Wemby Gets Ejected, the NBA Draft Lottery Gets Weird, Skip Bayless Returns to First Take | 05.11

The episode opens with a fiery critique of Victor Wembanyama's flagrant elbow to Nas Reed's mouth, which led to Wembanyama's ejection in a crucial playoff game. Bomani Jones argues that while the act was intentional and brutal, it was also a calculated message—especially given the Spurs' lack of a designated 'goon' to protect their star. He laments the NBA's failure to cultivate enforcers, contrasting the Spurs' vulnerability with the Thunder's goon culture, exemplified by Lou Dort. Jones then shifts to the NBA Draft Lottery, calling out Indiana Pacers GM Kevin Pritchard's baffling apology for a trade that backfired, citing Pritchard's claim he believed in 'doing some luck'—a statement Jones calls the dumbest thing he's ever heard. He praises the lottery's outcome, particularly the Wizards landing the top pick, and speculates on a potential trade involving DeBonsa and Anthony Davis. The segment closes with a nostalgic, passionate defense of Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith's reunion on First Take, arguing that the show's energy and chemistry—rooted in mutual respect and intellectual sparring—make it worth reviving, even if not daily. Jones also honors the legacy of Braves manager Bobby Cox, whose steady leadership defined a generation of fans.