Open Floor: SI's NBA Show

Jokic vs. SGA MVP Race & The Mavs Hitting Restart? (w/ Evan Turner)

·48 min·4 clips
Evan Turner says Nikola Jokic's 55-point game 'makes absolutely no sense' because he doesn't rely on speed or athleticism.
The episode opens with a lighthearted story about former NBA player Reggie Bullock purchasing a $2 million island in Belize and developing it into Bullock Island resort. The conversation then shifts to Nikola Jokic's recent 55-point performance against the LA Clippers, with Evan Turner expressing amazement at Jokic's skill-based dominance. They debate whether Jokic, a three-time MVP, is approaching the historical tier of players like Michael Jordan and LeBron James. The hosts examine the Denver Nuggets' supporting cast, particularly Jamal Murray's role. An ad break for Rocket Money interrupts the basketball talk. The discussion moves to the Dallas Mavericks, who fired GM Nico Harrison amid a 3-9 start. Mannix and Turner dissect the fallout from trading Luka Doncic, the toxicity with fans, and ownership's role. They explore the team's future options, including building around rookie Cooper Flagg or relying on returns from injured stars Kyrie Irving and Anthony Davis. Jason Kidd's potential front-office move is mentioned. The focus turns to the Oklahoma City Thunder's impressive 12-1 start, highlighting their top-ranked defense despite injuries to Jalen Williams and Lu Dort. Players like Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Joe, and AJ Mitchell are praised for their contributions. The hosts consider whether the Thunder can win 70 games. Finally, they analyze the Golden State Warriors' inconsistent play, citing age, size disadvantages, and reliance on Steph Curry. The episode concludes with a humorous callback to visiting Bullock Island.

As heard by us

A relaxed NBA conversation sharpens around Luka Doncic, Dallas' choices, and how stars get judged from the outside.

The episode starts on Reggie Bullock's Belize island and then settles into a sharper Mavericks conversation, with Evan Turner giving the Luka Doncic debate a useful player-level edge.

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Why you'd press play

You get Reggie Bullock's Belize island detour, a sharp Luka Doncic trade postmortem, and a player's-eye defense of superstar conditioning in one loose NBA afternoon.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →
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