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Dan Patrick
This is an iHeart podcast.
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Dan Patrick
It's only natural you see these golfers mistaken the true green lawns for an actual golf course. Have you noticed that?
Marvin
Come on.
Dan Patrick
No, no, I'm serious. They're the official lawn care treatment provider the PGA Tour, so they know what it takes to get golf course quality lawns.
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Marvin
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Fox Sports Radio Announcer
You are listening to the Dan Patrick show on Fox Sports Radio final hour on this Tuesday.
Dan Patrick
Reggie Miller stops by. We'll talk about the surging MVP candidate known as Wemby. Now, I'm going to play a portion of his press conference from last night. He had a big game. They beat the heat. They've won 22 of their last 24, and they're really within striking distance of OKC for having the best record in the West. And you start to look at his numbers and you look at value, and it is a new story. We love news stories. Don't let anybody kid you in the media. It's like gonna talk about that guy again. And you get that guy to talk about. Luca making a little bit of a surge here as well. The way the Lakers have played, they lost last night. Joker can't miss another game, but I don't think he's going to win it. Jalen Brown, who I think should be thought of in higher regard with what he did for this team, at least for the first three quarters of the season. And you know, sga, he's the best player on the best team, and we'll probably win the MVP again. Now, there will be voter fatigue for SGA because I. I thought after he won it last year, I thought he's not going to win it next year that they're going to want to move on to. We got to have another, you know, topic. We need to showcase somebody. And. And Wemby's timing, it might be off just a little bit because I think SGA build up enough of a cushion that he'll win. But with 10 games to go, and if Wemby is able to close this out, at least he's given people some thought. Lucas numbers. Joker puts up numbers that nobody else puts up. But listen to Victor Wembanyama. Now, keep in mind, he's 22. Now. He's asked about his MVP chances. He didn't go in and say, hey, before we get started, I'd like to announce this. He was asked about his chances and he had this to say.
Victor Wembanyama (quoted)
My first one would be that defense is 50% of the game, and that is undervalued so far in the MVP race because I believe I'm the most impactful player defensively in the league. Second argument would be we almost swept OKC in the season and we dominated him three times with their real team and four times with them. My third argument would be that offense impact is not just sports.
Dan Patrick
Okay, now I've been thinking about this. That. What. What was he really saying there? Now he Is showcasing what he does. He's the best defensive player in the game and he is the best at the. At one end of the court, nobody is better than him. At the other end of the court, there are a lot of guys who are really good. Now, if I listen to what he said, he talked about defense. That's a shot at Joker. Then he talks about, you know, it's more than just scoring at the offensive end. That's a shot at SGA and Luca. And he also talked about beating OKC three times when they had their full lineup. That's a shot at SGA he's giving you. If you say, well, why would you take him over Joker? Well, he's so much better as a defensive player. Why would you take him over sga? Well, head to head, they won the. Won the seasonal series. Why would you take him over Luca? It's more than just scoring on the offensive end. So if you read between the lines, he's given this great thought that he truly believes he's the mvp and these are the reasons why. And you would have a challenge in refuting that. The defensive part of it, you can't refute it is 50% of the game. We don't focus on it in a league where everybody's scoring 130 points, scoring, everybody scores. But he's saying it's more than just scoring points on the offensive end. And then you're going to measure me against the best team and the best player in the defending champs. We beat him. We beat him three times. So what is the knock? We're the most improved team and we might get the number one seed. I think, I think sometimes we, we're like, oh, they, like, the Patriots were a year ahead of schedule in, in my opinion. I kept saying, man, I, I don't see it this year. And they proved me wrong. It's almost like we're saying to Wemby and the spurs, like, wait a minute, you guys are a little, little ahead of schedule. Like, what are you doing? Slow down. Your next year story. It's like, easy here. It's like Adrian Peterson, his freshman year at Oklahoma, like, wait a minute, slow down, slow down. Maybe next year, maybe next year. We have these moments and I think we have that moment with the spurs and sga. Yes, Marv.
Marvin
And I think with the spurs also, they might go in there thinking we can win the whole thing. Where back in the day, the Pistons had to get by the Celtics, the Bulls had to get by the Pistons, the Pacers had to get by The Knicks, they're like, no, no, no, no. We're ready now. And Wemby seems like a guy that's ready right now, and he should get bonus points for basically saving the NBA all star game.
Dan Patrick
He's 22. He's 22. That's. And he just turned 22 when he's doing these things. And he. He just. Oh, matter of factly is telling us why he's the mvp and he's taken down all the candidates there, like scoring LUCA Defense is 50% of the game. Taking a shot at Joker. Hey, we beat sga. We beat okc. All right, there you go. I'm sorry. Any. Any further questions, your honor?
Paulie Fusco
Yeah, Paulie, it's also how you look at mvp. I think Marvin said before the show, if you moved Wemby, where are the Spurs? Are they a threatening team? Probably not.
Dan Patrick
Oh, no, no, no. They're not even in the playoffs, I don't think.
Paulie Fusco
And if you looked at the other way, what if you said, which player in the NBA currently would you start your team with? Would anyone not pick Wembanyama?
Dan Patrick
I don't think so.
Reggie Miller
Yeah.
Dan Patrick
What is he, four years younger than sga? Five years younger?
Marvin
Four or five.
Dan Patrick
Four or five. Baseball's opening day on NBC and Peacock. Pirates, Mets. Then in prime time, it'll be the Diamondbacks against the Dodgers. That'll be Thursday. NBC and Peacock. Some phone calls here. We say good morning. If you're watching on Peacock. That's our streaming partner, NBC Sports Network, and we do welcome your phone calls. We did have a caller from Minneapolis saying, hey, most radio stations don't take phone calls, certainly nationally. Hey, when I went into this after I left espn, I. I wanted to have, you know, people who were going to contribute. I enjoy, because I think you're a smart audience. You add to the show, you know the show, and I welcome your phone calls and always have. And that's why we've, you know, allowed that to happen. Other shows don't do it. But I'm not here to program other shows. This is how I grew up with radio. And. And you may have an opinion. A lot of times you can't talk to the person who is giving you an opinion. You can't call up a columnist and say, I disagree with what you've said, or somebody's on tv. We have a, you know, reciprocation here. If you hear something that you agree with, don't agree with. You want to add to the show or something completely different. I like that pipeline that we Have I enjoy it when you get Chris in Syracuse or Buddha who calls up or Gus in la. I look forward to hearing from James in Virginia. And I consider it a great honor compliment that you want to take time out of your day to call in or you're going to watch the show or you're going to be driving the kids to school or you're driving a truck and you're listening to the program. I want you part of the program. That's the fun of it. We're in it together. Let's see. Bill in Houston. Hi, Bill. What's on your mind today?
Caller Bill
Good morning, gentlemen. Size 17 neck and Marvin size hands. You started, you started to say it a while ago talking about Orlovsky and the Ty Simpson thing. And Sean Salisbury has said the exact same thing. He thinks Simpson has a higher ceiling as an NFL quarterback. That's nothing against Mendoza, but he also thinks Oakland should just trade out of his spot, stock stockpile draft picks and go get a stud quarterback next year. Fill in with a free agent. Wonder if you subscribe to the same thinking.
Dan Patrick
Yeah, I've said that, that, hey, I'd like Mendoza, but I gotta make sure that I'm building a team and I want to have the team before I get the quarterback. A lot of teams get the quarterback and then try to build. And I think that's backwards where you're going, hey, we got our guy. What else do you have? I don't know. We'll figure it out. I want to know that you have an infrastructure there that I can place that player in there and give him the best chance to succeed. And I don't know if Mendoza is a great quarterback. I think he was a great story. He came up big when he needed to. But you know, my source, who's a scout, you know he's going to give me information here soon of just looking at all the throws and break that. That's what happens here. But there's no mystery where Mendoza is going. So it's not one of those, well, I don't know about. They're taking Mendoza. Ty Simpson is different. But this is Dan Orlovsky seeing Ty Simpson, watching his throws, maybe making the throws you have to make in the NFL as opposed to college. And you might say, wait a minute, don't you make the same throws? And the answer is no, you don't. Can you throw the ball over the middle 20 yards? Can you throw to the numbers? Can you throw it on a line? Like there's pro throws, there's college throws. Everybody's opening college. Nobody's open in the. In the NFL. But, you know, that's where this is. And I. I say it all the time. It's an inexact science. It is. But I don't know if just because Ty Simpson, according to Dan Olofsky, is a better quarterback or prospect, that he'll be a better quarterback or prospect or are they going to be Pro bowl quarterbacks? I. I don't know. I didn't see enough of Simpson and what I saw with Mendoza, I thought that he, once again, when you needed him to be big, he was really good. And it was a great story. But other than that, there have been quarterbacks where I go, God, that guy can't. I thought Johnny Manziel was going to be a good quarterback in the pros. So it's in the eye of the beholder of. You see somebody do something. I didn't realize Mike Evans was a Hall of Fame wide receiver when he was catching all those passes from Johnny. Because you know what we did? We focused on Manzel. Like, look at him get out of trouble. And, yeah, he just threw it. Yeah. And who caught it? Mike Evans, all the people who passed on Lamar Jackson. I said, did you watch him play? Oh, he can't throw. He does. He complete his passes. You know, we want it to look a certain way. I want to know, did it get from point A to point B? That's all I want to know. Not, man, look at that delivery. We get caught on that. Like, somebody has a beautiful baseball swing. I go, did he hit it? He's got a beautiful swing. I want to know if you hit it, man, his form, like Tim Linceum, if you would. If you would have watched his form, you'd be like, that guy can't pitch in the majors. Meanwhile, you win a cy Young or 2 and World Series. Yeah, I guess you can. Clayton Kershaw, if you would have looked at that and you'd be like, damn, that is a weird. Did it get from A to B? Did you swing and miss? So I think we get caught up in the aesthetic sometimes with these guys, and it's like, man, that guy can't miss. He's 6 4. That doesn't mean anything. I want to know, can you play?
Paulie Fusco
Yeah, Paulie, you can go back and look at the draft profiles of all these quarterbacks. I've got one here of Phil Rivers. They didn't like his delivery. They didn't like his knees. They didn't like his mobility. And then he goes out and throws for 60 plus thousand.
Dan Patrick
Drew Brees, too small. Played at Purdue 60, 70,000 yards later. I mean, that's. But you get into the right situation and if he ended up with the Dolphins, with Saban, then maybe we're not talking about him being a great quarterback or a Hall of Famer or, you know, he goes to the Saints, he falls in to a situation and got a really good coach. Yes.
Marvin
Mark, same thing with Russell Wilson. Fell into a perfect situation.
Dan Patrick
Yeah.
Marvin
He's about, what, six feet maybe.
Dan Patrick
Yeah.
Marvin
So people were overlooking him. So.
Dan Patrick
And look, I have great respect for Orlovsky. He loves. He loves quarterbacks. Do I look at the. Well, they're both represented, Ty Simpson and Orlovsky, by the same, you know, agency. Do people do that? Yes. Do they pump up somebody who's, you know, represented by the same people? Yes, they do in this situation. I would be suspicious of that because I think Dan cares so much about being correct when it comes to quarterbacks. But it's not like you're losing your job if you. That's why I always wondered. We have all these mock drafts. Imagine if your, your Christmas bonus was based off how well you did with your mock trap. Okay, now that's interesting. Mel Kuiper will join us coming up on the show tomorrow.
Mel Kuiper
Right.
Paulie Fusco
Thank you.
Dan Patrick
We'll take a break. Reggie Miller will join us next year on the Dan Patrick Show.
Fox Sports Radio Announcer
Be sure to catch the live edition of the Dan Patrick show, weekdays at 9am Eastern, 6am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio in the iHeartRadio app.
Tony Fusco
Paulie Fusco here with Tony Fusco. Yo. As everybody knows, we're the host of the award winning Paulie and Tony Fusco Show.
Mel Kuiper
Yeah.
Tony Fusco
But instead of us telling you how great we are, here's how Dan Patrick described us when he came on our show.
Dan Patrick
Quick, knowledgeable and funny. Opinionated. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
Caller Norm
What are you doing?
Tony Fusco
You're interrupting our promo.
Reggie Miller
Yeah, he wasn't talking about you.
Dan Patrick
You took those clips totally out of context.
Marvin
Oh, yeah.
Tony Fusco
Well, after this promo, I'm going to take you out and beat you.
Fox Sports Radio Announcer
Let me put this into context.
Dan Patrick
Shut up.
Yeah.
Tony Fusco
Anyway, just listen to the Paulie and Tony Fusco show on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
Fox Sports Radio Announcer
Yay.
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Well, many thanks good sir. Here is my Discover card.
Dan Patrick
They accept Discover at Renaissance Fairs?
Jennifer (The Ticket Lady)
Yeah, they do here. Discover is accepted at the places I love to shop. Getth with the times.
Dan Patrick
With the times.
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Dan Patrick
Reggie Miller was on the call T wolf Celtics this past Sunday Sunday night Basketball NBC Peacock Tonight it's Donovan Mitchell, the cavs and they're hosting Paolo, Ben Caro and the Magic coast to coast at 8 Eastern on NBC. And Peacock, man, Do you have a second home in Cleveland?
Reggie Miller
Feels like I'm living.
Dan Patrick
I know, I know.
Reggie Miller
I feel like I have have a residency here in Boston. I feel like we've been in those two cities the most this season. But things will start to change up a little bit. I know we go to okc. We have a trip to Houston coming up. So we're spreading our roots a little bit. Theodore.
Dan Patrick
Okay, but what fan base might be a little tougher on you between Cleveland and Boston?
Reggie Miller
Both are good.
Dan Patrick
Oh, no problem.
Reggie Miller
No problem. Either way, no problem. The only fan base that raises an eyebrow is we know where is one is the Knicks. Yeah, that's the only place. Everywhere else I go, open arms. How you doing?
Dan Patrick
Chicago's okay.
Reggie Miller
Chicago's great. We haven't been to Chicago in. Because they've been so bad. We haven't been to Chicago in like five years. Even when I was with the other network. It's been a while since we've been to Chicago.
Dan Patrick
Well, Chicago always beat you, so they probably. Where are we going with. I just was looking at. Yeah, you did damage to the Knicks and they never forget. And then Spike Lee is always there. But you and Spike are good.
Reggie Miller
We are very good.
Dan Patrick
But it took a while and look,
Reggie Miller
even the Knicks team, all the players I feel I'm good with, I respect. It's the fan base. It's the fans that have an issue.
Dan Patrick
All right. I've been talking about Wembanyama today. Probably too much, but he's 22.
Reggie Miller
Yes.
Dan Patrick
He was asked about being an MVP candidate. He talked about defense, which to me felt like, hey, Joker doesn't play defense the way I do. He talked about scoring. He doesn't score like Luca does. But then Wemby said, but scoring is more than just, you know, offensive end is more than just scoring. Then he talked about head to head with OKC and sga and he said we beat him three times.
Reggie Miller
Four times.
Dan Patrick
Well, he said three times with their full lineup.
Reggie Miller
Yes, he's beat him. Yes. Okay, tell me he is correct, no lies told.
Dan Patrick
But tell me why he won't win the mvp.
Reggie Miller
Because the guy who probably will win it, SGA will probably end up having the best record once again in the NBA, second in scoring. And he is as though he's not as impactful defensively as Wendy. SGA does play defense. He is a two way player. He's in the top 10 in stills he's just like, he's just out there scoring 30 points a game. So I think having the best record will give him the advantage. But I love everything about Victor Wimbanyama. He's reinvented how we approach the game, the All Star game. And he made those guys play hard. He should get a nod for that as well. But I also want to say this too. We've got to see them in the playoffs. I mean you gotta. Okay, we're gonna playoff series. I, I want to see a playoff series. I know the guy that will probably win the MVP and was finals mvp. Okay, let's. I love what the spurs are doing. We're on a collision course, right? And he's putting it out there. He is saying this before the playoffs too. He's calling, subtly calling out names. Hey, I dominated Yalls champs. Hey Jokic, you're a three time mvp. I play both hands and I can score with you guys too. So he's putting the spurs on notice. But I want to see him win a playoff series. It's. Let's slow our roll a little bit.
Dan Patrick
Okay, but, but. So that means he can't win the MVP this year because it's taken for the regular season. The votes are taken there. You want to see him in the postseason therefore next year, if there's success this year, then he sets himself up to be mvp.
Reggie Miller
Absolutely. I think. And again, you know what? He could win MVP this year. Don't get me wrong because There is what, three weeks left in the season. I think we have 10 to. Some teams have 10 to 12 games left and what the spurs have done. Everyone thought, especially the way the Thunder started the season, what 24 and one that they were going to run away with the season. They've made the champs have to work. And think about all the injuries to OKC this year and they are currently in a 12 game winning streak right now. But they've needed every one of those 12 wins.
Caller Tripp
Why?
Reggie Miller
Because the spurs are breathing down their neck, only three games behind. So I give the spurs so much credit of putting pressure on the champs. But having said all that, I got to see how this young team and how Wimby and how Castle and how Dylan Harper. I want to see these guys in the playoff series. They will steamroll in the first round. Now we have a collision course with the Lakers. Are you going with Luca and the experience with LeBron and Army and the Lakers and Deandre Ayton who's been to the finals before or again the spurs, they steamrolled the Lakers this year as well. I want to see that second round matchup and then if they're able to get by the Lakers and OKC handle their business on the other side of the bracket, then it's the matchup we have all been waiting for.
Dan Patrick
Okay, but if the spurs end up with the best record in the west,
Reggie Miller
votes are already being. I think they will have to catch them like by next week. Yeah, I think votes will be in because I have a feeling it will go down to the last game of the year if they catch them. Right. Because they're three ahead with 10 to 10 to play. Yeah, I don't see OKC going in the tank with 10 games to go. So if they catch them, it would be like the last game of the year. I believe the votes for MVP and all the awards will be in. He's certainly going to win defensive player of the year. You could almost make a case you won't being most improved player of the year as well. And yes, he's in line to me. I mean. And you know what? We're not talking about Yokesh too. I mean, he's averaging a triple double as a center and again, I know people kind of want to look at him cross eyed because the no defense or whatever, the dude's averaging a triple double as a center.
Dan Patrick
Oh, Joker's in a different category.
Reggie Miller
Okay. All right. I just don't want people to.
Dan Patrick
No, we take him for granted now.
Reggie Miller
We are. And you know what, we're taking SGA a little bit for granted as well because the new kid on the block is showing us the 22 year old. So. And you know what? I think a lot of these people that actually vote for the mvp, they could have, you know, fatigue, SGA fatigue, Joker fatigue and just, you know, want to spice things up and go with Wimby. I. Let me preface this. I am 100, 100 in Victor's camp. What he has done. He is a breath of fresh air. Thank you for saving the All Star game and making guys play hard. I get it. But I want to see come playoff time too. Now. I like the talking now because he's calling people by names subtly, but he's calling people by names.
Dan Patrick
What changed? I know the Lakers lost last night, but it felt like they figured something out. We've talked about LeBron's role in this, but. And Luca getting like a late push for MVP as well. Deandre Ayton I think recently came out and said, oh, I kind of figured out what I'm supposed to be doing here? Green roll.
Reggie Miller
Get big hands. Ready, Lob dunk. How simple is that, DeAndre? Very good.
Dan Patrick
Yeah.
Reggie Miller
Yeah. And I think roles have been defined, starting with arguably the best player over the last, you know, 23 years in LeBron James. He knew he was going to have to take a back seat and be the third option, which it sounds so weird to say because I don't think you can go back maybe to when he was 10. I doubt even when he was 10, he was the third option on an AE team ever. And he's accepted that role. I mean, case in point, last night he didn't even score in the first half in that Detroit game. He ended up with 12 points. And I think he has accepted being the third fiddle behind Luca, behind Army. And again, we talked about this last week. I'm going to give he didn't play last night, but Marcus Smart and what he's done defensively on that team, he's been a huge anchor in terms of being able defensively to put the Lakers in a position where they are so competitive at that end of the floor and clean up a lot of mistakes. Sometimes that happen from other players. So I think roles have been defined, guys are playing within their abilities and I think that's why the lakers have won nine out of 10 games.
Dan Patrick
Talking to Reggie Miller, he'll be on the call. It's the Cavaliers against Paolo, Ben Caro and the Magic in there. Some trouble going on with Paolo Banchero and coaching staff there in Orlando.
Reggie Miller
Look, you know, there's been reports of him and head coach Jamal Mosley kind of having words with one another. And again, it's been a long season. Before this five game losing streak, they had won seven games in a row. And I think there's been a lot of miscommunication defensively for Orlando because that was their calling card the last two years. If you think about it. They were so good defensively and they go out and they make the huge trade for Desmond Bane to bring in some offensive punch because they needed shooting around Franz Wagner again, who's been injured all season because of a bad ankle. Look, this team has been hurt. Wagner hasn't been back. Powell's been in and out of the lineups and they're battling right now. They're currently eighth, but they're only a game and a half out of being fifth. So yeah, I think there's some miscommunication between head coach Jamal Mosley and and Paulow. But this is a scary team. If they can get things right if they can get Vog Franz Vogner back healthy and whole. Desmond Bane has been playing great as of late. Sugs has been hurt a little bit, Suggs has been hurt a little bit. So there's some injuries for Orlando that they need to kind of get healthy and whole first as they head into the playoffs.
Dan Patrick
The freshman in college basketball, he got four or five guys that feel like they're going right to the end, like maybe tank worthy. Yeah, but the biggest difference in what you, you know, with Debanza and a Cup and Peterson like that boozer, the difference of, okay, that's college to the NBA. What changes right as you get into the league?
Reggie Miller
The speed of the game. I'll put it to you like this. In college you feel like it's a 400 meter race. You run, you get out the gates kind of quick and you have your moments. But it's a challenging race. In the NBA It's a 200 meter, 100 meter race every single game. And in college basketball you may be going against a five star, one or two five star, four star players. Every game in the NBA everyone won in high school and college and was a five star athlete. And the size of the guys, you forget how tall and long the NBA players are versus college. So it's a sprint, it's much more physical. And this to me, this draft class has all of that. Caleb Wilson, Wilson from who didn't even play down the stretch for North Carolina has the length and the size to be a great NBA prospect. You talked about AJ Peterson from everything I've seen in Kansas and from his workouts, can score the basketball with the best, best of them. Darius Acuff, the guard from Arkansas, I would love to see him in an NBA type setting. So it's going to be an interesting draft and where some of these teams, like my beloved Pacers, Sacramento, Brooklyn, Washington, like who gets that top pick, Utah. It's going to be interesting to see where some of these players fall.
Dan Patrick
If you're Brooklyn, why wouldn't you bring in Mac McClung?
Reggie Miller
Why not?
Dan Patrick
I mean like nobody cares about the Nets, nobody's going to the games. At least you get a guy who's torching the G league and at least he's entertaining to watch.
Reggie Miller
Not only entertaining, but what a three or four time dunk champion. There's name recognition to that. And again, when you're playing in the shadow of the Knicks, why not have a guy like wait, is it Matt McClung? Didn't he win the Dunk. I remember some of those dunks. Hey, I mean he, he could sell tickets for you to me. I think it would be a no brainer. You're. You're in the tank anyways. You're losing every single game. Why not take a flyer and give this young kid an opportunity to get some NBA minutes?
Dan Patrick
But is he that bad of a defensive player?
Reggie Miller
Well, if you're scoring 42 in the G league, you must be doing something right. Right.
Dan Patrick
I don't understand that. That. Okay, you're really bad at defense, but you're really good at offense.
Reggie Miller
Well, there was a guy that Doc Rivers just cut and Cam Thomas, I know. Who was instant office. He was instant offense when he was with Brooklyn. Maybe they think it's the same type of project, but Cam had different issues. Cam Thomas. I don't know why you just wouldn't bring in Matt McClung and give him a shot and give him minutes.
Dan Patrick
Who's the fastest guy you ever saw in the NBA?
Reggie Miller
There's a host of them. Rocket Rod Foster, who I played with at ucla, had a small stint in the. In the NBA. Wow.
Dan Patrick
Was Iverson quicker than he was faster?
Caller Bill
Probably.
Reggie Miller
No, but AI was pretty fast as well. From coast to coast. AI. Yeah, AI with Mugsy Vogues. He would put pressure on you too at that small frame. From coast to coast with the basketball.
Dan Patrick
J kid.
Reggie Miller
Very fast. Yes. J. Kidd. And He's. He's taller. Six four, six three six four.
Dan Patrick
I'd be curious. You guys don't run the 40?
Reggie Miller
No. This is not like the NFL combine where the 40 matters. No, we don't. I think they do now, Maybe.
Dan Patrick
Well, the 40 doesn't matter. You're more likely to run 40 in the NBA than you are in the NFL.
Reggie Miller
Yes, you are. Yes. But ours is ours. In the NBA it's more obviously, you know, quick movement. How efficient can you get from spot A to spot B? And there's so much more backpedaling side to side. I mean there's. There's so many things in the NBA that are totally different from baseball, football and some of these other sports.
Dan Patrick
Next time I have the commissioner on, I gotta tell him it's time to bring the red, white and blue ball to the NBA. It's about entertainment. It looks great. Could you. Why?
Reggie Miller
Because that was part of the gimmick of the aba. That's what you took the three point
Dan Patrick
shot from the aba.
Reggie Miller
I know, but that's what made it special. That there is no way they will bring back. It would be great.
Dan Patrick
Okay, how about one week when you go into a old ABA city?
Reggie Miller
Oh, that would be nice. So that would be San Antonio, obviously. Indiana, Denver.
Dan Patrick
I believe that the Nets.
Reggie Miller
Yeah. Well, they were the New Jersey Nets then, right? Was that the. They were New York. Maybe the Nets.
Dan Patrick
Okay, maybe you have ABA week.
Reggie Miller
You have them on. You ask them about that because then your next question is going to be. Because I've been hearing this being floated out about a four point play. What do you, what's your thoughts on a four point shot?
Dan Patrick
No, I don't want more people taking deeper shots. I'm trying to. I'd get rid of the line. I'd love to have one week where you don't have the three point line. How about.
Reggie Miller
Yeah, well, you're, you're talking to a guy who lived behind the three point line. I'm not on board maybe with.
Dan Patrick
Okay, all right, all right. But would you, would you be okay with the ABA ball?
Reggie Miller
I would love the ABA ball just because I have again, being an adopted Hoosier and we know what the ABA Pacers meant for the state and the city of Indiana. Mel Daniels, Roger Brown, Bob Nedalecki, they would be very proud of this conversation right now and love it.
Dan Patrick
All right, play nice in Cleveland. Thanks. That's Reggie Aloysius Miller Jr. III. He'll be on the call with Noah Eagle tonight at 8 Eastern on NBC. And Peacock. All right, last call for phone calls, what's in store tomorrow and what we learned after this.
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It feels like we're going round in circles. I'm going to ask that man for directions. Hi there. We're trying to get to the state fairgrounds.
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Dan Patrick
Nah, I'm just kidding.
T Mobile Advertiser
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Caller
How is their signal out here?
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Dan Patrick
They accept Discover at Renaissance fairs?
Jennifer (The Ticket Lady)
Yeah, they do here. Discover is accepted at the places I love to shop. Get it with the times.
Dan Patrick
With the times.
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Dan Patrick
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Caller Tripp
Hey, good morning, Dan. Always good to speak with y' all at a comment about the NBA and a couple of wedding suggestions. Why couldn't they use the ball during the in game in season tournament? They love to sell merchandise. And then as far as your, your daughter's wedding, what I used to do when I got anxiety, pinch your wrist.
Todd
It'll.
Caller Tripp
It'll calm you down and keep you from it kind of helps control your emotions when you're speaking. And then lastly, the security issue with
Todd
it with the shot collar.
Dan Patrick
I don't think you need that, but
Caller Tripp
I would love to watch you have one on Fritzi on the Peacock show for the rest of the year.
Dan Patrick
I wouldn't be able to do that. HR wouldn't let me do that. Put a shot collar on Todd.
Caller Norm
Yeah. If I have to sign a couple of waivers or something, at least allow that.
Dan Patrick
Yeah, yeah, but we wouldn't do that. It wouldn't help.
Caller Norm
But I do feel relieved that that's not something you're willing to pursue.
Dan Patrick
Thank you, Todd. Chris in Pennsylvania. Hi, Chris. What's on your mind today? Hey.
Todd
Hey, Dan. Long time. Several time. In regards to the Todd cast, I've been taking Spanish for like five years now, and one of the things our teachers suggest to us is to listen to podcasts or films or, you know, movies in Spanish. And it helps us, you know, it enriches us. But I, I'd like to caution my amigos, espado Avlantes to be wary of the Todd cast because it is muy rapido. It's, it's very difficult to keep up with all that stuff. And, and regarding attaching things to Todd, I was wondering maybe if you guys would think about putting a whoop bracelet on Todd during the Todd Cast.
Dan Patrick
No, Todd gets to do whatever he wants to do on his Todd castle. I. I don't want to be there. Like, I'll listen to it. There are times when I have to tell him, you know, be careful with that. You know, you don't want to be criticized. Be careful if you're going to criticize somebody else who's in the room here. Yes, Todd, but we don't have to
Caller Norm
resort to violence, muzzles or electric shock treatment. That's getting a little. You know, I do need to slow down my speech, but if that's the one of the worst things you could say about what we're trying to do with the podcast, then I can live with that.
Dan Patrick
Darius Acuff, according to Shams, has signed a shoe deal with Reed Reebok, the Arkansas freshman. He's got a shoe deal while still in college. Yeah.
Paulie Fusco
Paul, did Cooper Flag have New Balance when he was at Duke? I think. Right.
Dan Patrick
Well, this Shams report says he'd be the first to have a shoe deal while in college.
Paulie Fusco
I thought Cooper Flag had New Balance.
Dan Patrick
I thought he did, too.
Paulie Fusco
Double check.
Marvin
Yeah, Marv, I think it's a signature shoe.
Dan Patrick
Oh, so Acuff has a signature shoe.
Marvin
Correct.
Dan Patrick
Okay. Yes, Todd.
Caller Norm
So what is John Cal party going to call? Press cards. So many shoe deals I get from my guys when I coach them. See what. How much money they make.
Dan Patrick
Norm in Mississippi. Hi, Norm. What's on your mind today?
Todd
I got some homework from Marvin to look up some college basketball players in the college. Bill Russell, Bill Bradley, Gail Goodrich, Ron Bottom. Also the NBA when they started their one on one tournament, Cassie Russell won it back to back.
Dan Patrick
Yeah. But no, in fairness to Marvin, and thanks for the phone call. This is about the players that he has seen while he's been alive. He knows who Bill Russell and Bill Bradley are. But he said Anthony Davis was the best center that he has seen in his lifetime in college. Right?
Marvin
Correct.
Dan Patrick
Okay.
Marvin
And I want to take that back. Tim Duncan. Forgive me, I was there for Tim Duncan when I was about 12 or 13 years old. He was easily the best player in college.
Dan Patrick
I don't know if everybody saw that because it was at Wake Forest. And I don't know. I mean, we can look at what happened to Tim.
Marvin
Well, no, no, no.
Dan Patrick
I would say Anthony Davis was more impactful his one year than Tim was during his career.
Marvin
You're correct. But that's kind of revisionist history because people were ready for Tim Duncan. The Celtics were. The Celtics thought they were getting Tim Duncan.
Dan Patrick
Yeah.
Marvin
So I don't want to act like, oh, man, no one knew Tim Duncan was going to be a thing that entire season. Rick Patino and those guys are like, we got Tim Duncan ready.
Dan Patrick
Aiden in Utah. Hi, Aiden. What's on your mind?
Mel Kuiper
Hey, dp. Good morning. Hey, yeah, I wanted to talk.
Todd
We got.
Mel Kuiper
It's a topic that, you know, comes up pretty often on the show, but top 10 is going to be pretty crowded. Top 10, all NBA, all time. Because we've got three players currently who I think are undisputed top 10, right? We got LeBron, Stephen Jokic. If Wendy and SGA continue on the trajectory that they're on, I don't see how they don't end up top 10 all the time.
Todd
So.
Dan Patrick
Yeah, but you can't. I mean, it's so far to go. I mean, they just to get up to Durant and Steph and LeBron. I mean, you didn't include Durant in there, but they're on a great trajectory, that's for sure. This day in sports history, Paulie, this
Paulie Fusco
is always a good one. 1975, Muhammad Ali knocked out Chuck Wepner in the 15th round to retain the world heavyweight title, and he was named the Bayonne Bleeder. And supposedly Sylvester Stallone was in the crowd and based the movie Rocky off that fight.
Dan Patrick
The amazing part is that it lasted 15 rounds because Chuck Wepner was not a great fighter. He took a lot of abuse, but he went 15 rounds with Ali. Let's go around the room, see if we learned anything on the program. Todd, you learn anything today?
Todd
I did.
Caller Norm
Mark in Nebraska hates Iowa because his dad went to Iowa State and Mark had an ex girlfriend who went to Iowa.
Dan Patrick
Seaton Learn anything today?
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Marvin
Marvin, Opening day is tomorrow.
Dan Patrick
Tomorrow night, Paul, don't face UConn, the women's team. Yeah, Todd, what did I learn today?
Caller Norm
Clark Kellogg, not a big memorabilia guy, and his wife discourages him from collecting too much stuff.
Dan Patrick
Mel Kuiper, draft expert, tomorrow. Have a great day, everybody.
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Dan Patrick
This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.
Date: March 24, 2026
Host: Dan Patrick
Guest: Reggie Miller
Podcast Network: iHeartPodcasts / Dan Patrick Podcast Network
This episode of The Dan Patrick Show is a classic blend of incisive NBA talk, open phone lines, and some playful banter—headlined by an in-depth discussion about Victor Wembanyama’s MVP candidacy. Dan and the crew break down the NBA playoff picture, the ever-shifting MVP race, and the unique qualities Wembanyama brings to the league. NBA legend Reggie Miller joins to share his views on Wemby, SGA, the evolution of the game, rookie transitions, and more. The show also features rich audience interaction and lighthearted takes on sports (and podcasting itself).
Timestamps: 02:34 to 08:47
“Defense is 50% of the game, and that is undervalued so far in the MVP race because I believe I'm the most impactful player defensively in the league...” (04:43)
Dan analyzes how Wemby is not just making his case, he’s also drawing contrasts—“That's a shot at Joker... at SGA... at Luca...” (05:18)
“It's almost like we're saying to Wemby and the Spurs, like, wait a minute, you guys are a little ahead of schedule. Like, what are you doing?” (06:49)
The crew reflects on how MVP voting is influenced by story and timing.
Timestamps: 08:47 to 16:25
Timestamps: 11:13 to 16:33
“I want to have the team before I get the quarterback. A lot of teams get the quarterback and then try to build. And I think that's backwards...” (11:48)
“We get caught up in the aesthetic sometimes… I want to know, can you play?” (15:31)
Timestamps: 21:11 to 39:08
“He talked about defense… a shot at Joker… head to head with OKC… a shot at SGA…” (22:49)
“He is correct, no lies told.” (23:18)
Reggie, however, picks SGA as favorite:
“SGA will probably end up having the best record… he is as though he's not as impactful defensively as Wendy. SGA does play defense. He is a two way player. He's in the top 10 in steals…” (23:28) “I love everything about Victor Wimbanyama… He’s reinvented how we approach the game, the All Star game. And he made those guys play hard.” (23:46)
“I want to see him win a playoff series. Let's slow our roll a little bit.” (24:50) Reggie believes real MVP stature is earned in postseason performance.
“We’re taking SGA a little bit for granted… the new kid on the block is showing us the 22-year-old… fatigue… and just want to spice things up and go with Wimby.” (28:01/28:49)
“LeBron… knew he was going to have to take a back seat and be the third option, which it sounds so weird to say… but he's accepted that role.” (29:22) “Marcus Smart… defensively… has been a huge anchor.” (29:30)
“Get big hands. Ready, Lob dunk. How simple is that, DeAndre?” (29:12)
“Reports of him (Banchero) and coach Jamal Mosley having words… there’s been a lot of miscommunication defensively…” (30:54) “If they can get Franz Wagner back healthy… this is a scary team.” (31:50)
“In college you feel like it's a 400 meter race… In the NBA, it's a 200 meter, 100 meter race every single game…” (32:50)
“Everyone won in high school and college and was a five star athlete… the size of the guys… much more physical.” (33:30)
“What, a three or four time dunk champion… Name recognition… if you’re losing every single game, why not take a flyer and give this young kid an opportunity?” (34:44)
Timestamps: 43:44 to 49:56
“I’d like to caution my amigos... to be wary of the Todd cast because it is muy rapido. It’s very difficult to keep up with…” (44:42)
“We love news stories. Don’t let anybody kid you in the media. …you get that guy to talk about. Luca making a little bit of a surge here as well.” (02:34)
“Defense is 50% of the game, and that is undervalued so far in the MVP race because I believe I'm the most impactful player defensively in the league.” (04:43)
“SGA will probably end up having the best record once again in the NBA… he's not as impactful defensively as Wendy. SGA does play defense. He is a two way player…” (23:28) “I want to see him win a playoff series. …Let’s slow our roll a little bit.” (24:50)
Dan: “Next time I have the commissioner on, I gotta tell him it's time to bring the red, white and blue ball to the NBA... it's about entertainment.” (37:16)
In this episode, Dan Patrick and the team, with help from Reggie Miller, dissect Victor Wembanyama’s legitimate MVP case, juxtaposing him with SGA, Jokic, and Luka, and pondering the biases that shape NBA awards voting. Miller underscores the need to see playoff success before crowning Wemby, even as he celebrates the French phenom’s transformational impact on the game. The show features passionate, informed contributions from callers, a deep dive into NBA narratives old and new, and playful debate about how the league could enliven its entertainment value.