The Ringer NBA Show: "Six Big Questions as the NBA Season Enters 2026" | Group Chat

Date: January 5, 2026
Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, J. Kyle Mann

Episode Overview

The Ringer NBA Show crew gathers for the first Group Chat of the new year, aiming to reset the table and address six big questions shaping the second half of the 2025-26 NBA season. The hosts—Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and J. Kyle Mann—dig into contender rankings, trade rumors, star returns from injury, the rookie class, and who's actually worth watching on League Pass right now. With their trademark blend of irreverence, hoops intelligence, and banter, they break down which storylines matter most and what could shape up as the regular season’s defining outcomes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The State of NBA Title Contenders Without Nikola Jokic

[06:52–20:20]

• The show opens by examining how Nikola Jokic's hyperextended knee (out at least four weeks, likely more) reshuffles the landscape for Western Conference title contenders, especially in relation to the Oklahoma City Thunder’s apparent supremacy.
• Rob Mahoney still sees the Nuggets as the top challenger, citing other "contenders" lack of compelling recent play: “The Knicks ... have lost three straight and five of nine... the Spurs are very good and really interesting. I'm just not quite there yet with them.” (07:52)
• There’s spirited debate around the "mystery box" Boston Celtics, currently buoyed by Jaylen Brown, with Jayson Tatum’s return looming. Is the pecking order about to become muddled, Brown ascendant, or will muscle memory prevail once Tatum’s back? (08:45–13:12)
• The possibility of the Nuggets falling to a lower seed due to Jokic’s absence is debated—will playoff matchups or injuries ultimately define the West’s winner?
• J. Kyle Mann: “It’s never quite been in full comfortable stasis for a long period of time for Denver ... part of me, when Jokic went down, was like my guy needed a break. But a hyperextended knee break—I’m gonna guess no, not a net positive for the Denver Nuggets.” (15:47–16:48)

Notable Quote

“If not the Nuggets, then who? ... They're all kind of a gobbledygook... there really isn't a clear number two contender if Jokic is going to be hobbled through the rest of the regular season.”
—Justin Verrier [18:03]

2. Are the Thunder a True Juggernaut or Beneficiary of Parity?

[18:48–22:37]

• The Thunder stand alone atop the league, but do they have the makings of a historic team, or are they just best in an “era of parody?”
• Discussion centers on their dominance versus the East, but the concern remains whether they’re a regular-season juggernaut or actually matchup-dependent.
• J. Kyle Mann introduces a revealing defensive stat: “Isolation [for OKC] when Wimbanyama’s on the floor is 0.75... the matchup with the Spurs could get really interesting.” (20:20)
• The drama of “who can topple the empire” is likened to the ‘00s Yankees or Warriors dynasty—suggesting narrative undertones shape how we perceive a juggernaut.

3. Pistons’ Opportunity in an Eastern Conference Power Vacuum

[22:10–23:27]

• With the East unsettled, could the Pistons seize an unusually clear path to the Finals?
• Justin Verrier: “If I dominate the East, I have a clear road to the finals, then all bets are off…there's a real opportunity there, I would say.” (22:37)
• Rob Mahoney notes the Pistons “really could use just like one more real piece of firepower,” with smart defenses targeting their weak shooters and putting “a lot of pressure on Cade [Cunningham].” (22:52)

4. What’s Trey Young’s Market? And What is the Real Value of Star Trade Candidates?

[23:27–38:16]

• Trey Young surfaces as a dominant name headed into the trade deadline, yet the hosts struggle to find a logical fit among league rosters.
• Rob Mahoney runs through bottom-10 offenses and finds most already equipped (or uninterested), with possible exceptions like Portland, Chicago, or Sacramento, but none fit smoothly: “It’s so different from what they have that I... hesitate to think they would actually do it.” (26:22)
• J. Kyle Mann: “No one’s gonna invest in him to that extent... the tradeoffs are so tough. Like, we were saying, you’re basically asking Trey to come in and do things that sort of stress the trade off of having him on your team.” (28:51)
• The conversation pivots: Is having “dead money” tied up in a star who can’t stay on the floor (like Anthony Davis) actually now toxic due to the stricter cap rules? Teams may be rewarded for eschewing big injury bets.
• The trio sorts their personal preference for “problem point guards” (Trey, Ja, Lamelo): with Lamelo retaining highest upside, then Trey, then Ja.
• They agree the Hawks are “painfully” stuck: financial flexibility may matter less than roster flexibility now, and that’s a tough jam with no eager trade partners.

Notable Quote

“Having $50 million in dead money is just so painful... that's to say nothing about what it does to team chemistry... The teams that prioritize guys who can stay healthy and aren't investing in those kinds of deals... they're going to be richly rewarded.”
—Rob Mahoney [36:14]

5. Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Watch: Real or Manufactured Drama?

[40:02–44:45]

• The crew debates whether the Giannis trade saga is even worth discussing until something real happens.
• Rob Mahoney: “Giannis has pushed for a trade several times now. This is a real thing that has happened. This is not a media invention. This is not just like smoke.”
• Ultimately, the hosts agree nothing’s happening imminently, with movement unlikely before the summer.
• J. Kyle Mann expresses less annoyance than Justin at the perpetual Giannis rumors: “I don't find myself getting as annoyed by it as you. I guess maybe you're just kind of on the wire in a way that's affecting you in a way it's not affecting me, you know?” (43:45)
• Gentle digression on trade machine culture and the allure (or disgust) of transaction speculation.

6. Clippers & Lakers: Is There Still Time for Redemption?

Clippers: [45:30–55:19]

• The Clippers have caught fire, with Kawhi Leonard surging (“37, 8, and 4 with three steals... absolute, just meteoric shit.” – Verrier, 47:42) but face logistical and reputational challenges (esp. Kawhi contract drama and Chris Paul’s “house arrest” roster situation).
• Rob Mahoney: “I believe in [the Clippers] relative to these teams they’re bumping up against. I just don’t know it’s going to go anywhere at this point... even if they continue to go this well... it might still be too little, too late.” (49:59)
• J. Kyle Mann: “This team is like the Garnett Pierce Nets... These dudes are old. Where are we going?”

Notable Moment

“I'm not talking about momentum into the net worth. I'm talking about if you took their temperature three weeks ago, we would be putting this team under the ground. And now... we're willing to entertain that they might be on some life support.”
—Rob Mahoney [54:46]

Lakers: [56:24–66:44]

• The Lakers—currently 5th in the West—are dissected for persistent defensive issues and a muddled offense as Luka Doncic and LeBron James awkwardly share creation duties, with coach JJ Redick apparently unable to harmonize the egos or resolve lineup flaws.
• Rob Mahoney: “...Even in the best case scenario if they got their defense back in set would still get torched by a lot of opponents...There’s a lot of stuff happening at once. I don't see any reason to feel good about any of it in particular.”
• The group muses on LeBron’s future, All-Star prospects, and legacy, noting his low All-Star vote tally and forecasting the “appreciate LeBron more” phase as his career's end nears.

Notable Quote

“The Lakers are a perfect League Pass team. If they weren't on national TV so much, this is the problem.”
—Justin Verrier [88:20]

7. Rookie of the Year Race: Is It Actually a Three-Man Show?

[67:12–76:34]

• The hosts agree Cooper Flagg and Keaton Kannipple stand as favorites, with VJ Edgecombe a third but trailing contender. VJ’s surge gets some love, but Flagg’s defensive impact and “winning player” energy hold center stage.

• “It’s probably going to be [two], unless VJ just takes off and lights the world on fire... In terms of the volume, [Kannipple] hit 100 made threes before anybody in history. Efficiency is probably what would tip me if we had to vote today..."
  —J. Kyle Mann & Justin Verrier [68:59–76:03]

• There’s delight in how all three approach challenges fearlessly. Flagg’s experience on a competitive team could fuel his “Heisman moment” type hype.

8. League Pass Re-Rankings: Who’s Actually Watchable Right Now?

[78:00–91:28]

Consensus Top Tier

• Spurs: Unanimous or near-unanimous #1, with Wembanyama always a draw—“Is there a single reason on earth it should not be the San Antonio Spurs?” (Rob, 78:24)
• Celtics: "Underdog" chemistry with Jaylen Brown’s aggression thrills. “We're 35ish games into the season and I still go into every Celtics game... thinking: how are they doing this?” (Rob, 79:14)
• Honorable Mentions: Rockets (intriguing ‘makes-no-sense’ factor), Pistons (organic leap, young guns), Nets (Brooklyn’s unpredictability; “hipster pick”), Hornets, Lakers (nostalgia, if not always excellence), Suns (for the Jamari Bouyea experience), Kawhi’s Clippers (“I can't miss this”).

Notable Quote

“League Pass philosophy varies from person to person. If you like the calamity of bad shooting, that's just as valid as saying this is a good team.”
—J. Kyle Mann [85:42]

Notable Moments & Quotes (with Timestamps)

• On the Celtics / Tatum-Brown dynamic:
  “Is Tatum going to try to come back in and do Tatum things, whereas Brown asserted himself as one of the best players in the league?”
  —Justin Verrier [11:20]

• On the next guard trade market:
  “Teams practically all have their guy or they have their guy in waiting.”
  —Justin Verrier [27:20]

• On lamenting superstar injuries & cap changes:
  “It's especially punitive now more than ever... combination of new cap rules... $50 million in dead money is just so painful for a lot of teams.”
  —Rob Mahoney [36:14]

• On Clippers’ brief resurgence:
  “Kawhi just has been an absolute killer... meteoric shit.”
  —Justin Verrier [47:42]

• On aging rosters / nostalgia:
  “We’re three unks on this pod.”
  —Rob Mahoney [65:38]

• On the Rookie Wall:
  “Flag even in the midst of a poor just like scoring performance just has that real like plays the right way—always looking for somebody else.”
  —Justin Verrier [73:12]

• Lighthearted closing banter:

  • “Can you embrace a wall?” (Rob, 76:23)
  • “He looks like you plug in like a tiny code for like a golden eye sort of game.” —Justin Verrier on Andrew Nembhard [77:48]

Structural Highlights by Timestamp

• Title Contenders/West Parity: 06:52–22:37
• East Opportunity & Trey Young trade market: 22:10–38:16
• Giannis trade saga: 40:02–44:45
• Clippers & Lakers states: 45:30–66:44
• Rookie race: 67:12–76:34
• League Pass re-rankings: 78:00–91:28

Final Thoughts

This Group Chat delivers a full-court NBA state-of-affairs: the hosts methodically detail power dynamics out West, dissect the oddities of the East, and bring real skepticism to the trade value of embattled stars like Trey Young. Throughout, they celebrate the unpredictable joys of league pass viewing and the emergence of an exciting rookie class, all with their signature blend of sharp wit and depth.

Whether the Thunder are truly inevitable, the Celtics have another gear, or anyone will risk a king’s ransom for a toxic asset, the Group Chat crew makes a convincing case that, in the NBA circa 2026, uncertainty is the only certainty.

[Podcast summary by AI, covering The Ringer NBA Show: Group Chat, January 5, 2026]