The Athletic NBA Daily — Slam N Jam | “Wizards Week + Shai Keeps Getting Better”

Episode Date: December 6, 2025
Hosts: Andrew Schlecht & Alex Spears
Guest: Josh Robbins (Wizards beat reporter)

Episode Overview

This week's episode of the Saturday Slam N Jam dives into the turbulent world of the Washington Wizards following their feature as the podcast’s "Wheel of Fandom" team. Hosts Andrew and Alex open with a broad look at the league’s biggest stories, highlight the continued ascension of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA), and celebrate the surprise resurgence of Zach Edey and the Memphis Grizzlies. The main event is a detailed and entertaining discussion with Josh Robbins on the Wizards' up-and-down rebuilding season. The show closes with the beloved “Andrew vs. The Beat” trivia face-off and the spin of the next “Fandom Wheel.”

Weekly NBA Recap & Key Storylines

(03:34–09:08) Top NBA Stories

• Bucks Turmoil & Giannis Watch
  • Return of Giannis after injury is muted by a shocking loss to the Wizards, sparking rumors about his future.
  • Mixed reports: no formal trade request, but clear unrest and ongoing speculation about an exit.
  • Giannis suffers a calf strain, sidelined 3–4 weeks. Bucks win without him but are just 10–13.
• Clippers Drama & Chris Paul Dismissal
  • Chris Paul is sent home during what he announced to be his final NBA season, reportedly because "Chris Paul was really annoying."
  • (05:01, Alex): “Arguably the one thing that everyone knows about Chris Paul.”
  • Clippers’ losing streak imperils their historically rare non-losing stretch, with their fabled first-round pick now even more valuable to the thriving OKC Thunder.
• Thunder on Fire:
  • 11-game win streak, possible historic start if they win next three. Jalen Williams returns, Hartenstein out.
• Other Notables:
  • Anthony Davis gives the Mavericks new life.
  • LeBron's 1,297-game double-digit scoring streak snapped, the last such game predating the original iPhone announcement.
    • (08:22, Alex): “The last time LeBron didn’t score double digits was January 5th, 2007, only four days before the announcement of the original iPhone.”
• 50-Point Game Surge:
  • Jamal Murray’s 52-point game marks the eighth 50-point performance of the season, with the Nuggets now boasting three different players with a 50-burger.

The Good, The Bad, The What

(09:47–32:48)

The Good

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Pull-Up Mastery — A Leap into NBA History

• (10:01–12:28, Andrew):
  • SGA leads the league with 301 pull-up points at 51% efficiency—previously only matched by Kevin Durant (54%).
  • “What Shea is doing is like significant…he’s improved his game in a lot of different areas…just the efficiency on this pull up shot that could lead him to being one of the best pull up shooters in the league and in recent NBA history.”
  • Compared to elite shooters (Jalen Brown, Brandon Ingram, Steph, Jamal Murray), SGA stands out in both volume and efficiency.
  • (12:28, Alex): “If it was any other player, you'd say there’s no way they could sustain this. But I feel like Shai has reached that realm…these crazy efficiency numbers are just who he is going forward.”

Zach Edey Stabilizes the Grizzlies

• (12:55–16:10, Alex):
  • After returning from injury, Edey transformed Memphis’ defense and offensive rebounding:
  • Defense jumped from 24th to 12th; second-chance offense from 26th to 3rd in league.
  • Notable stat line: 32 pts, 17 rebs, 5 blocks vs. Sacramento (in 29 min).
  • Symbolic for “the end of the small ball dictatorship”—Edey proves a big man can still thrive.

The Bad

Trade Fear: Giannis to the Western Conference

• (16:10–19:38, Andrew):
  • Pleads for the Bucks to keep Giannis in the East, fearing a league imbalance if MVP-caliber talent stacks up in one conference.
  • “If Giannis goes West…who’s the best in the East? Cade? Brunson? We just need some kind of balance…”
  • Atlanta cited as best trade partner: “Hawks offer them a way out that doesn’t reward other teams.”
  • Parallels drawn to Damian Lillard’s “messy, prolonged breakup” in Portland.
  • Bulls front office criticized for laughable stance on not trading for Giannis.

The Disintegrating Bulls

• (21:16–24:27, Alex):
  • “Five-game losing streak.…Bulls are now dead last in the league on offense over the last two weeks.”
  • Once a surprise team, now “eight games off the pace…just like that. It’s over.”

The What

Do Teams Even Need Their Star Point Guards?

• (24:48–29:43, Andrew):
  • Fascinating lineup data: Both Memphis (without Ja Morant) and Atlanta (without Trae Young) have lineups performing better without their star point guards.
  • “I just don’t know what you do. I just am curious as to what the Grizzlies and the Hawks think…”
  • Alex: “I definitely don’t think they should suddenly believe, hey, point guards, this is the new market inefficiency…can just imagine in the playoffs, these offenses without a real guard would be putrid.”

Danny Wolfe’s “Weird” Breakout for Brooklyn

• (29:43–32:48, Alex):
  • Podcast trivia “shames” the Nets into finally playing rookie Danny Wolfe; he quickly impresses as an oddball, highly skilled giant who shoots and passes like a wing.
  • “He makes quick decisions…he’s just a daring passer, which I love…glad the Nets finally started to play him, it was getting a little depressing.”

Wizards Week: Deep Dive with Josh Robbins

(36:59–61:17)

Setting the Stage

• Wizards went 2–5 during “Wizards Week,” snapping a losing streak with wins over Hawks and Bucks:
  • “Did they also lose games by 30, 33 and 45? Yeah…We’re still talking about the 3-and-18 Wizards who per Cleaning the Glass had the 28th ranked offense and 30th ranked defense.” (37:04, Alex)

What’s Actually Different in Year 3 of the Rebuild?

• (42:36–44:15, Josh):
  • “Not a whole lot different in the feel of things. But this is not by accident.…The Wizards are tanking. I think that’s fair to say…They’re trying to maximize their lottery odds and keep their 2026 pick.”
  • “The season has not been pretty but it has not been a surprise.”

Bright Spots: Alex Saar & Keyshawn George

• Alex Saar’s Leap
  • “He’s rolling to the basket more, attacking the basket, rebounding at a good rate for an NBA big...protecting the rim at a rate comparable to reigning NBA DPOY Evan Mobley within six feet.” (45:42)
  • “The gap between last year and this year has been immense. So no, I did not expect it.”
• Keyshawn George as Point Forward
  • “Bonafide point forward. Not just a ball handler…but as a shooter…he’s a competitor. When they lose, it’s like he’s absorbed a punch to the gut.” (51:28)
  • “That shows me he has the competitiveness to withstand these very down times for the team.”

The Tanking Dilemma

• (49:09, Josh):
  • “The nightmare scenario is that somehow they wind up with the fifth or sixth pick (in a bad draft) and don’t get a franchise-changing player…That would be just disastrous for them.”

On Player Development & Coaching

• Coaching staff/Brian Keefe:
  • “By all accounts, he does hold players accountable when they make a mistake…facing enormous headwinds... it's almost impossible to be mistake free...but I also don’t think that they are close to what they could be in the short term, especially on defense.” (56:30–58:41)
  • “It’s an almost impossible job that he’s been put into.”

Cam Whitmore’s Rollercoaster Role

• (53:43–55:35, Josh):
  • Self-creation and athleticism are real, as is “tunnel vision”— he’s last on the team in passes-per-minute.
  • “If they want to have a ‘make the extra pass’ offense, so far he has not fit…But if you need someone who can come off the bench and score, he is as advertised.”

Trey Johnson’s Upside and Stalled Growth

• (58:58, Josh):
  • “Shooting has been as advertised…Best rookie shooter I've covered by far. He needs to learn where and how he'll get his shots…it's disappointing that he’s injured.”

Trivia: Andrew vs. The Beat — Wizards Edition

(60:23–82:00)

• As always, competitive and delightfully self-deprecating, with banter around obscure Wizards stats and player history.
• Clutch Moment: Andrew narrowly defeats Josh Robbins, correctly identifying Bilal Coulibaly (“Which Wizard appears in both of those positive two man lineups?”) as the pivotal player in the final question (81:54).
• Memorable Quotes:
  • (73:50, Josh): “I’m the lovable mutt…running across the street against the most frou-frou standard poodle…”
  • (82:33, Josh at the game’s end): “This is like when the Soviet Union would win the men’s hockey at the Winter Olympics. I tried to give your tens of thousands of listeners a 1980 Miracle on Ice moment.”

Notable Moments & Quotes

• (40:16, Josh Robbins' Dinner Pledge):
  “Next time I’m in Oklahoma City…I will take three Slam and Jam listeners…out to dinner at a restaurant of your choice. No alcohol. No caviar. No lobster. Sea bass I can probably do.”
• Lengthy mutual affection between hosts and guest, with running jokes about outdated late night TV, underdog status, and dog breeds.
• Multiple callbacks to listener engagement, particularly inviting emails to attend the OKC dinner.

Wheel of Fandom Spin: Next Up, the Memphis Grizzlies

(84:41)

• Hosts announce Memphis as next week’s focus; expect a deep dive in the next episode.

Five Star Review Spotlight

(85:29)

• Listener “Wizards trash talker” offers a poetic, appreciative note on Wizards Week, wishing for “Alex Sars All Star appearance. Why not. Shout out to Josh Robbins and Matt Moderno. Slam and Jam, Five Stars, Five Ever.”

TL;DR

• SGA is pushing statistical boundaries as a pull-up shooter.
• Giannis & Milwaukee drama throw the league into trade speculation chaos.
• Zach Edey’s impact reinvigorates the Grizzlies, symbolizing the rise of bigs in a small-ball NBA.
• Wizards continue a painful but purposeful tank, but Alex Saar’s and Keyshawn George’s progress are clear bright spots (per Josh Robbins).
• Bulls are collapsing; teams like Memphis and Atlanta surprisingly thrive without their franchise point guards, raising questions about team building.
• Josh Robbins steals the show with self-aware humor and a generous dinner pledge for listeners.
• As always, the episode delivers in-depth stats, sharp banter, and a welcoming vibe for all hoops nerds.

Timecodes for Quick Reference

• 03:34 — Top NBA stories
• 09:47 — The Good, The Bad, The What
• 36:59 — Wizards Week deep dive with Josh Robbins
• 60:23 — Trivia game: Andrew vs. The Beat
• 84:41 — Wheel of Fandom spin: Memphis Grizzlies
• 85:29 — Five star review reading

For fans of NBA deep dives with humor, seriousness, and stats!