The Athletic NBA Daily

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....

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 injur...

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 Cas...

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 o...

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 Mar...

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...

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 dis...

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...

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 Portlan...

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 W...

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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inf...

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 continu...

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 champions...

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 th...

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...

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 Hosted on Acast. See acas...

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

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 acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Western Conference is has 2 juggernauts, but who could challenge the Spurs and Thunder? Dave DuFour, Es Baraheni, and Law Murray are here to put the teams into tiers and answer some big questions heading into the 2026-2027 NBA Season. Host: Dave DuFour With: Es Baraheni and Law Murray Producer: Andrew Schlecht Audio/Video: Josh Sexton Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information...

The Eastern Conference is deeper than its ever been and Dave DuFour, Es Baraheni, and Law Murray are here to put the teams into tiers and answer some big questions heading into the 2026-2027 NBA Season. Host: Dave DuFour With: Es Baraheni and Law Murray Producer: Andrew Schlecht Audio/Video: Josh Sexton Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Es Baraheni is joined by Noa Dalzel, to preview the Boston Celtics season. They discuss the expectations for Jayson Tatum, how the team moves on from Jaylen Brown and how Paul George fits, how their young wings progress, and more. Host: Es Baraheni Guest: Noa Dalzel Executive Producer: Andrew Schlecht Video/Audio: Alex Oliver Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dave DuFour is joined by Dan Woike, to preview the Lakers season. They discuss the expectations for Luka Doncic, how the team will look post LeBron James, how they will integrate Walker Kessler, and more. Host: Dave DuFour Guest: Dan Woike Executive Producer: Andrew Schlecht Video/Audio: Alex Oliver Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dave DuFour is joined by Hunter Patterson, to preview the Detroit Pistons season. They discuss the expectations for Cade Cunningham, how the team will bring back Jalen Duren and the awkwardness of that situation, how Ausar can progress, and more. Host: Dave DuFour Guest: Hunter Patterson Executive Producer: Andrew Schlecht Video/Audio: Alex Oliver Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more in...

Es Baraheni is joined by Doug Haller, to preview the Phoenix Suns season. They discuss the expectations for Devin Booker, if they can repeat their previous season's success, the offseason changes and more. Host: Es Baraheni Guest: Doug Haller Executive Producer: Andrew Schlecht Video/Audio: Alex Oliver Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Es Baraheni is joined by Shreyas Laddha, to preview the Utah Jazz season. They discuss the expectations for Darryn Peterson, how the Jazz could make a leap, the center position and how it could shape the team, who can make a leap and more. Host: Es Baraheni Guest: Shreyas Laddha Executive Producer: Andrew Schlecht Video/Audio: Alex Oliver Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information...