Paul Bissonnette Talking Stanley Cup Playoffs, Sixers Get Swept By The Knicks, NBA Draft Lottery, Aliens Are Back And More
Episode of Pardon My Take · May 11, 2026 · 2 h 31 min
The Pardon My Take crew recaps the Knicks sweeping the Sixers and the NBA draft lottery, then Paul Bissonnette discusses the NHL playoffs and the Maple Leafs' hiring of John Chayka.
Summary
The hosts opened with the New York Knicks' four-game sweep of the Philadelphia 76ers, congratulating Knicks-fan producers Memes and Zach while needling Sixers fan Max Delente, who had to get soaked under the show's elimination rule. Delente called the Sixers a bad team, defended Joel Embiid's claim that the season was a personal success given his knee, and called owner Josh Harris a bad owner. Zach read back Delente's earlier predictions about the series. The group also covered Cavaliers–Pistons, the Thunder's dominance over the Lakers, and whether LeBron James would retire.
The NBA draft lottery gave the Washington Wizards the first pick, and PFT Commenter celebrated, favoring AJ Dybantsa and predicting a play-in or better next season if Anthony Davis stays healthy. Dan Katz cheered the Bulls jumping to fourth. In Who's Back of the Week, Hank Lockwood cited newly released government UFO documents, prompting debate over aliens; PFT mocked FIFA's $400 host-city jerseys and praised Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith's reunion; Katz solicited listener help in Jacksonville for a Grit Week building project.
Paul Bissonnette joined to discuss Rob Gronkowski's on-air joke about his dating life and, at length, why he renounced his Maple Leafs fandom after Toronto hired John Chayka as GM. Bissonnette recounted Chayka's tenure in Arizona, including the dismissal of Shane Doan, the illegal pre-combine testing scandal that cost draft picks, and his abrupt departure, and said the team once suspended him over an article about his cannabis use. He then praised the Carolina Hurricanes' roster building and culture under Rod Brind'Amour, discussed Nathan MacKinnon's training, Wild–Avalanche, Canadiens–Sabres, Mitch Marner's playoff run, Macklin Celebrini and Matthew Schaefer, leaning toward Colorado to win the Cup.
The show closed with the Timberwolves tying their series with the Spurs behind Anthony Edwards after Victor Wembanyama's ejection, plus talk of sports memorabilia and birthdays.
Chapters
- 2:21
Knicks sweep the Sixers
The hosts congratulate the Knicks fans on the staff and discuss Brunson, Towns and rest before the next round.
- 10:28
Max reacts and Zach reads the receipts
Max Delente assesses the Sixers and Embiid's comments while Zach reads back his earlier series predictions.
Linked moment · 24:05Skip to 24:05 using a listen link in the info box.
24:05Wizards, Celtics and Josh Harris
The group debates which franchise has a better future and Max criticizes Sixers owner Josh Harris.
- 32:19
Cavs-Pistons and Lakers-Thunder
Discussion of James Harden's late-game heroics, the Thunder's depth and LeBron James' future.
- 43:53
NBA draft lottery
PFT celebrates the Wizards winning the top pick and Katz reacts to the Bulls moving up to fourth.
- 55:32
Who's Back: aliens, FIFA and First Take
Hank cites new UFO document releases, PFT mocks FIFA's pricey jerseys and praises Skip Bayless's LeBron ranking.
- 1:04:58
Grit Week and listener emails
Katz asks listeners in Jacksonville to host a construction project and Zach highlights Barcelona's El Clásico win.
- 1:13:39
Paul Bissonnette on Gronk
Bissonnette reacts to Rob Gronkowski calling him out on national television.
- 1:19:50
Leafs hire John Chayka
Bissonnette explains why his loyalty to Shane Doan led him to quit Leafs fandom after Chayka's hiring.
- 1:42:07
Hurricanes and Olympians
Bissonnette praises Carolina's style, roster moves and coaching and assesses Olympians' playoff play.
- 1:53:02
Avs, Wild, Canadiens and Sabres
Bissonnette discusses MacKinnon's training, the Wild-Avalanche and Canadiens-Sabres series, Marner and his Cup pick.
- 2:14:05
Timberwolves-Spurs and wrap-up
The hosts praise Anthony Edwards after the Wolves tie the series, then discuss memorabilia and birthdays.
Key points
What was said, by whom, with the exact words. Timestamps jump to the moment.
- Memes
Memes argued that Jalen Brunson is dominant and that the 76ers' poor play was a big part of the sweep.
“Jalen Brunson is just a god at basketball. The 76ers are also terrible at basketball”
- Max Delente
Delente said the Sixers are a bad team and that only Tyrese Maxey's poor play surprised him in the series.
“This team is bad. The only thing that surprised me in this series is Tyrese Maxey was horrendous”
- Max Delente
Delente called Sixers owner Josh Harris a bad owner who cannot build an organization.
“I just think he's a bad owner who doesn't know how to build an organization”
- Hank LockwoodCame true
Lockwood predicted the Knicks would win the NBA championship.
“I would be shocked if this team doesn't win the NBA”
- PFT Commenter
PFT Commenter said the Wizards should take AJ Dybantsa with the first pick.
“I think A.J. DeBansa has to be the pick. I think that's got to be the pick”
- PFT CommenterPrediction · due Apr 2027
PFT Commenter predicted the Wizards could be a fifth or sixth seed next season if Anthony Davis stays healthy.
“If he stays healthy, we might be like the sixth seed, maybe the fifth seed next year”
- PFT Commenter
PFT Commenter suggested UFO sightings are secret U.S. technology framed as alien to make rival countries overspend.
“I think that we have our own technology and then we talk about it being aliens”
Listen from 57:41 · Unidentified flying objects and government disclosure
- Dan Katz
Katz said he believes aliens exist but that it is egotistical to think they are visiting Earth.
“I think they exist. I think it's tremendously egotistical of us to think that they're coming”
Listen from 57:54 · Unidentified flying objects and government disclosure
- Hank Lockwood
Lockwood argued the government is slow-playing UFO disclosure and withholding more alarming material.
“there probably is more stuff that would freak people out that they're intentionally not showing us”
Listen from 59:46 · Unidentified flying objects and government disclosure
- PFT Commenter
PFT Commenter criticized FIFA for openly embracing greed with high World Cup prices and $400 host-city jerseys.
“They don't care how corrupt you say they are. They don't care how greedy you say”
- Paul Bissonnette
Bissonnette called it laughable that John Chayka received one of hockey's biggest GM jobs given his track record.
“to get one of the biggest, if not the biggest jobs in hockey as far as a general manager with the track record he has is laughable”
Listen from 1:21:19 · Toronto Maple Leafs hiring of John Chayka
- Paul Bissonnette
Bissonnette argued analytics should be only a small part of a GM's decision-making, not the whole basis.
“it's not the end all be all it's 10 to 15 of the pie graph type of thing right”
Listen from 1:23:03 · Toronto Maple Leafs hiring of John Chayka
- Paul Bissonnette
Bissonnette said the Coyotes under Chayka illegally tested draft prospects outside the combine and lost draft picks as punishment.
“they'd done it with dozens of guys or a number of guys. So they cheated”
- Paul BissonnettePrediction · due Apr 2027
Bissonnette predicted the Maple Leafs will make the playoffs next season with their current roster.
“I think that with their roster right now, I think that they'll be in playoffs next year”
Listen from 1:38:14 · Toronto Maple Leafs hiring of John Chayka
- Paul Bissonnette
Bissonnette recounted that the Coyotes removed him from road radio duties and suspended him after an article about his cannabis use.
“they ended up kicking me off the road. I never travel with the team anymore after that, and they suspended me for five games”
- Paul Bissonnette
Bissonnette rejected the narrative that the Hurricanes are boring, describing their aggressive, attacking style.
“They're the opposite of boring. They don't just sit back. They constantly attack you, even when they're playing defense”
- Paul BissonnetteDidn’t happen
Bissonnette said that if forced to pick a Stanley Cup winner he would choose the Colorado Avalanche.
“if you held a gun to my head, I would say Avalanche just because I look at their roster”
- Paul Bissonnette
Bissonnette called Macklin Celebrini the next Sidney Crosby.
“is a stud he is a fucking freak he's the next sydney crosby”
- Paul BissonnetteCame true
Bissonnette predicted Matthew Schaefer will win the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year.
“Matthew Schaefer is going to win the Calder for rookie of the year”
- Dan Katz
Katz praised Anthony Edwards for carrying the Timberwolves to a win despite a recent leg injury.
“Anthony Edwards, like on one leg. Drops 36 and just will not let the Timberwolves lose this game”
- PFT Commenter
PFT Commenter said the Timberwolves may be the team best positioned to push the Thunder in the playoffs.
“The Timberwolves might be the team that would give the Thunder the best push in these playoffs”
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
- ZachNewest Pardon My Take staff member, Knicks fan
- MemesPardon My Take staffer and New York Knicks fan
- Paul BissonnetteFormer NHL enforcer, TNT hockey analyst and Spittin' Chiclets co-host
Discussed
- John ChaykaFormer Arizona Coyotes GM hired by the Toronto Maple Leafs
- Shane DoanLongtime Arizona Coyotes captain and former Maple Leafs assistant GM
- Rob GronkowskiRetired NFL tight end used as Goldsberry's aging analogy for Giannis
- Joel EmbiidPhiladelphia 76ers center and former NBA MVP
- Tyrese MaxeyPhiladelphia 76ers guard
- Jalen BrunsonNew York Knicks guard
- Karl-Anthony TownsNew York Knicks big man
- Josh HarrisOwner of the Philadelphia 76ers and Washington Commanders
- LeBron JamesLos Angeles Lakers forward cited as a longevity outlier
- Anthony EdwardsMinnesota Timberwolves guard
- Victor WembanyamaSan Antonio Spurs center and MVP candidate
- James HardenGuard traded to Cleveland during the season
- Rod Brind'AmourCarolina Hurricanes head coach
- Nathan MacKinnonColorado Avalanche star center
- Mitch MarnerVegas Golden Knights forward, formerly of the Maple Leafs
- Macklin CelebriniSan Jose Sharks center
- Matthew SchaeferNew York Islanders rookie defenseman
- Skip BaylessSports television commentator
- Brad TrelivingFormer Toronto Maple Leafs general manager
Topics
- 2026 NBA playoffs
- New York Knicks
- Philadelphia 76ers
- 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs
- Toronto Maple Leafs hiring of John Chayka
- 2026 NBA draft lottery
- Washington Wizards
- Arizona Coyotes
- Carolina Hurricanes
- Unidentified flying objects and government disclosure
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- San Antonio Spurs
- 2026 FIFA World Cup
- 2026 NHL Draft lottery
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From the publisher
The Sixers have been bounced from the playoffs in a sweep by the Knicks who are absolutely rolling and Max answers questions while soggy (00:00:00-00:31:54). We talk NBA Playoffs and the Thunder look unstoppable. NBA Draft Lottery and the Wizards get the first pick (00:31:54-00:54:51). Who's back of the week including Grit Week next week and we need an AWL's help in Jacksonville (00:54:51-01:14:35). Paul Bissonnette joins the show to talk playoff hockey, the Leafs new GM, Gronk calling him out and more (01:14:35-02:12:33). We finish with Timberwolves/Spurs and lottery balls. 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 28, 2026. Quotes are checked word for word against the transcript.