The Ringer NBA Show
The Ringer NBA squad provides insight, reporting, and analysis on the NBA. On Mondays and Thursdays, check out 'Group Chat' with Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney and J. Kyle Mann. On Tuesdays and Fridays, tune in for 'Real Ones' with Logan Murdock, Raja Bell and Howard Beck.
Episodes
The Knicks Pull Off a Stunning, Historic Comeback to Win Game 4 | Group Chat
Justin, Rob and Kyle catch their breath enough to fire up the microphones after a historic Game 4 of the NBA Finals. They kick things off breaking down the finer details of OG Anunoby’s absurd game-winning tip-in before shifting to the Spurs’ side and discussing De’Aaron Fox’s questionable decision making down the stretch. The guys then move into talking through how much of the game was the Knicks
Spurs Win Game 3 at MSG | Real Ones
Logan Murdock, Raja Bell, and Howard Beck discuss Game 3 of the NBA Finals, where the San Antonio Spurs defeated the New York Knicks 115–111. What did it take for the Spurs to earn their first win of the series on the road in the hostile environment of Madison Square Garden? Was Game 3 too physical? One host thinks so. Howard Beck, who was in attendance, also shares his firsthand perspective on an
The Knicks Survive a Slobberknocker to Take Game 2 | Group Chat
(00:00) Justin, Rob, and Kyle fire up the mics immediately after Game 2 of the NBA Finals to talk about the Knicks grinding out a 2-0 series lead.
(3:05) The guys discuss the Knicks pulling through despite Jalen Brunson’s struggles, and De’Aaron Fox’s indecisiveness being costly for the Spurs.
(17:04) They also discuss the Knicks’ bench coming through in comparison to the Spurs’ bench before get
Jalen Brunson Walks Down the Spurs to Take Game 1 of the Finals | Group Chat
Justin, Rob, and Kyle fire up the mics right after the New York Knicks’ huge Game 1 win in the 2026 NBA Finals.(00:00) - The guys discuss Karl-Anthony Towns’s massive impact on the game, the Knicks’ overall defensive dominance in the second half, and of course, Jalen Brunson’s brilliance to close the game.(33:38) - They close the show by talking about New York’s physicality on Victor Wembanyama, a
Annual NBA Broadcast Power Rankings | Real Ones
The most anticipated pod of the year has made its return: Yes, the Real Ones x Press Box collab that you’ve all been waiting for. Logan is joined by Bryan Curtis and Joel Anderson to break down the NBA broadcast partner power rankings. Find out where the guys ranked the NBC, Amazon, and ESPN studio shows and in-game broadcasts. Plus, Logan, Bryan, and Joel create their dream studio show!
Intro -
NBA Finals Variables: The Experience Factor, New York’s New Look, and More | Group Chat
Justin, Rob, and Kyle kick off the month of June with some NBA Finals talk!(00:00)
The guys start with a few closing thoughts on Game 7 of the Western Conference finals and ponder potential next steps for the Oklahoma City Thunder, including whether trading Chet Holmgren is a viable option.
Then, they preview the 2026 NBA Finals by breaking down a few variables that may ultimately decide who wi
Spurs Force Game 7 While Knicks Await | Real Ones
Logan Murdock, Raja Bell, and Howard Beck are back with another edition of Real Ones and dive right into the Spurs win over the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals to force Game 7. How will this series be remembered with these two teams who seem to be headed for a future rivalry? Also, have we been giving the Knicks too much credit for seemingly running through a deple
Is the Thunder’s Rep Just Bait? Plus, Who Earned Their Knick-for-Life Stripes? | Group Chat
Justin, Rob, and Kyle return to take a closer look at the ongoing Thunder-Spurs series through the lens of OKC’s reputation of getting favorable calls. The guys discuss whether the reputation is warranted, what the perception means for the team, and if it’s being driven by actual people.
They also dive into the Spurs’ struggles in Game 5 and wonder aloud whether Alex Caruso is the secret MVP of t
The Knicks Are Headed to the Finals! | Real Ones
Logan Murdock, Raja Bell, and Howard Beck are back with another edition of Real Ones, and they jump right into the New York Knicks making the Finals for the first time in 27 years! What are their chances of winning the Finals, considering they’re getting even more time to rest while San Antonio and OKC battle it out for the Western Conference? What’s next for the Cavaliers after getting swept by t
Five Big Questions as Spurs-Thunder Hits Reset. | Group Chat
Justin, Rob, and Kyle are back after Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals, where the Spurs tied OKC 2-2. They tackle five big questions as the series hits reset. Is Wemby already the greatest player in the league? Who do the Knicks want to win the West? Can the Knicks win it all? The guys answer these questions and more ahead of tonight’s Game 4 between the Knicks and Cavs in the Eastern Confer
Thunder Strike Again and Take Game 3 | Real Ones
Logan Murdock, Raja Bell, and Howard Beck jump right into Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals as the Oklahoma City Thunder regain home-court advantage against the San Antonio Spurs. What did the Thunder do differently to defend Victor Wembanyama? Which Thunder players stepped up in a big way to help secure the victory? Plus, a Game 3 preview of the Eastern Conference Finals and Real One of the
The Thunder Get Physical to Take Game 2. Plus, the Offseason Wheel of Destiny. | Group Chat
No J. Kyle Mann today, so Justin and Rob immediately react to another close game between the Thunder and Spurs. They talk about how the Thunder tied the series, injuries for both teams, and more. Then they briefly talk about the Cavs-Knicks series and what adjustments the Cavs need to make. Then, they wrap up with the news of Jason Kidd getting fired by the Mavericks, and they debut the Offseason
Wemby’s Historic Night!
Logan Murdock, Raja Bell, and Howard Beck are back with another edition of Real Ones. They discuss the epic Game 1 of the Western Conference finals, where Victor Wembanyama made history by being the youngest player ever to score 41 points and grab 24 boards in the playoffs. What can the Thunder do to keep Wemby from having another historic performance in Game 2? How did the Spurs manage to frustra
Conference Finals Preview! Plus, the Pistons’ Next Move. | Group Chat
Justin, Rob, and J. Kyle Mann are previewing the conference finals! But they start by talking about the Cavs' Game 7 win over the Pistons and what’s next for Detroit. Then they preview Thunder-Spurs before wrapping up with Cavs-Knicks.
(00:00) Intro
(1:36) Fan Duel ad break
(2:12) Cavs-Pistons Game 7 recap
(15:28) What’s next for Detroit?
(26:35) Fan Duel ad break
(27:01) Thunder-Spurs previ
Spurs Advance to Western Conference Finals. | RealOnes
Logan Murdock and Howard Beck are back with another edition of Real Ones. They jump right into the San Antonio Spurs defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 6 of the Western Conference Semifinals and advancing to the Western Conference Finals. Could the Oklahoma City Thunder–Spurs matchup be just the beginning of an epic rivalry? Did the Cleveland Cavaliers completely fumble the bag by fallin
Harden Grifts His Way to a Series Lead. Plus, Dylan Harper’s Ceiling, and Kyle’s Combine Report. | Group Chat
Justin, Rob, and J. Kyle Mann are here right after the Cavs win their first game on the road this postseason and take a 3-2 lead over the Pistons. Then, they talk about Dylan Harper’s breakout and what they think the ceiling is for his career. They wrap up with some of Kyle’s observations from the NBA combine.
(00:00) Intro
(4:00) Fan Duel ad break
(4:39) Cavs-Pistons
(28:14) Fan Duel ad break
Thunder Sweep Lakers. What’s Next for LeBron? | Real Ones
Logan Murdock and Raja Bell are back with another edition of Real Ones and get right into the Lakers being eliminated by the Oklahoma City Thunder and what’s next for LeBron James as he heads into free agency. How should we look back on the season that LeBron had? Where should he head next? What is it going to take to beat a Thunder team that seems to be unstoppable? Should Victor Wembanyama have
Draft Lottery Winners and Losers. Plus, the Knicks Advance and More. | Group Chat
Justin, Rob, and J. Kyle Mann are here to talk about the winners and losers of the NBA draft lottery. Then they share some of their thoughts from all the playoff series.
Check out J. Kyle's Mann's mock draft here.
(00:00) Intro
(1:59) Fan Duel ad break
(2:37) Winners from the draft lottery
(42:11) Fan Duel ad break
(43:20) Losers from the draft lottery
(54:19) Amazon Prime ad break
(54:5
Wemby Takes Over. Plus, Knicks Win Without OG.
Logan Murdock, Raja Bell and Howard Beck are back with a late night edition of Real Ones, and get right into Spurs-Wolves and Knicks-Sixers Game Three. Just how impactful has Victor Wembanyama been on both ends of the floor? What can the Minnesota Timberwolves do to reduce his impact? The Knicks beat the Sixers easily without OG Anunoby due to a hamstring injury. Are the Knicks the best team left
The Spurs Get Nasty, and the Knicks Keep Winning. Plus, the Jaylen Brown Landscape. | Group Chat
Justin, Rob, and J. Kyle Mann are here after the Knicks and Spurs' wins over the Sixers and Timberwolves. They also discuss their thoughts on Cavs-Pistons and Lakers-Thunder. They wrap up with talking about Jaylen Brown's latest livestream.00:00) Intro
(4:23) Fan Duel ad break
(5:01) Spurs-Wolves
(19:42) Knicks-Sixers
(39:45) Fan Duel ad break
(40:40) Pistons-Cavs
(51:13) Amazon Prime ad bre
Wolves Win in Ant’s Return. Plus, Knicks Blow Out the Sixers | Real Ones
Logan Murdock, Raja Bell, and Howard Beck are back with another edition of Real Ones and review the Game 1 action from the Wolves-Spurs and Sixers-Knicks. Despite Victor Wembanyama’s historic night, the Spurs lost game one on their home floor. Have we been sleeping on the Wolves? The Knicks crushed the Sixers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semis, but is there a bright side for the Sixers? Plu
Lessons From Round 1. Plus, What to Watch For In Round 2 and Masai Lands In Dallas. | Group Chat
Justin, Rob, and J. Kyle Mann are here to talk about what they learned from round 1 before previewing round 2 by talking about 1 thing they’re going to be watching for. And they wrap up with the news of Masai Ujiri becoming the team president of the Dallas Mavericks.
Publishing note: This episode was filmed and set to release before Round 2 of the Playoffs. Any predictions or commentary reflect
A Magical Collapse. Plus, LeBron and Lakers Advance | Real Ones
Logan Murdock, Raja Bell and Howard Beck are back with another edition of Real Ones and get right into the Orlando Magic historically bad second half against the Detroit Pistons in Game 6 of their series. What impressed the guys the most about Cade Cunningham’s stellar performance? The Toronto Raptors forced a Game 7 against the Cleveland Cavaliers thanks to RJ Barrett’s game-winning jumper. What’
Can the Rockets and Pistons Pull Off History? Plus, the Cavs Are Kinda Back and More Bad Lottery Reform.| Group Chat
Justin, Rob, and J. Kyle Mann react to three different series going to 3-2. They start with the Pistons and Rockets saving their seasons against the Magic and Lakers. Then they talk about the Cavs taking the lead in their series against the Raptors. They wrap up by discussing potential lottery reform.
(00:00) Intro
(3:32) Fan Duel ad break
(5:46) Pistons-Magic
(23:04) Lakers-Rockets
(45:05)
Hitting the Panic Button on the Pistons | Real Ones
Logan Murdock, Raja Bell, and Howard Beck are back with another edition of Real Ones, and they get right into the playoff action. Are the Wolves in trouble now that Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo have been ruled out for the series? Has Nikola Jokic’s behavior during this series not been criticized enough? The Pistons are down 3-1 in the series and on the brink of elimination after falling to
Are the Spurs the Biggest Winner of a Chaotic First Round? | Group Chat
Justin, Rob, and J. Kyle Mann open by recapping the Spurs' winning weekend in Portland. Then they break down the rest of this weekend’s playoffs matchups, including Jokic’s meltdown, the trust level of Eastern Conference teams, and the Pistons meeting their match in Orlando.
(0:00) Intro
(3:51) Fan Duel ad break
(4:28) - Spurs-Blazers
(28:09) Injuries Mounting in the Playoffs
(30:55) - Is t
Rockets Late Game Woes Continue. | Real Ones
The Rockets fell to the Lakers in game three of the first round due to some late game blunders that had Logan Murdock, Raja Bell and Howard Beck puzzled. Why has the theme for the Rockets all season been the inability to close out games? Did they miss out on an opportunity to acquire a guard at the deadline to help with these issues? The Celtics defeated the Sixers in a close one in Philly to take
Detroit Picks Itself Up Off the Mat, and OKC Survives. Plus, Things We Think We Know About the Playoffs So Far. | Group Chat
Justin, Rob, and J. Kyle Mann are here right after the Wednesday night playoff games to first react to the Pistons' bounceback win in Game 2 over the Magic, and then the Thunder surviving a late push from the Suns to go up 2-0. Then, they each talk about something they think they know about these playoffs.(00:00) Intro
(3:35) Fan Duel ad break
(4:12) Pistons-Magic
(21:37) Thunder-Suns
(37:40)
Biggest Questions Following the First Weekend of the Playoffs | Real Ones
Logan Murdock, Raja Bell, and Howard Beck are back with another edition of Real Ones to review the games from the weekend and Monday. Are the Knicks in trouble now that the Hawks have tied the series 1-1 before they head down to Atlanta? Does Denver have a defense problem? If Kevin Durant doesn’t play in the series against the Lakers, are the Rockets in trouble?
(0:00) Intro
(1:01) Fan Duel ad
The Pistons Are in Trouble, and More Top-Line Takeaways for Every Game 1 | Group Chat
Justin, Rob, and J. Kyle Mann discuss their takeaways from all the first-round games.
(00:00) Intro
(1:32) Fan Duel ad break
(2:31) Magic-Pistons
(19:00) Spurs-Trail Blazers
(36:04) Thunder-Suns
(40:46) Celtics-Sixers
(43:22) Men’s Wearhouse ad break
(44:12) Nuggets-Timberwolves
(52:22) Knicks-Hawks
(59:04) Lakers-Rockets
(1:08:35) Raptors-Cavaliers
Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahon
Real or Fake: Playoff Edition! | Real Ones
Logan Murdock and Howard Beck are back with the 2026 playoff edition of Real or Fake! They go through each team that’s made it through to the playoffs and figure out who the real contenders are and which teams have a slight chance to no chance.
(0:00) Intro
(1:04) Fan Duel ad break
(02:12) Real or Fake: Detroit Pistons
(10:06) Real or Fake: San Antonio Spurs
(16:20) Real or Fake: Cleveland
Playoff Verriables: Finals Picks, Leap Candidates, and More | Group Chat
Justin, Rob, and J. Kyle Mann open with a thought-provoking question about the NBA playoffs before jumping into the highly anticipated return of the Verriables ahead of all of the playoff excitement. This year, Justin’s playoff Verriables pose questions like: How many teams can realistically win the East? If not the Thunder in the West, then who? Who’s going to be the leap guy? Lastly, the guys pr
Red-Hot Hornets Cool Off Heat in Play-In Victory | Real Ones
Logan Murdock, Raja Bell, and Howard Beck are back with another edition of Real Ones to react to the wild Tuesday night play-in games. The Hornets defeated the Heat in OT thanks to LaMelo Ball’s late-game bucket. What are the chances of the Hornets taking a team deep in the first round? Plus, the Suns fell to the Blazers in the Western Conference play-in. Should they consider trading Devin Booker?
Play-In Fever, Doc’s Exit, and More Fallout From the Final Day of the Regular Season. | Group Chat
The regular season is officially over and Justin, Rob, and J. Kyle Mann are here to preview the play-in match-ups in each conference. Then they give some brief thoughts on the playoff match ups before giving final thoughts on any fall out from the final day of the regular season including Doc Rivers leaving the Bucks and they play a game 82 tradition of “Who He Tank For”.
(00:00) Intro
(2:50) Fa
Optimistic Outlooks for the Play-In Teams | Real Ones
Logan Murdock and Howard Beck are back with another edition of Real Ones to discuss the future for the teams in the play-in tournament. How will the Clippers navigate the rest of the Kawhi Leonard era with a possible big punishment looming? Are the Sixers stuck in this position because of the Joel Embiid and Paul George contracts? Could Steph and the Warriors possibly get some help from another NB
A Big Ol’ MVP Debate. Plus, Picks for Every Other Individual Award. | Group Chat
Justin, Rob, and J. Kyle Mann open by recapping the 2026 NCAA men’s championship game and giving their thoughts on the evolution of college basketball. Then, they give their picks for MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Sixth Man of the Year, and Coach of the Year.
(0:00) Intro
(0:22) Michigan beats UConn, wins NCAA basketball title
(4:03) Fan Duel ad break
(7:58) Thoughts
Coop or Kon for Rookie of the Year? | Real Ones
Logan Murdock, Raja Bell, and Howard Beck are back with another edition of Real Ones and take a deep dive into the Rookie of the Year debate. Kon Knueppel has had an outstanding season, but will Cooper Flagg’s late surge ultimately win him the award? NBA championship-winning head coach Michael Malone has taken the University of North Carolina’s head coaching job. How will he have to navigate the N
Team Award Picks: All-NBA, All-Defense, and More | Group Chat
Justin, Rob, and J. Kyle Mann begin award season with the team awards. They start with their All-NBA team ballots. Then they move to the All-Defensive teams and wrap up with the All-Rookie teams. Then, right before the show wraps, the guys react to the news that former Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone has reportedly accepted the head coaching job at the University of North Carolina.
(00:00)
Lakers Lose Luka in Blowout Loss to Thunder. Plus, Paolo’s Concerns. | Real Ones
Logan Murdock, Raja Bell, and Howard Beck are back with another edition of Real Ones, and get right into the Lakers getting blown out by OKC and losing Luka to a hamstring injury during the game. What did the game say about where both teams currently stand in the West? Plus, the Magic keep free-falling in the standings, which has star forward Paolo Banchero unhappy. What's the next steps for the f
Say One Nice Thing … About the West’s Tanktastic Bottom Five. Plus, Wemby Goes Off Again.
Justin and Rob discuss the West’s bottom five teams and give us a positive outlook for each, but first, Victor Wembanyama went off for 41 points against the Warriors and keeps performing at a level that has him shooting up the MVP ladder. Did he put a stamp on his case on Wednesday?(0:00) Intro
(1:05) Wemby
(13:09) Dallas Mavericks(26:42) Memphis Grizzlies(37:13) New Orleans Pelicans(46:07) Ut
Tiers for the 10 Tanking Teams | Real Ones
Logan Murdock, Raja Bell, and Howard Beck are back with another edition of Real Ones to discuss the teams that are tanking and assign a tier to each team. There’s a tier of joy, a tier of hope, and a tier of sorrow. Find out where the guys slotted each of the 10 tanking teams. Plus, a loaded mailbag. Which teams can make a surprise run in the playoffs?
(1:28) Tier of joy(10:53) Tier of hope(28:25
Say One Nice Thing … About the East’s Tanktastic Bottom Five. Plus, UConn Shocks the World (Again)! | Group Chat
Justin is back and joined by Rob and J. Kyle Mann and they start by talking about Justin’s alma mater UConn’s shocking comeback win to clinch a spot in the Final Four. Then they get to the NBA where they say goodbye to the bottom 5 teams in the East by saying one nice thing about them.
(00:00) Intro
(1:08) UConn's victory over Duke
(24:21) Men’s Wearhouse ad break
(29:11) Indiana Pacers
(38
Has the NBA Found the Solution to Tanking? | Real Ones
Logan Murdock, Raja Bell, and Howard Beck are back with another edition of Real Ones and discuss the NBA Board of Governors meeting that touched on a variety of hot-button issues throughout the NBA. The NBA has proposed a few draft-lottery methods to circumvent tanking, but will any of the proposed methods work? Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks are at odds as the star forward would li
Mailbag: Most Improved Player, Postseason Narratives, Life Lessons From Basketball, and More | Group Chat
Rob and J. Kyle Mann answer your listener questions about the Most Improved Player award, postseason narratives, how teams are defending Jokic, and much more!
(00:00) Intro
(3:18) FanDuel title pie
(12:16) Most Improved Player
(21:12) 3-point shooting
(27:15) Mount Rushmore of aughts indie rock
(33:00) Fan Duel ad break
(33:46) Tommy Hilfiger ad break
(34:19) All-time Kentucky alumni lin
Wemby Wants the MVP! | Real Ones
Logan Murdock, Raja Bell, and Howard Beck are back with another edition of Real Ones and jump right into Victor Wembanyama’s comments about his MVP candidacy following the Spurs victory over the Miami Heat on Monday night. Just how close is the race between Wemby and the other candidates, and did he purposely mention beating the Thunder during the regular season to send them a message with the pla
Teams' To-Do Lists Down the Stretch of the Regular Season | Group Chat
No Justin this week, so Rob and J. Kyle Mann are here with a to-do list of what they want to see and learn down the stretch of the regular season. They talk about what else the Lakers can prove, if the Cavs can go on a run in the East, whether the Rockets can get it together in time for the playoffs, and more.
(00:00) Intro
(4:15) Lakers
(26:22) Cavaliers
(38:40) Rockets
(51:05) All-NBA
(5
Lakers Surge Behind Luka. Plus, Injuries Sweep the League | Real Ones
Logan Murdock, Raja Bell, and Howard Beck are back with another edition of Real Ones to discuss the Lakers recent hot streak winning nine of their last ten games. How far can Luka and LeBron lead the Lakers in the playoffs with the Spurs and Thunder atop of the conference? Giannis and the Bucks are at odds about letting him play because he’ll most likely find a new home in the offseason. Plus, Pis
Redraft Speedrun: Revisiting the Top Fives of the Past Five Drafts | Group Chat
Justin, Rob, and J. Kyle Mann redraft who would be the top five picks in the past five drafts. Before they start with the 2021 draft, they talk about the news of Cade Cunningham's collapsed lung and what that means for him and the Pistons.
(00:00) Intro
(05:05) Cunningham injury news
(11:36) 2021 redraft
(30:19) 2022 redraft
(46:35) 2023 redraft
(58:38) 2024 redraft
(75:00) 2025 redraft
Is Expansion Good for the NBA? Plus, Kevin Durant Voices His Frustrations | Real Ones
Logan Murdock and Howard Beck are back with another edition of Real Ones and dive right into the NBA's desire to expand with two new teams, with a possible return to Seattle and a fresh start in Las Vegas. Is this good for the league in the current climate given the problems with tanking, the style of play, and gambling? Plus, the Rockets fell to the Lakers on Monday night, after which Kevin Duran
An NBA Draftnik’s Guide to March Madness. Plus, Expansion Is Nigh. | Group Chat
Justin, Rob, and J. Kyle Mann start with their reactions to the news of NBA expansion to Seattle and Las Vegas almost becoming a reality. Then they get into our yearly March Madness primer. The guys take a look at the top prospects playing in the tournament this year, then Kyle talks about a few other guys to keep an eye on who could get picked in the first round.(00:00) Intro(6:08) Expansion news
Bam’s Record-Breaking Night Causes Uproar. Plus, Celtics Silver Lining | Real Ones
The Boston Celtics have lost close matches recently against the Spurs and the Thunder on their road trip, but is there some silver lining within the losses as Jayson Tatum returns? Also, should Jaylen Brown have been ejected from the game against the Spurs despite it being televised on national television? Bam Adebayo now holds the record for the second-most points scored in an NBA game, but the w
The Bam 83-Point Discourse Inferno. Plus, Momentous Inflection Points for SGA, Wemby, and More | Group Chat
Justin, Rob, and J. Kyle Mann are back together, and they are here to take a look at some of the massive stories going on in the association this week. They start with Bam Adebayo’s 83-point game against the Wizards and the discourse around his achievement. Then they talk about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander potentially locking up the MVP after his game-winning shot against the Nuggets. They also get int
Shai Shines in Thunder's Thriller Win. Plus, Jayson Tatum’s Return. | Real Ones
Logan Murdock, Raja Bell, and Howard Mf’n Beck are back with another edition of Real Ones, and they dive right into the Thunder’s 129-126 victory over the Nuggets on Monday night. Did reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander all but guarantee himself a second MVP with his performance in this victory? How close is the MVP race with other guys like Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama, and Jaylen Brown lurki
Tatum’s East-altering Return, the Spurs’ Warp-speed Come-up, and a Trail Blazers Bonanza, With Jared Weiss and Tom Haberstroh | Group Chat
It’s JV Day today with no Rob or J. Kyle Mann. So Justin wanted to start with the two biggest stories in the league: Jayson Tatum’s return, and the Spurs continuing to roll in the West. He’s joined by the The Athletic’s Jared Weiss, who currently covers the Spurs and used to cover the Celtics. They talk about what it was like to be at Tatum's first game, how he changes the Celtics' title chances,
Jayson Tatum Returns, Red-Hot Hornets, and Kerr vs. Kuminga | Real Ones
Logan Murdock, Raja Bell, and Howard Beck are back with another edition of Real Ones and discuss the return of Celtics All-NBA forward Jayson Tatum. Is it too soon for him to return? Could Tatum mess up the chemistry of a Celtics team that currently holds the second spot in the East? The Charlotte Hornets have been hot since the new year with the emergence of rookie Kon Knueppel and 2023 second ov
Future Power Rankings, with Big Wos | Group Chat
No J. Kyle Mann today so Justin and Rob are joined by an old friend Big Wos! After last week’s show where the guys looked at the teams with the bleakest futures in the league this time they look at the five teams with the brightest future.
(00:00) Intro
(13:22) Tommy Hilfiger ad break
(15:00) Thoughts on the Nuggets
(22:23) New York Knicks
(27:42) Boston Celtics
(34:39) Jayson Tatum
(37:39)
Rate That Crash Out! | Real Ones
Logan Murdock, Raja Bell, and Howard Beck are back with another edition of Real Ones to discuss the crash outs that occurred over the weekend in the NBA world. Did Lu Dort’s flagrant on Nikola Jokic warrant an ejection? Are the Thunder entering their villain era? The guys also compare Jaylen Brown’s MVP case to Victor Wembanyama’s.
(0:00) Intro
(0:40) Jokic Crashes out on Lu Dort
(17:03) Thunde
Updated Rookie Comps | Group Chat
Justin, Rob, and J. Kyle Mann are here for a rookie class check-in. They go through the top rookies and provide some updated comparisons for each of them. They wrap up with some more under-the-radar rookies they've liked watching as well.
(0:00) Intro
(5:20) Cooper Flagg
(17:06) Kon Knueppel
(27:57) Dylan Harper
(37:41) FanDuel ad break
(38:53) Tommy Hilfiger ad break
(39:29) V.J. Edgeco
NBA Vibe Check! | Real Ones
Logan Murdock and Howard Beck are back with another edition of Real Ones to do a vibe check for a couple of contending teams as the season gears up for the final stretch. Will the Lakers pass the vibe check coming off of two crucial losses late in games? What are the vibes in Denver and OKC, as both teams have dealt with significant injuries? Do the Cavaliers have the highest vibes following the J
The No-Power Rankings | Group Chat
The No-Power Rankings are back! Join Justin, Rob, and J. Kyle Mann as they go through the league and rank which teams have the worst situations for the foreseeable future. They debate how much longer the Warriors can attempt to make championship runs with Steph Curry, why no one cares about Zion Williamson, whether the Bulls can finally rebuild after all the moves they made at the deadline, why th
Wemby Wows in the Spurs' Win Over the Pistons | Real Ones
Logan Murdock, Raja Bell, and Howard Beck are back with another edition of Real Ones and get into the possible Finals preview from Monday night between the Spurs and Pistons. What did it mean for the Spurs to go into Detroit and essentially shut down MVP candidate Cade Cunningham? How did both the Spurs and the Pistons become title contenders after some dreadful prior seasons? Who’s the face of th
The Dark-Horse MVP Race, Mathurin’s Moment, and More Takeaways About Actual Basketball | Group Chat
Justin is back with Rob and J. Kyle Mann, and they take a look at the MVP race because the front-runners are up against the 65-game limit. They talk about whether the game limit is here to stay, some other candidates for MVP, and more. Then they talk about some of their takeaways from the first couple of games after the All-Star break, including Bennedict Mathurin’s impressive start with the Clipp
What Does Raja Think? James Harden and the Cavs, Burner Accounts, Adam Silver’s Tanking Remedy, and More! | Real Ones
Raja is back! Raja joins Logan, who is back from NBA All-Star weekend in Los Angeles for a game of “What Does Raja Think?” Logan asks Raja for his thoughts on the NBA’s most recent headlines like KD’s alleged burner account, Adam Silver’s remedy to tanking, Jayson Tatum’s injury recovery plan, and more! Then they share their Real One of the Week to wrap up the episode!
(0:00:00) Intro
(1:38) J
We Know What You Did (to Your Roster) Last Summer | Group Chat
No Justin today, so Rob and J. Kyle Mann are here to look back at some of the biggest moves from the summer and, if given the chance, would they still make the transaction?
(0:00:00) Intro
(4:42) Desmond Bane trade
(23:21) Kevin Durant trade
(36:49) Signing Myles Turner
(48:05) Michael Porter Jr. trade
(1:01:54) Saddiq Bey trade
Hosts: Rob Mahoney, and J. Kyle Mann
Producers: Victoria Va
The Most Important Questions Going Into the Back Half of the Season | Real Ones
Logan and Howard are joined by The Ringer’s own Tyler Parker to share and debate their biggest player and team concerns as we round the corner into the second half of the NBA season.(0:00:00) Intro
(1:45) How effective will Jayson Tatum be in his return?
(13:25) Which second-tier playoff team is set to play spoiler?
(23:52) James Harden will ___ with the Cleveland Cavs
(31:35) The Charlotte Ho
Wemby Saves the All-Star Game. Plus, Tanking Reform Gets Serious. | Group Chat
Justin, Rob, and J. Kyle Mann share their thoughts on the new-look All-Star Game. They discuss Wemby’s effort to make the game competitive, Kawhi’s impressive performance, and more. They also discuss the lackluster All-Star Saturday and whether there are any solutions to fix it. They wrap up with a discussion about different solutions to tanking after Adam Silver hinted in a press conference that
The 2026 Take-a-Thon, Part 2 | Real Ones
Logan, Howard, and The Ringer’s own Tyler Parker conclude their two-part conversation with more left-field takes on the most-talked-about players in the NBA. Jomi Adineron then analyzes his favorite takes from each participant and crowns the winner of Take-a-Thon 2026.(0:00:00) Intro
(3:33) LeBron James
(10:08) Chet Holmgren
(12:06) Nikola Jokic
(16:51) Kawhi Leonard
(19:22) Devin Booker
The 2026 Take-athon, Part 1 | Real Ones
Welcome to the first Real Ones Take-athon! Logan, Howard, and The Ringer’s own Tyler Parker and Jomi Adeniran get together for a two-part episode to take a hard look at the player landscape of the NBA and fire off their wildest takes on the biggest and sometimes most polarizing stars in the league.
(00:00) Opening
(02:02) Take-athon rules
(02:49) Anthony Edwards
(07:14) Giannis Antetokounmpo
Title Pie at the All-Star Break | Group Chat
Justin, Rob, and J. Kyle Mann are back to update their title pie! They start by talking about how their view of the title race has changed since their quarter-season title pie. Then they get into the exercise and discuss the favorites, the contenders, and the dark-horse teams.
(00:00) Intro
(8:13) Title favorites
(18:11) Title contenders
(51:55) Dark-horse contenders
Hosts: Justin Verrier
Pistons-Hornets Brawl, the NBA’s Loser Mentality, and Daryl Morey's Comments on Jared McCain | Real Ones
The Real Ones crew starts the pod by sharing their reactions to and analysis of the on-court fight between Jalen Duren and Moussa Diabaté and its ramifications. They then pivot to the NBA’s current tanking epidemic and how it’s affecting the league's product, the players, and the fans. Finally, they address Daryl Morey's controversial comments on Jared McCain before diving into the listener mailba
The NBA’s Tanking Problem Hits Rock Bottom and More Trade Deadline Ripple Effects | Group Chat
Justin, Rob, and J. Kyle Mann attempt to tackle the tanking problem around the league. Then they provide their initial thoughts on a handful of teams after the trade deadline.(00:00) Intro(0:58) Solving the tanking problem(31:39) First impressions after the trade deadline(41:15) Trade deadline ripple effectsHosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and J. Kyle MannProducers: Victoria Valencia and Isaiah
Trade Deadline Winners and Losers! | Real Ones
What’s Poppin'? Now that the NBA trade deadline is over, Logan, Howard, and Raja look back at the teams who made moves.
(0:00:00) Intro
(1:17) Biggest winner of the trade deadline
(6:27) James Harden to the Cavs
(20:28) WTF award
(21:07) Anthony Davis to the Wizards
(31:42) Favorite sneaky-good deal
(43:33) When Keeping it Real Goes Wrong Award
(51:50) Bigger loser of the trade deadline
Trade Deadline Extravaganza: Giannis Stays Put, the Tankers Load Up, and Much More | Group Chat
Justin, Rob, and J. Kyle Mann are here to give their reactions to a busy trade deadline day. They start with Giannis and Ja staying put before discussing the recent big trades of Ivica Zubac, James Harden, Darius Garland, Anthony Davis, and Jaren Jackson Jr. Then they touch on a handful of other trades that caught their eye.
(00:00) Intro
(3:08) No trades for Giannis and Ja
(5:42) Zubac to th
Jaren Jackson Jr. Goes to Utah, Harden Wants Out, and Drug-Testing Stories | Real Ones
The Real Ones crew reacts to Jaren Jackson Jr. moving to the Jazz and signaling the end of an era for Memphis. Then, Raja joins to dive into the wildest breakout stories of the week—including a drug-testing saga that immediately shoots to the top of the rankings—plus big questions around James Harden, Giannis, and the inevitable end-game conversations surrounding LeBron.
(0:00:00) Intro
(1:14)
Can Denver Get on OKC’s Level? Plus, Two Amuse-Bouche Trades, and the Most Intriguing Teams at the Deadline. | Group Chat
Justin, Rob, and J.Kyle Mann are here to recap the Thunder’s impressive win over the Nuggets on Sunday.
After that, they discuss the two trades that happened this weekend, with Vit Krejci going to the Trail Blazers and De'Andre Hunter getting sent to the Kings. Then, they follow up last show’s discussion about the most intriguing players at the deadline with the most intriguing teams at the deadl
Best Trades and Landing Spots for Giannis | Real Ones
Logan Murdock and Raja Bell are back with another edition of Real Ones. On this episode, they explore a Giannis trade to every other team in the league. What would each team have to give up and will that make them an automatic contender?
(1:48) Atlanta Hawks(8:33) Charlotte Hornets(17:20) Denver Nuggets(21:14) Detroit Pistons(23:59) Golden State Warriors(29:49) Houston Rockets(35:47) Los Angeles
The Most Intriguing Players at the Trade Deadline. | Group Chat
Justin, Rob, and J. Kyle Mann are back to take a look at the most intriguing players ahead of next week’s trade deadline.
(00:00) Intro(2:22) Giannis Antetokounmpo(15:09) Michael Porter Jr.(27:19) Nic Claxton(34:20) Joel Embiid
(43:02) Simone Fontecchio(46:59) Coby White(55:29) Robert Williams III
Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and J. Kyle Mann
Producers: Victoria Valencia and Isaiah
The NBA World Reacts to the Tragedy in Minnesota. | Real Ones
Logan Murdock, Raja Bell, and Howard Beck react to the postponement of the Warriors-Timberwolves matchup following the death of Alex Pretti at the hands of federal agents in Minnesota on Saturday.
(0:00:00) Intro
(0:53) NBA World Reacts to Tragedy in Minnesota
(37:20) Mailbag
Hosts: Logan Murdock, Raja Bell, and Howard BeckProducers: Victoria Valencia and Clifford AugustinProduction Super
Jeanie Beefing With LeBron? Plus, Drama Brewing on Broadway. | Real Ones
Logan Murdock, Raja Bell, and Howard Beck are back with another edition of Real Ones to discuss what is happening between the Lakers and LeBron James. They unpack the report that governor Jeanie Buss felt LeBron was unappreciative of what the Lakers have done for him. Is there troubling looming in New York? The Knicks held a players-only meeting, so Raja breaks down what goes on in players-only me
Panic! at the Deadline: A Knicks Collapse, the Adrift Warriors, and More.
Justin, Rob, and J. Kyle Mann discuss three teams that could be under some stress heading into the deadline.
(00:00) Intro
(6:46) Knicks
(31:50) FanDuel ad break
(32:41) Warriors
(50:04) Cavaliers
Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and J. Kyle Mann
Producers: Victoria Valencia and Isaiah Blakely
Production Supervision: Ben Cruz and Conor Nevins
Additional Production Support: John Ric
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