Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Feb 19, 2026, Hour 2: “Knicks & That Guy”

Overview

This episode dives deep into New York Knicks legacy debates, the current team’s championship window, and the emotional state of Knicks fandom, punctuated by classic audience calls and the lighthearted “That Guy Thursday” segment. Hosts Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, and Peter Rosenberg—a trio equally passionate about New York sports and banter—mix rich basketball insight with trademark New York wit, plenty of listener engagement, and a few offbeat detours.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. USA Women’s Hockey Gold & Media Restrictions

• Celebration of USA’s Overtime Gold Medal (00:44–04:20)
  • The trio recaps a dramatic OT win over Canada, highlighting Megan Keller and Hilary Knight’s roles.
  • Discussion about broadcast rights and inability to play “the Kenny call”; much humor about legal restrictions.
• “What if I reenact it in Kenny voice?“ – Don, considering play-by-play workaround. (03:07)

2. Knicks Legacy: Where Does Jalen Brunson Rank?

Call-in from Gus in Westchester (04:35–06:39)

• Gus, a lifelong fan: “There’s no way you put Brunson in front of Monroe.”
• Earl Monroe’s legacy debated—importance of only Knicks tenure when retiring numbers.

Retiring Numbers & Historical Greatness (05:58–06:39)

• Assessment: Four years of excellence isn’t enough to elevate Brunson over legends like Monroe or Bernard King.
  • “We’re talking about greatest Knicks of all time. What Brunson did in Dallas is irrelevant.” – Don Hahn (06:09)
• For all-time Knick status: Longevity, impact, and (potentially) titles are crucial factors.

On Legacy and “If Not Now, When?” (07:58–08:41)

• Pushback against Stephen A. Smith’s urgency: Don notes how quickly windows can open/close, and skepticism about narratives demanding immediate rings.
  • “Things are very, very fluid.” – Don Hahn (08:41)

3. The Knicks’ Championship Window & The Giannis Factor

Stephen A. Smith’s “Win Now” Stance (09:45–10:13)

• The hosts agree it’s a wide-open year but reject catastrophizing if the Knicks don’t win immediately.
• “If not now, when?” – (10:04)
• They analyze Giannis Antetokounmpo's future, subtly fueling a Knicks rumor mill.
  • “How many toes down would you say he is?” – Don (10:24)
  • “Maybe five. Maybe one foot.” – Dave, on Giannis's loyalty (10:26)
• If this core stumbles, Knicks have assets and could pivot (namely to a Giannis pursuit).

Should Fans Panic if Knicks Don’t Win? (11:27–11:46)

• “That is the biggest fault of Stephen is not factoring that in, that if they end up stumbling... they can go out and get one of the best players in the NBA.” – Don (11:27)

4. The Achilles Heel of the Current Knicks

Honest SWOT (12:58–14:58)

• Don & Dave revisit Knicks playoff shortcomings: injuries, depth, and defensive lapses in past years.
• This year’s potential weakness?
  • “To me it would be not coming up big defensively.” – Don (13:10)
  • “The lack of killer instinct.” – Don (13:13)
• Addition of agitators like Alvarado and Sohan to instill more edge; but does the team lack a true finisher’s mentality?
  • “Does this team still lack that ability... to put the knife through?” – Dave (14:48)

5. Kendrick Perkins’ Take: Brunson as All-Time Knick?

Perkins on Roommates Podcast (15:07–16:22)

• Perk’s quote: “I feel like you already a top three Nick of all time, bro. You one championship away from being the greatest Nick of all time, hands down.” (15:08)

• Hosts respond it’s a compliment but overstates: Clyde Frazier and Ewing’s legacies remain massive.

  • “He doesn’t respect the Knicks as a franchise.” – Don, reacting to Perk’s ease in elevating Brunson (15:39)
  • “Ewing didn’t win. Yeah, you’re still not surpassing Ewing.” – Don (15:59)
  • “If you tell me now, would he be the most beloved Nick? ...that is a different [story].” – Dave (16:21)

• Historic parallel: Mark Messier and the Rangers—beloved more for timing and the curse-breaking than all-time stats (16:46–17:32).

Ring Count and Greatness (18:05–19:02)

• “One [championship], though, again, Clyde has two... He was a critical piece.” – Dave (18:05)
• “They call it the Willis Reed game, but all Clyde did was almost have a triple double...” – Dave (18:53)

6. Favorite Call of the Day: Nancy from Colorado

Nancy’s Infectious Energy (19:31–24:47)

• 88-year-old Nancy challenges yesterday’s offhand age talk: “I just walked the dog. I just did the laundry... on the weekends we run all over the place.” (21:35)
• She scolds hosts for their old-age stereotypes.
• Warm praise and banter. “Nancy, let’s be honest. You’re old.” – Don (23:40, with classic dry NY wit)
• Nancy: “I love your place. Never mind.” (23:15)
• Call leaves the crew energized and laughing.

7. That Guy Thursday

Medal Ceremony Oddities & Toy Critique (26:40–29:22)

• Dave and Don riff on the awkwardness of silver medalists getting stuffed toys at the Olympics.
  • “What are we doing that for?” – Dave (27:07)
  • “No way to win a silver medal [in team sports]. You lose the medal.” – Don (28:04)
• On hockey goalie gear for ceremonies: “Looks like they’re wearing a moo moo.” – Don (29:59)

"That Guy" – Hershey’s Food Fight (31:09–36:29)

• Alan’s pick: Hershey’s, for allegedly altering the classic Reese’s recipe to cut costs.
  • “You don’t mess with Reese’s. It’s the greatest candy ever made.” – Dave (35:07)
  • Hershey: denies changes are significant, blames cocoa price spike.
  • Brad Reese (founder’s grandson): claims new recipe made him “throw out a bag of Reese’s mini Hearts.” (34:04)
  • Don’s skeptical: if prices rose to preserve 1919 recipe, “people would flip over cars.” (36:08)
  • Brief, comic riff on changing recipes and the lengths people will (or won’t) go for authenticity.

8. More Knicks Talk & Knicks Narrative Critique

Call-in from Chauncey in Westwood (39:54–42:14)

• Challenges overblown fear about Pistons’ ability to guard Brunson.
• “He’s averaging 31 [points]. I think he’ll figure it out.” – Chauncey
• Calls out “if you don’t win, blow it up!” narratives as absurd.
• “Did I miss something? Did they not just win 10 of 12?” – Alan (41:12)
• Hosts criticize tendency of media/fans to doubt Knicks despite top-record.

Psychology of Knicks Fandom (42:14–45:44)

• Doubt stems from “the safer thing to do is come up with all the reasons why they can’t and hope they surprise you. It’s the famous under promise and over deliver.” – Dave (44:13)
• Emphasis that Knicks are legitimately great—but not guaranteed anything. Fans should “embrace the madness” (45:44)

9. NFL Over/Unders & Lunch Tease (46:23–47:16)

• Quick lookahead to NFL talk, teasing “over/under” lines.
• Alan teases critique of a lunch spot, maintaining his signature blend of sincerity and humor.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (With Timestamps)

• On shifting Knicks optimism:
  “You just forget what it was like before [Brunson]. … And now it’s gotta win the championship or it’s a failure.” – Dave Rothenberg (07:08)
• On media Knicks naysaying:
  “Did I miss something? Did they not just win 10 of 12?... What is with this, like, everyone feels like—it’s so much fear or it’s disbelief.” – Alan Hahn (41:12)
• On Kendrick Perkins’ hot take:
  “He doesn’t respect the Knicks as a franchise.” – Don Hahn (15:39)
• On Giannis trade rumors:
  “How many toes down would you say he is?” – Don Hahn (10:24) “Maybe five. Maybe one foot.” – Dave Rothenberg (10:26)
• On hockey gear at medal ceremonies:
  “Don’t you want a picture where you don’t look like you’re wearing a big moo moo?” – Don Hahn (29:59)
• Nancy’s life at 88:
  “Please. I just walked the dog. I just did the laundry. I'm here with my daughter. She teaches all day...” – Nancy (21:35)
• On changing the Reese’s recipe:
  “You don’t mess with Reese’s. It’s the greatest candy ever made.” – Dave Rothenberg (35:07)

Important Timestamps

• 00:44 – 04:20 | Women’s Hockey, Olympics broadcast banter
• 04:35 – 06:39 | Knicks legends, Brunson vs. Monroe debate
• 07:58 – 08:41 | Stephen A. Smith’s urgency, Knicks window discussion
• 10:13 – 11:27 | Giannis to Knicks hypotheticals
• 12:58 – 14:58 | Knicks team weaknesses, killer instinct talk
• 15:07 – 16:22 | Kendrick Perkins’ “top 3 Knick” debate
• 19:31 – 24:47 | Nancy from Colorado’s inspiring call
• 26:40 – 29:22 | “That Guy Thursday” medals & toys riff
• 31:09 – 36:29 | Hershey’s Reese’s controversy
• 39:54 – 42:14 | Chauncey’s call, pushing back on Pistons narrative
• 42:14 – 45:44 | NY media skepticism and Knicks fandom psychology

Tone & Language

The episode is lively, irreverent, and conversational—true to New York sports talk form. Don, Hahn & Rosenberg blend insightful basketball analysis with signature humor, affectionate ribbing, and genuine audience engagement. Notably, they use direct, colloquial speech and blend nostalgia, statistical context, and on-air chemistry—making the conversation accessible to die-hard and casual fans alike.

In summary:
This hour of “Don, Hahn & Rosenberg” offers a valuable blend of Knicks history, sharp perspective on current team dynamics, challenging of overwrought media narratives, and classic, feel-good listener banter. Whether you want smart hoops discourse or a belly laugh about Olympic mascots or candy recipes, you get both—delivered in a style only New York radio can pull off.