The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 3 – Bam Deserves More Credit, Dianna Russini

Date: March 11, 2026
Main Theme:
This episode centers on the fallout from Bam Adebayo's historic 83-point game, the perception of his achievement compared to other NBA scoring feats, the dynamics around remarkable sports records, and shifting ground in NFL free agency—particularly the dramatic Max Crosby trade saga. The episode features analysis, humor, input from callers, and an in-depth insider segment with The Athletic’s Dianna Russini.

Bam Adebayo’s 83-Point Game – Context and Discourse

[02:11 – 17:55]

Recap and Polls

• Dan opens with a rundown of unexpected sports headlines: Bam Adebayo’s 83, Max Crosby’s trade reversal, and Italy upsetting Team USA in the WBC.
• Poll Question Results:
  • Most surprising development: Bam’s 83 points wins by a wide margin.
  • Who is “gritty and gutty?” Marcus Smart, Jimmy Butler, and historical enforcers like Maurice Lucas are discussed.

Analyzing Bam’s Scoring Feat

• Dan Patrick:
  • Stresses that, no matter the circumstances, 83 points is historic.

    “That's what I've been saying. It's still 83...He had a game. A game for the ages. Kobe's not defined by 81. Kobe's so much more than that. This might be what Bam Adebayo is defined by, that he's the guy who put up 83 and dates A’ja Wilson." (06:35)

• The group wonders: Is Bam’s scoring explosion less “credible” than if a star scorer (like Luka Doncic or Devin Booker) had done it?
• Marvin:
  • Asks what would be an acceptable follow-up performance, referencing Wilt and Kobe’s post-big-game outputs.
• Stats and anecdotes about high-scoring games and the Heat’s relation to records—Dan jokes about owning a signed Bam jersey that’s suddenly far more valuable.

Notable Moments

• Paulie:
  • “...if you would have asked a year ago, hey, a Heat player is going to… score over 70, you'd have picked Tyler Herro.” (08:19)
• Discussion turns to Bam’s next game—should he get a night off, or will fans expect another miracle?

Listener Calls

• Rhonda in Texas:
  • Praises Bam for making free throws under intense pressure:

    “...Bam made those shots under extreme pressure. He scored 83 points, and he deserves all the credit. And the best part was after the game when Bam searched out his mom and they exchanged the warmest hugs ever.” (11:42)

• Brandon in Utah:
  • Hails Wilt Chamberlain’s dominance, advocating for greater appreciation of legends in the context of their era.

Historic Records & The Philosophy of Achievement

[13:12 – 17:55]

How We Frame Sports Records

• Dan draws parallels between how society memorializes sports records across eras, e.g., Wilt’s scoring versus Babe Ruth’s hitting, and how context often clouds reverence.
• Dan Patrick:
  • “With Wilt, it's just this statistical sideshow of, oh, okay, they don't even know how many shots he blocked…We think if you block four or five shots in a game, you can be defensive player of the year. Wilt was blocking, you know, upwards of 10 to 15 probably a night.” (13:12)
• Conversation about Bill Russell’s supreme championship tally versus Wilt and how we selectively assign “greatest ever” status.
• Paulie:
  • Brings up Cal Ripken’s consecutive games streak, and critics who once wanted it stopped to protect Lou Gehrig’s legacy—a humorous, poignant look at the emotionalism surrounding sports history.

Dianna Russini: Inside the Max Crosby Trade Saga

[23:44 – 35:54]

The Ravens Back Out

• Dan interviews Dianna Russini as she reveals new details behind the Baltimore Ravens’ reversal on the Max Crosby trade.
• Russini:
  • Baltimore meticulously checked Crosby's knee, including multiple MRIs and external doctors’ opinions.
  • The stated concern: long-term durability, not his ability to play for 2027.
  • Russini raises the possibility of “buyer’s remorse,” with Baltimore realizing they could sign Trey Hendrickson for less cost/risk.

    “You're not being cynical. This thing stinks. What are you talking about? You're spot on. There's 100% shadiness going down right now.” (26:22)

• The Ravens communicated their decision directly to Crosby, who had already mentally and publicly moved on from the Raiders.
• Russini reports the Raiders are returning to “rebuild-mode” while Crosby—on the six-year anniversary of his sobriety—is back in the gym as a Raider.

Timestamps for Key Segment:

• [24:02] – Russini explains sequence of events and the physical
• [26:22] – Addresses “buyer’s remorse” and Ravens’ draft philosophy
• [28:10] – League-wide perception of Ravens’ move
• [30:05] – Crosby’s and his family’s response
• [31:36] – Timeline of Ravens’ pivot to Trey Hendrickson
• [34:52] – Russini on Crosby’s character and his six years of sobriety

Notable Quotes

• Russini:

  “I had one person in football reach out… ‘I am frightened for whoever's got a lineup against Max Crosby this season. Like the chip he's going to have on his shoulder to shove it back to the Baltimore Ravens.’” (30:15)

• Dan Patrick:

  “Yeah, I feel bad for the Raiders because they had a whole different mindset of we're moving on from Max... They spent money. They started to build their team as if they needed a couple years before they're going to be respectable, competitive. And now... you got a guy who's great, but... you probably aren't going to get what you thought you were going to get.” (33:05)

• Russini:

  “Credit to Max Crosby…just go back to work and I guess I'm a Raider…I think he had a going away party based on his social media.” (34:50)

Wrapping Up: Callers, Closing Thoughts, Odds and Context

[35:54 – 47:09]

Gritty and Gutty

• Callers nominate more “gritty, gutty” players (Joakim Noah, Tony Allen).
• Debate on what makes a scoring feat “impressive,” e.g., Klay Thompson’s 60 in three quarters vs. Bam’s 83.

NFL Mechanics: Trade Medicals and Trust

• Dan and the crew ponder how the Ravens could fail a physical so late in the process and whether the medical process can truly be transparent.
• Dan Patrick:

  “Can you send me his medicals?...I don't want to wait until you get there and then look at your knee. I want to know...and then we're going to do our own medical evaluation. Just feels like something, something is there.” (42:03)

• Paulie discusses details of Crosby’s contract and how affordable he still is for the Raiders.

Closing Anecdotes & Statistical Oddities

• Listeners share sports memories, including Wilt’s final game stat line (17 points, 31 rebounds, 11 assists, and possibly 6-9 blocks at age 36).
• Fun fact: Randy Holt’s 67 penalty minutes in a single hockey period (47:09).

Notable Moments and Quotes

(By Timestamp)

• 06:35 Dan Patrick: “It's still 83. You can say it's a young Wizards team... but he had a game. A game for the ages...”
• 11:42 Rhonda in Texas: “Bam made those shots under extreme pressure... The best part... after the game when Bam searched out his mom and they exchanged the warmest hugs ever.”
• 13:12 Dan Patrick: “With Wilt, it's just this statistical sideshow of, oh, okay, they don't even know how many shots he blocked.”
• 24:02 Dianna Russini: Explains sequence and news behind Max Crosby’s trade reversal.
• 26:22 Russini: “You're not being cynical... There's 100% shadiness going down right now.”
• 30:15 Russini: “...the chip [Crosby’s] going to have on his shoulder to shove it back to the Baltimore Ravens...”
• 33:05 Dan Patrick: “Yeah, I feel bad for the Raiders because they had a whole different mindset of we're moving on from Max...”
• 34:52 Russini: “He is the sort of model leader you want on your team.”
• 42:03 Dan Patrick: “Can you send me his medicals?...I don't want to wait until you get there and then look at your knee...”

Summary Table of Major Segments

| Time | Segment/Themes | Notable Quote/Event | |--------------|---------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------| | 02:11-08:56 | Bam’s 83 pt game, polls, Heat anecdotes | “It's still 83...” (Dan) | | 08:56-13:12 | Scoring records, player reactions | “Kobe’s not defined by 81...” (Dan), Kobe/Wilt stats | | 13:12-17:55 | How sports records are remembered | “We don’t do that to Babe Ruth...” (Dan) | | 23:44-35:54 | Dianna Russini: Max Crosby trade insight | “100% shadiness going down...” (Russini), Crosby response | | 35:54-43:36 | Callers on grit, NFL trade mechanics | “Can you send me his medicals?” (Dan) | | 43:36-47:09 | Odds, closing stats, sports history calls | Wilt’s last game, Crosby contract stats |

Episode Tone

• Authentic, humorous, analytical, slightly irreverent.
• Dan and his crew bring earnest sports nostalgia, skepticism towards organizational behavior, and empathy for players (notably Bam and Max Crosby).

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode...

• The episode is a lively, in-depth exploration of how we process sports achievements and controversies—juxtaposing Bam Adebayo’s unlikely scoring feat with trade drama and the realities of athlete legacy.
• Dianna Russini’s insider call is essential listening for NFL news junkies, providing both factual updates and “reading between the lines” context.

If you want the latest angles on major NBA and NFL stories—along with a conversational, sometimes cheeky take on sports legends—this is an essential third hour of The Dan Patrick Show.