The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

The NBA Playoffs are getting HEATED On this episode of Alley Oop, Juju & Trysta break down whether the San Antonio Spurs are actually MORE battle-tested than the Oklahoma City Thunder heading into the Western Conference Finals. Has Victor Wembanyama faced tougher competition than Shai Gilgeous-Alexander? And what does that mean for the series?Plus: who do we trust more in the East between the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks? Juju & Trysta debate the Cavs vs Knicks matchup, break down Donovan Mitchell’s huge performance, and discuss whether Cade Cunningham completely disappeared at the worst possible time.We also get into:

The Detroit Pistons collapse

James Harden finally doing what he’s supposed to do

Ausar Thompson and the growing concerns about his jump shot

A'ja Wilson’s controversial lane violation

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s attitude

The legend of Derrick White Ale

Who do YOU trust more right now — Spurs or Thunder? Knicks or Cavs?
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As our exclusive new series on LeBron's legacy continues, Dan, Amin and Izzy re-live the awkward silence — and alternate history — of a made-for-TV moment that altered the course of Miami sports and player empowerment forever.

More from "The Step Back":

Episode 1: The Chosen One

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Homework for this episode:

"The Decision" (ESPN, 2010) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Afpgnb_9bA4

Homework for next week's episode:

"I'm Coming Home" by LeBron James, as told to Lee Jenkins (Sports Illustrated, 2014) - https://www.si.com/nba/2014/07/11/lebron-james-cleveland-cavaliers

Optional homework for next week's episode:

"Return of the King" by Brian Windhorst and Dave McMenamin (2018) - https://bookshop.org/p/books/return-of-the-king-lebron-james-the-cleveland-cavaliers-and-the-greatest-comeback-in-nba-history-brian-windhorst/9390251

Encouraged homework for next month's season finale:

"There's Always This Year" by Hanif Abdurraqib (2025) - https://bookshop.org/p/books/there-s-always-this-year-on-basketball-and-ascension-hanif-abdurraqib/20204172

From our guest:

"Talking to GOATs: The Moments You Remember and the Stories You Never Heard" - https://www.talkingtogoats.com/

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"PUT HIM ON A MILK CARTON!"



JuJu has a compliment for one member of the Shipping Container, shares his thoughts on Wemby's win over the Thunder, and updates the Polls.
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"When does Goliath become Goliath?"



Pablo has an eloquent way of articulating Victor Wembanyama's emergence as a great player in the NBA, because, of course he does. Tony tries to take him down a peg, the same way Pablo does for Oz the Mentalist in his latest episode of PTFO.
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"What were you doing there, Dan?"



We forgot one part of Dan's time angering ESPN: the time he was suspended for two days for putting up billboards throughout Cleveland after LeBron left Miami. And after Dan gives Jeremy about two seconds of Marlins updates, Bryant McKinnie joins us in the studio to discuss his efforts to support the NFL community on mental health. Check out bryantmckinnie.com for all the details of his mental health awareness event.
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