Tracy McGrady, Knicks Go Up 2-0, James Harden Is Still James Harden, Boat Pictures And Fyre Fest of The Week

Episode of Pardon My Take · May 8, 2026 · 2 h 19 min

Big Cat, PFT Commenter and crew break down the 2026 NBA second round, the Vrabel boat photos, and interview Tracy McGrady about his one-on-one league.

Summary

The hosts opened with the second round of the 2026 NBA playoffs. Dan Katz and PFT Commenter praised the depth of the Oklahoma City Thunder after a Game 2 win over the Los Angeles Lakers, with Max Delente lamenting that the Philadelphia 76ers traded away Jared McCain. PFT Commenter joked that James Harden lacks playoff motivation because of the relative pay cut, arguing he is indifferent rather than a choker, as Detroit took control against Cleveland.

The group discussed the Knicks going up 2-0 on the 76ers with Joel Embiid sidelined, Andre Drummond's struggle to dislodge a stuck ball, and OG Anunoby's hamstring injury, which Memes said could be serious. They covered the Spurs evening their series with Minnesota, Draymond Green's on-air comments about Charles Barkley, which Katz argued backfired by reminding people how good Barkley was, the hantavirus scare, NHL playoffs, Golden Tempo skipping the Preakness, the Cubs' walk-off streak, and new boat photos of Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini.

Tracy McGrady discussed his new one-on-one league, which he framed as a platform and ownership opportunity for overlooked players, recounted his rise from the last invitee at Sonny Vaccaro's ABCD camp to top-ten pick, and confirmed he once jumped into $500,000 in cash after his Adidas deal. He picked San Antonio as the only team with the depth to challenge Oklahoma City, called the Knicks the best East matchup, said Shai Gilgeous-Alexander manipulates officiating as Harden did, defended Jaylen Brown's comments, and touted Portland as a rising team.

The episode closed with Fyre Fest of the Week, including Zach leaving half his belongings in a Las Vegas hotel, PFT Commenter's take on Bryson DeChambeau's PGA Tour return demands, and a recap of the show's Los Angeles live event.

Chapters

  1. 2:56

    Thunder overwhelm the Lakers

    The hosts praised Oklahoma City's depth in a Game 2 win and debated the 76ers' trade of Jared McCain.

  2. 11:58

    James Harden and Pistons-Cavaliers

    PFT Commenter argued Harden is unmotivated rather than a choker as Detroit went up on Cleveland.

  3. 20:19

    Flyers, Taylor Heinicke retirement

    Max lamented the Flyers' power play and PFT Commenter told a story about Taylor Heinicke and the Falcons.

  4. 30:26

    Knicks go up 2-0 on the Sixers

    The group discussed Embiid's absence, Maxey's fatigue, Drummond's mop moment and OG Anunoby's injury.

  5. 48:05

    Spurs even series with Timberwolves

    Katz and PFT Commenter credited San Antonio's response and made series predictions.

  6. 51:38

    Charles Barkley vs. Draymond Green

    The hosts argued Draymond's jab ended up reminding fans of Barkley's greatness, and covered the Austin Rivers feud.

  7. 59:22

    Hantavirus, hockey, Preakness and Cubs

    Quick hits on the hantavirus scare, NHL playoffs, Golden Tempo skipping the Preakness and the Cubs' walk-offs.

  8. 1:09:06

    Vrabel and Russini boat pictures

    Katz floated that Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini had an affair and predicted Russini speaking would define the story.

  9. 1:15:19

    Tracy McGrady on his one-on-one league and origin story

    McGrady described his league, the ABCD camp breakthrough and jumping into $500,000 in cash.

  10. 1:30:02

    McGrady on the 2026 playoffs

    McGrady discussed Spurs versus Thunder, the Knicks as a Finals matchup, and SGA's foul-drawing.

  11. 1:38:35

    Jaylen Brown, Magic collapse and what-ifs

    McGrady defended Jaylen Brown, reacted to Orlando's collapse, and discussed the missed Tim Duncan signing and Portland.

  12. 1:55:17

    Polk County with Zach

    Zach and McGrady bonded over Lakeland and Polk County basketball and the league's first event.

  13. 2:01:11

    Fyre Fest of the Week and live show recap

    Zach's Vegas packing mishap, Bryson DeChambeau's demands, and reflections on the Los Angeles live show.

Key points

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

  • Max Delente

    Delente criticized Nick Nurse for barely playing Jared McCain before the 76ers traded him.

    “Nick Nurse wouldn't play him in the first half of the year, and nobody knew why”

    Listen from 8:02 · Philadelphia 76ers

  • Dan Katz

    Katz argued that even a healthy Luka Dončić would not let the Lakers beat the Thunder.

    “No, it would matter a little bit, but I'm saying healthy Luka, the Lakers still do not win this series”

    Listen from 10:05 · Los Angeles Lakers

  • PFT Commenter

    PFT Commenter joked that James Harden does not care in the playoffs because playoff pay is far below his salary.

    “I think James Harden just does not give a fuck the playoffs because it's such a massive pay cut that he has to take every single postseason”

    Listen from 13:23 · 2026 NBA playoffs

  • PFT Commenter

    PFT Commenter argued Harden is not a choke artist because choking requires caring too much.

    “I don't think he's a choke artist. I think to be a choke artist, the moment has to be too big for you”

    Listen from 16:12 · 2026 NBA playoffs

  • Linked moment · 18:53Skip to 18:53 using a listen link in the info box.

    PFT CommenterDidn’t happen

    PFT Commenter predicted the Pistons would beat the Cavaliers in six games.

    “I think I would say six games, Pistons in six is what it feels like to me”

    Listen from 18:53 · Detroit Pistons

  • PFT CommenterPartly true

    PFT Commenter predicted the Spurs would beat the Timberwolves in seven games.

    “I think this series is going to go seven. I got Spurs in seven”

    Listen from 51:00 · San Antonio Spurs

  • Dan Katz

    Katz argued Draymond Green's jab unintentionally reminded people how good Charles Barkley was.

    “I think the unintended outcome is that he did him an awesome solid”

    Listen from 52:31 · Charles Barkley–Draymond Green dispute

  • Dan Katz

    Katz said that despite the controversy he still expects Vrabel to coach the Patriots.

    “if you made me put my life on the line, I'd say that he's going to coach the Patriots”

    Listen from 1:11:34 · Mike Vrabel–Dianna Russini boat photos

  • Tracy McGrady

    McGrady said the element of his league he values most is creating team ownership for Black men.

    “I love most about this is I created ownership for guys that look like myself”

    Listen from 1:17:23 · Ones Basketball League

  • Tracy McGrady

    McGrady recounted being the last player selected to the ABCD camp that launched his career.

    “Out of all the players that was there, I was the last one selected because no one knew who I was”

    Listen from 1:18:15

  • Tracy McGrady

    McGrady confirmed he withdrew cash after his Adidas deal and jumped into it on his bed.

    “I had it in the bags, and then I put it on my bed and just – was looking at it, and I just jumped in it, bro”

    Listen from 1:25:26

  • Tracy McGrady

    McGrady argued San Antonio is the only team with the depth to match Oklahoma City, though he doubted they could sustain it.

    “I think San Antonio has the personnel. They have the depth to match up with OKC”

    Listen from 1:31:25 · San Antonio Spurs

  • Dan Katz

    Katz argued NBA teams must endure playoff losses before winning titles, which hurts San Antonio's chances.

    “I really do think the NBA is the one league where you have to go through the wars to to get over to the top of the mountain”

    Listen from 1:32:32 · 2026 NBA playoffs

  • Tracy McGrady

    McGrady named the Knicks as the East team best suited to match up with the Thunder in the Finals.

    “But I think in terms of their toughness, how they play, how they're built, the dogs they have over there, the skill set, I think they can match up with them”

    Listen from 1:35:06 · New York Knicks

  • Tracy McGrady

    McGrady said Shai Gilgeous-Alexander manipulates officiating as James Harden did, which he dislikes but accepts.

    “I think SGA has manipulated the game the same way James Harden manipulated the game”

    Listen from 1:35:29 · Oklahoma City Thunder

  • Tracy McGrady

    McGrady defended Jaylen Brown calling this his best season because he finally got to lead the Celtics.

    “Everyone wants the opportunity to be the man at one time in their career. He got that opportunity this year”

    Listen from 1:41:04 · Jaylen Brown Twitch stream

  • Tracy McGrady

    McGrady said Orlando should have given Tim Duncan whatever he wanted, including letting his wife fly on the team plane.

    “Let his wife fly the plane. You should have bought him the plane”

    Listen from 1:49:21

  • Tracy McGrady

    McGrady picked the Portland Trail Blazers as a surging team to watch next season.

    “I like Portland next year to be a team that we'll be talking about”

    Listen from 1:54:15 · Portland Trail Blazers

  • PFT Commenter

    PFT Commenter said the live show convinced him the podcast should not do a tour.

    “you know what this experience taught me, actually, is I do not want to do a tour”

    Listen from 2:04:46

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
  • ZachNewest Pardon My Take staff member, Knicks fan
  • MemesPardon My Take staffer and New York Knicks fan
  • Tracy McGradyHall of Fame NBA player, NBC analyst and founder of a one-on-one basketball league

Discussed

Topics

More from Pardon My Take

From the publisher

The Lakers are in trouble as the Thunder go up 2-0 and James Harden continues to be James Harden (00:00:00-00:28:38). The Knicks go up 2-0 on the Sixers as Embiid sits out Game 2 and legacies are on the line. Spurs whomp the Timberwolves and even the series we talk some hockey, Charles vs Draymond, Cubs look unstoppable, and we also have some new Boat Pictures in the story that will never end (00:28:38-01:13:23). Tracy McGrady joins the show to talk about his 1 on 1 league, the time he dove into 500k cash just to feel what it was like, the Thunder being unstoppable, Knicks Title chances and more (01:13:23-01:58:41). We finish with Fyre Fest of the week and a recap of the live show. 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 27, 2026. Quotes are checked word for word against the transcript.

Categories: Basketball·Comedy·Sports