The Ringer NBA Show: NBA Midseason Awards!

Date: January 13, 2026
Hosts: Logan Murdock, Raja Bell, Howard Beck
Episode Theme: The Real Ones crew hands out their NBA Midseason Awards—real and quirky—while diving deep into seasonal trends, standout players, and breaking Anthony Davis injury/trade news.

Main Theme

This episode centers around The Ringer NBA crew’s midseason NBA awards—MVP, League Pass Player, Rookie of the Year, and other superlatives. The discussion combines analysis, storytelling, humor, and breaking news, embodying the podcast’s trademark blend of serious basketball insight and lively banter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. MVP Race: Shea Gildress-Alexander Leads the Pack

Starts at [04:12]

• Howard Beck’s Pick:

  • "Shea Gildress-Alexander, pretty clearly, right now, you can't overthink this. He's been absolutely dominant." – Howard [04:45]
  • Stresses Shea’s efficiency (32 pts, 4.5 reb, 6.5 ast, 40% 3PT, 60% 2PT), durability (38/40 games), and his role carrying OKC through injuries.
  • Notes OKC's strong record despite frequent absences from key players.

• Raja Bell Agrees:

  • "It's just so efficient ... I'm kind of blown away by it." – Raja [06:12]
  • Mentions Cade Cunningham as an outside case, but affirms SGA as the clear favorite due to team success and efficiency.

• Logan’s Perspective:

  • Endorses SGA, emphasizes his leadership and the challenge of thriving without Jalen Williams for much of the season.
  • Shouts out Jaylen Brown for his under-the-radar MVP-type campaign with the overachieving Celtics, likening him to '05-06 Kobe:
    • "He's putting together a campaign that is MVP worthy." – Logan [08:26]

• MVP Alternatives Discussed:

  • Candidates like Jokic, Wemby, Edwards, Luka, and Giannis flagged, but availability and team records hurt their cases—especially with the new 65-game minimum eligibility rule.

• On the 65-Game Rule:

  • "We’re robbed of that.... When you take that out, you don't really get a full sample size." – Logan [12:07]
  • Howard and Logan critique the award’s new eligibility cutoffs for distorting the race and reducing deserving candidates.

2. League Pass Player(s) of the Year

Debate begins at [14:43]

• Raja’s Pick(s):

  • Brooklyn Nets’ Michael Porter Jr. and the Charlotte Hornets trio: LaMelo Ball, Con Knippel, and co.
  • "If I'm sitting ... looking at league pass, I want to see some cool shit. Like, I'm probably going to tune in to see the wildest thing I could potentially see." – Raja [17:32]

• Howard’s Picks:

  • Victor Wembanyama:
    • "He's the guy who's exploding your brain and making you just go like, 'Oh.' All the time." – Howard [19:43]
  • Referee Bill Kennedy (curveball):
    • Praises BK’s replay explanations and on-court personality—“Bill Kennedy fucking just breaks all of that. He's thrashed it all. And he's so good at it, and he's so much fun.” [19:58]
    • Celebrates personality in officiating—“If you can make an officiating review fun... You’ve accomplished something.”

• Logan’s Unexpected Pick:

  • Jock Landale (Memphis Grizzlies)—a personal favorite for unexpectedly fun performances:
    • "Every time I turn on league pass and I watch the Grizzlies, I'm like, who the fuck is that? ... he's a real deal Holyfield." [23:48]

• Philosophy:

  • The segment highlights the joy of basketball’s unpredictable entertainment value, from rookie wildness in Charlotte to offbeat referee flair.

3. Rookie of the Year

Segment begins at [27:28]

• Logan:

  • Picks VJ Edgecombe (Philadelphia) for his impact on a winning team and his clutch stats:
    • "He is made the Sixers very fun to watch ... along with Tyrese Maxey and others." [28:54]

• Raja:

  • Coop Flag (Dallas Mavericks):
    • "I think he's continued to prove ... that we are getting or we will get to that point.... He reminds me of a Scottie Pippen type of talent but without MJ in his way of growth." [31:06]
  • Emphasizes Flag’s all-around game, adaptability, and unexpected scoring.

• Howard:

  • Con Knippel (Charlotte Hornets):
    • "I had Con Knippel by a hair over Cooper Flag.... He's been a great secondary playmaker [and] is lapping the field on true shooting percentage." [32:14]
  • Highlights efficiency, three-point shooting, and the role in making the Hornets a league-pass darling.

• Consensus:

  • The race is wide open, each candidate separated by team context and statistical excellence.
  • Dylan Harper and others mentioned as possible late risers.

4. Crash Out of the Year (Most Entertaining or Notorious NBA Meltdown)

Segment begins at [35:31]

• Logan:

  • Jeremiah Fears (Pelicans)—for comically picking fights with a laundry list of notable NBA personalities.
    • "He’s a really good basketball player ... I love that he sticks up for himself and his teammates, and you're not afraid of shit." [36:54]

• Raja:

  • Draymond Green—"storming out" of the arena mid-game timeout:
    • "It's the only place I could go in terms of crash out of the year." [38:43]
  • Acknowledges the tactic (self-removal) as perhaps a coping mechanism, but calls it a “wild and crazy look.”

• Howard:

  • JJ Redick, new Lakers coach:
    • Quotes Redick’s blunt postgame therapy sessions—“I’m not doing another 53 games like this.” [39:46]
  • Appreciates Redick's candor, but questions how long his honesty will resonate in the locker room.

• Raja Honorable Mention:

  • Jose Alvarado's altercation with Mark Williams—a true “fight” with real punches thrown.

• Meta-Commentary:

  • Debate on shelf life and effect of candid/combative personalities (players and coaches) in the NBA ecosystem.

5. Coach of the Year

Dialogue starts at [45:01]

• Howard’s Pick:

  • Joe Mazzulla (Celtics)—hails the Celtics' overachievement in a would-be gap year:
    • "Joe Mazzulla coaches like world peace is at stake.... There are no gap years, no gap quarters, no gap minutes." [46:35]

• Raja’s Picks:

  • Jordan Ottman (Suns)—for defying low expectations and building a defensive force.
  • JB Bickerstaff also lauded for the job with the Cavaliers.

• Logan’s Support:

  • Agrees on Mazzulla, citing his ability to maximize a depleted Celtics roster, and his growing reputation for blending X’s and O’s excellence with player relations.
  • Shouts out JB Bickerstaff: "He's breaking through that ceiling right now with the job that he's doing." [50:45]

• Other Coaches Mentioned:

  • Darko Riakovic (Toronto), Nick Nurse (Philadelphia), Mark Daigneault (OKC), Mitch Johnson (San Antonio), David Adelman (Denver). [50:45]

6. Breaking News: Anthony Davis Out for the Season

Major news drop at [51:26]

• Logan:

  • Reads Shams’ report: Anthony Davis to have season-ending surgery on his left hand. This erases his and the Mavericks' season and shakes up the trade market.

• Howard:

  • Notes that, despite injury, Dallas is reopening trade talks on Davis for next season.
  • On Dallas’ new direction:
    • "This clarifies Dallas's season. ... They should be going lose for booze." [53:09]

• Raja and Logan:

  • Lean into draft talk (“Lose for Booze”) and consider Dallas’s need to pivot to a rebuild, focusing on Cooper Flag’s development.
  • Speculate about Kyrie Irving, Jason Kidd, and the direction of the team after repeated injury setbacks.

• Quote:

  • "Lose for booze with Kyrie." – Logan [53:48]
  • "I felt for Cooper Flag ... it was really hard for him to fit into a goal." – Logan [55:52]

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• Howard, on SGA’s MVP case:

  "You can't overthink this. He's been absolutely dominant, just as dominant as he was last season." [04:45]

• Raja, on League Pass philosophy:

  "I'm probably going to tune in to see. I want to see the wildest thing I could potentially see at a basketball game." [17:32]

• Logan, on Jaylen Brown’s rise:

  "He should be getting his flowers, too. I don't think he necessarily will get the MVP ... but it looks like he's putting together a campaign that is MVP worthy." [08:26]

• Howard, on referee Bill Kennedy:

  "Bill Kennedy fucking just breaks all of that. He's thrashed it all. And he's so good at it, and he's so much fun." [19:58]

• Raja, on Cooper Flag:

  "He reminds me of a Scottie Pippen type of talent but without MJ in his way of growth, if that makes sense." [31:06]

• Logan, on crash out nomination:

  "Jeremiah Fears...has gone at, whether it’s a skirmish or a yelling match... Jimmy Butler, Dillon Brooks, Luka Doncic, PJ Washington, Rui Hachimura... all in his rookie season." [35:31]

• Howard, on JJ Redick's candor:

  "I love how raw and honest JJ Redick is, especially as a young head coach...he's being more candid than 99% of head coaches right now." [39:46]

• Raja, on Draymond Green:

  "I'm going with Draymond storming out of the arena mid, mid, like timeout. Just leaving...still a wild and crazy look that I've never seen before." [38:43]

• Logan, on Anthony Davis fallout:

  "I feel for Anthony Davis and just the season that he has had just with injuries... And this changes a lot of plans for people in the trade market." [51:26]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [04:12] — MVP picks and debate
• [14:43] — League Pass Player of the Year (Teams, Wemby, Ref Bill Kennedy, Jock Landale)
• [27:28] — Rookie of the Year Award discussion
• [35:31] — Crash Out of the Year (Jeremiah Fears, Draymond, JJ Redick, Honorable Mentions)
• [45:01] — Coach of the Year deliberation
• [51:26] — Breaking News: Anthony Davis’ season-ending injury; Dallas trade implications

Tone & Additional Notes

• The tone balances irreverence and insightful basketball analysis, featuring witty asides, friendly ribbing, pop culture riffs, and sound bites reminiscent of live barbershop debate.
• The crew’s chemistry shines through in running jokes (e.g., "Lose for Booze"), playful self-checks, and honest critiques of NBA policy and media narratives.
• The show underscores the evolving and sometimes chaotic NBA landscape at midseason, using the awards format as a jumping-off point for broader conversations.

Summary Takeaway

For listeners who missed this episode:
You’ll get a comprehensive snapshot of the NBA’s midseason drama—the MVP chase led by SGA, a three-way Rookie of the Year sprint, quirky honors for players and referees that bring joy to die-hards, and big-picture debates about new rules, team-building, and media candor. The hosts’ blend of humor, storytelling, and granular basketball knowledge makes this a must-listen for any hoops fan following the NBA’s ongoing soap opera.