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 lineup (39:33) The Pelicans' future (46:23) Playoff matchups (48:17) Watching every game (55:23) Best playoff narratives (1:01:58) The music artist who compares to Steph (1:06:19) Life lessons from basketball (1:18:23) Defensive strategy against Jokic (1:23:29) Teams that could win their first NBA title Send your questions to ⁠[email protected]⁠! Hosts: Rob Mahoney and J. Kyle Mann Producers: Isaiah Blakely, Victoria Valencia, and Carlos Chiriboga Production Supervision: Ben Cruz Social: Carlos Chiriboga and Keith Fujimoto Explore more at https://tommy.com 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 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 playoffs coming up? Plus, Houston has a problem that hasn’t been solved all season. Can their issues be resolved, or is it too late? (0:00) Intro (2:28) Wemby makes MVP case (14:26)  What’s up with the Rockets? (24:58) Fan Duel ad break (26:15) Mens Wearhouse ad break (26:50) Bucks waive G Cam Thomas (38:34) Mailbag Hosts: Logan Murdock, Raja Bell, and Howard Beck Producers: Victoria Valencia and Clifford Augustin Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz and Conor Nevins Hit the mailbag! [email protected] When you need your fit to deliver, we’ve got you. Shop Men's Wearhouse.  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

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 (59:50) The race for the 7th and 8th seeds in the East Send your questions to [email protected]! Hosts: Rob Mahoney, and J. Kyle Mann Producers: Victoria Valencia and Isaiah Blakely Production Supervision: Ben Cruz, Conor Nevins, and John Richter 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 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, Pistons guard Cade Cunningham suffered a collapsed lung and will be out indefinitely as he recovers. How will Detroit stay afloat with the MVP candidate set to miss significant time? (01:30) Luka and the Lakers Are Red Hot! (22:01) Should LeBron Stay in L.A. After the Season? (30:11) Major Injuries Across the NBA (31:12) Should Giannis Be Allowed to Keep Playing? (48:58) Cade Cunningham Out Indefinitely With a Collapsed Lung (55:17) Real One of the Week [email protected] 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: Cameron Dinwiddie and Clifford 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 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 Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and J. Kyle Mann Producers: Victoria Valencia, Isaiah Blakely, and Jamie Yukich Production Supervision: Ben Cruz and Conor Nevins Additional Production Support: John Richter and Chris Wohlers The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit www.rg-help.com to learn more about the resources and helplines available. Explore more at https://tommy.com Tommy Hilfiger Tommy Hilfiger USA offers modern, sophisticated styles for women and men including apparel, handbags, footwear, underwear, fragrance and home furnishings with free shipping 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 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 Durant voiced his frustration with the outcome. Where do the Rockets stand as contenders with the season coming to a close? (3:30) NBA Seeking Expansion to Seattle and Las Vegas (5:33) Is Expansion Good for the League? (24:15) What Is Adam Silver’s Current Reputation? (39:14) Kevin Durant Voices Frustration After Rockets Fall to the Lakers (55:24) [email protected] Hit the mailbag! [email protected] https://www.theringer.com/2026/02/18/nba/adam-silver-nba-tanking-scandal-gambling-all-star-weekend https://www.theringer.com/2026/01/15/nba/nba-tanking-draft-picks-tankathon-76ers-thunder-adam-silver https://www.theringer.com/2026/03/17/nba/kevin-durant-nba-scoring-list-michael-jordan-legacy-twitter 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 Beck Producers: Stefano Sanchez and Clifford 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 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(16:02) March Madness primer(25:13) Darryn Peterson(37:34) Cam Boozer(44:18) AJ Dybantsa(54:42) Caleb Wilson(56:20) Kingston Flemings(59:23) Darius Acuff Jr.(01:07:15) Keaton Wagler(01:01:44) Other guys to watch(01:13:37) Mikel Brown Jr.Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and J. Kyle MannProducers: Victoria Valencia, Isaiah Blakely, and Cameron DinwiddieProduction Supervision: Ben Cruz and Conor NevinsAdditional Production Support: John Richter and Chris Wohlers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 way he did it had NBA discourse in shambles. Fair or Foul for Bam Adebayo to be criticized for the way he got his 83 points, surpassing Kobe Bryant for second place? Plus, Real One of the Week! (02:24) Silver Lining for Celtics’ Recent Losses (19:05) Should Jaylen Brown Have Been Tossed Against the Spurs? (35:02) Discourse Surrounding Bam Adebayo’s Record-Breaking Night (01:01:43) 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, Raja Bell, and Howard Beck Producers: Cameron Dinwiddie and Clifford 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 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 into Victor Wembanyama leading the Spurs to wins in 16 of their past 17 games and talk about just how good they are. Last, they wrap up by discussing the Hornets and whether they are this season's Pacers. (0:00) Intro (2:53) Bam Adebayo (25:25) Fan Duel ad break (26:53) Tommy Hilfiger ad break (28:47) SGA (46:24) Wemby and the Spurs (1:04:12) Hornets 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 Richter and Chris Wohlers Explore more at⁠ https://tommy.com⁠ 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’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 lurking? Jayson Tatum returned to the Celtics lineup over the weekend following his recovery from a torn Achilles. What does his return mean for the Celtics’ championship aspirations? Plus, the mailbag! (0:00) Intro (2:22) OKC tops Denver 129-126 in thriller (4:18) MVP race: Shai or Jokic? (29:00) Fan Duel ad break (30:14)Jayson Tatum returns (46:39) Mailbag Hit the mailbag! [email protected] Hosts: Logan Murdock, Raja Bell, and Howard Beck Producers: Victoria Valencia and Clifford Augustin Production Supervision: Ben Cruz, Conor Nevins, and John Richter 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