Hour 2: Marcus Camby

Summary

Don, Hahn & Rosenberg — Hour 2: Marcus Camby (May 19, 2026)

Episode Overview

This energetic episode, set outside Madison Square Garden ahead of Knicks vs. Cavs Game 1 in the Eastern Conference Finals, blends classic New York sports talk with nostalgia, analysis, and high-profile guests. The hour features detailed Knicks-Cavaliers analysis—including the Harden/Donovan Mitchell storylines and betting debates among the hosts—plus an engaging interview with former Knicks great Marcus Camby. Lively banter, insider stories, and reflections on the state of New York basketball round out an episode designed for diehard Knicks fans and basketball enthusiasts.

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Main Discussion & Key Insights

1. Knicks vs. Cavs: Series Storylines and Player Analysis

• James Harden’s Impact ([01:41]–[06:13])

  • Harden’s playoff value is debated. Hosts discuss his history against the Knicks (best all-time player record vs. the team at 29-6) but note defensive issues and tendency to struggle with physical play.
  • “When he gets frustrated, he doesn’t like being played against physical and he doesn’t like being trapped. And if you start doing stuff like that to him, he gets rattled.” — Alan Hahn [02:30]
  • Emphasis placed on Knicks playing Harden physical and not giving up key minutes when Donovan Mitchell rests.

• Free Throws & Turnovers

  • Cavs’ weaknesses: high turnover rates and missed free throws. Harden expected to draw fouls, similar to Joel Embiid’s tactics.

• Donovan Mitchell: The New York “What If” ([06:33]–[09:45])

  • Mitchell’s local ties highlighted (from Westchester, dad works for the Mets), fueling rivalry and “what could’ve been” narratives since the Knicks once nearly traded for him.
  • “The best trades you make are the ones you don’t make. But...Mitchell and Brunson as a backcourt might have been very dynamic, but they would have been small.” — Alan Hahn [07:08]
  • Side note: playful Mets vs. Yankees subtext with Knicks and Cavs players’ baseball fandom.

• Cleveland & New York Fan Dynamics ([10:11]–[13:14])

  • Hosts marvel at Cleveland sending 24 buses of fans to Detroit, speculating about possible fan presences in NYC and Cleveland.
  • “I think Cleveland really senses they have a shot at a, at a post LeBron championship.” — Don La Greca [11:07]

• Matchups to Watch

  • Jared Allen vs. Mitchell Robinson, referencing Allen’s quote, “The lights were too bright,” and referencing physical matchups as pivotal (and potential fan targets for booing like Max Strus and Harden).

2. Playoff Atmosphere & The Stakes ([14:22]–[15:47])

• The hosts agree: "This feels like when the playoffs actually begin." — Alan Hahn [14:23]

• Reflection on how, despite the journey to reach the Conference Finals, the energy and pressure are at new heights compared to previous rounds.

• Discussion of ticket prices (from $517 in MSG’s nosebleeds to $10,000 courtside), noting that only “real” New York wealth or high-rollers can afford those seats.

  • “The only face we know of these people is Steve Cohen because he owns the Mets. But there’s like a Steve Cohen that’s completely anonymous sits in between.” — Alan Hahn [18:31]

3. Marcus Camby Interview ([35:01]–[47:36])

UMass & Early Career

• Camby reminisces about his UMass days under Coach Calipari, group texts with about 20 teammates and Calipari, and the magic of being a top-ranked New England team in the mid-90s.
  • “Each day we went to group chat, we still talk off ... about 20 including coach. Cal is in there too.” — Marcus Camby [36:23]

Knicks Memories & Playoff Runs

• Camby revisits the 1999 Finals run, the lockout year grind, losing Patrick Ewing, and the legacy of big moments like LJ’s four-point play.
  • “It’s hard not to remember LJ’s four point play. That was very integral part on our run...a magical season in itself.” — Marcus Camby [37:49]

Intensity and Playoff Feel

• Discusses how playoff intensity climbs each round and the nerve-wracking but exhilarating environment at MSG.
  • “Every possession, every bucket that you get is crucial. It’s...definitely nerve wracking to be in those situations, so. But I think our team was prepared.” — Marcus Camby [39:40]

Thoughts on Current Knicks, Robinson, and NBA Evolution

• On Mitchell Robinson: “I see a lot of myself, especially on the defensive...The things that he does to help us win ball games that don’t show up in the stat sheet.” [41:31]
• On today’s big men: marvels at “alien” talents like Victor Wembanyama and how the role has evolved: “Now these guys are [versatile] 7’4”, Wemby last night pulled up from 30 feet with 30 seconds left—straight money. You can’t duplicate that.” [43:12]
• On defending Wemby: “I got six fouls, so I’m definitely gonna use that.” — Marcus Camby [43:41]
• On alumni’s relationship to the club: The Knicks do the best job “of integrating the older generation with the newer generation…they always stood head and shoulders above everyone.” [45:46]
• On fan favorite ex-players: Calls Stephon Marbury the most animated (“He bleeds orange and blue...He definitely wants New York to win at all costs”) and John Starks the “AAU uncle,” always fired up courtside.

MSG Celebrities

• “Anytime I saw Spike [Lee] ... he knows me by first name. Anytime I get to see him and have conversations, I’m feeling great about myself.” — Marcus Camby [47:20]

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Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• On Harden’s Knicks dominance:
  “During his career, owns the Knicks...That’s the best winning percentage by any player against the Knicks in history. He has had a lot of success against this team.” — Alan Hahn [02:30]

• On the current playoff atmosphere:
  “This is supposed to be where you get rid of all the ancillary stuff. And now these are the final four...There is going to be a different sense now. Right. Like, there’s just a different sense.” — Alan Hahn [14:23]

• On Knicks fans and tickets:
  “The famous people can’t touch the actual rich people that we’re talking about. You know what I’m saying? There’s levels to everything, Don.” — Alan Hahn [18:19, 18:52]

• Marcus Camby on his UMass years:
  “Each day we went to group chat, we still talk off...about 20 including coach. Cal is in there too, so he does a great job of reaching back into the former players and keeping those guys involved.” — Marcus Camby [36:23]

• Camby on the pressure of running the floor without Ewing:
  “I was just excited to play...me and Spree was coming off the bench, providing that energy that we needed. And I think that was kind of like the transition a little bit because Van Gundy was more of a grind-out type.” — Marcus Camby [40:55]

• Camby on the alumni culture:
  “The Knicks have done a great, great, great job of integrating the older generation with the newer generation and having us come out here on these basketball games...the Knicks have always been the blueprint.” — Marcus Camby [45:46]

• On defending Wembanyama:
  “I got six fouls, so I’m definitely gonna use that.” — Marcus Camby [43:41]

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Fun & Memorable Segments

• Knicks Betting Ritual:

  • Ongoing banter about Rosenberg’s Knicks betting streak; much debate and statistical groping over betting the spread vs. moneyline. Eventually, Peter goes "all in" on the Knicks moneyline to keep the “streak” alive.
    • “Every time Peter has bet the Knicks, they’ve won. So we need him to bet the Knicks.” — Alan Hahn [31:04]
    • “Bang. Marcus Camby, Monica McNutt joining us shortly.” [33:07]

• Alumni Row and Celebrity Watch:

  • Lively discussion about which Knicks alumni are most excitable at MSG games (Marbury, Starks), and celebrity run-ins—Spike Lee being Camby’s favorite.

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Important Timestamps

• Knicks–Cavs matchup/James Harden: [01:41]–[06:13]
• Donovan Mitchell “what ifs” & NY connections: [06:33]–[09:45]
• Fan dynamics, Cleveland vs. NY: [10:11]–[13:14]
• Matchups/Jared Allen vs. Mitchell Robinson: [13:14]–[14:14]
• Playoff stakes feel different now: [14:22]–[15:47]
• Ticket price banter: [16:12]–[19:40]
• Marcus Camby interview starts: [35:01]
• Camby on UMass & Calipari: [35:19]–[36:41]
• Camby on 1999 Knicks/final memories: [37:45]–[39:10]
• Camby on playoff intensity: [39:40]–[40:10]
• Camby on Mitchell Robinson: [41:31]
• Camby on dealing with “alien” bigs (Wemby): [43:12]–[43:49]
• Camby on alumni and fan culture: [45:31]–[46:42]
• Celebrity run-ins (Spike Lee): [47:19]

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Summary

Hour 2 of Don, Hahn & Rosenberg delivers classic New York sports debate and high-octane basketball banter, punctuated by Marcus Camby's return to MSG. The conversation spans key Knicks–Cavs storylines (Harden & Mitchell’s legacies, play styles, and local ties), playoff stakes, and the cultural circus that is playoff basketball in New York. Camby’s insights on Knicks history, today’s NBA, and alumni fandom offer warmth and perspective. Laughter, stats, pride, and nostalgia mingle seamlessly—capturing everything that makes New York playoff basketball so special.

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Transcript

[A]

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[B]

This is the Don Hahn and Rosenberg podcast.

[C]

That sounds like heaven to me.

[B]

Listen live weekday afternoon starting at 3 on 8 80, ESPN, the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers.

[C]

Game time is brought to you by Tullimore do Irish whiskey. Because when it's game time, fellas, yeah,

[D]

it's tele time.

[C]

Knicks Cavs, game one cover immediately following us on 880 at 7 o' clock coverage of the Mets and their opponent, the Nationals will be on 1050 at 6 o'.

[E]

Clock.

[C]

We thank the Mets for moving that game to 1050. And the Yankees host the Blue Jays at 7:05. Tullamore due the original triple distilled, triple blended and triple cast mature to Irish whiskey. Be sure to grab a Tullamore do. Try the new Tullamore do, honey. During today's action, glasses up to enjoying Tullamore Dew responsibly. Good stuff from Tim Bontemps about Harden because, you know, he reminds He's 36 years old, you know, so the ship has sailed as far as him being a superstar, but he still could be impactful. And he said, listen, if the Cavs win a couple of games, he'll probably have a couple of really good games and I'll have a couple real bad games. How do you feel about where he stands in this year? He's still a big name and he's still somebody. Your eyes gravitate to him, right? The big beard and we have the memories of all Those great moments, especially in Houston, we were dropping 30 every single night. But how past his prime is he and how impactful do you think he's going to be in the series?

[F]

I think we saw it against Detroit is that he can have moments. So you don't, you can't, like, you can't forget about him. Right. You gotta, you gotta always respect the talent that's there. But you also like to me defensively, he doesn't really give you an effort at all. And when he gets frustrated, he doesn't like being played against physical and he doesn't like being trapped. And if you start doing stuff like that to him, he gets rattled. But one thing to keep in mind is that James Harden during his career owns the Knicks. His personal record, no matter what team he's played on in playing against the Knicks now, he's never played in the playoff series against him, but in the regular season he's 29. 6. At 29. 6, he never loses to this team.

[C]

That's a lot of teams he was on.

[F]

That's the best winning percentage by any team, any player against the Knicks in history. He has had a lot of success against this team and I think for him that that has to give him some confidence.

[C]

Right.

[F]

Walking in. Now, to be fair, he hasn't played against team like this.

[C]

No.

[F]

You know, like, it's not like he has dominated the Knicks when they're at their best. I will also add the last time the Knicks played was back in February, February 24, right after the All Star break. It was Harden's. That was the first time the Knicks saw the Cavs with Harden and the

[E]

Knicks lost the game.

[C]

Right.

[F]

So you just put another one there. But those are those games that you just kind of go, what are we really talking about? Like, is that, is this a game you look back on and watch and go, oh, you got to take things from this game. Not really because the Knicks are a much different looking team than then. I think the Cavs are a different looking team than then. And so watching Harden in the Pistons series, I think the Knicks have to play him physical, have to annoy him. You can't forget about him. You have to know that in pockets of the game he can do things to dominate because when Mitchell goes to the bench, Harden is like the main piece now. And you got to make sure in those minutes that he's not giving the Cavs plus minutes. You have to take, take those minutes and win them. Who's the better defensive? I, I think, I think the Knicks can be elite defensively at times, but they're not consistently enough elite defensively.

[D]

Does that follow the effort level of CAT is that, like.

[F]

Basically, if you're getting necessarily. I. I think it's matchups a lot of times. Like, I'll go back to the. This. The Sixers series and how the Knicks defensively had moments, but they also struggled with foul trouble because of Joel Embiid. And that's the one thing about James Harden that, you know, he can still draw fouls. He's still crafty, he still flops. He still does all these things that will create the ability to draw fouls. And for the Knicks, you got to play with your hands back. You can't fall for. It's very, very similar to the Embiid stuff. You can't get caught up in the histrionics because he will try to get you in foul trouble to get you in the bonus and. And get to the free throw line. But those are the two weaknesses I mentioned, the turnovers. Huge weakness of the Cavs. You know what else is free throws. They get a lot of free throws. They miss a lot. That's another thing. I think it's amazing they survived that series with Detroit when they missed a lot of free throws, but it didn't hurt them because they got so many that they were still able to make. Make enough to make up for it. But still, that's also something I would watch is free throws. And. And that's something that Harden's gonna do. He's gonna draw a lot of fouls. Just like Embiid, with his craftiness, with all the stuff that, you know is gonna be frustrating, especially in this building. You're gonna get a lot of booze from his flops and all that stuff.

[D]

Alan Hahn is so tall. What happened that when this canopy almost blew away again, I held it down. Alan literally reached up. I mean, it's freakish.

[C]

He literally and figuratively holds down the fort.

[F]

I am.

[C]

He's literally. Right now.

[D]

I need a picture of Al holding down.

[F]

I am holding down the fort.

[D]

You know, Allen literally holding down the fort.

[C]

Now, the other thing we haven't really gotten into because we just found out about this series, like, you know, literally on. What was it? Sunday.

[D]

Sunday.

[C]

And we talked about it a little bit yesterday is. And Peter can attest to this and you could on different shows, but Peter, how much Nick talk did we have when they were looking for that guy and it was going to be Donovan Mitchell? Oh, yeah, Donovan Mitchell's coming. Gotta get Donovan Mitchell gotta get somebody to play with Julius Randle. Donovan Mitchell is Donovan Mitchell that. Well, they pivoted to Brunson. Nick fans collectively yawned.

[F]

Remember, they signed Brunson and then later that summer had a deal on the table for Mitchell that involved RJ Barrett. And they backed out of it because I think Utah was asking a lot and they felt it was too high a price to pay. So they backed out of it, gave Barrett an extension, and then in a couple of months traded Barrett for OG and. And quickly for og. And so the best trades you make are the ones you don't make. You don't make. But it just because a lot of thinking was Mitchell and Brunson as a backcourt might have been very dynamic, but they would have been small. So there was a lot of criticism about that.

[D]

Oh, and OG's been such a key.

[F]

That did happen. That was a real thing. They were that close.

[C]

Before Brunson, it was Mitchell and the focus was on Mitchell. You know, Mitchell ends up in Cleveland, obviously, we know Brunson's here in New York, and now they're both battling for the same real estate.

[F]

Yeah.

[C]

And, well, there's a great, you know,

[F]

an underlying fun thing about this series because of Donovan Mitchell. He's from. He's from here. He's from Westchester, from Tarrytown, which is where the Knicks practice facility is. And you remember there was so many connections with him, not just the trade. Draft night, Rick Pitino coached him at Louisville. Rick Pitino told the Knicks Phil Jackson was running the team at the time. This guy can do more at the pro level than he did at the college level. You got to draft this guy. Pitino begged them, and Jackson said, I too small.

[C]

Can you play the triangle? I think was the question.

[F]

And Nick fans will know that instead of that, they took Frank. Neil Akina had that work out.

[C]

Not great, not a great pilot.

[F]

So there was that. And then. And so they kept circling back to try to get him from Utah because it was so clear that he would have been a great player to play in New York. Now he's going to play here in an Eastern Conference final. Kenny Atkinson, head coach. You and I were high school, not teammates, but we went to the same high school together. He's a legend. And he was a Nick coach assistant coach years ago. And so his connection to New York is also obvious.

[D]

Oh, yeah.

[F]

But Donovan Mitchell, his dad works for the Mets.

[C]

Right.

[F]

So there's a whole Mets thing there. He's here in New York all summer. He goes to Mets games. He's a big Mets fan. He talks about it. Josh Hart, Elston Howard, his relative, Josh Hart, a big Yankees guy. Carl Anthony Towns, big Yankees guy. So there's a little bit of like a Mets Yankees thing going on here. And I wonder, would the Mets kind of give Donovan Mitchell, like some love? Would they dare say not now?

[C]

No. No.

[F]

You think they stay out of it

[D]

completely if they, if they went on to the finals and they, you know, they won the final, do something. They would show him love at a game if he won the finals. Yeah, but not right now.

[F]

It's like a little underlying thing going on there.

[D]

Don, you think?

[F]

I don't know any, any Nick players that, that rock with the Mets at all. They're all very much Yankee people.

[D]

Don, you think Donovan Mitchell might be near the home? Maybe he's from the same area. Sauce Gardner, Yonkers.

[C]

I'm gonna check Wikipedia. Double check.

[F]

He is not from Yonkers.

[D]

Who, me?

[F]

One of the all time great moments.

[C]

Yeah, you can. But there's a lot great. I, I, I don't you choose not to.

[F]

But there's a, but there's a, there's a lot of different connections with these two franchises. And of course, again, just Mitchell Atkinson, their connection. And I think this series will be the first time you don't get that. That huge Knicks contingent of fans in Cleveland. I do not think we're going to see that.

[D]

Yeah, they're so into it.

[F]

Dan Gilbert sent 24 buses to Detroit and I can't believe Pistons like, they, they unlocked tickets behind the Cavs bench and it was all Cavs fans. So they're up by 30 and it's like all celebrating around their bench. I'm thinking you just made that a very comfortable area for them. Why would you allow that if you're the Detroit Pistons? I cannot believe you think they're getting 24 buses of fans in this building.

[D]

No, there's no chance. I think, I think the Cleveland fans are hardcore. Detroit is close.

[F]

It was close a couple hours. Yeah.

[D]

I think the Pistons fans are into this team, but I don't think they're obsessed with that team. And I think Cleveland really senses they have a shot at a, at a post LeBron championship.

[F]

Can you imagine, though, 24 buses of fans and they get this right and they sit right behind the, the visitor's bench. Why would you allow that?

[C]

Absolutely crazy.

[D]

Hey, Donnie, random thought here. Someone reached out to Ebro Laura Rosenberg this week. I guess they were from Cleveland and just asked who are our favorite artists From Cleveland. So I started like looking up Cleveland artists and I started out with hip hop. I knew basically everyone by off top of my head. But then with rock, I thought there'd be like tons of. And like, I gotta tell you, I went and looked and I was not.

[C]

Which is interesting because that's where the

[D]

Rock and Roll hall of Fame is. Don. I mean, listen, I'm looking at it and like, you get to Joe Walsh in two seconds. Trent Reznor moved there and started Nine Inch Nails. And then like after that, as far as big names go, it's like there wasn't much. That is very rare. I was very surprised. Like Detroit, different story. It was interesting, though. You thought Rock and Roll hall of Fame, Midwest America. Not a ton of rock from Cleveland town, but you can get a home for the price of vcr. I do wonder, do you think they'll be vcr? He said, will you even see a pocket of Cavs fans here tonight?

[F]

Oh, you'll. There's always going to be some because

[D]

it's New York and everyone moves here.

[F]

Yeah. There's always a river that catches on fire. But I, I, I just found that knows the song. I do.

[D]

He knows Cleveland town.

[F]

Yeah, I know that song. The. The fact that though they were sending buses of fans blow my mind.

[C]

Very slap shot. Ish. Almost like, you know, following the team. It's odd, right?

[F]

The boosters.

[C]

Yeah.

[F]

But because of the New York takeover that happened in Atlanta and then, I mean, what we saw. Never seen anything like that in Philadelphia. I just like to me, it's going to be interesting when this series does move to Cleveland is what kind of a. Because that's a loud building. They proud themselves on it. Pride themselves on it. It's going to be interesting. But, you know, like, there's so many little things about this series as we go along that are going to be fun to watch. Jared Allen versus Mitchell Robinson.

[C]

Yeah, that's a good one. That's a good one.

[F]

Absolutely owned him. I mean, owned him in the last time they played each other. And Jared Allen's famous quote after that series when the Knicks won in five, saying the lights were too bright. The lights were too bright.

[C]

Wow.

[F]

And so does Mitchell Robinson continue that or does Jared Allen have something for him now? You know, all little storylines?

[C]

No, it's really. That's what's so much fun because then you get different storylines as you go, different teams and different villains emerge. And we've had some.

[F]

Max Stru will be that. Yeah, Max Struit will be the villain that the Garden fans want to boo because he plays hard.

[C]

He does.

[F]

You love having him on your team. I think that's definitely something that, you know that. That people will grasp onto because he's physical. He doesn't apologize for it. He plays really hard. He can shoot the three celebrates, he's emotional, all that kind of stuff. Like, you're going to see that, that him, and then, of course, Harden. The Garden fans are going to get on his case for sure. That's. That's an obvious one, but they'll get

[C]

on him, and it's too easy. Tim Bontamps was on earlier, and Peter, you brought it up, and I completely agree with you.

[D]

Go ahead.

[C]

That this feels like this is when the playoffs begin.

[D]

Yeah.

[C]

Like the first couple of rounds are certainly the playoffs, and for some teams, there's a sense of accomplishment, be able to move on. Say you played in the second round, that you won a series, but this is supposed to be where you get rid of all the ancillary stuff. And now these are the final four.

[F]

Yeah.

[C]

These are clearly out West. Those are the two best teams. And we could argue if these are the two best teams. But, you know, you reminded us, as Tim did, that at the beginning of the season, it felt like Cavaliers and Knicks were on a collision course. That faded as time went on. The Pistons all of a sudden became a thing. Boston became a thing when Tatum came back and Cleveland was kind of forgotten about. But we're back to where we were, where these were the two best teams going in. Cavs with a one seed. They saw their postseason fall apart with all the injuries that they had. And that's kind of forgotten, too, because it looks like they choked it away. But maybe it was just circumstances. They weren't ready. They were banged up. They go out and get Harden. Harden's not a guy that's got a history of great postseason performances, but now they find themselves in the third round. They accomplished a lot to get here. So now, like I said, now it's on. And this is why Mike Brown is here. And there is going to be a different sense now. Now the buildings are harder to get into. Right. Like, there's just a different sense that it's still the place playoffs. But now we are clearly at a way different level than we were last

[F]

week and last year we were here, but it almost felt like, oh, wow, here. Like there was a different sense. This. This definitely feels a little more like, you know, there's a lot of work still to be done versus last year. Where it was, hey, hey. They might be able to win this thing. Like, you know, there was a different type of feel and that's again, the growth of it of a team. By the way, what's the get in? Have you looked?

[D]

I've not looked the get in tonight.

[F]

I'm very curious about the get in tonight.

[D]

Let's see what the old Ticketmaster says because it' it's not going to be low.

[F]

No, I saw some of the hotels because I'm staying tonight for get up tomorrow and the hotel prices in the city.

[C]

Well, interesting, because there's something going on. Here we go. It's game one of a series Nick fans feel confident in. So do they lay some money back for later on.

[D]

Looks like 517.

[C]

5.

[F]

That's. That's not bad.

[D]

Section 420.

[F]

Oh, Lord, that's.

[D]

Yeah, you're on. You're on moon. On Mars.

[F]

You're definitely on the moon. Yeah, you're in the building, but you're. You're on the moon but in the

[D]

reimagine, like section 117.

[F]

Oh, wow. Right into the mic.

[C]

He sneezed so hard that the cough button didn't work. You know, you can use the button for other things besides cough.

[F]

Yeah. You know what, though? You know. You know what saved it though, Don, is that the breeze hit just at the right time. So the spray went right to me. Yeah.

[C]

I protected you.

[F]

It's good. I got it like you dream about.

[C]

I cover the button says cough. So I didn't hit it. Didn't say sneeze, by the way.

[D]

You know, everyone said everyone. That wasn't a long building.

[F]

Sneeze quickly sneak up on it.

[D]

Sneezed right up on me.

[C]

It was a joke. That was, you know, no, sitting right there.

[E]

It was right there.

[D]

So. So section 117.

[F]

Yeah.

[D]

Which is right there in the middle.

[F]

Yeah.

[D]

You're there staring right at the court.

[F]

Yep.

[D]

But it's, you know, it's the first one off the floor.

[F]

Yeah.

[D]

The. The get into that section. Verified resales, $2,700.

[F]

That's it.

[D]

That's it.

[F]

Wow. How many. How many tickets you get out of?

[D]

That's one ticket.

[F]

One.

[C]

I'm not going to get in there.

[F]

You get to play.

[D]

You don't get to play.

[C]

But for.

[F]

If you want to check in the game.

[C]

11.

[D]

I can get you into section 11.

[F]

All right. 11. Oh, I know that section.

[D]

That's row floor. That's row four.

[F]

That's row stiller.

[C]

I like row floor.

[D]

Row floor. $10,000.

[C]

Now, let me ask you something. How much money that $10,000 is something you pay for a ticket? Because obviously, I would think that's all about out of our price.

[F]

Yeah, that's. That's somebody that works on a street named Wall, probably.

[C]

Yeah. Because, you know, we always. We always talk about, like, celebrities. Right?

[F]

Right.

[C]

Like Tim, you know, Shamalama, Ding Dong. That's going to be on the floor. The famous people can't touch the actual rich people that we're talking about. You know what I'm saying?

[F]

Yeah.

[C]

Like, the only. The only face we know of these people is Steve Cohen because he owns the Mets.

[F]

Right.

[C]

But there's like a Steve Cohen that's

[F]

completely anonymous seats in between, from the visitor's bench to the scores table. He's always got two right there.

[C]

That looks at Hollywood superstar and says that like they're. They're the peasants from a financial standpoint. Seriously. You know what I mean?

[F]

There's levels to everything, Don.

[D]

In the building. In the building. Saturday in Cleveland town.

[F]

Oh, game. Game three. I can get you into section Saturday night.

[D]

201 for 266 bucks.

[F]

That's 201.

[D]

Is our main export is grippling depression. Yeah. No, it's still expensive to get down. To get down. Into like the. The first section off the floor.

[F]

There you go.

[D]

All over a thousand dollars.

[F]

That's.

[D]

That's in Cleveland town.

[F]

A thousand over 2700 sitting in the 100.

[D]

No, but like 15.

[F]

10,000 sitting courtside. A little different. But what's real floor in that build?

[C]

I'll tell you.

[D]

Real floor. Hold on one second. Roll floor to you and me.

[C]

Yeah, I don't think you can get any.

[F]

No.

[D]

Oh, wait, 22.

[C]

Here you go.

[D]

All right, I can get you into 22. 6,300.

[C]

But hold on.

[D]

But it's the one all the way to the corner.

[F]

Oh, dude, these are b. Cleveland.

[D]

I won't say Cleveland are Knicks prices right now because they're in prices half. But once you get above the lowest price, these are basically Nick's tickets.

[C]

Yeah, Their lake is on fire.

[D]

That's the thing. They're selling the homes that are the price of VCR and buying the tickets.

[C]

I don't.

[D]

But I'll say this.

[F]

10. How much?

[D]

What would I need for 10 grand?

[C]

So is there anything in your life that you are so interested in so exclusive that you would say, I would pay $10,000 for almost three times a year? The way Alan laughs out, I don't think he's heard the song.

[F]

No, I, I have.

[C]

I don't think. Yeah.

[D]

Do you have the full thing?

[F]

He used to play it. I know the song.

[D]

Play the full thing loud. We don't have it.

[F]

Bart and I played it when they played several years ago. Yeah, they played Cleveland back then. Bart loves this song. Our economy's based on LeBron James.

[D]

Yeah. Our economy is based on LeBron James. It's not right.

[F]

Yeah, it could be worse than we.

[D]

Please.

[F]

We're not Detroit.

[C]

Well, that's what I was gonna say.

[F]

We're not Detroit.

[D]

I like Cleveland.

[C]

I gotta be careful. Cleveland's a good.

[D]

I went to Cleveland for the Rock and Roll hall of Fame. Had a great time. Went there for wwe. Had a great time. It's a lovely town. Well, they call it the land, folks.

[F]

The land.

[C]

The two times that I went to the. To Canton. The Pro Football hall of Fame. Yeah, I stayed in Cleveland. It's like 45 minutes away. So Cleveland's a nice town.

[F]

It's a good little town. Yeah. Sports town. They love. They love.

[C]

Apparently there's a lot of rich people that are spending good money, apparently getting

[F]

in good for them. Maybe those are. Those, those are that high because Nick fans are buying them up already.

[D]

That is also on the table.

[C]

Good for us because we've got a former Nick that's going to be showing up to this deus in just mere moments. Marcus Gambit.

[F]

Oh yeah, he's got stories at five o', clock.

[C]

Monica McNutt. That means the cake comes back. Monica's done. We get to eat the cake.

[D]

That's right.

[F]

Let them eat cake.

[C]

Nothing like cake when it's 100 degrees outside. And then at 6:30 we're going to talk to Steve Novak, who was really impressive the last time that we were here. So much so we wanted to have him back.

[F]

Yep.

[C]

And we have ENN at six and of course at seven o', clock, Pat o' Keefe will take over with coverage of the Knicks and the Cavs. Game one. All right here. Don Hanna, Rosenberg, ESPN New York.

[G]

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[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]

We're waiting on Marcus Camby. He's going to be joining us shortly. Marcus Camby not only was part of the team that went to the final in 1999, but also came back and closed out his career in 12:13 with the team that won 54 games, lost in the second round. That was a fun team, Indiana, and

[D]

was part of one of my favorite college teams of all time, UMass. That UMass team that was such a. Like, I was like, I was like in sixth grade or something. It was like prime.

[F]

Who were the guards?

[D]

Was like Dante Brighton, Edgar Padilla.

[F]

Yes, that team was.

[D]

That was a great, great Umassi.

[F]

Like a guy was. It was Lou Ro.

[D]

Was he another guy? I think Lou Ro was on that team as well.

[F]

That was a squad coach.

[C]

Cal, Coach Caliper.

[D]

What a shock.

[F]

He got talent. He got talent on his team.

[D]

Yeah, give me the fried calamari, the fried calipari right now. Oh look, we got a Knicks dog in the house right now. I'm into this. Everyone's popping for the, for the Knicks dog. Here we Got the. The who man in the house.

[C]

That's right.

[D]

With the gigantic w hat.

[C]

The big.

[D]

The concussion hat, the big noggin cap. Calandra's in the house with a cake that Don is just desperate to tear.

[C]

Oh, and then also the knife is out. A little less desperate that they brought sliders and shrimp and onion rings.

[D]

This is a hero. This is a hero among us mortals.

[F]

Yeah, that's a big moment right there.

[C]

So Marcus Camby will be joining us, and then we'll be able to break out the cake for Monica at 5 o'.

[F]

Clock.

[C]

She usually joins us on Wednesday.

[F]

Every time she.

[C]

Is that the only show.

[F]

The only way we get her on is because. All right, Monica, can you come on?

[D]

Well, she's like, fine, I'll do it, but I have dessert.

[F]

I will make a cake.

[C]

That's every time. You would think that if you didn't know what Monica looked like. She looked like Mama Cass if a cake was her sponsor. But quite the opposite. She's able to stay fit despite that they.

[D]

Despite that she demands a cake every time she shows up.

[F]

Man's cake.

[C]

She will not work unless there's a cake on site.

[F]

Well, there's a cake on site, so we'll have her on the show as well.

[D]

You have the rock stars who demand. They're like red M&Ms. In a separate thing. Monica McNutt is. I need a basketball themed. Basketball theme cake every time I shop everywhere. I will not walk in the building. We are now kids under 4 hours from tip. I still have not made my bet decision.

[C]

You gotta make it. We mean we bet decision.

[D]

Well, that's the amount of money. Because I'm picking the Knicks. I have to pick that.

[C]

It's.

[F]

And we always just keep turning it over.

[D]

Well, at some point, I decided to be smart. I like to give a lesson to the kids. You win, you win some good cash, right? You look in the account, you're going, wow, there's a lot of money here. Take out some. You save it for a rainy day, of course. And then you bet with what you have left. And now you keep rolling it over.

[C]

But there is something communal about what you're doing.

[D]

That's right.

[F]

I have to do it, bring people together.

[C]

But, like, it's not. It's your money. I'm not telling you what to do. But the way things were going is that we were rolling the same amount each time and everybody was kind of participating.

[D]

But I did change the bets, and we still won. Remember, I changed to.

[C]

Because he had fat Hands.

[D]

I didn't. Well, sure, but I could have gotten out of it and I didn't. But I tell you what, tonight I'm considering that point number. It's a big number. Like, can you see tonight being they win the game, but they start off a little flat, given the layoff, takes them a little bit of time. They end up winning the game, but they end up winning by five points. And you're sitting there. That happened to me, guys. That happened in, in game two.

[F]

There you go. You ready?

[C]

Yeah, I want to hear this.

[F]

Cavaliers went seven. Knicks coming off a sweep.

[D]

Yeah.

[F]

Okay. In those situations, all right, where one team is coming off a game, so a team with a sweep and their opponents coming off a seven game series. In NBA history, we've seen it 23 times.

[D]

23 times. The post sweep versus the post seven game.

[F]

Right.

[D]

You're asking for the record, how many

[F]

times out of the 23 has the sweep team won game one?

[D]

Give me 21.

[C]

19.

[D]

19 and 4.

[C]

This would be an excellent stat. Excellent, excellent question. If this were him debating on whether he should bet the money line. He's got no question the Knicks are going to win the game.

[D]

Right.

[C]

Will they win by more than six and a half is the question.

[D]

That's the question.

[F]

Addendum, before you hit, hit any buttons.

[D]

And now there's an addendum.

[F]

It's not the game one thing, it's the whole series the whole thing.

[C]

So really, the stat was meeting.

[F]

It's the whole damn thing, Craig. So 19 out of the 23, though, you're going to win the series.

[C]

All right, but in these situations, but there's no question in Peter's mind, they're winning the series. The question, though at hand is do they cover the 6 and a half?

[D]

6 and a half's a big number.

[F]

I thought I told you. I thought I gave you that one. 108 out of 136 covered.

[D]

No, no.

[F]

What is this stat now? I got too many things written.

[D]

108 out of 136 is your stat about whoever wins game one wins the series. Again, very nice stat. Very nice stat.

[C]

I mean, no, we're looking for a segment on Monday. How about irrelevant stats?

[F]

Useless, useless stats. Things that aren't relevant to what we're trying here.

[C]

Fountain of useless information.

[F]

A lot of. It's just there's so many.

[C]

It's a big number. I saw it at seven and a half in some places. Now, what's interesting that has to tell you, the Knicks are going to be favorited Cleveland too. Right.

[F]

Well, how about.

[D]

Oh, yeah, yeah.

[F]

How about the rest versus.

[D]

I mean, obviously what happens versus rust.

[C]

I want rest versus rust.

[F]

All right, let's see. No, it's still, again, a game one record. Here you go. Team that has five plus days off.

[D]

Okay.

[F]

An opponent has one day off.

[D]

Again, useless. Don't happen.

[F]

Right. You just.

[D]

They had two days off.

[F]

Who, who did?

[C]

Well, it's technically one day.

[F]

One day.

[C]

Okay.

[D]

That's your kind of.

[F]

They travel.

[C]

They, they, they played Sunday, they're playing Tuesday. They have one day.

[D]

All right, cool.

[F]

There you go.

[A]

Perfect.

[F]

One day off.

[C]

And what's this at?

[F]

33 and nine.

[C]

33. And again, game one. What we need though, game one is. And what we're searching for, we're shooting around it.

[D]

Game one, we're hoping for is aiming

[C]

for how many have covered a number of six and a half or more. Because again, if this is the money line. He's hammering the money line. All that.

[F]

Can he do money line? Yes. Aren't we allowing money?

[D]

Yes, I'm considering it. Because here's what I'm thinking. I have 650 bucks in my account. I could bet 300 of it on the Knicks to cover the points.

[F]

Okay.

[D]

And it pays out like $270, something like that. Or I could bet all five hundy on them. Not all 650. I'll bet 500 of the 650 on them just to win outright. And that still gives me back like 250.

[C]

Or you could just be all in.

[D]

Or you could just be all in. Stop being half pregnant, as they say, and just, just do this whole thing. 650.

[C]

Yeah, the whole thing.

[D]

You're saying put the whole show.

[C]

What we need. Call. Call Elias. What is the stat for a team that has had nine days off to a team that's had one day off?

[F]

Where's Monaco?

[C]

The game's at home.

[F]

Alex Monaco.

[C]

And how many times have they covered the number of six and a half or more when the bet e is going to be all in?

[F]

I'm texting Alex Monaco.

[D]

Yeah.

[F]

Anyone knows, he will know.

[C]

I.

[D]

That's right.

[C]

I think he'll know everything but the all in part.

[D]

Yeah, that part is gonna be a tough part.

[C]

I don't think that information.

[E]

Sorry.

[F]

So the question is what?

[D]

It's impossible, Alan. Now here's the question for you. Do you like them to cover the number? I know that's not what you do. You're here to break down the basketball, but you think they would and it shouldn't matter.

[C]

But because of the fact, and if you're new to us, every time Peter has bet the Knicks, they've won.

[D]

Yeah.

[C]

So we need him to bet the Knicks. But he wants to bet it smart. He can bet the money line. That still counts.

[D]

My first bet.

[C]

The money line during this streak.

[D]

My first bet with the Knicks. You did bet the money after they lost the second game in the first round. They have won every.

[F]

Didn't you bet the money line?

[C]

Yes, One of the games.

[E]

One of the games.

[F]

You did, right?

[D]

Yes.

[C]

Because it was a fat hands move.

[E]

We wrote it.

[D]

Right. So. But I can do it again. What if I put it. What if I go all in.650 on the money line?

[C]

I think that's the right thing.

[F]

I think that's the.

[C]

My money.

[D]

All right.

[F]

But it still counts.

[D]

I'll tell you how it pays out.

[C]

Because we're not getting anywhere with the spread with stats.

[D]

No. Allen's struggling over there.

[C]

I know it's not what you do.

[F]

It's just too many.

[C]

What would you do?

[F]

No.

[C]

Six and a half. Something you feel comfortable.

[F]

You're looking at the turnaround. It's a very difficult turnaround for any team to do to come out of a seven to. To game plan for a new team. You just played a team seven times. Right. And now you're gonna play a team that plays completely different. Right?

[C]

Right.

[F]

Like that's not easy to do. So we saw it in the Sixers series. Nick's won that game by double figures. Right. So that's. And I believe. Didn't you. Didn't you actually bet that one you took. Didn't you?

[D]

We go in which game?

[F]

Game one against Philly.

[D]

Yeah.

[F]

I believe you took this. Right? We. We laid the point.

[D]

And that was when they didn't cover. Was that the one they didn't cover?

[F]

No, they won by double figures.

[E]

Oh, sorry.

[D]

That was the easy one. Game two, they didn't do.

[F]

They didn't cover. Right. And they just missed it. Remember they.

[D]

Four points. They didn't foul.

[E]

They didn't foul.

[F]

Brunson.

[C]

Yeah.

[D]

So. So my 650 bet that the Don likes putting it all down on the money line only pays out 282.

[C]

I don't think we should worry about how much money you're going to make right now. We need to worry about keeping the streak alive. All right.

[D]

So we agree. The smart bet tonight for the people

[C]

and the streak is the money is the money line.

[D]

Yes. They could absolutely cover. But I could see a Battle. Guess what? Putting it all down. Nick's on the money line. It's done.

[F]

He did it.

[D]

It's done. The whole account is on the money line. I put it all there. I have $6.64.

[C]

There you go. Bang. Marcus Camby, Monica McNutt joining us shortly as well. It's Don on and Rosenberg outside Madison Square Garden getting ready for game one here.

[J]

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[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]

Marcus Camby joins us here on Don. Allen Rosenberg, how are you, sir?

[E]

I'm doing great. Thanks for having me.

[C]

We were just talking about, you know, watching you grow up and Peter was talking about how big UMass fan he was with Calipari and everything. And here we. Here we are. You know, it's. It feels like it was five minutes ago, a little bit longer than that.

[E]

I know for me it's been 30 years since I left college in 96. So it's kind of momentous for myself. But it's great to be back in the city the city is great. The NBA is great when the Knicks are in the playoffs and wins. So definitely great to be back here.

[D]

Before we get into the big Knicks talk, I was telling them, so I'm not a UMass guy, but like, at that time in my life, I was in like sixth grade. That UMass team was just. All the kids were into that team. Yes, they were just on fire. Had such an incredible, contagious sort of energy around Calipari and the. Your guys lineup. Between you, we're talking about Dante Bright, Edgar Padilla, just. It was just an ill team. Could you. Did it. Did it feel magical at the time? Like, could you feel how big the movement sort of was around that team?

[E]

It definitely felt great. Especially I think we were the first New England team to be ranked number one in the nation. So that was big. Especially growing up in the mid-90s. The early 90s was dominated by UNLV. The early parts of the other 90s was by the Fab 5. And then, you know, we had our run a little bit there in the mid-90s, but we produced some great players and, you know, produced some great lifelong brothers. So each day we went to group chat, we still talk off.

[D]

Wow.

[E]

Really?

[F]

Isn't that great? That's great.

[D]

How many are in the group chat?

[E]

It's about 20, including coach. Cal is in there too, so he does a great job of reaching back into the former players and keeping those guys involved.

[D]

That is so cool.

[F]

I asked Marcus right before we came on, and I just said, how often do you get to talk to Cal? He said, every other day.

[E]

Every other day.

[F]

That says so much about him, doesn't it?

[E]

He's the best. He's not just a great recruiter, but he's also a great person. And you can tell by the elite athletes that he has had throughout his

[F]

career stays in your life. All right, so this is, this is playoff weather. Like, and you know it in New York.

[E]

Like, you, you've.

[F]

You've had this. You've had the experience of getting to a finals with the Knicks and the next year conference finals as well. Deep runs, as we've talked about. Like, does this bring back memories when you're all the former players that, that come and hang out and go to games and sit courts? I always ask that same thing. When you're sitting there, does it all come back to you? Because it's the same building, obviously.

[E]

It's the same energy, man. I mean, anytime you get the going to guard. And like I was saying, when the Knicks are Winning. There's nothing like it in the NBA. There's nothing like it around the world. I mean just go back to the Atlanta series. I thought that was the Garden down there. We have so much fan face down there and down in Philly. You know, our fans travel great and just the energy in the city and I think this is our year. I think we have the best chance that we have had in a long time. I'm not going to put that much pressure on us, but this is the best chance that we have. And hopefully OG comes back healthy and keep steamrolling.

[C]

Is there a game or a moment you think about when you walk into the Garden?

[E]

Oh man, it's hard not to remember LJ's four point play. I mean that was, that was very integral part on our run that we had in 99, which was a magical season in itself. You know, being a lockout season, a 50 game season. Some nights we were playing back to back to back. The schedule wasn't in our favor. Then going into the finals we lost Patrick Ewan. So if that didn't happen, we had definitely had a chef in the trip here at 99.

[F]

Wow. I have to think about that run and the, the connections of this year is that the second round was a sweep.

[E]

Yeah.

[F]

With Atlanta and it also felt like a bit of a coming out party for you as a Knick because you mentioned Patrick had gotten hurt. He had played some but you know, in and out of the lineup. But that that my memory of that series, that four game sweep of Atlanta was really you and a different dimension that you brought to the team that no one really thought about until you got that opportunity to play. Does that like of all the series you played in with the Knicks, is that one that stands out to you?

[E]

That was definitely one of them. Like I said, that season as a whole was just unlike any other season that I played been a part of in the NBA and just not having the continuity of being around the team because the lockout during that season and just having to come and jail together. But we was lucky to find our niche and find our run towards the end of the season. And it propelled us to get momentum wins going on in the playoffs. But the Atlanta series is definitely a big one.

[F]

Man, this guy going freight train down the middle of the lane. Statue of Liberty dunk. Took the house down in Atlanta. Unbelievable.

[D]

Did you. How much can you feel the intensity of play change series to series? We were talking about last night. I'm sure you watched some that OKC San Antonio Game felt like nationally, the beginning of the playoffs, like, all right, everyone is watching. When you get to the next stage, particularly the conference finals, can you feel a tangible difference between that and the first round?

[E]

Oh, without a doubt. And by. Let me step back, Wemby was awesome last night, but I mean, each series you just feel the intensity. You know, every possession, you know, every bucket that you get is crucial. It's, I want to say life threatening, but it's definitely nerve wracking to be in those situations, so. But I think our team was prepared. You know, I think Mike Brown has our team playing consistent basketball and I hope that the eight, nine days we had off, you know, doesn't show that much in today's game. But you know, I predict us definitely for an algae series, but people keep

[D]

bringing that up and it always seems like the rest versus rust thing is very much like us on the outside worry about it, but the players answer is always like, nah, you want to rest as much as possible. No such thing as rust, right? You, you've been on every side of this, right? Tell us what it's like. Because it does feel like momentum can slow down when you rest for that

[E]

long, can slow down a little bit. But you also got to factor in like guys like OG who needed to rest, to have rest his hammy up. But the urge to continue playing, especially the rate that we have been playing and the rate we have been shooting the ball with so much consistency out there in the basketball court, you never want to lose that feeling as a player. As you go into a series, you

[C]

talked about losing you and going into the final in 99, how much was on your shoulders when you heard the news that he wasn't playing?

[E]

I was just excited to play. You know, I think during that time, I think me and Spree was coming off the bench, you know, providing that energy that we needed. And I think that was kind of like the transition a little bit because Van Gundy was more of a, you know, a grind out type. Basketball games, you know, those Heat, Miami, the Miami Heat, New York Knick games.

[F]

And you guys wanted to run 78,

[E]

74, and we just wanted to run all the time. But you know, we had Patrick and we had to wait for him to get up the court a little bit. But when we got into the ball game, I think that changed the change of pace that we had and the energy that we brought into the crowd really propelled it to some wins.

[F]

When you watch Mitchell Robinson, what do you see?

[E]

I see a lot of myself, especially on the defensive in the basketball court, you know, not just in the jersey number, but just the way he can cover ground, his athletic ability, the things that he does to help us win ball games that don't show up in the stat sheet. And he's going to be big. I mean, Cleveland has a big front line, you know, with Allen and Mobley and those guys. So we're going to have our work cut out for us.

[C]

Now, I know we still have to get through this year, but how do you approach a contract for him in the future?

[E]

Well, I don't know.

[C]

The salary cap structure, that's not, you know, because you want to take advantage, but it's just such a unique player, unique set of circumstances. With the captain, it's a very difficult decision.

[F]

Like with Don, I know exactly where you're going. It's like in today's NBA, we just talked about Wemby. We see like Karl Anthony Towns. Big men are different these days, right? What is. What is Mitchell Robinson and value not in, not in dollars, but his value to a team like this?

[E]

Well, his value is definitely high, but his also value is higher when he's healthy. You need him out there on the basketball court. We don't need him out there for, you know, half the season. He needs to be in the right situation with a guy like, say, like he played with a guy like Luca, per se. Those screening rolls, those lobs, he. He a feast field day out there with a team like that. So I think it's all about personnel.

[F]

When you watch today's game, it's much different than when you played. But as you said it, you and Latrell, you guys, the Herbalid, you wanted to get out and run. That was a big part of what you did, right? The pace is much different in today's NBA, but there's also a lot, a lot of different things that big men are doing. Do you watch today's game? Do you say I could or. Or I can't? Like. Well, how do you look at today's game and the way you played?

[E]

Well, definitely, I think I was more than a transitional big man per se. I didn't really play with my back to the basket as per se as the, you know, late 80s and early 90s and those type players that we had. And now These guys are versus towel guy seven four wi me last night, pulled up from 30 speed with 30 seconds left straight. Money you can't duplicate that.

[D]

What would you do? What would you even do dealing with a guy like that? If you show up on tomorrow night. And they say, cam, we need to come back. You got to deal with Victor Wembiamo. What does one even do?

[E]

I don't know. I got six files, so I'm definitely gonna do that.

[F]

Right. I love it. Yeah.

[D]

It's kind of the only choice.

[F]

That's all I got. But I'm gonna use him.

[E]

Right?

[F]

That's all you can do.

[E]

Take them home with me.

[F]

He looks like he. When he sees Chad, like, it looks like he sees red.

[D]

You know what the craziest part about it is, Marcus? Is that this just kind of hit me right now. Not only is it that he plays like a freak, but I love the reputation of the foreign NBA player.

[F]

Yeah.

[D]

Has always been one about not caring as much. Obviously, Joker doesn't help that everyone thinks he'd rather be home with his horses, but. But not just him. People thought Luca was too soft. And everyone. You go through Yao down the board, everyone's sort of the foreign players. They don't think they have that edge. The craziest thing about Wemby, not only is he the most talented player in the league, maybe Marcus, he might have the biggest attitude in the league. He cares. He wanted to win the mvp. He called it. He called his shot. I should win the mvp. Was angry when he didn't win it. Said last night after the game, I had a chip on my shoulder. It's like he goes against everything that. God bless this league. We all love it, but. But we know all the things that kind of annoy us about this league. Wemby seems to kind of go run up against all of it.

[E]

Yeah. Wemby embodies everything that you want as a professional athlete. I mean, even his attitude that he brought to the all star game. Him ones. Oh, yeah, get it out there. Go out there and play with those guys and put it out there on the line. And just the style to play that he does. I mean, he's dribbling, he's shooting, he's driving to the basket with reckless, abandoned. I mean, this guy's a. Like, they call him the alien. And I can see why. He's. He's definitely one of a kind.

[F]

Yeah. He's from out of this world right now. The league is not going to be the same. Let's get back to this series and the experience that I just can't help but notice it when the playoffs begin. Now you guys are around throughout the season. There's nothing new, but to see the court just surrounding the court now. There's always celebrity Row. But then there's something different, and that's. That's alumni row, which is now alumni section, almost.

[C]

Right.

[F]

What is that like, though, for you to come back here, you know, reunite with some former teammates, just be around this, have fans yell and scream and then just be right there on the court in these, you know, these intense and very entertaining games.

[E]

It's definitely great. It's also an honor anytime you get a chance to watch the game in the world's most famous arena. You know, I don't take that for granted. And especially me growing up in Hartford, Connecticut, I know what it's about, being so close to New York and know what Knicks basketball is all about. And the Knicks have done a great, great, great job of integrating the older generation with the newer generation and having us come out here on these basketball games. And when you look on the TV a lot, you're starting to see a lot of other alumni in different organizations. But the Knicks have always been the blueprint, and they always stood head and above shoulders, above everyone.

[F]

All right, who acts up the most? I. I have a common answer everybody gives, but who acts up the most before you even, like. Like, hey, settle down, settle down.

[E]

I'd say Steph is over. You're not playing anymore.

[F]

He's into it.

[E]

Yes, Stephan is into it. You know, a Brooklyn kid.

[F]

Yeah, he's. He's into it like a fan is into it.

[E]

Yeah, he. He bleeds orange and blue and that excitement out there, and the players gravitate to him, too. So he's. He's a real character over there, but he definitely wants New York to win at all costs.

[F]

And how about Starks? Because I always tell Starks, you're like. You're like an uncle at an AAU game. You got the towel around you. He's. He's barking at reps. Like, his energy is a little different. It's less of a fan and more of, like, either a player who just isn't playing that night or somebody's parent. You know, like the one way he carries on, it's. It's hilarious.

[E]

Yeah, he's definitely a character over on the sidelines. Sometimes I think he's gonna get tossed out or get a technical because he's so into it. But he's passionate, you know, a Nick legend, and we're happy to have.

[D]

Were there ever any celebrities. Obviously get used to it at msg. It's every night during your run. Were there ever any celebrities that, like, you couldn't get used to it. You just kept looking over, like, wow, they're watching me play.

[F]

Yeah.

[D]

This is nuts.

[E]

I mean, anytime I saw Spike, actually, because, you know, I grew up watching so many Spike Lee movies and seen his story and see how his journey as a Nick fan, you know, started from the top all the way to the bottom. So. And he knows me by first name. So anytime I get to see him and have conversations with him, I'm feeling great about myself.

[C]

Marcus, thanks for this. Really appreciate it.

[E]

Great stuff, man. Thanks for having me, guys.

[C]

Appreciate you guys. Marcus Gamby, Monica McNuts, coming up next on Anna Rosenberg, ESPN New York.

[B]

Thanks for listening to the Don Han and Rosenberg podcast.

[D]

I don't want to know how the

[F]

sausage is made, man. I just want to know. It's good.

[B]

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.

[C]

This is what everyone's talking about.

[F]

Everything's on the table.

[C]

This is what champions come to take. This is what everyone one came to see. No do overs, no second chances, no more Mr. Nice guy. This is winner take all. And it's all happening now on the home of the NBA Finals. Don't miss it. June 3rd on ABC and the ESPN app.