Brian Windhorst

Windhorst posits that LeBron James has been on the record more than anyone in modern American history.

“I believe that LeBron James has given more interviews and has been on the record for more hours than anyone in modern American history”

Pardon My Take: NBA Free Agency With Brian Windhorst, World Cup, Balogun's Red Card Suspended And People Are Big Mad At The US, Taylor Swift/Travis Kelce Wedding + Mt Rushmore Of Weapons (Jul 6, 2026) · Listen from 2:08:02

Windhorst says league chatter about LeBron returning to Cleveland is based on vibes rather than knowledge.

“I don't think people are talking with knowledge. I think people are talking about vibes”

Pardon My Take: NBA Free Agency With Brian Windhorst, World Cup, Balogun's Red Card Suspended And People Are Big Mad At The US, Taylor Swift/Travis Kelce Wedding + Mt Rushmore Of Weapons (Jul 6, 2026) · Listen from 2:04:33

Windhorst believes LeBron is seriously considering only a few teams despite Rich Paul's long list.

“There's no chance LeBron's considering 10 teams. He's probably considering two and a half”

Pardon My Take: NBA Free Agency With Brian Windhorst, World Cup, Balogun's Red Card Suspended And People Are Big Mad At The US, Taylor Swift/Travis Kelce Wedding + Mt Rushmore Of Weapons (Jul 6, 2026) · Listen from 1:52:26

Windhorst concedes he should have called Young's deal one of the worst contracts rather than the worst.

“But okay, if that's what you want, I'll concede that, that I should have said one of the worst contracts”

Pardon My Take: NBA Free Agency With Brian Windhorst, World Cup, Balogun's Red Card Suspended And People Are Big Mad At The US, Taylor Swift/Travis Kelce Wedding + Mt Rushmore Of Weapons (Jul 6, 2026) · Listen from 1:34:43

Windhorst claims the Wizards promised Trae Young a new deal in exchange for sitting him out while they pursued the top draft pick.

“So they told him like, Trey, we're going to take care of you. don't worry, so we're on the same page, we're invested in you, we're gonna bench you”

Pardon My Take: NBA Free Agency With Brian Windhorst, World Cup, Balogun's Red Card Suspended And People Are Big Mad At The US, Taylor Swift/Travis Kelce Wedding + Mt Rushmore Of Weapons (Jul 6, 2026) · Listen from 1:29:26

Windhorst argues that teams can no longer afford massive overpays and that no other team was bidding at Trae Young's price.

“right now, you cannot afford to have a contract on your books that's a massive overpay. And there was nobody bidding that for Trey Young”

Pardon My Take: NBA Free Agency With Brian Windhorst, World Cup, Balogun's Red Card Suspended And People Are Big Mad At The US, Taylor Swift/Travis Kelce Wedding + Mt Rushmore Of Weapons (Jul 6, 2026) · Listen from 1:26:36

Windhorst predicts that within a couple of years some NBA contracts will include $80 million seasons.

“There will be players in the next couple of years where there will be years on their contract where it's $80 million”

Pardon My Take: NBA Free Agency With Brian Windhorst, World Cup, Balogun's Red Card Suspended And People Are Big Mad At The US, Taylor Swift/Travis Kelce Wedding + Mt Rushmore Of Weapons (Jul 6, 2026) · Listen from 1:44:35

Windhorst says teams treat the second apron like a hard cap.

“the second apron is the way the teams are acting. they're acting like it's a hard cap. Nobody has been in it two consecutive years”

Pardon My Take: NBA Free Agency With Brian Windhorst, World Cup, Balogun's Red Card Suspended And People Are Big Mad At The US, Taylor Swift/Travis Kelce Wedding + Mt Rushmore Of Weapons (Jul 6, 2026) · Listen from 1:44:48

Windhorst says a reported rift with Jayson Tatum was not the main reason for the trade; Boston wanted to spend more efficiently.

“The driving factor was Boston felt like it could spend the money more efficiently”

Pardon My Take: NBA Free Agency With Brian Windhorst, World Cup, Balogun's Red Card Suspended And People Are Big Mad At The US, Taylor Swift/Travis Kelce Wedding + Mt Rushmore Of Weapons (Jul 6, 2026) · Listen from 1:41:10

Windhorst says teams were wary of Jaylen Brown's salary and his likely demand for a bigger extension.

“They just saw a $60 million player who wanted $70 million, who probably would have wanted $70 million a year”

Pardon My Take: NBA Free Agency With Brian Windhorst, World Cup, Balogun's Red Card Suspended And People Are Big Mad At The US, Taylor Swift/Travis Kelce Wedding + Mt Rushmore Of Weapons (Jul 6, 2026) · Listen from 1:38:36

Windhorst says Jokić's contract situation will become a major story if he enters the season without an extension.

“But if Jokic enters the season having not extended, that will become a significant storyline”

Pardon My Take: NBA Free Agency With Brian Windhorst, World Cup, Balogun's Red Card Suspended And People Are Big Mad At The US, Taylor Swift/Travis Kelce Wedding + Mt Rushmore Of Weapons (Jul 6, 2026) · Listen from 2:20:01

Windhorst expects the Utah Jazz to improve rapidly and says they are his team to watch.

“I think they're going to maybe get like way better, way fast. And so Utah is a team that I am going to be watching this season”

Pardon My Take: NBA Free Agency With Brian Windhorst, World Cup, Balogun's Red Card Suspended And People Are Big Mad At The US, Taylor Swift/Travis Kelce Wedding + Mt Rushmore Of Weapons (Jul 6, 2026) · Listen from 2:16:22

Windhorst reports no sign that a rival men's league tied to LeBron and Maverick Carter is moving forward.

“But there's been no indication and I'm, and I wish I had more. But there's been no indication that that is going forward”

Pardon My Take: NBA Free Agency With Brian Windhorst, World Cup, Balogun's Red Card Suspended And People Are Big Mad At The US, Taylor Swift/Travis Kelce Wedding + Mt Rushmore Of Weapons (Jul 6, 2026) · Listen from 2:13:58