The Athletic NBA Daily – Episode Summary

Episode: Rookie Check In + Sam Amick on NBA Gambling Scandal
Release Date: October 27, 2025
Hosts: Dave DuFour, Zena Keita, Esfandiar Baraheni
Guest: Sam Amick (The Athletic Senior NBA Insider)

Overview

This episode dives into early red flags from the NBA’s opening week, standout rookie performances, and a deep-dive discussion with Sam Amick on the recent NBA gambling scandal involving high-profile figures. The hosts blend analytical breakdowns with sharp banter while assessing how team construction trends and the gambling saga are shaping the league’s narrative.

Key Discussion Points

1. Early Red Flags From Opening Week

Timestamp: [01:39]–[08:34]

• Lack of Ball Handling Guards

  • Zena Keita opens by highlighting the consequences of NBA teams prioritizing long, switchable wings over traditional ball-handling guards.
    • “Teams are really struggling…you need someone to be able to calm it down. And I'm looking at teams like Dallas, Houston, Indiana, the Warriors’ second unit…” (Zena Keita, [02:43])
  • Pace is up for every team, requiring more control in transition and halfcourt scenarios.

• Offensive Struggles for Specific Teams

  • The Houston Rockets’ lack of a reliable point guard is limiting offensive flow. Amen Thompson’s shooting limitations are impacting spacing (Dave DuFour, [03:52]).
  • The Indiana Pacers and Dallas Mavericks are plagued by guard injuries and lack of depth.
  • Overreliance on certain players (Kevin Durant in Houston, Brandon Ingram in Toronto, Paolo Banchero in Orlando) without coherent playmaking around them.

• Statistical Evidence

  • Orlando’s low number of assisted field goals and Ball movement are highlighted as particular concerns (Zena Keita, [07:47]).

Notable Quotes:

• “Dribbling the basketball is important to create.” (Esfandiar Baraheni, [05:04])
• “Paolo Banchero has three assists through three games and eight turnovers. He is also shooting 39% on twos. He is consistently bailed out every defense…” (Esfandiar, [06:18])
• “Paolo’s shot diet stinks and it has stunk.” (Dave DuFour, [07:02])

2. Rookie Check-In: Early Standouts

Timestamp: [08:34]–[14:06]

• Cooper Flagg (Dallas Mavericks)

  • Overcomes a tough start to show high playmaking ability (“Four assists, no turnovers…” – Dave, [08:48]; “He is the full package in terms of a wing guy who can create...” – Esfandiar, [09:07])
  • Athleticism and alley-oop passing already translating.

• VJ Edgecombe (Philadelphia 76ers)

  • Impressed with scoring and unexpected passing (“Game two, by the way. 18 and eight assists. I. I didn't realize he was such a good passer…” – Dave, [10:23])
  • Emergence as a foundation piece in the backcourt with Tyrese Maxey.

• Dylan Harper (San Antonio Spurs)

  • Immediate impact off the bench; adds to a deep guard rotation.
  • Spurs’ core is drawing comparisons to their Tim Duncan era rebuild (“...three drafts in a row…the Wimby draft and Dylan Harper pick, man, they're set up for another run…” – Dave, [11:53])

• Cedric Coward (Memphis Grizzlies)

  • Electrifying start: 19 PPG while shooting 70% from three through the first week (“I'm calling it, I'm booking it. This guy can be a star in this league, especially if he shoots 70%.” – Esfandiar, [13:45])

Memorable Moment:

• Playful banter over Edgecombe’s nickname possibilities.
  • “Well, it's either the Edge or the Comb. And I don't know if the Comb instills fear…” (Dave, [11:42])

3. The NBA Gambling Scandal: With Sam Amick

Timestamp: [17:21]–[29:13]

• Scandal Overview

  • FBI investigation centers around Chauncey Billups (Blazers coach), Damon Jones (former NBA player), and Terry Rozier (Miami Heat).
  • Allegations include rigged high-stakes poker games stealing ~$7 million (“Chauncey Billups…he's facing really significant jail time…people are pretty stunned by the allegations.” – Sam Amick, [19:15])

• League Reaction and Broader Context

  • Conversations around the pervasiveness of gambling in the NBA—prop bets, advertising saturation, and potential for increased corruption.
  • David Aldridge’s piece is referenced, connecting tanking culture to an environment conducive to corruption (“Tanking in and of itself is…for all intents and purposes, could you see…people want to make changes?” – Dave, [20:24])
  • Adam Silver previously warned about the dangers of player incentive-based prop bets.
  • The NBA is not expected to break ties with gambling operators but will likely tighten up injury reporting procedures and regulations (“Prop bets, I think, get cleaned up…injury reporting…has got to go by the wayside, because that is where there's a lot of potential for nefarious betting activity.” – Sam Amick, [21:02])

• Impact on NBA Narrative

  • Despite thrilling on-court performances (multiple double-OTs, 50-point games, Steph Curry’s 42-point night, Wemby’s dominance), the gambling scandal is overshadowing basketball.
  • “I've gotten more texts from people who aren't huge, you know, casual basketball fans about the Chauncey Billups, Terry Rozier, Damon Jones situation than I did about Steph Curry…” (Dave, [23:11])
  • Both Sam and Dave lament the distraction from a genuinely exciting start to the season (“It really is too bad how much it’s overshadowed a lot of the good action…” – Sam, [24:00])

Memorable Quotes:

• “This relationship with the gambling companies is not going away. It's filling their pockets. Everybody benefits from that.” (Sam Amick quoting Draymond Green, [21:29])

4. Week One Takeaways & “Takes Check”

Timestamp: [26:29]–[29:13]

• Sam’s Takebacks and Double Downs

  • Overestimated preseason Clippers; after a dominant showing against Kings, they stumbled out of the gate vs. Utah.
  • Still believes Denver and OKC are the class of the West, with Warriors looking like potential 1A after early returns.

• Warriors’ Outlook

  • Warriors appear rejuvenated, Steph Curry is defying age, and experience could give them formidable playoff upside (“They could probably beat anybody…if they're healthy…” – Dave, [28:12])
  • Warriors’ losses to young, tough teams attributed more to schedule (rest, age) than blueprint flaws.

• Western Conference Watch

  • Injuries to Luka Doncic (Mavs) and a long injury list for the Pacers could shift expected standings quickly.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Paolo Banchero’s struggles:
  “This is, it's not much change from, from last year to this except maybe like a little less passing from, from Powell.”
  – Dave DuFour ([07:02])

• On rookie buzz beyond Cooper Flagg:
  “We could go down the list of all these rookies that have been bright spots and not just casual bright spots. Bright spots with swagger…”
  – Zena Keita ([10:45])

• On gambling’s shadow over the league:
  “When these things were being talked about…there's gambling advertisements on screen while they're talking about it.”
  – Dave DuFour ([19:51])

• On Wembanyama’s MVP-caliber performance:
  “At this rate, WEMBY averaging 33.3 points per game, 13.3 boards and a stout six blocks a game. Dave, that's pretty good.”
  – Sam Amick ([24:00])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Red Flags from Week 1: [01:39]–[08:34]
• Rookie Check-In: [08:34]–[14:06]
• Gambling Scandal w/ Sam Amick: [17:21]–[29:13]
• Takes to Double Down or Retract: [26:29]–[29:13]

Tone & Personality

Discussion is energetic and analytical, balancing sharp basketball insight with quick, humorous exchanges (frequent jokes about rookie nicknames, team predictions, and league personalities). The hosts’ chemistry keeps the episode moving briskly, even during serious coverage like the gambling scandal.

In Summary

The episode provides a rapid-fire yet nuanced look at both on-court trends (struggles from teams lacking true point guards, rookie surprises) and pressing off-court controversies (gambling scandal), making it valuable listening for any NBA fan tracking both the sport’s evolution and its challenges. Sam Amick’s segment adds depth on the league’s response to crisis, while the hosts’ rookie rundown offers optimism for future NBA stars.