Nuh-KAI-us Duncan

The Morning After: Aces' WNBA Finals Game 2 dominance was impressive, but Mercury's change in approach was curious Alyssa Thomas' pick-n-roll volume plummeted, and that spelled trouble for the Mercury.

🚨NEW WORDS ALERT🚨

For @yahoosports.bsky.social: Game 2 is in the books, and I was equal parts impressed with the Aces and confused by the Mercury.

Let’s talk about the balancing act of adjustments, Chelsea Hands™️, and Monique running the show.

sports.yahoo.com/wnba/article...

The Morning After: Dana Evans wasn't always on track in the first half to be the hero of Aces' Game 1 WNBA Finals victory The Mercury were relentless early in attacking Evans, particularly with inverted ball screens, but the Aces adjusted defensively in what will be a major theme throughout the series.

🚨NEW WORDS ALERT🚨

Introducing The Morning After: a clear-eyed, day-after look at this year's Finals games. There will be a grand theme, and then other takeaways that stood out to me & could matter later.

Let's talk about Dana Evans coming up "big", and more.

sports.yahoo.com/wnba/article...

A'ja talks about all the match-up variability throughout the playoffs, navigating screens, and playing out of position defensively. Great question by @nekiasnba.bsky.social to set this up.

The best Finals preview out, and we had a ton of fun talking through the early goings of preseason!

NBA preseason is here! Let's run down what's worth watching, including these 7 teams Here are some things to look for to enjoy the action once the preseason tips off.

The NBA preseason is here! Wrote about it. Let’s have some fun.

sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/...

Alyssa Thomas has been brilliant in these WNBA Playoffs. @nekiasnba.bsky.social and myself breaking down how she’s led the Mercury to the Finals

Sunshine & Rainbows Podcast Episode · The Dunker Spot · 09/30/2025 · 1h 19m

🚨NEW POD ALERT🚨

@stevejones20.bsky.social & I are BYKE w another ep of The Dunker Spot!

-Aces/Fever preview
-🫡 to PHX & MIN
-Justice for Monique Akoa Makani
-Thompson Twin stock 📈
-Myles Turner, huh…

And more!

Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s...

Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/4l0L...

The Dunker Spot hosted by Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones

BIG NEWS. very pleased to report that @nekiasnba.bsky.social and @stevejones20.bsky.social are bringing The Dunker Spot to Yahoo Sports. been a fan of their show for ages, now I get to work with them. new episodes starting today!

Congratulations to Yahoo! Sports for being smart enough to add @nekiasnba.bsky.social and @stevejones20.bsky.social to their company.

Their basketball brand just got a helluva lot smarter today.

-The Aces continue to eat after timeouts; they're at 1.05 PPP on ATOs during this streak. A'ja at 70.6 TS on those trips because of the screening stuff they've dialed up, in addition to her getting to the line a bunch

Some Aces thoughts that I didn't/couldn't work into the piece:

-Kinda funny that A'ja/the players took over the defensive scout & they've essentially cut zone out of their diet (12 total possessions during the streak)

-The Dana/Jewell/Jackie/Chelsea/A'ja group is +2 in 30 minutes during the streak

How A'ja Wilson, Aces Reshaped into Juggernaut No One Wants to Face in WNBA Playoffs There's 9:10 left in the first quarter as Chelsea Gray works to bring the ball up the right side of the floor. Minnesota Lynx wing Kayla McBride mirrors Gray in space. A'ja Wilson creeps up to the rig...

🚨NEW WORDS ALERT🚨

It took a while, and a historic beatdown at home, but Aces seem to have found themselves.

On A’ja Wilson’s ownership, Jackie Young’s growth inside the arc, Chelsea Grat at the 4 and more:

bleacherreport.com/articles/252...

And on the team side:

17-11 record *in games played*

LVA has outscored opponents by 8.8 points per 100 possessions in her minutes (would rank 2nd in net rating)

A minus-30.6 net rating in 264 minutes w her on the bench in games played; overall, a -21.3 in the 424 minutes she’s been off the floor.

After last night, A’ja Wilson’s tale of the tape:

22.2 points (2nd) on 50/29/84 splits; 57.6 TS (+3.6 rTS)
9.6 rebounds (2nd)
3.4 assists (career high; 2.5 TOs)
1.6 steals (6th)
2.1 blocks (1st)

I just mean gamble in terms of Fox providing “max level value” throughout the deal. There’s a consistency he needs to hit on both ends (as well as staying upright)

He should be, but guard is deep!

I personally wouldn’t have maxed him off rip, but the talent is there and you *just* gave up stuff to get him in the building. Clearly you want him part of this next era.

It’ll feel rough if he’s, like, the 13th best PG in the league or something.

I hope we get a true reminder season from De’Aaron Fox. The blend of driving, growing pull-up comfort, playmaking, and POA defense when locked in is tantalizing.

Gotta stay healthy, gotta find a better balance of PUs & drives from when we saw him.

An understandable gamble from SA.

Suuuuper late but I’d say so!

Swarmed (2025) Podcast Episode · The Dunker Spot · 07/22/2025 · 2h 37m

NEW DUNKER SPOT

EP 403 w/ @nekiasnba.bsky.social

-Spin the block!
-The Clippers got better
-Lakers smart move
-Summer League Thoughts
-Nekias says it’s Liberty SZN
-WNBA Awards Check-In

Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

🚨NEW POD ALERT🚨

@stevejones20.bsky.social & I are BYKE w more Dunker Spot!

Hour 1: NBA transactions, plus tons of Summer League thoughts

Hour 2: WNBA transactions & a midseason awards check-in

We had fun!

Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s...

Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/4ci0Wrk...

Also some very interesting stuff about Shakira Austin in the last 20 minutes or so.

Nekias literally going "You have free will..." when it comes to WNBA All-Star voting...🤣🤣🤣

🚨NEW POD ALERT🚨

@stevejones20.bsky.social & I are BYKE w more Dunker Spot!

Hour One: Salute to OKC & IND, POR defense excitement, Gaff gets paid

Hour Two: hat tips to PHX/ATL/SEA, All-Rookie angst, CC concerns?

Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1LuO...

MEDIA DAY LIVE | #NBAFinals presented by YouTube TV YouTube video by NBA

MEDIA DAY LIVE W/ @nekiasnba.bsky.social let's gooooo

www.youtube.com/live/VYvgm_1...

🚨NEW POD ALERT🚨

@stevejones20.bsky.social 0 & I are BYKE w more Dunker Spot -- and a guest!

@sethpartnow.bsky.social joins us to talk Game 5, the Desmond Bane trade, and SBC.

Then, it's WNBA All-Star time.

Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i...

Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/4AJ9...

ALIYAH BOSTON NOTES

NBA Finals Through Three + WNBA Takeaways Podcast Episode · The Dunker Spot · 06/12/2025 · 2h 5m

NEW DUNKER SPOT

EP 398 w/ @nekiasnba.bsky.social

-Battle of identities
-Indy working to flow
-Pacers defensive blend vs. Shai’s blend
-OKC’s tempo or OKC’s bigs
-Nekias rants about the Aces

Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

🚨NEW POD ALERT🚨

@stevejones20.bsky.social & I are BYKE w more Dunker Spot!

Hour 1: IND makes SGA work on both ends, potential G4 tweaks, so the Knicks...

Hour 2: Valkyries love, SEA's offense, here comes PHX...

Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/n...

Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/3QBb...

GET IN HERE, DARN IT