The Ringer Nba Show

Wos returns this weekend with familiar guest and women’s basketball writer for The Athletic Sabreena Merchant to discuss her two favorite things: the Lakers and women’s basketball. The two mull over the Lakers as they head into the postseason, and potentially the play-in tournament. Later, the two discuss the big headlines over the women’s NCAA tournament championship game between LSU and Iowa, examining the basketball, race wars, and the internet eruption over this game. Host: Wosny Lambre Guest: Sabreena Merchant Producers: Isaiah Blakely and Jade Whaley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Logan and Raja are back to discuss Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban’s recent comments on losing Jalen Brunson in free agency to the New York Knicks (1:00). Next, they talk about last night’s game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers and the role scheduling plays in late-season matchups (26:58). Finally, the guys close out with their Real Ones of the Week (50:10). Hosts: Logan Murdock and Raja Bell Producer: Jonathan Kermah Production Assistant: Kai Grady Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Justin, Rob, and Wos debate who the MVP should be, and then they discuss their All-NBA team selections (32:31). Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and Wosny Lambre Producer: Isaiah Blakely Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kyle and Seerat get together to discuss the NBA MVP award and begin their conversation by examining the meaning of the trophy in relation to a team’s success. This leads to an extensive conversation about the three leading candidates in this year's race: Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic, and Giannis Antetokounmpo. They dive deep into the individual stats for each, determine how far they can take their squads in the playoffs, and compare these current contenders to significant MVP races in past seasons (16:32). Hosts: J. Kyle Mann and Seerat Sohi Associate Producer: Chris Sutton Production Supervision: Benjamin Cruz and Conor Nevins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Logan and Raja are back to discuss Giannis Antetokounmpo’s MVP case and whether or not voter fatigue has impacted his chances to win the award this season (3:16). Next, they talk about the strange decision by the Los Angeles Clippers to sit Kawhi Leonard in the second half of a close game against the Memphis Grizzlies (25:00). Later, the guys close with some predictions on a few upcoming matchups in the Western Conference (40:07). Hosts: Logan Murdock and Raja Bell Producer: Jonathan Kermah Production Assistant: Kai Grady Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Wos is back this weekend with an incredible guest, two-time NBA champion J.R. Smith, to discuss his new four-part docuseries, 'Redefined: J.R. Smith,' which unravels the story of J.R.'s resilience. Throughout the podcast, the two discuss his early career and what it was like being drafted at the age of 19, the role of the media and how he dealt with the limelight, his time spent going back to college at North Carolina A&T, and winning his championships. Host: Wosny Lambre Guest: J.R. Smith Producers: Jade Whaley and Sasha Ashall Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Logan is joined by The Ringer’s Rob Mahoney to discuss the increasingly chaotic Western Conference as the end of the regular season approaches. They break down which teams are serious contenders in the conference to make it to the NBA Finals, the potential playoff matchups, and the teams fighting for a spot in the Play-In Tournament (1:00). Finally, they close with their Real Ones of the Week (54:51). Hosts: Logan Murdock and Raja Bell Guest: Rob Mahoney Producer: Jonathan Kermah Production Assistant: Kai Grady Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Justin, Rob, and Wos recap the Mavericks’ loss to the Sixers (02:18). They discuss Kyrie Irving’s postgame comments regarding the team’s struggles, and then move on to debating whether the Sixers are reliable. Then, they talk about the Suns’ victory over the Timberwolves, Kevin Durant’s return, and whether Rudy Gobert has regressed offensively (21:10). Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and Wosny Lambre Producer: Eduardo Ocampo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Seerat and Kyle get together to discuss the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award. They begin by talking about the history of the award and some of the significant winners in the past who have come to define it. Next, they profile two of the current front-runners for the trophy, Brook Lopez and Jaren Jackson Jr., and highlight the unique defensive skill sets they provide for their respective squads (22:40). They end the pod by examining players who could be future DPOYs and make their pick for who should win it this year (47:31). Hosts: Seerat Sohi and J. Kyle Mann Associate Producer: Chris Sutton Production Supervision: Conor Nevins and Benjamin Cruz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Logan and Raja are back to share their thoughts on the Dallas Mavericks’ major struggles since trading for Kyrie Irving and what it means for the future of their partnership (3:00). Next, they bring back Do We Believe Their Raps? to debate the status of teams fighting for playoff spots in the West as the final stretch of the regular season approaches (25:45). Later, Kerm joins the guys for ‘Snowfall’ talk (49:00). Hosts: Logan Murdock and Raja Bell Producer: Jonathan Kermah Production Assistant: Kai Grady Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Wos is back, this time with The Athletic, Boston Celtics writer Jay King to talk Celtics. Starting off discussing the Jaylen Brown trade rumors and their thoughts on the situation (1:41), next discussing the Celtics overall season and how they are looking gearing up for playoffs (17:30), and lastly they discuss the role of owners in the NBA (30:52). Host: Wosny Lambre Guest: Jay King Producer: Jade Whaley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Austin and Pausha are joined by Karl-Anthony Towns to discuss his triumphant return to the court after missing over 50 games with a Grade 3 calf strain (1:37). They reflect on Minnesota’s warm welcome, KAT’s big 22-point return, and how the team held it down without him for almost four months (8:23). Then, they go down memory lane and reflect on KAT’s career with his carousel of coaches, GMs, and playing with the Big Ticket himself, Kevin Garnett (39:05). Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Guest: Karl-Anthony Towns Producer: Erika Cervantes, Ben Cruz Additional Production Support: Megan Schuster and Bobby Wagner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Logan is joined by national NBA writer for the Boston Globe Gary Washburn to discuss Jaylen Brown’s recent comments on his future with the Boston Celtics and his complicated relationship with the team. Finally, they close out with their Real Ones of the Week. Hosts: Logan Murdock and Raja Bell Guest: Gary Washburn Producer: Jonathan Kermah Production Assistant: Kai Grady Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

By the 2025-26 season, which teams will be in the best or worst situations? Justin, Rob, and Wos each pick the five teams they believe have the worst outlook, including the Wizards, Rockets, and Blazers (01:11). Then, they each pick the teams they believe have the brightest future, including the Cavaliers, Thunder, and Grizzlies (53:18). Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and Wosny Lambre Producer: Eduardo Ocampo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Seerat and Kyle get together to discuss the NBA Rookie of the Year award. They start their conversation by talking about past winners of the award and debating if players who win the award are destined for all-time greatness. This leads to a conversation about the ’09-10 season race between Tyreke Evans and Steph Curry and other particularly impressive rookie debuts in NBA history (11:59). After the break, they take a look at the current race for the award, which heavily favors Paolo Banchero and Jalen Williams, while they also examine some outliers for the award (28:57). Hosts: Seerat Sohi and J. Kyle Mann Associate Producer: Chris Sutton Production Supervision: Benjamin Cruz and Conor Nevins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Logan and Raja are back to discuss the recent back-and-forth between Dillon Brooks and Klay Thompson and the significance of a team enforcer (3:00). Next, they briefly talk about Michael Jordan as a front office executive (33:46). Later, Kerm joins the guys for ‘Snowfall’ talk (40:56). Hosts: Logan Murdock and Raja Bell Producer: Jonathan Kermah Production Assistant: Kai Grady Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Wos returns with The Athletic’s basketball analytics writer, Seth Partnow, to discuss the drastic explosion of scoring in the NBA and how that is affecting the game, the Milwaukee Bucks as the leading Eastern Conference team, and where they see the Bucks as finals contenders. Lastly, the two discuss the their potential picks for MVPs. Host: Wosny Lambre Guest: Seth Partnow Producer: Brian Waters and Jade Whaley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Austin and Pausha tap into March Madness and recap Pausha’s in-person experience watching the wild Virginia-Furman game, before they discuss the difference between college and professional hoops (1:20). Then, they switch gears and try to make sense of scuffles around the league, including the recent confrontation involving Giannis, Trey Lyles, and Brook Lopez (13:58). They also weigh in on the “ring culture” debate (24:38) and Ja Morant’s recent interview about his current situation. Later, Austin’s Pet Peeves makes a return, and he lets slip which teammate has a soup obsession during Timberwolves film sessions (34:37). Hosts: Austin Rivers and Pausha Haghighi Producers: Erika Cervantes and Ben Cruz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Logan and Raja are joined by longtime ESPN sports writer and two-time New York Times best-selling author Brian Windhorst to discuss his story on top NBA prospect Victor Wembanyama and how the French phenom is readying himself for the league (8:09). Along the way, Windhorst highlights how Wembanyama compares to LeBron James as a generational prospect (31:57). Later, he talks about the impact of the late trade deadline moves from the Los Angeles Lakers and what that means for LeBron’s relationship with the team (51:48). Finally, the guys close out with their Real Ones of the Week (56:44). Hosts: Logan Murdock and Raja Bell Guest: Brian Windhorst Producer: Jonathan Kermah Production Assistant: Kai Grady Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Justin, Rob, and Wos recap the Clippers’ victory over the Warriors (03:00). They discuss how Stephen Curry’s 50-point performance wasn’t enough to overcome the team’s struggles and whether the Clippers are starting to jell. Then they break down the Sixers’ victory over the Cavaliers (21:29). They debate whether Philadelphia will be able to jump over Boston for the second seed in the East. Finally, they discuss Ja Morant being handed an eight-game suspension by the NBA and his one-on-one interview with Jalen Rose (41:31). Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and Wosny Lambre Producer: Eduardo Ocampo Production Supervision: Benjamin Cruz  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices