The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Episode: Hour 1: The NBA Has Officially Arrived

Date: February 20, 2026

Episode Overview

Broadcasting from the Elser Hotel in Miami, Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, and their crew deliver a characteristically animated hour diving deep into the (re-)emergence of the NBA post-All-Star break, unexpected storylines from the poker world, pop-culture intersections, and the evolving political landscape in sports media. The hosts dissect the rapidly shifting power dynamics in the NBA, poke fun at the oddities of televised poker, and finish with a passionate debate around politics and the responsibilities of sports broadcasters.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Olympic Hockey and Sports Nostalgia

[01:08 – 02:45]

• The show opens with Ethan previewing the day's Olympic hockey semifinals: “We got Canada in the semifinal... The men are later this afternoon. We want the US And Canada...”
• The group debates whether to root for Canada or Finland, noting “Canada is usually in the way of [the US Gold medal], so if they bow out to the fins...” (Davey, [01:28])
• Ties to the historic "Miracle on Ice" are brought in by Gus: “They beat the Soviets and then had to settle the hash with the Finns in order to win that gold. So...46 years later...a nice little completion of the circle.” ([02:31])

2. Poker as a ‘Sport’ and TV Absurdities

[03:05 – 07:02]

• A viral (but dated) clip of a poker player tearing his ACL at the table becomes comic fodder:

  “This is no bluff. Poker injury.” (Gus, [03:47])
  “Second most embarrassing behind Howard Bryant pulling both his hamstrings in his bed.” (Fitz, [04:22])

• The crew mocks the televised poker craze of the '90s, referencing swing dancing, cigar bars, and celebrity poker:

  “...men and women just sitting out there unironically smoking cigars. And then the cherry on top... celebrities playing poker. Ooh.” (Gus, [04:41])

• Montage of recent poker TV moments leads to comic gold—double entendres, accidental on-air farts, and confusion about terminology:

  “A dude farted. We caught that. Which was like the least offensive thing that we heard there.” (Davey/Ethan, [06:57])
  “Slurp him if you got them. I think those are those anal beads right on the front of the brim.” (Davey, [05:52])

3. Insider Poker: Nick Wright’s Windfall

[07:59 – 09:12]

• The crew hails Nick Wright’s success in a recent celebrity poker game, with Davey expressing guilt over their windfall:

  “I want to say a big thank you to Nick Wright. Incredible job, won a ton of money.” (Hank, [08:50]) “My promise to Nick is that I will never get involved in any of the gambling that you’re doing... So thank you so much for your service, Nick Wright.” (Ian, [08:58])

• Discussion touches on poker broadcast rules, including camera angles, card visibility, and preventing cheating via broadcast delays.

4. The NBA After the All-Star Break: Surprising Standings & MVP Debates

[10:05 – 15:10]

• The pivotal game: The Pistons crush the Knicks at MSG, with Cade Cunningham putting up 42/8/13. Ethan pushes for Cunningham as an MVP contender, while Gus raises the question: what does it really mean to be “the face of the NBA”?

  “If we're going to talk about MVP, we need to have a conversation about Cade Cunningham.” (Ethan, [10:31])
  “Who gives a crap? What comes with this... honorific? What do you get for being the face of the NBA?” (Gus, [11:21])

• Recap of the Pistons’ surprising dominance: “They have the Detroit Pistons do right now the best record in the NBA...” (Hank, [13:15])
• The Charlotte Hornets and rookie standout “Con Canipple” (multiple botched attempts at pronouncing the rookie’s name lead to jokes):

  “CanipplePipple shooting almost 65 true shooting percentage... That's better than Zion Williamson, Bill Cartwright, Magic Johnson, Adrian Danley, David Robinson and Michael Jordan.” (Hank, [22:37])

5. NBA Top 5 Storylines (With OLIs)

[12:39 – 37:26]

• OLIs (Outside Looking In):
  1. The Miami Heat are healthy.
  2. Are the Pistons for real?
  3. The Charlotte Hornets' unlikely hot streak.
• #5: Wildly competitive Western Conference—the 3rd through 7th seeds separated by just three games.
• #4: Can the Bucks linger near playoff contention for Giannis to make a play-in run? Discussion on Giannis’ honesty in interviews and his future.
• #3: The Clippers’ scandal (potential suspensions, front office ramifications), Kawhi Leonard’s MVP-level play, and unpredictability in the West.
• #2: Harden’s impact on the Cavs vs. Jayson Tatum’s return to the Celtics, and broader questions about chemistry and post-injury stars.
• #1: The brewing OKC Thunder–San Antonio Spurs/Wembanyama rivalry as the most fascinating race and potential new dynasty in the West.

  “Wemby and the Spurs going with the Oklahoma City Thunder. So here's where we're at. Here's where we're at.” (Ian, [32:16]) “This could be one of those true regional decade long rivalries...” (Ian, [36:49])

6. Player & Team Oddities and Notables

[15:25 – 18:00]

• The crew jokes about LaMelo Ball’s risky driving and nonchalant press conference after a car crash:

  “He gets up with no shirt on and barely a pair of pants on.” (Gus, [17:45])

• Playful banter about player names and mispronunciations; debates on “home floor advantage”; shoutouts to lesser-known, emergent players like Jalen Duran (Pistons) and their impact.

7. The Political Turn: Josh Pate, Sports, and the Trump Interview Debate

[40:04 – 50:04]

• News breaks that celebrated apolitical college football commentator Josh Pate has interviewed President Trump (ostensibly about NIL, name-image-likeness money), prompting concern:

  “It’s impossible to have an apolitical, nonpartisan discussion with this sitting president because he always takes it there.” (Davey, [41:15]) “…When you give Donald Trump a platform, he is going to seize the opportunity to espouse lies, election denial and do whatever he can. And most of these shows are not equipped to hold him accountable. He will trample you.” (Davey, [41:31])

• The group debates whether refusing a sitting President’s request is even a viable option for a broadcaster—does saying no “put you in a tough spot professionally” (Gus, [49:18])?
• Broader concerns surface about sports media’s responsibilities and normalization of political figures.

  “For a guy who is famous for trying to make sure you don't have to worry about that with your college football, this is a huge bummer. And I don't like that we continue to normalize what we're seeing out there.” (Davey, [42:49])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Poker ‘Injury’ ([03:48]):
  “This is no bluff. Poker injury.” — Gus
• On televised poker and its heyday ([04:41]):
  “This is a relic from the 90s... people... would go out on purpose dressed in zoot suits, take swing dancing lessons... and the cherry on top—celebrities playing poker... and other people are gonna watch.” — Gus
• On Cade Cunningham’s MVP buzz ([10:31]):
  “If we're going to talk about MVP, we need to have a conversation about Cade Cunningham.” — Ethan
• On the NBA’s Western Conference ([23:29]):
  “The three through seven seeds in the Western Conference are separated by just three games...” — Ian
• On sports media and politics ([41:31]): “When you give Donald Trump a platform, he is going to seize the opportunity to espouse lies, election denial... He will trample you. He does this with some of the best interviewers in the in the nation that are political reporters.” — Davey

Timestamps of Important Segments

| Time | Segment | |------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:08 | Olympic hockey preview and rooting interests | | 03:05 | Viral poker injury and the absurdity of televised poker (90s nostalgia) | | 05:32 | Poker TV montage—off-color commentary, accidental humor | | 07:59 | Nick Wright’s poker win; poker TV technicalities/rules | | 10:05 | NBA returns: Pistons’ beatdown of Knicks and Cade Cunningham’s MVP buzz | | 12:39 | NBA “Top 5” storylines, including surprises and playoff races | | 15:25 | Charlotte Hornets and rookie “Can Canipple” breakout; LaMelo Ball’s car accident/comedy at press conference | | 22:16 | Stat of the Day: Rookie shooting percentage history | | 23:29 | Deep NBA standings and playoff jockeying (Western Conf.) | | 29:05 | Celtics team dynamics, Tatum’s return and locker room concerns | | 32:16 | Wemby vs. OKC—new Western Conference rivalry and potential league-defining storyline | | 40:04 | The Josh Pate–Trump interview debate and the challenge for sports media in political times |

Summary Flow & Takeaways

This episode captures the Le Batard Show at its best: oscillating between sharp sports analysis and playful irreverence. The serious—unexpected seismic shifts in the NBA, the politics creeping into sports discourse—is never far from the silly, whether it's lampooning poker TV culture, mispronouncing rookie names, or critiquing LaMelo Ball’s fashion choices.
Heavy attention is paid to unpredictable NBA storylines (Pistons’ ascendance, Wemby’s emergence, East/West power shifts), wrapped in the show’s signature blend of insider knowledge and mockery of sports clichés.
The hour pivots to a meaningful discussion about the ethics and consequences of hosting political figures on apolitical platforms, underscoring a sense of cultural tension as politics and sport increasingly intermingle.

Best for listeners who want: A brisk but rich catch-up on the NBA’s biggest storylines, side-splitting banter on sports oddities, and thoughtful debate about the intersection of sports and politics—all wrapped in the classic Le Batard Show voice.