The Ben Maller Show
The Ben Maller Show

Jun 1, 2026 · 50 min

Holmgren’s contract turns a bad playoff run into an Oklahoma City dilemma

Hour 3 - The Chet Holmgren Problem?

The episode weighs whether Chet Holmgren’s Western Conference Finals collapse should change Oklahoma City’s plans before a massive extension begins.

3 key takeaways
  1. 1Chet Holmgren’s poor playoff showing raises questions about his fit and value ahead of a reported $240 million contract.
  2. 2A Knicks–Spurs Finals would pair New York’s championship drought with Victor Wembanyama’s emergence as San Antonio’s centerpiece.
  3. 3Shedeur Sanders’ reported $17.7 million merchandise haul shows his cultural and family brand outpacing his on-field earnings.

Don't miss

Listeners deliver rapid-fire, often comic advice for Chet Holmgren after his four-point Game 7 and 31-minute shotless stretch.

The brief

Ben Maller frames Chet Holmgren’s Western Conference Finals performance as more than a bad stretch: with a reported $240 million contract looming, Oklahoma City may face a roster decision.

The proposed Knicks–Spurs Finals carries two different kinds of intrigue: New York’s long championship drought and Victor Wembanyama’s rise as San Antonio’s centerpiece.

Shedeur Sanders becomes the hour’s other central case study after reports that he earned $17.7 million through merchandise licensing, dwarfing his playing salary.

Listener calls turn the sports debates into workplace stories, Las Vegas arguments about Circus Circus, and a riddle whose answer was union steam fitter.

The standout arrives in the advice segment, where listeners respond to Holmgren’s four-point Game 7 with suggestions ranging from changing teams to joining the Washington Generals or Savannah Bananas.

Weekly email

State of the Pod, every Monday

The week's most-discussed names and stories from podcasts, with the moments behind them. Free, five minutes, unsubscribe in one click.

Listen to the full episode and explore every guest, topic, and moment on PodLume.