The Athletic NBA Daily – January 12, 2026

Episode: "Wemby vs. The World"

Hosts: Dave DuFour, Zena Keita, Esfandiar "Es" Baraheni, Kada

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the wild weekend in the NBA, focusing first on the headline Timberwolves-Spurs showdown and the captivating performances of Victor Wembanyama (“Wemby”) against elite competition. The panel also examines Denver’s surprising resilience without Nikola Jokic, analyzes the shifting power structure atop the Western Conference, and wraps with a spirited “Thunder or the Field?” debate about Western Conference contenders.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Timberwolves vs. Spurs: The Game of the Weekend

[01:20 – 08:24]

• Context: Second night of a back-to-back for the Spurs. The Spurs storm out to a 16-0 lead, but Minnesota claws back from 16 down with 1:12 left in the third, capped by an Anthony Edwards near game-winner over Wemby.
• Minnesota’s Rise: Now 16-6 since Thanksgiving – best in the league over that stretch.
• Anthony Edwards & Julius Randle Impact: Edwards had a cold start but came through late, showing growth and poise. Randle’s defensive presence was pivotal, especially guarding Wemby and forcing a key miss late.

Notable Quotes:

• “Anthony Edwards has really grown in his poise... Gobert mentioned postgame that he probably would've taken a step back last year, but now he goes to the basket.” – Kada [04:21]

• “Julius Randle...was stonewalling Wemby. When Wemby gets physical with folks, that’s when his game gets a little bit off balance.” – Kada [04:35]

• “Wemby is going to bring this out in guys...it’s good to see Julius Randle take the defensive challenge.” – Dave DuFour [06:00]

• Wolves’ Defensive Depth: Randle’s ability to contribute defensively matters when Gobert sits—still, the defense falls off without Gobert, who will be suspended next game due to flagrant foul accumulation.

2. Wembanyama’s Weekend Masterclass

[08:24 – 11:36]

• Dominant vs. Boston and Minnesota: Wemby went on a personal 9-0 run in the second quarter vs. Minnesota; had 16 points in the second half and hit the game-winner vs. Boston.
• Offensive Growth: Now stringing together runs of 5–8 straight possessions with the ball, demanding attention from the defense and calling his own shots.

Notable Quotes:

• “He had 29 points in 27 minutes. That’s wild.” – Kada [09:07]
• “If there’s anyone on the floor that knows him best, it’s Rudy [Gobert]...just thinking like, what’s going through your head as this guy is going to work on you?” – Kada [09:17]
• “His performance being the contributing factor to the win...even in last night’s game against the Wolves, they lost by one point, but he was +17 in that game.” – Kada [10:46]
• “The Wolves were 3 of 21 when he was on the court in the first half.” – Dave DuFour [11:04]

3. Nuggets’ Depth Without Jokic

[11:36 – 14:21]

• Continuing to Win Shorthanded: Denver beats the Bucks without Jokic or Jamal Murray, thanks to surprising contributions from depth players like Peyton Watson (averaging just under 24 ppg over the last 7 games), Julian Strawther, and Tim Hardaway Jr.
• Defensive Improvements: Zeke Nnaji becomes crucial as a backup center; overall team defense has held strong.

Notable Quotes:

• “Their offense didn’t crater without Jokic, which I did not expect...Peyton Watson’s three-point shot is developing. He’s looking more aggressive.” – Es Baraheni [12:49]
• “If the shooting for him [Peyton Watson] is real, with that defense—oh man. That guy’s good.” – Dave DuFour [14:21]

4. Raptors vs. Sixers: The Battle for the 4th Seed

[14:21 – 16:28]

• Clutch Finish: Raptors overcome a 4-point deficit with 15 seconds left, aided by two successful challenge reviews and Jamal Shead’s wild game-tying basket.
• Stat Watch: Rookie Colin Murray Bowles posts a historic line: 17 points, 15 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 3 blocks—the first rookie since David Robinson in 1990 to do so.

Notable Moment:

• “Jamal Shed somehow banks this...it wasn’t all—it was a floater. Absurd, by the way.” – Dave DuFour [15:18 & 15:39]

5. Western Conference Check-In & “Thunder or the Field?”

[18:40 – 26:09]

• Current Standings & Surprise Teams:

  • Thunder have held The Athletic’s #1 Power Ranking since last year’s breakout vs. Cleveland.
  • Minnesota is surging; the Rockets have struggled, often losing to bottom-dwellers; Denver’s depth impresses.
  • Four of the five teams with both Top-10 offense & defense reside in the West: OKC, Minnesota, Houston, San Antonio, Detroit (in the East).

• Thunder’s Vulnerability:

  • Spurs have exposed gaps, beating OKC three times.
  • Injuries and offensive predictability leave OKC more vulnerable than at the season’s start.

• Debate: Thunder or the Field?

  • The panel unanimously leans “The Field,” citing the rise of contenders like Denver (especially with Murray and young talents like Watson and Brown).
  • The Spurs are praised for exposing OKC’s weaknesses.
  • Parity at the top means matchups and health will be decisive.

Notable Quotes:

• “The field has moved closer to the Thunder, and the Thunder have moved closer to the field. You talk about the Spurs, I think the Nuggets...are clearly up to beat them.” – Es Baraheni [20:57]
• “If there’s any team in the field I look at, it’s the Spurs—they’ve beaten the Thunder three times.” – Kada [23:13]
• “If you catch the wrong team early, you’re going to go home. That applies to the Thunder too.” – Dave DuFour [26:02]

Memorable Moments & Quotes (with Timestamps)

• Edwards’ late winner & Randle’s defense:
  “Julius Randle...stonewalling Wemby...” – Kada [04:35]

• Wemby’s individual dominance:
  “He had 29 points in 27 minutes. That’s wild.” – Kada [09:07]

• Nuggets’ depth revelation:
  “If the shooting for him is real...that guy’s good. Again, Calvin Booth: Great job.” – Dave DuFour [14:21]

• Raptors’ rookie historic line:
  “When was the last time a rookie had that? ... 1990. David Robinson.” – Es Baraheni [16:14]

• Thunder vs. the Field:
  “I’m taking the field. You know what? I’m taking the field. I’m not dancing around this.” – Es Baraheni [22:54]
  “If you catch the wrong team early, you’re going to go home. That applies to the Thunder too.” – Dave DuFour [26:02]

Important Segment Timestamps

• [01:20] Start of main show & Timberwolves vs. Spurs recap
• [08:24] Wembanyama's Boston/T'wolves dominance & offensive leap
• [11:36] Nuggets win without Jokic discussion
• [14:21] Raptors-Sixers wild finish & rookie stat milestone
• [18:40] Western Conference Power Rankings & "Thunder or the Field" debate
• [26:00] Parity in the West & playoff outlook

Conclusion

This episode of The Athletic NBA Daily captures the NBA season’s growing drama: Wembanyama’s superstardom, the Wolves’ legitimacy, the Nuggets’ evolving depth, and the open, unpredictable Western Conference race. The hosts’ analysis is both statistical and narrative, peppered with amusing banter and authentic reactions—making it a must-catch for fans keeping an eye on the title chase.