Patrick Kane In Studio, LeBron James To Philadelphia, Who’s Back + Mt Rushmore Of Things You Eat With A Spoon

Episode of Pardon My Take · July 27, 2026 · 2 h 24 min

The Pardon My Take crew debates LeBron James signing with the 76ers, runs Who's Back, interviews Patrick Kane on his Blackhawks return, and drafts spoon foods.

Summary

The episode opened with the hosts reacting to LeBron James choosing to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers on a two-year deal. PFT Commenter and Dan Katz insisted the move made the season "championship or bust" for Philadelphia, while 76ers fan Max Delente resisted, noting the team was only tied for third in title odds and saying he would be happy with an Eastern Conference title. Celtics fan Hank Lockwood was blamed for the situation because Boston's trade of Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia reportedly put the Sixers on LeBron's radar; Lockwood mused that Brad Stevens might be playing "4D chess" by overloading the Sixers with ball-dominant stars. Katz argued that Joel Embiid now faced the most pressure, and the group discussed the crowded Eastern Conference, the Knicks' reported rejection of LeBron, and Memes' sour reaction.

In the Who's Back segment, the hosts joked about Tony Romo's OWI arrest in Wisconsin, discussed Kyle Shanahan's belatedly disclosed car crash, the start of NFL training camps, Brandon Aiyuk's Virginia house purchase, Mike Vrabel's dog-holding press conference, Jacoby Brissett's Cardinals contract, and Caitlin Clark coverage. Zach recounted a night of drinking that ended with him falling asleep covered in Diet Pepsi.

Patrick Kane then appeared in studio, recorded the day his return to the Chicago Blackhawks was announced. He described learning of the announcement, the emotional call from owner Danny Wirtz, his hip resurfacing surgery, his decision coming down to Buffalo and Chicago, his view that the team was a good hockey fit, and his hopes to be treated as an equal by young players like Connor Bedard and Frank Nazar. He reminisced about his 2010 Cup-winning overtime goal, the 2013 and 2015 championships, parties with the Stanley Cup, and playoff Mario Kart. The episode closed with a Mount Rushmore draft of foods eaten with a spoon, in which Hank and Zach's team took soup, cereal, mac and cheese and pudding.

Chapters

  1. 2:26

    LeBron James becomes a 76er

    The hosts break down LeBron's decision and argue whether it makes the Sixers' season championship or bust.

  2. 15:55

    Knicks, Memes and whose team it is

    The group ranks the Sixers' hierarchy and discusses the Knicks reportedly turning LeBron down and Memes' reaction.

  3. 29:25

    A loaded Eastern Conference

    Katz raises how much the East improved and PFT weighs the stakes of his El Camino bet with Hank.

  4. 38:03

    Pressure on Joel Embiid

    Katz argues Embiid will absorb blame if the team fails, and the hosts debate Nick Nurse's job security.

  5. 43:03

    Hank's reaction and Celtics outlook

    Hank recounts learning the news on the golf course and says he trusts Brad Stevens.

  6. 50:39

    Who's Back: Tony Romo and NFL news

    The hosts cover Romo's OWI arrest, Kyle Shanahan's car crash, training camp and Brandon Aiyuk.

  7. 59:02

    Zach's night out and more Who's Back

    Zach tells his boat-movie drinking story, followed by Vrabel's dog, Jacoby Brissett and Caitlin Clark.

  8. 1:08:55

    Patrick Kane on returning to Chicago

    Kane describes the signing, fan support, his Red Wings return game and why the Blackhawks are a fit.

  9. 1:18:24

    Hip surgery and Olympic gold

    Kane explains his hip resurfacing and his feelings about the U.S. Olympic gold medal team.

  10. 1:22:27

    Stanley Cup memories

    Kane recalls the 2010 overtime winner, the 2013 and 2015 runs, and partying with the Cup.

  11. 1:41:48

    Free agency and leadership

    Kane discusses mentoring young players, his free agency process between Buffalo and Chicago, and questions from Chief and Zach.

  12. 1:59:47

    Mount Rushmore of spoon foods

    The teams draft foods eaten with a spoon, arguing over gelato, cereal, chili and mac and cheese.

Key points

What was said, by whom, with the exact words. Timestamps jump to the moment.

  • PFT Commenter

    PFT Commenter argues that failing to win the title with LeBron would make the Sixers' season historically disappointing.

    “If they don't win the NBA championship next year, this could be the most disappointing season in the history of basketball”

    Listen from 3:09 · Philadelphia 76ers

  • Dan Katz

    Katz argues that purely from a basketball standpoint, Philadelphia was LeBron's best option.

    “In terms of just basketball, it was the best choice. If you say that it was between Cleveland, Golden State, Miami”

    Listen from 4:03 · LeBron James free agency

  • Hank Lockwood

    Lockwood suggests the Jaylen Brown trade could turn out to be Brad Stevens' greatest move by overloading the Sixers.

    “I think that this could be the greatest thing that Brad Stevens has ever done”

    Listen from 6:24 · Jaylen Brown trade to the Philadelphia 76ers

  • Hank Lockwood

    Lockwood argues the Sixers' star-heavy lineup may struggle to gel because each player needs the ball.

    “all these guys are stars when they have the ball in their hands. There is only one ball”

    Listen from 6:57 · Philadelphia 76ers

  • Max Delente

    Delente disputes the championship-or-bust framing because betting markets don't make the Sixers title favorites.

    “They are not the favorites to win the championship. They are not the second favorites to win the championship. They are tied for third”

    Listen from 10:02 · Philadelphia 76ers

  • Memes

    Memes says LeBron would have come off the bench with the Knicks, which he did not want.

    “He also would have been coming off the bench. He doesn't want to do that”

    Listen from 20:57 · New York Knicks

  • Max Delente

    Delente says winning the Eastern Conference would satisfy him as a Sixers fan.

    “I would be happy to win the Eastern Conference”

    Listen from 25:46 · Eastern Conference (NBA)

  • PFT Commenter

    PFT Commenter expects at least one highly regarded Eastern team to miss the playoffs given the conference's depth.

    “It does feel like there's going to be at least one good team that we have very high expectations for that doesn't make the playoffs this year”

    Listen from 31:06 · Eastern Conference (NBA)

  • Dan Katz

    Katz argues that Joel Embiid now faces the greatest pressure and will bear the blame if the Sixers fall short.

    “the pressure has gone to a billion is Joel Embiid. Because if they don't perform, it will be his”

    Listen from 38:14 · Philadelphia 76ers

  • Max Delente

    Delente cites a report that Embiid met with LeBron for two hours to convince him of his health, a factor in LeBron's choice.

    “He had a two-hour meeting with LeBron a month ago about him coming to Philadelphia and how his health”

    Listen from 39:42 · LeBron James free agency

  • Hank Lockwood

    Lockwood says he still trusts Brad Stevens despite appearances that the Celtics botched the Brown trade.

    “He might seem like he completely botched this entire situation, gave the Sixers, Jalen Brown, and LeBron for nothing, took on Paul George's bad contract, but I trust him”

    Listen from 45:17 · Boston Celtics

  • PFT Commenter

    PFT Commenter says online discourse about Caitlin Clark has become irrational.

    “It's impossible to have any rational take online about Caitlin Clark anymore”

    Listen from 1:06:31 · Caitlin Clark

  • Patrick Kane

    Kane says that when he first returned to Chicago with Detroit, he believed a Blackhawks reunion was off the table.

    “I think at that point the door was like, I thought the door was probably closed”

    Listen from 1:14:27 · Chicago Blackhawks

  • Linked moment · 1:17:01Skip to 1:17:01 using a listen link in the info box.

    Patrick Kane

    Kane says he chose Chicago not only for nostalgia but because he believes the team suits his game.

    “because I actually think it's a good fit for me personally as a hockey player”

    Listen from 1:17:01 · Chicago Blackhawks

  • Patrick Kane

    Kane describes his hip surgery as a resurfacing that capped the femur head rather than a full replacement.

    “it's not really like a full hip replacement, but they just like, they replace like the, the top of the femur head”

    Listen from 1:18:51 · Hip resurfacing

  • Patrick Kane

    Kane recounts that his 2010 Cup-winning goal went through the goalie's legs and lodged in the net, initially unseen.

    “Just was trying to throw it on net and went through Michael Layton's legs and kind of stuck in the back pad of the net”

    Listen from 1:23:05 · 2010 Stanley Cup Final

  • Patrick Kane

    Kane says he wants young Blackhawks players to treat him as an equal teammate rather than an idol.

    “I definitely want these kids to treat me like their teammate. I don't want it to be like they're just looking up to me”

    Listen from 1:42:10 · Chicago Blackhawks

  • Patrick Kane

    Kane says his free agency decision came down to Buffalo and Chicago.

    “And, um, yeah, it was pretty much between Buffalo and Chicago”

    Listen from 1:45:29 · Chicago Blackhawks

  • Patrick Kane

    Kane says his decision was driven by fit rather than money.

    “it was never really about the money or anything, just more about the fit”

    Listen from 1:45:44 · Chicago Blackhawks

  • Patrick Kane

    Kane recalls Blackhawks chairman Danny Wirtz telling him his return would be unprecedented for the city.

    “One thing he said was, if you came back, it would be nothing like the city's ever seen before”

    Listen from 1:51:33 · Chicago Blackhawks

  • Patrick Kane

    Kane says that at his age his career is now a year-to-year proposition, though he hopes to play beyond his two-year deal.

    “especially, you know, 37 turning 38 this year, it's probably more of like a year to year thing”

    Listen from 1:55:28 · Chicago Blackhawks

People

In the conversation

  • Dan KatzBarstool Sports personality known as Big Cat, co-host of Pardon My Take
  • PFT CommenterBarstool Sports writer and co-host of Pardon My Take
  • Max DelentePardon My Take producer and Philadelphia 76ers fan whose bachelor party is referenced
  • Hank LockwoodPardon My Take contributor and Boston Celtics fan
  • MemesPardon My Take staffer and New York Knicks fan
  • ZachNewest Pardon My Take staff member, Knicks fan
  • Patrick KaneNHL forward who returned to the Chicago Blackhawks

Discussed

Topics

More from Pardon My Take

From the publisher

LeBron James is a Philadelphia 76er. We break it down from all angles. Is Max ready for Championship or bust? How Hank is to blame for all of this. Pressure on Joel Embiid. Memes not talking to Max and more (00:00:00-00:50:36). Who’s back of the week including football, Tony Romo’s DUI, Zac’s early Fyre fest and more (00:50:36-01:10:17). Patrick Kane joins the show in studio fresh off his press conference announcing his return to the Blackhawks to talk about his free agency, the future with Bedard and the Hawks, memories of Cup runs and tons more (01:10:17-02:00:22). We finish with Mt Rushmore of foods you eat with a spoon. You can find every episode of this show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Netflix. Prime Members can listen ad-free on Amazon Music. For more, visit barstool.link/pardon-my-take

Summary, chapters and key points were generated from the episode transcript on September 30, 2026. Quotes are checked word for word against the transcript.

Categories: Basketball·Hockey·Comedy