The Dan Patrick Show — Best of March 12, 2026

Overview

This episode of "The Dan Patrick Show" is a lively mix of sports analysis, humor, and candid conversation. Dan Patrick and his crew dive into two major topics: Bam Adebayo’s controversial 83-point NBA game and its effect on Kobe Bryant’s legacy, and the convoluted NFL saga involving Max Crosby, Trey Hendrickson, and the Baltimore Ravens. They’re joined by recurrent guest analyst Ross Tucker for insights and plenty of friendly banter.

Main Discussion: Bam Adebayo’s 83-Point Game & NBA Scoring (02:25–14:20)

Legacy and Controversy

• Dan Patrick opens with a spirited debate about the backlash over Bam Adebayo’s 83-point performance, which broke Kobe Bryant’s 81-point record but fell short of Wilt Chamberlain’s mythical 100.

  • "We hold on for dear life to legacies. ... The outpouring of support and love that, hey, Kobe deserves better than this, that Bam should have stopped and maybe, you know, paid tribute to one of his idols." (Dan Patrick, 02:25)

• Key Criticisms: Some respected basketball voices (like Robert Horry) were upset by what they saw as "unnatural" stat-padding in the fourth quarter — drawing intentional fouls and engineering plays to boost Bam’s point total.

  • "They were bothered by the esthetics of how the record was set or broken. It’s hard to play defense in the NBA now. ... Bam Adebayo took advantage of that. He took advantage of a bad Wizards team. But if you’re putting up at least 60 points at the end of three quarters, I have to acknowledge you had an incredible night." (Dan Patrick, 04:25)

• Comparisons to History: The crew points out that legendary scoring feats, like Wilt’s 100, came against weak teams and were stat-padded, too. Kobe’s legendary 81 came against a non-contender Raptors squad.

  • "No one was there when Wilt did this... Wilt was chasing 100 points that night. I know the game was already out of hand. Now it was about Wilt getting 100 points." (Dan Patrick, 03:25)
  • "If LeBron had scored 81 and Bam Adebayo scored 83, I don’t think people would have nearly the problem, because LeBron’s not beloved. Kobe is beloved." (Dan Patrick, 09:49)

The Changing Game: NBA Scoring Explodes

• Fast-Paced Era: Dan highlights how NBA scoring has soared; the average team now scores 115 PPG, up from under 95 in 2000. Teams are jacking up 37 threes a game (vs. 14 in 2000), and even 130 points sometimes isn't enough to win.

  • "In 2000, teams averaged just a little under 95 points per game. In 2026, teams are averaging 115 points per game." (Dan Patrick, 06:34)
  • "25 games this season, teams scored 130 and lost." (Dan Patrick, 07:41)

• Three-Point Revolution: Steph Curry credited as the accelerant for this trend.

  • "It all goes back to Steph Curry. ... In 2013, teams attempted 21 threes per game. Four years later, it was 32." (Paulie, 08:57)

The Kobe Factor

• The crew marvels at how much the backlash is about love for Kobe Bryant’s legacy—especially since Bam’s game was "only" the second-highest ever, not breaking Wilt’s record. Some speculate Kobe would have told Bam to "go for it."

  • "If Kobe were alive and able to ask that question, what would you have wanted him to do? I’m going to guess Kobe would probably say go for it, knowing Kobe’s mentality." (Dan Patrick, 10:08)
  • "Since Kobe doesn’t play anymore, I forgot how Kobe stands are. … Oh, they were mad." (Ross Tucker, 14:12)

• Free Throw Critique: A network showed that if you remove free throws, Bam’s night wouldn’t even crack the top 70 scoring games: "Congratulations, Bam. You’re the second highest scoring game in NBA history." (Dan Patrick, 13:09)

NFL Roundtable: Max Crosby, Ravens, and Free Agency Drama (19:35–33:29)

Ross Tucker’s Insider Perspective

• Ross Tucker, a frequent guest and former NFL player, joins to comment on the shady Max Crosby-Ravens trade breakdown.

  • [19:35] Dan Patrick: "Let's bring in Ross Tucker, our good buddy. Ross, what do you make of this situation?"

• Ross’s Story: Ross shares his own tale of failing a team physical—and how teams don’t have to be transparent about their decisions.

  • "You failed your physical. We’re going to take you back to the airport. ... That was it. Never even made it to [the Falcons] facility." (Ross Tucker, 21:01)
  • "That’s an amazing question. ... And the answer is no, because I called the Falcons trainer ... They don’t have to tell you." (Ross Tucker, 22:54)

• Ravens’ Buyer’s Remorse? Dan speculates that Baltimore may have gotten cold feet after seeing the costs—two first-rounders and a big contract extension.

  • "It felt like maybe the reality set in... Do we need to do this?" (Dan Patrick, 23:51)
  • "What most people believe happened." (Ross Tucker, 24:32)

• The Cover Story: The Ravens claimed they planned to pair Crosby with Trey Hendrickson, but the timing is suspect.

  • "My initial reaction was, why don’t we check the phone records? ... The Ravens are one step ahead of me and everybody else by saying, ‘No, we were trying to get them both.’" (Ross Tucker, 24:32)

• Ross’s Verdict: "I’d say it’s 50-50 whether Crosby plays for the Raiders or not this year. ... If I had to bet, he still goes somewhere else for a little bit less than what the Ravens offered." (Ross Tucker, 26:27)

Kyler Murray to Minnesota?

• Ross discusses the Vikings’ pursuit of Kyler Murray:

  • "It might not work for the same reason it’s never totally worked with Kyler Murray, and that’s because of his incredible inconsistency." (Ross Tucker, 28:02)

• The buzz: Murray is pitching a one-year audition to multiple teams via Zoom—unprecedented in NFL circles.

• Work Ethic Red Flag: Ross brings up Murray’s infamous "homework clause" and how rare it is for an NFL team to question a quarterback’s preparation.

  • "The day the Cardinals front office said ‘let’s give him this massive deal, but we gotta make sure he’s preparing ... let's put something in there where he has to do four hours of homework,’ that's the exact second where you don’t give him the hundred million dollars." (Ross Tucker, 30:19)

Sports and Pop Culture Tidbits (39:18–51:49)

World Baseball Classic, NCAA March Madness, and More

• World Baseball Classic: Dan and the crew comment on how few players on Italy’s team are actually Italian-born (just 3 out of 30), poking fun at team eligibility rules and their own heritage via 23andMe results.

  • "Of Team Italy, three born in Italy, 24 from the USA, two from Venezuela, one from Canada." (Dan Patrick, 39:18)

• NCAA Notes: Brief mention of Bobby Hurley’s firing at Arizona State, coaching connections (the Hurleys), and Indiana’s unexpected status as a "football school."

NFL: Expanding to Thanksgiving Eve?

• Rumors swirl about the NFL adding a Wednesday Night Football game before Thanksgiving, squeezing out NBA programming and fueling debate about "too much football."

  • "Wasn't there something to be said, remember the days ... your favorite TV show is on ... there’s something that builds up ... as opposed to just having it every day? Wouldn’t that take away some of the...?" (Ross Tucker, 48:52)

• Dan on NFL Oversaturation: "I think we’re getting to an oversaturating point. ... I don’t think we need the NFL every single day." (Dan Patrick, 49:10)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On legacy obsession:
  • "We hold on for dear life to legacies." (Dan Patrick, 02:25)
• On Kobe fans’ outrage:
  • "Since Kobe doesn’t play anymore, I forgot how Kobe stands are. And they were out in... Oh, they were mad." (Ross Tucker, 14:12)
• On NFL trades and honesty:
  • "My initial reaction was, why don’t we go ahead and check the phone records?" (Ross Tucker, 24:32)
• On football’s business side:
  • "Is that totally bogus or hey, is this just business? And they realized this was a better decision and business is business. I think reasonable minds can disagree on that." (Ross Tucker, 25:50)
• On Kyler Murray’s work ethic:
  • "People don’t change that much. People kind of are what they are." (Ross Tucker, 31:06)
• Joking about being bumped for a prettier guest:
  • "Diana is more attractive than you. We want to go with her. And that’s the part that really hurt me." (Ross Tucker, 32:46)

Segment Timestamps

• 02:25 – 14:20: Bam Adebayo 83 points, NBA scoring, and Kobe debate
• 19:35 – 33:29: Full Ross Tucker interview: NFL physicals, Crosby/Hendrickson trade, Kyler Murray
• 39:18 – 43:39: Baseball Classic funny stats, NCAA coaching carousel, Indiana basketball hot take
• 47:12 – 51:49: NFL Thanksgiving eve game rumors, oversaturation debate, youth sports viewing habits

Summary

Dan Patrick and his crew offer spirited, nuanced takes on the biggest stories in sports—blending stats, history, and humor. This episode is essential listening if you care about sports legacies (especially basketball), inside stories from NFL free agency, and the evolving landscape of sports fandom in the age of fantasy and gambling. Ross Tucker's stories and self-deprecating humor put the NFL business in perspective, while the Danettes' banter keeps it entertaining throughout.