On this episode of The Dunker Spot, Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones preview this year's WNBA Finals between the Las Vegas Aces and Phoenix Mercury, discussing key matchups, schemes, lineups, X-Factors and more.

On the NBA side, the guys give their opening preseason takeaways for the New York Knicks under Mike Brown, 76ers and Pelicans — with some Melbourne United love sprinkled in. Then, they discuss the supposed end of the Jonathan Kuminga saga, the Warriors filling out their roster, and the recent deals of Nikola Jovic with the Heat and Quentin Grimes with the Sixers.

If you ever have NBA or WNBA questions, email us at dunkerspot@yahoo.com.

If you’d like to join our Dunker Spot Playoff watch parties — they're free, and easy to sign up for — you can do so here: https://www.playback.tv/thedunkerspot

(:32) Introduction

(1:04) WNBA Finals Preview

(14:34) Most interesting matchups between Aces and Mercury

(27:35) WNBA Finals X-Factors

(44:05) NBA Preseason: Knicks vs. Sixers

(57:23) NBA Preseason: Pelicans vs. Melbourne United

(106:46) Restricted Free Agency signings

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On this episode of The Dunker Spot, Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones discuss the upcoming Game 5 between the Aces and Fever, put a bow on an awesome Mercury-Lynx series, then react to the All-Rookie team.

On the NBA side, the guys break down the quotes and updates that intrigue them the most from this year's Media Days.

If you ever have NBA or WNBA questions, email us at dunkerspot@yahoo.com.

If you’d like to join our Dunker Spot Playoff watch parties -- they're free, and easy to sign up for -- you can do so here: https://www.playback.tv/thedunkerspot

(:43) Introduction

(2:22) WNBA Playoffs: Aces vs. Fever Game 5

(15:10) Mercury defeat Lynx to advance to WNBA Finals

(27:10) Lynx season shouldn’t be forgotten

(30:51) WNBA All-Rookie Team

(40:27) NBA Media Day headlines

(43:03) Excitement for the Atlanta Hawks

(46:54) Will the Thompson twins take another leap?

(102:31) Anthony Edward’s offseason improvements

(106:06) Victor Wembanyama primed for a big season

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Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones Jr. are joined by Stephen Pridgeon-Garner (PHNX Sports) for an incredibly deep dive into the Phoenix Mercury.

If you ever have NBA or WNBA questions, email us at dunkerspot@yahoo.com.

If you’d like to join our Dunker Spot Playoff watch parties -- they're free, and easy to sign up for -- you can do so here: https://www.playback.tv/thedunkerspot

TIME STAMPS

1:10 -- Brief introduction

5:00 -- Preseason expectations vs. reality

11:15 -- How head coach Nate Tibbetts has evolved

14:15 -- Mercury offense

33:15 -- Mercury defense

1:07:45 -- Alyssa Thomas + MVP/DPOY award races

1:33:15 -- Satou Sabally

1:47:45 -- Rookie thoughts (Monique Akoa-Makani, Kathryn Westbeld)

1:54:30 -- DeWanna Bonner's fit

1:57:50 -- Rotation questions

2:09:15 -- Emptying the notes + Storm aside

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Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones Jr. react to the latest trades around the WNBA, bounce around the league with observations, then catch. up on the latest NBA news.

If you ever have NBA or WNBA questions, email us at dunkerspot@yahoo.com.

If you’d like to join our Dunker Spot Playoff watch parties -- they're free, and easy to sign up for -- you can do so here: https://www.playback.tv/thedunkerspot

TIME STAMPS

1:45 -- Storm/Mystics trade (Brittney Sykes)

15:00 -- Sun/Mystics trade (Aaliyah Edwards/Jacy Sheldon)

23:40 -- Lynx/Wings trade (DiJonai Carrington/Diamond Miller)

44:40 -- Other news (7-day contracts, Connecticut Sun sale*, Napheesa Collier)

47:45 -- A quick standings check

49:30 -- Aces rolling since the lineup change

1:03:30 -- Fever finding answers on both ends while Caitlin Clark is out

1:12:35 -- Rickea Jackson's growing comfort + general Sparks thoughts

1:27:35 -- NBA extension news (De'Aaron Fox, Luka Doncic)

1:32:30 -- NBA transactions (Boston Celtics, Ricky Council IV)

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For the first time in way-too-long, Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones Jr. go to the Dunker Spot mailbag and answer a variety of NBA, WNBA, and general basketball questions.

If you ever have NBA or WNBA questions, email us at dunkerspot@yahoo.com.

If you’d like to join our Dunker Spot Playoff watch parties -- they're free, and easy to sign up for -- you can do so here: https://www.playback.tv/thedunkerspot

TIME STAMPS

1:15 -- Quick news updates (All-Summer League teams, Josh Okogie, Lindy Waters)

3:00 -- Mailbag, starting with what we learned from the 2024-25 season (and 2nd apron talk)

16:30 -- What will be the next offensive/defensive trends we see?

25:00 -- How often, if at all, can team personnel tell when a player is slated to have an off night?

29:00 -- Who's slated to step up on the new-look Celtics?

34:45 -- Building an eight-man, defense-only rotation of players drafted after 2001

40:20 -- How (international) basketball concepts spread + remembering role player quirks

45:40 -- A Chris Paul/Chauncey Billups question + Phee, SGA & their top-player status

51:00 -- What to make of Breanna Stewart's multi-year three-point shooting dip

57:30 -- A tradition: ranking the Knicks & Liberty's combined wing room

1:00:30 -- As a coach, which WNBA teams are the best to learn spacing and ball movement from?

1:05:10 -- Defining floor raisers vs ceiling raisers

1:10:40 -- Can the Sparks make a playoff push?

1:14:40 -- What counts as a successful season for the Dallas Wings?

1:16:10 -- How Nekias' WNBA fandom grew

1:22:30 -- Why do some players randomly become poor free throw shooters?

1:26:30 -- What's your favorite basketball shoe of all-time?

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First, Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones Jr. catch up on the latest NBA transactions and break down what they liked from Vegas Summer League.

Next, the guys catch up on the latest WNBA news, discuss All-Star weekend (featuring a Nekias Skills Challenge rant), and do a midseason awards check-in.

If you ever have NBA or WNBA questions, email us at dunkerspot@yahoo.com.

If you’d like to join our Dunker Spot Playoff watch parties -- they're free, and easy to sign up for -- you can do so here: https://www.playback.tv/thedunkerspot

TIME STAMPS

1:45 -- Blazers bring back Damian Lillard

10:40 -- Clippers sign Bradley Beal and Chris Paul

24:00 -- Lakers sign Marcus Smart (and waive Shake Milton/Jordan Goodwin)

40:15 -- Other news (Jalen Williams, Devin Booker, Herb Jones, Paul George and more)

50:00 -- Cooper Flagg thoughts

56:30 -- Dylan Harper thoughts

1:02:20 -- Other Summer League observations (Yang Hansen, Carter Bryant, Hornets and more)

1:42:30 -- Liberty add Emma Meesseman and Stephanie Talbot (and other signings)

1:50:30 -- All-Star Weekend

2:08:40 -- MVP

2:16:10 -- DPOY

2:18:15 -- 6th Player of the Year

2:19:20 -- Most Improved Player

2:21:50 -- Coach of the Year

2:24:30 -- Rookie Awards

2:27:00 -- All-WNBA

2:30:40 -- All-Defense

2:35:25 -- Free Throws

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First, Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones Jr. catch up on the latest NBA transactions and give some early Summer League thoughts.

Next, the guys discuss the All-Star reserves (Nekias rants), the All-Star team draft (Nekias rants again), and bounce around the league with observations.

If you ever have NBA or WNBA questions, email us at dunkerspot@yahoo.com.

If you’d like to join our Dunker Spot Playoff watch parties -- they're free, and easy to sign up for -- you can do so here: https://www.playback.tv/thedunkerspot

TIME STAMPS

1:30 -- Lakers add Deandre Ayton

10:50 -- Other signings (Spencer Dinwiddie, Drew Eubanks, Jabari Walker, Isaiah Livers)

16:40 -- Extensions/Re-Signings (Chet Holmgren, ORL, Ryan Rollins and more)

20:40 -- Clippers/Heat/Jazz trade (John Collins, Norm Powell)

39:00 -- Wizards acquire Cam Whitmore, trade away Kelly Olynyk in separate deals

46:35 -- Pacers trade for Jay Huff

50:55 -- Coaching staff news (Knicks, Mavs)

58:15 -- Summer League thoughts

1:23:00 -- WNBA All-Star reserve/draft discussion

1:51:31 -- Dallas Wings surging

1:56:50 -- What's up with the Dream in the 4th?

2:04:30 -- Examining the 6th Player of the Year award race

2:12:35 -- Free Throws

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First, Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones Jr. react to the opening stretch of free agency, and circle back on some draft week trades. Then, the guys discuss potential DeWanna Bonner landing spots, recap the Fever's Commissioner's Cup championship win over the Minnesota Lynx, break down the NaLyssa Smith-to-Vegas trade, and catch up on the latest All-Star news.

Time stamps are your friends!

If you ever have NBA or WNBA questions, email us at dunkerspot@yahoo.com.

If you’d like to join our Dunker Spot Playoff watch parties -- they're free, and easy to sign up for -- you can do so here: https://www.playback.tv/thedunkerspot

As mentioned in the episode, Nekias and Steve gave instant reactions to Day 1 free agency moves -- featuring former NBA veteran Quentin Richardson and NBA insider Jake Fischer -- during Bleacher Report's free agency live stream, starting here: https://www.youtube.com/live/hyLdEd4t-lU?si=3hxuTUke-CtRWa2k&t=17962

TIME STAMPS

2:30 -- Denver Nuggets

16:10 -- Milwaukee Bucks + Damian Lillard

33:30 -- Atlanta Hawks

45:35 -- Houston Rockets

57:15 -- Los Angeles Clippers

1:04:30 -- New York Knicks

1:11:35 -- Cleveland Cavaliers

1:19:15 -- Detroit Pistons

1:27:35 -- Sacramento Kings

1:33:40 -- Dallas Mavericks

1:38:05 -- Memphis Grizzlies (pre-Jaren timeline update)

1:42:35 -- Charlotte Hornets

1:47:40 -- Brooklyn Nets

1:51:00 -- Pelicans trade (CJ McCollum/Jordan Poole swap, move-up for Derik Queen)

1:57:00 -- Hornets/Suns trade (Mark Williams to PHX)

2:01:35 -- Other moves (Lakers, Thunder, Raptors and more)

2:06:00 -- DeWanna Bonner waived + potential landing spots

2:09:00 -- Fever win Commissioner's Cup

2:18:50 -- Aces trade for NaLyssa Smith

2:27:10 -- All-Star chatter (starters revealed, predicting All-Star reserves)

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Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at yahoosports.tv