Historic NBA MVP Race

·53 min·5 clips

Why is the NBA MVP debate so toxic that fans are attacking players over minutes and nationality?

The episode opens with host Mike Zakarian apologizing for a missed Friday show and greeting chat participants. He launches into a rant about the NBA MVP race, expressing frustration over how fans and media discuss candidates like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Dončić, Victor Wembanyama, and Nikola Jokić, citing examples of toxic arguments about minutes, nationality, and statistics. Zakarian argues that the conversation has lost nuance, blaming 'nerds' for ruining the discourse. He then shifts to discussing MLB's new instant challenge system, suggesting it could be adapted for the NBA to reduce delays. The bulk of the episode is a recap of weekend NBA games: the Sixers' win over the Hornets featuring Tyrese Maxey's return and dunk on Miles Bridges, the Celtics' victories without Jalen Brown, and the Orlando Magic's embarrassing 31-0 run loss to the Raptors, which Zakarian uses to criticize coach Jamahl Mosley. Other games covered include the Rockets' win over the Pelons, the Thunder's victory over the Knicks, and the Pistons' upset of the Timberwolves, with a focus on Paul Reed's performance. Zakarian also touches on fantasy basketball implications, injury reports, and previews upcoming games, analyzing spreads and player availability. The episode concludes with promotions for related shows and a reminder of the day's schedule.

As heard by us

A brisk NBA morning segment where Cleveland's blowout win opens into roster and coaching frustration.

The NBA segment starts with Cleveland's 149-128 win over Miami and treats the box score as the doorway into a broader read on the Cavaliers. Jared Allen's 18 points and 10 rebounds, Evan Mobley's 23 and 10, James Harden's 17 points and 14 assists, and Max Strus's 29 off the…

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Why you'd press play

If you want Cleveland box-score fireworks with a live-chat NBA rant and the day's lock-show housekeeping, press play.

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