Who Really Runs the West? Plus, Steph and Under Armour Part Ways.

Summary of Who Really Runs the West? Plus, Steph and Under Armour Part Ways.

by The Ringer

1h 10m•November 15, 2025
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Overview of The Ringer NBA Show — "Who Really Runs the West? Plus, Steph and Under Armour Part Ways"

Hosts Logan Murdoch (Loogie) and Raja Bell, with producer/guest Cliff, run through a Western Conference power‑ranking-style conversation (OKC, Denver, Spurs, Rockets, Lakers, Clippers and others), debate whether the Thunder should chase an ultra-high regular‑season win total, and close with major news: Stephen Curry is moving his Curry brand beyond Under Armour. The episode mixes game/stat highlights, roster/development analysis, and cultural takes (plus the usual sponsor reads and “Real One of the Week”).

Western Conference hierarchy — team-by-team summary & takeaways

Note: this segment is a conversation-style ranking, mixing stats, impressions and tactical observations.

Oklahoma City Thunder

  • Start: blazing (12–1 at the time of the episode); highest net rating in the NBA, top offensive efficiency, elite defense (ranked first in opponent scoring).
  • Core: Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander and Chet Holmgren anchor the team; role players and young wings provide multiple playmakers and defensive versatility.
  • Key discussion: hosts agree OKC looks like the best team in the West currently, but caution against actively chasing a historic win total (e.g., 74 wins). Reasons:
    • Chasing records forces extended high‑intensity play, can lead to fatigue and emotional letdown before playoffs.
    • Sustainable dynasty building favors smart minutes management, player development and prioritizing long-term goals (e.g., 65–68 wins is preferable to burning out).
  • Positive notes: depth allows management of minutes (SGA averaging about mid‑30s minutes), multiple creators beyond the star.

Denver Nuggets

  • Form: on a multi‑game win streak with elite offensive numbers; Nikola Jokić highlighted by a 50+ point performance and consistent MVP‑level impact.
  • Strengths: top offense, improved defense and deeper supporting cast (bench contributions and more “adult” defenders/3‑and‑D pieces).
  • Takeaway: Denver has closed the gap on OKC. Jokić’s stature/skill makes the team always viable — but depth and defensive improvement are key to converting that into another title.

San Antonio Spurs

  • Focal point: Victor Wembanyama (Wemby) — standout rookie/young star; teammates like Stephan (Stephon) Castle are developing.
  • Status: playing very well early — more about developing identity and situational maturity than being immediate favorites.
  • Needs: calmer offensive leadership in late game situations and seasoning (execution, situational basketball) to move from promising to legitimate title challenger. Hosts think Spurs might be 1 year away from full contention.

Houston Rockets

  • Recent run: after a slow start they won 7 of 8; Kevin Durant (when present) plus young big Alperen Şengün (referred to in conversation) are working well together.
  • Style: “beautiful chaos” on offense + elite offensive rebounding (league leader in offensive rebounds per game at the time).
  • Caveat: lack of a steady, veteran point guard to calm/organize offense is a concern for playoff series. The group can hang with top teams but may get exposed over a 7‑game series without that on‑ball orchestration.

Los Angeles Lakers

  • Status: LeBron James had not returned from injury at the time. Austin Reaves and Anthony Davis (AD) providing production; team record around 8–4.
  • Assessment: entertaining and capable in bursts but defensive issues create a ceiling. Adding LeBron back could help offensively, but defense and consistent stop‑execution remain questions for deep playoff runs.

Los Angeles Clippers

  • Struggles: poor start (3–8 at the time), injuries and veteran decline have taken a toll.
  • Injuries: Bradley Beal expected to have season‑ending hip surgery; Kawhi Leonard availability remains uncertain.
  • Reality: aging roster, limited picks/assets, and disappointing two‑way performance leave them near the bottom of the West conversation for now.

Stephen Curry + Under Armour: main facts and implications

  • Announcement: Stephen Curry and Under Armour are ending their long partnership, shifting Curry toward expanding the Curry Brand as an independent entity.
  • Timeline noted on the show: Under Armour will release a final colorway in Feb 2026 and some final products through Oct 2026 — so the commercial relationship phases out over the next couple of years.
  • Under Armour statement (paraphrase): gratitude for Curry’s role building the brand; says both sides will refocus—Under Armour on its core turnaround and Curry on evolving his brand.
  • Analysis / likely scenarios discussed:
    • Curry may pursue a Tiger‑Woods‑style independent brand (Curry Brand standalone), possibly with outside investment.
    • A full return to Nike (or a major brand re‑sign) is considered unlikely late in his career, but the hosts note possibilities like sneaker PEs (player exclusives) or cross‑brand appearances.
    • Under Armour faces strategy challenges in basketball footwear and loses its anchor athlete; there are also past political/PR tensions referenced.

Notable takes & quotes

  • Core debate: “Should a reigning champion chase a historic regular‑season win total?” — unanimous leaning toward “no”: prioritize player health, sustainable dynasty construction, minutes management.
  • On OKC’s culture: hosts emphasize youth, hunger and defensive identity as foundations for sustained success.
  • Kevin Plank (Under Armour CEO) quoted in the announcement: praised Curry’s strategic leadership and community impact; framed the split as both parties refocusing priorities.

Quick stats & soundbites mentioned

  • OKC: 12–1 start; highest net rating (by ~2 points).
  • SGA: averaging ~32.5 points per game and limited fourth‑quarter minutes (six fourth‑quarter appearances noted at the time).
  • Jokić: recent 55‑point game (and a 50‑point, 3‑quarter performance vs. Clippers referenced).
  • Rockets: leading the league in offensive rebounds per game (hosts emphasized the physical glass‑punishing style).

Episode housekeeping, promos & cultural extras

  • Mailbag: postponed this week; will return next Tuesday — send questions to realonesmailbag@gmail.com.
  • Sponsors noted: FanDuel, McAfee, Whole Foods Market, Cheez‑It, Nordstrom, The Home Depot, Mint Mobile, Disney+.
  • “Real One of the Week”: hosts called out baseball MVP winners (Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge) and Summer Walker’s new album.
  • Hosts/guests: Logan Murdoch (Loogie), Raja Bell, Cliff (producer/guest). Episode length ~1 hour 6 minutes.

Bottom line / listening takeaways

  • Early standings suggest Oklahoma City and Denver are the conference frontrunners — OKC for depth/defense, Denver for Jokić’s dominance plus improved defense.
  • Spurs, Rockets and Lakers have clear upside but need seasoning or roster fixes (Spurs: situational maturity; Rockets: veteran point guard; Lakers: defense and LeBron’s health).
  • Clippers: currently a low tier due to injuries and age.
  • Curry/Under Armour split is a major off‑court story with long‑term branding/market implications; expect a phased commercial transition and curiosity about where Curry’s signature footwear will land going forward.

If you want a shorter one‑paragraph TL;DR or a one‑page “cheat sheet” of team ranks with bullet pros/cons for each team in the West, I can produce that next.