The Athletic NBA Daily | January 19, 2026
Episode: “Ant vs. Wemby + NBA Stock Watch”
Hosts: Dave DuFour, Zena Keita, Esfandiar Baraheni
Theme: A fast-paced breakdown of Ja Morant’s return, the epic Wolves-Spurs battle featuring Anthony Edwards and Victor Wembanyama, and a deep dive on teams’ rising and falling fortunes in the NBA’s Stock Watch.
Episode Overview
This episode spotlights Ja Morant’s exhilarating return for the Memphis Grizzlies, the showdown between rising superstars Anthony Edwards and Victor Wembanyama, and team-by-team evaluations in “Stock Watch,” focusing on the Knicks, Cavs, Clippers, Warriors, and Thunder. The hosts blend analysis, humor, and real hoop talk to keep listeners up-to-date on key NBA happenings.
Key Segments & Discussion Points
1. Ja Morant’s Electrifying Return in London
Segment starts: [02:55]
- Morant’s Impact: Ja Morant lit up the O2 Arena with a 20-point, 10-assist first half, revitalizing Memphis’ offense and boosting fan excitement.
- Memphis Looks Different With Ja: The Grizzlies’ tempo and transition scoring soared compared to when Morant was out.
- Trade Rumors & Player Value: Ja’s uncertain status amid trade speculation, with the crew musing on his superstar allure and the “quiet quitting” feel reminiscent of Vince Carter’s Raptors exit.
- Crowd Energy: The London fans embraced Morant, displaying global NBA enthusiasm.
Memorable Quote:
"He had 20 and 10 in the first half...they look great when Ja's out there."
— Dave DuFour, [03:09]
Debate Point:
- Should Ja have sat out recent games for trade protection, or do teams owe it to fans to let stars play abroad?
2. Ant vs. Wemby: Instant Classic Showdown
Segment starts: [06:57]
- Historic Duel: Spurs edge Wolves in a nailbiter; Wembanyama nails the game-winner and a game-sealing block (39 points), while Anthony Edwards erupts for 55 points (39 in second half).
- New Era Spotlight: With no LeBron or Steph, Edwards and Wemby take center stage as the NBA’s “now.”
- Edwards’ Clutch Dominance:
- 71% FG / 61% 3PT in clutch situations.
- Repeated superhuman second-half performances—but Wolves can’t convert them all to wins.
- Wolves’ Depth Concerns: Shorthanded without Gobert and Reid, Wolves struggle to close.
- Spurs’ Trajectory: San Antonio keeps upsetting top teams; the hosts float real Finals ambitions.
Notable Quotes:
"Edwards was unstoppable offensively, Wembanyama was unstoppable defensively… It felt like a true transitional, historic game for the NBA."
— Zena Keita, [07:52]
"Anthony Edwards scored 39 of his 55 points in the second half. He was absolutely unconscious."
— Esfandiar Baraheni, [08:55]
"Clutch player of the year? Conversation is over."
— Esfandiar Baraheni, [09:19]
3. Thunder Lose Again, Jalen Williams Hurt
Segment starts: [12:10]
- Thunder Lose to Heat: OKC drops another close contest with Jalen Williams re-injuring his hamstring.
- Williams’ Importance: His absence exposes OKC’s perimeter connectivity and lack of depth.
- Depth & Size Issues: The Thunder struggle without size (miss Hartenstein) and rely heavily on their young perimeter talent.
- Western Conference Open: With the Thunder’s stumbles, the West feels up for grabs.
Notable Quote:
"Jalen Williams provides connectivity… not having him, we saw what it looked like earlier this season—there was a problem."
— Zena Keita, [13:27]
4. Stock Watch: Trending Teams
Segment starts: [16:20]
a. Knicks Plummet
- Record & Metrics: Worst start to 2026; bottom of NBA in defense, shooting, and net rating.
- Carl Anthony-Towns Scrutiny: Needs to step up in Brunson's absence; criticized for lack of effort and inability to anchor defense.
- Coaching Challenges: Mike Brown called out Towns publicly; identity clash between offensive and defensive priorities.
Notable Quotes:
"There’s so much pressure on one name… Carl Anthony-Towns… Is he talented enough as a passer… to execute? He hasn't."
— Esfandiar Baraheni, [18:20]
"The role you’re supposed to play is: This is your team, take it over… Fifty percent of the defense is effort, right?"
— Zena Keita, [19:45]
b. Cavs on the Rise
- 7–3 in Last 10: Surging; swept Sixers in back-to-back.
- Jalen Tyson’s Emergence: Noted for elite two-way play, filling gaps left by injured stars.
- Team Defense: Improved to top-10; Mobley, Allen, and Tyson form a defensively versatile core.
- Darius Garland’s Health: Ongoing toe issues force Cleveland to lean more on Tyson.
Notable Quotes:
"He had a big 39-point game… on a team that’s got Donovan Mitchell. I don’t know how that happens unless you’re way better than we know."
— Dave DuFour, [22:12]
c. Clippers Heating Up
- 8–2 in Last 10: Winning despite resting Kawhi.
- James Harden’s Play: All-Star level consistency; took over vs. Raptors.
- Role Players Shine: Kobe Sanders and Jordan Miller provide energized depth, especially crucial for injury-prone rotation.
- Injury Management: Hosts praise strategy of load management for Kawhi.
Notable Quotes:
"James Harden has been awesome this whole season… four minutes… twelve straight points in the fourth quarter."
— Esfandiar Baraheni, [26:36]
"Having another ball handler out there in Kobe Sanders… that’s one of the key changes."
— Dave DuFour, [27:06]
d. Warriors Winning—But Are They “Back”?
Segment starts: [29:00]
- Warriors 11–4 in Last 15: Picking up wins, especially versus weaker opponents; bench contributing at a top-3 level.
- Identity Questions: Still unclear if the team is a true playoff contender or benefiting from easier scheduling.
- D’Anthony Melton Returns: Instrumental in stabilizing rotations and boosting defense since coming back.
- Upcoming Trade Deadline: Warriors are potential players—Kuminga’s future, outside shooting targets discussed.
Notable Quotes:
"The most important thing is that they're winning, period… Taking care of business is a good thing in the NBA."
— Zena Keita, [29:51] / [31:44]
"They have figured out the starting lineup, the bench unit has been dominating… third in points per game right now in the league."
— Zena Keita, [30:48]
Notable Quotes & Moments
-
On Ja Morant’s London return:
"The crowd responded… the way they embraced him in the O2 Arena was incredible."
— Dave DuFour, [06:10] -
Ant vs. Wemby competitiveness:
"Edwards said postgame he wanted it to just be him versus Wemby one-on-one at the end."
— Esfandiar Baraheni, [08:55] -
On Anthony Edwards’ clutch stats:
"He is shooting seventy-one percent from the field in clutch scenarios… that's crazy."
— Esfandiar Baraheni, [09:27]
Segment Timestamps
- [02:55] — Ja Morant returns in London
- [06:57] — Spurs-Wolves classic: Wemby vs. Ant
- [12:10] — Thunder’s loss, Jalen Williams hurt
- [16:20] — Stock Watch: Knicks’ collapse, Cavs ascendant, Clippers’ consistency, Warriors’ winning stretch
Final Thoughts
The hosts wrap with reminders for listener feedback and Discord invitations. The episode delivers sharp insight, game-by-game analysis, and honest takes, all with The Athletic’s reliably witty, conversational style.
This summary captures the content-rich, fast-paced discussion and is perfect for those seeking a thorough, timestamped overview of the episode’s best moments and hottest topics.