The Athletic NBA Daily – Thunder Lose Again + Steve Kerr’s Last Season?

Date: December 22, 2025
Hosts: Dave DuFour, Zena Cata, Esfandiar Baraheni
Episode Theme:
A sharp, fast-paced breakdown of the Thunder’s recent struggles, brewing Rockets-Nuggets rivalry, and a deep dive into Steve Kerr’s future after Zena's exclusive interview with the Coach. The episode explores on-court narratives, unseen team dynamics, and a potential generational changing of the guard in the NBA.

Episode Overview

This episode pivots around three central stories:

• The Oklahoma City Thunder's surprising recent losses and their legitimacy as a top-tier team.
• An emerging, physical rivalry between the Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets.
• Whether Steve Kerr is entering his final season with the Golden State Warriors, unpacked through highlights from Zena Cata's in-depth interview.

Throughout, the hosts mix incisive analysis, personal insights, and humor, providing a behind-the-scenes look at an evolving NBA landscape.

[02:18] Are the Thunder "Frauds" or Just Fatigued?

• Thunder’s Recent Stumble:

  • The Thunder have lost two of their last three games, fueling chatter about whether they're truly elite or just hitting a rough patch.
  • (Dave, [02:25]) "They lose a game against the Timberwolves second night of a back to back, and the Wolves have been really good lately. Anthony Edwards just hit so many big shots and made huge plays actually on both ends… That’s how you close the door on a team like OKC."

• Hosts’ Assessment:

  • The consensus is not to panic but to notice some early warning signs:

    • Other teams are catching up to the Thunder’s level, especially when OKC is tired or missing depth.
    • The Timberwolves, previously 0-3 against teams above .500, finally proved they could "slay monsters."

  • (Zena, [04:27]) "As long as you catch the Thunder on the second night of a back to back, you should be good."

• Injuries & Rhythm:

  • Jalen Williams’ nagging hand injury is limiting his offensive impact.

    • (Zena, [05:32]) "They're healthier… I don’t think Jalen Williams is particularly healthy yet… They need him to be back to what he was last year."

  • Bench pieces like Isaiah Joe and Aaron Wiggins are still returning; OKC is not 100%.

• Thunder’s Ceiling:

  • If Williams can't regain his All-NBA form, their ceiling drops.
  • (Dave, [05:09]) "This is a reminder that they’re not a perfect team. You can beat them."

[07:50] Rockets vs. Nuggets – A Budding Rivalry

• Physical Playsets the Tone:

  • The Rockets’ win over the Nuggets differentiated itself from their overtime showdown in Vegas:
    • Nuggets missing Aaron Gordon and Christian Braun; Jokic in early foul trouble.
    • The match-up is intensely physical and could shape up as a compelling playoff preview.

• Emergence of Reed Sheppard:

  • (Zena, [09:32]) "Reed Sheppard scored 13 straight points at one point in that game, he was just unstoppable… running actions you see the Warriors run with Steph."
  • He's transitioned from benchwarmer last year to dynamic scorer, compared by hosts to the off-ball activity of Steph Curry.
  • (Esfandiar, [10:15]) "And that's what's so exciting about Reed Sheppard – this is the guy that everyone expected last year. Now he has the opportunity to play… six of nine from three – that’s how well he’s shooting the ball."

• Houston’s Offensive Evolution:

  • The team is near the league lead in 3P% but takes the fewest attempts—prompting calls for a trade deadline addition.
  • (Zena, [13:05]) "They should probably still try to shoot more threes… they are dead last in attempts."

• Potential Playoff Implications:

  • Dave posits the Nuggets and Rockets as likely playoff opponents—two physical teams built differently than OKC.
  • (Dave, [13:30]) "If we can get this as a playoff series, I think it would be extremely satisfying… seven games would be amazing."

• Nuggets' New Looks:

  • Denver experimented with a Jokic-Valanciunas big lineup, showing tactical flexibility.

[16:05] Steve Kerr’s Future – A Generation Nears Its End?

Zena Cata’s Interview Recap and Panel Reactions

• Kerr’s “Farewell Tour”?

  • Dave senses Kerr’s interview carries the tone of a man preparing to step away, describing the Warriors as “Unks” (uncles) facing the end of an era.
  • (Dave, [21:38]) "This really felt like Steve Kerr setting the table to walk away after this season… his contract expires at the end of the year."

• Dynasty’s Last Ride?

  • Zena weighs in on the “poetic ending” for Golden State’s core—Kerr, Steph, maybe Draymond—leaving together.
    • (Zena, [22:27]) "It feels like Steve Kerr is going to usher these guys out of the league, much like how they all came in together and started that dynasty."
  • The group compares it to the Spurs’ Tim Duncan-Gregg Popovich transition, noting that Popovich stayed because the Spurs still had the next star (Kawhi Leonard) to sustain their run.

• Kerr Closing Chapters:

  • Esfandiar (S) likens Kerr’s step-wise exits (as player, broadcaster, Team USA coach) to "turning off light switches" as he nears leaving the Warriors.
    • (Esfandiar, [23:33]) "What resonated with me…he paused me to tell me, you know, wait, I want to just talk about that – that we deserve the chance… to see where this could all end up."
  • Kerr refuses to discuss contract extensions; he’s “focusing on the season at hand.”

• What's Next for Kerr?

  • Dave floats possibilities beyond the NBA: college coaching, overseas, personal pursuits.
    • (Dave, [26:05]) "60 is pretty young for a coach…maybe he just wants a different challenge."

[28:02] The NBA’s Generational & Global Shift

• End of an Era:

  • The NBA will soon lose LeBron, Steph, KD – three transcendent icons – raising big questions about who will lead the next era.
    • (Dave, [28:22]) "We’re watching… an NBA that doesn’t have LeBron in it, doesn’t have Steph Curry, no Kevin Durant… what does it look like after this?"

• Globalization of the NBA:

  • All agree American domination has faded—not because US talent is declining, but because international skill has exploded.
    • (Dave, [29:15]) "It isn’t so much that the American players have fallen off. The rest of the world has caught up."
    • (Zena, [29:39]) "It's a shift in how we consume the sport too… I don't think we'll see a guy as impactful as LeBron or Steph anymore. Our attention span's all shifted."

• Evolution of Fandom & Consumption:

  • Ready access to every player and every highlight changes how fans attach to careers—maybe diluting modern star power compared to past legends.
  • (Esfandiar, [31:01]) "The homage that's been paid in this generation and the way they played – I don't know that this new generation, even as it gets global, will get the same love… but that’s good for the growth of the game."

Memorable Quotes & Timestamps

• "This is a reminder that they’re not a perfect team. You can beat them."
  – Dave DuFour, [05:09]

• "If that's the version of Reed Sheppard they get moving forward… their ceiling changes."
  – Zena Cata, [09:32]

• "Now you've got Reed Sheppard 44% from three, Kevin Durant 44%, Joshua Kogi in the corner… It's really cool, you know, it's crazy."
  – Esfandiar, [12:36]

• "I just feel like that's the poetic way for this to end… Steve Kerr is going to usher these guys out of the league."
  – Zena Cata, [22:27]

• "It isn’t so much like, yes, the American players… have fallen off, but it's in relation because the rest of the world has caught up."
  – Dave DuFour, [29:15]

Notable Segments & Timestamps

• Thunder’s Loss and Identity Check:
  [02:18] – [07:50]
• Rockets-Nuggets Rivalry & Reed Sheppard’s Emergence:
  [07:50] – [15:55]
• Steve Kerr Interview Recap and Golden State’s Future:
  [16:05] – [28:02]
• Generational Shifts and the NBA’s Globalization:
  [28:02] – [32:43]

Episode Tone & Takeaway

The conversation is candid, analytical, sometimes playful but always grounded in deep basketball knowledge and respect for the game's evolution. The hosts confront imperfection, nostalgia, and change—on the scoreboard and the bench—with humor and a “watch-this-space” anticipation.

Suggested Listen For:
Basketball fans curious about the Thunder’s true status, up-and-coming stars in Houston, or the potential end of Golden State’s dynasty—and anyone fascinated by how the NBA is preparing for its next leap, on the court and off.