PTI – "Why has Wemby Been Struggling?"

Hosts: Tony Kornheiser & Michael Wilbon
Date: November 6, 2025

Episode Overview

In this action-packed episode, Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon dive into the recent struggles of NBA phenom Victor Wembanyama, analyze Luka Doncic’s dominance, tackle Ja Morant's continuing off-court drama, and celebrate Alexander Ovechkin’s historic 900th NHL goal. ESPN’s Booger McFarlane joins for "Five Good Minutes," sharing his insights on NFL and college football storylines, including Pete Carroll’s Seattle tenure and the latest in the Jets’ rebuild. The episode is loaded with sharp wit, spirited debate, and classic PTI banter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Victor Wembanyama’s Recent Struggles

Segment Start: [01:32]

• Tony sets up the topic: Wemby scored just 19 points (5-14 shooting, 5 TOs, 6 fouls) against the Lakers, and previously had only 9 points and 6 turnovers.
• Wilbon’s take:
  • Struggles are due to increased attention from defenses: "Competition. This is what the teams in the league, the other 29 are supposed to try to do to Victor Wembanyama—to blitz him, to get him in foul trouble."
  • Emphasizes the growth process: "[This] works so brilliantly in Wemby’s favor and in San Antonio's favor... because he's going to get angry and emotional and be competitive and come with answers because he’s smart and resourceful and tough and well schooled and well coached." ([02:12])
  • Praises the Spurs’ young supporting cast, noting their growth will help Wemby long-term.
• Tony counters:
  • Not ‘great’ for Wemby in the short term; defenses are just adjusting: "Other coaches get paid and they watch film as well. ...It takes practice and it takes time. And he's not Wilt. He's not the strongest guy in the league when he walked in like Wilt was." ([03:30])
• Shift to Luka Doncic:
  • Tony highlights Luka’s historic start: "Luka Doncic, his first five games this year, he has 200 points. ...Here is a list of all the other NBA players, past and present, who opened the season through five games and had 200 points. Wilt Chamberlain. That's it. That's the list." ([03:42])
  • Wilbon claims Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is more impressive, as he plays both ends of the floor.

Notable Quotes:

• Wilbon: "He's going to get angry and emotional and be competitive and come with answers because he’s smart... This is great for San Antonio." ([02:12])
• Kornheiser: "Other coaches get paid and they watch film as well." ([03:30])

2. Ja Morant's Relationship with Memphis

Segment Start: [05:04]

• Tony is blunt: "He's got to go. This shouldn't go another day or another week or another month. ...He's poisoned there now. He's not talking to this coach. ...he's not producing. If you go 6 of 19, you're not producing." ([05:35])
• Lists Morant’s suspensions for conduct issues and concludes Memphis must move him.
• Suggests possible new teams: Celtics, Miami, Milwaukee with Giannis & Doc Rivers, Clippers with Ty Lue.
• Wilbon agrees:
  • "Tony, he's got to go. ...You and I mentioned some places where you have strong coaching, strong organization, strong locker room."
  • Calls the Milwaukee and Clippers suggestions "strong" and laments wasted talent: "Ja... and for different reasons, Zion, these guys were supposed to be... faces of the league… and it's not working." ([07:44])

Notable Quotes:

• Kornheiser: "If Memphis screws this up, they could actually have to relocate the franchise." ([05:35])
• Wilbon: "You've got to have established coach and established stars... Tony is wasting away. You don't get forever." ([07:52])

3. Alexander Ovechkin’s 900th Goal and the Bennington 'Puck Incident'

Segment Start: [08:18]

• Ovi scores milestone backhander; St. Louis goalie Binnington "stuffs the puck into his pads, down his pants."
• Binnington claims he intended to return it; Tony and Mike are skeptical.
• Wilbon: "This has nothing to do with Ovi. ...It’s just Bennington’s behavior. We all went to high school with a guy like that." ([08:49])
• Tony: "Is he thinking, I'm going to steal this puck, I'm going to sell it on the black market? ...I don't buy that at all." ([09:44])
• Celebrates Ovechkin’s achievement, places it in historical context: "This is Babe Ruth being passed by Henry Aaron. ...No one should believe that Alexander Ovechkin is a better hockey player than Wayne Gretzky, whose number he passed. But this, this is a singular achievement." ([10:15])
• Both reflect on rarity of a backhand goal for Ovi.

Notable Quotes:

• Kornheiser: "This is Babe Ruth being passed by Henry Aaron... This is a singular achievement." ([10:15])

4. NFL & College Football with Booger McFarlane – "Five Good Minutes"

Segment Start: [13:02]

A. Why Pete Carroll's Seahawks Have Struggled

• Booger:
  • Points to Geno Smith’s turnovers, lack of offensive weapons, and Carroll’s possible inability to innovate: "Pete 74 years old. Pete kind of stuck in his ways.... I don't think the defense has evolved." ([13:35])
  • Urges adaptation: "It's no longer a ground and pound league. ...You got to throw the football around."

B. Jets’ Defensive Fire Sale

• Booger:
  • "Are you really telling us that we're trying to win now? When you trade the two best players on defense... we're stockpiling picks for a quarterback." ([14:57])
  • As a Jets defender, he quips: "I must not be good enough if they kept me."
  • On Quincy Williams: "They traded his brother and then they benched him. How come you didn't trade me, too?"

C. BYU vs. Texas Tech Preview

• Booger:
  • BYU’s run game faces Tech’s vaunted D-line: "If you're BYU and you know you want to run the football, ...you're probably going to have to make sure that you block this defensive line... and you're going to have to hit some big plays over the top." ([16:21])

D. LSU vs. Alabama After Brian Kelly

• Booger (on Kelly’s firing): "Good riddance that he's not there anymore." ([17:31])
• Picks LSU to compete hard: "If we can run the football and the quarterback remembers what color jerseys we're wearing...we're going to have a chance in the fourth quarter. ...I'm always choosing them three letters, baby. LSU." ([17:31])
• On why Kelly failed: "Brian Kelly wasn't a good fit. ...If I gotta explain to you what gumbo is, you probably don't need to be in the South." ([18:27])

Notable Quotes:

• McFarlane: "Pete kind of stuck in his ways. ...I think Pete has to kind of innovate." ([13:35])
• McFarlane: "You probably don't need to be in the South [if you don't know what gumbo is]." ([18:27])

5. Happy Time / Rapid Fire (NBA, NFL, MLB notes)

Segment Start: [21:54]

• Birthday tribute: John Candelaria, "the big lefty."
• Chris Boswell’s failed 'Rabona' kick (2016), now NFL’s most accurate kicker on 50+ yarders.
• Padres hire Craig Stammen over Albert Pujols as manager, surprising many insiders.
• Russell Westbrook becomes NBA’s all-time rebounding leader among guards ("It is because it speaks to effort. And nobody's ever tried any harder than Russell Westbrook." - Wilbon [24:54])
• Knicks score 83 in 2nd half to beat Timberwolves; Wilbon says, "I was befuddled." ([25:17])
• NFL fines Rico Dowdle $15k for “two pumps” celebration, Key & Peele referenced.
• Light banter on Clippers vs. Suns and more player/coach trivia.

Notable & Memorable Quotes

| Speaker | Quote | Timestamp | |---|---|---| | Michael Wilbon | "Competition. This is what the teams in the league... are supposed to try to do to Victor Wembanyama—to blitz him, to get him in foul trouble." | 02:12 | | Tony Kornheiser | "Other coaches get paid and they watch film as well." | 03:30 | | Tony Kornheiser | "If Memphis screws this up, they could actually have to relocate the franchise." | 05:35 | | Michael Wilbon | "You've got to have established coach and established stars... Tony is wasting away. You don't get forever." | 07:52 | | Tony Kornheiser | "This is Babe Ruth being passed by Henry Aaron... This is a singular achievement." | 10:15 | | Booger McFarlane | "Pete kind of stuck in his ways. ...I think Pete has to kind of innovate." | 13:35 | | Booger McFarlane | "If I gotta explain to you what gumbo is, you probably don't need to be in the South." | 18:27 |

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Victor Wembanyama's Struggles: [01:32] – [04:43]
• Ja Morant & Memphis: [05:04] – [08:18]
• Ovechkin’s 900th Goal: [08:18] – [11:04]
• Booger McFarlane "Five Good Minutes": [13:02] – [18:55]
• Rapid Fire / Happy Time: [21:54] – [25:44]

Episode Tone & Language

This episode is classic PTI: rapid-fire, sharp, and humorous. The hosts riff off each other with good-natured jabs ("I wasn’t naked. Okay? I was wearing driving gloves." - Kornheiser, [01:02]), while also offering astute, sometimes blunt analysis. The addition of Booger McFarlane brings insider football knowledge and playful Southern perspective ("If I gotta explain to you what gumbo is, you probably don’t need to be in the South.").

For Listeners Who Missed It

This episode is essential PTI: a blend of NBA headlines (Wemby's struggles and Luka's rise), serious discussion about the future of Ja Morant, and a mix of lighter moments (Ovechkin’s puck drama). The "Five Good Minutes" segment with Booger McFarlane is a particular highlight for NFL and college football fans, with candid, personality-driven insights. The hosts push each other’s buttons as only old friends can, keeping the energy high and the takes hot.

Skip to [01:32] for the headline NBA discussion, or jump to [13:02] for a football-focused half with Booger McFarlane!