Overview of The Ringer — Group Chat (episode: The Warriors’ Old-Man Strength, With Nick Friedell. Plus, the Rolling Rockets, and a 2026 Draft Crash Course.)
This episode features Justin Verrier’s interview with Nick Friedell (The Athletic) on the Golden State Warriors — focusing on Steph Curry’s recent back-to-back heroics, team dynamics (Draymond + Jimmy Butler), youth pieces (Kaminga, Poole, Will Richard), and the team’s title window. Then J. Kyle Mann breaks down the Houston Rockets’ surprising early-season success (a gritty, rebound-first offense built around inside strength) and Reed Sheppard’s breakout. The show closes with a 2026 draft primer: the early top prospects, a few sleepers, and what scouts are watching.
Warriors: what mattered in San Antonio (Nick Friedell interview)
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Big-picture takeaway
- The two-game set in San Antonio (and the earlier Thunder blowout) is framed as a turning point: the Warriors responded to a demoralizing loss by playing with renewed intensity and cohesion.
- Winning both nights — including two elite Steph Curry performances (46 and 49 points in back-to-back-type settings) — stabilized the team’s narrative for now.
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Steph Curry
- Friedell’s read: Curry remains elite at 37 — still can take over games and raises teammates’ confidence. Nick’s memorable quote: “Steph is still the baddest motherfucker in the game.”
- Curry’s work ethic and routine (extra weights/time at USC practice facilities) are emphasized as reasons he still operates at a top level.
- Visuals / moments: Curry baiting crowds vs. Victor Wembanyama (“Wemby”), wearing Kobe warmup shoes (notably in Nike), and tweeting a collaged moment after the Spurs game.
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Draymond Green + Jimmy Butler dynamic
- Draymond’s public takedown after the OKC loss was a spark: it stung but got the team moving. Having Jimmy Butler as a second “hard-liner” actually helped message reach veterans and younger players.
- Friedell thinks the current response suggests the group broadly bought in (locker room was upbeat after the OKC loss), though long-term effects remain to be seen.
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Young players / role players
- Jonathan (Pods/Pajemski — transcript spelling varies) moment: his early comments created friction; context matters and Friedell believes some comments were misread on social.
- Will Richard (late pick/role player) has impressed with scheme-oriented play; may not stay a permanent starter but has been a pleasant fit early.
- Moses Moody, Kaminga: Moody can help when shooting and defending. Kaminga showed a promising early stretch but then regressed/was inconsistent; his development is the biggest swing variable for Golden State’s ceiling.
- Poole and other young pieces are still being evaluated as the team balances minutes for aging stars.
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Health and timeline
- The core reality: Golden State’s upside in 2024–25 depends entirely on whether Steph, Draymond and Jimmy are healthy come April/May. Friedell calls this probably “their last best chance” at a title window with the current construction.
- Steve Kerr: Friedell feels Kerr will stay as long as Curry is there; Kerr’s influence and the historical parallels (Kerr invoking Bulls) underscore urgency.
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Final framing
- Even if the Warriors have flaws (depth, youth inconsistencies), when Steph’s at this level he can still flip games and make the team must-watch nightly.
Rockets: “90s smashmouth” retooled for 2025 (J. Kyle Mann)
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Identity and approach
- The Rockets are playing a rugged, physical style — huge emphasis on offensive rebounding and banging inside (what Kyle described as a 1990s mentality updated for the modern NBA).
- They run fewer pick-and-rolls and take a lot of ISO possessions and catch-and-shoot opportunities instead of dribble-pullup threes.
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Frontcourt, rebounding and finishes
- Two bigs are repeatedly mentioned as rebound/finish anchors (transcript references “Shengun” and “Adams”) — the team’s size and hand/finishing strength create a consistent offensive-rebound/second-chance edge.
- Houston’s offensive-rebound rate was extremely high in the sample discussed (noted in show as a striking early-season stat).
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Reed (Shepard/Sheppard in transcript)
- Reed is shooting lights out and brings spacing; his confident shooting can change lineups (creates a 4-on-4 look for opponents).
- Concerns: his size disadvantage vs. bigger wings/defenders; he has relatively few free-throw attempts early (a sign he’s not drawing contact/attacking enough yet) — a limiter in higher-stakes series where opponents will exploit mismatches.
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Rotation notes and injuries
- Josh Okogie has stuck in a starting role as a defensive/glue option; coach likes defense-first pieces.
- Tari Eason (referred to as “Tarry” in transcript) was out with an oblique strain (4–6 weeks), testing depth.
- Kevin Durant (KD) is still the late-game go-to; when he plays at a high level he can carry the group.
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Roster & trade context
- Multiple young pieces (Jabari Smith cited as important for lineup versatility) give the Rockets trade options; the team’s early success makes radical deadline moves less urgent — but the front office can punt or push based on how the next 2–3 months go.
- The Rockets’ style can be hard to stop in the regular season, but questions remain whether it will translate in playoff matchups vs. elite defenses.
2026 Draft crash course — prospects to know (early-season read)
Hosts review early top names and what scouts are watching. (Note: this is a primer reflecting early-season scouting and the podcast’s on-court observations.)
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The early “big three” (as discussed)
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Darren Peterson (Kansas)
- Profile: a 6'4" lead guard, advanced processing, lead-off playmaker who can run an NBA offense; quick dribble-pull-up instincts, physical finishing, improving shooter.
- Strengths: feel, court awareness, playmaking both as on-ball hub and off-screen option.
- Watch-for: durability (hamstring noted) and continuing to show consistent rim-finishing and passing versus better competition.
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AJ DeBonsa (BYU)
- Profile: long/athletic wing (listed ~6'9"), high-level scorer and shot-maker; can create difficult/fancy finishes.
- Strengths: athleticism, scoring toolkit, off-ball movement and flashes of elite shot-making.
- Questions: refinement — shot selection/process sometimes looks chaotic; needs to show more consistent playmaking and decision-making at higher levels.
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Cam Boozer (Duke)
- Profile: high-IQ, technically-sound big (strong, skilled around the rim), reliable passer and rebounder; the “technique-first” center/power-forward who can slot into lineups without needing the ball.
- Strengths: touch, footwork, passing, and fit versatility (can play next to creators).
- Team fits discussed: teams that need a do-everything four (Indiana, Washington were mentioned as conceptual fits).
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Other early names highlighted
- Michael (Mikel?) Brown Jr. (Louisville)
- Profile: fluid wing with playmaking and scorer’s mentality; movement-centric, creative playmaker (compared to smaller threats like Jamal Murray / LaMelo vibes in flashes).
- Caleb Wilson (North Carolina)
- Profile: 6'9–6'10 power wing — springy, long, can pass and finish; shows switchability and raw physical upside as a modern big-wing.
- Noted traits: strong passer out of the high post, high motor, capable rim-finisher.
- Michael (Mikel?) Brown Jr. (Louisville)
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Sleepers / lower-profile names mentioned on the show
- (names pulled from the discussion; listeners should follow tape as rankings will shift)
- Malik Thomas (Arkansas)
- Hahn Steinbach (Washington)
- LeBaron Filon (Alabama)
- Yaxl Lindenborg (Michigan)
- Neocles Abdallas (Virginia Tech)
- Jane Quaintance (Kentucky)
- The panel emphasized that this 2026 class already looks deep and deep top-to-bottom, with several high-upside wings and multi-positional defenders.
- (names pulled from the discussion; listeners should follow tape as rankings will shift)
Key quotes & notes
- Nick Friedell on Curry: “Steph is still the baddest motherfucker in the game.”
- Friedell’s framing: This season may be the Warriors’ last clear title window as currently constructed; everything hinges on the health of the Steph/Draymond/Jimmy trio.
- Rockets description: “A 90s basketball team claw-machined to 2025” — physical interior toughness + modern spacing.
What to watch next (actionable takeaways)
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Warriors
- Monitor health: Are Steph, Draymond and Jimmy healthy and available heading into April?
- Watch Kaminga’s minutes/consistency — he’s the primary swing variable for Golden State’s depth and playoff viability.
- Keep an eye on role players (Will Richard, Moody) — can any sustain production and replace aging minutes?
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Rockets
- Track Tari Eason’s return and Okogie’s hold on the starting spot.
- See if offensive-rebound rates and Šengün/Adams finishes regress to mean or remain a durable advantage.
- Evaluate Reed’s (Sheppard/Shepard) ability to draw contact and create inside the arc (free-throw volume).
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Draft
- Follow Peterson, DeBonsa, Boozer, Brown and Wilson across different competition tiers to see how their playmaking, shot selection, and defensive switchability translate.
- Pay attention to Cooper (Flagg) chatter — many analysts speculate how he’d alter rankings if available in 2026.
This summary captures the episode’s three main threads: the Warriors’ late-game leadership/identity questions, the Rockets’ brute-strength offensive identity and Reed’s breakout, and an early look at the 2026 draft’s top names and sleepers.