Podcast Summary: The Ringer NBA Show – Real or Not! Week 1 Overreactions. Plus, NBA Rookie Roll Call.

Date: October 28, 2025
Hosts: Logan Murdock, Raja Bell, Howard Beck, Cliff (producer)

Episode Overview

This episode, the Real Ones crew (Logan, Raja, Howard, and Cliff) dive into early season NBA storylines, playing a spirited game of “Real or Not” to assess week one overreactions. The squad debates everything from Victor Wembanyama’s historic potential, San Antonio’s guard logjam, the Sixers’ new two-timeline reality, Rookie of the Year frontrunners, to the legitimacy of the Warriors and Hornets. Alongside breakdowns of team dynamics and individual breakouts, listeners get engaging banter, deep dives into NBA history, and listener mailbag trade hypotheticals.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Victor Wembanyama: MVP & DPOY Candidacy

• Early Arguments for Both Awards
  • Howard Beck (02:34): “The winds have to come behind it, right? And the Spurs are one of the last undefeated teams right now…everything looks better, right? Like, the shot blocking was already there, but like, his handle looks tighter, he looks more fluid, he looks stronger.”
  • Logan (03:47): Emphasizes Wemby’s “group chat MVP” status: Everyone drops what they’re doing to watch him live—his plays feel like historic events.
• Historical Context on Shot Blocking
  • Howard (09:19): “At one point he was at 6 [blocks per game]…on pace to be chasing Mark Eaton’s all time record. Mark Eaton has the all-time NBA record, 456 [in a season] in 1984-85.”
  • Raja (11:47): “He’s going to lead the league in blocks on the same possession.”
• Schedule and Spurs Outlook
  • Spurs’ soft early schedule gives them a chance for momentum and chemistry.
• Wemby as Defensive Anchor
  • Logan (14:38): "He can guard all five. Like, I trust him with all five positions…he’s guarding you all 94ft, bro."

Memorable Quotes

• Howard (10:44): “Nobody should miss a single Spurs game this season. Sign up for all streaming services, because you don’t want to miss any Spurs games.”
• Logan (15:02): "If he does what he's supposed to do and continues his trajectory, he's going to be the best defender of all time."

2. San Antonio’s Guard Rotation & De’Aaron Fox Fit

• Overcrowded Backcourt
  • Rookies Dylan Harper & Stefan Castle, plus Devin Vassell, are all thriving (16:09).
  • Howard (17:23): “Is De’Aaron Fox just kind of superfluous? Do they really need him?...Would you be rushing out to make a trade for a max salaried point guard? I think the answer is probably no.”
  • Raja (19:01): Suggests (theoretically) trading Fox to Houston: “I know that team needs a PG…they’re that close to being able to make some real noise.”
• Trade Speculation
  • “Could they eventually unclog the guard rotation and get other stuff to bolster the frontcourt?” (Howard, 18:45)
  • Team unlikely to prioritize Fox with current chemistry.

3. NBA Rookie Roll Call

• Rookie Standouts
  • Howard (22:03): “List of rookies who are off to phenomenal starts: VJ Edgecombe, Cedric Coward, Trey Johnson, Con Knipple, Dylan Harper. Cooper Flag is only sixth in scoring among rookies.”
  • Consistent sentiment: This rookie class is deep and instantly impactful; consensus #1 pick Cooper Flag is struggling a bit out of the gate.
• On Cooper Flag’s Role
  • Logan (24:09): “It’s experimentation that Jason Kidd has put on the Cooper Flag…the same way he did with Giannis…it’s backfiring…he’s being shoehorned as a point guard.”
  • Raja (25:55): “He was always going to be some version of this…he was not coming in to drop 25 points a game. He didn’t do that in college.”
• Edgecombe’s Backstory & Raja’s Personal Connection
  • Raja (28:33): Shares a story of young VJ Edgecombe growing up in the Bahamas and personal sightings.

Notable Quotes

• Howard (23:56): “If we had to vote today, which is preposterous, VJ Edgecombe’s out in the lead I think pretty easily, and Dylan Harper is right on his heels.”
• Raja (28:50): “His athleticism, his burst, his fearlessness…it’s tailor made for coming out of the gates, being really, really electric.”

4. Philadelphia 76ers: Two Timelines or Trouble?

• Sixers’ Hot Start—But Can It Last?
  • Joel Embiid on minutes restriction; team winning with younger core (Maxey, Edgecombe).
  • Howard (30:55): “Maxey and Edgecombe look like the most explosive backcourt in the league.”
• Concerns About Superstar Egos & Chemistry
  • Logan (33:01): Warns of the pitfalls of blending ascending youth with established stars: “Never underestimate a superstar ego…when you’re trying to…put your mark on it…this has the potential to be a little toxic transition.”
  • Raja (34:41): Paul George a “more natural fit” with young core than Embiid due to style of play.
• Backline Defense Issues
  • Cliff (38:02): “Being a backline defender is probably the most crucial part of what the Sixers actually need because they don’t play a lick of defense.”

Memorable Quotes

• Howard (32:38): “They’re legit exciting right now…without Embiid even being himself and without Paul George even being on the court.”

5. LaMelo Ball’s Efficient Start: Real or Not?

• Career-High Numbers (43:56)
  • Averaging 28/8/9 on best efficiency of his career.
  • Howard (44:38): “This is the best three game start to Lamelo’s career…He’s not out there just screwing around and putting on a show. He’s playing winning basketball.”
• Pushback from Logan
  • Logan (46:04): “It’s three games, bro. He played against Brooklyn and Washington…then lost the lead against a good team.”
  • Raja (47:25): “I do that too. But, like, that dude can hoop. He can hoop fair.”
• Consensus: Impressive, but too early to anoint.

6. Mailbag: Warriors’ Ceiling, Kaminga Trade Talk, and More

• Are the Warriors a Real Title Threat?
  • Logan (50:35): “No, they’re not winning the championship. I’m tired of the hype. They’re going to ride Steph’s brilliance into the ground…they’re just going out sad. They should have made trades years ago.”
  • Concerns about old age, lack of meaningful offseason moves, and reliance on Steph.
• Jonathan Kaminga’s Fit & Future
  • Raja (53:46): “He looks a lot more complimentary and bought in…that’s progress,” even if it’s for his next team.
  • Beck adds, even if Kaminga’s showcasing for a trade, that’s still good for player and team (54:37).
• Trade Speculation
  • Discussion of hypothetical trades involving Kaminga, Fox, and Bam Adebayo.
  • Howard (56:13): “I do not think the Miami Heat are trading Bam Adebayo for a package built around Jonathan Kaminga.”
• Listener Questions on Knicks' Mike Brown and Rotation Management
  • Howard (62:20): “I think some of this is just him figuring out what [his rotation] is…I don’t expect Mike Brown’s going to spend the entire season playing an 11-man rotation.”
  • Emphasis on fresh legs for late-season/postseason run.

Notable Quotes & Moments by Timestamp

• [02:34] Howard: “The winds have to come behind it, right?...the defensive player of the year in the MVP stuff are both going to come down to like, are the spurs one of the best teams in the West at a minimum?”
• [10:44] Howard: “Nobody should miss a single Spurs game this season. Sign up for all the streaming services, because you don't want to miss any Spurs games.”
• [15:02] Logan: “We have not seen a defender as good as [Wemby]…he's going to be the best defender of all time.”
• [17:23] Howard: “Is De’Aaron Fox just kind of superfluous? Do they really need him?...I think the answer is probably no.”
• [22:03] Howard: “The list of rookies who are off to phenomenal starts…VJ Edgecombe, Cedric Coward, Trey Johnson, Con Knipple, Dylan Harper…”
• [23:56] Howard: “If we had to vote today, which is preposterous, VJ Edgecombe's out in the lead I think pretty easily and I think Dylan Harper is right on his heels.”
• [33:01] Logan: “Never underestimate a superstar ego…This has the potential to be a little toxic transition, man, is all I'm saying.”
• [38:02] Cliff: “Being a backline defender is probably the most crucial part of what the Sixers actually need because they don’t play a lick of defense…”
• [44:38] Howard: “This is the best three game start to Lamelo’s career…He’s playing winning basketball.”
• [50:35] Logan: “No, they're not winning the championship. I'm tired of the hype. They're going to ride Steph's brilliance into the ground…”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:02] — Cliff introduces “Real or Not” Week 1 Overreactions
• [02:34 – 15:59] — Deep dive: Wemby’s start, historical context, defensive impact, and narrative
• [16:09 – 21:20] — Spurs’ guard rotation, De’Aaron Fox’s fit, possible guard trades
• [21:22 – 30:05] — Rookie check-in: Edgecombe, Harper, Cooper Flag, system fit
• [30:55 – 42:50] — Sixers’ two timelines (vets vs. youth), Embiid’s role, Paul George, defense, team ceiling
• [43:56 – 49:33] — LaMelo Ball’s efficient start: real improvement or small sample blip?
• [49:38 – 55:24] — Listener mailbag: Warriors’ chances, Kaminga, trade hypotheticals
• [62:20 – 63:31] — Knicks’ rotation under Mike Brown, balancing minutes, fresh legs

Language & Tone

Maintains a candid, barbershop-style NBA discourse—blending deep basketball insight, stats, history, humor, and light roast. The hosts are honest about what’s “real” and what’s “just hot early-season air,” all while making it accessible and entertaining.

Summary

This episode is a must-listen for NBA fans eager to cut through early-season hype. The Real Ones balance deep-dive analysis (especially on Wemby, the Sixers’ two timelines, and the rookies) with a healthy dose of skepticism and humor, providing context, historical perspective, and fan engagement through mailbag Q&A. Early takes are bold but grounded, setting the tone for a season where nothing is off limits and no take is too hot for week one.

For NBA junkies who missed the episode, this summary covers all key debates, player/team outlooks, and the most memorable lines—with timestamps for deeper exploration.