The Athletic NBA Daily: Spurs Win 60th, Wemby Injured + Bulls Fire Karnisovas

Hosts: Dave DuFour, Zena Keita
Guest: Jared Weiss
Date: April 7, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of The Athletic NBA Daily dives into another wild night in the NBA. Key storylines include:

• The San Antonio Spurs notching their 60th win and the impact of Victor Wembanyama's rib injury.
• The New York Knicks edging out the Hawks in clutch fashion.
• Denver Nuggets' big comeback win over the Blazers and their playoff readiness.
• The Chicago Bulls firing VP Artūras Karnišovas and GM Mark Eversley.
• Analysis from guest Jared Weiss, especially on the Spurs' leap and Wemby's health situation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NCAA Title Game (Light Sidebar, 00:33–01:32)

• Hosts riff briefly on the NCAA men’s national title game, bemoaning poor shooting due to large football arena venues.
• Dave DuFour: “Arenas are hard to shoot in, Xena. I prefer women’s college basketball… Four quarters makes a big difference.” (00:53)
• Xena and Dave joke about “dog tired” players and the frustrating game flow.

2. Knicks Outlast Hawks In Clutch Win (01:37–05:42)

• Game Recap: Knicks barely survive a last-second heave, powered by a huge fourth from Jalen Brunson.
  • “If he could have gotten it off a tenth of a second sooner, [McCollum] would have sent the game to overtime.” — Dave (01:39)
• Jalen Brunson: Lauded for his repeated clutch heroics. Concern remains that the Knicks lean too much on late-game comebacks rather than consistent offensive execution.
  • “I’m concerned on the longevity… How can you keep these kind of clutch performances as a necessity?” — Zena (02:20)
• Nikhil Alexander-Walker: Breakout game—“seven made three-pointers, 36 points”—and potential MIP (Most Improved Player) candidate.
  • “He was clutch throughout the game. And that’s the difference. The Knicks need to be clutch throughout the game, not just at the end.” — Zena (04:09)
• Atlanta’s Versatility: Hawks’ unpredictable distribution—anyone can heat up; athleticism and morphing rotation pose a difficult challenge for any playoff opponent.

3. Nuggets Storm Back on Blazers, Playoff Implications (05:42–10:54)

• Denver’s Comeback: Down 18, Nuggets go on a massive run; Jamal Murray, Nikola Jokić, and Aaron Gordon carry the comeback.
  • “Jokic actually is playing defense now—had five steals and a couple of blocks… a presence at the rim.” — Dave (07:08)
• Crunch-Time Fatigue: Nuggets have played over 40 “clutch” games (games close late) this season; 12 of their last 19 have been such battles.
  • “That’s a lot on the body… you’re supposed to be chilling, getting comfort with how you’re closing out games.” — Zena (09:19)
• Playoff Seeding: Nuggets (now third) may not want a first-round matchup with Minnesota; speculation on how teams may approach seeding in final games.
  • “They need to just win out and make sure they can be home court advantage in the playoffs, but it is something to watch.” — Dave (10:32)

4. Chicago Bulls Fire Front Office Leadership (10:54–14:37)

• Change at the Top: Bulls fire Karnišovas and Eversley after years of mediocrity—one playoff appearance and a string of questionable trades.
  • “This front office has not done a good job of getting talent, making sure there’s a development path, or even just getting assets for the talent they do have.” — Dave (12:20)
• Culture of Mediocrity: Bulls derided as the league’s model of a “play-in” team, never tanking nor seriously contending.
  • “The worst part, a culture of mediocrity… We should be a perennial market team.” — Zena (13:09)
• Looking Forward: Hosts hope for deeper changes (ownership, not just front office); new direction needed for a once-iconic franchise.

5. Spurs Reach 60 Wins; Wembanyama Ribs & Team Development (15:19–28:43)

A. The Wemby Injury (15:19–18:25)

• Jared Weiss Update: Rib injury appears minor.
  • “He seemed fine… I don’t think he’ll be out for the season. I think he’ll play at least the last two or three games to qualify for the awards.” — Jared (15:23)
• Spurs beat Sixers handily despite Wemby leaving partway.
• Rest vs Awards Chase: Expectation is Wemby might sit to heal up but will play at least once more to hit 65 games (award eligibility).

B. The Spurs' Leap & Recipe for Success (16:13–17:48)

• Transformational season: “No one has any idea how this happened!”
  • Wemby’s MVP-level leap; Steph Castle’s all-star ascendance and triple-doubles; Dylan Harper’s finishing and outside shooting.
  • “Champagnie… just broke the franchise three-point shooting record. Keldon Johnson, favorite to win sixth man.” — Jared (17:26)
• Balanced, deep roster: mix of youth and key veterans like De’Aaron Fox, Harrison Barnes.

C. Managing Wemby’s Health and Playoff Load (18:25–21:19)

• Injury Perspective: Wemby toughs out many bumps; team may prioritize playoff health over awards if needed.
  • “People are worried about his health… he has been relatively indestructible.” — Jared (18:55)
• Postseason Concerns: Playoff basketball = more minutes, higher intensity, bigger physical toll.
  • “The leap to playing 38 minutes a game, that’s a huge leap.” (20:25)
• Playoff Rest: Lighter travel helps; Wemby has hit 40 minutes only once this season.

D. Mitch Johnson’s COY Case & Spurs' Front Office Genius (21:19–26:15)

• Coach of the Year Discussion: Johnson’s job praised, particularly managing veterans vs. young players, pushing right buttons, benching established starters when necessary.
  • “I think Mitch Johnson should be getting… a lot of buzz for coach of the year. He has pushed the right buttons all season long.” — Dave (21:19)
• Front Office Moves: Acquiring Fox as “cherry on top” after lottery luck and sharp drafting.
  • “With the Spurs… Brian Wright in that front office deserves credit. This design of this roster is incredible.” — Jared (24:01)
• Playing Style: Built for Wemby's strengths—multiple all-star-capable point guards, paint pressure, elite finishers and passing to maximize Wemby as a lob threat.

E. How Will Spurs Manage Wemby in the Playoffs? (26:15–28:14)

• Rotation: Likely stick to a nine-man crew, using Cornette as a backup big to keep Wemby fresh. Small-ball lineups with Keldon Johnson or Carter Bryant at center if needed.
  • “He doesn't have to play Wemby 38 minutes a night if they're winning by 14… they can stick to playing him 32 and trust in Luke Cornett.” — Jared (27:18)
• Distinct Playoff Approach: Roster depth and superior backup big are why Wemby’s load can stay manageable.

F. Must-Watch Moments/Tune-Ups Before Playoffs (28:14–28:43)

• Jared’s Pick: Encourage listeners to rewatch Spurs’ recent Denver clash: “One of the best games I’ve been to in five years.” (28:36)
• Wemby Highlight: “Wemby still does a move in every game that kind of breaks my brain… spin move dunk… just put [Oubre] in a blender.” — Dave (26:15)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “This is a dog pod today.” — Dave, opening banter (00:28)
• “Culture of mediocrity… Chicago have not been ‘relevant’ since Derrick Rose.” — Zena (13:09)
• “He’s… turned into the best player in the world maybe.” — Jared, on Wemby’s transformation (16:23)
• “He has been relatively indestructible… even though he has missed games.” — Jared (18:55)
• “I think Mitch Johnson should be getting a lot of buzz for Coach of the Year.” — Dave (21:19)
• “Wemby still does a move in every game that kind of breaks my brain.” — Dave (26:15)
• “That game [Spurs vs. Nuggets]… was one of the best games I’ve been to in five years.” — Jared (28:36)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Knicks vs. Hawks, Clutch Analysis: 01:37–05:42
• Nuggets’ Comeback & Playoff Talk: 05:42–10:54
• Bulls Fire Front Office: 10:54–14:37
• Spurs 60th Win & Wemby Injury (w/ Jared Weiss): 15:19–28:43

This recap captures the core topics, expert insights, and the lively—sometimes humorous—tone of the episode, making it a valuable summary for any NBA fan who missed the pod.