Logan and Howard are joined by The Ringer’s own Tyler Parker to share and debate their biggest player and team concerns as we round the corner into the second half of the NBA season.
(0:00:00) Intro

(1:45) How effective will Jayson Tatum be in his return?

(13:25) Which second-tier playoff team is set to play spoiler?

(23:52) James Harden will ___ with the Cleveland Cavs

(31:35) The Charlotte Hornets will win ___ playoff games

(37:16) Which trade deadline move will have the biggest impact on the end of the season?

(42:17) Who is the most disappointing team of the season?

(47:44) What should the Vegas expansion team be called?

(51:31) Quick-hitters
Hosts: Logan Murdock and Howard Beck
Guest: Tyler Parker
Producers: Logan Murdock, Conor Nevins, Victoria Valencia, and Ben Cruz
Video Producers: Victoria Valencia and Sarah Reddy
Audio Producer: Chris Sutton
Graphics and Show Art: John Richter
Production Supervision: Ben Cruz and Conor Nevins
Additional Production Support: John Richter, T. Cruz, Donald LoBianco, Nick Kosut, and Hannah Leikin

The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit ⁠www.rg-help.com⁠ to learn more about the resources and helplines available.

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Justin, Rob, and J. Kyle Mann share their thoughts on the new-look All-Star Game. They discuss Wemby’s effort to make the game competitive, Kawhi’s impressive performance, and more. They also discuss the lackluster All-Star Saturday and whether there are any solutions to fix it. They wrap up with a discussion about different solutions to tanking after Adam Silver hinted in a press conference that reform could be on the way.
(00:00) Intro
(0:24) All-Star Game
(24:18) All-Star Saturday night
(30:42) Adam Silver’s press conference
(39:47) Tanking reform
Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and J. Kyle Mann
Producers: Victoria Valencia and Isaiah Blakely
Production Supervision: Ben Cruz and Conor Nevins
Additional Production Support: T. Cruz and Donald LoBianco
Social: Isaiah Blakely and Keith Fujimoto

The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit www.rg-help.com to learn more about the resources and helplines available.

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Logan, Howard, and The Ringer’s own Tyler Parker conclude their two-part conversation with more left-field takes on the most-talked-about players in the NBA. Jomi Adineron then analyzes his favorite takes from each participant and crowns the winner of Take-a-Thon 2026.(0:00:00) Intro

(3:33) LeBron James 

(10:08) Chet Holmgren

(12:06) Nikola Jokic 

(16:51) Kawhi Leonard 

(19:22) Devin Booker 

(21:25) Victor Wembanyama 

(28:36) Jalen Brunson 

(32:21) Jalen Duren 

(34:00) Denny Avdija

(34:59) Steph Curry

(44:06) Donovan Mitchell 

(47:34) Alperen Şengün 

(50:33) Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 

(56:50)  Jomi announces Take-a-Thon winner

Hosts: Logan Murdock and Howard BeckGuests: Tyler Parker and Jomi AdeniranProducers: Logan Murdock, Conor Nevins, Victoria Valencia, Ben Cruz, and John RichterVideo Producers: Victoria Valencia, Sarah Reddy, and Donald LoBiancoAudio Producer: Chris SuttonGraphics and Show Art: John RichterProduction Supervision: Ben Cruz and Conor NevinsAdditional Production Support: John Richter, T. Cruz, Nick Kosut, and Hannah Leikin

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Welcome to the first Real Ones Take-athon! Logan, Howard, and The Ringer’s own Tyler Parker and Jomi Adeniran get together for a two-part episode to take a hard look at the player landscape of the NBA and fire off their wildest takes on the biggest and sometimes most polarizing stars in the league.

(00:00) Opening

(02:02) Take-athon rules

(02:49) Anthony Edwards

(07:14) Giannis Antetokounmpo

(17:51) Jalen Johnson

(19:23) Jaylen Brown

(22:55) Luka Doncic

(26:36) Karl-Anthony Towns

(29:53) Tyrese Maxey

(31:51) Pascal Siakam

(33:01) Brandon Ingram

(33:36) Scottie Barnes

(34:48) Jamal Murray

(36:47) Norm Powell

(38:21) Cade Cunningham

(40:26) Kevin Durant

The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit⁠ ⁠⁠www.rg-help.com⁠ to learn more about the resources and helplines available.

Hosts: Logan Murdock and Howard Beck

Guests: Tyler Parker and Jomi Adeniran

Producers: Logan Murdock, Conor Nevins, Victoria Valencia, John Richter, and Ben Cruz

Video Producers: Victoria Valencia, John Richter, Sarah Reddy, and Donald LoBianco

Audio Producer: Chris Sutton

Graphics and Show Art: John Richter

Production Supervision: Ben Cruz and Conor Nevins

Additional Production Support: John Richter, T. Cruz, Nick Kosut, and Hannah Leikin

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Justin, Rob, and J. Kyle Mann are back to update their title pie! They start by talking about how their view of the title race has changed since their quarter-season title pie. Then they get into the exercise and discuss the favorites, the contenders, and the dark-horse teams.

(00:00) Intro

(8:13) Title favorites

(18:11) Title contenders

(51:55) Dark-horse contenders

Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and J. Kyle Mann

Producers: Victoria Valencia, Isaiah Blakely, Jonathan Frias, and Stefano Sanchez

Production Supervision: Ben Cruz and Conor Nevins

Additional Production Support: John Richter and Chris Wohlers

Social: Isaiah Blakely and Keith Fujimoto
The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit www.rg-help.com to learn more about the resources and helplines available.

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The Real Ones crew starts the pod by sharing their reactions to and analysis of the on-court fight between Jalen Duren and Moussa Diabaté and its ramifications. They then pivot to the NBA’s current tanking epidemic and how it’s affecting the league's product, the players, and the fans. Finally, they address Daryl Morey's controversial comments on Jared McCain before diving into the listener mailbag.

(0:00:00) Intro

(2:16) Pistons-Hornets brawl

(20:23) The NBA’s perpetual loser mentality

(48:28) Daryl Morey’s comments on Jared McCain

(55:00) Mailbag!

Hosts: Logan Murdock, Raja Bell, and Howard Beck

Producers: Victoria Valencia and Chris Sutton

Production Supervision: Ben Cruz and Conor Nevins

Additional Production Support: John Richter and Chris Wohlers

The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit⁠ www.rg-help.com⁠ to learn more about the resources and helplines available.

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Justin, Rob, and J. Kyle Mann attempt to tackle the tanking problem around the league. Then they provide their initial thoughts on a handful of teams after the trade deadline.
(00:00) Intro
(0:58) Solving the tanking problem
(31:39) First impressions after the trade deadline
(41:15) Trade deadline ripple effects
Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and J. Kyle Mann
Producers: Victoria Valencia and Isaiah Blakely
Production Supervision: Ben Cruz and Conor Nevins
Additional Production Support: John Richter and Chris Wohlers
Social: Isaiah Blakely and Keith Fujimoto
The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit www.rg-help.com to learn more about the resources and helplines available.

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What’s Poppin'? Now that the NBA trade deadline is over, Logan, Howard, and Raja look back at the teams who made moves.

(0:00:00) Intro

(1:17) Biggest winner of the trade deadline

(6:27) James Harden to the Cavs

(20:28) WTF award

(21:07) Anthony Davis to the Wizards

(31:42) Favorite sneaky-good deal

(43:33) When Keeping it Real Goes Wrong Award

(51:50) Bigger loser of the trade deadline

(52:39) Did anything change the race?

(54:50) Real One of the Week

(56:20)Giannis stays in Milwaukee

Hosts: Logan Murdock, Raja Bell, and Howard Beck

Producers: Victoria Valencia and Brian H. Waters

Production Supervision: Ben Cruz and Conor Nevins

Additional Production Support: John Richter and Chris Wohlers

The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit⁠ ⁠⁠www.rg-help.com⁠ to learn more about the resources and helplines available.

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Justin, Rob, and J. Kyle Mann are here to give their reactions to a busy trade deadline day. They start with Giannis and Ja staying put before discussing the recent big trades of Ivica Zubac, James Harden, Darius Garland, Anthony Davis, and Jaren Jackson Jr. Then they touch on a handful of other trades that caught their eye.

(00:00) Intro

(3:08) No trades for Giannis and Ja

(5:42) Zubac to the Pacers

(17:15) Harden-Garland trade

(25:39) FanDuel Ad break

(26:30) Anthony Davis to the Wizards

(44:40) Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Jazz

(58:25) Other intriguing trades

Check out Rob's piece on the Anthony Davis trade here!

Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and J. Kyle Mann

Producers: Victoria Valencia and Isaiah Blakely

Production Supervision: Ben Cruz and Conor Nevins

Additional Production Support: John Richter and Chris Wohlers

Social: Isaiah Blakely and Keith Fujimoto

The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit www.rg-help.com to learn more about the resources and helplines available.

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The Real Ones crew reacts to Jaren Jackson Jr. moving to the Jazz and signaling the end of an era for Memphis. Then, Raja joins to dive into the wildest breakout stories of the week—including a drug-testing saga that immediately shoots to the top of the rankings—plus big questions around James Harden, Giannis, and the inevitable end-game conversations surrounding LeBron.

(0:00:00) Intro

(1:14) Jaren Jackson Jr. Trade

(23:38) FanDuel ad break

(25:20) James Harden Trade Request

(54:12) Giannis 

(1:03:57) Mailbag

*Programming note: This episode was recorded before the Los Angeles Clippers traded James Harden to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Darius Garland and a second -round pick.*

Hosts: Logan Murdock, Raja Bell, and Howard Beck

Producers: Victoria Valencia and Steve Ahlman

Production Supervision: Ben Cruz and Conor Nevins

Additional Production Support: John Richter and Chris Wohlers

The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit www.rg-help.com to learn more about the resources and helplines available.

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Justin, Rob, and J.Kyle Mann are here to recap the Thunder’s impressive win over the Nuggets on Sunday.

After that, they discuss the two trades that happened this weekend, with Vit Krejci going to the Trail Blazers and De'Andre Hunter getting sent to the Kings. Then, they follow up last show’s discussion about the most intriguing players at the deadline with the most intriguing teams at the deadline.

(00:00) Intro

(1:39) Thunder-Nuggets Recap

(19:35) De'Andre Hunter-Keon Ellis Trade

(31:10) Vit Krejci-Duop Reath Trade

(43:41) Golden State Warriors

(52:02) Detroit Pistons

(1:02:05) Minnesota Timberwolves

Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and J. Kyle Mann

Producers: Victoria Valencia and Isaiah Blakely

Production Supervision: Ben Cruz and Conor Nevins

Additional Production Support: John Richter and Chris Wohlers

Social: Isaiah Blakely and Keith Fujimoto

The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit www.rg-help.com to learn more about the resources and helplines available.

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