Don, Hahn & Rosenberg — Hour 1: Knicks Win NBA Cup

Date: December 17, 2025
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg

Overview

The first hour of this lively ESPN New York show centers on the New York Knicks’ victory in the NBA Cup—a new midseason tournament in the NBA designed to energize players and fans. The hosts dive into the meaning and perception of the win: debating whether and how it should be celebrated, what the Cup means historically, and how New York fans, players, and the wider NBA audience are reacting. There is a mix of pride, skepticism, and humor as they push back against national media narratives mocking the achievement, and muse about what makes any title, trophy, or win meaningful.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. How Should Knicks Fans Celebrate the NBA Cup? (01:11–04:55)

• Rosenberg: “The drought’s over. Finally, New York has a champion. … Not allowed to have fun, not allowed to be happy, not allowed to enjoy it.”
• Discussion kicks off by mocking the outrage at Knicks fans celebrating the Cup, clarifying that no one is taking to the streets, but fans should be allowed to enjoy a fun moment in a long season.
• Quote: “The team won a game they played. Well, if you say that you were not entertained by the game. It was a very compelling ending and fun to watch.” (Rosenberg, 02:16)

2. The Importance (and Limits) of the Cup (03:23–07:21)

• Hahn: Draws parallels with other leagues and their reluctance to overly celebrate intermediate trophies, but also says it shouldn’t be treated as “nothing.”
• Both hosts agree it’s not the “end-all” but push back on the idea that it’s meaningless: “Why not celebrate the something? Just say, ‘Hey, that's cool.’”
• Hahn: “But also, don’t say it’s not nothing. It's still something. So why not celebrate the something?” (04:26)

3. Should the Knicks Hang an NBA Cup Banner? (05:57–11:27)

• Debate over whether acknowledgment is needed: Would a banner legitimize the win or just feel performative?
• Hahn: “If you’re really gonna sell that something was won last night, then you hang a banner, you celebrate it. … But by not hanging the banner, you’re kind of admitting to everybody this is glorified extortion.” (06:33)
• The predicted reality: minimal in-arena acknowledgment but no banner for now. Reference to Jalen Brunson’s leadership and team mentality: “We checked the box … we got more to do. So we leave it behind.” (Rosenberg, 07:09)

4. Why Are People (Especially Outside NY) Upset the Knicks Won? (02:40–04:55, 21:16–22:34)

• The hosts see much of the mockery and negativity as performative and often rooted in anti-New York feelings.
• Quote: “The only time the rest of the country cares is when they can mock you. … That’s all that happens. But fumbles, that’s what the rest of the country wants.” (Rosenberg, 02:40)
• Hahn: “Is everybody outside of New York hates New York because they got New York envy.” (21:16)

5. Money, Motivation, and the “Legitimacy” of the Cup (06:32–17:41)

• Is the Cup just about the $500K prize? Both agree this is a factor but say the win means more than just money—the team played hard and fans were treated to high-level basketball.
• Arguments refute the take that the Cup was designed only to make players and fans care, not to fix the “load management” issue in December.
• Rosenberg: “It’s not to get the players to want to play. … This is to get you to care. That’s what this is.” (16:51–17:41)
• Hahn: “Because the reason fans don’t care about the regular season is because the players don’t care about it.” (17:56)
• Differing views on Adam Silver’s intent — is it fan-focused or player-focused? Tensions between “manufactured” competition and genuine fan interest.

6. Social Media & NY Media: Overreactions and Joy-Stealing (09:44, 32:23–33:38)

• The hosts deride overreactions online about either celebrating too much or too little, warning about letting social media “steal your joy.”
• Quote: “There are people that don’t want the Knicks to win anything ever. So what they’re going to do is call you a loser for liking it. And their victory is going to be to take the joy away that you have. … Just do whatever the heck you want to do.” (Don, 33:10/34:14)

7. Listener Calls: Mixed Emotions and ‘What Should the NBA Do Next?’ (28:01–46:38)

• Fans call in, some expressing indifference, others saying the Cup should matter or at least be acknowledged with a banner.
• Proposals from hosts/callers:
  • Cup game should count as two wins, or serve as a playoff tiebreaker.
  • Why not make it automatic playoff berth? (Hahn, 46:41)
• Reality: NBA and its sponsors are happy; unless that changes, no major structural changes imminent. But stats might eventually count, and some kind of fan incentive could increase interest.
• Quote: “This might be a big deal. And the Knicks being one of the early winners of it might be something… Do you, man. Do you.” (Don, 34:47)

8. Legacy & Authenticity: Will the Cup Ever ‘Mean’ Something? (44:27–49:15)

• History is unclear: In 50 years, being among first winners may mean something—or nothing.
• Continues to weigh fan and player perceptions and the role of media, both old-school and new.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If you can’t find enjoyment in that game last night, you don’t really like basketball.” — Rosenberg (07:08)
• “All I’m saying is something to signify that something happened. … If you make it seem like nothing happened, then what did I get? Why did I watch that game for?” — Don (08:28)
• “Guess what pro sports is — a contrived money-making scheme.” — Don (13:26)
• “Pro sports is manufactured. All of it is.” — Rosenberg (19:19)
• “You don’t like everybody, right? Why would you think everybody would like you?” — Rosenberg (33:10)
• “If you enjoy it, enjoy it! If you don’t, don’t. But don’t let anyone else tell you what it should mean to you.” — Paraphrased theme (throughout)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:11: Knicks win the NBA Cup — should fans celebrate?
• 05:57: Should there be a banner?
• 09:42: Social media & national reaction (NY “parade” joke)
• 15:53: What does the Cup mean if the stats don’t even count?
• 16:51: Rosenberg: The Cup is about engaging fans, not just motivating players
• 22:34: New York vs. the rest, and how to respond to outside mockery
• 28:01: Listeners call in — real fan perspectives on the Cup
• 35:41: How should the Cup “count”? Should winning benefit standings?
• 38:16: Should Cup stats count?
• 44:27: What the NBA should do to acknowledge the Cup

Tone & Style

The episode is characterized by spirited debate, humor, and classic NY bravado. There’s both playful mockery and genuine wrangling with what it means to be a fan, how much to care about manufactured milestones, and a strong defense of “just having fun,” no matter what the rest of the world (or Twitter) thinks. The hosts blend sports nostalgia with modern media skepticism and fan-first honesty.

This summary excludes all ads and commercial breaks to focus exclusively on the sports conversation and key listener calls.