No Dunks Podcast (Nov 13, 2025)

Episode: Canada Basketball’s Glow Up, Jokic Scores 55, Curry Carries Warriors
Hosts: Jay Skeets & JD
Special Guest: Oren Weisfeld, author of The Golden Generation: How Canada Became a Basketball Powerhouse

Episode Overview

This episode features an in-depth interview with Canadian basketball journalist and author Oren Weisfeld, whose new book explores the history and rise of Canada’s men’s basketball program. The hosts and Weisfeld discuss Canada’s long road to international basketball relevance, the struggles and systemic challenges of the past, the role of Canadian NBA stars, changing attitudes and funding, and the promise of this "golden generation." Following the interview, Skeets and JD recap a jam-packed NBA night highlighting standout performances, injuries, and trending storylines.

Main Interview: Oren Weisfeld on Canada Basketball’s "Golden Generation"

[02:00–30:12]

The Book and Its Genesis

• The Golden Generation investigates Canada's journey from Steve Nash’s 2000 Olympic breakthrough to the country’s resurgence, culminating in Olympic qualification after a 24-year drought.
• Weisfeld was inspired by:
  • The spike in Canadian NBA players ("all of a sudden, there was…10, 20, and 25 to start this season." – Weisfeld, 03:21).
  • The contrast between NBA success and national team struggles.
  • Witnessing heartbreak in Victoria, BC (2021 Olympic qualifier loss) and the eventual breakthrough vs. Spain.

"People have been so desperate for this golden age of Canadian hoops dating back, you know, three decades now that that name has been repeated, each generation again and again."
— Oren Weisfeld [05:07]

Research and Memorable Interviews

• Nearly 100 interviews, spanning players and coaches from the 2000 Olympic team to 2024’s squad, and grassroots figures shaping Canadian basketball.
• Steve Nash was a highlight ("He was one of my very last interviews…helped bring that kind of section of the book together." – Weisfeld, 06:01).

Racism and Systemic Problems in Canada Basketball

• In the 1980s–90s, deep-seated racial bias hampered selection and growth:

  "In the 80s and 90s, there was only a handful of black players to ever play on the teams…Players felt that there was racial bias in the selection process."
  — Oren Weisfeld [07:49]

• Weisfeld was surprised by the extent and lack of media coverage at the time ("I knew nothing about it…unfortunately, the Canadian media did the readers, you know, a lack of justice there." – 09:22).

Untold Stories and Editing

• Weisfeld had to cut a chapter on Quebec’s basketball renaissance, highlighting current NBA talents from Montreal:

  "I did a chapter on Quebec that I really would have liked to get in there…didn't really fit the narrative…Quebec players haven't been well represented [on the national team]."
  — Weisfeld [10:04]

Anecdote: Samuel Dalembert’s National Team Saga

A wild account of Dalembert’s tumultuous time with Team Canada:

"He started showing up to practices and film sessions late…basically after [an argument], he told him to get off the bus, go get his stuff and get out of there."
— Weisfeld [11:20]
Canada cut their NBA starting center mid-tournament—emblematic of the era’s dysfunction.

NBA Star Treatment and Fallout

• Coaches like Leo Rautins and Jay Triano grappled with double standards for NBA players—ultimately, Weisfeld argues, it backfired by engendering entitlement and resentment.
• Funding woes stemmed from lack of corporate support; Steve Nash’s involvement as GM (2012) galvanized top donors and spurred sponsor interest:

  "When Steve Nash gets on the phone with you, I think it helps open up those wallets."
  — Weisfeld [15:12]

Grassroots and Parental Influence

• A recurrent theme in the book: the pivotal role of parents—many former pro athletes themselves—in guiding and supporting NBA-bound kids.

  "If I had to sum up the story of this generation, it’s their parents…[who] gave this knowledge and this experience that they had accumulated as really the first generation of Canadians to play basketball…to their kids."
  — Weisfeld [19:21]

Canada’s Current and Future National Teams

• The hosts and Weisfeld speculate on the next Olympic cycle:
  • Most current NBA core likely back, but aging front-court (Olynyk, Powell, Birch) may be replaced by emerging talents like Zach Edey, Keyshawn George, and possibly Brandon Clarke or Bennedict Mathurin.
  • The "good problem" of having to cut NBA-caliber talent now.

Canadian Basketball Connections & Stories

• Fun fact: Jay Triano’s friendship with Canadian icon Terry Fox, forged when Fox was team manager at Simon Fraser University:

  "That drove [Triano] to play harder, to be in the gym more."
  — Weisfeld [24:01]

• Weisfeld’s take on the current Raptors ("They’re a serious team for the first time in about four years …a .500 team…exciting because there’s a lot of talent." – 25:19) and RJ Barrett’s trade value (being Canadian may make a trade less likely, but it’s his play that really makes him indispensable – 26:27).

All-Star Game Format Hot Take

• Weisfeld supports USA-vs-the-World change ("I just, I’m not a fan of the fact that they change the All Star Game every year…this should have been what they did a few years ago." – 27:36).
• Dreams of full-on international squads (Canada, Europe):

  "If we get that, guys will go hard. Like if it’s Canada [and] former Yugoslavia, like Europe, then 100% players will go really hard."
  — Weisfeld [28:22]

Closing

• Weisfeld encourages all international basketball fans to check out the book, noting its relevance to global hoops trends (prep schools, player development), not just Canada.

"People of any international basketball scene will get something out of it because it mirrors, I think, what’s happening in a lot of countries..."
— Weisfeld [29:30]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "You want to appease these NBA guys…You want the talent…but there’s this other flip side of, like, come on, we’re all in this together… I didn’t envy maybe some of those coaches and people in charge in those sort of dark days."
  — Jay Skeets [13:28]

• "I found it kind of funny…People have been so desperate for this golden age of Canadian hoops dating back, you know, three decades now…that name has been repeated, each generation again and again."
  — Oren Weisfeld [05:07]

• "If I had to sum up the story of this generation, it’s their parents…"
  — Oren Weisfeld [19:21]

NBA Nightly Recap: Key Highlights

[32:03–51:03]

1. Jokic Unstoppable (Jokic Drops 55 in Nuggets Win)

[45:14]

• Jokic scores 55 (third-most ever against the Clippers), finally bucking his previous 0–4 record when scoring 50+.
• Outscored Clippers’ starting five alone; shot 5-6 from three, many buckets in three quarters.
• Jokic: “I didn’t open the game really good. I think I missed like two or three layups. And then I got it going.” [45:14]
  • Skeets: “Holy shit. He had 25 points…in one quarter. And then said, ‘I didn’t even play that well.’”

2. Steph Curry Carries the Warriors

• Curry drops 46 points in a win over the Spurs, dominating on San Antonio’s Fiesta court.
• “You watch these Curry games, you’re like every once in a while, you’re like, yeah, I could still see them if he’s healthy beating a lot of teams in postseason basketball.” — Skeets [43:11]

3. Thunder Dominate Lakers

• OKC (now 12–1) smothers the Lakers—highlighted by defensive prowess even with key players missing.
  • “There are levels to this winning thing, man.” — Skeets [37:49]

4. Cavs Survive Injury Plague, Beat Heat

• Cavs win despite missing Garland, Mitchell, Mobley; Jared Allen with 30/10, Craig Porter Jr. steps up with 19/9/4 blocks.

5. Injury Watch

• Bradley Beal (Clippers): season-ending hip surgery.
• Jalen Brunson (Knicks): re-sprains ankle, leaves MSG in a walking boot.
• Paolo Banchero (Magic): strained groin on his birthday.
• Ja Morant (Grizzlies): ankle issues, sat out.

Other Notes

• Hornets top Bucks in a battle of two depleted squads.
• Blazers, Rockets, and Hawks get important wins. Hawks thrash the struggling Kings, prompting critical fan/analyst reflections.

Fun & Off-Court Moments

• JD and Skeets joke about foot scrubbing (inspired by Jared Allen’s locker room revelation). [37:15]
• Running gag about Taz’s epic losing streak in podcast’s pick-em segment. [52:13]
• Cory Booker’s taco and court aesthetics bit, creative short plug.
• Discussion of post-game segments, Survivor recaps, and the Canadian internet’s notorious unreliability during remote recordings. [57:53]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:00] – Interview starts: Introducing Oren Weisfeld and his book
• [05:50] – Weisfeld on interview subjects and favorite player interviews
• [07:22] – Conversation on racism/systemic exclusion in Canada Basketball
• [09:55] – Weisfeld on lost chapters/stories (esp. Quebec)
• [11:20] – Dalembert & Team Canada anecdote
• [14:46] – Steve Nash’s fundraising/clout as GM, changes in corporate funding
• [19:21] – Parental/grassroots influence in Canada’s player pipeline
• [21:50] – Next-gen national team roster speculation
• [24:01] – Jay Triano—Terry Fox story
• [25:19] – Oren’s take on the Raptors and RJ Barrett’s status
• [27:36] – Weisfeld’s take on new All-Star Game (USA vs. World)
• [29:30] – Closing remarks, pitch for the book and its global relevance
• [32:03] – NBA recap begins: injuries, major performances
• [45:14] – Jokic’s 55-point game dissection

Overall Tone

The episode balances passionate, insider basketball discussion with humor and warmth. Skeets and JD are enthusiastic but probing interviewers, and Weisfeld brings both storytelling flair and sharp, journalistic insight. The hosts' banter and wit continue in the NBA recap, maintaining an accessible tone for diehard and casual fans alike.

Bottom Line

If you missed this episode:
You’ll catch a deep dive into the evolution of Canadian basketball from a writer’s vantage point—touching on race, funding, parental impact, and the international rise of Canada’s new NBA stars. Plus, you’ll get energetic NBA league recaps, from Jokic and Curry’s heroics to key injuries and team trends. All wrapped in the signature “No Dunks” wit and community feel.

Key quote to sum it up:
"People of any international basketball scene will get something out of [the book] because it mirrors, I think what’s happening in a lot of countries..." — Oren Weisfeld [29:30]