Game Over with Max Kellerman and Rich Paul

Episode: Cade Cowboy’s Up, First Team All-NBA, and the Truth About Darryn Peterson

Date: February 20, 2026 | Host: The Ringer

Episode Overview

This episode features sports media luminary Max Kellerman and influential NBA agent Rich Paul delivering an insightful, candid, and at times humorous exploration of the biggest stories in basketball. Against a backdrop of fashion banter (Rich in a cowboy getup), the duo dives deep into:

• Cade Cunningham’s coming-of-age performance at Madison Square Garden and his MVP credentials
• Debate over the true First Team All-NBA in a loaded season
• A clear-eyed defense and breakdown of star Kansas prospect Darryn Peterson, dispelling media narratives about his draft status and availability
• The landscape of true championship contenders in both the Eastern and Western Conferences

The tone is conversational, spirited, and steeped in the authenticity and life experience both hosts bring to the table.

1. Opening Banter & Personal Reflections (00:05–08:29)

Discussion Points

• Rich’s Cowboy Style: Rich appears in a cowboy hat and boots, sparking a comedic exchange. Max teases:

  “You look like an evil cowboy from the future.” (00:12, Max Kellerman)

• Fashion & Aging: Light-hearted debate about dressing one’s age and staying true to one’s identity.
• Personal Loss: Rich shares he lost two uncles recently, offering heartfelt reflections on family and mentors.

  “He was literally right next door to us… he was a big, big part of our community. So that sucks.” (04:05, Rich Paul)

• Influences: Rich credits music and fashion influences of Cleveland and family musical heritage.

Memorable Moment

• Max’s first ESPN outfit:

  “First time I was ever on ESPN, was a leather jacket. They said, what am I supposed to wear? They said, whatever you wore on your public access show.” (06:17, Max Kellerman)

2. Cade Cunningham and the Pistons: Ascendancy & MVP Case (08:29–16:06)

Key Discussion Points

• Cade's Performance at MSG:
  • Cade put on a show "against your Knicks," says Rich (08:40).
  • Notable for coming without key teammates (Duran, Stewart out).
• MVP Frontrunner?
  • Max: “He is now in the MVP conversation.” (15:50)
  • Rich: “Why isn’t he in the MVP race?” (09:00)
• Pistons’ Contender Credentials:
  • Max & Rich debate whether Detroit might be “grabbing one before you think it's their time.” (09:11)
  • The need for a “Robin” next to Cade—someone who can consistently get 25–30 points.

Notable Quotes

• “Kade’s performance last night reminded me of when Andre 3000 got on the stage and was like, ‘The South got something to say.’” (09:41, Rich Paul)
• “They’re going to blitz Cade. They’re going to make it… it depends on the team they play.” (10:43, Rich Paul)

Timestamps

• 08:29: Segment begins
• 09:41: Midwest’s moment (“Midwest got something to say”)
• 10:59: Playoff pressure & support
• 13:18: What kind of second star do they need?

3. Eastern Conference: Wide-Open Race and Tier Rankings (16:06–26:39)

Key Discussion Points

• Contenders Breakdown:
  • Pistons atop, closely followed by Cavs, Celtics, Sixers, Knicks.
  • Celtics’ hopes hinge on Tatum’s health and fit on comeback.
  • Sixers called a “sleeper” if healthy, especially with PG, Joel, Tyrese Maxey.
• Cavs as 2nd Best Shot: Addition of Harden and closing games with Mobley at the 5 gives them dynamism.
• Detailed Roster Analysis: Who can be a true #2 next to Cade? Max: “Who could be Pau Gasol to Cade’s Kobe?” (13:18)
• Importance of Playoff Readiness and Star Pairings

Memorable Quotes

• “You have a dynamic backcourt player paired with a defensive big every minute of the game.” (22:34, Max Kellerman)
• “The pressure’s off. [Boston’s] already won a championship together. This is number two.” (18:49, Rich Paul)

Timestamps

• 16:06: Cavs’ sleeper potential and Harden
• 21:39: Roster construction, bigs in the playoffs
• 24:01: 1–5 rankings in the East

| Ranking | Team | Rationale | |---------|-------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1 | Detroit | Team chemistry, rising star in Cade, best regular season record | | 2 | Cleveland | Playmaking guards, key additions, closing lineups | | 3 | Boston | If Tatum healthy, lowest barrier to title success | | 4 | Knicks | Need wings to step up, chance increases if others falter | | 5 | Philly | High upside but hampered by questions of player health |

4. The Western Conference: Denver, Spurs & OKC (26:39–29:43)

Key Discussion Points

• Denver's Championship DNA:
  • Jokic’s impact & Aaron Gordon’s crucial role likened to Iguodala for the Warriors.
• Spurs & “Reign of Terror”:
  • Young, talented, and “ahead of schedule” like Detroit.
  • Wemby, Castle, and Harper: “Barring catastrophic injury, it’s going to be a reign of terror from San Antonio.” (28:00, Max Kellerman)
• Team Building:
  • Belief in Spurs’ front office finding the right 4-man to solidify their dominance.

5. First Team All-NBA: Positionless, Loaded, and Debated (29:43–35:53)

Key Discussion Points

• Zach Lowe's Ringer List:
  • “Pencil” choices were Jokic, Wemby, SGA; then Luka, Donovan/Kawhi.
  • Controversy over omissions: “No Ant, no Cade?” (30:20, Rich Paul)
• Max’s First Team:
  • Wemby, Jokic, SGA, Kawhi, Cade
  • “It’s ridiculous that these are regular season awards… You really don’t know top five all NBA until after the playoffs.” (31:16, Max Kellerman)
• Rich’s Approach:
  • Prefers a “top 15” approach, less about exclusion, more about honoring true impact players.
• Voting Flaws:
  • Rich: “A lot of people with votes that shouldn’t have them… too much at stake.” (35:06)

Notable Quotes

• “We should just have a committee.” (35:06, Rich Paul)
• “It should just be up to me, as with most things.” (35:29, Max Kellerman)

6. The LeBron Epoch: End of an Era? (36:00–39:06)

Key Discussion Points

• First All-NBA Miss?
  • “This is the first season that LeBron wouldn’t be All-NBA.” (36:15, Max Kellerman)
• Changing of the Guard:
  • Both reflect on what LeBron’s imminent absence from All-NBA means for the league—a “new world.”
• Historic Consistency:
  • Max: “Whether or not he qualified—LeBron wouldn’t be 1,2 or 3, All-NBA. That’s 22 years.” (37:16)

7. Signature Moments & the Knicks Fan’s Eternal Dilemma (39:44–47:05)

Key Discussion Points

• Max's Epic Knicks Rant (39:44–45:30):
  • Humor and pain about New York's place in basketball, MSG mystique, and every star’s ‘rite of passage’ torching the Knicks at MSG.
  • Analysis that “the one constant” in Knicks underachievement is ownership, not personnel.
• Rich Responds:
  • Counters with Cleveland pride, reminds listeners of Cavs’ legendary 2016 comeback title.
• Humorous Closure:
  • “The game is the game, the game is everything.” (69:29, Rich Paul)

Memorable Quote

• “Every superstar in NBA history had to come to Madison Square Garden and spanked the Knicks in their house. That's how you get to the next level of NBA fame before you win a championship.” (43:33, Max Kellerman)

8. Ty Lue, Pressure, and Lessons from San Quentin (47:05–51:45)

Key Discussion Points

• Rich tells the story of Ty Lue taking the Cavs’ coaching staff to San Quentin before Game 7, to redefine the meaning of “pressure.”

  “I want to talk to the team about pressure… Game seven, this ain’t no pressure. This is pressure. And he was right.” (50:10, Rich Paul)

9. The Truth About Darryn Peterson: Injury, Narratives & Draft Realities (52:45–68:21)

Key Discussion Points

• Media Narrative:
  • Peterson, once consensus No. 1, faces scrutiny about availability and commitment due to soft tissue injury.
  • Rich Paul: Pushes back on the idea this reflects lack of toughness or desire—explains why public narrative often lags the truth, especially for top prospects.
• Injury Perspective:
  • Max and Rich agree: Soft tissue injuries must be managed with patience, not forced. “I never want to hear a guy rush back from a hammy or groin.” (61:11, Max Kellerman)
• NBA Draft Process:
  • Franchises vet prospects more thoroughly than anyone (“They know if he had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on a Tuesday in kindergarten…” 57:54).
  • If health checks out, talent will win out.
• Draft Reform:
  • Rich proposes a radical idea: Players should have a say in selecting which teams draft them.
  • “Why am I putting all this juice on number one pick?” Peterson might want the right fit, not just top billing. (59:39, Rich Paul)
• Evaluating Passion for the Game:
  • Inquiry into if Peterson ‘loves basketball’ enough. Rich: “You gotta be crazy in love with the game. That’s how you have to be.” (66:49)

Notable Quotes

• “The truth is ignored and the loudness is what’s actually paid attention to.” (53:54, Rich Paul)
• “If they make the right moves and listen to Rich Paul, they too one day can be rich enough to think it’s okay to wear a black cowboy hat on TV.” (64:41, Max Kellerman)

10. NBA Life, Fashion, and Finding Balance (68:25–71:55)

Discussion Points

• Fashion Coda: More back-and-forth about Max’s “chocolate brown” Ralph Lauren jacket and evolving fashion confidence.
• Weekend Plans: Rich going to college games, Max settling into LA life with family.
• NBA Viewing: “This is when I like to watch all the games on TV because I can really dissect.” (70:46, Rich Paul)
• The Game is the Game: A closing call (again) to stay engaged and ‘in the game’ in all aspects of life, basketball and beyond.

Essential Takeaways

• Cade Cunningham’s star turn signifies the Pistons’ legitimacy—if he finds his “Robin,” Detroit is a true title threat.
• First Team All-NBA is a tougher debate than ever; Zach Lowe’s take sparks spirited debate and calls for voting reform.
• Darryn Peterson’s character and injury are misunderstood amidst media noise—true evaluation and patience will reveal his real NBA value.
• Ownership, not rosters or city size, most often explains franchise malaise (Knicks).
• Real “pressure” in basketball is contextual—a lesson Ty Lue delivered in a memorable pre-Game 7 experience.
• The NBA’s future is in good hands; as LeBron’s run fades, new superstars are clamoring for the stage.

Notable Quotes by Timestamp

| Timestamp | Quote | Speaker | |---|---|---| | 00:12 | “You look like an evil cowboy from the future.” | Max Kellerman | | 04:05 | “He was literally right next door to us… he was a big, big part of our community. So that sucks.” | Rich Paul | | 09:41 | “Kade’s performance last night reminded me of when Andre 3000 got on the stage and was like, ‘The South got something to say.’” | Rich Paul | | 15:50 | “Yes, he is now in the MVP conversation.” | Max Kellerman | | 22:34 | “You have a dynamic backcourt player paired with a defensive big every minute of the game.” | Max Kellerman | | 28:00 | “It’s going to be a reign of terror from San Antonio.” | Max Kellerman | | 30:20 | “No Ant, no Cade?” | Rich Paul | | 31:16 | “It’s ridiculous that these are regular season awards… You really don’t know top five all NBA until after the playoffs.” | Max Kellerman | | 35:06 | “A lot of people with votes that shouldn’t have them… too much at stake.” | Rich Paul | | 39:44 | “Every superstar in NBA history had to come to Madison Square Garden and spanked the Knicks in their house. That's how you get to the next level of NBA fame before you win a championship.” | Max Kellerman | | 50:10 | “I want to talk to the team about pressure… Game seven, this ain’t no pressure. This is pressure. And he was right.” | Rich Paul | | 53:54 | “The truth is ignored and the loudness is what’s actually paid attention to.” | Rich Paul | | 59:39 | “Why am I putting all this juice on number one pick?” | Rich Paul | | 61:11 | “I never want to hear a guy rush back from a hammy or groin.” | Max Kellerman | | 66:49 | “You got to be crazy in love with the game. That’s how you have to be.” | Rich Paul | | 69:29 | “The game is the game. The game is everything.” | Rich Paul |

Summary Conclusion

This episode epitomizes the intersection of basketball culture, business, and community, offering high-level strategic insights, inside stories, and a real-time pulse on NBA stardom and the business of basketball. Whether you're a casual fan, a diehard, or aspiring to work in the league—this is a masterclass in how to think, talk, and feel the game.