The Ringer Nba Show

Seerat and Kyle get together to discuss the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award. They begin by talking about the history of the award and some of the significant winners in the past who have come to define it. Next, they profile two of the current front-runners for the trophy, Brook Lopez and Jaren Jackson Jr., and highlight the unique defensive skill sets they provide for their respective squads (22:40). They end the pod by examining players who could be future DPOYs and make their pick for who should win it this year (47:31). Hosts: Seerat Sohi and J. Kyle Mann Associate Producer: Chris Sutton Production Supervision: Conor Nevins and Benjamin Cruz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Logan and Raja are back to share their thoughts on the Dallas Mavericks’ major struggles since trading for Kyrie Irving and what it means for the future of their partnership (3:00). Next, they bring back Do We Believe Their Raps? to debate the status of teams fighting for playoff spots in the West as the final stretch of the regular season approaches (25:45). Later, Kerm joins the guys for ‘Snowfall’ talk (49:00). Hosts: Logan Murdock and Raja Bell Producer: Jonathan Kermah Production Assistant: Kai Grady Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Wos is back, this time with The Athletic, Boston Celtics writer Jay King to talk Celtics. Starting off discussing the Jaylen Brown trade rumors and their thoughts on the situation (1:41), next discussing the Celtics overall season and how they are looking gearing up for playoffs (17:30), and lastly they discuss the role of owners in the NBA (30:52). Host: Wosny Lambre Guest: Jay King Producer: Jade Whaley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Austin and Pausha are joined by Karl-Anthony Towns to discuss his triumphant return to the court after missing over 50 games with a Grade 3 calf strain (1:37). They reflect on Minnesota’s warm welcome, KAT’s big 22-point return, and how the team held it down without him for almost four months (8:23). Then, they go down memory lane and reflect on KAT’s career with his carousel of coaches, GMs, and playing with the Big Ticket himself, Kevin Garnett (39:05). Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Guest: Karl-Anthony Towns Producer: Erika Cervantes, Ben Cruz Additional Production Support: Megan Schuster and Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Logan is joined by national NBA writer for the Boston Globe Gary Washburn to discuss Jaylen Brown’s recent comments on his future with the Boston Celtics and his complicated relationship with the team. Finally, they close out with their Real Ones of the Week. Hosts: Logan Murdock and Raja Bell Guest: Gary Washburn Producer: Jonathan Kermah Production Assistant: Kai Grady Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

By the 2025-26 season, which teams will be in the best or worst situations? Justin, Rob, and Wos each pick the five teams they believe have the worst outlook, including the Wizards, Rockets, and Blazers (01:11). Then, they each pick the teams they believe have the brightest future, including the Cavaliers, Thunder, and Grizzlies (53:18). Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and Wosny Lambre Producer: Eduardo Ocampo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Seerat and Kyle get together to discuss the NBA Rookie of the Year award. They start their conversation by talking about past winners of the award and debating if players who win the award are destined for all-time greatness. This leads to a conversation about the ’09-10 season race between Tyreke Evans and Steph Curry and other particularly impressive rookie debuts in NBA history (11:59). After the break, they take a look at the current race for the award, which heavily favors Paolo Banchero and Jalen Williams, while they also examine some outliers for the award (28:57). Hosts: Seerat Sohi and J. Kyle Mann Associate Producer: Chris Sutton Production Supervision: Benjamin Cruz and Conor Nevins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Logan and Raja are back to discuss the recent back-and-forth between Dillon Brooks and Klay Thompson and the significance of a team enforcer (3:00). Next, they briefly talk about Michael Jordan as a front office executive (33:46). Later, Kerm joins the guys for ‘Snowfall’ talk (40:56). Hosts: Logan Murdock and Raja Bell Producer: Jonathan Kermah Production Assistant: Kai Grady Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Wos returns with The Athletic’s basketball analytics writer, Seth Partnow, to discuss the drastic explosion of scoring in the NBA and how that is affecting the game, the Milwaukee Bucks as the leading Eastern Conference team, and where they see the Bucks as finals contenders. Lastly, the two discuss the their potential picks for MVPs. Host: Wosny Lambre Guest: Seth Partnow Producer: Brian Waters and Jade Whaley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Austin and Pausha tap into March Madness and recap Pausha’s in-person experience watching the wild Virginia-Furman game, before they discuss the difference between college and professional hoops (1:20). Then, they switch gears and try to make sense of scuffles around the league, including the recent confrontation involving Giannis, Trey Lyles, and Brook Lopez (13:58). They also weigh in on the “ring culture” debate (24:38) and Ja Morant’s recent interview about his current situation. Later, Austin’s Pet Peeves makes a return, and he lets slip which teammate has a soup obsession during Timberwolves film sessions (34:37). Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Erika Cervantes and Ben Cruz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Logan and Raja are joined by longtime ESPN sports writer and two-time New York Times best-selling author Brian Windhorst to discuss his story on top NBA prospect Victor Wembanyama and how the French phenom is readying himself for the league (8:09). Along the way, Windhorst highlights how Wembanyama compares to LeBron James as a generational prospect (31:57). Later, he talks about the impact of the late trade deadline moves from the Los Angeles Lakers and what that means for LeBron’s relationship with the team (51:48). Finally, the guys close out with their Real Ones of the Week (56:44). Hosts: Logan Murdock and Raja Bell Guest: Brian Windhorst Producer: Jonathan Kermah Production Assistant: Kai Grady Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Justin, Rob, and Wos recap the Clippers’ victory over the Warriors (03:00). They discuss how Stephen Curry’s 50-point performance wasn’t enough to overcome the team’s struggles and whether the Clippers are starting to jell. Then they break down the Sixers’ victory over the Cavaliers (21:29). They debate whether Philadelphia will be able to jump over Boston for the second seed in the East. Finally, they discuss Ja Morant being handed an eight-game suspension by the NBA and his one-on-one interview with Jalen Rose (41:31). Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and Wosny Lambre Producer: Eduardo Ocampo Production Supervision: Benjamin Cruz  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kyle and Seerat begin by discussing the online responses to Kyle’s “sicko” segment from a couple of weeks ago. They then dive into the complicated history of the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award, from its awkward and sometimes controversial beginnings as the “Comeback Player” prize to its current context and philosophical application (5:15). Next, they take a look at past award winners and examine the types of leaps those players made to achieve this prestigious recognition (19:10). They end the pod by talking about some of the modern players making massive improvements to their game (34:49) and revealing their picks for who should win the award this year (48:52). Hosts: J. Kyle Mann and Seerat Sohi Associate Producer: Chris Sutton Production Supervision: Benjamin Cruz and Conor Nevins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Logan and Raja are back to give their reactions to Monday’s Memphis Grizzlies–Dallas Mavericks matchup before discussing Ja Morant’s ongoing absence from the Grizzlies and how the team has responded (2:00). Along the way, they talk about the injuries to Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic and debate whether the All-Star pairing is working out (17:00). Next, they touch on this year’s tight MVP race and make the argument for each candidate’s chances at winning the award (38:00). Later, Kerm joins the guys for ‘Snowfall’ talk (54:00). Hosts: Logan Murdock and Raja Bell Producer: Jonathan Kermah Production Assistant: Kai Grady Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Justin and Kyle share their instant reactions to Saturday’s overtime thriller between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Golden State Warriors. They talk about the inconsistency issues that have plagued the Warriors this season, Stephen Curry’s incredible performance, and the significance of tonight’s big win (1:14). Later, the guys talk about the depth of the Bucks’ bench, Khris Middleton’s recent struggles, and the impact of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s absence (10:50). Hosts: Justin Verrier and J. Kyle Mann Producer: Kai Grady Additional Production Supervision: Ben Cruz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Austin and Pausha weigh in on the recent happenings with Ja Morant (6:12) and Kevin Durant’s ankle injury during warm-ups (17:12). Then, they break down Kendrick Perkins’s comments around Nikola Jokic’s MVP candidacy (25:31), address the ongoing feud between Dillon Brooks and Draymond Green (31:37), and discuss the teams leading both conferences ahead of the playoffs (41:17). Later, Austin outs himself as the “Larry David” of the NBA, revealing some of his biggest pet peeves (45:40). Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Erika Cervantes and Ben Cruz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Wos is back, and he sits down with Jerry Ferrara, an actor on the HBO comedy series ‘Entourage’ and Starz series ‘Power,’ to talk all things New York Knicks in the midst of their 10-game winning streak, including the team's run this season and where they see the Knicks in the upcoming playoffs. Host: Wosny Lambre Guest: Jerry Ferrara Producers: Brian Waters and Jade Whaley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Logan and Raja are back to discuss the wave of injuries to NBA stars and how it’s impacting the playoff runs for certain teams (1:50). Along the way, Logan goes through potential playoff matchups around the league and asks Raja to give his series predictions (17:34). Next, the guys discuss Fred VanVleet’s postgame comments on officiating (26:15). Later, they talk about the fiery back-and-forth between Draymond Green and Dillon Brooks ahead of tonight’s Warriors-Grizzlies matchup (43:14). Finally, the guys close out with their Real Ones of the Week (58:12). Hosts: Logan Murdock and Raja Bell Producer: Jonathan Kermah Production Assistant: Kai Grady Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the style of ‘Survivor,’ Justin, Rob, and Wos cast their votes for every team in the Western Conference. Who will be voted off the island first, and who will ultimately be declared the best team in the West? Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and Wosny Lambre Producer: Eduardo Ocampo Production Supervision: Benjamin Cruz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Seerat is joined by The Ringer’s own Michael Pina to discuss the state of the Philadelphia 76ers heading into the playoffs. They begin by examining Joel Embiid’s recent performances, the adjustments he’s made within his game throughout the season, and the possible effects of his incredible usage rate. Then they debate whether or not they believe in James Harden’s playmaking abilities and his compatibility with Embiid’s skill set (21:03). Next, they look at past iterations of the team that fell just short of expectations and compare them with the current rotation (35:51). They end the pod by speculating on the future of the 76ers if they get bounced too early in the playoffs (50:41). Host: Seerat Sohi Guest: Michael Pina Associate Producer: Chris Sutton Production Supervision: Benjamin Cruz and Conor Nevins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices