Podcasts by The Ringer NBA Show

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How This Week’s Patrick Beverley Trades Explain the NBA from 2021-08-20T20:20:45

Chris Ryan is joined by The Ringer’s Rob Mahoney to discuss Patrick Beverley getting traded twice in a week. Then they discuss the financial and competitive realities of several teams around the le...

Metta Sandiford-Artest on His Journey After the Malice at the Palace | The Answer from 2021-08-13T21:17

Seerat is joined by NBA champion and former Los Angeles Laker Metta Sandiford-Artest to talk about learning about his family’s history, growing up in Queensbridge, and listening to Nas (1:09). Then...

Is Free Agency Actually Free? | The Answer from 2021-08-06T21:58

Chris and Seerat are joined by The Ringer’s Rob Mahoney to talk about his Ringer Ph.D. video explaining how NBA contracts work (1:27). Then they touch on a variety of topics related to the offseaso...

Free Agency Primer, Russ to Lakers, the Chris Paul Effect, and Bargain-Bin Free Agents | Group Chat from 2021-07-31T01:00

Justin, Rob, and Wos start by giving their thoughts on the Russell Westbrook trade (1:20). Then they give a free agency preview by talking about the Chris Paul effect (24:45) and the large group of...

Scenario Mock Draft, Trades Ideas, and Second-Round Sleepers | Ringer NBA University from 2021-07-29T02:19

KOC and J. Kyle Mann start by talking about ideal team fits for Ben Simmons (1:25). Then they pretend to be GMs and try to conduct some mock draft trades (6:50). After that, with some help from Spo...

Did Anybody Win the Grizzlies-Pelicans Trade? Plus: NBA Draft Cram Session. | Group Chat from 2021-07-27T23:51

Justin, Rob, Tjarks, and J. Kyle Mann discuss every aspect of the trade between the Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Pelicans (1:45). Then Tjarks and J. Kyle Mann help get Rob and Justin up to spe...

What Else Is Happening in the NBA, Other Than the Finals? | The Answer from 2021-07-16T19:34

This week Chris and Seerat start by talking about all the other news in the NBA, besides the Finals, including Team USA having to make last-minute roster changes (14:15) and reports of Damian Lilla...

Who Is on Our All-NBA Playoff Team? | The Answer from 2021-07-02T21:53

Chris is joined by The Ringer’s Justin Verrier to recap the Bucks’ Game 5 victory over the Hawks (1:11). Then they each draft an All–NBA Playoff Team (14:04).

Host: Chris Ryan
Guest: J...

Kawhi's Monster Game 6 & Are Young Players Taking Over? | The Answer from 2021-06-05T07:15

Seerat is joined by The Ringer's Rob Mahoney to recap Kawhi Leonard's incredible performance in the Clippers' win over the Mavs, and they look ahead to Game 7 (1:24). Then Chris and Seerat discuss ...

The Clippers Have No Answer For Luka. Plus, Celtics Upheaval and an Early Sixers-Hawks Preview | Group Chat from 2021-06-03T10:01

Justin, Rob, and Wos are joined by The Ringer's Jonathan Tjarks to discuss the Mavericks beating the Clippers again in Staples Center to take a 3-2 series lead. Then they talk about the Hawks and S...

The Clippers Are on the Verge of Disaster Again, Plus the Real Nets and Lakers Show Up | Group Chat from 2021-05-26T10:08

Justin, Rob, and Wos start by discussing another disappointing performance from Clippers against the Mavs. Then they discuss the Lakers evening up their series and Anthony Davis’s bounce back perfo...

Were the Play-in Games a Success? | The Answer from 2021-05-21T19:29

Chris Ryan and Seerat Sohi start by deciding whether the play-in format was a success (0:54). Then they talk about what other changes the league could make (20:00) and wrap up by talking about a co...

Tatum’s 50-Point Performance and Best Young Cores in the Playoffs | Ringer NBA University from 2021-05-19T20:40

Kevin O’Connor, J. Kyle Mann, and Jonathan Tjarks start by discussing the Celtics clinching the 7-seed in the East led by Jayson Tatum’s 50-point game (2:30). Then they talk about Charlotte’s disap...

What Are We Looking Forward to in the Playoffs? | The Answer from 2021-05-07T19:32:08

Chris is joined by the newest member of The Ringer's staff, Wosny Lambre, to talk about what they're expecting and looking forward to come playoff time.

Host: Chris Ryan
Guest: Wosny L...

LaMelo’s Creativity, Michael Porter Jr.’s Development, and All-Rookie Teams | Ringer NBA University from 2021-05-05T20:34

Kevin O’Connor and J. Kyle Mann discuss the development of some of the young stars in the league, including Zion Williamson (3:32), LaMelo Ball (9:57), and Michael Porter Jr (45:16). They also disc...

Which Play-in Game Teams Do We Believe in Most? | Group Chat from 2021-04-27T23:15

Justin and Rob start by ranking the eight potential play-in game teams by who they believe will be most successful in that format (4:16). Then they are joined by Chris Herrington of The Daily Memph...

How Good Are the Knicks? Plus, an OKC Deep Dive With Tyler Parker. | Ringer NBA University from 2021-04-21T21:34

Kevin O’Connor and J. Kyle Mann start by discussing how good the New York Knicks can be during the rest of the regular season and potentially in the playoffs (0:51). Then they are joined by Tyler P...

Progress Reports for Trade Deadline Movers and the Draft Stock of Some NCAA Tournament Stars | Ringer NBA University from 2021-04-07T21:19

Kevin O’Connor and J. Kyle Mann start by handing out progress reports for players who got traded at the deadline, including Aaron Gordon (1:00). Then they discuss some observations from Tuesday nig...

Young Players Who Could Be on the Move at the Trade Deadline. Plus: Players to Watch During March Madness. | Ringer NBA University from 2021-03-24T20:52

Kevin O’Connor, Jonathan Tjarks, and J. Kyle Mann start by discussing some of the young players who have been rumored in potential trade deadline deals (1:18). Then they talk about NBA draft prospe...

Deep Dive on the Charlotte Hornets and Handing Out Mid-Term Grades | Ringer NBA University from 2021-03-10T22:42

Kevin O’Connor, Jonathan Tjarks, and J. Kyle Mann start by discussing LaMelo Ball’s impressive rookie season and the Charlotte Hornets' fun young core (1:20). Then they give out mid-term grades to ...

The Bulls’ and Timberwolves’ Young Cores and First-Time All-Stars | Ringer NBA University from 2021-02-24T22:56

Kevin O’Connor, Jonathan Tjarks, and J. Kyle Mann start by discussing the four first-time All-Stars (1:54). Then they do a deep dive into the play of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ young guys (32:51)....

Potential First-time All-Stars and Basketball Diversity | Ringer NBA University from 2021-02-10T22:20

KOC and J. Kyle Mann start by discussing the play of some young stars in Tuesday night’s games (2:30). Then they talk about four guys who could become first-time All-Stars and what their potential ...

The Warriors Pull Off a True #StrengthInNumbers Victory | Heat Check from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Golden State Warriors win Game 2 of the Finals in impressive fashion, overcoming various injuries and ailments to their stars by locking up the Toronto Raptors with stellar defense. Host: John...

Boogie Goes Down, Fixing the All-Star Draft, and Boston vs. Philadelphia | Heat Check (Ep. 199) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s John Gonzalez and Kevin O’Connor discuss the impacts of DeMarcus Cousins’s Achilles injury (1:48), the Memphis Grizzlies’ future after Mike Conley’s season-ending surgery (8:12), poten...

The Lakers Look Unbeatable: NBA Finals Game 1 Postgame from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Logan Murdock, Raja Bell, and Kevin O'Connor break down a tumultuous Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Los Angles Lakers and Miami Heat, which the Lakers took decisively as Miami fell to multipl...

Analyzing the NBA Draft Through the Lens of the Finals | The Corner 3 from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We briefly go over Thursday night’s NBA Finals Game 1 and look forward to what adjustments the Warriors can make in the face of a 1-0 deficit (1:46). Then, we hand out awards to the draft prospects...

Cleveland's Very Bad Week, Trade Rumors, and Marveling at the Spurs | Group Chat (Ep. 198) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Ryan and Justin Verrier are joined by Kevin O'Connor to talk about the Celtics snapping their four-game losing streak and Kyrie Irving stepping into the role of team spokesperson...

The 7 Most Interesting Questions About the NBA Finals | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Justin, Rob, and Tjarks attempt to answer the seven most interesting questions about this season’s thrilling Lakers vs. Heat NBA Finals, including who the most important player in the series is (1:...

Spicy P Heats Up to Take Game 1 | Heat Check from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Pascal Siakam dominates Game 1 of the Finals, leading the Toronto Raptors to a solid victory over the Kevin Durant–less Golden State Warriors despite a poor shooting night from Kawhi Leonard. Host...

#RingerNBA Live: All-Star Reserves and Trade Deadline Preview | After-Party (Ep. 197) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Ryan, Justin Verrier, and Kevin O’Connor react to the announcement of All-Star reserves and perform a mock draft of the All-Star teams (1:28). Then, they are joined by The Ringer...

The Unexpected and Unpredictable Lakers vs. Heat NBA Finals, Plus: Doc Rivers Is “Out” With the Clippers | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Chris and Kevin discuss Adrian Wojnarowski’s latest bomb that Doc Rivers is “out” with the Clippers organization (0:39), Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals (12:57), and the unexpected but exci...

The Rockets' Reboot, the Lakers' Turmoil, and Repositioning Basketball As International Soccer | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We sit down ahead of the NBA Finals to go through some of the news that has broken between the end of the Eastern Conference Finals and now. First, do the Rockets need to hit the reset button on th...

Firings, Accusations, Rifts: This Is Why We Play? | The Ringer NBA Show (Ep. 196) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor review the recent dramatic news in the NBA: the Milwaukee Bucks firing Jason Kidd (2:19), the seemingly imploding Cleveland Cavaliers (16:18), Kawhi Leo...

Miami Heat Overcome the Celtics to Face the Lakers in the NBA Finals | Real Ones from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

On today’s newly dubbed 'Real Ones,' Logan and Raja discuss Miami’s monster victory over the Celtics in Game 6 to win the Eastern Conference finals and go through to the Finals (3:23) and the Final...

A Very Mismatch Finals Preview | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Toronto Raptors advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history. How will they match up against the defending champs Golden State Warriors (0:44)? Plus: How will the outcome ...

East Teams in Strugglesville and All-Stars in Tinseltown | Heat Check (Ep. 195) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Juliet Litman and John Gonzalez analyze the Cleveland Cavaliers’ continuing struggles (0:50), review Chris Paul’s recent exploits (7:27), and discuss Eastern Conference teams dealing w...

The Lakers Squeak Out a Win, Plus: Holding Out for a Herro, and the Bulls’ Future With Donovan | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Chris and Kevin get together to talk about the Lakers’ narrow win over the Nuggets to go up 3-1 in the Western Conference finals (1:22), the superstar-esque heroics of Tyler Herro in Miami’s win ov...

NBA Draft Mailbag Special | The Corner 3 from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

With the NBA Finals still on hold, we convene our NBA draft experts to open up the mailbag and answer some of your pressing questions about the top prospects as we approach the 2019 NBA draft. From...

Kemba Walker Trade Rumors and Mock-Drafting the All-Star Starters | Group Chat (Ep. 194) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Ryan and Justin Verrier are joined by Danny Chau and Paolo Uggetti to discuss the Kemba Walker trade rumors and possible destinations for him (1:30). Then, they talk about the NB...

Nuggets Smoke the Lakers and Playing Coaching Matchmaker with Mike Trudell | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Lakers.com's Mike Trudell joins Justin, Jon, and Rob to go over the Lakers’ loss in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals to the Nuggets (0:34), match up available head coaches with vacancies aro...

Biggest Takeaways From the First Week of the NBA Season | Real Ones from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

After the first week of the 2020-21 NBA campaign, Logan and Raja get into Raja’s experiences playing in Christmas games (2:45), their biggest takeaways from the new season (20:00), the Clippers' me...

Are the Bucks Out of Answers for the Raptors? | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Kawhi Leonard had one of the best games of his career en route to a surprising Game 5 road win over one of the best teams in the NBA. Will Mike Budenholzer have to shorten his rotation in Game 6 to...

'Sources Say': NBA Fight Club and Celtics Legends Controversy (Ep. 193) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Juliet Litman and Chris Ryan marvel at the NBA fights of late, and offer theories to explain the recent rise in incidents (1:05). Next, they examine the Isaiah Thomas video tribute deb...

Don’t Count the Nuggets Out, Hayward’s Importance, and Awards Voting Hysteria | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor cover the Lakers-Nuggets Western Conference finals (1:06), the importance of Gordon Hayward to the Celtics’ success against the Heat (25:07), and other stories from ...

NBA Opening Night Reactions, and Previewing the Rest of the League | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We react to the Clippers beating the Lakers on opening night (2:00) as well as the offensive dominance of the Nets against the Warriors (27:00). Later, we look ahead to many of the teams and specif...

Kawhi Leonard (Literally) Limps the Raptors to Another W | The Corner 3 from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Despite Kawhi Leonard’s lingering quadricep injury, his stellar defense and the Toronto Raptors’ overall adjustments prove successful against the Milwaukee Bucks for the second game in a row as the...

The (Sort of) Brawl in the Hall and the Broken Cavs (Ep. 192) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Ryan and Kevin O’Connor review the various altercations in and around the Rockets-Clippers game (1:13), answer fan questions regarding the aforementioned incident (17:56), and an...

The Lakers Are … Inevitable, the Celtics Get Their Heads in the Game, and the Wubble Is in Jeopardy from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Logan and Raja are back Monday morning discussing the inevitability of the Lakers-Nuggets series (5:18), whether awards snubs motivate star players (18:21), and if Marcus Smart’s outburst after Gam...

The 'Real Ones' 2020-21 NBA Season Preview | Real Ones from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Logan and Raja answer all the questions in The Ringer’s 2020-21 NBA entrance survey (1:30), and then give their award picks for the upcoming NBA season (40:30). Hosts: Logan Murdock and Raja Bell

The Warriors Without KD Are Still Pretty Damn Good | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Golden State Warriors are headed to their fifth straight NBA Finals after sweeping the Portland Trail Blazers despite Kevin Durant out with an injury (0:48). Plus: belated reactions to the NBA ...

‘Heat Check’: The Jimmy Butler-for-MVP Campaign Starts Here (Ep. 191) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Juliet Litman and John Gonzalez check in on the state of the NBA through the first half of the season (0:34), preview Chris Paul's return to play the surging Los Angeles Clippers (15:2...

Celtics Can’t Take the Heat in Eastern Conference Finals Game 2 Loss | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Heat beat the Celtics to go up 2-0 in the Eastern Conference finals, and Chris and Kevin got together after the game to talk about the Celtics’ meltdown in the face of Miami’s zone defense (0:4...

What Are 2021 Expectations for Giannis, Luka, and ... Lu Dort? | The Answer from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Ryan ponders expectations from different perspectives as the season gets close to tip-off (01:00). New Ringer staffer Mirin Fader joins to discuss Giannis’s decision to stay in M...

The Raptors Win the Most Boring Double-OT Playoff Game in Recent Memory | Heat Check from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Kawhi Leonard and the Toronto Raptors take advantage of an off-night from Giannis Antetokounmpo to edge out a double-OT win against the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 3 (3:12), while the Portland Trail Bl...

'Group Chat': Sixers-Celtics, What Ifs, and the Future of the Warriors (Ep. 190) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Ryan and Justin Verrier are joined by Haley O’Shaughnessy and Jason Concepcion to react to the London 76ers-Celtics game (2:18), then they ask some "What if..." questions about t...

Clippers Gonna Clip, Nuggets Kill Them With Joy, and Bam Goes the Dynamite with Ben Golliver | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Justin Verrier, Jonathan Tjarks, and Rob Mahoney are joined by The Washington Post’s Ben Golliver to decompress from the dopamine overdose of the Nuggets’ historic win over the Clippers (0:50) and ...

Taylor Rooks on NBA Player-Media Relations, Betting in the Bubble, and More | Real Ones from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Bleacher Report’s Taylor Rooks joins Logan and Raja to talk about the emotional highs and lows of the NBA bubble (1:00), how she approaches relationship-building with NBA players as a member of the...

Western Conference Finals Game 2: The Blazers Just Couldn’t Close the Door on the Warriors | The Ringer NBA Show from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We give immediate reactions to the Warriors' hot third-quarter comeback against the Blazers, behind strong performances from Steph Curry on offense and Andre Iguodala on defense (1:00). Then, we br...

The Rule of Three(-Pointers) and Trade-Season Preview (Ep. 189) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor discuss the recent Jimmy Butler–led Minnesota Timberwolves surge (0:58), speculate about the Phoenix Suns’ future with Devin Booker at the helm (18:33),...

The Keys to Clippers vs. Nuggets and Celtics vs. Heat and the Future for the Raptors and Rockets | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor discuss the importance of Kawhi Leonard and Nikola Jokic in Game 7 of the Clippers-Nuggets series (0:43) and what to look for in the Eastern Conference finals betwee...

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Supermax Is a Referendum on the Small Market vs. Big Market Debate in the NBA from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We are joined by Sports Illustrated’s Michael Pina as we take our last pod before the start of the NBA season as an opportunity to pontificate on Harden trades, who will win MVP, and the best Leagu...

The Brook Lopez Game Trumped the Kyle Lowry Game | The Ringer NBA Show from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We recap a hard-nosed win for the Milwaukee Bucks over the Toronto Raptors in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals—one that featured a solid performance from Giannis and an outstanding one from ...

‘Heat Check’: Turbulent Lakers, Triumphant Raptors, and Tampering in L.A. (Ep. 188) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Juliet Litman and John Gonzalez unpack the drama surrounding the Los Angeles Lakers (0:58), evaluate the updated All-Star voting process (8:52), project the impact of players returning...

Who’s Afraid of the Big, Bad Clippers? Not the Nuggets. | Real Ones from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Logan Murdock and Raja Bell hop on during this basketball-less Monday to figure out who’s to blame for the Clippers’ less-than-expected performance in the playoffs and what could sway Game 7 agains...

Does Kyrie Have a Point? A Deep Dive Into the Relationship Between NBA Players and the Media | Real Ones from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Logan and Raja start off the top with Kyrie’s most recent comments on the media and Raja’s experiences with the media-NBA player relationship (7:00). Then they get into Giannis’s evasive language r...

NBA Draft Fits and Conference Finals Thoughts | The Corner 3 from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Now that we know the order of the NBA draft, we go over which teams might be the best fit for the non-Zion top talent: R.J. Barrett, Ja Morant, Darius Garland, Cam Reddish, and more (1:05). Then, w...

'Group Chat': Is Cavs-Celtics a Real Rivalry? (Ep. 187) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Ryan and Justin Verrier sit down with Haley O’Shaughnessy and Paolo Uggetti to discuss the less than impressive Cavaliers-Celtics game and ask whether the teams have a real rival...

Instant Reaction: Boston Wins Game 7 and Heat vs. Celtics Preview from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Kevin O'Connor and Logan Murdock hop on right after Celtics-Raptors Game 7 to share their instant reactions (00:11) as well as a very early preview of the Eastern Conference Finals (13:10). Plus, q...

Trailer for the 2020-2021 NBA Season! from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Introducing The Ringer NBA Show's 2020-2021 slate: 'Real Ones' with Logan Murdock and Raja Bell on Mondays and Thursdays, 'Group Chat' with Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and Jonathan Tjarks on Wedne...

Emergency NBA Draft Lottery Pod | The Ringer NBA Show from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The New Orleans Pelicans win the 2019 NBA draft lottery, presumably landing superstar prospect Zion Williamson (5:26), while multiple teams find themselves in more or less fortunate draft positions...

‘Sources Say’: The Air-balling of Grievances (Ep. 186) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Juliet Litman and Chris Ryan kick off the new year by discussing the photo of Baron Davis and Laura Dern (01:00), Isaiah Thomas's return (10:15), Jackie MacMullan's piece on Kyrie Irvi...

Rockets in Retrograde: Lakers Punish Houston in Game 4 | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor discuss the Rockets’ abysmal showing against the Lakers in Game 4 and what potential moves the team might make in the likely event they lose the series (1:53). They ...

Does the NBA have a James Harden Problem? | The Answer from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Ryan searches for solutions to the James Harden saga on the debut episode of “The Answer”. First, Chris is joined by Kirk Goldsberry (ESPN) to rank implausible-but-technically-po...

Let’s Get Ready to Conference Finals! | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The shorthanded Portland Trail Blazers advance to the Western Conference finals in impressive fashion, but how far will they be able to push reigning champs Golden State Warriors (0:48)? With the T...

The King in the Fourth Joins King James, the Raptors Evolve, and the L.A. Teams Diverge (Ep. 185) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor anticipate the impact of Isaiah Thomas returning to action for the Cleveland Cavaliers (1:09), assess the potential consequences of James Harden’s injur...

The Bucks Stop Here, What's Next for Billy Donovan, and Playoff Rondo Manifests | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Justin, Jonathan, and Rob are joined by Ethan Strauss of The Athletic to discuss what the Bucks can do to move forward from a disappointing loss in the second round and the role of star players in ...

Kendrick Perkins on Harden, Westbrook, the 76ers, Kyrie, and Much More | Real Ones from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

NBA champion Kendrick Perkins joins Logan and Raja on their very first Thursday podcast to talk about his newfound career in NBA media (1:15), the Harden mess in Houston (7:00), how Russell Westbro...

The Four Bounces Heard Round the World: Kawhi’s Raptors Advance | Heat Check from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Kawhi Leonard’s buzzer-beating fadeaway lifts the Toronto Raptors over the Philadelphia 76ers to move on to the conference finals (3:12), while CJ McCollum’s big night helps the Portland Trail Blaz...

One Thing for Every Team With Bill Simmons, Part 2 (Ep. 184) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons and The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor discuss one topic for each of the 30 teams in the NBA. In Part 2, they break down teams with records over .500.

Dead or Alive: Nuggets Still Kicking, Bucks Barely Twitching, Raptors and Lakers Fight for Their Lives | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor get into all the conference semifinal matchups about halfway through the round, starting with a surprisingly competitive Nuggets-Clippers series (2:43). They then mo...

Making Heads or Tails of James Harden in Houston. Plus a Retrospective on John Wall in Washington. | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

James Harden has finally showed up to Houston training camp to participate in the COVID-19 preseason protocols—but does that mean he’ll remain a Rocket in 2021 (1:00)? Plus, Michael Lee of the Wash...

Sixers Earn a Game 7. Have the Bucks Earned the Title of ‘Favorites’? Plus, Kevin Durant’s Injured Calf | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We give our immediate reactions to a statement game from Ben Simmons, who helped the Sixers force a Game 7 in Toronto on Sunday (0:50). Then, we eulogize the Celtics and wonder if the Bucks are fly...

One Thing for Every Team With Bill Simmons, Part 1 (Ep. 183) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons and The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor discuss one topic for each of the 30 teams in the NBA. In Part 1, they analyze teams with records under .500.

The Westbrook Conundrum, the Perfect Sidekick for Giannis, and Is Miami a Championship Contender? | Real Ones from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Logan Murdock and Raja Bell get into the Lakers' Game 2 win against Houston and the role Russell Westbrook plays in swinging Rockets games (2:48), whether Giannis can lead a championship charge on ...

James Harden’s Antics, Kawhi and PG’s Antics, and the League’s Antics | Real Ones from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Logan and Raja are back talking about James Harden’s COVID-unsafe antics in Atlanta and Las Vegas and decidedly not in Houston (1:00), Kawhi and Paul George’s antics for the Clippers that ruffled s...

The Sixers’ Worst Dreams Are Being Realized. Plus, Are We Seeing a Combo-Guard Renaissance? | The Corner 3 from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We go over what appears to be the worst possible timeline for the Sixers—backs against the wall in the present, uncertain of how to build their Frankenstein roster in the future (1:15). Then, we ru...

'Group Chat': The 12 Questions of Christmas With Bill Simmons (Ep. 182) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Justin Verrier is joined by Danny Chau, Paolo Uggetti, and HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons to discuss the Christmas Day slate and beyond through 12 questions, including: "Who are the...

Raptors Snatch Last-Half-Second Victory From Celtics, Bucks Still Can’t Take the Heat, and Steve Nash Named New Nets Head Coach | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor dive into the Raptors’ huge one-point victory over the Boston Celtics to stay in their second-round series (1:51), beg Mike Budenholzer to play Giannis and Middleton...

Will Westbrook Help the Wizards? Plus: Lakers Loom Large and PG-13 Talks Trash | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Subscribe now to the new feed on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts for ALL future episodes of "The Mismatch". On their last-ever podcast on the Ringer NBA Show feed, Verno and KOC g...

A Sad, Somber Emergency Pod for Raptors-Sixers Game 5 | The Ringer NBA Show from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Two of our resident Philadelphia 76ers fans commiserate over the Sixers’ embarrassing loss to the Toronto Raptors in Game 5. Hosts: John Gonzalez, Michael Baumann

Kobe’s Past, Rockets’ Present, and Rookies’ Future (Ep. 181) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor review Kobe night at Warriors-Lakers (0:40), evaluate Jayson Tatum’s rapid maturation on display against the Pacers (9:33), and laud this year’s impress...

Emergency Podcast: Brooklyn Nets Hire Steve Nash As Head Coach and Rockets Beat OKC from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Logan Murdock and Raja Bell share their reactions to the Brooklyn Nets signing Steve Nash to a four-year head-coaching deal and keeping interim head coach Jaque Vaughn as lead assistant coach (00:4...

Emergency Podcast: Rockets Trade Russell Westbrook to the Wizards for John Wall | The Ringer NBA Show from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Logan Murdock, Chris Ryan, and Kevin O’Connor heed the call as the Rockets trade Russell Westbrook to the Wizards for John Wall and a 2023 protected draft pick.  Don't forget to go find the new fee...

The Bucks Beat the Celtics, and the Celtics Also Beat the Celtics | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Giannis Antetokounmpo takes advantage of the imploding Boston Celtics to propel the Milwaukee Bucks to a 3-1 series lead (0:34) while the Houston Rockets hold off a late run from the Golden State W...

‘Heat Check’: Anyone Can Beat the Thunder, Including the Thunder (Ep. 180) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Juliet Litman and John Gonzalez review the Oklahoma City Thunder’s eventful week (1:26), debate which team is the worst in the league (13:24), preview the Kobe Bryant jersey-retirement...

Unpacking the Nuggets' Win, Discussing the Raptors' Supreme Struggle, and Lu Dort Nerd Corner With Wosny Lambre | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Justin, Jonathan, and Rob are joined by The Athletic's Wosny Lambre to discuss the drag-out battle between the Nuggets and the Jazz in Game 7 and what ultimately made the difference for the Nuggets...

Taking News: Training Camp Edition | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Justin, Rob, and Tjarks are joined by The Athletic’s Zach Harper to take some news. They compete against each other to have the best takes on the positive coronavirus tests that have already appear...

A Simmons-House Emergency Pod for Rockets-GSW Game 4 | The Ringer NBA Show from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Bill Simmons is joined by Joe House to give immediate reactions to a gritty, frantic win for the Houston Rockets over the two-time reigning champion Golden State Warriors to even the series at 2-2 ...

Bill Simmons on the NBA Trade Saga With Bill's Dad and Kevin O'Connor (Ep. 179) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by his dad and The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor to discuss some of the trades that shaped this NBA season, Russell Westbrook's off-ball play, the trade deadli...

Three Free Agent Signings We Like and Three We Don’t | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

KOC and Verno have a VERY special announcement at the top of the show, so don’t pump that 30-second fast-forward too hard. Then they get into how coronavirus could affect the 2020-21 NBA season, ba...

Murray Gets Hot, Kawhi Stays Hot, Curry Not Looking So Hot | Heat Check from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

An impressive scoring outburst from Jamal Murray helps the Denver Nuggets edge out the Portland Trail Blazers (3:45) while yet another dominant performance from Kawhi Leonard lifts the Toronto Rapt...

'Group Chat': Houston Is Good, OKC Is Bad, and Hezonja Is Back (Ep. 178) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Ryan and Justin Verrier are joined by Danny Chau and Haley O’Shaughnessy to throw out some LeBron relocation theories (0:50), try to pinpoint what's wrong with the Thunder (3:30)...

What Do You Have to Do to Get Nailed for Tampering in the NBA? | Real Ones from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Logan and Raja take a look at how tampering functions in the NBA and how badly you have to mess up in order to be investigated in light of the Bogdan Bogdanovic–Bucks debacle (1:00). Then, they get...

Have the Sixers Found Themselves? | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We give our instant reactions to the Sixers’ convincing Game 3 win over the Raptors (1:30), before bouncing around to the other Round 2 series (21:00). Then, we go over some of the offseason news t...

Rising Teams in the East, Setting Teams in the West (Ep. 177) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor react to Victor Oladipo’s transformation into a star (4:15), debate why the Oklahoma City Thunder superteam hasn't worked (17:54), and analyze the Toron...

Will Giannis Sign the Supermax Extension? Plus: The Suns’ Ceiling With Chris Paul. | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Matt Velazquez of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel joins the show to discuss what lies in store for Giannis and the Bucks: Will he sign his extension? Has the franchise done enough to convince him th...

Playoff Round 2 Check-in, Plus an Early Look at the Centers in the NBA Draft | The Corner 3 from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We check in with each of the four playoff series, including what the Celtics need from Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward, whether Brett Brown’s adjustments in the Sixers-Raptors series are here to st...

‘Heat Check’: Jah, Boogie, and the J-Team (Ep. 176) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Juliet Litman and John Gonzalez discuss the Stephen Curry–less Warriors (01:15), how the Sixers and the Nets have been adjusting since the Jahlil Okafor trade (11:00), and Victor Oladi...

Free Agency Shuffle: Playoff Potential, Puzzling Contracts, and Championship Contenders | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Verno and KOC get into all the most fascinating free agency moves from the past few days. First they look at teams that have vaulted themselves from the lottery to a potential playoff run (0:45) an...

Warriors-Rockets Game 2 Instant Reactions | The Ringer NBA Show from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

In Game 2 of the most anticipated playoff series thus far, the Golden State Warriors hold off a bloody-eyed James Harden and the Houston Rockets to defend home-court advantage with a 2-0 lead. Hos...

The Top 25 NBA Players of the First 25 Games (Ep. 175) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Ryan, Justin Verrier, and Danny Chau parse through their article ranking the 25 best players in the NBA through the season thus far.

Which Teams Have Done Enough in Free Agency to Be Championship Contenders? | Real Ones from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Logan and Raja discuss the massive contracts that have been handed out in free agency this season (0:45) and the young players who received their first big contracts. Then they get into the free ag...

Raptors-Sixers Might Be the Big Matchup We Were Promised After All | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Philadelphia 76ers defeat the juggernaut Toronto Raptors in Game 2, tempering concerns of a one-sided series (0:47), while Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets present a big-man problem for the ...

'Group Chat' — LeBron James and Kevin Durant at Their Best (Ep. 174) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Ryan and Justin Verrier are joined by Paolo Uggetti and Haley O’Shaughnessy to discuss peak LeBron and KD (1:45). Then they wonder if some teams would've taken a do-over if given...

Unpacking the Bogdanovic Debacle and First Day of Free Agency Recap | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Verno and KOC discuss the Bogdan Bogdanovic debacle and its affect on the first few hours of free agency (0:00), the situation in Philly, what the Hawks could look like next season, and Detroit’s f...

How the Warriors “Stole” Game 1 From the Rockets | Heat Check from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The first game of the highly anticipated second-round matchup between the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets ended with a conspicuous lack of foul calls (4:04), while in the East, the Bo...

‘Sources Say’ — Agent News, Frustrated Teams, and LaVar Ball Speaks (Ep. 173) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Juliet Litman and Chris Ryan examine the recent scandal regarding decertified NBA agent Andy Miller (0:43), wonder about the future of big men in the league (7:54), and debate the most...

The Ringer NBA Show Post-Draft Special from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s draft mavens Kevin O’Connor, Jonathan Tjarks, and J. Kyle Mann convene the morning after the 2020 NBA draft to go over the top three picks (1:00) as well as the picks and trades that m...

Tying Up Warriors Loose Ends and Previewing Round 2 | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We wonder whether the Warriors can close the Clippers in Game 6 in L.A., or whether we’re starting to see signs that they’re unraveling (4:00). Then, we touch on the other Western Conference series...

Underperforming Superteams, Overperforming Rookies, and the First-Quarter Awards (Ep. 172) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor review the Warriors’ eventful night against the New Orleans Pelicans (1:40), debate the roots of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ issues (12:43), laud Donova...

Rockets Hit a Wall and More Trade Rumors. Plus: Predraft Spectacular. | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Justin, Tjarks, and Rob are joined by J. Kyle Mann to talk about the latest trade scuttlebutt circulating on the internet about a potential Russell Westbrook for John Wall trade and Atlanta’s bid f...

Damian Lillard Sent Russell Westbrook and the Thunder Home | The Corner 3 from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We recap one of the most ridiculous shots in NBA history—Damian Lillard’s 37-foot stepback 3 to end the series against Oklahoma City (1:08). Then we talk about the rise of the pull-up 3 in the NBA,...

‘Heat Check’ — Old Friends and New Foes (Ep. 171) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Juliet Litman and John Gonzalez discuss Chris Paul returning to Los Angeles with the soaring Rockets (0:20), speculate on the possibility of DeAndre Jordan joining his old teammate in ...

The Trade Machine Is Whirring: CP3, Jrue, and Bogdan Are on the Move. Plus: Possible Draft Pick Trade-Ups | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Verno and KOC run through the myriad gigantic after-dark trades that kept us all up last night, including Chris Paul to the Suns (1:27), Jrue Holiday and Bogdan Bogdanovic to the Bucks (11:34), and...

It’s Time to Fear the Deer | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Phoenix Suns fire head coach Igor Kokoskov, continuing a season of constant upheaval for the franchise (1:14), the Milwaukee Bucks look unstoppable as they complete their sweep of the Detroit P...

'Group Chat' — NBA Watchability Rankings (Ep. 170) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Ryan and Justin Verrier are joined by Danny Chau and Haley O’Shaughnessy to try to figure out just how bad the Thunder really are (1:44). Then the crew re-ranks the top five NBA ...

Chris Paul Is Headed to the Suns, James Harden Reportedly Requested a Trade, and More | Real Ones from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Chris Ryan joins Logan to briefly discuss Chris Paul being traded to the Phoenix Suns (0:01). Then Logan and Raja jump on to talk about the rumors absolutely flying around about the Rockets’ possib...

Round 1 Check-In: Where Do Teams Stand? Plus, Player-Fan Interaction | Heat Check from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

With the first round of the NBA playoffs in full effect, Joe House calls in to check on where the current Eastern and Western Conference matchups stand (02:51), including 76ers - Nets (18:03) and C...

A Tale of Two Hot Seats: The Fractured Grizzlies and the Dismal Clippers (Ep. 169) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor parse the falling out between Marc Gasol and David Fizdale (1:16) and debate whether the Memphis Grizzlies should tank (15:34). Then they review the imp...

The Rockets Are Burning Out Their Fuse. Plus: Sleeper Draft Picks with Jonathan Tjarks and J. Kyle Mann. | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Verno and KOC get into the absolute dumpster fire raging in Houston right now with Westbrook forcing a trade and multiple role players expressing discontent (1:00), then get into other trades that ...

No Embiid? No Problem! | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Philadelphia 76ers found themselves without superstar center Joel Embiid against the Nets in Brooklyn for Game 3, unintentionally unlocking Ben Simmons to seize a win (0:52). Meanwhile, the San...

‘Heat Check’ — A Rose by Any Other Name (Ep. 168) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Juliet Litman and John Gonzalez discuss Derrick Rose considering leaving basketball (1:03), look forward to Isaiah Thomas’s looming return to action (5:49), examine the schism between ...

A "Plausible Eventual Possibility” With Nate Duncan | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Justin, Rob, and Tjarks are joined by Nate Duncan to talk about recent reports from Kevin O’Connor that Russell Westbrook could be had in a trade and from ESPN that a forced trade by Westbrook or J...

The Nuggets' Comeback Might’ve Saved Their Season | The Corner 3 from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We break down how Jamal Murray shot his way out of his cold streak, helping the Nuggets tie their series with the Spurs at 1-1 and potentially stopping the bottom from falling out from underneath t...

‘Sources Say’ — The New NBA: Exciting for Basketball, Not As Exciting for Gossip (Ep. 167) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Ryan and Juliet Litman discuss Klay Thompson’s comments on scaffolding (0:33), react to C.J. McCollum’s subpar trash-talking (5:25), condemn Danny Ainge’s questionable tweet rega...

NBA 2020-2021 Season Dates Are Set. Plus: Where LaMelo Ball and Other Prospects Will Wind Up in the Draft | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Verno and KOC get into all the NBA news that’s broken over the past couple of days regarding the start of the 2020-2021 season (0:45) and where LaMelo Ball could end up in the draft (11:00), and th...

The Warriors Blew a 31-Point Lead | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The resilient Los Angeles Clippers make a historic comeback against the reigning champion Golden State Warriors in Game 2 (0:42) and the Philadelphia 76ers redeem themselves with a resounding win a...

The NBA Therapy Session and the Rorschach Test (Ep. 166) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Vernon and John Gonzalez react to the phenomenon that is the Boston Celtics’ ongoing winning streak (0:31), reinstate the Cleveland Cavaliers as a true contender (6:15), diagnose...

Austin Rivers on the NBA’s Return, Doc Rivers' Move From LA to Philly, and More | Real Ones from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Logan and Raja are back talking about the NBA’s plan to return to basketball December 22 (45:00). Then, Austin Rivers joins Logan to discuss the Rockets’ 2019-20 season, Doc Rivers’s new job as hea...

Upset SZN: Game 1 Shockers and Not-So-Shockers | Heat Check from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The 2019 NBA playoffs are finally here! The first round kicked off with some surprising upsets (2:53), most notably the Brooklyn Nets defeating the Philadelphia 76ers (29:55) and the Orlando Magic ...

‘Heat Check’ — Basketball Doesn’t Stop (Ep. 165) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Juliet Litman and John Gonzalez review the Celtics’ continuing win streak (0:49), marvel at the Warriors’ effortless dominance (3:31), and tout the young 76ers’ impressive recent perfo...

NBA Tentatively Approves 2020-21 Season Plan. Plus: Draft Rumors With Jonathan Tjarks and J. Kyle Mann | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Verno and KOC get into all the intricacies of Thursday’s tentative deal between the NBA and NBPA to start the 2020-21 season during the week of Christmas (1:00). Then, Jonathan Tjarks and J. Kyle M...

The Playoff Matchup Draft | The Corner 3 from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We preview the 2019 NBA playoffs by drafting the series we’re most excited to watch, including intriguing stylistic matchups like the Rockets and Jazz, talent-heavy lineups vs. up-and-coming teams ...

#RingerNBA Live: Warriors-Celtics (Ep. 164) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Ryan, Jason Concepcion, and Justin Verrier share their instant reactions to the blockbuster matchup between the Golden State Warriors and the Boston Celtics.

Jrue Holiday Trade Rumors With Scott Kushner and the Knicks' Future With Mike Vorkunov | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Times-Picayune’s Scott Kushner joins Justin, Rob, and Tjarks to talk about this morning’s Jrue Holiday trade rumors (1:55). Then, The Athletic’s Mike Vorkunov joins the show to discuss the Knic...

The NBA Playoff Brackets Are Set | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We open by briefly delving into the Kings firing Dave Joerger, and examining what the potential trickle-down effects of that might be (1:30). Then, we preview the playoffs through a series of quest...

'Group Chat' — The Joel Embiid Experience (Ep. 163) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Ryan and Justin Verrier are joined by Haley O’Shaughnessy to examine Joel Embiid's career-high display in the 76ers-Lakers game, Ben Simmons, and the state of Lonzo Ball (0:57). ...

Season Start Date Negotiations Are Heating Up. Plus: Most Intriguing Players of the Week. | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Verno and KOC discuss the developments in the debate over the start of the 2020-21 NBA season (1:00), then get into their intriguing free agents, returning players, and draft prospects of the week ...

Magic Johnson Stepped Down and the Lakers Are (Further) Off the Rails | The Ringer NBA Show from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Magic Johnson resigning put the finishing touches on an NBA season that was filled with an absurd amount of drama. What does this mean for members of the Lakers franchise—including Rob Pelinka, Jea...

LeBron Keeps Feuding, Celtics Keep Soaring, Clippers Keep Falling (Ep. 162) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor question whether LeBron James’s comments about Dennis Smith Jr. are true (1:55) and analyze how potent the Milwaukee Bucks’ defense really is (8:30). Th...

Ten Questions Leading Into the Playoffs | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Top prospects audition for the pros in the NCAA championship game (0:46) while the still-murky NBA playoff picture continues to shift (15:23). Then: 10 burning questions for the 2019 NBA playoffs (...

'Heat Check' — Silver Medalists, the Draymond Green Award, and LeBron vs. New York (Ep. 161) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Juliet Litman and John Gonzalez deliberate on who the second-best team in the league is (0:17), analyze the implications of the Rudy Gobert injury for the Utah Jazz (10:08), and debate...

The Coaching Carousel Keeps Spinning. Plus: Draft Deep Dive With Jonathan Tjarks and J. Kyle Mann | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Verno and KOC discuss the breaking news that Mike D’Antoni is headed to Brooklyn (0:00), plus Daryl Morey’s move to the 76ers’ front office (3:35) and the Rockets’ new head coach, Stephen Silas (20...

Concern-Trolling Playoff Teams and Just Concerns for the Sixers | Heat Check from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

With the postseason just within grasp, which flaws could haunt playoff-bound teams in the weeks to come (4:50)? And of course, the Philadelphia 76ers generate genuine apprehension from their fan ba...

‘Group Chat’ — Anti-Melo, Pro-Kristaps, and the Lavar Ball Conspiracy (Ep. 160) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Ryan, Justin Verrier, Haley O’Shaughnessy, and Paolo Uggetti discuss whether they are hyped or concerned about some teetering teams (1:59). Then they debate some hypothetical coa...

The Daryl Morey Process Comes to Philly. Plus: The Warriors Have Reentered the Chat, With Anthony Slater | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Justin and Sixers fan Chris Ryan delve into the breaking news of the day: Daryl Morey signs a five-year deal with the 76ers (1:30). Then The Athletic’s Anthony Slater joins Justin, Rob, and Tjarks ...

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s MVP Moment | The Corner 3 from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We recap the exciting Bucks comeback win over the Sixers on Thursday night, which featured gigantic performances from Giannis and Joel Embiid (1:30). Then, ahead of the Final Four, we take one last...

'Sources Say’ — NBA Gossip in the Age of Leaks (Ep. 159) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Ryan and Juliet Litman unpack the newest batch of drama surrounding the Cleveland Cavaliers (1:02), speculate on the Chicago Bulls’ infighting scandal between Bobby Portis and Ni...

Most Intriguing Free Agents, Gainfully Employed Players, and Draft Picks | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Verno and KOC get together to chat about developments in the ongoing negotiation over when the next NBA season will start (1:20). Then they get into the free agents, currently employed players, and...

Whose Future Timeline Is the Darkest? | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We weigh the different bleak futures of some of the NBA’s bottom-feeders and try to determine who has the longest path back to contention (2:00). Then, with the playoffs on the immediate horizon, w...

Bill Simmons and Pastor Carl Lentz on Locker Room Culture, Secret Scrimmages, and More (Ep. 158) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Hillsong pastor and NBA confidant Carl Lentz to lay out how the secret NBA scrimmages come about in the summertime and many more inside-the-NBA storie...

Bubble Basketball, LeBron vs. Kawhi, Duncan vs. AD, and More With Danny Green | Real Ones from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Logan and Raja are joined by three-time NBA champion Danny Green to talk about what it was like to play and win in the bubble, playing with LeBron and Kawhi, when the next NBA season should start, ...

First-Round Matchups We’d Like to See | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

With the end of the regular season in sight, which first-round matchups would be the most interesting (0:56)? Plus: even more NBA draft takeaways from the NCAA tournament (30:43). Hosts: Chris Vern...

Bledsoe Is a Buck, Kyrie Is Basketball Houdini, Kristaps Is a Superstar (Ep. 157) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor react to Eric Bledsoe being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks for Greg Monroe (0:24), address the Jahlil Okafor trade rumors (14:43), and marvel at the Celt...

How Will Stan Van Gundy Fit With the Pelicans? Plus: NBA Mailbag | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Verno and KOC are back analyzing the Stan Van Gundy hire in New Orleans (1:20) and answering your mailbag questions about the draft, offseason team building, card collecting, and more (9:45). Host...

The Only Playoff Race Left: The Eastern Conference | Heat Check from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

With the Western Conference playoff teams locked in, we shift our focus to the four teams competing for the last three spots in the Eastern Conference (5:39). Then, we examine how media coverage fo...

‘Heat Check’ — To Dame or Not to Dame (Ep. 156) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Juliet Litman and John Gonzalez review the weekend’s exciting Thunder-Blazers matchup (1:30), laud the Celtics’ dominant winning streak (6:50), gauge their concerns about the precariou...

Road to a Brighter Future: Pacers, Suns, and Pelicans Offseason Moves | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

J. Kyle Mann joins Justin, Rob, and Tjarks to talk about the offseason for a few of the more underappreciated teams, including the Pacers’ new head coach, Nate Bjorkgren, and Oladipo’s future with ...

Sixteen(-ish) NBA Prospects in the Sweet 16 | The Corner 3 from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Halfway through the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament, we examine the notable players with draft potential (1:12). Plus: parity between the Eastern and Western conferences (39:05). Hosts: Danny Chau,...

Early Season Assessments With Bill Simmons and Tom Haberstroh (Ep. 155) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by recently departed ESPNer Tom Haberstroh to give his thoughts on the Cavs' lacking defense (18:00), potential Boogie Cousins trades (30:00), and re-dra...

Three Things to Look Forward to in the NBA Offseason | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Verno and KOC start off by discussing when the next NBA season should start, then they each get into their top three things to look forward to during the offseason. Hosts: Chris Vernon and Kevin O...

2019 NBA Award SZN Is Here | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We hand out some traditional awards for the 2018-19 NBA season, as well as a bevy of 'Group Chat'–specific ones—like Most Washed, the Best Player in the World Belt, and the Skeleton Key Award. Hos...

'Group Chat' — Should We Be Worried About the Cavs? Should We Be Excited for the Knicks? (Ep. 154) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Ryan and Justin Verrier are joined by Haley O’Shaughnessy to discuss the Cavs and the Bucks (0:57). Then they bring in Jason Concepcion to examine the current state of the New Yo...

The Lakers’ Ceiling, Clippers Rumors, Plus Raja’s 2007 WCF Experience | Real Ones from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Logan and Raja get into what the Lakers’ ceiling could look like (9:59), all the suspect rumors coming out about Kawhi and the Clippers and what the Clips can do to revamp their team culture (17:43...

(Not) Jockeying for Playoff Matchups | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Jusuf Nurkic’s horrific leg injury takes the air out of the Portland Trail Blazers’ postseason ambitions (1:00), the variability of playoff seeding in the Western Conference makes matchup-jockeying...

Tricks and Treats of the Early NBA Season (Ep. 153) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Kevin O'Connor discuss the personnel problems with the Cavs (10:00), the surprising top teams in the league (28:00), Aaron Gordon's improvement (38:00), the impressive...

The Grand Rockets Debate Continues, the Bucks Feel the Heat, and Murray Mania | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Verno and KOC turn yet another contentious page in their ongoing Houston Rockets debate after the Rockets' embarrassing Game 6 collapse against the Oklahoma City Thunder (1:38) before discussing th...

The NBA All-Entertainment Team and the Über-competitive Coach of the Year Race | Heat Check from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Who have been the most entertaining personalities in the NBA this season? (4:01) Plus: our pick for Coach of the Year from an unusually stacked pool of candidates (43:10). Host: John Gonzalez Gues...

'Heat Check' — Real or Not Real: Cavs, Clips, Magic, and more (Ep. 152) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Juliet Litman and John Gonzalez sit down to talk some NBA story lines, including some obvious trouble in Cleveland (1:35), Draymond Green and the Golden State Warriors (9:55), and the ...

Mitchell and Murray Face Off, Kawhi Clinches the First Round, and Blazers and Mavericks Head Home | Real Ones from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Logan and Raja discuss the incredible back-and-forth guard play between Donovan Mitchell and Jamal Murray in the Jazz-Nuggets series (5:22), what moves the homeward-bound Trail Blazers need to make...

Ja Morant Mania and the NCAA Tournament Through an NBA Draft Lens | The Corner 3 from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We assess a dominant first-game performance from Murray State point guard Ja Morant, who has now solidified his case to be a top-three pick in the coming NBA draft (1:20). Then we note a bevy of pr...

'Group Chat' — It Turns Out All the Bad Teams Are Good (Ep. 151) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Ryan and Justin Verrier are joined by Paolo Uggetti to chat about Eastern Conference parity, the improved play of the Magic and Nets, the Spurs' and Raptors' style contrast with ...

J.B. Bickerstaff on the NBA Strike and Racial Justice | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Verno and KOC are joined by Cleveland Cavaliers head coach J.B. Bickerstaff to discuss the NBA players’ strike and how professional sports can lead the pursuit of racial justice for Black Americans...

The Playoff Watchability Rankings | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We do some in-depth analysis on the Sixers finally getting over the hump and beating the Celtics, then wonder whether the Thunder’s recent skid means they might be one-and-done in the playoffs (2:3...

‘Sources Say’ — Eight Days of Drama: Syringe-gate, Salon-gate, and More (Ep. 150) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Juliet Litman and Chris Ryan wade through the murky news surrounding Markelle Fultz’s shoulder injury (1:10), react to the bizarre schism between Eric Bledsoe and the Phoenix Suns (9:4...

Emergency Podcast: Reactions to the NBA Players' Strike from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Logan Murdock, Rob Mahoney, and Van Lathan share their real-time reactions to the NBA postponing Wednesday's games as a result of the player strike led by the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Hottest Team in the NBA Right Now Is … the Spurs?! | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Another home victory against the Golden State Warriors marks an impressive nine-game winning streak for the San Antonio Spurs (6:46). Plus: previewing regular-season awards (32:55) and NBA prospect...

First-Week Impressions and Overreactions With Kevin O'Connor (Ep. 149) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Kevin O'Connor discuss the Suns firing Earl Watson (2:00), Eric Bledsoe's trade value (8:00), D-Wade's move to the bench (18:00), Giannis Antetokounmpo's MVP-level sta...

A Clippers and Mavs Blowout, and Pacers Fire Nate McMillan with Tom Haberstroh | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Justin, Jon, and Rob are joined by NBC Sports' Tom Haberstroh to talk about Tuesday's blowout between the Clippers and the Mavs, including the drama surrounding Luka Doncic and Marcus Morris (15:15...

The Degenerate’s Guide to the NBA Playoff Race | Heat Check from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Resident gambling degenerate Joe House gives his predictions for how the playoff race will shake out in each conference (4:05). Plus: New York Knicks owner James Dolan was in the headlines for all ...

MVP Giannis, the Suns’ Implosion, and Lonzo’s Awakening (Ep. 148) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Juliet Litman and John Gonzalez sit down to talk some NBA story lines, including Oklahoma City's precarious start to the season (1:05), Giannis MVP watch (5:15), Eric Bledsoe's illumin...

The First Round: The Close, the Not, and the Swept | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Verno and KOC discuss the competitive first-round matchups (1:16), teams that are figuratively on the ropes (28:37), and the already-concluded series (52:52). Hosts: Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor

Early 2019 NBA Draft Thoughts | The Corner 3 from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We react to Thursday night’s games, where the Pacers proved they’re going to be a tough out in the playoffs and Luka Doncic started to look worn down by the NBA season (2:04). Then Kevin and Danny ...

'Group Chat' — Lonzo Gets Baptized, CP3 Makes a Movie, and the Sixers Must Learn to Share (Ep. 147) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Ryan and Justin Verrier are joined by Haley O’Shaughnessy to chat about the first Clippers-Lakers matchup of the season (1:10), Chris Paul's timely released short film (5:38), an...

Luka Is Unreal, Fixing the Sixers, and "Kobe Day" | Real Ones from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Logan and Raja discuss Luka Doncic's stunning performance against the Clippers and where he fits in when it comes to the top franchise building blocks in the NBA right now (07:04). They are also jo...

Which Team Is Headed for a First-Round Upset? | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Now that the Anthony Davis trade saga has cooled down, we wonder whether the dwindling list of potential outcomes means he might just re-sign in New Orleans—and, of course, what that would mean for...

Blow It Out (or Up) NBA Season Preview With Kevin O'Connor (Ep. 146) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Kevin O'Connor bang out a far-reaching NBA regular season preview. Topics include: LaMarcus Aldridge's extension (4:00), McCollum missing the opener (14:00), the Houst...

Lottery Reactions! Plus: The Rockets Blast Off, Don’t Worry About the Lakers, and the Sixers Roll Over | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Verno and KOC react to the 2020 NBA draft lottery (1:16) before discussing the ongoing first-round series in the playoffs (24:07). Hosts: Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor

The Race for the Playoffs and the Race for the Lottery | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Altercations mar an otherwise entertaining night in the NBA (0:53), playoff-bound teams jockey for matchup advantages (20:21), and draft season approaches as the NCAA action accelerates (42:37). Ho...

The State of the NBA With Bill Simmons and Haralabos Voulgaris (Ep. 145) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by Haralabos Voulgaris after a long hiatus from the podcasting world to discuss the biggest offseason moves (6:00), Oklahoma City's potential contender s...

The Lakers' Continued Offensive Woes, Clippers vs. Mavericks, and Giving Jimmy Butler the Respect He Deserves | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Justin, Jonathan, and Rob are joined by L.A. Times reporter Dan Woike to discuss the Los Angeles Lakers' woes against the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 1 (01:45), and the loaded Los Angeles Clippe...

The Infallible Warriors Might Not Be So Infallible | Heat Check from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Amid a dynastic run of dominance, the Golden State Warriors are starting to show some cracks (2:47). But is anyone a real threat to challenge the reigning champions (8:48)? Plus: Is Brett Brown the...

‘Group Chat’ — Drinking the Kool-Aid … or Not (Ep. 144) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Ryan and Justin Verrier are joined by Haley O’Shaughnessy to chat about the ballooning hype for Joel Embiid (1:20), the possible precariousness of the "new old-look" Cleveland Ca...

Playoff Basketball Is Back: Breaking Down Jazz vs. Nuggets, Raptors vs. Nets, Sixers vs. Celtics, and Clippers vs. Mavericks | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Verno and KOC break down the first day of playoff games, including Donovan Mitchell’s 57-point performance that still couldn’t save the Jazz (2:42), the sleepy Raptors vs. Nets series (20:58), the ...

We Unironically Care About the Eastern Conference Playoff Race | The Corner 3 from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We start by taking stock of the incredible Thunder vs. Blazers Thursday-night game, which featured 51 points from Damian Lillard in a Thunder victory (2:00). Then, Danny goes iso in a special Dwyan...

The (Contract Extension) Price Is Right (Ep. 143) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor express their astonishment at Joel Embiid’s contract extension (1:50), wonder about the reasoning behind Gary Harris’s contract extension (19:00), and d...

Play-in Excitement, the Dame vs. Steph Debate, the Importance of Role Players in the Postseason | Real Ones from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Logan Murdock and Raja Bell sit down to discuss the winners and losers of this weekend's play-in games (09:18). Logan also debates Raja on his take about Damian Lillard eclipsing Steph Curry (24:52...

LeBron Passes Jordan and Lakers Fans Are ... Apathetic? | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We react to the underwhelming response from the Lakers crowd as LeBron James passed Michael Jordan for fourth on the NBA’s all-time leading scorers list (1:30). Then we crib a segment from the Magi...

NBA Over/Under With Bill Simmons—Eastern Conference (Ep. 142) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons outlines the entire Eastern Conference with help from Joe House and Jason Concepcion. Topics include: the inferior Eastern Conference (6:00), the Bulls' tanking ef...

The Portland Trail Blazers Advance, Plus: Next-Round Predictions | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Verno and KOC discuss the Portland Trail Blazers' win over the Brooklyn Nets and what we can expect for their next matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies, with the eighth seed on the line (1:00). Th...

Is This Your King? The Clippers Win the Battle for L.A. | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Clippers add one more blow to the Lakers’ playoffs hopes (1:40) while the Boston Celtics’ chemistry issues continue to fester (31:15). Plus: takeaways from the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Confer...

New Season, New Rosters (Ep. 141) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor kick off their preseason discussion by speculating the meaning of Tommy Heinsohn’s comments on Aron Baynes (1:05) and wondering about the Orlando Magic’...

Damian Lillard, Sixers Sadness, and What to Do With Denver | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Justin, Rob, and Jonathan talk about bubble MVP Damian Lillard (01:25). Chris Ryan joins to discuss the downer of a time the 76ers are having and how improvements by other players could affect Ben ...

Who Is to Blame for the Lakers’ Letdown? | Heat Check from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Los Angeles Lakers continue their collapse (4:04) while the Eastern Conference playoff race heats up (17:21). Plus: an inside look at the story of Rick Pitino in Greece (29:21). Host: John Gon...

Arcade Fire's Win Butler on the NBA, With Kevin O'Connor (Ep. 140) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor is joined by Arcade Fire frontman Win Butler to discuss the influence of Hakeem Olajuwon (1:30), the state of the Rockets (4:00), the beauty of the Spurs (8:00), beating...

Seeds, Seeds, Seeds, Fixing the Sixers, and the Bubble Suns | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Verno and KOC discuss the narrowing race for the 8-seed in the West (0:37), the never-ending quest to make the Philadelphia 76ers' roster fit together (28:12), and the still-undefeated Phoenix Suns...

How Many 3s Will Trae Young Be Shooting in 2029? | The Corner 3 from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We recap the Jazz-Nuggets game and wonder whether this is proof that the Jazz are back to where they need to be to contend in the Western Conference (1:00). Then, Zach Kram joins to talk about his ...

Carmelo's New Home in Oklahoma City (Ep. 139) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Kevin O'Connor discuss Carmelo Anthony's trade to the Thunder (2:30), the history behind superteam success (10:00), the new-look Cavs (19:00), Chicago's complete overh...

Damian Lillard Balls Out, Devin Booker in Phoenix, and Should We Worry About the Lakers? | Real Ones from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Logan Murdock and Raja Bell discuss this weekend’s games, including Damian Lillard’s incredible showing against the 76ers (00:41). They also talk about Phoenix’s momentum and how to best capitalize...

Our NBA Potluck Dinner | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We all bring one team, one player, and one take to discuss on this episode. Featured: the Boston Celtics, the Los Angeles Lakers, Chris Paul, Ben Simmons, and more. Hosts: Justin Verrier, Haley O’...

Durant's Secret Social Media Identity (Ep. 138) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Kevin O'Connor dissect Kevin Durant's multiple social media accounts and discuss the best ways to respond to backlash on the internet in the NBA.

Kemba Walker on the Celtics’ Title Hopes, New York Basketball, and MJ Stories | R2C2 with CC Sabathia and Ryan Ruocco from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

CC and Ryan are joined by All-NBA point guard Kemba Walker to discuss how he’s adjusted to the Orlando bubble (11:58), New York basketball (25:13), his relationship with Michael Jordan, and the Cel...

Are We Sure the Lakers Will Make the Playoffs? | The Mismatch (Ep. 393) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

After falling below .500, the Los Angeles Lakers are at risk of missing the playoffs (1:19). Plus: checking in with the young rebuilding teams (33:28). Hosts: Chris Vernon, Kevin O’Connor

Rookie-Scale Candidates and Four Pressing Offseason Questions With Kevin O'Connor (Ep. 137) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Kevin O'Connor discuss the most interesting rookie-scale candidates heading into the 2017-18 season (7:00), Joel Embiid's future in Philly (16:00), Rodney Hood's chanc...

Dame Time in the Bubble, the Bright Now Suns, and the Race for the 8-Seed in the West | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Verno and KOC discuss the Portland Trail Blazers’ strong push for the playoffs (1:18), the Phoenix Suns’ surprising run (17:54), and the jockeying for seeding in the Western Conference (43:39). Ho...

Are We In or Out on LeBron, Davis, Zion, Durant, Kyrie, and More? | Heat Check (Ep. 392) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

With so many story lines in the NBA, which ones are we in on (3:41)? Then: the New Orleans Pelicans’ continuing conundrum (30:55) and the most interesting MVP candidates of the season (44:21). Hos...

'Sources Say' With Mallory Edens (Ep. 136) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Juliet Litman and Chris Ryan discuss the Celtics and Cavs finally finalizing the deal for Kyrie Irving (5:00), Blake Griffin and Chandler Parsons's double date (12:00), and Rob Pelinka...

The Excitement of the Rockets and Blazers, the Suns' Contention, and Nerd Corner With the Lakers | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

'Group Chat' returns to talk about the excitement in the NBA bubble, including the Rockets–Trail Blazers barn burner and the return of Carmelo Anthony (01:29); the Phoenix Suns' excellent game and ...

The Playoff Musical Chairs in the Western Conference | The Corner 3 (Ep. 391) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We talk about the sustainability of the Lakers' flipping the switch and what it means for Western Conference playoff contenders the Kings, Clippers, and Spurs (1:00). Then, we do a mini Draft Class...

'Sources Say' Summer Special: Pelinka's Power, Kyrie Rumors, and Sports Dad LeBron (Ep. 135) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Ryan and Juliet Litman discuss the ridiculously wild NBA summer, including CP3's trade (4:00), Rob Pelinka's press conference parables (11:00), LeBron's interesting summer (21:30...

Shake’s Big Shot, Zion Bounces Back, and the Jimmy Butler Mystery | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Verno and KOC react to Shake Milton’s clutch game-winner against the Spurs (0:43), the fight for the 8-seed (13:26), the micro-ball Rockets (23:40), the defending champion Toronto Raptors (41:21), ...

Should We Care Whether Kyrie Irving Is Happy? | Group Chat (Ep. 390) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We react briefly to the news that top prospect Zion Williamson has a sprained knee (2:40) before diving deep on the recent Kyrie Irving interview with Rachel Nichols (8:40). Then, news breaks that ...

Chaos in Cleveland With Jonathan Tjarks (Ep. 134) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Jonathan Tjarks discuss the possibility that Kyrie Irving is traded (8:00), the impact of David Griffin's departure (20:00), Eric Bledsoe's defensive upside (28:00), r...

Reporting on the Bubble With Raja Bell | Real Ones from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Logan Murdock is joined by Raja Bell as they break down the start of the NBA season. They discuss the kind of play they are seeing inside the bubble (11:30), which teams to keep an eye on (39:15), ...

Stories From NBA All-Star Weekend | The Mismatch (Ep. 389) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Our hosts had an eventful time in Charlotte over All-Star Weekend, and they’re here to share some notable highlights. Hosts: Chris Vernon, Kevin O’Connor

Summer League Standouts and More NBA Free Agency (Ep. 133) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Kevin O'Connor discuss the ire toward Lonzo Ball (5:00), Donovan Mitchell's shooting (12:30), Josh Jackson's jumper (20:30), the young Phoenix Suns (30:10), and the be...

Give Us More Lakers-Clippers, Free Zion, and the Seeding Race | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Verno and KOC discuss the thrilling kickoff of seeding games in Orlando: Clippers-Lakers (0:42) and Jazz-Pelicans (32:51). Then, they preview the weekend’s upcoming games (59:18). Hosts: Chris Vern...

Our Top 25 Players Right Now and the Ongoing Anthony Davis Headache | Heat Check (Ep. 388) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The New Orleans Pelicans’ Anthony Davis problem casts a shadow on All-Star Weekend (1:57). Plus: debating the Ringer staff’s ranking of the top 25 players (36:05). Host: Chris Ryan Guest: Justin V...

The Best and Worst NBA Offseasons So Far With Kevin O'Connor (Ep. 132) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Kevin O'Connor report live from summer league in Las Vegas to discuss the major story lines from the first weekend of games, and to rank the best and worst NBA offseas...

Thibs in New York, Lou Will’s Excursion, and Seeding Games Preview | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Verno and KOC discuss the New York Knicks hiring Tom Thibodeau (0:12), Lou Williams visiting Magic City while on leave from the Orlando campus (21:30), and the imminent start of seeding games (43:0...

Early Returns on the Eastern Conference Arms Race, Plus Pelicans Talk With Arcade Fire’s Win Butler | The Corner 3 (Ep. 387) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We run down the list of the five Eastern Conference contenders that made deadline additions and where they’ll stand in relation to each other come playoff time (1:00). Then, Arcade Fire’s Win Butle...

Recapping the First Weekend of Free Agency (Ep. 131) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Vernon is joined by NBA TV’s Tas Melas to discuss the Toronto Raptors’ free-agency moves (1:00), Gordon Hayward’s potential landing spots (9:45), the dearth of talent in the East...

Basketball Is Back! Scrimmages Takeaways, Changing Expectations, and Mailbag Questions | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Verno and KOC react to the first NBA scrimmages in Orlando and potential new game operations (4:28) before answering a few questions from you, the listeners (36:35). Hosts: Chris Vernon, Kevin O’Co...

A Ringer NBA Investigation: Who’s to Blame for the Lakers Tailspin? | Group Chat (Ep. 386) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We parse last night’s news through the lens of some unnecessarily hot takes—Luka is the next LeBron, Jake Layman is first-team All-NBA, Buddy Hield is better than Jamal Murray, and more (2:00). The...

The CP3 Trade, Phil Jackson's Firing, and What's Next for the Clippers? (Ep. 130) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Ryan brings on Bill Simmons to offer up initial reactions to the news that Chris Paul is heading to the Houston Rockets (3:00). Then, The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor joins to give hi...

The Latest NBA COVID-19 Testing Reveals No New Positive Tests. Plus: Regular-Season Award Selections | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We discuss the most recent NBA COVID-19 testing results, which revealed no new positive tests of players in the Orlando bubble (2:08). Then, we break down whether the four months of training could ...

MVPaul George? Plus: the Rising East | The Mismatch (Ep. 385) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Paul George’s MVP case grows as his scorching offensive streak continues (1:15), Marc Gasol bolsters the already-formidable Toronto Raptors (10:45), the Philadelphia 76ers’ new Big Four forms a thr...

NBA Awards and Free Agency (Ep. 129) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Kevin O'Connor discuss the NBA Awards ceremony and some memorable moments (2:33). Then they take a hard look at upcoming free-agency moves (24:25).

Which Team—Apart from the Lakers and Clippers—Has the Best Shot of Coming Out of the West? | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We discuss the news that Victor Oladipo is now considering returning to play this season after previously stating he’d be out for the year (4:16). Then, we discuss Kemba Walker’s nagging knee injur...

The New-New Sixers Look Good-Good | Heat Check (Ep. 384) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The anticlimactic nonresolution of the Anthony Davis saga leaves the Western Conference at the mercy of the Golden State Warriors (3:03), while the reloaded Philadelphia 76ers look to rise atop the...

'High Upside'—The Butler Trade, Steals, and More Surprises (Ep. 128) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor and Jonathan Tjarks recap the NBA draft. They start with the top six (0:32), then dissect the questionable Jimmy Butler trade (1:58), their draft surprises (9:45), and t...

Russell Westbrook Announces He Tested Positive for COVID-19. Plus: Bruno Caboclo and Richaun Holmes Break Quarantine. | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Russell Westbrook announced on Instagram that he tested positive for COVID-19 and is experiencing mild symptoms while away from the team. What will this mean for the Rockets? And is the NBA’s bubbl...

NBA Trade Deadline: Eastern Conference Power Shifts and Favorite Trades | The Ringer NBA Show (Ep. 383) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The trade deadline delivered on medium deals—including Marc Gasol to the Raptors, Tobias Harris to the Sixers, and Nikola Mirotic to the Bucks—but it was missing the Anthony Davis trade we were hop...

The GM-less Cavs, Paul George, and the Porzingis Rumor (Ep. 127) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon is joined by Sam Amick of USA Today to discuss David Griffin's departure from the Cleveland Cavaliers (02:00), Jimmy Butler and the Boston Celtics (18:00), Paul George's i...

Senator Cory Booker on NCAA Reform, Speaking on the Senate Floor, the Criminal Justice System, and Fighting for a Better America | Flying Coach With Steve Kerr and Pete Carroll from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Steve and Pete provide updates on the upcoming NBA and NFL seasons before welcoming Senator Cory Booker to discuss player exploitation in the NCAA, his fight for criminal justice reform, expanding ...

The Sixers Are All In (We Think?), With Bill Simmons | The Ringer NBA Show (Ep. 382) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Bill Simmons and Chris Ryan hop on the Ringer NBA Show feed to talk about the Sixers spending what was left of their draft capital to acquire Tobias Harris and make a push for the NBA Finals this s...

Bill Simmons on LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Offseason Moves, and NBA Draft Advice (Ep. 126) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Bill Simmons is joined by Chris Ryan to discuss the similarities and differences between LeBron James's and Kevin Durant's decisions to leave their first NBA teams (2:07). Later they talk offseason...

Would the Bucks Give Giannis a 10-Year, $1 Billion Contract If There Were No Salary Cap? | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We discuss the NBA bubble food photos that leaked on social media and the most recent roster additions for fringe playoff teams (2:11). Then, we open up the 'Mismatch' mailbag to answer your questi...

Is Anthony Davis’s Price Tag Worth It? | The Mismatch (Ep. 381) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Los Angeles Lakers may need to overpay to acquire Anthony Davis before the trade deadline (3:57). Plus: Which trade candidates could propel fringe playoff teams into contention? (37:10) Hosts: ...

The Warriors’ Win, Durant vs. LeBron, and Playoffs Recap (Ep. 125) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Kevin O'Connor discuss the Cavaliers falling short of beating the Warriors (1:20), Kevin Durant’s and LeBron James’s legacies (11:21), what superteams mean for NBA fan...

Vince Carter and Antawn Jamison on Their Many Years in the League, Black Fatherhood, and Player Activism | The Bakari Sellers Podcast from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Bakari is joined by former NBA players Vince Carter and Antawn Jamison to talk about their respective NBA careers (8:15), Black fatherhood (22:29), Vince’s recent retirement (35:06), and player act...

Trade Deadline Week Is Here and the Big Hitters Get Busy | Heat Check (Ep. 380) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Lakers, Celtics, Knicks, and Sixers are making noise as the trade deadline approaches (3:39), while the New Orleans Pelicans are still looking to move Anthony Davis (35:14). Host: John Gonzale...

'High Upside' — International Prospects (Ep. 124) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor and Jonathan Tjarks look at the international prospects in their top 60 for the NBA draft. They discuss 'Filthy' Frank Ntilikina (2:02), Jonah Bolden (9:15), and Anzejs ...

Bradley Beal Is Out for the Season. So, Remind Us Why the Wizards Are Going to Orlando? | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We discuss the breaking news that Brad Beal will sit out the rest of the season to manage a shoulder injury he’s been dealing with this season. What does that mean for the Wizards’ chances of makin...

Kristaps Porzingis Is Out in New York. Does This Mean Two (or Three?) Superstars Might Be In? | The Corner 3 (Ep. 379) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We break down the Kristaps Porzingis–to-Dallas trade from every angle: the Mavericks, the Knicks, Porzingis himself, Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, the Pelicans, the Lakers, the Raptors, and more. NB...

Warriors on the Brink of History (Ep. 123) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon is joined by The Vertical's Chris Mannix to discuss who should be the Finals MVP, who’s to blame for Wednesday night’s loss, LeBron’s future, who the Celtics should select...

How Will the Last Eight Games Affect Playoff Seeding? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We discuss how some of the lower seeds might get shuffled in the final eight games of the regular season before locking in the playoff matchups (10:30). Then, with no show scheduled for Friday, we ...

Assessing the Best Anthony Davis Trade Packages | Group Chat (Ep. 378) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We pore over the myriad teams that could offer a reasonable package for Anthony Davis: chief among them the Lakers and Celtics, but maybe equally as intriguing, the dark horse Clippers and Raptors....

'High Upside'—Long-Shot Prospects and Second-Round Steals (Ep. 122) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor and Jonathan Tjarks discuss Adam Silver's updated stance on one-and-done prospects (5:00), Kobi Simmons's surprisingly low stock (12:00), Amile Jefferson's NBA potential...

J.R. Smith Might Be Joining the Lakers to Replace Avery Bradley. Which Other Players Sitting Out Will Have the Biggest Impact? | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

After the first wave of news about which NBA players are opting out of the Orlando bubble plan for the season’s restart, we discuss whether our view of the competitive landscape of the league has c...

Where Will Anthony Davis End Up? | The Mismatch (Ep. 377) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Los Angeles Lakers are the clear front-runners to trade for Anthony Davis, but 28 other teams could look to acquire him (1:32). With the trade deadline fast approaching, teams bifurcate into bu...

The Warriors Came to Play (Ep. 121) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon is joined by NBA writer Zach Harper to discuss LeBron's fatigue (5:00), the Cavs' chances to right the ship in Cleveland (13:00), the reason to blame Bill Russell for the ...

The Five Players We’re Most Intrigued by Post-Quarantine | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

A lot can change in an unprecedented, three-month interruption of the NBA season. After not seeing much of anything from players on social media since the NBA shut down, Chris and Kevin each list t...

Anthony Davis Wants Out | Heat Check (Ep. 376) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Adrian Wojnarowski dropped a not-so-surprising Woj bomb on Monday morning, reporting that Anthony Davis will not sign a contract extension in New Orleans and has requested a trade. Will this shake ...

Ten Pressing NBA Finals Questions (Ep. 120) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon is joined by Washington Post national NBA writer Tim Bontemps to answer the 10 most important questions entering the 2017 NBA Finals.

The NBA’s Orlando Health Guidelines, the 2009 Memphis Draft, and More Mailbag | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We run through some of the details of the NBA’s 100-page booklet of health guidelines for when the league returns in Orlando (2:00), before revisiting the Memphis Grizzlies' choice to taken Hasheem...

The Rolling Raptors and All-Star Reserves, Plus: A Special Interview With Nikola Jokic | The Corner 3 (Ep. 375) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The hype around the Toronto Raptors has died down despite their continued excellence (0:40). With the All-Star starters announced, which players will make the team as reserves? (14:05) Plus: Kevin ...

NBA Finals Features (Ep. 119) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Ryan brings on a roundtable of Ringer writers to discuss the stories they've been working on leading up to the NBA Finals. First, Jonathan Tjarks gives his thoughts on Kevin Dura...

A Growing Contingent of NBA Players Is Wondering If the League Should Return at All | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

A group of players reportedly led by Kyrie Irving held a phone call to discuss whether returning to play—amid the COVID-19 pandemic and continued social unrest surrounding police brutality—is the b...

Where Do the Pacers Turn Without Victor Oladipo? | Group Chat (Ep. 374) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We digest the news that Victor Oladipo is out for the rest of the season by wondering whether the Pacers should push on for the playoffs or reset until he gets back (2:30). Then, we debate who has ...

NBA Finals Primer With Kevin O'Connor (Ep. 118) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Kevin O'Connor discuss the major story lines heading into the 2017 NBA Finals. Topics include: Steve Kerr's absence on the bench (3:00), the importance of isolation sc...

How Will the NBA Handle Growing Concern Over Its ‘Campus’ Environment? | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

As the restart of the NBA season gets closer and closer, there are rumblings among some players about how comfortable they will be about staying in the campus environment of Disney World without th...

Uh-oh, the Warriors Look Invincible Again | The Mismatch (Ep. 373) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The juggernaut Golden State Warriors look unstoppable as of late (4:10) and Carmelo Anthony looks to return to the court (15:00). Plus: Which players could benefit from a change of scenery at the t...

'High Upside' — 3-and-D Specialists (Ep. 117) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor and Jonathan Tjarks discuss the best wing players in the 2017 NBA draft. Topics include: Justin Jackson's upside (8:00), Wesley Iwundu's sleeper status (14:00), the impo...

What Needs to Happen Before the NBA Officially Returns? | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Now that we have a date for when the NBA will be playing games again, the focus has narrowed to what happens in the interim. We discuss the NBA’s evolving thought process on COVID-19 testing, how m...

The NBA All-Drama All-Stars and the Western Conference Shuffle | Heat Check (Ep. 372) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

What would the All-Star teams look like if they were selected on the merits of creating drama (3:11)? Plus: Lonzo’s injury, Boogie back, the PG-Russ dynamic, and the Dennis Smith Jr. saga's resolut...

Warriors-Cavaliers Collision Course and the NBA's Best Podcast (Ep. 116) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Chris Ryan discuss LeBron's Game 3 illness (6:00) and his affinity for deferring (10:00), the Cavaliers' struggling defense (18:00), the best players on the Cavaliers ...

The NBA’s Return Plan Was Approved by the Board of Governors. Now What? | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

After Thursday’s board of governors call with Adam Silver, the NBA has almost unanimously approved the league’s plan to return with eight regular-season games followed by a play-in tournament for t...

Dennis Smith Jr.‘s Unraveling Drama in Dallas, Plus All-Star Ballots | The Corner 3 (Ep. 371) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Dennis Smith Jr. is the latest high draft pick to become uncomfortable with the ball being taken out of his hands. What does that mean for him and Luka Doncic (18:00)? Then we run down our All-Star...

Warriors Sweep, Manu's Next Move, and the Celtics' Future (Ep. 115) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Kevin O'Connor discuss the Warriors' historic run to the Finals (5:00), Manu Ginobili's potential retirement (12:00), the Celtics' improbable comeback (24:30), Kevin L...

As NBA Players Protest Police Brutality Around the Country, the League Is Locking in Its Return Plan | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We discuss the sweeping condemnation of police brutality from NBA players and the NBA community—in line with nationwide protests over the last week—and what it means to even think or talk about the...

Playing Trade-Deadline Doctor and Going Deep on the Pelicans | Group Chat (Ep. 370) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We diagnose the problems that the Celtics, the Lakers, and the Grizzlies will have to address at the upcoming NBA trade deadline (1:10). Then, we call up Scott Kushner, the 'New Orleans Advocate' P...

'High Upside'—Molding the Modern Guard (Ep. 114) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor and Jonathan Tjarks discuss the lottery-level guards in the 2017 NBA draft. Topics include: Markelle Fultz's defense (5:00), Frank Ntilikina's NBA frame (11:00), Dennis ...

Gregg Popovich on America in 2020, the Leadership Void, and What Needs to Change | Flying Coach With Steve Kerr and Pete Carroll from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Steve and Pete are joined by San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich to have a conversation about the state of our nation, how we got here as a country, our absence of leadership, and how we ca...

The Celtics Start to Show Their Cracks. Plus: The Trade Deadline Rumor Mill | The Mismatch (Ep. 369) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The fraying Boston Celtics slide even further (0:44), James Harden continues his historic scoring streak amid the Houston Rockets’ injury plague (23:04), and trade rumors pile up as the deadline ap...

The Warriors' Big Spread, LaVar Ball's Premonition, and Harry Giles (Ep. 113) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon is joined by CBS Sports columnist Gary Parrish to discuss Jaylen Brown's surprising play in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals (5:00), Vegas's big spreads for the War...

Which Return Method Do NBA Front Offices Prefer? Plus: Most Overrated/Underrated NBA Stats | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We discuss Kevin’s report that the NBA GMs voted overwhelmingly against the group stage format floated by the league earlier this week (1:56). Then, we open the mailbag back up to answer your quest...

A Year Later: Did the Clippers Win the Blake Griffin Trade? | Heat Check (Ep. 368) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Los Angeles Clippers host Blake Griffin for the first time since the controversial trade (3:27), the Boston Celtics falter despite their talent (15:26), the New York Knicks accelerate their tan...

'High Upside' — Lottery Reaction (Ep. 112) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor and Jonathan Tjarks give their initial reaction to the NBA draft lottery and discuss Boston's big night (5:00), potential Celtics chemistry issues (10:00), Josh Jackson'...

Will the NBA Go to a Group Stage Format for Its Playoffs? | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

As the NBA nears its return, we explore the benefits and drawbacks of adopting a World Cup–style group stage for the 2020 playoffs. Could this draw new fans? Could it be a precursor to future midse...

Predicting the NBA Headlines for the Coming Weeks | The Corner 3 (Ep. 367) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We take a stab at clairvoyance by each trying to predict two headlines that will be written over the coming weeks (1:05). Then, we throw an outlet pass to the weekend’s best games (34:00). Hosts: ...

Kawhi's Injury, Wall's Big Shot, and Zaza's Dirtiness (Ep. 111) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Kevin O'Connor discuss John Wall's game winner (5:00), the Wizards' consistency against the Celtics (10:00), the Spurs' chances without Kawhi Leonard (20:00), the Warr...

The Passing of Jerry Sloan, the NBA’s COVID Testing Plan, and Mailbag Questions | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Longtime Utah Jazz coach and NBA Hall of Famer Jerry Sloan died Tuesday morning. We remember his playing and coaching career and the legacy he leaves behind in the modern NBA (1:20). Then, we get i...

Half-Season Superlatives and Kings Nation | Group Chat (Ep. 366) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We award 2018-19 half-season awards for: Best Player, Most Surprising Team, Most Disappointing Team, Most Confusing Team, and League Pass Poison Teams (0:50). Then, Kings superfan Riley McAtee join...

Houston's Problem, Spurs-Warriors, and John Wall's Cussing With Shea Serrano (Ep. 110) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Shea Serrano discuss James Harden's no-show against the Spurs (5:00), the Spurs winning without Kawhi (15:30), the top moments in Spurs history (23:00), John Wall's cu...

The NBA Return Forecast, Bojan Bogdanovic’s Surgery, and the Knicks’ Future. Plus: ‘The Last Dance’ Finale. | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We run through the latest news around the NBA, including Tillman Fertitta’s comments to Donald Trump about the return of the NBA, Jazz wing Bojan Bogdanovic’s wrist surgery, and the Knicks’ new ass...

How Should Teams Build Around Their Young Stars Before It’s Too Late? | The Mismatch (Ep. 365) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Tom Thibodeau is out in Minnesota. So what does that mean for franchise cornerstone Karl-Anthony Towns (1:00)? Then we dive deep into how the Spurs have reinvented themselves by turning the clock f...

D.C.'s White Flag Wednesday With Bill Simmons and Joe House (Ep. 109) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons brings on Joe House to discuss D.C.'s devastating sports night (5:00), the district's Friday-night crowd (11:00), the Wizards' end-of-game situations (16:00), Jame...

Final Takeaways From the 'Last Dance' Finale from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

After the final two episodes of 'The Last Dance' premiered Sunday night, Chris Ryan and Sean Fennessey break down the key takeaways and share their overall thoughts on the popular sports documentar...

Goodbye Thibs and Hello Hoiberg (?!) | Heat Check (Ep. 364) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Minnesota firing Tom Thibodeau after a win, who could replace him, Kawhi Leonard’s return to San Antonio, and the drama-filled Sixers. Host: John Gonzalez Guests: Shea Serrano and Jonathan Tjarks

The Raptors Reset and More Playoffs With Kevin O'Connor (Ep. 108) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Kevin O'Connor discuss Kyle Lowry's likely exit from Toronto (5:00), LeBron's demoralizing dominance (15:00), reasons to blow up teams with stars (25:00), Paul George'...

NBA Salary Reductions, Completing the Regular Season, Momentum Toward a Return. Plus: More Mailbag Questions. | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

News about the NBA’s potential return continues to trickle out. This week, we discuss whether NBA players would feel compelled to complete the regular season if it meant they'd make their full sala...

James Harden Is a Cheat Code | The Corner 3 (Ep. 363) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

James Harden daggered the Golden State Warriors Thursday night in overtime (1:30), and Kawhi Leonard was showered with boos while the Raptors got throttled by the Spurs (29:12). Plus, NBA prospect ...

'High Upside' — Top Forward Prospects (Ep. 107) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor and Jonathan Tjarks discuss the changing landscape of big men in the NBA (4:00), Jonathan Isaac's ability to play center (8:00), Jayson Tatum's NBA comparison (14:00), J...

Notes From the NBPA’s Call With Adam Silver. Plus: ‘The Last Dance’ Episodes 7-8. | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We go through the news leaking out of the conference call between the National Basketball Players Association and commissioner Adam Silver (1:17). Kevin shares his insights and reporting into the r...

Debating Ben Simmons and Russell Westbrook for All of Eternity | Group Chat (Ep. 362) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Thunder beat the Lakers (sans LeBron) Wednesday night, but are we right to be concerned about Russell Westbrook’s continued shooting woes (1:30)? Plus, Chris spills his deepest, darkest concern...

One-Dimensional DeRozan, Harden's Charges, and NBA E-sports With Jason Concepcion (Ep. 106) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Jason Concepcion discuss watching NBA games in L.A. (5:00), DeMar DeRozan's one-dimensional offense (14:00), Rockets-Spurs (24:00), James Harden's charging (29:00), ’9...

The Challenges of Making 'The Last Dance,' The Stories Players Tell, and Quarantine Comforts With Jason Hehir | The JJ Redick Podcast from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

JJ and Tommy sit down with filmmaker Jason Hehir to talk about his Michael Jordan/Bulls docuseries 'The Last Dance' and explore what went into making the immensely popular project. They break down ...

Elite, but Overlooked: The Pacers and the Nuggets | The Mismatch (Ep. 361) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Indiana Pacers remain consistently among the Eastern Conference elite (2:59), the Denver Nuggets continue their dominant run atop the West (9:33), and James Harden’s propensity for drawing foul...

Emergency Celtics Pod With Bill Simmons (Ep. 105) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons calls his dad to talk about the Celtics' epic overtime victory over the Wizards on Tuesday night (02:00), John Wall's fatigue (08:00), if Avery Bradley is injured ...

Internal Debates About the NBA’s Return. Plus: Pick a “Blow It Up!” Team. | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We discuss Kevin’s article about the debates going on within the league office about the best plan to bring basketball back this summer (1:42). Then, we open the mailbag back up to answer your ques...

New Year's Resolutions for All 30 Teams | The Corner 3 (Ep. 360) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We ring in the new year by giving 2019 resolutions for every team in the league — from the lowly Knicks and Hawks to the high and mighty Warriors. Hosts: Kevin O’Connor, Jonathan Tjarks, Danny Chau

The Cavs' Dominance, Rockets' Liftoff, and Warriors' Huge Spread (Ep. 104) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Kevin O'Connor discuss the Raptors' reliance on isolation against the Cavs (5:00), James Harden's masterful pick-and-roll play (10:00), LaMarcus Aldridge's dismal show...

Buying Into Analytics and The Advantage of the Multisport Athlete With Dave Roberts from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Steve and Pete are joined by manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Dave Roberts, to discuss how they look at and assess multisport athletes, and how a player's expertise at one sport can translate to...

The Lakers Refuse to Let LeBron’s Injury Scare Spoil Their Christmas | The Mismatch (Ep. 359) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Los Angeles Lakers handily defeat the Golden State Warriors despite LeBron James's groin injury (3:25), James Harden continues getting back to MVP form as his Houston Rockets beat the Oklahoma ...

Wizards' Magic, Iso Joe, and Kerr's Absence (Ep. 103) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon is joined by Washington Post NBA writer Tim Bontemps to discuss Wizards-Hawks (4:00), the Bucks' point totals (10:00), the Bulls without Rondo (15:00), the Spurs' struggle...

‘The Last Dance’ and the Athlete As a Role Model | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We run through some league news, including the discussions about whether Kevin Durant would be ready to come back by the time the NBA is ready to ramp up again (1:41). Then we go deeper into episod...

NBA Guilty Pleasures | Heat Check (Ep. 358) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

As the NBA regular season nears its midpoint, we share our favorite guilty pleasures of this year thus far. Host: John Gonzalez Guest: Chris Ryan

Sweeps, Hacks, and Kawhi's Iso Game (Ep. 102) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Kevin O'Connor discuss sweeps by the Warriors and Cavs (5:00), Raptors-Bucks (11:00), the Wizards' lacking bench (18:00), Taurean Prince's improvement (22:00), Hack-a-...

Instant Reactions to ‘The Last Dance Episodes 5-6 | The Ringer NBA Show from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Justin Verrier and Rob Mahoney come to you immediately after the conclusion of the fifth and sixth episodes of ‘The Last Dance.’ On this week’s pod: an examination of Michael Jordan’s trip to Atlan...

Which Rebuilding NBA Franchise Would You Want Most? | The Corner 3 (Ep. 357) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We try to temper our hype after Luka Doncic’s 32-point explosion in a loss to the Clippers, review Chris Paul’s nagging hamstring and the Rockets’ thin roster, and discuss the weird Buddy Hield age...

Rondo's Injury, the Bucks' Blowout, and Westbrook With Chris Mannix and Rodger Sherman (Ep. 101) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon is joined by Chris Mannix of The Vertical to discuss Rajon Rondo's injury (01:00), an epic comeback by LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavs (11:00), the Raptors' loss in Mi...

The NBA’s Orlando Bubble. Plus: ‘The Last Dance’ Questions, Allen Iverson in 2020, and Chris Paul to the Bright-Future Suns? | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

With news swirling about the NBA's continued exploration of potential return options, we discuss the complexities of restarting basketball in a bubble in Las Vegas or Orlando (1:23). Then, we open ...

’Tis the (NBA Trade) Season | The Mismatch (Ep. 356) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Trade season dawns on the NBA as free-agency restrictions get lifted (0:54), the James Harden–led Houston Rockets surge up the standings (21:07), and the Oklahoma City Thunder’s stellar defense kee...

Celtics Struggle, Westbrook Bricks, and More Playoffs (Ep. 100) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Kevin O'Connor discuss the Celtics' struggles (5:00), Al Horford's disappearing act (11:00), Russell Westbrook's fourth-quarter collapse (18:55), John Wall's entertain...

NBA Facilities Opening in May. Plus: ‘The Last Dance’ Episodes 3-4 | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We react to the news that the NBA is considering opening its practice facilities up to players starting as soon as May (1:40), before discussing Marc Eversley’s hiring as the new Bulls general mana...

The Trevor Ariza Trade That Wasn’t, Then Was | Heat Check (Ep. 355) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

A three-team trade centered on the Washington Wizards acquiring Trevor Ariza falls through in dramatic circumstance and is reincarnated in altered form (4:21): The Phoenix Suns receive Kelly Oubre ...

Take That for Data! With Kevin O'Connor (Ep. 99) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Kevin O'Connor discuss David Fizdale's postgame rant (3:00), Kawhi's historic efficiency (14:00), Kevin Love's lack of shots (18:00), Raptors déjà vu (23:00), the Buck...

Instant Reactions to ‘The Last Dance Episodes 3-4 | The Ringer NBA Show from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Justin Verrier and Rob Mahoney gather to discuss the second week of ESPN’s Michael Jordan documentary, ‘The Last Dance.’ This week, we got a peek into the fascinating life of Dennis Rodman. Plus, w...

Exploring the Trade Candidates That Could Shuffle the League | The Corner 3 (Ep. 354) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Kings are our kings and we hope the trade market might heat up soon for guys like Kevin Love and Tim Hardaway Jr.. Plus, we throw an outlet pass to the games we’re looking forward to this weeke...

The Playoffs Are Here! With Bill Simmons (Ep. 98) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon is joined by Bill Simmons to discuss the most polarizing MVP race ever (5:00), James Harden's MVP case (10:00), CP3's attrition (15:00), Kyrie Irving and LeBron's disappoi...

Brooklyn’s Head Coaching Search, Chris Paul’s Hesitance to Return Too Fast, and More Mailbag Questions | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We discuss the short list (read: Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving’s list) for Kenny Atkinson’s replacement in Brooklyn (2:13). Then, we take a look at NBPA president Chris Paul’s reluctance to bring t...

Did the Raptors' Big Win Over the Warriors Make Them the Best Team in the League Right Now? | Group Chat (Ep. 353) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We try to sift through the noise of the Raptors’ blowout win against the Warriors (1:45) and diagnose the state of the Pelicans after Anthony Davis’s big night against the Thunder (13:33). Then, we...

Kristen Ledlow (Ep. 97) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon is joined by NBA TV's Kristen Ledlow to discuss the end of the NBA regular season (5:00), the Cavs' playoff switch (11:00), Raptors-Bucks (16:00), Ahmad Rashad giving his ...

Virtual Draft Strategies, Past Draft Stories, and Game-Changing Coaches | Flying Coach With Steve Kerr and Pete Carroll from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr and Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll discuss all things draft, including how they are preparing for a virtual draft, how they scout players, and ...

LeBron Thought About the Knicks, but It Was All a (Pipe) Dream | The Mismatch (Ep. 352) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

LeBron James comments on having considered the New York Knicks as a free-agent destination (1:17), the Sacramento Kings and Dallas Mavericks continue to overperform behind their young stars (14:50)...

Who Is the Real MVP? With Kevin O'Connor (Ep. 96) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Kevin O'Connor discuss the end of the NBA regular season, the Heat's playoff push (6:00), the Bulls' best lineup (11:00), the best deal of the season (16:00), the unde...

‘The Last Dance,’ Re-living the Demise of the ’90s Bulls, and the NBA’s Quarantine Bubble With Bill Simmons | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Kevin and Chris are joined by Bill Simmons to react to Draymond Green’s Warriors-Bulls comparisons (1:48), discuss episodes 1-2 of ‘The Last Dance,’ recount some of the lesser-known stories of the ...

The Bulls' Drama Is Boiling Over Under Boylen | Heat Check (Ep. 351) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Turmoil continues for the Chicago Bulls under Jim Boylen (7:16), the three Texas teams deviate from expectations (14:12), growing pains afflict the Philadelphia 76ers’ Jimmy Butler experiment (32:1...

Probable Playoff Matchups With Taco Trey Kerby (Ep. 95) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon is joined by Trey Kerby of NBA TV's 'The Starters' to discuss LeBron's Eastern Conference dominance (6:00), the most dangerous late seeds in the East (13:00), the Warriors...

Instant Reactions to ‘The Last Dance’ Episodes 1-2 | The Ringer NBA Show from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Chris Ryan and Sean Fennessey convene for a special recap of ESPN's new Michael Jordan documentary, 'The Last Dance.' Episodes 1-2 bring us back to the beginning, where Michael Jordan was a fresh y...

Lessons From the 2016 NBA Draft | The Corner 3 (Ep. 350) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We review some of the Houston Rockets’ biggest problems and ask whether they could be remedied with a Kevin Love trade (1:30). Then we take a look back at the lessons we learned from the 2016 draft...

Records Worth Breaking With Shea Serrano (Ep. 94) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Shea Serrano discuss Russell Westbrook's ridiculousness (5:00), Cavs-Celtics (13:00), Gordon Hayward's improvement (20:00), and the best NBA records yet to be broken (...

Jalen Green Forgoes College for the G League. Plus: The Ringer NBA Draft Guide Launches | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Top prospect Jalen Green is the next player to join the G League rather than go to college. Is he the next wave in a trend or an outlier (3:20)? Plus: The Ringer NBA Draft Guide has launched. Which...

Debating the NBA’s Top 25 Players Through 25 Games | Group Chat (Ep. 349) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We review the Lakers vs. Spurs and Thunder vs. Nets games from Tuesday night (1:30) before coming clean on our ballots for The Ringer’s Top 25 Players in the NBA Through 25 Games (31:24). Hosts: Ch...

The Magic Whiteboard With Kevin O’Connor (Ep. 93) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor discuss the NCAA championship (5:00), Rob Hennigan’s leaked whiteboard (13:00), JaMychal Green’s market value (24:00), the Boogie–Anthony Davis experim...

What Can the NBA Learn From Other Leagues Around the World About Returning in 2020? | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We discuss the successes and failures of the NBA’s H-O-R-S-E broadcast (2:30), before talking about Taiwan bringing basketball back with mannequins and cardboard cutouts in the stands as fans (12:2...

The Nuggets Are Here to Stay | The Mismatch (Ep. 348) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Denver Nuggets have proved themselves to be elite (1:07), the Oklahoma City Thunder’s stellar defense is leading their surge (9:51), the retooled Minnesota Timberwolves start to climb up (22:06...

The Blazers' Bosnian Beast With John Gonzalez (Ep. 92) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and John Gonzalez discuss the curious case of the Cleveland Cavs (02:00), the ascent of Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets (06:30), Jusuf Nurkic flourishing with the Trai...

Flying Coach With Steve Kerr & Pete Carroll: Two Champions on Mentors, Philosophies, and Why They Coach (Premiere Episode!) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr and Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll sit down for the premiere episode of their new podcast ‘Flying Coach With Steve Kerr & Pete Carroll,’ in whi...

30 Thoughts for 30 Teams | Heat Check (Ep. 347) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

More than a quarter of the way through the regular season, what can we say about every team in the NBA? Host: John Gonzalez Guests: Jason Concepcion, Kevin O’Connor, Haley O’Shaughnessy

The Playoff Picture in the West and End-of-Season Awards (Ep. 91) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Vernon talks to Zach Harper about the end of the NBA regular season and the nearly finalized playoff picture in the West (1:10). They also discuss the MVP race heating up between...

Four Draft Prospects You Should Start Looking Up Now | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We chat about whether the proposed NBA H-O-R-S-E tournament will be entertaining or a bust (1:31), before reviewing the news that the Bulls will hire Arturas Karnisovas as their new executive vice ...

The Spurs Are Pivoting to Boring Basketball | The Corner 3 (Ep. 346) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Gregg Popovich’s disdain for 3-point shots (1:36), Andrew Wiggins’s future in the league (15:52), and R.J. Barrett’s less-than-stellar start at Duke (24:14). Plus, is Luka Doncic “tall James Harden...

Cavs Can't Play D, the Raptors' Next Move, and Ball vs. Fox With Kevin O'Connor (Ep. 90) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Kevin O'Connor discuss the Cavs' putrid defensive effort against the Spurs (5:00), historically bad defenses to win titles (12:00), the Celtics taking over the 1-seed ...

Creative Ideas to Bring Basketball Back and Even More Mailbag Questions | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The guys discuss the emerging ideas about how to bring back the NBA, including a H-O-R-S-E competition and rapid testing to resume the season (0:41), before answering more mailbag questions on: pot...

What Were We Wrong About Before the Season? | Group Chat (Ep. 345) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Kyle Korver to the Jazz (0:40), Luka Doncic owns our hearts (7:30), the Wolves are looking up without Jimmy Butler (17:30), and the Clippers might be a playoff lock (22:08). Plus, we admit the take...

The Young Suns, Barea the Bully, and NBA Prospects in the NCAA Tournament (Ep. 89) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Jonathan Tjarks discuss the young Suns (01:00), J.J. Barea vs. Blake Griffin (05:30), the Knicks and the triangle offense (10:45), Josh Jackson's draft value (14:00), ...

Our Biggest Draft Hits and Misses: Jayson Tatum, Mike Conley Jr., Draymond Green, and More | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

With basketball still shelved, we revisit our biggest hits and misses in previous draft coverage: Dragan Bender, Jaylen Brown, Mario Hezonja, and more. Plus, are you in or out on Julius Randle? H...

Can the Rockets and Jazz Turn It Around? | The Mismatch (Ep. 344) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Houston Rockets’ slow start might be the new normal (0:50), the Orlando Magic are ... good? (19:40), and the young New York Knicks continue to develop (36:01). Plus, the quarter-season awards (...

Most Underrated Player in the NBA With Chris Mannix (Ep. 88) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon is joined by The Vertical's Chris Mannix to discuss Avery Bradley's expanded game (5:00), Bradley Beal's scoring (12:00), contenders in the Eastern Conference (15:00), Isa...

Optimism for Completing the Season, the Jordan Documentary, Mailbag, and More | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We review comments by Mark Cuban and Adam Silver that make it seem like the NBA is still focused on finishing the 2019-20 season (3:52), before discussing the news that ESPN has decided to move up ...

The Clippers Are Atop the Wacky West (for Now) | Heat Check (Ep. 343) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Somehow, the Los Angeles Clippers have climbed to the best record in the crowded Western Conference (4:02), and the Philadelphia 76ers’ Jimmy Butler experiment starts to bear fruit (21:32). Host: ...

Ep. 87: Mini-Melee in OKC, Resting Players, and the 2016 NBA Draft Class With Kevin O'Connor from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Kevin O'Connor discuss the spat between the Warriors and Thunder in OKC (5:00), the injury-report model in the NBA (17:00), the impact of resting stars like LeBron (2...

The Four Most Undercovered Stories or Players from the 2019-20 Season | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We revisit some of the stories and players that we dropped the ball on covering this year—including Goran Dragic (the unsung anchor of the Miami Heat), Victor Oladipo’s return to form, Alex Caruso,...

Opening Up the Thanksgiving Mailbag | The Corner 3 (Ep. 342) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We open up the mailbag by answering questions on the Wizards’ dysfunction, the first-, second-, and third-year players we’re most excited about, pre-agency, the Lakers, and much more. Hosts: Kevin ...

Ep. 86: B.J. Armstrong from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon is joined by former NBA champion B.J. Armstrong to discuss MJ's popularity (5:00), targeting players like Draymond Green (14:00), the lack of development in the D-League (...

Possible NBA Return Scenarios, Draft Prospects Declaring, and More Mailbag Questions | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We look to other countries’ professional basketball leagues and wonder whether the NBA can develop a model to return that works in the United States (0:42) before discussing a bevy of college playe...

Will Anyone Trade for John Wall? | The Mismatch (Ep. 341) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

John Wall’s gargantuan contract stifles his trade value (2:27), the Sacramento Kings continue to outperform expectations in the crowded Western Conference (13:56), and the teams on a streak, winnin...

Ep. 85: Vinsanity, Injuries in the West, and Prospects to Watch in the NCAA Tournament from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Kevin O'Connor discuss Vince Carter's performance Monday night (01:00), Western Conference teams losing players (03:00), Rajon Rondo and the rebuilding Bulls (23:00), ...

Reopening the Mismatch Mailbag: Who Should Blow It Up, NBA Sliding Doors, and More | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We sifted through all your questions and picked our favorites: What were our most memorable arguments? Which teams are primed to blow it up next season? What music are we listening to? And much mor...

The Wizards (Finally) Want to Blow It Up | Heat Check (Ep. 340) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The devastatingly underachieving Washington Wizards look to sell, sell, sell (3:17) and the glut of talent in the Western Conference coagulates even further (31:13). Host: John Gonzalez Guests: Jo...

Ep. 84: The Wizards of Washington With Katie Baker from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Katie Baker discuss the Wizards' rise in the East (5:00), Scott Brooks's "forced sabbatical" (11:00), John Wall and Bradley Beal's relationship (17:00), Wall's candidn...

Life Without the NBA. Plus: Tom Brady Leaves the Patriots. | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Kevin reacts to the news that his favorite football player of all time, Tom Brady, is leaving the New England Patriots (0:00). Then, we discuss the NBA’s myriad of options for proceeding with the s...

Sophomore Surge or Sophomore Slump? | The Corner 3 (Ep. 339) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Jimmy Butler’s tight fit in Philadelphia (1:07), a sophomore focus in this week’s The Kids Are Alright (23:26), and a look ahead at the weekend’s best games (37:36). Hosts: Kevin O'Connor, Danny Ch...

Ep. 83: Durant's Timeline, the Playoff Picture, and Dirk's Milestone With Sam Amick from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon is joined by USA Today's Sam Amick to discuss Kevin Durant's injury (01:00), the possible playoff matchups (08:30), MVP chants for Isaiah Thomas at Golden State (16:00), t...

The NBA Season Is Suspended | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

In light of the news that the Utah Jazz’s Rudy Gobert has tested positive for COVID-19, the NBA announced that the 2019-20 season has been suspended. Hosts: Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor

Relationship Counseling: Warriors Edition | Group Chat (Ep. 338) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Jimmy Butler’s debut for the Sixers didn’t go quite as smoothly as it could’ve—what does that mean for Ben Simmons (2:00)? Plus, Kevin Clark on the Magic (11:38), and a whole lot of Draymond Green ...

Ep. 82: NBA Legends Podcast With Micah Peters from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Micah Peters sits down with Gary Payton, Horace Grant, and Theo Ratliff to discuss the generation gap in basketball today, the Westbrook vs. Harden MVP debate, and who is the best Batm...

The Rebuilding State of the NBA | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Lakers lose a shocker to the Nets, only their second defeat in 13 games (1:04). We then discuss what rebuilding looks like for the league and its teams these days (10:12). Plus: another segment...

The Rockets Don’t Stay Melo | The Mismatch (Ep. 337) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Jimmy Butler trade reshapes both conferences (0:48), the Houston Rockets look to move on from their Carmelo Anthony experiment (10:06), the overachieving Los Angeles Clippers remain impressive ...

Ep. 81: Bogut's Injury and Kawhi's MVP Moment With Kevin O'Connor from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Kevin O'Connor discuss Andrew Bogut's bizarre injury (5:00), Dwight Howard vs. Dennis Schroder (10:00), Kawhi's MVP moment (22:00), and Gordon Hayward's superstar seas...

Is LeBron James Catching Up in the MVP Race? Plus: How the Coronavirus Might Affect the Rest of the Season | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Kevin wonders whether LeBron James should be getting more serious consideration for the MVP award, which leads us to a knock-down, drag-out fight about whether or not Khris Middleton is a top-20 pl...

Jimmy Butler Is a Sixer | Heat Check (Ep. 336) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Minnesota Timberwolves finally trade Jimmy Butler to the Philadelphia 76ers. Host: John Gonzalez Guests: Chris Ryan and Jason Concepcion

Ep. 80: The NBA and Other Things With Shea Serrano from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Vernon and Shea Serrano discuss the Warriors' recent loss (1:00), wonder if the Spurs are actually good (3:15), and debate which Wilt Chamberlain myth is more likely to have happ...

Coronavirus Concerns, the Nets Fire Atkinson, and We All Drink the Ben Bartch Smoothie | Heat Check from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Instant Replay: In this special extended segment, the gang looks at the latest news from around the NBA, including what further precautions the league might take to respond to the coronavirus outbr...

Zion Has Broken Our Mold of What a Pro Prospect Can Be | The Corner 3 (Ep. 335) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Duke’s trio of outstanding freshman surpassed our lofty expectations (1:38), the NBA’s shooting guard renaissance has caught us off guard (14:03), and we’re not quite sure if Milwaukee has what it ...

Ep. 79: The Durant Ripple Effect With Tim Bontemps from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon is joined by The Washington Post's Tim Bontemps to discuss witnessing Kevin Durant's injury firsthand (5:00), the importance of the 1-seed in the West (8:00), Matt Barnes'...

Podcast Spotlight—Winging It With Vince Carter and Annie Finberg from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Here are some highlights from our podcast 'Winging It With Vince Carter.' On this special preview, Vince and Annie Finberg talk to an array of guests from around the NBA, including Lamar Odom, Mark...

The Five Tenets of a Legendary League Pass Team | Group Chat (Ep. 334) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Kyrie Irving is totally not mad online about Jamal Murray, and the Boston Celtics totally don’t have a problem with offensive distribution (1:20). Plus, could the Lakers be the best League Pass tea...

Ep. 78: Three-Quarter-Season Awards With Kevin O'Connor from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Kevin O'Connor discuss Andrew Bogut's final four team choices (6:00), Brandon Jennings on the Wizards (11:00), the three-quarter-season awards (15:00), Harden vs. West...

At Full Strength, Are the Clippers the Title Favorites? | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

After laying it on the Houston Rockets last night, the full-strength Clippers look about as good, if not better, than anyone in the NBA right now. Can they reach their final gear when the playoffs ...

The Deep, Dominant Raptors Keep Rolling Along | The Mismatch (Ep. 333) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

A big night for Jamal Murray continues the Denver Nuggets’ hot streak (3:07), the torrid Toronto Raptors add another loss to the Utah Jazz’s disappointing start (14:53), precarious teams face sink-...

Ep. 77: The Trade Deadline Extravaganza With Chris Ryan from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Chris Ryan discuss the quiet NBA trade deadline, the Raptors' acquisition of P.J. Tucker (8:00), the Lakers' activity level (14:00), Nerlens Noel's value (19:00), Lou ...

Lakers vs. Sixers Recap, Another Knicks Feud, Plus: Line ’Em Up—a Jon Tjarks Joint! | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Our very own Chris Ryan recaps what he saw last night at the Lakers-Sixers game (1:45). Spike Lee addresses his feud with the Knicks and the infamous James Dolan (19:15). Plus: Line ’Em Up—a Jonath...

The LeBron-Era Lakers’ Drama Intensifies | Heat Check (Ep. 332) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Los Angeles Lakers add another loss to their turbulent start to the regular season (4:07), and the league’s offensive explosion is transforming defensive schemes (27:34). Plus, examining the im...

Ep. 76: Buddy Hield, Jimmy Butler, and Trade Deadline Predictions With Kevin O'Connor from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Kevin O'Connor discuss Vivek Ranadivé's comments on Buddy Hield's star potential (8:00), what constitutes a bad trade (15:00), how DeMarcus Cousins fits with Anthony D...

Should Giannis Antetokounmpo’s MVP Already Be Locked Up? | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

In Kevin’s return to the show, we return to our old ways: arguing about James Harden’s gather dribble and Giannis’s claim to the MVP (10:30). Then, we discuss the Knicks' awkward handling of Spike ...

When Should We Panic About Houston? Plus, Duke Mania Is Here to Stay | The Corner 3 (Ep. 331) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Ringer staff writer Kevin O’Connor is joined by Jonathan Tjarks and Danny Chau to discuss the unfathomably bad Houston Rockets' start (2:27) and the bright futures of the Jazz and Nuggets (20:52). ...

Ep. 75: The DeMarcus Cousins Deal With Bill Simmons from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and HBO's Bill Simmons discuss the many ramifications of the DeMarcus Cousins trade to New Orleans. Topics include: Vlade Divac's cap knowledge (8:00), Buddy Hield's star ...

Things We Need to Stop Talking About | Heat Check from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Instant Replay: The Knicks make a hire, developments in the Giannis-Harden beef, and the Timberwolves get a resting policy violation (03:16). The Main Event: We play Heat Check Survivor and vote ti...

The Early Tiers of the NBA | Group Chat (Ep. 330) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Ryan is joined by Justin Verrier, Haley O’Shaughnessy, and Paolo Uggetti to establish eight unique tiers of the NBA and place all 30 teams within them. Klay on Klay: The Warrior...

Ep. 74: Dave Joerger from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon is joined by Sacramento Kings head coach Dave Joerger to discuss DeMarcus Cousins's desire to finish his career in Sacramento (5:00), Ty Lawson's comeback (11:00), unfound...

Giannis vs. Harden, a Budding Personal Rivalry | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We parse James Harden’s comments in response to Giannis Antetokounmpo passing him over during the All-Star draft (16:28), before breaking down which middle-seeded Western Conference playoff teams s...

Klay Thompson Catches Fire, the Bucks Remain Aflame, and the Cold-Start Teams | The Mismatch (Ep. 329) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor recount the record-breaking night from Klay Thompson (0:50), debate how the still-undefeated Bucks have achieved early-season success (30:53), and discu...

Ep. 73: All-Star Weekend With Tim Bontemps from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and The Washington Post's Tim Bontemps discuss Carmelo replacing Kevin Love in the All-Star Game (6:00), Bradley Beal's snub (14:00), Lou Williams's trade potential (18:00...

Zion vs. LeBron, Bucks vs. Raptors, and the Ben Simmons Injury | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks walked away with a win over Toronto, but who deserves the credit? Zion Williamson faced off against LeBron James in their first matchup and gave us a glimpse int...

Cavs Fire Ty Lue, Early-Season Drama, Bud's Bucks, and Overlooked Teams | Heat Check (Ep. 328) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s John Gonzalez is joined by Shea Serrano to discuss the Cleveland Cavaliers firing head coach Ty Lue (4:32) and all the drama going on in the NBA regular season through two weeks (11:30...

Ep. 72: The Serge Ibaka Trade, Kevin Love's Injury, and Nikola Jokic With Kevin O'Connor from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Kevin O'Connor discuss the top 10 story lines of the NBA, including the Serge Ibaka trade (5:00), Kevin Love's injury (10:00), Mike Budenholzer backing Paul Millsap (1...

LeBron vs. Zion: A Potential Playoff Matchup and Passing of the Torch | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We recap some news from around the league, including Vanessa Bryant’s moving tribute to Kobe Bryant, Bradley Beal’s big scoring night, and Ben Simmons’s back injury (2:15). Then, we preview what it...

The Three-Point Revolution Is Only Just Beginning | The Corner 3 (Ep. 327) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor is joined by Danny Chau and Jonathan Tjarks to discuss the exponential growth of 3-pointers in the NBA (1:24) and the promising offense but problematic defense of Trae Y...

Ep. 71: One-on-One With Jared Dudley from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon sat down on Tuesday, February 7, with Phoenix Suns forward Jared Dudley to discuss his early years in the league (02:00), adjusting his game to play with Steve Nash (04:50...

The Five Most Interesting Teams of the Stretch! Plus, Analyzing the Buyout Market and Playoff Projections | Heat Check from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Instant Replay: Dwyane Wade's jersey is retired, Mark Cuban has a very expensive meltdown, and we analyze the buyout market (03:08) The Main Event: The gang takes a look at Dan's ranking of the NBA...

Is the NBA Trying Too Hard to Entertain Us, Or Is the Scoring Boom What We Need? | Group Chat (Ep. 326) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Ryan is joined by Justin Verrier, Haley O’Shaughnessy, and Paolo Uggetti to discuss whether fans will get sick of the routinely high-scoring games from the first week of the seas...

Ep. 70: Cavs-Wizards, Boogie Cousins, and the Suns from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Kevin O'Connor discuss Monday night's epic showdown between Cleveland and Washington (01:25), DeMarcus Cousins's likely suspension (11:55), the Jahlil Okafor trade rum...

Trae Young Drops 50 on His First Night Back. Plus: Embiid Says He’s the Best Player in the World. | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We go over some highlights of the first night the NBA returned to action, including Trae Young's and Joel Embiid’s big games against the Miami Heat and Brooklyn Nets, respectively (1:27). Then we t...

The Lakers or the Thunder: Who’s in More Trouble? Plus Milwaukee’s Overhaul and Boston’s Slow Start | The Mismatch (Ep. 325) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor discuss the lack of shooting plaguing the Lakers and Thunder through Week 1 of the season (1:43). Then, they break down how Milwaukee and Denver have ov...

Ep. 69: NBA Twitter Beefs, Markelle Fultz, and Cavs Tryouts With Kevin O'Connor from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Kevin O'Connor discuss Markelle Fultz's potential to be the no. 1 overall pick (5:00), Lakers vs. Sixers tanking strategy (15:00), LeBron's open tryouts for the Cavs (...

The Cavs’ Coaching Change and Three Post-All-Star Story Lines | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

With a new head coach and a less-than-impressive season, what does the future look like for the Cleveland Cavaliers (3:30)? Plus, major story lines for the rest of the regular season: the impact of...

Lakers-Rockets #Spitgate, Plus Opening-Week Takeaways | Heat Check (Ep. 324) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s John Gonzalez is joined by Kevin O’Connor, Paolo Uggetti, and Jason Gallagher to recount the brawl between the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets during their Saturday-night matchu...

Ep. 68: Stu Jackson from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon is joined by former NBA executive vice president and current NBA TV analyst Stu Jackson to discuss his induction into the Pac-12 Men's Basketball Hall of Honor (5:00), Ric...

Four Questions for the Post-All-Star NBA World | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We run down a list of items, including rumors that John Beilein might be on his way out in Cleveland and news that the G League is unionizing (1:23). Then, with the All-Star Game in the rearview, w...

Digesting LeBron in a Lakers Uniform, Plus Early Evaluations for Ayton and Jokic | The Corner 3 (Ep. 323) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor is joined by Danny Chau and Jonathan Tjarks in the debut of their revamped Friday show: The Corner 3. They kick the season off with some immediate reactions to LeBron in...

Ep. 67: Sam Amick on the LeBron-Barkley Beef from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon is joined by USA Today's Sam Amick to discuss LeBron putting haters on blast (5:00), LeBron's business relationship with the Cavs (11:00), the Cavs' free-agent workout (15...

All-Star Recaps, a Dunk Contest Controversy, and Dame D.O.L.L.A. | Heat Check from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Instant Replay: John Beilein is reportedly not long for the Cavaliers, and we recap the All-Star events from Friday and find out who is the league's best one-on-one player (03:50). The Main Event: ...

Anthony Davis’s Hot Start, the Young Suns, and Early Sixers Reactions | Group Chat (Ep. 322) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Ryan is joined by Haley O’Shaughnessy and Paolo Uggetti to share some immediate reactions to the first two days of NBA games, including whether they like Anthony Davis to win the...

Ep. 66: All-Star Snubs, Rondo vs. Wade, and More Melo from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon is joined by Zach Harper of FanRag Sports to discuss the All-Star lineups (2:05), Rajon Rondo and the Bulls (13:33), and the Knicks' continuing Carmelo Anthony saga (22:13).

The Sixers Are ... Fine? Plus, More Knicks Drama, and Oh My God, Zion | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Despite concerns surrounding Joel Embiid’s incendiary comments earlier this week, the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Los Angeles Clippers; could this be the year the Embiid–Ben Simmons experiment ...

‘Sources Say’ Live From Ringer #NBAPalooza | Sources Say (Ep. 321) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Ryan and Juliet Litman are joined by Joe House for the 2018 return of 'Sources Say,' live on stage during The Ringer’s 2018 NBA Previewpalooza. They dive back into NBA gossip wit...

Ep. 65: Melo Trade Talk With Chris Mannix from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon is joined by The Vertical's Chris Mannix to discuss the trade rumors around Carmelo Anthony (5:00), possible destinations for Melo (10:00), the Cavs' lack of depth (15:00)...

Toronto Is on a Tear. Plus: Jimmy Butler Is Openly Recruiting Joel Embiid. | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We talk about how Toronto’s unbelievable win streak has kept teams like Boston, Miami, and Philly in their rearview mirror in the East (3:32), before breaking down the drama with the Sixers, Joel E...

20 Questions for the 2018-19 NBA Season | The Mismatch (Ep. 320) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor preview the imminent NBA season by answering and debating 20 questions about the league.

Ep. 64: A Bizarre Night in the NBA from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Kevin O'Connor discuss a weird evening in the NBA (0:55), Kevin's Isaiah Thomas interview (12:45), and whether or not acquiring Carmelo Anthony could put the Celtics a...

Trade Deadline Winners and Losers, KD Goes Off, and We Do Art | Heat Check from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Instant Replay: The Raptors just can’t seem to lose, Kevin Durant wants all the smoke, and James Dolan isn't selling the New York Knicks (02:05). The Main Event: The gang breaks down the winners an...

The Way-Too-Early Playoff Predictions, Plus: NBA Sad Face | Heat Check (Ep. 319) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s John Gonzalez is joined by Jason Concepcion to discuss the latest development in the Jimmy Butler drama (3:23) and preview the Eastern Conference playoff picture heading into the seaso...

Ep. 63: One-on-One With Isaiah Thomas from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor is joined by Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas to discuss about his stellar 2016 (00:24), improving his step-back jumper (02:47), his thoughts during the draft (10:35), and wh...

D’Angelo Russell for Andrew Wiggins, Andre Iguodala to Miami, and More From the NBA Trade Deadline | The Ringer NBA Show from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We react to the biggest news of today’s NBA trade deadline, including the Golden State Warriors swapping D’Angelo Russell for Andrew Wiggins, the Miami Heat acquiring Andre Iguodala, the Philadelph...

Jimmy Butler’s Practice Tirade and Lakers vs. Warriors Preseason Takeaways | Group Chat (Ep. 318) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Ryan and Justin Verrier are joined by Haley O’Shaughnessy and Paolo Uggetti to break down the explosive Timberwolves practice that owned NBA Twitter for a day (1:50). Then, they ...

Ep. 62: The Thunder-Warriors "Rivalry," Embiid's Antics, and Shea Serrano Loses a Game to His Son from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Shea Serrano discuss Russell Westbrook's stare during warm-ups (2:40), Zaza Pachulia's flagrant foul (4:55), the surging 76ers (11:19), five non-obvious guys whom Shea...

Breaking Down the Capela-Covington Blockbuster Trade | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

News of a four-team, 12-player trade revolving around Clint Capela and Robert Covington broke late Tuesday night, with numerous implications for the entire league. We discuss what this means for ea...

The Future of the Young Suns and Key Players to Watch Out For | The Ringer NBA Show (Ep. 317) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor react to the news of Ryan McDonough being ousted from the Phoenix Suns GM position (1:10), discuss the expectations for key players going into the 2018-...

Ep. 61: LeBron's Acting, Melo Trade Talk, and All-Star Ballots from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Kevin O'Connor discuss the Warriors' drubbing of the Cavs (5:00), LeBron's flopping (8:00), Melo's trade options (12:00), the improving Wizards (19:00), Buddy Hield's ...

Knicks Fire Steve Mills, Ja Morant vs. Andre Iguodala, and Trade Deadline Preview | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We run down the Andre Iguodala vs. Memphis Grizzlies timeline (1:21) before previewing Thursday’s NBA trade deadline (12:40). Then ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski breaks the news that the Knicks have par...

The 2018-19 NBA League Pass Draft | Heat Check (Ep. 316) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s John Gonzalez is joined by Chris Ryan, Juliet Litman, Micah Peters, and Isaac Lee to draft all 30 NBA teams in order of League Pass watchability.

Ep. 60: Adrian Wojnarowski from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon is joined by The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski to discuss Mark Cuban's relationship with NBA referees (5:00), D-Rose's absence (16:00), potential trades on the horizon (24...

The Lakers Remember Kobe, All-Star Game Changes, and Trade Deadlines | Heat Check from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Instant Replay: The Lakers' touching tribute to Kobe Bryant, Damian Lillard's amazing streak, and the impressive run from the Raptors (3:05). The Main Event: Trade deadlines, along with main conten...

Jimmy Butler to Miami? Plus: Tempering the Lakers Hype. | Group Chat (Ep. 315) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Ryan and Justin Verrier are joined by Haley O’Shaughnessy and Paolo Uggetti to preview the imminent Jimmy Butler trade to Miami (0:53) and discuss the uncertainty around the new ...

Ep. 59: Knicks' Nonsense and Midseason NBA Hipster Squads With Jason Concepcion from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Jason Concepcion discuss the Knicks' demoralizing loss in Philly (5:00), Carmelo Anthony's no-trade clause (12:00), Ron Baker's children's book (16:00), Mason Plumlee'...

NBA All-Star Reserves, Lakers Back on the Court. Plus: Matisse Thybulle, Snubbed? | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We run through the list of All-Star reserves and debate whether guys like Bradley Beal have a good case for feeling left out (2:33). Then, we talk about the emotion surrounding the Lakers return to...

The New Lakers, the New-ish Rockets, and GM Survey Takeaways | The Ringer NBA Show (Ep. 314) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor give their takeaways from watching the renewed Lakers (6:45) and reloaded Rockets in person (27:32). Then, they react to the GM survey (40:43) and discu...

Ep. 58: One-on-One With Joel Embiid from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor is joined by Sixers forward and Rookie of the Year candidate Joel Embiid to discuss his nickname, the return of the big man in basketball, his desire to play point guard...

News From Around the League and Reflecting on Kobe Bryant | Heat Check from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Today on 'Heat Check,' John, Dan, and Haley take a look at the news around the NBA, talk about a few recent games, and examine some impressive 50-point performances (02:42). They also discuss and r...

Waiting for the Butler Trade, LeBron’s Lakers, and Doncic’s Debut | Heat Check (Ep. 313) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s John Gonzalez is joined by Shea Serrano to assess the ongoing Jimmy Butler trade saga and new additions to the Eastern Conference elite (3:49). Then, comedian Ian Karmel comes on discu...

Ep. 57: D-Rose's Absence, the Knicks' Next Move, and McCollum Trade Talk With Kevin O'Connor from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Kevin O'Connor discuss MIA Derrick Rose (5:00), what's next for the Knicks (15:00), moving Paul Millsap (23:00), C.J. McCollum trade talk (28:00), Joel Embiid at point...

Grappling With the Death of Kobe Bryant | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We try to come to terms with the life and death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant after a tragic helicopter crash killed him, his daughter Gianna, and seven other people in Calabasas, California, on Sunday...

Jimmy Butler Trade Talks and Media Day Takeaways | The Ringer NBA Show (Ep. 312) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor explore the discussion around the Minnesota Timberwolves looking to trade away Jimmy Butler (0:52) and react to the highlights of an eventful media day ...

Ep. 56: The Kyle Korver Trade, the MVP Race, and All-Star Voting With Tim Bontemps from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Vernon is joined by Tim Bontemps of The Washington Post to discuss the huge trade that brought Kyle Korver to the Cavs (0:50) and possible other moves before the deadline (4:15)....

Remembering Kobe Bryant | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Justin Verrier and Rob Mahoney remember Kobe Bryant on the day after the tragic death of the legendary Laker and eight others in a helicopter crash. Host: Justin Verrier Guest: Rob Mahoney

Jimmy Butler v. the Timberwolves, the Lakers’ Lonzo Problem, and the Sixers' GM Search | Heat Check (Ep. 311) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s John Gonzalez is joined by Jason Concepcion to discuss the Los Angeles Clippers’ unconventional hiring of Lee Jenkins, the tension between Jimmy Butler and the Minnesota Timberwolves, ...

Ep. 55: Jimmy Goldstein from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon is joined by NBA superfan James Goldstein to discuss pioneering NBA fandom (3:00), growing up a Milwaukee Hawks fan (6:00), Goldstein's rivalry with Kobe (10:00), his love...

All-Star Starters, Zion’s Return, and Montrezl Harrell Rumors. Plus: Horford for Gallinari? | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We review the announced starters for the NBA’s All-Star Game (1:02) before discussing Zion Williamson’s return (47:00), debating whether the Sixers should trade Al Horford (21:22), and considering ...

The Anthony Davis Pre-Pre-Agency, the Minnesota Timberbulls, and (Another) Dwight Howard Debate | The Ringer NBA Show (Ep. 310) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor discuss Anthony Davis’s uncertain future with the New Orleans Pelicans (15:30), Minnesota Timberwolves president-coach Tom Thibodeau acquiring his forme...

Ep. 54: Houston Experiment, Potential Trades, and Harden vs. Westbrook from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Kevin O'Connor discuss the Rockets' rise in the Western Conference (5:00), Eric Gordon's all-star candidacy (12:00), potential teams to challenge the Cavs and Warriors...

The Boring Clippers, Zion’s Debut, and Trade Deadline Preview | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Los Angeles Clippers are really, really good. But does that make them uninteresting to watch (0:44)? With Zion Williamson making his regular-season debut tonight, the New Orleans Pelicans could...

Wizards Chemistry Experiment, Suns-Rockets Trade, and Are We Sure ...? | Heat Check (Ep. 309) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s John Gonzalez is joined by Joe House to discuss interesting NBA story lines as training camp approaches (2:24). Then, Haley O’Shaughnessy comes on to parse the trade between the Phoeni...

Ep. 53: Corey Brewer from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon is joined by Houston Rockets forward Corey Brewer to discuss his transition from back-to-back national championships to bottom of the NBA (4:00), running "the octagon" wit...

The Lakers Are Missing a Piece. Plus: Ben Simmons Is Unleashed | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Lakers got walloped by the Celtics last night—is there more to take away from this one game than meets the eye (5:56)? Plus, Ben Simmons has been unleashed by the open space on the floor since ...

Manu Ginobili Retires, the Sixers’ GM Search, and Kobe Fans vs. LeBron | The Ringer NBA Show (Ep. 308) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Vernon and John Gonzalez react to Spurs legend Manu Ginobili announcing his retirement (0:59) and discuss the Philadelphia 76ers’ ongoing search for a new GM (16:38). Then, they ...

Ep. 52: NBA Christmas Wish List With Kevin O'Connor from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Kevin O'Connor discuss Blake Griffin's durability and decreasing dunk numbers (6:00), Nerlens Noel vs. Jahlil Okafor (15:00), and Cheick Diallo's surprising rookie sea...

Kent Bazemore Traded, Kyrie Back on the Record, and All-Star Starting Ballots | Heat Check from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Instant Replay: The Blazers have cut ties with Kent Bazemore and Kyrie Irving is back saying weird things in the media (4:01). The Main Event: Our very own Dan Devine has been coronated as an All-...

Melo (Finally) Signs in Houston, Kawhi’s “THANK YOU” Letter, and Are We Sure ...? | Heat Check (Ep. 307) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s John Gonzalez is joined by Shea Serrano to discuss Carmelo Anthony officially signing with the Houston Rockets (2:28) and to parse Kawhi Leonard’s farewell letter to San Antonio (14:17...

Ep. 51: Ringing in the New CBA With Tim Bontemps from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon is joined by The Washington Post's Tim Bontemps to discuss who gets credit for the new CBA (5:00), the details on designated veteran player contracts (12:00), the new max ...

Reassessing Brandon Ingram’s Ceiling, Talking Zion’s Return, and Examining the Depth of Denver | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

After Brandon Ingram scored 49 points to outduel Donovan Mitchell, we wonder whether it’s realistic to think he’s already better than Ben Simmons and on a path to be in the class of Anthony Davis (...

Do the Lakers Have Too Many Personalities? Plus, Other Mailbag Questions | The Ringer NBA Show (Ep. 306) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor answer an array of questions from listeners, including who would be the starting five of underappreciated NBA players (9:10), whether or not Luke Walton...

Ep. 50: The Morey Effect, First-Time All-Stars, and the Warriors' Weakness from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Kevin O'Connor discuss the foundation of footwork (6:00), the Daryl Morey effect on offense (10:00), James Harden's greatest skill (20:00), potential first-time All-St...

The Fast & Furious Grizzlies, SGA Is the Future, and Why the Bucks Don’t Get Their Due | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We discuss the impressive new-era Grizzlies (1:57), teams looking to go all in at the trade deadline (18:16), contenders that are positioned to make a big second-half push (31:39), and the blossomi...

LeBron Gives Back, Rockets Keep Capela, Giannis Bulks Up, and NBA Hard Knocks | The Ringer NBA Show (Ep. 305) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor highlight LeBron James creating a school for at-risk youth in Akron (0:11), discuss the Houston Rockets retaining Clint Capela as well as adding Carmelo...

Ep. 49: The Warriors in L.A., the Separation in the East, and the Water Bottle Challenge at MSG from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon is joined by Trey Kerby of NBA TV to discuss Wednesday night's Warriors-Clippers game (3:13), the Cavs humiliating the Knicks (13:58), Tom Thibodeau's struggles in Minneso...

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Is a Budding Superstar. Plus: Why Would Anyone Trade for Andre Drummond? | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We review Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s historic triple-double and look at what the Clippers gave up when they sent him to OKC (1:04), before discussing the Lakers-Clippers regular-season dichotomy (9:...

Kevin Love's Extension, the Carmelo Trade 2.0, and the Lakers’ Meme Team | The Ringer NBA Show (Ep. 304) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor react to Kevin Love signing a four-year extension with the Cleveland Cavaliers (0:10), discuss the ripple effects of the Carmelo Anthony trade (14:21), ...

Ep. 48: Quarterly Awards With Kevin O'Connor from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Kevin O'Connor celebrate the first quarter of the NBA season by handing out awards, including MVP (17:00), then they talk Joel Embiid's Rookie of the Year bid (25:00),...

The Spurs Keep Coming Back | Heat Check from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Instant Replay: The Nets beat the Hawks, plus the impact of Spencer Dinwiddie's off-court interests, a possible Sixers trade, and debating whether Steph Curry should return this season (02:42). The...

Kawhi for DeRozan, Smart Stays a Celtic, the Timberwolves’ Shaky Future, and Pre-Agency | Group Chat (Ep. 303) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Ryan and Justin Verrier are joined by Haley O’Shaughnessy to discuss the impact of the Toronto Raptors acquiring Kawhi Leonard in exchange for a package led by DeMar DeRozan (0:5...

Ep. 47: The MVP Rat Race, Clippers-Nets, and Conley's Injury With Chris Mannix from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Yahoo Sports senior NBA writer Chris Mannix discuss the state of the MVP race (5:00), Sean Kilpatrick's breakout game (12:00), the Clippers-Nets fiasco (16:00), the Ce...

Kevin Durant vs. Kendrick Perkins. Plus: Russ Returns to OKC but Chris Paul Prevails. | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We discuss the overperforming Oklahoma City Thunder and whether they should still consider dealing their desirable players at the trade deadline (1:02), before breaking down the KD vs. Kendrick Per...

Carmelo Destinations, Jimmy Butler’s Future in Minnesota, and the Kawhi Saga | The Ringer NBA Show (Ep. 302) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor discuss the report that Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey spurned the Philadelphia 76ers’ attempt to hire him (0:41), landing spots for Carmelo Anthony (9:...

Ep. 46: Conference Playoff Outlook, and Three Guys Better Than Their Stats Suggest from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Kevin O'Connor discuss Russell Westbrook's triple-double standard (5:00), decide which teams are out of the playoff picture in each conference (15:00), pick three guys...

Three Old Men and a Dunk Contest | Heat Check from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Instant Replay: Anthony Davis busts his bum, Blake Griffin is no longer the bee’s knees, and more changes to the NBA (03:17). The Main Event: Dwight Howard gets a contract guarantee, and making the...

Jonathan Isaac Is a Star, Trae Young's Bust Potential, and Other Summer League Takeaways | The Ringer NBA Show (Ep. 301) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Kevin O'Connor sit down in Caesars Palace Las Vegas to talk NBA summer league. They discuss Jonathan Isaac's impressive play, Mo Bamba, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Kevin Kn...

Ep. 45: The Greek Freak, Tanking Strategies, and CBA Changes With Kevin O'Connor from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Kevin O'Connor discuss Giannis Antetokounmpo's historic statistical feat (6:00), tanking advice for the Kings (14:00), Mark Cuban vs. Chandler Parsons (19:00), Kawhi L...

The Wild, Wild West and Midseason Overreactions | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Spurs, Pelicans, and Grizzlies have all looked quite encouraging as of late; do they have what it takes to make it into the playoffs (0:43)? As we approach the halfway mark of the regular seaso...

The Big Men Are Running Summer League, Plus Free-Agency Check-in | The Ringer NBA Show (Ep. 300) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Justin Verrier and Jonathan Tjarks sit down in Las Vegas to talk about some of the rookies and sophomores playing in NBA summer league, including Harry Giles, Marvin Bagley III, Deandr...

Ep. 44: Clippers-Grizz, Klay Thompson Trades, and Phil Jackson's LeBron Comment With Sam Amick from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon is joined by USA Today's Sam Amick to discuss Marc Gasol's Conor McGregor dance (6:00), the Clippers' "strength in numbers" model (12:00), Klay Thompson's numbers returnin...

Can the Sixers Fix Themselves With a Trade? Plus: The Never-ending Kevin Love Speculation | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Sixers are 3-7 in their last 10 games—is the floor really dropping out from under them, or are they not suited to win regular-season games (1:07)? Plus: Where will Kevin Love end up? Are the Ha...

LaVine Gets Paid, Kawhi Trade Possibilities, and Summer League Takeaways | The Ringer NBA Show (Ep. 299) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Ryan is joined by Kevin O’Connor and Jonathan Tjarks to discuss the free agency signings of the weekend thus far (0:11) and takeaways from day 1 of NBA Summer League in Las Vegas...

Ep. 43: Leaguewide Look With Kevin O'Connor from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Kevin O'Connor discuss overarching themes and intriguing developments 10 games into the season, including the Clippers' bench play (5:00), the issue with high-usage pl...

David Stern’s Monumental Legacy, the NBA’s Middle Class, and the Return of Zion | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We take some time to review David Stern’s illustrious life and career after the news of his death (0:58). Then, we run down a list of teams that can go one of two ways: trade their valuable assets ...

Melo to Leave OKC, Kyrie’s Uncertain Future, Lakers’ Coaching Conundrum, and Trae Young Misses Treys | Sources Say (Ep. 298) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Juliet Litman and Chris Ryan discuss the Oklahoma City Thunder reportedly parting ways with Carmelo Anthony (0:58), the possibility for Kyrie Irving to leave the Boston Celtics (8:15),...

Ep. 42: Contenders and Panic-Button Teams With Tim Bontemps from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon welcomes Tim Bontemps of The Washington Post to discuss Stan Van Gundy's rant, God Shammgod's influence on Harrison Barnes (4:42), the toughest competition for the Warrior...

Pelicans, Suns, Timberwolves: Who Can Still Turn It Around? | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We break down a Western Conference trio that had high hopes coming into the season but have struggled their way to the bottom of the conference. Can any of them get hot and get back into the playof...

Warriors Add Boogie, the Lakers’ Bizarre Signings, Kawhi Destinations, and Summer League Tips Off | The Ringer NBA Show (Ep. 297) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor react to DeMarcus Cousins signing with the Golden State Warriors (0:11), examine the Los Angeles Lakers’ puzzling roster additions (11:23), debate poten...

Ep. 41: 17 Years in the League With Mike Miller from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon is joined by the Denver Nuggets' Mike Miller to discuss what it's like to be a veteran on a young team, joining LeBron James and the Heat (7:50), his days as a Cav (17:05)...

The Lakers Come Up Short Again Against the Clippers. Plus: Rockets Falter, Carlisle Calls the Post Extinct. | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We recap the Christmas Day games: Are the Clippers better suited for the playoffs than the Lakers? Does the same go for the Sixers vs. the Bucks? Plus: Is James Harden getting off too easy for the ...

LeBron to the Lakers, Paul George Stays with the Thunder, and More Free-Agency News | Heat Check (Ep. 296) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s John Gonzalez and Chris Ryan react to LeBron James signing with the Los Angeles Lakers for four years (1:44). Then, HBO and The Ringer’s Bill Simmons calls in to offer his thoughts on ...

Ep. 40: KD vs. Westbrook from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Chris Vernon welcomes Shea Serrano to discuss tonight's meeting between the Warriors and the Thunder, bench celebrations (31:10), and Shea's experience going away to college (35:20).

NBA Christmas Day Preview. Plus: Ben Simmons Is Jahlil Okafor and Michael Carter-Williams All in One. | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Kevin deep-dives on his spicy Ben Simmons take (1:10) before we run down our wishes for the rest of the 2019-20 season and preview NBA Christmas Day (24:08). Hosts: Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor

Austin Rivers to the Wizards, D.J. to Dallas (Potentially), and More Free-Agency Rumors | The Ringer NBA Show (Ep. 295) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor discuss the recent trade by the Los Angeles Clippers that sent Austin Rivers to the Washington Wizards (01:12) and the potential for the Clips to deal D...

Ep. 39: 'Sources Say' With Michael D. Ratner from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Juliet Litman welcomes Michael D. Ratner to the show to discuss his new mockumentary series 'The 5th Quarter’ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9ch7TuWRbo). Then they speak with a few stars from th...

What’s the Point of an In-Season Tournament? | Heat Check from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Instant Replay: The Denver Nuggets’ sneaky resurgence, a Siakam-less Raptors comeback, IT suspended because of … Frosties?, and Pop goes Pop on plus-minus (4:48). The Main Event: A bizarrely struct...

Melo's Opt-in, Free-Agency Rumors, and Woj vs. ESPN | Heat Check (Ep. 294) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s John Gonzalez is joined by Chris Ryan and Danny Chau to discuss Carmelo Anthony opting into his contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder (02:40), free-agency rumors surrounding Kawhi Le...

Ep. 38: Who's Got Staying Power? With Zach Harper from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon brings on NBA writer Zach Harper to run through the early-season story lines and determine if Russell Westbrook's ridiculous tear will continue (6:00), if Anthony Davis ca...

Is Giannis the Best Player in The World?| The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The weekend is here, and we are here to talk about the excellent face-off between the Lakers and the Bucks. We discuss whether Giannis Antetokounmpo is the best player in the world (05:56), focus o...

2018 NBA Draft Takeaways | Draft Class (Ep. 293) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor, Jonathan Tjarks, and Danny Chau react to the trades and selections made at the 2018 NBA draft.

Ep. 37: One-Game Overreactions With Jonathan Tjarks from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Chris Vernon and Jonathan Tjarks discuss the Warriors loss, the weird Grizzlies win over the Timberwolves (8:52), monster numbers from Anthony Davis (25:32), and the Lakers' new life without Kobe (...

Are the Knicks Good or Are the Hawks Just That Bad? Plus: Solving the Sixers and Cutting Bait SZN. | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The New York Knicks win their third game in four against the Atlanta Hawks, exposing the Hawks’ roster construction issues and illuminating a larger problem with rebuilding in the modern NBA (1:20)...

2018 NBA Draft Preview Spectacular | The Ringer NBA Show (Ep. 292) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Ryan sits down with Kevin O’Connor, Tate Frazier, and Danny Chau to answer questions surrounding the 2018 NBA draft. For more on the draft, check out our 2018 NBA Draft Guide at ...

Ep. 36: 'Thirty Things to See' Season Tipoff With Kevin O'Connor from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Kevin O'Connor celebrate the kickoff of the NBA season by selecting their top storyline for all thirty teams. Topics include: the Warriors' dominance (4:00), Doc River...

The Bucks Stop There, Pelicans Down for the Count, and Drake Is Still Weird | Heat Check from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Instant Replay (03:24): News from around the league, including the end of the Bucks’ win streak, Dion Waiters's latest suspension, the excellent clapbacks from CJ McCollum, and more. The Main Event...

Kawhi Rumors and Draft Prep | Heat Check (Ep. 291) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's John Gonzalez is joined by Joe House to talk Kawhi Leonard rumors and odds for which team he ends up on (2:40), then John sits down with Tate Frazier and Riley McAtee to discuss potent...

Ep. 35: The Genesis of PER and the Grizzlies' Untapped Potential With John Hollinger from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon is joined by former ESPN analytics guru and current Memphis Grizzlies vice president of basketball operations John Hollinger to discuss developing his formula for PER (8:0...

Can the Lakers or Bucks Amass 73 Wins? | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

With the Lakers and Bucks on a crash course to meet each other with identical 25-3 records, we wonder whether each team can continue its torrid pace (11:30). Also, Luka’s twisted ankle (2:25) and t...

Michael Porter Jr.’s Injuries and Kevin Knox’s Rise. Plus: Ringer Fans on the Grizzlies, Magic, and Bulls | Draft Class (Ep. 290) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor, Jonathan Tjarks, and Danny Chau discuss the puzzling news surrounding Michael Porter Jr.’s injuries (1:08) and the potential rise of former Kentucky forward Kevin Knox ...

Ep. 34: Basketball Analytics and the Revamped Rockets With Daryl Morey from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon is joined by Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey to discuss the growth of analytics in sports (6:00), handling criticism of team chemistry (14:00), his beef with C...

Luka Lights Up Mexico City. Plus: Is There a Trade Out There for the Celtics? | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

With Luka Doncic continuing to put up gaudy numbers (this time in Mexico), we imagine a world in which the NBA continues its global expansion and increases its player pool. Are there enough talente...

The Warriors' Wild Parade, LeBron’s Offseason, Kawhi Meeting With Pop, and Draft Talk | The Ringer NBA Show (Ep. 289) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor discuss the Golden State Warriors’ championship parade (03:30), the best landing spots for LeBron James this offseason (08:30), Adrian Wojnarowski’s rep...

Ep. 33: NBA Hipster Team Championship Belt and Five Players to Watch With Jason Concepcion from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon and Jason Concepcion discuss why the Timberwolves are the top hipster team this season (6:00), Chandler Parsons's Instagram (11:00), the longest-tenured players on one fra...

The Top 25 Players of the 2019-20 Season Thus Far | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We run down our lists of the 25 best NBA players so far this season, including Giannis Antetokounmpo and James Harden as solo shows, but also Anthony Davis and LeBron James as well as Kawhi Leonard...

Warriors-Cavs Fatigue, LeBron Landing Spots, Offseason Story Lines | Heat Check (Ep. 288) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s John Gonzalez sits down with Chris Ryan and Kevin O’Connor to discuss whether the anticlimactic sweep in the Finals is good for basketball (3:45) and debate which team LeBron James mig...

Ep. 32: Covering Superteams and Positive CBA Talks With Tim Bontemps from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon brings on Washington Post national NBA writer Tim Bontemps to discuss the new-look Warriors (6:00), Steph Curry taking a backseat to Kevin Durant (12:00), who's the second...

The Bucks and Lakers Are the Cream of the Balanced NBA’s Crop. Plus: Trade Season Preview and the Denied Rockets Protest. | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers continue to thrive atop their respective conferences, but there is still more parity in the NBA than in years past (1:24). Then: It’s the most wonderful t...

Warriors Sweep Cavs for Third Championship in Four Years | The Ringer NBA Show (Ep. 287) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Juliet Litman and Kevin O’Connor react to the Golden State Warriors eliminating the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals.

Ep. 31: The Process of Signing Superstars With Sonny Vaccaro from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon is joined by the godfather of grassroots basketball and former sports marketing executive for Nike and Adidas, Sonny Vaccaro, to discuss betting his job with Nike on signi...

Will Kevin Get Love, the Knicks Fire Fizdale, and Untucked Jerseys | Heat Check from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Instant Replay (03:40): News from around the league, the state of the Cavs and what the price of Kevin Love might be, and the result of Clippers-Bucks and what this could mean for them down the lin...

Deandre Ayton to the Suns? Plus: Ringer Fans on the Kings, Mavs, Hornets | Draft Class (Ep. 286) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor and Jonathan Tjarks discuss the probability that the Phoenix Suns will take Deandre Ayton with the no. 1 overall pick (1:21). Then they bring on resident Sacramento King...

Ep. 30: Ben Simmons's Injury and Bold Preseason Predictions With Chris Vernon and Kevin O'Connor from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Vernon makes his hosting debut with help from Kevin O'Connor to discuss Ben Simmons's injury (8:25) and the "buzzard's luck" of the Sixers. Then, the duo play a game of 'Three Th...

The NBA’s Replay Review System Is Flawed. So Do the Rockets Have a Point? | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We discuss the James Harden dunk that wasn’t counted in the Houston Rockets’ double-overtime loss to the San Antonio Spurs (1:21). Are the Rockets right to file a complaint in the hope that it will...

Bryan Colangelo’s Resignation and the Future of the Sixers With Ben Detrick | The Ringer NBA Show (Ep. 285) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Ryan and Justin Verrier sit down with writer Ben Detrick to discuss the news of Bryan Colangelo resigning from the Philadelphia 76ers, and examine what that means for the 76ers o...

Ep. 29: Fireside NBA Chatter With Bill Simmons and Brad Stevens from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons is joined by the head coach of the Boston Celtics, "The President" Brad Stevens, to discuss coaching in the NBA vs. college (5:00), Brandan Wright's time with the ...

Does the NBA Have a TV Ratings Problem? | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We take a look at the Rockets protesting their loss to the Spurs (2:00) and discuss the NBA’s plummeting ratings (14:00). Then Jonathan Tjarks joins the show to compare team power ranking tiers (29...

KD Crushes the Cavs in Game 3. Plus: Will Deandre Ayton Go No. 1? | Group Chat (Ep. 284) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Ryan is joined by Paolo Uggetti, Kevin O’Connor, and Justin Verrier to discuss Kevin Durant’s great Game 3 and the Cleveland Cavaliers' chances at keeping LeBron James this offse...

Ep. 28: Olympics Knockout Round With Tate Frazier and Jonathan Tjarks from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Tate Frazier and Jonathan Tjarks discuss the upcoming Olympic basketball knockout round, the expectations for Team USA, which team is the biggest dark horse, the standout stars from Ri...

Giannis, Harden, and Luka Have Broken PER. Plus: Are the Raptors the 1993-94 Bulls? | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The high-usage superstars of the league have all become so dominant and efficient that they’re in line to break historical PER records. Do we need to adjust the record books to reflect the 3-point ...

Previewing Game 3 of the Finals, Plus Coaching Free Agency | The Ringer NBA Show (Ep. 283) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor preview Game 3 of the NBA Finals, breaking down what the Cleveland Cavaliers need from LeBron James to win (21:25) and Andre Iguodala’s potential impact...

Ep. 27: 'Sources Say' With Chris Ryan and Juliet Litman from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Ryan and Juliet Litman discuss Team USA's eventful summer in Rio and LeBron's back-to-back European travel schedule. Then, Tate Frazier joins to lament Kyrie Irving's inability t...

The Ceiling For the Clippers, Nets Momentum without Irving, and Love Chokes | Heat Check from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Instant Replay (03:16): The Clippers and Raptors had wonderful games with no signs of slowing down. Also, James Harden had a moment. The Main Event (21:25): The gang looks closely at the Nets in Ky...

Warriors Rout Cavs in Game 2 | Heat Check (Ep. 282) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s John Gonzalez is joined by Kevin O’Connor to react to the Golden State Warriors’ convincing win against the depleted Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 2 of the NBA Finals.

Ep. 26: Kobe Stories, TV Shows, Building a Superteam, and More With Roy Hibbert and Tate Frazier from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Tate Frazier and Roy Hibbert discuss the two-time NBA All-Star’s low-key offseason, his favorite Kobe Bryant farewell tour tales, the superteam Hibbert would construct to defeat the Wa...

A Thanksgiving NBA Mailbag! | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The ‘Group Chat’ crew answers questions from you, the listeners! Topics include: the biggest “pretender” team, help for Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks, the 25-and-under power ranking, realist...

The Draft Mailbag, Vol. 4 | Draft Class (Ep. 281) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor and Jonathan Tjarks are joined by Danny Chau to answer listener-submitted questions about the 2018 NBA draft. Topics include: trading into the lottery, concerns for Dean...

Ep. 25: Russell Westbrook's Future and the 'Miami Vice' 10-Year Anniversary With Bill Simmons from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons and Ringer executive editor Chris Ryan drop a special double-feature edition of the 'Ringer NBA Show' to discuss Russell Westbrook's options in Oklahoma City, pote...

The NBA’s Radical Proposed Schedule Shakeups. Plus: Is Giannis as Big a Star as He Deserves to Be? | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We break down the ins and outs of the proposed changes to the NBA schedule, including playoff reseeding, the midseason tournament, and more (2:00). Then, we talk about the NBA’s dip in TV ratings t...

LeBron’s Teammates Throw Game 1 Away | Group Chat (Ep. 280) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Ryan is joined by Haley O’Shaughnessy, Justin Verrier, Jason Concepcion, and Paolo Uggetti to discuss the Cleveland Cavaliers' loss to the Golden State Warriors in Game 1 of the ...

Ep. 24: Team USA and U18 NBA Prospects With Tate Frazier and Jonathan Tjarks from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Tate Frazier and Jonathan Tjarks discuss Team USA, Coach K's farewell tour, the 2016 FIBA Americas U18 Championship, and the promising prospects of the 2018 NBA draft.

Big League Changes, the Spurs' Surprise Victory, and Crazy Jersey Choices | Heat Check from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Instant Replay: The Spurs and the Bulls pull one out of the hat, along with Jimmy Butler returning to Philly to an irate crowd! (03:43). The Main Event: Zach Kram breaks down new changes to the NBA...

The Bryan Colangelo Twitter Story With Ben Detrick | The Ringer NBA Show (Ep. 279) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Ryan sits down with writer Ben Detrick to discuss The Ringer's investigation into Bryan Colangelo and a number of Twitter accounts. They break down how the story started, how the...

Ep. 23: 'Sources Say' With Juliet Litman and Chris Ryan from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Juliet Litman and Chris Ryan discuss the last remaining NBA free agents and where they could end up (1:00). Then Juliet gives her Cavs report, including Channing Frye's height and how ...

Brandon Ingram Is Better Than Ben Simmons | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We talk about the Celtics' versatility, including Kemba Walker's range on and off the court (02:07), dive into how Brandon Ingram is the driving force making the Pelicans viable while Zion is injur...

Golden State Comes Back, and a Cavs–Warriors Finals (Again) | The Ringer NBA Show (Ep. 278) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor discuss the Golden State Warriors’ comeback win in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals (00:30) before previewing another Finals matchup between them...

Ep. 22: NBA Free Agency Roundup With Bill Simmons from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons moonlights on today's 'Ringer NBA Show' with Ringer executive editor Chris Ryan, with each giving his hometown perspective on the Celtics and Sixers, respectively....

Carmelo Is Back, and He's the Same As Ever. Plus: Luka, Harden, LeBron, and Giannis Tangle for MVP Front-runner | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We dive deep on the Blazers' roster building and how it created a need for Carmelo Anthony just two months into the season (1:16). Then, Jonathan Tjarks joins the pod to discuss Luka Doncic’s gaudy...

LeBron to the Finals (Again), Warriors-Rockets Game 7, and Mourning the Celtics | Heat Check (Ep. 277) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s John Gonzalez is joined by Shea Serrano to react to LeBron James’s Cleveland Cavaliers advancing past the Boston Celtics to the Finals (2:33). Then Jonathan Tjarks calls in to preview ...

Ep. 21: NBA Summer League Special With Tate Frazier and Jonathan Tjarks from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Tate Frazier and Jonathan Tjarks recap the opening weekend of NBA summer league in Las Vegas, and discuss Brandon Ingram–Ben Simmons, Thon Maker's debut, the rise of Guerschon Yabusele...

Should the Spurs Trade DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge? | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We discuss Luka Doncic’s incredible start to the season, including his run of triple-doubles and how it compares to Russell Westbrook's (1:31), before having a knock-down, drag-out argument about w...

Rockets Up on Warriors, All-NBA Teams, Doncic Falls, and Porter Rises | The Ringer NBA Show (Ep. 276) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor and Shea Serrano react to the Houston Rockets defeating the Golden State Warriors to take a lead in the series (0:35), debate how LeBron James’s Cleveland Cavaliers can ...

Ep. 20: Kevin Durant to the Warriors and Team USA from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

On this week's episode, Juliet Litman and Chris Ryan discuss Kevin Durant's move to the Warriors and how players may be feeling about the change. Later, they discuss why Steph Curry and Draymond Gr...

Paul George’s Historic Start, the Sixers’ Angst, and Austin vs. Doc | Heat Check from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Instant Replay: The Blazers sign Carmelo Anthony, Paul George’s Clippers debut, and Pop’s second-in-command (5:32). The Main Event: Pod Save America’s Dan Pfeiffer on the Philadelphia 76ers’ recent...

The Depreciating Cavs, the Strengthening Rockets, and Offseason Rumors | Group Chat (Ep. 275) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Ryan is joined by Justin Verrier, Jason Concepcion, Kevin O’Connor, and Paolo Uggetti to talk about the Cavaliers’ weak performance against the Celtics in Game 5 of the Eastern C...

Ep. 19: 'Sources Say' from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

On this week's episode of 'Sources Say,' Juliet Litman and Chris Ryan talk about why the Bucks could be back in business and offer their predictions on where players are headed. Later they talk abo...

Carmelo Anthony to the Blazers, Kristaps Porzingis Returns to the Garden, and Andrew Wiggins ... Superstar? | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We discuss last night’s breaking news that Carmelo Anthony will be joining the struggling Portland Trail Blazers (1:20), before analyzing the Knicks' revenge win over Kristaps Porzingis and the Dal...

WCF Game 4 Instant Classic, Joel Embiid in the Bahamas, and Conference Finals Predictions (Ep. 274) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Juliet Litman, Chris Ryan, Justin Verrier, and Danny Chau discuss the Houston Rockets bouncing back against the Golden State Warriors (01:00) and make their predictions for the rest of...

Ep. 18: 2016 NBA Draft Recap With Danny Chau and Jonathan Tjarks from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Danny Chau and Jonathan Tjarks discuss the Ibaka trade, the Celtics' future, and Thon Maker conspiracy theories.

Are AD and LeBron Better Than We Expected? Plus: Hipster Team Watch and Best Young Duos. | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We are three weeks into the season, and LeBron has seemingly unlocked Anthony Davis. However, are the Clippers still the best team in the West? (1:15). Then, the enjoyment of watching the NBA’s “hi...

Cleveland Bullies Boston, WCF Game 4, and the Draft Combine | The Ringer NBA Show (Ep. 273) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor discuss the Cleveland Cavaliers’ beatdown of the Boston Celtics (02:00) and preview Game 4 of the Western Conference finals between the Houston Rockets ...

Ep. 17: 2016 NBA Draft Top International Talents from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Danny Chau and Jonathan Tjarks on the international prospects projected to land in the lottery, like Dragan Bender and Timothe Luwawu, in Thursday night's draft, and on some sleepers, ...

A Knicks Coup! Plus: Injuries Are Starting to Pile Up. | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

A rash of injuries has hit the NBA. We discuss the most impactful ones, including Gordon Hayward's and Steph Curry's (1:50). Then, we run through some Kristaps Porzingis troubles in Dallas and the ...

Warriors Overpower Rockets and LeBron Carries Cavs (Again) | Heat Check (Ep. 272) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s John Gonzalez is joined by Chris Ryan to discuss the Golden State Warriors handily defeating the Houston Rockets in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals (2:24). Then Justin Verrier ...

Ep. 16: Game 7 Reaction from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Ryan, Juliet Litman, and Tate Frazier discuss Game 7 of the NBA Finals, where the teams go from here, LeBron James's transcendent performance, and more.

Dion Waiters’s Suspension, Hayward’s Hand, and the Nightmare in New York | Heat Check from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Instant Replay: Dion Waiters’s suspension, Gordon Hayward’s injury, and the success of the Raptors (03:00). The Main Event: James Dolan and the dreadful Knicks (22:00). Good Call/Bad Call: Gianni...

Who Is Luka Doncic? Plus: Victor Oladipo and Shaquille O’Neal | The Ringer NBA Show (Ep. 271) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Danny Chau and Jonathan Tjarks discuss how no. 1 draft prospect Luka Doncic would fit within the top lottery teams (0:11). Then, a special interview between Indiana Pacers All-Star Vic...

Ep. 15: 2016 NBA Draft Lottery Picks and Late-First-Round Selections from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Danny Chau and Jonathan Tjarks on prospects slated to go in the top 10, and some prospects who may find themselves being selected later in the first round.

Is Kawhi Leonard’s Load Management a Problem? Plus: Gordon Hayward Is Back and the Wolves Need a Leader. | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The load management conversation is at a fever pitch in the NBA after the Clippers were fined for not communicating Kawhi Leonard’s reason for sitting out. Is this a real problem for the league or ...

The Rockets Blast Golden State and We Have Ourselves a Series, Plus Celtics-Cavs and the NBA Draft | Group Chat (Ep. 270) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Ryan is joined by Justin Verrier, Jason Concepcion, Jonathan Tjarks, and Paolo Uggetti to recap Game 2 of the Western Conference finals (1:30). Then, the guys make some predictio...

Ep. 14: 'Ringer NBA Show' Finals Game 6 Preview with Tate Frazier, Travon Free, and Pat Barker from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Tate Frazier and 'Any Given Wednesday' writers Travon Free and Pat Barker recap the Cavaliers’ Game 5 resurgence and look forward to Game 6 in Cleveland.

Trending: Lakers and Clippers Up, Blazers and Rockets Down | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We examine four Western Conference teams who have had a noteworthy week: the Los Angeles Lakers trending up (1:09), the Portland Trail Blazers trending down (14:32), the Los Angeles Clippers trendi...

NBA Draft Emergency Micropod | The Ringer NBA Show (Ep. 269) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Ryan, Jonathan Tjarks, and Kevin O'Connor give their rapid reactions to the NBA draft lottery, including the biggest winners and losers.

Ep. 13: Game 5 and Draymond's Suspension from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons and longtime pal Joe House on Draymond Green's suspension, Kyrie Irving's Game 4 flop, GSW's chances to close out the series, and if Andre Iguodala is the rich man...

John Collins’s PED Suspension, the Truly Bright Future Suns, and Anthony Davis’s Chicago Comments | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We react to the breaking news that Hawks forward John Collins has been suspended 25 games for violating the league’s PED policy (2:45). Then, we discuss the Suns’ hot start, Devin Booker’s tear, an...

Golden State Dominates, Houston’s Role Players Disappear, and Previewing Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals | The Ringer NBA Show (Ep. 268) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor react to the Golden State Warriors’ dominance over the Houston Rockets in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals (00:55). Then they preview Game 2 betw...

Ep. 12: 2016 NBA Draft Sleepers and Busts With Danny Chau and Jonathan Tjarks from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Danny Chau and Jonathan Tjarks on the under-the-radar talents to target in the 2016 NBA draft.

The Tanking Warriors, the Overachieving Suns, and the Undefeated Sixers | Heat Check from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Instant Replay: The tanking Warriors, Giannis-to-Raptors rumors, early overachievers, and the Blazers’ frontcourt void (4:00). The Main Event: The still-undefeated Philadelphia 76ers, with special ...

Celtics Pummel Cavs, Warriors-Rockets Is Here, and Second-Round Exit Interviews | Heat Check (Ep. 267) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s John Gonzalez sits down with Jason Concepcion, Kevin O’Connor, and Jonathan Tjarks to react to the Boston Celtics’ dominant Game 1 win against the Cleveland Cavaliers (2:25), preview t...

Ep. 11: Winners and Losers Finals Game 3 With Chris Ryan, Juliet Litman, and Tate Frazier from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Ryan, Juliet Litman, and Tate Frazier on the winners and losers from the Cavs' win over the Warriors in last night's Game 3 in Cleveland.

Does Steph Curry’s Broken Hand Equal Tank for the Warriors? | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Two-time MVP Stephen Curry broke his hand this week—will the mighty Warriors wave the white flag on this season after a slow start and the loss of their superstar (3:42)? Plus: We run through a lis...

Conference Finals and Lottery Preview, Plus De’Aaron Fox | Draft Class (Ep. 266) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor and Jonathan Tjarks are joined by Danny Chau to preview the two conference finals (3:13) and anticipate the NBA draft lottery (16:42). Then, O’Connor sits down with Sacr...

Ep. 10: 'The Ringer NBA Show' Finals Game 1 With Chris Ryan, Juliet Litman, and Tate Frazier from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Chris Ryan, Juliet Litman, and Tate Frazier on the implications of the Game 1 loss for the Cavs, Kyrie's "superstar" status, and potential mid-tier Team USA combinations.

Real or Fake: MVP Anthony Davis, the Deep Mavs, the Suns Sans Ayton, and More | Group Chat from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Golden State Warriors’ bumpy start to the season highlights the steep cost of building a superteam (0:59). Then, with so many premature narratives shaping up from the first handful of games of ...

Saying Goodbye to the Sixers and Looking Ahead to the Eastern and Western Conference Finals | Group Chat (Ep. 265) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor, Justin Verrier, and Haley O'Shaughnessy comfort Chris Ryan following the Sixers' loss to the Celtics. Then the group makes some predictions for the Celtics-Cavaliers an...

Ep. 9: 'Ringer NBA Show' Finals Preview With Chris Ryan, Travon Free, and Tate Frazier from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Tate Frazier and Chris Ryan and 'Any Given Wednesday' writer Travon Free on the NBA Finals rematch between the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Plus, predictions for ...

Early Signs of Trouble for the Nets and Kyrie Irving? Plus: Five Early Takeaways From the First Week of the Regular Season. | The Mismatch from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

We react to Jackie MacMullan’s story in ESPN about Kyrie Irving’s mood swings and the Nets’ organizational response to it (1:23). Then we share five early takeaways from this NBA season, including ...

Cavs Sweep Raptors, Sixers Hang On Against Celtics, SVG Out of Detroit, and Fiz In New York | The Ringer NBA Show (Ep. 264) from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer’s Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor react to the Cleveland Cavaliers defeating the Toronto Raptors in a historic sweep (0:11) and the Philadelphia 76ers avoiding a sweep from the Boston Ce...

Ep. 8: Conference Finals With Juliet Litman, Travon Free, and Tate Frazier from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Ringer's Juliet Litman and Tate Frazier and 'Any Given Wednesday' writer Travon Free discuss the major talking points from the NBA conference finals heading into GSW-OKC Game 6.

Is the West More Wide Open Than We Thought? Plus: NBA Media in L.A. | Heat Check from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

With one week in the books for the 2019-20 regular season, we share our takeaways from the first handful of games (2:16). Plus: Los Angeles is the center of the basketball universe and the center o...