Hoops Tonight: Are Spurs & Nuggets New NBA Title Favorites? + 5 Best Breakout Seasons | NBA Reaction

Podcast: The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Episode Date: February 28, 2026

Episode Overview

In this Hoops Tonight episode, the host dives into the evolving 2026 NBA title picture, focusing on the surging San Antonio Spurs and Denver Nuggets—two teams staking their claim atop the league with recent defensive masterclasses. The show breaks down the Spurs’ dramatic comeback win against the Toronto Raptors and the Nuggets’ stifling performance over the Boston Celtics. In the closing segment, the host highlights five breakout NBA players who have made the leap into household names this season. The tone is passionate, candid, and deeply analytical, speaking to hardcore basketball fans.

Key Discussion Points

1. San Antonio Spurs’ Resurgence & Statement Win in Toronto

[03:30–16:22]

• Spurs Overcome Adversity: Down 15 points on the road to the Raptors, the Spurs fought back and held Toronto to just two points over a six-minute stretch, highlighting elite defense and team resilience.

• Collective Contributions:

  • Dylan Harper: Played crunch time, delivered aggressive defense and a highlight spinning assist to Luke Kornet.
  • Steph Castle: Hit critical catch-and-shoot threes to spark the comeback. Noted for inconsistency in shot percentage but known for clutch shooting.
  • Devin Vassell: Hit a tough movement three and showcased his athleticism with a reverse dunk, benefiting from Victor Wembanyama’s gravity in the offense.
  • Julian Champagnie & Harrison Barnes: Knocked down key corner threes.
  • De’Aaron Fox: Provided offensive spark, including a late-corner three and an improbable baseline floater behind the backboard.

• Victor Wembanyama’s Defensive Dominance:

  • Despite an off shooting night, Wemby delivered the dagger—a drifting corner three in Brandon Ingram’s face—and a vertical lob dunk.
  • Highlight Block: “One of the most insane highlight blocks of the season” ([14:40]) where Wemby recovered to reject Jakob Poeltl under the rim during a critical fast break, a sequence that demoralized Toronto and electrified viewers.

• Defensive Lockdown: Spurs held Raptors to just 2 points over a crucial 6-minute run, flipping a 15-point deficit to a lead. The host:

  "Two points and a half a quarter. Can you imagine if you were just watching a game from the opening tip and at the first TV timeout, one of the teams had only two points? That is an extremely rare stretch of dominant defense." ([14:10])

• Wembanyama’s Rim Protection:

  • Opposing players displayed visible panic and frustration, e.g., Jamal Shead’s awkward floater and Scottie Barnes shooting directly into Wemby’s hands.

• Title Contender Cred:
  The host acknowledges having underrated the Spurs preseason, but now places them firmly in the “top tier of contenders,” even considering them potential favorites:

  “I'm buying more and more of the Spurs stock every time I watch them. … I'm not ready to take that leap just yet, but I am strongly considering it, and I'm starting to think about it more from the standpoint of matchups.” ([15:25])

• Upcoming Challenges: Spurs’ next nine games include tests against Brooklyn, New York, Philadelphia, Detroit, the Clippers, Houston, Boston, Denver, and Charlotte—a stretch that will clarify their contender status.

• Admitting Past Doubts:
  The host openly addresses previous misjudgments about the Spurs:

  “I'm not going to sit there and be in denial and just pretend as though I'm forced to be married to some stupid take that I had before the season. No, I'm going to admit that I was stupid, admit that I was wrong, and I'm going to get on board...” ([16:02])

2. Denver Nuggets’ Defensive Statement Against Boston

[18:22–29:25]

• Context: Denver, recently battered by injuries and a tough schedule, needed proof they could reach a championship defensive ceiling.

• Limiting the Celtics:
  Nuggets held the NBA’s #2 offense to just 84 points, and a 79 offensive rating in half-court sets, shutting down transition and offensive rebounds.

• Game Plan Excellence:

  • Denver mimicked Boston’s successful drop coverage, parking Jokic deep and daring Celtics ballhandlers to rely on inefficient midrange attempts.
  • Celtics went 8-for-27 on non-rim twos; Denver conceded just 0.8 points per pick-and-roll possession.

• Role Players Step Up:

  • K.J. Simpson, Spencer Jones, Christian Braun, Cam Johnson, Bruce Brown, Tim Hardaway all credited for on-ball defense and stifling Boston’s shooters.
  • Denver forced tough isolation attempts and eliminated open catch-and-shoot looks in the third quarter, which led to turnovers and fast breaks.

• Key Offensive Performances:

  • Nikola Jokic:
    Not flashy statistically (“it was kind of ugly and in the mud”), but made “super, super important” baskets, hitting two big threes late in the third.

    “That one felt like an absolute backbreaking shot from Jokic.” ([23:49])

  • Tim Hardaway Jr.:
    Praised for both scoring and his “nasty” guard screens, setting the tone for physical, playoff-style basketball.

  • Jonas Valanciunas:
    Bullied softer defenders in the fourth, adding crucial separation with his size and inside game.

• Big Picture for Denver:
  The Nuggets need to regain defensive identity and continuity ahead of the postseason. With OKC banged up and other contenders being young, Denver’s path to a repeat remains wide open—provided they defend at this level.

3. Five Breakout NBA Stars: New Household Names of 2026

[29:25–35:32]

The host responds to Colin Cowherd’s “surprise” question: Which five previously lesser-known players have become legit NBA household names this season? The discussion focuses on why each has elevated from a “deep cut” to a mainstream name.

1. Keyonte George (Utah Jazz)

• Averaged 24 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists on 61% true shooting before an ankle injury.
• Improved finishing at the rim for a smaller guard; real three-level scorer, proven consistency and efficiency.
• The emergence of George has solidified the franchise’s competitive direction.

• “Keyonte George has popped into a legitimate potential star guard in this league.” ([30:45])

2. Jalen Duren (Detroit Pistons)

• Averaged 18 points, 11 rebounds, 67% true shooting; last three games: 27 & 14, 68% FG.
• Noted for ground dominance and “face up” evolution—likened to a hybrid of Dwight Howard and Amare Stoudemire.
• Dominant pick-and-roll finisher; key two-man game partner with Cade Cunningham.

3. Deni Avdija (Portland Trail Blazers)

• 24 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists on 61% true shooting.
• Most prolific driver in the league; mixes physicality with crafty pace (compared to Luka), draws fouls relentlessly.
• The only remaining gap is jump shot consistency.

4. Steph Castle (San Antonio Spurs)

• 17 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 57% true shooting.
• Modern hybrid between a big, physical guard and a slashing forward (Jimmy Butler comp).
• High-level shot creation, smart passing, excellent on-ball defense, and significant upside.

• “As long as he's attached to Victor Wembanyama and playing well, he's going to continue to gain, not gain notoriety around the league.” ([33:00])

5. Jalen Johnson (Atlanta Hawks)

• 23 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists, 58% true shooting.
• Explosive in transition, improving jump shooter and decision-maker; three 30-point triple doubles and nine 30pt/10reb games this year.
• Next steps: Improved half-court shot creation and more consistent off-ball defense.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Victor Wembanyama’s block:

  “Just a beautiful highlight from Dylan Harper. … And then he [Wemby] made one of the most insane highlight blocks of the season that I've seen to this point … No shot. Finishing against Victor Wembanyama at the rim.” ([13:45–15:25])

• Wemby’s psychological effect:

  “…it was like a buzz, but in the worst way, like a negative buzz in the arena. You could tell the Raptors were like, oh, shit, we can't score on these guys.” ([15:00])

• Admitting being wrong about the Spurs:

  “No, I'm going to admit that I was stupid, admit that I was wrong, and I'm going to get on board because I'm always going to try to call it like I see it.” ([16:02])

• On Denver’s defense:

  “…sometimes with lesser rosters. But they did need to demonstrate to themselves and to Coach Adelman that they're capable within this season of playing championship level defense.” ([18:45])

• On Tim Hardaway’s screening:

  “He sets some of the nastiest guard screens you'll see. And like, he like will lean in and almost looks like he's pushing a football sled.” ([24:50])

• On the parity of the league:

  “This thing is wide open. So the Nuggets just need to get healthy and they need to rebuild their defensive identity. … I have not moved off them as my second ranked contender this season.” ([26:50])

Important Timestamps

• [03:30–16:22] – Spurs vs. Raptors breakdown, comeback details, Wemby’s block, and Spurs as potential NBA favorites.
• [18:22–29:25] – Nuggets’ defensive turnaround vs. Celtics, in-depth analysis of defensive adjustments and key player contributions.
• [29:25–35:32] – Five breakout NBA stars: why they matter and how they got here.
• [16:02, 14:40, 23:49, 24:50, 26:50, 30:45, 33:00] – Notable quotes and highlights.

Summary

This episode delivers a deep-dive analysis of the latest shifts in NBA title contention. The Spurs have transformed into a defensive juggernaut and are now firmly in the championship mix, thanks to emerging stars and otherworldly rim protection from Victor Wembanyama. The Nuggets, defending champions, demonstrated they can still dial up elite defense and remain dangerous as the playoffs approach. The host closes with thoughtful, accessible breakdowns of five ascending stars, underscoring a new generation reshaping the league’s pecking order.
The takeaways are clear: Championship predictions are evolving weekly, driven by new defensive realities and the emergence of fresh, superstar-caliber talent.