The Athletic NBA Daily — March 23, 2026

Episode: KD passes MJ + Post All-Star Glow-ups
Hosts: Dave DuFour, Zena Keita, Esfandiar Baraheni

Episode Overview

This episode zeroes in on Kevin Durant’s historic leap past Michael Jordan to become 5th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. The crew also explores the energized post-All-Star runs by key teams, providing sharp analysis on surging squads like the Lakers, Thunder, Hawks, Celtics, and more. Lively, stats-packed debate breaks out over what’s real or fake in the current playoff races, and the hosts sprinkle in plenty of humor, candor, and inside perspective.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Kevin Durant Passes Michael Jordan on All-Time Scoring List

• KD climbs to 5th all-time in NBA points, passing Michael Jordan
  • “It’s sort of surreal, I think, when these guys pass a guy like Michael Jordan. Obviously with LeBron it’s become old hat, but… Kevin Durant… this is a new guy… getting into the upper echelons of NBA history in front of our eyes.” —Dave DuFour (04:17)
• Can KD climb even higher?
  • Hosts debate whether Durant, entering his age 38 season, could catch Kobe Bryant (1300+ points away for 4th) or even Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (6093 points away for 2nd).
    • “Can he do more for us as NBA fans and perhaps pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar?” —Esfandiar (04:30)
    • “I mean, he’s been playing solidly this whole season for Houston… if he continues to be a focal point… he could technically do it.” —Zena (05:46)
  • Everyone agrees: Age, health, and role will be critical.
    • “I just don’t know how you can do that… when he’s 40. I just don’t see it. It would be unprecedented for me.” —Dave (06:23)

2. Thunder & Nuggets: Post-Injury Glow-Ups

Oklahoma City Thunder Get Healthy

• Jalen Williams (“J-Dub”) returns, reinvigorating the Thunder.
  • “He’s the engine of everything that OKC does when it comes to crunch time… When all the attention gets sucked onto Shai Gilgeous-Alexander… you now have a release valve in Jalen Williams.” —Zena (08:30)
• The trio of Jalen Williams, SGA, and Chet Holmgren has played only 300 minutes together due to injuries, yet the team has a better net rating this season than last year’s championship run. (09:35)
• “Staying healthy is the big key for Jalen Williams moving forward. Not just being healthy.” —Esfandiar (10:17)

Denver Nuggets at Full Strength

• Peyton Watson’s return is seen as a major plus, both for his off-the-dribble offensive growth and his length on defense.
  • “He can switch 1 through 5. He gives you that length… David Adelman hasn’t really had that size to play with… Huge for Denver’s defense.” —Zena (11:40)
• The combination of Aaron Gordon and Payton Watson as weakside help for Jokic is praised as key to the Nuggets’ playoff prospects. (12:30)
• Surprise mention: San Antonio Spurs as a legit Western Conference contender.
  • “I would firmly put the Spurs in that category now too, as a team that can make it out of the Western Conference. No question.” —Esfandiar (13:02)

3. Post-All Star Break Surge: Lakers, Hawks & Celtics

Los Angeles Lakers: A New Era

• Nine-game win streak, 13-4 since the break
• Luka Dončić: MVP-level play and team buy-in
  • “LeBron has bought in as this supercharged role player… he is working within the seams of the offense… It’s allowed him to play better defense. Truthfully.” —Esfandiar (17:52)
  • LeBron’s stat-line in Luka’s 60-point game: 19 points, 15 rebounds, 10 assists. (18:53)
  • “The vibes are great in LA right now.” —Zena (19:26)
• J.J. Redick’s impact as head coach—motivationally and schematically (lots of zone defense).
• Doncic’s post-All-Star stats: 35 pts, 8 rebs, 8 ast, 48% FG, 41% 3FG
  • “Luka is just a killer in crunch time… best winning percentage and the best offense in the clutch, by the numbers.” —Dave (23:01)
• Doncic breaks Lakers records for most 30-point triple-doubles (surpassing LeBron and Magic) and single-season three-point makes. (22:00)
• Smart, Ayton, Reeves praised for buying into roles and improving defense.

Atlanta Hawks: "Fake" or For Real?

• 13-2 since All-Star break; now 6th in the East
• Debate about whether their run is “fake” or real. Hosts give “flowers” for improvement.
• Nikhil Alexander-Walker: 21 pts, 51% FG, 45% 3FG post-All-Star. Major factor.
• Praise for Atlanta’s pivot to youth and athleticism:
  • “The combination of Jalen Johnson and Nikhil Alexander-Walker, Jonathan Kuminga, Okongwu… they run… they are making you tired and they’re throwing the ball around… leading the league right now after the break in assists.” —Zena (25:24)
• CJ McCollum’s veteran presence working well (“Didn’t expect it, but it works here.” —Dave, 26:40)
• Defensive backcourt of Nikhil Alexander-Walker and Dyson Daniels applauded. (27:04)
• Cautious note: Tough closing schedule against top teams.

Boston Celtics: Quiet Powerhouse

• 12-5 since the break; 2 seed in East, just ahead of the Knicks
• Tatum’s return: Team is +14 per 100 possessions when on court (28:35)
  • “The Celtics have outscored opponents by 45 total points in his floor time… and he ain’t even shooting 30% from three!” —Zena (30:16)
• Jayson Tatum & Jaylen Brown lineup: +18 per 100 possessions (“That’s wild.” —Dave, 30:04)
• Hosts largely agree: Boston is the favorite to come out of the East, especially with Cade Cunningham’s injury for the Pistons.
• “They didn’t have to reinvent it… chemistry and continuity.” —Dave (31:41)
• Full-strength Thunder vs. Celtics soon—potential Finals preview.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• KD’s Longevity Debate
  “Can he do 25 points a game, you know, for three and a half more years?”
  —Dave DuFour (05:40)

• Thunder’s Core Trio
  “They've played 300 minutes together this season... the important part is they actually have a better net rating this year than last when they won a championship.”
  —Esfandiar (09:35)

• Lakers Buy-In
  “LeBron has bought in as this supercharged role player right now... It’s allowed him to play better defense. Truthfully.”
  —Esfandiar (17:52)

• Doncic Dominance
  “He’s just a killer in crunch time...best winning percentage in the clutch and the best offense in the clutch, by the numbers.”
  —Dave (23:01)

• Hawks’ Transformation
  “What we did not also realize was how much that team needed to pivot from Trae Young, how much they needed to fully buy in to the Jalen Johnson experience.”
  —Zena (25:24)

• Celtics’ Improved Depth
  “That 14 points per 100 possessions better when Jayson Tatum is on the court is huge… he still ain’t shooting 30% from three!”
  —Zena (30:16)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|---------| | 02:00 | Intro & Main Topics Overview | | 04:17 | KD Passes Michael Jordan — What’s Next for KD? | | 08:30 | Thunder Get Jalen Williams Back — Ceiling for OKC? | | 11:40 | Peyton Watson Returns, Nuggets Health Check | | 13:02 | Spurs as Surprising Contenders | | 16:13 | Lakers’ Winning Streak, Luka's Post-All-Star Explosion | | 17:52 | LeBron’s Changing Role, Team Buy-In | | 22:00 | Doncic Smashing Lakers’ Franchise Records | | 23:13 | Hawks and Nikhil Alexander-Walker’s Breakout | | 25:24 | Atlanta’s Full Athletic Shift, Defense | | 27:04 | Hawks’ Upcoming Schedule, Defensive Focus | | 28:35 | Celtics’ Depth, Net Ratings, and Tatum Return | | 30:16 | Celtics’ Title Contender Credentials, Key Stats | | 31:41 | Finals Preview: Celtics-Thunder Full Strength |

Overall Tone & Takeaways

• Energetic, insight-driven roundtable with a balance of analytics, player development narratives, and big-picture speculation.
• Hosts maintain humor and camaraderie (e.g., playful digs about who's “been there” on Boston, jokes about “fake” winning streaks).
• The NBA’s All-Star break marked a flashpoint for dramatic team glow-ups and reshuffling of the playoff races.
• The episode is especially engaging for fans who care about both statistical performance and intangible chemistry/building blocks.

Summary:
This episode of The Athletic NBA Daily spotlights Kevin Durant’s historic scoring ascent and examines the post-All-Star resurgence of pivotal teams. The Lakers’ chemistry is thriving under Luka Doncic’s and LeBron’s leadership, while the Hawks and Celtics showcase post-break transformations. Injury returns in OKC and Denver reinforce their West contender status, and the hosts share why Boston is their current East favorite. If you want to understand the league’s stretch-run narratives and who could shake up the playoffs, this episode is essential listening.