Doing Stuff To Bring Yourself Joy | Local Hour

Summary

The Dan Le Batard Show

Episode: Doing Stuff To Bring Yourself Joy | Local Hour
Date: July 23, 2026
Location: Live from the Elser Hotel, Downtown Miami

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Episode Overview

This episode of the “Local Hour” of The Dan Le Batard Show centers on the theme of doing things that bring you personal joy, with the crew reflecting on nostalgia, openly embracing fandoms, and the current LeBron James to Miami Heat speculation. The hosts weave together personal stories, pop culture reflections, and heated (but hilarious) NBA debates—Miami style. Throughout, the group pushes back on sports media misfires and takes time to “clear up” Miami-based LeBron rumors.

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Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Openly Embracing What Makes You Happy

• Stugotz’s revelation: He’s reached a point in his life where he only wants to do things that make him feel good, no longer hiding his passion for “nerdy” or “uncool” interests like pro wrestling.

  “At this point in my life, I just choose to do things that make me feel good. That's it. I'm not embarrassed about what I like.” (Stugotz, 08:16)

• Bowling & Generational Gaps:
  The episode opens with a humorous update on Greg Cody’s absence due to physical pain after bowling, sparking jokes about sports injuries and generational endurance.

  • Chris: “150 is a good score for my dad… 130 is probably his average.”
  • Stugotz: “We’re not asking to come in and lay brick… just sit here and talk.” (02:27)
  • Dan quips on not always feeling great in the morning: “Everybody feels bad today, but we tell our bodies not today.” (03:47)

2. Nostalgia & Sharing Joy with Family

• He-Man with Kids & Movie Joy:
  • Dan and Stugotz relive their childhoods by watching “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe” with family, discussing the simple pleasures of sharing nostalgia.

    “This is a shared experience that I want to have with my daughter because I grew up watching He-Man…” (Dan, 05:01) “I just want to do things that make me feel good. And that's why, that's why I'm so into this movie. That's why I had so much fun at the theater watching He-Man because it reminds me of my childhood.” (Stugotz, 08:02)

  • Both reflect on defying embarrassment about their youthful fandoms.

3. Wrestling, Pop Culture, and Embracing the "Uncool"

• Discussion on how wrestling, once a “secret shame,” is now more accepted among grown-ups.

  • “You don't just outwardly tell people. You don't wear wrestling shirts out in public.” (Stugotz, 09:27)

• Stugotz shares about taking his son to SummerSlam in Minnesota, encapsulating the show’s theme: “I want to do things that make me feel good.” (10:13)

• The hosts riff on the fun (and sometimes awkward) experiences at movie theaters, both past and present.

4. Top 5 Fun Movie Theater Experiences (Dan’s List)

[11:10 – 13:19]

• No. 5: Twisters – Crowd energy, costuming, and Glenn Powell’s entrance.
• No. 4: Mission Impossible: Fallout – “Greatest action movie ever made.” (Dan, 12:04)
• No. 3: Tropic Thunder – Show event, hot crowd, laughter.
• No. 2: Avengers: Endgame – “When the Avengers assemble... when he grabs Thor’s hammer. Talk about an HJ.” (Dan, 13:05)
• No. 1: Get Out – Opening night, crowd on edge, unforgettable audience reactions.

  “When I think back to that film... it just pales in comparison to that first experience... The crowd was just reacting to everything that was on the screen.” (Dan, 13:19)

5. Miami Heat, LeBron James & Media Misinformation

• Ongoing LeBron James free agency saga:
  • The crew debates why LeBron is taking so long and call out sports media for “lazy” analysis and rumor-mongering.
  • Critique of commentators claiming Miami “doesn’t have shooters”:

    “You don't get to just make up facts… You don't get to make up facts, the Heat don’t have shooters.” (Stugotz, 24:34)

  • Notable moment: Chris: “If you’re including [Simone] Fontecchio in this list of good shooters, you don’t have good shooters.” (21:05)
  • The panel dissects Heat roster moves, three-point percentages, and media narratives (“Colin Cowherd… gets things wrong.” – Stugotz, 21:22).
  • Dan jokes, “On this roster, LeBron is lumped into the shooters.” (21:18)

Clearing Up LeBron Miami Rumors [32:48 – 37:30]

• The team dismantles viral internet “clues” suggesting LeBron is Miami-bound:
  • Nike Heat shirts and jersey listings are just recycled merchandise, not hints.

    “The headline here is that it’s an older shirt… It has nothing to do with LeBron's impending decision.” (Dan, 36:11)

  • Job postings in the Heat social media department are unrelated and longstanding.
  • Rumors of LeBron being angry at Adam Silver are traced back to “just some Cleveland talking head,” not legitimate reporting.

6. NBA Media, Goat Debates & Recruiting

• Jeremy details his viral moment asking Bobby Portis, “Who’s the NBA GOAT?”—answer: LeBron James (25:40).
  • “Nobody else is tackling this terrain.” (Dan, 26:24)
• The guys joke about the “courage” needed to ask NBA players the GOAT question, and about Miami's efforts to “recruit” LeBron.

7. Embracing Small Joys: Top 5 from Oli

• Working out in the morning
• Going to movies solo
• H.J. (self-explanatory, comedic context)
• Watching Love Island UK
• Mani/pedis, Christmas, watching/listening to Glee (17:08 – 17:54)

  • “That list is exclusive to you.” (Stugotz, 17:55)

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On hiding your passions:

  “As long as they’re legal.” (Stugotz, 10:13)

• On group joy:

  “When I think back to that movie… that’s the magic of the movies.” (Dan, 11:52)

• On sports content hot takes:

  “Not all of them are real, though… predicting markets out there, people are always looking for an edge, and then you have a lot of misinformation spreading.” (Dan, 32:48)

• On LeBron paranoia:

  “We’re being edged right now by the King.” (Dan, 18:36)
  “If we don’t get him, I’m rooting for him to totally flop this year wherever he goes.” (Stugotz, 19:40)

• On fake NBA news:

  “The headline here is that it’s an older shirt… nothing to do with LeBron’s impending decision.” (Dan, 36:11)

• Jeremy’s viral NBA GOAT question:

  Jeremy: “NBA GOAT?”
  Bobby Portis: “LeBron James.” (25:39)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:59 – Where’s Greg Cody? Bowling injuries & generational ribbing
• 04:25 – On sleep, exercise, and feeling “good” in the morning
• 05:01 – He-Man nostalgia, sharing with family
• 08:02 – 10:13 – Stugotz on doing stuff for joy, no longer hiding wrestling fandom
• 11:10 – 13:19 – Dan’s Top 5 Fun Movie Theater Experiences
• 18:36 – 24:34 – LeBron James free agency angst, Miami Heat roster, media misinformation
• 25:39 – 26:12 – Jeremy asks Bobby Portis about the NBA GOAT
• 32:48 – 37:30 – Debunking LeBron/Miami viral rumors (shirts, social media, job postings)
• 40:00 – 42:11 – Breaking down LeBron’s reasons for delay; media theories on trades and ego

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Episode Takeaways

• Embrace what brings you joy—even (or especially) the things society might consider weird or embarrassing.
• Nostalgia, personal rituals, and group experiences are vital to adult happiness—even if it’s He-Man or pro wrestling.
• Miami is buzzing with anticipation about LeBron, but much of the speculative “evidence” is internet noise.
• The show's chemistry shines through blending vulnerability (admitting what you love) with sharp local sports and culture critique.

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A fun, reflective Local Hour that balances Miami sports anxiety with serious life advice: pursue joy shamelessly, ignore the Twitter noise, and never trust “news” about new Heat LeBron merch.

Transcript

[Dan Le Batard]

Summer is pretty much my favorite time to be a sports fan. The biggest soccer tournament of the summer just wrapped up. Baseball's on every night, racing never takes a weekend off. And my calendar basically revolves around first pitches, green flags, and whatever game everybody's texting about. I realized I'm the MVP of my group. I'm always the friend that says, hey, I've got it. I've got a place. I've got some ice cold Miller lights. I got the tv. I got a big comfy blue leather couch. Come on over. That's the behavior of a Miller Time mvp. I almost never watch the big ones alone. I'd much rather be with my friends. And if I am alone, we're texting, we're sipping on our Miller Lites, toasting the day, toasting the big games. For me, Miller Lite is just a part of a big game routine. It's brewed for taste with simple ingredients, clean, refreshing, and easy to drink, especially in the Miami heat. It's a true American pilsner. And the original light beer is since 1975. An all American summer starts with an all American beer Miller lite. Go to millerlight.com dan to find delivery options near you. Or you can pick up some Miller Lite pretty much anywhere they sell beer. It's Miller time. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Co. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces at the Home Depot. Get up to 15% off all installed carpet projects for a limited time. Featuring brands like LifeProof, LifeProof with pet proof Technology, Home Decorators Collection and Traffic Master. Take your pick of carpet built for real life and designed for real comfort. Plus with installations starting as low as 49 cents per square foot and a free measure to get you started, we'll handle the hard parts for you. Offer valid July 16, 2026 through August 2, 2026. Exclusion Supply for licenses, see homedepot.com licensenumbers. You are listening to the Dan Levatar

[Stugotz]

show in partnership with the DraftKings sports app.

[Dan Le Batard]

Now live in all 50 states.

[Stugotz]

Where's Greg? Cody, where's Greg? I mean, he does a little bit of kicking yesterday. I know he went bowling last night. Where's Greg? Chris, where's your father?

[Chris]

I got a text this morning that. Not feeling it. Not feeling it today. In pain?

[Dan Le Batard]

What does that mean?

[Stugotz]

Yeah, not feeling what?

[Chris]

He's in pain. He said his body hurts.

[Stugotz]

So. So does so he's just. Is he just laying down at home then? Is that what happens?

[Chris]

Possibly.

[Stugotz]

Because we're not asking to come in and lay brick. I mean, just sit here and.

[Dan Le Batard]

And talk AO respectfully.

[Oli]

Over under beers to shots on goal. 13 shots on goal.

[Chris]

Dead even.

[Stugotz]

Wow, that is. That is something, huh? He's got enough energy last night to going to roll. Okay. Everybody knows you don't roll in shots.

[Dan Le Batard]

Played well.

[Chris]

Yeah, he did bowl well. Yes.

[Stugotz]

What do you bowl?

[Chris]

What's well for him in the. In the mid.

[Stugotz]

And don't give me his handicap. I don't even know how that works. I can be honest with you.

[Chris]

150 is a good score for my dad.

[Stugotz]

Okay.

[Chris]

Yeah. 130 is where he is. Probably his average, so he likes a 150. 160.

[Stugotz]

Yeah.

[Chris]

He bowled well last night. Not. Not great, but not terrible.

[Stugotz]

What about you? What's. What's an average score? You show up to the lanes, you roll right now, what should you get?

[Chris]

Clearly better than my dad by a little bit. I'm like, in the high 170.

[Stugotz]

Clearly, by a little bit,

[Chris]

I'm better than my dad.

[Stugotz]

Okay.

[Chris]

As you can tell, for me, I also had a long night, but I'm here.

[Stugotz]

Okay.

[Dan Le Batard]

Sound like it.

[Chris]

I come here, man.

[Dan Le Batard]

It sounds like it. Well, that's just. Are you sick? You battling through something? That was just last night. What's in your chest?

[Chris]

This is just how I sound.

[Dan Le Batard]

I had a devastating bout with the sniffles.

[Jeremy]

What a kill. Jeremy.

[Dan Le Batard]

Covering it would have killed Jeremy.

[Stugotz]

When do you get the notice from your father?

[Chris]

I got a text this morning, like, not feeling good today.

[Stugotz]

All right.

[Oli]

None of us feel good today.

[Dan Le Batard]

Everybody feels bad today, but we tell our bodies not today.

[Stugotz]

Yeah. When's the last time you woke up? Like, I feel good. I haven't had a morning like that in a really long. I feel good.

[Dan Le Batard]

That's not surprising. It happens occasionally.

[Chris]

Yeah.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Usually, like the day after basketball. I get a yeah, I'm not sore anymore. I've worked all those muscles.

[Stugotz]

But you ever wake up in the

[Dan Le Batard]

morning cardio and sweated all the poison out.

[Stugotz]

But do you ever wake up in the morning, like, man, I feel refreshed?

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, sometimes. Occasionally. You should try exercise, brother.

[Stugotz]

I never feel that way or exercise. How do you know I don't exercise?

[Dan Le Batard]

I look at you.

[Stugotz]

Fair answer. Fair answer. Last night for the first time in a week, right? Because today's Thursday. And a week ago came out for the first time in a week. I was not thinking about the Odyssey because I watched he man last night halfway through it.

[Dan Le Batard]

Halfway through it.

[Stugotz]

What do you mean?

[Dan Le Batard]

Halfway through it, I started watching with my daughter. There's bedtime.

[Stugotz]

Oh, it's. Why don't you continue?

[Dan Le Batard]

I don't want to push bedtime.

[Stugotz]

No, but continue on your own, because

[Dan Le Batard]

I'm watching it with my daughter. Rude thing to do.

[Stugotz]

Like, she'll know that you went and watched it.

[Dan Le Batard]

All right, look, you got a weird dynamic with your kids. I don't want to comment on it. That's your family.

[Stugotz]

I don't know.

[Dan Le Batard]

But this is a shared experience that I want to have with my daughter because I grew up watching he man and the Masters of the Universe, but my first pet's name was she Ra. I love the Masters of the Universe, and I'm. I'm enjoying experience.

[Stugotz]

Are you enjoying the movie?

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, so far, so good.

[Stugotz]

It's so good.

[Dan Le Batard]

Skeletor, I think, is the best part.

[Stugotz]

Unbelievably, Jared Leto does not ruin the movie because he ruins movies. Well, that's because he's poison.

[Dan Le Batard]

There's only a handful of times that you can pick up on, like, oh, yeah, I guess that's Jared Leto.

[Stugotz]

Yeah, he's great in it.

[Dan Le Batard]

If that's him.

[Stugotz]

I think it's him.

[Dan Le Batard]

It's like an AI model. It's weird.

[Oli]

Like, he.

[Dan Le Batard]

They could have gotten anybody to do it.

[Stugotz]

My son was asked me because we watched it again last night, Skeletor. Is that. Is he in, like. Is he in gear or is that his actual body? Like, his body's blue? It's a good question. My son.

[Dan Le Batard]

It is. And Masters of the Universe.

[Stugotz]

I think it's his body.

[Dan Le Batard]

Masters of the Universe doesn't seem. What I'm enjoying so much about it is. It doesn't seem like it wants to explain things all that much. Like, his name is Fisto. He's got a big fist. You know, it doesn't really want to get bogged down into the lore of it. It's weird. Enjoy.

[Stugotz]

I loved it. I loved it. And so in the middle of the movie. All right. It's the second time I've seen it. I've been waiting for it to come out on streaming because I loved it so much. It was as fun as I had in a movie theater in so long.

[Dan Le Batard]

I think there's one dialogue exchange which is like, what's his problem? And they're like, he's got a skeleton for a face.

[Stugotz]

Yeah, yeah.

[Dan Le Batard]

Like that. He's bad, right?

[Stugotz]

Yeah. Well. And that made sense. So, you know, why is he so bad? He has a skeleton.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, he has a skeleton for a face. That Makes him bad. Like this is perfect. This is actually perfect for a six year old daughter.

[Chris]

Most fun you've had at a movie theater. I feel like even if I'm in enjoying a movie, I'm not having fun in a movie.

[Jeremy]

Oh, I've had some fun at the movie. You know what I mean?

[Stugotz]

I do know what you mean.

[Jeremy]

I've had some fun at the movie theater.

[Dan Le Batard]

You're talking about an HJ baby. It seems like you're talking.

[Jeremy]

That's not what I'm talking about.

[Stugotz]

Yeah, because I. I made a revelation yesterday is what Tony's talking about. Because who was it with asking about Harry Potter movies, right?

[Jeremy]

It was me. I said I had never seen one ever.

[Stugotz]

Yeah, and I've technically never seen a Harry Potter movie either. Except one time I was in the theater when Harry Potter was playing on the screen. It's because this is years ago when I was a camp counselor and my wife was also. She wasn't my wife then. That'd be weird if as husband and wife were camp counselors. That would make us huge losers. But anyway, I kid, Jeremy. I kid. I'm talking about day camp here. All right? Like every day over the summer.

[Oli]

Yeah, I get it. Come on, every Jewish kid goes to one.

[Stugotz]

And we were counselors and so we, we were in the theater for Harry Potter, but I didn't see a second of it because we were making out.

[Jeremy]

Hell yeah.

[Stugotz]

That's right. Necking, talking about. That's right. Anyway, what was I saying? So I was really enjoying he man last night. And in the middle of the movie, I. Not that I didn't really know this, but it just dawned on me again. I just want to do things that I love. I just want to do things that make me feel good. And that's why, that's why I'm so into this movie. That's why I had so much fun at the theater watching he man because it reminds me of my childhood. And I love nostalgia. I'm a huge sucker for nostalgia. And it just boils down to at this point in my life, and it really is a liberating feeling. At this point in my life, I just choose to do things that make me feel good. That's it. I'm not embarrassed about what I like. Not embarrassed about doing anything. Like one that long ago, I would never admit to anyone that I liked wrestling. I mean, if you grew up in the 80s and then into the 90s like me, you didn't tell anyone you liked wrestling. That was a dirty secret.

[Dan Le Batard]

Really?

[Stugotz]

Oh, yeah.

[Jeremy]

You guys didn't have, like, you know, conventions or people that you got with. You're like, yo, did you see. Whatever.

[Chris]

When did that flip? Like, when. When did it become fine, dude.

[Stugotz]

Well, and that's why. That's why if you find someone and still kind of like this today, if you find someone who likes pro wrestling, you want to talk about wrestling with them, because you didn't.

[Jeremy]

You.

[Stugotz]

You don't normally have that. Well, you like. You like the weird thing that I like, too. Let's talk about it. Okay. When did. When. When I got to a point in my life not too long ago where I'm comfortable enough at my age that I'm going to do things that give me joy. That's when I stop caring about anyone, knowing any weird thing that I might like.

[Jeremy]

So how did you find out that Mike was a wrestling guy? Or did he find out first that you were a wrestling guy? Because they're both big wrestling guys, and back in the day, like you said, it was very shameful.

[Dan Le Batard]

So how did you guys find reason thing? Because I've known ZAZ for 20 plus years, and in the beginning, I didn't know he was a wrestling guy.

[Chris]

Yeah.

[Stugotz]

Because you don't just outwardly tell people.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah.

[Stugotz]

You don't wear wrestling shirts out in public.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah. Yeah. He wasn't wearing his Roman reigns shirts back.

[Stugotz]

I would never have done that. I would never have worn.

[Oli]

How'd you.

[Jeremy]

How'd you. How'd you find out?

[Stugotz]

I don't know. You just. You just hear. I don't. I don't know. It could be. It could be any. Maybe. Maybe this show had a wrestler on one. Because this show used to have wrestlers on all the time.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah. When. When Zaz was. Wasn't a part of our show, he would ask me, like, is there any interest in. In DraftKings potentially doing a wrestling show? And he still sends me that text every other week.

[Stugotz]

Yeah. But I'm trying to push that through.

[Dan Le Batard]

I think that's how I found out.

[Stugotz]

I'm trying to push that through. No, but I got to a point, Chris, in my life, and I don't know how long ago it was, but I'm comfortable with myself, man. And I don't care that people know the things that I like, you know, as long as they're legal.

[Oli]

Love that.

[Stugotz]

Yeah. And. And so. So this brings me to, you know, he. Man, last night was like, yeah, I love this because I just want to do things. It's why I take my son. We're going in A week and a half. We're going up to Minnesota to go see SummerSlam. And it's a lot of money. Yeah. But, like, I want to do things that make me feel good. You know what I'm talking about?

[Oli]

Yeah. Have you tried sex?

[Stugotz]

Yes. Sex is great, man, but you can't have it all the time.

[Jeremy]

He said the kid, too, obviously.

[Stugotz]

Yeah. Yeah. I mean, come on.

[Dan Le Batard]

I have a top five things that

[Stugotz]

you do that make you feel good.

[Dan Le Batard]

No. Top five most fun experiences I've had at a movie theater.

[Stugotz]

Oh, great. Yeah.

[Chris]

Where you're like, wow, I'm having fun.

[Stugotz]

Well.

[Dan Le Batard]

Well, we're watching it with a group of people made me enjoy it that much more. Like, this is just a hot crowd. And when I think back to that movie, I'm like, man, that. That experience in that theater, that's the magic of the movies. Number five, Twisters.

[Stugotz]

That's a surprisingly good movie.

[Dan Le Batard]

Dude, when Glenn Powell showed up in that white T shirt, I've never heard ladies in a crowd react that way. I was the loudest among them. But, like, he got a loud ass pop. And that scene in the rain, I. It was a 40x experience. I was dressed as a cow. I just loved it.

[Stugotz]

You thought he was a bad guy. Yeah, but he's actually a good guy.

[Dan Le Batard]

The guy. The bad guy was actually Superman.

[Stugotz]

That's right.

[Dan Le Batard]

It was crazy. But, yeah, I was dressed as a cow. The AC wasn't working great, so I was a little sweaty, but. And I was getting sweaty.

[Stugotz]

That's how they claimed it.

[Dan Le Batard]

It was one of my first 40x experiences, and I just really, really loved it. Number four, Mission Impossible.

[Oli]

Fallout.

[Stugotz]

Okay, you know my problem with the Mission Impossible movies? I don't know which is which.

[Dan Le Batard]

Well, Fallout's the best movie ever made, so it's that one. Better than Dead Reckoning. Fallout's the best movie ever made.

[Stugotz]

Reckoning Part 2. Fallout.

[Dan Le Batard]

Fallout's the greatest action movie ever made. Fallout.

[Stugotz]

Is that the one where Henry Cable loads up his fists?

[Dan Le Batard]

Yes, that's what.

[Jeremy]

The greatest fight scene of all time.

[Dan Le Batard]

And it's the one where Ethan gets disavowed by his government.

[Jeremy]

I love that one.

[Stugotz]

Ah, yes, that one.

[Dan Le Batard]

And he saves the world with just mere seconds to spare.

[Stugotz]

Yes.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah.

[Oli]

Like, he.

[Dan Le Batard]

We're all like, he's on a cliff

[Jeremy]

and the world's about to end when

[Dan Le Batard]

you roll out of bed. Thank Ethan Hunt.

[Chris]

Yeah.

[Dan Le Batard]

Just saying. Number three, this may not be on other people's list, but we did a show event for Tropic Thunder.

[Jeremy]

Oh, that Was mine.

[Dan Le Batard]

And the crowd was so hot. And to watch a comedy in which everybody was just that ready to laugh, it was like going to see a great comedian that was just absolutely slaying Tropic. Up thumbs. Thunder. The show. Watch, watch along that we had for it killed number two. And I imagine this is universally on everybody's top five. Avengers endgame. Yeah. When the Avengers assemble and you. You start. Yeah, they say they start coming out of those portals.

[Stugotz]

Cap on your left.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah. Oh my God. When he grabs Thor's hammer. Talk about an hj.

[Jeremy]

Hey, yo.

[Dan Le Batard]

And number one. This one's gonna be super surprising. Get out.

[Stugotz]

Really the.

[Dan Le Batard]

I saw it at Regal Kendall Village and like I'm not exactly. It was the first of these Jordan Peele movies and people didn't really know what to expect. They were in on the concept, packed theater, Friday night, prime time movie, everybody on the edge of their seat. The crowd reaction to that was just so memorable for me. It was such a great film. And when I think back to that film, I've rewatched it and it just pales in comparison to that first experience that I had. It was such a great film. The crowd was just reacting to everything that was on the screen. So that was my number one.

[Stugotz]

I remember I was as nervous as I've ever been watching a movie leading up to that final scene because I was certain he was about to get arrested. He was going to get arrested and it was going to end like in, in. In such a poor way for him. And matter of fact, I don't know if you guys have seen it. There is that alternate ending. That ending was shot where he gets arrested. It's a real police officer, not his friend who shows up. And obviously it looks like he just, you know, hurt this girl, this white girl. And he. And it shows him going to prison that. That alternating would have been. I was nervous watching the. That police car pull offs like, oh my God, this movie's gonna be ruined now. But instead it's really fun ending anyway. There you go. Everyone was happy.

[Jeremy]

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[Stugotz]

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[Dan Le Batard]

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

[Jeremy]

I know it.

[Chris]

Well.

[Jeremy]

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

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah. You usually take all the credit for it, but it's because Tony usually walks in with Cuervo.

[Jeremy]

Walk in like this.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Cuervo is a thing that turns hanging out into this is the night.

[Jeremy]

It has that effect on people.

[Dan Le Batard]

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, hootin and hollerin'. Keep it Cuervo.

[Jeremy]

Keep it Cuervo, baby.

[Dan Le Batard]

Down.

[Stugotz]

Levitar. Put a finger in there. But if you tell anyone, I'll deny it. Mike Ryan. Don't just stare at it, eat it. Need an Avatar show?

[Oli]

I came up with the top five things I do to make me feel good that at one time.

[Stugotz]

All right, come on, Oli.

[Oli]

We'll work out in the morning. Also, Oli doesn't have to be embarrassing. Just things to do to make you feel good. Going to the movies by myself.

[Stugotz]

I. I have done it a long time, but I like going to movies by myself. I like that.

[Oli]

It's the greatest. Number five, H.J. number four. Watching Love Island UK. Number three. Sometimes.

[Dan Le Batard]

Number three, almost exclusively.

[Oli]

Getting a mani, pedi. Love a little manicure. Pedicure combo. It's a good one.

[Stugotz]

I've never had either one.

[Oli]

You go. It's a great feeling. Number two is Christmas. And number one, watching Glee, Even listening to the soundtrack.

[Jeremy]

Oh, right.

[Stugotz]

That list is exclusive to you.

[Dan Le Batard]

So you go lefty.

[Stugotz]

It's, like, getting a little strange. So, anyway, can I tell you something that's both. Like, I'm. I'm a little bit annoyed now. I'm not annoyed that LeBron has not chosen his team yet. I mean, I. I guess I can understand why people annoyed me in particular. I'm not annoyed. I'm. I'm more so. Like, I. I want to. I want him to choose where he's going, because it feels so unbelievable to me that he could actually wind up choosing the heat, that we could have that feeling once again. Not quite, like, 16 years ago, but it'd be a little bit similar. Like, it'd be really similar if he winds up choosing the heat again.

[Dan Le Batard]

And especially with this build up, as this buildup is making it seem that much bigger. If he did it early on, it would have probably gotten buried by other stuff. But this is. I mean, we're being edged right now by the King.

[Stugotz]

Well, and it's. It's adding to Giannis. Like, if we didn't get Giannis and then they get LeBron, it's not even remotely the same as if you're adding LeBron to a team that already has Giannis. Like, I want to know where LeBron's going, because just that reality to possibly set in, that, oh, my God, it just happened again. Like, it was crazy enough that it happened in 2010, but this might happen again.

[Dan Le Batard]

It's made us feel things again. Now if he doesn't pick Miami, I get to hate him again, too.

[Stugotz]

I.

[Dan Le Batard]

He's been living his life, and since I haven't worked up that kind of emotion. All that went when he shut everybody up, came back from three, one down. But now if I'm being edged like this, and he ends up going to Philly, I mean, come on. Hate on.

[Stugotz]

I'm going to root so hard against him.

[Chris]

If we get him, he's still got stuff in the tank. If we don't get him, he's cooked.

[Stugotz]

Yeah. Like, if we don't get him, I'm rooting for him to totally flop this year wherever he goes.

[Dan Le Batard]

So we're all on the same page.

[Jeremy]

Yeah.

[Dan Le Batard]

All right. Balls in your court, King.

[Stugotz]

Yeah. But something that is annoying me Is this. So it is odd. There's a couple of things that are odd as far as the way the media is handling this right now, and we talked about it yesterday, where you have media, seemingly out of nowhere are now talking about how the best fit is Miami. Miami is a great fit, basketball wise, lifestyle wise, all of it. They actually can offer more money, almost double what every other team can offer. Miami is the best, best option. It's like, how did it come out of nowhere? Nothing has changed. Nick Wright Yesterday said, how LeBron, LeBron go to Miami wasn't even on his top four, and now it's the best options. Like what? Nothing has changed. That bothers me. But what also bothers me is this whole idea that why would LeBron choose the Heat when they don't have any shooters? They have no one who can shoot. I don't understand this. Like, I saw, I. I saw some

[Dan Le Batard]

white guys, don't we?

[Stugotz]

Yeah, I got a couple.

[Dan Le Batard]

But I'm not even including Mitchell. He can shoot.

[Stugotz]

Right. But I'm not even including Jovic. Like, Jovic is supposed to be a good shooter, but I'm not even including him because he's dunk last year. Pella's not a good shooter.

[Dan Le Batard]

What about Fontechio?

[Stugotz]

Fontechio's a good shooter.

[Chris]

If you're including Fontechio in this list of good shooters, you don't have good shooters.

[Dan Le Batard]

Oh, stop. I just thought LeBron's made a bunch of these guys that you're like, who's that? And then like, oh, you can't leave that guy open.

[Stugotz]

Deadly Chris, he played games last year. Okay, like, and he shot 38% to be fair.

[Jeremy]

Yeah, Chris wasn't watching.

[Dan Le Batard]

On this roster, LeBron is lumped into the shooters.

[Stugotz]

But I saw this tweet from Colin Coward yesterday. Oh, my God, does he get things wrong? But Colin Coward, talking about the Heat, have lousy shooting and no floor spacing. And so I had to respond. I'm sure, I'm sure he lost sleep over my response, but I had to respond, you know, Wiggins, 41%, Mitchell, 40%, Portis, 46%, Hardaway, 41%. And Fontechio, the worst of the bunch, 38%, which is still a good percentage. 38%. So remind me how the he don't

[Dan Le Batard]

have shooters and Pele would get there.

[Stugotz]

Maybe.

[Dan Le Batard]

No, I mean, he's white. He'll get there.

[Stugotz]

Maybe. Well, and playing with giannis and maybe LeBron probably will help your three point percentage go up a little bit, maybe a smidge. Maybe a smidge, because you're going to be wide open when you catch the ball.

[Oli]

I think it's that the people who were only following the team tangentially look at Norman Powell or Tyler Herro and say like, oh, those are the guys who were taking all of their threes. They look at the fact that Pella Larson, sniper.

[Dan Le Batard]

But.

[Oli]

But all of those guys that you just mentioned are high percentage three point shooters and they don't have a random white who makes threes like Duncan Robinson used to.

[Dan Le Batard]

I like how you're talking hand up. I watched some of LeBron in the playoffs, but a lot of those regular season games too late. Does he still have the gravitational pool when he drives? Does he still have it like that? Because. Because you're talking about him in terms. And again, I haven't watched basketball in like 10 years, but you're talking about him like it's still like the. The same old LeBron, which would drive the lane, three guys got a collapse and somebody would be open. We're talking about a, you know, a dude in his 40s.

[Jeremy]

Yeah. But also, Mike, defensively, you have to think these guys are on fast twitch, muscle. Like instinct is somebody's driving with the ball. I've got to go help. No matter who it is. Right. It could be Horace Grant or It could be LeBron James.

[Stugotz]

And there's also Giannis.

[Dan Le Batard]

That's my point. Bam. So, like, you're going to have people collapsing because he can drive the lane and just dump it off to somebody that's going to do work down low that you got to worry about over there. So maybe he doesn't have the gravitational pull like he used to, but the trio certainly does around the Cup.

[Oli]

It's also the fact that, like, Bam made a career high in threes last year to a point where by about midway through the year, defenses started to respect the fact that he would even take the three. And half the time, that's all that matters, is just a guy being out there to take the shot whether it goes in or not. So the fact that you have a big man who can spread the floor in that way, Bobby Portis can do it at a really high percentage. And then you have Both Giannis and LeBron, let alone the fact that they'll be running pick and roll together, theoretically to create more open space for shooters. Wiggins did that and. And Mitchell did that in an offense that would get very clunky, like they played at a fast pace. But to be able to shoot that high of a percentage from 3. It. It's not often that a half court offense as poor as Miami's is able to have that type of percentages from their players.

[Stugotz]

You can come out and say that you don't think Miami's a good fit. You could say you think LeBron would be a better fit in Philadelphia or Cleveland. Whatever. It's the opinion. Fine. That's totally okay.

[Dan Le Batard]

Cleveland does have better shooters. I think that was a point that Coward was trying to make.

[Stugotz]

But you don't get to make up facts, though, like to say that the Heat don't have shooters. You're not entitled to make up your own facts. And when you look at the guys that I just told you there, those are not my opinions. Those are facts. Like, those numbers happened last season. And I would assume that those numbers, if you want to say those numbers were career numbers for some of those guys, yeah, you would be right. And I would also then respond with, okay, and now playing with Giannis and LeBron, you're likely going to get more career numbers next year. So it's just like that part has bothered me over the last couple. Well, even more than the last couple of days. You don't get to just make up facts that he don't have shooters. All right. They do for yourself anyway. Tony, you, you, you have. You sat down with Bobby Portis last week. You got him a few minutes before me. All right, fine. You won that.

[Dan Le Batard]

Thank you.

[Stugotz]

But you, it seems like you're, you're doing your part.

[Jeremy]

I've been doing my part to recruit LeBron James to the Miami Heat, more so than what we do here on the show, which is great. I went over and above and asked Bobby Portis who the NBA goat was. Here's his answer. NBA goat.

[Dan Le Batard]

NBA goat.

[Jeremy]

LeBron James.

[Oli]

Wow.

[Jeremy]

Okay. Over Jordan.

[Chris]

Yeah.

[Dan Le Batard]

I'm a Bron fan.

[Jeremy]

You're a Braun fan. You're.

[Dan Le Batard]

We're kind of similar age.

[Jeremy]

I'm a couple years older, but I'm not going. You're not going back.

[Dan Le Batard]

We can argue all day, but it's a month. Yeah, we can argue all day.

[Stugotz]

I'm.

[Chris]

I'm arguing.

[Stugotz]

Does he give that answer a year ago?

[Jeremy]

That's a great question. I didn't see anybody do that kind of leg work over in Milwaukee. Obviously, we're doing it better here in the Miami media. But the question was, why didn't this go viral on our pages? Right? Because it was on espn, NBA Daily yesterday. It was on all the aggregator sites.

[Stugotz]

And your face, your P was on

[Jeremy]

espn all of A sudden, a former employee texted me, hey, you're on espn. And I'm like, really? I was behind Omya Masuk, who was also interviewing Bobby Portis. He's like, no, you.

[Chris]

Nobody else is tackling this terrain.

[Dan Le Batard]

No, you're.

[Stugotz]

You're the guy who used to put the courage.

[Dan Le Batard]

The courage to ask an NBA player, who's the goat?

[Stugotz]

Yeah.

[Jeremy]

Nobody. Nobody else did it. Do you see your face up there? I don't see Chris up there.

[Dan Le Batard]

I don't look. I see you with the courage. One thing that you can always bet on me if I ever speak to an NBA player is I will never work up the courage to ask that question.

[Jeremy]

Well, don't go viral.

[Chris]

Sorry.

[Stugotz]

So you're doing your part here.

[Jeremy]

I'm doing my part because if you

[Stugotz]

don't ask him that, then Bobby Portis isn't putting it out there. Essentially his recruitment pitch for LeBron.

[Jeremy]

Exactly right.

[Stugotz]

And that's a good job.

[Jeremy]

The talking heads on ESPN were like, he must be recruiting. And we're like, yes, he is recruiting. And we don't have any inside information. All we're doing is trying to send the lifeline out there. Hey, Bronze Bobby thinks you're the goat.

[Oli]

This guy learned from the best because two years ago, I asked Khalil Ware for his Mount Rushmore of NBA players, and he gave me Wilt, Kobe, Anthony Edwards, and bam.

[Dan Le Batard]

I'm so happy he's gone.

[Jeremy]

Now he's a buck.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah. Just so I don't have to have Jeremy talk us into him anymore. I wasn't trying to.

[Stugotz]

Did anyone call you?

[Dan Le Batard]

Come and go for Kal El Ware?

[Stugotz]

Did anyone call you after this started to go viral where they wanted you to, like, maybe come on their show and talk about how you were able to muster up the courage.

[Jeremy]

Not yet.

[Stugotz]

Ask such a question?

[Jeremy]

Not yet. My line's open.

[Stugotz]

All right, well, that's a good job out of you, though.

[Jeremy]

I'm just doing my part.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah. The way that Bobby, like, looked to the camera to make me think something was going on. Like, maybe he knows something, and I had to be careful with his answer.

[Chris]

Okay. Maybe he's hearing something.

[Oli]

All right, friends, you guys know what a big fan I am of Quince. I'm constantly wearing their clothes. I've told you about it. I've got pants. I've got shirts, and it's what's in my wardrobe as I make an effort.

[Chris]

Okay.

[Oli]

Making an effort matters. And it's why I've been leaning on quints, particularly as we head into these summer months because you need to have stuff that's fit for the season. Their 100% European linen shirts and pants are breathable, lightweight and perfect for the summer. I recently picked up one of their linen shirts. It's sky blue. It's awesome. It's become a piece that I am constantly throwing on without even thinking about it because it looks good on camera, but also it's comfortable when I'm running around all day. And it works whether I'm at the studio or heading somewhere else for work. Everything at Quint's is priced 50 to 80% less than similar brands. Quints has become one of those brands I end up recommending for everything from home goods to travel essentials, so make your summer wardrobe easier. Go to quince.com dan for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns. Now available in Canada too. That's Q-U-I-N-C-E.com dan for free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.com dan Summer is pretty much my

[Dan Le Batard]

favorite time to be a sports fan. The biggest soccer tournament of the summer just wrapped up. Baseball's on every night, racing never takes a weekend off, and my calendar basically revolves around first pitches, green flags, and whatever game everybody's texting about. I realized I'm the MVP of my group. I'm always the friend that says, hey, I've got it. I've got a place. I've got some ice cold Miller Lights. I got the tv. I got a big comfy blue leather couch. Come on over. That's the behavior of a Miller Time mvp. I almost never watch the big ones alone. I'd much rather be with my friends. And if I am alone, we're texting. We're sipping on our Miller Lights. Toasting the day. Toasting the big game. For me, Miller Lite is just a part of a big game routine. It's brewed for taste with simple ingredients, clean, refreshing and easy to drink, especially in the Miami heat. It's a true American Pilsner and the original light beer since 1975. An all American summer starts with an all American beer. Miller lite. Go to millerlight.com dan to find delivery options near you, or you can pick up some Miller Lite pretty much anywhere they sell beer. It's Miller time. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Co. Milwaukee, Wisconsin 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces.

[Chris]

You can always tell when a new business trend shows up because suddenly everyone starts talking like they invented It. Right now, it's AI. Every company says they have an AI strategy. Every consultant says they have an answer. Meanwhile, most businesses are still out here trying to figure it all out. And that's why there's NetSuite Next. You probably already know about NetSuite, the AI powered business management suite. Trusted by more than 43,000 customers, it securely connects your financials, inventory, commerce, HR and CRM into a single source of truth. But NetSuite Next takes it even further. AI is built into everything you do. It services custom insights throughout your day. AI agents help solve problems and handle routine work. And when you have a question, you can simply ask it like you're talking to a colleague. NetSuite is customized for a wide range of industries, so it supports the the way your business works. Whether your company earns millions or even hundreds of millions, it's time for NetSuite Next, where your business meets AI for the first time ever. You can try NetSuite Next for free. If your revenues are at least seven figures, go to NetSuite AI DLB built for every industry, ready for every boardroom. NetSuite AI DLB Dan Levitar for five minutes, I was watching everyone just like,

[Stugotz]

nope, not letting you in.

[Chris]

Not letting you in. So when I got up there, I had to say something and I said it. Cheaters never prosper.

[Stugotz]

Chris Cody, my buddy was saying, not today. Yeah, but you're not today.

[Chris]

I think that was what he was adding. Yeah. I'm telling you, the response I got from this guy, what I said was amazing.

[Dan Le Batard]

He got him.

[Chris]

Cheaters never prospered. This guy yelled as angry as he could.

[Dan Le Batard]

I ain't cheating.

[Stugotz]

This is the Dan Levatar show, So help explain this to me. We're all waiting for these tea leaves, right? And we saw it a couple days ago. It's very embarrassing. The Miami Heat, where you got the YouTube stream that, you know, for a LeBron James press conference. It's funny, man. I saw yesterday Wilbon going off on pti. If you think Pat Riley is calling the social media department and telling them that LeBron is coming, you are like, he did kind of make a good point. And so nonetheless, it's embarrassing. It's embarrassing that that got out and that ESPN is doing an entire segment on it and they're using a full screen and the Heat wind up looking silly that they made this kind of mistake. And so we're seeing little tea leaves, Easter eggs that we're trying to come up.

[Dan Le Batard]

Not all of them are real, though. Not like this is Our show is doing a service right now. We are. We are clearing some things out with, you know, predicting markets out there. People are always looking for an edge, and then you have a lot of misinformation spreading. Like yesterday, we got down to the bottom of the job posting. Everyone thought that whoever, you know, left that box unchecked got fired immediately, because how can you have such a mistake? But that job posting, as our show reported, thanks to an unemployed friend who went for that job weeks ago, that job posting has been out there.

[Chris]

But they did repost it yesterday because

[Stugotz]

there's clearly a need for it.

[Dan Le Batard]

But. Yeah, but. But it's been out there. So everyone was saying, like, that person got fired. No, that's not the case. And also, Jeremy, there was this Nike shirt that started making the rounds yesterday.

[Stugotz]

Yeah. So I like, I. You know, like, when I'm on Twitter, I glance through things. I don't read everything. Then I'll be. It'll take up my entire day. If I try and read all of Twitter, I don't have enough time. So I glance through things and so what did I glance at here with the Nike LeBron shirt? Is this a real thing?

[Oli]

So one of the aggregator sites that is trying to have new information said, oh, my God, there's a new Heat LeBron shirt out by Nike. It's the Good intentions brand for LeBron. It's got the six on fire. It's his old number. And oh, my God, look at this shirt. It's on fire.

[Dan Le Batard]

Burning through the number. Oh, my God, it's. Oh, it's not real fire.

[Chris]

Okay.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, but the six is burning through the number 23.

[Stugotz]

Oh, and the number 23, it looks like. Is that Laker colors? The 23?

[Dan Le Batard]

I'm not sure. It could be. I can't tell. Is that purple?

[Stugotz]

It looks like it might be, yeah.

[Oli]

So what you have here is a shirt that's on sale for Nike, and everyone's like, oh, my God, they did this today. Oh, my God, I can't believe it. Now he's going to the Heat. It's not true. It was April when this came out. It was initially posted that going into his 23rd season, LeBron would have a new deal with Nike. There was a. A colorway that was going to be on its way.

[Stugotz]

But why would Nike make this shirt when he doesn't play for the Heat?

[Oli]

They were going through, like, all of these different stops of his career, so there was bound to be with this good intention. So another thing.

[Dan Le Batard]

Could that be navy and not purple? Could be because the. It doesn't make sense unless he's coming to Miami. It doesn't make sense for the six to be burning through Laker.

[Stugotz]

Well, what are the dates underneath it? Those are dates, right? Like, is that a schedule that is listed on that jersey? Those are dates like. Like how they put concert dates, you know, on the back of the shirts. That's what's going on on one of those shirts, by the way. It looks like it's burning through a LeBron James Cleveland jersey. But what are those dates underneath there?

[Oli]

Yeah, I'm looking at them now. So the first is February 18, Akron. Then May 22, 2003, Akron. There's new York, I believe, for the NBA draft. There's Sacramento for his NBA debut. There's May of 2007 for Detroit. So it's all these big moments over the course of his career. And right there at the top in the middle, it's July 8, 2010, Miami, which is when he obviously chose to come here. So there's all sorts of different important dates, including June, June 7, 2012 against Boston.

[Stugotz]

Okay, so it feels like we. I think we've gotten to the bottom

[Dan Le Batard]

of this, but the headline here is that it's an older shirt.

[Oli]

Yep.

[Dan Le Batard]

It's not a new sale since April. It's. It has nothing to do with LeBron's impending decision. And also there was another piece that got aggregated yesterday about LeBron being angered by Adam Silver telling him, hey, move this along. We got league partners to. To worry about. But if you chase that down to the root, it was just some dude on Cleveland workshopping that that could be a possibility. It's not an actual report.

[Stugotz]

Draymond said that LeBron, if he knows LeBron, this will make LeBron take even more time.

[Dan Le Batard]

Right, but that should be attributed to

[Stugotz]

Cleveland, if he knows LeBron.

[Dan Le Batard]

Right. But this came from just some Cleveland talking head, and it got tiled and it's everywhere as if it were news.

[Stugotz]

Which one you think I'm trying to talk to Goldhammer? No, I want to get out ahead

[Oli]

of another one, too, because there's A Miami Heat LeBron James Nike Forever King jersey that's on the Heat store right now.

[Stugotz]

Right now.

[Oli]

It's out of stock. This is a throwback. It's sort of like a cream colored Heat jersey. And before everyone. Before everyone goes and starts to like, take screenshots of this and say, oh, my God, There's a new LeBron jersey on the Heat store. It's been there since May.

[Chris]

He's also Going to wear a new number. So they screwed that up again.

[Stugotz]

We don't know for sure.

[Oli]

Just getting out ahead of that one.

[Dan Le Batard]

Chris, we're trying to, you know, be detectives. We're trying to help. So we've had enough of your shit this week.

[Jeremy]

This guy's like that bad sheep and sheep detective that. Always trying to ruin things.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, it's like, cross the street with us work.

[Jeremy]

Exactly right. We're already on this side. Put your hooves on the street.

[Stugotz]

So I saw this theory out there yesterday as well, that, hey, what could be the reason that LeBron is taking too long? It's taken this long. It's taken so long. I saw one theory, which is, maybe he doesn't like any of his options. You know, maybe he doesn't like any of these.

[Dan Le Batard]

They're not great. It's not the same as his previous options, you know, whenever he's hit the market before.

[Stugotz]

I don't agree with that.

[Dan Le Batard]

They're not. It's not as strong, like, dude, this is not a hot take. Can we step out of it for a second? The first time he did this, he's like, should I partner with Prime Chris Bosh and Prime Dwyane Wade?

[Stugotz]

Okay.

[Dan Le Batard]

This is a lot different. A Giannis that has been injured and we're worried about how his game will age. Bam seems to be in the prime of his career. We always known that Bam needs to be paired with somebody better. That makes perfect sense. But we have a lot of questions about this roster, right? We have, yeah, it's not the same.

[Stugotz]

We have not seen them play together.

[Dan Le Batard]

And the money, like, it's not great money pretty much anywhere. There's questions about Philly, like, all right, let me go play with Joel Embiid. It's not like the decisions that he

[Oli]

had before, certainly, but I would say, like, the teams that he chose to go to before, it was pairing with Anthony Davis, but Anthony Davis had, like, not won anything, had just sort of been around, was always hurt. And it was a Lakers roster that was in, like, disrepair at the time. And they traded all of their young pieces, not dissimilar from the trade for Giannis here, where it was every young piece that they had was out the door to get Anthony Davis in pair with him. And then when he went back to Cleveland, they acquired Kevin Love, but another guy who had had yet to win anything, and a young budding star in Kyrie Irving, but a guy who had literally been on the worst teams in basketball.

[Dan Le Batard]

They also had picks, they had the assets, and Andrew Wiggins. But you mentioned Anthony Davis. And one thing that might be true is people are trying to figure out.

[Stugotz]

So that's the other theory.

[Dan Le Batard]

The reasons why this has been drawn out beyond, you know, LeBron likes ego stroke at this stage in his career is LeBron is letting teams buy time to acquire Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving, which is interesting at this stage in their careers. They're, they're both guys that you have a ton of question marks about, but that is a working theory.

[Stugotz]

Yeah, I think that that's silly for a couple reasons. Number one, if that is what LeBron is waiting for, is for one of these teams to trade with Washington for Anthony Davis, what are they waiting for?

[Chris]

Like, why?

[Stugotz]

Hasn't happened yet. That's number one. And number two, more importantly, Washington is under no obligation to trade Anthony Davis anywhere because LeBron James wants to play with him. If LeBron James wants to play with Anthony Davis, I'm sure the Wizards would say, hey, come play here, we'll sign you.

[Dan Le Batard]

Yeah, come play with us. Or if this story is out there and these teams are circling the Wizards to try to get Anthony Davis, you've just inflated a marketplace that probably isn't where it should be for Anthony Davis.

[Stugotz]

So what are we waiting for? Like, why isn't the trade happening then? Why is it happening? Why aren't these teams then offering everything for Anthony Davis? And they're not, which is why the Wizards again, under no obligation to give a shit that LeBron wants to play with Anthony Davis. So I don't buy into that theory either. I think it's just about LeBron waiting and waiting and waiting and deciding to do it whenever he wants to do it. Because if you think about it, every time that he's been a free agent, this is the fourth time, right? Every time he has been a free agent, it's gone down differently. In 2010, you had the decision. In 2014, you had the Sports Illustrated cover. In 2018, just across the crawl on ESPN. Very simple. And now what's it going to be in 2026? Oh, it's. It's going to be this long, drawn out summer with everybody talking about him. Now how is he going to announce it? I don't know. But this has been different from every other time. It's just about having everybody focus on him. It's just about everybody talking about him and him once again proving he is still the center of attention. That's all it is. That's all it is. Every time he's been a free agent, it's been completely different. He's not waiting on anyone to be traded. He's not waiting on Anthony. Davis just wants the attention. It's all it boils down to. And then he's gonna sign with the Heat.

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