The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 1: NBA Emirates Cup Champion Crowned, Chase Daniel

Date: December 17, 2025
Podcast Network: iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network

Episode Overview

This hour of The Dan Patrick Show celebrates the New York Knicks' victory in the NBA Emirates Cup, examines the significance of the NBA's in-season tournament, and features an in-depth football discussion with guest analyst Chase Daniel. Dan and the “Danettes” debate the value of new NBA traditions, draw parallels with global sports, and break down the latest NFL and college football storylines — with plenty of humor and signature banter throughout.

1. Knicks Win the NBA Cup: Celebration, Mockery & Meaning

Segment begins [03:14]

Main Points

• Knicks Crowned NBA In-Season Tournament Champions
  • Dan and the crew open the hour celebrating the Knicks' Cup win over San Antonio Spurs.
  • "The Knicks win the cup and they beat the Spurs. No word on the parade in New York City and when the banner will be raised." — Dan Patrick [03:20]

Banner Debate

• Should the Knicks Raise a Cup Banner?

  • Some in studio (especially Todd and Paul) joke about the appropriateness of raising a banner for the in-season tournament.
  • Paul confirms the Lakers did a modest banner after their win: "It's not the biggest banner, but it's very becoming." [04:23]
  • The group acknowledges it's been a long time since the Knicks have had a reason to hang a banner.

• Light Mockery Mixed with Pride

  • Dan: "I think the Knicks will probably raise a banner, but the Lakers did raise a banner, huh?" [04:35]
  • The “Go New York, Go” chant underscores the tongue-in-cheek celebration.

Looking Beyond the Knicks – Spurs’ Perspective

• Dan stresses the benefit to the young Spurs squad playing high-stakes games:

  • "You're playing for something... maybe the Spurs pick up some much needed experience that can help them down the road." [05:31]

• Paul jokes about the Cup lighting a fire for future Spurs greatness:

  • "Three, four years from now when Benyama is holding the NBA title, he's like, how did this all start? You know, it was all went back to the cup that lost to the Knicks. Lit the fire." [05:56]
  • Dan: "See, once again you're mocking this." [06:09]

Knicks' Outlook

• Paul notes: "They're 18 and 7, but... best in the east this year... In the recent 20 years, this might be their best chance to make the finals." [07:45]

2. The NBA In-Season Tournament: Is It Special Enough?

Segment begins [09:22]

Critical Evaluation

• Barkley's Criticism

  • Dan references Charles Barkley's disparaging remarks, clarifying: "Charles called it embarrassing, not stupid." [09:22]

• Seaton's Take: Not Unique Enough

  • Seaton points out that, unlike European soccer cups involving teams across leagues, the NBA’s format lacks distinctiveness.
  • "This is an NBA tournament of NBA teams playing other NBA teams in the NBA season. There's nothing unique about it whatsoever." [10:40]
  • Suggests US sports could spice it up by involving G-League or even NCAA teams.

• Paul (agreeing with Seaton):

  • "It feels like forced relevance... If you didn't change the color of the courts, you would think it's a generally just a regular season game." [11:13]

• Dan adds:

  • "It felt like we were force fed. Like, what's wrong with you? Don't you understand? You should be really hyping this up." [11:35]
  • Notes most Cup games count for the regular season anyway — further muddling the concept.

3. NFL & College Football Quarterback Trends and Storylines

Segment begins [12:56]; Chase Daniel joins at [22:01]

Injuries, Styles, and Evaluation

• QB Play (Jackson Dart, Jaden Daniels, Joe Burrow)

  • Dan discusses the peril of asking mobile QBs to change their play style:
    • "You can't go, wait, wait, what am I supposed to do now?... I want them to run smartly and you're going to ask Jackson Dart, can you change? ...I don't know if you can say to him, we love the aggression, but let's live to, you know, have another play..." [13:30]

• Evaluation Period for Teams Out of Contention

  • Coaches use the final games to evaluate QBs for future roles—especially with potential draftees like Shador Sanders.

4. Featured Interview: Chase Daniel on NFL and College Football

Interview begins [22:01]

NFL Standouts

• Josh Allen's Heroics for the Bills

  • Chase: "Every single time that the Bills need to make a play, they rely on Josh Allen." [22:18]
  • Contrasts Allen’s 2nd-half performance with a stalling first half vs. Patriots.

• Jaguars, Trevor Lawrence, and Play-Calling Innovation

  • "This was with, without a doubt the best game Trevor Lawrence has ever played... the amount of play action, the trust that Trevor Lawrence is throwing..." [22:46]
  • Praises Liam Cohn’s creative sequencing and play design.

• Caleb Williams & Ben Johnson’s Offensive Wizardry

  • "Ben Johnson's worth 14 points a game because he's scheming guys wide open..." [23:41]
  • Expresses mild disbelief at the Bears' surprising double-digit win total.

MVP Race Discussion

• Dan asks if late-season heroics should outweigh full-season performance for MVP.

  • "I don't know if I was a voter, how do I equate what he's doing now in December as opposed to what Matthew Stafford has done the entire year?" [24:31]

• Chase’s stance:

  • He gives the MVP edge to Stafford but insists Allen’s impact with less supporting talent is immense.
  • "This is the year that Josh Allen has to get it done." [26:09]

Veteran QB Watch

• Philip Rivers’ Surprise Return
  • Chase broke down Rivers’ recent game and notes the steep learning curve and drop in arm strength, but commends his quick mental reacclimation.
  • "Are you grading differently because you go, well, it's a 44 year old guy? ...it's grading on a curve..." [26:27]

Quarterback Risks

• Jackson Dart’s Recklessness

  • Chase: "He's going to have to [change]... it's not out of a place of like, oh, you know, I don't care about my body. I think he's just uber competitive, but it's borderline reckless right now." [28:25]
  • Notes other teams (per Hard Knocks) see Dart as "reckless" and target him for hits; believes change must start with accountability.

• Dan: "I just wonder, can you instinctively, as you're running, go, oh, wait a minute. I'm supposed to wait, Sly, wait, What am I supposed to do? I don't know if you can do that." [30:09]

• Jaden Daniels as Positive Example

  • Chase says Daniels learned to protect himself more over time—proof that QBs can change with coaching and personal motivation.

Other Notable Quarterback Discussions

• Tua Tagovailoa’s Uncertain Future

  • Sitting Tua to evaluate other QBs signals organizational doubt, complicating the Dolphins’ future. [31:48]

• Kansas City Chiefs’ Path Forward

  • Chase says unspectacular but not disastrous performance, bad luck in one-score games, and high expectations after years of success have led to panic about the "dynasty"—but he's optimistic:
    • "As long as they have Spags and Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes, I think they're still going to be fine." [35:28]

• Dan counters quarterback injury analogies:

  • "Mahomes needs his legs. Tom [Brady] doesn't... it's different for him." [35:43]

• NFL Draft Prospects & Saints' Situation

  • Chase will soon break down top college QBs for the draft; Saints may stick with Shuck but will be tempted if they pick high enough. [37:12]

5. Callers and Listener Commentary

Segment begins [44:24]

• Fans weigh in on:
  • Home invasions targeting NFL players—one caller suggests the NFL partner with security companies.
  • Knicks championship—and skepticism about the meaning of a Cup banner:
    • “The only thing I liked about this tournament is that the players, I believe, each get 500 grand each.” [44:24]
  • The quality of Cinderella teams in the college football playoff, referencing the underdog narrative and fan interest.

6. Notable Quotes

• Dan Patrick [05:31]:
  "You're playing for something... maybe the Spurs pick up some much needed experience that can help them down the road."

• Paul Pabst [07:45]:
  "In the recent 20 years, this might be their best chance to make the finals."

• Seaton O'Connor [10:40]:
  "This is an NBA tournament of NBA teams playing other NBA teams in the NBA season. There's nothing unique about it whatsoever."

• Chase Daniel [22:18]:
  "Every single time that the Bills need to make a play, they rely on Josh Allen."

• Chase Daniel [28:25]:
  "[Jackson Dart]'s going to have to [change]. ...he's just uber competitive, but it's borderline reckless right now."

7. Key Timestamps

| Timestamp | Topic/Segment | |-----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:14 | Knicks' Cup win and potential banner debate | | 04:23 | Lakers precedent on Cup banners | | 05:56 | Spurs youth and Cup experience matters | | 09:22 | Tournament meaning, Barkley and Seaton's criticism | | 12:56 | Quarterbacks: play styles, evaluation as NFL season winds down | | 22:01 | Chase Daniel joins for NFL/CFB breakdown | | 24:31 | MVP debate: Josh Allen vs. Matthew Stafford | | 28:25 | Jackson Dart's reckless play style and needed adjustments | | 31:48 | Tua’s future and evaluation quarterbacks at season’s end | | 35:28 | Chiefs’ future, impact of injuries, and dynasty talk | | 37:12 | College QB prospects and Saints’ QB decision | | 44:24 | Listener calls: home security, Knicks' Cup meaning, CFB Cinderella |

8. Tone and Style Notes

• The show maintains its classic balance of sports insight, pop culture references, and friendly studio mockery.
• Dan shifts between celebration, subtle sarcasm, and genuine sports nerdery, particularly regarding NBA tradition and football strategy.
• The analysis is lively but honest; the "Danettes" push each other, especially regarding the Cup’s legitimacy and what really motivates teams.

9. Memorable Moments

• "Go New York, Go New York, Go!" — The studio breaks into the Knicks' anthem, blending sincere fandom with self-aware glee. [06:15]
• Banner Mockery: “I think you raise a cup, like at a staff dinner to celebrate with champagne, and that's the cup you raised, but not an actual thing hanging from the ra.” — Todd [04:15]
• Soccer Analogy: “If you had G league teams in there and you had some D1 teams or something, then [the Cup] would be special.” — Seaton [10:57]
• Chase Daniel’s Candid Assessment of Veteran QBs: Honest discussion about the limitations of older quarterbacks like Philip Rivers (and the media’s nostalgia for them).

10. Summary Takeaways

• The Knicks' Cup win offers the team and its fans something meaningful — but not without a wink and plenty of jokes about “real” banners.
• The NBA in-season tournament’s format remains under scrutiny; the show’s consensus is it lacks the unique, cross-league flavor of soccer’s counterparts, and may need future tweaks.
• Chase Daniel delivers strong, player-focused insight: Josh Allen keeps Buffalo afloat, but the supporting cast and coaching play critical roles. Reckless QB playstyles (e.g., Jackson Dart) remain a double-edged sword, often requiring both organizational and personal adaptation.
• The looming NFL draft and quarterback carousel will define the off-seasons for several franchises.
• As always, the show mixes quality sports analysis with lighthearted storytelling and open phone lines for passionate (and quirky) sports fans.

For anyone who missed this episode, expect deep dives, playful back-and-forth, and the sports world’s best water-cooler talk reimagined for radio.