The Pat McAfee Show Live | Wednesday June 24th 2026

The NBA Draft class of 2026 is being heralded as potentially one of the most impactful and influential of all time. Top picks included Dansa (Washington, #1), Darren Peterson (Utah Jazz, #2), and Cameron Boozer (Memphis, #3). The depth of talent extends beyond the top, with many players expected to make an immediate impact.

Pat McAfee states, 'the NBA drafted what might be one of the most impactful draft classes of all time last night.' Ryan Smith, owner of the Utah Jazz, confirms, 'this draft... you could easily see two or three guys as being... really deep.' Kendrick Perkins predicts Darren Peterson will have a 'Kobe Bryant' ceiling and AJ Dansa a 'Hall of Fame career'.

Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith is actively working to dispel the perception that players don't want to play in a 'small market' like Utah. He emphasizes building a strong team culture and showcasing the state's unique advantages, such as being the fastest-growing state with high economic prosperity and a young population.

Smith states, 'We're representing an entire state. We're representing the fastest growing state in the country... your likelihood to exceed or jump a different socioeconomic class is higher than anywhere else.' He adds, 'I've got players crying when we trade them... People want to be here once they're here. They see the people, they meet the people, they want to be a part of it.'

NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins offers strong predictions for the upcoming NBA season and controversial takes on player movements. He believes Darren Peterson has a Kobe Bryant-like ceiling and that the Washington Wizards, with Trey Young, AJ Dansa, and Anthony Davis, will be a top-six seed in the Eastern Conference. Perkins also advocates for the Memphis Grizzlies to trade Ja Morant and rebuild around Cam Boozer, suggesting the Miami Heat as a potential destination for Morant due to their strong 'Heat Culture'.

Perkins states, 'I believe that Darren Peterson is going to have the best career out of all those guys. I believe that his ceiling is is Kobe Bryant.' He predicts, 'The Washington Wizards are going to make the playoffs next season with Trey Young, AJ Deansa, and Anthony Davis leading the way.' On Morant, he says, 'Memphis has been trying to trade John Morant since the last trade deadline. They've been trying. They just hadn't been successful.'

Kendrick Perkins argues that the Boston Celtics' repeated attempts to trade Jaylen Brown, particularly in pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo, have irrevocably broken Brown's trust with the organization. Despite Brown's career-best season and MVP consideration, his name being in trade rumors again has created a situation that Perkins believes is beyond repair, leading to inevitable friction in the locker room.

Perkins asserts, 'This time to me is no coming back from this.' He adds, 'If I'm Jaylen Brown, I feel disrespected... The trust is broken.' He questions, 'Do you want to walk into training camp dealing with any type of friction or animosity knowing that they tried to trade them not knowing what version or what type of attitude you're going to get from Jaylen Brown?'

The current World Cup is experiencing unprecedented viewership and excitement, largely attributed to the consistent high-level performances of global superstars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. However, commentator Michael Grella criticizes the inclusion of 'shite teams' in the tournament, arguing that many teams are there purely for 'participation awards' and dilute the competition in the early rounds.

McAfee notes, 'the World Cup is seeing numbers that it maybe could have never imagined or fathomemed because the names that we know are all doing big time things.' Grella states, 'there's probably like 15 teams that don't really belong there. They've gone there for like purely a participation award and the story lines and everything else.'

Kyle Pitts' new contract with the Atlanta Falcons (3 years, $54M, $36M guaranteed) signifies a significant market reset for the tight end position, recognizing their increasing value as versatile offensive weapons. Meanwhile, the San Francisco 49ers are considering moving their practice facility due to a desire for more space, despite an independent scientific study debunking theories linking an adjacent electrical substation to player injuries.

McAfee notes Pitts' contract is 'resetting the market of the tight end position.' On the 49ers, he states, 'they are looking to expand and to have more space... The independent science from my reading said that there is no there is no correlation between the electric and the injuries.'

Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Bryce Turang, a Platinum Glove winner, shares that superior footwork is the most crucial aspect of elite baseball defense, followed by throwing accuracy. He also highlights the impact of observing top players' routines during the World Baseball Classic. Turang discusses the challenge of staying engaged defensively when a pitcher like Miz Rasky is striking out nearly everyone with 105 mph fastballs, noting the increased ball speed off the bat when contact is made.

Turang states, '100% your feet. Uh your your footwork is is what makes you look good.' He adds, 'every single rep is to get better and uh every swing they take is for a reason.' Regarding Rasky, he says, 'you got to really tell yourself like, hey, at any given time a ball can be hit... it's electric for sure.'