The Dan Patrick Show – Hour 3

Date: November 5, 2025
Episode Theme: Reflecting on legendary achievements and personalities in baseball and basketball with in-depth conversations featuring Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and NBA icons Phil Jackson and Sam Smith.

Episode Overview

In this hour, Dan Patrick dives into the high-pressure world of championship sports with revealing interviews. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts discusses the emotional highs and tactical decisions of their latest World Series run, including handling expectations and trust in players versus analytics. In the second segment, Phil Jackson and veteran NBA writer Sam Smith join to talk about their new book, Masters of the Game, which explores basketball’s evolution through the stories of 75 legendary players. They share behind-the-scenes stories, examine player legacies, and reflect on relationships with icons like Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman, offering unique historical perspectives.

Key Segments & Takeaways

1. Opening Banter and Poll Results (00:00–11:00)

• Dan and the crew discuss NFL poll questions, including fan optimism for the Jets and Kyler Murray’s career prospects.
• Lighthearted birthday call-in from a Panthers fan sparks a playoff bet, highlighting fan engagement and playful show dynamics.

Memorable Moment:
Debate over the Panthers’ playoff chances, confusion over playoff odds, and a running joke about a “pie to the face” bet (09:30).

2. Dave Roberts on Dodgers’ World Series Victory (11:01–38:00)

The Difficulty of Repeating as Champions

• Roberts reflects on winning back-to-back World Series titles:

  “Winning a championship is very difficult. Winning two is even tougher... there's nothing like game seven... a lot of things had to happen. Guys stepped up, and I'm just proud of the guys.” (12:10)

Pressure and Expectations

• Explains how players handle being favorites versus underdogs:

  “The David and Goliath narrative, fans, media, put things together that just aren't true... We're trying to win for each other and the city of Los Angeles.” (14:50)

Gut Instincts vs. Analytics

• Details the tension between analytics and trusting his players:

  “My job is to know the players. Ultimately, that's my job. It's not to know statistics. It's about to know the heartbeat of the player.” (18:40) “If you look back at 2024 in the postseason, it's the eye test. It's gut.” (21:00)

Game 7 Highlights and Decisions

• Recalls high-pressure decisions and memorable defensive plays:

  On a key collision in the outfield:
  “Kiké laid down there for dead and Páis asked him if he was okay and he says, forget that. Do you have the ball?” (23:35)

• Vivid recountings of playoff drama:

  “It’s a heartache series.” (25:30)

Yamamoto and Otani’s Impact

• Praises Yamamoto’s mindset and Otani’s role:

  “I've never seen... [Yamamoto] is an assassin and what he did is stuff like Pedro [Martinez].” (28:10) On Otani’s unique ramp-up and limits in postseason: “He's two players in one... couldn't get greedy with him.” (30:15)

Clayton Kershaw's Legacy

• Discusses unwavering trust in Kershaw:

  “I'm going to bet on Clayton Kershaw, and I've proved that time and time again.” (33:00)

Mindset for the Future

• Already thinking about a “three-peat”:

  “We already talked about it… I'm not making any guarantees, but I already cleared it with Pat Riley on the three-peat term.” (36:50)

3. Phil Jackson & Sam Smith: Masters of the Game and NBA Legends (38:01–59:25)

Book Structure and Hidden Figures

• The book is described as a conversational take on NBA history, highlighting 75 legendary players.
• Phil enjoys discussing players he never coached, like John Havlicek. Sam highlights overlooked greats, e.g.:

  “Rick Barry... could have been a Steph Curry with his shooting ability... but for various reasons was so universally disliked.” (41:40)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: “Missed by the TV Era”

• Phil on Kareem’s uniqueness:

  “He was able to play with a certain amount of grace.... His scoring was never [a shortcoming]. He was a great scorer.” (44:20)

Top 75 List: Controversies & Bias

• Sam critiques some selections for recency bias (Lillard, Dwight Howard) and defends the panel’s overall integrity:

  “We didn’t rank people in this... It's a look at the history of it.” (46:10)

Unpacking the Scottie Pippen Relationship

• Phil opens up about the “complicated” relationship:

  “I played with him and against him one on one... tried to help his game out... I had a lot of admiration for him... It was shocking to hear the comments he made… It made a big change in his life.” (48:48)

• Sam adds poignant Michael Jordan insight:

  “Michael really expressed regret... that he feels terrible about losing the relationship with Scottie.” (50:20)

Managing Dennis Rodman’s Eccentricities

• Phil discusses flexibility with personalities:

  “There’s got to be exception for some players... I addressed the team as, we’re all adults... these are exceptions that we’re going to have to live with.” (52:35)

The Player Phil Wishes He Had Coached

• Unexpectedly names Christian Laettner:

  “He never really got to play the way he was capable... that’s a guy I would like to coach.” (54:35)

• Dan and the crew are audibly surprised, expecting a flashier name.

Jordan vs Curry: Who Changed the Game More?

• Sam Smith:

  “Michael changed the world... Bald was never good before. Earrings. The shoes. Michael’s influence... way transcended basketball.” (56:10)

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

| Time | Speaker | Quote | |---------|-----------------|--------| | 12:10 | Dave Roberts | “Winning a championship is very difficult. Winning two is even tougher... there's nothing like game seven.”| | 18:40 | Dave Roberts | “My job is to know the players. Ultimately, that's my job. It's not to know statistics. It's about to know the heartbeat of the player.”| | 23:35 | Dave Roberts | “Kiké laid down there for dead and Paiz asked him if he was okay and he says, forget that. Do you have the ball?”| | 33:00 | Dave Roberts | “I'm going to bet on Clayton Kershaw, and I've proved that time and time again.”| | 36:50 | Dave Roberts | “We already talked about it… the three-peat… I already cleared it with Pat Riley on the three-peat term.”| | 48:48 | Phil Jackson | “I played with him and against him one on one... I had a lot of admiration for [Scottie Pippen]... It was shocking to hear the comments he made.”| | 50:20 | Sam Smith | “Michael really expressed regret... that he feels terrible about losing the relationship with Scottie.”| | 52:35 | Phil Jackson | “There’s got to be exception for some players... these are exceptions that we’re going to have to live with.”| | 56:10 | Sam Smith | “Michael changed the world... Bald was never good before. Earrings. The shoes. Michael’s influence... way transcended basketball.”|

Additional Fun & Listener Engagement

• Lighthearted locker-room banter on dog cloning and a poll about the cost (1:01:00).
• Advocacy for dog adoption amidst Tom Brady’s dog-cloning news (1:04:00).
• Classic sports trivia (Chuck Connors, glass backboards) with entertaining debunking of myths (1:08:00).

Episode Tone

The hour is a blend of deep sports insight, genuine emotion, and trademark Dan Patrick humor. Roberts and Jackson are candid but respectful, reflecting the gravitas of their experience; Sam Smith offers thoughtful context. The DP show crew maintains its casual, affable style, keeping things fun and accessible to both hard-core fans and general listeners.

Summary Table of Major Segments

| Segment | Time | Guests/Focus | Key Points | |-------------------------------|-----------|------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------| | Opening & Polls | 00:00–11:00 | Show crew | NFL discussions, playful Panthers playoff bet | | Dave Roberts Interview | 11:01–38:00 | Dodgers manager | World Series, pressure, gut vs analytics, Otani, Kershaw | | Phil Jackson & Sam Smith | 38:01–59:25 | NBA legends/authors | New book, overlooked players, Pippen & Rodman relationships | | Listener Calls & Trivia | 59:26–End | Show crew/callers | Dog adoption, cloning, glass backboard myth, football trivia |

For Listeners

If you missed the episode, expect an engaging hour full of candid championship talk, sports philosophy, NBA nostalgia, and a dose of DP Show wit. The conversations go far beyond stats—delving into the psychology of winning, the power of relationships, and the way history shapes perceptions of today’s sports icons.