The Most Intriguing First Impressions From the First Week-ish of the 2025-26 NBA Season | Group Chat

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

Justin and Rob are here to give their thoughts on the San Antonio Spurs' encouraging start to the season. Then, on the opposite end of the spectrum, they discuss the Pelicans' abysmal start to the season. Then J. Kyle Mann joins the show, and they talk about Ja Morant's on-court and postgame behavior that led to his one-game suspension. They talk about what his future and the Grizzlies' future look like. Then they wrap up with Justin’s favorite topic, the Portland Trail Blazers! Intro (0:00:00) FanDuel ad break (1:13) Spurs (2:44) Pelicans (18:57) FanDuel ad break (28:09) Ja Morant (29:44) Trail Blazers (1:05:12) Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and J. Kyle Mann Producers: 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

Logan Murdock and Howard Beck are back with another edition of Real Ones and jump right into the way-too-early MVP race for this season so far. Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs are off to a 5-0 start for the first time ever in franchise history. If the Spurs end the season atop of the West, is Wemby a lock for MVP? Who are the other candidates Logan and Howard are keeping an eye on this season? With Austin Reaves playing at an extreme, dark-horse MVP level, what does the future hold for him in a contract season? Plus, the GOAT has spoken in an exclusive interview with Mike Tirico on NBC about load management, but is he correct in his assessment with today’s players utilizing load management more? (0:00:00) Intro (1:42) Wemby and the Spurs contending in the West (14:14) Are Giannis and the Bucks threats in the East? (24:38) FanDuel ad break (26:22) Can Tyrese Maxey keep up his MVP pace when Joel Embiid is fully healthy and Paul George returns? (34:44) Is Nikola Jokic still the best player in the NBA? (40:08) Will Austin Reaves be a Laker next season? (57:10) Michael Jordan’s comments on load management (1:16:55) 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 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 back to take a look at some early-season trends and decide whether they are something or nothing. Intro (0:00:00) Sixers (2:40) Scoring boom (15:01) Jamal Murray (22:26) Bulls (31:51) Knicks (48:46) Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and J. Kyle Mann Producers: Isaiah Blakely, Victoria Valencia and Ben Cruz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Week 1 of the NBA season is officially in the books, and Victor Wembanyama continues to wow with his MVP-like play so far this season. Logan Murdock, Raja Bell, and Howard mf’in Beck discuss whether it’s possible that we’re seeing the first player since Giannis who can win MVP and DPOY. The rookie class has shown up and shown out in their first week as professionals. Who’s in the very, very early lead for Rookie of the Year? The Sixers are 3-0 even though Joel Embiid's seen limited action. Is it time for the Sixers to keep their focus on Tyrese Maxey and rookie sensation V.J. Edgecombe? Plus, the mailbag returns! (0:00:00) Intro (2:15) Real or Not: Is Victor Wembanyama a lock for MVP, as Logan has predicted? (16:10) How realistic is it for San Antonio to seek to trade De’Aaron Fox? (21:22) Who’s been the best rookie so far this season? (30:06) Are the Sixers better off not relying on Joel Embiid? (43:12) Will LaMelo Ball keep up the efficiency this season? (49:58) Mailbag: We talk about the Warriors and Jonathan Kuminga and why Mike Brown is playing everyone on the Knicks. 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, Howard Beck, and Raja Bell Video Producer: Victoria Valencia Audio ProducerClifford Augustin Additional 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 each give three first impressions from the first week of the NBA season. Intro (0:00:00) Austin Reaves (2:17) Milwaukee Bucks (13:11) Miami Heat (20:08) FanDuel ad break (28:59) LaMelo Ball (30:06) Jonathan Kuminga (37:42) Kyshawn George (47:11) Toronto Raptors (55:37) Ajay Mitchell (1:00:00) Cedric Coward (1:09:56) Also, be sure to check out Michael Pina's newest Ringer.com piece, 13 Overreactions to the First Week of the NBA Season. Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and J. Kyle Mann Producers: Isaiah Blakely, Victoria Valencia and Ben Cruz 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 Murdock, Raja Bell and Howard MF’in Beck are back with another edition and dive right into the latest on the NBA probe. How will this define commissioner Adam Silver’s legacy? Logan’s MVP pick Victor Wembanyama had a stellar opening night. Just how terrified should the league be of his rapid development? (0:00:00) Intro (0:57) Welcome (0:3:22) Latest on the NBA Gambling probe. (22:00) How long until Victor Wembanyama is the best player in the NBA? (39:51)Did the Rockets put too much on Amen Thompson’s plate? Hit the mailbag! [email protected] Hosts: Logan Murdock, Howard Beck, and Raja Bell Producers: Victoria Valencia and Clifford Augustin Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Justin and Rob are back to talk about the start of this new NBA season, but first they address some news surrounding the podcast. They then welcome their newest cohost, J. Kyle Mann, and begin the show with talk of the arrests of Chauncey Billups and Terry Rozier. Later, they go over their takeaways from the opening nights of the season. And finally: the debut of Name That Take, where Kyle and Rob are given clues and have to guess Justin’s take on a particular subject. Intro: (0:00:00)Podcast News: (7:00)Gambling Arrests: (7:25)Opening Night Thoughts (21:14)Name That Take: (59:30) Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and J. Kyle MannProducers: Ben Cruz, Isaiah Blakely, and Victoria Valencia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices