No Dunks – Dec 30, 2025

Episode: "Jokic's Knee Injury, All-Star Voting Returns & Landing Spots For Trae Young"

Hosts: Jay Skeets, Tas Melis, Trey Kirby (TK), Eshua Kid

Main Theme

This episode of No Dunks dives into:

• The concerning knee injury to Denver Nuggets' superstar Nikola Jokic
• The first NBA All-Star fan voting returns and surprising trends
• Potential trade destinations and scenarios for Hawks guard Trae Young
• Reactions to last night's NBA games, plus a fun mix of listener questions, stat debates, and a “Top 5” watchlist from Trey Kirby's holiday break.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Nikola Jokic’s Knee Injury & Nuggets Fallout

[07:00 – 14:00]

• Incident Recap: Jokic left the Denver-Miami game with a knee injury after teammate Spencer Jones stepped on his foot, causing his knee to buckle. He did not return, and Miami dominated the second half.
• Immediate Reaction:
  • Tas: “This could be bleak for a couple of reasons. Jokic never gets hurt, but also, they just don’t know who they are without him. He is them.” [07:56]
  • TK: “This is like a potential season changer for the Nuggets." [09:09]
• Team Outlook: Nuggets missing four starters; if Jokic misses time, Denver (on 56-win pace) could slide to play-in territory in a crowded Western Conference.
• Injury Context: Jokic has played in 93% of Denver’s games since 2015—he’s nearly always available.
• Speculation on Severity: Hosts reference injury analysts suggesting it might not be too severe, but everyone is anxiously awaiting MRI news.
  • Jay Skeets: "We're just hoping this is nothing serious…like a week or two and then he gets right back in there." [10:10]
  • Tas: “He is a tough, tough dude. There’s just one season where he played in the 60s of games.” [11:30]
• Impact on Miami: Heat scored 140+ for the 7th time this season (had done so 8x total before this year). [12:12]
• Heat Standings Note: Miami getting it done against sub-.500 teams (12–2 record vs. them); “good things happen” if you consistently beat weaker teams.

2. Raptors' Comeback vs. Magic & Bench Depth

[14:55 – 21:18]

• Game Recap: Raptors came back from 21 down to beat Orlando thanks to their bench: Jamal Shedd (career-high 19 pts), Jacoby Walter, Colin Murray Boyles. Focus was on tough defense and clutch plays.
• Key Performers: Jacoby Walter’s defense, Boyles’ rebounding, Shedd’s game-closing hustle.
  • Tas: “Starters hit one of 18 from three ... This was all the bench.” [15:32]
• Scotty Barnes Clutch Defense: Leads NBA in clutch-time blocks; hosts praised both his performance and the stat itself.
  • Tas: “That’s a freaking cool stat. Our girl Keeks, that’s a freaking cool one, man.” [16:25]
• Magic Late Game Critique: TK didn’t like Paolo Banchero’s final shot (“very selfish … hero ball shot that just left a sour taste in my mouth” [17:27]), and surprise at Desmond Bane sitting much of the 4th.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers Snap Slump with Vigorous Win over Spurs

[21:56 – 26:54]

• Allen’s Emergence: Jared Allen (27 points, 10 boards) led a rare hard-fought, complete-game effort by Cleveland.
  • “It was just dunk after dunk for Jared Allen … except for a couple wild circus [shots].” – TK [22:08]
• Garland's Impact: Set up Allen repeatedly with long assists; discussion on whether “assist pass distance” should be a tracked stat [26:16].
• Spurs Highlight: Castle-to-Wemby ‘Glassist’ dunk – wild, early play [27:07].
• Team Consistency: Cavs have been inconsistent but showed “their hardest game of the season” – Tas [23:47].

4. Wedgie Watch: Pace for a Record

[04:52 – 06:30]

• Two more “wedgies” last night brings the season count to 26, on pace for 59. Wedgie stat-tracking nerd banter ensues.
  • “Six wedgies in a week. It was starting pretty slow in December.” – Tas [05:30]

5. Listener Questions: All-Star Voting First Returns

[36:43 – 46:58]

• Fan Returns Surprises:
  • Top 3 vote-getters: Luka, Giannis, Jokic—all international.
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander only 4th in West voting despite superstar status.
    • TK: “Shea is a guy I think connects with a younger generation … still only fourth in voting. I thought that was kind of surprising.” [38:06]
  • Scotty Barnes not in top 20 in East: Tas calls out Canada; Barnes has historic statistical profile [39:16].
• Method Critique: Fan votes are presented by point-per-game leaders in the app—skewing results.
  • Jay Skeets: “It tends to obviously favor people that score a lot more … People just click, click, click.” [39:54]
• LeBron’s All-Star Streak in Jeopardy: He’s far down in vote returns, raising debate if Silver will “cook the books” to include him as a legend.
  • “Right now, I don’t think LeBron’s going to make it. That’ll be weird.” – Skeets [41:38]
  • TK: “They’ll put him on anyway…It’ll be no different than when they said Vince Carter, you have to give your starting spot to Michael Jordan.” [43:37]
• Other Notable Results: Deni Avdia over KD/LeBron, reflecting international voting blocs.

6. Listener Question: Trae Young Trade Destinations

[46:58 – 56:32]

• Is it time to move on?: General consensus that the Hawks should take what they can get and start over.
  • “Yeah, it’s time for Trae Young to be somewhere else than Atlanta.” – TK [47:29]
• Possible Destinations:
  • Washington Wizards: CJ McCollum, Corey Kispert, pick for Young.
  • Brooklyn Nets: Package with young players (like Nick Claxton) and guards.
• Market Realism: “Doesn’t sound like it’s going to cost a ton to get Trae Young … his archetype isn’t quite as valued.” – TK [49:46]
• Comps: Could be a return similar (or even worse) to what Toronto got for Siakam.
  • Skeets: “I think it’s going to be in the ballpark of something like that.” [52:17]
• Who would you want most (if cost was equal)?
  • TK: “LaMelo…then Trae, then Ja.”
  • Skeets: “Don’t love any of them, but I think I do. I think I go Trae, LaMelo, Ja.” [55:58]

7. Quick-Hit Game & Stat Notes

[28:08 – 33:58]

• Bucks finally win two in a row – first since October [29:10]
• Deuce McBride shines for Knicks
• Julius Randle: 14 assists, 0 turnovers for the Wolves
• Phoenix Suns: Just 3 of 30 games so far vs the East, sitting at 19–13
  • “That’s a damn good sign for the Phoenix Suns.” – Skeets [33:24]
• **Colin Gillespie (PHX): “Five threes in this game … shooting really, really well.” – Tas [34:02]]

8. Quirky Listener Questions & Top 5 Segment

• Weirdest Jump Shot in NBA? [57:17]
  • Spencer Jones of the Nuggets is the consensus (“He does not look like an NBA player … weirdest looking jumper … up there” – TK [57:47])
  • Honorable mention: Paul Reed.
  • Spirals into “Ondium” shoes and LinkedIn jokes.
• Trey Kirby’s Top 5 Things Watched Over the Holidays [61:59]
  • No. 1: Bears vs. Packers comeback football game
  • No. 2: Avatar: “Fire and Ash” – gets a surprise glowing (and comedic) review for its “hot” Na’vi
  • No. 3: Bulls-76ers game live experience
  • No. 4: Jokic 56/15/16 Christmas performance
  • No. 5: 49ers vs. Bears NFL game
  • Plus: Honorable and dishonorable mentions (“Jingle All the Way” = dud)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “He is THEM. If you saw the rest of the game, they started to play way too much isolation basketball.” – Tas Melis on Jokic’s irreplaceable value to Denver [07:56]
• “This is like a potential season changer for the Nuggets. At the very least, you have to imagine they will slip down the standings” – TK [09:09]
• “Our girl Keeks, that’s a freaking cool stat. Because sometimes stats are just like, yeah, whatever. But this matches the eye test.” – Tas on Barnes’ clutch blocks [16:25]
• “He looks so bad, but he’s still performing.” – TK on watching Joel Embiid live [63:56]
• “It’s impossible for me to imagine an all-star weekend without LeBron James. In LA, on top of that.” – Skeets [46:58]
• “It’s the three most depressing franchises you could possibly go to. That’s kind of what we’re talking about here.” – TK on potential Trae Young landing spots [54:06]
• “Weirdest-looking jump shot? [Spencer Jones] is up there. Weirdest-looking guy in the NBA, also up there.” – TK [58:03]
• “She seduces a man with fire and ash magic … most sensual performance in movies this year.” – TK on Avatar’s Varang [68:22]
• Tas, on Avdija’s All-Star votes: “There’s a reason they took this decision making out of fans’ hands entirely.” [45:56]

Timestamps of Important Segments

• 07:00 – Jokic’s Injury & Immediate Fallout
• 14:55 – Raptors’ Comeback vs Magic
• 21:56 – Cavs Beat Spurs, Allen’s Big Night
• 28:08 – NBA Game Tidbits & Stats
• 36:43 – All-Star Voting Returns Discussion
• 46:58 – Trae Young Trade Possibilities
• 57:17 – Weirdest Jump Shot in the League?
• 61:59 – Trey Kirby’s Top 5 Holiday Watches

Tone & Style

• Loose, comedic, and banter-filled, with a strong focus on basketball analysis but plenty of playful tangents (pop culture, movie reviews, running in-jokes about stats and “LinkedIn”).
• Great chemistry shines, blending deep NBA insights with offbeat humor and listener engagement.

For New Listeners

This episode is a classic “No Dunks” blend of serious NBA breakdowns, hot takes on injuries and league trends, sidebars into stat-nerdery, and lighthearted pop culture reviews. Even if you missed any of the week’s games, you’ll come away up-to-speed on the league’s biggest stories – and maybe tempted to hit play on Avatar: Fire and Ash… but leave the kids at home!