LEAGUE PASS MANIA: Victor Wembanyama and San Antonio Spurs HEADLINE NBA's Must-SEE Teams

August 19, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

"Am I out of bounds for putting the Pistons number one?" That is the question Locked On NBA hosts Cook Hill and John Karalis wrestle with in this episode, as they rank their top 10 must-watch League Pass teams for the upcoming NBA season. The conversation reveals that in a league where superstars dominate national TV slots, the real League Pass gold lies in drama, weird roster construction, stylistic oddities, and the raw potential of young players — not necessarily in watching the best teams.

The Victor Wembanyama Principle and Rookie Fever

Both hosts agree that Victor Wembanyama alone makes the San Antonio Spurs appointment viewing. Cook puts them at number 10, arguing that "you gotta have Victor Wembanyama on your league pass" and noting that the Spurs are "kind of my team to win the championship next year." John has them at number 4, calling Wembanyama's nightly performances "like playing the lottery, but knowing you're gonna win every night."

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What you'll learn

1 (02:08) **Welcome & League Pass Rankings Framework** - Hosts Cook Hill and John Carralis introduce the episode's concept: ranking the top 10 must-watch League Pass teams for the upcoming season.
2 (03:18) **#10: San Antonio Spurs (Cook) & Memphis Grizzlies (John)** - Cook opens with the Spurs, citing Victor Wembanyama as a must-watch, while John surprises with the Grizzlies.
3 (06:12) **#9: Utah Jazz (Cook) & Washington Wizards (John)** - Both hosts gravitate toward teams with elite rookies and rehabilitative storylines.
4 (12:12) **#8: Houston Rockets (Cook) & Boston Celtics (John)** - Cook sees the Rockets as a critical season, while John defends the retooled Celtics.
5 (15:18) **#7: Dallas Mavericks (Cook) & Miami Heat (John)** - Both hosts focus on superstar storylines: Cooper Flagg's development and Giannis Antetokounmpo's team switch.
6 (18:55) **#6: Washington Wizards (Cook) & Philadelphia 76ers (John)** - Cook reveals his #6 (already discussed), and John dives into the Sixers' volatile potential.
7 (21:42) **#5: Atlanta Hawks (Cook) & Portland Trail Blazers (John)** - Cook highlights a stylistic outlier, while John focuses on a jam-packed backcourt.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

NBA League Pass rankings ignite fierce debate as Victor Wembanyama's San Antonio Spurs and LaMelo Ball's Minnesota Timberwolves dominate must-watch lists. With drama swirling around Joel Embiid and LeBron James on the Philadelphia 76ers, and Giannis Antetokounmpo trying to change the narrative in Miami, fans are left wondering which team offers the best nightly entertainment. Which rising stars—like Cooper Flagg in Dallas, Cam Boozer in Memphis, or Tyrese Halliburton in Indiana—will capture the spotlight this season?

Ku Khahil and John Karalis break down their top 10 League Pass teams, spotlighting intriguing storylines from Trae Young’s redemption arc in Washington to Houston's boom-or-bust potential with Marcus Smart and Alperen Sengun. The episode dives into unique playstyles, outrageous roster constructions like Portland’s crowded backcourt, and the wild-card case for the Detroit Pistons as must-see basketball. Which squads promise pure chaos, next-level highlights, or the biggest surprise runs in the NBA?

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