Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 3: Giannis & Damien Woody

Date: December 18, 2025
Podcast: ESPN New York
Hosts: Don La Greca, Alan Hahn, Peter Rosenberg
Guests: Damian Woody

Episode Overview

The third hour of “Don, Hahn & Rosenberg” centers on the fallout from the NBA Cup for the Knicks, the swirling trade rumors around Giannis Antetokounmpo, and football talk featuring Damian Woody. The discussion weighs the benefits and drawbacks of the NBA’s in-season tournament, the wisdom of making a blockbuster trade for Giannis amid the Knicks’ current chemistry, and key NFL storylines including Joe Burrow’s future and the challenges facing several teams. The show is lively, often irreverent, and features great banter alongside candid sports analysis.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NBA Cup Fatigue and Knicks’ Rotation Challenges

Timestamps: 00:43 - 08:38

• Impact on Knicks’ Schedule:
  The hosts dive into how the Knicks' NBA Cup championship win has packed their calendar – four games in six days, including two after the tournament in Vegas.
  • "By Sunday, they will have played four games in six days. That’s your reward for going to the cup and playing in the championship game. It’s the schedule. It’s the way it is." (Rosenberg, 02:08)
• Injury Report and Rotation Concerns:
  The Knicks face a battered lineup for their upcoming game vs the Pacers – OG Anunoby is in, but Mitchell Robinson, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Josh Hart (plus Deuce, already out) are all sitting.
  • "So tonight you're getting three rotation players out. We already knew that Deuce was out...but OG will play. That says a lot about OG by the way, because he’s playing like an All Star." (Rosenberg, 06:21)
• Strategic Rest or Missed Opportunity?
  The conversation debates whether the NBA Cup’s extra games undermine the season by forcing teams to choose between a new trophy and crucial regular season wins.
  • "I played my ass off in a game that doesn't count to the regular season, but now because of it, I might sit some guys in a game that counts. And it’s logic that doesn’t make sense." (Don Hahn, 04:37)

2. Knicks’ Standings Strategy: Playoffs vs. In-Season Cup

Timestamps: 07:05 - 08:38

• Prioritizing Games:
  With the Knicks trailing the Pistons but with a playoff cushion, the hosts discuss whether sacrificing a win to rest starters now could have bigger ramifications if playoff seeding comes down to a game or two.
  • "If you go extrapolate it out to the end of the season and you lose out on the conference by one game, you know, you'd be like, oh, well, maybe that Pacer game..." (Don Hahn, 07:59)

3. Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Rumors and Knicks Chemistry

Timestamps: 08:38 - 19:09

• Giannis Speaks on Trade Rumors:
  Discussion of Giannis’ comments downplaying his agent's trade conversations, emphasizing his focus on Milwaukee.
  • "My agent is talking to the Bucks about it, he can have any conversation he wants. At the end of the day, I don’t work for my agent. My agent works for me." (Audio clip, relayed by Rosenberg, 10:45)
  • "I personally have not had the conversation with the Bucks. I’m still locked in, locked in on my teammates." (Giannis, relayed by Rosenberg, 10:58)
• Timing & Optics:
  Hosts analyze why Giannis must appear loyal for now—lack of urgency for an in-season trade, fear of fan backlash, and how player leverage works.
  • "He knows that he's not going anywhere this year. So what...this is probably where he's going to have to be for the rest of the season..." (Don Hahn, 11:14)
  • "None of these guys, like, who was...the, like, demanding a trade, that just...you don’t see it. Players don't want to be that. They don't want to leave because they know that, oh, they're gonna burn my jerseys." (Rosenberg, 11:29)
• Should the Knicks Go All-In Now?
  Given the Knicks’ current strong play and team chemistry, both hosts urge patience and caution against a midseason blockbuster, especially for an injured Giannis.
  • "You don't blow up your roster in the middle of the season to do it. Especially when your team is playing as well as this team is playing right now." (Don Hahn, 18:51)
  • "If he wants to really be here, he’s got to wait till the summer and see how the chips fall." (Rosenberg, 15:15)
• Playoff Outlook and Need for Urgency:
  Comparison with teams in more desperate circumstances, like the Cavaliers and Heat, and how the Knicks’ relative strength allows them to see how the current roster fares before considering drastic moves.

4. NFL Conversation with Damian Woody

Timestamps: 23:03 - 37:22

• Hallmark Channel Banter:
  Before getting to football, Woody jokes about being trapped watching Hallmark movies with his wife during the holiday season.
  • "I am. Very much so. I'm in literal hell right now. Like, it's constant...I want peace in my house." (Damian Woody, 24:09)
• Thursday Night Football (Seahawks vs. Rams):
  • Discussion on Sam Darnold’s readiness for a big stage and why the home-field advantage in Seattle isn’t what it used to be.
    • "The numbers say, no, he's not ready...He just doesn't seem like he matched up well with the Rams." (Damian Woody, 25:27)
• Jets Coach Aaron Glenn's Future:
  • Dismissing rumors that Glenn is "one and done," citing team owner Woody Johnson's investment in building a culture and a rebuild.
    • "To just dump someone after one year...would feed into what people perceive Woody Johnson as impulsive. I just don’t see that happening." (Damian Woody, 27:30)
• Joe Burrow’s Discontent & The Bengals:
  • Hosts and Woody note Burrow sounds dispirited; Woody doubts the star QB would want to leave for the Jets given both franchises’ instability.
    • "He sounds like a guy where the joy of football is leaving him...just seems like he's miserable out there." (Damian Woody, 28:48)
    • "If you're Joe Burrow, why would I...why in the world would I want to jump from Cincinnati to the Jets?" (Damian Woody, 29:54)
• Patriots vs. Bills Takeaways:
  • Woody emphasizes that the Bills’ comeback told us more about their resilience than it did about Patriots’ flaws.
    • "You had an opportunity to basically put your foot on that throat...but they never put the king away. Like I always say, you got to dethrone the king." (Damian Woody, 31:00)
• Baltimore Ravens’ Struggles:
  • Woody calls out Lamar Jackson’s poor performance and the Ravens offense.
    • "I can't remember the last time Lamar Jackson been playing this bad, to be honest with you...just to be honest with you, it stinks." (Damian Woody, 33:07)
• Rams’ Puka Nacua and Social Media:
  • Woody urges Nacua to stay out of controversy and focus on football.
    • "Keep the main thing the main thing…Hopefully he focuses back on what’s really important right now." (Damian Woody, 33:54)
• Coaches’ Ages and Life Events:
  • The hosts and Woody joke about the modern NFL, with head coaches distracted by children like players used to be; Woody blames Sean McVay’s “bad timing” for having a baby mid-season.
    • "Sometimes you get caught up in the moment. You shoot up the club at the wrong time, man. So it's just bad timing by Sean McVay." (Damian Woody, 35:19)
• Philip Rivers’ Return:
  • Woody was initially concerned for Rivers’ health but ended up applauding the 44-year-old’s effort in his NFL return.
    • "The simple fact that a 44 year old player...gave it his all, man. I think, for any fan, that deserves a round of applause." (Damian Woody, 35:53)

5. Listener Calls & Draft Talk

Timestamps: 39:15 - 48:23

• Jets-Giants Hypothetical Trade for #1 Pick:

  • Callers push Giants trading out of the first overall pick to the Jets; hosts pour cold water, citing the risks of empowering a rival that shares the same stadium.
    • "How would it look if the…Giants are responsible for the Jets finally getting their franchise quarterback?...You can't. They don’t just share a city. They share the damn building." (Don Hahn, 45:12)
  • Neither host supports a trade unless it’s for a can’t-miss generational quarterback.
    • "You'd have to tell me that a generational quarterback's there...but I'm not doing it for a guy...that we have no idea." (Rosenberg, 46:18)

• Defining a Dynasty (30 for 30 Inspiration):

  • The hosts reminisce about sports dynasties, notably the Islanders’ and Yankees’ runs, agreeing the era of consecutive titles is likely gone.
    • "There’s never going to be another team...that will win 19 consecutive series, four straight championships and lose in the final in the fifth year. That’s 30 for 30 and it'll never happen." (Don Hahn, 47:00)
    • "It’s never happening again." (Rosenberg, 47:30)

Notable Quotes

• On the toll of the NBA Cup:
  "I played my ass off in a game that doesn't count to the regular season, but now because of it, I might sit some guys in a game that counts. And it’s logic that doesn’t make sense."
  — Don Hahn (04:37)

• Giannis’ agent vs. personal stance:
  "My agent is talking to the Bucks about it, he can have any conversation he wants. At the end of the day, I don’t work for my agent. My agent works for me."
  — Giannis, relayed by Rosenberg (10:45)

• Why not trade for Giannis right now?
  "You don't blow up your roster in the middle of the season to do it. Especially when your team is playing as well as this team is playing right now."
  — Don Hahn (18:51)

• On Joe Burrow’s situation:
  "He sounds like a guy where the joy of football is leaving him..."
  — Damian Woody (28:48)

• On giving up the #1 pick to a cross-town rival:
  "How would it look if the…Giants are responsible for the Jets finally getting their franchise quarterback?...They don’t just share a city. They share the damn building."
  — Don Hahn (45:12)

• On defining a sports dynasty:
  "There’s never going to be another team...that will win 19 consecutive series, four straight championships and lose in the final in the fifth year. That’s 30 for 30 and it'll never happen."
  — Don Hahn (47:00)

Key Timestamps

• NBA Cup Wear & Tear: 00:43 – 08:38
• Injuries & Knicks Lineup Updates: 01:43, 06:07
• Giannis Trade Talk: 08:38 – 19:09
• NFL with Damian Woody: 23:03 – 37:22
• Jets/Giants Draft Discussion: 39:15 – 46:53
• Sports Dynasty Conversation: 47:00 – 48:23

Memorable Moments

• Damian Woody’s “Hallmark Jail”:
  The NFL vet hilariously complains about endless holiday movies at home (24:09).

• Don’s “blow up” warning:
  Both hosts agree the Knicks’ chemistry and NBA standing make a midseason trade folly (18:51).

• “Shoot up the club at the wrong time” – On Sean McVay’s new child:
  "Sometimes you get caught up in the moment. You shoot up the club at the wrong time, man. So it's just bad timing by Sean McVay." (35:19)

• Dynasty definition musings:
  Nostalgic praise for the old Islanders dynasty and how modern sports will likely never see such runs (47:00-48:23).

Summary

This hour blends sharp analysis and classic New York sports talk humor as Don, Hahn & Rosenberg debate the costs of NBA innovation, trade cravings vs. team chemistry, and NFL drama with insight from Damian Woody. The episode’s highlights include skepticism over sacrificing regular season success for the NBA Cup, urging patience on a Giannis blockbuster, roasting the futility of cross-town draft trades, and celebrating unrepeatable sports dynasties. The tone swerves deftly between playful banter and pointed analysis—essential listening for NYC sports fans.