The Ringer NBA Show – January 14, 2026

Episode: The Champs Get Tough in Spurs-Thunder IV. Plus, Tiering the West

Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, J. Kyle Mann
Main Theme: In-depth breakdown of the fiercest Western Conference rivalry – Spurs vs. Thunder IV – and a detailed, animated discussion of how all the main teams in the West stack up in midseason tiers.

Episode Overview

The trio dives deep into the much-hyped Spurs-Thunder Part IV matchup, analyzing the rivalry’s intensity, tactical adjustments, and emerging narratives around both clubs. The second half of the episode features an extensive debate tiering every significant team in the Western Conference, highlighting shifting dynamics, personnel moves, pressing weaknesses, and wildcards for the playoff run.

Key Segments & Insights

1. Opening Banter & TV Glamor (00:00–03:45)

• Insider Look: The gang jokes about the perils of appearing in 4K on Netflix, including purchasing new skincare routines and poking fun at each other's connections to "youth culture."
  • Notable quote: “That 4K really gets in there.” – Justin (00:07)

2. Spurs-Thunder IV: Battle of the West’s Future (05:00–24:45)

A. Rivalry’s Rising Stakes (05:00–06:56)

• Atmosphere Check: Despite it being their fourth meeting, Justin felt the matchup didn’t carry the anticipated fanfare or gravity.

  • “Maybe people are just like sleepy because it's the winter, but it just didn't feel like the type of game I expected considering the first three.” – Justin (05:14)

• Rob on Rivalry: “In the NBA, this is the prime time rivalry going. It's probably the only rivalry that actually qualifies as a rivalry.” – Rob (05:51)

B. On-Court Adjustments & Mentality (06:56–11:14)

• Thunder Step Up: OKC embraced a crisper, attack-minded approach – little hesitation, maximum aggression. Spur’s defensive disruptor Wembanyama (“Wemby”) neutralized far more, but OKC’s ball-handlers stopped deferring.

  • “There was no dancing with the ball, there was no surveying, there was no doddling. We're just going at you every single time... they were not ready for this particular one.” – Rob (06:46)

• Physicality Table Turned: OKC, often the bullied, came out physically stronger – “the bullies in this game,” per Justin (10:56). Jalen Williams (the backup big) earned praise as a key missing puzzle piece.

• On Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s dominance:

  • “That's MVP shit. To be able to do that against the best defensive player in the world in particular.” – Rob (10:02)
  • The Thunder “were pushing back against a team that pushed them around three straight times.” – Justin (10:58)

C. Wembanyama’s Waning Impact? (11:14–14:35)

• Injury Watch: Wemby seemingly less mobile post knee and calf tweaks.
• Spurs Need Offensive Balance: Debate over whether the offense is too Wemby-centric.
  • “Can they not do a reverse Steph Curry kind of thing where they're really leaning into that?” – Kyle (13:09)
  • Spurs “don’t have a lot of experience finding that balance… They haven’t faced playoff-style counterpunches.” – Rob (13:31)

D. Advanced Stats & ‘Gravity’ (14:35–15:37)

• Stat Corner: Spurs’ young perimeter players losing “gravity” according to new NBA analytics, making it easier for defenses to collapse on Wemby.

E. Thunder’s Offensive Evolution (15:37–18:12)

• Secondary Playmaking and 5-Out Emphasis: OKC’s shooters finally stepped up, taking offensive pressure off Shai. Jalen Williams’ stretch 5 impact discussed.

F. Panic Check – Thunder’s Midseason Swoon (18:12–21:02)

• Thunder back on track: Losses chalked up as “just a swoon... more like January basketball.” Still seen as “definitely the favorites to win the title.” – Rob (19:55)
• Jalen Williams’ Resurgence: His return to form is vital, offering a “stabilizing” force as the #2 offensive guy.

G. Wemby vs. Chet Moments (21:02–22:31)

• Direct battles between the league’s unicorn bigs: “Exhilarating basketball... two guys in a parking lot whipping each other.” – Rob (21:21)

H. Thunder’s Remaining Flaws (22:31–24:45)

• Concerns about Chet Holmgren’s assertiveness and the offense’s fallbacks if shooters misfire.

  • “Chet just doesn't have the performances that leave no doubt… or at the very least, that just leaves the shred of doubt.” – Justin (22:47)
  • Rob: “What they do have ... is they have Shai going for 30 all the time.” (23:50)
    (Noted stat: Shai is on pace to be first since MJ with 30+ PPG in 4 straight seasons)

3. Tiering the West: State of Contenders and Pretenders (24:48–66:25)

A. Tier 1: Thunder and... Nugget Split? (24:48–28:01)

• Thunder are the sole elite, but debate on whether Denver belongs with them.
  • “I think the Thunder clearly one, but I also have the Nuggets as a clear two. So just two tiers with one team each.” – Justin (26:17-26:27)

B. Nuggets’ Depth, Peyton Watson’s Breakout, and Financial Dilemmas (29:48–36:52)

• Celebratory: The Peyton Watson leap (“player of the week… 25, 7, and 3” last five), compared to 2020 Jeremy Grant but “more evolved.” Team is “deeper than last year” (32:51).

• Christian Braun contract debate – Watson’s emergence creates cap puzzles.

  • “Let's not let them off the hook for the 'just pay him' part. Like they can just pay him... and they should just eat it.” – Rob (35:35)

C. Middle Tiers: Wolves, Spurs, Rockets, Lakers Out? (37:12–46:32)

• Timberwolves, Spurs, Rockets form a strong ‘top of the middle’ (37:22).
  • “Timberwolves all of a sudden just looking like a paragon of consistency.” – Justin (60:46)
• Lakers scrutinized – offense potent, but “don’t defend, no trust in balance, precarious depth.” (39:56-40:53)
• “Big three problems... can’t lose any role player and can’t afford for their good ones to not be good every night.” – Rob (39:56)

D. The Rockets: Offense Hits a Wall, Point Guard Need (46:52–56:20)

• Road-weary, offense unravels when KD isn’t on the floor.
• “The offense just looks a mess... they need an organizer outside of Kevin Durant.” – Justin (51:45)
• Long-term need for a point guard/organizer (Chris Paul floated, but consensus is doubtful).

E. Sunbeam Rivalry? Rockets “Fake Beam” Gimmick (58:42–60:35)

• The hosts roast the Rockets’ imitation of Sacramento’s “beam” celebration after wins.
  • “It's embarrassing. Like, they couldn't even come out with their own different way of deploying the smoke.” – Justin (58:53)

F. Wolves & Spurs as True Threats (60:35–63:16)

• Wolves’ newfound stability, “top six on both sides of the ball,” with Ant as makeshift point guard.

G. Lower Tiers: Paddling Like Hell and the ‘Fake Contender’ Clubs (64:00–77:11)

• Warriors, Suns, Lakers labeled “fake contenders” or “paddling like hell.” Warriors’ entire prospect turns on “a snow globe rotation” and inevitable trade chatter (64:00–68:46).
  • “Too much falls on Steph. Everything is hard all the time.” – Rob (64:42)
  • “They’re just paddling so hard to even resemble a contender on a night-to-night basis.” – Kyle (66:30)
• Suns are “dangerous, could ruin someone’s season, but likely not going all the way.” (71:22)
  • “They're a danger to everybody, which is an incredible testament to what they've built and what they've done.” – Rob (71:12)
• Blazers are “punching above their weight,” could be better with health, while the hosts debate Suns vs. Blazers ceiling and playoff viability (73:01-77:11).
• Clippers included by Kyle as a “keep an eye on this” team—“Kawhi looks like himself,” Rob places them as “elite offenses, disaster defenses.”

H. Bottom Tiers: Despair & Rebuild (80:28–85:35)

• Grizzlies, Mavericks, Jazz, Kings, Pelicans—all “playing for picks.”
• Kings and Pelicans reserved for the “floor of despair,” especially Sacramento (“hopeless and helpless”).
  • “They are at the bottom because they have no excuse. At least these other teams are like, hey, we're wandering in the wilderness.” – Kyle (80:54)
• Jazz are “weird but competitive,” discussed as a plateau team with “two arguably all-star level players” (84:36-84:49).

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Shai’s Scoring:
  “This is just what he rolls out every night is 30 plus. And so when you have that, Chet can be a little more come and go.” – Rob (23:50)

• On Jalen Williams’ Value:
  “He has to be the only ostensibly like third string center in the league who can give you this like 11, 10 and 5 with this kind of impact. I mean it was a tremendous performance.” – Rob (17:45)

• On Warriors’ Identity Crisis:
  “This is the dying of the light. Everyone is talking. Steve Kerr is like very open. Like we are a dynasty in decay basically.” – Rob (68:46)

• Rockets Celebration Roast:
  “It's embarrassing. Like, they couldn't even come out with their own different way of like deploying the smoke.” – Justin (58:53)

• On Kings’ Hopelessness:
  “I have them in a tier called hopeless and helpless. They are at the bottom because they have no excuse.” – Kyle (80:54)

• Jazz Detour:
  “Jazz weird plateau because they have two arguably all star close to level players and then just this plateau all the way down to like their 13th man.” – Kyle (84:37)

Timestamps of Important Segments

• Opening Banter / Skincare in 4K: 00:00 – 03:45
• Spurs-Thunder Rivalry, Stakes, Adjustments: 05:00 – 24:45
• Tiering the West Introduction: 24:48 – 28:01
• Nuggets Segment / Peyton Watson Leap: 29:48 – 36:52
• Middle Tiers - Wolves, Spurs, Rockets: 37:12 – 46:32
• Rockets Panic/Point Guard Talk: 46:52 – 56:20
• Suns/Blazers Tier Debate: 70:11 – 77:11
• Clippers, Grizzlies, Mavs, Jazz, Kings Roundout: 80:28 – 85:35

Tone & Style

• Conversational, irreverent, and insightful.
• Frequent light sarcasm, deep familiarity with advanced NBA concepts.
• Good-natured jabs and nerdy debates (“skincare bet” on Suns vs. Blazers).
• Shows a blend of stat-based analysis and “eye test” debate.

Summary

This episode sharply illustrates why the Thunder-Spurs is the league’s preeminent rivalry, showcasing OKC’s growth and the physical, tactical chess of the West. The hosts’ Western Conference tier debate covers every meaningful fringe and contender, offering honest audits of the Lakers’ flaws, Rockets’ limits, Wolves’ surprising steadiness, and the perpetual scramble of the Warriors and Suns. Listeners walk away with a richer view of what makes each team dangerous or doomed, with plenty of laughs and quotable moments along the way.