The Dan Patrick Show – Covino & Rich: NBA Must Balance the Nostalgia

Date: October 23, 2025
Podcast Network: iHeartPodcasts & Dan Patrick Podcast Network

Episode Overview

This episode of Covino & Rich, aired as part of The Dan Patrick Show, explores the NBA’s return and how the league leans into 1990s nostalgia, especially on opening night. Covino, Rich, and their team discuss the thrill of the current games, the emotional pull and risks of nostalgia for fans old and new, and how balancing the old with the new is critical for the NBA’s future. Their signature blend of humor, cultural observations, and audience calls shapes a lively conversation on why nostalgia feels so powerful and how it affects both the league’s branding and their own personal experiences as lifelong sports and pop culture enthusiasts.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NBA Season Tip-Off: Early Feels and Standout Moments

• Opening Vibes (07:50):

  • Covino and Rich admit the NBA season feels premature, comparing it to seeing Christmas decorations before Halloween. Yet, the excitement of close games, including the thrilling double-overtime between the Rockets and Thunder, is undeniable.
  • Quote [Covino, 09:10]:
    “Nothing like October basketball... It was wild and ironic if [the defending champs] lost that first game, man.”

• Game Highlights (09:40):

  • Applaud SGA's late-game heroics, Luka Doncic’s 42+ point performance, and the Warriors’ sharp start.
  • Acknowledge that while it’s hard for some to tune in before the World Series ends, these early NBA games have extra electricity when not much else is on.

2. Too Soon, or Perfect Timing? The “9AM Brunch” Analogy

• Nostalgic Tangent & Analogy (12:40):
  • The hosts relay a humorous story about a producer misinterpreting a 9PM “date” for 9AM, likening this over-eagerness to the NBA’s early start: It’s not always about being first—sometimes it’s just too early.
  • Quote [Rich, 15:10]:
    “Sometimes, you know, something could be too early. 9AM probably not what she was thinking. NBA in October. Too early. Little early.”

3. Early Season = Pool Time: Making the Most of the Waiting Room

• Vacation Analogy (17:00):
  • Covino analogizes the early NBA season to arriving before hotel check-in—awkward and a little out of place, but you make the best of it (“hit the pool”).

4. NBA’s Deep Dive into Nostalgia—Michael Jordan, NBC, and the 90s

• MJ’s TV Moment & Cultural Impact (20:35):

  • The episode highlights Michael Jordan’s “I haven’t picked up a basketball in years” quote on the NBA’s NBC debut, and how even the smallest details of MJ’s life become “must-discuss” topics for fans.
  • Quote [Jordan, replayed at 22:55]:
    “When I stepped up to shoot the free throw, that’s the most nervous I’ve been in years… those kids heard stories from their parents about what I did 30 years ago. So the expectation is 30 years prior and I haven’t touched the basketball.”

• Commentary on Nostalgia (24:00):

  • Covino: “We live in a culture… that feeds and lives off of nostalgia.”
  • Compare the phenomenon to Mike Tyson—anything MJ says becomes iconic by default.

5. Balancing Nostalgia vs. Modern Relevance: “Remember When” vs. What’s Now

• Pop Culture Reference (25:12):

  • Citing Tony Soprano: “Remember when is the lowest form of conversation.”
  • The danger isn’t reminiscing, it’s living exclusively in the past.
  • The NBA must balance celebrating its history (“Roundball Rock,” MJ, 90s highlights) and elevating current stars for younger audiences, many of whom weren’t around for the 90s or even know figures like John Tesh or Michael Jordan.

• Generational Divide (32:24):

  • Younger NBA stars don’t have deep connections to “NBA on NBC” moments; for them, these callbacks are simply novel.

• Wax On/Wax Off Analogy (35:45):

  • Rich: “It’s all about balance. If you get drinks with an old college buddy, you can reminisce, but you gotta mix it in with what’s happening now.”

6. The Lost ‘Monoculture’ and Why Nostalgia Resonates So Hard

• Defining the Monoculture (42:10):
  • The hosts explain the 80s/90s were the last eras when everyone shared the same pop culture moments, from cartoons to NBA Finals to must-see TV.
  • Quote [Covino, 43:05]:
    “The last years that we had a monoculture... now spread all over. Everyone has separate interests based on what the algorithm decides for you.”
  • They link the monoculture’s end to social media and smartphones, noting current generations’ experiences are fragmented by streaming and digital choice.

7. Is Nostalgia Good or Bad for the NBA? Audience Perspectives

• Listener Calls & Opinions (1:03:00):

  • Callers reminisce about 80s/90s competitiveness and how nostalgia is “available” now (YouTube, streaming).

  • Some worry too much nostalgia signals “lack of creativity,” but Covino and Rich stress that balance and fresh content are essential.

  • Critique that NBA shouldn’t become “baseball,” which sometimes clings too tightly to the past.

  • Quote [JR, 1:07:10]:
    “I blame Bron for not passing the torch like Kobe, like Mike, like Dr. J… KD and LeBron have been terrible ambassadors to the game. That’s why these kids don’t respect the history.”

  • Rich: “For fact, the late 90s, early 2000s was the last time we all shared those memories. That’s what makes it much different.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Michael Jordan’s Aura:

  • Covino (22:00): “Michael Jordan could say anything and it’s intriguing. He could talk about brushing his teeth… it’s an amazing story, because it’s Michael Jordan.”

• On Balance between Nostalgia and Progress:

  • Rich (35:55): “It has to be a great balance… The NBA could be leaning too much on nostalgia. Nostalgia could be amazing, and it could also be a crutch.”

• On the end of the Monoculture:

  • Covino (43:30): “Our kids won’t have those shared moments. That’s why nostalgia hits so hard; we yearn for that because it’s gone.”

• From a Listener:

  • Mike in Fresno (1:05:24): “There’s just something magic about seeing Magic and Bird just go at it... The 80s and 90s are packed with stuff that we could throw back to.”

• On Generational Creativity and Response:

  • Gil in Virginia (1:09:45): “Nostalgia is the lack of being able to be creative nowadays.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment Theme | Timestamp | |---------------------------------------------------------------|------------| | NBA’s early start, “Christmas before Halloween” analogy | 07:50 | | Rockets vs. Thunder double OT, Luka’s big night | 09:30 | | Producer’s “9AM date” story—“too early” analogy | 12:40 | | Arrival-before-check-in (hotel analogy for NBA start) | 17:00 | | Michael Jordan on “Insight to Excellence,” the viral quote | 20:35 | | Culture’s obsession with nostalgia & “Remember When?” | 24:00 | | Tony Soprano’s advice/nostalgia as “lowest form” | 25:12 | | NBA’s challenge: Young fans and new stars | 32:24 | | “Monoculture” and the end of universal pop culture | 42:10 | | Callers weigh in on nostalgia & generation gaps | 1:03:00+ | | Listener’s criticism of LeBron & generational torch-passing | 1:07:10 | | Closing thoughts on nostalgia, creativity, calls conclude | 1:09:45 |

Episode Takeaways

• The NBA’s opening night stumbled between “it’s too soon” and “there’s nothing else on, so it works”—the games delivered, but the early start still feels odd for some.
• The league’s heavy dose of Jordan-era nostalgia—theme music, graphics, big MJ interviews—hits hard for fans of a certain age but risks alienating or confusing younger viewers.
• True to Covino & Rich’s style, analogies (from misread dates to vacation check-ins) help frame why timing and “being early” isn’t always best.
• Both hosts agree: nostalgia is powerful and essential, but only as part of a balanced approach. Relying too much on it signals stagnation; ignoring it misses key emotional connections.
• Ultimately, the NBA’s mission—like any brand aiming to bridge eras—is to find equilibrium: celebrate legends, but elevate today’s stars and stories.

Final Thoughts

• Covino: “Balance is key. For every Michael Jordan moment, you need a Wemby or SGA highlight.”
• Rich: “Reminisce, but keep things current. The NBA should follow our lead—classic through a current lens.”

This episode is a love letter to the power of nostalgia, the risk of living in the past, and the eternal search for relevance in sports and pop culture.

For fans who missed the episode:
This summary captures the lively debate, punchy analogies, and signature Covino & Rich energy—emphasizing that the NBA, just like your favorite podcast, thrives when it honors the past without losing sight of the present and future.