Local Hour: Shaq Wants To Kill Dan Le Batard

Summary

The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Episode: “Local Hour: Shaq Wants To Kill Dan Le Batard”
Date: February 3, 2026
Location: Elser Hotel, Downtown Miami

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Overview

In this episode, Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, and the crew dive into the shifting NBA trade narratives, the Miami Panthers’ fading hockey dynasty, and an eventful Miami Heat gala featuring legendary Shaquille O’Neal threatening (jokingly?) to “kill Dan Le Batard.” The show blends local South Florida sports heartbreak with the usual mix of irreverent pop culture takes, inside jokes, and unique perspectives, anchored by the team’s natural rapport and playful bickering.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

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Influencing the NBA Trade Market: Giannis, the Heat, & The Psyop

• (00:34-02:56)
  • The crew starts by highlighting how sports media can shift public opinion and indirectly influence NBA trades.
  • “Legacy media” such as ESPN is accused of running a “psyop” by overhyping Golden State's trade offer for Giannis Antetokounmpo, ignoring that Miami offers a better deal.
  • They reflect on their own influence by noting their previous campaign to get the Miami Heat into the playoffs succeeded by shifting public opinion.
    • Quote: “We can use our influence to change the public perception over the next 24 hours, the next 48 hours, and land ourselves Giannis Antetokounmpo.” – (02:43, C)
• The Heat are portrayed as underdogs in the trade narrative but with key opportunities ahead.
• There is comedic banter about the crew’s “responsibility” to run their own psyop for the Heat.

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Panthers’ Decline: The End of a Dynasty?

• (03:08–16:10, 20:02–22:32)
  • Dan is despondent over the Florida Panthers’ recent home loss to Buffalo, feeling it spells the end of the team’s era.
  • They discuss a critical quote from Matthew Tkachuk:
    • Quote: “We're in trouble now.” (05:03, B, quoting Tkachuk)
  • The panel details the injury carnage plaguing the Panthers: Barkov’s season-ending knee injury, repeated injuries to key contributors, and Sergey Bobrovsky’s steep decline in goal.
    • “They’re done for this year... last night was a death blow.” (07:01, G)
  • Exploring the physical toll of winning consecutive championships and the probability (or impossibility) of a three-peat.
  • The group contrasts “bad luck” with the natural outcome of prolonged, ultra-physical playoff runs.
    • Quote: “This ain’t bad luck, man. This is what that sport does to champions who want it the most.” (13:30, B)
• The emotional debate: Is it better to lose from injuries now than suffer an early playoff exit?
• Observations that, after three straight Finals runs, the Panthers’ depth has been completely eroded by injuries.

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Gala Night: Shaq vs. Dan & Heat Legends Interviews

• (26:00–34:27)
  • Recap of the Heat gala, where the crew interviews legends from the 2006 championship team (Shaq, Dwyane Wade, Pat Riley, Antoine Walker) and current Heat figures.
• Shaq’s “threat”:
  • When asked what’s most annoying about Dan, Shaq responds: “His voice. And Dan, I'mma kill you when I see you.” (28:12–28:14, E, quoting Shaq)
  • The studio erupts in laughter at the image of Dan facing a literal giant’s wrath.
• Gala highlights include:
  • Wade reminiscing: “We all became the greatest role players in the world... Proud. That's all I can say about ‘06.” (32:56, E)
  • Lighthearted superlatives about 2006 Heat teammates, with multiple laughs centered on Shaq’s and Gary Payton’s outsized personalities.
  • Silly queries about eating habits, nicknames, and Heat/Panther cross-pollination.
  • Jeremy sheepishly admits to being starstruck by Dwyane Wade: “You’re my favorite athlete, and probably favorite human of all time.” (32:19, C)
  • Playful shaming and in-group teasing over “height” and “hairline.”

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Post-Gala Analysis: Pat Riley’s “Vibe” & The Giannis Sweepstakes

• (38:13–40:40)
  • The crew speculates about Pat Riley’s confident, “dancing” demeanor at the gala.
  • Theories:
    • Riley knows he has a legitimate chance to land Giannis.
    • Riley felt rejuvenated by temporarily being “back in the (head coach’s) chair.”
    • “There is no circumstance in which Giannis wants to play a second half of a season that doesn’t matter.” (39:23, B)
  • Analysis: Milwaukee could be pressured to trade Giannis before the NBA deadline, especially given his desire to play and not sit out.
    • “Giannis doesn’t want to sit out the rest of the season when he’s back from his calf injury. He wants to play.” (40:05, C)
    • Tension: Milwaukee wants to tank for a better pick, but Giannis wants to compete.
• Banter over whether the NBA would ever “imply” or “infer” pressure to keep Giannis on a contender for TV ratings. - Dan and Mike Ryan mock this theory, saying, “Asinine, asinine... what are you talking about?” (41:14, B) - The group splits hairs on the difference between “implied,” “inferred,” and the NBA’s influence on trades.

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Shaq threatens Dan: “And Dan, I'mma kill you when I see you.” (28:12, Shaquille O’Neal)
• On the Panthers’ downfall:
  • “We're in trouble now.” (05:03, Matthew Tkachuk, quoted by B)
  • “This ain’t bad luck, man. This is what that sport does to champions who want it the most.” (13:30, B)
• Jeremy’s starstruck moment:
  • “You’re my favorite athlete, and probably favorite human of all time.” (32:19, Jeremy to Wade)
• Dwyane Wade on 2006 Heat:
  • “We all became the greatest role players in the world... Proud. That's all I can say about ’06, man.” (32:56, Wade)

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:34–02:56 – NBA trade narrative and media psyops on Giannis
• 03:08–16:10 – Panthers’ injury collapse and dynasty eulogy
• 20:02–22:32 – More on the Panthers—debate about heartbreak and fan psychology
• 26:00–34:27 – Heat Gala package: interviews + Shaq’s threat
• 38:13–40:40 – Pat Riley’s vibe, Heat optimism, and Giannis speculation

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Tone & Style

• Conversational, irreverent, and heavy on inside jokes.
• Fast pivots between serious sports analysis and absurdity.
• Laughter, exaggeration, and affectionate mockery abound; the crew never lets anyone’s ego go un-punctured for long.

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Conclusion

For fans of South Florida sports, NBA drama, or just smart, chaotic sports radio, this episode delivers all the signature Dan Le Batard Show elements: comedic sidebars, passionate analysis, arguments about semantics (“implied pressure” vs. “inferred pressure”), and classic moments of ridiculousness—capped by Shaq’s (sort of) menacing, totally hilarious promise to “kill” Dan Le Batard.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

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[C]

Terms draftkings.com hey guys, it's time to use our influence to get a whale. What do you mean? So remember how with the Dame trade, the Boston media used their influence to shift the public opinion on what the Heat trade package was? Yeah, one of championship. Well aware. That's exactly right. And you remember how on this show we spent a month influencing the public opinion on Head to Head and why Miami should be in the playoffs? Thank God for that, by the way. Mike. Thank you.

[A]

You're welcome.

[C]

God, everything that I do for the program is for you.

[B]

That was awesome.

[C]

That's right. And we got them into the playoff championship game. I'm so glad you can admit this now by shifting public opinion. Yes, it worked. It worked. It's been an exhausting couple months, but hey, thank you for the credit, pal. Of course. So now what needs to happen is we need to do the same thing here with Giannis Antetokounmpo. There was too much saying, oh, SPO doesn't play Khale wear enough. Why would Milwaukee want Khale where Dan trying to pretend like Tyler Hero was the centerpiece of this trade package? Hyping up all these first round pick. Oh, Golden State has the best offer. Golden State's offer is garbage. Sucks. We know it. Everyone knows it. It's a bad offer. But guess what's happening over at espn because they want the narrative, what they say of Giannis and Steph together, it's oh my God, look how great this is. They've got Bobby Marks out there doing mock trades with Jimmy Butler included, even though Golden State has said they're not going to include Jimmy. But why? Because they want the public perception for Bucs fans and NBA fans at large to be that this trade is the only one available when it's not. The best trade is the Heat trade. It's a psyop and so we right here with the Dan Lepatard show, we can use our influence to change the public perception over the next 24 hours, the next 48 hours, and land ourselves Giannis Haunted Kumpo. It just goes to show you how legacy media does.

[D]

That's right.

[E]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugats podcast.

[B]

A lot to get to nationally and locally. Greg Cody just did something he never. He turned his computer to me dramatically. He touched me on the elbow and he showed me a news story. What does that news story read?

[F]

Greg Cody, breaking news sources. Colon. Kraft not selected for hall of fame, class of 26. That would be Robert Kraft, who everybody thought worked behind the scenes to make sure Belichick wouldn't get in so he could have the stage without Belichick.

[G]

Well, he may have still done that because how bad would it look if Belichick got in?

[C]

He didn't.

[F]

That's fair. That's fair. But the assumption, I think, was that Belichick would not and Kraft would.

[D]

The assumption was that Kraft wanted it all to himself. So I'll do it this year and get Belichick out this year, you know.

[F]

So how'd that work for you, Robert?

[B]

I don't know how you don't put that guy in the hall of Fame. He's going for a seven title, 11 Super Bowls, three quarterbacks, three coaches. Like, what the hell are you talking about? Of course he's a Hall of Famer. But let's move on to some of the local things and we'll get back to that, because we got James Harden evidently about to make a mess, or already has made a mess, and he's going to be traded. That happens overnight when the Clippers, we said just yesterday they're playing well and they get smoked by the Sixers. And Kawhi's got these quotes on James Harden. It's a surprise. Respect his decision or whoever's decision it is. That's still going to be my boy. Trust the front office. He says none of those people are going to be there anymore. Ballmer screwed all of that up. And there's a conspiracy theory that they're keeping Kawhi out of the All Star Game because of all of Pablo's reporting. Put that off to the side. Put everything you guys did with the Miami Heat last night. You went to their gala. Shaq's mad at me. Shaq did something funny to Chris Cody that we'll get to in a second. But the thing I have to start with Because I haven't felt quite this way since Barkoff's injury. But I will say the worst I have felt in two and a half years of watching Panthers hockey is hearing this quote come out of the mouth of this player, Matthew Tkachuk, after they lost at home to Buffalo. Buffalo's better than they are. A lot of teams are better than they are. The Panthers are above.500. They're pretty good, but that's not good enough in this league. This quote from Matthew Tkachuk is as bad as I felt about the Panthers in two and a half years outside of Barkoff's injury. Quote. We're in trouble now. That guy doesn't say that unless he knows it. And that guy being scared signals to me what you guys all felt when you came in here yesterday, where I got Mike and Roy and Zad all crestfallen because they're like, it's over. That loss finishes us last night at home, allowing five goals. You make it three, three going into the third period and. And you just. You lo game and you lose to buffalo.

[A]

You were up 20 in it. That's what a last stand is supposed to look like. You had your energy line contribute in the first minute. You have Evan Rodriguez do what he usually does against the Buffalo Sabers, and then you double up Buffalo on shots. And I guess the ironic part about it is the guy that probably ends your run is Alex Lyon, who started this whole thing when he was a hot goalie for Florida. When you were in a similar situation, quite honestly, with where we are with Bob. Bob's numbers this year.

[G]

No, literally career worst.

[A]

Yeah.

[D]

Hey, hey, Bob, how about you stay in the goal?

[G]

You can't get on him too much.

[A]

Maybe. Maybe there's a contender that needs a goalie that wants to bet on Bobrovsky recapturing his form. But this, this is certainly the end of something for Florida. I don't think it's the end for their core, but a lot of the faces that became local heroes and key contributors, Florida may be a seller.

[G]

They might deadline, they might not. Not anything big. I don't think they'll sell anything big, but they may be a seller. Some smaller pieces, you know, they're done for this year. And by the way, like, last night feels like the death blow to get a little bit worse before we go to the, the, the international break, because you got Boston and Tampa this week. Two teams are also. Nah, we're past it. Like, they're. Last night was a death blow. They are not going to make the playoffs. I told you a couple weeks ago I was starting to get nervous last night. Was it. They're nine back now of the final playoff spot. They cannot stay healthy. They lost Bennett last night. Marshawn is missing. Marshand is missing in action. Lundell, he's missing in action.

[D]

Rear line was the best line.

[G]

It's like you get one guy back in the lineup, you lose two more, it's. It's a lost season. And. And they'll be back next year.

[E]

Sergey Bosky stopping 88% of the shots on goal.

[G]

Career worse.

[E]

That's terrible. So it's about time to start looking at Tarasov at number one for the rest of the season.

[B]

Whoa. So Zaslo said a couple of weeks ago he was officially worried about the Panthers. Roy is benching their two time champion goalie.

[D]

Sounds like Roy's nervous because Roy doesn't.

[E]

Usually give us this. Well, listen how they made the playoffs in that run versus Vegas in the Stanley cup final. They needed help. They're not going to get that help this season. It's just too good in the East.

[B]

Too many good teams. So many good teams. Greg Cody, your thoughts here. I was very pleased to hear today. I couldn't believe it. A back in my day is in the holsters. So the Cody family is producing the content of sound that has Shaq mad at me that we're gonna get to and Greg Cody has a back in my day. What are your thoughts here? Because we were singing the song I'm gonna say not two months ago. Oh, how lovely it is. They all take discounts. They know how to run their organization. They are such a model franchise for excellence when 30 years they've been total incompetence. And all these guys love each other and they all take less money to be here. What a great way to defend the title. I actually prefer that it goes this way to injury than losing in the first round of the second round of the playoffs. Because you're kind of hurt. Because you're a little bit hurt and not quite yourself here. Everyone in the league knows, oh, this can't be taken away from them. They were just hurt. Nobody took this from them.

[C]

Right.

[F]

I don't think anybody realistically, including major Panthers fans expected three in a row. I just don't. It hasn't happened in the NHL.

[G]

Even if they were help. Even if they were healthy.

[F]

Even if they were healthy, it hasn't happened.

[A]

They were healthy. That's what the expectation they were out there.

[G]

That have been my expectation.

[F]

I don't Think so. I don't think the betting odds were that. And I think it hadn't happened in the NHL for like 30 years for. For a reason.

[B]

Weren't they favored though? Weren't. At the beginning of the season.

[A]

That's what they were supposed to chase. Like you would look around and say, well, I know it's really hard to do, but why not this team? Why not this team that's been the three State three straight finals already. Why not this score that is still relatively young despite all the minutes that they've played? Why not us? Was the attitude, I think.

[F]

Yeah. Yeah. But when. When Barkov has lost for the season to a knee injury before it even starts. Yeah, I think that's a death knot.

[A]

No, no, no, that's after. We're talking about different things. Yeah. After Barkov went out for the year, my expectations changed.

[F]

Okay. I don't think the general expectation was three in a row.

[B]

I think they were the betting favorite though. Before Barkov got injured. I believe they were still the betting favorite.

[A]

I can't even eng. This is ridiculous. Every Panther fan was saying let's do. Let's three peat, but let's.

[B]

Let's hear it.

[F]

Not the realistic ones. Okay. And then the injuries mount. But. But there's no excuse for having a losing record at home. That's what surprises me is that there's been.

[B]

No, there is an excuse for injuries are the excuse.

[F]

Well then. Then why do they have a better record on the road? I mean, home has not been a safe haven for the Panthers this year.

[B]

Well, I'll say why. Okay. For example, what you have seen from them in terms of excellence course of the last few years is they win the third period, they choke you out. They're the best team in the sport. Their championship. Good. In the third period. You got no chance in the third period. Yesterday it's three. Three in the third period. They bow. That's what happened to them at home.

[A]

They just don't have the guys. The guys that you would turn to. Yeah.

[G]

Because it started to feel like what Dan is describing a couple of weeks ago when Marshand and Kachuk return. Remember they, for the first time ever, they played a regular season game next to each other. Panthers won a couple runs. Like, all right, now we're amazing. You could win games when you have your lineup and they were choking teams out in the third period for like two games. And then we lose Lundell and lose Marchand and of course Seth Jones is still out. It's like, it's a disaster.

[A]

And there's been, you know, paper cuts along the way. Even though it's not an injury. Carter Verhage goes away for a little bit. Seth Jones and Kulakovs are out for extended periods.

[G]

Bennett last night, who knows what he's.

[A]

These are great. These are players that they counted on throughout this entire run. Bennett being out means that they have zero active centermen that were on the I the game clinching Stanley cup game against Edmonton.

[B]

It is a staggering thing to actually see, not surprising given how physical that sport is, but their greatest advantage last year. Like, we could talk about how good Bobrovsky was, we could talk about how great Barkh is in all the ways. But their greatest advantage last year. And McDavid, if you got him in an honest moment, would tell you this. It was too many waves of depth, man, to have it lost like that. Where the depth can't bail you out, where you're the deepest team in the league and the depth cannot help you at all. You're going to lose home games because everyone's so hurt that you cease to have depth. That's a little crazy. I don't know. I haven't, I haven't actually looked at the numbers on games lost to injury, but I've got to imagine that they're at the top of the league. Games lost to injury by, I'm guessing by a pretty substantive margin. When they've gone from having the league's best depth to not having any depth at all.

[G]

They're down like 10 guys.

[A]

Right. But I'm with Dan. This is a better way to go out, certainly less heartbreaking. And now you're looking at potentially an off season. Florida's off season's always been like a month and a half long and it's usually at the elbow room half the time. A proper off season to get this core one more run before they all go north of 30. One more run.

[B]

This part is interesting to me, though, when you talk about a proper off season. I really don't think, not even hockey fans, the most ardent of hockey fans, never mind casual sports fans, have any earthly understanding of the physical toll it takes to win a championship in any of our four major sports. Not just hockey, but. But hockey more than most because hockey's got the travel and the brutal violence. Football doesn't have the travel. It's eight games. It's not 40 of them. Basketball has the travel, but it's not this physicality. Baseball has more travel, but it's not this physicality. So when the warriors burn out after four years and Clay's body breaks and Kevin Durant's body breaks and Draymond wants to fight. Everybody winning up there really hurts. And having no off seasons. Like, what's happened here when you guys say, oh, what bad luck? This ain't bad luck, man. This is what that sport does to champions who want it the most. Tkachuk's been playing as a torso for the last two years. Like, he's coming back and they have to rest him for a great period of time because he's out there and the only thing that works is his navel. Like, it's totally nuts. The physical pain that these guys go through to get through that. And I don't think anybody watching, listening, caring the most has any earthly idea this happened to the Panthers. It's not bad luck. It's the result of what they chased and earned. Like, this is the result. The result is everybody's body breaks. It's more probable to happen to guys who don't have any rest and have to play more games than the guys who don't have to play because their off season starts early.

[A]

It caught up to the team that's played the last hockey game of the season the past three seasons. Remember how this run started? Their bodies were broken. Remember all the wedding photos that these guys had that first offseason after losing to Vegas? I mean, guys wearing neck braces, guys were using crutches. It was ridiculous. Matthew Tkachuk had the only win in that playoff series, was assisted by Matthew Tkachuk, who broke his sternum in that game and came back. And he's only been hurt since then with lower body injuries. It's crazy. I think the Bobrovsky stuff, though, can. Yes. He's older.

[G]

That's going to be interesting how they handle that. His contract's up.

[A]

Yeah. I think maybe some of the things that we've seen affect him is he's lost the best two way center in the game in Barkov, and that has certainly impeded our defense.

[B]

Yeah. But 88.

[A]

Him less.

[B]

88% though. No. 88% though, on stopping shots doesn't have to do with Barkov.

[E]

No.

[A]

He's not a replacement level goalie right now. He's just not. He's just not good. Maybe a team takes a chance on him. I do think that it's the end for maybe a handful of guys.

[E]

Yeah. Giving up three goals per game is not going to. Not going to win your games at all. So, yeah, it's going to be a tough off season for him. You know, people keep asking me about my 2026 resolutions and yeah, I got the usual stuff. You know, watch more games, complain about the power play, and pretend like my team's actually going to stay healthy. But this year, the one at the top of my list is simple. Get comfy. That's where Bombas comes in. They bring serious comfort to my everyday essentials. Bombers just dropped their all new sports socks engineered for running, golf, hiking, skiing, snowboarding, basically whatever you're pretending you're about to be really into. And I'm trying to stay active this year by playing hockey. I need these socks. It has cushioning where you need it. It's sweat wicking, solid support, no distractions, just comfort. And for the everyday stuff, Bombers footwear has you covered. Sunday slippers for staying in, Friday sandals for quick errands, and the new Saturday suede slip ons for when you want comfort but still need to leave the house. Premium everyday go tos I don't really think about, which is kind of the point. And for every item you buy, bombers donates one to someone facing housing insecurity. One bought one donated over 150 million items so far. Head over to bombas.com dkn and use code dkn for 20% off your first purchase. That's B O-M-B-A-S.com dkn code dkn at checkout.

[D]

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[G]

Hopefully.

[D]

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[A]

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[E]

Stugats.

[A]

He gives him one of these, and he gives them one of those.

[E]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the stugats.

[C]

Ah, this stinks.

[A]

Yeah, it stinks. It's just such a bummer.

[G]

Like, I was bummed sitting there watching that game last night.

[A]

Like, we all kind of felt it when Barkov went down in a heap the second he touched the ice for the first time this preseason. But there were moments where you're like, no, this team is good enough. Marshawn, he's in his bag. Like, they're good enough to fight and scrap their way, and then no one wants to see them and they're not going to get that opportunity.

[G]

Well, yeah. And you figured, at least, you know, all right, it's going to be tough to make the playoffs. I always felt it was going to be tough to make the playoffs once Barkov got hurt. But my guess would have been, we'll get to a week left in the season and we'll be a couple points out. We'll have a chance. We're in the middle. We're in early February and we're calling it.

[B]

I'm promising you guys that getting to grieve early is better than the result you were headed for, which is a first round exit where it feels like Toronto or somebody took it from you. When they didn't take it from you, you were hurt. This, it hurts. But this will hurt less than what would have happened in the playoffs for sure to this team.

[F]

But that's what I always thought was the floor for a two time champion. I didn't think the floor was don't even make the playoffs even with all the injuries. I thought the floor was you. You eek through the first round, you're eliminated in the second round. Something like that. To not even make the playoffs even with the injuries is a surprise to.

[B]

Me though it's not a surprise just because it makes all the more impressive what they've done the last two years. All of these teams have been this kind of good the last couple of years and they've beaten all of them. Hockey's been impossibly good 10 and 12 and 14 teams high for the last two seasons. And the Panthers have been better than everybody.

[A]

I hate that Carolina's going to get this moment just because they waited us out.

[E]

But I love that Buffalo is going to replace the Panthers in this situation because those fans absolutely deserve it. Not going to the playoffs, what 14.

[G]

Straight years deserve it. We deserve it.

[A]

I don't care. We won twice already.

[G]

I deserve a third one before they deserve anything.

[A]

I just started paying attention to hockey. I live in a swamp. Give me three in a row.

[G]

Buffalo deserves. Eat shit Buffalo. I care about Buffalo.

[B]

Put it on the poll, please. At Lebiton show does Zaz deserve a thing third championship more than hockey fans in Buffalo deserve one.

[A]

At Ler show there's a playoff appearance.

[B]

I'm promising you guys. I know you don't believe me now because it hurts. And nobody wants to hear condolences at the funeral. It doesn't mean anything. But I'm promising you guys that losing this way feels better than losing to Carolina in the playoffs. Than losing in the first round. I agree with that. I'm just telling you that all I.

[D]

Want to make the playoffs. I don't. I don't buy this. I get it. That would stink losing in the first round.

[G]

But no, no, it's. No, no, it's like now you wouldn't lose in the first round of Carolina because it's not the way it lines up. But like losing the first Round to Tampa or Toronto. No, that would feel worse than this.

[E]

I'm supposed to listen to your logic. When you wanted that first Stanley cup to go seven games, when they were up three, nothing.

[F]

You.

[D]

That's right, Roy, you. I mean, that guy over there, he was right.

[G]

Ultimately, it was so much better.

[B]

That's so great.

[G]

It was so much better.

[B]

You remember it forever.

[G]

It didn't feel good during the time, but like it was better.

[D]

You said what was the worst memory last couple of years? Being tied three.

[A]

Three.

[D]

With Edmonton having blown three in a row. That's about as low as I can remember.

[B]

I disagree. Like I. Well, you saw, I was happy about it. Mike. Mike accused me publicly of. That's performative. And I'm like, no, it's game. Sevens are wonderful.

[A]

Nah, I was pretty cool with winning the title. Not in seven or blowing a three.

[F]

Zero.

[G]

I was too. But now knowing what we know, six at home would be better.

[A]

Last year was pretty sweet.

[B]

Okay, you, you say this, but I, my, my mother's the season ticket holder for the. I want to get to the Heat stuff here because it's interesting what you guys did last night, what happened with Shaq and an assortment of things that had Pat Riley dancing at the gala because it felt to everyone here like he knows he's going to get. But my mother went. So the Bulls and the Heat played three games and my mother goes to all the games and the last one, the heat won by 50 or 60 points. And my mom was like, that was terrible. I didn't, I hated that like that. I sat there all night and I'm like, they were up by 50 all night. And I like, you guys think you want that. But if I give you the result of seven games instead of five and I give you the memory forever of. Do you remember how scared I was before game seven? The fear is part of the fun. I understand that you thought you were going to lose. You think you want that. But a four game sweep is less fun. It's just less fun than winning in seven. Put it on the poll at Le Batar show. Is winning in four less than, less fun than winning in seven? Because I disagree with you guys. You guys don't understand. You guys want to blow Everybody out by 60. And I was bored by the first 30 games of this Thunder season. Like, just bored. I like watching that team play. Bored watching them play now it's more interesting now you're back. Right now I'm like, okay, people got a chance. Even, even Michael Jordan, we always made the arguments. Will Reggie Miller do it? Will Karl Malone do it? Will somebody do it? Like, it was always close. There was always a reason to think, except for the year that they won 72. There was always a reason to think that Michael Jordan might get knocked off by somebody. And that was part of the fun. And it's what made Michael Jordan. Michael Jordan. The fact what makes the Panthers, the Panthers is that they beat up. Man, they beat McDavid in his prime. Twice. Twice. They beat this at the height of his powers. You'll have that forever.

[F]

Yeah, they turned him into Mc. Overrated.

[E]

Oh, here we go.

[F]

You, you, you.

[E]

We are mad at you.

[F]

The Panthers did that.

[B]

You are not one to talk after costing us the University of Miami championship.

[A]

Me?

[B]

You?

[F]

Yes, you.

[A]

Don't. You don't start.

[F]

Do not start.

[B]

Everybody saw that. We'll never forgive you. Tony will never forgive you.

[D]

I may have seen it coming, but.

[C]

I didn't say it out loud again. You could see it coming.

[A]

And keep it in your heart.

[F]

Okay. In the deep recesses of your mind.

[E]

The moment you speak it.

[F]

Yes.

[A]

And then he throws that interception, I.

[C]

Will be on my dying deathbed, never.

[A]

Forgiving Roy for what he did.

[F]

Yeah, zip it up.

[B]

Put it on the pole. Is dying deathbed redundant?

[A]

You want my thoughts on the Panthers?

[B]

I do want your thoughts on Giannis in the Heat, who went last night to the Heat gala. What's the information I need to know from the Heat gala? Because I understand that Shaq is mad at me, but also, Chris, you insulted him. Correct? You personally made the mistake. Do you know this story, Greg? Do you know what your son did to. To insult Shaq? Do you know what happened?

[F]

No, I'm just picturing him looking up like this.

[B]

Well, that's part of it, yeah.

[D]

Jeremy and I were. Mike. So our move was to every guest, hand them the mic, they hold their mic, and we can just have a free flowing.

[C]

Let them feel comfortable.

[D]

And you know, Shaq may or may not have hit me with. I don't hold mics.

[B]

Oh, did he curse?

[C]

Did he curse?

[D]

We got a whole package here. We show you guys.

[E]

Hey, yo.

[B]

What, what, what?

[C]

Excuse me.

[B]

Whose package? You're. You're ready to play the entirety of the package. You're. You're. So you guys.

[D]

Well, we talked to Wade, we talked.

[B]

To Ryan, but hold on, but give me. No, wait a minute. Before it. To the package, give me some information. So you go. For the love of God, Dan. Just an amateur. Like you think. Has he never done this before?

[D]

Like it's called a conversation. Back and forth. You throw it to me. I talk about the.

[C]

Set the oven. You got the.

[A]

The oven getting a little bit hot.

[D]

That's what I was doing.

[E]

You set it to 450.

[A]

All of a sudden it's like 250, 300.

[B]

What happened? Okay, Did Shaq curse at you?

[G]

Did she?

[D]

There were many at me. There were many curse words said by Shaq. I forget how many were directed at me. You definitely got a few.

[B]

Okay, but how many were directed at you because he said, I don't know. I'm asking you. Did he say, I don't hold Mike's or I don't hold bleeping mics? Did it. Do you remember? Can you quote him directly as the son of a journalist?

[D]

I don't remember specifically. There was so many.

[C]

You. The sound in the package, Dan.

[B]

All right, Play the whole damn package.

[C]

Cody, how are we going?

[B]

How's it going?

[F]

He keeps demanding.

[E]

He keeps demanding that I land the whale. I might be out there looking, but I got a guy in a chair back there with a big harpoon, and that's Andy Ellisberg. And once I identify it, he goes.

[C]

What do you think is the most annoying thing about Dan?

[A]

Motherclub.

[E]

I don't know what's the most annoying, but if I had to pick one, I would say his voice.

[B]

And, Dan, I'mma kill you when I see you.

[C]

We're here at the Kaseya Center.

[D]

Hi, everybody. This isn't the pitch bomb, okay?

[C]

Oh, Antoine Walker's here.

[D]

We'll be back.

[C]

Start right here. What do you remember the most about celebrating that 2006 championship?

[B]

Really just how special the group was.

[E]

We was a really close group of guys that hung out together, did everything together to achieve a common goal.

[D]

The potential for. Is this journalism? Jeremy's excitement about meeting Dwayne Wade. It's like, play it cool, dude. Act like you've been there before.

[C]

I'm not gonna play it cool.

[E]

My neck. My back.

[C]

Back by Michael, do you.

[D]

Looks like we're not.

[C]

Turns out we didn't get Michael do yak kak.

[D]

Oh, there's Pat Riley.

[C]

Oh, boy.

[D]

Pat Riley. Pat Riley sighting to my right.

[C]

Oh, my God.

[D]

This is so exciting. This is like my childhood.

[C]

Pat, what do you remember most about celebrating the 2006 championship?

[E]

That team was special. They stepped up big time. It was just a series of big time moments. Were big time players, big time superstar players. They're all hall of famers right now. All of them at that moment, with a little Bit of age and experience. They made the big plays when it counted the most.

[C]

I want to ask your top three Bruce Springsteen songs.

[E]

Well, I love the Rising, Land of Hope and Dreams. I got his whole catalog, but the one that Chris and I really relate to and get Levitar playing on his show sometimes, you know, back in your arms again. It was on 18 tracks.

[C]

How do you feel about you and Chris being a couple of hat guys here?

[F]

Yeah.

[D]

You like the style Swag, you know, I try. I try.

[C]

What's your favorite story that you've shared of a moment with coach Spo thus far in your career?

[D]

Favorite spori, if you will.

[B]

You saw that when he called timeout in Detroit and we didn't have one.

[D]

Do you ever give him like, rib him a little bit?

[B]

Like, hey, we always in the huddle now. I always ask him, like, how many timeouts he got.

[F]

So just make.

[B]

Just make sure me and you are on the boats. Both on the same page.

[C]

Oh, my God. Dwyane Wade is right here. He's right there.

[B]

There you go.

[D]

We got.

[F]

Okay.

[D]

Hell yeah, man.

[C]

I love that. I love that. All right, sir, what do you remember most about celebrating the 2006 championship?

[B]

The parade, the 15 strong that we weren't allowed to. To look at. I actually come in here and shoot at night, and soon as I pick up the COVID of security guard. Hey, don't do that. So pat Riley had 24 hours security on that thing.

[C]

What is more embarrassing when your phone light is on by mistake or when you realize that you're walking around and your backpack is wide open, probably to.

[B]

The backpack because, you know, you don't.

[A]

Know what's going to fall out.

[D]

Besides Shohei Ohtani, can you name basketball players?

[E]

No. Oh, yeah. I'm a baseball fan.

[B]

William Contrera.

[D]

There we go.

[F]

All right.

[B]

That'S great. Look at both of you at the same time.

[D]

The coach, Tony Fantino. I just want a yeah, baby. I just want one yeah, baby.

[C]

Yeah, baby.

[D]

Not from you.

[C]

Between you with the nickname the Glove and J. Will with the nickname White Chocolate, who had the better nickname of the point guard?

[B]

4 Support the glove. White Target was cool, but the Glove is what it is. Big glove, baby.

[C]

What is the strangest thing you've ever eaten in the car? Our boss recently admitted to eating chicken wings. And one of our co workers said an entire entire rotisserie chicken.

[E]

I would probably say a hard boiled egg. Just because that's just the worst thing.

[B]

You can do to everyone in the hard though, right?

[D]

No medium. You don't want that congealedness. The fully hard.

[E]

That's right. Well, probably a McDonald's burger. You know, who doesn't have a double, double Big Mac, you know, and. And a Coke?

[A]

That's when you're really.

[E]

That's when you're really, really hungry, man.

[B]

I used to eat everything. I used to come with candy, Big Mac, strawberry shake, fries. What's the big bucket of. What's it called? Cheese puffs. Yeah, and just look.

[D]

Look over your shoulder. You're six o'.

[C]

Clock. Dwyane Wade. Just.

[D]

Coming up next, Jeremy urinates his pants.

[C]

All right, I'm gonna start here. Dwayne, I don't really know how to tell you this, but you're my favorite athlete and probably favorite human of all time.

[E]

Your response, the human is, you know, give me a hug, bro.

[C]

What do you remember most from celebrating that 06 championship?

[E]

I just. I just remember all of us. Like, we look at each other now, man. Just gleaming, just beaming. I always say I was like, we all became the greatest role players in the world. We all played our roles of perfection, no matter what it was. And so just proud. That's all I can say about 06, man. I could just put proud next to it because, you know, everywhere I go, I walk around proud, knowing that we accomplished that championship because it was the first and the hardest.

[D]

How often do you think about the Anderson Verge out? Duncan.

[E]

I'm thinking about it now, as you said. I wasn't before this.

[D]

In terms of single plays in your career, though, like what? What are the plays that jump out of just like.

[E]

No, it is depth, but from a dunk standpoint, that's number one. And then this is the play. I don't know if you guys remember on the sideline when I.

[D]

Oh, around the guy. Come on.

[E]

Like, I took a little bit from that was. I used to do that outside in Chicago. Like, I brought it to the NBA. Like, I used to do that outside.

[C]

Superlatives for your 2006 teammates. Okay, so who is the class clown?

[E]

GP Shaq.

[B]

Kill. O'. Neill. Shaq always.

[C]

Who are the two teammates most likely to butt heads?

[A]

Shaq always.

[E]

UD and GP Antwon Walker. James Post.

[C]

Who's the life of the party?

[B]

Killer o'.

[F]

Neill.

[B]

Shaq.

[E]

Me.

[B]

Antoine.

[D]

That's what he said.

[C]

Teacher's pet.

[A]

Me.

[E]

Dwayne. I would say Zo.

[B]

Love Zo.

[D]

Morning.

[C]

And best all around.

[E]

We'll give that to Big Zo.

[A]

He deserves it.

[B]

Oh, D. Wade. I'm gonna give it to Shaq.

[E]

Shaq's personality is second to none.

[C]

Me. What's worse, height shaming or hairline shaming?

[B]

Well, I don't get height or hairline shaming.

[E]

Cause I smack mother.

[B]

You want to keep your headline, Our.

[D]

Boss, Dan Lebatard, thinks that you hate him. How right is he?

[E]

I do hate him.

[B]

However, we'll never disrespect him.

[E]

If I seen him with his family.

[B]

I'll be like, hello, Mr. Dan. But if we're in a place where we can go ahead, we can go at it.

[D]

All right, guys, we did it. Don't pan down because Jeremy urinated himself during the Dwayne Wade interview.

[E]

Yep.

[D]

Back to you, Dan.

[C]

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[B]

Available while supplies last. Zinn After Dark. Bring on the night. Warning. This product contains nicotine.

[E]

Nicotine is an addictive chemical.

[F]

Don LeBatard, he has been great. He's made great hires.

[A]

I said all.

[B]

We've said all.

[E]

He said all.

[G]

The first time I heard any of this.

[B]

Greg, everything you're saying, it's all been said.

[F]

Okay? You gotta understand one thing. Stugats me maximum.

[C]

That's right.

[F]

I say it, it hasn't been said. Boom. Okay, Understand that until I say it as a consent.

[E]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the stugats.

[B]

So I have a lot of questions. One of them is when Jeremy hugged Dwayne Wade. Is that journalism? Put it on the poll at Lebatard Show. Better nickname. White Chocolate or the Glove. And also, if you would, Louis, at your convenience, when Shaq says, I'm going to kill you, can we put on the screen at some point the frozen reaction of Chris and Jeremy totally betraying me and roaring with laughter something that's decidedly not funny. Like if. If a person that side. Look at Chris.

[G]

A couple stooges.

[B]

That's the moneymaker boy.

[A]

Come on.

[D]

That's right.

[B]

That's why we're there.

[C]

We're there to hear Shaq say, I'll kill Dan Lebatard.

[D]

That is when the whole night is worth it, baby.

[B]

That is horrific.

[C]

Great.

[D]

That's just good humor.

[B]

He's not joking. He is by reputation somebody that everyone in the world would do word association and say, a giant my face.

[D]

I didn't notice that.

[A]

You remember the picture of Russell Wilson when he gets drafted and his fiance or wife or whatever at the time has exactly Chris's face. If we could zoom in on that. She's there.

[C]

Like, I made it, baby.

[E]

There was Chris.

[B]

I made it, baby.

[D]

I did it.

[B]

The size of that betrayal is staggering to me. I know how happy you guys were made. He was not joking, and that's not deadpan. If I'm with my father, he will be nice. And if he sees me alone, he's not happy with me, he will choke me. He will be. You know what he'll do to me? He will do to me what the Mountain did to Pablo Pascal in Game of Thrones. He will. What's the matter with you guys?

[E]

Pedro Pascal, by the way, I did that for the. Keep it moving, and we'll remember what Roy said later. Also, who was that?

[D]

Who.

[E]

Who was that girl? Who's the lady?

[C]

Oh, Vlad Golden's fiancee.

[G]

Now, who's Vlad Golden?

[C]

The heat center. Vlad Golden. You didn't know? Cameron Vulture.

[G]

Who is Cameron Vulture?

[C]

Vlad Golden's fiance.

[G]

Well, really, we're gonna do this. We're just gonna go round around with that.

[D]

That was before we got anyone. And no one was over with us. And we were just like, we need.

[G]

Like, we gotta.

[C]

We needed star powers.

[D]

Hey, we'll talk to you.

[A]

Oddly, got more camera time than Bam's date.

[B]

Weird.

[A]

Did we even identify Bam states? You don't need to.

[C]

That's Asia Wilson. Everybody knows that.

[B]

Is this journalism?

[C]

They said Black golden was like, I.

[A]

Thought this was a heat thing. It was a Panther guy.

[D]

But can I just say. Can we just talk about last night? Pat Riley, his vibe. There was something going on.

[G]

Oh, yeah, we know what's going on.

[D]

I have a theory that doesn't relate to Liannis. It could have been he got to be back in the head coach chair for a night. He was just feeling the vibe of I'm in charge. Like, this was my team theory, like. Or he knows he's getting Giannis. I'm telling you, one of those two things was happening last night because the guy was happy, he was dancing, he had energy. He was going up to every interview, starting the conversation.

[E]

Also.

[A]

It also could have been Keonte maybe.

[D]

But I'm telling you, I've been around Pat Riley at these things before, and he had a vibe last night. That's all I'm saying.

[B]

I. I have a theory on what that vibe is, and I believe this is going to come down to Golden State and Miami when it comes to Giannis. And I think that not enough people are talking about this part I know Milwaukee might want to wait for the off season because the heats offer would get better in the off season because they'd have more to give. There is no circumstance in which Giannis wants to play a second half of a season that doesn't matter. Like, none. And you put him with Bam and Norman Powell, and now you start fooling around with whatever it is you can figure out in the second half of a season because you haven't lost pieces that are going to crush you. I'm guessing that's why Pat Riley is more, you know, ebullient there than you might expect him to be, because he knows he's got a good chance at fixing this in the next couple of days.

[A]

League can't be happy either about Milwaukee essentially benching one of its great superstars, one of the faces of the league during his. The prime of his career. He'd have another NBA postseason where Giannis isn't a factor. I assume that there is some implied pressure from the league here.

[C]

Well, and there was an interesting detail thrown out there. I believe it was in Mark Stein's reporting, which was that Giannis doesn't want to sit out the rest of the season when he's back from his calf injury. He wants to play. And the reason that that's interesting is because him playing in Milwaukee winning games sabotages their pick going into next season. That team does not want to win more games from here. They need to have the highest pick possible. And so that's a bit of tension that gets created. It's another thing trying to leverage his way out without again specifically demanding I go XYZ place.

[B]

Jeremy, I have a bit of regret that last week, the angriest that I was for a long time actually on the air was simply screaming at you because you were so ready to talk that you didn't listen to anything that was said before you were ready to talk and then went right to your point. Mike Ryan saying that there's implied pressure from the league here is asinine. Asinine. Like implied pressure from the league that Giannis needs to be traded so he can play the second half of the season where the league wants him to. Like, what are you talking about?

[A]

Okay, man, we disagree, but what would.

[B]

That even look like? What's implied pressure?

[A]

You don't have to say anything.

[B]

Well, okay, then. That they're doing.

[A]

Do you not know how implications work?

[B]

No, but that they're doing. They're not saying anything. But how are you reading in there? Not anything that it's implied pressure. You are right to report that the league is doing nothing, but you turn it into implied pressure. And I don't know what that looks like, all right?

[A]

The implications.

[B]

You get it?

[E]

We're out on the boat.

[F]

So it's inferred pressure, not implied. It's inferred.

[A]

Okay.

[G]

You know about that inferred pressure.

[B]

I don't think there's any pressure inferred or implied from the league going on here on anything.

[A]

Why would they just sign a whole bunch of new broadcasting rights with Peacock, Amazon, espn? I mean, it's not on Turner anymore. I'm sure that all their broadcast partners are going to be super pumped that Giannis isn't going to be playing in the playoffs. It's implied.

[B]

It's implied that they want all of their players to play. There wouldn't be any more implies. Look who's agreeing with me.

[A]

Thank you, pal. We're good. Look at us. Finding consensus. A healed America.

[B]

Are you buying the idea, zaz, that because the trading deadline is in a couple days. Oh, we got super bowl stuff today. By the way, Fred Warner is going to join us.

[A]

Oh, yeah, the super bowl came about before the show.

[F]

Super Bowl.

[A]

Actively as good at his job as anyone we've had on the show recently. I think dating back to, like, when Aaron Donald was in studio. That's the last time we had someone this excellent at their job.

[C]

Michael Biamante would like a word.

[B]

And you're forgetting that Chris Mad Dog Russo is also on the show.

[G]

Doggy.