The Pistons Are Badass, LeBron Returns, and Early Eye-Opening Teams | Group Chat

Justin, Rob, and J. Kyle Mann are back together, and they’re here to take a look at some of the most surprising teams from around the league. (00:00) Intro (3:23) FanDuel ad break (4:18) Lakers (20:52) Pistons (34:05) Hawks (46:54) Raptors (1:01:03) Suns https://www.theringer.com/2025/11/19/nba/lebron-james-return-injury-los-angeles-lakers-luka-doncic The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit www.rg-help.com to learn more about the resources and helplines available. Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and J. Kyle Mann Producers: Ben Cruz, Isaiah Blakely, and Victoria Valencia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Spurs star Victor Wembanyama has been sidelined indefinitely due to a calf strain and will be reevaluated in two to three weeks. What does this mean for Victor, the Spurs, and injury concerns across the league? Deeeeetroit Basketballlll is back! The Pistons have won 10 straight, and that’s been with many key players sidelined. Have they cemented themselves as top dogs in the Eastern Conference? Should the NBA step in to protect players from fan interactions similar to the one Draymond Green had with a fan in New Orleans over the weekend? Plus, the mailbag! (0:00:00) Intro (2:15) FanDuel ad break (2:53) Victor Wembanyama’s calf strain (21:49) The Pistons' 10-game win streak (41:48) Draymond Green’s fan interaction (58:44) Mailbag! Hit the mailbag! [email protected] The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please check out rg-help.com to find out more, or listen to the end of the episode for additional details. Hosts: Logan Murdock, Raja Bell, and Howard Beck Producers: Victoria Valencia and Clifford Augustin Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz and Conor Nevins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Justin starts today's show by talking to Nick Friedell from The Athletic. They talk about the up-and-down start to the season for the Warriors. They run through all of the major players and storylines that have made this such an interesting start for Golden State. Then, J. Kyle Mann joins Justin to talk about how the Rockets continue to roll after they defeated the Magic in overtime. Lastly, they wrap up with some NBA draft talk. The guys talk through some of their early thoughts on the top prospects in the draft. (00:00) Intro (1:14) FanDuel ad break (3:08) Warriors with Nick Friedell (45:58) FanDuel ad break (46:59) Rockets (1:06:40) Draft crash course (1:09:04) Darryn Peterson (1:15:27) AJ Dybansta (1:23:07) Cam Boozer (1:30:42) Mikel Brown Jr. (1:34:47) Caleb Wilson (1:38:39) Sleepers The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit www.rg-help.com to learn more about the resources and helplines available. Hosts: Justin Verrier and J. Kyle Mann Guest: Nick Friedell Producers: Ben Cruz, Isaiah Blakely, and Victoria Valencia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Logan Murdock and Raja Bell are back with another edition of Real Ones, taking a deep dive into the Western Conference hierarchy. Is it possible that the reigning champions, Oklahoma City Thunder, are even better than they were last season? Should they try to break the regular season win record? Are Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets on their heels? Plus, Steph Curry and Under Armour have decided to end their partnership. What does this mean for Steph’s brand moving forward? (0:00:00) Intro (1:08) FanDuel ad break (3:38) Are the Thunder primed to repeat as champions? (16:33) FanDuel ad break (19:30) Have the Nuggets closed the gap on the Thunder? (28:26) Can the Spurs grab the Western Conference crown this season? (36:59) What are the Rockets’ chances of winning the conference without a true point guard? (46:41) Will the Lakers be a realistic threat in the West once LeBron returns? (52:04) Brad Beal out for the season and the Clippers are free-falling. (55:37) Steph and Under Armour have split. (1:04:06) Real One of the Week! Hit the mailbag! [email protected] The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please check out rg-help.com to find out more, or listen to the end of the episode for additional details. Hosts: Logan Murdock and Raja BellProducers: Victoria Valencia and Clifford AugustinAdditional Production Support: Ben Cruz and Conor Nevins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Justin, Rob, and J. Kyle Mann react to Nico Harrison getting fired and discuss where the Mavs should go from here. Then they look at some other franchises and discuss whether they should blow up the roster and rebuild or stay the course they’re on. (00:00) Intro(2:45) FanDuel ad break(3:22) Mavs fire Nico Harrison(22:42) What’s Next for A.D.?(43:45) Kings(59:50) Clippers(1:08:56) Celtics The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit www.rg-help.com to learn more about the resources and helplines available. Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and J. Kyle Mann Producers: Ben Cruz, Isaiah Blakely, Victoria Valencia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Logan Murdock, Raja Bell, and Howard Beck discuss the Dallas Mavericks relieving GM Nico Harrison of his duties on Tuesday. The Mavs went from contending for a title in 2024 to trading their franchise player just months later, and they currently find themselves at the bottom of the Western Conference. How will the Mavericks clean up the mess that Harrison left behind? Plus, every team has now played at least 10 games this season. What have been the biggest surprises and disappointments, and who would you least like to be? 0:00:00 Intro 1:01 FanDuel ad break 2:00 Initial reaction to Nico’s firing 34:37 Biggest surprises 41:41 Biggest disappointment 48:06 Who Would You Least Like to Be Also, check out The Ringer's Michael Pina on Nico Harrison’s tenure as the Mavericks GM:https://www.theringer.com/2025/11/11/nba/nico-harrison-fired-dallas-mavericks. Hit the mailbag! [email protected] The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please check out rg-help.com to find out more, or listen to the end of the episode for additional details. Hosts: Logan Murdock, Raja Bell, and Howard BeckProducers: Victoria Valencia and Clifford AugustinAdditional Production Support: Ben Cruz and Conor Nevins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Justin, Rob, and J. Kyle Mann are here to check in on some of the top rookies across the league. They start with the top pick, Cooper Flagg, and how he’s been doing in a dysfunctional Mavs offense. Then they talk about the exciting flashes from Pelicans rookies Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen. Next, they talk about the three Hornets rookies, V.J. Edgecombe, and Ace Bailey’s slow start. They wrap up with their thoughts on a handful of other rookies who have stuck out to them. Intro (0:00:00) FanDuel ad break (3:21) Cooper Flagg (6:55) FanDuel ad break (23:59) Pels rookies (25:29) Hornets rookies (44:12) V.J. Edgecombe (59:22) Ace Bailey (1:03:12) The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit www.rg-help.com to learn more about the resources and helplines available. Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and J. Kyle Mann Producers: Ben Cruz, Isaiah Blakely, and Victoria Valencia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Luka Dončić has found himself in the history books yet again to start the season. The Lakers have looked good thus far, holding second place in the West without LeBron James logging a single minute on the court. Logan Murdock and Raja Bell discuss the Lakers and how they should operate when LeBron returns. Luka’s former team, the Dallas Mavericks, find themselves in the bottom of the West following a loss to the Pelicans. Are they mismanaging Cooper Flagg’s development? (0:00:00) Intro (1:05) FanDuel ad break (2:30) Luka’s historic start to the season (5:12) What will the Lakers look like when LeBron returns? (23:04) FanDuel ad break (24:14) Cooper Flagg’s development (41:11) Raja’s thoughts on tension between Ja Morant and the Grizzlies (51:57) Real One of the Week Hit the mailbag! ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ Hosts: Logan Murdock and Raja BellProducers: Victoria Valencia and Clifford AugustinAdditional Production Support: Ben Cruz and Conor Nevins The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please check out ⁠rg-help.com⁠ to find out more, or listen to the end of the episode for additional details. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Justin, Rob, and J. Kyle Mann discuss the Thunder’s unbeaten franchise-record start of 8-0. Then they move to the East, starting with the sputtering Orlando Magic. They also talk about other struggling contenders and surprise teams like the Bulls and Sixers. Intro (0:00:00) Fan Duel ad break (3:40) Thunder (4:28) Magic (19:05) Hawks (41:04) Sixers-Bulls (52:53) Pistons (1:00:24) Top of the East predictions (1:07:37) Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and J. Kyle MannProducers: Ben Cruz, Isaiah Blakely, and Victoria Valencia The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit www.rg-help.com to learn more about the resources and helplines available. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Memphis Grizzlies and Ja Morant seem to be at a crossroads. The disgruntled star was suspended for a game recently following comments he made about the coaching staff and hasn't quite looked like the All-Star he’s been in the past. Logan Murdock and Howard Beck discuss the ongoing clash between Morant and the Grizzlies and what this might lead to. Plus, they touch on other teams who have been disappointing to start the season.Morant's recent comments about not enjoying basketball. Intro (0:00:00) Fan Duel ad break (1:14) Ja Morant's Future in Memphis. (2:16) The disastrous start to the New Orleans Pelicans' season (39:22) The up and down start to the Knicks’ season (40:15) Are the Hawks in trouble without Trae? (43:31) Were the expectations for the Mavericks set too high? (48:09) Mailbag (54:18) Hit the mailbag! [email protected] The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please check out rg-help.com to find out more, or listen to the end of the episode for additional details. Hosts: Logan Murdock and Howard BeckProducers: Victoria Valencia and Clifford AugustinAdditional Production Support: Ben Cruz and Conor Nevins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices