Kevin Durant has had quite a summer. He’s been the subject of trade rumors, he’s become the all-time leading scorer and rebounder in USA Basketball program history and he brought home another gold medal in Paris. Thus, he earned the right to have a little fun. At least we think he’s having some fun, honestly it’s kind of hard to tell.
Mike Ryan just wants KD to be happy, he generally doesn’t give off “happy.” Even in the water slide photo, he’s not giving off “WEEEEE!!!” so much as he’s got his arms up with a scowl firmly planted on his face. Stugotz says he’s never seen a person on a water slide not be happy.
Dan thinks KD is one of the great examples of someone whose enjoyment has been RAVAGED by us having too much access, RAVAGED by social media. Dan wonders if KD will look back on this golden era of his life and wonder if he needed to be fighting everybody online just because social media became popular while he was coming up. Dan says we all know KD loves basketball and that he loves competing, but it doesn’t seem like anything outside of that brings him true joy. I mean, as Stugotz points out, what’s enjoyable about fending people off on the internet throughout your entire career?
Imagine you’re as great as Kevin Durant, Dan says, and you love basketball and you love to win so you go to Golden State and vanquish everyone. But even as you got the winning, Dan points you got the Stugotz of the world saying you didn’t earn it and didn’t deserve the credit for the winning. Meanwhile, on the flip side, LeBron did get the credit and seems like he’s enjoyed the entirety of the experience more. Whatever Durant thought he was getting in the move to Golden State, all he really got was the championships. He left fried and now we sit here and examine how happy he looks on a water slide after winning another gold medal trying to determine if he just has a permanent scowl.
Tune into The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz Monday-Friday at 11 a.m. ET on DraftKings Network!
SHOW BREAKDOWN
Local Hour: Skibidi Toilet
Today’s cast: Dan, Stugotz, Greg Cote, Chris, Jeremy, Jessica, and Mike. Today’s show began in the place all of you likely expected: Skibidi Toilet. But before we get to Jessica and Jeremy’s explanation of what in the world Skibidi means, Jess has an Olympics-based proposal for a better NFL Postseason. Also, Jeremy is dressed as Raygun/Jeremaygun/Jeremy Tachaygun for some reason. Then, what is “The Greatest Generation” and how long do generations actually last? Plus, Stugotz is watchin’ the games, The Greg Cote Show’s Father-Son Olympics update, Carl vs. Karl, and the assembly of a pool cue.
The Big Suey: Greg Answers His Own Question
Dan starts the hour by questioning whether or not Tom Brokaw has left us. $50 fine? Then, Greg and Dan have STRONG takes on American Ninja Warrior and the level of athleticism it takes to compete, so they debate while the Shipping Container watches some old video of the crew competing. Plus, Spooky Betts, Will Levis’ Hellmann’s commercial, and the order of names in duos. Also, is the No. 19 preseason ranking too high for the Miami Hurricanes?
Hour 1: Greg’s Sleep Paralysis Demon
Jessica delivers her “Top 5 Athletes She Discovered During the 2024 Summer Olympics” while Jeremaygun continues to breakdance his heart out. The crew also discusses the merits of using a hand protector for stealing bases and Guerschon Yabusele’s excellence for the French Men’s Basketball team. Then, Jeremy explains how and why Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Anthony Edwards COULD all play for the Miami Heat over the next 6 years (no, seriously), and Dan questions Durant’s happiness after a photo of him gleefully going down a water slide emerges. Plus, what is going on with the Jordan Chiles Bronze Medal?
Hour 2: Charles Barkey, Nate Silver, Dan, and Stewie
We have a guest-filled hour with two great conversations headed your way. First, Charles Barkley stops by to chat about Team USA Men’s Basketball’s gold medal, whether the dream team could beat modern-day South Sudan, his TNT contract, the future of Inside the NBA, and why the folks behind the scenes at TNT matter the most to him. Then, Nate Silver of FiveThirtyEight is here to discuss his new book “On the Edge: The Art of Risking Everything” and to explain how he looks at the world as a giant sports bet, his own NBA gambling, why 2016 Presidential poll predictions were so off base, and fame for nerds.
Postgame Show: The Local Postgame Show?
Greg and Mike discuss all the storylines currently swirling around Inter Miami including the Leagues Cup, the Mas brothers, Lionel Messi, and Ron DeSantis.
VIDEO
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