The Ryen Russillo Show

Episode: The Annual NBA “Would You Rather” Debates, Plus Why the Dodgers Aren’t Necessarily MLB’s Bad Guys (with Jeff Passan) Date: February 12, 2026

Main Theme and Purpose

This episode is a blend of two signature Russillo Show elements:

• The annual “NBA Would You Rather?” debates, where Ryen and Ceruti pit current-season NBA players against each other in a series of thought-provoking, sometimes contentious comparisons.
• A deep-dive with ESPN’s Jeff Passan into the looming MLB collective bargaining agreement (CBA), focusing on the Dodgers’ unprecedented spending, CBA mechanisms, and why the Dodgers shouldn’t be seen as Major League Baseball’s villains.

Life advice and some local/travel recommendations also make their trademark late-episode appearance.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. NBA “Would You Rather?” – 2026 Edition

[Starts ~03:00]

• Structure: Comparisons are strictly for who you’d take "right now, for the rest of this season and playoffs"—not for the next five years.
• Reflections on Past Picks:
  • Russillo and Ceruti recall how quickly these head-to-heads age, citing past picks that seem laughable (e.g., taking Amen Thompson over Cooper Flagg).
  • “Man, like, these things age so badly so fast.” – Ceruti (03:31)

2026 Would You Rather Pairings

Notable quotes and moments with timestamps

• Jokic vs. SGA & Jalen Williams (OKC)

  • Would you rather have Jokic (alone on a team of ‘80 overall’ guys) or SGA & Jalen Williams (and ‘80 overalls’)?
  • Russillo stands by Jokic:
    “For the next few months... I’ll take the best player in the world, who also everyone can play with.” —Russillo (07:39)
  • Both agree the dynamic would shift for a multi-year horizon given age/health.

• Jalen Brown vs. Jalen Brunson [09:47]

  • Both initially waver, but Russillo shifts his answer: “You know what? I’m going to change my answer... Jalen Brunson closing out playoff games when he’s the focal point... he’s so unguardable.” —Russillo (11:13)
  • Defensive vs. offensive value is the key axis.

• Devin Booker vs. Tyrese Maxey [12:08]

  • Both ultimately stick with Booker, but it’s closer than ever: “I know it was with Paul and whatever. There was that finals run that means something to me... I would trust that a little bit more than I would Maxey.” —Ceruti (12:36)

• Alperen Sengun vs. Chet Holmgren [13:18]

  • Value for a supporting player on a contender is more important than raw playmaking; both lean Chet for his versatility and rim protection.
  • Debate: who’d win 1-on-1? Split opinions.
  • “Even a lesser version of Chet... he’s still going to be a max player for a really long time.” —Russillo (14:22)
  • “I think one on one is like your offensive moves... Shengün would win a one on one.” —Ceruti (15:02)

• Paolo Banchero vs. Amen Thompson [16:18]

  • Ceruti wavers on his usual defense of Paolo, notes recent struggles:
    "It's just been bad. And at least I know with Amen, I'm getting a guy that plays really hard and is versatile." —Ceruti (18:19)
  • Russillo counters: “Paolo can be a one. I don't think Amen can.” (18:30)
  • Spirited discussion about “sludge drag” vs. upside.

• Austin Reaves, Tyler Herro, or Con Knippel – Battle of White Guards

  • Collective agreement that Herro is a distant third. For this year:
    “The rest of the year? Austin Reaves over Knippel.” – Russillo (19:41)

• Carl-Anthony Towns vs. Jalen Duren

  • Russillo dislikes Cat’s play style and off-court demeanor.
  • “Jalen Duren. I don’t like Cat... I find him unenjoyable to watch.” —Russillo (19:58)
  • Discussion of broadcasters' challenge with “homerism” and honesty.

• Dylan Brooks vs. Michael Porter Jr.

  • Russillo values Brooks in high-leverage games:
    “I’ll take Brooks in a playoff battle over Michael Porter Jr.” (22:17)
  • Ceruti points out "NBA champion Michael Porter Jr." doesn’t sway him.

2. Thunder Depth vs. Entire NBA Rosters

[22:53]

• Entertaining (and intentionally “ridiculous”) segment: Which teams would swap their entire roster for the Thunder’s bench (excluding their starting five)?
• Russillo and Ceruti debate specific teams, with disagreements on Wizards, Kings, Brooklyn, Memphis, etc.
• Philosophical rumination: Is it better to have a group of high-upside role-players or bet on one superstar “popping”?
  • “There’s just not enough high end possibilities here with this group where you’d be passing on Trey [Young]…” —Russillo (25:54)

3. MLB’s Looming CBA Crisis & Dodgers Deep Dive (with Jeff Passan)

[31:33]

Labor Tensions and Timelines

• The key date is not December 1st, 2026 (CBA expiration), but an undetermined mid-March 2027 “drop dead” point that determines if games are missed.
• Passan emphasizes:
  “Baseball, for all of the labor consternation... hasn't missed a game since the strike in 94... the hope is that that continues.” —Passan (32:19)

Are the Dodgers Baseball’s Villains?

[33:27]

• Passan breaks down the financial reality:
  • Dodgers are simply exploiting the CBA’s structure—penalties for overspending are only financial.
  • Hedge fund ownership (Guggenheim, Steve Cohen) enables creative, “money is no object” roster building.
• Quote:
  “Baseball really is the only sport I can see where you’re penalized for trying hard. And there’s no penalty for not trying.” —Passan (35:07)
• The Dodgers’ contract with Kyle Tucker is cited as a breaking point:
  • For 2026, the Dodgers will pay Tucker more (after tax penalties) than the entire payroll of each of MLB’s bottom 10 teams.
    “If that right there does not illustrate to you the disparity, I’m not sure what’s going to.” —Passan (40:01)

CBA Structure and Small-Market Realities

• Passan and Russillo are not anti-Dodgers; they place blame on low-payroll teams.
  • Emphasize that anyone could spend more, even if not to LA/NY levels.
  • “The lower teams... can spend more and there can be some sort of penalties... that don’t include necessarily a salary cap.” —Passan (35:34)
• The Ohtani/Tucker contract structures are especially advantageous because California can defer money—mitigates the disadvantages of a 13% state income tax.
  • “Their creative structuring puts them in another stratosphere on top of access to all this money, because no one would want to sign there unless they were deferring all this money...” —Russillo (41:14)

Parity, Public Perception, & the Salary Cap Question

• Russillo ponders the “public relations” game of 50/50 splits (“it’s hard to argue against”) and whether the Dodgers’ behavior will create more fan support for a cap.
• Passan: “Fans are very pro-salary cap... the leagues have done an extraordinary job of public relations.”
• Key dynamic: players don’t want a cap (guaranteed, uncapped deals are rare and valuable), but “socialist” sentiment among fans fuels the cap debate.
  • “Of course they’re going to take the uncapped system every single time... you believe enough people in the sport want to win...” —Passan (52:01)

Revenue Sharing and Solutions

• There already are caps and heavy taxes; the difference is the bottom “floor.” Russillo and Passan both advocate for a spending floor, or even more creative penalties for non-spenders (e.g., loss of draft picks, direct money penalties).
  • “Those bottom teams, Bob Nutting’s not going to like that.” —Russillo (65:39)
  • “Maybe... the bad owners who don’t want to win get the hell out of the game.” —Passan (65:45)
• Discussion closes with optimism for MLB’s product but a warning: the CBA crisis will be misrepresented (again) in the media if 2027 negotiations go sideways.
  • “I know the Dodgers won last year. That’s going to be one of my favorite World Series ever, because it was so much fun that Game 7. At least the product is right, but the criticism... will be premature and disproportionate.” —Russillo (68:03)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Man, like, these things age so badly so fast.” —Ceruti on "Would You Rather" hindsight (03:31)
• “The advanced shit [with SGA] is like a whole nother universe these last two years.” —Russillo (05:40)
• “Baseball really is the only sport I can see where you’re penalized for trying hard. And there’s no penalty for not trying.” —Passan (35:07)
• “I’ll take Brooks in a playoff battle over Michael Porter Jr.” —Russillo (22:17)
• “If that right there does not illustrate to you the disparity, I’m not sure what’s going to.” —Passan on Tucker’s $119.9 million vs. bottom 10 payrolls (40:01)
• “The strength of Major League Baseball is how good the fans of low revenue teams feel about their ability to win.” —Passan (58:01)
• “You shouldn't be allowed to own one of these teams anymore. You shouldn't benefit from the appreciation... if the only thing was the value of evaluation.” —Russillo (65:57)

Life Advice & Listener Questions

[Starts ~69:54]

The show’s trademark “Life Advice” section brings lighthearted solutions to listener dilemmas, including:

• Best Man Dilemmas: (74:06) — Layup solution: “Just make it two [best men], dude.” —Russillo
• Poughkeepsie Wedding Recommendations: (80:25) — Brasserie 292, Zeus Brewery, The Governess.
• Audiobooks vs. Reading Debate: (83:02) — “It’s not [reading], but I will tell certain people I’m reading if I want them to be proud of me.” —Kyle
• Dad Strength/Baby Arm Myth Confirmed: (87:55) — Ceruti: “My left arm is stronger... so I do believe that.”

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Segment | Timestamp (MM:SS) | |----------------------------------------------|--------------------| | NBA Would You Rather begins | 03:00 | | Jokic vs. SGA/Jalen Williams | 06:52 - 08:43 | | Jalen Brown vs. Jalen Brunson | 09:47 - 11:59 | | Booker vs. Maxey | 12:08 - 13:18 | | Sengun vs. Chet | 13:18 - 15:17 | | Paolo vs. Amen | 16:18 - 18:38 | | NBA Best White Guard Battle | 18:41 - 19:45 | | Cat vs. Jalen Duren | 19:53 - 21:48 | | Dylan Brooks vs. MPJ | 22:17 - 22:53 | | Thunder bench trade segment | 22:53 - 29:43 | | MLB CBA, Dodgers, and Passan joins | 31:33 - 68:58 | | Life Advice | 69:54 - end |

Conclusion & Tone

Russillo’s show blends sharp basketball analysis with candid, often wry banter and a willingness to poke fun at both himself and friends. The addition of Jeff Passan’s expertise gives real insight into labor, parity, and business side realities in Major League Baseball—always in accessible, non-wonky language.

If you missed the episode, you’ll come away informed, entertained, and reminded that in both sports and life, the “easy answer” is rarely as simple as it first appears.