The Athletic NBA Daily Listener Mailbag | Morning Shoot Around
Dec 26, 2025
The hosts dive into exciting holiday plans before previewing Christmas Day games. They explore the rising rivalry between the Thunder and Spurs, spotlighting Victor Wembanyama. Listener questions spark debates on tanking, the draft lottery's fairness, and proposals for new rules like optional free throws. They highlight standout rookies and the return of double-big lineups. The conversation takes a quirky turn with ideas about relocating NBA teams and health wishes for players, making for a lively and engaging discussion.
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Cooper Flagg's Big-Stage Moment
- Zena Keita says she’s excited for Cooper Flagg to get big-stage minutes after his strong early-season play.
- She frames his appearance on Christmas as a timely chance to showcase his skills.
Rookie Class Is Exceptionally Impactful
- The 2024 rookie class is unusually deep and already producing All-NBA level performances nightly.
- Dave DuFour says rookies like Cooper Flagg and others are reshaping team rotations and attention this season.
Reward Competitiveness Over Pure Losing
- To discourage intentional tanking, reward demonstrable competitiveness late in the season with better lottery odds.
- Esfandiar Baraheni suggests restoring higher odds for truly bad teams while banning repeat top-four picks.