No Dunks — "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, Philadelphia’s 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 “winners only” theme, celebrating positive NBA storylines while still sneaking in critical takes on struggling teams.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Minnesota Timberwolves — Statement Weekend

Theme: Are the Wolves for real this year?
Timestamps: 04:02–11:30

• Back-to-back statement wins:

  • Friday vs. OKC Thunder: Hard-fought win over one of the league’s best. Anthony Edwards closed with signature clutch plays—a step-back over elite defender Cason Wallace, followed by a block and a final steal on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
    • “You have to play near-perfect basketball it feels like to beat OKC… Minnesota is like: ‘Hey, we’ll catch up later. Don’t forget about us in the Western Conference.’” – 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.

• Coach Chris Finch’s tactical ejection: Strategically gets tossed to spark the team.

• Wolves’ blueprint: Bully teams on the boards (18 offensive rebounds vs. OKC), minimize turnovers, and rely on depth (Bones Hyland, TJ Shannon).

• Season outlook:

  • “They’re on pace for a 54-win season… turning it on earlier than usual. The West is a bloodbath.” — Tas (10:33)
  • Speculation: Wolves may need another creator—Chris Paul mentioned as a possible trade target.

2. Philadelphia 76ers — The New Superstar Backcourt

Theme: Maxey & rookie VJ Edgecombe are the league’s surprise backcourt of the future
Timestamps: 11:30–18:22

• 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.
  • “Sixers fans really got Maxi and Edgecombe here—a backcourt for the next decade.” – J. Skeets (11:30)

• Edgecombe’s impact: Not just scoring—hustles, crashes the boards, sets the tone, “totally comfortable” as #2 guy, already making key defensive plays.

• Aging frontcourt comes alive:

  • Andre Drummond—formerly a “non-shooter”—hit 3 threes vs. NYK, has nearly doubled his career makes this season alone (“Old dogs can learn new tricks.” — Tas, 14:05).
  • Dominic Barlow and Adam Bona also bring energy up front in Embiid’s absence.

• Jared McCain: Starting to round into form as a smart glue guy off the bench during Grimes’ slump.

• Coach Nick Nurse: Ends games with a small, young backcourt—and it’s working.

Quote:
"It’s a shocker that the Sixers are this good… Maxey has somebody to help him now. Bang, you got a rookie and it’s working. I didn’t see this coming." – Tas (17:59)

3. Boston Celtics — Unexpected Depth & Range

Theme: Celtics’ shooting and depth win the weekend
Timestamps: 18:22–23:52

• Win over the Heat: Down in the 4th, Boston explodes for ten 3s in the quarter, led by Derek “Most Underrated Player” White (33pts, 6asts, 5rebs, 4blks). Sam Hauser, Jalen Brown, Simon’s, and rookie Gonzalez all hit major shots.

  “He does whatever you need… he’s the best shot-blocking guard in the league.” – Erik Spoelstra on Derrick White (19:58)

• Depth surprising everyone: Bench mob (Luka Garza—9 off rebounds, Hugo Gonzalez—10 boards & a dunk) helps rout the Raptors, led by Peyton Pritchard (33).

  • “Peyton Pritchard always kills the Raptors. Man owns them.” — J. Skeets (20:38)

• 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 — Brunson & Robinson

Theme: New York’s core is thriving
Timestamps: 23:52–34:26

• Jalen Brunson’s MVP campaign:

  • Drops career-high 47 (zero turnovers) vs. Miami, continues “Brunson Burner” run after NBA Cup MVP.
  • “He’s one of the toughest assignments for defenders… just keeps you on your heels.” — J. Skeets (25:47)
  • Fifth in recent MVP straw poll, hosts say he deserves a higher vote share.

• Mitchell Robinson’s free throw breakthrough:

  • Had made just 6 of 27 FTs before weekend; goes 7/8 vs. Philly & 3/3 vs. Miami.
    • “Just wake up at a decent time and get a loft on.” — Tas (33:17)
  • Importance: Can stay on floor in late games; strategic for Knicks’ playoff hopes.

5. League-Wide Winners and Live Experiences

Theme: Around the league - quick hits and personal moments
Timestamps: 34:26–44:03

• Anthony Davis & Cooper Flagg 'brotherly love': Postgame on-court affection, debunking rumors of coldness. “That was like a proud older brother.” — Skeets (35:43)
• Kevin Durant talks trash as Rockets snap Nuggets streak — fun to see KD animated.
• Wemby in Atlanta, live:
  • Skeets attended Spurs-Hawks game, raved about seeing Wembanyama dominate up close: “It’s wild. If you have the means, go see him.”
  • Wemby records 100th straight game with a block; hosts debate if teams will stop even trying shots with him around.

“He’s just so explosive… It is a hell of an experience.” — 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: 45:00–56:08

• Memo on tighter injury reporting: Must now report injuries between 11–1 pm, then update every 15 minutes—attempt 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 “Porter bets”), and maybe axe some “single-play” bets.
  • “We don’t need to have a prop bet on every single player at the end of the bench.” — Skeets (51:24)
• Player/fan harassment rising: NBA to strengthen protections and education efforts.
• Tanking “review”: Memo vaguely references draft pick protections/lottery tweaks—but details unclear.
  • “Need to know more.” — Skeets (55:14)

7. Wolves to Retire KG’s Jersey

Theme: Kevin Garnett finally gets his due in Minnesota
Timestamps: 56:08–58:48

• KG hired as team ambassador, #21 to be retired at last.
  • “He IS the [Timberwolves] organization.” — Tas (57:55)
• New owners make amends after Glenn Taylor era’s messy fallout kept KG away.

8. Naismith Hall of Fame: New Nominees Discussion

Theme: Is this a weak NBA Hall of Fame cycle? Timestamps: 58:48–69:48

• First timers: Blake Griffin, Jamal Crawford, Joe Johnson.
• The “Blake vs. Amare” debate:
  • Hosts see Griffin and Amare Stoudemire as “mirror image” candidates; if one gets in, both should. “Their careers are damn near identical. So if one makes it, I feel like the other one has to…” — Skeets (61:04)
• Jamal Crawford:
  • Celebrated for top-tier sixth man career but probably not enough for Hall due to limited playoff impact.
  • “In the playoffs, like tell me a Jamal Crawford playoff moment… you can’t.” — Skeets (63:25)
• Joe Johnson: Mid-level case (Basketball Reference: 50% shot)—likely to be remembered as a “Lamarcus Aldridge” type.
• Sixth Man Hall biases: Only McHale, Ginobili are real archetypes; most 6MOY winners don’t make the Hall.
• **Detlef Schrempf snub noted—wasn’t even on nomination list despite two Sixth Man awards.

9. Memorable Quotes & Moments

Throughout

• “We’re not doing losers today—we’re positive Petes in the holiday spirit.” – J. Skeets (03:25)
• “He is the guy that gets them going… Ant takeover was phenomenal.” – Tas (07:15)
• “Old dogs can learn new tricks.” – Tas, on Drummond’s shooting (14:05)
• “It’s the NBA. You have to play hard in this league to win freaking games.” — Skeets (22:56)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Segment | Start | Notable Content | |---------------------------------------|--------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------| | Timberwolves Weekend | 04:02 | Edwards’ clutch; Wolves’ emergence; Western Conference race | | Sixers’ Superstar Backcourt | 11:30 | Maxey & Edgecombe thrive; Edgecombe’s emergence; veteran contributions| | Celtics Unexpected Depth/Shooting | 18:22 | Heat win comeback; White’s 4th quarter; bench and rookies matter | | Knicks Star Power: Brunson & Robinson | 23:52 | Brunson’s MVP run; Robinson’s 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 | | Garnett’s Jersey Retirement | 56:08 | KG as ambassador & jersey-raised, resolution of messy history | | Hall of Fame Nominee Debates | 58:48 | Griffin vs. Amare; Jamal Crawford’s 6MOY place; HOF criteria |

Episode Tone & Style

Lively, rapid-fire and irreverent, focusing on celebrating teams and players who “won the weekend,” while peppering in critical analysis and sharp NBA insights. The hosts stay true to their “basketball nerd” roots—balancing stats, storylines, and quirky banter—with a clear respect for both the game’s history and its breaking news.

For listeners who missed the episode:
This is a “do not skip” if you want definitive takes on the Wolves’ threat level, the Sixers’ astonishingly good rookie/young backcourt, and whether you should drop cash to see Wemby in person (answer: yes, do it). You’ll 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 KG’s jersey matters.

Skip: Ads, minor tech complaints at start, and non-NBA rambles.

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