The Ringer Nba Show

This week, Seerat is joined by The Athletic’s Jovan Buha to discuss his feature on reigning MVP Nikola Jokic’s reception in his home country of Serbia after choosing not to play in the Olympics. Seerat and Jovan discuss NBA players’ evolving commitments to their home countries, the differences in expectations for international players vs. United States-born players, and the increased demands of the NBA schedule. Hosts: Seerat Sohi Producer: Bobby Wagner Production Assistant: Isaiah Blakely Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Logan and Raja give their thoughts on an inconsistent Lakers team led by Russell Westbrook and Anthony Davis in LeBron James’s absence (0:30). Then Raja tells Logan why he loves this Miami Heat team and they discuss their evolving opinions on the Brooklyn Nets (26:25). Finally, Raja gets something off his chest in a heated Mad Hooper (37:30) and they each award their Real One of the Week (39:20). Hosts: Logan Murdock and Raja Bell Associate Producer: Sasha Ashall Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Justin and Rob talk about some surprising trends one week into the NBA season including the hot starts from the New York Knicks and the Chicago Bulls and the early struggles for Michael Porter Jr. and the Portland Trail Blazers defense (1:42). Host: Justin Verrier and Rob Mahoney Production Assistant: Isaiah Blakely Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Logan and Raja discuss their impressions from the first week of the NBA season, including how much you can really take away from the results, the differences between young and old teams, and what the Nets and Lakers look like so far (0:30). Then they talk about the young players who have caught their eye early on, including one man, Ja Morant, who has been playing out of his mind (29:10). Hosts: Logan Murdock and Raja Bell Associate Producer: Sasha Ashall Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chris and Seerat discuss the ongoing Ben Simmons saga and touch on the return of Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors (0:25). Then, Logan Murdock joins for a deep dive into the Warriors as they talk through Draymond Green’s role on the team, how the team has changed since 2016, how Jordan Poole continues to develop, and more (18:31)! Hosts: Chris Ryan and Seerat Sohi Guest: Logan Murdock Associate Producer: Erika Cervantes Production Assistant: Isaiah Blakely Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The NBA is back, baby! Logan and Raja investigate Deandre Ayton and the curious case of the missing bag after his less-than-stunning performance against 2021 MVP Nikola Jokic (0:30). Then they debate whether Giannis Antetokounmpo or Kevin Durant is the best player in the NBA (20:38) and Raja wonders about the possibly muddled leadership hierarchy on the Celtics after Jaylen Brown dropped 46 points in their season opener (32:40). And finally, Logan recounts his experience at the Warriors-Lakers game and invites Jomi to air his concerns about Russell Westbrook and the new-look Lakers (38:50). Hosts: Logan Murdock and Raja Bell Guest: Jomi Adeniran Associate Producer: Sasha Ashall Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Justin, Rob, and Wos start by discussing the Warriors’ impressive performance against the Lakers and Russell Westbrook’s struggles in his Lakers debut (1:15). Then they talk about the Bucks’ strong performance in their win over the Nets (20:50). They wrap up by talking about Jonas Valanciunas’s contract extension and a few thing that each of them are looking forward to this NBA season (29:42). Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and Wosny Lambre Production Assistant: Isaiah Blakely Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In anticipation of the start of the 2021-22 NBA season, Logan and Raja kick this momentous week off with a season preview (0:40). They name their playoff locks and fringe teams for the East and West (6:50), three teams they’re concerned about (16:25), and three teams they’re higher and lower on than consensus (27:47). Then they do some quick-hitter questions, including whether Ben Simmons and Giannis Antetokounmpo will take and make 3s this season (38:22), whether Damian Lillard, Simmons, or Bradley Beal will get traded (43:35), which new head coach will have the greatest impact on their team (46:45), and the likelihood of a Lakers-Warriors Western Conference final (49:35). Make sure to keep up with all of The Ringer's NBA coverage on Twitter and Instagram @RingerNBA. Experience the excitement on Tuesday, October 19 with the whole Ringer NBA team with our 2021-22 NBA Previewpalooza starting at 12:30 p.m. PT/3:30 p.m. ET on YouTube and across our social channels. Hosts: Logan Murdock and Raja Bell Associate Pr

Chris and Seerat discuss how mid-market teams make themselves desirable for star players, and then they focus on how the Phoenix Suns and Chicago Bulls built their rosters and what their futures hold. Hosts: Chris Ryan and Seerat Sohi Production Assistant: Isaiah Blakely Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Logan and Raja give their final thoughts on the situation in Brooklyn after the Nets said he won’t play with the team until he can fully contribute and Kyrie put his reasoning on the internet (1:00). Then Logan asks Raja if Jordan Poole is a potential future All-Star (22:30) and airs his concerns about this Lakers team (29:10), before they each award their Real One of the Week (35:50). Hosts: Logan Murdock and Raja Bell Associate Producer: Sasha Ashall Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Justin, Rob, and Wos discuss the best teams in the NBA in Part 4 of our NBA preseason power rankings. They go 8-1 starting with the Warriors (1:37), Sixers (14:11), Heat (31:20), Jazz (40:55), Suns (55:24), Bucks (1:03:48), Lakers (1:11:00), and Nets (1:18:00).  Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and Wosny Lambre Production Assistant: Isaiah Blakely Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rob Mahoney fills in for Chris, joining Seerat to run through some of the best- and worst-case scenarios for four of the NBA’s projected top teams, the Lakers, Nets (14:46), Bucks, and Suns (42:14). Hosts: Seerat Sohi, Rob Mahoney Producer: Troy Farkas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Justin, Rob, and Wos buckle down for Part 3 of our preseason power rankings. This week, we count down from no. 15 to no. 6, starting with the Bulls (0:45) and moving on to the Trail Blazers (16:00), Clippers (24:50), Celtics (33:30), Hawks (44:00), Nuggets (52:20), and Mavericks (58:50). Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and Wosny Lambre Associate Producer: Sasha Ashall Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fresh off Warriors media day and the first preseason game of the season, Logan and Raja discuss Klay Thompson’s mindset going into this season (0:40) and what James Wiseman’s role will be (18:15). Then they talk about the absolute mess that the Ben Simmons situation has become (32:05), Zion Williamson’s position in New Orleans (45:05), and the money Kyrie Irving stands to lose by not getting vaccinated (52:00) before each awarding their Real One of the Week (53:30). Hosts: Logan Murdock and Raja Bell Associate Producer: Sasha Ashall Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chris and Seerat discuss how the Philadelphia 76ers handled media day in regard to Ben Simmons (9:03), touch on Zion’s role in the ongoing conversation around player contracts (24:00), and weigh in on how stories in the media affect how teams are perceived (29:30).  Hosts: Chris Ryan and Seerat Sohi Associate Producer: Erika Cervantes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jonathan Tjarks joins Justin and Wos for Part 2 of our NBA preseason power rankings. This week we count down from 22 to 16, starting with the Hornets (0:45) and moving on to the Wizards (11:25), Pelicans (23:50), Raptors (35:15), Knicks (44:30), Pacers (52:35), and Grizzlies (1:00:15). Hosts: Justin Verrier, Wosny Lambre, and Jonathan Tjarks Associate Producer: Sasha Ashall Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In light of Matt Sullivan’s recent article for Rolling Stone on the current showdown between the NBA and NBPA surrounding COVID-19 protocols, Logan and Raja have a frank discussion about what the outcome of these negotiations could mean for this season of basketball. They discuss players who are fighting to remain unvaccinated in cities that require it for entry to stadiums, athlete activism, and much more (0:40). Then they mention a few tidbits about Ben Simmons from the 76ers' media day (53:30) and each award their Real One of the Week (56:30). Hosts: Logan Murdock and Raja Bell Associate Producer: Sasha Ashall Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chris and Seerat discuss some of the rules that will be implemented in the NBA this season and which players and teams will be impacted most by these changes. Hosts: Chris Ryan and Seerat Sohi Production Assistant: Isaiah Blakely Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Breaking news: The Timberwolves (Timberwovles?) decided to fire GM Gersson Rosas after we finished recording, so Justin, Rob, and Wos hopped back on for a quick discussion on this developing story (0:45). Then they get into Part 1 of our NBA preseason power rankings with the eight worst teams in the league, starting with the Houston Rockets (8:50) and moving on to the Thunder (19:30), Magic (30:05), Cavaliers (37:50), Pistons (47:45), Kings (54:22), Timberwolves (1:01:00), and Spurs (1:09:35). Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and Wosny Lambre Associate Producer: Sasha Ashall Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Logan and Raja are back talking about the potential for a midseason tournament and whether that would work in the NBA (0:30). Then they discuss Nick Wright’s reporting that Kyrie Irving would retire from the NBA if he were traded from the Nets (21:00) before Jomi joins to give his thoughts on the Clippers breaking ground on their new arena in Inglewood (33:50). Hosts: Logan Murdock and Raja Bell Guest: Jomi Adeniran Associate Producer: Sasha Ashall Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices