The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Episode: Local Hour: The Wemby Stopper
Date: November 18, 2025
Recording Location: Elser Hotel, Downtown Miami

Episode Overview

In this lively Local Hour, Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, and the crew blend their trademark banter with sports analysis, focusing on the latest South Florida sports happenings, playful debates, and plenty of off-the-rails moments. This episode delves into Miami Heat updates (including a deep dive on Khalil Ware’s emerging talent), the Florida Panthers’ playoff hopes amid major injuries, and a riotous discussion about the problem of stopping NBA unicorn Victor Wembanyama. The crew also riffs on pop culture (Ben Stiller), Heat history, and the peculiar details of human anatomy, all with their signature blend of irreverence and insight.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Fun With Facts: Human Anatomy Goes Off the Rails

[01:13–04:20]

• Amin Elhassan shares a fact from his “Three Facts Jack” segment: “The human skin weighs about 20 pounds. If you were skinned alive, the shed skin would be the equivalent of two bowling balls” (01:19).
  • The group debates if this can possibly be true and whether skin is really the body’s largest organ (by surface area/weight).
  • Stugotz: “I don’t think of skin as an organ. I thought the large intestine could unspool around the Earth.” (03:00)
  • This veers into confusion and skepticism, with a Poll idea: “Did you know your skin weighs roughly 20 pounds?”
  • Notable Quote:
    • Amin: “People don’t think of skin as the organ. The biggest organ on the human body is the skin.” (02:18)
• Interlude into intestines and a callback to old playground jokes: “Your epidermis is showing.” (03:16)

2. Local Sports Rundown: Miami Heat, Panthers, and Injury Indoor

Florida Panthers’ Injury Woes and Barkov Debate

[05:31–17:13]

• The crew discusses the Panthers’ impressive 8-goal night and persistent injury struggles.
  • Zaz: “No Barkov, no Kachuk...Carter Verhaeghe has been a ghost so far this season.” (08:39)
  • There’s cautious optimism that missing stars (like Alexander Barkov) might return before the playoffs.
  • Debate erupts over Barkov’s recovery speed after ACL/MCL surgery—miracle of modern science or something fishy?
  • Roy: “He’s rehabbing without crutches.” (09:37)
  • Stugotz: “I’m willing to make a prognosis that hockey players, being totally insane, [will] get back as fast as [they] can.” (11:30)
  • Greg Cody introduces skepticism about unusually fast rehabs and jokes at possible “miracle of modern science, wink, wink.” (11:57)
• They wade into “reckless speculation” about sports medicine, steroids, and the true status of the Panthers’ stars.
  • Memorable Moment:
    • Stugotz leans into show self-awareness:
      • “Time to throw away journalistic credibility and get reckless.” (12:16)

3. Ben Stiller vs. Udonis Haslem: Knicks Fandom & Social Media Trolling

[20:44–25:08]

• The show breaks down the ongoing social media spat between Ben Stiller (as rabid Knicks fan) and Udonis Haslem, who playfully calls out Stiller after the Heat beat the Knicks.
  • Zaz: “Balls on that Ben Stiller. Watch your mouth.” (21:22)
  • Jeremy: “You know about that jizz?” (22:27) — referencing the infamous scene in There’s Something About Mary and triggering group chaos.
  • Amin: “Jesus. Oh, yeah.” (22:29)
• They riff on Ben Stiller’s best comedy moments, why Udonis picked a particular ‘Along Came Polly’ image for his troll, and rank the most visible celebrity Knicks fans, settling on Spike Lee and Stiller.

4. Khalil Ware, Wembanyama, and NBA Evolution: The Main Event

[26:04–44:12]

Evaluating Khalil Ware’s Potential

• The crew analyzes the Heat’s young big man, Khalil Ware, after he impressively slowed Karl-Anthony Towns late in the game.
  • Stugotz: “Karl Anthony Towns was having trouble getting his shot off at the end of the game…Khalil Ware made it problematic.” (26:04)
  • The Heat podcast team notes that Ware is unusually nimble for his size and is just scratching the surface of his capabilities.

The “Wemby Stopper” Debate

• Greg Cody: “He has all the physical tools...to be a Wembanyama stopper.” (29:02)
  • The group oscillates between skepticism—no one can stop Victor Wembanyama—and cautious optimism for Ware’s growth.
    • Stugotz: “[Draymond Green] looks like a toddler guarding Wembanyama…There is no such thing as physical tools that can stop Wembanyama.” (29:39)
  • They watch video breakdowns of Draymond Green getting overpowered by Wemby, marveling at the unique challenges players like Ware, Towns, and Wemby present.

Hitting Ceilings and Heat’s Talent-Development Machine

• Stugotz pushes for statistical comps: Is Ware the next Rudy Gobert “with a shot,” the next JaVale McGee, or something new?
  • Greg Cody: “I invoke the spirit of Hassan Whiteside.” (37:53)
  • Dan: “I just think of an assortment of ridiculous plays...I associate JaVale McGee with wasted talent.” (38:23)
  • They compare the Heat’s culture for unlocking potential—diamonds in the rough like Ike Austin, Voshon Lenard, and more.
  • Notable Quote:
    • “This season is a really interesting case study for the Heat, and so is this player individually...Now you have guys with higher ceilings, talented players, and [the question is] can you unlock the best of them?” (42:44)

Celebrity Knicks Fans & Gimmick Debates

• Who’s the most “Internet loud” Knicks fan? Ben Stiller vs. Tracy Morgan, Timothée Chalamet gets name-checked.
• Tracy Morgan’s willingness to puke at a game “for the Knicks” is offered as evidence of fandom.

5. Heat Culture, NBA Old School, and Analogies

[43:39–46:11]

• The crew looks through the Heat’s legacy for player reclamation, joking about past trades (Tim Hardaway, Kevin Willis) and the quirks of NBA body types (T-Rex arms, alligator arms).
  • Stugotz: “Alligator arms are arms that get short when you’re scared going over the middle…T. Rex arms are just your hands attached to your nipples.” (46:11)

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• Amin Elhassan: “If you were skinned alive, the physicality of your shed skin would be the equivalent of two bowling balls.” (01:19)
• Stugotz: “I don’t think of skin as an organ.” (03:00)
• Zaz: “No Barkov, no Kachuk…They’re missing a defenseman in Kulikov as well…you can’t wait for Barkov. Who knows if he’s going to be available?” (08:39)
• Greg Cody: “A miracle of modern science, wink, wink, if you catch my drift.” (11:57)
  • Followed by group chaos around “reckless speculation.” (12:16)
• Zaz: “Balls on that Ben Stiller. Watch your mouth.” (21:22)
• Greg Cody & Amin Elhassan: “He has all the physical tools…to be a Wembanyama stopper.” (29:02)
• Stugotz: “There is no such thing as physical tools that can stop Wembanyama.” (29:39)
• Stugotz: “When you compare his ceiling to JaVale McGee, you’ve insulted ceilings.” (39:49)
• Dan Le Batard (on Heat reclamation): “It’s a story I tell every time we talk about the Heat. They have decades of proof that we get guys, get diamonds in the rough, and polish them up.” (42:11)
• Stugotz (on basketball body types): “Alligator arms are scared arms. T-Rex arms are just your hands attached to your nipples.” (46:11)

Important Segment Timestamps

| Topic/Segment | Start Time | |-------------------------------------------------------|-------------| | Human skin weight banter and anatomy facts | 01:13 | | Panthers injury updates & Barkov miracle rehab debate | 05:31 | | Ben Stiller vs. Udonis Haslem Knicks fandom | 20:44 | | Khalil Ware's performance & “Wemby Stopper” debate | 26:04 | | Heat culture & player reclamation history | 42:11 |

Tone & Takeaway

True to form, the episode weaves between hilarious asides, heated debates, and earnest sports analysis. The playful skepticism, ridiculous poll ideas, and pop culture drops mesh with deep basketball lore. The “Wemby Stopper” question is both tongue-in-cheek (nobody can really stop Victor Wembanyama) and a real nod to Heat optimism about raw young talent like Ware. Off-the-cuff moments, callbacks to Heat heritage, and the crew’s mix of expertise and absurdity make this Local Hour a showcase of what makes the show beloved by its fans.

If you’re a Miami sports fan, a Heat hopeful, or just want to enjoy expert basketball breakdowns spiked with belly laughs and pop-culture tangents, this episode is a perfect sampling of the Le Batard Show’s unique flavor.