The Zach Lowe Show – League Pass Rankings Part 2 With Rob Mahoney

Date: October 21, 2025
Host: Zach Lowe
Guest: Rob Mahoney

Episode Overview

In this episode, Zach Lowe and The Ringer’s Rob Mahoney break down the top 15 teams in their annual NBA League Pass Rankings—the teams that promise to be the most entertaining, intriguing, and “must-watch” this coming season. The duo debates team placements, discusses surprising extension news (Dyson Daniels, Christian Braun, Shaden Sharpe, etc.), highlights contract/cap considerations, and dives deep into what makes each team a unique viewing experience, ending with their consensus most watchable team in the NBA.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Extension Round-Up & NBA Business (02:22–11:50)

• Dyson Daniels signed a four-year, $100M extension with the Hawks, which Zach calls “a nice deal for the Hawks” (02:30), adding he believes it's likely to be more valuable for the team in the long run.
• Christian Braun extended with Denver (5/$125M). Zach praises Braun’s fit: “He is a winner. He’s tough,” (03:02) and expects both these contracts to age well as the salary cap rises.
• Insight: Players are increasingly realistic about restricted free agency—choosing security rather than uncertainty, especially as cap spikes mean even large figures become a smaller percentage of the total.
• Shaden Sharpe settles at 4/$90M with Portland, which Zach calls “actually less than I thought he would settle for,” adding that with his combination of flashes and inexperience, it’s understandable why he took it (06:18).

2. Cap & Roster Management Notes (10:32–11:50)

• Hawks’ financial flexibility, especially concerning Porzingis and Trae Young, discussed.
• Zach notes Porzingis is “a must now” for the Hawks’ build (09:55), not just a luxury piece: “They need his shooting at that position more than the Celtics did.”
• Denver’s potential apron issues analyzed: “Zeke Nnaji salary dump still seems like a mortal lock...the math gets tight.” (08:30)

3. League Pass Rankings: The Top 15 (11:50–96:10)

15. Detroit Pistons (11:53)

• Divergence: Rob is much higher, loving the physical, young chaos; Zach is more skeptical.
• Key Quote: Rob: “They were number one in dunks by a lot last season. I like dunks. Dunks good. Me like dunks.” (12:41)
• Emphasis on “loose cannon factor,” physical edge, and unique tip-off time for East Coasters.

14. Portland Trail Blazers (16:11)

• Rob much higher than Zach.
• Talked up: young, high-motor talent; fun extensions; possibility of “pre-LeBron Lakers” sort of dynamic.
• Quote: Zach: “They’re the guys you want to have around the guy when you get the guy… or eventually trade one for the guy.” (19:12)
• Praise for Toumani Kamara as a “D-plus-plus-plus player. One of the 10 best defensive players in the NBA without a doubt.” (21:12)
• Shaden Sharpe likened to “Jayson Tatum in terms of just pace and knocking people sideways.” (22:48)

13. Memphis Grizzlies (24:23)

• Always entertaining at home; best in-arena sound effects.
• Concerns: injuries to Morant, Jackson, Clark, Pippen Jr.—“it could be a rough year that ends up being in the best interest of the team.” (25:55)
• On Ja Morant: “the jaw part of that experience is unlike...anything in NBA history… eternal hang time.” (27:23)

12. Milwaukee Bucks (28:03)

• Team is “vibes-based...if the mood in the room isn’t right...how pleasant to watch are they really going to be?” (29:52)
• Giannis: still “number one in dunks as an individual player… drama of every Giannis drive.” (31:33)
• Waiting for the inevitable long free throw routines, “Can we just enforce the rule?” (30:45)

11. Cleveland Cavaliers (34:39)

• Rob suggests, “sometimes you just want to turn on the TV and see something that works. If you want to watch something that works, Cleveland’s offense hums, clicks.” (35:32)
• Evan Mobley and Donovan Mitchell highlighted as potential sources of explosive plays.

10. Atlanta Hawks (38:21)

• Rob’s number 2 team—Zach lower, but both are unusually high on Atlanta.
• Jalen Johnson described as “might be my single favorite player to watch in the entire league.” (38:44)
• Dyson Daniels named as “the most electric crunch time defender in basketball; will come up with plays at the ends of games that make absolutely no sense.” (39:38)
• On Dominique Wilkins’ broadcasting: it’s fun due to its unpredictability.

9. Minnesota Timberwolves (44:27)

• “Top five watchable superstar”—Anthony Edwards. “Uncomfortably cruel dunks… you can’t take your eyes off the game.” (46:55)
• Team has rock-solid, entertaining foundation, with intermittent spectacular meltdowns that are themselves compelling.

8. New York Knicks (48:54)

• “There’s just something about this team that I really like… The broadcast is unassailable—Breen, Clyde, Madison Square Garden.” (50:10)
• Excitement about the Mike Brown hire, new depth, and the chance for more dynamic offense around Jalen Brunson.

7. Los Angeles Lakers (54:24)

• Zach had them tied for 1st, citing the power of the “Lakers experience,” their home court, and intrigue: “I am legitimately really interested...how do these pieces fit together?” (55:08)
• LeBron/Luka fit and adjustments a prime storyline—Rob less enthralled due to LeBron’s injury.

6. Houston Rockets (60:07)

• Extended Kevin Durant—described by Zach as “much less than he could have made… gives them some apron flexibility.” (61:17)
• Team’s wild zone/size lineups (“rugby type lineups”), the Amen Thompson phenomenon, and high rebounding, energized play.
• Rob: “Watching the Rockets will make you feel like you’re watching a different sport.” (62:28)

5. Orlando Magic (66:45)

• “This is the year Paolo puts it together… one of the most imposing players in the league, his game could just explode.” (66:57)
• Foul-heavy, bruising defense; Jalen Suggs called “maybe the most watchable defender in the league for me.” (67:59)
• Art/branding praised: “Their court is A++.” (69:39)

4. Golden State Warriors (71:22)

• Zach calls them “probably the all-time league pass ranking champions.”
• New additions (Jimmy Butler, Al Horford, Buddy Hield) integrated into the longstanding ‘Steph show.’
• “Nothing like Steph Curry on a heater in all of sports… still the best show in the NBA.” (71:59)

3. Oklahoma City Thunder (77:00)

• Team’s identity: “must-watch defense” (“hyenas swarming… gnawing…” — Rob, 78:22).
• Shea Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, the Chet Holmgren leap and Case Wallace as storyline wildcards.
• “More likely to win 70 than go under 62.5”—Zach’s optimism (80:09).

2. Denver Nuggets (85:09)

• “It’s just the greatest passer I’ve ever seen. The greatest, most creative, most ingenious player I’ve ever seen. Doing eight things a game that will make me laugh because of their combined brilliance…” (85:31)
• Jokic is “first team, all rewind”—you have to watch his plays back to understand how he pulled them off (59:19).
• Complimentary praise for team construction, Cam Johnson addition, and warm ‘Nuggets as a bath’ analogy.

1. San Antonio Spurs (90:30, crowned at 84:59)

• It’s the Wemby era: “What I want from the number one team are things that I don’t even know how to ask for… what I want is Victor Wembanyama.” (90:40)
• With Vic, “Every game is going to be appointment viewing. Every game that he plays against a talented peer is going to be appointment viewing.” (93:53)
• “He blots out the sun on defense… it’s like defending with six guys… Not even fair.” (92:07)
• Beyond Xs and Os, Wembanyama is a cultural event. “He’s transcended regular sports fandom in a way Jokic never did.” (95:12)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Shaden Sharpe’s extension:
  “I’m high on him. If you’re going to throw $90 million at him with that track record, I understand completely why he signs on the dotted line.” —Zach (06:18)

• On Jalen Johnson (Hawks):
  “The way he finds the groove and the flow in every single possession is captivating basketball to me.” —Rob (38:44)
  “I love the concept of a crunch time defender… Dyson Daniels is that.” —Zach (41:56)

• On Anthony Edwards:
  “He brings it on defense. He can go coast to coast. The dunks are incredible… you can’t take your eyes off the game.“ —Zach (46:55)

• On Steph Curry:
  “There is nothing like Steph Curry on a heater in all of sports… and it is eight to ten things a game.” —Zach (71:59, 85:31)

• On Victor Wembanyama:
  “What I want from the number one team is things that I don’t even know how to ask for… what I want is Victor Wembanyama.” —Rob (90:40)
  “He blots out the sun on defense. It’s like defending with six guys. It’s not even fair.” —Zach (92:07)

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:22] – Opening discussion on extensions (Daniels, Braun, Sharpe)
• [11:50] – Beginning of League Pass Top 15 teams countdown
• [12:41] – Rob on “Me like dunks” with the Pistons
• [21:12] – Kamara’s defensive ceiling in Portland
• [27:23] – “The jaw part…unlike anything in NBA history” (Morant/Grizzlies)
• [31:33] – Giannis: “Surprise dunker” breakdown
• [38:44] – “Jalen Johnson might be my single favorite player to watch”
• [46:55] – On Anthony Edwards’ watchability
• [50:10] – Knicks broadcast/MSG praise
• [55:08] – Lakers as a basketball laboratory
• [62:28] – Rockets: “Watching the Rockets will make you feel like you’re watching a different sport.”
• [69:39] – Magic court and broadcast love
• [71:59] – “Nothing like Steph Curry on a heater…”
• [78:22] – Thunder defense: “hyenas swarming… gnawing… cackling”
• [80:09] – Zach’s Thunder 70-win optimism
• [85:31] – Jokic: “Doing eight things a game that will make me laugh…”
• [90:40, 92:07] – On Wembanyama as a generational, almost alien phenomenon

Final Thoughts

The duo expresses optimism and excitement about the overall state of the NBA’s entertainment value, the diversity of playstyles, and its new wave of talent. The league’s “must-watch” status is, more than ever, distributed across an impressive range of franchises and personalities.

Rob: “The league is in an amazing place… There are dramatically different styles of play here. There are stars who attack everything in totally different ways… I feel really good about the state of the NBA right now.” (96:10)

Zach: “Every game [with Wemby] could show you something you’ve never seen before.”

Top 15 League Pass Rankings (Summary List)

1. San Antonio Spurs
2. Denver Nuggets
3. Oklahoma City Thunder
4. Golden State Warriors
5. Orlando Magic
6. Houston Rockets
7. Los Angeles Lakers
8. New York Knicks
9. Minnesota Timberwolves
10. Atlanta Hawks
11. Cleveland Cavaliers
12. Milwaukee Bucks
13. Memphis Grizzlies
14. Portland Trail Blazers
15. Detroit Pistons