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The Ringer NBA Show

The Dark-Horse MVP Race, Mathurin’s Moment, and More Takeaways About Actual Basketball | Group Chat

The Ringer NBA Show

The Ringer

Sports

4.29.4K Ratings

🗓️ 24 February 2026

⏱️ 79 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Justin is back with Rob and J. Kyle Mann, and they take a look at the MVP race because the front-runners are up against the 65-game limit. They talk about whether the game limit is here to stay, some other candidates for MVP, and more. Then they talk about some of their takeaways from the first couple of games after the All-Star break, including Bennedict Mathurin’s impressive start with the Clippers and Cam Thomas and the resurgent Bucks. (00:00) Intro (2:01) The MVP race (31:02) FanDuel ad break (34:38) Cavs (45:09) Pistons (49:44) Who is the best American player in the league? (54:44) Bennedict Mathurin (1:08:04:04) Cam Thomas Hosts: Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and J. Kyle Mann Producers: Victoria Valencia and Isaiah Blakely Production Supervision: Ben Cruz and Conor Nevins Social: Isaiah Blakely and Keith Fujimoto The Ringer is committed to responsible gaming. Please visit www.rg-help.com to learn more about the resources and helplines available. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

Hello and welcome to group chat. I am Justin Varyer joining me, Rob Mahoney, Jay Kyle, man.

0:22.5

Sorry I missed last week's riveting episode. I'll be honest. I looked at the title when you guys

0:28.9

published. I was like, are these dudes tanking? Have they joined the tank race as well? Like,

0:34.8

what's going on here? Look, what's wrong with reviewing a little recent history?

0:40.0

Do you have some editorial guidance for us?

0:42.4

An interesting timing, you know, right after the deadline, middle of the season.

0:47.8

But, you know, we make do.

0:50.2

Look, the content never stops.

0:52.1

We had to go to work that day.

0:54.0

Some of us, you know, we're trying to put it in honest days.

0:57.1

That was the natural pivot, Rob, is to turn the knife right back on Justin for that.

1:02.0

And it was a quick pivot in our defense also.

1:04.4

And we did our best.

1:06.0

And we're retrospective, introspective people, unlike you, Justin, who just plows forward with no remorse and no character development.

1:13.6

How'd you guys feel? Was it just like 33.3% less hilarious than usual?

1:20.3

Oh, we were lost in the woods. To be very clear about what was happening. I just felt like our compass was pointing in every possible direction. We were just walking in circles, Blair Witch style out in the wilderness.

1:30.6

And it's a miracle we got through it alive.

1:33.2

When I have no one to bully, I do tend to be aimless for a little bit.

1:37.9

I've noticed that about myself.

1:39.6

So, yeah, I'm glad to have you back for that reason.

1:42.3

I can't wait to be a punching bag yet again.

1:45.1

Just fill my normal position here.

...

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