The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 3: Brian Windhorst, Giannis Trade Speculation, and 13th Game Madness

Date: December 4, 2025
Podcast: The Dan Patrick Show (iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network)
Episode: Hour 3
Main Guest: Brian Windhorst (ESPN Senior NBA Writer)

Episode Overview

The final hour of this Dan Patrick Show episode centers on major developments in the NBA and college football. Dan welcomes ESPN’s Brian Windhorst (“Wendy”) for incisive conversation about:

• The rapidly evolving situation with Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks, specifically Giannis’ flirtation with a trade—especially to the New York Knicks.
• The ramifications of that for Milwaukee, the Knicks, and the overall NBA trade landscape.
• Other NBA storylines, including LeBron James’ uncertain future and Chris Paul’s rocky situation with the Clippers.
• The college football “13th game” debate, prompted by recent reports of Vanderbilt seeking to add an extra game to boost playoff considerations.
  As always, the discussion is peppered with the show’s humor, listener calls, and lively debate among the crew.

Key Topics and Discussion Points

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Trade Speculation and the Bucks’ Dilemma

Featuring: Brian Windhorst (from 03:33), with Dan Patrick and co-hosts

• The Origin of Giannis-to-Knicks Rumors

  • Windhorst reveals that Giannis himself initiated trade conversations:

    “In August, Giannis talked to the Bucks… he showed an interest in wanting to be on the New York Knicks to the point where the Knicks and the Bucks had trade talks.” —Brian Windhorst (04:16)

  • Neither Bucks nor Knicks denied the inquiry, suggesting legitimacy.
  • Knicks were caught off guard, apparently moving to sign Mikal Bridges just before talks, which complicated potential trades due to contract restrictions.

• Summer Bucks Moves and Giannis’ Response

  • Bucks made aggressive roster changes:
    • Cut Dame ($100M dead money).
    • Signed Myles Turner for $100M.
  • These moves apparently didn’t reassure Giannis about the franchise’s direction.

• Family Moves as a Signal

  • Noted that Giannis’ family relocating to Greece could foreshadow bigger decisions.

    “Giannis’s family moved to Greece. If you know anything about Giannis, the family is extraordinarily important to him.” —Brian Windhorst (06:45)

• Key League-Wide Questions

  • Will Giannis formally request a trade?
  • If so, will he provide a list of desired destinations broader than the Knicks?
  • Do the Bucks have to honor such a list, considering his contract status?
  • Dan and Wendy note the Bucks' lack of future draft control complicates their trade calculus.

Notable Quote:

“Will Giannis actually go forward and say, ‘Ok, I want [out]’? Because I don’t think the Bucks are going to get there, Dan, because the Bucks are so mortgaged and so deeply invested in keeping him.” —Brian Windhorst (07:20)

Timestamps:

• Giannis-NBA trade politics: 03:33–12:00

2. The Knicks, Assets, and Potential Trade Packages

• Discussion around how the Knicks’ lack of meaningful draft assets could restrict a potential deal; it would likely need to be a player-based trade.
• Bucks will probably prefer immediate-impact players over picks, since they don’t control own drafts for several years (10:20).
• Dan speculates if Jalen Brunson would be “off-limits” in trade talks; Wendy agrees that should be the mindset, but doesn't have direct intel.

3. The Chris Paul Controversy with the Clippers

Timestamps: 12:00–14:30

• Windhorst analyzes the decision to break up with Chris Paul on the road, calling the handling of it “wretched.”
• Suggests Chris Paul’s outspoken personality and diminished role made his stay untenable:

  “When you have a player who is very vocal, who all of a sudden has a small role, it doesn’t work.” (13:14)

• Blames broader Clippers miscalculations rather than just Lawrence Frank.

4. LeBron James’ Current Role and Uncertain Future

Timestamps: 14:27–19:03

• Question: Is LeBron now the Lakers’ third option? How many years does he realistically have left?
• Wendy praises LeBron’s performance last year but cites two key injuries and the arrival of Luka Doncic as game-changers:
  • First time LeBron has dealt with significant offseason injury issues.
  • Lakers (and Austin Reaves) excelled in his absence, unprecedented in LeBron’s career.
  • Admits LeBron hitting an “unknown territory”—age showing for the first time.
• Future is a true tossup:

  “I was in the camp of, ‘this guy could Tom Brady it’ … But if you watched him play last year, there’s no way you said, ‘that’s a guy about to retire.” (18:16)

5. College Football “13th Game”—Vanderbilt’s Attempt and the Notre Dame Angle

Begins: 27:09

• The crew discusses Vandy’s failed attempt to schedule a post-regular season, non-conference opponent to bolster playoff consideration (espn report).
• Dan: Is there a cap on regular season games? Yes—usually 12, excepting a “Hawaii exemption.”
• Playful debate: Could/should Notre Dame attempt such tactics as an independent? What if other bubble teams did the same?
• Callers weigh in on the practicality and ethics.

Notable Exchange:

“It is ridiculous that they would even entertain the thought of allowing such a thing… when it’s over, it’s over. That’s your win or loss record.” —Paulie (29:52)

• Deliberations on how a playoff “play-in” could work; mockery about college football’s quirkiness.

6. Callers, Humor, and Quick Hits

• Multiple callers propose or poke holes in extra games for playoff hopefuls.
• Brief Dallas Cowboys trade/depth chatter, Micah Parsons/Quinnen Williams debate (24:17–26:23).
• Playoff structure, bowl game hypotheticals (34:26).
• Lively Clippers/Lakers banter and long-term franchise stats (40:06+).

7. Notable Quotes and Moments

• On Giannis’ Power:
  “The talks took place, okay… It was Giannis’s idea. Now you can bring people on here and have them testify… the important thing is Giannis watched what the Bucks did over the summer…” —Brian Windhorst (04:25)
• On LeBron's Unknown:
  “We are in completely unknown territory for him. … How long has it been since LeBron’s been in a situation that he hasn’t not only seen, but mastered?” —Brian Windhorst (16:30)
• College Football Madness:
  “Notre Dame feels like the last school that needs this at all in any way, shape, or form. But also, if they beat Army… Okay, great.” —Mark (32:50)

Timestamps: Major Segments

• 03:33 – Giannis trade situation, Bucks’ perspective (Windhorst interview begins)
• 07:39 – Why Knicks (and other potential teams) for Giannis?
• 10:20 – Knicks’ assets, Bucks’ draft problems, logic for a player-assets deal
• 12:00 – Chris Paul and the Clippers’ poor handling
• 14:47 – LeBron’s future and changing role
• 19:03 – Windhorst interview ends
• 27:09 – “13th game” debate starts: Vanderbilt, Notre Dame playoff hypotheticals
• 34:26 – Discussion on bowl matchups, committee implications
• 40:06+ – Callers, humorous moments, Clippers/Lakers comparison

Tone & Style

• Conversational, humorous, sometimes irreverent: Dan and the crew ask direct questions, make jokes, and riff on modern sports absurdities.
• Journalistic authority: Windhorst brings credibility and inside knowledge, especially on complicated NBA dynamics.
• Inclusive of listeners: Multiple call-ins, fan questions, and audience poll references.

Summary for the Uninitiated

If you haven’t heard this episode, you’ll come away with a strong sense of why Giannis’ situation in Milwaukee is so volatile and why the Bucks—even after drastic moves—aren’t settled. You’ll understand potential scenarios for a blockbuster NBA trade, the realities of modern team-building, and why New York (or other teams) would loom large in the conversation.

Wendy also powerfully frames the end-game for LeBron’s career, giving both context and uncertainty as the Lakers enter uncharted waters. The college football side is full of classic Dan Patrick banter—tackling bizarre postseason machinations with tongue-in-cheek seriousness and playful ideas, making this not just informative but flat-out fun.

Memorable Quotes With Timestamps

• "In August, Giannis talked to the Bucks... he showed an interest in wanting to be on the New York Knicks." —Brian Windhorst (04:16)
• "Giannis's family moved to Greece. If you know anything about Giannis, family is extraordinarily important…" —Brian Windhorst (06:45)
• "When you have a player who is very vocal, who all of a sudden has a small role—it doesn’t work." —Brian Windhorst on Chris Paul (13:14)
• "We are in completely unknown territory for him [LeBron]. ... How long has it been since LeBron’s been in a situation that he hasn’t not only seen, but mastered?" —Brian Windhorst (16:30)
• "It is ridiculous that they would even entertain the thought of allowing such a thing… when it’s over, it’s over. That’s your win or loss record." —Paulie on Vanderbilt’s 13th game request (29:52)
• "Notre Dame feels like the last school that needs this at all in any way, shape, or form." —Mark (32:50)

Conclusion

This hour is a goldmine of NBA insider reporting, sharp football commentary, and trademark Dan Patrick humor—balancing expert analysis and lighthearted debate for devoted and casual listeners alike.