NBA Summer Storylines: A Motivated Luka, Ja’s Joy, and Is LeBron Really Planning for 2026?

The Mismatch

The Ringer

Sports

4.7 • 5.6K Ratings

🗓️ 29 July 2025

⏱️ 86 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Verno and Jacoby discuss the new-look Luka Doncic that is featured in the latest edition of Men’s Health magazine. They debate what kind of impact a healthier Luka will make on the Lakers, the topics were not discussed in the article, as well as his surprise appearance at a Yankees game. Next, they take a deep dive on Nikola Jokic’s agent's cryptic photo with LeBron James and Maverick Carter, Verno explains why he expects a big bounce-back season from Ja Morant, and they debate where the remaining restricted free agents could possibly land. After, they discuss Billy Donovan’s contract extension with the Bulls, the anonymous Nets executive who says Michael Porter Jr. could lead the league in scoring next season, and Verno shares his experience staying at Jacoby’s apartment when he visited New York. (0:00) Welcome to The Mismatch!(2:15) Luka Dončić 2.0 Has Entered the Chat(17:40) Reaction to Jokic's Winning Horse(18:35) Breaking: Jokic's Brother is the GM of KK Joker(23:40) Reaction to Jokic's Winning Horse(25:40) LeBron and Maverick Carter's Yacht Meeting(33:15) Ja Morant's Nike World Tour(41:20) Restricted Free Agents Still Unsigned(50:05) Billy Donovan's Extension(54:00) MPJ "Might lead league in scoring" - Nets Executive(56:15) LaMelo Hot Cheeto Feet(58:50) Tyrese Haliburton's Proposal at Iowa St.(1:01:30) Verno's NYC Trip(1:24:05) Thanks for Watching! Leave us a message on our Mismatch Voicemail line! (323) 389-5091 Hosts: Chris Vernon and David JacobyProducers: Jessie Lopez and Tucker TashjianSocial: Keith Fujimoto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	I've rolled out uni because I want to live at home.
0:02.5	I've ruled out uni because I want to earn money.
0:05.7	I've ruled out uni because of my grades.
0:10.1	Study with the Open University and there's no need to rule out anything.
0:13.9	With our respected degrees, you can learn from home and work alongside study.
0:18.1	We're open to all. Plus, you'll have the support of expert tutors. So rethink your
0:23.6	future with the degree you didn't think was possible. The Open University. The future is open.
0:43.3	Welcome. Welcome. Welcome to the mismatch up Chris Vernon And joining me to us every Monday night from the ringer.com is Dave Jacoby.
0:46.7	Jacoby.
0:47.9	All I want to hear about is what your New York City experience was like.
0:51.8	That's all I care about.
0:53.1	I know it's at the end of the pod, but it's all I want to talk about. We will do it at the end of the pod, but I will tell you
0:59.9	at the very beginning of this pod, that this was a trip unlike any other I had been to New York
1:07.3	before. Outside of when I was a kid, and I grew up in Brewster until I was eight years old.
1:16.4	And so that was like, that's kind of like towards white plains.
1:19.7	It's the suburbs.
1:21.0	I had never been to New York and not stayed in a hotel.
1:24.9	And so the fact that we stayed at your home, you're in New York.
1:30.1	I really, you live in New York.
1:32.3	I lived in New York for three days.
1:36.4	And that was enough.
1:41.1	We'll get to it.
	...

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