What Does Raja Think? James Harden and the Cavs, Burner Accounts, Adam Silver’s Tanking Remedy, and More! | 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 James Harden acquisition? Plus, Real One of the Week!(0:00:00) Intro (1:33) Vibe Check: Lakers (18:53) Vibe Check: Nuggets (28:02) FanDuel ad break (29:13) Vibe Check: OKC (39:40) Vibe Check: Celtics (50:02) Vibe Check: Cavs (53:59) Vibe Check: Pistons (58:44): Real One of the Week Hit the mailbag! [email protected]: Logan Murdock, Raja Bell, and Howard BeckProducers: 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

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 the Kings are simply hopeless, and more!(0:00:00) Intro (4:33) Los Angeles Clippers (9:31) Golden State Warriors (16:02) New Orleans Pelicans (30:01) Tommy Hilfiger ad break (30:36) Chicago Bulls (40:52) Milwaukee Bucks (49:14) Sacramento Kings Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and J. Kyle MannProducers: Victoria Valencia and Jessie LopezProduction Supervision: Ben Cruz and Conor NevinsSocial: Jessie Lopez and Keith Fujimoto Explore more at https://tommy.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 the league? Plus, the mailbag!(0:00:00) Intro (2:09)Spurs-Pistons reaction  (18:14) How the Spurs and Pistons became contenders  (31:36) Who’s the face of the league?  (38:20) Mailbag! Hit the mailbag! [email protected]: Logan Murdock, Raja Bell, and Howard BeckProducers: 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 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 Clippers and Cam Thomas and the resurgent Bucks. (00:00) Intro (2:01) The MVP race (31:02) FanDuel ad break (34:38) Cavs (45:09) Pistons (49:44) Who is the best American player in the league? (54:44) Bennedict Mathurin (1:08:04:04) Cam Thomas Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and J. Kyle Mann Producers: Victoria Valencia and Isaiah Blakely Production Supervision: Ben Cruz and Conor Nevins Social: Isaiah Blakely and Keith Fujimoto 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

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) James Harden and the Cavs (10:03) Cade Cunningham and the Pistons (21:08) Burner accounts (36:17) Adam Silver’s tanking remedy (45:20) Jayson Tatum’s recovery plan (54:22) Real One of the Week Hit the mailbag: [email protected] Hosts: Logan Murdock and Raja Bell Video/Audio Producer: Victoria Valencia Production Supervision: Ben Cruz and Conor Nevins 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

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 Valencia and Isaiah Blakely Production Supervision: Ben Cruz and Conor Nevins Additional Production Support: John Richter and Chris Wohlers Social: Isaiah Blakely and Keith Fujimoto 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

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 Hornets will win ___ playoff games (37:16) Which trade deadline move will have the biggest impact on the end of the season? (42:17) Who is the most disappointing team of the season? (47:44) What should the Vegas expansion team be called? (51:31) Quick-hittersHosts: Logan Murdock and Howard BeckGuest: Tyler ParkerProducers: Logan Murdock, Conor Nevins, Victoria Valencia, and Ben CruzVideo Producers: Victoria Valencia and Sarah ReddyAudio Producer: Chris SuttonGraphics and Show Art: John RichterProduction Supervision: Ben Cruz and Conor NevinsAdditional Production Support: John Richter, T. Cruz, Donald LoBianco, Nick Kosut, and Hannah Leikin 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

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 reform could be on the way.(00:00) Intro(0:24) All-Star Game(24:18) All-Star Saturday night(30:42) Adam Silver’s press conference(39:47) Tanking reformHosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and J. Kyle MannProducers: Victoria Valencia and Isaiah BlakelyProduction Supervision: Ben Cruz and Conor NevinsAdditional Production Support: T. Cruz and Donald LoBiancoSocial: Isaiah Blakely and Keith Fujimoto 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

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  (21:25) Victor Wembanyama  (28:36) Jalen Brunson  (32:21) Jalen Duren  (34:00) Denny Avdija (34:59) Steph Curry (44:06) Donovan Mitchell  (47:34) Alperen Şengün  (50:33) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander  (56:50)  Jomi announces Take-a-Thon winner Hosts: Logan Murdock and Howard BeckGuests: Tyler Parker and Jomi AdeniranProducers: Logan Murdock, Conor Nevins, Victoria Valencia, Ben Cruz, and John RichterVideo Producers: Victoria Valencia, Sarah Reddy, and Donald LoBiancoAudio Producer: Chris SuttonGraphics and Show Art: John RichterProduction Supervision: Ben Cruz and Conor NevinsAdditional Production Support: John Richter, T. Cruz, Nick Kosut, and Hannah Leikin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 (17:51) Jalen Johnson (19:23) Jaylen Brown (22:55) Luka Doncic (26:36) Karl-Anthony Towns (29:53) Tyrese Maxey (31:51) Pascal Siakam (33:01) Brandon Ingram (33:36) Scottie Barnes (34:48) Jamal Murray (36:47) Norm Powell (38:21) Cade Cunningham (40:26) Kevin Durant The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit⁠ ⁠⁠www.rg-help.com⁠ to learn more about the resources and helplines available. Hosts: Logan Murdock and Howard Beck Guests: Tyler Parker and Jomi Adeniran Producers: Logan Murdock, Conor Nevins, Victoria Valencia, John Richter, and Ben Cruz Video Producers: Victoria Valencia, John Richter, Sarah Reddy, and Donald LoBianco Audio Producer: Chris Sutton Graphics and Show Art: John Richter Production Supervision: Ben Cruz and Conor Nevins Additional Production Support: John Richter, T. Cruz, Nick Kosut, and Hannah Leikin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices