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Dan LeBatard
Welcome to the Big Sui, presented by DraftKings. Why are you listening to this show, the podcast that seems very similar to the other Dan LeBatard podcast?
Greg Cote
I'm sorry.
Chris
I'm not going to apologize for that.
Dan LeBatard
In fact, the only difference seems to be this imaging. I have been tempted in restaurants just walking past tables to grab somebody's fries that if they're just there. That hasn't happened to you guys.
Stugats
I've done it.
Dan LeBatard
And now here's the marching man to Nowhere, Fat Face and the habitual liar.
Greg Cote
This episode of the Dan Lebatard show is presented by DraftKings. DraftKings. The Crown is yours.
Dan LeBatard
You should get more Trista and Juju in your life. They have great chemistry. The name of the show is alley oop. You can find it on YouTube. Lshoops. We also have a fellow enjoyer of basketball here. I think it's the ultimate enjoyer of basketball. Although Trista and juju might have some objections. Not you, Tony. Kenny Beacham is the co host. Co founder of Enjoy Basketball, part of the NBA on NBC coverage. He's the host of Numbers on the Board and Small Ball with Kenny Beacham. It airs weekdays on NBC Sports Now. And Peacock, as do we. Welcome Kenny, your maiden voyage on the show. Are you more of an enjoyer of basketball than juju and Trista? Because I'm being told you're the ultimate enjoyer of basketball.
Kenny Beacham
I think there's room for a lot of people on this boat. Um, I don't know if I'm the captain, but, man, anytime somebody tells me they're enjoyer, I feel great because I feel like there's not many of us left. So thank you for having me. I'm excited to be here.
Juju
Well, I think we need to adjudicate something. And I think you, as the ultimate enjoyer of basketball, know the history of this. Dan thinks it's very uncommon to call each other and in sports, I think it's quite normal. I call my own mom a hoe. So if we were playing hoops, listen, anything can go down. Kenny, what say you?
Kenny Beacham
I mean, that's what the game is about, right? You know, when you between.
Tony
He's right.
Kenny Beacham
I like these guys park their cars between the lines. You can. You can do and say what you want, but once that buzzer's over and everything's out, you go. You go back to friendship. So I'm team. Say what you want on the court. For sure.
Dan LeBatard
Trista misrepresents me. What I said is that you cannot say after the game that you respect somebody when that is disrespectful semantics.
Tony
Get between the lines.
Juju
Levitard has never been an athlete. Kenny, I could tell, obviously tell that he says I ran and that's the closest that he's actually doing to running. Are there too many Jalens in the NBA?
Kenny Beacham
I would think that there's actually not enough. I think the 2028 draft clash, the entire lottery should be Jalen's. I think it's the only way we can really counteract and have the Team USA be better than Team World.
Don Libertard
Moving on to more disagreeable conversations. Do you believe in this version of the Cleveland Caval with James Harden at the helm?
Kenny Beacham
I see, I see what you rocking right now. So I'll give you your love. Yeah, I do, I do, I do, I do. I mean you saw last night how good defensively they can be without two starters. I'm full in. Even though James has struggled in many postseason series, as we know, I'm completely in. And I think it might just be like the fact that it's new. You know, the Knicks have been around for a few years, the Pistons can't really score. So give me the new backcourt and I'm all in on the Cavs.
Juju
I've got another thing for you to adjudicate. I'm sorry I've been besmirching Cade and I'm gonna continue to besmirch Cade. I don't think he's even close to MVP in the universe in the conversation if he wins the award. I think he needs to give it back, Kenny, because he's not in the same world or stratosphere as Jokic and sga. What do you think about Cade and the Pistons here? Do you believe in them?
Kenny Beacham
I think that Cade is a phenomenal player. But I would agree that if, if the 65 game rule prevents us from having Shea or Jokic as mvp, then that shows you that there is a true problem. Last night is a great example of the lows of the lows with Cade Cunningham. I think it was like one made field goal in the second half. And when teams decide to really scheme against the non shooters on the roster, it can get real ugly. You saw it last year in the playoffs as well versus the Knicks. So I think Cade is a phenomenal player. But he is right now, I think overtaxed as the only creator on that team. And the Pistons are a team I have just like a little bit of love for when it comes to the postseason. But I don't think they're truly, truly the team that's going to win the championship this year.
Chris
Yeah, I agree.
Don Libertard
Their inability to make any moves at the deadline to me was kind of bad because replacing Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr. With Duncan Robinson, who don't even make two dribbles, you lose out on that. So I agree with you about them Pistons. Let's get to the real deal topic of the year. Luke Cornett, my brother. Now overwhelmingly online people are saying that once you open that door, it's a slippery slope because I agree his sentiment is well placed. But we're gonna start caring about women, huh? So we gotta look at a lot of stuff in this room. What do you feel about the Lou Cornett situation, bro?
Kenny Beacham
Listen, I think that everybody should be entitled to feel how they feel. I am a personal. I like to get out. You know what I'm saying? Hopefully you understand. So I feel what he is saying, but I don't know. I feel like that's, that's a bag of worms, man. I have no idea. This is one of those topics that I've been asked a lot about and like, man, yeah, I ain't read the article, I ain't read the blog post. I just act oblivious to the whole situation. So I'm going to let Luke get his, his points off. I think there are some valid points in there. But ultimately I think it is a very small problem that the NBA.
Dan LeBatard
Let me, let me explain to the audience who don't know it's not just Luke Cornett. Now Al Horford is saying that as well. Objecting to an Atlanta Hawks promotion. That is Magic City related idea of them celebrating both strip clubs and Lemon Pepper Wings as a professional franchise. So it's a bag of worms.
Kenny Beacham
Yeah, I mean I, I originally saw it and thought about the wings before I thought about anything else. So when I saw the Magic City stuff, I'm like, oh, okay, yeah, I've, I've had those wings before. But I think it is, I mean, it's, it's one of those issues that is an issue, but ultimately not the biggest issue that we should be worried about. It's, it's one night. The way I think about it, when
Juju
you, when you look at Magic City and go to their website, it says premier destination for wings. That's what it says. Doesn't say anything about a strip club.
Don Libertard
As far as a person from Atlanta, I feel like Magic City is, is Disney World, you dig? I feel like it should be mentioned in the same breath with Walt, you dig? What you got, bro?
Greg Cote
Kenny. Miami Heat stuck in play in purgatory down here. Do you agree with Lebatard's contention that Eric Spoelstra should finally be feeling a little bit of heat, a little bit of heat.
Mike Ryan
Wow.
Dan LeBatard
Don't agree with.
Kenny Beacham
No, no, I don't. I don't. I think that sometimes you see a team fire a great head coach with thinking that the grass is going to be greener, and then they spend 10 years trying to find a coach as good as the guy that just fired. I think they've been in purgatory. I'm a Bulls fan, so I've been in purgatory with you over there. I think it starts at the head of the snake, right? Every single year, they're close to signing somebody. They're close to trading for this next superstar. And it never really. And every single time this year it's like, oh, we're better than our record. Record shows. And I think that those two finals appearances in the last couple of years became fool's goal where they feel like they can be an eight seed and make it to the finals every single season. I think you start the head of the snake before you get rid of one of the premier coaches in basketball.
Juju
Pivoting to a team that I actually think is fun to watch. Unlike the heats, the Charlotte Hornets.
Greg Cote
Yeah.
Juju
Michael Jordan finally sells the team, Kenny. And now we get con caniples knipple leading the charge. Are they the most fun team in basketball? What do you think about the future of them?
Kenny Beacham
Easily the best.500 team to ever exist this late in the season. Right. Think about two months worth of them being a top three team in that rating super fun style of basketball. I kind of saw a little bit of it last year with Charles Lee, but I was too afraid to double down. Last year I had them as a playing team, like, yeah, this is going to be the year. And then they sucked. And I was like, I would never fall for it again. I kind of wish I continued to hold my stock. But they're. They're a fun team to watch, man. I. I truly think that they're the most fun team in the NBA right now.
Don Libertard
They definitely have the most fun announcer. If you haven't heard him, I don't know the brother name, but that he need to be hosting the Oscars. I don't know. We need to tap into his potential, right, brother? Can the Lakers do any damn thing at all in the postseason this year?
Kenny Beacham
No, I. I don't think so. I. I always look at this year as a gap year for them, they're trying to figure out they got what, almost $100 million of cap space this offseason. I know a lot of that should go to Austin Reeves, but after that it's about building around. You have to remember that Luka kind of fell into their lap and they had a team built for AD and LeBron. It wasn't a well built team, but it was built for those guys. And you add in a guy like Luka who changed the dynamic of the entire franchise. This is a team that's good enough to maybe win a playoff series, but ultimately they're not going to do the things that Lakers fans want them to do, which is win the championship. They're like maybe a year or two away from being a true contender.
Juju
I am curious as you allow a lot of complacency for the Heat and allow them to continue to be a trash ass playing team. You are a fan of a team that is in perpetual mediocrity with a head coach that I feel like is considered a legend. Where are we at with the Bulls right now, Kenny?
Kenny Beacham
Yeah, I think Billy is a legend in college basketball. I think his NBA tenure has had a couple good seasons, but mostly bad seasons. You think about.
Dan LeBatard
That was a polite. That was a polite correction. That was a polite correction.
Kenny Beacham
I mean, hey, I mean multiple national championships and you get to the league, it's like, okay, we got a couple playoff series. Not a ton of playoff series wins, but yeah, we've been in purgatory too. The best thing that happened at this deadline is that we sold on all of the assets. I mean, we sold low, but we sold on all the assets. And just until like two days ago, we were on 11 game losing streak. So we picked a direction. And direction is, instead of being mediocre, just being bad, which could reap some awards in a year or two. And that's what I got to convince myself to continue to watch this team every single night.
Juju
Fire him, Kenny.
Tony
Do you have a AJ Hawk situation going on behind you? Is that a real background?
Kenny Beacham
Can you go and get something 100% real?
Tony
Okay, give me the VHS. Is okay, give me the VHS. Up top. What you got up there?
Kenny Beacham
We got a what sports of 97. We got some.
Tony
That's minty though. That's crispy. Did you have those or you bought those?
Dan LeBatard
He's accusing you of optics. He's accusing you of having that background purposely chosen but not really being about it. That's an accusation.
Tony
That's not an Accusation. I'm just making sure that you know what it is.
Kenny Beacham
What I will say is that I am a collector of vintage sports things. Most of the stuff came from a friend of mine that lives in Arizona who his entire brand is doing vintage sports stuff. So he provided me with like 90% of the stuff. So I guess you got me there. But I did pick it.
Tony
I mean, so you needed four Space Jams.
Juju
You know about it? About it, Kenny.
Kenny Beacham
The idea is to have the entire row be Space Jam, but I have to pick them up as I find them in the wild. It's. It's a whole scavenger hunt type of situation.
Don Libertard
Speaking of Space Jam, lastly from me, LeBron James next year. Everybody seemed to think he going to Cleveland as some kind of return home. I see the gimmick in my boy. I know my boy. Excuse me, pardon me, excuse me.
Dan LeBatard
Fine bucket. $5 on the fine bucket. Let's make sure that Juju gives that $5 whether he has cash or not. You're not allowed to do that. $5.
Chris
Make sure you pay your fine.
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Don Libertard
Well, yeah, I think my boy has conquered Miami. He has conquered la, and now I think he wants to conquer the Big Apple. What do you say about LeBron going to the Knicks for his, I guess, his farewell tour?
Kenny Beacham
Do you think the Knicks will want that?
Don Libertard
Yes, like, oh, man.
Kenny Beacham
I mean, I, I think. Yeah, you're probably right. They probably will.
Dan LeBatard
What a crazy thing. What a crazy thing.
Kenny Beacham
Yeah, yeah, that's me. I don't know, man. Is LeBron gonna be willing to take a minimum? Because that's the only way he goes to Cleveland or he goes to New York. Those are second apron teams. So that's, that's why I feel like LA is still a spot. I mentioned almost $100 million. 40 of those could go to Braun pretty easily. And nobody's going to complain to say
Dan LeBatard
the Knicks have won 40 plus games four straight seasons. That's the first time that's happened in three decades. They have fallen in love with that team. But no team with some player the size of Jalen Brunson ever gets to win the championship. Maybe that's. Is that different now with threes?
Kenny Beacham
I'm. No, I don't think so. I think we're still in that era. What was that? I had to think about it for a second because I do love Jalen Brunson. But when you're 61 and can't defend, it's just tough to win four playoff series.
Chris
Kenny, as the ultimate enjoyer of basketball, what is something you see out there that people are not enjoying enough about the NBA?
Kenny Beacham
I think that we, we're not appreciating the official when they get to the camera. I think that, you know, when we spend the 4 minutes, 5 minutes reviewing a random out of bounds play, when they get to the microphone, we should all be waiting on our toes to hear what they have to say. We all should be applauding all their great, excellent work out there. So that's what we should be enjoying.
Dan LeBatard
The action figure over your left shoulder, that is. Who is that over your left shoulder? That's Shaq.
Chris
That's LSU Shaq, right?
Kenny Beacham
Oh, that's LSU Shaq. That's Orlando Magic Shack. We got a Pacers Barbie down here. I don't know if you can really see that. And then Toon squad, Michael Jordan space.
Dan LeBatard
Jamie Halliburton, he airs weekdays on NBC Sports now. And Peacock, he's the host of Numbers on the Board and Small Ball with Kenny Beacham. Kenny. Thank you, sir. We appreciate the time.
Kenny Beacham
Thank you all.
Mike Ryan
Hey, it's Mike Ryan and I want to talk to you about the random midweek hang that you have with your friends. Maybe it's an NBA game. You get a text, hey, come over. You want to watch the game. And maybe you're like, ah, I don't know, I kind of just wanted to stay home. And then you think about it after your buddy hits you up and you know, just the thing that'll make that regular hang, that regular midweek hang around the basketball game into a special time, into a Miller time.
Dan LeBatard
That's right.
Mike Ryan
This happened to me just last week. I grabbed a six pack of Miller Lite, said I was on my way, and next thing you know, we're arguing about rotations. Like we're on the coaching staff yelling about a missed call and the game's coming down in the final possession. It was one of those nights that you look around, you take a sip and you think, yeah, this was the right call and my friendship's stronger for it. Cheers to legendary moments with Miller Lite. Great taste. 96 calories. Go to millerlight.com dan to find delivery options near you. Or you can pick up some Miller Lite pretty much anywhere they sell beer. It's Miller time. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Co. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces.
Stugats
People always talk about New Year's resolutions. You know, eat better, work out more, etcetera, etcetera. We might still be early in 2026, but I'm sure most of you have already broken your resolutions. Me, I'm still going. My resolutions are simple. Be comfortable, especially at the rink. If you know me, you know that hockey isn't just something I watch, it's something I live late nights, cold arenas, long playoff runs. You're on your feet a lot, and if your socks aren't right, you feel it badly. That's why I've been rocking Bomba's sports socks. They're cushioned exactly where you need it. Sweat wicking Supportive. Basically built for movement. Whether I'm at the game, skating a little myself, or pacing around during overtime, like I somehow affect the outcome, they keep me locked in and comfortable. And when I finally get home to break down everything that happened on the ice, Bombers has the everyday stuff, too. Slippers, tees, underwear, all ridiculously soft. It's the kind of comfort you don't think about because you don't have to head to bombas.com dan and use code dan for 20% off your first purchase. That's B O M B A S.com dan code dan DraftKings sportsbook puts you
Chris
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Don Libertard
Don Libertard I ain't never met nobody in the world that's done hate on Blues Great nomination. Like who don't like Blues Clues, bruh. If you don't like Blues Clues You're a loser. Stugats. Look, you get one paw print. That's the first clue. You put it in a notebook. Now what do you do? Blues clues. Blues clues.
Ad Read / Commercial Voice
Sit on the chair and think about it.
Don Libertard
This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugats.
Dan LeBatard
I want to get to some sound here because Stephen A. Smith is about to go in on Zion Williamson again on first take. He's been doing some body shaming of Zion Williamson, and evidently the Pelicans came back at Stephen A. Smith and the Pelicans. Wow. Man, what a bad franchise. Just one of those franchises that is nowhere, that is just existing to run around out there with no real purpose.
Chris
Zion was the number one overall pick. Before we get to Stephen A. This is a great beef. Zion was the number one overall pick in 2019. As hyped coming out of Duke as any player has ever been. We are seven years later, not a single playoff series victory. Perpetually in a rebuild, Zion's a massive bust, right?
Dan LeBatard
Yeah. It's not just that he's been hurt a lot and doesn't always play. He's in shape and he's not, as their allegedly best player, somebody who's making them any good. If you are what you're supposed to be at that draft pick, even if you're out there by yourself with four other guys, you've got to be contending for the playoffs. You can't always be losing. But let's. Let's play Stephen A. Smith here. Zion Williamson is a very easy target, and now Stephen A. Is having beef with him. You got people that are alcoholics, you got people that are drug addicts and stuff like that. What was Zion's problem?
Kenny Beacham
Food.
Dan LeBatard
Food addict. The joke was everybody in New Orleans, they cooked. It could be everybody from a restaurant, a chef to your grandmama. All right? Anybody that cooked knew about Zion Williamson, and he knew them. They were on a first name basis because that brother ate a lot. Okay? You even have rumors. And literally I'm here thinking it was a joke. And somebody told me to go on the air and point out how he got busted hiding food under his bed. This is the kind of stuff that was happening. Put it on the poll, please. At LeBatard show, would Dan be £700 if he lived in New Orleans? Because that is a great restaurant city.
Ad Read / Commercial Voice
So then the Pelicans heard that and put out on social media. Hey, Stephen. A stick to solitaire. With a montage, a video montage of his athletic achievements. Airballing A three, throwing a terrible first pitch, airballing. Another three. Think that was the same one.
Dan LeBatard
I think that is the same one, yes.
Ad Read / Commercial Voice
His terrible punching from a few years back. Another three. Oh, slipping on the court. So just trolling Stephen A in a funny way. Actually showing his.
Dan LeBatard
His college stats, the college stats with the Wilt Chamberlain sign. 1.5 points per game. Can you guys look up the stats for me? Because I'm pretty sure it was a number of games played that would have made 1.5 be impossible because for some reason I thought it was one game played. I may have that wrong. They also showed him, as Chris mentioned, slipping on the court. Dress shoes on the basketball court. Not a great situation for anybody. But also the training with a trainer and showing on social media that you're training with a trainer and punching very poorly while boxing training.
Chris
Dan, Dan, you know about that. Punching down.
Ad Read / Commercial Voice
And then Stephen A, of course, sees this trolling. And you know what Stephen A does? Tune in tomorrow on first take. He tweets out pulling all this stuff from a decade or two. Decade, three decades ago. No problem. See all tomorrow on first take. Remember one thing you asked for this
Dan LeBatard
all caps, a lot of exclamation points, lot of, lot of punctuation in general there.
Chris
First take will be lit.
Ad Read / Commercial Voice
And then the pelicans responded to this with a Max Kellerman gif of gif. Max, whatever it is meme. I don't know what this is. It says jiff in the bottom left. So it's just him, Max Kellerman sipping coffee, waiting for the response. So this is a background I'm excited for first.
Tony
We got two minutes, Dan, two minutes. First take starts.
Greg Cote
Let me ask you this, and I'm not defending Zion Williamson. I think he's been a big bust relative to expectations. No argument. But is this a weird time to be piling on? Zion hasn't, by his standards, hasn't he had a fairly healthy season? He's played.
Chris
He's played health wise. He's having the best year of his
Greg Cote
career and he's averaging 20 plus points. I mean, if you look at him just this season, you don't go, this is. This is a bad player. This is a bust. I think only in the context of expectations. Like seven years later, we're piling on. When he's having a fairly healthy season and sort of being pretty good and
Juju
he's played 35 straight games, he does a sit down with Malika Andrews. As you guys know, I love to besmirch and I've done my fair share of fat Shaming Zion and his little lawn chair and his Cheetos in his living room.
Chris
He likes get up in those DMS too, Dan.
Juju
He likes to get up. Oh, yeah. He likes the Cash app, allegedly. But right now, when you sit down with Malika Andrews, I think it's disrespectful to the four letter name.
Chris
I will say, though, like, for the pel. And it's funny what the Pelicans are doing, but, like, you're. You're having a very public beef with Stephen a. Smith. You're 19 and 44. Like, you're a bullshit franchise.
Dan LeBatard
Like, that's what's disrespectful to the four letters. What exactly are you saying is disrespectful there? Because I think that what Greg is doing there is just looking at numbers, and that is not the proper context. When you draft Zion Williamson that high, when you make him the face of your franchise and make him hope for what ZSAS is correctly calling a lifetime bullshit franchise, you have to be relevant. It's not even that. You have to get to the playoffs every year. You cannot be invisible. Zion Williamson has disappeared as a name and face. And the reason that people are using against him is that he doesn't care enough to. Because he's the rare basketball player who has been heavy, but he's fit this year.
Juju
Well, I think the thing that's crazy is you do this interview, you sit down with Malika, and he says, listen, I'm rehabbing in Portland. My foot's broken. The reason it's not. It's broken is not because I'm fat. And all I'm hearing is how fat I am and how lazy I am and how gross I am. And so now I'm eating my feelings away. And then that turned me fat. And he sits down, he has this heartfelt thing, and that's when Stephen A. Decides to go back onto the Zion fat shaming train. That's what I think is just kind of crazier than crack.
Dan LeBatard
Well, what's gonna happen here in a few minutes is this is going to escalate, and it's going to be the biggest news around the Pelicans that there has been since Chris Paul was traded. Like, it. That franchise is a nowhere franchise. It has been invisible. And he was supposed to rescue them. It is textbook bust, Greg. Like, it can't. It can't be. You're scoring 20 points on a. On a. On a team that can't win. It's. It's one of the. They are Wholly irrelevant as a franchise.
Greg Cote
Agreed that he's earned the bus rep by not being able to lift that franchise, even to mediocrity. All I'm saying is the timing, to me, is weird when he's on a healthy streak for the first or second time in his whole NBA career. Like, this is a high. You could argue this is a high point for him when you factor in health and along with performance.
Dan LeBatard
I go a step further on this, okay? And this is why this happens, and it's why the content machine is undefeated. Okay? This is a slow time in sports. And what do you do to goose ratings? You get into a feud with a franchise that's a relevant franchise or with an easy target, it responds. And it's why Stephen A. Smith is paid the way that he is, because a whole lot of people tune in now to talk Pelicans basketball when. If you're gonna talk Pelicans basketball, this is the only thing that can be a furnace of controversy. There's nothing else to talk about there.
Chris
Yeah.
Don Libertard
So how you took out Pat Riley in the heat. I think I see it now.
Dan LeBatard
Yeah.
Don Libertard
Good idea. Good job, Dan.
Dan LeBatard
So you met. You. You asked that man that question. You guys, Kenny Beecham has left here.
Greg Cote
Yeah. He defended you, though.
Dan LeBatard
He didn't defend me. He said he disagreed with what was contended as mine, which is that Spoelster should be on the hot seat. What do you mean? Are you listening to this show? Like, what do you mean he defended me? He did not defend me. They presented an illegitimate question in front of him, and he said, that's crazy. And I respect Dan LeBatard less than I did moments ago because he would say that. And then he said my opinion. My. Then he reiterated my opinion. There's not someone better than that that you can get.
Juju
Actually, it was Greg who asked that, not us.
Dan LeBatard
Yeah.
Greg Cote
Don't you listen to the show?
Dan LeBatard
I'm gonna let myself out here. Wow. Yeah. Minor penalty.
Kenny Beacham
Two minutes for not listening to the show.
Mike Ryan
Wow.
Tony
Zaz, we got a breakdown of calves and pigeons. Pistons in the A block on first take.
Chris
No, I figured because I. I love a good media beef. All right. And. And Greg's right. It's weird. Like, we just woke up today. Let's beef with Zion. Let's call Foodaholic. You know, it's. It's. It's weird.
Dan LeBatard
Yeah.
Chris
But I. I thought. I thought Stephen A. Was gonna give it to the pals in the A block. The A block, for those who don't know how TV works, that's that's the
Ad Read / Commercial Voice
first segment to the point of the nothing franchise. He probably pitched it and they're like, we can't go A block Pelicans. Pelicans have never been able. Since they drafted Zion. They haven't been able.
Tony
Stephen A. Is.
Chris
Is literally the executive producer of that show. If he wanted it to be in the A block sets, it's a little bit of a power move. I think what Stephen A. Is doing here because in the A block right now on first take is they're breaking down Pistons and Cavaliers from last night. But this is a. This is a. See, I'm realizing now this is a power move by Stephen A. He could have his retort at the Pels and Zion in the A block, but him not putting it there is showing you they're. They're a bullshit franchise. They're not worth.
Tony
You're so small. It's not even worth it.
Chris
Well, no, it's worth it, but not the A block.
Greg Cote
Well, the Pelicans aren't worth the A block, but Zion Williamson is because he's a lightning rod. He's one of the great lightning rods in the NBA right now. Everybody wants to turn him into Greg Odin because he hasn't lived up to expectations. And I, in a way, I feel for the guy. You know, I don't care if he ate himself out of a. Out of a spectacular career. I feel for the guy. And because he's a lightning rod, this is the perfect beef for Stephen A. Smith.
Chris
They do talk about him like he's Oliver Miller, like he's eating himself out of the league. It's 20 point, 20 points a game.
Juju
35 straight games in a row that
Greg Cote
he's played for anybody. 35 straight games in a row is good.
Dan LeBatard
Yeah, yeah.
Don Libertard
You gotta put that thing in a Z block because I need these ratings to stay up.
Juju
All show waiting, waiting for the Zion be just keeping us on baiting.
Mike Ryan
That's right.
Chris
See, it's that too. It's a power move where he's not going to talk about it right away because you're not worth the top of.
Ad Read / Commercial Voice
He's going to put it low in the show and then say, I wish I could have put it lower because you're the Pelicans.
Tony
You know what's not a power move? Putting video out of yourself. Boxing. That never works out good for anybody. Tyler Hero did the same thing and everybody's clowning him the last time that he did it.
Chris
Oh, really?
Greg Cote
Yeah.
Tony
If you. If you put out a boxing video,
Kenny Beacham
you need to Know how to.
Ad Read / Commercial Voice
Someone's had to have put out one that was successful.
Tony
You gotta be. No.
Stugats
Yeah.
Tony
Yeah.
Ad Read / Commercial Voice
Who's a celebrity that put out a good box?
Tony
Damian Lillard, I think does boxing stuff, too. Like, there's. There's guys that do it, but the problem is, if you don't do it and you put out the first video of you doing it, you look good.
Ad Read / Commercial Voice
We should put Greg doing it.
Kenny Beacham
Yeah.
Greg Cote
I got to stop doing that.
Juju
That sounds like you in the shower.
Dan LeBatard
Are you winded from doing that?
Greg Cote
I feel like that's my workout shadow.
Tony
Boxing.
Kenny Beacham
Dad.
Dan LeBatard
Do you know that yesterday's show ended with the sound of his stomach growling from the amount of coffee that he drinks without breakfast? The show ended yesterday with the noise in his stom. Yeah. The Postgame ended.
Don Libertard
Don LeBatard.
Dan LeBatard
Billy, somebody has written in here. I need way more.
Greg Cote
I'm sorry.
Ad Read / Commercial Voice
I just said in his headset. Haven't you been to all of them, too?
Greg Cote
It sounded like you were speaking aloud. My bad. Totally on me. That's 100% on me. All right.
Don Libertard
Stugats.
Greg Cote
But that goes without saying, right? That it couldn't happen.
Kenny Beacham
Well, now. He said he didn't.
Stugats
He didn't say it again.
Dan LeBatard
Greg, My apologies, Greg. Why Greg? Yeah, Greg.
Chris
He apologized.
Kenny Beacham
Craig, sincerely.
Don Libertard
This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugats
Dan LeBatard
in reference to the Pelicans. And Stephen A. Says. Hold on a second. He's now milking time spent listening like he's. He's starting with other things because he wants to keep people around for a while before they get to the Pelicans. I am going to test our basketball experts here, proud as they are, all of them. Go ahead and name for me the memories you have all time of the Pelicans franchise. Go ahead, all them. Give me all of the moments in the history of the franchise, because I'm going to say Anthony Davis getting them into the playoffs as an eight seed is at the top of the list. But I'm trying to remember some others.
Juju
Anthony Davis T shirt. That's all, folks.
Don Libertard
Yes. After the coach. Him and the coach had a little beef, as well as Chris Paul, ankle breaker and dunker back in the Pelicans jersey. Oops, my bad. The Hornets jersey.
Dan LeBatard
That's crazy to say, though. That's a lot of games being played and among our basketball experts. When I tell you, go ahead and give me the franchise highlights. Give me the things that you remember about all of the games that they have played all time, because that's the first time we Started criticizing Anthony Davis. And by the way, Greg, when you're drafted where Zion is, at the very least, you got to do what Anthony Davis did there, which is win a playoff game on your own because you can get the team into the playoffs by yourself. Because that, because you're the marquee franchise player. The idea that Zion Williamson is at 18 wins and all we're ever talking about him with food and the expectations. Right. Because the thing about Zion as well that makes this complicated is so rare in that sport to see someone that you know is a total physical freak that is more physically gifted than all of those physically gifted people by body type. Where you're watching and you're saying that man can get into the paint and score on anybody in the history of that sport at whatever he is. What is he? Is he six, five? What is he?
Chris
Something like that? Yeah, yeah. Six, five, probably.
Juju
I think six, six.
Tony
Yeah.
Don Libertard
Also, my Pelicans memory is Jimmy Butler didn't score 30 punch. I remember that.
Dan LeBatard
There are so many Nowhere franchises in that sport. I wanted to ask you guys something that surprised me yesterday and maybe it shouldn't have, because once the FBI comes out and does the very public press conference and does all the stuff that the modern administration is doing where Terry Rozier is in shackles unnecessarily or they're throwing the names out there and I encourage you to check out, Pablo Torre finds out because I don't even know the name of another co. Conspirator. Co conspirator that they revealed because it wasn't a famous name. The government purposely put the famous names out there. But the thing that I was surprised by, and I don't know if you guys were, because I did not know that this was possible. They're saying, I know it's maximum penalty and it's probably not going to be that when it gets pled down that Chauncey Billups is staring at decades in prison. Plural. Decades in prison. I did not know that. Like I, I knew that it was bad to fix. I'm. I'm. I'm sure that Chauncey didn't know that. I'm sure that Chauncey had no idea when he was involved in that game. It sort of reminded me on what it is that happened to Michael Vick, where Michael Vick is dog fighting and has no earthly idea what the consequences are. That otherwise he would have stopped dog fighting. Like it wouldn't have been that important to him. There's just simply no way that he knew that there is no way that Chauncey Billups knew that the consequences of that were possible decades in prison. Because I sure as hell didn't know it.
Juju
It said that the maximum he could get was 40 years, two 20 year sentences.
Don Libertard
I mean maybe, maybe, maybe he did know that because he was playing with the mafia. And I think that maybe they made him an offer he couldn't refuse.
Tony
Damn. When you're talking about a RICO charge, like that's what they give mob bosses, right? Like what they've been able to do to put this all together. Like linking the mafia, linking these card games, linking you cheating in them taking a rake, whatever it is, they build a case on you and it's like, yeah, we're gonna give you this. It's, it's crazy.
Dan LeBatard
But you guys did. Any of you, none of you were surprised by this, none of all of you felt like that was.
Tony
What did you think he was gonna get?
Dan LeBatard
Oh, I just. Well he's not going to get that. Cuz it's gonna get pled down like there's no way. There is no circumstance under which Chauncey Billups is actually gonna spend decades in prison. Prison. Even if they're trying to game the entirety of the system just for publicity, that's not what's going to happen here. I just didn't think that that were, that that was possible. And I don't believe what Juju is saying that I don't believe that Chauncey. There's no way Chauncey would need the grift that much that he would bring upon the consequences that end with a lack of freedom for multiple decades over card games.
Juju
But when we're talking about the Mafia, it's not the grift that gets you in, it's the hooks that get you in. It's something that they're able to get leverage on you where you say yes one time and now that, that's the new leverage and now there's a second game and now that's the new leverage. I don't think he was ever there for the money. Allegedly.
Tony
It's about the action, right? It's about knowing you're the guy that everybody wants to come see. Everybody wants to come play with Chauncey. I'm good at these cards, but I'm also cheating. But nobody really needs to know that. One thing really quick, Dan. To convict under a RICO charges, what they've been brought under, you need to have a couple of things. An enterprise existed, the defendant was associated with it and they committed at least two acts of racketeering within the last 10 years. So it's like, like all those things are kind of there. To have such a big number as far as the years are concerned. Because you know, when you look at 40 years, Chauncey's what? 40 something?
Greg Cote
49.
Tony
49. Okay. You're talking about the rest of his life.
Don Libertard
Right. But to answer your question, I didn't expect this. I expected my boy to maybe get a couple months and a big, big fine or something like that. This is a big surprise to me.
Greg Cote
Yeah, but, but I'm, I, I agree with Dan and I think what you said is true as well. I always assume that a celebrity defendant is going to get a sweet deal of some sort. I always assume there's going to be a plea bargain. Something's going to happen where, you know, I would almost, I don't know what the over under is. You can bet on anything, but I would almost bet that Chauncey Billups ends up doing maybe three years or less of actual time even.
Chris
That's kind of shocking.
Dan LeBatard
I'd be, I'd be stunned.
Ad Read / Commercial Voice
Less than a year.
Dan LeBatard
I will.
Ad Read / Commercial Voice
Money talks.
Dan LeBatard
All right, look, I don't know what's gonna happen here. I'm obviously ignorant. I'm already on the front end showing you how ignorant I am. Because all of this has been a bit of a surprise to me. But Chauncey Billups getting significant jail time over this. I look forward to what a trial we're never gonna get cuz he's gonna plea out of this. I just be stunned. If there were multiple years of prison for this, the details would have to be pretty damning for him to, for someone in his position to agree because he, he hasn't even been. Was he fired or what?
Chris
Is he right?
Dan LeBatard
Because he's got to be guilty in order to be fired, so he's on leave without pay. I'd be really surprised if Chauncey Billups is doing multiple years of hard time.
Juju
I think he's going to have to snitch. He's going to have to give somebody up. And the question that I have because you're talking about, what is it? La costra nostra.
Tony
La Costa.
Don Libertard
You said it, not me.
Juju
Sorry.
Greg Cote
La Costa.
Juju
There we go. I don't know my mafias, but at that point you might have to go into witness protection.
Dan LeBatard
Chauncey Billups. It's going to be a little bit
Tony
hard to go on WITSEC when you're like, hey, is that Chauncey Billups? No, I'm Bill Murphy.
Dan LeBatard
Wait a second. Wait a minute. What are you doing in Des Moines?
Tony
Let me see that jumper.
Dan LeBatard
You're not Bill. You look suspicious. Big shot. Like big shot. I love La Cosa Nostra as a saying, because this thing of ours, when you're speaking on wires, when you're speaking on federal wires and you're referring to it as this thing of ours, it's got such a nice cryptic mystery to it.
Tony
That's why we all love it. La Cosa Nostra.
Chris
It's like something you spent a lot of time on to put together, you know, this thing of ours.
Dan LeBatard
This thing of ours. Can you get me the history of the hat tip, please? Tony? I've wanted this for a little bit now.
Tony
Ah, Dan, I'd love to. All right, so the hat tip, the gesture, the greeting, respect of respect dates back to medieval Europe around the 14th or 15th century where a knight in armor would actually tip. The little, you know, flap or whatever, they would open it as a sign of respect, be like, hey, I see what you did there on the battlefield. You're my guy.
Chris
Not one person has done that to me on Twitter. I reported that to a news weeks ago for Westeros.
Dan LeBatard
Nobody gave you the hat tip, huh?
Chris
Still waiting.
Dan LeBatard
I wanted to get into something here with you that flew under the radar yesterday. Did you guys see or care about the story that is being reported out of Chicago? That veteran center Drew Dahlman has retired? And the reason I bring it up is they call him veteran center. He's 27. He's 27 on an offense that's up and coming. That offensive line was good. He just signed his first big contract because he was a fourth round pick. So he just signed for three years, $42 million, which he's not going to get most of, but he got the signing bonus and then got out. 27 years old is about as early as I've seen that done in that sport. And it makes me want to hear from him. I want to. Do you love football? Does your body hurt that much? 27 years old is a lot younger than Mo. There have been early retirements in that sport. It usually doesn't happen. At 27, you're still in your physical prime, ostensibly. And I was surprised by that because he's the centerpiece on an offensive for the future, like they. In terms of surprise retirements. I know it's a center. I know we don't care about the offensive lineman. I know it's not Robert Smith or Ricky Williams, a skill position guy. And I know that many players are now retiring earlier than most. But you've got to think that that has something to do with him fearing the physical cost of this. Right. It's either that or you don't actually love football that much and just wanted to get to some sort of financial security that you can't get to as a fourth round pick. So he, he was their big free agent acquisition at the 2025 and now he's out.
Tony
So looking at his contract really quick just to paint the picture. So he got a $6 million signing bonus guaranteed at signing. He got 26.5 million. So he played last year. Obviously this year he's not going to be playing going into 26, but he guaranteed himself 26 and a half million dollars and it's basically like, hey, I'm done.
Chris
I think may have always been his plan.
Dan LeBatard
It may have been his plan, but you don't see that as the plan very often. And I think once you do that I'd be curious what the rules are on a guaranteed contract like that if you have to give any of. Because I think if you sign a three year deal and the signing bonus is linked to the three year deal, even though the team can cut you and those contracts are one sided, I'd be surprised if that guarantee was for all 26 million.
Greg Cote
So the player we're talking about is 27, two or three years ago. When was it that Tua had that terrible. His worst concussion. He's on the field in Cincinnati, his fingers are misshapen because of a brain injury. We all feared for his life at that point. This guy, what is he thinking when he watches that and what kind of an impact.
Dan LeBatard
I didn't see any quotes from him but the place that I went immediately when they're calling him a veteran at 27, that's veteran. He's been playing in the league four years. How is that a veteran? It's as early as I've seen this done and I assume it's the perils of football.
Don Libertard
He's a veteran at the bank, Dano.
Date: March 4, 2026
Location: Elser Hotel, Downtown Miami
Main Guests: Kenny Beecham
Main Theme: Basketball debates, NBA controversies, and a characteristically irreverent look at sports and sports media culture
This episode of The Big Suey dives deep into NBA discourse with special guest Kenny Beecham (“ultimate enjoyer of basketball”), covering a wide array of topics: NBA player personalities, franchise purgatory, the spectacle of sports media beefs (notably Stephen A. Smith vs. the Pelicans), the downsides of NBA “nowhere franchises,” Miami Heat Hot Seat talk, and the perplexing legal fallout from Chauncey Billups’ gambling scandal. True to the show's style, all is wrapped in the hosts’ playful ribbing and fast-paced, sometimes chaotic energy.
[00:38 - 01:20]
"I think there's room for a lot of people on this boat." ([01:20])
Memorable Moment:
"When you between [the lines]... you can do and say what you want, but once that buzzer's over... you go back to friendship." – Kenny Beecham ([02:02])
[02:24 - 02:50]
"I think there's actually not enough. I think the 2028 draft class, the entire lottery should be Jalens." ([02:37])
[02:50 - 04:26]
"If the 65 game rule prevents us from having Shea or Jokic as MVP, then that shows you that there is a true problem... Cade is a phenomenal player, but he is overtaxed as the only creator on that team." — Kenny Beecham ([03:48])
[05:04 - 06:12]
"It's one of those issues that is an issue, but ultimately not the biggest issue that we should be worried about." ([05:54])
"When you look at their website, it says ‘Premiere Destination for Wings.’ Doesn't say anything about a strip club." ([06:12])
[06:31 - 07:26]
"I think those two finals appearances... became fool's gold where they feel like they can be an eight seed and make it to the finals every single season. I think you start at the head of the snake before you get rid of one of the premier coaches in basketball." ([06:45])
[07:26 - 08:15]
"Easily the best .500 team to ever exist this late in the season... I truly think they’re the most fun team in the NBA right now." — Kenny Beecham ([07:48])
[08:15 - 10:09]
"Billy [Donovan] is a legend in college basketball. I think his NBA tenure has had a couple good seasons, but mostly bad seasons... Instead of being mediocre, just being bad, which could reap some rewards in a year or two." ([09:26])
[10:09 - 11:09]
[11:09 - 12:35]
"Is LeBron gonna be willing to take a minimum? Because that's the only way he goes to Cleveland or he goes to New York... LA is still a spot." ([12:02])
[12:48 - 13:19]
"We're not appreciating the official when they get to the camera. When they get to the microphone, we should all be waiting on our toes to hear what they have to say." ([12:56])
[17:37 - 24:12]
"All I'm saying is the timing to me is weird when he’s on a healthy streak... You could argue this is a high point for him when you factor in health and performance." — Greg Cote ([24:45])
"This is a slow time in sports... You get into a feud with a franchise that's a relevant franchise or with an easy target, it responds, and that's why Stephen A. Smith is paid the way that he is." — Dan LeBatard ([25:08])
[30:32 - 32:42]
[32:42 - 37:55]
"I did not know this was possible... There’s just simply no way that he knew that. There is no way that Chauncey Billups knew that the consequences of that were possible decades in prison." — Dan LeBatard ([33:16 - 34:18])
[38:50 - 42:18]
The episode is lively, irreverent, sometimes sharply critical, always self-aware about sports and media absurdity. Regular jokes about each other’s sports knowledge, playful corrections, and running gags about food, fines, and “mid” franchises punctuate the basketball talk. Kenny Beecham matches the team’s good-natured banter, offering smart insights while keeping things light.
This episode is a quintessential mixture of hoops nerdery and comedic deconstruction of sports culture. From breaking NBA news, questioning franchise relevance, and mocking media feuds, to exploring the human side of big sports stories like early retirement and legal peril—The Big Suey brings together fans, haters, and hoop philosophers for a ride that feels like a midweek hang gone gloriously off the rails.
Recommended segments to check out:
For more: search “Dan Le Batard Show Kenny Beecham” on your favorite podcast app or visit the show’s YouTube page.