Justin, Rob, and Wos are officially back to preview the 2025-26 season with their annual preseason power rankings. Part 1 is about the bottom five in their rankings.

Intro: (0:00:00)

Team no. 30: (4:32)
Team no. 29: (18:46)
Team no. 28: (30:14)
Team no. 27: (39:25)
Team no. 26: (54:46)

Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and Wosny Lambre
Producers: Ben Cruz, Isaiah Blakely, John Richter, and Victoria Valencia

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The NBA is back in just under a month, which means that teams are holding their media days before heading off to training camp. Howard Beck and Raja Bell discuss the most interesting quotes from media days and the new-look Zion Williamson. The Rockets were hit with the unfortunate news that Fred VanVleet will be out for the season after suffering an ACL tear. How important is FVV to the Rockets, and what potential replacements should the team pursue to fill that void?

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: Howard Beck and Raja Bell

Producers: Victoria Valencia and Clifford Augustin

Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz

(5:32): Fred VanVleet injury

(16:12): What's next for Russell Westbrook?

(26:28): Kawhi/Clippers Situation

(28:27): Media Day Cliches

(31:32): Zion Williamson’s new look

(35:38): Ishbia and the Suns

(41:19): Jayson Tatum media day comments

(45:26): Jordan Poole’s media day comments

(46:34) Mikal Bridges media day comments

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howard Beck and Michael Pina have five burning questions across the league as teams prepare for training camp. First, they discuss the continued Kawhi Leonard–Clippers saga and how this could change people's views of the Clippers. Beck and Pina also discuss what Adam Silver might have meant when talking about the NBA being a highlights-based sport. Will LeBron and the Lakers separate after the season is over? Will Cooper Flagg be the Mavericks' point guard this season? Have we seen the last of Russell Westbrook and Ben Simmons in the NBA? Will the Oklahoma City Thunder visit the White House?

Hosts: Howard Beck and Michael Pina

Producers: Clifford Augustin, Kate Ahearn, and Belle Roman

Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz and Victoria Valencia

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Justin and Wos are back and they’re joined by Howard Beck to talk about his takeaways from Adam Silver’s latest press conference (2:33). Then, they get into their thoughts on the Kawhi Leonard–Clippers scandal. Lastly, they wrap up by talking about Josh Giddey’s contract extension (48:13), and the decision fellow restricted free agents Jonathan Kuminga and Quentin Grimes still have to make.
Hosts: Justin Verrier and Wosny Lambre
Guest: Howard Beck
Producer: Isaiah Blakely
Additional Production Supervision: Ben Cruz

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer’s J. Kyle Mann is joined by Ben Taylor, author of ‘Thinking Basketball’ and creator of the Thinking Basketball YouTube channel to reflect back on the last 25 years of basketball, how the game has evolved since 2000, as well as the new series on Ben’s YouTube channel, "21st Century Peaks". They also discuss unique skill sets of players like Jason Kidd and James Harden while also speculating on the future of the game, including innovative offensive strategies and defensive adaptations.
(00:00) Welcome to The Ringer NBA Show!
(03:13) Ben’s YouTube series, "21st Century Peaks"
(09:02) Reflecting on Jason Kidd’s career
(20:03) Issues when discussing James Harden
(28:45) Tracy McGrady’s decisive ranking
(33:20) What made the 2008 Celtics team special on defense
(41:00) Explaining how the Grizzlies were trying to set up their offense last season with Noah LaRoche
(45:47) Are screen assists important now?
(50:18) Will teams look to copy Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers' style of offense?
(01:00:40) Franz Wagner’s importance to unlocking the Magic’s full potential
(01:05:29) How will the 2024-25 Thunder be remembered 20 years from now?
Host: J. Kyle Mann
Guest: Ben Taylor
Producer: Jessie Lopez
Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz
Social: Keith Fujimoto

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer’s Howard Beck and Michael Pina sit down to share their way too early spicy 2026 NBA player awards. They each share their spicy picks—ranked from jalapeño to Carolina Reaper heat—for MVP, Rookie of the Year, Coach of the Year, Sixth Man, Most Improved, and Defensive Player of the Year.

Hosts: Howard Beck and Michael Pina
Producers: Victoria Valencia and Clifford Augustin
Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Wosny Lambre is joined by The Athletic’s Fred Katz to talk about all things Knicks. They discuss the coaching search that led to the Mike Brown hire and what Brown can help the Knicks improve on from last season. They also discuss realistic expectations for the Knicks this season (54:40) and which dark-horse contenders could challenge the Knicks and Cavs in the East (1:01:40).

Host: Wosny Lambre
Guest: Fred Katz
Producer: Isaiah Blakely
Additional Production: Ben Cruz

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Ringer’s J. Kyle Mann and Tyler Parker get together to discuss the release of the 2025-26 NBA schedule, expectations for the opening night matchup between the Rockets and Thunder, and the weakened East. Plus, Kyle presents his NBA League Pass rankings for the upcoming season.

(00:00) Welcome to The Ringer NBA Show!
(04:33) Expectations for Rockets vs. Thunder on opening night
(13:20) Honorable mention League Pass teams
(17:25) Los Angeles Lakers
(21:31) Washington Wizards
(25:58) Orlando Magic
(29:44) Denver Nuggets
(33:23) Detroit Pistons
(38:08) Atlanta Hawks
(43:58) Dallas Mavericks
(49:30) Houston Rockets
(56:08) San Antonio Spurs

Hosts: J. Kyle Mann and Tyler Parker
Producer: Jessie Lopez
Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz
Social: Keith Fujimoto

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Howard Beck and Michael Pina assess the NBA landscape and give their current top five duos across the league. Who’s the top duo, and who gets an honorable mention? They also reminisce on the top duos of all time. Plus, did De’Aaron Fox's extension make things that much harder for the Hawks and Trae Young to find an agreement in the future?

0:08 Intro

1:58 Trae Young's frustration

6:00 Top Five Best NBA Duos

1:04:43 Honorable mentions

Hosts: Howard Beck and Michael Pina

Audio Producer: Clifford Augustin

Video Producer: Victoria Valencia

Additional Production Support: Ben Cruz

Social: Keith Fujimoto

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Justin and Rob are here to discuss some of the rumblings of the offseason and talk through what they think they know ahead of the 2025-26 season. They discuss Luka’s fitness (7:04), competitors in the West (19:29), Kuminga and the Warriors (34:12), the top of the East (53:23), and much more.

Hosts: Justin Verrier and Rob Mahoney
Producer: Isaiah Blakely
Social: Keith Fujimoto

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices