The Athletic NBA Daily – Slam N’ Jam: Slammie Awards + Where Do the Warriors Go From Here?

Date: April 11, 2026
Hosts: Andrew Schlecht (A), Alex Spears (B)
Guest: Zena Keita (C, Warriors reporter)

Episode Overview

This jam-packed episode of Slam N’ Jam rings in the end of the 2025–26 NBA regular season with the semiannual “Slammie Awards”—a tongue-in-cheek, wide-ranging celebration of everything notable (and weird) over the last NBA year. Andrew and Alex hand out Slammies for surprises, stats, best/worst decisions, and more. They cap it off with a wheel-of-fandom segment featuring guest Zena Keita, dissecting the state of the Warriors, and wrap up with trivia mayhem and some bold playoff predictions.

Weekly NBA Recap & Key Storylines

(00:36–08:27)

• Nuggets’ comeback vs. Spurs: Denver stages a late comeback to beat San Antonio in OT, with Nikola Jokic dropping 48 points and 13 boards. “Jokic scored seven of his 40 points, including a ridiculous fadeaway over Wemby’s outstretched arm.” (01:04)
  • Implications: Pushed Nuggets to 3-seed, Lakers slide due to injuries, OKC clinches 1-seed in West for 3rd straight year, only 7th team ever to do so.
• Pistons clinch East 1-seed: First time since 2006–07. Tobias Harris to Sixers fans: “Get ready for the effing play-in!” (01:50)
• Sixers’ misfortunes: Joel Embiid suffers appendicitis after five games back, likely out, dropping Sixers into play-in range again.
• Magic’s surge & Cooper Flag historic feat: Rookie Cooper Flag scores 51 versus the Mavs—youngest ever to hit 50. Rookie of the year race heats up.
• Warriors’ woes & Steph’s return: Steph Curry returns after 27 games (drops 29 in 26 min), but Warriors have lost 5-of-6.
  • Strange Kings moment: Kings intentionally foul Seth Curry; Draymond Green calls out tanking. NBA investigates—“just incompetence.”
• Bulls’ front office fired: Arturas Karnisovas out, remembered for the Vucevic trade; requirement for new GM: must keep Billy Donovan as coach. (05:43)
• Bold lottery reform brewing: Proposals to flatten odds, possibly exclude the bottom three teams from the No. 1 pick. “This is so dumb.” (07:23, A). Adam Silver reportedly engaged by tweaks but hosts see more confusion and inevitable further changes.

Surprise Team Tracker

(08:28–10:42)

• Shoutout to listener Zach McCartney for tracking surprise teams.
• Charlotte Hornets (expected win total +10 over under)—locked in as a surprise team at 43 wins.
• Phoenix Suns exceed expectations with 44 wins.
• Bulls fell short but might still exceed the low over-under if they win out.
• Hosts reiterate: Two teams substantially beat Vegas over-unders every year.

2026 Slammie Awards

(10:43–55:15)

I Wasn’t Familiar With Your Game

Award for most improved or opinion-changed player/coach/GM:

• Andrew: Peyton Watson (Nuggets)
  “Went from unreliable shooter to perfect NBA wing archetype, 41% from three, great D, potentially big playoff role.” (11:09)
• Alex: Jalen Duren (Pistons)
  “Post All-Star break, went from afterthought to 20+ points in nearly every game; totally reevaluating Pistons’ ceiling.” (12:45)

Say What?! Stat of the Year

• Alex (runner-up): Nicolas Batum took just 10 two-pointers in 1300 minutes—a new low for an NBA regular rotation player. (15:15)
• Alex: Nuggets achieve first 10-game win streak of the Jokic era—bizarre for a team with a triple-MVP big. (15:45)
• Andrew: Bam Adebayo scores 83. Stats: From eight single-digit games to a record-breaking night. “He had zero 40-point games, then 83 out of nowhere. Unbelievable.” (17:12)

Future Hazy, Try Again Later

• Andrew: Orlando Magic
  “Went all-in on Desmond Bane, but are stuck, underperforming, still bad at shooting, low flexibility, no pick, and core duo hasn’t broken out.” (21:17)
• Alex: Portland Trail Blazers
  “Strong individual seasons, but Scoot, Shaden development worrisome. Dame’s return ahead, new ownership, and likely diminished lottery odds compound uncertainty.” (24:42)

Nico Harrison Award: Worst Decision (Since 2025 Draft)

• Alex: Milwaukee’s Summer 2025
  “All-in for a .500 team, depleted assets, souring Giannis relationship—likely triggering an ugly, uncertain star exit and rebuild.” (28:11)
• Andrew: Pelicans’ queen’s ransom trade to Hawks to draft Derek Queen (2026 No. 13)—cost a 2026 first and another prospect. “Franchise-altering move for little likely return.” (31:23)

Reverse Nico Harrison Award: Best Decision

• Andrew: Grizzlies hit the eject on Ja/Kings core, traded Bain and JJJ for picks and young talent, now set for a speedy rebuild with lottery upside. (33:57)
• Alex: Clippers midseason Darius Garland trade
  “From dead-in-the-water (6–21) to play-in berth with a future beyond the old core; bold, creative, timely move.” (36:55)
  • Honorable Mentions: Suns hiring Jordan Nott; Atlanta signing NAW to a team-friendly contract. (38:16)

Last Tanker Award

• Alex: Jazz
  “Committed so hard to tanking the league had to change the rules—a tank so legendary it’s like Wilt’s record nights.” (39:11)
• Andrew: Wizards
  “Tanked all out, but then traded for Trae Young and Anthony Davis, making next year’s team weirdly competent. Peak 'last tanker' behavior.” (41:09)

Worst Podcast Segment Award

• Both: Enough with the 65-game rule and tanking discourse.
  • Andrew: “I’m just done, mad at Adam Silver for even putting this into the NBA. Voters can decide!” (43:55)
  • Alex: “Tanking talk will die down with new rules. We can finally focus on what matters: nonstop expansion draft pods!” (45:45)

Weirdo Award: Strangest Season/Personality

• Alex: Kevin Durant
  “Sneaky all-time old man stats (2,000 points at 37!), leads a winning team, little buzz, but loaded with strange drama and fits.” (49:10)
• Andrew: Clippers
  “Started 6–21, tangled in a tree-based investigation, blamed Chris Paul, then traded away stars but ended up in the playoff mix with actual upside. Wild rollercoaster of a year.” (51:19)

Best Moment of the Year

• Andrew: Opening night—Thunder raise first championship banner in front of Kevin Durant, double OT win vs Houston: “Probably the most fun I’ve had at a game this season.” (55:16)
• Alex: First Thunder-Spurs game—Spurs topple seemingly unbeatable OKC, shifting the season narrative. “A rare single game that changed everything. Great on-court drama.” (56:28)

Bold Playoff Predictions

(58:54–62:42)

• Alex: Knicks will win the Eastern Conference.
  • “I really do believe the Knicks are going to win the East...They’re playoff risers.” (58:54)
• Andrew: Cavs will win the Eastern Conference.
  • “It’s kind of bold to predict any James Harden team to go to the finals. He hasn’t been there since [Houston].” (59:51)

Deep Dive: Where Do the Warriors Go from Here?

Wheel of Fandom Segment, with Zena Keita
(63:13–81:41)

Warriors’ State of Affairs

• Steph’s Return: Looked excellent in first game—“footwork, chemistry with Draymond, all there”—but second game (vs Kings) exposed team-wide inconsistency after 40(!) different starting lineups. (64:48)
• Brandon Podziemski: Displayed “character development” when taking over as focal point, but lacks consistency, especially vs. bigger defenders. “Still not fast enough for the window closing on Steph.” (66:43)
• Gui Santos Breakout: Unassumingly thrives with energy, hustle, rebounding, emerging as a strong wing defender and three-point shooter. “He didn’t need to be told—he just did it.” (70:13)
• Draft/Team Needs: “They need a wing scorer—ideally two-way, athletic, upgrade at speed/verticality. Right now, the Dubs are antiquated, lacking above-the-rim guys.” (73:52)

Tough Rebuild Ahead

• Fans torn between playoff push and getting their own lottery pick. Many quietly prefer the pick: “Maybe they want to make the playoffs, but if I’m a Warriors fan, I’m probably like, give me a lottery pick instead.” (75:48)
• Uncertainty: Haven’t seen Steph with Kristaps much; still have contract and rotation questions (Anthony Melton, Moses Moody). “They just need talent...they're at the end of this era.” (77:56)

Tanking Reform: Not a Panacea

• Zena is skeptical of the new “everyone gets 8% odds” lottery talk: “Flattening the odds doesn’t end tanking, just changes the incentive...I’m not a fan of any of it.” (78:39)
• “Asset relegation” (loss of pick access if too bad) or international soccer ideas might bring better reform.
• Alex: “Teams entering rebuild cycles (Warriors included) will get screwed by these changes.” (81:06)
• Zena: “Feels like certain teams are just never going to win...maybe that was the plan all along.” (81:41)

Memorable Quotes

• Tobias Harris at Philly crowd: “Get ready for the effing play-in!” (01:50)
• Alex, Kings’ tanking investigation: “In a perfect microcosm of this King season, [the NBA] found no evidence of tanking, just incompetence.” (04:39)
• Andrew, on NBA’s rush to draft reform: “This is so dumb. They don’t have a clue what the ramifications could be.” (07:23)
• Andrew, on Suns’ and Hornets’ surprise seasons: “Congrats to the Phoenix Suns and the Charlotte Hornets. ... It happens every year. And this year, we got another pair of teams.” (10:05)
• Alex, Jokic’s first 10-game winning streak: “Twenty of the 30 NBA teams have had at least one 10-game winning streak [since 2015]. ... Not Denver, until this week.” (15:46)
• Andrew, on Bam Adebayo’s 83-point game: “He had zero 40-point games, then 83 out of nowhere. Unbelievable. ... I’ll always say ‘what’ to that!” (17:12)
• Andrew, on Desmond Bane Magic trade: “They paid a lot to get Desmond Bane...but I don’t know where this goes for them.” (21:21)
• Alex, on Bucks’ likely fate: “They’ve backed themselves into this corner and they did it for a team that never deserved to be believed in to the extent their moves would suggest.” (29:08)
• Andrew, on Grizzlies’ rebuild: “They did the right thing, ripped the band-aid off. I will commend them for that.” (36:25)
• Alex, about Utah’s tank: “They put in the time, and I’m telling Las Vegas right now: I dare you to let me pick Utah as my surprise team next season!” (40:46)
• Andrew, on 65-game rule discourse: “I’m just done, mad at Adam Silver. Voters can decide!” (43:55)
• Zena Keita, on Warriors' draft needs: "They need a wing scorer, someone who can guard and can score... The Dubs are antiquated in the way that they play. They aren't athletic. The league is predicated on athleticism now." (73:52)
• Zena, on flattening lottery odds: "Giving any team a potential incentive to not play hard, regardless of the percentage, is not a positive thing." (78:39)
• Andrew, on Clippers’ season: “It’s been the weirdest season for the Clippers... and somehow they’ve wound up in, like, oh this is actually pretty good.” (51:19)

Warriors Spotlight with Zena Keita

Essential Takeaways

• Steph’s return instantly boosts the team, but chemistry is off—40 starting lineups have played a major role in their instability. (64:48)
• Brandon Podziemski’s confidence (“I want to be better than Steph”) has given way to hard lessons as lead guard—he's gotten better off screens and as scorer, but not consistent enough yet. (66:43)
• Gui Santos’s development as a two-way force came due to “residual buckets”—his surge was completely unassuming, but he surprised by being exactly what the team needed without demanding touches. (70:13)
• Immediate Team Needs: Athletic, wing scoring, two-way play, and above-the-rim ability. The core is aging, and athleticism gap is now glaring. (73:52)
• Fanbase leaning toward another lottery pick instead of a wasted one-and-done play-in trip. (75:48)
• Zena is unconvinced that the latest tanking reforms will actually curb tanking, especially for the Warriors in a coming rebuild. (78:39)

Trivia Segment Key Moments

• First-ever forfeit: Zena has to leave mid-trivia to board a flight—hosts point out it’s a Slam N' Jam first! (92:00)
• Wild Warriors facts:
  • Al Horford leads the Warriors in blocks, aged 39 (83:07)
  • Only 6 players on the team have had a 30-point game this season, but not Podziemski. (93:25)
  • Anthony Tolliver is top-10 all-time for Golden State double-doubles since 2010, just by having 12. (99:48)

Closing and Playoff Outlook

• Wheel of Fandom: Warriors this week; Hawks drawn for next—but hosts contemplate a switch to Hornets for play-in implications.
• Season’s last word: Leave your boldest playoff predictions and feedback with the pod, and enjoy regular-season basketball's swan song.

Timestamps of Important Segments

• 00:36 – Top NBA stories of the week recap
• 10:42 – Slammie Awards begin
• 21:17 – Slammie: Future Hazy (Magic/Blazers)
• 28:11 – Worst Decision Slammie (Bucks/Pelicans)
• 33:57 – Best Decision Slammie (Grizzlies/Clippers)
• 39:11 – Last Tanker Slammie (Jazz/Wizards)
• 43:55 – Worst Podcast Topic Slammie (65-game rule/tanking)
• 49:10 – Weirdo Award (Durant/Clippers)
• 55:16 – Best NBA moment of the year
• 58:54 – Bold playoff predictions
• 63:13 – Wheel of Fandom: Warriors deep-dive w/ Zena Keita
• 73:52 – Zena on Warriors’ draft/roster needs
• 78:39 – Zena on tanking reform
• 81:41 – Rebuild cycle impact discussion
• 83:05 – Warriors trivia segment
• 92:00 – Zena’s historic trivia forfeit
• 104:31 – Wheel spins for next fandom team

Final Takeaways

This Slam N’ Jam episode is a comprehensive, wry, and often hilarious sweep through the NBA’s chaotic end-of-season storylines—bridging individual player folklore (hello, Bam and Batum), under-the-radar improvements, front-office blunders, and the ongoing existential crisis of NBA tanking. The hosts’ chemistry shines, balancing nerdy stat dives with genuine fan perspective. The Warriors’ future is as murky as any, and league-wide, it feels like the end of an era (for tanking, if nothing else).

“They’re doing an awful job. But at least it’s ethical.”
—Alex, on the Sacramento Kings (05:22)

“If tanking truly is over... everyone will be mid or good. It’s all over after this season.”
—Alex, on NBA’s last tank (39:11)

A must-listen for NBA diehards who want just as much NBA absurdity as analysis.