The Big Suey: Heavy D & The Boyz (feat. Eric Collins)

Summary

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The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz: "The Big Suey: Heavy D & The Boyz" (Feat. Eric Collins) – March 9, 2026

Episode Overview

Live from the Elser Hotel in Downtown Miami, Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, and their crew deliver another colorful, insightful episode blending deep-dive NBA talk, comedic detours, and cultural commentary. This "Big Suey" episode centers around an exuberant interview with Eric Collins, the high-energy voice of the Charlotte Hornets, before transitioning into a wide-ranging debate on NBA stars, the meaning of caring in pro basketball, and Victor Wembanyama's arrival as a transformative force.

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1. HIGHLIGHT: The Eric Collins Interview (00:37 – 14:14)

The Joy of Calling Hornets Basketball

• Eric Collins joins to discuss his infectious energy on broadcasts and the surprising success of the current Charlotte Hornets.
• The episode opens with a montage of Collins’ famous play-by-play calls—full of signature phrases and uncontainable excitement.
• Dan asks Eric about the origins of his famous catchphrase, "hum diddly D."
  • Eric Collins [03:06]: “I used to play high school basketball and I was big into Heavy D and the Boyz...it always began with hum diddly diddly diddly diddly dee...and every once in a while a nice play would happen and I'd say hum diddly dee out loud. Years later when I got a job in the NBA, it just kind of became my thing, but that's the genesis of it. It's a Heavy D and the Boyz reference.”
  • A playful realization: none of the current NBA players seem to get the Heavy D reference.

On the Hornets’ Recent Surge

• Discussion around the Hornets’ impressive 16-5 stretch and what’s changed compared to previous eras.
  • Collins credits Lamelo Ball’s evolution, but especially the new addition of Kon Knipple as a game-changer:
  • Eric Collins [04:55]: “Lamelo is the straw that stirs the drink. But the help he’s getting has allowed him to flourish...Kon [Knipple] has made everything a little better just because the gravity of who he is as a player, the attention that he commands, his ability to be a second ball handler and creator.”
• Dan describes Lamelo as “immature,” but Eric defends him, noting visible maturity and growth, especially in the past two months.

The Sudden Rise of Kon Knipple

• Eric admits he didn’t expect Knipple to have this big of an impact, but praises his intelligence, shooting, and ability to elevate teammates.
  • Eric Collins [06:35]: “He is a real player. He understands where to be on the floor, he elevates the level of everyone he's playing with.”
• On favorite names to call, Collins says he’ll always find a way to say “Sandro Mamukeleshvili” just because he’s mastered it ([07:51]).

Greatest Hornets Memory and Franchise Lore

• Eric picks Alonzo Mourning’s series-winner against Boston in the early '90s as the greatest franchise moment ([08:25]).
• Discussion of “Purple Shirt Guy” and the infamous 2016 playoff series with the Miami Heat. Collins describes Charlotte as “a genteel city” where the guy “disappeared in shame” for his antics against Wade ([09:52]):
  • Eric Collins: “We don’t do certain things in Charlotte, North Carolina...I think the locals thought that, you know, we don't need any of that.”

Michael Jordan, Ownership, and the Franchise’s Future

• Respect remains for MJ, but Collins thinks the change to a younger, analytics-driven front office has energized the franchise ([10:51]).
• Praises the trade for Coby White, emphasizing the smart, needs-based approach taking root: “It’s been a massive shot in the arm.”
• Dan asks (jokingly) if they can “trick” the front office into taking back Terry Rozier. Collins instantly: “No. Sorry. He's all yours.” ([12:22])

The Legend of Eric Collins’ Energy

• Collins shares that he literally jumps out of his seat about six times a game and, while the road crowds sometimes glare at him, he’s proud to entertain ([13:11]):
  • Eric Collins: “People think that I’m kind of a nutso on the sidelines, but who cares?”

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2. NBA TALK: The Culture of Caring and Wemby’s Emotional Ascendancy (16:45 – 34:55)

Fixing the All-Star Game, Superstar Apathy, and Wemby’s Passion

• Dan and the crew pivot to the perpetual issue of lackluster All-Star games and ideas to incentivize player involvement ([16:45]).
• The conversation deep-dives into the emotional aftermath of Victor Wembanyama’s improbable Spurs comeback and his public display of emotion—crying after a big win:
  • Dan Le Batard [18:59]: “I was legitimately stunned to see Wemby exhausted, crying on the court because he cares like that. And it buys him so much...Do you know how rare it is for somebody who's not an American basketball player to take the path of Face of the League?”
• Panelists express admiration for Wemby's visible passion, contrasting it with the perceived “too cool” demeanor of many modern stars:
  • Stugotz [19:16]: "I love it....My biggest criticism for the last however many years of the NBA...is that they don’t care. Because they don’t. And then also be critical because this player right here is... crying after a win against an under-.500 team in March. Like, you can’t play both sides like that. I love that he cares."

The Face of the League: Why Wemby Is Different

• Discussion on how stars like Jokic, despite their talent, never truly become the league’s “face” because their personality or visible emotion is lacking ([19:16–21:01]).
• Dan [21:01]: “He is going to save this league. He’s not jaded yet as a superstar.”
• Stugotz [21:56]: “Wemby is doing something for this league that is rarely seen.”

On Physical Outliers and Narrative

• Dan reflects on how basketball narratives are shaped, lamenting how true giants like Kareem and Shaq rarely get popular credit for their dominance, and suggesting Wemby could break that tradition ([22:37]).
• Dan: “You’re not noticing that he’s got an unfair advantage over everybody...If he cares like this and stays healthy, he’s too tall to play against.”

What Does It Mean to Care in the NBA?

• The roundtable debates whether today’s stars truly “care” as much as prior generations, or just in different ways—highlighting stars like Jimmy Butler, Kawhi, Giannis, Durant, and Embiid ([24:09–28:42]).
  • Dan [25:31]: “You can’t do what those people do for a living and not care at all. It’s just not possible.”
  • Jeremy [27:08]: “What we’re seeing ... is you’re looking at an individual who has an opportunity to be one of the greatest individual players of all time. But what he cares about is the collective right from the jump of his career. And that’s rare.”

Wemby’s Emotional Honesty as a Model

• Dan and the panel assert that Wemby’s “rare” ability to care deeply and show it publicly is refreshing and much-needed for the current NBA climate ([28:42–30:13]):
  • Stugotz [28:20]: “You have a generation of superstar...Why aren't you having fun? This is games. ...So to see the optimism that is very clear along Wemby...It’s a breath of fresh air.”
  • The hope: Others will follow his example.

The Schedule, Fatigue, and Systemic Issues

• Dan urges fans to remember the grueling NBA travel schedule and its toll on players (referencing the pandemic/bubble as the best basketball due to rest), and reminds everyone that the de-valuing of the regular season is often an organizational issue, not just on players ([32:30–34:13]):

  • Dan: “The past did us no favors by making 82 games a regular thing ... Systemically they’re allowing guys to take off who are making a bunch of money because they’re trying to protect their bodies.”

• Topping it off with a final thought for the fans:

  • Stugotz [34:52]: “In a world full of Kawhi’s, be a Wemby.” (Put it on the poll!)

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3. Memorable Quotes & Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote/Moment | |-----------|--------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:06 | Eric Collins | “It's a Heavy D and the Boyz reference... become my thing.” | | 04:55 | Eric Collins | “Lamelo is the straw that stirs the drink. ...Kon [Knipple] has made everything a little better...” | | 07:51 | Eric Collins | “I will find a way virtually every two or three broadcasts...to say Sandro Mamukeleshvili...” | | 08:25 | Eric Collins | “Alonzo Mourning hit a jump shot in the second round...to eliminate the Celtics...” | | 09:52 | Eric Collins | (On Purple Shirt Guy): “No one knows. ...And I think a lot of hardcore Hornets fans thought...dude you cost us a win, man.” | | 13:11 | Eric Collins | “It’s probably six times a game...People think I’m kind of a nutso on the sidelines, but who cares?” | | 18:59 | Dan Le Batard| “I was legitimately stunned to see Wemby exhausted, crying on the court because he cares like that…” | | 21:01 | Dan Le Batard| “He is going to save this league. He’s not jaded yet as a superstar.” | | 21:56 | Stugotz | “Wemby is doing something for this league that is rarely seen.” | | 27:08 | Jeremy | “What he cares about is the collective right from the jump of his career. And that’s rare.” | | 34:52 | Stugotz | “In a world full of Kawhi’s, be a Wemby.” |

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4. Segment Timestamps Guide

• [00:37–14:14] — Eric Collins interview (Hornets history, broadcast style, franchise memories)
• [16:45–34:55] — NBA star culture, Wemby’s passion & impact, debate over “caring” in modern NBA

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5. Takeaways & Episode Tone

• The tone is playful, irreverent, thoughtful, and occasionally combative—trademark Dan Le Batard Show energy.
• Eric Collins stands out for his unbridled passion and insight, with the gang delighting in his quirks and storytelling.
• The panel’s discussion sets up a robust debate about NBA stars’ motivations, how fan expectations shift, and why someone like Victor Wembanyama can capture the imagination of both hardcore and casual fans.
• The show ends with a call for more players like Wemby—those who care, try, and bring joy to the game.

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For more, listen for:

• Eric Collins narrating his own highlight calls ([02:07–02:53])
• Spirited banter about 'problem child' narratives in sports ([05:54])
• The perennial question: How do you fix the NBA’s image problem with regular season apathy?
• A reminder that, yes, in a world full of Kawhis, maybe the NBA really does need more Wembys.

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Transcript

[A]

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?

[B]

I'm sorry. I'm not going to apologize for that.

[A]

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.

[B]

I've done it.

[A]

And now here's the marching man to Nowhere Fat Face and the Habitual Liar.

[C]

This episode of the Dan Lebatard show is presented by DraftKings. DraftKings. The Crown is yours.

[A]

A lot of people are enjoying this Hornets team, but nobody seems to be enjoying this Hornets team more than Eric Collins. We will get to him in a second. He is the voice of America's team, the Charlotte Hornets. He's the play by play announcer for the NBA on Prime as well. But before we get to him, let's just air that Jimmie Johnson commercial for erectile dysfunction. I'm Jimmie Johnson. No, not the race car driver. I'm the better looking Jimmy. Since I recently became the spokesperson for xtends everywhere I go, guys ask me if xtends really works. I'm here to tell you xtends works for me. I started taking extends before I became their spokesperson. With over a billion tablets of xtends taken by men of all ages, I was sold. And you should be too. Xtends does things only one way. Really, really big. If you call now, we'll send you a week supply of extends absolutely free. Call now. That is the way to introduce Eric Collins. I think I've got it wrong though. That might not be erectile dysfunction. Just might be a general lengthening of things. So on that note, a hum diddly D and a how do you do? To Eric Collins. Hello, Eric. Thank you for being on with us, sir.

[B]

Hey, guys. My pleasure. Happy Monday. I would love to say Hornets are America's team, but they've lost two consecutive games. First time it's happened in about a month and a half. Tough one last night in Phoenix.

[A]

They are fourth in offensive rating, however. And before we get going here, let's just play for the audience again a little montage of Eric Collins being excited.

[B]

Lamello.

[A]

Yes. With the guts of a cat burglar.

[B]

We're tied at 97. Lamb's gonna have to fire. Make it hurt. Tre looking like Vince Carter. Train man come alive.

[A]

The greatest shot by Lavella Ball.

[B]

Miles Bridges Pumpkin league.

[A]

Lamello.

[B]

Oh, a double Clutch dipsy doo boom Half court.

[A]

Elliott,

[B]

this is Hornets basketball.

[A]

Eric, take me through the origins of hum diddly D, please. I'd like to hear how it is that hum diddly D became a thing.

[B]

I used to play high school basketball and I was big into heavy D. And the boys and their big song was We Got Our Own Thing. And it always began with Hum diddly diddly diddly diddly dee. And I used to. That was like an earworm for me for many, many years. And I'd be sitting on the end of the bench in high school and it would just be kind of going through my head. And every once in a while a nice play would happen and I'd say hum diddly dee out loud. And years later when I got a job in the NBA, it just kind of became my thing. But that's the genesis of it. It's a heavy D and the boys reference.

[A]

None diddly. None of the players know who Heavy D is, correct?

[B]

No way. No chance. But he was hot for a while, man, back in the 80s.

[A]

Overweight lover. Yeah. Thank you, Roy. I appreciate it. One of the few guys that's allowed to be the fat entertainer. We don't allow a lot of those. And heavy D embraced it, but none, none of the players have any idea what you're talking the. I was arguing last week, Eric, that if Lamelo Ball is your best player, you're going to be what the Hornets have been. But if he's your third best player, you're going to be what the Hornets have been over the last couple of months, which is before this recent streak. That starting lineup was 20 and 2. They had won 16 of their last 19. And the six game winning streak they had, they were beating everybody by 15, including the last three defending champions. Is this the best time you have seen in all of Hornets history?

[D]

Wow.

[B]

Well now hold on here. You know, I saw the Hornets quite a bit back in the 90s. I was in the NBA back at the time with the Chicago Bulls. And those are really super, super solid teams. You know, I think people kind of go to sleep on them. They had great attendance, but they actually had pretty good teams. This run right now is on par with any of the best runs the Hornets have as a franchise. 16, 5 in the last 21 games. That stands up to, you know, a lot of different teams runs over the years. But it is fun the way that they're playing, the manner in which they're playing. You make a fantastic point with Lamelo Ball because he is still the Straw that stirs the drink. But the help that he's getting has allowed him to flourish physically and mentally as well. There's no. Lamelo is a wonderful, wonderful player who's got a lot of things going on in his wonderful head. He's an artist at heart, but he gets frustrated and the frustration level has gone so far down because he's got Khan Knipple playing with him. He's got others. But Khan has made everything a little bit better just because the gravity of who he is as a player, the attention that he commands, his ability to be a second ball handler and a second creator. All of a sudden, Lamelo is not getting double teamed at half court. He's not getting physical. The minute he gets the ball in bounds, you know there's other weapons on the floor and he's thriving because of it. He's smiling again. The Hornets are playing with his type of character and his joy because he's allowed to be free again and not have to worry about some of the other things that he was dealing with for years and years and years when he was the number one option with a bullet.

[A]

He's been a problem child though. No, he seems wildly, wildly immature.

[B]

I wouldn't call him a problem child by stretch of imagination. I think he's a good kid. I think he's the product of his upbringing. You know, he had a lot of things that were kind of came easy to him or maybe he didn't have. Definitely didn't have a stereotypical childhood. And the guy was taken out of high school and got placed all across the world with his dad. It's kind of hard to kind of get a good feeling for who you are and where you are in the world and that happens. But I think he's growing into his body and growing into his game. I've seen demonstrative changes throughout the course of the year. This is by far the best two month window I've ever seen him as a professional. And it's translated not just off the floor, but on the floor as well.

[C]

There's no way anyone saw Con Knippel being this right now, right?

[B]

I did not. I'm a big believer in watching adults. I don't watch a lot of college basketball. I just get frustrated. But just everything that I read about the guy, yeah, good shooter, good form, whatever, but the guy is fantastic, man. He is a real player. He understands where to be on the floor. He elevates the level of everyone he's playing with just because literally he gets so much attention no matter where he is, because he is a knockdown shooter. I'm from Cleveland, Ohio. I never thought I'd see a better shooter with better form than Mark Price. But this guy is. And just because he's bigger and stronger and he can shoot from farther distances, just because of that size. Con Knippel is man. For people who are debating Cooper flagging Kant Knipple, you're missing the whole point. You got to fall in love with Kant Knipple just because he is so uniquely gifted and it's going to be good for so long.

[A]

In terms of names that you enjoy saying, who finishes second place all time to Khan Kanippel?

[B]

Well, I was early and you know, if I ever. I do a lot of. I used to do a lot of college basketball and Sandro Mamukeleshvili, for some reason, I perfected that name years and years and years ago. So I will find a way virtually every two or three broadcasts. Even when he's not playing against us, I will find a way to say Sandru Mamukhedeshvili because I feel so comfortable in my ability to say that word.

[A]

So you like saying that better than even Khan Knipple, you're willing to say here nationally, you're willing to put your name on that?

[B]

Well, Knipple's great, but I don't want to kind of get caught sometimes. You know, it's, you know, it's certain names that, you know, you're scared of the nipple. I'm scared, yeah. So it's always. I play it right down the middle, so it's always concaniple. And I don't really kind of vary. I don't kind of give too many illusions. It's just, it's con canipple.

[A]

You mentioned that the Hornets had some solid teams in the 90s, but go ahead and give me the greatest moment in franchise history.

[B]

Well, it's kind of. It'd be relatively sad, but Alonzo Mourning hit a jump shot in the second round of the playoffs. I don't call the year probably 94, 95 against the Celtics to eliminate the Celtics in the first round plays. The only time the Hornets ever made it to the second round. That would be the biggest moment. That's the biggest shot, the biggest win. And it has been 30 years ago.

[A]

So that's before Heavy D. It's on

[B]

par with Heavy D. Heavy D was probably enjoying that one.

[A]

That's unbelievable that you went to Alonzo Morning pre heat in order to get your biggest memory in franchise history, which got you to the second round.

[B]

Yeah, well, the bigger things was kind of off the court. You know, the Hornets, the attendance was insane. It changed basketball. You know, they're the origin of all these different things. You know, the psl, you know, they sold out nine consecutive years. You know, they led the league in attendance with 24,000. For years and years, there was a buzz here, but there hasn't been excessive winning, that's for sure.

[D]

Could you solve a long standing mystery for me? Because purple shirt guy, in the eyes of Miami Heat fans, it's an iconic moment. He was jawing back and forth with Dwyane Wade. Dwyane Wade went demigod on him and he'd ended up advancing in that purple shirt guy. Never returned. It's almost as if he actually felt shame, which today is weird. Usually they double down and just wear a purple shirt forever and become the guy that's sitting courtside that will always annoy them. But he disappeared. Why was that?

[B]

No one knows. But he definitely. I don't even think he's even come back to the arena incognito. That would have been spring of 2016. That was the last time that the Hornets were in the playoffs. And they probably should have won that playoff series. You know, they were up through five games. They just needed to win one more and they couldn't do it. Now, Dwayne woods is a huge part of that. But, yeah, I do think there's a bit of shame. You know, the guy. We don't do certain things in Charlotte, North Carolina. It's a southern genteel city. And he was ostentatious. And I think the locals thought that, you know, we don't need any of that. And I think a lot of hardcore Hornets fans thought that, dude, you cost us a win, man. Why are you getting underneath Dwayne Wade's skin? And yeah, he's not been around to the best of my knowledge.

[A]

That was old Wade, too. That was Wade at the very end. The last embers of Dwyane Wade. We didn't think any of that was still in him by that point.

[B]

He was always prime Wade when he played against the Hornets, no matter what year of his career, it was always prime Dwyane Wade. I'm here to tell you, Eric, how.

[C]

How does the Hornet fan feel about Michael Jordan these days?

[B]

Well, there's always going to be a reverence and respect, you know, because Michael just of everything, he meant not only to, you know, basketball, but to this particular region. But I think the time was perfect for them to be, for there to be a changing of the guard. We've got literally 180 degree different representation in terms of ownership. We've got younger guys who were not basketball players who just kind of fell in love with the game and want to do things in a different way. And I think it's been a massive shot in the arm. We've got this fantastically young, hip, smart front office and they're working in conjunction with the coaching staff to get players that are moldable and are malleable to the ideas of, hey, this is Hornets basketball and these are the ways we're going to have to try and win. And I just think the trade deadline deal of Kobe White was hugely indicative of what the Hornets can do in the future. You know, the Hornets with a young core and a lot of people just figure, build with Lamelo, let's build with Brandon Miller, build with Kyle Knipple. But they saw a distressed asset and Kobe White, they knew that Kobe was a guy who could fill a defense definitive need that the coaching staff had been talking about for months. The Cornets were not great in end of quarter situations. Kobe White is fantastic in two for ones in getting his own shot and setting up guys and taking heaves. And so they went out and got him. And I think that has raised the floor for this team quite a bit. And I think they have a really good chance of doing something over the final 17 games of the season. And maybe the plan, maybe, possibly, possibly get into the sixth spot. But yeah, I think things are really, really looking up right now. I think people are super excited.

[A]

Do you think there is any way that we can trick that young, smart, hip front office into taking back Terry Rozier?

[B]

No. Sorry. He's all yours.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

That was really rough. Yes, but yes, no, that's not going to be rescinded. Points have had one trade rescinded recently. That was the Mark Williams fiasco out in LA with the Lakers. And I don't think it's going to happen again.

[A]

How many times will you physically actually get out of your seat while broadcasting a game?

[C]

I do.

[B]

It's a very physical experience for me. And I've got a partner in Dell Curry who suffers me and he's totally cool with it. So it's kind of like the George Costanza effect. You know, it's we started one way and the next year we take it to another level. Another level. And it's all natural and fun to me and it's just the way that I kind of enjoy a basketball game. But to give it an actual number, it's probably six times a game.

[D]

Wow, really?

[A]

Six times a game? So. So are you ever. Has there been during this stretch at any point, your glutes or thigh, thighs or anything in the hamstrings or nether regions is sore the next day. From the amount that you're getting up out of your seat, nothing is ever sore.

[B]

But my ego every once in a while takes a couple of hits because the people, particularly on the road when they see me kind of get up and down and get excited about something that they deem to be trivial. I get glares. But I figured out a long time in this career that having a really low bar in terms of embarrassment is probably a good thing. But yes, people think that I'm kind of a nutso on the sidelines, but who cares? It is what it is.

[A]

Yeah, that sounds like a man being shaved in prison. Let me hear that again. If I take out the ambient noise, that is somebody being stabbed by their bunk. No, that one was more excitement.

[D]

That guy's pretty pumped for.

[E]

Jubilant.

[A]

Yeah. Eric, thank you for being on with us. Congratulations on the success, sir.

[B]

It's been a lot of fun. Thank you guys. Really appreciate it.

[A]

Thank you.

[F]

People ask what I'm working on this year and honestly, it's comfort. That's it. Especially during hockey season. If you've ever been to a hockey arena, you know it's cold, you're walking, you're sitting, you're standing while listening to an interview with a player giving the same type of cliches, the wrong socks will ruin your night. That's why I'm into the new Bombus sports socks. They're engineered for movement, cushioned in the right spots, breathable, sweat, wicking supportive. When I'm at the rink or out for a walk or just locked into a three hour game that somehow goes into overtime, they hold up. And when I get home, Bombas has the everyday comfort covered too. The Sherpa Sunday slippers are elite. The tees and underwear soft, breathable, just easy. It's comfort you don't have to think about. And for every item you buy, Bombas donates one to someone facing housing insecurity when purchased when donated. Head over to bombus.com dan and use code DAN for 20% off your first purchase. That's B O M B A S.com dan code DAN at checkout. Hockey's stressful. Your socks shouldn't be.

[D]

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.

[B]

That's right.

[D]

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.

[C]

Don LeBatard I've never stepped foot on that campus. If you told me right now your life depends on it. Go to Santa Fe University and just, just, just take a picture.

[D]

Stugats, I would die.

[C]

I don't know where it is.

[B]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugats.

[A]

Staying with basketball as a couple of things that I wanted to get to. And today is the beginning of NFL free agency at noon. So there's going to be a lot of activity, noise, names. But there was an interesting thing that happened last week and we have been talking about, do you fix the All Star Game? How do you fix the All Star Game? Well, it's nice to see the players care. Then you have Matt Ishbia going on with Pat McAfee and saying, I know how I'll fix the three point competition and the dunk competition. I'll offer a million dollars to each player even though it's against the rules to get them to care. We've been talking for two seasons as Steph Curry and LeBron James age who's going to be the face of the league? How do they become the face of the league? Ja Morant falls off. Anthony Edwards. Minnesota is confusing to me. Anthony Edwards has fallen in love with the three, they're not actually that good. They're not going to win anything. How do you become the face of the league crying after a regular season game because you care so much, because you're with the spurs, you're rallying from 25 down. It is the second biggest home comeback that the spurs have had this century. Wemby was so tired, he got help from the Clippers somehow. Nicholas Batum, just at the end of that game, is standing out of bounds when they passed him.

[D]

You got you. I wish you were there with me when I'm sitting on my couch watching this incredible comeback on a second TV and being like, I know this person. That can't be Batum, cannot be Nick Batum. Playing meaningful minutes in 2026 been for years. I can't be. It can't be.

[A]

They just want him to shoot threes. And he's so comfortable doing it that he caught a ball out of bounds because that's within his range. It's where they want him. They want him further and further away from the basket. But the end of that game, the Clippers disintegrated, The spurs won. And I was legitimately stunned to see Wemby exhausted, crying on the court because he cares like that and it buys him so much. Do you know how rare it is for somebody who's not an American basketball player to take the path of Face of the League? Jokic hasn't been allowed to do it, even though he's been unbelievably great, at least in part because his personality doesn't reveal this kind of emotion to you. He's stoic, it seems. Sometimes we wonder how much he actually cares. Crying at the end of a regular season game stunned me.

[C]

I love it. I love it. You know, I can't sit here, obviously, it's a regular season game in March, you know, that he's crying over. And that's a very cynical way to look at it. But I can't sit here and tell you my biggest criticism for the last however many years of the NBA and certainly of the NBA player, is that they don't care. Because they don't. And then also be critical because this player right here is. Is crying after a win against an under.500 team in March. Like, you can't play both sides like that. I love that he cares. I love when the players care. And I feel like I already. I feel, like I said this last week, I think the spurs are going to win the whole thing this year. I think they're going to win the whole thing. And Victor Wembanyama is doing something unprecedented because this is a player who came into the league with height that, that has never been topped. Now maybe there's hype that's equal to it. Like LeBron was equal hype. Okay, maybe even Zion Williamson was equal hype. Magic Johnson was probably equal hype as well. Magic's not exactly a great analogy because he was drafted by a really good team, number one overall, because they made a trade and it gave them the number one overall pick. But for Wembanyama, the amount of hype that he was came into the league with, and if he wins the championship this year, in just his third year in the league, LeBron didn't win a championship till year seven and it wasn't with the team that drafted him. For him to go to a team that was terrible. And if he wins the championship in year three, matching, meeting all of the expectation. We never seen anything like this before.

[D]

I thought he might potentially because of his size and his game, be so unstoppable in this league that he might ruin it. And he's basically the Terminator in Terminator 2, which is like he's humanity's greatest salvation. Potentially. He is going to save this league. He's not jaded yet as a superstar. He goes to the All Star game and you would think that complacency would bleed over to him and he'd get affected by it. Trying to impress all the vets in that room. No, he's gonna try. And everybody follows his lead. It's a refreshing perspective to be reminded, oh, these guys play games for a living. This should be fun. And superstars should care like that for a regular season game. It's like hearing Roger Bennett talk about the ideals of America. You have this appreciation for someone that is coming to you wide eyed and looking at you, full of the potential and hope and striving for who you desire to be. I think Wembanyama is great for this league.

[E]

And zaz, whether he wins a championship or not, he could get bounced in the second round by, by Jokic, right? Going head to head with him. But what he's done for the league this season, moments like this with, with crying after a regular season win and showing the emotion that comes with just playing a great basketball game, doing what he did for the All Star game, it felt like he saved the All Star game. And partially it was the format, but the way that he motivated a guy like Anthony Edwards, like, I pray that the Timberwolves can build A good enough team around him so that we can see those guys going head to positional differences for years to come. Wemby is doing something for this league that is rarely seen.

[A]

One of the things that I find most interesting about this, I'm not going to make it the most interesting thing, but it's pretty damn close. You mentioned Anthony Edwards, John Morant, face of the league. These people are a bit superhero in terms of human dimension. I've told you before, I was sitting courtside during a game with my wife, and she says, how tall tall is that small guy out there? And I'm like, he's taller than I am. Valerie, that's not a small person. That's a six, five person who looks small compared to everyone else. Kobe and Michael get credit that Kareem doesn't because we don't give the giant guy this. I've told you guys before that when it comes to reading and publishing, the people who read, the smaller the ball, the more people read. And Shaq, even though he's a spokesman for everything, whenever they put him on magazine covers, they would always fail because of how much he had to overcome as Goliath. This is the perfect player at the perfect time. You're not noticing that he's got an unfair advantage over everybody. That does threaten to wreck the league because if he cares like this and stays healthy, he's too tall to play against. Okc, slaughters everybody and can't do anything against the height of him and the disproportionate nature of that sport, where if you've got one guy like that, you don't even have to build a team around him. They have. They have good players around him, but still, you don't have to have that many. When you have that at the center of everything.

[D]

I think it speaks to the level of problems that the league has because it's so systemic with the superstars. It'll follow the lead of the superstars. Superstars aren't playing and they're willing to go with it and they don't care. And they all kind of have this laissez faire attitude. And everyone's like, well, I wish it were like the 90s where there was intensity and people cared about things like all star games and they wouldn't miss. They wouldn't miss games. That leads itself to a mentality discussion. And for whatever reason, this generation of players do not have that mentality. Wembanyama is a shock to the system because he cares so deeply. He's trying to reinvent the way that those. Those fans participate in their games. Doing the chance, injecting this European soccer influence into it. And he's basically the rising tide there. Not just for that franchise, but I think for the game as a whole. Don LeBatard, I went in the margins. I'm like. I'm like, your Moneyball sucks. I'm basically Scott Hatterberg stugats lot of walks, but I'm on base when it comes to sex. Other. Other dudes, they can be Giambi. You know your role, you play. I know my role.

[B]

This is the Don Levatar show with the stug.

[A]

Jokic says he's glad he's retiring soon before Wembanyama takes over the league. He says, quote, he's changing basketball. I'm glad that I'll probably retire before Wemby holds the entire league in a chokehold. End quote. I object to what you guys are saying there. And I know it's common perception. You can't do what those people do for a living and not care at all. It's just not possible. The people who don't care get weeded out by all of the people. People in management who are investing and will not allow you to not care. Now, the All Star Game is a different animal that is obviously not caring. Guys aren't playing and there's load management because of how the game has changed physically, how much people are getting hurt. Don't tell me Norman Powell doesn't care like they tell you.

[D]

James Harden doesn't care.

[A]

Okay, but he plays all the games, though. Like he. You say he doesn't care, but one of the things, he's always out there like he's not one of the ones load. He's not one of the ones load management.

[D]

Like there's so many of these guys and there's just an attitude to them.

[A]

Mike, I can't let you say an MVP of the league doesn't care. You can't be better than everyone else in that sport not caring. It's not possible.

[D]

I think we're having a semantics discussion. Okay, fine. Wemby cares more and it's obvious. This is not. This is not an opinion thing. The guy's crying after a regular season game. Object against Kawhi Leonard, who I can never tell if he's going to be out there.

[A]

I'm just so many guys to you, saying flatly that nobody out there cares. It's not true.

[C]

Go ahead, Jeremy.

[E]

It's the collective nature of the care. Because what it is is so many of These guys, when they come into the league with hype, are trying to earn their max contract. They're looking at their individual success and their individual growth. And so that random regular season, Friday night game against a team that you're probably not going to, I mean, you might face in the playoffs, but you're probably not going to face in the playoffs, it's just a random comeback. Might not mean as much that you got the victory. Yeah, there's trash talk, there's moments, there's work in the gym, there's all sorts of guys who do that. But I think what we're seeing and the reason this is standing out is you're looking at an individual who has an opportunity to be one of the greatest individual players of all time. But what he cares about is the collective right from the jump of his career. And that's rare.

[C]

That, that's how I feel. I think, I think there's a difference between caring, meaning you want to, you want to win a championship, like, big picture, you care. I think there's a difference between that and caring every time you're out there. And like, I think when Yama cares every time he's out there and I think most guys, most guys just care about the big picture, which is, I want to win a championship. It is very important.

[D]

And you have a generation of superstar that is like, Kawhi, like, why aren't you having fun? This is, this is, this is games. You have Durant who seems miserable all the time.

[C]

I think there's a difference.

[D]

Jimmy Butler is surly. Kyrie willingly said, I'm not, I'm not, I'm not taking that vaccine. I want to play these games. I'm just not going to show up. Harden doesn't care.

[C]

This is topic when Benyama's not going to get up there to press conference and complain about playing a backup.

[D]

I never know when Joel Embiid is playing. These are not, not small names. These are some of the biggest names. At times there were guys that were, you know, considered potential face of the league. It's even jaded Giannis to the point that now he's becoming the disenfranchised superstar. So to see the optimism that is very clear along Wembley, himself and his fans, it's a breath of fresh air.

[A]

I'm objecting again and again to you guys thinking in any way or form that anyone can get to something as competitive as the meritocracy of sports, where all of them care about money. You could say they don't care about other things. All of them care about money. You can't be MVP of the league because you're so prenaturally gifted that you can beat a whole bunch of other people who are caring while you don't care.

[D]

I'm not following you to that hard line. I'm not having that discussion with you. They very clearly care about their profession and making their money. And on court, success is cool, but they'll play it cool. They all play it a certain way. Wemby doesn't. He cares differently, and that is obvious to everyone else. And that's a space that I'm living in. I'm not gonna get into a debate what Jalen Brunson doesn't care about basketball. He very clearly does. I'm not saying that. I'm saying, does he care night in, night out, you guys? Wemby cares more.

[A]

Guys want guys crying at the end of every game where it doesn't stand out unless Wemby does it because no one else.

[D]

You're taking me to the extremes. No, don't. He doesn't have to cry every game, but it's great to see occasionally.

[B]

I.

[D]

What I'm saying is it's all the easiest thing. What I'm saying is the easiest thing in the world. Wemby cares in ways that are different and obvious to everybody, and it's refreshing. More of that, please.

[E]

I think that what is sort of the irony within all of this is that for Mike individually, he has looked at a team over the last five years or so where their superstar and Jimmy Butler is the example of what he's talking about. Someone who cares so deeply. He does. You won't find a deeper competitor or a guy who cares about his craft the way that Jimmy Butler does. At the same time, he looked at the regular season as a tune up for the postseason. And so as someone who's consuming the product all season long, Mike became someone who didn't really want to watch regular season games of his own team because he felt like on any given night, Jimmy might coast through that game, might be conserving energy for another game later in the year. So what I'm intrigued for is Wemby later in his career, once he's won 1, 2, 3, 4 championships, is that emotion still going to be there the way it was with someone like Michael Jordan, who every single night was that competitor? I actually think so. But that's really, I think, where this comes from.

[D]

I think the modern NBA player is a lot like Kevin Durant in that I know you care Kevin Durant very clearly. All he cares about, I think, is the game. But why are you so miserable? We're playing games.

[A]

Okay. He's miserable though, because of everything that surrounds the games. If indeed you believe he's miserable. I think he likes this one thing and is exceptional at this one thing and cares deeply about this one thing. But I'm just gonna continue to stop you when you tell me that I play in. I'm watching the era of Steph Curry's the greatest shooter I've ever seen. How did he get that way? How did he become.

[D]

Not following you there. I know Steph cares, but LeBron, LeBron.

[A]

How is LeBron an unprecedented player? How does that happen?

[D]

Do you care every night? Do you care the way that I care watching the tv? Because I want you to care. I buy your jersey, I'm buying a ticket. You don't care to play because you're doing. The league is at a different place right now. They're saving their legs and there's minutes restrictions and all this. And that the person watching TV wants people to care the way that Wemby does. And what I'm saying is more of that plea.

[A]

How do you guys not notice though? Honestly, like, I get how it is that basketball used to be and the way that we long for a different time, but how do we forget so quickly the lessons of the pandemic, which is when these guys weren't traveling all over the place, weren't tired, it's the best basketball you've ever seen. When they weren't flying all over the place, having practices in different. Trying to get like. Because I really don't think that the average fan, sports fan, not basketball fan, understands that these guys after the Miami Heat are playing two games cuz they've changed the schedule at home against Brooklyn, that they're flying out and they're getting to Charlotte at 5 o' clock in the morning, that they're flying overnight and they're arriving in a City at 5 o' clock in the morning after. I know they fly private and everything else, but they're flying on airplanes. Like they're. They're sleeping on airplanes. How do you guys forget that during the bubble we saw better basketball than we've ever seen it. At least in part because these guys were simply rested.

[C]

I'll just give you an example. I mean, I was on the Miami heat broadcast for 12 years, okay? And there would be home games where it's the first night of a back to back. And so the team is going to fly immediately after the game. And Mike Inglis, who was our play by play guy, was the only one of our radio team who. Who traveled with the team. I didn't travel, obviously. John Crotty didn't travel back then. He was on the radio with us and after the game, like, we'd get up and I would leave and Mike would head toward where, you know, the team is gonna go to travel. And I remember thinking myself like, holy shit, that sounds really terrible to get on an airplane right now. And I'm just a broadcaster and these guys are going play. This sounds miserable. If I had to go get on an airplane right now.

[A]

I do think that most people listening to this simply lose sight because they are such majestic athletes. And the past did us no favors by making 82 games a regular thing. But we've seen all of these organizations care less about the regular season. And you guys keep blaming the players for caring less. And it's never, it's never management doing this because they're trying to get to the playoffs healthy. You're never putting that blame on management because systemically they're allowing guys to take off who are making a bunch of money because they're trying to protect their bodies.

[D]

In a world full of kawhis. Be a Wemby.

[A]

Put it on the poll at LeBatard show. In a world full of Kawhis Ba Wemby.