The Ringer NBA Show: "NBA Opening Night Thrillers. Steph Stuns Lakers and OKC’s Double OT Victory"

Date: October 22, 2025
Hosts: Logan Murdock & Howard Beck
Format: ‘Real Ones’ (No Raja Bell—sleeping in Miami!)

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the drama and meaning of the NBA’s much-anticipated Opening Night, with the Ringer NBA crew breaking down the Warriors’ statement win over the Lakers (fueled by classic Steph heroics), as well as the double-overtime slugfest between the champion Oklahoma City Thunder and the revamped Houston Rockets led by Kevin Durant. Logan and Howard provide real-time impressions from the games, insights on team futures, and candid reflections on old legends returning to the spotlight—like Michael Jordan’s new NBC segment. The pod is a blend of in-arena detail, inside media stories, and sharp basketball analysis.

Segment 1: Howard Beck Returns to Crypto (00:05–05:20)

Key Points:

• Howard’s first Lakers home opener since 2003; nostalgia and media memories.
• Praising Crypto Arena’s upgraded plaza and history-celebrating statues (“Multiple Kobe statues!” — Beck, 02:53).
• Logan jokes about Howard’s schmooze-level and legendary status in the press room.
• Touching check-in with Bill Plaschke (LA Times), who recently wrote a moving piece on his Parkinson’s diagnosis and fighting it via boxing.

Notable Quote

“Plaske… wrote an incredibly moving and incredibly soul-bearing and very brave, I thought, column... I hadn't seen him since that appeared and I really wanted to just kind of be able to touch base with him.”
– Howard Beck, 03:46

Segment 2: Lakers–Warriors Game Analysis (05:20–15:24)

Lakers Focus (05:20–12:11)

• Lakers’ Roster Issues:

  • Offense completely reliant on Luka Doncic—team stagnates without him.
  • Defensive liabilities (“Aiden couldn’t stop anyone. Reeves couldn’t stop anyone.” — Logan, 05:52).
  • New additions (Marcus Smart, DeAndre Ayton) underwhelm: “I don't think any of these guys are changing the Lakers.” — Howard, 09:24
  • LeBron James (injured) is a remote, stoic presence:

    “Every camera pan, he's like stoic as hell... there's just some stuff simmering”
    – Howard Beck, 06:42

  • Beckham and Logan discuss the backdrop of contract tensions and possible LeBron exit.
  • Pecking order in the West: OKC and Denver at the top; Lakers in a crowded “next tier.”

• Big Picture Concern:

  • Without LeBron and more playmakers, the Lakers could be in trouble:

    “It’s a tough proposition. I made the joke that the Lakers would probably want LeBron’s salary slot over LeBron at this point.”
    – Logan, 13:48

Warriors Focus (15:24–21:49)

• Jonathan Kuminga’s Impressive Second Half:
  • Bad first half (“terrible”), but turned it around for a huge plus in the third quarter.
  • 17 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 4/6 from three.
  • Howard: “A night like tonight… That’s a good all-around game from Kuminga.” (16:55)
  • Team’s optimism about Kuminga as a valuable asset—either to keep or trade.
• Rotation & Roster Notes:
  • Draymond still starting at center; Al Horford on minutes restriction.
  • Potential need for another big man—possible trade talk looming.
• Jimmy Butler’s Impact:
  • 31 points (16/16 FT), 5 boards, 4 assists; changed the Warriors’ attack style since arrival late last year.
  • Howard: “This was an absolute continuation of how strong they look with Jimmy out there.” (20:29)
  • Warriors’ health the only real question mark; ceiling is “how long do these guys stay healthy.”

Notable Moment

“As soon as Steph made that shot… I was like, yeah, let's go, pod start. Let's get out of here. This game is over.”
– Logan, 15:11

Segment 3: OKC Thunder vs. Houston Rockets Double OT Thriller (23:55–39:36)

Broadcast & NBC’s Return (23:58–26:26)

• Double OT game led to TV schedule overlap (NBC/Peacock confusion), echoing old TNT nights.
• Early season games already competitive—’don’t buy the NBA Cup-only hype.’

Rockets Analysis (27:00–39:36)

• Raja Bell (via text) weighs in on Amen Thompson’s early tentativeness:

  “He's afraid to shoot. ZERO confidence in it tonight. Hopefully this isn't a season-long issue, but my gut says it will be.”
  (Read by Logan, 27:31)

• Kevin Durant’s Rocket debut:
  • Playing huge minutes (47 total) at age 37—concerns about sustainability.
  • Rockets forced into awkward lineups without Fred VanVleet; “Shengun is fucking playing point guard.”
  • Houston’s size and skill don’t always fit—defensive mismatches, especially with KD at guard.
• Team Concerns:
  • Button-push problem: Adding KD brings expectations, but stunts Amen’s organic development.
  • Point guard weaknesses, and concern whether Reed Sheppard is ready.
  • “There are some real flaws that I don't know can be rectified anytime soon.” — Logan, 32:08
• Defensive Matchup Problem:
  • Who does Durant guard? In the end, he gets isolated on SGA, fouls out—swing moment.
• Team Direction:
  • Howard: Rockets can't burn out KD in “exercise for the playoffs” year; may need to trade soon for a new point.
  • If Rockets hadn’t traded for KD and just let Amen run PG all year? “You could just use the year to develop that.”

Notable Exchange

Logan: “It has the potential… to set Amen Thompson's growth [back]. He's supposed to be your guy.”
Howard: “There's an urgency now to where, like, it fucking has to work… We've got a guy who's an all-time great in his twilight.”
(37:39–38:00)

Thunder Analysis (39:36–41:25)

• Chet Holmgren steps up:
  • “28 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists… [Started] 6-for-6” (Logan, 39:42)
  • Defensive struggles with Sengun, but impressed by OKC finding a way to win shorthanded (no J-Dub).
• Thunder’s depth allows survival without J-Dub:
  • Kaysen Wallace effectively slides in: “14, 7 boards, 5 assists, 4 steals.” –Howard
• OKC’s Mood:
  • Resilience and composure on ring night. “I think OKC is in a fine place… Houston needed this game more than OKC.” – Logan (39:36)

Segment 4: The Complex Legacy of Kevin Durant in OKC (41:25–48:32)

• KD’s emotional return on OKC ring night; fanbase still boos
  • “KD having to watch a ring night as the visiting player in… a franchise he built.” – Howard, 41:09
  • Logan and Howard agree the relationship is scarred—crowd reaction is “deeper than just having fun booing,” per Logan (47:23).
  • “He’s really the reason why… [OKC’s] what it is now. And… after a national disaster… he helped that community… And then you boo him like that” (Logan, 43:45)
  • Speculation on if KD will ever be warmly welcomed or honored by team: “I think maybe the city won’t want it as much… I think the organization will do the right thing.” – Howard (48:32)

Segment 5: Michael Jordan’s NBC "Insights to Excellence" Segment (49:45–63:13)

• Jordan’s TV Return:

  • MJ’s brief NBC segment with Mike Tirico is emotional, reflective (about “paying the game forward”).
  • MJ’s unmistakable desire “to be part of something again”—after years of post-player aloofness.
  • Howard: “If there’s nothing else that I’ve learned… it’s that guys like Michael… are wired differently… Walking away is hard. Staying away is hard.” (55:17)

• Hosts’ Mixed Reactions:

  • Logan surprised at how heartfelt the segment was—but hopes future content won’t be the same "old man yells at cloud" story about load management.
  • Howard: “We don’t need anybody else from the 90s to talk about how players today should all play 82 games in 40 minutes a game.” (57:34)

• What should MJ TV segments be?

  • Genuine stories, reflective anecdotes; less “grumpy old man with hot takes.”
  • Both hosts want to hear thoughtful comparisons, insights about the modern game—style, international influence, guard play, the mental side.

Notable Quotes

“I want to hear Mike… He's the greatest player… The game needs him… I want to hear his ups and downs, his flaws… I don't want to hear a Disneyfication of it.”
– Logan, 57:35

“We got the 10 hours of Last Dance. We don’t need it to be old man shaking his fist at the cloud either. So, I’m curious to see where it goes.”
— Howard, 62:31

Closing Vibes & Friday Tease

• Logan and Beck reflect on pacing themselves for the season, teasing more heated debates and Raja Bell’s return on Friday.
• Shout-out to listeners and Ringer NBA family.