The Athletic NBA Daily

We still believe in the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Dave DuFour and Es Baraheni check in after a 15-game slate in the NBA to recap Shai Gilgeous-Alexander & Luka Doncic’s heroic 40+ point performances and Houston’s dominant win over the Boston Celtics.

Then, Will Guillory, staff writer for The Athletic who covers the Rockets and Pelicans, joins the show to discuss: internal growth allowing the Rockets to hit another gear early in the season, Fred VanVleet’s return allowing his teammates to find their roles, the credit Alperen Sengun deserves for Houston’s long range shooting success, how Marcus Smart mirrors Ime Udoka and more! Also, what do the Pelicans have planned for Herb Jones, Dejounte Murray and Trey Murphy III?

And we end the show with a salute to Ty Jerome, Draymond Green and the Indiana Pacers.

Host: Dave DuFour

With: Esfandiar Baraheni

Producer: Zuri Irvin

Audio/Video: Alex Oliver

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Dave DuFour, Esfandiar Baraheni and Law Murray are live Sunday night following Celtics-Magic, Nets-Pacers, Clippers-Warriors and Lakers-Raptors to break down Luka Doncic's (latest) 40+ point game, Yaxel Lendeborg's continued ascension and preview Law's NBA Power Rankings for the upcoming week.

Host: Dave DuFour

With: Esfandiar Baraheni and Law Murray

Producer: Zuri Irvin

Audio/Video: Alex Oliver

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

The NBA season has been... well.... kind of a bummer to start with all the injuries, but Andrew Schlecht and Alex Speers are here to walk you through the week of NBA basketball including the success of the Grizzlies, why the Thunder are not contenders, Gobert's struggles and picking the NBA Cup Champion. Then Philip Rossman-Reich joins the show to discuss the Orlando Magic and do some trivia.

Host: Andrew Schlecht and Alex Speers

With: Philip Rossman-Reich

Producer: Andrew Schlecht

Video Producer: Monica Compton

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Are the Grizzlies good? Dave DuFour and Andrew Schlecht get to the bottom of it after Memphis remained undefeated with an impressive win in Portland. Plus, Dave explains why Darius Acuff Jr. is on a Wilt Chamberlain trajectory.

Then, Henry Abbott, founder True Hoop and author of BALLISTIC: The New Science of Injury-Free Athletic Performance, joins the show to discuss the rise of high-profile injuries in the league, including conversations on: single-sport specification in youth sports, improper workout regiments, parallels in European football, kinematic movement analysis, an increase in possessions per game, style of play, the 65-game rule and how this all affects roster construction.

Host: Dave DuFour

With: Andrew Schlecht

Producer: Zuri Irvin

Audio/Video: Alex Oliver

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We have a lot of injuries, but the basketball continues to bounce.

On an active Wednesday night in the NBA, Dave DuFour and Andrew Schlecht recap Steph Curry’s big night against the Timberwolves, AJ Dybantsa’s impressive NBA debut and the Miami Heat finally winning a game this season.

Then, Senior NBA writer Sam Amick checks in to discuss Oklahoma City’s options after losing Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace long term, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP chances, whether LaMelo Ball has too much on his plate in Anthony Edwards’ stead and why the Portland Trail Blazers have been the surprise of the season so far.

And we’ll end the show with Charles Lee assuming a paternal role with Naz Reid and the Charlotte Hornets.

Host: Dave DuFour

With: Andrew Schlecht

Producer: Zuri Irvin

Audio/Video: Alex Oliver

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Alex Speers and Andrew Schlecht break down the biggest storylines from the first week of the NBA season, including why they're already bailing on some of their NBA preseason predictions. They discuss what's changed their minds about the Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz, and other early-season surprises around the league. Then, Derek Parker joins the show to talk about Darius Acuff's outstanding start to the season, his development, and what it could mean for his future. To close the episode, it's time for Pack Attack, where the crew opens a pack of basketball cards and each drafts one player from the pack. If you enjoy NBA analysis, team-building discussions, NBA Draft coverage, and basketball card collecting, be sure to like, subscribe, and leave a comment with the preseason take you've already changed your mind about.

Host: Alex Speers and Andrew Schlecht

Guest: Derek Parker

Producer: Andrew Schlecht

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In a special edition of NBA Daily, Dave DuFour is joined by NBA Draft expert and Sports Illustrated columnist Derek Parker to dive into (unfortunately) more injury updates from around the league, now including Anthony Edwards’ right knee and Kawhi Leonard’s left knee. Then we’ll take a tour around this season’s rookie class to assess: Yaxel Lendeborg, Darius Acuff Jr., Darryn Peterson and Aday Mara. And finally, did Nikola Jokic deserve to be booed by Denver Nuggets fans?

Host: Dave DuFour

With: Derek Parker

Producer: Zuri Irvin

Audio/Video: Alex Oliver

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

On a strange day to live in Oklahoma City, Andrew Schlecht joins Dave DuFour to unpack the latest on Jalen Williams’ fractured fibula and dislocated ankle, Cason Wallaces’ labral tear in his left shoulder, and what moves the Thunder can make to remain competitive the West.

Then, we’ll discuss which teams are currently best suited to control the conference, including: the Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers.

And we end the show with some pleasant surprises: Ty Jerome’s upstart Memphis Grizzlies and Cade Cunningham’s dominant Detroit Pistons.

Host: Dave DuFour

With: Andrew Schlecht

Producer: Zuri Irvin

Audio/Video: Alex Oliver

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Following two brutal lower leg injuries to Jalen Williams and Jalen Suggs, Dave DuFour, Es Baraheni and Law Murray catch up on a damaging first Sunday night of the season. Then we head to Law’s weekly NBA power rankings, which should see some changes, especially featuring the 3-1 Philadelphia 76ers, winless Miami Heat and undefeated Houston Rockets. And finally, was Jayson Tatum capping? We’ll discuss the most recent chapter of his contentious relationship with Jaylen Brown.

Host: Dave DuFour

With: Es Baraheni

Producer: Zuri Irvin

Audio/Video: Josh Sexton

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The NBA Season is HERE. Andrew Schlecht and Alex Speers are here to chop it up. Alex gives his classic "Top Stories this Week" monolog and the guys give their Good, Bad and What of the NBA this week. Then Shamit Dua of the In the N.O. podcast and substack joins to discuss the Pelicans season. Of course, the boys finish with some TRIVIA.

• Host: Andrew Schlecht and Alex Speers
• With: Shamit Dua
• Producer: Andrew Schlecht
• Video Producer: Monica Compton

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On the first Thursday night of the regular season, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 20-point streak came to an end, in a win, after 141 games; and Philadelphia erased a 29-point Cavaliers lead to finish off a monumental comeback in its home opener against the Cavaliers. Dave DuFour and Es Baraheni walk you through an exciting night. Plus, we’ll make far-too-early reactions on Anthony Edwards, the Portland Trail Blazers and Darius Acuff Jr. And finally, we head to the mailbag to answer your burning questions.

Host: Dave DuFour

With: Es Baraheni

Producer: Zuri Irvin

Audio/Video: Josh Sexton

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Okay, now the NBA season has officially started. Dave DuFour and Es Baraheni break down all the major action from the first full slate of action, including: Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Ball & Giannis Antetokounmpo putting on a show in Miami, Luka Doncic entering a new era in Los Angeles, Steph Curry’s options in Golden State, Kawhi Leonard’s return to Toronto, and more!

And Sam Amick, Senior NBA Writer for The Athletic, joins the show to unpack the Sixers’ impressive win over the Knicks, Portland’s ownership conundrum and what Ben Simmons’ devastating Achilles injury means for Darius Acuff Jr. and the Sacramento Kings.

Host: Dave DuFour

With: Es Baraheni

Producer: Zuri Irvin

Audio/Video: Josh Sexton

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The NBA Season has begun and Alex Speers and Andrew Schlecht are here to break down their biggest questions about the upcoming season. Plus! Derek Parker joins as the boys reveal the Wheel of Tomorrow. To end the show the guys do their first edition of Pack Attack.

Host: Alex Speers and Andrew Schlecht

With: Derek Parker

Producer: Andrew Schlecht

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Opening Night in the NBA! Dave DuFour, Esfandiar Baraheni and Law Murray are live Tuesday night following all the action to unpack a lively tipoff to the 2026-27 NBA season, including: the Pistons completing the largest opening day comeback in NBA history, the Knicks celebrating their first championship since 1973 at Madison Square Garden and the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs continuing the best rivalry in the association. Then, we’ll break down Law Murray’s season-opening NBA Power Rankings and point out what might change as the week continues. And finally, we’ll hear from you, the fans, with instant reactions from the first night of the season.

Host: Dave DuFour

With: Es Baraheni

Producer: Zuri Irvin

Audio/Video: Josh Sexton

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Real, tangible basketball! We are finally here.

As we head into the 2026-27 NBA season, we have a few questions for our opening trio of games: Will Ausar Thompson ascend to Detroit’s second option alongside Cade Cunningham? What does Joe Mazzula regular season basketball look like without Jaylen Brown? Who will play off the ball in San Antonio’s three-guard lineup? Will the Knicks have a championship hangover?

Then, we’ll head to the pressure meter to assess Nick Nurse’s job security in Philadelphia, Chet Holmgren’s to-do list this season, Luka’s expectations and more.

And finally, we’ll check in on Ben Simmons’ devastating achilles injury and how Oklahoma City can build around Cason Wallace’s new contract.

Host: Dave DuFour

With: Es Baraheni

Producer: Zuri Irvin

Audio/Video: Josh Sexton

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The NBA preseason can be deceiving. Dave and Es walk you through what’s real and what’s fake, between: the Orlando Magic offense, Denver Nuggets role players, Matisse Thybulle in the Lakers starting lineup and NBA officiating points of emphasis.

Then, Sandro Mamukelashvili joins the show to discuss his decision-making process behind signing with the Lakers, how J.J. Redick envisions his role on the team, their team-bonding summer trip to Slovenia, his sense of urgency to return to the playoffs and the five greatest European NBA players of all time.

And we end the show with a quick recap of Anthony Edwards’ 2nd Annual Believe That Awards, which we do believe in.

Host: Dave DuFour

With: Es Baraheni

Producer: Zuri Irvin

Executive Producer: Andrew Schlecht

Audio/Video: Josh Sexton

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The NBA season is just days away, and every year there is a team that no one expects to win a lot games…..that wins a lot of games. Andrew Schlecht and Alex Speers are joined by Trill Bro Dude of the You Know Ball Podcast to guess which team that will be this year. Alex Speers gives context for each team that is a “Surprise Team” candidate and the guys debate why each team won’t be that team, then they answer a trivia question about each team. Then at the end the boys give who they think their “Surprise Team” of the year is.

And…. there is a special announcement for this season for Slam n Jam

• Host: Andrew Schlecht and Alex Speers
• With: Trill Bro Dude
• Producer: Andrew Schlecht
• Video Producer: Monica Compton

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From Cooper Flagg to Cam Boozer, the NBA is loaded with young, generational talent. Dave DuFour, Es Baraheni, and Andrew Schlecht are here to put players from the last 3 draft classes into tiers and attempt to project the future heading into the 2026-2027 NBA Season.

Host: Dave DuFour

With: Es Baraheni and Andrew Schlecht

Producer: Andrew Schlecht

Audio/Video: Josh Sexton

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Boston Celtics as the one seed, the Utah Jazz as a top-six seed, and the Washington Wizards as a top-eight seed? Dave DuFour and Es Baraheni are here to share predictions ahead of the 2026-2027 NBA season and give their League Pass power rankings.

Host: Dave DuFour

With: Es Baraheni

Producer: Andrew Schlecht

Audio/Video: Josh Sexton

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has won the last 2 MVP's, why can't he do it again? Dave, Es and Andrew explore that and all the other major NBA awards and make predictions ahead of the beginning of the NBA season.

Host: Dave DuFour

With: Es Baraheni and Andrew Schlecht

Producer: Andrew Schlecht

Audio/Video: Josh Sexton

Hosted on Acast. See https://acast.com/privacy for more information.