Podcast Summary: The Ringer NBA Show – "The Biggest All-Star Selection Debates"

Date: January 19, 2026
Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, J. Kyle Mann
Format: Group Chat

Episode Overview

In this episode, Justin, Rob, and Kyle dive into their All-Star picks for the 2025-26 NBA season, focusing on the biggest debates over the final roster spots. With the age-old positional requirements now gone and the new "USA vs. International" All-Star format, the crew dissects which players are locks, who’s on the bubble, and the shifting landscape of NBA stardom. Along the way, they unpack how voting works, muse on the quirks of All-Star selections, and riff on the evolving NBA ecosystem—all with plenty of banter and running jokes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. All-Star Voting Format Changes

Positionless Ballots: The NBA’s move to a positionless All-Star selection process simplifies nominations but brings new challenges for deciding between candidates, especially among guards and wings.
- Rob notes: "Now that there’s no excuses and it's just like, who are the best 12 guys... it streamlines the process but creates different areas where now it's challenging. All of a sudden I’m really fretting over starter vs. reserve for that final spot." (02:55)
USA vs. International Format: New twist: after the teams are selected, players are split into U.S. and international squads, leading to awkward self-identification cases (e.g., Donovan Mitchell’s Panamanian claims).
- Justin jokes: "Get strapped in for that. I think I have bulls—t." (07:34)
Selection Process: Starters are determined by a mix of fan, media, and player votes; coaches pick the reserves. (04:46)

2. Eastern Conference All-Star Debate

Consensus Starters

Kade Cunningham, Jalen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Justin shares Maxey’s minutes stat: "Tyrese Maxey is averaging 39.3 minutes a game... That hasn’t happened since 2011-12." (10:03)

Final Starter Spot Debate: Jalen Brunson vs. Donovan Mitchell

Rob’s Case for Mitchell: Fewer offensive options in Cleveland, yet more efficiency and team impact than Brunson.
- Rob: "Donovan Mitchell has been the more efficient creator and more efficient scorer. ...The Cavs have been better with Donovan Mitchell on the floor than the Knicks have been with Jalen Brunson." (13:22)
Justin’s Counter for Brunson: Recent Knicks games without Brunson show his outsized value.
- Justin: "Without Brunson, [the Knicks] just seem a little lost at sea." (14:05)
Kyle on Playstyles: "Mitchell is a better movement shooter... more creative passer... just a more dynamic offensive player than Brunson." (15:21)
Team Context and Impact: Both the Cavs and Knicks have underperformed, complicating how to weigh individual impact vs. team context.

Locks and Benches

Jalen Johnson became a near-lock for the whole group; Rob: "He is sort of the immutable piece that has always worked." (19:17)
Scotty Barnes praised as a disruptive defender and clear All-Star (19:46)

The 12th Spot, Surprises, and Bubble Choices

Candidates: Towns, Norm Powell, Franz Wagner, Siakam, Bam Adebayo, Josh Giddey, Desmond Bane, Con Kanipple, and more.
Norm Powell vs. Bam Adebayo:
- Justin’s logic: "Feels like the offense is so over-reliant on Powell... Bam’s offensive season has been pretty poor." (36:10)
- Rob: "Norm's ability to score in one-on-one situations is really what makes the Heat viable at all." (37:03)
Team Performance: The group wrestles with whether All-Stars should come from losing teams and where to draw that line.
Karl-Anthony Towns: Included by default due to productivity despite frustrating play (34:10)

Honorable Mentions

Bam Adebayo, Josh Giddey ("If he was healthy, he'd have a good case"—Justin, 38:45), Siakam, Con Kanipple, Evan Mobley, Joel Embiid

3. Western Conference All-Star Debate

Clear Starters

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, Victor Wembanyama

Fierce Contest for 5th Starter: Anthony Edwards vs. Steph Curry (and Jamal Murray)

Ant Edwards: Incredible clutch stats (clutch eFG% of 85!), big moments, and ascending stardom.
- "In the clutch, he's shooting 85 eFG%... That's better than a Steph Curry open three." (44:01)
Steph’s Case: Rob leans toward Steph’s singular impact and the chaos he governs on a dysfunctional Warriors team:
- "Steph is the only reason anyone with the Warriors basically has a job right now." (45:26)
Jamal Murray: Recognition for carrying the Nuggets during Jokic’s absence with star-level play and consistency.
- Justin: "They're five and two in games without Jokic. [Murray] is scoring 31, 9.5 assists, and 5 rebounds." (51:24)
Luka Debate: The pod reflects on Luka's defense and the Mavs' struggles, questioning whether he’s a lock above Ant or Steph.

Bench Locks and Bubble Spots

All agree: Jamal Murray, Deni Avdija, Kevin Durant, Chet Holmgren.
Chet Holmgren vs. Alperen Sengun: Chet’s defense and unique role give him the edge this year.
- Rob: "He’s one of the best defensive players in the world and I want to reward that. There’s not really a blemish on it." (56:01)
Rockets Representation: The group grapples with whether two Rockets (Sengun and Durant) are warranted vs. giving a spot to Devin Booker, whose presence is debated due to Suns' middling record but lauded for leadership and steady excellence.
Booker’s Leadership & Context: Rob highlights how essential Booker is to Phoenix’s offense and overall fabric, contrasting his role with Dylan Brooks’ “emotional totem” vibes. (65:17)
Michael Porter Jr.: Praised for thriving in a new role post-Denver, showing meaningful growth and composure as Brooklyn’s leading option. (22:09, 67:57)

Kawhi Leonard’s Complicated Case

Unanimous selection for the games he’s played at an elite 50/40/90 rate.
- Justin: "If you'd asked me to list the five guys who have been bulletproof this season, he's on there... When he plays, the Clippers are a completely different team." (76:08)
Concern: If he misses more time or controversy about the Clippers’ "aspiration investigation" worsens, does it matter?
- Group agrees: Off-court salary/money issues shouldn’t factor into basketball honors, unless it affects team chemistry. (81:12)

LeBron James & The Veterans

The group considers whether LeBron could sneak in as an injury alternate, especially amid retirement speculation prompted by his "23 for 23" patch. (82:53)
Rob expects the league will want him in: "There’s a decent chance he ends up making this team because of who he is... the shadow he casts over the sport." (84:52)

Honorable Mentions

Rudy Gobert ("potential DPOY-worthy season"—Kyle, 88:30), Zion Williamson, Lauri Markkanen, James Harden, Julius Randle

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On the All-Star Format:
- Justin: "Maybe a little anime action... There's just a 13 reason why Pascal Siakam is not on the..." (02:22)
On Tyrese Maxey’s minutes:
- "I can't remember the last time I saw that... That hasn’t happened since 2011-12." —Justin (10:03)
On Ant’s Clutch Play:
- "It’s brain-melting what he is doing in crunch time." —Rob (45:26)
On Michael Porter Jr.’s transformation:
- "He’s doing so much and is so clearly the best thing that the Nets have going... pretty easy inclusion." —Rob (22:11);
- "It is an incredible credit to him that he’s taken this opportunity where he’s been basically jettisoned from one of the true contenders in the league and taken it in stride." —Rob (67:57)
On the surreality of meme references:
- "The meme is the people's reference is what you're saying." —Rob (24:31)
On Kawhi’s All-Star case amid controversy:
- "If you are playing to this standard, I'm gonna kind of move heaven and earth to make sure there's a place for you on the team." —Rob (79:01)
On All-Star philosophical dilemmas:
- Kyle: "The All-Star Game is just kind of odd, isn't it? We're talking about a team sport but trying to reward individuals." (66:09)
On LeBron’s possible retirement:
- "That patch thing is very weird and ominous...people are on red alert. That might be a signal that this might be the end." —Justin (84:08)

Important Timestamps

02:55 — NBA's shift to positional-agnostic All-Star ballots
04:46 — Starters vs. reserves selection explained
10:03 — Tyrese Maxey leads the NBA in minutes; historical comparison
13:22 — Rob makes a detailed case for Donovan Mitchell over Jalen Brunson
19:17 — Why Jalen Johnson is a bench lock
36:10 — Debate: Norm Powell vs. Bam Adebayo
44:01 — Anthony Edwards’ clutch performance breakdown
51:24 — Jamal Murray’s stats sans Jokic
56:01 — Rob’s process switching from Sengun to Chet as an All-Star
65:17 — Assessing Booker’s centrality to the Suns, role of Dylan Brooks
67:57 — Rob on Michael Porter Jr.'s growth
76:08 — Discussing Kawhi’s performance and injury caveats
82:53 — LeBron’s "23 for 23" patch and possible retirement tea leaves

Tone and Chemistry

The episode features friendly ribbing and sustained in-jokes—Reese’s seasonal candy, fake plant puns, and plenty of self-deprecation. The hosts blend deep basketball insight with casual, irreverent pop culture asides, making the pod both substantial and approachable for NBA fans.

Conclusion

This All-Star debate episode is a deep exploration of what constitutes NBA stardom in 2026, questioning tradition, scrutinizing statistical and intangible impacts, and highlighting how much context—and fun—matters in All-Star selection. The trio provides both granular breakdowns and big-picture NBA reflections, making this a must-listen for fans invested in the league’s evolving landscape.

Podcast Summary: The Ringer NBA Show – "The Biggest All-Star Selection Debates"

Date: January 19, 2026
Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, J. Kyle Mann
Format: Group Chat

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. All-Star Voting Format Changes

Positionless Ballots: The NBA’s move to a positionless All-Star selection process simplifies nominations but brings new challenges for deciding between candidates, especially among guards and wings.
- Rob notes: "Now that there’s no excuses and it's just like, who are the best 12 guys... it streamlines the process but creates different areas where now it's challenging. All of a sudden I’m really fretting over starter vs. reserve for that final spot." (02:55)
USA vs. International Format: New twist: after the teams are selected, players are split into U.S. and international squads, leading to awkward self-identification cases (e.g., Donovan Mitchell’s Panamanian claims).
- Justin jokes: "Get strapped in for that. I think I have bulls—t." (07:34)
Selection Process: Starters are determined by a mix of fan, media, and player votes; coaches pick the reserves. (04:46)

2. Eastern Conference All-Star Debate

Consensus Starters

Kade Cunningham, Jalen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Justin shares Maxey’s minutes stat: "Tyrese Maxey is averaging 39.3 minutes a game... That hasn’t happened since 2011-12." (10:03)

Final Starter Spot Debate: Jalen Brunson vs. Donovan Mitchell

Rob’s Case for Mitchell: Fewer offensive options in Cleveland, yet more efficiency and team impact than Brunson.
- Rob: "Donovan Mitchell has been the more efficient creator and more efficient scorer. ...The Cavs have been better with Donovan Mitchell on the floor than the Knicks have been with Jalen Brunson." (13:22)
Justin’s Counter for Brunson: Recent Knicks games without Brunson show his outsized value.
- Justin: "Without Brunson, [the Knicks] just seem a little lost at sea." (14:05)
Kyle on Playstyles: "Mitchell is a better movement shooter... more creative passer... just a more dynamic offensive player than Brunson." (15:21)
Team Context and Impact: Both the Cavs and Knicks have underperformed, complicating how to weigh individual impact vs. team context.

Locks and Benches

Jalen Johnson became a near-lock for the whole group; Rob: "He is sort of the immutable piece that has always worked." (19:17)
Scotty Barnes praised as a disruptive defender and clear All-Star (19:46)

The 12th Spot, Surprises, and Bubble Choices

Candidates: Towns, Norm Powell, Franz Wagner, Siakam, Bam Adebayo, Josh Giddey, Desmond Bane, Con Kanipple, and more.
Norm Powell vs. Bam Adebayo:
- Justin’s logic: "Feels like the offense is so over-reliant on Powell... Bam’s offensive season has been pretty poor." (36:10)
- Rob: "Norm's ability to score in one-on-one situations is really what makes the Heat viable at all." (37:03)
Team Performance: The group wrestles with whether All-Stars should come from losing teams and where to draw that line.
Karl-Anthony Towns: Included by default due to productivity despite frustrating play (34:10)

Honorable Mentions

Bam Adebayo, Josh Giddey ("If he was healthy, he'd have a good case"—Justin, 38:45), Siakam, Con Kanipple, Evan Mobley, Joel Embiid

3. Western Conference All-Star Debate

Clear Starters

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, Victor Wembanyama

Fierce Contest for 5th Starter: Anthony Edwards vs. Steph Curry (and Jamal Murray)

Ant Edwards: Incredible clutch stats (clutch eFG% of 85!), big moments, and ascending stardom.
- "In the clutch, he's shooting 85 eFG%... That's better than a Steph Curry open three." (44:01)
Steph’s Case: Rob leans toward Steph’s singular impact and the chaos he governs on a dysfunctional Warriors team:
- "Steph is the only reason anyone with the Warriors basically has a job right now." (45:26)
Jamal Murray: Recognition for carrying the Nuggets during Jokic’s absence with star-level play and consistency.
- Justin: "They're five and two in games without Jokic. [Murray] is scoring 31, 9.5 assists, and 5 rebounds." (51:24)
Luka Debate: The pod reflects on Luka's defense and the Mavs' struggles, questioning whether he’s a lock above Ant or Steph.

Bench Locks and Bubble Spots

All agree: Jamal Murray, Deni Avdija, Kevin Durant, Chet Holmgren.
Chet Holmgren vs. Alperen Sengun: Chet’s defense and unique role give him the edge this year.
- Rob: "He’s one of the best defensive players in the world and I want to reward that. There’s not really a blemish on it." (56:01)
Rockets Representation: The group grapples with whether two Rockets (Sengun and Durant) are warranted vs. giving a spot to Devin Booker, whose presence is debated due to Suns' middling record but lauded for leadership and steady excellence.
Booker’s Leadership & Context: Rob highlights how essential Booker is to Phoenix’s offense and overall fabric, contrasting his role with Dylan Brooks’ “emotional totem” vibes. (65:17)
Michael Porter Jr.: Praised for thriving in a new role post-Denver, showing meaningful growth and composure as Brooklyn’s leading option. (22:09, 67:57)

Kawhi Leonard’s Complicated Case

Unanimous selection for the games he’s played at an elite 50/40/90 rate.
- Justin: "If you'd asked me to list the five guys who have been bulletproof this season, he's on there... When he plays, the Clippers are a completely different team." (76:08)
Concern: If he misses more time or controversy about the Clippers’ "aspiration investigation" worsens, does it matter?
- Group agrees: Off-court salary/money issues shouldn’t factor into basketball honors, unless it affects team chemistry. (81:12)

LeBron James & The Veterans

The group considers whether LeBron could sneak in as an injury alternate, especially amid retirement speculation prompted by his "23 for 23" patch. (82:53)
Rob expects the league will want him in: "There’s a decent chance he ends up making this team because of who he is... the shadow he casts over the sport." (84:52)

Honorable Mentions

Rudy Gobert ("potential DPOY-worthy season"—Kyle, 88:30), Zion Williamson, Lauri Markkanen, James Harden, Julius Randle

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On the All-Star Format:
- Justin: "Maybe a little anime action... There's just a 13 reason why Pascal Siakam is not on the..." (02:22)
On Tyrese Maxey’s minutes:
- "I can't remember the last time I saw that... That hasn’t happened since 2011-12." —Justin (10:03)
On Ant’s Clutch Play:
- "It’s brain-melting what he is doing in crunch time." —Rob (45:26)
On Michael Porter Jr.’s transformation:
- "He’s doing so much and is so clearly the best thing that the Nets have going... pretty easy inclusion." —Rob (22:11);
- "It is an incredible credit to him that he’s taken this opportunity where he’s been basically jettisoned from one of the true contenders in the league and taken it in stride." —Rob (67:57)
On the surreality of meme references:
- "The meme is the people's reference is what you're saying." —Rob (24:31)
On Kawhi’s All-Star case amid controversy:
- "If you are playing to this standard, I'm gonna kind of move heaven and earth to make sure there's a place for you on the team." —Rob (79:01)
On All-Star philosophical dilemmas:
- Kyle: "The All-Star Game is just kind of odd, isn't it? We're talking about a team sport but trying to reward individuals." (66:09)
On LeBron’s possible retirement:
- "That patch thing is very weird and ominous...people are on red alert. That might be a signal that this might be the end." —Justin (84:08)

Important Timestamps

02:55 — NBA's shift to positional-agnostic All-Star ballots
04:46 — Starters vs. reserves selection explained
10:03 — Tyrese Maxey leads the NBA in minutes; historical comparison
13:22 — Rob makes a detailed case for Donovan Mitchell over Jalen Brunson
19:17 — Why Jalen Johnson is a bench lock
36:10 — Debate: Norm Powell vs. Bam Adebayo
44:01 — Anthony Edwards’ clutch performance breakdown
51:24 — Jamal Murray’s stats sans Jokic
56:01 — Rob’s process switching from Sengun to Chet as an All-Star
65:17 — Assessing Booker’s centrality to the Suns, role of Dylan Brooks
67:57 — Rob on Michael Porter Jr.'s growth
76:08 — Discussing Kawhi’s performance and injury caveats
82:53 — LeBron’s "23 for 23" patch and possible retirement tea leaves

The Biggest All-Star Selection Debates

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Summary

Podcast Summary: The Ringer NBA Show – "The Biggest All-Star Selection Debates"

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. All-Star Voting Format Changes

2. Eastern Conference All-Star Debate

Consensus Starters

Final Starter Spot Debate: Jalen Brunson vs. Donovan Mitchell

Locks and Benches

The 12th Spot, Surprises, and Bubble Choices

Honorable Mentions

3. Western Conference All-Star Debate

Clear Starters

Fierce Contest for 5th Starter: Anthony Edwards vs. Steph Curry (and Jamal Murray)

Bench Locks and Bubble Spots

Kawhi Leonard’s Complicated Case

LeBron James & The Veterans

Honorable Mentions

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Important Timestamps

Tone and Chemistry

Conclusion

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Ringer NBA Show – "The Biggest All-Star Selection Debates"

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. All-Star Voting Format Changes

2. Eastern Conference All-Star Debate

Consensus Starters

Final Starter Spot Debate: Jalen Brunson vs. Donovan Mitchell

Locks and Benches

The 12th Spot, Surprises, and Bubble Choices

Honorable Mentions

3. Western Conference All-Star Debate

Clear Starters

Fierce Contest for 5th Starter: Anthony Edwards vs. Steph Curry (and Jamal Murray)

Bench Locks and Bubble Spots

Kawhi Leonard’s Complicated Case

LeBron James & The Veterans

Honorable Mentions

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Important Timestamps

Tone and Chemistry

Conclusion