The Ringer NBA Show

The preseason rankings roll on with teams 10 through 6. Houston’s young core faces offensive questions, while Luka Doncic’s revamped Lakers seek defensive stability. Denver’s Jokic dependence and shaky depth draw scrutiny, Boston adjusts without Jaylen Brown, and Cleveland leans on Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, James Harden, and a promising wild card in Payton Watson.

The preseason rankings roll on with a look at teams 15 through 11. Orlando faces a defensive reset and a crossroads for its young core, while Detroit tries to follow up a 60-win season. Miami’s Giannis-Bam experiment raises spacing questions. Toronto adds Kawhi Leonard, and Indiana tests its depth and identity with Ivica Zubac and a recovering Tyrese Haliburton.

The rankings roll on with teams 20 through 16. Charlotte begins a post-LaMelo rebuild, Golden State’s aging core faces roster concerns, and Portland tries to make its crowded guard rotation work. Atlanta’s defensive depth meets shooting questions, while Utah embraces a high-octane offense despite major gaps in the middle and on defense.

Bill Simmons, sports writer, author, podcaster, and Ringer founder, joins Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and J. Kyle Mann for a tour through the preseason’s lower-ranked teams. They debate Zion Williamson’s future and New Orleans’ roster chaos, Memphis’ young depth, Dallas’ Kyrie-Cooper Flagg plan, Washington’s Trae Young-Anthony Davis gamble, and Phoenix’s fragile identity.

The annual NBA preseason rankings begin with the league’s bottom five. Sacramento faces a long rebuild, Milwaukee searches for life without Giannis, and Brooklyn wrestles with a crowded young core. The Clippers confront an injury-plagued roster and the need for a full reset, while Chicago finally embraces a fresh direction led by Caleb Wilson and a fascinating Josh Giddey fit.

Tyler Parker, an NBA writer and analyst focused on team building and league trends, joins a sweeping Western Conference forecast. They debate Wembanyama’s potential superteam season, Denver’s shrinking title window, OKC’s championship standard, and Luka’s Lakers ceiling. Ja Morant’s Portland gamble, Dallas’ Cooper Flagg era, Phoenix’s awkward scoring mix, and the Clippers’ possible collapse round out the drama.

Tyler Parker, a Ringer sports writer and NBA analyst, joins a sweeping tour of the Eastern Conference. Can Boston stay healthy, can the Knicks handle championship pressure, and can Philadelphia’s star-studded experiment work? They also weigh Giannis in Miami, Detroit’s breakout potential, Toronto’s Kawhi gamble, and which contenders may actually reach the Finals.

Jason Concepcion, a sports writer, podcaster, and NBA personality, joins Logan Murdock and Howard Beck for a preseason forecast frenzy. They debate MVP favorites, conference finalists, and championship contenders. Expect bold calls on LeBron’s Sixers reinvention, Luka’s Lakers pressure, Wembanyama’s Spurs, Miami’s Finals chances, Denver’s roster choices, and Cooper Flagg’s instant impact.

Jomi Adeniran, a Ringer sports and culture writer and basketball analyst, joins Van Lathan, a podcaster and cultural commentator, for an NBA heroes-and-villains draft. They debate Anthony Edwards, Luka Dončić, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and others entering their hero eras, while Victor Wembanyama, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Jayson Tatum inspire villain talk. They also tackle analytics discourse, media drama, and frustrating ownership.

ClippersGate gets a hilarious countdown of bizarre revelations, from Kawhi Leonard’s unexpected role to strange sponsorships, questionable reporting, and Steve Ballmer’s carefully worded apology. Then, the focus shifts to preseason intrigue as the Knicks, Lakers, Heat, Wizards, and Mavericks face crowded battles for starting spots.