The Zach Lowe Show: "Six Big Questions With Stan Van Gundy"

Date: November 26, 2025
Host: Zach Lowe
Guest: Stan Van Gundy (SVG)
Topic: Exploring major early-season NBA questions with tactical depth and big-picture perspective

Episode Overview

Zach Lowe is joined by former head coach and current Amazon Prime analyst Stan Van Gundy for a fast-paced NBA deep-dive. They address six overarching early-season questions—from the Heat's tactical evolution and reintegrated stars to the surprising offensive approaches in Houston and Detroit, MVP frontrunners, the shifting playoff landscape, and philosophy on player evolution and league trends. SVG’s storytelling, coaching wisdom, and tangents into league history make this a rich, engaging episode for hardcore and casual NBA fans alike.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Tyler Herro’s Reintegration into the Heat's New Offense

(05:00–11:35)

• Lowe: Herro returned to Miami’s new, less pick-and-roll-centric, high-paced scheme—24 points on 12-of-18 shooting in a win vs. Dallas.
• Van Gundy: “I thought he was great … The new style fits him fine. Tyler's game is to play off the dribble.” (05:32)
  • SVG emphasizes Miami's radical stylistic change—they’ve gone from a slow-paced, pick-and-roll-heavy team to running the fewest pick-and-rolls ever tracked and leading the league in pace without sacrificing defense.
  • “They’ve got the fourth best defense in the league … They don’t take a break.” (07:42)
• Discussion on team buy-in: When the Heat ask players to adopt new roles or styles, the organizational hierarchy ensures compliance.
  • Lowe: “The hierarchy of command is very clear ... there’s not going to be a rebellion.” (06:50)

Notable Quote:
SVG: “I've never seen that big a change without a coaching change ever.” (06:23)

2. The Bam–Ware Fit and Miami’s Developmental System

(11:35–15:27)

• Khalil Ware’s emergence is “a legitimate leap,” especially on the glass and in defensive discipline.
  • Lowe: “He’s had more than 10 rebounds in 10 straight games ... it’s the discipline that he's playing with.” (14:34)
  • SVG: Decision-making and basketball IQ are separating skills—“That's what separates guys. Khalil Ware’s getting there.” (15:27)
• On the Bam–Ware pairing: Offensively, spacing is a challenge, but defensively, versatility covers many issues.
  • Van Gundy credits Miami’s vision for player development: “They really create a vision for guys of what they can be and they work toward that.” (13:36)

3. Most Interesting All-Star Reintegration

(18:05–29:42)

• Lowe’s Q: Most compelling reintegration: Paolo (Orlando), Trae Young (Hawks), or Paul George (Philly)?
• SVG pick: “None of the above ... the most interesting reintegration is LeBron to the Lakers.” (18:31)
  • With Doncic, Reaves, and LeBron all being ball-dominant and not plus defenders, how will this work in high-leverage situations?
  • “Luka is the best offensive player I have ever seen.” (19:50)
• Lowe’s take: Trae Young’s return to the Hawks is the most pivotal. Can he blend in more and boost their ceiling, given the team-wide defensive improvement in his absence?
  • SVG: “I think they're better without Trae Young ... [but] I love turning on the Hawks and watching Trae Young pick defenses apart.” (26:39, 27:09)

4. Houston & Detroit: Elite Offenses Without Three-Point Volume

(31:52–42:56)

• Both teams are bottom-three in 3PA, yet elite offensively.
  • In Houston’s case, league-best offense; Detroit, 7th and riding a 13-game win streak.
• SVG: “It’s not true everybody plays the same ... there’s a lot of different ways to play.” (32:17)
  • Emphasizes explosion in offensive rebounding: “The currency of the NBA now ... is possessions, getting more shots than the other team. That has become much more of a big deal than efficiency.” (35:06)
  • New approach on defense: More aggressive ball-hawking and willingness to foul in exchange for forced turnovers, inspired by NFL-style disruptions.
• Lowe: “If either of those teams cleans [turnovers] up ... this whole sort of mathematical model starts to work.” (38:00)
  • Detroit’s depth and Cade Cunningham’s leadership are highlighted. On Asar Thompson: “When you see guys make a jump in this league, most often it’s their shooting that makes a jump, and that’s where he’s got to get to.” (41:06)

5. More Real Playoff Threat: Raptors or Suns?

(46:04–54:32)

• SVG pick: “Toronto Raptors. They're one of six teams in the league that is in the top ten both offensively and defensively.”
  • Praises Toronto’s depth, positional size, buy-in, and ability to win without full health (as no team is ever truly at full strength).
  • On Phoenix: Hardest-playing team in the league, Devin Booker’s leadership is elite, but SVG doubts their playoff credentials in the tougher West.
    • “If I had drafted [Booker] in Detroit, I might still be coaching.” (49:51)
• Discussion on the psychological edge of a hot start—how early winning (even against weaker schedules) increases buy-in and can create a self-reinforcing “feedback loop.”
• Lowe: “Players have to buy in to roles that might make them uncomfortable ... if we win, everyone’s gonna get paid.” (54:32)
  • SVG: “Absolutely ... you win early, you get buy-in.” (55:58)

6. MVP Race, Evolution of Greats, and SVG’s Finals Picks

MVP and Player Evolution (57:07–66:43)

• Early MVP conversation: Jokic (clear frontrunner), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Giannis, Luka, Wemby.
  • SVG: “I don’t even think it’s close … Jokic is phenomenal … The guy keeps getting better … I don’t think he has any interest in statistics at all.” (57:53)
  • Argues that all 30 GMs would pick Jokic first if jobs were on the line: “I think he’s in another world.” (60:05)
• Lowe: Suggestion that Jokic may be the best offensive player ever.
  • SVG: “He might be the best player in the history of the NBA.” (62:37)
• Comparison to past eras:
  • SVG: “Athletes are getting better ... People want to argue Jordan ... Jordan’s moments were 30 years ago ... that’s evolution.” (63:52)

Finals Predictions (67:51–71:45)

• SVG: Oklahoma City is “an easy choice for the Finals” in the West. Picks Cleveland in the East, with Miami, Detroit, and New York close behind.
  • On OKC: “They can play every way you want to play … There's not a style of play that they can't play successfully.” (68:12)
  • On Cleveland’s Evan Mobley: “He’s a really good player ... but he’s not a 25 and 12 guy ... that's going to be Garland and Mitchell.” (71:08)
• Lowe: Also picks OKC, sticks with New York, but is “inching closer to Detroit.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• SVG, on the Heat’s transformation:
  “I've never seen that big a change without a coaching change ever.” (06:23)
• SVG, on Jokic:
  “The guy keeps getting better. And the thing with Jokic, to me, that is phenomenal, is he puts up these outrageous numbers, and I don't think he has the slightest interest in statistics at all. I don't think he has any interest in that in the least. I think he's a guy that cares about one thing and one thing only, and that is winning.” (57:53)
• SVG, on league evolution:
  “Athletes are getting better ... You really think we're dropping Bob Cousy in today's NBA and he's dribbling with his right hand? Stop it.” (64:21)
• SVG, on feedback loops of team buy-in:
  “You win early, you get buy-in. … That belief does [last].” (55:58)
• On Trae Young:
  SVG: “I love turning on the Hawks and watching Trae Young pick defenses apart. ... But I think they're better [as a team] without him.” (27:09, 27:21)
• SVG, on player development:
  “They [Miami] really create a vision for guys of what they can be and they work toward that.” (13:36)
• SVG, on picking Jokic for MVP:
  “If it's all about winning right now, and the job's on the line ... all 30 guys take Jokic.” (60:05)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 05:00 — Tyler Herro’s return; Miami’s offense
• 11:35 — Bam/Ware fit and Heat development
• 18:05 — Key All-Star reintegrations (LeBron/Lakers, Trae/Hawks, Paul George/Philly)
• 31:52 — Houston & Detroit’s offenses sans threes, offensive rebounding, turnovers
• 41:06 — Asar Thompson’s evolution, Pistons depth
• 46:04 — Playoff threat: Toronto vs. Phoenix; early season feedback loop
• 57:07 — MVP race, Jokic’s place in history, “best offensive player ever”
• 67:51 — Finals predictions, focus on OKC, Cleveland, Detroit, Knicks

Summary Takeaways

• The Heat’s radical stylistic shift is a rare feat, enabled by organizational buy-in and deep player development vision.
• The league is showing tactical diversity—offenses like Houston and Detroit thrive without three-point volume thanks to the possession game (offensive rebounding, turnovers).
• Early buy-in on new roles and philosophies leads to a powerful psychological feedback loop for emerging teams like Toronto and Miami.
• Jokic is in a league of his own as the current and possibly historical best, as both player and MVP candidate.
• OKC is the consensus frontrunner in the West, with the East more muddled. Cleveland, Detroit, Miami, and New York are all “real” threats.

Listen for:
SVG’s candid, occasionally self-deprecating stories; tactical jargon explained in relatable terms; and wide-ranging perspectives—from big-picture philosophy to granular play-by-play insights.
If you haven’t listened, this rich, energetic episode covers the NBA’s present and future as it happens.