The Ringer NBA Show – "One-Month Awards: Best Player, Biggest Disappointment, and More"

Date: November 24, 2025
Hosts: Justin Verrier (A), Rob Mahoney (B), J. Kyle Mann (C)
Format: Group Chat

Episode Overview

In this lively “Group Chat," The Ringer NBA trio hands out their signature one-month awards across categories like Best Player, Best Team, Biggest Leap, Biggest Disappointment, and more, offering sharp analysis and playful banter on the NBA’s early surprises and letdowns. Expect a deep-dive into player stats, memorable moments, and the evolution of key storylines, with plenty of humor along the way.

Main Segments & Insights

1. Best Player (05:00 – 18:58)

Unanimous MVP: Nikola Jokic

• All hosts agree Jokic is the clear best player.
• J. Kyle Mann: “What are we even doing here? …when you watch him play basketball, you’re like, this dude is straight-up cipher from the Matrix… he just sees the game…” (05:23)
• Jokic’s statistical dominance: leading NBA in rebounding and assists, PPG above 30 with Aaron Gordon out, 72.8% true shooting (historically elite).
• Rob Mahoney: “He was the best player in the league last season, and he's significantly better right now than he was last year.” (07:19)
• Jokic’s diverse skillset: scores every way, low average seconds per touch among stars, expansive game affecting every aspect on the court.
• Contextual note: Jokic’s ability to plug any lineup holes, e.g., dealing with Cam Johnson being a non-factor and still thriving.
• Nuggets’ injury woes, especially Aaron Gordon’s recent 4–6 week hamstring injury, increasing Jokic’s workload and spotlight.

Honorable MVP Mentions

• Hosts' top five:
  1. Nikola Jokic
  2. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA)
  3. Luka Doncic
  4. Giannis Antetokounmpo
  5. Victor Wembanyama (Wemby)
• Shout-outs to Tyrese Maxey, who’s “blown away” Kyle (15:28). Wembanyama’s defensive impact compared to Steph Curry’s offensive gravity—“I don’t even know we have an adequate statistical vocabulary to capture that” (16:09 – C).
• The “Nopes/Hell Naus" effect: Measuring how Wemby’s very presence deters offensive actions (19:07).

2. Best Team (19:39 – 27:59)

Oklahoma City Thunder Dominate

• No debate: the Thunder have been the league's best team—“16–1 as we’re recording this” (22:54 – A), “best clutch player in the league by far” (19:39 – B re: SGA).
• SGA’s development: “51.5% on pull-up threes and pick-and-roll…up 17% from last year” (21:20 – C).
• Roster depth: Despite injuries to key players (J Dub, Wiggins, Dort, Caruso, Chet), newcomers step up, and seamless role-player integration.
• Ferocious, proactive defense—massive point differential, creates “hell” for opponents (24:33 – C).
• Rob Mahoney: “The difference between [the Thunder] and the number two defense in the league is the same as the difference between number two and number twenty.” (24:33)
• #2 Team Debate: Nuggets maintain the next-best status despite injuries, followed by Rockets, Pistons, and Suns—Detroit gets praise as the best among East teams currently (27:46).

3. Biggest Positive Surprise / Biggest Leap (31:06 – 53:54)

Surprise Standouts

• Julius Randle & Jaden McDaniels (Timberwolves):
  • Randle rebounding from playoff disappointments; McDaniels’ offensive explosion is “a completely different player offensively…attacking in a way that belies almost his steely demeanor” (32:31 – A).
  • Their development credited for stabilizing Wolves’ offense.
• Colin Gillespie (Suns):
  • From virtual NBA obscurity to playing critical minutes: “TJ McConnell but actually shoots the ball” – A (34:25).
  • “This is a totally different player from the guy we've seen” (34:45 – B).
  • Suns’ surprising resurgence built on “cohesion and good spirited play” (36:26 – C).

Other Notables

• Tari Eason (Rockets): Leading NBA in 3PT%, adding value as an elite defender and chaos agent (37:32 – B).
• Reed Sheppard (Rockets): Natural step up rather than a leap, but has “applied the things we knew he was good at” (38:47 – C).
• Ryan Rollins (Bucks): Defensive specialist to scoring point guard: “He gets to the rim more often than basically any guard in the league, and at the same time…also leading the league in deflections” (42:28 – B).
• Keonte George: Massive step forward as a slasher and facilitator, “detangled” his game and extended his NBA career prospects (44:41 – C).
• Tyrese Maxey (Sixers): Staggering multi-year progression culminating in a probable All-NBA/MVP candidate status (48:04 – A).
  • “The last couple steps have been pretty fucking awesome too.” (49:32 – B)
• Deni Avdija (Wizards): From role player to clear No. 1, “doubling his three-point rate, doubling the free throw rate…the best player on this team” (52:09 – A).

4. Biggest Disappointment (53:54 – 62:41)

Clippers: Aging and Ineffective

• “They were a 50-win team last season and are currently 5–11…Harden has been really fucking good” (54:03 – B).
• Offseason moves backfired: failed Beal trade, Chris Paul “hot potato-ing,” bad Brook Lopez signing, loss of Norm Powell as a sparkplug to the Heat (55:46 – A).
• “There’s a structural thing that is kind of busted in their design because they are so old and so slow and way too deliberate.” (54:54 – B)
• Both team and offseason get slammed for poor planning and results.

Grizzlies: Ja Morant & Jaren Jackson Jr.

• Dire situation: Ja now a “joke” in the league, his leadership and on-court motivation questioned (57:06 – A; 60:14).
• Jaren Jackson Jr. stagnant, turnovers up, blocks and boards down—“This version of Jaren is just kind of like, fine, and that's not good enough” (59:02 – B).
• Clay Thompson’s recent shut down of Ja’s trash talk cited as a clinical lowlight (60:14 – A).

Other Mentioned Disappointments

• Pacers: Downward spiral, but more expected due to injuries (62:03).

5. Big Boy of the Month (63:04 – 67:05)

• Alperen Şengün (Rockets): “He has just forced his will and propelled them in a way that I think has been incredible.” (63:29 – C)
• Steven Adams (Rockets): Quintessential wrecking-ball big boy; box outs and physical dominance called out as hilarious (“older brother on the nerf hoop” – 64:32 – B).
• Special mention: Nikola Vucevic “big boying” Bulls teammates in interviews (65:39 – A/B).

6. Preseason Mulligan (68:23 – 72:56)

• Regrets and Corrections:
  • Clippers, Grizzlies, Pacers, Suns all mis-projected.
  • Suns: “We just did not think that this would be a functional team…” (69:01 – B).
  • Raptors: Rob admitted initial skepticism: “You said they stunk, Rob” (69:32 – C).
  • Derrick Queen (Pelicans): Early skepticism has proven unfounded, as Queen’s skill set and passing wow (70:10 – C).

7. Buying Low — Stock Watch (72:59 – 81:04)

• Magic: Recent winning surge means they may no longer qualify as a “buy low” team (73:10 – A/C).
• Nets Rookies (Jeoman, Wolf, Drayk Palsman): “Their skill sets are in the wilderness because the top two usage players on this team…are not reciprocating in any way” (74:59 – C). But if even two hit, the process works.
• Bucks: Rob names Milwaukee as a buy-low after a slow start due to absence of Giannis (77:59 – B).
• Celtics: Justin sees them as too-good-to-fail and still able to hang in the East despite offenses issues with Anthony Simons (79:22 – A).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Jokic:
  “He was the best player in the league last season, and he's significantly better right now.” – Rob (07:19)
• On SGA:
  “51.5% on pull-up threes and pick and roll. That is not what you want to see if you're in the west.” – Kyle (21:20)
• On Clippers:
  “There’s a structural thing that is kind of busted in their design because they are so old and so slow and way too deliberate.” – Rob (54:54)
• On Ja Morant:
  “Ja’s kind of become a joke in the league at this point, which is very sad…” – Justin (57:06)
• On Sengun/Big Boy:
  “If you didn’t know anything about basketball, you could see that he has just forced his will and propelled [the Rockets].” – Kyle (63:29)
• On Deni Avdija:
  “You made it a hot line, you made it a hot song…he’s the best player on this team and I think could easily slot into being probably a number two on like a title contending team.” – Justin (52:09)
• On Tyrese Maxey:
  “This isn't the one step. It's kind of been natural progression—not just, no, an unnatural progression.” – Rob (49:32)
• On Wemby’s Defense:
  “I don't even know that we totally have an adequate, like, statistical vocabulary to capture [Wemby’s impact].” – Kyle (16:09)
• On Clumsy Podcasting:
  “We've reinvented how to consume coffee. I think we've done a lot for one pod.” – Rob (81:04)

Episode Highlights by Timestamp

• 05:00 – 18:58: Best Player (Jokic, SGA, Luka, Giannis, Wemby deep dive)
• 19:39 – 27:59: Best Team debate (Thunder, Nuggets, Rockets, Pistons, Suns)
• 31:06 – 53:54: Biggest surprise/leap (McDaniels, Gillespie, Eason, Rollins, Maxey, Avdija, etc.)
• 53:54 – 62:41: Biggest disappointment (Clippers, Grizzlies, Ja/Jaren)
• 63:04 – 67:05: Big Boy of the Month (Sengun, Adams, Vucevic)
• 68:23 – 72:56: Preseason Mulligans (Suns, Raptors, Queen)
• 72:59 – 81:04: Buy-low picks (Magic, Nets Rookies, Bucks, Celtics, and meta-conversation)

Final Reflections

• The hosts serve a perfect blend of hot takes, deep stat dives, and meme-ready humor.
• Well-argued MVP and best team choices; Suns and Pistons get overdue props; Clippers and Grizzlies roundly roasted.
• Unique segments (“Big Boy of the Month”) and thoughtful “stock watch” make this essential listening for keeping up on NBA narratives a month in.

*For more in this tone and depth, tune into The Ringer NBA Show “Group Chat” each week.