The Athletic NBA Daily – Episode Summary: "MVP Start for Giannis + Sixers Stay Undefeated"

Date: October 29, 2025
Hosts: Dave DuFour, Esfandiar Baraheni (referred to as “S”), Eric Nehm (special guest)

Episode Overview

This episode focuses on two NBA storylines:

1. The Philadelphia 76ers' impressive comeback win to remain undefeated, including standout performances by Tyrese Maxey and analysis of the Wizards’ promising young core.
2. Giannis Antetokounmpo’s sensational MVP-level start to the season, driving a new-look Milwaukee Bucks squad, as broken down by Bucks beat writer Eric Nehm.

In addition, the hosts touch on the Clippers' offensive struggles against the Warriors, Golden State's surprising depth, and first impressions of the revamped New York Knicks under a new coach.

1. Sixers Win & Wizards’ Promising Future (01:43 - 06:38)

Joel Embiid's Status

• Embiid played only 23 minutes (slightly over his restriction) but posted 25 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists.
• Analysis: He’s moving cautiously, not “timid”, but “watching his steps” (02:50, S).
• “It's the best he's looked, but I don't know how much that means... he's not nearly the impactful player that we're used to.” (01:43, Dave)

Tyrese Maxey’s Leap

• Maxey scored 39 points and 10 assists, getting to the line 16 times.
• “Tyrese Maxey. Absolutely unreal. ... He's basically everything you want from that position. And, man, he's the guy for Philly.” (03:16, S)
• “Now you have to guard him at half court. ... In his first four games, he scored the most points of any Sixer since Wilt Chamberlain.” (03:44, Dave)

Wizards: A New Hope

• Despite the loss, the Wizards showed “night and day” positivity from last season.
• Dave and S praise rookies Alex Sarr (31 pts, 11 rebs, 5 asts), Keyshawn George, Trey Johnson—each contributing exciting skills.
• “There is a vision in Washington for the first time in a while, like since John Wall was on the team.” (04:48, S)
• The hosts agree: plenty of enthusiasm for DC’s future despite likely missing playoffs.

Notable Quotes

• “The guy tonight for the Sixers... Tyrese Maxey. Absolutely unreal.” — S (03:16)
• “This is night and day from last year for me... I don't remember a single game where I watched and felt so positive about so many parts of what the Wizards were doing.” — Dave (04:09)

2. Clippers' Offensive Struggles & Warriors’ Depth (06:39 - 09:54)

Clippers: Aging and Ineffective on Offense

• The Clippers managed just 79 points vs. the Warriors; only 30 in the second half.
• Transition defense “looks really, really bad”; offense is stagnant.
• “Their transition defense also looks really, really bad. The Warriors just kept running and running and running the Clippers to the ground.” (07:12, S)
• Both hosts question how L.A. plans to overcome their isolation-heavy, slow style.

Warriors: Surprise Contenders

• Steph Curry logged only 26 minutes (19 pts), a sign of restored team depth.
• Quentin Post (4/7 from three, 8 rebounds) is praised for stretch big play and defense.
• The improved bench (Kuminga, Podziemski, Moses Moody, Quentin Post) can help manage minutes for stars.
• “This Warriors team is now deep, weirdly enough. And that will help a lot when it comes to keeping Steph’s minutes downs, keeping Dre’s minutes down. Winning those games when those guys are resting as well.” (09:18, S)

Notable Quotes

• “If the Warriors are back to keeping Curry below 30 minutes and wins, that’s going to matter come April May.” — Dave (08:54)
• “Kuminga looks good. … Podziemski looks good. Moses Moody is back in the lineup... This Warriors team is now deep, weirdly enough.” — S (09:18)

3. Giannis’s MVP Start & Bucks Analysis (13:43 - 31:39)

Giannis’s Historic Impact (13:43 - 16:42)

• Giannis had 37 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists in a comeback win vs. the Knicks.
• Eric Nehm: “He is absolutely absurd... I just kind of asked: is this the best Giannis has ever been?” (14:24)
• Giannis' unprecedented statistical output is highlighted; he’s putting up 30+ points, 11+ rebounds, 6+ assists on 60% shooting for a third straight season.
• This season, Milwaukee is even more built around Giannis, with other scorers and playmakers in flux.

Notable Quote

• “He is, he is, he is better than he's ever been before. It's outrageous… the way that he's able to control games right now.” — Eric Nehm (14:24)

Surrounding Cast: New Roles and Buy-In (16:42 - 22:28)

• Bucks’ system maximizes Giannis, with creative guard screening and spacing via shooters like AJ Green, Gary Trent Jr., and dual stretch 5s (Miles Turner, Bobby Portis).
• The bench and rotation—more fluid this year: “It’s one, and then two A, B, C, D, E, F is whoever’s going to be the next scorer.” (15:58, Eric)
• Kyle Kuzma, previously not known for defense, stepped up, playing tough defense on Karl-Anthony Towns, displaying a new “level of buy in” for the Bucks’ culture.

Notable Quote

• “There is, you know, that second half stretch where the Bucks are just putting together stop after stop. ... It's Kuzma getting underneath Karl-Anthony Towns, not letting him move, keeping him out of the paint and frustrating him.” — Eric Nehm (18:53)

The Bucks’ New Identity: Hustle, Hard Play, and Giannis as Elder Statesman

• Giannis is energized by the team’s youth: "He actually likes being the oldest guy on the team. He likes having the most NBA experience of any player on the roster. ... He likes having young guys around that are ready to fight for every single loose ball." (21:01, Eric)
• Contrast to last year’s “talent over effort” vibes: "That's not an ethos... That's not an identity." (21:58, Eric)
• “This year, it's like, the only way that we are going to be able to compete is if we play as hard as humanly possible every night.” (22:21, Eric)
• The team’s mentality is inspired by Giannis’s underdog story; “the Disney movie is this year’s team at being the underdogs.” (28:19, Eric)

Rotation Depth: The Rise of Ryan Rollins, AJ Green, and Defensive Grit (22:28 - 28:26)

• Ryan Rollins received major praise: defensive stats (league leader in deflections), relentless hustle, and increasing offensive confidence (“He just finds a way to kind of make things happen. He’s got a little wiggle.” — Eric, 25:28).
• Rollins’ development is tied to Rajon Rondo, who serves as a coaching consultant and mentor: “If you want to be good, just follow that guy around.” (26:10, Eric)
• AJ Green also seen as “found money”—a shooter who “just stopped missing.”
• The Bucks’ bench is full of “workers” who support Giannis’s relentless style.

Notable Quotes

• “When you watch [Rollins] play, you’re like, oh, yeah, he just gets his hands on passes… he is a pain to play against.” — Eric (24:00)
• “Rollins, like AJ Green, those are just workers. And again, it speaks to the ethos of this team at large that that’s what they’re doing.” (27:01, Eric)

4. Knicks’ Early Impression (28:32 - 30:33)

• New coach and system show positive early changes—pace is up, Jalen Brunson plays off ball more, Mikal Bridges is aggressive attacking the rim.
• “Brunson getting off the ball, willing to get it back more, move more pace, and then just Bridges looking more like the guy that I think he can be.” (29:43, Eric)
• Both hosts cautiously optimistic about the new approach, pending player health.

5. Closing Banter & MVP Talk (30:33 - 31:39)

• Hosts joke that if the Bucks finish high in the East, Giannis must be MVP.
• “If everyone is going to talk about how bad this Bucks team is before the season … I don't want to hear the narrative change up. … If so, then that means the big fella needs to be in the conversation for the MVP and that would be his third.” — Eric Nehm (30:52)

Key Timestamps for Reference

• Sixers vs. Wizards / Embiid & Maxey Discussed: 01:43 – 04:29
• Wizards’ Positivity & Roster Talk: 04:29 – 06:38
• Clippers’ Aging Roster / Warriors Depth: 06:39 – 09:54
• Giannis’ MVP Start & Bucks System Analysis: 13:43 – 17:17
• Kuzma’s Buy-In, Bucks’ New Culture: 17:17 – 22:28
• Bucks’ Young Contributors (Rollins/AJ Green): 22:28 – 28:26
• Knicks First Impressions: 28:32 – 30:33
• Bucks’ Narrative/MVP Banter: 30:33 – 31:39

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• “He is, he is, he is better than he's ever been before.” (14:24, Eric)
• “He likes having young guys around that are ready to fight for every single loose ball.” (21:01, Eric)
• “This year, it's like, the only way that we are going to be able to compete is if we play as hard as humanly possible every night.” (22:21, Eric)
• “Tyrese Maxey. Absolutely unreal… everything you want from that position.” (03:16, S)

Recap Takeaways

• The Sixers look dynamic and resilient, largely due to Maxey’s emergence.
• The Wizards’ promising youth and front-office vision provide hope.
• The Clippers, despite star names, may be confronting the realities of aging and stagnant play.
• The Warriors’ unexpected bench depth could allow them to be a playoff threat again.
• The Bucks, anchored by an all-world Giannis in perhaps the best form of his career, have a new culture defined by youth, hustle, and resilience—a potential recipe for both regular-season and playoff success.