No Dunks Podcast Summary

Episode: Spurs Pass The Physical, East Favorites & Magnets with Ben Golliver
Date: February 24, 2026
Host(s): J. Skeets, Tas Melas, Trey Kirby, JD
Guest: Ben Golliver (NBA journalist, host/co-host of Greatest of All Talk, author of "Bubble Ball")

Episode Overview

This episode features the No Dunks crew catching up with Ben Golliver. The group delves into Ben's "magnet man" reputation, his recent Washington Post exit, NBA travel and journalism stories, and, most importantly, an in-depth breakdown of the Spurs' win over the Pistons (highlighting Wembanyama, the Spurs' title outlook, the Pistons' offensive ceiling, and the East playoff race). The crew also covers injury trends, the 65-game rule, tanking, KD’s Olympic ambitions, coaching attire, and some offbeat fun about LEGO collecting and model trains.

Main Segments & Discussion Points

Ben Golliver's Magnet Obsession (02:53–06:56)

• Ben clears the air about being called "Magnet Man," confirming he has "hundreds and hundreds of magnets" collected from national park trips, but claims "there’s a method to the madness."
• Magnet Selection Method: Picks the gaudiest and most distinctive magnets, favors those with unique animals or landmarks from each destination. Sometimes ends up with 3–5 per trip if the wildlife is exceptional, but never as many as 30.
• Quote:
  • “It’s not Supermarket Sweep…Most pressing news of the day in the NBA.” (03:24, Ben Golliver)
• Storage: Only one on the fridge (Michigan football championship), rotates 50–60 on a wall with a magnetic backdrop, rest are carefully stored in Tupperware in his garage. Dreams of doing a huge display if he ever has a basement.

Life After the Washington Post – Journalism Reflections (07:44–12:21)

• Ben discusses being laid off after seven years at the Washington Post, where he covered major events (Olympics, NBA Finals, the Bubble). He shares how it felt and career highlights.
• Standout stories: Caitlin Clark profile (junior year, before her big NCAA Tournament run), both Paris Olympics basketball medal games (Steph Curry’s heroics), the NBA Bubble Finals.
• On the WaPo sports department closure:
  • “It was a dream job. They literally were just like: ‘you want to go to Iowa, write about Caitlin Clark? …Yes, yes, yes.’ And then, in true sports fashion, they just decided to do a teardown rebuild right in the middle of the season.” (09:43, Ben Golliver)
• On transitioning: Praises his podcast & newsletter community for support; now focuses on his Substack, which quickly hit #2 in new subscriptions across categories.

Game of the Night: Spurs Beat Pistons – The Finals Preview? (12:21–20:53)

• The crew and Ben break down San Antonio’s 114–103 win over Detroit (their ninth consecutive win), framing it as a potential NBA Finals preview.
• Ben’s Analysis (13:05–15:02):
  • Highlights the defensive intensity, but points out Detroit’s offense as the weak link, especially against San Antonio’s guards and Wemby’s rim protection:
    • “Detroit’s looking around saying Tobias Harris, Duncan Robinson, you guys are not built for this. … They don’t have enough juice on offense.” (14:12, Ben Golliver)
  • Suggests Detroit may regret not making a bigger trade deadline move for offense.
• Pistons’ Shortcomings (16:24–16:57):
  • JD and Taz highlight issues: lack of a clear #2 option, no dependable outside shooting, key supporting players underperforming, and the SAR Thompson “non-shooter” conundrum.
• Wemby’s Impact (17:58–20:53):
  • The panel marvels at Wembanyama: dominates with defense, able to dictate games without overexerting offensively thanks to better guard play and ball movement.
  • Quote:
    • “You really cannot play two non-shooters at the same time against San Antonio and get away with it because they will just crunch the court on you.” (18:17, Ben Golliver)
  • Ben calls the Spurs "not a mirage" and true Finals material:
    • “They could go from the lottery to the Finals. We basically never see that in the NBA.” (20:49, Ben Golliver)

Wembanyama MVP Race and Physical Play (25:27–29:45)

• Wemby’s MVP case is debated—Ben picked him as his preseason favorite if he can clear the 65-game mark, sees him as a “top 3” player going forward (25:35).
• On physical play: Panel discusses whether teams can wear down Wemby, whether he needs an “enforcer” or bodyguard-type teammate:
  • “They need Charles Oakley, don’t they?...Whoever that guy is will be the second most popular Spur.” (27:57, Ben Golliver)
• Skeets, JD, and Ben debate if Keldon Johnson fits that role and riff on his size and presence around Wemby (29:04).

Injury Trend & 65-Game Rule (31:04–35:44)

• Ben reframes the 65-game debate: the real NBA crisis is unprecedented injury rates, not just load management.
• Key quote:
  • “The NBA has an absolute injury crisis…Bodies are breaking down, calf strains, Achilles…even guys who were basically indestructible…are having injuries…just being wasted on 30 guys…missing so much time.” (31:04, Ben Golliver)
• Endorses examining the style of play (“has it gotten too fast?”) and contemplates the possibility of fewer games. Also notes young stars (Zion, Ja, LaMelo, Trae, Luka) face wear-and-tear that could limit their prime years.

More Spurs Praise: Castle’s Defensive Emergence (35:00–38:57)

• Ben and the crew heap praise on Spurs’ rookie guard Stefan Castle, especially for his defense on Cade Cunningham:
  • “It’s crazy how hard those guys play…Castle is so relentless…he makes you feel it both ways.” (36:18, Ben Golliver)
• Castle’s relentless two-way play may make him a perennial All-Defense candidate and All-Star, especially paired alongside Wemby.

East Favorites, Celtics, and Cavs Post-Deadline (38:57–45:08)

• Ben is a “Western Conference elitist” but lauds the Celtics’ culture, experience, and defensive connectivity—pegs them as the team to beat in the East “if Tatum’s healthy.” (39:14)
• Trade deadline: Names Cleveland as biggest mover (Harden acquisition), believes Cavs improved despite the risks:
  • “Not a perfect option, but Manny still got some good basketball in him. There’s a chance they could reach the Finals.” (41:05, Ben Golliver)
  • Notes the motivation for most deals is financial, not solely contention-based.
• On Harden: Points out he’s always paired with another star who also faces postseason scrutiny (45:10).

Audience Questions & Fun Topics

Tanking & NBA Parity (48:18–53:48)

• Ben is skeptical of most anti-tanking solutions, thinks flattening odds may have backfired, and advocates “don’t talk about it” as best fix.
  • Quote:
    • “People get way, way too deep into this…the championship race right now (has) 10 great teams. Unfortunately, tanking is a huge distraction.” (50:49, Ben Golliver)
• Discusses policing tanking partly due to the explosion of legal gambling.

Coaching Attire (53:48–57:12)

• Should coaches go back to suits? Ben, a quarter-zip aficionado before it was TikTok-famous, supports the traditional look for leading. Others reminisce about Pat Riley’s style versus today’s baggy sweats.
  • Quote:
    • “If you’re an NBA coach…why not use (your) budget? Just feels like a wasted opportunity all around.” (55:20, Ben Golliver)

Offbeat Finals – Model Trains & LEGO (61:30–64:31)

• Ben reveals he branched out from LEGO to model trains for Christmas—assembled a Canadian Pacific set, complete with hat, and recommends the hobby for "tier-one dorks."
• Quote:
  • “Quarter zip and a train conductor hat. What more do you need? This is the peak of fashion.” (62:44, Ben Golliver)

Olympics & KD’s Legacy (58:10–61:26)

• Kevin Durant wants to play in the 2028 LA Olympic Games.
• Ben says KD would deserve an honorary spot, calling him USA Basketball’s standard-bearer.
  • Quote:
    • “If anybody was going to be deserving of the honorary old guy spot…it’s Kevin Durant…nobody’s earned it more than he has.” (58:58, Ben Golliver)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On magnets:
  • “It’s not like I’m taking 30 down…for now, it’s just the memories.” (04:21, Ben Golliver)
• On Wemby’s leap:
  • “He’s 1, 2, or 3. And…that’s crazy for a guy who’s only in his third season.” (25:35)
• On injury epidemic:
  • “The NBA has an absolute injury crisis…even Joker and Shea are suffering real injuries and I don’t want us to get numb to that.” (31:04)
• On coaching attire:
  • “If you’re an NBA coach, you’re getting like a budget for your clothing…why not use it?” (55:20, Ben Golliver)
• On USA Basketball:
  • “His commitment to that program has been incredible for a really long time. …If anybody was going to be deserving of the honorary, old guy spot on the roster, it’s Kevin Durant.” (58:58)
• On model trains:
  • “Quarter zip and a train conductor hat. What more do you need? This is the peak of fashion.” (62:44)

Timestamps to Key Segments

• Magnet Talk: 02:53–06:56
• Washington Post, Journalism Stories: 07:44–12:21
• Spurs-Pistons Game Breakdown: 12:21–20:53
• Wemby MVP, Physicality: 25:27–29:45
• NBA Injury Crisis, 65-Game Rule: 31:04–35:44
• Castle’s Defensive Impact: 35:00–38:57
• East Picture – Celtics/Cavs: 38:57–45:08
• Harden in Cleveland: 43:27–45:15
• Tanking/Solutions: 48:18–53:48
• Coach Fashion: 53:48–57:12
• Olympic Basketball/KD: 58:10–61:26
• LEGO & Model Trains: 61:30–64:31

Tone & Style

The episode is classic No Dunks: light-hearted, witty, and nerdy, with deep hoops analysis interspersed with humor, banter, and offbeat stories (magnet collecting, model trains). The language is casual, friendly, and filled with good-natured ribbing—no jargon-heavy explanations, just accessible and passionate basketball talk peppered with unique NBA and pop culture references.

For New Listeners

This episode is a great window into why No Dunks and Ben Golliver have cult followings: basketball insight, sharp yet playful wit, and a willingness to get weird—whether that’s defending the honor of magnets or model trains, or breaking down why Detroit needs another scorer to keep up with Wemby in the Finals. A must-listen if you want a sense of both the NBA’s present battles and the off-court stories that create its culture.

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