Transcript

10 GOOD MINUTES: OKC From Future Dynasty to Overrated? Plus Mailbag Questions!

From The Ryen Russillo Show · Episode page · Watch on YouTube

· 35 min · 7,705 words · 72 timestamped sections

This is the full, timestamped transcript of "10 GOOD MINUTES: OKC From Future Dynasty to Overrated? Plus Mailbag Questions!", an episode of The Ryen Russillo Show published January 6, 2026 (35 min, about 7,705 words). It mentions 91 people, works and ideas, including VJ Edgecombe, Trae Young, Tyrese Maxey, Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder.

What this episode is about

The discussion focuses on the Oklahoma City Thunder's recent performance, highlighting their shift from a strong start to a mediocre record in their last twelve games. Key points include concerns about their approach to offensive matchups, particularly in high-pressure situations like the recent game against Phoenix, and a mention of Charlotte's surprising competitiveness in the league. Additionally, there’s a mailbag segment addressing viewer questions.

Key takeaways

  • OKC's current malaise reveals even contenders can falter post-title; just ask last year's Celtics.
  • Defensive strength can mask offensive flaws, but being 'too hunt happy' may cost OKC crucial wins.
  • Charlotte's domination of OKC signals: never underestimate the underdog; a 27-point blowout is no small feat.
  • Mid-season slumps are normal; teams often need time to adjust, especially after early success like 24-1.
  • A perceived dynasty teetering on overrating is a fine line in sports; expectations can crush even the best.

What is discussed, and when

  1. – 5:00: Corey Booker, Jaylen Williams, Ryan Rolo Show
  2. – 10:00: Aaron Mintz, Austin Brown, Brandon Miller, Steve Phillips
  3. – 15:00: Calvin Booth, Bradley Beal, Bruce Brown, Hunter Tyson
  4. – 20:00: Jalen Brown, Aaron Gordon, Ace Bailey, Joel Embiid
  5. – 25:00: Anthony Black, Brook Lopez, Tyus Jones
  6. – 30:00: Joel Embiid, Duncan Robinson, Facebook, Instagram
  7. – 35:00: Sherry Castle, Aaron Gordon
  8. – 35:24: Sherry Castle

Notable quotes from "10 GOOD MINUTES: OKC From Future Dynasty to Overrated? Plus Mailbag Questions!"

  • Start with OKC from 24-1 to 6 and six in their last 12 games. The game winner by Booker against Phoenix and then you know you can do hey back to back. you can obviously sense…
    about Corey Booker · at
  • Part of the problem while this team is taking a step back. honestly, I think Jaylen Williams coming back and trying to get himself in shape and shooting at the worst that he's…
    about Jaylen Williams · at
  • Brown the only established guy out of that group Tyson that may have only been a minute going up against Embiid Maxi VJ Grimes and Paul George.
    about Joel Embiid · at
  • This guy more. but at least for a night and for a night, we should all talk about Jaylen Brown.
    about Jalen Brown · at
  • From the gang, so fire them off. Yeah, we'll start here. Near and dear to my heart. This is from Gordon. He says, Hey, Ryan, why do the Magic What's up, Gordo?
    about Aaron Gordon · at
  • He's just has not fit in whatsoever. I agree like Jayce has looked kind of fun off the bench. the way Anthony Black has been playing, I wouldn't want to, I'd want to let him…
    about Anthony Black · at
  • The only thing because I was thinking about this last night with watching Brook Lopez in that Warriors game where they beat the Warriors.
    about Brook Lopez · at
  • Air. Wade is somebody like one of my favorite things and you see this with Castle a lot by the way, like the rejecting the screen stuff. like Wade would just consistently beat…
    about Sherry Castle · at

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

  • VJ Edgecombe — Person · 14 mentions
  • Trae Young — Person · 12 mentions
  • Tyrese Maxey — Person · 12 mentions
  • Jalen Brown — Person · 6 mentions · first at
  • Aman Thompson — Person · 6 mentions
  • Nicolas Batum — Person · 6 mentions
  • Zeke Nnaji — Person · 6 mentions
  • Joel Embiid — Person · 5 mentions · first at
  • Dwyane Wade — Person · 5 mentions
  • Jalen Pickett — Person · 5 mentions
  • Victor Oladipo — Person · 5 mentions
  • Sherry Castle — Person · 4 mentions · first at
  • Jason Tatum — Person · 4 mentions
  • LaMelo Ball — Person · 4 mentions
  • Steve (mailbag co-host/producer) — Person · 4 mentions
  • Paul George — Person · 3 mentions · first at
    That group Tyson that may have only been a minute going up against Embiid Maxi VJ Grimes and Paul George.
  • Michael Malone — Person · 3 mentions
  • Corey Booker — Person · 2 mentions · first at
  • Jaylen Williams — Person · 2 mentions · first at
  • Calvin Booth — Person · 2 mentions · first at
    Like we want our lottery picks and our first rounders to also get shot attempts, too. The Calvin Booth game, where were you for it? I was on the couch. I'm Wait a minute.…
  • Spencer Jones — Person · 2 mentions · first at
    Featured Payton Watson playing 44 minutes. Jaylen Picket 29 points in 42 minutes. Spencer Jones 43 minutes. Zeke Naji 32 good minutes from Zeke Naji. At one point they had a lineup with Strawther Nagi, Picket Watson, Bruce Brown. I think.
  • Aaron Gordon — Person · 2 mentions · first at
  • Anthony Black — Person · 2 mentions · first at
  • Brook Lopez — Person · 2 mentions · first at
  • Boris Diaw — Person · 2 mentions
  • Seth Curry — Person · 2 mentions
  • Tidjane Salaün — Person · 2 mentions
  • Brandon Miller — Person · 1 mention · first at
    Although I'd love to see this team run it a little bit more with Canipple. Some of the stuff Brandon Miller's doing these last couple weeks. he's gone off 33, 31, 28, and three…
  • Aaron Mintz — Person · 1 mention · first at
    Wording on the report was interesting that the Hawks were working with Aaron Mintz and the rest of his representatives Austin Brown I believe in there Drew I think as well CA…
  • Austin Brown — Person · 1 mention · first at
    That the Hawks were working with Aaron Mintz and the rest of his representatives Austin Brown I believe in there Drew I think as well CA and that there was this collaborative…
  • Steve Phillips — Person · 1 mention · first at
    Ownership with Atlanta, I'll never forget, I've told this a couple times, but like Steve Phillips and I used to do a baseball show at ESPN, right? And he would talk like trade…
  • Bradley Beal — Person · 1 mention · first at
    The piece in a vacuum, you're you got Bradley Beal for nothing. It's no, but the problem is that he's really expensive and Beal wouldn't get in anyone's way develop developmental wise, right?
  • Payton Watson — Person · 1 mention · first at
    To watch that one. this game featured Payton Watson playing 44 minutes. Jaylen Picket 29 points in 42 minutes. Spencer Jones 43 minutes. Zeke Naji 32 good minutes from Zeke Naji. At one point they had a lineup with Strawther Nagi,.
  • Bruce Brown — Person · 1 mention · first at
    Minutes from Zeke Naji. At one point they had a lineup with Strawther Nagi, Picket Watson, Bruce Brown. I think Hunter Tyson came in for Bruce Brown. So there may be a chance…
  • Hunter Tyson — Person · 1 mention · first at
    They had a lineup with Strawther Nagi, Picket Watson, Bruce Brown. I think Hunter Tyson came in for Bruce Brown. So there may be a chance that it was like Brown the only…
  • Josiah Grimes — Person · 1 mention · first at
    Brown the only established guy out of that group Tyson that may have only been a minute going up against Embiid Maxi VJ Grimes and Paul George.
  • Mike Mullen — Person · 1 mention · first at
    At least moving better on offense? I was kind of wishing and I knew this was going to happen because Mike Mullen is working for ESPN. If he had been on the postgame desk for…
  • Mike Brown — Person · 1 mention · first at
    Was wrong play the guys. look, this there's some similarities here to Tom Thibido and Mike Brown where you're watching some of the guys in the Knicks, maybe two, and you're Oh…
  • Will and Ariel Durant — Person · 1 mention · first at
    All-Star team, but some of the stuff that he does, and I don't know if it was the Durant game and some of those matchups where, you're not going to like stop Durant, but you…
  • Ace Bailey — Person · 1 mention · first at
    Better. And A went ahead and that's why I was big on a little maybe information there on the Ace Bailey pick because when Utah was in the lottery this year, I was this kind of…

Companies & orgs

Products & tech

Concepts & topics

  • Light the Beam — Concept · 1 mention · first at
    You don't really have a ton going on there. this is your guy. Here you go, Trey. Light the beam. Win 38 games.

Places & events

  • Queenstown — Place · 1 mention · first at
    To the pod. enjoyed your recommendations to hike the Ben Lemon Trail in Queenstown. Absolutely epic views. I would agree. Tougher than Camelback in Phoenix and eating at Vandal in Mayorca.
  • Mount Marcy — Place · 1 mention · first at
    Like my I think my like Instagram or Facebook memories 10 years ago I hiked Mount Marcy which is Lake Plastid.
  • Ben Lomond Track — Place · 1 mention
  • Camelback Mountain — Place · 1 mention
  • Lake Placid — Place · 1 mention
  • Mallorca — Place · 1 mention
  • Phoenix, Arizona — Place · 1 mention

Full transcript with timestamps

Our weekly good 10 minutes. We'll talk some NBA, our YouTube exclusive for the Ryan Rolo Show. We'll get to some of your mailbag questions at the end. I want to start with OKC from 24-1 to 6 and six in their last 12 games. The game winner by Booker against Phoenix and then you know you can do hey back to back. Um you can obviously sense that I like who hurt you like people arguing that every time a team lost that it was travel and back to back. Um it was back toback but they lost to Charlotte. Charlotte by 27. Charlotte's fun. I'm going to do a minute on them. But um you know kind of weird kind of weird that the OKC Thunder are six and six over 12 games. The Phoenix game, you know, I went back with football.

I'll usually just go back and spend Monday watching all the games that I feel like I need to get my eyes on. And I would say there was one thing against Phoenix that alarming is too strong a word. It was just something I was noticing that perhaps they can get a little too hunt happy, hunting the switches, looking for the person that they're targeting who they think is the worst defensive player and they have the best advantage. It was kind of funny because Booker was hunting SGA and SGA was hunting Booker um as they were kind of going back and forth with that. That's something that, you know, one of the Celtics things that will forever be um well, I don't know. Well, I'll think about it every day the rest of my life, but I think about it a lot in that Boston, even when they won the NBA championship, they would have these spells offensively where they'd get so determined for the advantage switch and then you would just

go, you guys just going to do this the whole stretch down here. So, it felt like Boston had this kind of offensive flaw and then they win an NBA championship and then again last year because look, I think they were going to lose that series. Um, even when Tatum went down, you know, with the Achilles injury for anyone that revisits that and goes, "Well, you know, if Tatum hadn't got hurt," I'm like, "I don't know, man. That that looked bad for Boston." So, it was this thing that if you watch them enough, you you just kind of like, "What? Like, you're just going to do this all the time?" And then it's like, well, who who were any of us to criticize it when you win an NBA championship with this approach? And yet you felt like that was one of the things you're like, I know the record's really good. I know the team is really good. I know they just won a title, but God, I really hate watching some of this

turntaking in this this predictable style of stuff here. And you know, look, OKC is built on defense, so even being too critical of any of the offensive stuff feels excessive. Um, but that's what I was seeing at least in the Phoenix game a little bit. I was like, "Oh, this kind of reminds me a little bit of that." Uh, it was not the case last night. Charlotte came out um just dominated in that second quarter. So, I looked at some of the numbers, play type numbers, comparing this year and last year with OKC. I was looking for is there more isolation this year than last year?

Barely. Um, it's basically the same where they rank. Pick and roll ball handler, uh, 18% of their possessions, fifth in the NBA. Last year, 18% of the possessions, seventh in the NBA. transition numbers. Um, this year dipped a little. They're 20th in transition at 17% of their possessions. Last year they were 11th, but it was only 19% of the possessions. So, we're really only talking about like a couple couple percentage points. So, even though the ranks, like if somebody said, "Oh, well, they were they were 11th in transition, they've gone to 20th." So, that's a big part of the the problem while this team is taking a step back. Uh, you know, honestly, I think Jaylen Williams coming back and trying to get himself in shape and shooting at the worst that he's ever shot in his career is probably part of that. Um, there's also probably something to be said of like you've won a title, you start 24-1, there's likely

going to be some malaise there. Uh, their defense is number two in the NBA over this stretch. So, in these last 12 games when they've gone six and six, still the second best defense in the league. I think Detroit's number one. Their net rating in this 12game stretch is still fourth in the NBA. Uh the shooting during this stretch is just not very good. Their rebounding, they're not a strong rebounding team. They're 25th in rebounding uh over this stretch as well. So honestly, when I watch them through this this period, there's really no alarm. There's nothing that's alarming about it. The offense is taking a dip, reinccorporating Jaylen Williams.

They are so good defensively that, you know, when your default setting is, hey, we'll just be the best defense in the NBA. That's such a great thing to have even during some of these tough stretches that, you know, I just I'm not going to get worried about it. Maybe there's a bigger picture thing here where it goes from the way that the Thunder were talked about. It's like, well, you know, with the new apron and the way they set this whole thing up and with all the flexibility they have with draft picks and all this stuff, and we'll see how many of those draft picks actually end up conveying to them because there's language on a couple of those where you're like, well, if they actually don't get it this year, uh, it might not be the stockpile that it looks like on paper. Um, but you know, this is a really wide range of conversation if you're going from, oh, they're going to win the next five titles to is this team

a little overrated. That's a wide gap. That doesn't happen a lot. Dynasty to, yeah, nobody's afraid of them anymore. Um, and I've heard some of that, you know, nobody's afraid of them. Okay, you know, that's that's fine. But as much as the dynasty stuff, because sports, I mean, we've been around long enough, we've seen all this stuff. So, you're sitting there all summer going, "Ah, they're going to win the next four championships." That's just not what's going to happen. It's it's almost a near impossibility. Uh, just human nature alone, you're just not going to grind the same way after multiple years of success.

But swinging it the other way, I' I've started to see some conversation the last couple weeks with these losses where it's like, "Oh, was this team really even that good?" And again, that is a wide range of perception to go from they're going to be a dynasty to is this team overrated? I'm not worried about it. Charlotte's a lot of fun. Uh LaMelo's been back and you can see although I'd love to see this team run it a little bit more with Canipple. Some of the stuff Brandon Miller's doing these last couple weeks. I mean, he's gone off 33, 31, 28, and three the last five games. I mean, he just shoots it so well. And then he has some of these highlight plays where you're like, "This guy is just fierce." Uh, I like Diabate.

Um, if you look at Seion James defensively, you know, they at least have something they can go to if they don't want to play Ston, which with LaMelo backs Ston to LaMelo to close a game if it's tight and they don't like their defensive matchup, that's not going to throw Ston. There was one game where he was getting subbed out and he kind of had his hands out like, "Are you [ __ ] serious? Uh, I'm I'm not going to close the game here." And so that was something that was at least worth looking at there. Um although what they did to Curry off the ball still I think it was like misdemeanor assault. Some of the stuff you see with Curry off the ball you're like I can't believe like none of this stuff ever gets called and yet we call some of this other stuff where a guy just veers into somebody. Free throws fall down. Boom. Um but Charlotte is a lot of fun. I mean it's a team that went what are they nine and nine in their

last 18. They are. I just looked it up because I wrote it down a little bit earlier. Salon getting in there. Tjan Saloon. It looks like Saloon, but everybody calls him Salon. Um, and so yeah, there's just a lot on this team that's a lot of fun to watch, but still sort of strange to lose by 30 to him at home. The headline yesterday, Trey Young trademark it. I don't need to do the Trey Young the player segment for the 10th time. 10 is probably low, so I'm not going to do that. I thought the wording on the report was interesting that um the Hawks were working with Aaron Mintz and the rest of his representatives Austin Brown I believe in there Drew I think as well CA um and that there was this collaborative it was like a very positive me message right it was like oh yeah everybody's like totally psyched about this and on the same page and you know working to see possible trade destinations well we know

the reason behind that is because Atlanta does not want to give Trey nor will they give Trey the extension that he wants he has the player option to opt out for next year. $49 million. Probably going to pick that one up. Um so whenever I see the language that way, I'm I'm like, is this one of those deals where the team like they're clearly upset, hey, you need to extend our guy. Oh, you're not going to extend our guy. Okay, so instead of like demanding a trade and making it a little weird and Trey being like public enemy number one in Atlanta, which I don't know that could ever really happen because God does that fan base love that dude. um you know, is it is it the nicest trade demand, but then also the team in the front office going, "Hey, we have a pretty good idea of what his value is and what his value isn't."

So if you want to go ahead and make the same calls that we make and mints is so powerful that maybe this is where the agent can make something happen where it's like hey you need to do this for this player and then you know I have these other clients like this is part of the NBA agent game sometimes where you'll see some things happen you're like that doesn't like why would the team just kind of do that and you're like well sometimes the agents have that kind of juice and mince is certainly one of those guys so you wonder if this is one of those deals where it's like let's let's announce this in a nice way. It's like a PR spin on we don't want to invest in him anymore. We like the rest of the team and it's pretty clear we're better without him. He's really expensive. He's not going to get the contract he wants. If he doesn't get the contract he wants, he's probably not going to be the happiest dude ever

around here. So, you know, if you want to work on it, go ahead. But we've already made these calls. Now, if I were ownership with Atlanta, I'll never forget, I've told this a couple times, but like Steve Phillips and I used to do a baseball show at ESPN, right? And he would talk like trade deadline, and he would say if he couldn't get anywhere with another baseball GM on some kind of deal that he would tell his owner to then call the owner of the team that he was trying to deal with to just go over the head of the GM. And then he would be like, and I would just deny it or whatever. We all did it to each other all the time, so it's not like I was the only one doing it. If I were Atlanta, I'd be calling up a VC in Sacramento being like, you have a stale franchise.

You don't really have a ton going on there. Like, this is your guy. Here you go, Trey. Light the beam. Win 38 games. It's going to be a lot of fun. The kids are going to buy the jerseys. Like, we just did it for a bunch of years. It's a lot of fun. You're not going anywhere. So, that might be the only thing if you're trying to salvage some kind of asset. But these other reports that they would have to attach some kind of asset to move him out, you're like, man, I mean, I don't like him as a player, but god, like attaching an asset, and that's because of the 49 million next year. Now, the Wizards keep being brought up.

Uh, I I wouldn't do it if I were the Wizards. I don't, you know, you're not going to get the New Orleans pick. I mean, that's a non-starter. And so, if you're thinking like, what kind of pick are we going to get out of here? That makes a lot of sense. Cuz here's the problem is that I don't think Tre is ever going to change as a player. And if you have these other players that I really like with Keshan, with some of the stuff Trey Johnson's done, um, you know, developing SAR, Bub, Koulibali, you know, there's there's a lot of guys on that team that when you watch Washington, you go, okay, well, there may be a couple pieces here that have a chance. I think if you bring Trey Young into that, then the development halts because he's not a good player to be developing young guys around. So, you know, even if it's team with Washington that has all this cap space and then all of us, you know, we should always remind

ourselves of like some of the approaches where a GM goes, okay, well, I may not like the player, but assetwise, if we're just talking about asset management, this is unbelievable that I'm getting another piece to take on this contract. We have all this cap space. I think it's like 90 million or something next year. Um, you know, we're getting Trey Young for free and a bonus gift on top everything else. Like, you may not like the player, but he's far too talented to turn down that kind of deal. It's a bit like the Beal transaction with Phoenix where, you know, I didn't really like who Beal was at that point. I don't know that I've ever seen a player that's more comfortable being the third option. He's like, "Hell, I'll be I'll be fourth option tonight if you guys want me to be." Um, and knowing that you're giving up nothing. So, it's like, hey, you're getting Beal for free. Yeah. Except for

the part where he makes like $50 million a year. So, yes, the the pieces out from the piece in in a vacuum, you're like, you got Bradley Beal for nothing. It's like, no, but the problem is is that he's really really expensive and Beal wouldn't get in anyone's way develop developmental wise, right? Um, Trace I think Trey goes to the next franchise pissed off at everybody to show things like, "Look, watch me get my 30 and 10." And it's like, "Okay, but like we want our lottery picks and our first rounders to also get shot attempts, too." The Calvin Booth game, where were you for it? I was on the couch. I'm like, "Wait a minute. Denver came back and won this game against Philadelphia. They won in overtime. Had to watch that one." Uh, this game featured Payton Watson playing 44 minutes. Jaylen Picket 29 points in 42 minutes. Spencer Jones 43 minutes. Zeke Naji 32 good minutes from Zeke Naji. At one point

they had a lineup with Strawther Nagi, Picket Watson, Bruce Brown. I think Hunter Tyson came in for Bruce Brown. So there may be a chance that it was like Brown the only established guy out of that group Tyson that may have only been a minute going up against Embiid Maxi VJ Grimes and Paul George. Damn. Um Embiid and aside that Knicks game he's moving better on offense. Defensively people are putting him in every action. Brunson was was going at him. Um, but there's some there's a little burst um a little bit more from him the last few games. Uh, and I know he's always coming back from injury and always trying to work himself in a shave and whatever. Like which of the four late turnovers was your favorite, but he is at least moving better on offense? I was kind of wishing and I knew this was going to happen because Mike Mullen is working for ESPN. If he had been on the postgame desk for this game, that would

have been I would have recorded it, never deleted it. Now, it's probably a little unfair to be like, "Hey, look at what happened last night. This means Calvin Booth was always right and Malone was wrong play the guys." I mean, look, this there's some similarities here to Tom Thibido and Mike Brown where you're watching some of the guys in the Knicks, maybe two, and you're like, "Oh, you know, you could have played Col a little bit more and given him some kind of chance here." I think we've probably seen enough of Zeke Naji that I don't know that he's good all of a sudden. I don't know that I was ever a huge Jaylen Picket guy, but he was on fire last night. But some of the Watson on ball drives, like they couldn't stay in front of him. That was terrific. Spencer Jones at one point had Paul George on the left side, locked him up. He was defending Maxi. Like these were his assignments, not just caught in a scramble or a

switch. He was assigned to Maxi a couple possessions and then also to Embiid in overtime. This guy's incredible. Um, look, I'm not voting for the All-Star team, but some of the stuff that he does, and I don't know if it was the Durant game and some of those matchups where, you know, you're not going to like stop Durant, but you could just see like if you're one of these established star players on offense and you're like, "What? Who's this guy again?" You're like, "All right, let's get him, you know, bring him up here.

Let's switch into him." And then he's holding up defensively on on some really good players. Um, it's just it's just a lot of fun to watch. I don't know if I' I feel like I've watched enough Zeke Naji to think that I don't know that it's going to come back around. It's like I can't believe Malone didn't play this guy more. Um, but at least for a night and for a night, we should all talk about Jaylen Brown. His 50piece against the Clippers this this weekend was like fake. It was so good. And I mean fake and like that's going in, that shot's going to work. He just made that one. He was insane. And I'm telling you right now, there will never be another Jaylen Brown for me. I have I cannot think of another player from the draft to where he's at now with this the circumstances around him with this this Celtics team where every time, you know, I kind of talk about adjusted ceilings where you're watching players and be

like, I kind of like this guy. like we have to adjust the ceiling on him a little bit. I've adjusted the ceiling on Jaylen Brown like seven times. And every time I'm like, "Okay, well, he can't be any better than this." He ends up being better. This is incredible. Like coming out of Cal, it was ugly. It was really ugly. You know, they draft him and it was a twoman draft, right? It was Simmons and it was Ingram and then it's like, "What the hell is going to happen with the rest of these guys?" And then they go with the athlete from Cal who was the big recruit. And I had asked the Celtics a couple years later. I was like, "What was the thought process into the Jaylen Brown pick?" Because I didn't really see it. You know, it looked it looked pretty ugly. Didn't look like he could dribble. Just wasn't sure what he was. And the whole thought was like Danny Angels was going considering all the options and watching him felt

physically he was so gifted and his size that like it was like if this guy works out like this is what we're all looking for. this big wing on ball guy, shoot it a little bit, you know, not getting stuck with the ball. Like it just felt like the upside for him was so much better. And A went ahead and that's why I was big on a little maybe information there on the Ace Bailey pick because when Utah was in the lottery this year, I was like, you know, this kind of reminds me a little bit of the reason they went with Jaylen Brown. And you know, it might just be Utah going, "Hey, hey, wait a minute. Like, let's not be weird about this." Like I know people are down in Ace Bailey in the pre-draft and all that kind of stuff, but like he's a really big guy. There's some on ball stuff. There's some high-end like dynamic stuff from him that's really really special. You don't find a lot of these guys. You know, we're just going

to go ahead and take him. And that was kind of thought with Brown. So then Brown, you know, it's not out of the gates like he's lighting it up, but you're like, "Oh, okay. This guy's going to play a little bit." And then we're including him in all these trades. and then you know he gets better and better and then he gets signed of that massive contract and you're like how can Jaylen Brown be the highest paid player in the NBA and it's like do you even do that deal like do you want to pay that guy that much money? Um he ends up being the number two in some huge huge spots in the playoffs on his way to a championship and then with Tatum out I'm thinking like this might get a little ugly because of the inefficiency like he's just going to say like hey it's my time which I think he kind of wants a little bit. I don't know that he loves being the number two to Tatum there. And I was like, I wonder if that'll kind of

like mess him up a little bit, like he'll be out to prove something this season in a way that doesn't lead to winning. And instead, they're one of the most surprising teams record-wise in the league. And he's taken it to an even higher level. Um, I don't know if he's going to get MVP votes. He'd have to keep this up the entire season long, but every time I put kind of a cap on what I think he is possible of doing, he smashes right through it. And I don't know there's ever gonna be a player that I've done it like seven different times.

I'm like, "Okay, he's pretty good. Won't be an all-star." All right, he's an all-star, but he won't be this. All right, well, he can't be a one on a winning team and all these different things. Boom, boom, boom. Right through them every single time. All right, let's get to some mailbag stuff here. Bringing Steve, Rudy,

what's up? Uh, our mailbag is NBA mailbagrgmail.com. Uh, I know we have a couple questions from the gang, so fire them off. Yeah, we'll start here. Near and dear to my heart. This is from Gordon. He says, "Hey, Ryan, why do the Magic

What's up, Gordo?" Gordy, what's up, dude? Gaden, uh, why do the Magic continue to play Tyus Jones? It's a This is a question.

Reddit. Yeah. Yeah. You listen, this is one that you highlighted, so I'm I'm happy to take it. He said, "I do not um know what his plus minus is. It's probably not great. Uh, but I do know that he leads uh often leads often disappear when he's on the floor. Those minutes can go to Jace, to Panda, to Kane, um, who I was not familiar with until a couple weeks ago. What is wrong with the team saying, "You know what? We made a mistake."

Uh, coaches love veteran players, especially on the ball. But you got to take this one because you're I mean, you're more locked into the magic than I could ever be.

I I think I think that's part of it. I think it's like, hey, maybe there was some like agent stuff where it's like, hey, if we're going to bring you in, like, he's going to have this defined role and I assume they're not going to bail on that 3, four months into the season. It has not been good. It's it's quite bad. He's terrible defensively and he's terrible shooting. The funny thing about Taius is like I feel like he was on the trademark for like years and remember he was in Memphis uh and I think even when he was in Washington, people were like, "Oh man, like this guy like why aren't these teams calling to get him in the building?" And this is probably why because he's he's just kind of a a limited flawed player and he can be good in certain things, but he's just he's just has not fit in whatsoever. I agree like Jayce has looked kind of fun off the bench. Um the way Anthony Black has been playing, I I I wouldn't want

to, you know, I'd want to let him take ball handling responsibilities for the most part. But yeah, I think you kind of hit the nail on the head. Like I I assume one's a veteran point guard at times and that's maybe why he does it. But I I'd rather experiment during the regular season with younger guys and and figure it out in the playoffs than than try to keep doing something that clearly isn't working.

He is minus 13 on off. It's awful. No, he hasn't been very good. But guess what? With Suggs injury now with the extended injury thing with this whole thing, this whole team might just be cursed.

It's It's rough. It's not fun. I mean, it has been fun from the from the Anthony Black breakout perspective. Like awesome, but like you hate having to like have these things happen because somebody's been hurt for so long. Um, but I don't know, man. Just hoping we can get everybody healthy for the for the playoff run, you know?

The only thing because I was thinking about this last night with watching Brook Lopez in that Warriors game where they where they beat the Warriors. Um, there are times of some older players where I think they're toast. Look, like five years ago to start the season, there were some Batum possessions games where I'm like, are you kidding? And they can't keep in the building long enough. Like Batum has been a absolute home run for the Clippers. But it just was so bad, you know, where it looked like he didn't even want the ball and it was it was a very very small sampling.

So it was totally unfair. But when I was watching, I was like, "Oh god, this guy's like done." And Brook Lopez looked done last year, right? Milwaukee just they couldn't play him in that playoff series and Brooke had been declining now for a little while. I mean, he's an older player and now he's had like this nicer stretch. The only thing I would say is that sometimes with with older players, it can look really bad and then it kind of like turns, you know? It's not like Taius is some big guy that would be out of shape and now he's working himself into shape. Uh because I'm with the emailer here and I'm I'm with you. Like when I watch their games, I'm like these this doesn't look good at all. But it is strange how there are some older players in the past that I'm like totally over like just completely dismissive of and then they can put together like a a nice little stretch.

Um and I don't I don't know if it's just a thing where it takes them longer. I also want like I there's also another topic on like some of the training stuff that happens in the offseason with some of these NBA trainers where I'm wondering like are you tr are you drilling moves and then the guys aren't playing basketball you know what that's a whole another rant which I think I've done one other time

yeah no I get that I with Ty I don't get the impression like Tus is like wash necessarily I just think he's you know he's a 510 point guard like there's there's some limitations to what he's actually able to do and maybe you could hide that certain circumstances, but that it's not really being hidden uh with the Magic, especially for a team that wants to play good defense. So, um shout out to Batum, though. I mean, Batum went to like like maybe the most underrated player in the league when he was in Portland. Then he gets that big contract with the Hornets, looks completely washed, and then goes to Did he go to the Clippers right after that, and then kind of like has the resurrection. I've always liked to, but there was some weird years there in uh in Charlotte.

Yeah, I was I was starting to just be out on French guys in general after the Boris D out the thing where I'm like, "So, what do you guys do? You just take a couple years off in a city you don't like and then when you go somewhere that you do like I mean Boris Dia 100% did that.

Yeah. He's like I don't want I don't care about this. I don't play here. And then it's like oh okay now I'm going to go to San Antonio and care. So I don't know. I didn't want to like mess up some of our diplomatic relationships.

Yeah. Yeah. What else you got? All right. This is from Kevin. Sup Ryan 36 510 185. Don't benchmark out almost every morning. Try to fight the slowing metabolism. Nice. NBA player comps. TJ McConnell. I can get hot from three. Uh I feel like every every like 30 something year old guy is T.J. McConnell. White dude, but you know, whatever.

Yeah, there's a lot of people that And by the way, get hot from three and TJ McConnell is your comp.

Yeah, like get buckets around the paint. Sneaky. That's probably what you're looking for for

When I think about getting hot from three, I don't think about TJ McConnell. Yeah, that's fair. Love the pod. Travel Pod especially. I've been to New Zealand, Spain, both uh after listening to the pod. enjoyed your recommendations to hike uh the the Ben Lemon Trail in Queenstown. Absolutely epic views. I would

agree. Tougher than Camelback in Phoenix and eating uh at Vandal in Mayorca. Fantastic meal. Also brought my wife to your live show in Philly. Nice. So now she when I play the the podcast in the car. Hell yeah. New listener. What's up?

Yeah, that New Zealand hike was the day where I came back and said, "Do I even like hiking?" But then again, it was like a Japanese woman who was had to be 70, 80, I don't know. She would have been 90. Japanese age incredibly well. And you know, true. You see that and you go, "So, what are you gonna do?"

Stop. Yeah. Quick aside. Um, this came up in like my I think my like Instagram or Facebook uh memories 10 years ago I hiked Mount Marcy which is Lake Plastid. I don't if you know where that is. I think it's tallest point in the Northeast. We did it in like basically a snowstorm and I will never forget like we're like

over here. What's up? We were decked out and we had like snow shoes on the back of our you tied to our backpacks which by the way we did not need at all. The guy just straight up lied to us. Um, so sick rental there. Um, but we're decked out and you know like North Face head to toe like looking like we're going to like the Arctic Circle and this guy is just hiking in Air Force Ones. He's just walking through the snow in Air Force Ones and I'm like that guy built different. Like now I just feel like I'm inadequate. So anyway, quick aside.

I liked it. Uh, all right. Back to the email. I'm a big Sixers fan. Curious to know what you're what you think of VJ Ceiling. Um, I've heard Dwayne Wade comp since he was drafted, but to me seems more like an athletic and bouncy Jimmy Butler. I can't believe how good he has been down the stretch in tight games and it may be recency bias from last night, but I think he uh I think I'd actually like to see the ball in his hands at the end of games even with Maxi walking turnover Joel Embiid and podcast P on the floor.

Am I crazy to think that or do you see it too? I know a lot of people are sleeping on the Sixers because of Embiid and Paul George's help. But I think BJ significantly changes the math on how good this team could be, especially if Maxi can keep playing like a fringe MVP candidate. Thanks. Big fan of the pod, Kevin.

I love EJ. Uh he was great last night, you know, even in the loss. I mean, his clutch numbers, the guy's absolutely right. I was looking at it this morning. If you look at the net rating that he has amongst the top games played, you know, guys that are in the clutch here, he's a plus 23. You know, Kad's a plus 20. Um, you know, you run down to like the top 50 guys that have played a lot of minutes. I don't think I saw anyone that was over VJ's. Oh, that's Assar Thompson is over it. And then Duncan Robinson. like Detroit has these incredible net rating numbers, but it's all because of Cade. And so, you know, VJ with the ball, right? Um, that's like a whole another level because Maxi is so good that I don't know that you want to do that. You know, the Embiid late possessions when he faces the double are not exactly my favorite possessions ever. But, you know, they were running something the other night or this is

last night's game where, you know, it was just kind of like it's not even the shot attempt sometimes and and sometimes it's just the other team willing to double or send a second defender, you know, because not every double team is the same. And it does open up some other things and there was there was a play where because I was getting frustrated with Embiid's possessions there late and yet there was a play where it was just entry pass into him and beat's a terrific passer, kicks it out and I think it was a VJ shot and it was just all wide open. So, I wonder how much of the VJ stuff, like I have to really like watch and go, okay, is VJ's scoring here all off of something else? Because you're trying to build some wall against Maxi. And the fact that as soon as you're running with Maxi, you're toast because he's just going to just veer into you and get the call every [ __ ] time. Um, it just drives me crazy because there's

nothing. There was a play last night. I think Picket like went to protect himself against Maxi going into him. He he didn't you know he and then of course the the the guys like you know legal guarding position like dude he was standing there and was like trying to shelter and then he ended up getting the free throws. Now I'm turning this into a rant that I didn't mean to do. Um I I just think VJ I think the world of a man. I mean what an absolute unbelievable scenario for the Sixers team. Although, you know, the two main pieces, well, Maxi is the main piece at this point, you know, so it's it's not like you have three guys that are in their prime. You're a title contending team and then you get to add VJ Edgecomb, but the fact that you still just get to add VJ Edgecomb with everything that happened last year is incredible. Wade Wade's like rarified air. Um, Wade is Wade is somebody like

one of my favorite things and you see this with Castle a lot by the way, like the rejecting the screen stuff. like Wade would just consistently beat you by rejecting the screen and it just didn't seem like anybody could ever figure it out and Castle's doing it a lot and I love it. And um you know VJ there's some similarities with Wade that I think he plays a lot bigger like Dwayne always to me played bigger than he was in his prime and you just couldn't do anything with him. You couldn't stay in front of him. Um, but VJ feels like a better like he project to be a better shooter. And VJ's had some just massive massive moments here lately. But I do think it's harder if it's just going to be harder for him initiating all of it as opposed to let Maxi probe, let Maxi figure out because I mean Maxi's just a stud right now. So, um, yeah, ball in his hands at the end.

That's that's asking a lot. I don't know that I'd go that far. But the player himself, um I I you know, because he had a little bit of a dip after coming onto the scene immediately being like, "This guy's gonna be this good already." And you know, look, you're going to have some ups and downs, but he's uh he's like an alltime keeper, man. He's he's terrific. I love watching him play.

When I when I watch him, and it's because I watch this other guy a lot. Uh it's he he just reminds me of like if if Victor Odipo like worked out if he was like actually who Victor Odipo could have been and he had that yeah that that good run in OKC a little bit Indiana too but

he had that Indiana stretch there where I I remember I didn't have a vote yet then but we did some sort of MVP thing and I think I had him like fifth halfway season. Yeah

he just Yeah, we his career so that's a great call Sudi. I love that call. Yeah. Well, I I think there was some draft comps to that, too. And also because, you know, like kind of like a tweener guard, a little undersized. Um, but, you know, I I always had a soft spot for other people. I just thought I really liked him. I thought he was good. He played hard every night. And I just think like I when when they made that trade, I was like, he's got to get out of Orlando. I'm glad he got a chance to be somewhere else because it would have never it was the same thing with Aaron Gordon. Like they just had to get out of there. Was never going to work. Um,

yeah. Aaron Gordon playing with Jokic also helps too. So, it also does help. That's true. But um so like that may seem like a disc, but I I dude I loved all the depot and uh I think I think BJ if he's like you know everything goes right could be like what he could have been and even better way. Yeah, future Hall of Famer. I mean I that's maybe that's the ceiling ceiling. I don't know. That's just like an insane thing to say. Uh

yeah, whatever, man. I mean feel great about it. Like sky's the limit. Go for it. But I think specific to that question there

I I feel like and I you know again there's there's pull-ups where he's just pulling up from three and it's not off anybody else either too. So, I'm not discrediting any of the shotmaking. I just think it's pretty it's like common sense basketball common sense that I would think without a Maxi out there drawing so much attention because he's just a blur and he's going to get to wherever he wants to go to, it freaks out other defenders and there's probably a little eating off of that, I would think. But I'll uh you know, I'll pay attention to a little bit more um the next couple close clutch Philly games.

One more quick one uh before we get out of here cuz we're running along. This is from Dylan. Building for the next five to 10 years. Who is your dude? A men or castle?

Castle because of the way he unders Yeah. Yeah. Wow. Yep. That that's that surprises me. his his understanding like I already talked about it with the rejecting the screen stuff but like some of the stuff that he is doing when he is reading okay this is the high screen and if it's with or if it's with Luke Cornet and it's like okay are you playing the lob if you're not playing the lob and then it's like oh you're going to come off the corner all right well I'll kick it out there his command of a possession is better than a men's now I know a men's bigger and a men is like a 1% of 1% athlete um but I like Castle's offense better in a second year.

I would I would respectfully take him in. Yeah, I think most people would size and just like he is you just don't find use like that. Was it Winhorse that was basically like though the Spurs was that win horse when he was like the Spurs wouldn't trade Castle for anybody basically

when us like we're not talking about a man. We're talking like anybody. Yeah. No. Yeah. So maybe I'm maybe I'm just not like a little late to the party. He also says sidebar. Pick up running mate. Same choice. Would you rather have a men orgas? Uh, amen.

Just to be like, I played with that guy and just see it up close in person and not have to play against it. Yeah.

Throw lobs. I remember in a pickup game years ago. It wasn't recently, but I think it was the only white kid and a guy like I made a cut and he threw it baseline to me and I got the layup and then we were coming back down. He's like, "Should I throw that lob?" And I was like, "No, don't."

Yeah. Cuz I won't be able to catch it and dunk it. I'll just grab it and come right back down with it.

Yeah, because I was like I was had a few like the guys are kind of like, oh, this guy doesn't suck. I like, hey,

feeling too. Yeah, but when I had to say, don't throw the lob, please, sir. Amen would be like, higher.

Yeah, throw it higher. Although Castle's not afraid of the rim either. All right, that'll do it for the show today. 10 good minutes. Went 38 37

Questions about this episode

What is "10 GOOD MINUTES: OKC From Future Dynasty to Overrated? Plus Mailbag Questions!" about?

The discussion focuses on the Oklahoma City Thunder's recent performance, highlighting their shift from a strong start to a mediocre record in their last twelve games. Key points include concerns about their approach to offensive matchups, particularly in high-pressure situations like the recent game against Phoenix, and a mention of Charlotte's surprising competitiveness in the league.…

What is mentioned in this The Ryen Russillo Show episode?

91 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including VJ Edgecombe, Trae Young, Tyrese Maxey, Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder, Charlotte Hornets. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "10 GOOD MINUTES: OKC From Future Dynasty to Overrated? Plus Mailbag Questions!"?

The episode runs 35 min; the transcript is about 7,705 words in 72 timestamped sections.

More from The Ryen Russillo Show

About this transcript: the episode's spoken words as captioned on YouTube, split into timestamped sections. Reclip.Me locates every person, work and idea in the text, keeps the time it is first named, and quotes the words around it verbatim. Last updated January 24, 2026.