November 29, 2025 • 10 mins
US Sport correspondent Leon Busby joins Jason Pine to review the latest sporting news from the States.
NBA Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison was fired recently after arguably the worst trade in NBA history, getting rid of Luka Doncic.
College football is into its final week of the regular season, and the latest rankings were released with the defending national champion, Ohio State Buckeyes and the Indiana Hoosiers taking the top spots.
And in the NFL the Cleveland Browns vs San Francisco 49er matchup has been highlighted as one to watch.
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
It's the expert on Weekend Sport to take us state side.
How are you mate?
Speaker 3 (00:17):
Afternoon? Jason stays favory back, got hitch to cover, So
let's get into it.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
I mate, Let's go. NBA Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico
Harrison fired recently after probably the worst trade in NBA history,
getting rid of Luka Doncic.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Yes so amidst all of the betting scandals that recently
camped to Lights. About three weeks ago, then Dallas Mavericks
general manager and president of basketball Operations Niko Harrison was
fired due to the fallout from the stunny Luca Dontrich
trade to the LA Lakers in February. The twenty six
years Slavinian and a generational talent now in his prime,
was reluctantly shifted and I would be the worst trade,
(00:54):
as you alluded to in the NBA let alone in
all of professional sports. Dallas was due to paid Dontrich
a super Max contract extension, but Harrison thought they had
more options available in a three team deal. Remember that
doncas had just led the Mavericks to the finals, even
though they originally lost to Oka. See now, just prior
to Dallas competing in the twenty twenty four NBA Finals,
(01:16):
Harrison signed a contract extension with the Mavericks for an
undisclosed sum. He was earning five million annually as part
of the front office. So how has that all worked out?
The Lakers are second in the Western Conference while the
Mavericks are panking and sit fourteen out of fifteen. An
absolute disaster for Dallas and no surprise in hindsight that
Harrison was eventually shown the door poning. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
I think most of us, you included, could have predicted
this a long way out lyon. But for that one, no,
you do not.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
You do not.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Well, interesting to see that it played out that way. Ah,
the NBA itself, now you sent me notes. What had
the NBA Cup? Now this sits inside the NBA regular season?
Speaker 3 (01:56):
Is that right?
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Can you explain this to us?
Speaker 3 (01:58):
Yes? So, the third edition of the NBA Cup, formerly
known as the n Season Tournament, has introduced one of
the most risually striking annovations and professional basketball exolic hardwood
courts designed specifically for Cup games. These courts don't just
look different. They're built to signal that these matchups stand
apart from regular season games, given the tournament it's own identity,
(02:19):
energy and broadcast appel. Now, before I give my own
thoughts on the NBA Cup, I wanted to share this
Cobey Piney, you have a responsibility to this city to
bring that championship banners where they belong. You have to
understand that nothing else matters. This franchise does not hang
division banners. It does not hang conference championships. We hang
(02:40):
one banner and one banner only, and that's NBA titles.
Do you have a guest, Piney who said that quote?
Speaker 2 (02:45):
I know, I love the quote. Who said it?
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Yes? So that was famously said by NBA legend Kobe
Bryant of the Lakers, who in a storied career, delivered
five titles to LA and seven finals appearances. Now, the
reason I share that quote is because the twenty twenty
three Lakers won their inaugural in season tournaments and sacrilegiously
hung a bad alongside the seventeen NBA titles. Now, I'd
expected there was a lot of fan backlash, and in
(03:12):
a way I feel the same. The NBA Cup is
an excuse for the Associate Association to try woodback viewers
from an otherwise dwindling TV audience. A bit like eye
candy for lack of a better term, But I'm not
a huge fan of it for the most part. I
feel their die hard NBA fans like Andy really care
about one thing. Who gets to hoist the Lario O'Brian
Trophy's NBA champions There, I said, a pony, And hopefully
(03:34):
I haven't upset too many of your younger listens with
that hot tape.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
I don't think you wold have, Leon, I think most
listens would feel the same way. So let's go to
the regular season. You mentioned the Lakers doing well in
the West. Who else is standing out in the regular
season in both the Western and Eastern conferences?
Speaker 3 (03:50):
Yeah? So the regular season has already a quarter all
the way through, with some teams showing up. In the East,
the Detroit Pistons, who were the punchline of the league
only two years ago after twenty eighth straight losses, are
leading the conference with the fifteen and four record, followed
by the Toronto rap Miami Heat, New York Knitt's and
the Cleveland Cavaliers. Rounding out the top five. Now in
(04:11):
the West, the defending champion ok Sees Thunder are looking
ominous and they're leading all contenders with an impressive nineteen
to one record, followed by the Denver Nuggets, LA Lakers,
Houston Rockets, and San Antonio Spurs.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
I know we're early, Leon, but have you started to
think about who the MVP candidates might be or is
it too early for that.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
No, it's never tally mate. So in terms of players
boiling out right now and then the MVP narrative are
the usual suspects last season's MVP okcs Ka Gilders Alexander
and three time MVP winner Denvers Nicola Jokis. It's a
toss up between them both, with Luca Dontrich or the
Lakers not far behind. Then Milwaukee Bucks superstars Gianna Senter
(04:52):
to Compo and Tyrese Maxi from the Philadelphia seventy six
is rounding out the top five. Most bidding agencies are
leaning towards either Jokis, Sga or Dontries to be league
MVP predicated upon this didn't stand healthy throughout the season.
Here's a stat of the day. I wanted to cheer
regarding the Joker, the College Gookis finish were seventeen points,
sixteen assists and ten rebounds to a tenth triopble double
(05:16):
of the season in a recent win, the fastest to
reach ten triopball doubles in the season in the last
forty years. It's crazy to think, pinally that Gokis is
almost expected now to average a tripball double every time
he starts, and he makes it look so easy.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
And day got it so hard to do it even once.
As you say headline as many times as that want
to move to football to the NFL shortly. But college
football the regular season winding down. So who is looking
good for the college football playoffs?
Speaker 3 (05:43):
Yes, so, as you alluded to, College footballs into its
final week of the regular season, and a few days
ago the latest rankings were released with the top five
pretty much unchanged for the last month. The College Football
Selection Committee leaned towards teams that dominate at the line
of scrimmage. They sitting the top of the standings unbeaten
on twelve and oh are two teams, the defending national
champion Ohio State Buckeyes and the Indiana Users, followed closely
(06:07):
by the Georgia Bulldogs, Texas A and m Aggie's and
Oregon Ducks, and with three other teams on eleven and
one rounding out the top five. Now. The schedule for
the twenty twenty five to twenty six College Football Playoff
Brackett begins in mid to late December. This is the
second year the CFP is using a twelve team format.
Games are scheduled to start December nineteenth, culminated with the
(06:28):
National Championship Game on Monday nineteen, twenty twenty six in
Miami Gardens, Florida. For me, it's hard to go past
the Ohio State, Indiana, Texas A and m and Georgia
to left the National Trophy as champions. Pinting.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
You and I have talked a lotly on about the
eye watering money that is around, particularly in coaching roles.
There are some elite coaching roles I think to be
filled in college football.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Yes, Off the field and college football, there's still a
number of marquee head coaching positions up for grabs, with
the top paid coaches in college football now earning close
to what the NFL counterparts do. So the top five
vacancies at the moment include LSU, Florida, benn State. I
can store in UCLA. What with nil money and boosters.
Open checkbooks quite often dictate where perspective coaches will land.
(07:13):
So in the college ranks, you look at the top coaches,
they're getting around twelve to fifteen million dollars, which is
equivalent to what the NFL coaches get as goalfinding.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Just incredible money, incredible money right to the NFL. Yeah,
Thanksgiving in the week past, of course, and that's always
big around NFL circles. Tell us about the Thanksgiving Day
matches that have already occurred in some of the key
games tomorrow as well.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
Yep, So we're now into week thirteen with four games
already competed over the Thanksgiving weekend. On Beansksgiving Day alone,
last year there are one hundred and forty two million
TV viewers, and this year that's expected to be similar
numbers or even substantially more. So we'll have a quick
look at some of the key matchups for no less
than thirteen games left to salivate over the In the
early window, there are seven games. The most compelling matchup
(08:00):
is an AFC showdown with Houston away to Indianapolis. The
surprising Colts will look to bounce back from their last
game loss, but will be sorely tested against arguably the
league's best defense and the Texans, who terrorize reigning MVP
Bill's quarterback Josh Allen, sacking them a record eight times
last week, the most in his career. Now, another game
of been just early is the Cleveland Browns hosting the
(08:22):
San Francisco forty nine Ers. Quarterbacks with the Browns should
do a sand as one as first start last week,
or be it against the awful Las Vegas Raiders. Now,
the forty nine Ers will certainly be a big step
up for the rookie, but there's a lot of hope
for long suffering Cleveland fans that Sanders will be their
missing piece. And there's still one of only four teams
to never play in the Super Bowl. I feel that
(08:42):
Cleveland need to build their roster up front on the
offensive run of the ball, and they're still a few
years away from making a playoff appearance.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
I just want to move quickly to the Chiefs, the
Kansas City Chiefs before we knock it on the head.
Lyon is there dynasty overall? I see they're basically they're
basically six and six, six one six losses that ain't
championship winning material, is it?
Speaker 3 (09:05):
Yesday? Surprising m Kansas City Chiefs dump into the last
three Super Bowls. Now, they currently, as you said, have
a five hundred records six and six and will have
to run what they call run the table after any
chance of making the postseason. So in their remaining schedule
they have a good chance to win all five with
three harder matchups at home and two easy road games.
(09:26):
Since Patrick Mahomes began the starting quarterback for Kansas City
in twenty eighteen, he's led the team to an unprecedented
seven straight AFC championship games, which has never been done
before on the Super Bowl era. It looks like the
dynasty may finally be over though, or on hold at
least for the meantime. But with head coach Andy Reid
still at the helm and my home's under center, let's
(09:47):
not throw dirt on their proverbial grave just yet. Finding
Thanks Ma me O, mate.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Oh, Leon, It's always a pleasure to have your analysis,
your expertise, your wide ranging insight into US sport. Thanks
so much, indeed, Leon Bosby stateside our US sports expert
here on Weekend Sport.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
For more from Weekend Sport with Fine, listen live to
news talks at b weekends from midday, or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
It's the expert on Weekend Sport to take us state side.
How are you mate?
Speaker 3 (00:17):
Afternoon? Jason stays favory back, got hitch to cover, So
let's get into it.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
I mate, Let's go. NBA Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico
Harrison fired recently after probably the worst trade in NBA history,
getting rid of Luka Doncic.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Yes so amidst all of the betting scandals that recently
camped to Lights. About three weeks ago, then Dallas Mavericks
general manager and president of basketball Operations Niko Harrison was
fired due to the fallout from the stunny Luca Dontrich
trade to the LA Lakers in February. The twenty six
years Slavinian and a generational talent now in his prime,
was reluctantly shifted and I would be the worst trade,
(00:54):
as you alluded to in the NBA let alone in
all of professional sports. Dallas was due to paid Dontrich
a super Max contract extension, but Harrison thought they had
more options available in a three team deal. Remember that
doncas had just led the Mavericks to the finals, even
though they originally lost to Oka. See now, just prior
to Dallas competing in the twenty twenty four NBA Finals,
(01:16):
Harrison signed a contract extension with the Mavericks for an
undisclosed sum. He was earning five million annually as part
of the front office. So how has that all worked out?
The Lakers are second in the Western Conference while the
Mavericks are panking and sit fourteen out of fifteen. An
absolute disaster for Dallas and no surprise in hindsight that
Harrison was eventually shown the door poning. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
I think most of us, you included, could have predicted
this a long way out lyon. But for that one, no,
you do not.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
You do not.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Well, interesting to see that it played out that way. Ah,
the NBA itself, now you sent me notes. What had
the NBA Cup? Now this sits inside the NBA regular season?
Speaker 3 (01:56):
Is that right?
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Can you explain this to us?
Speaker 3 (01:58):
Yes? So, the third edition of the NBA Cup, formerly
known as the n Season Tournament, has introduced one of
the most risually striking annovations and professional basketball exolic hardwood
courts designed specifically for Cup games. These courts don't just
look different. They're built to signal that these matchups stand
apart from regular season games, given the tournament it's own identity,
(02:19):
energy and broadcast appel. Now, before I give my own
thoughts on the NBA Cup, I wanted to share this
Cobey Piney, you have a responsibility to this city to
bring that championship banners where they belong. You have to
understand that nothing else matters. This franchise does not hang
division banners. It does not hang conference championships. We hang
(02:40):
one banner and one banner only, and that's NBA titles.
Do you have a guest, Piney who said that quote?
Speaker 2 (02:45):
I know, I love the quote. Who said it?
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Yes? So that was famously said by NBA legend Kobe
Bryant of the Lakers, who in a storied career, delivered
five titles to LA and seven finals appearances. Now, the
reason I share that quote is because the twenty twenty
three Lakers won their inaugural in season tournaments and sacrilegiously
hung a bad alongside the seventeen NBA titles. Now, I'd
expected there was a lot of fan backlash, and in
(03:12):
a way I feel the same. The NBA Cup is
an excuse for the Associate Association to try woodback viewers
from an otherwise dwindling TV audience. A bit like eye
candy for lack of a better term, But I'm not
a huge fan of it for the most part. I
feel their die hard NBA fans like Andy really care
about one thing. Who gets to hoist the Lario O'Brian
Trophy's NBA champions There, I said, a pony, And hopefully
(03:34):
I haven't upset too many of your younger listens with
that hot tape.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
I don't think you wold have, Leon, I think most
listens would feel the same way. So let's go to
the regular season. You mentioned the Lakers doing well in
the West. Who else is standing out in the regular
season in both the Western and Eastern conferences?
Speaker 3 (03:50):
Yeah? So the regular season has already a quarter all
the way through, with some teams showing up. In the East,
the Detroit Pistons, who were the punchline of the league
only two years ago after twenty eighth straight losses, are
leading the conference with the fifteen and four record, followed
by the Toronto rap Miami Heat, New York Knitt's and
the Cleveland Cavaliers. Rounding out the top five. Now in
(04:11):
the West, the defending champion ok Sees Thunder are looking
ominous and they're leading all contenders with an impressive nineteen
to one record, followed by the Denver Nuggets, LA Lakers,
Houston Rockets, and San Antonio Spurs.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
I know we're early, Leon, but have you started to
think about who the MVP candidates might be or is
it too early for that.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
No, it's never tally mate. So in terms of players
boiling out right now and then the MVP narrative are
the usual suspects last season's MVP okcs Ka Gilders Alexander
and three time MVP winner Denvers Nicola Jokis. It's a
toss up between them both, with Luca Dontrich or the
Lakers not far behind. Then Milwaukee Bucks superstars Gianna Senter
(04:52):
to Compo and Tyrese Maxi from the Philadelphia seventy six
is rounding out the top five. Most bidding agencies are
leaning towards either Jokis, Sga or Dontries to be league
MVP predicated upon this didn't stand healthy throughout the season.
Here's a stat of the day. I wanted to cheer
regarding the Joker, the College Gookis finish were seventeen points,
sixteen assists and ten rebounds to a tenth triopble double
(05:16):
of the season in a recent win, the fastest to
reach ten triopball doubles in the season in the last
forty years. It's crazy to think, pinally that Gokis is
almost expected now to average a tripball double every time
he starts, and he makes it look so easy.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
And day got it so hard to do it even once.
As you say headline as many times as that want
to move to football to the NFL shortly. But college
football the regular season winding down. So who is looking
good for the college football playoffs?
Speaker 3 (05:43):
Yes, so, as you alluded to, College footballs into its
final week of the regular season, and a few days
ago the latest rankings were released with the top five
pretty much unchanged for the last month. The College Football
Selection Committee leaned towards teams that dominate at the line
of scrimmage. They sitting the top of the standings unbeaten
on twelve and oh are two teams, the defending national
champion Ohio State Buckeyes and the Indiana Users, followed closely
(06:07):
by the Georgia Bulldogs, Texas A and m Aggie's and
Oregon Ducks, and with three other teams on eleven and
one rounding out the top five. Now. The schedule for
the twenty twenty five to twenty six College Football Playoff
Brackett begins in mid to late December. This is the
second year the CFP is using a twelve team format.
Games are scheduled to start December nineteenth, culminated with the
(06:28):
National Championship Game on Monday nineteen, twenty twenty six in
Miami Gardens, Florida. For me, it's hard to go past
the Ohio State, Indiana, Texas A and m and Georgia
to left the National Trophy as champions. Pinting.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
You and I have talked a lotly on about the
eye watering money that is around, particularly in coaching roles.
There are some elite coaching roles I think to be
filled in college football.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Yes, Off the field and college football, there's still a
number of marquee head coaching positions up for grabs, with
the top paid coaches in college football now earning close
to what the NFL counterparts do. So the top five
vacancies at the moment include LSU, Florida, benn State. I
can store in UCLA. What with nil money and boosters.
Open checkbooks quite often dictate where perspective coaches will land.
(07:13):
So in the college ranks, you look at the top coaches,
they're getting around twelve to fifteen million dollars, which is
equivalent to what the NFL coaches get as goalfinding.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Just incredible money, incredible money right to the NFL. Yeah,
Thanksgiving in the week past, of course, and that's always
big around NFL circles. Tell us about the Thanksgiving Day
matches that have already occurred in some of the key
games tomorrow as well.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
Yep, So we're now into week thirteen with four games
already competed over the Thanksgiving weekend. On Beansksgiving Day alone,
last year there are one hundred and forty two million
TV viewers, and this year that's expected to be similar
numbers or even substantially more. So we'll have a quick
look at some of the key matchups for no less
than thirteen games left to salivate over the In the
early window, there are seven games. The most compelling matchup
(08:00):
is an AFC showdown with Houston away to Indianapolis. The
surprising Colts will look to bounce back from their last
game loss, but will be sorely tested against arguably the
league's best defense and the Texans, who terrorize reigning MVP
Bill's quarterback Josh Allen, sacking them a record eight times
last week, the most in his career. Now, another game
of been just early is the Cleveland Browns hosting the
(08:22):
San Francisco forty nine Ers. Quarterbacks with the Browns should
do a sand as one as first start last week,
or be it against the awful Las Vegas Raiders. Now,
the forty nine Ers will certainly be a big step
up for the rookie, but there's a lot of hope
for long suffering Cleveland fans that Sanders will be their
missing piece. And there's still one of only four teams
to never play in the Super Bowl. I feel that
(08:42):
Cleveland need to build their roster up front on the
offensive run of the ball, and they're still a few
years away from making a playoff appearance.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
I just want to move quickly to the Chiefs, the
Kansas City Chiefs before we knock it on the head.
Lyon is there dynasty overall? I see they're basically they're
basically six and six, six one six losses that ain't
championship winning material, is it?
Speaker 3 (09:05):
Yesday? Surprising m Kansas City Chiefs dump into the last
three Super Bowls. Now, they currently, as you said, have
a five hundred records six and six and will have
to run what they call run the table after any
chance of making the postseason. So in their remaining schedule
they have a good chance to win all five with
three harder matchups at home and two easy road games.
(09:26):
Since Patrick Mahomes began the starting quarterback for Kansas City
in twenty eighteen, he's led the team to an unprecedented
seven straight AFC championship games, which has never been done
before on the Super Bowl era. It looks like the
dynasty may finally be over though, or on hold at
least for the meantime. But with head coach Andy Reid
still at the helm and my home's under center, let's
(09:47):
not throw dirt on their proverbial grave just yet. Finding
Thanks Ma me O, mate.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
Oh, Leon, It's always a pleasure to have your analysis,
your expertise, your wide ranging insight into US sport. Thanks
so much, indeed, Leon Bosby stateside our US sports expert
here on Weekend Sport.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
For more from Weekend Sport with Fine, listen live to
news talks at b weekends from midday, or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.