Don, Hahn & Rosenberg — Hour 1: Knicks Perfect at Home

ESPN New York | November 6, 2025

Main Theme

A Rosy Outlook at Madison Square Garden:
This episode dives deep into the New York Knicks’ electric start to the NBA season, focusing on their offensive explosion at home—highlighted by an 83-point second half against Minnesota—and what it might portend for the team’s chances this year. Along the way, the hosts swap stories about work life, expensive lunches, and a bit of Yankees/MLB banter, all with their usual humor and insight.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Knicks Dominate at Home: Analyzing the Offensive Surge

• Knicks’ Second Half vs. Timberwolves (09:13)

  • The Knicks outscored Minnesota 83–[number unclear] in the second half, against a fully healthy Wolves squad.
  • Three straight wins, punctuated by multiple 70+ point halves and several 40+ point quarters.
  • Team now 5–3, undefeated (5–0) at Madison Square Garden.

• Biggest Takeaways Through 8 Games (09:14)

  • Peter Rosenberg: “They’re the anti-Rangers. They win at home... That’s going to be one heck of an offensive team... that’s an elite offensive team that’s going to be very, very special in scoring points.” [10:38]
  • Alan Hahn: Points out that the bench is finally productive, removing excessive load from stars (Brunson/Towns): “Last season... they were so dependent on their starters... this year they’ve already got three games with 40+ from the bench.” [13:57]

• Catalysts and Adjustments (11:18)

  • Jalen Brunson’s killer third quarter—almost tallying a triple-double—turned a close game into a laugher.
  • Karl-Anthony Towns was impactful early; the new bench-centric approach leaves more options and fresher legs.

2. Will Regular-Season Success Translate to the Playoffs?

• Big Question (12:30)

  • Peter Rosenberg: “The question... Will this translate to the postseason, and is this good enough to compete for a championship?” [12:42]
  • Acknowledges the system is designed to spread minutes, avoid wearing out stars, and resemble the approach of teams like Golden State with Steph Curry.

• Importance of Sharing the Ball & Ego Management (16:13)

  • Alan Hahn: “You have to have everybody okay with the fact that you might not always get your numbers, but the only number that matters is wins... These last couple of games are kind of a good indication [they could get there].” [16:19]

3. Jalen Brunson: Can a Small Guard Lead a Champion?

• Brunson’s Height & Production (19:00)

  • Never had a triple-double (missed by 3 rebounds), surprises some given high-level playmaking.
  • Debate: Can a team with a 6’2” (or shorter) point guard actually win it all? Isaiah Thomas as a rare precedent.
  • Alan Hahn: “Knicks will never win a championship with a small guard like that... Do we firmly believe that?” [20:37]
  • Peter Rosenberg: “They’re predicted to get out of the east... If they don’t win the championship, it’s not going to be because Brunson’s too small.” [20:53]

• Brunson’s Fearlessness & Skill (20:19)

  • Michael Kay: “To be under 6’3”... and score at will like Brunson can; that means you are unfathomably talented offensively.” [19:38]

4. Locker Room Chemistry & Bench Play

• Bench Impact (13:54)

  • Michael Kay: “You want a telling stat—that’s a mouthful... When you have a scoring bench, that’s a big [difference].” [13:54]

• Managing Minutes/Thibodeau Comparison (15:16)

  • New coach Mike Brown is much less reliant on starters, giving the Knicks a better shot at playoff freshness.

5. Knicks Fan Call — Mitchell Robinson’s Night

• Spike from St. Pete’s Call (22:01)
  • Verified fun fact: NBA ref Zach Zarba used to call games at a Brooklyn Jewish center.
  • Spike lauds Mitchell Robinson: “How do you get nine offensive rebounds in 15 minutes? ... He put on a pro show.” [24:12]
  • Says OG Anunoby is playing like a first-team all-league defender.
  • Notes improvement in closing out on threes, but defense still a work in progress.
  • Concludes: “The East has opened up for the Knicks like the Red Sea this year.” [26:51]

6. Off-Court Banter: ESPN Office Life & Expensive Lunches

• ESPN New York’s All-Hands Meeting (01:51)
  • Gentle ribbing about who asks (“too many”) questions at company meetings.
  • Long lunch with colleagues highlighted the eye-watering cost of eating out now (“What we spent today should have been for a party of eight, a couple years ago.” – Alan Hahn [05:17]).
  • Gags about generational freeloading (“Jacob and Anthony... they couldn’t have made less of a gesture toward a wallet.” – Michael Kay [06:05]).

7. Quick Baseball Segment: Don Mattingly, Coaching Life

• Don Mattingly Stepping Away (31:00)
  • Sparked speculation on whether he might return to the Yankees, but hosts agree it’s unlikely due to family and optics.
  • Alan Hahn: “He’s 64... maybe he just wants to coach and teach instead of the everyday in the dugout.” [33:29]
  • Discussion of coaching life’s toll on family, with empathy for older dads in sports jobs.

8. Yankees & Analytics: Is Boone Really in Charge?

• Aaron Boone’s Comment on Analytics (43:09)

  • Boone claimed: “The Yankees are the least analytical team in the American League East when it comes to in-game decisions.” [43:09]
  • Peter Rosenberg: “Guys, from outside looking in, that does not sound like he’s telling the truth at all... It sounds like he’s almost defensive about it.” [44:20]

• Puppet or Master? (46:45)

  • They parse whether Boone is just saying what the front office wants or if he would do anything differently given free rein.
  • Alan Hahn: “If you’re making most of these decisions not based on numbers, but based on what you think you should do, then you’re a nice guy, you’re not very good at your job.” [47:59]
  • Debate about success definitions, and whether being less-analytics-driven would actually justify Boone keeping his job.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Peter Rosenberg, on Knicks offense (10:38):
  “That’s an elite offensive team that’s going to be very, very special in scoring points.”

• Alan Hahn, on Knicks bench (13:57):
  “When you have a scoring bench, that’s a big [difference]... they’re trying to be less Brunson-dependent for most of the game.”

• Michael Kay, on Brunson (19:38):
  “Do you even appreciate how good a baller you have to be to be under 6’4”... If you’re under 6’3” in the NBA and you can score at will like Brunson can—that means you are unfathomably talented offensively.”

• Alan Hahn, on selfless stars (16:19):
  “You might not always get your numbers, but the only number that matters is wins. It sounds cliche, but they’ve got to get to that place.”

• Spike (caller), on Mitchell Robinson (24:12):
  “How do you get nine offensive rebounds in 15 minutes? ... He put on a pro show.”

• Peter Rosenberg, on Boone/analytics (44:20):
  “It sounds like he’s almost defensive about it... does not sound like he’s telling the truth at all.”

Important Timestamps

• 09:13 – Knicks’ huge second half vs. Minnesota, offense surging
• 10:38 – Peter Rosenberg: Knicks’ offensive potential, home dominance
• 13:54 – Bench production stats & changes from last season
• 16:13 – The importance of sharing the ball and managing egos
• 19:38 – Brunson’s height and offensive wizardry
• 20:37 – Can a small guard lead a team to a title? Isaiah Thomas as a comp
• 22:01 – Spike’s call: Mitchell Robinson’s breakout, referee story
• 31:00 – Don Mattingly leaving Blue Jays, Yankees speculation
• 43:09 – Aaron Boone: Yankees are “least analytical” in AL East
• 47:59 – Alan Hahn: If Boone’s running things, is he really the right man?

Tone & Style

The episode is witty, irreverent, and fast-paced. There’s plenty of ribbing among the three hosts, with a blend of optimism and skepticism about the Knicks, and exasperation (tinged with humor) about Yankees management culture. Banter about workplace life and the joys and tribulations of fatherhood add warmth and relatability.

In Summary

The Knicks are flying high at the Garden, with major offensive strides and promising chemistry—but the big question (“Will it matter in May?”) looms as always. The hosts are excited but cautiously skeptical, especially when it comes to playoff translation and historic challenges tied to size and star usage. Meanwhile, they riff freely about expensive meals and the realities behind the scenes in New York sports media and baseball management, making this episode a lively, relatable listen for any NYC sports fan.