No Dunks Podcast: NBA 65-Game Rule, Ethical Tanking & Harden's Thumb (Feb 26, 2026)

Episode Overview

On this packed episode, the No Dunks crew—Skeets, Tas, Trey, and JD—dive into several pressing NBA storylines: the impact and controversy over the league’s new 65-game participation rule for awards, debates around “ethical” tanking and who really deserves the number one pick, the state of star injuries (including James Harden’s thumb fracture), and the broader playoff landscape. Along the way, the hosts keep their trademark mix of deep basketball analysis, off-the-cuff banter, and genuine fan perspective.

Nuggets vs Celtics: Defense Wins Ugly (02:26–12:51)

• The Nuggets defeat the Celtics 103–84, driven by defense rather than offense.
• Nikola Jokic scores 30 but shoots just 11-for-28, while Jamal Murray leaves early with illness.
• Key run: Nuggets go on a 15–0 run late in the third, exploiting Celtics’ altitude fatigue.
• Trey Kirby (03:46): “The Celtics got tooted and booted. The altitude was too much for them… Denver immediately went on a 15–0 run. And that was the game.”
• Tim Hardaway Jr. outshines the Celtics' bench, but gets virtually ignored at the podium post-game.
• Skeets spotlights the Nuggets' ability to play ugly, grind-it-out playoff games—a potential repeat formula.

Notable moment

• Jay Skeets (09:43): Coach Adelman on Jamal Murray—“He looked awful. They gave him all the medication. It did not help. All kinds of bodily things were happening.”
  (Laughter about HIPAA violations and speculation on Murray’s symptoms ensues.)

• Jayson Tatum’s return timeline is discussed, with fan theories about a numerology-themed comeback on March 14 (03/14, St. Louis’ area code).

Bucks Squeeze Past Cavs: Giannis’ Future & Young Core Hope (12:58–21:44)

• Bucks narrowly defeat the Cavaliers 118–116, despite Jared Allen's near buzzer-beater.
• Giannis sits, but Milwaukee’s young guards excel, going 8–2 in their last 10 games.
• Trey Kirby (15:39): “He’s the best player that’s ever played for the Bucks.”
• Tas debates whether Bucks’ surprising success sans Giannis increases or decreases his likelihood to demand a trade this summer—echoing the ongoing “window open” stance.

Harden’s Fractured Thumb—How Bad?

• Harden suffers a non-displaced fracture in his off-hand thumb but is expected to return soon (avg. 6.5 games missed).
• Cavs also adjust to new roster additions; Durant and Cunningham star for Detroit, leading to speculation about the Bucks’ play-in resilience once Giannis returns.

Spurs’ Win, Raptors’ Woes: Lineups & Player Frustrations (27:45–34:19)

• Spurs win their 10th straight, beating the Raptors 110–107 despite Wembanyama’s shaky game.
• Skeets and Tas detail a compelling Wemby vs. Scottie Barnes matchup, including blocks and counters.
• Critique of Raptors coach Darko’s puzzling fourth-quarter lineups—“infuriating” lapses leading to lost leads.
• Jay Skeets (32:40) on Raptors’ fraught finishes: “We are the worst good team in the league. I have no faith in this team, come a playoff series.”

Pistons vs Thunder: Youth Movement and X-Factors (35:56–41:43)

• Detroit beats a depleted OKC 124–116, heavily outscoring them in the paint and on the boards.
• Asar Thompson gets love as a star role player, especially for his defensive impact:
  Trey Kirby (37:36): “Everybody talks about Amen [Thompson] … but Asar to me is the star role player. … Like a super Iguodala type.”
• Jalen Duren continues to surge post-All-Star break (27/14 avg. over three games).
• Cade Cunningham’s defense, especially shot-blocking from the guard spot, draws praise and historical comparisons (to Dwyane Wade, John Wall, Derrick White).

True or False: Tanking Ethics, 65-Game Rule, and All-Star Events (47:00–69:32)

Tankathon: Who Deserves the #1 Pick? (47:00–55:24)

• Kings, Pacers, Nets, Wizards, and Jazz round out the bottom of the standings.
• Debate: Do the Kings "deserve" the #1 pick for being bad but trying to win?
  • Trey Kirby (49:30): “They’re literally trying. They’re just bad. … They need an infusion of talent. So I do think they actually deserve it.”
  • Tas Melas (48:20): “Absolute false.” Cites Kings’ poor team-building and abrupt moves post-breakthrough year.
• Tanking shenanigans update: Utah fined $500k, NBA sends an independent doctor to assess Lauri Markkanen’s legit injuries as scrutiny increases.

65-Game Award Rule: Is It Backfiring? (56:00–64:57)

• SGA and Jokic risk MVP ineligibility if they miss more than 17 games.
• Consensus: The rule achieved its purpose (a massive media rights deal) and is serving mostly as PR.
  • Trey Kirby (56:48): “It worked perfectly because they got an 11 year, $77 billion media rights deal. And that’s the only reason this rule even exists.”
  • Hosts advocate for a return to media/voter discretion, around 60–65 games as a “fair” MVP cut-off.
• Skeets: “It was a classic silver in the league … overreacting to the moment, wanting to get the television deal.”

All-Star Weekend: Million-Dollar Incentive (66:26–69:32)

• Suns owner Matt Ishbia offers $1M prize for 2027 Dunk/3-Point contest winners to attract stars.
• The panel agrees it could work, especially for rookie contracts, but should come from the league, not Ishbia directly.
• Trey Kirby (67:26): “Getting an extra million dollars would be a 2% raise [for Anthony Edwards]… but for a rookie, that's 9% of his salary. It would matter to him.”

Notable Quotes and Fun Banter

• Jay Skeets (09:43): “He looked awful. They gave him all the medication. It did not help. All kinds of bodily things were happening.” (on Jamal Murray’s illness)
• Trey Kirby (03:46): “The Celtics got tooted and booted. The altitude was too much for them.”
• Trey Kirby (37:36): “[Asar Thompson] was awesome last night, just kind of being everywhere, like a super Iguodala type.”
• Tas Melas (15:39): “He’s the best player that’s ever played for the Bucks.”

Nerdy/Inside Jokes & Running Gags

• Playful references to Tim Hardaway Jr.’s surprising dunks and absence of media questions.
• Extended bit about “liquid fart” pranks with inflatable costumes (75:15–76:51).
• Recurring “so many Bs” after listing double-B named players (45:09–45:47).
• FanDuel ad banter about their own betting strategies and podcast inside jokes (“the hand of the king,” 44:37).

Key Timestamps

• [02:26] – Main show (NBA breakdowns) really begins
• [03:46] – Nuggets vs Celtics analysis starts
• [09:43] – Jokic, Jamal Murray’s illness, Tatum’s return
• [12:58] – Bucks/Cavs, Giannis future, Harden’s thumb
• [27:45] – Spurs vs Raptors, Wemby vs Barnes, lineup debate
• [35:56] – Pistons/Thunder, Asar Thompson X-factor
• [47:00] – True or False: Kings and the #1 Pick
• [56:00] – 65-game rule and MVP eligibility
• [66:26] – All-Star events: million-dollar offer
• [69:32] – End of “true or false”/transition

Final Thoughts

This episode covers how the NBA’s efforts to police resting/tanking have collided with the vagaries of real injuries and long-standing team-building failures—serving up sharp, fan-focused takes on what counts as “ethical” tanking, who the league’s rules actually help, and whether big money can rescue star-studded All-Star events. The No Dunks hosts blend razor-sharp basketball insight with outlandish fun, keeping it lively even in the February NBA grind.

Listeners will walk away with:

• Strong opinions on the (futile?) battle against tanking and “trophy rests.”
• Clear breakdowns of key NBA matchups and storylines.
• Laughter from inside jokes and the unique No Dunks energy.

For more, catch the No Dunks Drop every weekday and check their extended Survivor and Traders coverage over at No Buffs!