Hour 1: Mega NBA Trade

Summary

Podcast Summary: Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 1: Mega NBA Trade
Release Date: February 3, 2025
Hosts: Don LaGreca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Platform: 880 ESPN, ESPN New York App

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1. Introduction to the Mega NBA Trade (00:32 – 06:12)

The episode kicks off with Don LaGreca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg diving straight into the day's hot topic: a monumental NBA trade involving Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks. The hosts express their astonishment at the scale and impact of the deal, comparing it to some of the most influential trades in sports history.

Notable Quote:
Alan Hahn [02:08]: "It's pretty incredible. It's unlike anything I've ever seen before."

2. Historical Context and Comparisons (05:08 – 14:43)

The discussion shifts to historical NBA trades to contextualize the significance of the Luka Doncic deal. The hosts reference legendary trades such as Wayne Gretzky's move to LA and Charles Barkley's trade to the Phoenix Suns, highlighting how none matched the magnitude of exchanging two superstar talents.

Notable Quotes:
Don LaGreca [03:06]: "It's amazing to me that in the history of the sport with all the stars and the movement of stars, you've never had a one-for-one done."
Alan Hahn [04:11]: "The Herschel Walker deal... there wasn't anything of equal value in one person going back."

3. Motivations Behind the Trade (06:12 – 11:55)

The hosts dissect the motivations driving the Dallas Mavericks to trade Luka Doncic. Central to their analysis is the financial implication, particularly the looming supermax contract that Doncic was set to receive. They discuss the Mavericks' strategic move to acquire Anthony Davis, aiming to bolster their championship aspirations without being financially overextended.

Notable Quotes:
Don LaGreca [06:57]: "This is definitely motivated by money and also motivated by motivation."
Alan Hahn [09:21]: "They deal Luka to LA because of Anthony Davis. It's who Kyrie wanted."

4. Implications for the Dallas Mavericks (11:55 – 16:26)

The conversation turns to the immediate and long-term effects of the trade on the Mavericks. With Anthony Davis joining forces with Kyrie Irving, the Mavericks are poised to enhance their on-court performance. The hosts discuss how Davis's versatility as a power forward and center complements Irving's playmaking, potentially making the Mavericks a formidable contender in the NBA.

Notable Quotes:
Don LaGreca [14:55]: "I could see them making another run to the finals this year with a much different looking team."
Alan Hahn [15:49]: "They have a well-coached team. They got to the finals last year."

5. Potential Impact on the Los Angeles Lakers (13:10 – 19:02)

With Doncic's departure, attention shifts to the Los Angeles Lakers, who acquire him as part of the trade. The hosts speculate on how Doncic's addition could reignite the Lakers' championship hopes, especially with LeBron James still performing at a high level. They also ponder the cultural and strategic fit of Doncic within the Lakers' roster.

Notable Quotes:
Don LaGreca [13:10]: "Maybe this is our way of getting that next star."
Alan Hahn [18:02]: "Look at his numbers. So we're not talking about a guy who's a bum or like this is not Zion."

6. Hypothetical Scenarios: LeBron James' Future (19:15 – 31:17)

The hosts entertain the possibility of LeBron James making a move to either the New York Knicks or Golden State Warriors, referencing Stephen A. Smith's comments. They debate the feasibility and desirability of such a move for both James and the potential destination teams, considering factors like market appeal and team dynamics.

Notable Quotes:
Don LaGreca [27:32]: "But LeBron is Gretzky wasn't until he won in Cleveland."
Alan Hahn [31:04]: "He's bigger than Kawhi Leonard, I'm saying."

7. Weekend Warrior Debate: LeBron vs. Jey Uso (33:09 – 50:34)

A spirited debate ensues over the "Weekend Warrior" performance poll, where listeners voted between LeBron James and WWE personality Jey Uso. Peter Rosenberg champions Uso's performance in the Royal Rumble, arguing that it surpasses LeBron's triple-double in terms of impact and entertainment value. Don LaGreca and Alan Hahn counter by emphasizing the authenticity and athleticism of traditional sports performances.

Notable Quotes:
Peter Rosenberg [35:28]: "Jey Uso was a bigger deal and a better performer than LeBron James."
Don LaGreca [45:25]: "This wasn't some scheme to come back. They kicked him out the door."

8. Audience Interaction and Final Thoughts (50:34 – 52:23)

The episode wraps up with engaging interactions between the hosts and callers, further dissecting the trade's ramifications and the ongoing debates. They encourage listeners to participate in future polls and maintain active engagement with the show.

Notable Quotes:
Don LaGreca [51:44]: "Select the box for the big game with a chance to win $250 in the first and third quarters, $500 at halftime, and a final score payout of $1,000."
Peter Rosenberg [52:23]: "Warriors come out to me."

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Conclusion

In this episode of "Don, Hahn & Rosenberg," the hosts deliver an in-depth analysis of the blockbuster NBA trade involving Luka Doncic, comparing it to historical precedents and exploring its ramifications for the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers. The lively debate surrounding the Weekend Warrior poll adds an entertaining layer, showcasing the hosts' diverse perspectives on sports and entertainment. Listeners gain a comprehensive understanding of the trade's significance and its potential to reshape the NBA landscape.

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Note: Advertisements, intros, outros, and non-content segments have been omitted in accordance with the summary guidelines.

Transcript

[Peter Rosenberg]

In the mood for something crunchy, saucy, and boneless, try Jack's new Crispy boneless wings from Jack in the Box. Get them with honey, garlic, sriracha, or smokeshow smoky barbecue sauce. Enjoy so much more.

[Don LaGreca]

Don.

[Alan Hahn]

One day you're not gonna play football anymore. And if there's a God up above, it'll be soon.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Han, huge.

[Don LaGreca]

No, but big, yeah. And Rosenberg.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Alan Hahn]

This isn't North Dakota. This is new.

[Don LaGreca]

This is Don, Han and Rosenberg on 8 80, ESPN and the ESPN New York app. Oh, my goodness. Do we have stuff to talk about today, you think? How we doing, everybody? Good? Yourself, Peter Rosenberg. I'm Alan Hahn. Guys, we've got headlines galore on a Monday. What's happening?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like you dream about. Like you dream about. I was. I was hanging out after the Royal Rumble. It was a. It was a very cool hang. Instead of, like, going to, like, a hotel sort of lobby situation, there was like a private sort of talent situation at the hotel. And everyone's having a really nice time. And all of a sudden I'm a beverage or two in and I start seeing a buddy of mine who's a big sports fan start talking about Luka and I. And then I remembered, oh, I did just get a text from the guys, kind of late. What was that about? And I look at my phone and I go, that's a bleeping, bleeping blockbuster that just hit us on Saturday. I mean, blah. Guys, I was. I'm trying to remember the last time I was that shocked by a trade. You look at your phone a second time, like, what just happened? Luka Donchin and Ad. Wild moment.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

I try to think of other deals that got this kind of reaction that, you know, to high profile players. I mean, high profile players even, even in the Gretzky deal, what went back to LA were like very, very good players, but not, you know, not to the level of Gretzky. I mean, this is. This is two of the biggest names in the sport changing hands.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's.

[Alan Hahn]

It's pretty incredible. It's unlike anything I've ever seen before. Even the Shaq that was trying to look up, I, you know, doing the homework. I remember I was a little surprised by Shaq to Miami, but it wasn't the names that went back to. To Miami. The names that went back to la. Yeah, it was probably the biggest.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

Not future hall of Famers.

[Don LaGreca]

No, no. It's. It again that you don't. It's the Wildest thing. I mean, Kareem Abdul Jabbar was traded in 1975. If I gave you the names of the players he was traded for, you might recognize one name. But other than that, like Elmore Smith was one name. Okay. Dave Myers was a name. Brian Winters and Junior Bridgman, now that's the name you probably would recognize if anybody knows basketball, that Junior Bridgman is a name that you know. But aside from that, the rest of it you don't know. It's amazing to me that in the history of the sport with all the stars and the movement of stars, you've never had a one for one done. Never.

[Alan Hahn]

No, because it doesn't happen. It just. Because the deals that you get are usually motivated by money or motivated by something. Contract with the contract.

[Don LaGreca]

Right.

[Alan Hahn]

So. So Gretzky, in essence had a lifetime contract in la. They were trying to get out in Edmonton. Trying to get out of it. Trim to L. A. Again, really good players. You, Bernie Nichols and Carlson, like, they're good players, but not future hall of Fame type players. The biggest deal I can think of in the NFL is the Herschel Walker deal. Everybody looks back. That's what they always throw out. Well, Herschel Walker was dealt to Minnesota. A lot of players became great in Dallas, but they were picks, they were young players. The package was so many different pieces that it blew you away, but it was still Herschel Walker was the biggest piece going to Minnesota. There wasn't anything of equal value in one person going back or at least perceived equal value. I can't think of one in baseball off the top of my head that even matches this, of just the enormity of the two names exchanging teams like Piazza trade.

[Don LaGreca]

Right. What was. What was involved there? Yeah, but that was think about like, God, wasn't that a trade?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah. No. Well, because he.

[Peter Rosenberg]

What.

[Alan Hahn]

What happened was he went to Miami.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Alan Hahn]

And then. And then the Met, the Mets were able to pick him up. But the fact that the names don't jump out at you tell you that. No, it wasn't of anything. You need to know a major significance. The Met trade I can think of was the Mets getting Gary Carter from the Expos. The biggest name the Mets gave up was Hubie Brooks. Again, not of the Gary Carter level. I mean, I would love to hear from people, there's probably something we're forgetting about, but that you're bringing up the biggest trade since Kareem Abdul Jabbar, but it wasn't anything of significance going back to the Bucks, you know, Barkley too.

[Don LaGreca]

You got to think about Barkley. Barkley was traded to the Suns in 92. And once again, I mean, it's Jeff Hornacek, Andrew Lang and Tim Perry. You know that again, Charles Barkley was a dream team MVP candidate. Like this guy was a all world player. The Sixers were giving up, you know.

[Alan Hahn]

And in Messier to the Rangers, it was what, Tony Imani, Doug Waite, like, right.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's always the secondary names are a step down.

[Alan Hahn]

Like Monty went to Chicago. I'm trying to, but. But again, nobody of that, of that kind of significance.

[Peter Rosenberg]

A rod. A rod. I mean, respectfully.

[Don LaGreca]

They traded their captain though. Right? Didn't they trade their captain though? Was it Kelly Kiss?

[Alan Hahn]

Yes.

[Don LaGreca]

Who was Right, Right.

[Alan Hahn]

I gotta look back at the deal.

[Don LaGreca]

Locally, it was significant because you're a captain, but it's for Mark Messier. It wasn't like, yeah, you can't look at it from a New York. Because you mentioned, you know, Hubie Brooks and it's like fans loved him, but in Major League Baseball, no one was going, wow, they got Hubie Brooks. Like, nobody thought that.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, because again, if you're trading a guy because of his contract, what you're trying to bring back is cheaper pieces, draft picks, players that are young and not making a lot of money. So that's usually the motivation, you know, just. But in a chain. And again, just. You're talking about, what is it, five, six years difference in age. I, I know Lucas came into camp at £270. We could work around that. No.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, that's, that's what we have to get. That's what I want to start getting into. And also reminder, by the way, it's the second big trade of Doncic, his career. The Trey Young draft night.

[Don LaGreca]

He was traded on draft night. That's a great point.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Trey Young and Doncic is a pretty big trade. And now it's turned into an even. Obviously a bigger deal now than it was on draft night. But yeah, Alan, that's what I wanted to ask you about is we have. There's 50 different angles with this trade to get into. Winner, loser, the ad of it all. But like, my question is, you have an all world kind of player in Doncic who got you one step away from the whole thing last year. They were, they were right there. What is going on with Luka Doncic that Dallas doesn't believe in and want to spend the money to keep him around?

[Don LaGreca]

Well, what did you both say about blockbuster trades normally motivated by what? Money, money, money. Yeah, this is definitely motivated by money and also motivated by motivation. Now the truth is, and I think everybody, I'm not breaking new ground here. This summer he was eligible for his supermax guys. The NBA money is getting more ridiculous by the day. He would be due with all that he's accomplished again, he's. He unlocked all the supermax abilities because this guy's been first team all NBA five times. Five times he has been an MVP candidate. He was a scoring champion is all the different things that he has done. So everything that he has been able to do opened up the ability for him to negotiate for a max of five years. $345 million. Let me say that again. $345 million, that's not bad over five years. Think about how much Aaron Judge is making off the Yankees. That's not a five year deal. So it's a ton of money per year. So do the Dallas Mavericks want to get locked in for five years, which goes beyond next season? So really, if you think about it, if they do it this summer, it's like six years locked in with him for that much money. With the concerns about not his ability to play, but his ability to stay healthy, to be in the right type of conditioning that you know I'm getting for a guy I'm going to be paying $60 million a year to. I know he's available for 70% of my games and you don't have that. And then what's the motivation once I give him this money for me to like be tough on him and say like, this is very much the Zion conversation. But you instead, Luka at least is giving you some production to make you fall in love with them. Look at last year in the run to the finals. So I just think they reached that point of no return. We're either going to have to be all in or we're going to have to make a move while we still can. And this was the move to make because Kyrie Irving, being where he is right now, he's playing the best basketball of his career and he's still in his wheelhouse of a guy in his prime. And the league to me can be had someone. This is a wide open championship window for this year and maybe even next year that they are looking at this like we can strike gold now and that's why they did it.

[Alan Hahn]

Okay, you've just explained the reason why they dealt him. I need more of a reason why.

[Don LaGreca]

They dealt them to LA because of Anthony Davis. It's who Kyrie wanted.

[Alan Hahn]

So that's it? Because they could have gotten more. Don't you think they could have gotten more?

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, yeah. Well, if you open this up and didn't care where you were sending them, like, like, you know, if you, if you turn this into a sweepstakes. Oh, you could have. Yeah, yeah. If you just said, if you announced, you know, we're trading Luca Doncic now, remember, he did not ask for a trade here, but there wasn't that. It doesn't mean that he wouldn't have this summer if Dallas kind of dragged their feet with the supermax. And there was a fear that he also was wondering, maybe I want to test free agency and leave that money on the table to go to a bigger market. Or he could also have signed that deal and then started, which is what Giannis keeps doing, then started putting out a little bit of hints about, you know, I kind of want to be in a bigger market. So they just knew, like, this was all coming. So if you had opened this up and said, anybody can trade for this guy, you would know you're not getting full value. Because he's not going to be easy to deal with when it comes to. Because now once you trade him, as we all know, he doesn't get the Supermax now. He can't, because you have to be with your original drafted team. So because. Or at least who you started the league with, I should say, because obviously he wasn't drafted by Dallas. But. And I'm not trying to get complicated. I just want everybody to understand, so what. What the Mavericks are thinking here and what everybody else is thinking is everyone will know that once he's traded, he can't get the supermax, which means he will test free agency. And then you'll see teams starting to. Like, when LeBron went. Went to free agency in 2010, it happened. All these teams just started dumping payroll and just had, like, going all the way down to zero and trying to save as much money as they could to afford a guy like LeBron James a franchise changer. And that would have happened, so you wouldn't have really gotten a ton for him other than maybe some draft picks, because there's a lot of teams that would know he's going to test free agency in another year anyway. So I do think that. I think they thought, get me a guy who's an all NBA center and power forward who I can win with right now, a championship right now with what I've got, and I'm going to make this deal and do it quietly. And they're betting on the short term right now and the long term for the Dallas Mavericks is, is that the money from Kyrie and the money from AD in three years, four years, will go off the table, and then they can reset the franchise with hopefully a ring on their finger.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So. But even beyond sort of the complications within the Doncic of it all, what I took from it, Alan, was you look at some of the other trades that have happened. Like you looked at the KD hall, for example, Right. And you know that Dallas could have probably found the right partner and gotten like, 11 draft picks. That's not what they want to do. They clearly feel. And you mentioned this, we were speaking earlier. Kyrie is playing the best basketball of his career. You have the best. You have the most talented point guard in all of basketball playing in the prime of his career. Let's get him a Hall of Fame big man to go with him and win right now. So I think that's why a lot of people were sort of complaining. They're looking at. And they're going, oh, my God, KD. There were 10 picks involved, whatever it was.

[Don LaGreca]

Yes, but, but, but what did the Nets do when they traded kd? They were. They went to a rebuild. A reset Dallas wants to do.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Exactly. Their move was.

[Don LaGreca]

We've never had star for a star trade for that reason. Most stars are traded. Whoever trades them is in full reset rebuild mode. Like, that's what just happens.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And so the Lakers, they didn't want to do. And in the case of the Lakers, the interesting thing is because of Doncic's age, that was a trade for their future. The superstar is the trade for their future. They believe they could be selling 77 Laker jerseys for the next 10 years.

[Don LaGreca]

And it's argued that, yeah, I'm going to argue that the Lakers did this with the intention, with, with. With the knowledge that we're probably not winning a champion with LeBron anymore. And he's going to walk at some point, whether it's this year or next year. And when he does, we got to have our next star. This is our way of getting that next star. And they're going to bank on Luka being in la. He was a huge Kobe Bryant fan. He loved Kobe. And that maybe, just maybe, it is the jolt that he needed to realize, I can't wear this jersey that Kobe wore and embarrass it by being overweight. And I can't. I have to. I have to get back to being elite. Which, again, I argue with everybody that last year we were Talking about him during the playoffs as if this, this guy could be the top three player in the league. And he play, was playing like it. Look at his numbers. So we're not talking about a guy who's a bum or like this is not Zion. It's the similar story about the conditioning and whether or not his body will be able to hold up over time because the older he gets, the more he's just. You could see it. If he doesn't take care of himself, he's going to fall off fast. But if he does get some religion, this could be. Again, the Lakers are just. They find it, don't they? I mean they just, they got Wilt Chamberlain, they got Kareem, they draft magic, he falls in their lap. It just Kobe, they draft in his life. They go get the Shaq wants to go play for them. They get Pau Gasol. It just never ends with this franchise, right? Never ends. They just get the superstar all the time. They got him again.

[Alan Hahn]

Now what I ask is, all right, so Kyrie gets his guy. So where does Dallas go from here? What? How much better or worse or the same are the Dallas Mavericks now in your mind?

[Don LaGreca]

Well, the Dallas Mavericks are a better team because they have now Anthony Davis where he wants to play, which is the four. Now Derek Live they drafted two years ago the pick the Knicks were supposed to get. He's become a really, really good two way big that fits so well at center. Now he's hurt right now. They're worried about him. But they have Daniel Gafford who's a similar type of active big man who doesn't need the ball. It's exactly what Anthony Davis wants to play next to. Now Davis doesn't have to be the center. He hates playing center. He sees himself as a four, a guy who can play stretch. I'm not in the post all the time. The demands of me as a center are not on me game after game. So he'll be happier in that role. And you play pick and roll with Kyrie and him. Lights out, going to be hard to guard. They got guys who can space the floor and shoot threes. They have a well coached team. They got to the finals last year.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah, they did.

[Don LaGreca]

I could see, I could see them making another run to the finals this year with a much different looking team.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, with the defending champions going into last year and the way that Minnesota and OKC played last year, it still ended up being Dallas to get through. So as good as OKC has been this year, I mean, would you be Shocked if Dallas is, you know, that good that they'll, they'll go back again.

[Don LaGreca]

Take a look at how Dallas has played against OKC this season with and without Luke.

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

So they just know how to play now.

[Alan Hahn]

Let's just. Oh, by the way, it was Steven Rice and Bernie Nichols, along with Weight and the Messier deal.

[Don LaGreca]

Pumpernickel. Yes.

[Alan Hahn]

That's a terrible nickname, by the way. I was just looking at Bernie Nichols numbers and I saw the nickname. I'm like, God, I remember that. That's. Why put that, that, why put that sin on somebody?

[Don LaGreca]

You want to know who the Mets traded for Piazza, by the way?

[Alan Hahn]

Go ahead. Yeah, it was like nobody.

[Don LaGreca]

Preston Wilson, remember him? Right.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, not nobody. Well, yeah, not.

[Don LaGreca]

Not bad. Ed Yarnell.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Nobody at Jays.

[Don LaGreca]

And Jeff gets with.

[Alan Hahn]

Jeff wants.

[Don LaGreca]

Whatever Jeff wants, he gets.

[Alan Hahn]

All right, play. Play this game for me, Alan. Play this game. Let's just say Kyrie wasn't involved in this. And they, they put up Luca on the open market. A, would the Knicks be interested? And B, what would they. What would they offer?

[Don LaGreca]

I mean, again, if he's on the open market, I think everybody's interested. I would.

[Alan Hahn]

So what do they offer?

[Don LaGreca]

I think him wanting to play in a major market, you do whatever it takes. You. You don't. What do they offer? You ask them what they want. That's what you do. You ask Dallas, what do you want? No, I'm dead serious. You ask them, what do they want? Because, I mean, who, who is it that you say know about other than I, I think the one guy that you know because, look, you want to be competitive and they've played together. So I would probably say, well, you're not getting Brunson. You have Kyrie anyway, you're not getting Brunson. But everybody, anybody else, like, who, who's the guy? You say, oh, we can't move him.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Like, think about it.

[Don LaGreca]

They moved AD for him car. Anthony Towns. Like, if they ask for him, how do you say no?

[Alan Hahn]

Can't say no. That's what just gotta pain you.

[Don LaGreca]

And you say this out of all respect to all the players on this team, right? On the current Knicks team. You say it out of great respect, but then you say, but this is what I'm talking about. A guy who's a top, top three player in the league.

[Alan Hahn]

So Kyrie, go. Go out and win me a title. If you're Dallas, right? We could have put this guy on the open mark and got anything that we wanted to. We got, we got the guy that you Want. Let's go win a title. Don't flake out on me, okay? We just. Because that's got to pay me. If I'm a Mavericks fan, I could have had him on the open market, and I would have every team in the league saying, what do you want?

[Don LaGreca]

Yep.

[Alan Hahn]

And we got a guy that's six years older.

[Don LaGreca]

What do you think? The. What do you think? The Boston Celtics, because they're right now in Boston. Like, I talked to some people up there. They are losing it right now up there, because, first of all, Luca and his skin tone in Boston. How do you think that would play? I mean, he plays as close to Larry Bird.

[Alan Hahn]

Right.

[Don LaGreca]

As anybody ever did.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know, they get excited for the whites in Boston.

[Alan Hahn]

Luca, Larry. I can see the commercials now.

[Don LaGreca]

They do like their whites up there.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, it's a terrible thing to say, but think about how popular Brian Scalabrine was, for God's sake.

[Don LaGreca]

I mean, come on, what are we saying? But so.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But.

[Don LaGreca]

But honestly, they loved Wally up there, right? Losing it. If they knew that. That he was available and they could have traded for him. You, I'm talking about maybe you're not moving Tatum, but you're moving. You're moving brown 100. You move.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's funny.

[Don LaGreca]

You move it like. Like. Like you start the deal with him because he's an all. He's. He's a great place, an all Star and all that stuff.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You have to. You'd have to start with Brown. That's. That's the lowest they could go.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's Tatum.

[Don LaGreca]

One thing I know that Dallas would not take the. Dallas might even take Porzingis back now that Lucas won't be there, because those two didn't just get along on the court, but they liked him down there. But they need a big. Do you go that direction like this? But I mean, imagine a backcourt when you have Kyrie and Jalen Brown.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I mean, I hate to be this guy.

[Don LaGreca]

Pretty good, actually.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I don't hate to be this guy. I am that guy. I'm good. I'm good.

[Don LaGreca]

You're happy with your team instead of having Luka.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I'm fine. I mean, listen, how. How much better can this team be? Like, we talked about the fact that right now they're sort of cruising. And by the way, they're. Their cruising is 35 and 15. They are coming off a championship.

[Don LaGreca]

They're there cruising down 26 in the fourth quarter and then somehow winning the game.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah. By the way, which shows you how much they're messing around, practically. But I mean, seriously, Alan, when you get a core that's this good, sometimes these teams, they get so tempted to mess with it. I'm glad they didn't. There's no need.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, they got.

[Alan Hahn]

And they didn't get a chance. Well, that's just if they are indeed just playing with their food or if there's some other issue, why the Knicks have been such a challenge. Although the Knicks I, I crushing blow averted, but still, what's going on with OG he's not going to play tonight. But boy, when you saw that live. First of all, how disgusted are you as a Knick fan? Here comes LeBron and you know, he's playing again. He, the way he even talked after the game. He's coming back. Stop it.

[Don LaGreca]

I told the light that little left that little teaser out there.

[Alan Hahn]

Well, of course. Well, that's what, that's what the great ones do, right?

[Don LaGreca]

This man was hooked up to every IV machine possible on Saturday. He was like, you know when, like, what is it when Darth Vader goes into that little, like, whatever he has, it closes and air compression, and all of a sudden he's hooked up to all these hoses. It's like he, I guarantee you, he spent all day Friday and most of Saturday hooked up to every IV possible, taking in all the good nutrients and everything, get hydrated, the whole thing. He played like he was 28 years old, and he looked it too, like just physically he was having a great time. And as that Laker team played as hard as they could. They played so hard in that game. You just knew, like, this is a setup. And the fact that the Knicks played horrible and were only down two going into the fourth, in my head I kept thinking, like, just, just ruin the party for him. Just ruin the party. But they couldn't. They, they, they struggled. They lost OG that took a lot out of everybody emotionally, a little bit. But, you know, I, I told you he was going to do this. And speaking of LeBron, so Stephen A. Is going to join us at 4:00 and you don't want to miss it because, you know, Stephen A. And his take on all things NBA is, is obviously worth your time. But on, on get up this morning, he made a quick cameo appearance before first take, and he said something. I was thinking, I was in the middle of my workout. I was thinking, like, of things I wanted to say on the show, and I'm like, oh, I want to go here. And Stephen A. Went there instead. I want you guys to Listen to this. I'm going to tease this going forward because I'd love to get reaction. 800-919-3776 here's Stephen A. On get up. This is. Now, with AD gone, what should LeBron do?

[Jacob]

I go to Rich Paul and I tell him I will waive my no trade clause for one of two teams. It will either be to join Steph Curry in Golden State or to go to New York with the Knicks. Now, the Knicks would obviously be more difficult because they traded away five first round picks to get Mikel Bridges. And I love Bridges, but damn, five first round picks. But hey, I'm not going to belabor that they did what they did. But obviously they had an abundance of assets and clearly the Lakers are in need of them because they've only got one pick left, which is like 2031 for crying out loud. And so I look at it from that standpoint. If I'm LeBron James, I either use that as an option or I go to Golden State and I join Steph Curry and I go out with the greatest shooter God has ever created.

[Don LaGreca]

Interesting. Does he finally now remember the last thing he said to Lisa Salters when she asked him, is this the last time you'll play here? And he said, we'll see, right?

[Alan Hahn]

Yeah.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, if there's ever a time to do it, this would be the time. Now, it's a pipe dream, but it still is a very, very interesting scenario to consider and we'll continue considering that with your calls coming up next. So stay with us. It is 800 now, 93776. Of course, we've got tons of calls already packed in. We have one more line open, so you want to get in on that right now. Don Han, Rosenberg, 880 ESPN. And Peter, I'm so interested in Bath Fitter.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You know what, I had a hunch that you were going to tell me how interested you were in Bath Fitter, Alan, and I'm here to tell you all about it. I love Bath Fitter. They did my bath. They did a fantastic job by the way. They customized it for my needs. Done in a day, no demo, no mess. And Bath Fitter is a permanent, high quality solution with a lifetime guarantee. 3 million happy customers like me. And you can lock in 2024 pricing and get 0% interest for 30 months. Start designing your bath today like I [e-mail] there's only one Bath Fitt.

[Don LaGreca]

TaxAct knows filing taxes can be confusing. So we have live experts on hand who can help answer any questions you may have. Questions like can I claim my SUV is my home office? If I answer work emails in my car? If I adopted 12 dogs this year, can I list them as dependents and am I doing this right or am I doing this very, very wrong? Our experts have the answers to those questions and many others. Tax act let's get them over with.

[Stephen A. Smith]

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[Alan Hahn]

This episode is brought to you by Love Hurts. Ki Hui Kwan has had quite a career, from childhood roles in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and the Goonies to a recent Academy Award win for Everything Everywhere all at Once. But now Kee finally stars as a leading man in the film Love Hurts. Love Hurts is the perfect date night.

[Stephen A. Smith]

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[Alan Hahn]

Top action comedy and a ton of heart. Love Hurts only at theaters February 7th.

[Don LaGreca]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don LaGreca]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. Football Monday, by the way, super bowl is next Sunday. Football Monday's on 880 ESPN brought to you by Infinity Experience the Infinity lineup at your Tri State Retailer today. 800-919-3776 is the number quickly for both of you though. And I again, this is all just silliness and all that other stuff. But it is. It's one of those things you think about and Stephen A certainly thought about it. I played it for you right before the break. The idea that if LeBron, although we've seen other people tell us that he's fine with this move, but he did also go to Instagram and did tell Anthony Davis, you know, go crazy over there. But if there was ever a time for him to tell the Lakers, you know, look, why don't you got your next star? Why don't you move me and give me a chance to win a championship? And Stephen A. Said the two places he should ask is Golden State to play with Steph Curry or come to New York and finally do the one thing that everybody has dared him to do throughout his entire 22 season career. What do you think?

[Peter Rosenberg]

I think that's when Stephen A. Says those things to me. How many times we heard Stephen say this. It's wishful. He wants New York to be a real possibility. Do we still actually think and believe it's something that he cares about? Like that's actually a feather in his cap that for one second he gives a damn about? I just. LeBron now has won in Cleveland, Miami and Los Angeles. I don't think he sits around going, oh, man, I hope I could eat for free forever in New York.

[Don LaGreca]

Guess what, guys?

[Peter Rosenberg]

He has that.

[Don LaGreca]

Everybody's about that.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay?

[Don LaGreca]

It's just. It's just another one of those legacy things in the biggest market. Like, that's all it is.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeah, it would be cool.

[Don LaGreca]

Sure.

[Alan Hahn]

Listen. Two different human beings, but both equal, like, you know, stars. We've had Messi Ayan before Peter, and he always talked about how that was a thing, slaying the dragon. Like, do I think coming to the Knicks to win, if they had won five years ago or had been a perennial winner, probably not. But to be able to slay the dragon, that was a big deal for Messier to be able to do that, and we're coming up on it. When Messier won it in 94, the Rangers hadn't won in 54 years. What are we going on now with the Knicks 52? It's 1973. Like, so it's as big a drag. And it's a nice thing to put on your resume. I was the guy to win the Knicks their first title since 1973. Now, if you're a Knick fan, I could feel like, yeah, I want the title, but do I want it that way? Do I want to get LeBron James the guy that snubbed us?

[Don LaGreca]

That's crazy.

[Alan Hahn]

Listen, if it's no matter what. But wait a minute.

[Don LaGreca]

But.

[Alan Hahn]

But can we agree you'd rather do it without them? If you had A choice. If you had to just do it.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, that now. Well, I think you may have found it done. You may have found the question of the day. All right, like, I know it sounds. I know it sounds silly, but if you're a Knicks fan, do you actually want LeBron James? Is that like, would that really excite you at.

[Don LaGreca]

At this age, like right now, at this stage?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No. No. And understanding you'd have to give up something. Right. Like, you know, it's not going to come for nothing. One of the guys you love and you consider to be like one of the core members of this Nick team, at least one, if not more would be gone.

[Don LaGreca]

It'd be multiple. Yeah. So because just to make the money work, it would be two guys for sure. That, that make a lot of money here.

[Alan Hahn]

Guys, I get it. You haven't had a title since 73. The majority, the 90% of our audience was not alive or have a memory of the last title the Knicks have had. So yeah, you want one. But I've been pretty consistent about this. Peter will tell you whenever this would come up in conversation. Michael was you. Alan, of course I want that greatness on my team. I want the title. And I guess that's the short term answer. But what makes it cool to win a title. What makes it cool to win a title is your team finally got over the hump, you finally won. It's like cool to say my team's the best. I think LeBron would swallow up too much of the room. The Knicks would actually win their first title in 52 years. And it would be all about LeBron's latest title. That LeBron finally got it done for you. It almost become the LeBron victory lap. And the Knicks would almost become a bit player in it.

[Don LaGreca]

Is it? But isn't this also very similar to the Messier story? Messi had already won cups in Edmonton. He was always already considered one of the great leaders in the history of the game. One of the great winners in the history of the game. Yeah, but the Rangers went out and got him because they wanted to end that draft.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, but here's why I disagree. Alan Messier wasn't solidified as the Mark Messier that he is now until he went did it in New York. But LeBron. Isn't that the whole point.

[Don LaGreca]

But LeBron is Gretzky wasn't until he won in Cleveland.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But. But LeBron is Gretzky already. He's not Messier. It's a totally different thing. It's his. I think. Don's Right. I think wherever he. Wherever LeBron goes, if they win a championship, the city kind of becomes the foot.

[Don LaGreca]

And also, I'm curious to see what Stephen A. Thinks about this when he joins the four.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, he. Stephen A. Will do anything.

[Alan Hahn]

And also, we had. We would. We have no idea how much longer LeBron would play. My guess would be if he ever came here and won the title, it might be that's it. He'll retire, walk away.

[Don LaGreca]

Yep.

[Alan Hahn]

Mark Messier was 31 when he came to the Rangers.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, he was in his.

[Alan Hahn]

The idea was it wasn't like one and done. The thing was, this guy's going to be here a while, and he didn't, you know, he retired as a Ranger. He left to go to Vancouver for three years. But, you know, he spent a bulk of time here. You know, what was the grand total of years that he spent. It was 10 years with the Rangers. So that's not going to be LeBron James. He's going to come here, he's going to win you a title. He's going to walk out the door.

[Don LaGreca]

He'll be Kawhi Leonard in Toronto.

[Alan Hahn]

But he's bigger than Kawhi Leonard, I'm saying.

[Don LaGreca]

But it's the same thing.

[Alan Hahn]

Right? But Toronto could still look at that as art. I just think LeBron James is just so big, so massive, such a name that the Knicks and their story and finally slaying the dragon becomes like a bit part. Becomes a role player in LeBron James Victory Tour. And another title for LeBron. You see what I'm saying, Peter? It just, I think, swallows it up as LeBron's title. And the Knicks, who desperately wanted that title, now become like a role player in it, a character actor in the movie.

[Don LaGreca]

I get it. I totally understand. It's on the J.T. walsh.

[Alan Hahn]

You know, I guess you don't want to be jt.

[Don LaGreca]

There's a. If there's a way to do it, I'm doing it. Yeah, I tell. I. If there's a way to do it, I'm doing it. 800 now with 93776. Let's get some calls in here. Marvin and Edison, start us off today. Marvin.

[Drake]

Hey, what's going on, guys? It's a pleasure talking to you guys. Listen to you guys every day. Congratulations on the new show. I just wanted to talk. Yeah, no problem at all. I just want to talk about this trade, obviously, massive trade. I believe it's indicative of the owners taking their league back, in a sense. I was really surprised that the CBA back in 2023 was agreed to so quickly because of what was happening with Ben Simmons and what players were doing and you know, still having to pay those guys despite the fact that they were acting up. But now the players, the owners have kind of showed that we have like a little move up our sleeves. Oh, okay, you're acting up, you're conditioning. Despite the fact that we're telling you you got it condition, you got to lose weight. Oh, you don't want to do it. You think it's just going to be a foregone conclusion that we're going to sign you to a supermax? No, we're going to trade you. And now look, you lost out on 100 plus million dollars. So I think this is, this trade shows other players in the league that, whoa, like, I can't just do whatever I want and I'm going to get the supermax, like, I have to be on my T's and Q's. So I think that even though I feel like Dallas got the short end of the stick regarding as far as, like players are concerned, as far as, you know, their future, I think this is a move that other owners views have up their sleeve. Like, hey, you can't just do whatever you want because if you don't do what we ask you to do, we'll just ship you out and you're not going to get your supermax. And one thing that players respond to is money.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah. How did it work out for Paul George? He got what he wanted. There's always going to be a desperate owner out there that's willing to pay that price. But you're not wrong though, Marvin. I think what you're saying, and what I agree with is that this is the first instance that I've seen where the hardest thing to do is the choice they make. Because the easy thing to do is just right. Like life is a series of decisions between the hard way and the easy or the right way and the easy way. And most of the time in these situations, you take the easy way because who can blame you? This guy's a great player. You give him the money and if it screws up later, it's on him, not on me. But they decided, no, we're not going to give in to this. And I'm waiting for the Pelicans to do the same thing with Zion.

[Alan Hahn]

True, but, but it's, it's kind of in an NBA way, right? Like the player didn't get his way, but he got traded to the Lakers and the Other star on Dallas got their way because he got the player that he wanted. You know, he didn't get traded to Charlotte.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay.

[Alan Hahn]

He got traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. You know, he didn't get traded to Siberia. Yeah, he lost his max money, you're right. And that is something. And apparently $100 million a lot. Now that reports that he had just bought a $15 million house in Dallas and he was crying when he got dealt. Like, so I get what the caller saying, but it's in. It's such an NBA way of doing it. You know, you didn't get shipped. You didn't get, you know, shipped to. Back in the day, you know, Winnipeg or Charlotte or, you know, you didn't get traded to the. To, you know, the Montreal Expos back in the day. You got traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.

[Don LaGreca]

Yeah, that is fair. Drake and Poughkeepsie Drake.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hey, Alan, I think you've been doing.

[Drake]

A great job breaking down all the.

[Don LaGreca]

Different angles on this trade.

[Alan Hahn]

I think we got. I think bringing in Alan was the right move just now. I figured now just. He just finally won me.

[Don LaGreca]

Glad I could help sum it up.

[Drake]

A little more succinctly.

[Alan Hahn]

I think it comes down to the age old rule of it's better to.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Move on from a player a year.

[Drake]

Too soon than hang on to him.

[Peter Rosenberg]

A year too late.

[Drake]

And that's what the Mavericks realized, and that's. That's why they traded him.

[Don LaGreca]

Because you had something coming. Drake, next summer, like I'm telling you this, this coming summer and the year after, it would have been a major headache. And these players know how to use that leverage against you. And that was coming and they knew it. And they also saw him as somebody that, like, you know, guys, you know how Mike Tannenbaum, we love him, he uses that phrase, a force multiplier. This is a guy that just makes our franchise better on and off the. You know, when you get a player that comes in and he becomes a culture guy and you heard, you know, Nico talk about this in this press conference where it's like, you know, it's guys who either fit in our culture or part of the culture, it's one of the other. And Luca, for being a superstar was almost like fitting in versus setting the tone. And, you know, when I'm paying you $345 million, I need you to do more than just fit in. And so that's probably what that was all about. Sean in Flora Park. What's up, Sean?

[Alan Hahn]

Hey, guys, thanks for taking my call. I think. I think it's Kyrie and Jason Kidd plotting, you know, and scheming and why not? And they're gonna get Luca back in.

[Drake]

A year or two.

[Don LaGreca]

Well, they're not getting them back. They can't. No.

[Alan Hahn]

Through free agency and everything like that. If he could sign there and everything like that, Dallas gets 100 million.

[Don LaGreca]

But why would he sign. Why would he sign with a place that just cost him $100 million? It doesn't make any sense, Sean. You just traded me away and it cost me a hundred million dollars and I'm gonna go back to you now. No, that relationship is. I said this on social media. This is now. Sean, that's. That's a. Sorry. It's a bad take. This was a divorce. This was more than a trade. This was a divorce. I'm telling you. Look, no. No disrespect to the caller there, but that. This is not some scheme to come back. They kicked him out the door. Kicked him out unexpectedly.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Out. Gone.

[Don LaGreca]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Your whole life is there. You've been there your entire career. You've done nothing really, but win. Everything seemingly would be.

[Don LaGreca]

Just took you to the finals.

[Peter Rosenberg]

You just went to the finals and now you wake up one day and you're gone. Yeah, I don't. I don't think this is a, hey, we're working this out later situation.

[Don LaGreca]

That's them saying, we're done dealing with you and everything that comes with you, your baggage and everything else. You know, all the things that you aren't a guy that if we give you this money and next year, if we don't give you the money, you're going to put us through hell and we're going to go through this anyway. We can get a guy like Anthony Davis and try to win a chip this year or next year. We're doing it. And we made the Lakers weaker when it comes to at least positionally at center. So they're looking at it like, this is our chance to strike. And they went for. For it. They were clearly tired of dealing with Luca off the court. And that's something to watch now in la.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's.

[Don LaGreca]

More calls coming up. Yeah, more calls coming up. And we have a weekend warrior debate. Who won this weekend? Because there's some really good candidates that we all chose this weekend. So we'll get to that coming up. Your calls coming up as well. Super Box Bonanza 6, your chance to get your box for the big game. With a prize pool of $2,000, all qualifiers will get an ESPN prize pack. And a chance at one of 10 Super Box prizes. Listen daily throughout through February 6th, which is coming up fast. Boys Dpietro and Rothenberg, Barton Carlin, the K show, and of course our show as well. This year's big game payouts of $250 in the first and third quarters, 500 for halftime, and a final score payout of $1,000. All brought to you by Tullamore Deal Irish Whiskey, Slowman Security and Security, Dodge [e-mail] during their President's Day sales event. Go to Superbox Bonanza.com Peter, tell me about Lids.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, of course I will, guys, because the big game's almost here. You know what that means. It's time to rep your favorite team in style, Head the lids for the best selection of headwear and apparel and show your team pride like never before. For whether you're cheering from the couch or the stadium, lids has the perfect fit for you. All right, you want to make it extra special? Customize your hat with your name or your favorite players autograph. By the way, I just did that. Mets and Yankees hats customized with Maya's name on the side. Fire. It's your game, your style, your hat. Don't wait. Visit the newest lids location on 42nd street in Times Square between 7th and 8th, and gear up for the big game.

[Don LaGreca]

Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[Peter Rosenberg]

I didn't listen to anything you just said.

[Don LaGreca]

Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Warriors come out to me.

[Don LaGreca]

Don Han and Rosenberg's weekend Warrior. All right, whatever poll that Anthony put up, that doesn't count. Sorry.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Oh, hold on.

[Don LaGreca]

Say what you want, Peter. No, let's not. Because it doesn't count. Because we all know it's like wrestling fans are a lot like Beyonce fans and Taylor Swift fans. It's like it just. They come out in droves. And you think anybody in New York's going to vote for LeBron James, that ain't happening either after what he did Saturday night. But if you watched, which I know you're a little busy, but if you watch that game, he. He was in the Wayback machine. He went into the hot tub time machine.

[Peter Rosenberg]

All right, well.

[Don LaGreca]

And he put out a performance from. Just like I knew he would. And that's why I said he was going to be the weekend warrior. A triple. A 30 point triple double for a guy who's 150 years old. Stop it. He wins. Case closed, Don. Case closed. Your poor Guy, by the way, Don just got wrecked in mid ice.

[Alan Hahn]

I was gonna.

[Don LaGreca]

Terrible.

[Alan Hahn]

Stefan Nason didn't take off Tage Thompson's head in the third period yesterday. I might have had a chance. He had a three point weekend.

[Don LaGreca]

I know.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Now, now I need. I Don, I'd like you to be. I'd like to bring you in here as an arborder, Don. Okay.

[Alan Hahn]

Yes.

[Peter Rosenberg]

And I'd like for you to be fair for a moment. This is a moment fair. Okay. But I will. Given how this conversation started on Friday where he, he said that me choosing a professional wrestler made him, quote, have to take a shower and made him. I believe I'm saying from there I want to move a little bit back towards the middle. Just hear me out for a second, okay? Let's not make this an argument about competitive sport versus sports entertainment, okay? That's not what we're trying to have. The weekend Warrior is about the overall performance and impact from a player over that weekend. LeBron James put on a hell of a show at MSG in a regular season game. The Lakers won. They've been playing good basketball to start out with. LeBron scored 33. He was 14 to 26 from the floor. He had 11 boards and 12 assists. A great game. A very triple. It's a triple double. It's. It's a really high level, LeBron James kind of game. He's had millions of them over the course of his career. I don't know how many triple doubles LeBron's at and I don't know how many this season. I'm sure only a handful this year, if any. So it's a great game. Jey uso. Again, we're not having an argument about what is real, what is staged. Just perform. Jey uso appears in the Royal Rumble, survives the entire thing, and when it comes down to the end, there's like I think at the final eight guys. Anthony, I think it was 71 world champions and Jey Uso. Jey Uso stays till the end and eliminates a returning on his farewell tour, John Cena to win the Royal Rumble match and go on to main event WrestleMania. Now I understand one is competitive sport and one is entertainment. What I'm here to argue is though, the night for Jey uso is so much bigger a deal in the grand scheme of everything than the Triple double for LeBron James in a regular season.

[Don LaGreca]

Game that it's not even close. I just want to add one thing and then, Don, I'll let you take it from here. I'm just going to say one thing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Go ahead.

[Don LaGreca]

When the Nixon Lakers took the court before that game started, no one knew how the game was going to go nor how it was going to end. No one.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So. So again, you don't have an argument.

[Don LaGreca]

Coaches.

[Peter Rosenberg]

See, Don, you have to strike what he just said from the record because he's going back to the same thing.

[Don LaGreca]

I said about live performance.

[Peter Rosenberg]

That's going to emerge.

[Don LaGreca]

Emerge as the best player. No one knew.

[Alan Hahn]

All right, first of all, that's not the argument you want to have. Because then you can't win. Well, no, no, because you have just made the rule.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Well, no, because there's. Then there's no thing. Okay, then we don't.

[Alan Hahn]

How about this? If I were to go back in time and pick Beyonce, would I win?

[Peter Rosenberg]

No. Beyonce was. Didn't have an athletic competition this weekend.

[Alan Hahn]

I don't. I don't think. I don't think it either.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But he did what he did. You could never do what you could never do.

[Alan Hahn]

Listen, whenever it takes talent for Tom Cruise to hang off a plane, he does his own stunts.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's not the same.

[Don LaGreca]

I couldn't do what Beyonce did.

[Peter Rosenberg]

So. So again, so you guys have no argument. So you're going back to a week.

[Alan Hahn]

No, we know that. That's our argument. You can't take away somebody's argument in an argument.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, but. But that's not. But the thing is we. Jay USO was in the thing, his event, and I.

[Alan Hahn]

And he had made me sick this weekend.

[Don LaGreca]

You have a lot of courage when you know the outcome. Plenty of courage.

[Peter Rosenberg]

It's not a.

[Don LaGreca]

This wasn't your warrior.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This wasn't.

[Don LaGreca]

You're a warrior. There's no. You're gonna win.

[Peter Rosenberg]

They weren't being awarded a medal of honor by the president, for God's sake. It's all entertainment in front of people for paid tickets. Jey Uso had a better performance than LeBron James, period. More impactful, more memorable. More views online, more conversation about it. More impactful. More impactful to the business fair.

[Alan Hahn]

Peter, you're being unfair.

[Peter Rosenberg]

No, I'm being. I'm.

[Alan Hahn]

No, no, you're being unfair.

[Peter Rosenberg]

How am I being.

[Alan Hahn]

Because I.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because one argument and it's.

[Alan Hahn]

If I argued on Sunday, on Friday, Go ahead. That I didn't. That I didn't think he would perform well and that I think LeBron James did a better job or would do a better job, then we would have a nice argument. Because all the things you're saying are right. What you're doing strategically is removing the argument from our argument.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Because the reason I had a problem.

[Alan Hahn]

With it is I don't think you should pick a wrestler.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But the argument. But it already.

[Alan Hahn]

So you could talk to me about what a great performance he had is not going to convince me otherwise. But it's.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But happened. It's in the books. It already happened.

[Alan Hahn]

Right?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Hold on. It happened.

[Don LaGreca]

You locked it in.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Our producer. Our producer locked it in. Our producer ran a poll. He won the poll. He had the better performance. And now you guys just want to go, oh, well, it's a stage sport.

[Alan Hahn]

Boys. I made it very clear how I felt about it on Friday, okay?

[Peter Rosenberg]

And. And by the way, it was ignored by the people who produced this show. It was included, and I won. Period.

[Don LaGreca]

End of story.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Jay Uso was a bigger deal and a better performer than LeBron James.

[Don LaGreca]

Wait, wait, there's three of us, Don.

[Alan Hahn]

LeBron James.

[Don LaGreca]

Okay, so that. That's it. You lost because two. Two to one.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Wait, wait. So that. Wait, so now, just for the future, I want to be clear. In the future, Jacob and Anthony are never voting.

[Alan Hahn]

Let him ask Jacob.

[Don LaGreca]

Go ahead. Jump in.

[Anthony]

Well, look, it's very interesting because I was curious because of all the vitriol that Peter did receive online for this makes me root for him even more. But everybody who said, oh, this is. This is a joke. This is impossible. How did he lose the poll? How did Jey USO win the poll? I don't know.

[Alan Hahn]

Two reasons. Number one, there's a lot of wrestling.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Fans who follow tm, who follow DHO on espn.

[Alan Hahn]

Sure.

[Anthony]

Tim Cass, who won it?

[Alan Hahn]

I'm sure they do because of you and because they're also sports fans. And what New Yorker is going to root for LeBron James anytime after he beats the Knicks?

[Peter Rosenberg]

Anthony, do you have a vote here?

[Anthony]

Well, here's the other thing. This is another thing that's bothering me. This is very much like when Don does his top fives and nobody reads and it says who wins the weekend warrior. And people are picking people that weren't picked by the three of you. This is not a. The person who had the best weekend of all time.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Just give us an answer.

[Don LaGreca]

I need to vote.

[Anthony]

I'm gonna go with Jay Usoff.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Thank you, Anthony. So now we're at best two. Two. And it puts a lot of pressure on Jacob.

[Don LaGreca]

Tons of pressure on Jake.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Ah, jeez.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Jacob, do you watch the Rumble?

[Stephen A. Smith]

I did watch the Rumble, and I was at the Garden for the Knicks game.

[Alan Hahn]

Wow.

[Don LaGreca]

Come on.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Okay.

[Don LaGreca]

All right.

[Alan Hahn]

You got to honor what you did.

[Anthony]

This is a tough. This is.

[Don LaGreca]

This is going to be tough.

[Stephen A. Smith]

It puts me in a tough position.

[Don LaGreca]

I'm a big WWE guy. But you know what?

[Stephen A. Smith]

I'mma Vin uso guy. And it was his weekend. It was. He had a great weekend.

[Don LaGreca]

John Cena, what are we working with? Come on.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Thank you very much. J uso.

[Don LaGreca]

What are we working with here? You are embarrassing.

[Peter Rosenberg]

This is main event.

[Don LaGreca]

What are we working with here? Now we're just going to. This is acting now. Said from now on, like if there was a movie. Movie premiere on a Friday night, you can pick the actor.

[Alan Hahn]

Day one, it's just me. And also, I don't.

[Don LaGreca]

From now on.

[Anthony]

I'll say this, by the way.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Yeet, yeet.

[Don LaGreca]

You know, there's a performance at the Garden and a band's coming in, a performer's coming in. We could pick them, too, now.

[Anthony]

Well, listen, all bets are off, Alan. You kind of took the steam away from LeBron in one way. I said, if LeBron was the one, the mastermind behind this deal, he would have got Weekend Warrior probably going away.

[Peter Rosenberg]

But.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, just really?

[Anthony]

But he had no. No knowledge of his trade.

[Don LaGreca]

That would have put him over the top, orchestrated this trade.

[Anthony]

I think that would have put him over the top.

[Don LaGreca]

So, again, all right, Don, from now on, it's no longer about actual performance. When it comes to the performance. You know how with anything in life.

[Alan Hahn]

Alan can't answer to this. But Peter will know because I'm going to play a game with Weekend War. Just stay tuned every Friday because I am going to. Guys so far up my rectum, you're going to be like, I can't really. You thought Tage Thompson was a hell of a pair. Oh, wait.

[Don LaGreca]

You wait.

[Anthony]

You're not going to fool me, Don.

[Alan Hahn]

I'm going to be. Well, I. I can't wait till my son starts up his.

[Don LaGreca]

Oh, that's it.

[Alan Hahn]

His coach pitch. I'm going to be having. You know, I might just pick.

[Don LaGreca]

Has scored five and six goals in a game. I'm picking her. Ain't nobody doing.

[Alan Hahn]

She had no idea she was going to do it before it happened. And there's still. And you want to talk about impropriety, even though Peter will deny it and I would believe him. It's still on the table to a lot of people that he knew who was going to win the Royal Rumble because he works for the damn corporation, for God's sake. Possibility he had inside dope. I believe he didn't. I believe that he.

[Don LaGreca]

What are we doing? But it is on the table. We got Stephen A coming up momentarily. I can't imagine if he's listening right now how disgusted he is with this whole show. But right now at Superbox Bonanza 6, each qualifier take home in ESPN Prize Pack have a chance at one of 10 Superbox prizes, including a ninja air fryer, solo stove, Ray Ban meta wayfarers and more. Guys, pick a number, call a number.

[Peter Rosenberg]

Let's see.

[Alan Hahn]

How about 71 for Tage Thompson, seven for Luca Donson.

[Don LaGreca]

Go $77 right now. Eight at 898-7. Yes.

[Alan Hahn]

That's what you get for voting against us.

[Anthony]

Well, there's a morning show that has a reputation for saying that you guys are terrible to me.

[Don LaGreca]

So.

[Alan Hahn]

Oh, yeah, they say you hate giving that information.

[Don LaGreca]

Select the box for the big game with a chance to win 250 in the first and third quarters, 500 at halftime and a final score pad of $1,000. All brought to you by Tulla Mardu Irish Whiskey Slowman Security and Security Dodge shop 24 [e-mail] during their President's Day sales event. Thanks for listening to the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast. I don't want to know how the sausage is made, but 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.

[Stephen A. Smith]

And your smart speakers.