The Athletic NBA Daily – December 31, 2025

Episode Summary: Embiid + Ja Throwback Games + Do the Lakers Need to Make Moves?

Overview

On New Year’s Eve, hosts Dave DuFour and Zena Keita, with guest Lakers reporter Dan Woike, covered a jam-packed slate of NBA topics. They discussed the fallout from Nikola Jokic’s injury (and the broader implications of award eligibility rules), celebrated vintage performances from Joel Embiid and Ja Morant, and broke down the Lakers’ struggles—including the big questions of roster fit, effort, and what moves might help. Lively, candid banter and sharp analysis defined the episode.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Nikola Jokic’s Injury and the 65-Game Rule

(01:32–09:47)

• Jokic’s Knee Contusion: The good news is he’ll miss about a month (approx. 18 games), rather than a season-ending injury. The bad news is that this almost certainly eliminates him from MVP and other major award consideration due to NBA’s 65-game rule.
  • “We got the report he's only gonna maybe miss about a month…good news compared to what it could have been, but bad news for the Nuggets. Bad news for Nikola Jokic's MVP case.” — Dave DuFour (02:28)
• Impact on Denver’s Play: With Jokic out, all eyes are on Jamal Murray and the roster’s “hidden gems” (like Duron Holmes, Christian Braun). Jokic’s gravity is irreplaceable, raising big questions for Denver’s offense.
  • “The main reason we've been able to see Jamal Murray be excellent is because of the gravity that Nikola Jokic provides.” — Zena Keita (03:40)
• Award Rule Frustrations:
  • Missing more than 17 games renders stars ineligible for awards. Hosts argued the new rule warps award narratives and undervalues spectacular—if sometimes unavailable—performances.
  • “It’s now training the voters to…think of availability as just as important as 56 on Christmas Day. That kind of warps the award races.” — Zena Keita (06:08)
  • Sam Amick’s reporting was referenced, highlighting player pushback (including from Joel Embiid) when the rule was introduced.
  • “You can only miss 17 games…he would be ineligible for not just the MVP but awards in general.” — Dave DuFour (04:29)
  • Hosts anticipate changes to the rule due to high-profile cases.

2. Sixers’ Throwback Win & Embiid’s Night

(09:47–11:30)

• Joel Embiid’s Statement Game: Embiid looked “vintage”—dropping 34 points, 10 rebounds, 8 assists, and two big blocks in a season-high 38 minutes, leading Philly to an OT win capped by rookie VJ Edgecombe’s game-winner.
  • “This is the thing that's so important about Joel Embiid…all season long, he's been looking a little bit in molasses…but what we saw last night: turnarounds, post passes, rebounding, shot blocks…38 points, high usage, and that's really, really big.” — Zena Keita (09:47)
• Team Dynamics:
  • Maxey is emerging as “the guy”—and Embiid seems comfortable with the co-star dynamic.
  • “It's Tyrese's team, in my opinion. This is Maxi's team. And I feel Joel Embiid would be cool with that.”— Zena Keita (10:24)
• Rookie Impact: VJ Edgecombe’s clutch shooting was highlighted, with the hosts marveling at the immediate trust rookies like Edgecombe and Hugo Gonzalez are earning.
  • “Edgecombe moves. He's 6 of 11 on threes in clutch time for the season. He's got the sixth-most clutch threes made in the NBA. He's a rookie.” — Dave DuFour (11:33)

3. Ja Morant’s Explosive Outing

(11:46–14:47)

• Vintage Ja: Morant scored 40 points (16-22 FG, only two threes), looking as explosive as ever with relentless paint attacks.
  • “He puts up 40, 16 of 22. And Zena, only two threes, right?...This is more like 2022 Ja.” — Dave DuFour (11:51)
• Context & Growth:
  • Morant’s numbers over 10 games (20+ pts, 7+ assists) show he’s regaining form. Zena noted the main improvement is simply shot-making and finishing—his play style remains aggressive and creative.
  • “Other than he is now hitting shots, he is now finishing in the paint in a way that he wasn't at the top of the season…the assists…still crazy shots, crazy passes, crazy things he's doing in transition. But his teammates are finishing.” — Zena Keita (12:58)
• Team Construction Questions:
  • Jaren Jackson Jr. is not consistently meeting expectations for a max-salary player (only 4 pts in 2nd half + OT).
    • “When you take up that salary slot, you gotta be a max guy, and Jaren hasn’t been that this season.” — Dave DuFour (13:49)
  • Hosts discussed Morant’s evolving balance of chaos and control, his role as a playmaking engine, and hopes for a Memphis run with Zach Edey returning.
  • “More of a chaos agent, which is exactly what he needs to do.” — Dave DuFour (14:39)

4. Lakers’ Aging Process, Roster Fit & Trade Dilemmas

(17:19–41:02)

LeBron’s Longevity and the Lakers’ Birthday Blues

(17:19–21:42)

• LeBron's 41st Birthday:
  • The panel celebrated LeBron’s extraordinary longevity, noting unique stats (he’s played against 35% of all NBA players ever).
  • “The oldest player in the league. He’s played against 35% of the players to ever play in the NBA, which—that’s…might be the most ridiculous [stat].” — Dave DuFour (18:09)
• LeBron’s On-court Consistency vs. Physical Limits:
  • Conversation turned philosophical—praising LeBron’s relentless pursuit, but noting the team’s future is unavoidably colored by his age and eventual decline.
  • “There are nights when it absolutely looks like it, and there are other nights where it doesn’t as much…and maybe the frequency…and…those vacillations is…the surest sign of age.” — Dan Woike (19:53)
  • “The end is closer than it’s ever been…it's just harder to not think about it.” — Dan Woike (21:42)

What’s Wrong with the Lakers? Fit, Effort, and Identity

(21:42–36:50)

• Lack of Lineup Continuity, Poor Fit:
  • Starters have logged only 85 minutes together in 31 games—team chemistry and on-court identity are major problems.
    • “85 minutes with your starting lineup, 31 games into the season is not really…[enough].” — Dan Woike (24:54)
  • Roster fit and identity (grit/toughness) are ongoing questions.
    • “Does it feel like this team fits together? They don't coagulate just yet.” — Zena Keita (24:32)
• Energy, Motor, and Toughness:
  • The panel distinguished between teams that “try to play hard” versus those “that play hard.” The Lakers currently lack the infectious motor and physicality of contenders.
    • “There is a very big difference between teams that try to play hard and teams that play hard. For teams that try…it’s play-acting.” — Dan Woike (25:10)
    • “Motor is a skill. I think toughness and physicality are skills and that is not currently the MO of this roster.” — Dan Woike (26:15)
  • Marcus Smart was supposed to help but has been in and out; lack of energy/toughness is “not who LeBron is, not who Luka is, not who Austin [Reeves] is, not who Ayton is.”
• Defense & Blowout Losses:
  • Defensive lapses and a lack of effort have led to every Lakers loss being by double-digits in 2025.
    • “They're not a high-energy basketball team and they're going to get embarrassed when they lose, and they have been embarrassed every time they've lost this season, every loss by double figures.” — Dan Woike (28:11)
  • Luka Doncic’s well-known defensive indifference was spotlighted (per Reggie Miller’s broadcast critique).

Trade Market Realities & The Path Forward

(30:15–39:46)

• Trade Asset Limitations:
  • Austin Reeves is their best trade asset, but he’s too valuable to move and is approaching restricted free agency. Their next best asset: a distant (2031–32) first-round pick.
    • “Their best trade asset is Austin Reeves and they are not going to trade Austin Reeves…The next best trade asset is the 2031-2032 first round pick.” — Dan Woike (30:40)
  • Dilemma: Use that pick now for a marginal odds increase this season, or save it for a potential star trade (e.g., Desmond Bane-level player) in the offseason.
    • “Do you sacrifice the chance at that [elite upgrade] for some immediate gratification?...If I was a Lakers fan, I’d be giving me the finger right now.” — Dan Woike (33:42)
• Who Should the Lakers Target?
  • The conversation circled on fit: Do the Lakers need another scorer, or just “a bruiser” to set a new team tone?
    • “What fits for the Lakers right now may not be a scorer. It could just be a bruiser. It could be someone that comes in and imposes themselves to be able to up the level of compete…” — Zena Keita (34:42)

Optimism vs. Pessimism for the Rest of the Season

(36:31–40:13)

• Optimistic Viewpoint:
  • If injury luck improves and the team gets healthy, the Lakers could “build some good momentum going into the break.” They’ve banked wins—ending the year 20–11—so they have margin for error.
    • “It’s crazy, they end the year 20 and 11…But they’re nine games over .500. They have some room to work with on this stuff.” — Dan Woike (39:46)
• Pessimistic Viewpoint:
  • Even when (most of) the rotation has been available, defensive issues persist—and without containing the ball, they won’t contend.
    • “There just hasn't even been like, even when we've seen seven-eighths of the rotation or eight-ninths or whatever, there just hasn't been a lot of evidence defensively…that they can contain the basketball.” — Dan Woike (39:48)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “He’s played against 35% of the players to ever play in the NBA… Of all the stats that he has, that might be the most ridiculous.” — Dave DuFour on LeBron James (18:09)
• “It’s now training the voters to…think of availability as just as important as 56 on Christmas Day. That kind of warps the award races.” — Zena Keita (06:08)
• “I do not think that there has been something categorically different in the way that Ja Morant is playing…other than he is now hitting shots, he is now finishing in the paint.” — Zena Keita (12:58)
• “There is a very big difference between teams that try to play hard and teams that play hard.” — Dan Woike (25:10)
• “Motor is a skill. I think toughness and physicality are skills and that is not currently the MO of this roster.” — Dan Woike (26:15)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:32–04:29 — Jokic injury update + Denver’s outlook
• 04:29–09:47 — 65-game rule, MVP impact, award race debate
• 09:47–11:30 — Joel Embiid’s throwback performance; Sixers win
• 11:46–14:47 — Ja Morant’s bounce-back night; Grizzlies analysis
• 17:19–21:42 — LeBron’s longevity, birthday reflections, NBA history
• 21:42–36:50 — Lakers’ core issues: lineup fit, effort, defense, energy
• 30:15–39:46 — Lakers’ trade possibilities and asset discussion
• 36:31–40:13 — Season outlook: optimism, pessimism, what needs to change

Takeaways

• Jokic’s absence will test Denver but spotlights compelling flaws in the NBA’s current award rules.
• Joel Embiid and Ja Morant delivered memorable, vintage nights—reminders of their superstar ceilings.
• The Lakers remain an enigma: impressive on paper, underwhelming in practice, and facing tough choices. Their future hinges on health, internal growth, and perhaps a strategic trade for grit and energy.
• LeBron’s ongoing greatness and the Lakers’ roster construction challenges sat center-stage—a microcosm of balancing win-now and building for the future.

The pod delivered sharp, conversational analysis—mixing stats, storytelling, and personality for a brisk yet comprehensive NBA round-up.