No Dunks â "Big Wolves Weekend, The Sixers' Superstar Backcourt, Watching Wemby Live"
Date: December 22, 2025
Hosts: J. Skeets, Tas Melis, Eshawa
Podcast: No Dunks (iHeartPodcasts)
Episode Overview
This episode of No Dunks dives into a jam-packed NBA weekend, focusing on the red-hot Minnesota Timberwolves, Philadelphiaâs dynamic new backcourt, a firsthand report on seeing Victor Wembanyama in person, major injury/league news, and some Hall of Fame chatter. The hosts keep the energy high and stick to the âwinners onlyâ theme, celebrating positive NBA storylines while still sneaking in critical takes on struggling teams.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Minnesota Timberwolves â Statement Weekend
Theme: Are the Wolves for real this year?
Timestamps: 04:02â11:30
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Back-to-back statement wins:
- Friday vs. OKC Thunder: Hard-fought win over one of the leagueâs best. Anthony Edwards closed with signature clutch playsâa step-back over elite defender Cason Wallace, followed by a block and a final steal on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
- âYou have to play near-perfect basketball it feels like to beat OKC⌠Minnesota is like: âHey, weâll catch up later. Donât forget about us in the Western Conference.ââ â J. Skeets (06:29)
- Sunday vs. Milwaukee Bucks: Down by double-digits at half, Wolves stormed back. Key rotation pieces stepped up (Rudy Gobert owned offensive glass, Dante DiVincenzo and TJ Shannon hit big threes), and Anthony Edwards, despite a rough shooting night, closed it out again.
- Friday vs. OKC Thunder: Hard-fought win over one of the leagueâs best. Anthony Edwards closed with signature clutch playsâa step-back over elite defender Cason Wallace, followed by a block and a final steal on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
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Coach Chris Finchâs tactical ejection: Strategically gets tossed to spark the team.
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Wolvesâ blueprint: Bully teams on the boards (18 offensive rebounds vs. OKC), minimize turnovers, and rely on depth (Bones Hyland, TJ Shannon).
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Season outlook:
- âTheyâre on pace for a 54-win season⌠turning it on earlier than usual. The West is a bloodbath.â â Tas (10:33)
- Speculation: Wolves may need another creatorâChris Paul mentioned as a possible trade target.
2. Philadelphia 76ers â The New Superstar Backcourt
Theme: Maxey & rookie VJ Edgecombe are the leagueâs surprise backcourt of the future
Timestamps: 11:30â18:22
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Dynamic duo emerges:
- Maxey and Edgecombe led Sixers to two huge wins (at MSG vs. Knicks, and vs. Mavericks), both without Joel Embiid.
- Maxey: 30 & 38 points; Edgecombe: 23 & 26. Clutch in fourth quarters.
- âSixers fans really got Maxi and Edgecombe hereâa backcourt for the next decade.â â J. Skeets (11:30)
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Edgecombeâs impact: Not just scoringâhustles, crashes the boards, sets the tone, âtotally comfortableâ as #2 guy, already making key defensive plays.
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Aging frontcourt comes alive:
- Andre Drummondâformerly a ânon-shooterââhit 3 threes vs. NYK, has nearly doubled his career makes this season alone (âOld dogs can learn new tricks.â â Tas, 14:05).
- Dominic Barlow and Adam Bona also bring energy up front in Embiidâs absence.
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Jared McCain: Starting to round into form as a smart glue guy off the bench during Grimesâ slump.
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Coach Nick Nurse: Ends games with a small, young backcourtâand itâs working.
Quote:
"Itâs a shocker that the Sixers are this good⌠Maxey has somebody to help him now. Bang, you got a rookie and itâs working. I didnât see this coming." â Tas (17:59)
3. Boston Celtics â Unexpected Depth & Range
Theme: Celticsâ shooting and depth win the weekend
Timestamps: 18:22â23:52
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Win over the Heat: Down in the 4th, Boston explodes for ten 3s in the quarter, led by Derek âMost Underrated Playerâ White (33pts, 6asts, 5rebs, 4blks). Sam Hauser, Jalen Brown, Simonâs, and rookie Gonzalez all hit major shots.
âHe does whatever you need⌠heâs the best shot-blocking guard in the league.â â Erik Spoelstra on Derrick White (19:58)
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Depth surprising everyone: Bench mob (Luka Garzaâ9 off rebounds, Hugo Gonzalezâ10 boards & a dunk) helps rout the Raptors, led by Peyton Pritchard (33).
- âPeyton Pritchard always kills the Raptors. Man owns them.â â J. Skeets (20:38)
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Celtics vs. Raptors: Raps hand in two awful performances; hosts note the gap in consistent effort between true contenders (BOS, PHI, ORL) and Toronto.
4. Knicks Stars â Brunson & Robinson
Theme: New Yorkâs core is thriving
Timestamps: 23:52â34:26
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Jalen Brunsonâs MVP campaign:
- Drops career-high 47 (zero turnovers) vs. Miami, continues âBrunson Burnerâ run after NBA Cup MVP.
- âHeâs one of the toughest assignments for defenders⌠just keeps you on your heels.â â J. Skeets (25:47)
- Fifth in recent MVP straw poll, hosts say he deserves a higher vote share.
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Mitchell Robinsonâs free throw breakthrough:
- Had made just 6 of 27 FTs before weekend; goes 7/8 vs. Philly & 3/3 vs. Miami.
- âJust wake up at a decent time and get a loft on.â â Tas (33:17)
- Importance: Can stay on floor in late games; strategic for Knicksâ playoff hopes.
- Had made just 6 of 27 FTs before weekend; goes 7/8 vs. Philly & 3/3 vs. Miami.
5. League-Wide Winners and Live Experiences
Theme: Around the league - quick hits and personal moments
Timestamps: 34:26â44:03
- Anthony Davis & Cooper Flagg 'brotherly love': Postgame on-court affection, debunking rumors of coldness. âThat was like a proud older brother.â â Skeets (35:43)
- Kevin Durant talks trash as Rockets snap Nuggets streak â fun to see KD animated.
- Wemby in Atlanta, live:
- Skeets attended Spurs-Hawks game, raved about seeing Wembanyama dominate up close: âItâs wild. If you have the means, go see him.â
- Wemby records 100th straight game with a block; hosts debate if teams will stop even trying shots with him around.
âHeâs just so explosive⌠It is a hell of an experience.â â J. Skeets (39:10)
6. NBA Policy Changes: Injuries, Prop Betting, & Tanking
Theme: League tries to get ahead of gambling scandals and tanking optics
Timestamps: 45:00â56:08
- Memo on tighter injury reporting: Must now report injuries between 11â1 pm, then update every 15 minutesâattempt to clamp down on leaking intel to bettors.
- Prop bets and betting restrictions:
- NBA wants to cap prop betting, limit which players (no more deep-bench âPorter betsâ), and maybe axe some âsingle-playâ bets.
- âWe donât need to have a prop bet on every single player at the end of the bench.â â Skeets (51:24)
- Player/fan harassment rising: NBA to strengthen protections and education efforts.
- Tanking âreviewâ: Memo vaguely references draft pick protections/lottery tweaksâbut details unclear.
- âNeed to know more.â â Skeets (55:14)
7. Wolves to Retire KGâs Jersey
Theme: Kevin Garnett finally gets his due in Minnesota
Timestamps: 56:08â58:48
- KG hired as team ambassador, #21 to be retired at last.
- âHe IS the [Timberwolves] organization.â â Tas (57:55)
- New owners make amends after Glenn Taylor eraâs messy fallout kept KG away.
8. Naismith Hall of Fame: New Nominees Discussion
Theme: Is this a weak NBA Hall of Fame cycle? Timestamps: 58:48â69:48
- First timers: Blake Griffin, Jamal Crawford, Joe Johnson.
- The âBlake vs. Amareâ debate:
- Hosts see Griffin and Amare Stoudemire as âmirror imageâ candidates; if one gets in, both should. âTheir careers are damn near identical. So if one makes it, I feel like the other one has toâŚâ â Skeets (61:04)
- Jamal Crawford:
- Celebrated for top-tier sixth man career but probably not enough for Hall due to limited playoff impact.
- âIn the playoffs, like tell me a Jamal Crawford playoff moment⌠you canât.â â Skeets (63:25)
- Joe Johnson: Mid-level case (Basketball Reference: 50% shot)âlikely to be remembered as a âLamarcus Aldridgeâ type.
- Sixth Man Hall biases: Only McHale, Ginobili are real archetypes; most 6MOY winners donât make the Hall.
- **Detlef Schrempf snub notedâwasnât even on nomination list despite two Sixth Man awards.
9. Memorable Quotes & Moments
Throughout
- âWeâre not doing losers todayâweâre positive Petes in the holiday spirit.â â J. Skeets (03:25)
- âHe is the guy that gets them going⌠Ant takeover was phenomenal.â â Tas (07:15)
- âOld dogs can learn new tricks.â â Tas, on Drummondâs shooting (14:05)
- âItâs the NBA. You have to play hard in this league to win freaking games.â â Skeets (22:56)
Timestamps for Important Segments
| Segment | Start | Notable Content | |---------------------------------------|--------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------| | Timberwolves Weekend | 04:02 | Edwardsâ clutch; Wolvesâ emergence; Western Conference race | | Sixersâ Superstar Backcourt | 11:30 | Maxey & Edgecombe thrive; Edgecombeâs emergence; veteran contributions| | Celtics Unexpected Depth/Shooting | 18:22 | Heat win comeback; Whiteâs 4th quarter; bench and rookies matter | | Knicks Star Power: Brunson & Robinson | 23:52 | Brunsonâs MVP run; Robinsonâs FT breakthrough | | League-wide Winners, Live Experience | 34:26 | AD/Flagg narrative; Wemby live review; Rockets, Bulls scoring surge | | NBA Injury/Prop Bet Policy News | 45:00 | Reporting timelines; prop bet caps; tanking review | | Garnettâs Jersey Retirement | 56:08 | KG as ambassador & jersey-raised, resolution of messy history | | Hall of Fame Nominee Debates | 58:48 | Griffin vs. Amare; Jamal Crawfordâs 6MOY place; HOF criteria |
Episode Tone & Style
Lively, rapid-fire and irreverent, focusing on celebrating teams and players who âwon the weekend,â while peppering in critical analysis and sharp NBA insights. The hosts stay true to their âbasketball nerdâ rootsâbalancing stats, storylines, and quirky banterâwith a clear respect for both the gameâs history and its breaking news.
For listeners who missed the episode:
This is a âdo not skipâ if you want definitive takes on the Wolvesâ threat level, the Sixersâ astonishingly good rookie/young backcourt, and whether you should drop cash to see Wemby in person (answer: yes, do it). Youâll also get smart breakdowns of league policy changes, the murky world of prop betting, why Hall of Fame debates get weird for sixth men, and why the T-Wolves finally retiring KGâs jersey matters.
Skip: Ads, minor tech complaints at start, and non-NBA rambles.
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