The Athletic NBA Daily (Slam N’ Jam) – Episode Summary

Episode Title: What is the Jazz Plan? + Who Gets Traded?
Air Date: December 20, 2025
Hosts: Andrew Schlecht & Alex Spears
Special Guest: Sarah Todd, Deseret News

Episode Overview

This week’s Slam N’ Jam zeroes in on the Utah Jazz: their evolving young core, the front office's commitment to a long-term build, and the trade season landscape across the NBA. The hosts also spotlight standout moments and controversies from a wild NBA week, and cap things off with signature Jazz trivia against Sarah Todd. Engaging, irreverent banter and sharp basketball analysis set the tone throughout.

NBA Week in Review

[02:31–07:23]

• Knicks Win NBA Cup:

  • New York Knicks defeat San Antonio Spurs 124-113 in Las Vegas.
  • Jalen Brunson scores 25; wins Cup MVP. Mitchell Robinson nabs 15 boards in 18 minutes (10 offensive).
  • Knicks decide against hanging a Cup banner, but keep all five Atlantic Division banners in MSG.

• Spurs’ Outlook:

  • Despite Cup loss, optimism remains high: “Could the Spurs be the next team to use their NBA Cup loss as fuel for a deep postseason run?” [04:03]

• Warriors Struggles & Fan Emailing Owner:

  • Warriors fan directly emails owner Joe Lacob, receives candid response:
    “You can't be as frustrated as me. I am working on it. It’s complicated… Jimmy is not the problem.” [05:14]

• Noteworthy Games:

  • Pistons lose a close OT game to Dallas after a statement win in Boston.
  • Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg becomes youngest ever to score 40+ (42 points) in a loss to the Jazz.
  • Pelicans upset Rockets in OT; Clippers slip toward the West's basement.
  • Hornets tie NBA record: 18 threes in a half; LaMelo Ball returns from injury and shines.

Good, Bad, What?!

[08:11–32:35]

The Good

[08:30–14:44]

• Andrew – Tyler Kolek's Emergence:

  • Previously quiet rookie bursts onto the scene in the NBA Cup final:
    "He didn't score double digits before the cup final... this is truly out of nowhere..." [09:03]
  • His growing presence gives Knicks unexpected depth and hope:
    "Perhaps they have found a nice bench player in Tyler Kolek, who is certainly a cup riser." [10:53]

• Alex – All-Star Watch: Jamal Murray:

  • Jamal Murray's Marvelous Season:
    • “25 points per game, 4 rebounds, 6.6 assists, shooting 50/46/89... all career-highs.” [11:45]
    • Alex argues “Jamal Murray has, in my opinion, finally reached undeniable All Star level.” [12:32]
  • Implications for Nuggets: Still a top contender with value in championship odds.

The Bad

[14:44–22:48]

• Andrew – NBA’s Disney “Dunk the Halls” Telecast:

  • Mocks the NBA's willingness to "try anything" to retain interest:
    “I just can’t believe this is happening. It’s a bad thing. Why can’t [we] just watch a basketball game?” [16:20]
  • Lighthearted debate about animated telecasts:
    • Andrew: “If you had Draymond Green as Sid from Toy Story... let’s go.” [18:13]

• Alex – State of NBA Refereeing:

  • Increasing frustration as officiating dominates fan discourse: “It's becoming impossible to avoid—when someone like Ben Taylor does a whole video on it…” [22:32]
  • Cites highlight-driven dialogue and rule inconsistencies (“the gather step”, “off arm abuse”):
    “We’ve seemingly gone backwards where offenses are again setting all-time efficiency records, but that’s almost entirely influenced by how the game is being called.” [21:34]
  • Wishes refs “would fade into the background.”

The What?!

[23:17–32:35]

• NBA Trade Rumors (via Sam Vecenie’s Trade Board):

  • Top trade targets: Anthony Davis, Trae Young, Domantas Sabonis, Coby White, Quentin Grimes.
  • Debates Dallas' options with Anthony Davis:
    Andrew: “Either you move him... or you offer him a contract extension. I think trading him is better at this point.” [24:27]
  • Depth of Dallas’ rebuild discussed, including lottery hopes with Cooper Flagg.
  • Importance of not letting a big contract (with potential injuries) derail a team’s future—reference to Embiid and Sixers.

• Wildest Game of the Week (Blazers vs Kings, Thursday):

  • “A comedy of errors” in the final two minutes, capped by questionable officiating.
  • Alex: “People say ‘free basketball’—I would have paid extra to watch that overtime, [it was] a masterpiece.” [30:47]
  • Mark Davis’ infamous late whistle reverses the result; both hosts incredulous.

Deep Dive: Utah Jazz – The Plan & The Young Core

Guest: Sarah Todd, Deseret News [33:49–48:44]

Keonte George’s Leap

— Best week of his career:

• “Not as many forced shots… more catch and shoot, playing to score, not hunting fouls.” [34:13]
• Major off-season feedback: “Hey man, time to grow up. Time to not feel entitled. You haven’t done anything yet.”
• Will Hardy’s public endorsement seen as a milestone: “He’s a really good player now.”

Ace Bailey: Surprise Young Contributor

• “Much more than advertised… he’s just so happy to be here… passes the ball a ton, totally not selfish.” [36:55]

Defense & Development

• Bailey’s defense: Willing, coachable, using length, but subject to rookie mistakes and nervousness. [39:03]
• Team context: “Judging defense on this team is tough; they’re 29th,” but positive on individual progress.

The Tank Question – Too Good to Tank?

• Sarah: “10 wins by mid-December is too many.” [40:51]
• Jazz are “very committed” to keeping this year’s pick (top-8 protected owed to OKC).
• Expect “creative” injury management & more minutes for raw prospects like Cody Williams.

Who Stays, Who Goes? Young Jazz Prospects

• Pressed on Isaiah Collier, Cody Williams, Taylor Hendricks, Bryce Sensabaugh, Walter Clayton Jr.:
  • Sarah: “Maybe Taylor Hendricks if I had to choose… but there’s a chance none of these guys are on the next great Jazz team, or even in the NBA.” [44:24]
  • “A lot of these guys don’t realize the golden opportunity they have… on another team, they’d be waived.” [45:48]

Front Office Intentions (Post-Tank)

• Reports: Utah wants to keep and build around Lauri Markkanen.
• “If you want to use him and not waste him, now’s the time... the Jazz have been handcuffed by this OKC pick.” [46:29]
• Outlook: “They’d love to try and go for it starting next season… If they’re still bad by January, they can pull the rug and tank again.” [48:17]
• Realistically, big free agents unlikely; improvement must mostly come via the draft and trades.

Fan Hopes vs. Reality

• “Some nights they’re scrappy and feel close; others remind you how far away they are in true talent.” [48:44]

Jazz Trivia – Andrew vs. The Beat (Sarah Todd)

[49:46–66:46]

• Fun, competitive round—big topics include Jazz two-man lineups (Flip & Lauri Markkanen have Jazz’s only heavily positive duo), all-time Jazz 30-point scorers (Malone, Dantley, Mitchell, etc.), and blocks leaders (Mark Eaton, Kirilenko, Gobert, etc).
• Notable Moment: Sarah stumped on deep-cut 1970s Jazz blocks leaders; Andrew wins in sudden death.
• Sarah: “I feel like that’s stolen valor… I don’t agree with the term.” [66:25]

Notable Quotes

• On the Cup Final’s unlikely hero:

  • “He didn’t score double digits before the cup final… this is truly out of nowhere.” – Andrew [09:03]

• On Jamal Murray’s All-Star case:

  • “I don’t even need to make a list of West All Stars to know that he should and will be in the game playing at his current level.” – Alex [12:32]

• On Disney’s Dunk the Halls:

  • “Why can’t just watch a basketball game? What are we doing here?” – Andrew [16:47]

• On Anthony Davis trade speculation:

  • “Either you do that or you offer him a contract extension this summer. What would be worse? I would argue offering him the contract extension would be far worse and just like doubling down on it.” – Andrew [24:27]

• On Utah’s young core:

  • “There’s a chance none of these guys are not only not on the next great Jazz team, but like, not in the NBA.” – Sarah Todd [44:24]

Key Timestamps

• NBA Cup + news rundown: 02:31–07:23
• Good, Bad, What?! Segment: 08:11–32:35
• Utah Jazz deep dive w/ Sarah Todd: 33:49–48:44
• Jazz prospects/commitment to tank: 40:51–46:29
• Trivia (Andrew vs. the Beat): 49:46–66:46

Tone and Style

The hosts mix sharp statistical analysis and reporting with playful, irreverent banter—a hallmark of Slam N’ Jam. Sarah Todd’s frankness and deep knowledge of the Jazz brings authenticity, and the whole episode is accessible to NBA fans at every level.

For Listeners: Why You Should Tune In

• Get the inside scoop on the shifting Jazz rebuild and why their tanking dilemma is real.
• Hear the sharpest, funniest NBA news recap on any podcast this week.
• Test your own Jazz history knowledge with the trivia segment.
• Enjoy the kind of chemistry and basketball nerdery that makes Slam N' Jam a must-listen, week after week.