How Many NBA Titles Will Victor Wembanyama Win? | Hour 3 (feat. Michelle Beadle)

Summary

The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz – "How Many NBA Titles Will Victor Wembanyama Win?" (Hour 3, feat. Michelle Beadle)

Date: May 5, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this lively episode, Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, and their rotating crew are joined by Michelle Beadle (host of NBA's "Run It Back") for a wide-ranging, irreverent, and freewheeling conversation from the Elser Hotel in Miami. The focus centers on NBA narratives—particularly the rising star Victor Wembanyama, the polarizing nature of LeBron James, Spurs fandom, and how many titles Wembanyama may deliver. Also woven in: banter about Spurs uniforms, the unique "sports hate" phenomenon, Adam Silver anecdotes, some Met Gala snark, and trademark playful sidetracks into pop culture.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

LeBron James – Polarization & The Never-Before-Seen 3-0 Comeback

• Opening Riff: The show opens with Greg Cote admitting he underestimated LeBron James possibly blowing a 3-0 playoff lead, a feat that has never occurred in NBA history.
• LeBron Discourse:
  • Michelle Beadle breaks down the deep-rooted polarization around LeBron, noting the difference between "sports hate" and genuine dislike.
    • [02:05] Michelle Beadle: "With LeBron James, he's so polarizing. You love him or you hate him, and I really don't think there's an in between."
  • Beadle touches on LeBron’s longevity making him both a record-breaker (positively and negatively) and his perceived "phoniness" as fuel for backlash.
    • [03:35] Michelle Beadle: "My thing with LeBron is a little more personal...the phoniness does rub people the wrong way."

Spurs Fandom: Pain, Hope, and Fiesta Colors

• Spurs Playoff Loss: Beadle confesses the Spurs' recent loss saddened her so much she almost cancelled her appearance, and is in a “quagmire” as they face the Timberwolves.
  • [04:47] Michelle Beadle: "I'm a little stuck. It's a little quagmire…I still think the Spurs will win, but...there's a lot of growing that needs to be done."
• Colorful Debate: The hosts question the authenticity and appeal of the Spurs' "Fiesta" alternate uniforms.
  • [09:16] Michelle Beadle: "Fiesta is a long-standing tradition...I honestly think for colorways we have some of the best."

Victor Wembanyama: Generational Talent, Pressure, and DPOY Over/Under

• Wemby’s Mental Game: Amin Elhassan and Beadle discuss whether Rudy Gobert has a psychological advantage over Wembanyama as a “big brother” figure. Beadle is clear: Wembanyama is wise beyond his years.
  • [06:46] Michelle Beadle: "I do think Wemby is mentally ahead of his years...a little more wisdom than I expect from a kid that age."
• Fun Factor: Comparing Tim Duncan and Wemby’s excitement factor for fans.
  • [11:15] Michelle Beadle: "Timmy didn't have that. He was quiet, he was dry...no, I don't think he was exciting."
• Defensive Player of the Year Projection:
  • Panel sets the over/under for Wembanyama DPOY awards at 4; Beadle playfully overshoots and says 7.
    • [13:06] Michelle Beadle: "Oh, I said seven. My bad. I went too far."
• NBA Titles for Wemby: Big question—how many championships will make Beadle satisfied?
  • [14:28] Michelle Beadle: "A satisfactory Wemby championship tally would be four...I'm a greedy bitch. You only live once. Let me live!"

Spurs’ Path Forward, OKC Threat, and Sports Hate Lists

• OKC as a Rival: Beadle sees the Thunder as a real threat but wants absolutely no part of an OKC dynasty.
  • [15:36] Michelle Beadle: "I don't think I want to live in a world where OKC is the dynasty...that's not what we're doing here."
• Sports Hate Rankings: Beadle ranks teams she’d hate to see win the title—Knicks top the list, followed by the Lakers and OKC.
  • [21:50] Michelle Beadle: "Yes. Yeah. New York Knicks first. Lakers, 2, 3. OKC."

NBA Culture & The LeBron Hate Phenomenon

• Deeper Analysis: The panel explores why LeBron inspires such disdain—ranging from "the Decision,” his superteam with Wade & Bosh, right-wing animus, to debates over MJ's GOAT status.
  • [35:45] Amin Elhassan: "If I accept this guy, then that means I must rebuke my prior allegiances...so clearly this guy's a fraud."
• Dan’s Take: Dan Le Batard reframes "The Decision" as a blow for player empowerment, likening it to “unionizing” against NBA execs.
  • [34:29] Zaslow (Zaz): "...it was the proletariat striking a blow against the bourgeoisie...These three guys unionizing to build a championship level team without the help of the executives."

Pop Culture Tangents

• Met Gala / Ben Stiller: Michelle trashes Ben Stiller for skipping a Knicks playoff game to attend the Met Gala, slams the event as "a weird costume party for the elite."
  • [25:25] Michelle Beadle: "First of all, the Met Gala...Who still goes to that? And secondly, it's a horrible look."
• Celebrity Vanity: The crew riffs on beautiful people making themselves ugly for attention—Charlize Theron in "Monster," Heidi Klum’s costumes, Harry Styles’ romantic exploits.
  • [27:01] Zaslow (Zaz): "I don't like when people like Heidi Klum get credit for her courage. She's a beautiful person who makes herself ugly on purpose..."

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Spurs Fan Expectations:
  • [14:28] Michelle Beadle: "I'm a greedy bitch. You only live once. Let me live. I think four [titles] is good."
• On LeBron’s Polarization:
  • [02:05] Michelle Beadle: "He's so polarizing. You love him or you hate him, and I really don't think there's an in between."
• On Pop Culture Events:
  • [25:25] Michelle Beadle: "It's a weird costume party for the elite, and I don't get it."
• On "Sports Hate":
  • [03:35] Michelle Beadle: "Sports hate is just a different type of hate, right? They don't affect my day-to-day life."
  • [22:11] Michelle Beadle: "My heart is full of hate. So if you're asking me for a negative list, I've got 20."

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Important Timestamps

• 00:45 – 02:30: Opening LeBron riff, Dirty Dancing jokes, Beadle on LeBron polarization
• 04:45 – 05:42: Beadle on Spurs’ playoff angst and her sports heartbreak
• 06:22 – 07:27: Amin’s "Big Brother" theory, Wemby’s mental makeup
• 08:22 – 09:54: Spurs Fiesta colors debate, local pride
• 13:03 – 14:28: Wembanyama DPOY over/under and championship expectations for Beadle
• 15:36 – 16:43: OKC threat, Spurs roster likes/dislikes, dynasty talk
• 21:50 – 22:11: Beadle’s "teams I hate" ranking for the NBA playoffs
• 34:29 – 36:55: Panel dissects LeBron hate—“The Decision,” Miami superteam, MJ vs LeBron, racial/political elements
• 25:25 – 27:12: Beadle and crew take down the Met Gala and celebrity affectation

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Additional Fun & Banter

• Artistry Reveal: Beadle admits she painted her own wall art for remote segments, drawing praise (and doubt) from the crew. [24:10]
• Adam Silver Texting Story: Beadle offers a behind-the-scenes look at texting the NBA commissioner, and being relieved he never actually disliked her. [16:53 – 17:39]
• Jaylen Brown Clip: The crew reacts to Jaylen Brown's claim that a non-title year was his "most fun" as a pro and what really matters to athletes vs. fans. [19:32 – 21:00]

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Overall Tone

True to the show's DNA, the hour is filled with irreverence, fast-paced wit, and honest but affectionate takes on sports and celebrity. The tone is casual, often self-deprecating, with Beadle fitting right in—oscillating between sharp NBA insights, tangible fandom, and playful snark about everything from uniforms to the Met Gala.

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Takeaways

• Expectations on Wembanyama in San Antonio are sky-high—measured in banners.
• LeBron’s polarizing legacy is as much about modern fandom, "sports hate," and media spectacle as about his play.
• The show thrives on honest fandom—embracing bias, rivalry, and the fun of arguing sports with deeply personal stakes.

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For listeners: If you want solid NBA takes wrapped in humor, nostalgia, and pop culture irreverence, this episode is right in the show's sweet spot—and Michelle Beadle's passionate Spurs fandom (and skepticism of the Knicks/Lakers/OKC) is infectious.

Transcript

[Dan LeBatard]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugats podcast.

[Greg Cote]

Can I just say, and we haven't brought this up yet, the Lakers play tonight. Lakers and Thunder is game one tonight. And I'll just raise my hand. I'll be the first one to say it. The idea that LeBron of all players, all right? And I'll sit here and I'll be anti LeBron all day, all right? But I got to be fair, all right? If there's two things about me, Greg, everybody knows I'm not a cuck, I'll never be a cuck, and I'm also very fair. Everybody knows that. I got to be fair here, all right? To assume that LeBron James of all players was going to be the first player ever to be on a team that blew a three games to none lead. I mean, how stupid was I? How stupid were we?

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

Shame on you.

[Greg Cote]

But how stupid was I?

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

You're a man of honor. Like Jerry Orbach at the end of Dirty Dancing. When you're wrong, you say you're wrong. All right?

[Greg Cote]

But he was trying to protect Baby. She was like, put it on the pole.

[Dave]

Was as like Jerry Orbach at the end of dirty dancing.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

2 Dirty dancing References the.

[Greg Cote]

The laugh you hear. Their hosts of the NBA show run it back with Chandler Parsons and Lou Williams is Michelle Beetle Michelle. When's the last time you saw Dirty Dancing?

[Michelle Beadle]

Oh, God, it's been a. I'm gonna say 15 years. Probably not my favorite of that genre, by the way. Never rule out being a cook. I can't believe you're just deciding that now. You have a lot of life left.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

Baby might have been 15 when Swayze took her down. Inappropriate.

[Michelle Beadle]

Yeah, well, as we know, the 80s.

[Dan LeBatard]

The 80s.

[Michelle Beadle]

Didn't really think about that very often in their music and movies now. Fine. Hyper alert.

[Greg Cote]

That's what I'm saying, man. I couldn't tell you last time I saw Dirty Dancing. I mean, we're talking 25, 30 years. I can't believe you've seen it within 15. Sounds like it's in the rotation.

[Michelle Beadle]

I think it was on. Like, it's one of those things that were like, you walk through the living room and it's on, and you just sort of sit for whatever's left of it. But it's like she was a different person. He was. Yeah. It's a weird movie when you really think back.

[Greg Cote]

How dumb was that, though? Like this idea that. That LeBron James. LeBron James is going to blow a three nothing lead. It's never happened in the history of the NBA. We were talking. It was so exciting. Oh, my God, The Lakers could be the first team to blow it. And the fact is, it wasn't even close.

[Michelle Beadle]

No, it's just with LeBron James, he's so polarizing. You love him or you hate him, and I really don't think there's an in between. And so the idea that, oh, my God, and look, the longevity of what he's doing, that means that you're going to break a lot of positive records, but you're also going to break some negative records just because you've been around so long. So, you know, I could see getting kind of excited about a possible moment. But no, it wasn't. It wasn't close.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

I thought you were about to say, zaz. Don't you think it was weird? I thought you were going to say, don't you think it's weird for a family to go to dance camp for, like, a month? It seems like they were there. At what period in our society was that a normal thing for families to do with their summer?

[Michelle Beadle]

Was it dance camp? It wasn't dance camp. Wasn't it, like, one of those, like, east coast resorts that had a dance scene?

[Greg Cote]

I think so.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

Is that right?

[Greg Cote]

Yeah.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

Oh, I thought everybody was there specifically to learn to dance.

[Michelle Beadle]

No, no, guys, I lied. I saw it yesterday. I watched. I watched Dirty Dancing every day as my favorite.

[Greg Cote]

You're thinking about the movie Step Up, Dave. All right.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

Okay. My brain's fuzzy. Here's another question for you that you just said, Beetle. Why in a world of so many actually atrocious people, is there so much hate for LeBron James? Sincerely, can you answer this question for me? I get it. He's a little bit phony with some of the things he says sometimes that's worthy of the. Of the white hot hate he gets, I think.

[Michelle Beadle]

Okay, so for me, I've. In my old age, I've now started to sort of define and put borders around my personal hate lists. I think sports hate. And look, my thing with LeBron is a little more personal. But, like, as a sports fan, I think. I think the phoniness does rub people the wrong way. As he's gotten older, however, he cares less, which is what we all do as we get older. So I do. I do respect that. That I see that in him now. So sports hate is just a different type of hate, right? Like, I don't actually hate the person. I don't think about the person. They don't affect my day to Day life. And then there's hate. Hate that we save for, like, you know, our aria list that some of us may be keeping daily. So I just think he's a polarizing dude. You know, mj, people feel like they're constantly on the defense because you have to defend MJ against LeBron, because it's one or the other, which, again, is a tired, really tired discussion. And his personality traits, like, it's just. He's. He's had moments of sort of holier than thou righteousness and then been quiet on other things. Like, he's. There's enough there to sort of find a reason to dislike the guy if you're not wanting to be a fan of his basketball. I get it. I do get it.

[Greg Cote]

Are you shook after the spurs lost last night?

[Michelle Beadle]

I am, actually. And I'm. I almost canceled. I'll be honest. Like, I really am kind of sad. And what makes me even sadder is that Anthony Edwards is my third favorite active player in the league. And I found myself yesterday upon the. The knowledge that he'd be available, like, oh. And then went, no, this is bad. So it was. I'm torn. As a sports fan, I love what the Timberwolves have done. I loved the. The smack talk against Denver. I thought that was just something that basketball needs more of. And now they're facing my team, and I'm just. I'm a little stuck. It's a little quagmire. I still think the spurs will win, but that's why I don't talk a lot of trash come playoffs. Also, we haven't done this in seven years, so I'm not coming into this thing like, yeah, we're beating everybody. There's a lot of growing that needs to be done. And this very well be. Could be around where growing happens and they don't win. And. And I'm ready for that, I think. Think mentally.

[Amin Elhassan]

Michelle. Pulitzer Prize.

[Michelle Beadle]

Oh, God.

[Amin Elhassan]

Quick question.

[Michelle Beadle]

Shut up. Okay. You know what? This Pulitzer Prize thing is already out of control. It's out of control, Amin. I'm never gonna refer to you as this. I refuse it, and I rebuke it.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

Disrespectful.

[Amin Elhassan]

I don't understand what you're refusing. Are you refusing facts? Are you refusing gravity? Are you refusing.

[Michelle Beadle]

It's crazy that you are a. You are a Pulitzer Prize winner. In my days.

[Amin Elhassan]

That's right.

[Michelle Beadle]

I would have lost that bet a thousand times out of a thousand.

[Greg Cote]

Does the award make the man, or does the man make the award?

[Michelle Beadle]

That's a great question. Great question. I think the award is now cheap and means nothing is what I think. But that's just one person's opinion. Sorry, Mead.

[Amin Elhassan]

Speaking of cheap and meaning nothing that lost by the spurs last night, what do you say about my theory that Rudy Gobert has a psychological advantage on Victor Wembanyama as Big Brother? And he can get in his head and kind of bother him in a way that if Rudy Gobert were German, he would have gotten his, his lunch taken.

[Michelle Beadle]

Like, wow, okay, like Kylo Ren, maybe like something like that.

[Amin Elhassan]

Yeah, you're doing late with that reference video.

[Michelle Beadle]

He's. Shut up. He's. Yeah, there's something to the sort of the. The teacher and the student. Although I do think Wemby is mentally ahead of his years. Like he's shown a little bit wisdom, a little more wisdom than I expect from a kid that age.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

On.

[Michelle Beadle]

Honestly, I also don't want to live in a world where Rudy Gobert beats Wemby. I think that is bad for society in general. I was fine with Rudy Gobert having a big moment against Denver even though he took out my second favorite current active player. But it was just kind of fun for him to sort of, you know, reintroduce himself as a four time defensive player of the year. We know he feels disrespected, yada yada. But I really need for that to stop now. Okay, now have a little moment.

[Greg Cote]

All right. You've referred to it twice now. Michelle, how long is this list of favorite players?

[Michelle Beadle]

It's three. It's just. It's only three. It's three. But I also reserve the right to add four and five at any given moment.

[Mike]

Wait a second.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

Wemby won, right?

[Michelle Beadle]

Yeah, Wemby won.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

Ant is three.

[Michelle Beadle]

Jokic. No. Yeah, and Jokic is two.

[Amin Elhassan]

That's a shocker.

[Junior Stugats]

Who are four and five if you had to name them right now?

[Michelle Beadle]

If I had to name four and five. Right. Ooh, I don't even have. You know what? I love Cade Cunningham. I think he's interesting and fun to watch. Not necessarily exciting, however, like the personality's not there like my other three. I know people are like a lot

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

of front running on Beatles list here. I didn't hear any Hammond Eggers listed there.

[Greg Cote]

Give me some players on terrible teams that you love.

[Michelle Beadle]

Oh, I'm sorry. No. Why would I love a player on a terrible team?

[Greg Cote]

That's.

[Michelle Beadle]

You never see those guys. I wouldn't even be familiar with them. Yeah, no, there's probably a good like bench dude. That's Kind of fun, you know. You want Mike Conley? Fine, I'll give you Mike Conley. Who doesn't love Mike Conley?

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

Beetle. Another important issue from these NBA playoffs that's emerged is some national voices have disparaged the uniforms. And in fact the fans in the stands for wearing the spurs always, you know, to me black and silver, but then always that like, I don't know, it's not rainbow colors exactly. It's like powder blue and like an off orange. Right.

[Michelle Beadle]

Why don't you wait right there?

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, please. To show what I'm talking.

[Amin Elhassan]

I'm still talking.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

Well, she's gone.

[Greg Cote]

What do you want?

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

Should we just. Should we sit in silence? Is that better?

[Greg Cote]

I mean, I can hear her silent.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

Oh, she's still talking.

[Amin Elhassan]

Yeah.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

Oh, that's too.

[Junior Stugats]

Look at that.

[Mike]

It's offensive.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

That's too much talking about Fiesta. Okay, explain this and where you come down on it. Do you like it? Because they're, you know, silver and black, black and silver. Now all of a sudden they're, they're, they're every color in the rainbow.

[Michelle Beadle]

Well, fiesta is a long standing tradition in San Antonio. It's, it's like a two week affair of parties and events and fairs and parades and all of that kind of stuff. My dog's just dying over here. And so we've had those colors since like Hemisphere arena, the turquoise with the hot and the orange and the. And honestly, turquoise is probably my signature color, as you can tell when I hold it up like that. So of course I love it. And I love the. I honestly think for color, for colorways and we have some of the best. I think the fact that we get this fun little party and then we get to go black and silver, it's the best of both worlds. So yeah, people that aren't familiar with it have not been paying attention.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

I kind of like it. Are you. Does that make you a summer? If you're turquoise, that is.

[Michelle Beadle]

I don't know. I see those things on my Instagram and I always guess the wrong color, so I don't think I understand what

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

looks good and what zaslo. What is he? Is he a spring?

[Michelle Beadle]

He might be a spring. Or maybe an autumn. Actually, could be an autumn.

[Greg Cote]

I already told you about that. Amin. Michelle. Why were they allowing Wembanyama to Goal 10 last night?

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

I know.

[Michelle Beadle]

You're like the fourth person. It's not even 8am no, those weren't Golden's. I didn't hear whistles. I saw 12 blocks is what I Saw, I'm not really sure what you're referring to. Look, let the man live. He had a bad offensive night, so we're gonna let him just prosper on the decent. So I hope he figures this out by game two, though. I. I like that you can shoot a three. I need you to stop shooting. You miss eight, that's. We're gonna need to figure out a new plan. You're 7 12. Like, to go. Just go. There's the one thing that sort of irks me a little bit, and it's also because we lost. Like, had we not lost, I would have loved it. But we did, and so I'm angry today.

[Greg Cote]

Wembanyama, I'm sure, is incredibly fun to watch if he's on your. Well, fun for everybody, but especially when it's your favorite team. He's incredibly fun to watch. But, like, was Tim Duncan fun to watch? Like, obviously amazing. Everybody wants him dunking on a team, but did you tune, like, oh, I can't wait to see what Duncan does next?

[Michelle Beadle]

No, he was. Well, he's the big fundamental. I mean, I could get up and get another jersey that says big fundamental on the back if you'd like, but he was. He was just fundamentally sound. So, no, there's no splash. He doesn't have the benefit of being 6, 7, 5, which, again, is not. We're not accustomed to seeing that. And so that by itself makes anything Wemby does just vibrant and exciting. Timmy didn't have that. He was quiet, he was dry under the breath. Sort of sarcasm that most people never, ever got to even really see or hear. So the personality for most is not there in Tim Duncan, but we know better. And so, no, I don't think he was exciting. I mean, look, for those years that the little dynasty run, they were always called boring, which, as a Spurs fan, and then eventually, like, talking about them on national television, I always was just like, I don't find them boring, but I'm a fan of the team. And so I get it. I get why some people sort of turn that off. But it's fine. I mean, it's not for everyone. It's not everyone's cup of tea. But I'm grateful he played on my team, splashy or not.

[Greg Cote]

Don Lebatard.

[Junior Stugats]

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

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

Well, you do do this. You love to just get excited about everything.

[Junior Stugats]

Okay, Junior stugats. I had to school you and explain

[Greg Cote]

to you he was gonna take you to Augusta.

[Junior Stugats]

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

[Michelle Beadle]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugats.

[Greg Cote]

I mean, what is like a legit, legitimate over, under total now on Victor Wembanyama Defensive Player of the Year awards? I mean, like, what would be a number that is not laughable for his career?

[Amin Elhassan]

I. I would put the number at four.

[Michelle Beadle]

Oh, I said seven. My bad. I went too far.

[Amin Elhassan]

I. I think. I think. Well, I think the thing is four. Yeah.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

Is it three and a half or what's the over under said? I need to know what I'm feeling.

[Dave]

It could be like a Michael Jordan fatigue thing.

[Amin Elhassan]

Yeah. That's what I wonder about. Right. Because like, Kenny. And also, I think the one thing about Defensive Player of the year is if your team defense wanes for any reason, like, they're good defensively because they have a lot of great defensive players. But over the. Over the years, that might change and they might be on a team that's still good, but, like, has to outscore everybody. And he's great defensively, but they're like 15th in defense. Voters will use that as an excuse to not vote for him because, like, well, if you're so great, why is your defense so trash?

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

Well, no one cares about. Except for the people who perpetuated endlessly face of the face of the league. And Edwards was it. But now Wemby has taken it from him for the next decade at least. Defensive Player of the Year. Interesting. More interesting to me is to apply the Miami Heat with LeBron introductory conference. How many titles will Wemby get? What is satisfying to a Spurs fan right now as you sit here, you will feel underwhelmed in. If in 15 years from now, we reconvene and Wemby has won, let's say, two titles. Is Michelle Beadle underwhelmed?

[Greg Cote]

I think you would be, yeah.

[Michelle Beadle]

I am underwhelmed. Yeah. I mean, we had a. We had a five championship run there that spoiled a lot of spurs fans. And I understand that the teams were a little different, but although the base was there for, you know, Timmy D was there. So you got to have, I want to say, a satisfactory WIMBY championship run tally would be four.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

Four titles. That's a lot of pressure to be a fan, isn't.

[Michelle Beadle]

I know, hey, I am a greedy bitch. You only live once. Let me live. I think four is. But again, there's so many factors, like, what if the Team. What if the team squabbles things away? What? I don't know what pieces will be around him six years, I have no idea. But four seems good. And also if Gobert has four defensive players of the year, then he better have at least five.

[Junior Stugats]

I also say that Michelle isn't SGA and okc. I love the letters. SGA and OKC is standing in the way. Right. Like, how do you expect a dynasty out of San Antonio when this year and maybe in the immediate future they're going to be second best.

[Michelle Beadle]

Yeah. By the way, all those boring labels that were thrown on the spurs for all those years, I better start hearing that about OKC because that's how I feel. I now get it. Watching another team and being like, I don't want to watch this. I get it. But yeah, they're there. I think, I do think the spurs can beat them. I'm not going to bring up the regular season because I'm very aware that that's not the same as a seven game series and things completely changed. But I do think they know that they can beat them whether or not they're a player away or be two players away from sort of tweaking that San Antonio roster. The hard part about saying that out loud is I don't, I don't know what I'd want to change. I really genuinely like this team. I like the pieces of this team. I like the people that are on this team. And so the idea of getting rid of anybody bums me out a little bit. But I also understand that that might be, that might be the reality here is that San Antonio might be a player or two away from being able to beat OKC in a seven game series. But somebody better, damn it. Because I don't, I don't think I want to live in a world where OKC is the dynasty. That's just, that's not it. That's not what we're doing here. Michelle, I can say that I lived in the state for like two and a half years. I'm allowed to say that negatively.

[Amin Elhassan]

Michelle, if the spurs and the Thunder do meet in the playoffs, will you be present? And will you be drunk waving down the commissioner of the league as you were at the NBA cup when the Spurs?

[Michelle Beadle]

I was not drunk. That was like my first drink and I'm. And I had texted Adam before. So how do you think he knew where I was sitting? You think that was just fate? He's just wandering around the upper level?

[Amin Elhassan]

No, you stood up and just waved like Just like a. Like a wacky inflatable thing outside of a dealership.

[Michelle Beadle]

Because I had texted him what section we were in, and I was like, we're right here. But you know what? It's not my fault you weren't texting Adam Silver to come over and say hi. That's on you, bro. Pulitzer Prize winner. How much is that getting you? No, I won't be the president because I got to do my job out here in la, which is a bit of a bummer. Although, you know what? Chandler Parsons takes off days whenever he feels like it, so I might actually play hooky and check out a game.

[Greg Cote]

Is it inappropriate if you just, like. Just randomly, like, now, would it be inappropriate if you text Adam Silver?

[Michelle Beadle]

I don't think so. Look, I went. I went many years with thinking Adam Silver hated me because I. You know, for dumb stuff in media. So I was just happy to, like, reconnect with the man because I always. I always liked him. I always thought he was a very accessible dude, which is not, I don't think, normal for a commissioner of a league this big.

[Junior Stugats]

What do you think Adam Silver's reaction was when he found out that Pablo Torre finds out?

[Greg Cote]

Yeah, text him that.

[Michelle Beadle]

I don't think he's excited to see where this thing goes.

[Greg Cote]

We're looking for a quote. Text him that.

[Michelle Beadle]

Yeah. By the way, where does that end? Because I feel like it. It's like, is this off season for the Clippers going to be a hot mess? Like, where is this going?

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

Part 10 comes out today.

[Amin Elhassan]

I mean, part 10 comes out today. Get it? Wherever you get podcasts, I know, but

[Michelle Beadle]

what, like, is Kawhi. What's going to happen? Is Kawhi gonna not be a Clipper? Like, is he up for grab?

[Greg Cote]

Are you sour on Kawhi? How do spurs fans feel about Kawhi?

[Michelle Beadle]

Funny you should ask. Like, it was a very. It was a long morning period of sort of disdain and boo. I mean, we got scolded by booing Kawhi at one of his return games. I'm. Personally, I've moved on. He's gone on to win another championship as a mercenary up in Toronto, which was hella impressive. And he's sort of gone on with his life. I'm okay now. But I can say that there are many spurs fans that have not and probably will never forgive Kawhi Leonard for how things played out. That is a fact.

[Greg Cote]

Michelle, I want to play this clip for you from Jaylen Brown, because most players, when they have championship aspirations and their Season ends the next day. They play video games and just talk about how they feel. So here is Jalen Brown and. And you may notice if you're watching video wise, I thought he's like his bodyguards. Like, who's there with him? And, and Jaylen Brown will tell you here that this year where they lost in the first round of the playoffs and blew a three games to one series lead, this was the most fun he's ever had.

[Dave]

Man, this group was a special group. So proud of this group and the way we played. I wish we trusted that style of

[Michelle Beadle]

play a little bit more, but I

[Dave]

know playoffs kind of shifted our rotations and what we wanted to do, but I'm so proud. And it was my favorite year of the. Of my basketball career. One streaming with you guys. Chat.

[Greg Cote]

Favorite year. They won the title two years ago.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

I love that guy to his right.

[Michelle Beadle]

Quite the crew, the guy. Yeah, his right. And the Travis Kelsey standing behind him is. It's just a.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

It looks like the gang that. That Spider man beats up when they're trying to rob a bank. This multicultural gang. Like, how do you guys know each other?

[Amin Elhassan]

Get on your sunglasses, by the way.

[Michelle Beadle]

Are those, are those, are those those? Like, I'm too old. So are those like the Meta Glass? Like, why do they all have the same sunglasses on?

[Amin Elhassan]

No, they're just big fans of Oakley's. I think Zach Harper might have sold them to him.

[Michelle Beadle]

Oh, God bless Zach Harper and his Oakley. Yeah, you know what? I. I had the same reaction everybody else did as far as saying it's his favorite year. And then I was sort of. Lou Williams made it make a little more sense to me because we think championship would be your favorite year. And then I started thinking about it personally too. Lou said, you know, just because you win a championship doesn't mean it's your favorite year. Right. Like, the stress is different, your life might be different. Who knows what's going on off the court. And that this particular year, because there were no expectations on the team, he got to come out and just play free basketball. And that made it make a little more sense to me without reading into, hey, I liked playing without Tatum. I mean, so I kind of get it.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

I think.

[Greg Cote]

I don't think anyone's happier about the nonsense that Jaylen Brown said on this Twitch stream yesterday than Joe Missoula. No one's paying attention to Missoula. Everybody's talking about Jaylen Brown.

[Michelle Beadle]

He's crazy. That man is crazy. I don't. I think it's good crazy. I Think it's good? I can't.

[Amin Elhassan]

Michelle, he started three scrubs in a game. Seven.

[Mike]

Michelle, he's a bad coach.

[Michelle Beadle]

What? You don't want zero points from three of your five starters. That's not the goal.

[Amin Elhassan]

And I love, like, I love in the press conference, he's like, yeah, guys, really far back from that hole. I'm like, the hole that you dug.

[Michelle Beadle]

Yeah. He's going to be coach of the year and get fired. A long standing tradition. It's going to be great.

[Greg Cote]

Michelle, are there teams remaining in the NBA postseason that it would bother you if they won the title? And if so, rank them?

[Michelle Beadle]

Yes. Yeah. New York Knicks first. Lakers, 2, 3. OKC.

[Greg Cote]

Oh, she has a whole list. All right.

[Michelle Beadle]

Oh, did you know?

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

What's Everybody but the Spurs. Who do you think she's gonna list for me?

[Greg Cote]

There's like one team that would bother me. Anyone else? Like.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

All right, whatever.

[Greg Cote]

You know, it's not the heat, so.

[Michelle Beadle]

Well, yeah, but here, Zaz, here's the deal. My heart is full of hate. So if you're asking me for a negative list, I've got 20.

[Greg Cote]

That was impressive.

[Michelle Beadle]

Yeah, no, I think New York Knicks fans, while it would be amazing for them, it will be the most obnoxious year of championship celebration. So I'm not. I'm not mentally prepared for it.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

Well, you like the puck as well. Which NHL team do you not want to see win the Stanley Cup?

[Michelle Beadle]

Well, the only. The one that I didn't want to see was the Florida Panthers. And I don't have to worry about that.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

All right, enough of her. Go now.

[Dave]

I appreciate that.

[Greg Cote]

Why'd you ask that question, Dave?

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

It was an unpleasant stretch for all of us. No one wanted to watch the Florida Panthers win the Stanley cup, let alone two in a row. Now we've moved that ugly era for the sport.

[Michelle Beadle]

It's the Kachuk factor. If you get rid of that, that made it awesome.

[Greg Cote]

Well, what if they add the other one this year? That's going to be awesome. I mean.

[Michelle Beadle]

Oh, the other one that looks even smarter. Yeah, no, I'll pass.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

Beetle, I have a quick question for you there. Those paintings behind you, you're clearly in the steep. By the way, speaking back, back, back to this, to the spurs color scheme. It'd be bad if they ended up playing okc, because those are the exact same colors that they wear, which, by the way, is out of blue.

[Dave]

You've interrupted yourself twice.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

I know. I have. Well, the question I have clearly in a sequence is she has paintings behind her. Head. Don't answer this yet. Beetle, let's take a show of hands here. Did Beedle paint those pictures herself? No way. I mean.

[Greg Cote]

Okay, paint those herself.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

They're very expensive. Or are those. Are those fancy art house purchases?

[Greg Cote]

I mean, I don't know where she got it, but she definitely didn't paint it herself.

[Junior Stugats]

Why?

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

Do you know why not?

[Greg Cote]

How do I know? I don't know.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

She doesn't have enough talent to paint those.

[Michelle Beadle]

Look how pretty they are.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

Those are very nice. I say she did paint them.

[Junior Stugats]

I think so too.

[Michelle Beadle]

Yeah. Of course. I can't do this remote. You know what? Let's cut. Let's edit this out.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

Wait a second. So everybody's in with their answer on this?

[Mike]

Those are purchased.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

Beetle.

[Michelle Beadle]

No, no. I rent this place and I needed a background, so I painted something really quick. Yeah. Because at home I have like, a whole thing where I have, like, little sportsy things and yada yada. This is a rental when I'm here for the. For the NBA season. And I just thought I'm literally in a bedroom that's serving as a second closet. And so behind me, what a committed

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

podcaster and broadcaster she is. She paints pictures to paint the scene. Let me do that for the audio listener. It's a bunch of. I mean, I don't even know how to describe it. It's like gemesa stripes and such. Yeah, just a bunch of yellow and blue and green stripes.

[Michelle Beadle]

I tried to make it. Shut up, Amin.

[Amin Elhassan]

My name is Pulitzer Prize. How much?

[Michelle Beadle]

Are you really part of this? Or is it Pablo and you just coattailed it? We need to get to the bottom of this.

[Amin Elhassan]

What do you need to get the bottom of?

[Michelle Beadle]

How much you really contributed to any of this.

[Amin Elhassan]

Go watch the episodes.

[Michelle Beadle]

You know, I don't watch any of my friends stuff.

[Greg Cote]

We talked about this, Michelle. How bad of a look is it for supposed huge New York Knicks fan Ben Stiller last night, instead of being at Game 1 at MSG, is at the Met Gala.

[Michelle Beadle]

First of all, the Met Gala Ill Grass. Who still goes to that? And secondly, it's a horrible look. Like Chalamet. Chalamet skipped it. His girlfriend was there, but he, for the second season, decided, I'm gonna. I'm gonna go ahead and go to the Knicks game. So I'm gonna go ahead and say it now.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

Stiller, fraud relationship require. Beetle. Is that what you hypothesize? This was pressure from the Mrs. We're both going to the Met Gala. You're not doing. But why you'll go to the Knicks tomorrow night. Not tonight.

[Michelle Beadle]

I don't know. I just feel like. I also. Just from a purely like. Hey, guys, let's answer this question as ourselves. What would you rather do? Get dressed up and. I mean, what are we doing? Like, what is this? It's a weird costume party for the elite, and I don't get it. And it's some of the most absurd stuff my eyes have ever seen. I don't know if you've seen something like Lena Dunham for. Yeah, you know what? This isn't awful. Paige Becker. This is not awful. As far as theme.

[Greg Cote]

She looks great there.

[Junior Stugats]

Yeah, that's good.

[Greg Cote]

She actually looks really normal right there.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

Heidi.

[Michelle Beadle]

That's Heidi Klum and I. She loves costumes, man. It's actually terrifying. Do you spend the whole night like that?

[Greg Cote]

That's her now.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

She's like, eat dinner that way.

[Michelle Beadle]

Okay. Bad Bunny's funny to me. I. I just. I think I. You know what my problem was? I just don't like Bezos and Lauren Sanchez, like, for a variety of reasons. And I'm a hypocrite because I use Amazon on a daily. But I just don't like them, and I feel like going to their party just sort of valid. Validates them, and that bums me out a little bit. What is happening right now? I don't know.

[Mike]

Oh, that's a wonderful tribute to the execution.

[Greg Cote]

All right. Thank you. All right.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

I don't like when people like Heidi Klum get credit for her courage. She's a beautiful person who makes herself ugly on purpose, and people say, so brave of her to do that, to put herself out there like that.

[Greg Cote]

So true. She hosts the NBA show Run It Back with Chandler Parsons and Lou Williams. Michelle Beetle. Excellent job, Michelle. Enjoy the rest of the playoffs.

[Michelle Beadle]

Oh, God, I hope so. You too. Thanks, guys.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

She's so courageous.

[Greg Cote]

You're so. You're so right. Don LeBatard.

[Dan LeBatard]

This is the quickest it goes. Hey, this is the quickest it goes. Stugats, everybody. This is the quickest it goes. Yeah.

[Michelle Beadle]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the stugats.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

I like when people also do the thing of, like, I'm gonna see what it's like to live as a normal person. I'm gonna put on a fat suit and go out and see how different it is, how I get treated when I'm not as beautiful as I normally am. And then they get. They get heaps of credit. That was so courageous of her to do that. Why was it courageous? She Was she put on a costume, then went back to being beautiful. She made herself feel good. That's what she did.

[Amin Elhassan]

There's a whole run of Academy Award winners, right, that, like, what. How'd she win with Charlize Theron, right? Like, oh, I just made myself look ugly. Like, there you go. All you got to do is just like, oh, my God, you played an ugly person. I didn't know you had the chop.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

She lost herself in the role.

[Amin Elhassan]

Yeah.

[Junior Stugats]

Wasn't there an actor who actually gained like £40 for a role?

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

There are hundreds.

[Greg Cote]

Frazier.

[Mike]

Well, more than.

[Greg Cote]

Pretty common thing with acting.

[Junior Stugats]

That's what I'm thinking of.

[Mike]

The whale.

[Junior Stugats]

Yeah, whatever. His name was Brendan Fraser. And. And he gained like, what, 60 pounds?

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

De Niro in Raging Bull. And I mean, there are a million examples of people fatten themselves up or

[Junior Stugats]

losing a ton of that much though, right?

[Dan LeBatard]

Let's get a little further from the mic. Just back up a little bit more and address people as a whole. Don't even identify a single person. Just aimlessly ask a question far from the mic. I don't know movies and demand an answer.

[Junior Stugats]

I just knew there was a look

[Dan LeBatard]

at the wrong person who fed you

[Junior Stugats]

a thousand pounds for a roll and

[Dan LeBatard]

just say something like zagak.

[Junior Stugats]

That kind of thing.

[Dan LeBatard]

And then cash a check. Show me. We are funny, man. You look great today. What are we doing differently? Oh, little something with a hair, a little mousse, a little cream pomade. Feel free to answer me. Whatever. I'll just.

[Junior Stugats]

It's my inner voice. I'm gonna answer my own internal meandering.

[Dan LeBatard]

All right. We like to have fun.

[Mike]

It probably has to be boring to be as hot as some of these people are, right? That's what it is. So it's like a perfect example myself, like, sometimes I'll give myself a mustache and it's just because I'm sick of being so hot all the time. Chris Pine's a good example. That guy walks around like a crazy person. Right? Like, that's a very good looking man.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

That's right.

[Mike]

But he'll grow out his hair like crazy and a ridiculous beard and wear these outfits.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

All right, you're on to something here. You're.

[Mike]

You're on to something to be that hot.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

I don't like Johnny Depp and I don't like the guy who sings about watermelon whatever. Yeah, watermelon sugar. They go out. They, they, they, they, they know what they're doing. Johnny Depp with all the scarves and, and bejeweling himself. He makes himself as unattractive as he possibly can. Why? Because he wants to stick it to his fellow man. And I mean males. He wants to say, look at how unappealing I can make myself. And I could still have any woman I wanted, including yours.

[Greg Cote]

Greg, you know about that watermelon sugar.

[Junior Stugats]

I've heard of it. I didn't know it enough to join the sing alongs.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

You know what that song's about?

[Dan LeBatard]

Pink cocaine.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

He just took Dizzy. You see, he stole. He took the stripper movie guy. The star stripper movie I love. Okay, so Magic Mike.

[Junior Stugats]

Yeah.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

So he took his lady.

[Mike]

That's right. Zoe Kravitz.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

Yes.

[Mike]

Is where he was going with that. The stripper movie guy. That's Channing Tatum once with Zoe Kravitz. I. I speak Damoshek.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

He's this Harry Styles is out of control. He take. He. He can have anyone. He just. He chooses to take other people's instead.

[Greg Cote]

Oh, didn't he do that also with Sudeckis?

[Mike]

Made him a cuckoo just like you, Zaz.

[Amin Elhassan]

Hey,

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

I told you about that Stiles taking everybody's ladies.

[Greg Cote]

Mike, what's going on with the Pussycat Dolls?

[Dave]

They have decided in today's climate that the timing is not right for a reunion tour. And that's not at all surprising because when you consider.

[Greg Cote]

Did they decide or did we decide?

[Dave]

The marketplace decided.

[Greg Cote]

Yeah.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

An update on a story from a couple weeks ago.

[Dave]

Yeah. And all we're doing is using the earliest excuse possible to play how they launched this whole reunion tour in the first place. Take it away.

[Amin Elhassan]

After they found out that you guys were coming back as a trio, not as the original group, how did you arrive at that decision?

[Greg Cote]

Well, I mean, listen, we are just.

[Michelle Beadle]

We are like. We are.

[Greg Cote]

So as women today.

[Michelle Beadle]

I mean, it has been an ever changing lineup, and, you know, this is what it looks like now in 2026. You never know what comes next. And I think ultimately we've got to protect our peace. And when something like the Pussycat Dolls has so much history. We have ruptured in the past.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

Oh, wow. Nicole Scherzinger was still frozen late in that clip.

[Dave]

That was actually the reason that they gave for why the tour was canceled. Nicole Scherzinger is still on the Today show couch.

[Greg Cote]

They just tweeted out that video.

[Dave]

Just frozen in time.

[Greg Cote]

Yeah.

[Amin Elhassan]

The guys are cleaning up around her like janitors.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

Could we go back in a world of. Of that includes someone like that? Can we go back? Can someone articulate for me the disdain for Lebron James. I mean, why. Okay, he's a little. A little fake. You know, he's a little hypocritical about stuff. Amin, Mike, Zaz, Greg. Anyone weigh in? Why. Why such disdain? You.

[Greg Cote]

You named the things you did.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

But there are people that are. Who do way worse things. We're talking about, you know, human misdemeanors, not felonies. There's definitely. There's definitely some politics going on in here. I know some of my right side friends are anti LeBron people.

[Dave]

I think it all starts with the. The decision. And then people just layer on additional things that bother them about him. You know, you'll hear China and LeBron more than you'll hear about Daryl Murray, which is just people cherry picking things that just boost their argument. But ultimately, most of the people, they didn't like that he teamed up with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami, formed a super team because it felt unfair. And then Miami's people's problems with him are because he left. We lost him. The way that we got him isn't

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

the irony of that. And I said this literally the day or day after LeBron went down there. It was poorly handled, the production around it, and I'm taking my talents too, and all of that and the fireworks and everything. Not one, not two. But underneath it all, it was the proletariat striking a blow against the bourgeoisie. It was the working class saying, we don't need you executives. We're going to do it at our level and we're going to play. We're going to organize ourselves. It was basically like unionizing. These three guys unionizing to build a championship level team without the help of the executives. They eschewed any of their involvement and did it on their own. I think this is something that we should really celebrate. But. Except we get caught up in like not one, not two, all that.

[Dave]

But Miami had a part of DID

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

because people didn't think that Miami.

[Dave]

And we talked about, you know, sports fans, I'm a better fan than you. Miami was not deemed worthy of having such a cool thing to the point that this wasn't really a discussion. When, you know, the Celtics got together and McHale did a favor for his friend. It wasn't a discussion. Became unfair. When it was LeBron, Wade and Bosh in Miami.

[Amin Elhassan]

There's another element that's at play as well, which is the whole, if I accept this guy, then that means I must rebuke my prior allegiances. So if you grew up knowing in your heart of hearts. Michael Jordan's the greatest basketball player ever. To accept or acknowledge LeBron's greatness would mean, oh, that means I've turned my back on the goat himself, Michael Jordan. So I can't do that. So clearly this guy's a fraud and undeserving of any attention.

[Michelle Beadle]

Rock.

[Dave]

That's a tremendous point. And he also played in the era of Kobe where Kobe was also this cult of personality type guy where it's you're either a Kobe guy or you're against Kobe guys.

[Mike]

People wanted him to save the Knicks or the Bulls too. Like that. When the decision happened, most people, outside of the specific areas where there were teams in the running, whether it was Cleveland, U.S. or anybody else, Utah, they were rooting for him to go to Chicago or to New York. And so when he didn't do that and teamed up with other superstars to do a thing for Pat Riley with the Miami Heat, like there was real reason to dislike it, especially when people viewed Michael Jordan as not playing for super teams.

[Dave]

I also think Dan Gilbert's reaction to it stoked a lot of flames.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

Right.

[Dave]

And I think that's a big thing from Dan Gilbert.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

Comic Sans.

[Michelle Beadle]

God, I love Dan Gilbert.

[Dave]

I It's not talked about enough.

[Greg Cote]

He really.

[Dave]

We normalize that behavior and people took their directive from him.

[Zaslow (Zaz)]

But I can relate to that. As somebody from a provincial sports town. Yes, I would cast it that way too. Look at this elitist. He's bailing on our rust belt town. And really LeBron, that really is what it comes down to is it was the aesthetics around it that damned him. Right. It was. Was a completely justifiable thing to do except for the production that happened.

[Dan LeBatard]

Whatever.

[Greg Cote]

I don't like him. Why? I'll explain myself.