No Dunks – The Drop | NBA Sends Message About Tanking & All-Star Weekend Predictions

Date: February 13, 2026
Podcast Hosts: J. Skeets, Tas Melas, Trey Kirby, Jamie
Episode Overview:
This episode of No Dunks dives deep into two central themes: the NBA’s controversial fines against teams accused of “tanking” and bold predictions for NBA All-Star Weekend 2026. Skeets, Tas, and Trey react to news headlines, debate the league’s handling of tanking, break down recent game highlights, and have some classic No Dunks fun with rapid-fire questions and Worst of the Week. The episode maintains the hosts’ signature irreverent, basketball-nerd energy, packed with inside jokes, candid opinions, and friendly banter.

Main Theme: NBA’s Crackdown on Tanking + All-Star Weekend Preview

I. NBA Fines Jazz and Pacers: Sending a Message on Tanking

Key Points and Discussion:

• The NBA fined the Utah Jazz $500,000 and the Indiana Pacers $100,000 for sitting healthy players, citing threats to the league’s integrity.
  — "The NBA on Thursday night fined the Utah Jazz $500,000 and the Indiana Pacers $100,000...saying both teams sat healthy players in recent games while noting that the moves compromise its integrity.” (03:00)

• Utah Jazz specifics:

  • Jazz benched Lowry Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. for 4th quarters in close games.
  • Owner Ryan Smith’s public pushback: “Also, we won the game in Miami and got fined. That makes sense. Bruh.” (04:00)
  • Skeets and Tas wonder how the league can dictate rotation decisions and discuss the “slippery slope” of policing minute allocations.
    — Tas: “Can Adam Silver basically say, hey, you guys need to play your guys in the fourth quarters? That’s the issue here.” (04:36)

• Fairness and consistency:

  • Trey points out that both the Jazz and Pacers were winning games, not just tanking, making the narrative complicated.
    — “Same with the Pacers. They both got fined after winning back-to-back games...It basically comes down to the league not wanting to look bad post-Super Bowl when all eyes are on basketball.” (06:17)

• Tanking as the never-ending debate:

  • Skeets: “This isn’t new—the Raptors did it last year, others have done it. Maybe it’s starting earlier this year because of a loaded draft class, but everyone’s fixating on it more than usual.” (07:00)
  • Discussion on how outrage over tanking often comes from non-fans of the teams involved; actual Utah/Portland fans don't seem bothered.

• NBA’s motivations:

  • Skeets speculates that the timing of the fines is for PR: “Silver can get up there at the All-Star Weekend podium...and use [the fines] as wins in his press conference. This is just a show.” (06:57)

Notable Quotes:

• Tas Melas (on tanking crackdown):
  “You’re basically telling owners, telling coaches that guys need to play certain times of a game—how do you navigate that slippery slope?” (04:36)
• Trey Kirby:
  “Don’t make us look dumb. But in a way it almost makes them look dumber, Silver and the league.” (08:31)
• J. Skeets:
  “Unless the draft is completely abolished, or there’s some drastic change, nothing will actually change. Just stop making us look bad, that’s the message.” (08:00)

Memorable Segment:

• The hosts poke fun at how the media and NBA fans are obsessed with “fixing tanking,” while none of the proposed solutions (wheels, abolishing the draft, flattening odds) seem to work.
  — “It happens almost every year...The most important thing is to get the best players. People are always going to try to get the best players.” (17:46)

II. Recap & Reaction: NBA Games and Player Highlights

Key Highlights:

• LeBron James becomes oldest player with a triple-double:
  “41 years and 44 days old with the 28, 12 and 10. Any of those games you want to talk about?” (24:08)

  • Tas: “Unk still got it in LeBron. That’s extremely impressive. Guess this means he’s not retiring this season.” (24:28)
  • Skeets: “He says his body still got it, but it’ll all come down to whether his heart’s still in it.” (24:41)

• Thunder’s Nikola Topic makes debut, overcoming health setbacks (30:08)

  • Trey: “Coolest thing that happened last night was Nikola Topic making his NBA debut, drafted with a knee injury, sat out all last season, had a testicular cancer diagnosis in the preseason, underwent some treatment and got his game back...that was awesome.” (30:08)

• Milwaukee Bucks trending up:

  • Discussion of Bucks’ surprising play-in push; praise for AJ Green (“Dairy Bird”), Usman Jang, Kevin Porter Jr., Kuzma, and Cam Thomas.
    • “This team can easily make the play-in and subsequently the playoffs.” (29:36)

Other Notable Discussions:

• On Cooper Flag's injury and Dallas’ tanking situation: “They haven’t been tanking because Cooper’s been out there. But at some point, does he have to sit to give them the best opportunity to have a high draft pick?” (26:25)

III. All-Star Weekend 2026: Predictions & Previews

1. Rising Stars Game

• Format: Three teams of rookies/sophomores + a G League team; round-robin.
• Predictions:
  • Tas: Team T-Mac, Khan Canipple as MVP.
    — “I think Khan Canipple can be the MVP of this game and then win the three point contest on Saturday.” (33:35)
  • Trey: Team Mellow, Reed Sheppard as MVP.
  • Skeets: Team Vince with VJ Edgecombe as MVP.
    — “I just like the makeup of their team here. Not the biggest team, but not a lot of defense gets played in these.” (35:00)
  • None of the hosts pick the G League team.

2. Three-Point Contest

• Field Highlights: Damian Lillard, Devin Booker, Tyrese Maxey, Donovan Mitchell, rookies like Khan Canipple, Bobby Portis Jr.
• Odds Favorite: Khan Canipple (+330)
  • Tas: Picking Canipple, referencing his excellent form and practice habits.
    — “We got a rookie as the favorite in a three-point contest. He knows that rack is going on the right side. He’s ready.” (36:47)
  • Trey: “This is Damian Lillard’s NBA Finals. What else has he been doing? Probably just shooting off a rack.” (38:53)
  • Skeets: Devin Booker, citing experience and prior success.

3. Shooting Stars Competition

• Teams:

  • Team Knicks: Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Allan Houston
  • Team Cameron: All Duke alumni (Knipple, McGetty, Jalen Johnson)
  • Team All-Stars: Scotty Barnes, Chet Holmgren, Rip Hamilton
  • Team Harper: Rookie Dylan Harper, Ron Harper Jr., Ron Harper Sr.

• Picks:

  • Trey: Team Knicks: “Allen Houston is the best veteran shooter of the group.” (41:32)
  • Tas: Also leans Knicks, but calls Team All-Stars (Rip Hamilton in 'great shape') the “under the radar” pick.
  • Skeets: Team All-Stars, backing Scotty Barnes, Chet Holmgren, Rip Hamilton.

4. Dunk Contest

• Field: Carter Bryant, Jackson Hayes, Keyshot Johnson, Jace Richardson (young, not widely known players)

• General low expectations: “This might be the weakest field we’ve ever seen. We have had some brutal ones, but this has to be it, right?” (50:08)

• Picks:

  • Tas: Carter Bryant
  • Trey: Keyshot Johnson (final vs. Carter Bryant)
  • Skeets: Keyshot Johnson, mostly gut feeling.

• On why Mac McClung isn’t in it:

  • League told him some guys wouldn’t enter if he did; speculation about why repeat winners scare off other participants.
    — “That guy’s gonna jump over a million things.” (52:27)

5. All-Star Game Format and MVP

• Three teams: USA Stars (young Americans), USA Stripes (veterans/“old heads”), World (internationals)

  • “USA Stripes team is sort of the older heads like your LeBron’s, your Kevin Durant, Kawhi…” (55:00)

• Predictions:

  • Tas: Team USA Stripes to win; MVP = Donovan Mitchell (then switches to Jalen Brown for fun)
    — “USA Stripes is gonna win this thing, get their stacked, and they've got guys who want to go out there and be the All Star mvp.” (55:10)
  • Trey: USA Stars, Tyrese Maxey as MVP.
  • Skeets: Team World, Victor Wembanyama as MVP.
    — “I won’t overthink this one. If they win, he’s gonna go, sorry.” (59:22)

• Talk on player motivation:

  • KD says the Europeans don’t take All-Star as seriously; hosts push back, citing Giannis genuinely wants to compete for Team World.
  • MVP mechanics: Format is short games, so MVP often goes to the guy with the hottest hand for 12 minutes.
  • Skeets: Strong skepticism this format will survive beyond Olympic year (63:04)

IV. Worst of the Week & Classic No Dunks Rapid-Fire

Worst of the Week Nominees:

1. NBA App Voiceover Error: Voiceover says “First-time All-Star Jaylen Brown.” Fact-checking chaos.
   — “How does he not know that? He’s a four-time All-Star and Finals MVP!” (66:33)
2. Broken Laptop by T-Shirt Cannon: Journalist Tony Jones’ computer destroyed by arena merch cannon.
   — “It got smashed by this T-shirt…No story from me tonight.” (69:09)
3. Clippers Blooper: Chris Dunn and Jordan Miller’s botched inbound, causing pickup-style confusion.
   — “That’s a real pickup basketball move…just bring it up!” (72:43)

Rapid-Fire & Fun Segments (81:19+):

• App You Should Delete But Won’t:

  • Love/hate with Twitter/X, the now-defunct Playback app. JD roasts Facebook’s bizarre AI slop and viral reels.
  • Jamie: “If you linger on the wrong thing for a second... I got girls riding mechanical bulls for a week straight.” (85:00)

• Winter Olympics Favorite Moments:

  • Italian speed skater Francesca Lollobrigida's home gold medals (86:46)
  • Viral replays of ski crashes and Minion-themed skating routines (88:18)
  • JD, as a Canadian, confesses cruel satisfaction at American speed skater falling three times.

• Something You’ve Only Done Once:

  • Tas: Made his wife jealous of a “hot electrician,” who failed to fix anything (91:57)
  • Trey: Went curling once—lots of prep, little gameplay (94:01)
  • JD: Family camping trip—never again after one stressful, rainy ordeal (95:06)

Timestamps of Key Segments

• Tanking fines/main debate: 03:00–19:11
• Current NBA games/LeBron & others: 23:41–32:14
• All-Star Rising Stars predictions: 33:07–35:39
• Three-point contest picks: 35:50–40:07
• Shooting Stars contest picks: 40:23–44:57
• Dunk Contest discussion: 49:12–53:14
• All-Star game predictions: 55:10–63:32
• Rapid Fire and Worst of the Week: 66:18–76:44
• Miscellaneous/Classic banter: 77:00–end

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Skeets on tanking: “I’m a little concerned that the league is going to go too extreme with trying to fix something that doesn’t actually need to be fixed. It’s a weird year, a lot of bad teams, loaded class—just a perfect storm.” (16:21)

• Trey on rooting for losses: “It sucks to root for your team to lose...That’s the biggest issue to me.” (19:20)

• Tas on All-Star MVP odds: “Donovan Mitchell...he can win it on Team International next year, since he’s gonna play for Team Panama eventually—as he said.” (60:01)

• JD on Facebook's algorithm: “I got girls riding mechanical bulls for like a week straight. I was like, what is this? Okay, all right, moved on. And then it was like nothing but girls and mechanical bulls...” (85:00)

• Classic No Dunks banter:

  • Debate over the hot electrician's real skills
  • Camping horror stories
  • Over/under on Trey’s All-Star Weekend excitement rating

Summary: Should You Listen?

This episode is essential for NBA fans wanting sharp — and often hilarious — analysis of league controversies, especially the endless debate around tanking. The hosts’ All-Star event predictions are fun, with insider tidbits, jokes about red-hot rookies, and withering shade at this year’s uninspiring dunk contest lineup.

No Dunks’ personality shines in rapid-fire and off-topic segments that cover everything from Olympic moments to the weird side of Facebook algorithms. If you want to stay up to speed on NBA hot topics and get the No Dunks crew’s genuine, unfiltered takes, this is a classic listen.

Skip the ad reads, but don’t miss:

• The deep dive on tanking fines (03:00–19:11)
• LeBron's history-making triple-double (24:00–24:57)
• All-Star game and event predictions (33:07–63:32)
• Classic Worst of the Week and rapid-fire (66:18–76:44)

TL;DR:
NBA’s tanking crackdown, LeBron milestones, All-Star preview with detailed, witty predictions, and classic No Dunks fun. Perfect if you want news, laughs, and a little chaos—just like a true All-Star Weekend.