The Athletic NBA Daily – Saturday Slam n’ Jam

Episode: 10 Questions about the NBA Season + Schedule Winners and Losers
Date: August 15, 2025
Hosts: Andrew Schlecht, Alex Spears
Guest: Dave DeFore

Episode Overview

This episode of Saturday Slam n’ Jam dives deep into the newly released 2025-26 NBA schedule, breaking down which teams are early winners and losers based on their matchups, the complications of watching NBA games in the streaming era, and bold early season predictions. The second half is a rapid-fire, engaging roundtable with Dave DeFore as the trio answer 10 provocative questions about the NBA’s upcoming season—including surprises, breakout stars, and bold statistical feats. The chemistry is high, the jokes are flying, and listeners get both sharp insights and plenty of fun speculation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The NBA Schedule Release: Complications and Silver Linings

[04:15–06:30]

• The hosts lament the challenge for fans to watch all their favorite games with NBA broadcasts now split across multiple streaming platforms (Peacock, ABC, ESPN, Prime, local sports networks, etc.).
  • Andrew: “By the end of this season, people will be begging for just cable TV to be back. It’s just getting too complicated.”
  • Alex: “Unless you’re following the Premier League, not many reasons to have Peacock.”
• Silver lining: More broadcasts mean new announcing teams, promising fresher commentary (Blake Griffin, Dirk Nowitzki mentioned as exciting potential hires).

2. Early Predictions Based on Schedule Quirks

[06:50–21:00]

Alex ranks five “hot take” early season predictions rooted in teams’ opening schedules:

a. Spurs - Early Overachievers

• By mid-November, predicts the San Antonio Spurs will be a Top 4 seed in the West ([08:49]).
  • They face only three playoff teams in their first 10 games; “That’s a juicy early season schedule.”
• Early national TV exposure could frame perception of a tougher schedule than it is.

b. Trail Blazers - Early Struggles

• Portland’s brutal opening stretch will quickly dash preseason hopes ([11:11]). After tough matchups against the West’s top teams, recovery will be difficult in a stacked conference.

c. Orlando Magic - Surprising Top Seed Early

• Predicts Orlando will be #1 in the East and NBA overall by mid-November ([13:18]): “Their first 10 games are all against the Eastern Conference, none of whom are the Knicks or Cavs.”
• Magic get only 14 national TV games despite likely hot start—called out as “disrespect.”

d. Sacramento Kings - Trade Rumors Will Start Early

• The Kings face a punishing schedule through first 18 games ([15:57]).
  • “They go through an absolute gauntlet—OKC, Denver, Minnesota, plus more. The Kings are screwed.”

e. 76ers - Early High Hopes, But Tapering Expectations

• 19 of Philly’s first 20 games are vs. Eastern teams, many are easy matchups. By mid-November, Philly could be a Top 4 seed ([18:09]).
  • “Sixers fans will be fully sucked in again… They should be 15-5.”

Bonus: New Orleans Pelicans also called doomed, facing a tough early schedule.

3. NBA Cup Scheduling Oddities

[21:58–24:00]

• Critique that the NBA schedule hasn't adapted smoothly to incorporate the new NBA Cup.
  • Several teams could face a back-to-back immediately after the Cup final (+ long January stretches).
  • Andrew: “That’s just not good for the players or the teams…they haven’t quite figured it out.”

4. "Bucket List" NBA Games for the Upcoming Season

[24:10–27:00]

• Andrew’s pick: Knicks vs. Cavs at Madison Square Garden on Christmas Day—“a bucket list item.”
• Alex: Magic at Hawks (Nov. 4th)—looks forward to seeing two formerly “boring” teams that are now compelling.

10 Burning NBA Season Questions with Dave DeFore

[31:10–90:23]

1. Largest Jump in Points Per Game (PPG)

[32:50–38:19]

• Dave: Andrew Nembhard (Indiana Pacers)—“Set up to maybe be a 20-point-a-game guy.”
• Andrew: Reed Sheppard (Houston); others considered: Donovan Clingan, Ben Sheppard, Modest Bouzelis.
• Alex: Notes strategic advantage in picking 2nd-year or underplayed rookies from last year.

2. Top 100 Player Breakout

[38:54–41:49]

• Andrew: Ausar Thompson (“He’ll be in everyone’s Top 100 by season’s end.”)
• Dave: Jared McCain (Sixers)—“People are going to remember he’s pretty good.”
• Alex: Opportunity + role expansion key for these leaps.

3. Craziest Statistical Game Prediction

[42:43–47:44]

• Dave: Luka Doncic scores 81+ (“This is his revenge season.”)
• Andrew: Giannis Antetokounmpo gets a 65-point triple-double—“He might have 25 games with nobody else carrying the Bucks’ offense.”

4. Biggest Name Traded In-Season

[48:06–51:59]

• Andrew: Zion Williamson—“That weird relationship with the Pelicans will finally boil over.”
• Dave: LeBron James (bold call)—cited as a possible fit for Dallas if LA moves on midseason.

5. Mini Draft: First-Time All-NBA Teamers (excluding Victor Wembanyama)

[52:11–61:15]

• Andrew: Amen Thompson, Tyrese Maxey, Alperen Sengun
• Dave: Jamal Murray (“put up or shut up time” for Denver), Paolo Banchero (“should be a lock”), Jaren Jackson Jr. (Grizzlies)—“He’s due.”

6. Player Who’ll Convince Most Doubters

[61:33–66:56]

• Dave: Trae Young—“The Hawks are finally built around him, he could have a ‘told you so’ season.”
• Andrew: Josh Giddey—“Chicago got something back for Caruso. Giddey’s going to have a stat-stuffer year.”

7. This Year’s ‘NBA Smart Guy’—Podcaster’s Obsession

[67:37–72:54]

• Andrew: Cason Wallace (Thunder)—“You’ll hear about his extension, even if no fans talk about him in real life.”
• Dave: Kyle Filipowski (Jazz)—“Checks every box: white stretch big, bad team, only discussed by NBA podcasts.”

8. Surprise 50-Point Game

[73:16–78:42]

• Dave: Tim Hardaway Jr. (“If he doesn’t get 50 playing next to Jokic and Murray, I’ll be disappointed!”)
• Andrew: Brandon Miller (Hornets)—will take enough shots to explode for a random 50.
• Shoutout: Cam Thomas (Nets) left on the board as “too obvious.”

9. Most Improved Player 'Crasher' (off betting favorite list)

[82:13–84:37]

• Andrew: Bilal Coulibaly (Wizards)—“Every opportunity on a bad team.”
• Dave: Terrence Shannon Jr. (Timberwolves)—“Breakout playoff performer, big role vacancy.”

10. Who Crashes Top 5 MVP Ballot?

[85:39–89:52]

• Dave: Kawhi Leonard (“If he can play 65 games, he’s always an MVP talent.”)
• Andrew: Evan Mobley (Cavs)—inspired by “muscle watch” workout photos, projects a KG-like prime.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On multi-network scheduling:
  Andrew – “Can you explain to me why there’s not one way to watch my team?” [04:20]
• On Orlando’s early schedule:
  Alex – “They’re going to be the number one seed in mid-November.” [15:16]
• On Kings’ brutal start:
  Alex – “The Kings are screwed. This is like an awful opening season schedule.” [17:34]
• On NBA Cup fit:
  Andrew – “You can see the impact of the NBA Cup in every single schedule that you read. …They haven’t quite figured it out.” [23:25]
• On Luka’s big game prediction:
  Dave – “Why not score the modern record for most points in the game?... Luca has that fire in his belly right now.” [44:03–44:55]
• On the NBA Smart Guy archetype:
  Andrew – “People are going to be talking about Case and Wallace… way more on NBA podcast than in your actual real life.” [69:09]
• On Giannis:
  Andrew – “There are going to be some wild statistical nights for Giannis this year. Like, 65-point triple-double, lock it in.” [46:42]
• Muscle Watch Moment:
  – The group collectively marvels at Evan Mobley’s off-season physique on display in new social media photos, spurring late changes to predictions and lots of jokes. [79:00–81:40]
  • “He looks like he plays in the NFL!... This is one of the more amazing (photo transformations).” – Dave [79:44]

Timestamped Highlights

| Segment | Topic | Timestamp (MM:SS) | |----------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|------------------------| | NBA Viewing Frustrations | Scheduling + streaming complaints | 04:15–06:30 | | Early Schedule Winners/Losers | Spurs, Blazers, Magic, Kings, 76ers | 06:50–21:00 | | NBA Cup Scheduling | Cup-induced back-to-backs | 21:58–24:00 | | Dream Games to Attend | MSG at Christmas, Magic @ Hawks | 24:10–27:00 | | 10 Bold NBA Questions | See detailed list above | 31:10–90:23 | | Notable Moment | Evan Mobley “muscle watch” photo segment | 79:00–81:40 | | MVP & Most Improved ‘Crashers’ | Koulibaly, Shannon Jr., Mobley, Kawhi | 82:13–89:52 |

Tone & Style

• Conversational, rapid-fire, and full of inside NBA humor.
• Playful “tribal knowledge” about podcast meme players, with smart but accessible stats and logic.
• Hosts’ and guest’s chemistry keeps banter lively and welcoming for hardcore and casual NBA fans alike.

Summary Takeaway

This episode offers a blend of real analysis (schedule impact, contender breakdowns) and speculative, highly entertaining NBA nerdery (wild predictions, under-the-radar breakouts, and ‘muscle watch’ gossip). Both fun and informative, the roundtable gives listeners a head start on narratives to watch and unexpected storylines as the new season approaches.