No Dunks Podcast — SQUAD | 20 Years of Classics

Date: January 21, 2026
Hosts: Jay Skeets, Tas Melas, Trey Kirby, JD

Episode Overview

This special "SQUAD" episode of No Dunks celebrates two decades of basketball podcasting with a nostalgic, laughter-filled draft. The hosts commemorate their journey from The Basketball Jones, to The Starters, to No Dunks, spanning nearly 4,000 episodes. Through a six-round draft, they select and reminisce about their favorite moments, episodes, payoffs, musical numbers, and off-air stories from the past 20 years, revealing behind-the-scenes tales, legendary guest encounters, and truly absurd on-air stunts. Along the way, they briefly recap recent NBA action and interact with their lively stream team.

The mood is playful, reflective, and full of inside jokes and candid storytelling, perfect for longtime fans and newcomers wanting to understand what makes this show so enduringly special.

Quick Hits: NBA News & Last Night’s Games

[02:48–22:20]

Raptors vs. Warriors & Emmanuel Quickley

• Emmanuel Quickley scored 40 points (matched career high) and had 10 assists as the Raptors routed Golden State 145-127.
• Quickley shot 11/13 from the field and 11/11 from the line. Only Wilt Chamberlain has matched this efficiency with 40+ points and 10+ assists.
• Skeets: “When I think of Wilt Chamberlain, I think of Emmanuel Quickley.” (03:21)
• The Warriors, already missing Jimmy Butler for the season, struggled with defense and lacked scoring options beyond Steph Curry.
• Jonathan Kuminga’s trade demand was addressed by GM Mike Dunleavy, who suggested, "When you make a demand, there needs to be a demand on the market." (06:39)
• Trey: “He basically had a half of garbage time to score points and he scored points.” (08:07)

Rockets vs. Spurs

• An AWS Rivals Week game highlighted by Alperen Sengun just missing a triple-double and Reed Sheppard exploding for 12 4th-quarter points and 21 overall.
• Trey: "Sometimes...he looks like Seth Curry, sometimes he looks like Steph Curry. This was a Steph Curry game for Sheppard. He was just completely feeling it." (11:10)
• The game faced two delays for rim repairs after a player-hang pregame; humor about NBA maintenance and “bring out the big dog” level.
• Spurs blew a 16-point lead amid clunky execution; Victor Wembanyama limited by Houston’s defense and own team’s lack of creativity.

Lakers, Jazz, Wolves Notes

• Lakers turned around a 71-point halftime deficit to beat Denver; Jamal Murray held to 2 second-half points.
• Jazz’s Keonte George poured in 43 points, drawing “that cat is cool” commentary. Ziller’s stats show George among historic young scorers (20:22).
• Discussion of Jazz as trade deadline sellers, Raptors’ need for a big, and various trade fits for veterans like Jusuf Nurkic.

20 Years of No Dunks: SQUAD Draft

[27:39–108:08]

Categories Drafted (in order)

1. Pick ‘Em Payoff
2. Favorite Special Episode
3. Favorite Guest
4. Favorite Musical Number
5. Favorite Recurring Segment
6. Favorite Off-Air Moment

1. Pick ‘Em Payoff Highlights

[32:17–45:49]

Each host drafts their most memorable, ridiculous, or painful pick’em payoff punishment.

Picks & Stories:

• TAS: “Vince Carter’s #1 Fan” — Tas wore a Vince Carter jersey outside the Raptors' arena post-trade, antagonizing angry fans and even got slapped.

  “The guttural feelings of everybody was still there. Oh, they hated me.” (33:13)

• SKEETS: “Dog Shock Collar” — Skeets wore a shock collar during a No Dunks episode, triggering genuine anxiety:

  “The worst part is you just don’t know when it’s happening. So you’re, like, always on edge.” (36:37)

• JD: “Hot Peppers” — Lee Ellis eats a habanero on air to spectacular, hilarious physical distress:

  “He randomly gets up in the middle of the show…we thought maybe he’d barf on live TV…” (39:50)

• TREY: “Face Shaved into Lee’s Head” — Lee gets a stick-figure face shaved into his hair, to epic disappointment:

  “It would have been almost disappointing if it looked good.” (42:31)

Honorable Mentions:

• Stand-up comedy at open mic (painfully awkward)
• Outside for a whole week challenge (TAS)
• Bathroom attendant bit (Skeets in a tuxedo in a public restroom)
• Karaoke payoffs, wetsuit challenge, and “repeat after me” street pranks.

2. Favorite Special Episode

[48:34–63:26]

• SKEETS: “April Fools Future Show (2016)” — Pretending it’s 2036 with full costumes, ridiculous predictions, and high-level production:

  “I was bald, TAS was like this cyborg version…Lee in a fat suit and a TJ Maxx tattoo.” (50:24)

• JD: “All Star Toronto 2016 – Real Sports Show” — The crew’s homecoming, packed crowds, poutine-eating contest, and full-on event coverage.

  “I felt like that was our best All-Star coverage.” (54:41)

• TREY: “Austin Powers Halloween (2018)” — Crew fully buys into the costume and sketch conceit:

  “It wasn’t just jerseys and names…Austin Powers movies. This was definitely our best Halloween episode.” (58:04)

• TAS: “2019 Raptors Finals Live Outside” — Live show outside Toronto arena during the Finals, memorable not just for the atmosphere but a boiling-hot poutine.

  “My tongue is burning. Feeling it right now.” (59:12)

Others Mentioned:

• Summer League live shows (“Bamboo Boys”)
• Friars Club Roast 5th anniversary at El Mocambo
• 69-nugget challenge, NBA Happy Hour stream, 90s and past-themed April Fools, and more.

3. Favorite Guest

[63:32–71:42]

• JD: Peter Sawkins (Great British Bake Off winner and Clippers fan):

  “Finally a guest that I met.” (63:52)

• TREY: Cavaliers 2016 locker room (multiple Cavs post-championship):

  “The guys literally shouting out our show after their biggest moment.” (65:36)

• TAS: Big Baby Davis (parking lot no-music, dance-and-eat-pizza video bit):

  “The trust of a current NBA player to say, do some stupid stuff – I was impressed.” (67:30)

• SKEETS: Shaq — Gave Skeets a wedgie on TV, did the “I Want Your Wedgies” music video, iconic viral beard massage of Trey.

  “Shaq came on and gave me a wedgie, which will probably be one of the more iconic moments from our show’s history.” (68:33)

Notables:

• Brent Barry (favorite recurring guest)
• Steve Nash (early, personal hero moment)
• Dikembe Mutombo
• Vince Carter (cathartic for Raptors fans)
• Christian & Scooby (Paris, dog challenge)

4. Favorite Musical Number

[72:57–83:37]

• TREY: “Like a Bosh” — The legendary Lonely Island parody track, writing debut for Trey:

  “It was special because I just recently had come to the show…but I got a writing credit on Like a Bosh.” (73:42)

• TAS: “I Want Your Wedgies” (Shaq) — Full commitment from Shaq for a bizarre, unforgettable wedgie music video:

  “He comes in and is just a super weirdo. Just perfect. Fitting. He’s smelling underwear…” (76:11)

• SKEETS: “Showin’ Love” — R&B music video dedicated to all 29 NBA teams (except the Clippers), loaded with inside jokes and great lyrics:

  “Everybody’s asking us to show love to their team…we literally wrote an R&B song…” (78:49)

• JD: “NBA Christmas Caroling” — The crew, dressed as elves, sings holiday NBA parodies on Toronto streets—grueling cold but hilarious results.

Other Unforgettable Tunes:

• Scal Says (LeBron diss track)
• All-Star in memoriams (esp. Matt & Tad’s “My Heart Will Go On”)
• Lee rapping as “Chuck D League”
• Four Bar Fridays
• Merry Christmas to Your Mom (Santa Freak)
• Live Musical numbers at anniversary shows

5. Favorite Recurring Segment

[87:01–94:45]

• TAS: Crossfire — The beloved debate segment with two hosts at podiums, and a referee in the middle.

  “Two people yelling at each other at podiums while one person is the referee…It’s just a good segment.” (87:06)

• SKEETS: Dunk Contest — Evolved from a Phoenix Fisher-Price net shootaround to one-on-one Lee vs. Trey/Lee vs. Skeets annual tradition, culminating at live events and All-Star Weekend.

  “A lot of dunks, some incredibly creative dunks, some hilarious moments.” (89:51)

• JD: Awards Show (The Starties) — Elaborate, painstaking, and rewarding annual awards, involving Kristen Ledlow and Giannis’s iconic acceptance.

  “We always took it very seriously…just a huge pain in the ass for everyone…but when it was done, it was really good.” (91:51)

• TREY: Pun Gun — Hilarious, groan-inducing NBA name puns (“Gray Biscuits Dadquest”) with music, sound effects, and inside references.

  “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to have another day in my life where I don’t remember the name ‘Gray Biscuits Dadquest’.” (94:43)

Honorable Mentions:

• Rapid Fire (chaotic closing questions/outbursts)
• Tweet of the Week, Shoutouts, Clipper Bros drops, the Kate scale, and Uncle Bob complaint call-ins

6. Favorite Off-Air Moment

[95:46–108:05]

• SKEETS: Starters office HQ Trivia sessions — Daily, heated group efforts to win the viral quiz game.

  “The one time we won … we celebrated like we won the championship.” (95:46)

• JD: “Bamboo Boys” — Summer League downtime bonding at the Bamboo Pool, holding court for fans, decompressing over beers before showtime.

  “Just hanging out at the pool in Vegas…if you showed up, you were an honorary bamboo boy.” (97:26)

• TREY: Karaoke nights — Iconic “Take It Easy” technical SNAFUs, misadventures singing with Kobayashi, “Tall Hattie,” Lee belting Robbie Williams, and Skeets’ karaoke pick’em payoff.

  “Anytime we did karaoke together. In particular, the ‘Take It Easy’ debacle.” (99:51)

• TAS: Shaq’s phone giveaway in the Turner treehouse — Shaq randomly throws a boxed Samsung phone to Tas for guessing a number right:

  “Shaq just comes up and says, pick a number between 1 and 10. And I picked the right one. He goes, you win. And he threw me a phone.” (102:13)

More Off-Air Gold:

• “No Offseason Required” road trips and pranks
• Matt Austin’s little socks everywhere
• David Stern water incident (almost got the crew in big trouble)
• Celebrating Raptors’ 2019 title (especially for Skeets in Toronto), hanging at the pool in the afterglow, recording a final show
• Lee’s bizarre “backwards” peeing technique discussion
• All the inside jokes, venting walks, pool hangs, and on-the-road bonding that glued the group together

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On early crossfire: “Why don’t you guys do that anymore?” (Danielle, via Tas, 87:41)
• On the pain of 20 years’ worth of live payoffs: “These are very hot peppers, man. You are on live television. You do have to talk.” (40:15)
• On the enduring chaos: “Just a weird start for a show, but really, you know, set the tone.” — Skeets, on Jan the Pelican (110:12)
• On why the show works: “All the moments are because of everybody out there. So thank you to everyone listening.” — Tas (109:25)

Episode Timeline (Key Segments & Draft Picks)

• 02:48 — NBA games: Raptors/Warriors, Kuminga trade saga, Rocket/Spurs, Lakers’ big turnaround, Jazz/Wolves
• 27:39 — Draft Segment Begins: Category explanations (Payoff, Special Ep., Guest, Musical, Segment, Off-Air)
• 32:17 — Pick'Em Payoff draft/storytelling
• 48:34 — Favorite Special Episode draft
• 63:32 — Favorite Guest draft
• 72:57 — Favorite Musical Number draft
• 87:01 — Favorite Recurring Segment draft
• 95:46 — Favorite Off-Air Moment draft
• 109:24 — Closing thanks, shoutouts, and final anecdotes

Tone & Style

• Conversational, irreverent, nostalgic
• Inside jokes and rapid-fire exchanges, frequent good-natured ribbing
• Reflective on what made episodes or segments work (or fail brilliantly)
• Audience included via “stream team” interaction
• Mix of deep-cuts for longtime fans and context for new listeners

For New or Returning Listeners

This episode is a perfect primer (or reminder) of what makes No Dunks and its predecessor shows unique: fearless absurdity, on-air stunts, genuine chemistry, and a strong connection with its community. While NBA analysis is sprinkled throughout, the heart of the pod is in the stories, the camaraderie, and the willingness to look ridiculous — all in service of creating sports content that's as joyful as it is informative.

Fan Call to Action

Listeners are encouraged to share their own favorite No Dunks moments in the comments, on Twitter/X, or Spotify. Limited edition “20 Years of Classics” merch is available through the end of the month at nodunks.com.

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