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Don sitting it.
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Sit.
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You stink.
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Han, how about your nuts?
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Can I get some? And Rosenberg, he wanted me to jump
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up and make the jokey jokey so the people go laugh time. This isn't North Dakota, this is New York.
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This is Don, Han and Rosenberg.
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The best threesome I've ever heard on
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ESPN New York and streaming live on YouTube.
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It's actually a twosome today. Ty Butler, Jake Asmon, taking you till 7 o'. Clock. 800-919-3776. We're on the app. We're on YouTube stream streaming live. Can't wait to talk to you guys because Jake, we are still celebrating the New York Knicks. I see your hat. 2026 NBA Champions. And this is a feeling that's not going to wear off. This is not going to be some honeymoon phase when you go 53 years without winning a title. When you are the butt of so many jokes, when you are the laughing stock of the league. I'm getting so excited. I dropped my, my water. This is something that is going to resonate so profoundly and for so long. And so I say hello to you, good afternoon to you because you are the die hard Nick fan on this show. What's it feel like, man?
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I'm a world champion, Ty. That's what it feels like. It feels like greatness personified. To quote Michael K from one of his magical Yankee calls way back in the day. It's awesome.
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Michael K. Who by the way previewing this, promoting this show, called it the Ass butt show.
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That's a working title.
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So a lot of ass and a lot of butt on this show.
D
We're getting freaky on a Friday here. I mean, come on. The day after there were some toes licking going on at this parade that
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brought me back to like the Labor Day parade.
D
There was like a brawl between two women where as some sort of self defense, one of the ladies was twerking with her bare ass out. I mean it.
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And you're the ass man. So this is right up your alley.
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I appreciated it. I did. It was, it was, it was just a tremendous, tremendous parade all around. I'm very jealous. I didn't See that in particular, but I could sprinkle in some fun parade stories throughout the day because it was, it was just amazing being there. I just, I don't know when another one of my teams is going to win. I'm hoping it could be the Yankees again, but even if the Yankees did win, it won't feel the same way like the Knicks winning. The one team that really could unify this entire area the way they played the 53 years. I mean, we've been talking about it as a station forever. Everyone knows how much it means to New York and to the Knick fan. It was just, it was so cool to be there. I'm lucky I actually got a spot. I know so many people who are down there early, paid their dues trying to find a spot and couldn't. But just being in that environment surrounded by people all there for the, for the, for the right reasons, right, to support the Knicks and express fandom. That's. That's what it's all about. That's why we love sports moments like that.
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Now, unfortunately for your boy, Ty Butler could not be in attendance. And I say unfortunate because while I'm not a Knick fan, I've been here my entire life. I'm surrounded by a bunch of Knick fans, friends and family who were just so overjoyed. I've been like you at every home playoff game the last three or four years and I wanted to bask in the experience of that, but My oldest turned 5 years old yesterday and I don't know that it's exactly good parenting to say, hey, you know, it's a good idea for your, for your five year old birthday, let's go to the parade where there will be 2 million people.
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Is he a Nick fan, though?
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It's concerning because he's getting to the age where he's becoming aware of. And then every, every day he comes up to me, dad, is the basketball game on tonight? And I said, yeah. And I asked him who you're rooting for? He said, I'm rooting for the Knicks, which I don't know how I feel about that. We're Laker fans, so you can't just punt on what we have been through, our entire fan, our fandoms in favor of the Knicks just because they're in the championship. But I won't say he's a Knick fan. But what I will say was he was really dialed into this playoff run. Unfortunately, though, not able to be in attendance. More on that later. We went to a nice Little indoor water park at the American Dream wall. But from what I gathered, I was watching the parade on my phone, driving to Jersey yesterday and then caught the rest of it coming back. Man, it was like a spiritual experience. You had about 2 million Nick fans at this parade.
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And I don't even know, by the way, if that number is entirely accurate, because I would love to know how the NYPD comes up with that. That population. Guess if you will, because from someone who was there, there were so many people who showed up early and then just left and went to different bars around Manhattan or different areas of town just to go and watch it on TV because they knew they weren't gonna get a view. And everyone was just on top of each other. And like, it was. If you're claustrophobic, if you're someone who can't handle large crowds, it would have been tough, there's no doubt. So I don't want to quote, unquote, pun intended here, rain on the parade, because it was incredible for anyone who was lucky enough to see it. But like, how the NYPD estimates 2 million. How many of the 2 million actually were there? Do you count the people who were there but didn't actually see the parade? What do you do about the people who just straight up left, they tried to go down there? Like, I can't see any of it. I'm going to a bar near the Garden to celebrate instead. That was a lot of people in my life that I know had that experience.
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It's also how I feel about ratings because, like, we know the numbers that came out, but it would have been even higher had it not been for these watch parties, like taking place all over town. But anyway, back to this yesterday, this. The sheer excitement and joy that I'm sure a lot of you guys still can't quite figure out. Like, is this real? Like, we're Knick fans. We're not supposed to be on the positive end of not just winning a championship, but doing so in dominating fashion. It was not to be hyperbolic. One of the most iconic days in the history of New York sports and a championship we're forever going to talk about. Because it just checks a lot of the boxes, right? Like the underdogs, even with the winning streak coming into the Finals, they were heavy dogs against the spurs. Like the Comebacks, including five of them in those Finals. You had one of the greatest games we've ever seen. That 29 point comeback culminating in one of the 10 greatest shots in NBA history. Like the. The magnitude of it being The Knicks of it being a basketball town of it. Josh Hart talked about this like they are sporting the heaviest jerseys in the NBA because of all that comes with it, the baggage and everything for the New York Knicks to pull off this feat, man, I still can't believe it. But here we are. They're champions and we're going to talk about this forever.
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Man, it is a forever team. And I said this when I was on the air at like 2 o' clock in the morning. The Saturday into Sunday, after they won, the Knicks accomplished live from a wedding, live from a random Boston hotel room business center from 2 to 6am the day before. The rehearsal dinner was Saturday night and ends at like 8:15. I'm wearing my Knicks button down. Me and some college friends who are big Knick fans, we go to the hotel bar, watch the game and then try to set up the Comrex and get ready to go on the air at 2am and then on no sleep the next day. I was a groomsman. The wedding would do it every time, worth every second, all adrenaline, an absolute blast. But I remember thinking, wow, like, not only is this Knicks team going to be so beloved, a forever team will reference the 2026 Knicks the same way we talk about the 86 Mets or the 07 Giants or the, you know, the 96 Yankees, who were not supposed to be a team that won a championship after being down two games to nothing to the Atlanta Braves. While also this Knicks team, in addition to being beloved, they're dominant. They lost three playoff games total during this run. They won three road finals games. They won nine straight road games. They had the greatest point differential in NBA playoff history. They lost one game after the first round, if you think about it that way, 15 of their final 16. So while they're so beloved, they also were so dominant. And I just, I can't think of another team that has like the beloved historic nature and the dominance that is centered around it. To me, that's really special.
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Now, part of the beloved nature is that they won, right? Because there were people on this team that had they come, come up short, would have been traded, right? Like Carl Anthony Town. And this is what I argued coming into the playoffs. Was there anyone in the NBA with more pressure on them than Karl Anthony Towns? Because the Knicks had an exorbitant amount of expectations put on them. And if they had fallen short of that, who was going to receive the brunt of the criticism? It was going to be Cat. And I think it would have led to him getting traded so when I look up and down this team, including the head coach who at times throughout the year people are like, man, I don't know if this is the guy, he was our eighth selection who by the way was in a no win situation throughout the regular season. The Knicks could have gone 82. And oh, and if you were skeptical about Mike Brown, that was not going to erase that skepticism. So starting with him, you had questions about could Jalen Brunson be the best player on a championship team? Because all throughout NBA history it tells us if you are not an all time great, you're not the best player on the title team. So with Kat, we just talked about bridges to five first round picks, Josh Hart, his jump shot, can he make enough? You know, Mitchell, Robinson, like there were so many different areas of this team where you looked at and you said, I don't know if they have enough. And for them, to your point, not to just deliver, but to do so in historic fashion. The three losses by a combined six points and to beat a 62 win spurs team in the NBA Finals, it's just one of the greatest feats in the history of the league.
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It's, it's surreal. And again, so much of the knicks the last 20, 25 years has been chasing the superstar, chasing the savior. Supposed to be LeBron, KD, Kyrie, oh, they're going to win the lottery. It's going to be Zion. You know, we thought it could have been poor Zingis for a little while. Like there were moments where it was all about chasing the guy who was going to get the moment that Jalen Brunson got yesterday, where he's speaking at the parade and there's MVP chants and confetti falling behind him. That was supposed to be any of
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these stars over the years, right?
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And I think what makes it so sweet is that the guy who helps lead them to the title is an underdog. New York loves an underdog. And the fact that he is as humble of a superstar as you could possibly be, he's undersized. All the knocks and criticisms that he spoke about yesterday, I think that also makes the story so special to the Knick fan that we were waiting so long for someone to take on the challenge and the guy who does it takes the largest pay cut in team sports history, $113 million. Brunson passes up, he's the guy that's up there delivering the championship to a city that was starving for it.
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And look, if you follow the league, and I'm not just saying this because there's a New York bias. Not all championships are created equally. Like we look at the 2016 LeBron and Kyrie run, like that's one of the greatest feats of all time. It ends for them in Cleveland Sports. A 52 year drought and then the greatest player of all time overcoming a 3:1 deficit. Like that just feels different. The 2011 Dirk championship. So there are, there are certain times where you can recognize, oh, that one's just different. And this is going to be that for the Knicks, not just here in New York, but nationally, 100%.
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And I think a great point you can make if you want to use another New York example. Mark Messier winning with the Rangers in 94. He had won five cups in Edmonton. He was already an all time great hockey player. But when you think of his career, I think unless you're an Oiler fan, you remember the one cup he won with the Rangers, then you do all the ones he won in Edmonton. Like Jalen Brunson, if he only ends up winning one championship, and certainly I hope it's more than one, but that one is certainly more than enough for him to be an immortal in New York sports. And on the pantheon of one of the all time great athletes, we discuss and beloved figures in the city's history.
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And when you bring up Messier, like I get that that is the comp, the go to comp is, you know, Brunson, Messier, what makes this, and this is not at all to I guess dilute the accomplishment that Mark Messier, you know, bring in championships to New York. But for Jalen to do this, not having won before is he didn't have championship pedigree. He wasn't a starter with the Mavs like there were, there were no, like hardcore Jalen Brunson sweepstakes after the 2022 playoffs, it was. Are the Mavs going to resign him?
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No.
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All right, Knicks. And I even tweeted out, what are the Knicks doing? And I remember Ray Santiago quote tweeting my tweet saying signing a point guard. Little did I know, of course. And even Ray, who is as die hard of a Knick fan as he is, little did he know that this is what you were going to get.
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No. 1.
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Because what Brunson didn't know, he said himself, he didn't know he'd be this good.
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What this run cemented three hall of Famers. Jalen Brunson, he's going on hall of Famer.
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And I guess the other two, guess the other two. Carl Anthony Towns.
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Correct.
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Mike Brown.
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Correct.
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Think about Mike. Mike Brown. He's still not getting enough credit. The expectation for Mike Brown was you either get to the finals or you did a bad job. Not only did he get to the finals, they lost three. They lost one time after the first round, like, he did an amazing job. And this is coming from someone who was as big of a tips fan as you're going to find, who did not want the Knicks to take the risk and move on from the guy. Again, to your point, Mike Brown's going to the hall of Fame.
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He's taking now two teams, five, five time champions.
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He's got a ring as a head coach. He's a Hall of Famer.
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I mean, listen, like the. I actually love the who let the dogs out? The bit that he keeps running.
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I did it right in front of. I'll show you the video on my phone. So Mike Brown was one of the stars of the parade. He jumped off his float multiple times throughout the parade portion. And as he's running, everyone starts yelling at him and he joins in every time. It was. I have a video of it. I'll show you during the break. I'll tweet it out and the station could retweet it. He's the man. I can't say enough good things about the job he did.
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Listen, because I'm 33 years old, so when I see the old cat coming in with, you know, baggy jeans, acting like this is the early 2000s, I'm like, yo, chill out, man. That the swag is not on the thousand. But for. There's something endearing. And I guess because he won, right? Like, if he loses and he does this, like, no one finds it to be cute, but there's something endearing about the who let the dogs out Chant that Brunson keeps saying. Yo. We're telling him to cut this thing out and he won't.
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He did it on the Tonight Show.
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He did it on the Tonight Show. He did it to end his speech at the podium yesterday. By the way, shout out, Team usa. They go up one nothing.
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Own goal. We scored on an own goal by Australia here.
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Yeah. Scored on a goal. They're up one nil, I guess is the way to say it.
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One nil. Should we tell the audience what we bet on?
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Yeah, let's go ahead.
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So Ty and I aren't the biggest soccer fans, but we are rooting for the U.S. so we would not bet against the U.S. what we call the emotional hedge. But we bet on the US and Australia to play to a draw. So if the US Wins, great. Happy to lose our money. If they win and if they tie, like most of these soccer games I've watched, then all right, we'll win some money. And the US could still benefit from a draw as long as they don't lose.
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It's a win win situation for us. Plus 3 10. I think we got it correct. But yeah, back to Mike Brown. It's just who would have thunk it? Like when the Knicks make this decision last offseason and I remember being on the air critical of the tips firing because he had gotten them obviously to their most successful point in 25 years. Boy, is that a gamble. And this brings us to Leon Rose, by the way, how many gambles he's taken the TIPS firing. I remember Cats were mad about trading away Emmanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett for OG Anunoby. Nick fans weren't watching a lot of Raptors games. You're giving them up Foji and Inobi, the cat trader. It's funny because people, I think were more solemn about losing Divincenzo than they were Julius Randle because of the playoff stuff. But all of the gambles he took, they end up working.
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They traded five first round picks for Mikelpur. Never made an All Star team.
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Never made an all star team. You give $212 million to OG Anunoby, another guy who's never made an All Star team. You know, the Isaiah Hartenstein moment. Remember, he walks and people are freaking out. And now he's goes and wins a championship with the Thunder, which I'll defend
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the Knicks on because they wanted to keep him and by the CBA rules, they couldn't pay him the most money.
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But all of the moves they made up to this point did not come devoid of a hint of skepticism. And it worked, man. And for all the people who wanted to hear Leon Rose talk, he did finally speak yesterday.
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You only get to hear from Leon Rose if the Knicks won a championship. And I think every Dick fan would sign up for sign for not hearing from Leon Rose until around this time next year if they run it back and get it done again.
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800-919-3776 we do want to hear from you. There are probably a bunch of people out there might just be waking up because that was a long night. How, how late did your night go last night?
D
You know, so it started early and it was so weird because after I went down to the parade, I went back up, was hanging out at American Whiskey in midtown, right next to the Garden. Then when DHR started, went over to Stout to say hello to the fellas and hang out with some of our listeners there. So I didn't get back to my apartment till like 7:38ish. And then, like, I was just done. I was shot. Long day. So I wasn't even out late party, but I was up early partying. So it was the reverse of what you normally do. A night out. A night out became a morning out with my favorite 2 million diehard dick fans all in one spot.
C
Now, how did the adult diaper situation play out for you?
D
Do I admit this now because this has taken on a life of its own. I think I just got to come clean on this.
C
So no pun intended.
D
Dave and Rick think I've been wearing an adult diaper to attend this parade yesterday. And I think where we really need to place blame or just kind of discuss how this all went down. RJ Santillo knew I was going to the parade, so he texted me, hey, can you pop on with Dave and Rick in the morning, set the scene from the parade? I go absolutely, looking forward to it. So we confirm a time. And I sent RJ a funny meme that I saw on X of, like, what Knicks fans need to bring to the parade. It was like a Nick hat, a Brunson jersey, and an adult diaper. Like, I just sent it because I just thought it was funny to talk about the parade. And RJ then took that, that took that text, like, the meme, as if it was in my own words saying what I was going to be bringing to the parade. So then Dave has me on, and first thing he goes is, oh, you got the adult diaper on. And I, I thought sarcastically was like, oh, yeah, I got it on. And he just ran with it as if I was actually wearing an adult diaper that I know Carlin's talking about it on his show. It was like the talk of the station. So I'm just leaning into it at this point, but I did not actually wear an adult diaper. I'm not against the adult diaper. I respect anyone who did. But me personally, I did not actually wear an adult diaper.
C
So what was the bathroom situation like? Because it's.
D
There wasn't any.
C
So you're just holding onto that all day.
D
You had to go to the bathroom. You couldn't either do it in your pants or you're. You're gonna have to get out of line and go somewhere. And I have no idea where you would even go. Because to even get to a bathroom, you would have to go into one of the local businesses that was maybe open. If you could get through the security checkpoints, you'd have to. I could not even tell you where people went to the bathroom if they had to go, other than in their pants.
C
So here's my question. Were you around a bunch of folks who were just hammered?
D
Like, just lit, you know what? Not. Not really.
F
There were.
D
There were areas or people I saw that I'm sure have had a lot. But again, because you had to go through these checkpoints, I think the people that got through were up so early, it was tough to have, like, alcohol on you because you weren't allowed to bring it in. Now, people, I'm sure, snuck things in,
C
but it was pretty games.
D
It was. It was people just kind of just drunk on life. Like, I didn't get the sense I was just around, like, a bunch of drunk slobs. Like, there were a lot of kids in my area who were really excited to be there. I think it was just like a collection of people just happy for the Knicks. It wasn't like we need to be hammered in order to enjoy this.
C
That's. Cause I was gonna ask. Typically, alcohol would hit the bladder pretty heavily, and so I'm surprised. But good to know that you weren't, because I did see that clip moving around on my algorithm of you wearing this adult diaper. And I'm not gonna lie, man, I was like, really? I understand being a Knick fan and wanting to be a part of this celebration, this historic moment, the most iconic day, or one of the most iconic day in New York sports history. But we're going diaper. How old are you?
D
I'm 30 years old.
C
30 years old wearing a diaper.
D
If that was the only way for you to guarantee me a Knicks title, I'm happy to take one for the team. But I think where Dave actually thought I had the diaper on during the radio hit, I was doing it from a friend's apartment near where the parade was. There was, like, a plastic bag nearby, so I jokingly, like, held it up. And I think Dave thought that the plastic bag, because it was white and it made, like, a noise into, like, my mic that. Oh, wow, that's actually the adult diaper that he's holding in his hands right there.
C
So Dave, not as smart as he pretends or purports himself to be on Wednesday mornings?
D
Well, he did text me this morning, 6:01am I woke up to it. So did you use the diaper? I'm like, not a drop, Dave. And even though I told John Winthrop yesterday at the DHR meetup, like, you know none of that was true, right? Like, I told him the whole story. He's like, he's like, I had a feeling it could have been fit. I'm like, yes, I wasn't wearing an adult die. I sent RJ a meme and then it took a life on its own,
C
but it produced a lot of content for the radio.
D
We got content out of it. And that's, that's what this business is all about. Content and Knicks winning championships.
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so good, so good, so good.
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Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
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I didn't listen to anything you just said.
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Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.
C
All right, Game Time. Brought to you by Tullimore Duraris Whiskey because when it's game time, it's telly time. USA Australia in the World Cup. Team USA up one to nothing. No Christian Pulisic in this game. He is dealing with the calf injury. Meanwhile, the Yankees start a series with the Reds. That's at 7:05 Tullamore do the original triple distilled, triple blended and triple cash Mastroid Irish Whiskey. Be sure to drive a Tullamore do or try the new Tullamore due honey, during today's action, glasses up to enjoying Tullamore due responsibly. 800-919-3776. You want to say something?
D
I wanted to say thank you to the NYPD who I interacted with yesterday that were nice enough to let us skirt by the security checkpoint because one of the people I was with said, hey, you see that deli right over there? Wow. We worked there, so we have to get to work. And he gave the cop a little wink and he let a couple of us through. Then the other people we were with tried the same thing at a different checkpoint and said that, oh, we have a reservation at the pizza place that's right there. And they were able to get through. I don't know why anyone would have a reservation at a pizza place before 10am but it was survival of the fittest down there if you wanted to try and get a spot. And those were some of the mechanisms that myself and people I know had to use if you wanted to get a view of this parade.
C
So it's almost symbolic of like this magical run that the Knicks were on. You were involved in some of the magic. What time did you wake up?
D
I did not wake up until 6:15. 6 or no, 6. 6. O5, 6:10. And then I got stuck in the subway. So I was a little late to the DNR hit I was supposed to do at 6:25. Ended up going out with them around 6:55 instead. It was just a blur getting down there. And then I took the subway down to the. On the one line to the World Trade Center. And then you walk out, you turn, you go up the steps and it just. Sea of blue and orange everywhere. And this is a couple streets off from where the actual parade is. It was just absolute bonkers.
C
So what time was it that you where you arrived outside of like you're walking up the train steps at what time?
D
07:30 IST.
C
For a lot of people, man, you're going dead. That's it. You're cooked.
D
I was this close to saying, I'll just watch the parade on TV and I'll go out. I'll go out after. I was this close before we were able to find our way in.
C
Did you thank God for that?
D
I thanked God. I thanked my friend Lou, who I don't know if I want to give his full name out there, but shout out to Lou for coming up with this scheme. He actually called the owner of the deli pizza place and was like, hey, we'll buy 20 pizzas if you could vouch for us that were going there for a reservation. So at one point, the owner. I missed this part. Came down to say, yeah, they're buying pizzas, their customers, because it was the stage floor deli, lower Manhattan. There's their plug.
C
There are so many people listening to you right now who are angry.
D
I'm sure. I'm sure. And I'd be angry too. But you know what? Survival of the fittest. How bad do you want it?
C
800-919-3776. Before we get to the Brunson and judge conversation, let's go to the truck and chop it up with Gilberto. He bash lead off on the show. What's up, Gilberto?
J
Yo, what's up, Jake?
C
Gilberto, what's up, baby?
J
Jake. We are the champions. We are the champions of the world. Yo, Jake, you the man, baby. You the man. Your time. You're the money guy. You're the money guy. Taking me. We are we already. I need to ask you a question.
C
Okay.
J
Because you know, everybody said that that's a bet on himself. He left 113, 112, 150 million on the table, whatever it was. Okay. What do you think? Okay. The projection of his earnings are going to be in the next two years. Oh, his think that that one, that 115 million is going to be three years.
C
I will tell you, and I appreciate the call, there will be no more discounts coming for Jalen Brunson. Like that to me, laid the foundation for what was to come in the next couple years during this championship window. But Jalen Brunson, the next time he's up for a big contract, which sounds like is in about one or two years, is going to get every penny of that, which, and I know this is not something Nick fans want to talk about. Here's the thing in the NBA, man, like, once your team wins a title, players become less inclined to take less money. And we'll see if that's the case for both towns and Josh Hart. And I know Wendy's got a cut. We're going to play here in a moment. But I do wonder what this ecosystem because of the Knicks winning a championship, like what it produces after watching years and years of basketball teams break up, once you win a championship, there is no appetite to take less. I got my ring already.
D
Well, I think that's where you hope the fact that these guys genuinely like each other really close. They're not just like hired guns that came in.
C
But we've Seen that before. Like the 23 Nugget. Like we've seen teams that genuinely like each other end up splitting up. Like but my 2020 Lakers, like that, that happens.
D
That was an older team though. Like this team is still all in their prime right now. They're still signed. Look, there's going to be changes over the years. That's what happens. But if you have a shrewd front office like I think the Knicks obviously have proven they do, you could figure out ways around that. The thing with Brunson that I'd bring up as far as like the, the earning potential he has, yes, his next contract, he's going to get a full max and he absolutely deserves it. But by winning a championship, he's an immortal. Now in this town, he will have endorsement deals for the rest of his life. Walt Clyde Frazier still has commercials and endorsement deals and he hasn't played in obviously a very, very long time. He's now on that level like just like Joe Namait still has endorsement. As you see TV commercials that feature Joe. He's one of those all time athletes with this championship. So yes, I can't specifically calculate, you know, how much he's going to get in endorsements over the next couple years, but for the rest of his life he is now set up to profit off being one of the most beloved sports figures. Forget just Knicks in the history of New York City sports.
C
Here's the windy cut. Brian Windhorse on, on, get up. Will Cat take a pay cut to keep this team together?
K
In all honesty, that's the biggest question of the Knicks offseason. So Carl Towns is under contract for next season. He'll be back. He'll be the starting center. He'll be there on ring night. But the question is, can Carl Towns stick with this team long term the way he was used in this postseason? It's hard to not see him as with this team for the majority of the rest of his career. But he is in position to get a contract extension that's going to approach $70 million a year on average. And he has earned it. He has shown that he is an elite center in this league, a championship player. But the Knicks are not going to be able to afford that type of player. They'll resign him, but I don't know if they'd be able to keep the team together. So Jalen Brunson took less. I don't expect anybody in the history of the NBA to, to do what Jalen Brunson did. But Mikhail Bridges took a little Less than he could have last year. If Carl Towns is willing to take a little bit of a haircut, seven $10 million over the course of multiple seasons. And Josh Hart is also extension eligible this summer. If both of them are willing to take a little bit of a haircut, you could see this core staying together for three, four, five years. If Karl Towns wants his full max extension, which again he has earned, it's going to be hard to keep the roster together after next season.
C
And that's my question because he references the Bridges pay cut and Brunson the significant one. And I don't know that will see that, but those are pre winning a championship. Once you get the title, I don't know what the incentive is to take a pay cut.
D
Do it again, win again. No team has won back to back in eight years. The 70 and 73 Knicks, two time
C
champions like Bill Simmons always talks about like the hunger for more when you get these title teams. The hunger for more from a financial standpoint, but also a bigger role. I can go elsewhere and do that. So and so that'll be interesting to see like with this team.
D
The guys you're talking about though have been established in their careers. They're not youngest ending players who broke through. Like Josh Hart's not leaving. He wants to stay in Nick. He's found a home here. He's talked about that he's best friends with Jalen Brunson. Cat. I think him and Brunson have gotten really close. I mean even like just seeing Cat, you know, share a post of the two of them today on his Instagram Instagram account talking about he's his brother for life or they're connected for a lifetime. Whatever the caption was, I forget off the top of my head. I don't know if he's going to take what Brunson did pay cut wise. But Windhorse laid it out nicely there. Can I see cat taking seven to $8 million less a year? I wouldn't be shocked given the fact that I think this team genuinely likes each other. And it all starts with Brunson setting the tone with the pay cut.
C
I'm not denying that. I'm just saying we've seen stars. Klay Thompson left the warriors not all that long. We've seen teams lose guys that we thought were going to be forever play. Like Draymond almost left the Warriors a couple years ago and so I'll just be curious to see that.
D
Who's leaving right away though, right? I get the immediate decisions. You're Looking at are Mitchell Robinson and Landry Shammon. Jordan Clarkson to a lesser extent as well. Alvarado's got a player option. I think those are the players you talk about in the short term who could potentially not be here. But as far as like the core of the team, the starting five, they're all under contract, so they're at the bare minimum, you know they're going to be here.
C
And those guys, if they do leave, you obviously have to replace them. And then you worry about are you going to, are you going to be able to replicate what you had this past season? Because we raved about, you know, as good as the starting five was the bench production. And those guys did come out, you know, and perform during the postseason. And so we'll see. Like, it's certainly not something Nick fans want to talk about right now. What, 24 hours removed from a championship parade?
D
Yeah, I got confetti still stuck in my hair. Ty, how dare you.
C
But Wendy did mention that this morning and the caller brought it up. I, I wanted to answer his question. Let's go to Texas and chat with Dave. What's up, Dave?
F
Hey, guys. Love your show. Thank you so much. I'm a die hard Knicks fan and a long term New York Giant fan, so it's kind of difficult to live in Texas. But my question is to the both of you is Alan Hahn mentioned the adjustment that the spurs made in game four three when they moved Wemby off of Cat and moved him as a Roamer into the paint, which I thought was incredible. I'm wondering if you guys thought that Popovich had any influence on chatting with the coach related to that. And the other thing I wanted to ask is because I'm a big Josh Hart fan, I think he deserves all the money he can get. And I really think the core of that team is Hart and OG and Brunson. But Mikel Bridges just drove me crazy in the finals because he was so difficult to predict when he'd show up and when he disappeared. And I don't know what his contract is, but do you think he's really a key part of this Nick Corp?
C
I mean, he just hang up and
F
listen to you guys.
C
Listen, Dave, he just signed that, the extension, what was it, last season? Game two of the finals. He was fantastic.
D
Yeah. When he had to basically come in after Kap picked up his fourth foul and he carried the bench shooter, he actually played so well. Mike Brown stuck with that lineup longer than he had to into the fourth quarter.
C
The wimpy stuff I don't know that you need to talk to Greg Popovich to just see that your best player, who's the unanimous defensive player of the year, is getting worn down by him guarding Cat and so you'd rather him be a roamer. But yeah, that adjustment they made in game three worked, should have worked in game four, but the Knicks had that 29 point comeback.
D
Oh, damn right they did. The OG tip will go down in the pantheon of New York sports. And by the way, as someone selfishly who was at the game four game, I'm glad the Knicks closed it out in five because like, the legacy of that play I think only now is further increased. Whereas if the Knicks, let's say, ended up losing game five and they won in six, who knows what could have happened in a game six if Brunson took over the game six closeout game at home. I feel like the OG play is only going to age even better now that the Knicks won in five.
C
It's one of the 10 greatest shots in NBA history because I think of like the Ray Allen shot in 13, the Kyrie shot in 16. Like there are certain plays you got.
D
Jordan shot to beat the Jets.
C
Jordan shot. Magic had a sky hook in game four. I believe it was the 87 finals to beat the Celtics. Like, there are certain shots that just live forever. That's going to be one of them. Man. That's going to be what I already ordered the shirt. And here's what's so amazing. Like, if you are a Knick fan, you just go up and down this series and you'll find we're so used to being on the wrong end of this kind of play. Game one, right, Wimby? No, this was game. Game two, actually. Wimby throws it away. You're so used to it. Hit Cat. It hits Castle's back. Brunson recovers it, but fumbles it out of bounds. And now the spurs get it. Like, you're so used to the OG shot not going in. Like there are a series of plays. De' Aaron Fox like that layup, I'll
D
give you one before the finals. Ty, how about the comeback against the Cavs? Sam Merrill shot was halfway down. Mike Breen was about to start saying that and then he had to, you know, be like, oh, it rims out. Like that's how close it was to the Knicks not capping off that at the time we thought one of the greatest games we'd ever see a 22 point come back in the fourth. And then the Knicks were like, Actually, just wait till we get to game four of the finals. But like, that easily could have been Cavs up 10 in the series. And who knows how that changes things.
C
And here's how I know. You're so used to it. We saw it in round one in games two and three, when CJ's hitting the go ahead buckets to beat you. And at one in game two was Bridges. He misses the shot. And then in Game 3, it was Brunson's turnover. Like, these things tend to happen the other way. And for the Knick fans to sit here through this experience and just get so, so much elation from, wow. Like, this is not supposed to happen for us, except now it is happening and we don't really know how to feel about it except joy. I am still amazed again, Jake. Not that they won the title because they had proven for three playoff rounds, when they're just blasting teams, they're good enough to win the championship. And then look, they're the three seed, right? Like, it's not like they were a seven seed, but just in the, in the fashion that they wanted in. In dominating fashion. And then you get to the finals and you have all these comebacks. The spurs had no, no idea what to do late in these games.
D
They trailed by double digits in every single game. They trailed by double digits after the first quarter in all five of the finals games. I mean, the Knicks, I think they broke the record for the least amount of time with the lead for a team that actually won the championship. I mean, they were down in what felt like most of these games for the vast majority of the time. It was surreal that you just expected them to come back because that's the greatness of Jalen Brunson. He went out there and anytime they needed someone to come through, he came through for them. And the entire team feeds off the fact, knowing if we could just get it close in the fourth, we got the best guy on the floor. And he proved that time and time again.
C
All right, so their feed in the control room is ahead of ours. Team USA just scores another goal. They go up to nothing. Oh, one timer, it's going to get nullified. All right, so it looks like we're getting the hand signal from Pusick that is getting waved off. Any clarity on the situation? Anthony Pusick looks like it's off sides offsides, which I guess is not terrible for. I don't know what to do with this thing, man, because we're. Are we rooting for our bet?
D
I'm rooting. I'm rooting to lose my bet if the US Is going to win. If they're. And, like, if they tie, I'll take it. Just don't lose the match. Either win or tie so I could benefit from either outcome. That's how I'm looking at it. I'm rooting for me in this.
C
800-3776. Time now for your weekend weather brought to you by Nutril Neutral.
L
I know it's very clever way that they spell it, but it's pronounced neutral neutral.
C
Okay. You learn something new every day. It'll be a beautiful weekend down the shore. Sunny with a high of 83 both tomorrow and Sunday. Any big plans this weekend, Jake?
D
Do I have big plans this weekend? I do. It's Father's Day weekend, so I will be seeing my dad on Sunday. Just thought of that.
C
There you go. So you'll have some beautiful weather. That was your weekend weather report brought to you by Neutral. Keep it tasty with neutral vodka seltzer made with real vodka and real fruit juice. Enjoy responsibly.
B
Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
D
I didn't listen to anything you just said.
B
Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.
C
Anthony Fusick somehow feels the need to, like, come in here every segment. You guys are doing great. Like, you know, he's nervous.
D
I like getting gassed up by our esteemed producer.
C
How about the toe licking at the parade yesterday that you. No, that wasn't me. I'm not into that kind of stuff. I mean, if Cassie wants that, like, if tonight I get home and she's like, babe, I want my toes sucked on, I think I do it. But the finding a random fan in the crowd when you've been out there since 6am Walking around, it's hot and sweaty. Like, would you do that for a Knick championship?
D
Yeah, probably. I'm not proud of it.
C
There's not too much you wouldn't do, right?
D
I'm trying to. I'm trying to take one for the team here.
E
All right?
C
Sucking on a random women's toes.
D
You're guaranteeing me a championship. Correct.
C
Like, you're in.
D
Okay.
E
Yes.
C
Because you're at a Knick championship. All right, how about this? The Knicks have already won. Jets.
L
Yes.
D
Without question, the jets are my number one.
C
But what happens if, like, you. You feel the hair get stuck in your throat?
D
Like, take one for the team. World champs.
C
I love it.
D
Super bowl champion Cusick.
C
You're not going to duck this smoke. Oh, he's on the phone. No, he's not.
L
No, I'm not on the phone. What's up?
C
For a Rangers championship, you got to suck on some toes in the. In the crowd for the celebration. You're doing it if that's what it
L
takes because I'm looking for one before I turn 50.
C
So you actually one of the first people oddly. And I know we got to get a leaderboard here that I thought after game five. That's kind of. You been a part of this whole Knick experience at style, hanging around the Knick fans like, does it make you feel a bit of FOMO with your Rangers?
L
I was happy for Allen. I put the tweet out that night. I was happy, Ty for all the people that you used to call into our Han Solo shows that would be listening to those 30 win nick teams saying, when's it going to be our turn? And just the utter joy and jubilation and look as happy as I would be if the Rangers won, it wouldn't take the city over or captivate it like the Knicks do because they have no rival in this town.
C
No, but just for you personally.
L
For me personally, no. Of course. It was one of the first things I thought of going, wow, when's this going to happen for the Rangers to
C
start sucking on someone's toes and maybe it'll happen.
L
Well, it's not guaranteed. So I can't. I can't promise.
D
I heard it a lot from people yesterday at the parade. Anyone who came up to me that recognized because like when it's going to be the jets, man, or like I Can you imagine if this was the jets and you know, even the. Even my friend Lou I was with is a crazy Jet fan, right? He's a big Nick fan, but he loves the jets as his number one team. He's like, I'm scouting all the routes for. For when this is us. Someday it's going to be us. I'm like, just enjoy today, Harry Glenn
C
screaming who let the dogs out at the.
D
Just enjoy today because I can't tell you we're ever going to see a Jet title. But what it does tell what what the Knicks winning does do for anyone out there who roots for a team like the jets or the Mets or the Islanders gives you hope.
J
You have hope.
D
The Knicks could figure it out. These other teams can as well. Because the Knicks were as bad or even in a lot of years worse off than any of these teams we currently discussed. Haven't won it forever.
C
You know what's so messed up? This is really grimy. So we will randomly throw out name former players who remind you of bad Knicks teams. And it's like the, the one player people keep throwing out is Lou Edmondson. He's just sitting there chilling, minding his business. Like, why does he keep catching Ron Baker? Like there are a lot of players we can go to and Lou Edmondson is the one who keeps catching the straight.
D
Alexis Shved.
C
Oh, my goodness.
D
I like to go to Jerome James.
C
How about the Barnyani trade? The multiple first round picks. Jerome James, supersonic. You got a leaderboard update for us?
D
Oh, I do. It's time now for your leaderboard update presented by Michela Vulture. The US Open going on at Shinnecock in Southampton, New York. Windham Clark is the leader at seven under. He his second round is complete. He shot a 69 earlier. Second place, we have a bunch of people tied for second. Xander Schoffley, Matt Fitzpatrick, Harry Higgs, Max Gracerman, all at three under. And then tied for six is Colin Morikawa and Rory McElroy. Then a couple people one under Justin Thomas, Sam Stevens, Sam Burns, and plenty of others. But those are the headliners there. As you take a look at the leaderboard, of course, the US Open Father's Day weekend out in Shinnecock and your leaderboard update brought to you by Michelob Ultra. Doesn't matter if you're a pro or just playing for fun. The moment you play for a Michel of Ultra, every move suddenly means something more because Superior is worth playing for. Michaela Vulture. Superior Light beer. Enjoy responsibly.
C
Word on the street is that that's why Don's not here today. Nancy for Father's Day weekend decided he needed a trip to Shinnecock to watch the US Open. Is that true?
L
Yeah. Let's drive from Jersey to the end of Long island on a holiday weekend and go watch golf. I think. I think that's exactly what Nancy and Don had.
C
I think that's what Don wanted to do today. That's why he's not here. 800-9193776. Andres is in Lyndhurst. He wants to talk about the Knicks. What's up, Andres?
E
Hey, what's going on, guys? It was a pleasure meeting all of you yesterday. Jake, Anthony, Don Han and Rosenberg was a pleasure yesterday. But you guys had me thinking here, right, with Cat. Cat is most likely not gonna resign for less. So when you think about it from that perspective, if you want to try to keep this team together for the next three years, you're gonna have to sacrifice McCall and Kat and possibly include them in the Giannis deal with some draft picks this year.
D
Wow.
E
And I'm taking a look at adding a third or fourth team because the Giannis deal has three more years left on his contract. That keeps his core together of OG Josh Giannis. And you can resign Mitch because he's going to be way below the second apron. But you want to see your thoughts on that because this is going to get really interesting. If you heard James Owens speak the other day, he was talking about he's not going to go over the second apron. But if you trade for Giannis and you remove the contracts of Macau and and Cat, now we're looking at a long term solution here for the next three years with this core.
C
Yeah. So here's the thing. I appreciate the call. Undress. If you are the defending champions, you don't just make blockbuster trades in the ensuing off season. And I love Giannis. I still think he's one of the seven best players in the league. Making that trade now would be like the Knicks of 20 years ago. You don't do that right now.
D
I don't think it makes sense because again, if you add Giannis, let's say hypothetically, they actually make this deal, then you have the adjustment period of figuring out how to play with him. And I think the biggest thing that this Knicks team had, yes, they made the coaching change to give Mike Brown credit, but this was only their second year together with this core. You have to go through the battles. You, you don't just win right away. Typically in the NBA, the Knicks have played a lot of playoff games together in the last couple years. They make the Cat and Bridges deal last year, get to the conference finals. You got to build towards it now that you won. These guys know how to play together as well as any team collectively has played in the NBA in the last 25 years. If you just look at their dominance in the playoffs, I don't think you break up the team now. You find a way to at least see it through and see if you could try and squeeze out another title with this great core.
C
It's silly me thought that the Giannis to the Knicks rumors were done the moment the Knicks won the championship.
B
Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.
D
I don't want to know how the
B
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.
Date: June 19, 2026
Hosts: Ty Butler and Jake Asman (in for Don, Hahn, and Rosenberg)
Theme:
The Knicks are 2026 NBA Champions for the first time in 53 years, and New York is still riding the high. Ty and Jake recap the epic ticker-tape parade, the unlikely heroes, fan stories, and what this win means for the franchise and city. They dive into the team's magical playoff run, parade chaos, next steps for the franchise, and the joy/pain of being a New York sports fan.
New York in Euphoria:
“When you go 53 years without winning a title...when you are the butt of so many jokes...this is something that is going to resonate so profoundly and for so long.” – Ty [00:58]
Parade Vibes & Wild Moments:
Parade Crowd Estimates:
Ty’s FOMO:
“It was like a spiritual experience.” – Ty [04:14]
A “Forever” Team:
“We’ll reference the 2026 Knicks the same way we talk about the ‘86 Mets, ’07 Giants, the ’96 Yankees…” [07:10]
Underdog Narrative:
All-Time NYC Sports Moment:
Players/Coach Under Pressure:
Hall of Famers Debate:
Front Office Gambles:
Getting in the Parade:
Adult Diaper Meme:
“I'm not against the adult diaper. I respect anyone who did. But me personally, I did not actually wear an adult diaper.” [18:03]
Vibe Check:
Brunson’s Pay Cut – Once in a Lifetime:
Can the Band Stay Together?
What Comes Next:
“Top 10 NBA Shot” – OG Anunoby’s Tip-In:
Always the Underdog:
Jalen Brunson’s Fourth-Quarter Greatness:
Hope for All:
Painful Memories:
“If you are the defending champions, you don't just make blockbuster trades in the ensuing offseason…You don't do that right now.” – Ty [46:06]
Original, passionate, and full of the unfiltered voice of the city, this episode is a love letter to Knicks fandom and New York sports – with all the jokes, hope, skepticism, and genuine joy you’d expect from the city that never sleeps (on its teams).