Did Victor Wembanyama Send The Code Red? | Hour 1

Summary

The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Episode: Did Victor Wembanyama Send The Code Red? | Hour 1
Date: May 27, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this energetic episode, Dan, Stugotz, and the crew dive into the fallout from a wild NBA playoff game, discussing Victor Wembanyama’s new "villainous" edge and whether he orchestrated a series of hard fouls to counter OKC’s physical play. They also unpack the challenges of modern NBA officiating, lament the lack of close playoff games, and critique the sports media’s approach to controversial issues – from Reggie Miller’s broadcasting blunders to the ongoing Jackson Dart-Trump controversy. The episode is loaded with classic Le Batard Show humor, sharp social commentary, and behind-the-scenes sports analysis.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Poll Question Fiasco: Names, Mistakes, and Innocence

• The show starts with laughter over a previous poll question mix-up: Juju confused "James" (as in James Rodríguez, pronounced 'Hames') with "Hamas," leading to an unintentionally hilarious and awkward poll.
• The crew jokes about the frequency of certain names in Miami ("There are hummus jerseys everywhere," Dan [02:31]) and the confusion around international soccer naming conventions.

2. Mutton Chops & Miami Sports Nostalgia

• The style of Manny Fernandez’s facial hair (untamed, "friendly mutton chops") prompts nostalgic reflection on the 'No Name Defense' Dolphins.
• Quote: "Those are untamed mutton chops...connecting to the mustache is not something I've seen very often." – Stugotz [04:38]
• The crew honors Fernandez's Super Bowl heroics and how local legends like him are remembered.

3. Wembanyama's 'Code Red': Did Wemby Send in the Enforcers?

• The heart of the episode: Was Wembanyama’s courtside whisper to Biyombo and Plumlee an order to retaliate with hard fouls against OKC?
  • "Wemby whispering with his hand covered to Biyombo... and then after that, they start hard fouling like crazy." – Dan [07:13]
  • Mike Ryan and Chris Cody compare it to hockey's goon tactics: “I think basketball should have more of this... Plumlee, do what you do.” [09:40]
  • Jared McCain, the target, is quoted describing the incident with good humor [08:51, 20:22].
• Quote: “He was like, ‘I got another one for you, too.’ I’m like, all right, let me get to the corner real quick.” – Jared McCain [08:51, restated at 20:22]
• Debate over whether this was justified gamesmanship or crossing the line. Some see value in stars showing a mean streak; others demand post-game accountability.

4. NBA Officiating and Game Flow Frustrations

• Dan and Mike Ryan dissect the game’s poor flow, officiating errors, and “laborious watch” [11:08].
  • “It was just sloppy... when there was that non goaltending call, OKC takes it the other way.” – Dan [12:02]
• The group debates flopping, inconsistent whistles, and stars generating fouls: “Lucan Dort... he falls every time someone touched him. I guarantee that guy is a brick wall." – Mike Ryan [13:00]
• The consensus is the refs and style of play are turning viewers off.

5. Blowouts: The New NBA Playoff Normal

• Stugotz laments the lack of close games: “I think this is the new normal with the three pointer and how things get distorted.” [18:03]
• Mike Ryan, Chris, and Jon reminisce about the suspense of old playoff games: “I miss the last minute of a game taking five minutes in real time because it was so tense and teetering.” – Jon Weiner [19:34]
• They debate whether the three-point revolution is killing end-of-game drama.

6. Player Psychology: Under Wimby's Skin

• The crew analyzes OKC's success at frustrating Wembanyama, making him less aggressive and altering the Spurs’ approach: “They got under Wimby's skin. Last night is proof of that.” – Chris Cody [21:07]
• Fouls become psychological warfare, with periphery players involved by design.
• The group questions lineup decisions and point guard rotations given all the turnovers.

7. Media Critique: Reggie Miller and Broadcasting Nonsense

• The show skewers Reggie Miller’s Finals prediction: "Knicks will be favored against either OKC or Spurs" – which is factually untrue.
  • “They're going to be a massive underdog.” – Mike Ryan [25:24]
  • The team challenges the role of play-by-play broadcasters in spreading “the dumbest shit.”
• Humorous aside comparing ticket prices: “For the price of a Knicks Finals ticket, you can buy a four-bedroom house in Oklahoma City.” – Stugotz [31:07]

8. Social Media and Athlete Behavior: The Draymond Green Incident

• Discussion of Draymond Green’s aggressive social response to a fan, notably involving threats towards the fan’s children.
  • “Watch your mouth before I crush those dirty ass kids in your banner.” – Draymond Green, quoted by Greg Cody [28:29]
  • The group ponders how media and public laughs these off from some athletes (like Shaq), but not others (like Draymond).

9. Political Football: Jackson Dart, Trump, and Media Accountability

• Extended debate about Giants QB Jackson Dart’s public support for Trump at a rally, and the ensuing fallout, especially on social media and in the locker room.
• Stugotz passionately calls for tough questions from New York media:
  • “You invited this... Ask him the difficult questions. New York media, don't go soft on me now.” [32:51]
• The group contrasts the harsh glare on Abdul Carter’s response versus the muted accountability for Jackson Dart and team owner Steve Tisch’s Epstein connection.
• Larger conversation about media responsibility, bias, and the importance of not letting distractions shift focus from power and accountability:
  • “It would be a disservice to us to file for that [distraction]... Keep the pressure on these people who made these decisions and hold them accountable.” – Chris Cody [38:11]
• Lots of sharp social commentary about privilege, representation, and the dilution of press scrutiny.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Dan Le Batard; on name confusion and Miami sports culture:
  "There are hummus jerseys everywhere. I'm like, maybe they think it's a LeBron James. Maybe that's the thing. And I look over, I see Hamas." [02:31]
• Stugotz, on NBA ‘goons’:
  "The same way that hockey has its goons. I think basketball should have more of this."
• Jared McCain, on being targeted by fouls:
  "He was like, ‘I got another one for you, too.’ I’m like, all right... let's finish this game out." [08:51, 20:22]
• Mike Ryan, on NBA officiating:
  "I guarantee that guy (Luguentz Dort) is a brick wall. If most of these NBA players run full speed into him, he will not fall down." [13:00]
• Stugotz, on blowouts:
  "I think this is the new normal when it comes to the sport and the three pointer and how things get distorted." [18:03]
• Greg Cody, on star protection:
  "Is the media treating Wemby like a 7 foot 3 Faberge?" [11:01]
• Draymond Green controversy:
  "Watch your mouth before I crush those dirty ass kids in your banner." [28:29]
• Dan, on media accountability:
  "If you're okay with Jackson Dart doing what he is doing, you have to be okay with Abdul Carter doing what he is doing. It doesn't make any sense to just go at Abdul Carter." [34:19]
• Stugotz, summing up media responsibility:
  "Aren't you of the opinion that it is the responsibility of the New York media when this story is present to not trade the access for non answers. The job of the media in this circumstance is to ask difficult questions." [39:26]

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Important Segments & Timestamps

• [01:32–03:47] — Cold open: Hummus/Hamas poll gaffe; Miami sports name mix-ups
• [04:36–05:29] — Manny Fernandez mutton chops, local sports legends
• [07:13–10:31] — Wembanyama’s ‘Code Red’ moment: The art and psychology of retaliatory fouls
• [11:08–14:15] — NBA officiating, game flow struggles, and impact on competitive play
• [18:03–19:43] — The new era of NBA blowouts: Are close games dead?
• [20:22–22:43] — How OKC got into Wemby’s head, and issues with turnovers/point guard play
• [25:24–26:39] — Reggie Miller’s Knicks/Finals prediction debunked; media critique
• [28:29–29:57] — Draymond Green Twitter controversy: How far is too far?
• [31:07] — Classic Stat of the Day: Knicks Finals ticket vs OKC house
• [32:25–42:23] — Sports, politics, and media: Jackson Dart, Abdul Carter, Steve Tisch, and the challenge of holding public figures accountable

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Tone & Style

The episode delivers its trademark blend of satirical banter, irreverent humor, and deeply engaged sports commentary. Dan and Stugotz shift effortlessly from inside jokes and cultural commentary to high-level NBA analysis and searing takes on media and social issues. While the crew sometimes descends into farce (mutton chops, fake lawyering by “Plumlee and Biyombo, LLP”), their observations on the NBA, media, and American society are incisive – making the episode both informative and highly entertaining.

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For listeners or readers who missed the show, this episode offers:

• A thorough breakdown of one of the NBA Playoffs’ weirdest, roughest games
• Hilarious and thoughtful debate about sportsmanship, media, and society’s fairness
• Plenty of classic Le Batard Show chemistry and quotable moments

Transcript

[Dan LeBatard]

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[Stugotz]

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[Mike Ryan]

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[Dan LeBatard]

with the Stugach Podcast.

[Jon Weiner]

This episode of the Dan Lebatart show is presented by DraftKings. DraftKings. The Crown is yours.

[Stugotz]

Yesterday on the show we had a 100% innocent mistake that resulted in the worst and funniest poll question in our show's history of things that have to be going on both locally and in the world for juju to not know who Hamas is the Colombian soccer player and put up a poll. Put up a poll. It was. It was just. But it was so 100% innocent that it. It somehow is less offensive than, you know, many Fernandez's teammates calling him Taco because he was Mexican. I can't believe that Cody is sitting here giving all he meant it lovingly.

[Dan LeBatard]

I knew something was off when 80% was. No, I mean really, you've never been to Miami. There are hummus jerseys everywhere. I'm like, maybe they think it's a LeBron James. Maybe that's the thing. And I look over, I see Hamas.

[Stugotz]

The number of things that have to be happening both in the Studio. Like, what are the chances? We haven't talked about hummus in 20 years doing this show. We haven't talked about the Colombian soccer player hummus.

[Dan LeBatard]

I mean, I can understand the mistake if you're not familiar with James Rodriguez.

[Mike Ryan]

I mean, Mike did say everyone should have a hummus jersey.

[Dan LeBatard]

I did. I did.

[Chris Cody]

Like, damn. How else would you spell this?

[Greg Cody]

H A M A S does sound right.

[Dan LeBatard]

I don't clearly Hamas.

[Stugotz]

I don't. I don't think that anyone listening to this would read the word James and pronounce it hummus. What it says on the back of his jersey. The first time I saw it, I'm like, why is there a Colombian guy running around out named James? All these Brazilian players have just one name on their jersey. How's the Colombian guy named James?

[Dan LeBatard]

That's his first name. It should be Rodriguez. Right?

[Chris Cody]

I'd like to formally ask the entire audience for your forgiveness. Out of bounds, off my leg. Sorry about that, coach.

[Stugotz]

We're going to get to basketball from last night in a second. But just going back for a second.

[Dan LeBatard]

Damn the 20% that said yes.

[Stugotz]

There we are getting back to Manny Fernandez. He played as a defensive lineman at 6 to 250 pounds, which tells you how much the game has changed. They're now 100 pounds heavier than that. But can you guys put up for me the picture of Manny Fernandez? Again? This facial hair look is. Is anyone rocking this? Because, I mean, I could see Stavi doing this, but, like, is anyone else rocking this particular look of full beard? Except for the chin, which is bare, there's no one doing that. Correct. That's not a look that anyone chooses with their facial hair to just shave their chin.

[Mike Ryan]

Those are called mutton chops.

[Stugotz]

Right. But those mutton chops go into the mustache. I don't think of mutton chops connecting to the mustache. And I don't know why they're called mutton chops either. I don't know the origins of the mutton chop, but those are. Those are untamed mutton chops. Because connecting to the. To the mustache is not something I've seen very often.

[Dan LeBatard]

Let me. From Motorhead Clouds.

[Stugotz]

That's a good one. His chin is so pristinely shaved, though, and the rest of what he's got going on there. Cody, did you say everything you wanted to say? Because we started making jokes at the end of that. And this is somebody who locally meant a lot to people for a lot of reasons. Even though your son had never heard his name before you started uttering it after he passed away.

[Jon Weiner]

Well, he was. He was one of the leaders of what was called the no name defense. So by the very moniker, there weren't a lot of superstars on that defense. The. The stars were on offense. Paul Warfield, Larry Zonka, and. And Manny Fernandez had his best career games in the Super Bowl. So on the biggest stage, he rose to his highest level of play. And I don't know that they would have won the the 72 and 73 Super Bowls unless he rose like that on defense. Maybe they would have, but maybe they wouldn't have. He was that good. Yeah.

[Stugotz]

That's what stood out to me is his stats in the Super Bowl. In The Super Bowl 7, where they beat Washington, he had as a defensive tackle 17 tackles and a sack, which is crazy.

[Mike Ryan]

Mutton chops were originally a style of facial hair popularly worn in England, but its popularity spread to North America by the early 1800s. If mutton chops are connected by a mustache, they are known as friendly mutton chops.

[Jon Weiner]

Wow.

[Stugotz]

Put it on the poll. Excellent work by you using the Internet correctly. Did you know that there were friendly mutton chops at LeBatard show? You should check out Tristan Juju after NBA playoff games. Speaking of mutton chops, lshoops on our YouTube page, can you guys tell me from last night's game what stood out to you? Because villainous Wemby is something that I'm enjoying. And Wemby whispering with his hand covered to Biyombo. I don't know when this started. I know the Miami Heat were covered in a way in 2010 that had Wade and LeBron always putting their jerseys over their mouth, but I think soccer players were doing it before that. I don't think that Wade and LeBron were. Were inventing the idea of I don't anybody and all of these cameras to be able to read my lips. But Wembanyama is covering his mouth with his hand as he talks to Biyombo and Plumlee. And then after that, they start hard fouling like crazy. Because this series is going to keep escalating. These guys, both of these sides, you got a champion, a proud champion that looks over at the other side. And before last night's game, Wemby was mortal last night and was minus 8. But the numbers in the series going into the game, when Wemby's on the court, The spurs are plus 50 over the defending champion. When he's not there, minus 46 going into the game, it means that anytime Wemby rests Everything's at the rim for okc. They do whatever they want, and they're the champions when Wemby's not out there. But last night was weird because Wemby doesn't look like that very often and was frustrated enough that he sent Biyombo. And it looks like he sent Biyombo and Plumlee out there to start hard fouling. And then they did.

[Mike Ryan]

There's no other way to see that. He whispers in the ear of Biyombo, who, you know, has a history, and Plumlee. Yeah. Who has a history of being questionable when it comes to the dirty play. And both Plumlee and Biumbo immediately commit hard fouls. Look, Jared McCain. Jared McCain was the one who took the hard fouls from both of them. And one of them that sent McCain to the free throw line. Listen to Jared McCain. So this is after the game. McCain was asked about the hard fouls.

[Dan LeBatard]

That was crazy. I didn't. I didn't expect it. Obviously. We were at the free throw line, too, and I was like, why'd you do that, man? I'm just asking the question. And he's like. He was like, I got another one for you, too. I'm like, all right, yeah, let me to the corner real quick. Let's finish this game out. But, you know, it's all in competition, so got to respect it. But definitely wasn't aware that my team told me after, like, just get to the corner at the end of the game, like, that.

[Mike Ryan]

I really don't have a problem with it. I don't have a problem with it because this is San Antonio's response to what they believe has been dirty play by the Thunder throughout the series. So, like, is it okay what the spurs did last night in a vacuum? No, but we're not living in a vacuum. Like the.

[Stugotz]

The.

[Mike Ryan]

The Thunder have played dirty. Specifically Hardenstein, specifically Holmgren. They have played dirty throughout the series. And Wembanyama was clearly frustrated all of last night. And this was his response to it was, you know, hey, listen, go use your fouls.

[Chris Cody]

Yeah. The same way that hockey has its goons. I think basketball should have more of this. Like, hey, number 35 is doing a little too much.

[Jon Weiner]

Yeah.

[Chris Cody]

Plumly, do what you do. It used to be right, right.

[Mike Ryan]

I mean, you remember back in the playoffs in 2013 with the Heat, like, Tyler Hansbrough made Dwyane Wade bleed from a hard foul. So guess what? Haslam's checking in now. You're going to get two arms coming down in your head.

[Jon Weiner]

I don't mind that Wemby has a villainous side that we're beginning to see a little bit. I think, I think that that's good. I think that that's good for his image, if anything. But Wemby, everybody's bragging about, is he too good? Is he going to change the league because nobody can keep up with him. When you have a rare bad game and you go 4 for 15 or whatever it was, talk to the media afterwards, address the fans and the world afterward. Not just when you do well, I think that's classless. When he didn't avail himself after last night.

[Greg Cody]

And then you've got the media being like, I hope Wemby's okay.

[Jon Weiner]

Yeah. Which is crazy.

[Greg Cody]

Is like, you know, a lot of times these things happen for stars like Wemby and they have an emergency. There's probably a family emergency. When you don't.

[Mike Ryan]

Because they said Wembanyama is not going to be available.

[Greg Cody]

Correct. And when you see a star that everyone loves and you don't like that star, it's very easy to see when the rose colored glasses come on for things that on another player would be

[Stugotz]

completely crushed by at Lebatard show. Is the media treating Wemby like a 7 foot 3 Faberge?

[Dan LeBatard]

There was a lot of interesting stuff that happened kind of outside the lines and after the game. But for me, the game was kind of interesting in that it was laborious watch.

[Mike Ryan]

That was not a good game.

[Dan LeBatard]

The pacing of that game was, look, the style of play, we all get that. I'm not gonna get too much into the OKC thing and the foul calls. But on top of what is already working against this series, when it comes to the whistle, having so much power was. It was just sloppy. Both teams were really sloppy with the ball. There were opportunities for San Antonio to get back in this game and they were really careless with the ball and back to the whistle. There was one sequence where you're like, all right, I'll just turn this game off because it's not fun to watch. And when there was that non goaltending call, OKC takes it the other way. And then the fiasco of the ball rolling off of okc.

[Stugotz]

Yeah.

[Dan LeBatard]

San Antonio trying to challenge it, being smart enough to get a sub in to buy more time to get, get it right. And then being totally ignored and then getting a technical for the officials not doing their job. You knew right there that it was over. Now the, the, the goaltending missed call. I kind of understand it because you could.

[Mike Ryan]

I don't understand it.

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, it was clearly goaltending. But what might have also been goaltending was Cornett trying to get the ball on the rim.

[Mike Ryan]

I don't agree. I don't agree with that. But even, even if you're right, something happened there.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yes, something happened. There was. There was a goaltend. Hell, there might have been two. And instead it just goes to OKC and then back the other way. A bad call goes away. It's really unfortunate when I thought, I know the free throws don't tell the story, but felt like OKC got the friendlier whistle again.

[Mike Ryan]

They did.

[Dan LeBatard]

But also, you got to understand that if you're saying, Antonio, they were playing super aggressive. I hate it when a dude, a dude that weighs, you know, 225 pounds, that's 6 foot 5, goes flying just because someone puts a hip.

[Mike Ryan]

You're talking about Lucan store.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah, yeah.

[Mike Ryan]

Like he falls every time someone touched him. I guarantee that guy is a brick wall. I guarantee you, Mike, if most of these NBA players, if Lou Dort is standing stationary and most of these NBA players run full speed into him, he will not fall down.

[Greg Cody]

I saw Lou Dort at Las Vegas Summer League with a white T shirt on. And it's a core memory. It's literally now embedded into my brain. His back muscles have back muscles on top of them. I've never seen a more jacked, ripped human being like Miles Garrett.

[Dan LeBatard]

But on a basketball court, Castle's also got to do a better job too. I got a little annoyed with SGA and Castle just on the perimeter. And it's not like Castle's running through sga, but you give them a little bit and SGA will go flying and they give them the call. I just, I would like to see them play a little bit more. But if this is going to be the way that it goes, clean it up. Like, understand that that's the whistle. Don't be super aggressive. Don't over pursue. And when you have the chances to get back in the game, don't be so sloppy with the ball. It was a missed opportunity because SGA wasn't very good. He was living at the line and that was how he was getting in his rhythm. He never looked right the entire game. That should have been a San Antonio win, but they were too sloppy with it and they blew it and they might have blown the series.

[Stugotz]

If the spurs are to win the series, they will be the first team in two years to beat them back to back. You cannot beat them back to back in the postseason and the final game

[Mike Ryan]

has to be at home.

[Stugotz]

OKC does not get beaten back to back.

[Tony]

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[Dan LeBatard]

Tony, you know that moment at a party or a tailgate where everything just sort of clicks?

[Jon Weiner]

I know it well.

[Tony]

It's usually when I show up, everybody goes crazy.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah. You usually take all the credit for it, but it's because Tony usually walks in with Cuervo. Walk in like this. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Cuervo is a thing that turns hanging out into this is the night.

[Tony]

It has that effect on people.

[Dan LeBatard]

It does. You usually take the credit for it, but again, it's the Cuervo effect. It's like that moment in a big game where everyone in the crowd just starts standing up, hooting and hollering. Keep it Cuervo.

[Jon Weiner]

Keep it Cuervo, baby.

[Tony]

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[Jon Weiner]

Don LeBatard, he called me on my own podcast. He called me full of shit, claiming that I'm faking interest in the solar eclipse.

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, you do do this.

[Stugotz]

You love to just get excited about everything.

[Jon Weiner]

Okay, junior stugats, I had to school you and explain to you he was

[Mike Ryan]

gonna take you to Augusta.

[Jon Weiner]

I mean, when I was 17 years old, Alan Sherry and I used to haunt the Bueller Planetarium.

[Stugotz]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the st. I've got a couple of things that I want to clean up here, though, and I want to ask you guys this question. Juju, you are doing our basketball expertise for us. If you had to take a guess, the entire postseason, just off the top of your head, fast as you can answer, give me a number. How many close games have there been the entire. The entire NBA post season? Give me a number.

[Chris Cody]

Six.

[Stugotz]

I think it's four. Like I'm just doing it off the top of my head and I think it's four. And I don't know. I don't know. Juju might be. Might be right. But I'm sitting there. The Atlanta, New York series had two of them and you had Cleveland, Cleveland, Toronto. What do we consider close?

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah, Houston, LA played probably the best game of the postseason.

[Stugotz]

Not many is the answer to the question whether it's four or six. I think this is the new thing, though. I think this is the new normal when it comes to the sport and the three pointer and how things get distorted.

[Greg Cody]

Well, and that's the question. I was asking this to Tony and juju last night on the alley OOP post game livestream you can find on Thursday night after the game as well. But for a team, for two teams that we thought were going to be this heavyweight fight, two evenly matched squads in the San Antonio spurs and the OKC Thunder outside of game one, every game has been a blowout even though they're so closely matched. Why do you guys think that is?

[Stugotz]

I don't think I can answer that. Well, except to say the three pointer is distorting everything. I don't have a better answer than that. I'd like to hear a better answer than that because I do believe I've had two postseasons of this. Now, I missed the buzzer beaters. Like, I missed the shots at the end of games.

[Dan LeBatard]

Halliburton, I missed. What a gift. He gave us.

[Stugotz]

20 seconds left and everyone's watching the same game and everyone's a little bit scared.

[Mike Ryan]

I missed five lead changes in the fourth quarter.

[Jon Weiner]

Right.

[Mike Ryan]

You don't get any of that anymore.

[Jon Weiner]

Yeah, I miss the last minute of a game taking five minutes in real time because there's so many timeouts because everything is so tense and teetering.

[Mike Ryan]

It's been going on for a few years, though. This is not new. Like, this has been happening for, I'd say closer to eight or nine years.

[Chris Cody]

Oh.

[Stugotz]

But I think it's with the advent of people shooting more and more threes, taking 50 threes a game, and if one team makes 20 of them and the other team makes 11, there's your discrepancy. I have a couple of other questions though, Chris. I just. Based on hearing the McCain sound. His voice sounds like sunshine. He sounds like a cartoon animal that I fell in love with. It's the perfect way to hand telling this story, is the perfect way to handle the defusing of the bomb of Biyombo and plumlee are out there only to foul me.

[Dan LeBatard]

That was crazy. I didn't. I didn't expect it. Obviously. We were at the free throw line too. And I was like, why'd you do that, man? I'm just asking him a question. And he's like. He was like, I got another one for you too. I'm like, all right, yeah, let me get to the corner real quick. Let's finish this game out. But, you know, it's all in competition, so got to respect it. But definitely wasn't aware that my team told me after, like, just get to the corner at the end of the game.

[Stugotz]

Juju, I want to go back to a moment early. Earlier we were talking about him whispering to biyumbo and then Chris Cody shouted and plumly. And you thanked Chris Cody.

[Chris Cody]

Exactly. Biyombo ain't even the culprit of this. We just see the brother and be like, oh, biyombo. What?

[Stugotz]

Biyombo out there doing plumlee's Was way worse. The foul, it was like an elbow in the back.

[Dan LeBatard]

And I'm grateful because I'm learning. They're both in the league.

[Chris Cody]

I think, though, to the Thunder's credit, they got under Wimby's skin. I think last night is proof of that. In the first half, he shoulders bumped the hell out of check going back to the timeout. And a lot of his aggression throughout that game, it didn't seem as even killed as it always is. And I think it reflected in that first half by him taking like three shots. Like, what are you doing? This is for the chip. Now, this boy is not aggressive. I think them boys got in his head. Hartenstein deserves credit for that.

[Dan LeBatard]

Should de' Aaron Fox be out there? Clearly not the same kind of player. Like, he is stinky, and he has reasons to be. That's a tough injury, but I think they navigated his absence fine, and I don't think he's helping.

[Stugotz]

No, Mike, he's got to be out there because Castle had 21 turnovers in two games, and that's how OKC beats you. Like, they go the other way and they go get the easy basket.

[Dan LeBatard]

Is there nothing else? Because Fox isn't giving them much.

[Mike Ryan]

I mean, he had eight assists and only one turnover. So I think he's serving his purpose. Is there If. If he's struggling so much, he probably can't shoot.

[Stugotz]

I'm gonna say, though, the number again, 21 turnovers in two games. You cannot play OKC without a point guard. That's not like that's a recipe for disaster. You will not beat them in seven games if you don't have somebody who just is careful with the basketball.

[Mike Ryan]

Look, tomorrow night is. Is obviously awesome because it's a game six, and the spurs, can they force a game seven. But we're gonna watch Winyama, who has been out of this world two of the five games this series, both of which were wins, and we're going to see him in an elimination game for the very first time in his career. And it's coming off of a very poor game. So.

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, second time, he did make it to the ist final.

[Stugotz]

It's for the season. The next game's for the season. I did mention at the beginning of this series, that double overtime game, the depth of okc, they will wear you down over the course of a series. That's more minutes than all of those guys had played to start that series. OKC makes these things difficult. They're a proud champion. They don't mind playing ugly Basketball. And they don't mind sending Biyombo and Plumlee out there to just. To just retaliate to what was in game. In Game 2, Hartenstein was not playing basketball.

[Dan LeBatard]

Plumlee and Biombo. Sounds like the worst accounting firm.

[Stugotz]

Put it on the poll at LeBatard show. Do you trust, trust Plumlee and Biyombo with your accident needs?

[Chris Cody]

I think the importance of Dear and Fox, it just comes in and shines through. Like last night, Dylan Harper had momentum. Swinging turnovers, bro, in the back court, one on one. You can't have those type of mistakes at this stage and not throw Dear and Fox out there.

[Stugotz]

But this is part of why it is, okay, that I believe the Knicks are really enjoying what's happening in this series. Because Harper's not healthy either, right? Like these, this series, if it cannot be covered enough, okay. I keep saying broken basketball is breaking its players. We've talked for two years now about the way the style of play, the pace is affecting ligaments on people who are way too thin and long. And the way that they're playing affects injuries.

[Greg Cody]

Thin and long.

[Stugotz]

And the Knicks are playing against two teams that might limp into the game against them or into the finals against them. Who is the broadcaster these days, though? I'm giving you all a sport. All of the people talking into microphones during games. I'm not talking about the opinion shows or the debate shows. I'm talking about during games. Who is the guy or woman doing games right now saying the dumbest shit? Because Reggie Miller has said something here and I don't know what DraftKings is putting the odds at. Can you guys tell me what kind of underdog the Knicks are going to be against either OKC or the Spurs? But here's Reggie Miller saying something that makes me think he doesn't have any idea what he's talking about. Whomever wins this series, I've seen enough from the Knicks. The Knicks are going to be favored in the finals to win it all. I'm just telling you right now, okay?

[Mike Ryan]

They're gonna be a massive underdog.

[Jon Weiner]

Zero chance.

[Dan LeBatard]

We have ways of looking this up, Reg. They are presently not favored right now, even though there's an active series going on.

[Mike Ryan]

Massive underdog.

[Chris Cody]

I happen to agree with Reggie, though.

[Stugotz]

I don't.

[Mike Ryan]

That's just an opinion, though.

[Chris Cody]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, I don't think the. The sports book will reflect, but at the same time, if you look at the matchups right now with the turnovers from the spurs and then this. This overall softness of The Thunder like check got his chest went through yesterday two times. Once by Kelden Johnson and once by Wimby for no reason, just because he wanted to.

[Mike Ryan]

There's.

[Chris Cody]

I think that that's gonna shine through at the next level because OKC relies on feel for us and New York is coming straight at you no matter what.

[Mike Ryan]

There's nothing wrong with anything you just said. It's your opinion. You may. You may end up being right. But you can't say that the Knicks are going to be favorite favor because they're not. They're going to be a massive result.

[Stugotz]

You cannot Juju agree with Reggie Miller when he is simply factually wrong. Like he can have his opinion on whether he thinks the Knicks are going to win. The difference here is juju saying they should be favored.

[Mike Ryan]

I don't even think juju's saying, well,

[Stugotz]

that's what he kind of just said.

[Jon Weiner]

They're going to.

[Chris Cody]

I think yeah, I think they should be. Just because I'm the.

[Dan LeBatard]

You think they're going to win.

[Stugotz]

And Reggie Miller's like, they will be, which they won't.

[Mike Ryan]

I've seen enough. They're favored.

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, DraftKings actually likes the Knicks a little bit more than other books. They're presently plus 205. They've only gone up a little bit since yesterday.

[Mike Ryan]

Pretty big underdog that that is.

[Dan LeBatard]

And keep in mind it'll go up once okc. If OKC wins this, the only way it goes down is if it's the Spurs.

[Mike Ryan]

I mean, Reggie also a couple months ago said that Derrick Rose battled LeBron James for best player in the league for eight years.

[Stugotz]

You've been holding it against him since he said it on the Dan Patrick Show. But answer my question. Who's the broadcaster right now saying the dumbest shit like just during games.

[Dan LeBatard]

The one anyone knew you were talking on. I knew you were talking about Reggie when you started asking question. I'm like, this is a. Ask everybody back here. This is a Reggie Miller question.

[Stugotz]

You're doing predictions on where it is that I'm yeah.

[Dan LeBatard]

Predict. DK prediction market. I knew right away you were transitioning to Reggie Miller. I did appreciate Jamal Crawford when they were talking about the goaltend invoking the Pacers Pistons series. Just a laugh at Reggie Miller because of Tayshawn Prince Trista.

[Stugotz]

Can you get people updated on what Draymond Green is doing? Because I wouldn't put him in the category because he's not doing games, he's doing studio show. But Draymond Green recently did something Or I guess last night did something that I just simply haven't seen a whole lot of athletes do. And Draymond Green might be the king in sports of I don't give an F. He is basically threatening the children. This is just not. This is not normal behavior. Draymond Green is on social media threatening the children of someone on Twitter who has children in his avatar. What has he written? What is the direct quote from Draymond Green as he goes after not a fan, but a fan's children?

[Greg Cody]

He said, watch your mouth before I crush those dirty ass kids in your banner. And I was like, let me click on this person's.

[Mike Ryan]

It's as we all did check out dirty.

[Stugotz]

We all clicked on it.

[Greg Cody]

Are they dirty?

[Chris Cody]

Do they.

[Greg Cody]

They just. I think he just thought they were. They were giving dirty. It was the aura of dirty and crushing them is crazy.

[Chris Cody]

I think somebody should Jackson dart question him like, hey, yeah, what did you mean by crushing?

[Mike Ryan]

What are we doing, man?

[Jon Weiner]

Yeah.

[Stugotz]

Now the. The fan did write come outside. B word.

[Chris Cody]

Is that make.

[Stugotz]

I'm not like, I don't go after

[Mike Ryan]

the kids is my point.

[Stugotz]

You can have a snarky response here.

[Jon Weiner]

Just don't go after the kids. Right.

[Dan LeBatard]

I think this is once again working against Draymond in that he's not Shaq or Barkley, because Shaq could say that and I think we'd all laugh. Yeah, right. In fact, I'm pretty sure Shaq says that regularly.

[Mike Ryan]

I think if Shaq stood in front of me right now and said that, I think it's hilarious.

[Greg Cody]

But remember, like, this kind of reminds me of dan Bernstein from 670 the Score, like 12 months ago. He came after a fan on Twitter and he then, like, threatened his family and he was, like, immediately fired from 6, 7 to the score. Like, you just can't come after fans and physically threaten them, especially kids. Kids, like, I saw that and I was like, oh, this is a Dan Bernstein situation. And then it just. Just happened and people went about their life and I was like, oh, that's. Oh, draymond. Just being Draymond.

[Chris Cody]

87, 000 likes, by the way, on that comment.

[Mike Ryan]

People liked it.

[Tony]

The road to the NBA Finals ends

[Chris Cody]

here, with star guard setting the tone. The Cavs eye another upside. While the Knicks carry the dreams of all of New York. The Eastern Conference finals continue on ESPN and ABC.

[Stugotz]

Dan LeBatard. This is the quickest it goes. Hey, this is the quickest it goes. Stugats, everybody. This is the quickest it goes. Yeah, this is The Dan Levatar show with the St. Give me the start of the day music, please. Start of the day, start of the day it is the start of the day start of the day, start of the day it is the start of the day start of the day, start of the day it is the start of the day start of the day, start of the day it is the start of the day.

[Chris Cody]

For the price of a Knicks Finals ticket, you can buy a four bedroom house in Oklahoma City.

[Stugotz]

Put it on the poll at LeBatard show. Did you know that for the price of a Knicks Finals ticket you can buy a four bedroom house in Oklahoma City? Juju just mentioned Jackson Darda again and I wanted to circle back on that from yesterday. For those of you who do not know, and I don't know what Greg Cody's opinions are on this, he's leaning into the microphone, which makes me think he might be about to give me some of his opinions on this. I have heard his nostrils, a bit of a canopy over his mouth, you know, breathing into the microphone when I don't want to hear from him and I've heard him back away from the microphone when I do want to hear from him.

[Jon Weiner]

Yeah, I'll play it safe and just start talking like this the whole time.

[Stugotz]

Did you have any thoughts on Jackson Dart at a rally for Donald Trump deciding to inform America that he was going to create headlines of distraction that the Giants don't need by aligning himself with a political elite that most of the country at this point, polling shows is not on the side of the corrupt criminal entity presently running our country? Right.

[Tony]

Yeah.

[Jon Weiner]

Jackson Dart takes a chance by coming out on that side of the political spectrum and now he may have to pay the price for it, which will be why? Why do you support this guy when he's done this, this and the other and he's associated with this, this and the other and Epstein and all this stuff. Whether or not the New York, New Jersey media approaches Dart with these questions, I don't know. I don't know. I'll be interested in.

[Stugotz]

You have to. You have to. New York media, I am imploring you, New York media. Ask him specific questions. How do you feel about January6? How do you feel about the Epstein file? Keep asking him questions. He invited this. Ask him the difficult questions. New York media, don't go soft on me now. The only quarterback you got in town invited this. Ask him the questions and don't let him slip away with, well, I respect the office. No, answer these specific questions. Not with no comment. You invited this.

[Jon Weiner]

Okay. I'm speaking as somebody who's maybe in the room listening to the questions or even asking the question. I think the question will be broader than that. I think the question will be, aren't you concerned about a distraction within your team? That type of.

[Stugotz]

No, that's not the question I want.

[Jon Weiner]

I don't. Yeah, well, the question you want might not be the question that's asked, I don't think.

[Stugotz]

No, it has to. It has to be asked. You're the New York media market. You asked tough questions. He decided to invite you. This New York media, he's challenging you. He invited this into his locker room, put it there for him.

[Greg Cody]

And that's all the time that we have for Jackson Dart. That concludes the end of this media availability.

[Dan LeBatard]

You have anything to add on it? You were so good yesterday.

[Mike Ryan]

No, I don't like the way I represented myself yesterday.

[Dan LeBatard]

I've chewed on this story a little bit more since yesterday because I'm really confused as to why Abdul Carter is getting so much shit for merely reacting. Like, everyone's like, how do you. How do you do this to your teammates? How. How do you draw this out in public? I'm like, wait a second. That. This is a Jackson Dart issue. I.

[Jon Weiner]

If.

[Dan LeBatard]

If you're okay with Jackson Dart doing what he is doing, you have to be okay with Abdul Carter doing what he is doing. It doesn't make any sense to just go at Abdul Carter. And then I thought about it some more. I'm like, abdul Carter right now, this week, with all the talking heads that have weighed in with their agenda. Abdul Carter has had a tougher weekend than Steve Tisch did. The chairman and co owner of the New York Giants for emailing directly with Jeffrey Epstein. I forgot about that. About working girls, quote, working girls. Look it up, people. There is a lot. It was in the news for like, two days and it went away. Not as long in the news as Abdul Carter's been.

[Mike Ryan]

I thought that was going to be a really big thing, and that totally went away.

[Stugotz]

The NFL has to make it a big thing. And doesn't. And won't. And didn't. Because Goodell works for the owners and his job is to protect the money and the owners.

[Dan LeBatard]

So when you're asking questions of Jackson Dart and, hell, Abdul Carter, let's ask questions about the chairman of the New York Giants and why he's emailing Jeffrey Epstein about, quote, working girls.

[Stugotz]

You said you're confused, though, and I'm not. He's black. And Muslim and the way that people are aligned now politically, they will shape whatever they already think around. The ways to protect the white guy or go after the black guy a little harder. That's not in any way new. But the reason I want Jackson Dart asked difficult questions, like, what does Trump stand for Jackson? How do you feel about Trump leaning deeply into white supremacy? Ask him difficult questions. Make him answer them.

[Dan LeBatard]

Oh, by his appearance there, I think he invited direct questions about Steve Tish. That's why it's a puzzling decision how the Giants allowed this. And I think, think, I think we all have an idea of where the political leanings are of that franchise is given. Abdul Carter removing the post and just Jackson Dart being allowed to do this. Why would you make the block hot if your owner and chairman is in the Epstein files? Just bad ball out of them.

[Stugotz]

Let me, let me backtrack though here, Greg and Greg sitting here saying, and I really do want to address this, the New York media market has always been notoriously tough. The tabloids still somehow matter in that city, even though newspapers are dying all over the place. Do you not believe that the New York media has a responsibility to ask difficult questions of Jackson Dart? And let us hear what you believe.

[Jon Weiner]

Right.

[Stugotz]

Like if you want to be the quarterback who introduces Trump during this time time, please expound on your thoughts. Tell us. I want him put in a position to sound educated or uneducated with the decision that he just made. He deserves to be made uncomfortable if he's going to support this particular presidency during a deeply uncomfortable time. Why not ask the quarterback of the New York Giants? Hey, how do you feel about Donald Trump going after, after an attack on freedom and democracy? How do you feel about Iran? How do you feel about these things? Tell us, Jackson, you're up. You've made yourself a political person. Just tell us what you think.

[Jon Weiner]

I agree that he has exposed himself to these direct questions. I agree that he's volunteered these questions by stating who he believes in, etc. I would love the questions to be asked. I'm just taking the side that I don't know that they will be. Be.

[Greg Cody]

They definitely won't.

[Stugotz]

Trista, hit the nail on the head.

[Jon Weiner]

It'll be.

[Tony]

It'll be a PR person.

[Stugotz]

All right, that'll do it for Jackson.

[Jon Weiner]

I do think the question will be asked in the broader context of, you know, clubhouse chemistry and all that bullshit, but I don't think they'll be asked as sharply and directly as you want them to be. That's just my Prediction.

[Chris Cody]

I think what Mike is saying is, is also important like it's our duty as Americans as the populace to not fall for the distraction over here they trying to throw at us. The Abdul call, broader distraction. It would be a disservice to us to file for that. Keep the pressure on these people who made these decisions and hold them accountable. That's what we have gone too far in this country not doing.

[Dan LeBatard]

I don't think asking Jackson dark questions will go anywhere. My hopes aren't great for that. But at least let him suffer the indignity of an embarrassing situation where a PR person comes and rescues him or he no comments the entire time. Again, this was not, not, he's not an Olympian. He wasn't at the White House. He can't say, well it's a great honor anytime the President asks you first off, why is the President still doing campaign stops? I don't understand that that should be. Add that to the list of questions.

[Mike Ryan]

Why?

[Dan LeBatard]

Why is the President having campaign stops? All right, he's a two term President but Jackson Dort went to a pep rally. He got people fired up. It was an endorsement of the President. It wasn't just like this is my duty as an American because isn't this cool? The times in this country are dead different. This is not normal politics anymore. Your owner is in the Epstein files. That president is actively covering it up. Let's answer those questions if you're gonna go ahead and do that.

[Stugotz]

Well let me just place in front of the audience a handful of things here cuz I'm really surprised by Greg Cody's answer here because I expect more from the New York media market. I've been told all my life that that's the most difficult media market to play in. And we have diluted all of this so much that you guys don't even feel that we're going to get the simple question of and how did this happen? What advice did you get from people in order for this to happen? So if you guys are telling me at every turn it's going to be no comments or just empty, superficial, oh I respect the office. Aren't you of the opinion that it is the responsibility of the New York media when this story is present to not trade the access for non answers. The job of the media in this circumstance is to act ask difficult questions. Not the questions that simply keep getting you the access to a quarterback who's not going to say anything but platitudes and no comments because telling you what he really thinks about some of these things is obviously going to expose him to something he doesn't want in his huddle, because he's already invited it into his huddle.

[Dan LeBatard]

Just in fairness to even the New York media, I know you guys are chewing on, like, a hypothetical down the line, but they haven't had the opportunity yet. We are not in season. They are not made available to the press. And that's what they're banking on right now, is hopefully he's not made available for normal press availability for a while. And maybe given the way that this country has gone over the last few months, there's always something new in the news stream that'll punch it out of the way.

[Chris Cody]

And the way the NFL has gone, you see how they handle Mike Vrabel. He came in there, hey, I'm going to therapy. All right, y'.

[Dan LeBatard]

All.

[Chris Cody]

It's like, we're not gonna hold him to the fire.

[Stugotz]

Oh, but he had to get in front of people. And I don't think that market is what New York is. But I'm really surprised that the journalists among us that Greg Cody is sitting here just resigned to. New York media is probably not going to do it. Like, I think they have a responsibility. It is literally their job.

[Jon Weiner]

Okay. I think their job is to ferret out how Jackson Dart's political stance might affect the team detrimentally or otherwise. I think that's their job. You know, I'm anti Trump and I'm out front with that. I haven't voted for him, never would. Don't like him as a president. And you know it, and you do know it. But look, it's not against the law to be a Trump supporter.

[Stugotz]

You agreed with your own catchphrase there.

[Jon Weiner]

Yes, I did, and you know it. I wanted to underline that it's not against the law to be a Trump supporter. I wish it were, but it isn't. And so I don't think you go into a press conference, you know, putting Jackson Dart on the defensive as if what he is saying, what he believes is in, is illegal. It isn't. That's my.

[Stugotz]

I didn't say it was illegal. I say he deserves questions. How did we go from deserves questions to illegal?

[Jon Weiner]

Okay, He.

[Stugotz]

I didn't say jail. Jackson Dart. I mean, your tone is kind of

[Mike Ryan]

like, we need to go after this guy.

[Stugotz]

Just ask him questions. Go after him. Ask him questions.

[Greg Cody]

How do you feel about tiki torches?