Hahn]

Who's complaining?

[Rosenberg]

Oh, well, they should have played the Spurs. Make Wemby watch the banner go up.

[Don Hahn]

Well, that's just.

[Rosenberg]

But when are you going to open the season against the Spurs? Like, it makes sense for the divisional opponent, right, to get that going on Christmas Day.

[Don Hahn]

But getting Thunder spurs as the nightcap is perfect for. From an NBA perspective. You know, it's not the NFL where you're going to have the super bowl teams play each other. Like, that doesn't make sense. You just, You. You're not going to do that. But the obvious one was the team that made the most noise in the off season, and that team was the Philadelphia 76ers.

[Rosenberg]

They had to get the Sixers in.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, please.

[Rosenberg]

And the Sixers were going to play whoever the defending champions were if it was an Eastern Conference team and it made sense that it would be the next. That just made perfect sense.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, it's. Here's what I want, though. It's not mandated and Nick Nurse isn't that type of coach. But I was wondering if Jalen Brown. I don't think LeBron. But if Jalen Brown's like, I think we should be out there when they're, when they're doing the whole thing. We're going to stand there, we're going to stare him down the whole time.

[Rosenberg]

Well, that's what you want, right?

[Don Hahn]

I mean, Brown. You saw Brown with that. The wedding video thing at Donovan Mitchell's wedding when he caught Brunson from across the dance floor and he's like, filming him. And Brunson's like, what are you doing, dude? Like, it's already starting. Which is kind of fun. But, like, Jaylen Brown is that petty that he'd be that guy with that, like, sort of like just the joker expression. Just watching the banner go up and all the pomp and circumstance, and he's just like, you know, just staring it down like it's. It's going to be great theater. So that was a predictable. Of course, what the weird thing is. How do you feel, Don lagra, about a 3pm first game between. What is it? The Celtics and the Pistons in Detroit, of all players.

[Rosenberg]

I love. I love day basketball. I mean, it takes me back Tuesday. Random. I'm going to tell you what it is. I. Again, I didn't even look it up.

[Don Hahn]

All right.

[Rosenberg]

But like, Anthony was telling me that if you look at the NHL schedule, they've scattered some afternoon Monday games like December 7th.

[Don Hahn]

And why?

[Rosenberg]

Why? Because I think they want to give a primetime window internationally.

[Don Hahn]

There you go.

[Rosenberg]

To give them games to watch the

[Don Hahn]

NHL doing exactly what they're doing.

[Rosenberg]

I think that's what they're doing.

[Don Hahn]

Does the NBA Think a 3 o' clock season open us? It's gonna be the first game of the NBA season.

[Rosenberg]

Right. 3 o'.

[Don Hahn]

Clock, 3 o' clock in the afternoon in Detroit. Celtic team that's kind of been watered down, a Piston team that suddenly is like whatever you did last year, nobody's. Nobody cares. Yeah. And we're going to have them play so that in London and Paris.

[Rosenberg]

Exactly.

[Don Hahn]

They can see this game on prime time.

[Rosenberg]

Because the first thing you think of when you see a game at 3 o' clock on a Tuesday, you're thinking, where is that game? Is that game in Europe somewhere? Is it an international game? It's not, but it's the same kind of thing. Instead of giving them the international game, they're live. Give it to them so they can put it on television in prime time. And I think you're going to start to see leagues do that. The NHL is doing it because they've got an international flavor, obviously with all the international players. NBA is the same thing.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Rosenberg]

You get to give them a game in prime. And listen, it's the Celtics. I know it's not the Celtics that you're used to because they just lost Brown, but they still have Tatum. It's still in. It's a big time team. Pistons were the 1 seed last year. You're not giving them nobody. Right, right. You're not, you're not giving them King's Grizzlies.

[Don Hahn]

Remember, this is NBC. Right. So NBC at 3:00 in the afternoon. What else are they doing? Because what they'll do is they'll play that game. You get the five and six o' clock news, then you get to the next. So it, that window makes sense on many levels. I just don't know like what's in it for NBC? Because it's really. If it's geared towards international, like this is on a. Noon in, in. In. In the West Coast. People, people are working, kids are.

[Rosenberg]

But it's not, it's not involving a, A West coast team. No, I get it.

[Don Hahn]

But it's still basketball.

[Rosenberg]

I know, but. And listen, it's, it's. It's opening day of basketball. Okay? I mean listen, baseball does it. They have their opening day in the middle of the Afternoon in the middle of the week. Well, not.

[Don Hahn]

Well, not anymore.

[Rosenberg]

Not the first game now, but they used to.

[Don Hahn]

But that's what this is. This is the first right. Game. But it's of the season there. Now it's. Is it Netflix who has the opening day for Major League Baseball now? One of the streams.

[Rosenberg]

Well, Netflix did this year.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, yeah. And they played one team. One. Remember, we railed about it like it should be the whole league of the state forever.

[Rosenberg]

You remember when I was growing up as a kid, the first pitch was always Cincinnati, Cincinnati Reds, because they were the first team in Major League Baseball. And then they obviously did away with that because why would you want to give that to the Reds? They weren't a national team. And now they, you know, first it was ESPN would do the Sunday game and then it was international games and all that. Listen, the end of the day, it's not that big of a deal who tips off first, but it's. It's a game that. I'm assuming I. Again, I didn't read this, but the. You can give it to the international crowd in primetime. NBC gets a triple header.

[Don Hahn]

Right. For NBC, it is a feather.

[Rosenberg]

You can't have a triple header without having an afternoon game during the week.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Rosenberg]

The ESPN does it with the NHL, but they usually would have a 6 or like a 5. 30. Not, not as early as 3.

[Don Hahn]

3 is interesting.

[Rosenberg]

So they can get the 3 and then the last game is like 11 o'.

[Commercial Announcer]

Clock.

[Don Hahn]

Thinking three kids come home from school, you got a game.

[Don]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Right away, you're home from school, you can watch the game. Put the game on.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Or stream it. Because again, that's what everybody's doing. Could that be it more than international or a little bit of both.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Or because, again, like, like, you know, Adam Silver has said it. They're already talking with clubs in Europe with the idea of partnering up to create a division in Europe. That's something that he wants to do one day. And so this is, I think, geared towards that. And also part of the After School Special. The NBC After School Special starring Jason Tatum and Cade Cunningham.

[Rosenberg]

I will tell you what do we love about the Thursday, Friday NCAA tournament start? We love all the afternoon.

[Don Hahn]

You're absolutely.

[Rosenberg]

People are at work and they've got games on. They're watching on their computer at work. And then there's like a little button. They can make it look like they're going back to work. And then the boss goes by the desk.

[Don Hahn]

That's. That's a great reference. That Perfect.

[Rosenberg]

Why not try to stir some things up earlier in the day? Now, maybe it affects the attendance, because now it's tougher to get to those games. Because remember those afternoon games during the NCAA tournament? There's usually nobody in the building, but it's on television. But I think everything right now is the tv.

[Don Hahn]

That's a good point. First of all, the NCAA thing is a great. That's a perfect parallel to make here the NBA. Or maybe it's. NBC is saying, why don't we do this like. Like you would do the tournament. Yeah, we're going to open the season. We're going to open the season. We're going to take the whole day. And so people will be so excited about the start of the season that it's three o', clock, it's later in your workday, you're at your workstation, you're in your cubicle. Whatever it is you put in the game, you can watch it streaming. So for NBC, it's. Peacock's gonna get a lot of hits. Kids on the bus on the way home got it on the phones, that'll get some hits. You get home, you put it on the TV, whatever it is. Maybe that's.

[Rosenberg]

You get home at 5 o', clock, you're right there for the start of the fourth quarter, and you get to see the end of the game.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

You're just making it a part of your day. I noticed it during COVID if you remember, during COVID we'd get all of these, like, games in the middle of the day.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

Because they're trying to make up all these games. The games were in the bubble. They were playing in the same building. So they had to put, like, five games in one day. So there were games at noon, there were games at three. We saw it in basketball and hockey all the time. I remember doing the K show. It was kind of cool that there were games going on, like, during the show.

[Don Hahn]

Yep.

[Rosenberg]

And maybe there's something about that, too, that we're going to start to see. Like I said, the NHL is toying with the idea of doing it Mondays. If you take a look at the schedules, a few. Anthony told me that there was a game in the afternoon on December 7th, and there's a few other ones. And maybe this is.

[Don Hahn]

The Islanders are in one of those.

[Rosenberg]

There was always those, like, Presidents Day ones.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

Or Martin Luther King Day, like, holiday stuff. But now I think maybe they're onto a little something here of just trying to create a window of, hey, there's nobody Else there's no competition. Like when you get to October 20th on opening day of the NBA when the Knicks play at 7 against the 76ers. From a national standpoint, there will be competition, right? There'll be NHL games going on, there'll be baseball playoff games going on. But at 3 o' clock when the Celtics play the Pistons, there's no other sports going on.

[Don Hahn]

Right? That's it. Yep.

[Rosenberg]

There might be. I guess there might be a day playoff game. I don't. By that time, I think we'll be done with the.

[Don Hahn]

By October 20th.

[Rosenberg]

October 20th, I think we'll probably be

[Don Hahn]

the LCS by then, we'll probably be

[Rosenberg]

in the league championship series. So I guess there's something to that. Right? Like all that. That's not. Well, you know what you got. No, you got playing.

[Don Hahn]

It's Tuesday.

[Don]

Right.

[Rosenberg]

So. And it's not Christmas. We'll get into that in a second. But I think it's a really good idea and we'll see if it works.

[Don Hahn]

So. Yeah. All right, so. So that.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

So that we.

[Don Hahn]

We knew the Knicks would be there. But it is interesting that this is. Although it's the premier game, it's not the first game. So the Knicks actually will be the second game of the day, opening day. But opening night they will have the banner. It will be LeBron and Jaylen Brown and the Sixers and all that stuff. So plenty of drama in the building that night. Then Friday that week is Prime's first. You know, that's their first first day because ESPN goes the next day. So NBC has Tuesday, that's the opener. And the Knicks will be on that Wednesday is. Is the ESPN slate. And that's like think four games. Right?

[Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

And then I think Thursday's a regular day. And then Friday is Prime, Amazon's first foray. And I think it's. Is it. Is it Nick Celtics that night? Yes, I think prime is Nick Celtics on that Friday. So that's. You're opening up with the Sixers and the Celtics out of the gate.

[Rosenberg]

Nothing wrong with that.

[Don Hahn]

82. And you know, like that's that, that's the.

[Don]

That's.

[Don Hahn]

And that's where I'd tell you that in the past, there was the anxiety of getting off to a good start and there was always that concern and all the stuff that comes with it. And looking at, oh, look at the league stacking up, all these tough opponents early. Look at all the road games. Like there'd be always this thing. I'm telling you, Don, I wonder From Nick fans. Is there any anxiety whatsoever going into this season or is it all whatever, you know what I mean? Like, I don't know, because I told you that friend of mine that texted me about how he doesn't know how to feel anymore because he's like, I feel like I lost a part of my fandom because I don't have that. That feeling of, you know, just perpetually being miserable. And it's just so. It's so. You just feel so at ease right now that even the start of the season, although I did have one friend of mine, Heather, pointed out, like, why does it have to be The Sixers and LeBron? They've got a. They've got to steal the spotlight on a night where you're raising the banner.

[Rosenberg]

Well, it's.

[Don Hahn]

Because it's. It's a marquee matchup.

[Don]

It's fun.

[Don Hahn]

But I don't know, like, I'd love to know if there's any Nick fans. We're still two months away, but is there any sense of, like, anxiety about the start of a season and, oh, we gotta have to a good start and this has to happen, or is it just.

[Don]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

You know, as long as we're healthy by April, then we'll go from there.

[Rosenberg]

Well, let me. Let me get back to what you just said about LeBron stealing the spotlight of the banner.

[Don Hahn]

All right?

[Rosenberg]

I don't buy that.

[Don Hahn]

I don't either.

[Rosenberg]

Because nothing. Martians could be playing. People are going to Nick. Fans are going to care about that banner going up. Now, the rest of the country may not care. Rest of the country might be focused on LeBron.

[Don Hahn]

There's a sixer. Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

But from a Knicks perspective, and that's all you really care about, is the Knicks perspective. Nothing is going to take away from the raising of the banner.

[Don]

No.

[Rosenberg]

So don't even worry about that.

[Don]

Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

I look at it as make them. Make them watch. Right. Right. This is the guy that spurns you clockwork arms. I still believe in my heart of hearts, I still believe it in my soul that he purposely made the decision. Right. Basically at the jets that. The. The practice facility the next. He did it in Greenwich. He's right there.

[Don]

I can feel all the way down

[Rosenberg]

in my plum right there. I still think he was trolling the Knicks because everybody thought it's going to be in Greenwich. It's right down the street from Greenberg. He's going to pick the Knicks. He's going to pick the Knicks. And he didn't. And he trolled them. I Believe. And then the whole idea, well, if the Knicks didn't win the title, he would be coming to you. You won the title without him. You didn't need him.

[Commercial Announcer]

Right.

[Rosenberg]

And now he's chasing a ring.

[Don Hahn]

Done.

[Rosenberg]

And he's in Philly, and now he's going to watch that banner go up. And he had nothing to do with it.

[Don Hahn]

Like. Like, you know the Clockwork Orange, right?

[Rosenberg]

Oh, yeah, absolutely. Just.

[Don Hahn]

Just have the. Absolutely holding his eyeballs open. But it. Look, it's all confirmed. He was coming here.

[Don]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

To get them. Wanted to come here. They did reach out. And isn't it amazing, the audacity of the Knicks looked at Giannis and looked at LeBron and said, all set.

[Rosenberg]

They're all set. And then you win the title.

[Don]

Wow.

[Rosenberg]

And now he's got a watch.

[Don Hahn]

I'm saying they won the title because they won the title. Both those guys, they said, you know what? We're all set. Which is remarkable. Years of star chasing. And then they. Now they have the ability. Two guys that wanted to be here, and they said, no, we're good. We're good, fam.

[Rosenberg]

And suffered. Jimmy tweets. The worst part is having to hear Reggie Miller opening night. Make it even better. He didn't win a ring. Now he's got to sit there and he's got to watch.

[Don Hahn]

What's he gonna say?

[Rosenberg]

What is he gonna say?

[Don Hahn]

What can he say now?

[Don]

Right?

[Don Hahn]

He lived off of your misery. He loved to needle you. Now he can't say anything anymore. Cause guess who'd never want to ring. Reggie will never want a ring. The Pacers. That's over now. And you're a year after the Pacers went to game seven.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah. Bring them all in. Invite them all. Invite them all in to see.

[Don Hahn]

I want Jordan sitting courtside, right?

[Rosenberg]

Get Jordan sitting there.

[Don Hahn]

Can we get Wilt. Can we just bring up. Can we dig up. Wil him courtside just to like, make him. You know, I mean, like, all. I want you all here.

[Don]

That's it.

[Rosenberg]

Bring them all in. All the villains. Bring them all in to see that banner get raised. So I love the fact, Trey Young.

[Don Hahn]

That it's the Sixers. Trey Young, you're not playing. You come, come, come to the game. We want you courtside.

[Rosenberg]

And I want to end just quickly before we go on. To answer your overall question, they'll play noon on Christmas Day.

[Don Hahn]

Yes.

[Rosenberg]

And I think that's pretty obvious.

[Don Hahn]

Wemby.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah, well, Wemby. But what. People are complaining that it's at noon. I think it's good that it's at noon.

[Don Hahn]

Oh no, no, it's perfect because you,

[Rosenberg]

they strategically put that game at noon because they know they're going to lose audience once the football gets going.

[Don Hahn]

When does the football get going?

[Rosenberg]

The first game is at 1:00'.

[Don]

Clock.

[Rosenberg]

It's Packers, Bears.

[Commercial Announcer]

Wow.

[Rosenberg]

But Knick fans are going to stick to the Knicks and so will spurs fans and then they'll parachute into the second half of the football game. But if the Knicks were in prime time.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

They'd be really tempted.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. Because there's, there's the 3:30 window which is a big one. That's the big one. Usually that's the marquee game, the 3:30 and I think it's like what the seven. There's two of them that are like considered the marquee time slots and the Knicks have played in the 3:30 before, but 12 has been their tradition.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

And I, I was glad to see that they left it there.

[Rosenberg]

And I would think the Knicks might have an influence. I wouldn't be surprised if like the Knicks want it to be at noon.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, in their building.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah, in their building. Because they, because the fans, the fans don't want on Christmas to go late in the day, get it early, then go home, open all presents in the day.

[Don Hahn]

Knicks at San Antonio on Christmas Day at 3:30 is unfair to the Knicks. Hey, we won the title, we beat them. Why are we going there?

[Rosenberg]

Exactly.

[Don Hahn]

They come to us.

[Rosenberg]

Exactly.

[Don Hahn]

And wemmy's been here before on Christmas.

[Rosenberg]

Mm.

[Don Hahn]

I called that game for ESPN radio. Okay, so that was like two years ago.

[Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

And so like it's, they've had that before. It did a, it did decent. But you're right, that NFL window, that's for the NBA now on Christmas Day. Yeah, that's a beast. They used to own Christmas Day now. Now they've got a battle for it.

[Rosenberg]

All three NFL games are marquee. Packers at Bears, Bills at Broncos, Rams at Seahawks. Okay.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

So 1 o', clock, 4:30 and 8:15. So I guess if you played at 7 o', clock, kind of the same theory as playing at noon where. All right, then I'll watch the Knicks and then when the game's over, I'll catch the second half of Rams, Seahawks. But I just think that they wanted at noon get a full hour of basketball before the NFL even takes over.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

Man, I give the NBA credit for still sticking with Christmas because now the NFL is going to be doing. Because.

[Don Hahn]

But you can't, you can't, you can't just give. You can't surrender the day. It's still ESPN and NBC as your partners. Right. It's an ESPN day, I believe. Right.

[Rosenberg]

It's got to put a dent, though, in the numbers.

[Don Hahn]

Absolutely.

[Rosenberg]

Because when they had it, what else was going on? You wanted to have a game on. You're opening gifts, or maybe you're at a party someplace or you're at grandma's house. You have the game on as part of the ambiance of the day. Now, football is going to be on unless you're a fan of a team that's playing in the NBA and the Knicks end up playing that. But you brought up the question just about, like, how do you feel if you're a Knick fan, is this just whatever, hey, we won the title. This is just a gimme year. We're just going to have fun. There's no stress, there's no pressure. I can't crawl into the minds of Nick fans. All right, you can because you are one. I am a fan, not necessarily of the Knicks. So we have different perspectives on this. I have won titles. I've seen the Mets win, I've seen the Devils win. I've seen the Giants win. And you do have that feeling of. I remember when the Giants won their first Super bowl in 86, in January of 87. John Madden was on the call with Pat Summerall and Matt. During the celebration, Madden said, you, you wish that when you win the title, you didn't have to play the next year. Like they should give the champion the next year off just so you can kind of relish at the moment because you'll celebrate it for a month or two and then you get back to the weights and you get back to the room and you're trying to repeat. And I think there's something to that, to where you're in this euphoric state and I think to start the season you're going to be like, whatever. I'm just happy.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

But I do think there will be moments where you'll get back into it and wanting to repeat.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, I agree.

[Rosenberg]

Because even though it's not a thing like it used to be, like, remember when you had to repeat, it almost didn't count if you didn't repeat. And I remember when Milwaukee won because they were like one of the first to not repeat and it was like, it felt like a one off because it's like, oh, Golden State dynasty, Cleveland with LeBron, like, dynasty. Obviously when the Bulls won all those titles, there always seemed to Be saying that you had to follow it up with a championship and if you didn't, again, I'm not going to go as far as a participation trophy.

[Don Hahn]

Please don't suggest it. But there is a middling show since that day.

[Rosenberg]

Just as somebody that has seen their teams win, there is something about wanting to follow it up. There is something about to repeat. Now, will you be as disappointed if you don't win as you've been in years past? No. Because the championship that you last won is still fresh. But I think as you get into this, Allen, you're going to want to do it again. You're going to want to repeat. You're going to want to be the first team in nearly a decade to win back to back titles, to build on a dynasty, to be considered one of those forever teams. It's tough in the NBA to be a. Considered a forever team.

[Don Hahn]

I got a question for you.

[Rosenberg]

Not having repeated.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, and I, I understand all of that and I, and I get the emotion. And you're right about the fact that at some point, you know, the early part of the season is sort of like, I'm still smoking the cigarette.

[Don]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Like I'm still, I'm not ready to get up, I'm not ready to get out of bed yet. Right. But they'll come a point though where the schedule, the standings, you know, something will then start to trigger that competitive nature. But it's a different vibe now. You can't, you can't argue it. It's just different.

[Rosenberg]

No, it is different.

[Don Hahn]

53 years and this sense of it's never gonna happen is now washed away. And now it's a different type of thing that has to kick in at some point. It will. But I'm gonna, I'm gonna ask you something on the other side, if I could because we are in a different era when it comes to quote, unquote, dynasty, that I'm gonna ask you. It's not a fraud alert thing, but it's sort of like I want you to judge whether or not this is still, is still a validation. Okay. Beyond the one time.

[Rosenberg]

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[Rosenberg]

f o u n D Com.

[Don Hahn]

Found is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by lead bank member fdic. Thanks for Listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don Hahn]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. I want you to just give me a ruling here because you did the participation trophy thing, which my good friend Vince Goodwill loved. Needling me. Right. And that was his way of kind of needling. And people took it and eviscerated him for saying it.

[Rosenberg]

It was disrespectful.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. But the point he was trying to make money just went a little too far. Whatever. All I know is that this is now eight years in a row where it's been a different channel year after year. And it doesn't mean that a team has won. Now you've seen teams you just mentioned, one of them is the Bucks. But there are teams that won and then just kind of floated away. Celtics won, but they were in the finals the previous two years. Before that, you know, they've been good. Oklahoma City lost in the conference final, but you don't think they're going away. Right. So like there's. There seems to be at least a little bit, you know, Denver. That's one to watch. Because I thought Denver would be for a couple of years really good and they really haven't helped on. But the Knicks I don't think have to win back to. Back to. To do any type of establishment anything. You know what I'm again, this is maybe this is just the new, the new feeling that's washed over me that the anxiety and all the like, gotta get off to a good start. Because if you don't get off to good start, you're making the place gonna be really hard. And you have this. And like all that stuff that happens to you when you're a franchise that hasn't won in so long. You look at everything, all the micro pieces of a season. Now I'm looking macro and I'm looking at this group. Brunson 30, Hart 30, Cat 30. Right. They're right there. They're in there. They're in the. This is it, sweet spot. You know, you're talking about two, two more years where they're really still in the prime. And if you remember the team that, the teams from the 70s that won their titles, they didn't win them back to back.

[Rosenberg]

No.

[Don Hahn]

They won in 70, they lost on their way in 71, they lost in the finals in 72, then they won in 73, then it fell off. Willis got hurt all the time. Like it was tough. If the if, if in this era, the Brunson era we want to call it, if they get one more, but it's not like it's within a three year, four year window, doesn't that still kind of give them that status of like this is now an all time great team now because, because it's a new era now. I mean the spurs, the Lakers, those dynasty stuff. I don't know if you can do dynasties anymore in today's NBA because of the, the way the, the, the system is with the second apron. There's not a single, I think there's one or none teams in the second apron this season. No one wants to do it.

[Rosenberg]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

So it's a hard cap.

[Don]

Of course.

[Don Hahn]

So if we are working within those parameters and I told you that you got two in a three or four year span, would that hold the same weight as back to back?

[Rosenberg]

Yes. And I'm going to give you the examples locally of the teams that want.

[Don Hahn]

Well, the Giants are great teams.

[Rosenberg]

Put baseball aside because when the mets won in 86, only four teams went to the playoffs. Like so it was really difficult to repeat and you didn't get nuts because it was so hard. But in the playoff sports like the NBA, like the NHL and even football, where multiple teams, it's not just a handful of teams to go to the playoffs. It's very fluid. Like all right, look at hockey. Devils win in 95. All right. But it's a 48 game lockout season. People are throwing at me, oh, it's a fluke. And then they became, I think at the time the only the second team in NHL history to win the Stanley cup and miss the playoffs the next year.

[Don Hahn]

The next year. Now the Rangers. Did the Rangers lose in the first round in 95?

[Rosenberg]

No, they beat Quebec. They won in the first round.

[Don Hahn]

They beat Quebec.

[Rosenberg]

Then they, then they lost to Pittsburgh.

[Don Hahn]

To Pittsburgh.

[Rosenberg]

Right in the second round. They made it to the second round.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Rosenberg]

So, so in the, in the, in that moment it was like, all right, people were looking always just a fluke. It was a one off. Then the Devils lose in the second round in 96, 97, first round in 98, first round in 99. Now we're four years removed.

[Commercial Announcer]

Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

But then they win in 2000, they go to the final in 2001.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

Win the cup in 2003. That's impressive. And now.

[Don Hahn]

Oh well, they won with relatively the same.

[Don]

Similar.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah, you have Brode or Nedemyer Stevens. Like you had a lot of the same guys.

[Don Hahn]

Relatively the same.

[Rosenberg]

And Lou was the general manager for all of them.

[Don Hahn]

Whatever. Three different coaches, 2000 and on was like the younger guys with Gomez and Pendolfo and those guys.

[Rosenberg]

Right. But now history will look at it and say, well, from 95 to oh three, you know, they won three cups. Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Went to four.

[Rosenberg]

It's a mini dynasty. Like they went to four. Final. So all encompassing. That's a, that's a hell of a run. But in the moment, it was embarrassing. You missed the playoffs and you can't get out of the second round for

[Don Hahn]

a few years now that. Yes. And again, I covered those teams. I was around that. But the problem here is that they don't have that kind of time.

[Don]

Right.

[Don Hahn]

Again, Jalen's going to be 30, I think next year. He's still not 30 yet. But Hart is. Towns is right. Those are your. Those are some key pieces. And an OBI still 28. Like you still have a couple of guys that aren't there yet. But I think this was year one. You got the ring. It's not year one. It's actually year three, if you think about it, where they were true contenders. And so can you get three more years where you're still a team that's at least advancing to the conference finals. You put. And then you just. If you can get one more, then I'm like, it's as good as back to back.

[Rosenberg]

And then in these days, the giants win in 86, Ms. At 87, 88, losing the playoffs, 89, win the Super Bowl, 90. So that's like 86 to 95 years, two titles.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

Like, it's, it's, it's cozy that way.

[Don Hahn]

Right, right.

[Rosenberg]

With the Knicks because of how good they are and they're still the favorite in the East.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

Listen, if they go to the finals next year and lose to the Thunder and then win the title again the year after, you're golden.

[Don Hahn]

But that's what that. And that's what the steps for those who aren't old enough. And I wasn't even Holden. I wasn't around. But that's what the 70s teams. The 70s team. That's what they were. They were from, from 1969 because they went to the conference finals that year and lost from 69 to 73. They were one of the best teams in the league. They were an elite team. They got to three finals. They. They got to. They won two. I think they were in the conference finals four times. Whatever. It was like, yeah, that was a hell of a. Hell of a run.

[Rosenberg]

No That's a big time run. So we'll see.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

Now if for some reason I don't see this happening, but if for some reason say they don't make it out of the second round this year, so they fall out.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Rosenberg]

And then you're bounced in the first round the year after, like kind of like that. That's why. Or in Milwaukee it's like they really weren't a threat again.

[Don Hahn]

Well, they made big mistakes in Milwaukee. Right. With the, with the lineup. They won't do that.

[Rosenberg]

They won't. So it all depends on.

[Don Hahn]

This is more of a Denver thing is will everybody still do what they're doing? Because that's what happened in Denver is Jokic kept being Yokish, Murray kept getting hurt a lot. Gordon's getting hurt a lot. Like they. They just couldn't stay and then they fire the coach. So that the Denver thing is what you're watching to see. You know.

[Rosenberg]

Now the great thing about the NBA now is you don't have to be the one seed to win. So I don't think Nick fans will sweat the regular season as much because based on the fact that they were a three seed last year and won the whole thing, heck, they could be a five seed and you still feel like they could win.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

But once the playoffs start and now you're almost a year removed from the championship by the time you get to the playoffs in April, then I think it's on. Then I think you're going to want to see this team make a run and then you'll kind of judge from there. I agree and I think based now let's see what Philadelphia ends up being. But because Embiid always gets hurt and they're together for the first time, I think most Nick fans expect this team to go to the final again and if they don't, I can understand there being a level of disappointment that you didn't follow it up.

[Don Hahn]

That's why I think the anxiety like that you keep using anxiety, which in today's world probably not the right word to use, but you know what I mean? The. It's sort of like this anticipation where you start getting nervous energy about the season. I don't think I feel it this year. And you would give them a pass if they're a second round and out. You know what I mean? For. For whatever the. Again I got to see what it looks like. But I do think that that will then lead into the third like next year, not this coming season. But then the 27 season is when I think that anxiety comes back, because it's like, before Jalen's done, you got to get another one. You know what I mean? That's when I think it ramps up. I think this almost feels like that's like a year of. It's of calm. I don't think this is going to be a year of a lot of great anxiety about the team's success, but

[Rosenberg]

I think it'll be.

[Don Hahn]

It might come back a year later.

[Rosenberg]

I think it'll come back in the playoffs, and then we'll see. Now, if you went to the finals and lost to the Thunder in seven, are you going to be punching walls and.

[Don Hahn]

No, no, no. You'll feel like, wow, we almost got another one.

[Don]

And then.

[Rosenberg]

And then maybe. And then maybe you do get the other one the next year. I still do think the west is. Got some really good teams.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. But they beat the hell out of each other.

[Rosenberg]

They do beat the hell out of each other. And I. And I do think the Knicks have stiffer competition now than they had last year with LeBron and. And Brown together. And I'm telling you, if Embiid can give them 70 games, I would not be shocked if they win the conference. Now, that doesn't matter. Cleveland won it two years ago, Detroit won it last year, and it didn't matter.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Rosenberg]

But that's how good I think this Philadelphia team can be.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

And then once. We'll see. Once you get to the playoffs, one thing I will say, no matter where they end up facing each other, I don't think a Nick fan is going to love losing to LeBron in the playoffs.

[Don Hahn]

Oh, God, no.

[Rosenberg]

So that, no matter where it is, conference final, you know, certainly early, you know, in the first round, second round,

[Don Hahn]

they've only played him once. That would be 2012. Right. That was the only time they've played LeBron in the playoffs.

[Rosenberg]

I believe when he was in Miami. Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

2012. They lost in. Did they get swept or lost?

[Rosenberg]

Why do I feel like it was five?

[Don Hahn]

It might have been five, but that wasn't. Everybody got hurt. Lynn couldn't play Baron. Yeah, it was a sweep, right. Baron Davis's knee blew up like. It was just sad.

[Rosenberg]

But let's see. But it's. It's nice.

[Don Hahn]

Stoudemire hurt himself on the. On the fire extinguisher.

[Rosenberg]

Oh, that was that year, right?

[Don Hahn]

Shumpert's knee blew up. Yeah. This was. That was.

[Rosenberg]

Well, it's. But it should be a fun year. Let's start the calls off with Steve In New Fairfield. You're on. Don Hanna. Rosenberg. What's up, man?

[Don]

Hey. What's up, boys?

[Don Hahn]

How are you? Good

[Don]

for me. Well, first, before you're asking how Nick fans feel, first of all, for me, it's still, I mean, I've come around a bit. It's still a bit surreal to not care about your first round pick or in the past. It's like, I hope this Knox kid. It's still. And other teams win it, not us. It still hasn't. Still hasn't hit me yet. Alan. Don. But regardless of people I know, my friends and family, there's a, there's a, there's not an anxiety, there's not a complacency. Most of them are excited. They want to defend this. I think a lot has to do with the juice now in Philly and Giannis down in Miami. So I think there's just a real confident excitement. Most people I know going into next

[Don Hahn]

season, yeah, the excitement's the best word. It's just like wanting to get back to watching this team play again. Right. Like Steve, that. I think that's the vibe I've gotten talking to a lot of Nick fans. A friend of mine asked me if I was having like postpartum, because when the, when, when game five ended and they won the championship and then the parade and then it was sort of like there's nothing else to watch.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Like it's over. I want to watch the same play again.

[Don]

And you know what? I think a big part of it too is not to overhype them. We all love them, but there's a guy on this team that, he's different, man. And he's just. They're not going to be three and seven and once I get punched in the mouth and people are going to come shooting.

[Don Hahn]

You're right.

[Don]

First of all, we're in New York.

[Don Hahn]

You're right.

[Don]

So there's that anti Neil Vice. Anyway, when we get hit in the mouth, we're not going to go on a 10 game complacent slide. Jalen's just a different dude, man.

[Rosenberg]

No, he is. What I'll say is it's so difficult to repeat because just you find things just sometimes don't go your way. You know, the things did go their way last year.

[Don Hahn]

Yep.

[Rosenberg]

And then all of a sudden, like the law of averages kind of turn and now it's. And I'm not saying they can't win again, but it's going to be harder. Well, think about the targets on your back. He's Right. Not just the target on your back, but it's also New York.

[Don]

Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

Like so they're going to be all

[Don Hahn]

over and the noise that was made.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah. But the best thing about this is, is that Brunson already has the fuel to the fire because he's got the fact that the Knicks won and there's still some people that want to dismiss it. There's also the fact that I know it's small, but it's not in that world. These are men with egos. NBA 2K put WEMBY on the COVID Yeah. Not the, not the champion. They put him on now. I understand why. But still, if you want to use something, use plenty to use. There's just a lot of that. And, and I, this group, and I've, I've said this before, this group doesn't think they've actually played their best yet. They know we gave teams 20 point leads in the first half. Like we didn't show up until 8, 15.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

The game started at 7. You know, like that there's a lot of that talk in that group that if they're going to get better at something, it's going to be, how about we just like blow teams out in the first half instead of waiting for the second half to come back from 10, 15, 20.

[Rosenberg]

Right. So it's a lot to consider.

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[Rosenberg]

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[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg Podcast.

[Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don Hahn]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. Rings ended a great job helping me get the perfect French door for my house and I want to help everybody in the area that is looking to update and upgrade their homes. Especially as we're getting closer now. Look, we're almost in September, right? I mean, I don't want to rush the summer, but you know, you blink and now it's holiday season.

[Rosenberg]

It's August 11th already in week two of August.

[Don Hahn]

So if you don't need a major product now, you can get windows, doors, kitchens, all that stuff. Of course, going through Ring's End with your contractor. But here's something that they were I was talking with Ring's End the other day. You know what they were telling me? Like a lot of times people want to do, freshen up the house. Paint. Very simple to do. You know, you take a weekend, you paint a room, paint a couple of rooms, maybe the foyer, whatever it is that you can do to make things just feel a little fresher around the house, you can do it. Well, Benjamin Moore is the best man you can work with. That's what I think anyway. And Rings End carries Benjamin Moore among other products. But Benjamin Moore is like the premier one. And if you want to work with Rings End, not only can you go to one of the. They have 12 freestanding paint centers in the area. They also have eight full service lumber yards in Connecticut and Westchester County. You can go there and find the paint you want. But if you know the color, which today all you got to do is use AI and Google and you can find the exact code and style of the paint color you're looking for that you think is going to be perfect for your house. All you have to do is go to ringsend.com that's right, ringsend.com you can order the paint the exact color you want. They'll send it to you don't have to go anywhere, ship it right to your house. You get the paint you want to get, primer, all that stuff and there it is waiting for you. Open the box, open the can, paint your walls fresh house. That's why with Ring's End, it goes beyond the big projects. Even something as simple as just painting your house, freshening it up, you can do it by going to Rings End. So check out rings and dot com. That's ringsend.com all right.

[Rosenberg]

1-800-919-3776. Talking to Nicks and the opening of the season. They'll begin the season a seven o' clock tip. NBC against LeBron James. The Philadelphia 76 are still kind of getting used to having to say that after having to get used to saying LeBron James and the Heat and then LeBron James and the Lakers and, and all that. Now I got to say LeBron James and the Sixers.

[Don Hahn]

LeBron James.

[Rosenberg]

And they will also play at 12 noon Christmas Day against Wemby and the Spurs. Richard of Manhattan, you're on espn New York. What's up, Richard?

[Don]

Fellas, to Your point with LeBron James, if I was advising LeBron, I would tell him this. The Knicks won a championship in May of 1970. 19 months later, 19, they acquired two at various times. Biggest stars the NBA ever had ever. Earl Monroe and Jerry Lucas. And they didn't win the championship right away. The following year, they won. Those two guys had great hall of Fame careers before they came to the Knicks. Jerry Lucas with the memory and doing all the talking afterwards, you know, speeches and going at all of that thing and Earl Monroe becoming a Nick legend and nobody remembers their careers prior. I would have said Earl. I would have said LeBron. Just get to the Knicks. Do whatever it takes. You'll work your way in if those two superstars can do it. Now, they're not the magnitude of LeBron, but they were big stars and it was seamless. And they are forever remembered as New Yorkers and New York Knicks. That's what my advice would have been to LeBron. It would have been the biggest and best boost that this guy could have ever had in his career. That's what my feeling is. Two months later, that's all. Two months after the Knicks won the championship. Take your time and think about everything. But The Knicks waited 19 months and they wouldn't have won those championships without the second championship, without Earl and without Jerry Lucas. That's how as great as that starting five was in 69 70, they had to refurbish. So don't think that this team just because they. I mean, they're a great team. We're hoping and all. Fellas, I got one more quickie. You guys will like this one. Has there ever been a manager that had a Hall of Fame career? I can only think of Joe Torre. And he didn't have a Hall of Fame baseball career, but he had as close to a Hall of Fame baseball career and then a Hall of Fame coaching career. I mean, the only guys I can think of are Lenny Wilkins and Gil Hodges. But I don't think. I don't know if he that. Well, Lenny Wilkins didn't have a Hall of Fame basketball career. Pat Riley, Phil Jackson, Steve Cole. Of course we're not hall of Famers. Don, you would know were Jacques Lemaire and Larry Robinson. Hall of Fame coaches, you know, you know what I'm trying to say. Hall of Fame players and then become hall of Fame coachs or managers.

[Rosenberg]

Now probably I wouldn't. I wouldn't say. Jacques Lemaire was a hell of a coach and so was Larry Robinson. But one cup does not get you into the hall of Fame as a coach. Great player, hall of Fame player, hall of Fame coach. I can't. Because none of like Ted Williams wasn't a great manager like Lenny Wilkins.

[Don Hahn]

Thinking of the NFL too.

[Rosenberg]

Well, the NFL was Forest. Greg. Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

You're going.

[Rosenberg]

I'm going back. He was, I believe. Forrest. Greg is in the hall of Fame as an offensive lineman. Did he do enough as a head coach? No. He took Cincinnati to a Super Bowl. He wasn't a Hall of Fame head coach. You know, Larry Bird didn't do anything. I don't think there's really anybody, is there? Am I missing somebody?

[Don Hahn]

Bird would be one. Mikhail. But you know Again, you have to. You'd had to have as a head coach, at least gotten one title. So it's. I. Yeah. I'm not.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah. There's no. It's such. It's because it's hard to do. Like, what. What hall of Fame player would want to then dedicate himself to being a coach like Yogi?

[Don Hahn]

But, you know, Yogi managed, but he. It wasn't like anything that would have made him a Hall of Famer as a manager.

[Rosenberg]

No. Stangle and hockey like Lemaire. Lemaire is not, you know, God love him. Not a Hall of Fame coach. Larry Robinson's not a Hall of Fame coach.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah, no, it's. It's. It's hard to find that. And there's a reason for it, because when you're that great of a player, it doesn't resonate nearly as much. When you coach, it's a real thing.

[Rosenberg]

Well, that was. The thing, is that it makes it difficult when you're that great, you're going to expect the players to be as great as you were, and they're not going to do it. I mean, that was the thing with Gretzky. When Gretzky tried to coach the Phoenix Coyotes, it's like he. None of them can live up to his expectations of what players were supposed

[Don Hahn]

to or would he? Just what he said was so simple to them was not simple. Right. You know, what do you mean? Just go where the puck is going. I don't know where the puck is going.

[Rosenberg]

But there have been hall of Fame, like I said, Ted Williams, Wayne Gretzky, that all tried their hand at coaching. Maurice Richard tried it with the Quebec Nordiques. Failed. Like, there's plenty of guys that want to do it.

[Don Hahn]

It's a good question.

[Rosenberg]

Wonder if there's a base. Is there a. Joe Tory was. He was a borderline hall of Fame player. Not a Hall of Fame player. Certainly a Hall of Fame coach.

[Don Hahn]

Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

Bob Lemon was a really good point player. Not a Hall of Fame coach or manager. Billy Martin wasn't a Hall of fame like, like LaRussa.

[Don Hahn]

I'm thinking what's his name with the. The Braves. He was with the Yankees. Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

Bobby Cox now, but he wasn't all player.

[Don Hahn]

That's what I'm saying. Like, I'm trying to find.

[Rosenberg]

Like I'm just trying to find any. Any really good players. I feel like I'm forgetting somebody.

[Don Hahn]

He was named that Yankee this week, and he only had one home run in his career. Bobby Cox. Really?

[Rosenberg]

Yeah. I'm pretty sure they're getting out of hand with those trivias on.

[Don Hahn]

Yes, it's aggressive. I mean, like to figure out who they're talking about.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Don Hahn]

It's because I do struggle with them, but that's not a surprise to anybody. But there are times, though, I think I've got it and I always want to text K and I'm always afraid if I get it wrong, he'll call me out. So I was Nine home runs. He played one year with the Yankees. That's one year, not one home run.

[Don]

Nine home run.

[Don Hahn]

Still not a lot of. No hall of Fame. It's eight more than you.

[Rosenberg]

All due respect, they had, they had a guy over the weekend because they were playing the Brave. So it was a Dodger, Brave, Padre, White Sox, Yankee. And he was only a Yankee for 18 games.

[Don Hahn]

It was bad.

[Rosenberg]

It's like, what are you doing? You're giving us.

[Don Hahn]

No.

[Rosenberg]

And it was, it was a player that I remember, but I didn't remember as a Yankee because he only played 18.

[Commercial Announcer]

18 games.

[Rosenberg]

Yankee was Jerry Royster. Like, I remember Jerry Royster, but he played 18 games as a Yankee.

[Don Hahn]

I remember that name. Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

Like now they're really playing games. Like, usually when you give trivia, it's somebody I do with the Devils. Like you give trivia that it's, you don't want to make it too easy, but you also don't want to make it too hard.

[Don Hahn]

Right.

[Rosenberg]

Like, who's gonna get Jerry Royster? Like, I had to look it up. I just looked it up again. 18 in 1987, he played 18. He had 47 at bats. That's borderline cheat. I gotta ask K where they come up with these things. It's not right.

[Don Hahn]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast. I don't want to know how the 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 Eastern ESPN New York app and your smart speakers.

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