The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz
Hour 1: Dan Steals Stan's Nuggets (feat. Stan Van Gundy)
10 Mar 2026
Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.
Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
This is the Dan Levitar Show with the Stugatz Podcast. Look at who's here. The lead game analyst for the NBA on prime. Uh, he's half the man he used to be. He look at him, look at him. Stan Van Gundy with a Sixers at Detroit Celtics at OKC on Thursday, a special game last night in the association. So we start obviously here with Stan talking about food. Uh, Stan, uh, They're DTF St. Louis.
They're down to feast in St. Louis at the ballpark. You got $29 gets you an assortment of foods. All you can eat here, Stan. Hot dogs, chicken nuggets, bratwurst, nacho chips, popcorn, french fries, peanuts, kettle chips. ice cream, and fountain drinks for $29. What does Stan Van Gundy think of that deal as a baseball fan? He's in Houston. He went to the World Baseball Classic yesterday.
Chapter 2: What are Stan Van Gundy's thoughts on the upcoming Celtics vs. Spurs game?
He loves baseball just as much as he loves basketball, but he loves food more than both of them. What do you think of this unlimited $29 deal here, Stan? That's a hell of a deal. I mean, I would just make sure I didn't eat before I went to the game that night. That's a hell of a deal. What would be your choices there? What would you go with? How much damage do you think you would do?
Well, I would have the first line there. I would get a Diet Coke, the hot dogs, the chicken nuggets. I'd probably, well, I might get a brat, but definitely popcorn. And yeah, that would be it. But I'd eat a lot of all that stuff. So you would make them regret their decision to make all of that $29? I would try to make them regret it, yes. Your love of baseball.
Tell me about going to the World Baseball Classic. What did you see yesterday? Well, it was incredible. I had never and I didn't really think about it until I was going. But for all the sporting events I've been to, I had never been to a major international match. Like, you know, I was talking to my brother and he's been to the Olympics and the World Cup in basketball.
He's been to the Women's World Cup in soccer. I had never been to anything. Anything. And it was phenomenal against Mexico. I mean, the atmosphere before the game, there were probably more Mexico fans there than USA fans. They were certainly louder. You know, USA had a five run inning and got up five nothing. But yeah.
Mexico battled back and made it interesting, and the crowd was really into it. I haven't been, and I've been to the World Series when the Marlins were in it. I've been to the World Series back in the day when I was young and the A's were in it. I've never been in a stadium that was as electric as it was last night. Judge and Roman Anthony hit home runs, but Bobby Witt Jr. made some.
Two of the best defensive plays you would see.
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Chapter 3: What does Stan think about the unlimited food deal at the ballpark?
Judge made an incredible throw to throw a guy out at third base. I mean, it was just a lot of fun. I was hurt and offended that you went on another show and told people that Dwight Howard had not only a world-class NBA IQ, but was also an all-star farter. I just got asked the question. I didn't bring it up. I did not bring it up. Well, now I'm asking. I just verified the story.
So what constitutes being an all-star farter? No, no, I didn't say that. I did not say that. They said that the story was that, you know, in walkthroughs and things that he would fart. And I said, yes, that's true. That's it for me. I didn't. I don't classify an all-star. I don't know if there is an all-star in that category. So he's crop-dusting. Yeah, I guess. But do you have second place?
Who else is all-NBA farter in your experience? No, I don't have that experience. But think about it for next time. Not Shaq? Yes, give it some thought and make sure to get back to us on that. Oh yeah, I'll spend a lot of time thinking about that, guys. Since February 1st, okay, the NBA's best record, number one, San Antonio, Boston, number two.
NBA net rating, San Antonio, number one, Boston, number two. NBA defense, number one, Boston, San Antonio, number two. Are those your NBA finals teams, Stan? I don't know. I mean, I still think, look, Oklahoma City, you look at the number of injuries they've had and they still have the best record in the league. I mean, it's incredible.
I mean, Jalen Williams has missed 40 games and they've had numerous guys miss games. Isaiah Hartenstein, I think, has missed 30 games. SGA missed 12 games. A.J. Mitchell just came back after missing 20 games straight. It's incredible. I mean, they haven't had their team, and yet they have the best record. So I would still say until somebody knocks them off, they're the favorite.
But I like San Antonio. I like Boston. But I think the East is wide open. New York, Cleveland, Detroit. And then even you've got a lot of teams starting to play well now. I mean, the team nobody's going to want to face is Charlotte in the first round. I mean, so you went through all those things. In the last seven weeks, Charlotte is tied for the best record in the East with Boston.
And they are tied... Only San Antonio has a better record than they do. Somebody in the first or second spot is going to get them in the first round, and they're playing as well as anybody in the league right now.
Stan, I wonder what your thoughts are when you heard people on television or radio before Jason Tatum returned speaking about how difficult it might be for the Celtics to reintegrate Tatum. Because I remember you dealt with something similar when you were coaching Orlando with Jameer Nelson. Yeah, I didn't really worry about Boston's ability to reintegrate him. He's played with all those guys.
I just am shocked that in 10 months, this guy's able to come back and has looked the way he has.
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Chapter 4: How did Stan feel about attending the World Baseball Classic?
Now, he hasn't shot the ball well, but he's looked like he's moving well and playing well. I've been through it. You know, with a guy coming back off of an Achilles. And usually, when they come back, it's still... a good long time, almost an entire season before they're back playing at a high level. And that's guys that have taken a full year or more to get back.
So I'm absolutely shocked to see what he's doing out there. Obviously, he did an unbelievable job in his rehab because he looks like the same old Jason Tatum to me. Were you tempted at all to say Miami when you said Charlotte there? Group them when you're talking about other teams in the East? You say the East is wide open. I don't agree with you.
I think Boston is better than everybody, and I don't trust everybody. You caught a lot of heat for comments recently on Detroit because you know how offensively limited that team is. Yeah, yeah. Look, I love Detroit. I mean, as a guy who really respects hard play in teams, the defensive end of the floor, the whole thing, I love them.
I just know that the regular season and playoffs are two totally different challenges. The regular season is about how often your team is ready to play and you know, brings close to their best. And Detroit has been phenomenal at that. But the playoffs are what your best is.
I would agree with you right now with Tatum back looking the way he is, that Boston's the favorite, but I don't think that they're an overwhelming favorite. I don't, I think New York, Cleveland, Detroit, Miami starting to play well, Orlando is playing well now and they don't have their best player. So, You know, injuries are going to be a big part of it.
I mean, you give me the top four or five teams in the East and do the same in the West. Tell me who's going to be healthiest. That's who I'll pick. Did you just make Wagner better than Boncaro? Yeah, I think he's their best player if you're looking at both ends of the floor. I mean, it's close. And I will say. Paulo Banqueiro, since the All-Star break, has been a different guy.
I mean, he's been great. He's been much more aggressive. I didn't think up until the All-Star break that he was playing great. I thought he was playing okay. I didn't think he was playing great. But since the All-Star break, he's been... They get those two guys in Desmond Bain. They've rediscovered their defensive identity. I think they've got a shot.
I mean, New York has stumbled in the two games in L.A., but their defensive identity is back. Look, I do. I think it's wide open. I would agree with you that Boston's a favorite, but I think it's wide open. Last night's game between OKC and Denver was really great. It was great from start to finish. Denver is down seven with a minute 12 left and tie the game even though Jokic missed a free throw.
The math on that is hard. Dort again did a foul to Jokic, hit him in the face and it was a flagrant foul. Shea Gilgis Alexander tied Wilt Chamberlain's scoring streak by getting 20 points in 126 straight games. When I say that to you, Stan, what are your thoughts just on that? That Shea Gilgis Alexander has tied Wilt Chamberlain's scoring streak of 20 points in a game in 126 straight games.
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Chapter 5: What are Stan's insights on the current state of the Eastern Conference?
Amin's a better offensive player. The best shooter in the league after Steph Curry is blank. The best shooter in the league, period, just shooter, is Luke Kinnock. Better than Steph. Well, just as a shooter. Yeah, but Luke can't get his shot. Put it on the poll at Levitard Show. Is Stan Van Gundy crazy for saying that Luke Kennard is a better shooter than Steph Curry?
Okay, see, you never let me explain myself. Luke can't get his own shot. Steph is by far the more dangerous shooter and player. But if we're just going to stand there and shoot the ball, Luke Kennard's the best shooter. The best front office in the sport is blank. Well, you got, I mean, Oklahoma City, but San Antonio's pretty damn close. Is Con Canipple the most fun name to say on a broadcast?
You know, we haven't had their games, but yes, it would be, and I would love to do that. Though I will say this. Okay, I had a college game. The only college game I did before I do March Madness Tuesday night and the point guard at and this is his true name. The point guard at Xavier is his last name is right.
his first name is all he is all right and now crazier than that his brother his brother who plays i want to say it like rio grande valley or something his first name is always uh do you have a hornets game uh can we get you uh to say some form can we get you to shout some form of genuflect before the nipple No, you're not going to get me to say that, but I do hope we get one of their games.
We have Amazon Prime has the play in games. They're going to be in that. We have all the play in. So hopefully I'll get a Charlotte game because their turnaround has been incredible. I watched them early in the year. And I thought, same old Charlotte. And now, literally, they're as good as anybody. I mean, we're talking about Boston and they're the favorite. Great, I agree.
But Charlotte's been just as good over the last seven weeks. Charlotte has had the best offense in the league since the 22nd of January and the sixth best defense. I mean, they've been phenomenal. And Con Canipple has been phenomenal. a huge part of that. I think he's the rookie of the year just on availability and team success. Why won't you say bow before the nipple? Why won't you say it?
You know, you guys like... I'm not going to say it. Yeah, you're not going to get me to say that. Coach, obviously you mentioned Concanipple is your rookie of the year. This has been a super tight race between Cooper Flagg and Concanipple. Do you feel like Concanipple, who's now the betting favorite, will win? Faster. Well, I do think he'll win. I think it's more on availability.
He's played more games. He's on a better team. Cooper Flagg's fabulous, but I think Khan Kanipal's a rookie of the year. Everybody talks about Wemby and glowing praise and all that. Can you give me Wemby's flaw, his one flaw? You can turn him over. At 7'4", he's got a high dribble. You can attack him on the dribble, and he can at times become a mistake player.
Kawhi Leonard having his best season after 14 years. Can you describe what he's doing? They're 26-11 in their last 37 games. I mean, that's the other great turnaround this year. They started 6-21, and Kawhi has had to absolutely carry that team offensively. I mean, and he's been up to the challenge.
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Chapter 6: What does Stan think about Jason Tatum's return to the Celtics?
But listen, I do think Pablo Torre, I think he's a good journalist. I think he does a good job. I'm not slighting him, but no, I haven't. See, listen, it's the same thing. You know this when you start talking to me about sports and in basketball about potential trades and salary cap and free agent settings. I'm interested in the games.
I don't I just don't get caught up in a lot of the other stuff. Stan, the Hornets sent the Heat a second round pick yesterday from the Terry Rozier trade from two years ago. Should the Heat be upset about that whole situation?
about the terry rogier situation i mean everybody's upset about all of this that that stuff is you know it's affected the league in a bad way so if again depending on what everybody knew and if they knew what was going on and sent the heat terry rogier and didn't tell the Heat that, yeah, the Heat should be upset. The Heat should be more upset that Terry Rozier didn't play very well for them.
Let's play some sound here of Steve Kerr and get Stan Van Gundy's reaction to this. I know this will... Not be a popular opinion in the league office, but I will continue to say it cuz it's obvious we need to play fewer games. We need to take ten games off the schedule. I think it would be great for the league. And I get it. It's revenue.
And you'd have to get everybody to agree to take a little less money. And that's a really hard thing to do. But what I know about the league, about coaching, about how hard it is to play the modern game with the pace and the space, I think it would be a more competitive and healthier league if we played fewer games. Stan? Well... Look, I agree.
I think that, to me, the best way, if we wanted just great quality of play, the best way to play the league would be a very balanced schedule. Everybody would play everybody twice. We'd play 58 games, and we would take our best teams into the playoffs. But I do think something's missing from the argument. I don't think fewer games... in and of itself is enough.
I think the biggest problem with injuries is not the number of games. I think the biggest problem with injuries is that people have stopped practicing and the league-wide...
way to do things has been to do less and less and less i think the players are deconditioned and yes the game is more demanding than ever but it's nonsensical to me that as there are greater demands we do less in preparation no other sport would think of doing it that way ask the swimmers if as they meet more demands they do less and less and less no you do do more and more and more.
I think we've deconditioned players. I don't think we practice enough. I think that's the problem. I think that there are people who in the scientific world who are coming around to that. But listen, here's the thing. It's a CYA situation and no strength and conditioning coach, no coach is ever going to be you know, chastised for doing too little.
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