Spurs Win Game 7, Knicks and Finals With Mike Breen, SCF With Keith Yandle Plus Who’s Back Of The Week
Episode of Pardon My Take · June 1, 2026 · 2 h 29 min
The Pardon My Take crew reacts to the Spurs' Game 7 win over the Thunder, then interviews Mike Breen on the NBA Finals and Keith Yandle on the Stanley Cup Final.
Summary
Dan Katz and PFT Commenter opened by breaking down the San Antonio Spurs' Game 7 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals, praising Victor Wembanyama's emotional reaction, Luke Kornet's key block and Stephon Castle's intensity. Katz argued Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the best player in the game but criticized Chet Holmgren as scared of the moment and suggested the Thunder might have won without Lu Dort on the floor. The group then previewed a Spurs–Knicks NBA Finals, with Katz predicting a Knicks series win.
The hosts discussed Arsenal's loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final and the widespread dislike of Arsenal, then ran Who's Back of the Week segments covering Bryson DeChambeau using AI to fix his swing, LIV Golf suspending a paid stream, John Calipari's idea of moving the SEC tournament to the start of the season, the U.S. men's national team's friendly win over Senegal, Pete Crow-Armstrong's home run into the Cardinals' tarps-off section, and Caleb Williams landing the Madden 27 cover.
Mike Breen said he would call the Finals neutrally despite being a lifelong Knicks fan, placed Jalen Brunson in the conversation among Knicks greats, praised Mike Brown's collaborative coaching, identified the Spurs' perimeter defense as the Knicks' biggest challenge, and recounted nearly botching the radio call of John Starks' shot in the 1994 Finals. Keith Yandle explained why he had warmed to the Carolina Hurricanes, discussed the Vegas Golden Knights' cutthroat management and the southern shift of hockey success, picked Carter Hart as the better goalie, and predicted Vegas in six. The show closed with the Mount Rushmore season discussion and lottery balls.
Chapters
- 2:54
Spurs win Game 7
The hosts react to San Antonio's Game 7 victory over Oklahoma City, Wembanyama's emotion, Chet Holmgren's struggles and several playoff stats.
Linked moment · 22:58Skip to 22:58 using a listen link in the info box.
22:58Previewing Knicks vs. Spurs
The group discusses matchups like OG Anunoby on Wembanyama, flopping, and their confidence in the Knicks.
- 39:57
Champions League final and Arsenal
The hosts discuss Arsenal's loss to PSG and why so many fans hate the club.
- 44:05
Bryson's AI swing fix and LIV Golf
Hank describes Bryson DeChambeau using AI to fix his swing and the group jokes about LIV Golf suspending its paid feed.
- 49:32
Who's Back of the Week
Picks include Calipari's SEC tournament idea, the USMNT beating Senegal, Pete Crow-Armstrong's homer, Caleb Williams on Madden and the Sidemen.
- 1:09:53
Mike Breen interview
Breen discusses staying neutral, Brunson's legacy, Mike Brown, the Spurs' defense, and his near-disastrous 1994 Finals radio call.
- 1:49:19
Keith Yandle on the Stanley Cup Final
Yandle breaks down the Hurricanes and Golden Knights, goaltending, Tortorella, Marner and why southern teams dominate.
- 2:20:39
Predictions, Rushmore season and lottery balls
The booth makes Cup Final picks, debates Rushmore season plans and closes with lottery balls and birthdays.
Key points
What was said, by whom, with the exact words. Timestamps jump to the moment.
- PFT Commenter
PFT Commenter argued that teams will no longer be able to build like the Spurs because draft rules for top picks have changed.
“They won't be able to build teams like the Spurs in the same way anymore because the rules have changed in terms of getting top picks in the NBA draft”
- Dan Katz
Katz argued that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the best player in Game 7 even though the Spurs were the better team.
“without being called a thunder glazer that SGA was the best player in Game 7. The Spurs were the best team”
- Dan Katz
Katz suggested the Thunder might have won Game 7 had they not played Lu Dort, since the Spurs could ignore him defensively.
“I actually think that the Thunder might have won this game if they didn't play Lou Dort”
- Dan KatzCame true
Katz predicted the Knicks would win the NBA Finals against the Spurs.
“I think the Knicks are going to win this series. I really do”
- Zach
Zach admitted he had been terrified of the Knicks facing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
“Now that it's over, I will say that I was terrified of SGA”
- Hank Lockwood
Lockwood argued that expansion has permanently ruined the NCAA tournament.
“the NCAA tournament is basically going to be ruined from here on out”
Listen from 50:52 · NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament
- PFT Commenter
PFT Commenter said the USMNT's win over Senegal should make fans somewhat optimistic before the World Cup.
“this should make you at least a little bit optimistic about what the team could look like”
Listen from 57:12 · United States men's national soccer team
- Mike Breen
Breen said that despite being a Knicks fan, he would call the Finals neutrally.
“But I will be neutral in terms of how I call the game”
- Mike Breen
Breen said a title would put Jalen Brunson in the conversation among Knicks greats but ranking him ahead of Frazier or Ewing may be premature.
“he's in the conversation as one of the greats. Can I put him ahead of Clyde or Patrick Ewing? I think that might be early, even though he wins the title”
- Mike Breen
Breen described Knicks coach Mike Brown as the most collaborative coach he has seen.
“Mike Brown, he's the most collaborative coach I've ever watched in covering the NBA”
- Mike Breen
Breen identified the defensive pressure of Castle and Harper as the Knicks' biggest challenge.
“And those guys are so tenacious defensively. They put a lot of pressure on the opposing point guards, opposing shooting guards”
- Mike Breen
Breen recounted that, unable to see whether Starks's 1994 Game 6 shot was a three, he nearly ruined a historic call.
“there was such potential to completely destroy what would have been one of the great moments in the history of New York sports”
- Mike Breen
Breen argued the NBA Cup final between the Knicks and Spurs would have no bearing on the Finals.
“I love the NBA Cup, but its impact on this series is nil”
- Keith Yandle
Yandle said he had changed his mind and now enjoys watching the Hurricanes.
“I have been really down on Carolina, but I've totally switched my tune on them”
- Keith Yandle
Yandle judged Carter Hart the better goaltender overall than Frederik Andersen.
“I think Hartsey's probably the better goalie Maybe overall, I think if you were starting a team, you might take Hartsey”
- Keith Yandle
Yandle argued Vegas simply exploited the expansion draft rules rather than acting improperly.
“So they just took advantage of the rules. And I don't think they did anything shady”
- Keith Yandle
Yandle attributed southern teams' hockey success partly to players and families preferring warm weather and less media scrutiny.
“guys want to live in nice weather, you know, guys, wives want to live in nice weather”
- Keith YandleCame true
Yandle picked the Knicks to win the NBA Finals.
“Even being a guy from Boston, I'm going to ride with the Knicks here”
- Keith YandleDidn’t happen
Yandle predicted Vegas would win the Stanley Cup Final in six games.
“I'm going Vegas in six. I hope it goes seven. But I'm going Vegas in six”
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
- ZachNewest Pardon My Take staff member, Knicks fan
- MemesPardon My Take staffer and New York Knicks fan
- Hank LockwoodPardon My Take contributor and Boston Celtics fan
- Max DelentePardon My Take producer and Philadelphia 76ers fan whose bachelor party is referenced
- Mike BreenESPN play-by-play announcer and lifelong Knicks fan
- Keith YandleFormer NHL defenseman and hockey podcaster
Discussed
- Victor WembanyamaSan Antonio Spurs center and MVP candidate
- Shai Gilgeous-AlexanderOklahoma City Thunder guard and reigning MVP
- Chet HolmgrenOklahoma City Thunder big man
- Luguentz DortOklahoma City Thunder guard
- Stephon CastleSan Antonio Spurs guard
- Dylan HarperSan Antonio Spurs rookie guard
- Alex CarusoOklahoma City Thunder guard
- Mitch JohnsonSan Antonio Spurs head coach
- Harrison BarnesSan Antonio Spurs forward
- Jalen BrunsonNew York Knicks guard
- Mike BrownNew York Knicks head coach
- Walt FrazierHall of Fame Knicks guard
- P. J. CarlesimoBasketball coach and broadcaster
- John StarksFormer New York Knicks guard
- Jay WrightFormer Villanova head coach
- Bryson DeChambeauLIV golfer seeking return to the PGA Tour
- John CalipariArkansas men's basketball coach
- Carter HartVegas Golden Knights goaltender
- Frederik AndersenCarolina Hurricanes goaltender
- John TortorellaVegas Golden Knights head coach
- Mitch MarnerVegas Golden Knights forward, formerly of the Maple Leafs
- Tom DundonOwner of the Carolina Hurricanes and Portland Trail Blazers
- K'Andre MillerCarolina Hurricanes defenseman
- Adam SilverCommissioner of the NBA
Topics
- 2026 NBA playoffs
- San Antonio Spurs
- New York Knicks
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs
- Carolina Hurricanes
- Vegas Golden Knights
- 2026 UEFA Champions League final
- Arsenal F.C.
- LIV Golf
- Flopping in basketball
- 1994 NBA Finals
- United States men's national soccer team
- Madden NFL 27
- NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament
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From the publisher
Spurs take Game 7 and get to the NBA Finals. We talk everything from Saturday night, Wemby’s emotional response, Chet’s no show and more (00:00:00-00:38:26). Champions League final and it seems like the whole world hates Arsenal (00:38:26-00:49:33). Who’s back of the week including Bryson being a weirdo and PCA going tarps off (00:49:33-01:09:01). Mike Breen joins the show to talk NBA Finals, his love for the Knicks and being unbiased, analytically banging the Spurs more and the time his career almost ended in the 94 Finals with the Knicks (01:09:01-01:47:00). Keith Yandle joins the show to break down the Stanley Cup Final, what makes the Hurricanes so hard to play, the Knights ruthless organization and how they keep winning and more (01:47:00-02:22:00). We finish with 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.