After NBA TV cancelled The Starters in 2019 after six years, hosts Tas Melas, Trey Kerby, and J.E. Skeets (real name Phil Elder) joined up with The Athletic, rebranding their Free Agents podcast as No Dunks.
Six years and almost 1,500 episodes later, the No Dunks crew is moving on from The Athletic.
“After six years and nearly 1,500 podcasts, today is No Dunks’ final day with [The Athletic],” read the No Dunks X account on Thursday. “Thanks to everyone for all the support. And don’t you worry … No Dunks isn’t going anywhere! We’re back on Tue. with a new show, and we’ll announce our next steps later this summer.”
After six years and nearly 1,500 podcasts, today is No Dunks’ final day with @TheAthletic. Thanks to everyone for all the support. And don’t you worry … No Dunks isn’t going anywhere! We’re back on Tue. with a new show, and we’ll announce our next steps later this summer ❤️ pic.twitter.com/E7ktRwsQHb
— No Dunks (@NoDunksInc) July 31, 2025
The trio also shared the news on Thursday’s episode of the pod.
“We wanted to say big thanks to the entire team at The Athletic for helping us build this show and being such great collaborators and teammates,” said Skeets.
“In 2019, we needed someone. We needed somebody to keep this show going,” added Melas. “Also, just to be part of that transition in The Athletic, which was an incredible writing website but turned to production of podcasts.”
The hosts wanted to make it clear that just because their time with The Athletic was ending, that doesn’t mean the podcast is going anywhere.
“As for No Dunks, you don’t need to worry,” said Skeets. “We have big plans coming later this summer, early this fall. We can’t make those announcements just quite yet, but they are coming. Fear not, No Dunks is not going anywhere.”
“This is our last week at The Athletic. Guess what? We’ll be back next week doing podcasts,” added Kerby.
No Dunks is the latest iteration in something that has essentially existed since 2006, when Skeets, Melas, and Jason Doyle started The Basketball Jones podcast. In 2010, Kerby joined the team, and the show became part of The Score. Between 2012 and 2013, the show was featured on the Grantland Network. In 2013, TBJ joined NBA TV and became The Starters, before eventually becoming No Dunks in 2019.
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.