The Dan Patrick Show (Hosted by Covino & Rich)

Episode: C&R - Having Each Other's Backs! Date: November 27, 2025

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode, guest-hosted by Covino and Rich, centers around the power and value of loyalty—both in sports teams and in everyday relationships. The hosts dive into the Lakers’ on-court chemistry, the NBA’s in-season tournament, and use recent basketball events as a springboard to a broader discussion about having each other’s backs, when to support your people, and even who should pick up the tab when friends and family get together.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NBA In-Season Drama: Lakers, Luka, and Team Loyalty

• Lakers vs. Clippers Recap: A heated moment unfolded in a recent Lakers game with a confrontation involving Luka, Chris Dunn, and Jackson Hayes. Luka was fouled hard, Hayes defended him, and a scuffle broke out, leading Luka to promise to cover any fines Hayes incurred for having his back.
  • “Luca then says, hey, put Jackson Hayes’s fine on my tab because he had my back.” (07:46, Covino)
• Chemistry on Display: The hosts emphasize how visible team loyalty and camaraderie are signs of a strong, healthy franchise.
  • “When guys start getting each other's back, you realize that there's a true camaraderie being built there in the Lakers this season.” (08:00, Rich)

2. NBA In-Season Tournament: Innovation or Flop?

• Debate Over Tournament’s Impact: The crew is split about the NBA’s new cup tournament, likening it to other sports innovations and discussing whether its current format is lacking impact or tradition.
  • “Every time we look at a player’s profile and see ‘NBA Cup Champion,’ it’s almost a laugher.” (06:44, Rich)
• Suggestions for Raising Stakes: Rich and Covino suggest unconventional incentives (like playoff advantages) to make the tournament matter.
  • “If I told you the team that won the cup got some type of advantage going into round ones of the NBA playoffs—now you're playing for something.” (12:28, Rich)

3. The Big Question: When Do You HAVE To Have Someone’s Back?

• Personal & Professional Loyalty: Using the Lakers incident as a launchpad, the hosts discuss real-life parallels: Should you always side with your spouse, friends, or teammates—even if they’re in the wrong?
  • “Do you always have to have your wife's back, even though I know she's wrong? …Those are the rules that I live by… That’s loyalty. That’s the team.” (17:00, Covino)
  • “Honestly… there have been times where my—I've had exes fly off the handle and I’ve gone up to people like, listen, I have to defend her, it's my girlfriend. But I understand.” (15:55, Rich)
• Being a Peacemaker: Is it betraying your friend to privately apologize to others after backing them up in public during a conflict?
  • “Being peacemaker, like, hey, man, I’m sorry about what happened there… But you don’t want to overemphasize the fact that he was wrong.” (19:39, Covino)

4. Who Picks Up the Tab? Social Expectations When The 'Star' is Present

• The Luka Principle: Linking back to Luka offering to pay Hayes’s fine, the hosts debate when it’s expected to pick up the bill—does the wealthiest or most successful person in the group have an obligation?
  • “If it’s known that you’re the most successful… you pick up the tab. It’s plain and simple. And you insist.” (22:17, Covino)
  • “If you’re going to be all braggadocious, then you gotta be the guy being generous.” (21:18, Rich)
• Generosity in Friends, Family, and Dating: Listeners call in and echo the sentiment, applying it to gatherings with friends, relatives, and even on dates.
  • “If I invite you out, I should pay–regardless of my financial situation. That's just my opinion.” (35:39, Trip - caller)
  • “You ask a girl out on a date, you better be paying… what kind of wimp ass dude is like, 'let’s go 50/50?' To me, that’s a guarantee of no ass ever.” (36:21, Rich)

5. Sports Chemistry: The Underestimated X-Factor

• Importance of Camaraderie: Both hosts underscore that team chemistry is a key, often-overlooked element of successful sports franchises—just as vital in offices and friend groups.
  • “I am a firm believer… there's such a low emphasis where I think that should be a predominant emphasis on chemistry, vibe, camaraderie.” (31:31, Rich)
  • “OKC has that chemistry. Defending champions, obviously, but they got the youth… if (the Lakers) could stay fresh and stay healthy… they have a shot.” (34:30, Covino)

6. NFL and Thanksgiving/Friendsgiving Vibes

• Upcoming NFL Games: Rich hypes the Thanksgiving slate as the best in years with major playoff implications, specifically in the NFC North.
  • “These are the best Thanksgiving Day football games ever… there’s a lot on the line—turkey ass and playoff hopes.” (03:51, Rich)
• Holiday Relaxation & Traditions: The hosts also joke about the joy of doing nothing but eating and watching football for the holiday stretch.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You realize that there's a true camaraderie being built there in the Lakers this season.” (08:00, Rich)
• “If you ask a girl out on a date, you better be paying for her drinks… What kind of wimp ass dude is like, we're gonna go 50/50?” (36:21, Rich)
• “The grass isn’t always greener. Sometimes you just need to water the grass.” (10:31, Covino)
• “Just being a peacemaker… is just part of the deal.” (19:39, Covino)
• “If you’re going to be all braggadocious, then you gotta be the guy being generous.” (21:18, Rich)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Lakers/Luka Incident Recap: 05:11–08:00
• NBA Cup Tournament Debate: 06:01–14:10
• Loyalty in Conflict Discussion: 15:46–20:27
• Who Picks Up the Tab—Luka Analogy: 20:27–23:14
• Importance of Chemistry: 31:31–34:00
• NFL Thanksgiving Games/Party Prep: 03:51, 47:16

Tone & Language

The show is conversational, irreverent, playful, and occasionally self-deprecating. Both hosts use relatable humor, sports analogies, and real-life scenarios throughout, constantly engaging the audience and inviting feedback and calls. There’s a clear through line of sports culture meeting everyday life, with a recurring emphasis on loyalty, fun, and the value of camaraderie.

Summary

This episode is a blend of NBA talk, life lessons, and holiday musings. The central stories from the Lakers game lead to passionate and funny discussions about what it means to really support your people—be it teammates, partners, or friends—and when, if ever, you can break that code. The hosts relate sports lessons to life, question traditions, theorize fun fixes for sports events, and invite their audience to weigh in on everything from splitting checks to team chemistry, all while adding their trademark energy and humor.