No Dunks – The Drop | Joel Embiid Back To Trolling, Draymond's Temper & Surprising Records (January 23, 2026)

Podcast Hosts:

• Jay Skeets
• Tas Melas
• Trey Kirby
• JD (Producer)

Episode Overview

In this spirited Friday "Drop" episode, the No Dunks crew dives into contentious NBA headlines and quirky storylines from the night before. The team debates the worst performance between spotty referee decisions and Draymond Green's meltdown, celebrates Joel Embiid's return to dominance (and trolling), and spotlights surprising team records. Rapid-fire listener questions, signature playful banter, and a few wild tangents round out a classic episode.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Worst Performance of the Night: Referees or Draymond Green?

[02:54–10:44]

• Sixers vs. Rockets Recap:

  • Overtime thriller with a controversial non-call: Tyrese Maxey's layup was clearly goaltended by Kevin Durant, but the refs inexplicably didn't call it (and couldn't review), causing chaos at the end of regulation.
  • Jay Skeets: "Why do they always call that a goaltend so they can go and look at it?...And suddenly they decide...nah, we didn’t think it was a goaltend. So play on" [05:45]

• Warriors vs. Mavericks Recap:

  • Draymond Green's meltdown: flagrant foul, quick succession of fouls, fouled out, triggered an 11-0 Mavericks run that buried the Warriors.
  • Tas: "He's just unable to keep up with the foot speed...so he's hitting people. And you could see it in Steph’s face. I am sad." [04:39]
  • Trey: "He's kinda become a negative player...From all accounts, they’ll never trade him...but he’s holding them back." [08:40]

• Roundtable Verdict:

  • Tas blames Draymond as the bigger negative, citing Warriors' struggles and Draymond's inability to rise to the occasion with team injuries.
  • Trey blames the refs for the missed call, highlighting Draymond's remaining value in playoff scenarios, but acknowledges his decline.
  • Skeets zooms out: "Has there ever been a guy in NBA history who has won his team more games, but maybe also lost his team more games than Draymond Green?" [08:58]

Memorable Moments:

• The gang riffs on whether refs are tuning out Draymond with noise-canceling headsets: "John Goble's telling the other ref, 'Hey, turn up my Spotify playlist, man. I don’t want to hear this guy yell at me.'" — Skeets [10:40]
• Deep-dive on Draymond's "long leash" and the Warriors' inability to rely on him as the roster thins from injury.

2. Jonathan Kuminga's Injury and Warriors Rumor Mill

[12:31–15:52]

• Kuminga left the game after an awkward landing, causing concern but appears less serious (ankle turn vs. knee).
• Skeets turns to spicy gossip: "Jake Fischer slop—Warriors plan to target LeBron James and Giannis in the offseason."
• Trey: "LeBron is even more realistic than Giannis going to Golden State." [14:27]
• Tas assesses contract and trade feasibility, declaring LeBron is "the guy" the Warriors might chase, but likely only possible because he’ll be a free agent.

3. Joel Embiid’s Return to Form & Online Trolling

[16:33–23:31]

• Embiid's Monster Night:

  • The group praises Embiid’s game and recent run, noting his shift from MVP-level dominance ("point a minute") to being a more balanced contributor.
  • Trey: "He is sick…the Sixers are 6 points per 100 possessions better when he’s on the court." [16:59]
  • Embiid is banging inside more and playing with greater defensive engagement.

• Team Chemistry:

  • Maxi (now the clear #1 guy) and rookie Edgecombe earn big mentions. Paul George is likened to a "cooler Nick Batum" for his Martian dirty work.
  • Tas: "There is no better sign that Joel Embiid is feeling like Joel Embiid than when he starts trolling online." [18:44]

• Korkmaz Beef & Embiid’s IG Post:

  • Recaps an off-season quote from Furkan Korkmaz, saying Alperen Sengun was now the best center he’d played with.
  • Embiid quietly waited and, after outdueling Sengun, posted a photo staring him down with the IG caption "Ferk."
  • "That’s a good sign—when Embiid is doing this." — Trey [19:45]
  • Panel agrees: Embiid is healthiest when he’s also at his pettiest.

4. Surprising Team Records: Clippers’ & Blazers’ Revival

[26:31–34:55]

• Clippers (now 24–20) after a rough, distracted start:

  • Trey: "Surprising good and bad for the Clippers. They shouldn't have been this bad to start the season."
  • Tas: "No more Chris Paul, no more Chris problems...that’s not a saying." [29:46]
  • Kawhi Leonard: career-best run of consecutive 20+ pt games.
  • Ty Lue’s coaching/culture praised; Clippers bench and Zubac’s return highlighted.

• Blazers (now 23–22) after coaching drama and injuries:

  • Skeets: "It's funny...the Blazers literally lost their coach right at the start of the season for a whole other scandal."
  • Shaden Sharpe’s recent scoring tear, contribution from new faces (Caleb Love, Kamara, rookie Klingon).
  • Trey: "I think the Blazers are a pretty solid team...It wouldn't be surprising if they passed the Warriors." [33:53]

5. Worst Loss Debate: Magic or Wolves?

[35:34–39:12]

• Magic got blown out by Hornets; Wolves squandered late vs. Bulls.
• Tas: "It’s just difficult to know what [the Magic] are...They got blown out, simple as that."
• Both teams are inconsistent—Wolves' poor clutch performances noted.
• Trey: "Magic and Wolves are both pretty inconsistent...But a 50–36 points in the paint advantage for Charlotte?" [37:42]

6. Trade Rumor: Matherin for Missi?

[39:32–43:29]

• Jake Fischer reports the Pacers & Pelicans are discussing a Benedict Matherin for Yves Missi swap.
• Trey: "This is a great trade because Indiana is set on the perimeter…They definitely need something else on the interior. This is a good use of the Matherin asset."
• Skeets: "These are two young guys...fan bases and organizations can talk themselves into bigger things still to come."

Chatroom User "Donut Eyes": "That’s a poop fart trade."
Skeets: "That's not a poop fart trade...come on!" [43:15–43:29]

7. Other Notable Segments

• "Worst of the Week"

  • Nominee 1: Sixers rookie Vijay Edgecombe flatly refusing to enter the dunk contest — "He shook it off so fast. Question wasn't even over." [48:52]
  • Nominee 2: Naji Marshall’s mid-game Chipotle-induced bathroom break, proudly retweeted.
  • Nominee 3: Dwight Powell and Karl-Anthony Towns exchange groin kicks — "Three groin kicks, really, in that instance." [56:34]

• "Whoa Boy of the Night": Peyton Watson, Nuggets — Career-high 35 pts, 8 reb, 3 ast, 4 blk, 2 stl.

8. Rapid Fire & Fun

[63:29–75:45]

• Which relatives should start a podcast?

  • Skeets: Justin & Julian Champagnie — "Two Cents Sham Penny" [63:56]
  • Trey: "Say Less" with Skip & Rick Bayless.

• Endorsements that took too long:

  • Skeets: Still waiting for a big, flashy million-dollar sponsor to revive the Dunk Contest, "Save us, Mr. Beast!"
  • Trey: Naji Marshall should get a "Dude Wipes" endorsement for his Chipotle “incident.”

• Silly Instagram take: Is this woman’s "Marcus Smart year" doomed?

  • Skeets: "Yes, it will be as bad and as ugly, uninspired, and weird as this question." [71:12]
  • JD: "You’re as hot as you’re going to be right now...this is as good as it gets for you." [72:20]
  • Trey: "I think she’s going to have a better year than the last two years, just like Marcus Smart."

Memorable Quotes & Timestamps

• Draymond’s decline:
  "He's just become a negative player for the Warriors...He's holding them back." — Trey Kirby [08:40]

• Ref’s musical taste detour:
  "He likes Hall & Oates or something...wait, favorite musician: John Goble enjoys hip hop, salsa, and reggaeton." — Trey and Skeets [10:47–11:09]

• On Embiid trolling online:
  "There is no better sign that Joel Embiid is feeling like Joel Embiid than when he starts trolling online." — Tas Melas [18:44]

• Blazers’ surprise run:
  "They did a great job of recovering...the Blazers are a pretty solid team...wouldn't be surprising if they passed the Warriors." — Trey Kirby [33:53]

• Trade rumor reaction:
  "That's not a poop fart trade. These are two young guys...fan bases and organizations, you can talk yourself into bigger things." — Jay Skeets [43:29]

• Dunk contest apathy:
  "He shakes it off so fast. Question wasn't even over. Nope." — Trey Kirby [48:52]

• Naji Marshall’s bathroom break:
  "Naji Marshall ate some Chipotle and had to go to the bathroom. It happens." — Tas Melas [53:48]

Episode Highlights by Timestamp

• [02:54–10:44] Worst performance: Refereeing or Draymond?
• [16:33–23:31] Embiid’s resurgence, trolling, and Sixers team growth.
• [26:31–34:55] Most surprising team records: Clippers & Blazers.
• [39:32–43:29] Matherin for Missi? Rumor reaction.
• [47:37–57:20] “Worst of the Week” nominees and jokey riffs.
• [63:29–75:45] Rapid Fire: hypothetical podcasts, endorsements, weird Instagram numbers.

Tone & Vibe

As always, the No Dunks crew mixes deep NBA insight with loose laughs and relatable garbled tangents. Their conversational chemistry—anchored by wisecracking, honest takes and nerdlore digressions (from app favorites to poutine debates)—make the show not only informative but thoroughly entertaining for die-hard and casual NBA fans alike.

Takeaway

This episode delivers a quintessential No Dunks experience: sharp analysis of league drama (Draymond, Embiid, bad refs), genuine excitement about genuine basketball surprises (Clippers, Blazers), and a healthy amount of light-hearted, sometimes silly, sports-culture banter. If you missed the games or just want the pulse of NBA conversation, this episode brings you up to speed—with a smile.