The Zach Lowe Show — “Reactions to a Wild Wednesday Night, Plus Breakouts and Disappointments With Howard Beck”

Date: November 6, 2025
Host: Zach Lowe
Guest: Howard Beck
Podcast Network: The Ringer

Overview

In this action-packed episode, Zach Lowe returns to break down a wild night of NBA action with Howard Beck. Together they discuss the fallout from several dramatic games, analyze the early season struggles and successes of key teams, spotlight under-the-radar breakout players, and call out some early disappointments—with plenty of hot takes, sharp analysis, and trademark fun. The show also dives into fake trades, potential big moves, and the implications of various injuries and front office decisions around the Association.

Main Discussion Themes

• Reactions to a wild slate of Wednesday NBA games
• Deep dives into the troubles of the Dallas Mavericks and soaring Lakers
• Early takes on stars like LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Victor Wembanyama
• Point guard drama: John Morant and Trae Young’s uncertain futures
• Breakout and disappointment player picks beyond star-level names
• Trade speculation for struggling or rebuilding teams
• League-wide storylines: injuries, coaching, and rebuilding philosophies

Key Games & Reactions

[03:20] Five Wild Games from Wednesday Night

Zach offers a menu of notable games for Beck to pick apart:

1. Lakers (7-2) squeak past Spurs without LeBron

   • Game goes to the wire on missed inbounds and free throws
   • Wembanyama “in a straightjacket” for the second straight game

2. Dallas Mavericks lose at home to Pelicans (both now 2-6)

   • Mavericks, now last in offense, are “dead last” and spiraling
   • Beck: “There was strangely hyperbolic, hyperventilating hype around them coming into the season, as if they could be some sort of dark horse.” [07:01]

3. Thunder (OKC) finally lose after resting half the team

   • Blazers sneak out win; Jalen Williams’ all-NBA candidacy threatens to “drip, drip, drip away” on games missed.

4. Brooklyn Nets get first win in an “NBA depressing bowl”

   • Only one of their five first-round draft picks sees time

5. Zach’s Knicks hammer Timberwolves

   • Minnesota is “a very strange 4-4”; defensive woes and guard rotation in the crosshairs

Howard Beck’s Pick: The Mavericks’ Slide

• Beck slams Dallas’s construction and expectations:

  “I do not see the vision. ... The utter contrast between where the Mavericks are right now, Zach, and what Luka's doing and what the surprising Lakers are doing, just makes it that much more uncomfortable.” [10:36]

• Points to predictable problems: lack of guard play, injuries to Lively, AD, Gafford, Klay's age
• “This thing could be over by, you know, long before Christmas.” [15:10]

[16:30] Lakers Still Rolling Without LeBron

• LeBron ramping up, “This should be the absolute perfect situation for going on freaking 41 years old LeBron James.” [17:29]
• Beck: “As skeptical as you have been optimistic [about Ayton]. ... Marcus Smart nearly screwed the game ... but Smart's looking okay. Jake Larivia has been great ... the offseason's looking pretty good at the moment.” [19:22]
• Discussion on LeBron’s ideal modern-role as Lakers thrive with Doncic and Austin Reaves.

[24:28] Brief OKC and Brooklyn Notes

• Love for OKC’s culture and player development despite the loss.
• Nets’ issues: Beck describes a lack of leadership:

  “Not only is there no true offensive hub ... there really isn’t personality-wise anybody to kind of lead or stabilize that group either.” [25:15]

Around the League: Injuries & Trade Watch

[32:47] Utah Jazz & Tanking Watch

• Walker Kessler’s season-ending injury and what it means for their future.
• Beck suggests it’s time to “fully, fully, fully embrace the tank.”
• Zach: “If a team comes to them with a good Markkanen offer, I just think the Jazz are going to take it.” [36:27]

[41:00] Point Guard Drama—Morant and Trae Young

• Both flagging as potential trade candidates if their teams underperform or chemistry fails.
• Beck: “Teams like Sacramento and Miami chase any shiny object. ... I don’t know if the fit makes any damn sense, but Toronto, Phoenix, and the Pelicans could sniff around.” [45:43]
• Zach’s wild fake trades: Trey Young/Porzingis for Gobert/McDaniels, musings on Minnesota’s options.

[55:06] Breakout Players—Below the “Josh Giddey Line”

Focusing on players thriving in roles below would-be stars:

Howard Beck’s Picks

• Ryan Rollins (Bucks):
  “His playmaking and defense, I think, have been revelations. ... He plays his butt off.” [59:48]
• AJ Mitchell (Thunder):
  “38th pick in 2024, out of UCSB—averaging 16.7 pts, 3.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists ... super aggressive driver.” [60:34]
• Keonte George (Jazz):
  “Looks like a completely different player ... nearly 8 assists, getting to the line 9.3 times a game.” [63:08]
• Jaime Jaquez (Heat):
  “Just incredible bounce-back ... working with a mental coach this offseason.” [68:00]

Zach’s Picks

• Trey Jones & Jalen Smith (Bulls):
  “Just valuable minutes both ends of the floor. ... The Bulls have been good with him on the floor in Vucevic’s place.” [66:02]
• Jalen Duren & Isaiah Stewart (Pistons):
  “Jalen Duren: 18 & 11 ... Stewart, you can’t score on him at the basket. ... Pistons are holding opponents to the lowest shooting % at the rim.” [66:20]
• Colin Gillespie (Suns):
  “Someone’s got to play point guard ... coming off the bench, 11 points, 5 assists a game.” [67:45]
• Neemias Queta (Celtics):
  “Not crazy numbers, but on a team starved for size ... just makes you appreciate a functional big man.” [70:04]

Honorable Mentions

• Deni Avdija (Trail Blazers): praise for exceeding expectations after under-the-radar trade [56:58]
• Derek Queen, Sadiq Bey, Bob Carrington, Fontechio, Nemi Queta, RJ Barrett, Stephen Adams, and more got shout-outs

[75:07] Disappointments: Below-the-Radar and High-Expectation Misses

Beck’s Picks

• Cam Johnson (Nuggets):
  “8.6 points a game is a career low ... shooting 27% on threes. ... Maybe it’s new team, maybe shoulder issue, but I assume he’s going to be fine.” [76:39]
• Jordans—Clarkson, Poole, Michael:
  “Jordan Clarkson ... still too Jordan Clarkson-y ... Jordan Poole, massive part of the problem ... Michael Jordan, I just don’t need him lecturing us about load management.” [81:02]

Zach’s Picks

• T. John Salon (Nets):
  “His minutes and production are way down ... would like to see something to suggest he’s worth the pick.” [78:16]
• Ivica Zubac (Clippers):
  “Just doesn’t feel like the same guy ... this team being a 50-win team depended on that same Zubac from last year.” [87:23]
• Also flags the struggles of Jaren Jackson Jr., Cam Whitmore, the 2024 draft class, Gershon Yabusele (“He has 14 points”), and Evan Mobley (“I haven’t seen the pop yet”).

[93:07] Spotlight: Joel Embiid—Physical Return and Role

• Beck: “Activity levels are picking up ... more active defensively ... promising, cautiously optimistic.” [90:24]
• Zach: “He doesn’t want, he’s not seeking out physical contact ... lot of jump shots, but you have to hope he’s easing back.” [94:18]

[101:04] Closing Thoughts: John Morant’s Future

• Beck: “The John Morant thing feels very serious to me ... if you keep him and he’s just bringing the whole place down, you’re all getting fired anyway.” [97:06]
• Zach: “What does Memphis actually want out of a theoretical John Morant trade? ... I’d hunch they want future assets.” [98:04]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Beck: “I do not see the vision. I was just at the eye doctor last week and my vision is. Okay. I am not seeing the Mavericks vision.” [10:38]
• Zach on LeBron: “This should be the absolute perfect situation for going on freaking 41 years old LeBron James. ... Don’t come back, play really hard, play really well. Because this team could be very dangerous if you’re engaged.” [17:29]
• Beck on Cam Johnson: “You can shoot and cut and do smart things, you will fit very well and very seamlessly with Nikola Jokic ... I assume he’ll be fine.” [76:39]
• Zach on Jaren Jackson Jr.: “Just give me a little bit more ... just standing in the left corner, not moving, doing nothing ...” [87:23]
• Howard on “guys named Jordan”: “I don’t need Michael Jordan lecturing us about load management. No, I’m just throwing Jordan in here as long as I’m bagging on Jordans.” [84:41]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:20] — Wild NBA Wednesday rundown
• [07:01] — Mavericks’ woes: construction, vision, and fallout
• [16:30] — Lakers-Spurs and LeBron’s fit in LA
• [24:28] — OKC’s first loss, Brooklyn’s disarray
• [32:47] — Utah, tanking, and Walker Kessler’s injury
• [41:00] — Point guard drama: Morant, Young, and fake trades
• [55:06] — Breakout player picks (below-the-radar standouts)
• [75:07] — Disappointment player picks (role guys, early-season duds)
• [93:07] — Embiid’s return and identity on Sixers
• [101:04] — John Morant endgame: what do the Grizzlies do?

Tone

• Analytical, wry, and conversational, with plenty of playful asides (“Zach Lowe’s insights to mediocrity!”)
• Mix of sharp NBA wonkery, well-timed jokes, and earnest praise for overlooked players
• Clear focus on team-building philosophy, chemistry, and on/off-court dynamics

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This episode covers tons of ground: hot starts and cold streaks, in-depth breakdowns of team issues and potential fixes, sleeper player praise, and long-term strategic debates. Whether you’re interested in the state of the Lakers, how Dallas went off the rails, or how rookies are fitting in, Zach and Howard give a wide-ranging, thoughtful, and entertaining tour through the early weeks of the season. With trade speculation, role player spotlights, and some classic NBA nitpicking, it’s a quintessential episode for true league insiders and fans alike.