How great is it that New York basketball is BACK?

New York fans are flying high after another Knicks win, complete with Jalen Brunson doing his best Willis Reed impersonation on the anniversary of Game 7 of the 1970 Finals.

So of course, legendary New York radio host Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo had to join The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz on Thursday, complete with the crazy hair that makes him even crazier.

Dan says New York is mattering in basketball in a way they haven’t in a very long time, and Mad Dog says Dan hit the nail on the head. Mad Dog says the 1969-70 Knicks team is up there with the most famous teams in New York history, alongside teams like the Super Bowl champion Jets, the 1996 Yankees and more. For the most part, he says, it’s been very sporadic success for the Knicks of late, but this team has captured the hearts of New Yorkers, with everybody loving the Villanova trio of Brunson, Donte DiVincenzo and Josh Hart. He says this is the kind of Knicks team the Big Apple loves. He also says there’s always high drama at MSG, with the Knicks never really getting blown out or blowing their opponents out. What a monologue! Let the Doggy cook, Dan-O!

Mad Dog says this is fun team, although he thinks they’re going to get mauled by the Celtics. He initially thought the Knicks would beat the Pacers in 7, but now it’s looking more like it’s going to be earlier than that. There’s just something about this team, even if Mad Dog won’t join Stugotz in getting caught up in the moment and crowning Jalen Brunson the greatest Knick of all time.

Check out the full Best of video above and make sure to tune into The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. ET on DraftKings Network as well as new episodes of the Truth Lounge every Friday at Friday at 6 p.m. ET!

SHOW BREAKDOWN

Local Hour: The WFAT Power Hour

• Today’s cast: Dan, Stugotz, Jonathan Zaslow, Chris, Jeremy, Jessica, Roy, and Tony. It’s time for the Power Hour on the nation’s preeminent sports radio station, WFAT! While Stugotz is ready to rip Reggie Miller, Rick Carlisle, and Spike Lee, and praise Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, and Josh Hart, but Zaslow can’t believe we’re not starting the show with the Florida Panthers mopping the floor with the Boston Bruins. We discuss Roy showing up hungover to work after celebrating, the definition of a “clapper,” the tongue off, and Chucky taking down Pasta. But then, it’s time to get back to the Knicks and what Jess and Stu argue may be the apex of Knicks fandom this season and how easy it is to fall in love with this team.

Big Suey: Good Point

• We continue the Knicks talk with a couple of heavy hitters in Mad Dog Russo and Sam Morril! Mad Dog teaches us about some of the true greats in Knicks history like Dave DeBusschere as Zaslow makes a 3-good-pointer. Then, Sam Morril is here to share his experience courtside last night with Tommy the Cop and his buddy Chris. Sam praises his team, rips Rick Carlisle and Charles Barkley, and tells us whether or not he would personally hurt a Pacers player if they injured a Knick.

Hour 1: What’s Up, Doggy?

• Okay. Enough of that Knicks talk. We’re a Miami show and always will be. Zaslow, Chris, and Roy discuss the Panthers game from last night with some more detail including Zaslow’s anxiety and old takes, Witty’s worst take of all-time, and Juan Pierre banging the drum pregame. Then, Rohan Nadkarni spoke with Jimmy Butler over the weekend and wrote an article for GQ about the experience, and he discusses Jimmy’s future in Miami, why the Heat should extend him, and what being a “needle mover” actually needs. Plus, a deep-cut Thursday Thunder, Zaslow is a real person who actually exists, and does the movie Airplane hold up?

Hour 2: The Top 176 Jokes from Airplane

• Who was better at the peak of their powers: Nikola Jokic or Shaquille O’Neal? Is Meatballs a good movie? Have you seen Airplane? Then, Mina Kimes is here to tell us about her favorite movies from Childhood, her thoughts on the Brady roast, and explain the loss of music great Steve Albini before answering some important questions about the NFL.

Postgame Show: Spliff Notes

• JuJu delivers his Spliff Notes on what the fans are saying about today’s show.

VIDEO:

Check out the Le Batard and Friends YouTube page for more and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also follow the show on X at @LeBatardShow.

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