No Dunks – Six Burning Questions: 2025–26 NBA Season Preview

Podcast: No Dunks (iHeartPodcasts)
Hosts: JD Skeets, Tas Melas, Trey Kirby, JD (Super Producer)
Date: October 17, 2025
Episode Theme:
A wide-ranging, fun, and insightful season preview built around six “burning questions” for the 2025–26 NBA season. The hosts debate which players and teams have the most to prove, the stars most likely to be traded, breakout “under the radar” contributors, bold statistical forecasts, potential disappointments, and, ultimately, their Finals picks—with plenty of laughs and authentic No Dunks camaraderie.

Episode Overview

The crew uses its annual "burning questions" format to preview the new season, looking at pressure points across the NBA. This year, there are six burning questions, focusing on:

• Players with the most to prove
• Under-the-radar X-factors
• First player to hit 50 points in a game
• Most likely team to disappoint
• First key player traded
• Finals predictions

The episode also dives into Malcolm Brogdon's surprise retirement, Russell Westbrook's next stop, notable contract extensions, and wraps with a classic, off-the-rails rapid-fire segment.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Which Player Has the Most to Prove This Season?

Trey Kirby (06:39):

• Trae Young is in the ultimate "put up or shut up" year:
  • “It’s now or never… This is the best team we’ve seen built around him.”
  • Atlanta has not offered a pre-season extension; the team will "see how it goes."
  • Young enters with a player option for next season and could hit free agency.
  • “They should be a top four team in the East… This is a team that thinks they’ve got a chance at the conference finals. So a lot of that is on Trae Young’s shoulders.”
  • If it doesn’t work, “this is the end of the Trae Young experience with the Hawks.”
• Miles Turner (Taz, 12:40) as critical in Milwaukee:
  • “His play is important to Giannis' future in Milwaukee… If the Bucks don’t win a playoff series, this could be it.”
  • He must lighten Giannis’ offensive and defensive load, “be a great locker room guy,” and help keep the team together.
• Joel Embiid (JD, 15:25):
  • “What can he prove? That he can play—I guess that would be awesome, 2/3 of the season.”
• Donovan Mitchell (16:04):
  • “Only one on the 60+ playoff games, 28+ PPG list to not make the conference finals… he needs a playoff run.”
  • “He’s the leader of the team and he’s kind of ducked the allegations… This has to happen this season.”

Other Big Names:

• Ja Morant: Needs to bounce back after a down year and drama.
• Zion Williamson (19:35): “If they’re going to be any good, he has to play games. It feels like this is it.”

2. Under the Radar Player With Big Impact Potential

Framing: Not an All-Star or league-wide star—the guys that could swing a season as X-factors.

Taz (22:42): Reed Sheppard (Houston Rockets)

• Stepping into the Fred VanVleet void as main PG
• “He was in the shadows last season, and now he’s going to be starting. They need him to make threes and just be like a league-average starting point guard.”

Trey (25:07): DeAndre Ayton (Lakers)

• “The nicest thing anyone said about Ayton this offseason is ‘he’s better than Jackson Hayes.’”
• On a team that needs defense and rebounding: “He’s their main defensive anchor… It’s kind of a last chance saloon for DeAndre Ayton.”
• Wild stat: “He averaged 0.13 free throw attempts per FGA last season… Only Al Horford was lower among centers.”

JD (31:04): Terrence Shannon Jr. (Wolves)

• “With Nikhil Alexander-Walker gone, Minnesota’s hoping Shannon can take that leap… He’s shown flashes of brilliance.”

Expanded Bucks X-Factor Group (JD, 31:04):

• Kevin Porter Jr., AJ Green, Ryan Rollins, Cole Anthony—“They need at least two of these perimeter guys to pop for the Bucks to have success.”

Other Mentions:

• Rob Dillingham (Wolves), D’Angelo Russell (Dallas)

3. First Player to Score 50 Points in a Game

Historical Recap:

• Last year's first 50-point game: Paolo Banchero (Oct 28, vs Pacers, 22 FTA).
• 13 different players dropped 50+ last season.

Predictions:

• Trey (36:42): Giannis Antetokounmpo, early mark vs Wizards
  • “Wizards stink on defense… He’s got a chip on his shoulder… Give me Giannis very early.”
• Taz (37:32): Luka Doncic
  • “He didn’t have a 50-point game last season. He’s going to lead the league in scoring.”
• JD (38:17): Victor Wembanyama
  • “Why not be the first this year?… I like the bet for him to hit 55+ at +500.”

Fun Wemby Stat-Odds Segment (39:03):

• Wemby to get a five-by-five: +290, “seems like too good of odds.”
• Would a “six by five” (incl. 3s): “+1200, I’m putting cheddar on that!”

4. Most Likely to Disappoint

Trey (42:54): Detroit Pistons

• “I don’t like the start of the season—Jaden Ivey missing time, they’re counting on a lot of young guys to step up, like Ron Holland.”
• General Western/Eastern disappointment candidates:
  • Magic, Hawks, Pistons, Raptors (Tas: “Is it the same old Raps one more time?”).
  • JD muses about the Lakers: “What if 30 games in, Dallas has the same or better record as the Lakers? Could LA disappoint?”

5. First Key Player Traded

Taz (49:50):

• A Miami Heat trade is looming—could be Tyler Herro, Bam Adebayo, but “Pat Riley knows, if it’s not going well, he has to shake it up.”

Trey (50:13):

• Jonathan Kuminga: “They basically signed him to trade him; I think he’ll be gone.”
• Lauri Markkanen: Fits don’t align with Jazz timeline; several contenders interested.

JD (51:00):

• Sacramento’s Zach LaVine or DeMar DeRozan—“Their on-court stats are brutal, especially defensively. Do the Kings move one or both?”

Bonus: RJ Barrett (Raptors)—contract/fit issues.

6. Finals Prediction, MVP Pick

Consensus:

• Thunder, Nuggets, Knicks, Cavs are the consensus “tier” for the season.
• Taz: “Denver over New York Knicks; Jokic Finals MVP.” (52:47)
• Trey & JD: “Thunder over Knicks” (53:35, 53:58).
  • “We’re in the greatest run of parity in league history… Could the streak continue? Maybe—Wolves, Rockets, or an eastern team.”
  • “Would you take Thunder or the field in the West? Cavs/Knicks or field in the East?” (56:56)

Noted: No one picks an east team to win (“Is anyone in the media?”), although Kevin Pelton's 620th simulation spat out Magic over Warriors (55:02).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Trae Young’s pressure (Trey, 06:39):

  "If Trae Young goes down with an injury or shoots 33% from three, the Hawks aren’t really going to do anything… But they should be a top four team in the East. There’s a lot of hope, a lot of optimism for the Hawks right now—before the season actually starts."

• On DeAndre Ayton as a “last chance” (Trey, 25:07):

  “It’s kind of a last chance saloon for DeAndre Ayton. Prove to us why you were the number one draft pick over your teammate Luka Doncic.”

• On playoff pressure for Donovan Mitchell (JD, 16:07):

  “The only one on the LeBron, Jordan, KD, Allen Iverson… Donovan Mitchell list to never make a conference finals.”

• Odds Talk—Wemby’s Quadruple Double Potential (JD, 39:57):

  “Wemby to record a six by five in any game—points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, threes made—plus 1200. I’m putting a little cheddar on that!”

• Rapid Fire, NBA White Boy of the Year (80:59):

  JD: “Off the court—my man Rob Mahoney. White Boy of the Year. He’s the NBA pundit I most listen to.”

Key NBA News (61:44–76:34)

Malcolm Brogdon Retires

• Surprise retirement after nine NBA seasons.
  • “He only had two seasons of 65+ games. I was shocked how banged up EVERY year he was.” (JD, 64:54)
  • “Future answer to trivia: He and Mike Miller are the only Rookie of the Year and Sixth Man of the Year winners.” (JD, 63:51)

Russell Westbrook Signs with Kings

• 18th season, joining Sacramento on a 1-year deal.
  • “The Kings don’t need Russell Westbrook at all. This is a want, not a need… He’ll help on the boards, play fast, but he’s been semi-unplayable in the playoffs.” (Trey, 67:35–69:05)

Contract Extensions & Roster Moves

• Keegan Murray (Kings): 5 years, $140 million—“He needs to show he can do more than just shoot threes and be the best defender on a bad defensive team.” (Trey, 72:15)
• AJ Green (Bucks): 4 years, $45 million—“Being a good shooter is like being a seven-footer in the ‘80s. Make 40% of your threes, play 10 years, make $10M/year.” (Trey, 74:41)

Rapid Fire: Highlights & Fun Moments (78:54–end)

• NBA’s “White Boy of the Year” (Timothée Chalamet got Ant Edwards’s real one online):

  • Taz: T.J. McConnell (Pacers) for his energy and close-up appeal.
  • Trey: Cooper Flagg, “He’s bringing goatees back.”
  • JD: Rob Mahoney, for NBA punditry and prestige TV takes.

• Cringiest Thing Lately:

  • Taz: “Eating boiled peanuts—texture, lack of salt, never again.”
  • JD: “Accidentally ended up at a frat house tailgate supporting my son. Pure cringe being the oldest there.”
  • Trey: Adults referencing “6-7” or mimicking “skibidi”—“Leave that stuff to kids!”

• Hand Signals & Gen Z Lingo:

  • Trey: Struggles with hand signs like “heart hands” and the changing meaning of the three-finger sign.
  • Taz: “It took me a while to get used to saying ‘dope.’ But dope is, well, dope.”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [06:13] Six Burning Questions Format Begins
• [06:39] Player With Most to Prove
• [22:20] Under-the-Radar, X-Factor Players
• [34:48] First to 50-Point Game Segment
• [42:45] Which Team Will Disappoint
• [49:41] First Key Player to be Traded
• [52:47] Finals Picks & Parity Discussion
• [61:44] NBA News: Brogdon, Westbrook, Contract Extensions
• [78:54] Rapid Fire (NBA White Boy, Cringiest Thing, Gen Z Trends)

Tone & Style

Vibrant, conversational, playful. Hosts mix candid basketball analysis with running in-jokes, pop culture references, rapid-fire debates, and authentic banter.

“Is anyone in the media picking an east team to win the title?”
“That’s simulation #620 right there—Magic over Warriors.”
“We’re in the greatest run of parity in league history. It’s awesome.”

In Summary: Must-Know Season Storylines from No Dunks

• The stakes for Trae Young and the Hawks have never been higher.
• Under-the-radar role players could tip the balance on true contenders.
• Parity reigns—but the Thunder and Nuggets are a cut above.
• Big personalities like Westbrook and Ayton have reputations (and careers) on the line.
• Contract extensions for shooters keep the paydays rolling.
• The NBA’s fun is in its unpredictability—and the No Dunks crew is here for the ride.

For more, catch all the inside jokes and spontaneous laughter on YouTube or your favorite podcast app.