The Athletic NBA Daily

Episode: Inside Nuggets Training Camp + Opening Night Picks

Date: October 20, 2025
Hosts: Dave DeFore, Zena Keita, Esfandiar Baraheni
Featured Guest: Sam Amick (The Athletic Senior NBA Writer)

Episode Overview

This episode sets the stage for the 2025-26 NBA season, focusing on storylines emerging from training camps and looking ahead to opening week matchups. The hosts discuss their picks for the most intriguing games, analyze roster changes across key Eastern and Western Conference contenders, and deep-dive into the Denver Nuggets’ off-season moves with NBA insider Sam Amick. Topics include the future of the Nuggets with Nikola Jokić, recalibrated expectations for the Clippers and Kings, and the league’s evolving power dynamics as the season tips off.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening Week’s Most Anticipated Matchups (02:51-20:53)

Featured Games:

• Atlanta Hawks vs. Orlando Magic
• Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks
• San Antonio Spurs vs. Dallas Mavericks

Atlanta Hawks vs. Orlando Magic (04:43-08:57)

• Dave expresses genuine excitement for a Hawks-Magic matchup, noting both teams’ upside and new additions (Desmond Bane for Orlando, Kristaps Porziņģis for Atlanta).
  • “Other years, I would have maybe done this as a bit... but I actually think this is the battle in the East... It’s the fight for who’s next.” – Dave DeFore (05:08)
• Zena and Dave highlight how each team addressed roster needs and will test each other's growth right out of the gate.
• Zena points out the impact of staggered screens and increased offensive options for Atlanta (07:09), while she calls the adjustment to Bane's shooting in Orlando “a work in progress... but it'll look good.”

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New York Knicks (09:02-13:33)

• Discussion centers on the Cavs’ lack of offseason moves, their “constraints-led” tactical approach, and Mike Brown bringing defensive focus to the Knicks.
• Dave: “I think after multiple years in a row of the Cavs doing this two-big thing, this is the year it has to pay off. Otherwise, you’re probably gonna have to tear it down.” (11:18)
• Zena calls out the growing relevance of double big lineups and praises Evan Mobley’s preseason confidence.

San Antonio Spurs vs. Dallas Mavericks (13:37-20:10)

• Zena highlights the Spurs-Mavs rookie showdown (Cooper Flagg vs. Dylan Harper, and Wemby vs. Flagg) as her must-watch matchup.
  • “It’s Cooper Flagg versus Victor Wembanyama. It is just going to be an awesome matchup, a Texas showdown...” – Zena Keita (13:45)
• Discussion on both teams’ size, defensive upside, and San Antonio's playoff ambitions.
• Dave notes the Mavericks’ lack of ball-handlers and San Antonio’s defensive guards.
• Roundtable agreement that the Mavs’ offense is a “work in progress,” while the Spurs could “shock some folks” due to Wemby’s leap.

2. Hosts’ Picks for Opening Night (19:32-20:53)

• Dave’s Picks: Hawks over Magic, Knicks over Cavs, Spurs over Mavs.
• Zena’s Picks: Magic over Hawks, Cavs over Knicks, Spurs over Mavs.
• Esfandiar’s (S’s) Picks: Hawks over Magic, Cavs over Knicks, Spurs over Mavs.
• General agreement that San Antonio is “a little more put together” than Dallas right now.

3. Deep Dive: Inside Nuggets Training Camp with Sam Amick

(26:02-39:51)

Nuggets’ Front Office and Organizational Reset (26:16-30:18)

• Amick recounts Denver’s shift after last year’s turbulence, emphasizing the focus on making Nikola Jokić happy, restoring functionality and teamwork in the front office (29:41).
  • “If you went into the Nuggets facility, they should maybe have a little, a little meter on the wall where you can constantly track, you know, the big fella...he’s that important to what they do.” – Sam Amick (27:09)
• Wild offseason restructuring: Firing of coach Michael Malone and GM Calvin Booth; promotions for Ben Tenser (GM) and the return of John Wallace.

Roster Moves and Depth Improvements (30:18-34:10)

• Key player moves: Cam Johnson replaces Michael Porter Jr., Bruce Brown returns, Tim Hardaway Jr. joins as a sixth man, Jonas Valanciunas arrives as a backup center.
• “Calvin Booth had tried to go the younger route and...with some of those guys, it just hasn’t worked out. Now, Christian Braun is an absolute success story, but this new crew goes out...and they get, you know, Bruce Brown comes back. You mentioned Cam Johnson, Tim Hardaway Jr.” – Sam Amick (31:31)
• The Nugget’s depth means Jamal Murray no longer has to “lead the second unit way too often.”

Jamal Murray & Jokić’s Future in Denver (34:10-39:51)

• Dave points to Murray’s inconsistent starts and injury history but sees him as an All-Star caliber player; Sam argues Murray’s playoff “All-Star” mode is more crucial.
• Jokić’s contract expires in 2027; while he’s signaled hopes to be a “Nugget forever,” his next extension will be watched closely.
  • “Those are the kinds of things that, if left unchecked, are going to create issues and eventually could change the mood of a guy like Joker.” – Sam Amick (39:22)

4. State of the Clippers: Deep Roster, High Variance (39:51-46:55)

• John Collins (off the bench) and Brook Lopez join a “really good” Clippers roster, with Chris Paul and Ivica Zubac bringing leadership.
  • “When I turned my attention to the hoops, I just got reminded that, like, damn, this roster is really good.” – Sam Amick (41:02)
• Clippers seem unbothered by off-court controversies, according to Amick.
• The show discusses Kawhi Leonard and the perpetual question of games played, with little clarity about a new plan.
• Potential for a “wild outcome” if Kawhi plays 65+ games and enters MVP discussions (45:03).
• Bradley Beal’s fit: “You need to see where he’s at first... even beyond what he can give you on the floor.” – Sam Amick (46:22)

5. Sacramento Kings: Blow it Up or Ride it Out? (46:55-52:28)

• Recent moves: Signing Russell Westbrook, extending Keegan Murray.
• “They’re not stuck in the middle anymore. They’re kind of stuck backside of the middle and that’s even worse.” – Dave DeFore (47:36)
• Sam outlines the challenge of unloading big contracts (Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan) and hints at longer-term irrelevance unless the front office can pivot.
• Discussion on the (failed) attempt to acquire Jonathan Kuminga from Golden State, and whether Sacramento will prioritize young assets going forward.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “It’s opening week, it’s like a holiday around here.” – Dave DeFore (04:43)
• “The Spurs are going to shock some folks. Like, get ready.” – Trusted House Sitters Advertiser / Zena (18:16)
• “It just feels like this is a Cavs team that is a well-oiled machine. They didn’t make too many changes this offseason. You want to see how the internal development happens for them.” – Zena Kada (12:38)
• “You asked that, Dave, you feel like if you went into the Nuggets facility, they should maybe have like a little, a little meter on the wall where you can constantly track, you know, the big fella. Like, he’s that important to what they do.” – Sam Amick (27:07)
• On the Kings: “It just feels like they’re not even really stuck in the middle anymore. They’re kind of stuck backside of the middle and that’s even worse.” – Dave DeFore (47:36)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Opening night matchups discussion: 02:51-20:53
• Hosts’ picks: 19:32-20:53
• Denver Nuggets deep dive (with Sam Amick): 26:02-39:51
• Clippers training camp & outlook: 39:51-46:55
• Sacramento Kings analysis: 46:55-52:28

Tone & Style

Lively, informed banter with a blend of deep-dive analysis and playful commentary. The panel leans into expert insights while keeping the tone accessible for both diehards and casual NBA fans.

For fans preparing for the 2025-26 NBA season, this episode delivers valuable context on the state of contenders and pretenders, especially the Nuggets, Clippers, and Kings. The hosts provide sharp analysis and predictions for opening week, offering the ideal primer as the action begins.