The Athletic NBA Daily

Episode: Thunder, Spurs advance to NBA Cup Semifinals + Wemby's return?

Date: December 11, 2025
Hosts: Dave DuFour, Zena Keita
Guests/Reporters: Andrew Schlecht (Oklahoma City), Jared Weiss (Los Angeles)

Episode Overview

This episode of The Athletic NBA Daily breaks down two dominant NBA Cup quarterfinal performances: the Oklahoma City Thunder’s historic 49-point blowout over the Phoenix Suns, and the San Antonio Spurs’ eye-opening dismantling of the Los Angeles Lakers. The conversation centers on the Thunder’s record-tying start, their unique team chemistry, and the looming MVP candidacy of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The latter half spotlights how the Spurs—despite Victor Wembanyama’s absence—have maintained high-level play and previews the possible impact of Wemby’s return against the red-hot Thunder in the semifinals.

Oklahoma City Thunder: Absolutely Relentless

[03:48–17:28]

Thunder's 49-Point Domination of the Suns

• The Thunder handed the Suns the worst loss in franchise history: a 49-point margin. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) only played one half, sitting the last 15 minutes due to the lopsided score.
  • Notable Quote (Andrew Schlecht, 04:14):
    "Shay even was telling Mark it's too early. It’s too early for him to be pulled out of the game."
• OKC, now 24–1, matches the 2015-16 Warriors for the best start to a season in NBA history.
• The team cruised despite not playing their full starting lineup at any point this season.

Thunder Team Code: Joy and Focus

• Players have a "genuine love" for being together—joy and drive are palpable, even in blowouts.
  • Notable Quote (Schlecht, 06:11):
    "The locker room is popping. Nobody's complacent. They're all excited. They all love to play."
• The team's culture is described as non-Vegasy, laser-focused on basketball and constant improvement, rather than distractions or star trappings.

Depth and Chemistry Set Them Apart

• OKC’s scary stat: even with SGA and Jalen Williams (J-Dub) off the floor, they have a +8.2 net rating—indicative of a system much bigger than individual stars.
  • Notable Quote (Schlecht, 09:05):
    "They are finding ways to crush teams without Shea, without JDub. It’s really just this chemistry."
• Credit given to the "four-headed monster": Ownership (Clay Bennett), GM (Sam Presti), Coach (Mark Daigneault), and SGA, supported by a roster intentionally built for fit, sacrifice, and work ethic.
  • Notable Quote (Schlecht, 12:00):
    "Sam picks a particular kind of player...very specific personalities, willing to sacrifice."

The Oklahoma City Advantage

• Hosts and guests discuss how the city itself provides advantages: fewer distractions, smaller media environment, and easier buy-in to team culture.
  • Notable Quote (Dave DuFour, 14:36):
    "Being in Oklahoma City is an advantage to the Thunder...there are fewer distractions than if you're in New York."

SGA’s MVP Candidacy and Dominance

• Consensus: SGA is the clear front-runner for MVP, possibly even more so than Jokic.
  • Notable Quote (DuFour, 16:27):
    "With the numbers he puts up, with the dominance that they show when he's on the court, I have him as a front runner for MVP over Jokic..."
• Schlecht notes SGA continues to meaningfully add to his game, despite already sweeping MVP and Finals MVP the previous season.

Watchability Discussion

• Hosts question if OKC, being methodical and mid-pack in pace, lacks mainstream watchability beyond pure basketball heads.
  • Schlecht believes that "dominant basketball" will inevitably draw fans, regardless of play style—likening their style to the '96 Bulls, focused on movement and efficiency over flash.

San Antonio Spurs: Beating Expectations, Awaiting Wemby

[28:01–42:09]

Spurs Rout Lakers—Shorthanded and Unfazed

• No one on the panel predicted a Spurs win over the Lakers, but San Antonio stunned with a 132-point offensive outburst (the most allowed by the Lakers all season), behind a breakout 30-point performance from Stefan Castle.
• The Spurs have thrived even without Wemby, with Coach Mitch Johnson hinting at a return for their next Cup matchup.

San Antonio’s Offensive and Defensive Leap

• With De'Aaron Fox orchestrating and guards like Castle and Harper emerging, the Spurs’ pace, three-point shooting, and crash-the-glass style have created a high-octane attack.
• Defensive improvements, especially physicality and purpose, have also stood out—despite Wemby’s absence, his preseason declaration that "defense is non-negotiable" has apparently stuck.
  • Notable Quote (Jared Weiss, 31:12):
    "Wemby was the one that came out at media day and he said defense is non-negotiable…that’s something a coach usually says."
• Kelon Johnson embodies the heart and soul of the team—a glue guy, drawing comparisons to Marcus Smart’s intangible leadership.

Young Guards Playing Beyond Their Years

• Castle and Harper have assimilated quickly, playing like veterans and contributing well beyond their stat lines.
  • Notable Moment (Dave DuFour, 34:42):
    Describes Harper confidently isolating and attacking DeAndre Ayton—even if the play didn’t score, it signals maturity and fearlessness in rookie guards.

Potential with Wemby’s Return

• If Wemby returns, the Spurs could be a threat—even against the juggernaut Thunder. Jared Weiss lays out what could unfold: transition game led by their guards with Wemby trailing as an unprecedented finishing option.
  • Notable Quote (Weiss, 35:54):
    "They can do anything with Victor. If they're playing this offense like this…they're missing a top five player in the NBA."
• Still, OKC is viewed as near-unbeatable:
  "The Thunder are going to go 81 and 1 at this point. It feels like it." (Weiss, 38:28)

Fun Moment: Keldon Johnson’s Llama and Team Culture

• The episode ends with a lighthearted segment on Keldon Johnson’s goal to win a llama (literally), related to a halftime TV interview—showcasing his role as both team heartbeat and an offbeat character.
  • Notable Quote (Jared Weiss, 41:28):
    "Kelton likes it when he hits threes, but when he flies in there and grabs a rebound...he gets up and he screams. He just. He loves helping his team win."

Key Timestamps

• Thunder Suns Recap, Locker Room Culture: 03:48–10:25
• OKC’s System, MVP Talk, Small Market Advantage: 10:25–17:28
• NBA Cup, Watchability Conversation: 19:35–23:01
• Spurs-Lakers Recap, Spurs’ Identity Without Wemby: 28:01–33:51
• The Spurs’ Defense, Keldon Johnson Leadership: 33:51–38:49
• Preview: Spurs-Thunder, Wemby’s Impact: 35:54–41:28
• Kelon Johnson & The “Llama” Story: 39:37–41:29

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Andrew Schlecht (Thunder Culture, 06:11):
  "The locker room is popping. Nobody's complacent. Like, they're all excited. They all love to play."

• Dave DuFour (OKC’s Market, 14:36):
  "Being in Oklahoma City is an advantage...the media is smaller, the scrutiny is less..."

• Jared Weiss (Wemby’s Defensive Standard, 31:12):
  "Defense is non negotiable on this team. If you're not defending, you're not playing."

• Jared Weiss (On Keldon Johnson, 41:28):
  "He loves helping his team win, and he's consistent with his messaging, and he's goofy as hell."

Conclusion

This episode captures NBA teams at the height of two simultaneous storylines: OKC striving to become a dynasty on the back of team-first culture and record-setting play, and the young, resilient Spurs refusing to step back in the absence of their superstar. Listeners get an insider's look at chemistry, coaching, and locker room dynamics, plus a preview of what could be a semifinals clash for the NBA Cup ages, potentially featuring the return of Wemby.

For more detailed analysis and witty behind-the-scenes basketball stories, be sure to catch the next episode and follow The Athletic’s coverage.