The Thunder Are Your 2025 NBA Champions. Plus, What’s Houston’s Ceiling With KD? | The Group Chat

Logan Murdock and Raja Bell discuss the first round of the 2025 NBA draft and in particular the Ace Bailey story. Ace didn't work out for any teams before the draft and landed with the Utah Jazz at no. 5. Did Ace make the right decision by not working out for teams and still ending up as a top-five pick? Raja questions the mentality of some of the young athletes who make demands before proving anything. The guys quickly touch on V.J. Edgecombe going to the Sixers at 3, his post-draft interview, and the mentality he'll bring to Philly. Then they go to Raja’s Richter scale for the recent trades. How does he feel about the Boston-Portland trade involving Jrue Holiday and the Pelicans-Wizards trade involving CJ McCollum and Jordan Poole? Plus, Real One of the Week! (0:00): Welcome w/ Logan Murdock (1:12): State Farm Ad Break (1:37): Show Start (2:43): Thoughts on Ace Bailey (33:25): V.J. Edgecombe  (37:52): Raja’s Richter Scale (44:56): Portland’s Next Moves (49:07): Real One of the Week Hosts: Logan Murdock and Raja Bell Audio Producer: Clifford Augustin Video Producer: Victoria Valencia Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz Hit the mailbag! [email protected] 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 Wos are here after night one of the draft to talk about some of the deals that happened. They start with the Blazers' surprising selection of Yang Hansen. Then, they discuss the Pelicans' trade to move up and draft Derik Queen, the Celtics' recent trades, the Hawks' moves and how good they can be now, and much more. Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and Wosny Lambre Producers: Isaiah Blakely and Ben Cruz Social: Keith Fujimoto and Jomi Adeniran This episode is presented by State Farm®️. Dishing the assists you need off the court. State Farm®️ with the Assist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Logan, Raja, and Howard are back, and they open the pod with a discussion about Oklahoma City and the Thunder’s championship celebration. Would Raja have celebrated the same way OKC did? Plus, Jrue Holiday was traded to the Blazers for Anfernee Simons. What will the Celtics do with Simons, who’s on an expiring contract? Kevin Durant was finally traded to the Houston Rockets for Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks. Is this the last stop for KD? What’s next for the Suns and their logjammed roster? Plus, a loaded mailbag! (0:00): Welcome w/ Logan Murdock (0:57): Show Start (2:49): State Farm Ad Break (3:30): OKC Wins NBA Championship (19:11): Jrue Holiday Trade (27:10): Kevin Durant Trade (51:44): Mailbag Hosts: Logan Murdock, Raja Bell, and Howard Beck Producer: Clifford Augustin and Victoria Valencia Hit the mailbag! [email protected] The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming.  Please visit www.rg-help.com to learn more about the resources and helplines available. This episode is presented by State Farm®️. Dishing the assists you need off the court. State Farm®️ with the Assist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Justin, Rob, and Wos celebrate the Oklahoma City Thunder becoming the 2025 NBA champions. They discuss the Thunder’s defense, Tyrese Haliburton’s heartbreaking injury, and much more. Then, they briefly look ahead to what next season looks like for both teams. They wrap up with the massive news from earlier in the day of Kevin Durant being traded to the Houston Rockets. Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and Wosny Lambre Producers: Isaiah Blakely and Ben Cruz Social: Keith Fujimoto and Jomi Adeniran This episode is presented by State Farm®️. Dishing the assists you need off the court. State Farm®️ with the Assist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Justin, Rob, and Wos are here to preview Game 7 by answering seven questions as we head into Sunday’s game. They talk about what they learned from Game 6 (15:35), who the finals MVP will be (48:50), some predictions (52:10), and much more. They wrap up by giving their thoughts on the sale of the Los Angeles Lakers (55:45). Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and Wosny LambreProducer: Isaiah Blakely Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Logan is joined by The Ringer's Tyler Parker (Oklahoma native and Thunder fan) to discuss the dismantling that was Game 6. The Thunder looked great in the very early portion of the game, but things unraveled for them very quickly. What did the Pacers do to make the high-powered Thunder offense look pedestrian. Has the media overdone it with player comps after OKC’s Jalen Williams was getting compared to Scottie Pippen? Is there a world where TJ McConnell could be the Finals MVP? If the Thunder lose on Sunday, could this shake up their very young core similar to the past with Durant, Harden and Westbrook? Hosts: Logan Murdock Guest: Tyler Parker Producers: Clifford Augustin 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. Hit the mailbag! [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fresh off of minimal sleep and deadlines to meet, Logan Murdock and Howard Beck are back with another edition of 'Real Ones' from their hotel rooms in Oklahoma City. OKC’s All-Star forward Jalen Williams erupted for 40 points, helping OKC to a 3-2 lead in the NBA Finals. What was the environment like at Paycom Center witnessing that performance? Who’s currently in the lead for Finals MVP? Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton seemed to be hobbled after suffering an injury early in the game. If Haliburton isn’t 100 percent healthy, do the Pacers have a shot with their backs against the wall? Plus, the Grizzlies traded Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, and numerous picks. What’s the fallout in this trade for both teams and the larger picture for the NBA as a whole? Hosts: Logan Murdock and Howard Beck Producers: Clifford Augustin and Victoria Valencia (0:00): Intro w/ Logan Murdock (1:05): State Farm Ad Break (4:12): Jalen Williams discussion (13:22): Finals MVP talk (34:21): Haliburton Injury (40:58): Pacers vs.Thunder defense (48:55): Desmond Bane Trade Hit the mailbag! ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠ 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 Wos are reunited just in time to watch the Oklahoma City Thunder move one win away from an NBA championship. They discuss Jalen Williams’s monster 40-point game that paired beautifully with SGA’s 31-point performance, before getting into Tyrese Haliburton’s injury-riddled night that left him without a field goal in Game 5.They close things out with their analysis of the Desmond Bane trade to Orlando, and what the move means in the short and long term for both the Magic and Grizzlies. Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney and Wosny LambreProducers: Chris Sutton and Ben CruzSocial: Keith Fujimoto This episode is presented by State Farm. Dishing the assists you need off the court. State Farm with the Assist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Justin and Rob are joined by Tyler Parker to recap the Thunder pulling off their own shocking comeback to tie the series 2-2. They discuss SGA’s excellent fourth quarter, Jalen Williams’s and Chet’s major contributions, and much more. Hosts: Justin Verrier and Rob Mahoney Guest: Tyler Parker Producers: Isaiah Blakely, John Richter, Victoria Valencia and Ben Cruz Social: 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 Murdock, Raja Bell, and Howard mf’n Beck are back with another Friday edition of Real Ones. Who will be the next head coach of the New York Knicks? After firing Tom Thibodeau and seemingly being denied the opportunity to speak to the head coach of any other franchise in the NBA, what direction will they go in? Does Leon Rose deserve the benefit of the doubt, even though it doesn't seem like he has a real plan? Kevin Durant and the Suns are reportedly working on a trade to his next destination, but what’s the cost for the 36-year-old superstar? KD’s career has also been a bit nomadic. How will his legacy be defined after yet another move? Plus, the mailbag! Hosts: Logan Murdock, Raja Bell, and Howard BeckProducers: Clifford Augustin and Victoria Valencia (0:00): Zach Lowe Show Trailer (0:38): Intro W/ Logan Murdock (1:18): State Farm Ad Break (1:45): Show Start (5:20): Knicks Coaching Crossroads (20:40): Fan Duel Ad Break (23:21): Kevin Durant’s Next Chapter (47:23): Mailbag The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit ⁠www.rg-help.com⁠ to learn more about the resources and helplines available. Hit the mailbag! ⁠[email protected]⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices