What's Wright - Knicks FINALS BOUND after Cavaliers sweep + Addressing Stephen A. Smith

Summary

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Podcast Summary

Podcast: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – What’s Wright
Episode Title: Knicks FINALS BOUND after Cavaliers sweep + Addressing Stephen A. Smith
Date: May 26, 2026
Host: Nick Wright (with Damanze and Daniel Cormier appearances)
Main Theme: The New York Knicks’ remarkable run to the NBA Finals, a critical look at the Cleveland Cavaliers’ collapse and future, and a detailed, impassioned discussion regarding the media “beef” between Nick Wright and Stephen A. Smith.

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Episode Overview

This episode centers on the New York Knicks’ dominant and historic playoff march to the NBA Finals after sweeping the Cleveland Cavaliers. Nick Wright dissects the Knicks’ unprecedented playoff performance, reflects on their tortured franchise history, and discusses what their resurgence means for fans. The podcast then pivots to the Cavaliers’ disappointing end, considering their next steps amidst speculation of major roster and coaching changes. Finally, Nick addresses his ongoing public spat with Stephen A. Smith, responding point-by-point to Smith’s recent comments and calling for transparency in sports media.

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Knicks’ Finals Run: A Statistical and Emotional Breakdown

(Main segment: 06:22 – 43:02)

Unprecedented Playoff Dominance

• Nick opens with statistical context, establishing the Knicks’ recent 11-game stretch as the “most dominant month of basketball in NBA history.”
• Quote:

  “No team in the history of professional basketball... has ever romped through their competition the way the Knicks have romped through these playoffs.” (Nick Wright, 07:30)

• He methodically lists record after record the Knicks now hold for lopsided playoff victories and margins.
• He underlines how the Knicks’ average margin of victory in elimination games was lowered to 39 after beating Cleveland by 37 points.
• Recap of the Knicks’ blowouts includes:
  • Dominance over Atlanta Hawks (ending series with a 51-point elimination win)
  • Cruising past the Sixers (+39, +6, +14, +30)
  • Coming back from 22 down vs. Cleveland and sweeping the Cavs, culminating in a 37-point elimination win.

What Sparked the Knicks' Transformation?

• Nick dismisses simple explanations; credits can be spread, emphasizing the team’s “very good” regular season that hid true potential due to two rough bad stretches.
• Quote:

  "Being a very good team and putting together a month consecutive of dog walking playoff opponents... We have never had a team go through a postseason just beating the shit out of their opponent every single game." (Nick Wright, 13:01)

Individual and Organizational Credit

• Jalen Brunson:
  • “Flatly an A list superstar” and “definitional playoff riser.”
  • Regular season stats jump from 26 and 7 to 29 and 7 in playoffs – “as clutch as any player in the league.”
  • Since Brunson joined (2022), the Knicks have won a series every year, improving annually to now reach the Finals.
• Carl Anthony Towns:
  • Embraced a new role, averaging 17 points, 10+ rebounds, 6 assists—“prime hub” of offense.
• Mikal Bridges & OG Anunoby:
  • Bridges found his groove mid-series; OG returned from injury and has been "nails."
• Josh Hart & Coach Mike Brown:
  • “Ultimate glue guy,”
  • Mike Brown has reinvented himself, bringing “Golden State Warriors-esque ball movement to the Knicks.”
  • Notable Quote on Brown:

    “He has a chance to go down in absolute history in New York City.” (Nick Wright, 23:01)

• Front Office:
  • Leon Rose and “Worldwide Wes” made a bold coaching change after a conference finals run (firing Tom Thibodeau), leading to the Mike Brown era.

Knicks’ Painful History and What This Means for Fans

Segment: 27:02 – 43:02

• Nick retells, in detail, the saga of Knicks fan anguish: repeated playoff heartbreak in the ‘90s, futile years post-2000, parade of failed coaches, fleeting hope with Carmelo Anthony, and organizational dysfunction.
• Quote:

  “Knicks fans, you deserve it. And I couldn’t be happier for you.” (Nick Wright, 42:45)

• He shares a personal story: his brief childhood Knicks fandom, his memories of ‘90s playoff heartbreaks and pivotal moments (Patrick Ewing’s missed finger roll, John Starks’ infamous game), providing context for fans’ current joy.

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Cleveland Cavaliers’ Collapse & Future

(Main segment: 46:13 – 55:00)

Organizational Fork in the Road

• Despite previous expectations Cleveland would “blow it up” with an early exit, Nick says, “everything is on the table.”
• He scrutinizes fit issues with Harden, Mobley, and Allen; considers the possibility of trading Donovan Mitchell (“unlikely to get moved, but… on the table”).
• Giannis Trade Speculation:
  • Nick ponders packaging Mobley for Giannis if available, emphasizing Mobley’s age and value.
• James Harden Critique:
  • Regular season: 24p/8a per game; playoffs: notable drop-off, “ominous” for his future.
  • Quote:

    “He was 38% from the field with four and a half turnovers a game in round two.” (Nick Wright, 49:34)

  • If LeBron returns to Cleveland, Harden would likely be moved for fit/salary reasons.
• Coaching Situations:
  • Criticism of Kenny Atkinson’s playoff comments; speculation that the next coach could influence LeBron’s decision.
  • If Jason Kidd (with whom LeBron has a positive relationship) is hired, “my LeBron to Cleveland radar will be perked up a bit.”
• The Most Expensive Team:
  • Notably, Cleveland is the “most expensive team in the history of the NBA” (second apron team).
  • Nick floats that “running it back with a new coach” could be the most likely route if major deals don’t materialize.

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Media Beef: Nick Wright vs. Stephen A. Smith

(Main segment: 56:51 – 78:26)

Background

• The dispute started when Nick critiqued Stephen A.'s veiled references and “mob boss” media tactics regarding Jaylen Brown.
• Stephen A. responded indirectly, calling Nick out without naming him, suggesting he “should be ashamed of himself” and referencing Nick’s “crew.”
  • Clip/Quote (Stephen A. via Nick):

    “… Once you figure out who I’m talking about, you can gauge his motives. He should be ashamed of himself, but I’ll leave it alone and let him hang out with his crew. And he knows that I know who they are.” (~58:40)

Nick’s Direct Response

• Nick clarifies his remarks, standing firmly behind his criticism, and emphasizes it was a clear analogy, not a literal accusation.
• He pushes back on Stephen A.’s implied accusations of backchannel conspiracy, clarifying the origins of his opinions and insisting on transparency.
  • Quote:

    “I do not know better and I am not ashamed of myself. What I said I stand by 100%.” (Nick Wright, 64:52)

  • He details a friendly card game where he interacted with Stephen A. briefly, speculating Smith’s comments may reference their overlapping social circles.
• Offers three possible explanations for Stephen A.’s conduct (fabrication, bad sourcing, or misspeaking), and explicitly requests:
  • “I would like an apology or a retraction or a clarification, and I’m going to stick to that request.” (74:08)
• Asserts his honesty and forthrightness as a hallmark of his career, vowing not to let “veiled threats” go unchecked.

Jalen Brown’s Input

• The episode plays a clip of Jaylen Brown, who jokes about Stephen A. as an “El Chapo” figure in the media.
  • Quote (Jaylen Brown):

    “Stephen A too El Chapo. You running the media cartel, my boy. Come on, man.” (78:09)

• Nick recognizes that others find Stephen A's approach similarly off-putting.

Final Remarks

• Nick apologizes to colleagues caught in the crossfire, but stresses the importance of media members calling out harmful tactics—even if it makes things uncomfortable.
• He reiterates his openness, encourages higher standards in sports media, and signs off—with no expectation that a clarification will be forthcoming, but resolute in his position.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “No team in the history of professional basketball… has ever romped through their competition the way the Knicks have romped through these playoffs.”
  — Nick Wright, 07:30

• “Being a very good team and putting together a month consecutive of dog walking playoff opponents… the Shaq-Kobe Lakers never did, the LeBron-Wade Heat never did, the KD-Steph Warriors never did.”
  — Nick Wright, 13:01

• “Knicks fans, you deserve it. And I couldn’t be happier for you.”
  — Nick Wright, 42:45

• “He was 38% from the field with four and a half turnovers a game… and is on a $42 million player option next year.”
  — Nick Wright on James Harden, 49:34

• “I do not know better and I am not ashamed of myself. What I said I stand by 100%.”
  — Nick Wright, 64:52

• “Stephen A too El Chapo. You running the media cartel, my boy.”
  — Jaylen Brown, 78:09 (via clip played by Nick)

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Key Timestamps

• Knicks’ Historic Run Analysis: 06:22 – 27:02
• Knicks’ Franchise History & Fan Perspective: 27:02 – 43:02
• Cleveland Cavaliers’ Collapse and Offseason Decisions: 46:13 – 55:00
• Nick Wright vs. Stephen A. Smith: 56:51 – 78:26
  • Wright’s original critique: ~57:03
  • Stephen A. response: ~58:40
  • Nick’s direct rebuttal: 64:52 – 79:19
  • Jaylen Brown’s media cartel joke: 78:09

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Tone and Delivery

Nick Wright is animated, irreverent, deeply knowledgeable, and emotionally invested—especially when recounting Knicks history and his childhood fandom. He brings statistical rigor, personal storytelling, and incisive media criticism, toggling between humor and sincerity throughout. The show has the pace and energy of live radio, packed with memorable lines and detailed breakdowns.

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This summary covers the major themes and narratives of the episode with all the key personalities, quotes, and discussions. Those who haven’t listened will gain a complete understanding of the Knicks’ historic playoff run, the state-of-the-Cavs, and the ongoing sports media debate swirling around Nick Wright and Stephen A. Smith.

Transcript

[Nick Wright]

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[Nick Wright]

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[Daniel Cormier]

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[Nick Wright]

Welcome in what Drive with Nick Ride episode 459. This episode of what Driving the Grind is presented to you by Boost Mobile. It is Sports Emmys day, so a lot on my mind over the Next, you know, 10ish hours as I will be a presenter at tonight's Sports Emmys. And maybe, hopefully prayerfully, even though I'm not really the prayerful type, I could be a recipient at tonight's Sports Emmys. I know it's not cool to admit you care, but I care an immense amount. So that's going on tonight I also find myself some to my doing, my own doing and some due to a just vivid and reckless imagination of a colleague embroiled in a far more convoluted and far more mysterious sports media beef than I could have ever expected. Little did I know that there's a whole cabal of people discussing the takes I should have and who I should go after and how I should time and word those attacks. I thought I just text Damanze and Paul and Daniel and everybody in the morning like, hey, I think I'm going to do this. I didn't know there was a whole, you know, we talk on first things first Damonze about the very mysterious committee that does the NFL tears. Little did I know there was a separate committee for you know who the the way to guide my ever impactful and influential media opinions to try to take people down a peg. But we will get to all of that. A ton to do today and you look great demand. I can tell hair must be growing in but not growing in full enough yet to where it needs to stay. Stay under wraps until you feel more comfortable. I like that approach. I respect it. Let's get straight to voicemail. Brought to you by Boost Mobile. The first story we're breaking this news I we have broke. We're breaking news. Our great producer Matt Ford claims he was cut in line by Kyler Murray at the Grove to get pancakes. And Matt wanted that in the story. He wanted people to know that Kyler Murray's a line cutter. And you know, I with some of them too. I mean so listen Matt, the this is sourced on the record reporting and Matt wanted it in the show. So it's in the show. Tennis corner French Open is underway. Sadly, of course, though no Alcaraz. And in one of the greatest indie races of all time, Felix Rosenquist wins the Indy 500. It was a great race here was not great demand. We had eight drivers on the show Thursday. We then had two more drivers that Jamie Little, our NASCAR expert, told us who weren't on the show but told us she thought could win. So I was like, you know what? This is probably this is a little bit of, you know, playing all the numbers on the roulette wheel. But why don't I just put a little taste with my friends at Hard Rock on every driver we met, every driver we talked to be with. The idea being that today on the show I knew Tuesday after the Indy 500 we were gonna have the winner in studio. I was like, so, you know, maybe I win a little. Maybe I lose a little, but whoever comes on, I'd be able to be like, hey, look, I believed in you. I bet on you. Felix Rosenquist was not one of the drivers we had on. He was not one of the drivers that Jamie Little suggested. So what should have just been a small loser, small winner turned into an old oh for 10 on the Indy 500.

[Damanze]

Lost a little taste there. Lost a little taste there.

[Nick Wright]

The old oh 0 for 10 tickets. Hate to see it, but, you know, such is life as. As is might be the theme of today's show. This is the life I have chosen. Okay. More importantly, however, The New York Knicks for the first time this century, for the first time since. My goodness, it the first year of. Was. Was Clinton president. Was it first year of w. For the first time since 1999, the New York Knicks are going to the finals. Damanze, take it away.

[Damanze]

Yeah. So the Knicks steamrolled the Cavs in Game 4. Cavs had no give, no fight. For the. For the first time since 1999, like you said, the Knicks are. The Knicks are heading back to the finals. Does this squad have a feel of destiny to it?

[Daniel Cormier]

So.

[Nick Wright]

And it would be. It was first time since the Clinton administration because Bush was elected in 2000. Unbelievable. Here's what I will say about the New York Knicks and then. And we're going to spend a lot of time here. And this is not a matter of opinion. This is a matter of statistical fact. No team in the history of the league has ever had a better 11 game run than the Knicks just had. That is regular season or postseason. No team in the history of professional basketball in this country has ever romped through their competition the way the Knicks have romped through these playoffs. And you can say, well, the Hawks are okay, but not great and the Sixers are a little dysfunctional and the Cavs quit. Certainly what is objectively true is there have been hundreds, if not thousands of 11 game stretches in NBA history. When you include the regular season where teams faced a softer 11 game run than the 2026 Hawks, the 2026 Sixers and the 2026 Cavs. And no team ever has annihilated its opposition to this degree over this long of a stretch of time. It is not an exaggeration to say the New York Knicks, from a statistical standpoint just completed the single most dominant month of basketball in the history of the league. They now, and I have this, according to Nate Duncan, the New York Knicks, and this is now playoff record, not regular season record, the record for most lopsided three game stretch in playoff history is the 2026 Knicks. The record for the most lopsided four game stretch in playoff history is the twenty twenty six Knicks. The record for the Most lopsided 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and now 14 game stretch in playoff history all belongs to the Jaylen Brunson, Carl Anthony Towns, Male Bridges, OG Anobi, Josh Hart, Mike Brown, New York Knicks. Pardon the language, but how unfucking believable is that? This Knicks team has now demands a three consecutive series, got their opponent to the brink of elimination and 1/4 into that elimination game made their opponent quit. They damanze they won last night's elimination game by 37 and it lowered their average margin of victory this postseason in elimination games. Coming into last night, their average margin of victory in elimination games was 40. And now it's down to 39. They this is what this Knicks playoffs have been. Game one, they beat up Atlanta. Game two, they are beating up Atlanta and then have a four minute stretch of wait, what the hell happened? Game three, they play a tight game, Jalen misses, CJ makes and they're in a moment of crisis. Game four, they beat Atlanta by 16. Game five, they beat Atlanta by 29. Game six to eliminate Atlanta, they beat Atlanta by 51. They open the Sixers series with a 39 point victory. They then play one competitive game against Philly, beat them by six and then beat him by 14 to go up 30 in Philly and beat him by 30 to send them home. Game one against Cleveland, they are down by 22 points with seven and a half minutes remaining. Force overtime and win by 11. Game two, they win by 16. Game three, they win by 13. And game four, they're up by 45 points in the fourth quarter and win by 37.

[Damanze]

Where's all this coming from? Like during the regular season I felt like we thought they were going to be good. They kind of, kind of tapered off. Seemed like they didn't have it figured out and then now they're just. What happened? They figure something out.

[Nick Wright]

No one knows where this came from. Anyone telling you they know where it came from is lying. What? Listen, there is a way to look at the Knicks as well. They started off the season two and three. First couple weeks, who cares? And then absent. And then right around New Year's they had a 2 and 9 swoon. Okay, so 2 and 3, 2 and 9, that's 4 and 13. If you remove those two bad stretches, they were 49 and 16 it's a really good team to team. Like on a 60ish win pace they were this year top I think six in the NBA and offense and defense they looked like a good at times really good team and maybe that one swoon right around New Year's threw people off the scent that hey this could be a very good team. But being a very good team and putting together a month consecutive of dog walking playoff opponents the way the Shaq Kobe Lakers never did, the LeBron Wade Heat never did, the KD Steph warriors never did, the Moses Dr. J Sixers never did. We have had teams go through a postseason with only one loss. The Knicks already have two. We have never had a team go through a postseason just beating the out of their opponent every single game to the point to where at the end the opponent cries uncle and says I don't want to try anymore. We are not good enough and I every single person involved deserves credit for this. Jalen Brunson Remember not Listen, not only is Jalen Brunson just an absolute A list superstar in this league which if there were any questions prior to this postseason they are now gone. And we are going to get a bit into the Knicks very tortured history this century. But it is worth is worth mentioning to Monze that from the oh one season until they added Jalen Brunson in 2020, the 2022 season. So I guess from the 2000 season until they added Brunson, they won one playoff series. One series.

[Damanze]

That's a little bit of a drought.

[Nick Wright]

And now every year since then, they have won a series. The last two. And they've gotten a little closer each year. The last two years they've made a conference finals and this year they make a finals.

[Daniel Cormier]

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[Nick Wright]

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[Damanze]

Couldn't get to my mute button time.

[Nick Wright]

Yeah, don't worry about it. Carl Anthony Towns, who you know has been a punchline at times, sometimes for unfair stuff, but sometimes for fair stuff like you know, when with a fouling him just declaring himself the greatest shooting big man of all time. Like yeah, that happened back when he was still in Minnesota. Carl Anthony Towns this postseason taking on a slightly different role. I mean he's only 17 a game this postseason, but he's given you more than 10 rebounds. He has been one of the prime hubs of the offense, averaging six assists. OG Anunoby coming back from the hamstring injury and just being nails every step of this postseason. Mikhail Bridges, who best I can tell hasn't missed a shot during this winning streak. Mikhail Bridges started these playoffs off brutally and then in the final game against Atlanta went 10 for 12 from the field and then in round two was 64% going into last night against Cleveland was 75% and then had an off night last night. It didn't matter. Josh Hart, the ultimate glue guy and Mike freaking Brown. And you know what? More on Mike Brown in a second. But first when I say credit to everyone, Leon Rose and Worldwide Wes had the gumption and the professional courage

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to

[Nick Wright]

tell Tom Thibodeau, I know you just took us to our first conference finals in a quarter century. I think we can do better. And Mike Brown evolving as a coach into what is now after he started his career as a coach, as a defensive, you know, expert, this offensive mastermind and bringing this Golden State warriors esque ball movement to the Knicks has just been really a remarkable thing. And Mike Brown's had such a unique coaching career. He got seemingly the Jackpot of. He got hired by the cavs going into LeBron's third year and his second year with Braun, they make the finals. His fourth year with Braun, they win 66 games. His fifth year, they win 61 games, but they can't get past Boston. Braun leaves. He. I don't even remember. He got fired. And, oh, yeah, the. He got fired before Braun left because the Cavs thought it might encourage him to stay. He then, you know, goes to the Lakers, first year with the Lakers, they lose in round two with Kobe, and then gets fired five games into year two. Cleveland hires him back. That one didn't go well. And then he's in the wilderness. Demons. A. For almost a decade in the wilderness is too strong. But he's not a head coach. And in that time, he goes to Golden State. So I shouldn't say he's in the wilderness. He's not a head coach. In that time, he goes to Golden State, helps Steve Kerr learn from Steve Kerr, wins a bunch of championships, parlays that into the King's job, and instantly the Kings have the most success they've had since, you know, since you were in junior high. They make the playoffs as the Kings make the playoffs, almost win 50 games, light the beam the next year, they make the play in, but lose. And then early the next season, Vivek's like, no, you're fired, bro. And for a lot of guys, that's. I mean, that's the Cleveland job, the Laker job, the Cleveland job again, Sacramento job. Don't always get a fifth job. It took him eight, nine years between jobs four and jobs five, or job three and job four, And the Knicks hire him, and he is crushed. And he has a chance to go down an absolute history in New York City. He was asked, oh, sorry, go ahead. No, he was.

[Damanze]

He was asked if he had ever seen a leader like Brunson. He said, steph and Duncan did not mention LeBron.

[Nick Wright]

I don't think LeBron was the. That a lead of a leader his first time around in Cleveland.

[Daniel Cormier]

Yeah.

[Nick Wright]

You know what I mean? I think that he. I think that's part of what he learned in Miami. So, like, that doesn't. That doesn't shock me. You know what I mean? The. You got like, Bron left Cleveland in the summer of 2010, where the. So how old was I? Because it's the same age. So he's 25 years old, you know, so I just don't think so. Mike Brown was an assistant coach with the Spurs. Now, Duncan was young when he was an assistant coach there. Duncan those always kind of been, you know, four year college guy, different type of thing step obviously great leader. But this is, this is a ultimate, ultimate. The sum of the parts is greater than any individual part victory for the Knicks. And again they are dog walking everyone. And now I do want to spend a minute talking about what this means for Knicks fans because I and I want to make this part very, very clear. I do. I am not a Knicks fan. I am not all of a sudden going because I live here and because of the story I'm about to tell you guys claim like this means something extra to me. I don't get any claim whatsoever on how die hard lifelong Knicks fans feel today. And it felt this whole playoff run. It is a die hard and special fan base that has been desperately waiting for this moment or a moment, anything like it for a quarter century. So I say that on front end with that said as the audience knows. If you're a real like I shouldn't say the audience. Some of the audience knows. The first basketball team I ever loved as a little kid was the Knicks. The I've told the story that what I thought made me fall in love with the NBA which was more than football my favorite sport as a little little kid. Because if you guys again if you remember I thought I was going to make the NBA and then I was very worried I was going to have a Moses Malone type of end of journeyman career. I've told that story crying about that my dad was going to be disappointed in me if I got traded a lot doesn't matter. In 1993 I went to game 82 of the season. Knicks Bulls. The demanze. I went with Debbie and Arnie.

[Damanze]

Yeah, yeah.

[Nick Wright]

Debbie and Arnie. Yeah. They took me my mom's best friend from my mom's from New York City. My mom's best friend from childhood and her husband. It was like it was an all time great by the way weekend for me. They, they then we went to Bristol. They took me on a tour of espn. I it was like the all this cool stuff happened but night. So the spring of 93 I officially said like I'm a Knicks fan. And then the very next year they make the finals, Jordan retires. They make the finals. I'm like this is sick.

[Damanze]

Yep.

[Nick Wright]

1995, young Nick Wright first time sports ever made me cry. The Patrick Ewing finger roll in game seven of the conference semifinals against the Pacers. Again I'm 10 years old. I've been a fan of this team for one year, they made the finals huge.

[Damanze]

Patrick Ewing just whiffed it.

[Nick Wright]

Oh, you've never seen the clip. It's brutal. It's game seven. He gets the ball from like the dotted line, inside the free throw line, seemingly just has a layup for the win. Finger roll, back of the backboard or back of the back of the rim and just over does it and it goes back. Game over. Okay, game over. But still, they're still in the mix though. They're a super relevant team every year. Okay, 1996, Jordan's back. Jordan kicks their teeth in as he always did. 1997. And again, this is my experience as a Knick fan. And then I'm going to give it to the actual Knick fans because there's. I just want to kind of paint the picture of if you're around my age, because they won the. Listen, they were an awesome team in the 70s. Awesome. They went to three finals in four years. They won two of them. They beat the, you know, the Lakers in the, the. In both finals. They lost to the Lakers in one Finals. Like that was an awesome. Not dynasty, but Lakers, Knicks. In the finals was great, all of it. But if you're my age, you don't know any of that. You don't, you know it, but you don't remember. What you remember is the 90s. You remember the Charles Smith game, which predates, you know, my, that was the. Predates my fandom. But so maybe I should go. I'll just go back a little bit further because maybe if you're a 50 year old Knicks fan, okay, you have Ewing, you're in the mix every year. You're in the playoffs every year. And in 1989, Jordan beat you. And in 1990, the Bad Boy Pistons beat you. And in 1991, Jordan sweeps you. And in 1992, Jordan beats you in seven. And in 1993 you're up 2O on Jordan. And he comes back and wins four straight and beats you in six.

[Damanze]

Damn it.

[Nick Wright]

Yeah. In 1994, my first year, you know, as a Knicks fan, my temporary childhood Knicks fandom. You're up 3, 2 in the finals, John Starks shot in the corner to win the championship. Akeem jumps out from the block, gets a fingertip on it, blocks it. We're going to a game seven in that game seven, John Starks two for 18 from the field over 11 from three. You lose. Okay, but we're in the finals. We're. Yeah, we're in. We're in the finals. 1995 Ewing finger roll off the back rim. 1996, Jordan's back full, full go. Jordan Beach, 1997. One of the most honest to God traumatic sports events of my life. I will. I'm still mad about it, even though I'm not a Knicks fan. But I was as a kid. The Knicks are playing the Heat. They are up 3:1 in the series. At that point in time, I think one team ever had come back from three one down. It's happened more often now. Or there's one team certainly in recent memory. I think it may be two teams ever had done it. The Knicks are up three one. It's game five. The Heat are going to win game five. But that's fine. It doesn't matter. With seconds left in the game, Demons A Charlie Ward and P.J. brown get into it during a free throw line. Box out. Okay, PJ Brown picks Charlie Ward up and dumps him. Okay, The Nick is so there's a whole fracas. David Stern goes letter of the law because it was a blowout. So all the Knicks best players were on the bench. Goes letter of the law. If you stepped off the bench during the fight, you're suspended. So many Knicks get suspended. Demons A Ewing, everybody, everybody, they have to split it up into suspensions for game six and seven instead of just having it all happening. And the Heat come back from down 31 next year, next year you lose the Pacers. I don't even really remember that season. And then 1999, okay, the magical Knicks season. They are the eight seed. It's a weird year because it's a lockout year or strike year, whatever it is, you don't have a full season at that point in time. Only one eight seed had ever beaten a one seed. You're playing those same hated Miami Heat. You have a game five down, one couple seconds left. Alan Houston gets the ball. Ewing's asking for it, he doesn't give it to him. Runner from the free throw line, front rim, back rim, backboard in. You beat the Heat, you advance, is the eight seed. The next round you sweep the Hawks. Okay, now we're cooking the next round. You're going to get the Pacers again, who have, other than the Bulls, kind of Bulls, Heat, Pacers all been kind of your rivals. The second Pacers beat you the last year. The Pacers are the team that Ewing missed the finger roll against in that series. Patrick Ewing blows out his Achilles. You win the series anyway, make the finals. And then Duncan and Robinson, shockingly, you have no. You probably would have lost anyway. But you have no Ewing. You have nothing that you have absolutely nothing to be done about Duncan Robinson. They went in five. That's 1999. The next year you make it back to the conference finals. And from that moment forward until Jalen Brunson got here, they won one playoff series. They fired Jeff Van Gundy. They, they. The following people are their head coaches between now and Mike Brown. And I'm sure there's going to be some interims in here. Jeff Van Gundy, Don Chaney, Herb Williams, Lenny Wilkins, Herb Williams again because he was interim Larry Brown, Isaiah Thomas, Mike d', Antoni, Mike Woodson, Derek Fisher, Kurt Rambis, Jeff Hornichek, David Fisdale, Mike Miller, Tom Thibodeau. Into Mike Brown, you had Carmelo for his entire prime. You won one playoff series. The your best year that you actually thought you had a great team. You get Miami in round one, first or second year of Bron Wade. That's not going to go well. The next year with Mellow. You finally win a playoff series, you run into the best Paul George Pacers team pre his leg injury. You lose there it is just been pain. And again I'm not. I, I long abandoned any Knicks fandom I had. I've told that story many a time. I you know, I once Ewing and Spree and Houston were gone and then I was seeing this guy in the same high school class as me playing on TV for St. Vincent St. Mary's I said forget this. I'm gonna be a fan of wherever he goes. And so I don't get to revel in this at all the way Knicks fans do. But I was a fan during the 90s glory years. I was not a fan and did not have to deal with the pain of the 2000s awfulness. And for these fans that witness so much bad basketball and bad draft picks and bad management and multiple 17 win seasons and trading for mellow but trading all the pieces you would have needed to compete with Melo to get Melo and putting a ceiling on that era to now have just experienced the greatest month in the history of the NBA playoffs. It's just as good as it gets. And Knicks fans, you deserve it. And I couldn't be happier for you. Today's show is brought to you by our presenting sponsor, Hard Rock BET Florida Sportsbook. The NBA playoffs are here. The lights are brighter, the pressure's higher in every possession can change a series on Hard Rock BET every night is your shot to score a major bucket with win or go home energy on the hardwood. I love building same game parlays. You might like the hot hand to drop 30, the big man to control the glass with a double double, the point guard to dish out five assists. However you draw it up, Hard Rock Bet gives you tons of ways to stack your picks into a same game parlay built for the playoffs. If you're ever late to tip off, don't worry. Hard Rock Bet lets you live bet all game long, from the first bucket to the final buzzer. Try your first bet on Hard Rock Bet today and you can score $150 in bonus bets. If you win, just place a $5 bet and if it hits, you get not only your winnings but also an extra $150 in bonus bets. But the welcome offer is just the beginning. Hard Rock Bet has new promos daily, so open up the app right now to see what promo you've got today. And sure, Hard Rock Bet is Florida's only legal sportsbook, but you don't have to be in Florida to join the party. Hard Rock Bet is also live in Arizona, Ohio, New Jersey, Indiana, Tennessee, Virginia, Illinois, Colorado and Michigan, with more states on the way. Download the Hard Rock Bet app today and get the party started. Offered by the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Offered by Seminole hard Rock Digital LLC in all other states. Must be 21 plus and physically present in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee or Virginia to play play terms and conditions apply. Concern about gambling in Florida, call 1833 play wise in Indiana, if you or somebody you know has a gambling problem wants help, call 1-800-9 with it in Arizona, Ohio, Virginia, call 1-800- my reset gambling problem call 1-800- gambler this is

[Daniel Cormier]

Daniel Cormier from the Daniel Cormier Show. This podcast is sponsored by Total Wireless, the official wireless partner of ufc. All UFC fighters know power doesn't wait in the octagon or outside of it. You either make the move or you miss the moment. That's why you need a network that's as powerful as you are. With Total Wireless, you get unlimited 5G data keeping you in on all the action, from the walkouts to the knockouts. You'll never miss a moment. That's coverage that you can count on for every single round. So when the moment happens, you're not catching up. You're already there. Now that that's a total power move. In the ufc, power isn't given, it's taken. So make your total power move today. Visit totalwireless.com or stop by your neighborhood Total Wireless Store 5G access requires a 5G capable device in a 5G service area. Monthly rates on the Total Base 5G Unlimited plan for new subscribers applies only to the monthly rate for your plan. Additional terms apply. See website for details.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Support for the show comes from Public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On Public, you can build a multi asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto and now generated assets which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index with AI. It all starts with your prompt. From renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20% year over year, you can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It screens thousands of stocks, builds a one of a kind index and lets you back test it against the S&P 500. Then you can invest in a few clicks. Generated assets are like ETFs with infinite possibilities, completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else. Go to public.com podcast and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com podcast paid for by Public Investing Brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors, llc. SEC Registered Advisor Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not an investment recommendation or advice. Complete disclosures available at public.com disclosures this

[Martha Stewart]

is Martha Stewart from the Martha Stewart Podcast. Ever wonder how to make hosting look effortless? Here's a secret. Getting ahead of the mess with new Reynolds Kitchens Countertop Prep Paper Just lightly wet the counter beforehand so the paper grips and stays in place. Then lay down the Reynolds Kitchens countertop paper so drips and spills stay on the paper, not all over your kitchen counter. You can roll out dough, prep a party spread or cook alongside family. When you're done, cleanup is as simple as lifting the paper and revealing that clean counter underneath. Effortless. You can use it for cooking and baking, prep and even crafting, especially when you need extra working space. Because when the mess is already handled, you can focus on what matters. The food, the people and the moment. It may look effortless, but now you know. It's Reynolds Kitchens Countertop prep paper. Take a tip from me. Wet it, set it, prep it. Done. Make it easy. Make it with Reynolds Kitchens Countertop prep paper. Available now in the Reynolds Wrap aisle in Walmart, Target, Amazon and Costco.

[Nick Wright]

All right, Damante, let's go to the other side of that series.

[Damanze]

Coming into these playoffs, people would have thought Cleveland was going to blow it up if they had an early exit. So Cleveland didn't have an early exit, but the fashion that they lost these playoffs in was pretty bad. Where do you think that they should go from here?

[Nick Wright]

I don't know about you. I feel like everything's on the table.

[Damanze]

Yeah, I like hard Harden and then Mobley or Jared Allen. I don't know which one of them, like, I don't know which one you rather keep, but I feel like you got to get rid of one of them.

[Nick Wright]

I, I and I don't think it's a stone lock that they, that Donovan's not on the table. I think it's unlike I think Donovan's unlikely to get moved, but I think it is certainly possible. I Evan Mobley has been considered previously kind of untouchable for them. Yeah, I don't think if I do think that they've got to now really consider what a Giannis trade looks like, what they think if they think it's worth it. Now Giannis is 31. Yeah, he turns 32 in December, so he's, you know, 31 and a half, I guess. Evan Mobley's what, 25. Oh, he'll be 25 in a couple weeks. So Mobley's six and a half years younger than Giannis, obviously, you know, at least somewhat healthier than Giannis. I Harden is I, I've spent enough time on the like Harden in the playoffs. We've discussed it. I Last Night was another 2 for 8 with five turnovers. You don't even bat Nye, but he's got a 40. And I don't know what handshake deal they had with Harden when he, because he left the Clippers because they didn't want to give him an extension and he wanted to go get his money. But he's had handshake deals, it would appear blow up in his face in the past. He has. I think he believed Cleveland was going to sign him to some type of extension. I have no idea how anyone could watch these playoffs. And I actually think somehow it's worse to Monze because he had such a solid regular season. He was 24 points, eight assists per game in the regular season, which somehow makes the playoff performance even more ominous, where he was down to 19 points, 5 assists, 5 turnovers a game where it's like, man, it's not just like you got old and you're not quite as good anymore. You were excellent this regular season.

[Damanze]

Yeah. With the wear and tear, I'm, I don't think there's any excuse for it, but with him being older, it being more games that you're playing in, like maybe they taper off. But this has always been Harden's identity. So it's kind of hard to say that.

[Nick Wright]

He was 38% from the field with four and a half turnovers a game in round two, including a two for 10 in game seven that nobody cared about because they won. He was 38% with four and a half turnovers per game in round three, didn't have a single 20 point game, had two games with more turnovers than made baskets and is on a $42 million player option next year. Like the obvious question is, are they going to make a run after LeBron? And I do think that Donovan is a good running mate with LeBron as far as he can take on the majority of the offensive load, but LeBron can run the offense. But when you get beat this soundly, everything's on the table. And they also. Here's the other thing that I'm sure some of the audience knows. This is the most expensive team in the history of the NBA. It's the most expensive team. They're the only second apron team in the league. This year it is. And listen, they made the conference finals for the first time. And last year the Knicks made the conference finals. This year they're in the finals. The year before, the Pacers made the conference finals. The next year they made the finals. The year before that, the Heat made the conference finals. Then they were in the finals. The Celtics, I understand you might be able to be like, well, these are just steps.

[Damanze]

Cleveland struggled at every step of this playoffs though.

[Nick Wright]

Every single.

[Damanze]

Even when they won.

[Nick Wright]

That's a very important designation. At no point did they look awesome. Yeah, they faced elimination against Toronto. They faced elimination with. Hell yeah, they faced elimination against Toronto. They faced elimination against Detroit, and then they got swept by the Knicks. I also think Kenny Atkinson might have talked his way out of his job with that. Analytically we're in good shape and that's just such. All he needed to say was not that right? But he could have made the same point by saying, listen, we're down three. Oh, and we're not playing well enough. But I like the shots. We're getting.

[Damanze]

Getting good shots.

[Nick Wright]

Yeah, we're getting good shots. And I believe our guys are going to start hitting them like that's all he. Instead of being like, well, I know some people, you know, don't care about process, but it's just like that. It was so tone deaf. I will say this while I am, I am leaning more towards the conventional wisdom that LeBron is going to stay in LA if they fire Kenny Atkinson and if they hire Jason Kidd, I my LeBron to Cleveland radar will be perked up a bit. LeBron's got a really good relationship with J Kid. He's a guy that he has wanted to, you know that I think he's advocated to get head coaching jobs in the past. Jason Kidd was with the Lakers on Vogel staff when they won the championship. And I do I that and I think that is go ahead.

[Damanze]

Is that under the, under the assumption that Harden isn't there anymore? Because there's no way.

[Nick Wright]

Yeah, I mean I Listen if LeBron were to come back, I would think either Harden would be gone or if Harden just opts into the deal that Harden would be a guy that before the trade deadline he would be a $42 million expiring contract they would look to trade because obviously like the it wouldn't. It would be redundant skill set wise. But, but I do think, I think LeBron plus Donovan and the two bigs is interesting and LeBron plus Donovan with Mobley and other stuff swapped out for Giannis is obviously interesting. And so I think, I think all of that is on the board. I think the likely outcome is LeBron stays in in Los Angeles. And if that's the case, I do think it is very possible that aside from changing head coaches, Cleveland just kind of runs it back.

[Damanze]

Wow.

[Nick Wright]

Because I don't, I don't know. I don't think Giannis is going to force his way to Cleveland. I don't know that Harden is going to opt out of his deal. And I, and I wonder if they'll be like, hey, we got a step further. Let's follow the Knicks model. We got to the conference finals for the first time in forever. We had a disappointing showing in the conference finals. We, you know, we're going to run it back with a new coach. I think that is. I think that is a very possible outcome. But everything is on the board for the Cavs. Everything is on the board for the Cavs. Boost Mobile's proving you don't have to overpay for great wireless. Unlock the savings with the 25amonth unlimited plan. It's a permanent price with no contracts and no price hikes. You can keep your phone and your number, but you save up to $600 a year compared to the major carriers. Stop overpaying and switch to a fair [e-mail] today based on average annual single line payment of AT&T Verizon and T Mobile customers compared to 12 months on the Boost Mobile Unlimited plan as of January 2026. For full offer details, visit boostmobile.com all right, Daman's a. This was, I guess, inevitable. So I'm gonna let you go ahead and set this up and then I will toss to some pieces of audio and then we'll just see how this goes.

[Damanze]

So last Tuesday you kind of got into the Jaylen Brown, Stephen A. Smith media beef and then Stephen A. Smith gave you a rebuttal. Jaylen Brown gave his own rebuttal after that.

[Nick Wright]

Yeah, rebuttals on rebuttals. There's all this stuff. There's a. There's a conspiracy. There's a lot to unpack here. So I am go if people want to see my full 10 minutes on my thoughts on what I thought was very unfair to Jaylen Brown comments and what I perceived as not so veiled threats to do journalism by Stephen A. To Jaylen Brown. It's posted on our YouTube channel. Right. So you can see the full thing in context. I'm obviously not going to play the full thing in context here because you can, you know, you can not just spend 10 minutes there replaying something. I also think it's not really all that instructive to play because my guess is, again, I don't know. And as you are going to see over the course of these next few minutes, I will be very clear, unlike some others, about things I know, things I'm guessing and things I'm just making up. So I don't know what Stephen A. Saw or he didn't see. My guess would be if he saw anything, he saw the clip that we put out on Instagram and Twitter and wherever. So I will again, under the assumption this is what made it to Stephen A's very busy desk. This is the clip from last week. Roll it. Once upon a time, Stephen A. Was a legitimately great reporter. Put every level of work in imaginable to where he's the biggest name in the space and still works as much as anybody in the business at all times is working. But talking to these guys like you're a mob boss and they better watch what they say, there's harm in it. I know stuff I know technically it's my job to report the things I know, but I know it and I just keep in my back pocket in case I ever have to use it. Like the big joker in a spades game. Give me a Break. If you have real information about Jayson Tatum's feelings about Jaylen Brown, you should report it. If you have real information about the Celtics organization, how they feel about Jaylen Brown that you're just sitting on, yes, you should report it. The answer is not go to the mattresses and escalate, and it makes all of us look bad. And also, here's the other thing. You're the only guy who does it. Okay, so I did that. I then am at the Indy 500 on my way to the Indianapolis's Horseshoe Casino Friday night, and I get a text saying, did you see this? And someone has sent me the Joe Budden clips guy has clipped. I mean, that's the guy's Twitter handle is something about Joe Budden clips has has clipped. Stephen A had a response to everybody who got mad at his Jaylen Brown comments, because I was not the only one who thought they were a little off putting. And here is his response to me without saying my name. But it's pretty clear who he's talking to. Go ahead. So when one of my contemporaries tries to mention me as a mobster, that I'm coming across as a mobster, he knows better. You can. Once you figure out who I'm talking about, you can gauge his motives. He should be ashamed of himself, but I'll leave it alone and let him hang out with his crew. And he knows that I know who they are. Okay, okay, so now I'm a little upset. And now I would like as silly as this all is, I am going to eventually make a few requests here that I mean very, very, very sincerely. But before I get to that, I would like to say some things directly.

[Daniel Cormier]

This is Daniel Cormier from the Daniel Cormier Show. This podcast is sponsored by Total Wireless, the official wireless partner of ufc. All UFC fighters know power doesn't wait in the octagon or outside of it. You either make the move or you miss the moment. That's why you need a network that's as powerful as you are. With Total Wireless, you get unlimited 5G data keeping you in on all the action, from the walkouts to the knockouts. You'll never miss a moment. That's coverage that you can count on for every single round. So when the moment happens, you're not catching up. You're already there. Now that that's a total power move in the ufc, Power isn't given, it's taken. So make your total power move today. Visit totalwireless.com or stop by your neighborhood Total Wireless Store 5G access requires a 5G capable device in a 5G service area. Monthly rates on the Total Base 5G Unlimited plan for new subscribers applies only to the monthly rate for your plan. Additional terms apply. See website for details.

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Support for the show comes from Public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On Public, you can build a multi asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto and now generated assets which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index with AI. It all starts with your prompt. From renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20% year over year, you can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It screens thousands of stocks, builds a one of a kind index and lets you back test it against the S&P 500. Then you can invest in a few clicks. Generated assets are like ETFs with infinite possibilities, completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com podcast and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com podcast paid for by Public Investing Brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors llc. SEC Registered Advisor Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not an investment recommendation or advice. Complete disclosure is available at public.comdisclosures Ever

[Martha Stewart]

wonder how to make hosting look effortless? Here's a secret. Getting ahead of the mess with new Reynolds Kitchen's Countertop Prep Paper Just lightly wet the counter beforehand so the paper grips and stays in place. Then lay down the Reynolds Kitchen's countertop prep paper so drips and spills stay on the paper, not all over your kitchen counter. You can roll out dough, prep a party spread or cook alongside family when you're done. Cleanup is as simple as lifting the paper and revealing that clean counter underneath. Effortless. You can use it for cooking and baking, prep and even crafting, especially when you need extra working space. Because when the mess is already handled, you can focus on what matters the food, the people and the moment. It may look effortless, but now you know it's Reynolds Kitchens countertop prep paper. Take a tip from me. Wet it, set it, prep it done. Make it easy. Make it with Reynolds Kitchens Countertop prep paper available now in the Reynolds Wrap aisle in Walmart, Target, Amazon and Costco.

[Nick Wright]

I do not know better and I am not ashamed of myself. What I said I stand by 100% if anybody took my comments as if I were implying that the most successful guy in my industry was an actual literal mobster. For that, I apologize. I don't think anybody thought I was truly saying there is an organized crime element to this. I thought it was quite clear. I was using a very obvious and very almost cliche analogy of talking to a guy like a mob boss. Like, ooh, better be careful. Never know what could happen to you. I think that was crystal clear. And I want to again reiterate, I don't know better than to do that, because that is exactly what I feel happened here with Stephen A. And Jalen Brown. And it is part of a pattern that we saw for the first time more than a decade ago when it appeared to me that he threatened Kevin Durant with, again, fuzzy reportage about things he knows that he's just holding onto. And the irony is not lost on me at all that in his response to me, he then did the same exact thing that I was criticizing. Vague, ominous, I know things, but I'm not going to say what they are right now. So before I get to my request, which I am very sincere about, I will do it for him. Cards on the table here. And again, this is my gut. I don't know this. I can't prove this. But my. What I think he was implying there when he says knows his crew. I think he's implying that because I'm legitimately good friends with Maverick Maverick Carter, and because I have. I'm friendly with and have a working relationship with Rich Paul, and because I occasionally am with those guys in a social setting, that me going after him was some type of coordinated, planned attack using the. The Jalen Brown story as some proxy war for some ulterior LeBron Stephen, a beef that I am the figurehead for. And when he says I know his crew, I think he is referencing a very specific moment in time. So, again, I, without revealing any confidences, will cards on the table for everyone. And cards on the table is a very interesting word choice by me because I think he's actually referencing a card game. Because back in September, I was in a fun, not crazy, high stakes, not anything, not the type of game I go to Vegas for, but a fun, friendly card game here in the city with not necessarily the people I just mentioned there, but a group of people that could be considered, you know, in that orbit. And Stephen A. Stopped by to say hello. And when that happened, because I had heard on decent authority he was upset with me for my previous LeBron commentary, I stood up, I shook his hand, and I said, Hey, I hear you're mad at me. Should we talk about it? And he, to his credit, I thought at the time, said, nah, I'm not mad at anybody. I'm paraphrasing not mad at anybody. I'm a grown man. I got more important things to do. I said, okay, got it. And I sat back down and played cards. He said hello to the people in the room, and then he left. The only possible explanation as to him saying, and I know who the. Who your crew is, is he thinks like that room of people. First of all, like that. That is a regular hangout. It's not. And second of all, that those people somehow are feeding me takes are like, hey, man, he's vulnerable on this frontier, which is again, another weird thing, because a lot of the people there he's friends with. So I don't. That's the only thing I can possibly consider he was referencing. Other than that, none of it makes any sense. But here's the more important thing, and here is the thing that I do take really God dog seriously. And this is where I empathize massively with Jaylen Brown, who I have no relationship with, or Kevin Durant from a decade ago, or any of the other athletes that this playbook has been run on. Him saying, not saying, implying that I was instructed, coached, fed anything that had any of these other ulterior motives, other than quite literally texting the producers of this show in Damanze 15 minutes before Tuesday's episode. You know what? I just rewatched the Jail. The Stephen A. Jaylen Brown thing that bothered the hell out of me, put it in the show, which was the entirety of how this happened. Him saying that there was something more nefarious afoot is a flat out 100% fabrication. And so here's the request, and I mean this one. I would like an apology or a retraction or a clarification, and I'm going to stick to that request because best I can tell, there are only three possible options here. Option one, made up out of whole clothes. Just had a gut feeling, an intuition, had just enough circumstantial evidence of who I hang with, who my crew is, and said, you know what? I'm going with it. And I won't put myself in the jackpot because I'll say I'll leave it

[Daniel Cormier]

at that,

[Nick Wright]

but I know and just made it up. If that's the case, then I would like an apology. Option two, he somehow got someone to tell him on the worst sourcing imaginable. Oh, yeah, I. I'm part of a group that we're in a group chat telling. Telling Nick what to say about you as an opportunity to take you down a peg, in which case it's just bad reporting. But that would need a retraction. Option three would be maybe the most gifted orator in the history of the space just fumbled his message and words entirely and that's not what he was trying to say at all. That would demand a clarification. But what's not going to happen here, and what I cannot abide is utter and complete fantasy about how and why I do what I do. I have spent my entire career building what I do think is a rather pristine reputation for honesty with the audience, for openness about what biases I may or may not have, and for not coming to any discussion without all my cards on the table. And I've managed to do it without having one of my go to moves be what at least I think a lot of the audience perceives as veiled threats for anyone who comes back at me about having kompromat that I could reveal at any time. So I don't take that shit lightly and I don't love that this now inevitably escalates. I hope to not discuss this again at any point. With that said, for a number of reasons, there are not many people in the space that feel comfortable calling out what they perceive to be bad actions by contemporaries in the space. And I think the playbook that I felt Stephen A. Was running on Jaylen Brown was unfair to Jaylen Brown. I don't know. Jaylen Brown never talked to Jaylen Brown. My guess is Jaylen Brown, if he knows me, doesn't like me. I don't, I don't even think he has any reason not to like me. But he doesn't seem to like much media. He's like, he's very, very anti media. And so I. But I thought it was bullshit what happened there. And Jaylen Brown, by the way, yesterday, you know, he responded. And it turns out I wasn't the only one that got that mob boss boss feel from Stephen A's first take comments. Because this is what Jaylen Brown had to say. Jalen Brown, be careful what you wish for. You really want me to start reporting on that level?

[Sponsor/Ad Voice]

Come on, man. Come on. Stephen A too El Chapo. You running the media cartel, my boy. Come on, man. Talking about be careful, man. Listen, I ain't gonna get into that, y'.

[Damanze]

All.

[Nick Wright]

Yeah, I mean, well done there by Jalen Brown. I mean, okay, so I just, I, And I, I, I also would like to issue one apology here. I would like to apologize to my friends and colleagues that want to be Switzerland in this all of a sudden, you know, I guess media beef that I'm putting in a bad spot. I feel badly about that genuinely. And if you're upset with me because of it, I understand. But I

[Daniel Cormier]

can't.

[Nick Wright]

I could not allow the timeline of me and I thought the most respectful manner possible criticizing someone for vague, anonymized information in threat form, that my criticism of that be rebutted by that person doing the exact same thing to me. And one of the benefits to being as transparent and as. Flaws and all naked to the audience is y' all know who my friends are. Y' all know how I carry myself. Y' all know what I do or don't believe. And you guys know whether or not. Wow, that doesn't sound like. That's not an opinion. Nick would have. He must have been fed that versus yeah, that pretty much tracks with everything we've heard him say before. And so I'll be waiting. I won't be holding my breath, but an apology or retraction or a clarification I think is deserved. We'll wait and see if I get it. Talk to you guys Thursday. Good luck to us at the Sports EMMYs. What's right Paramount plus is now the home of all your BET favorites. What? Yes.

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[Nick Wright]

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[Daniel Cormier]

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[Daniel Cormier]

This is Daniel Cormier from the Daniel Cormier Show. This podcast is sponsored by Total Wireless, the official wireless partner of UFC Power, doesn't wait in the octagon or outside of it. You either made the move or you missed a moment. That's why you need a network that's just as powerful as you are. With Total Wireless, you get unlimited 5G data keeping you in the action from the walkouts to the knockouts. Now that's a total power move. Make your Total Power move today. Visit totalwireless.com or stop by your neighborhood Total Wireless store. Additional terms apply. See totalwireless.com for details.

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[Nick Wright]

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Check.

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