The Athletic NBA Daily NBA Stock Watch with Fred Katz | Morning Shoot Around
Oct 29, 2025
Fred Katz, an NBA reporter for The Athletic, joins the discussion to explore early-season NBA trends. He highlights Erik Spoelstra's innovative coaching style and the Miami Heat's unique offensive approach. The conversation shifts to Tyrese Maxey's impressive start and the Sixers’ youthful guard depth. Katz also marks the standout performances of rookies like Cooper Flagg and dives into the Wizards' surprising competitiveness. They touch on MVP narratives surrounding Luka, Giannis, and Wembanyama, emphasizing how team success will influence the race.
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Plan For Early-Season Foul Inflation
- Expect high early-season foul totals to normalize as officiating and team styles settle through the year.
- Teams should avoid relying on frantic press defense without personnel fit, as it induces fouls and mismatches.
Rookie Class Depth Surprises
- This rookie class (2024) has more impact players than last year's, with multiple shooters posting high early percentages.
- Andrew and Dave note depth and readiness across rookies like VJ, Coward, Knipple, and others.
Mixing Up Diabaté And Diakité
- Fred Katz mixed up Musa Diabaté and Mamadou Diakité, poking fun at his brain working in surprising ways.
- Andrew shares a warm anecdote about Diakité being a delightful person during a Thunder facility visit.