Hooper's Almanac

In this episode, Mitchell Soell and Austin Johnson discuss the creation and structure of their ambitious 2K simulation league, highlighting the excitement of drafting and the community involved. They explore the league's unique team rebranding and the creative elements that set it apart. The conversation centers on the excitement of fantasy basketball, focusing on team branding, management strateg...

Mitch brings on his brother Evan, while his usual co-host, Adam, galavants across Greece, Turkey, and England. They start the sixth year of the Hooper's Almanac off as they should, with Mitch's tiers. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the NBA Season 02:57 Excitement for the Upcoming Season 06:13 Teams to Watch: Indiana Pacers 08:52 Portland Trailblazers: A New Era 12:03 New Faces in New Places 15:08...

Adam and Mitch wrap up Season 1 of Anatomy of a Superstar with another Mount Rushmore Player, Michael Jordan. They bring on Austin Johnson to discuss Jordan's impact on nearly every generation of NBA fans, his playstyle, and his drive to win at all costs. Chapters 00:00 The Rise of a Legend 01:03 The Impact of 'The Last Dance' 07:43 Jordan's Cultural Significance 15:12 The Unmatched Career of Mich...

Adam and Mitch start talking about one of the active players on their list: Nikola Jokic. After a strange introduction to the league, Jokic's career has been special ever since. 00:00 The Rise of Nikola Jokic 02:56 Offensive Mastery and Unique Skills 06:00 Jokic's Impact on Team Success 08:54 Career Milestones and MVP Seasons 11:53 Defining Moments in Jokic's Career 14:59 The Perfect Fit: Jokic an...

Adam and Mitch bring on Carl Baltimore again this offseason to talk about one of, if not the greatest, shooting big men in NBA history: Dirk Nowitzki. A player who revolutionized the stretch big man, delivered one of the greatest title runs in NBA history, and was one of the most likable players in the sport. Chapters 00:00 The Legacy of Dirk Nowitzki 09:45 Dirk's Playing Style and Impact 19:56 Me...

Adam and Mitch go back to the 90s and 2000s to talk about one of the best perimeter defenders, Gary Payton. "The Glove" is known more for his defense, but his consistency on both ends of the floor is underrated. 00:00 The Impact of Gary Payton 01:26 Defensive Player of the Year 02:26 Gary Payton's Offensive Contribution 29:08 Gary Payton's Defensive Dominance 30:38 Gary Payton's Offensive Impact 3...

The conversation delves into the career of Bob Pettit, highlighting his impact as the inventor of the power forward position and his dominance as a scorer and rebounder. The limited footage available for analysis presents a challenge, but defining games of Pettit's career are discussed, along with comparisons with modern players. The conversation concludes with a reflection on Pettit's legacy and...

The conversation delves into the career and impact of John Havelchek, highlighting his consistency, versatility, and pivotal moments in NBA history. It explores his role as a key Celtics player, his impact on the team's success, and his remarkable longevity in the league. The conversation delves into the unique experience of watching a vintage NBA game, highlighting the broadcast's limitations and...

***SCHEDULING NOTE*** Gary Payton's episode has been moved to later in the summer due to scheduling. Adam and Mitch bring on their Wolves expert, Andrew Carlson. A big Garnett fan, Carlson and Mitch bond over their love for KG, while Adam shares his admiration and appreciation for the great power forward. Chapters 00:00 The Anatomy of a Superstar 01:17 KG's Impact on the Timberwolves 02:22 KG's In...

The conversation delves into Kevin Durant's career, from his beginnings to his controversial moves and polarizing nature. It explores his impact on the league, his future, and his NBA legacy. The conversation methodically explores Kevin Durant's trajectory, including his MVP season, iconic playoff games, and the 2017 Finals. It examines specific games, pivotal moments, and how Durant's performance...

Adam and Mitch discuss the sport's most dominant scorer, Wilt Chamberlain. A player who, in one season, averaged more minutes than in a regulation game. A player who averaged over 50 points per game. The Player who has the highest-scoring game in NBA history. Chapters 00:00 The Dominance of Wilt Chamberlain 02:34 The Impact of Wilt Chamberlain 25:22 The Dominance of the Play-by-Play Commentator 26...

Adam and Mitch bring on a new guest, Ryan Leiss, to talk about one of his favorite players who inspired the college player he would become: Steve Nash. A player whose playing style designed new offenses, created more possessions, and was truly one of the top point guards in sports history. Chapters 00:00 The Influence of Steve Nash 06:07 Defining Moments in Nash's Career 13:30 Game Analysis: 2003...

Adam and Mitch bring back Austin Johnson to talk about one of the best players to never win a title, Charles Barkley. "The Round Mound of Rebound" has been an impactful player and voice to the NBA from the mid-80s all the way to the modern game. We are excited to break down his career in this episode. Chapters 00:00 Charles Barkley's Impact on the Game 30:02 Charles Barkley's Dominance and Impact...

Adam and Mitch finally crack into the Mount Rushmore of their player rankings. The duo discusses one of the greatest scorers of all time, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and one of the most unstoppable shots ever. Chapters 00:00 Kareem Abdul Jabbar's Dominance and Impact 30:58 The 1980 NBA Finals 32:08 Kareem's Injury and Comeback 33:03 Kareem's Fourth Quarter Dominance 34:14 Kareem's Impact on the Game 35:2...

Adam and Mitch are back, talking about one of the best point guards in the league's history, Isiah Thomas. Chapters 00:00 The Babyface Assassin 03:18 On-Court Impact and Leadership 05:46 Game Analysis: Pistons vs. Lakers (1985) 13:55 Game Analysis: Pistons vs. Blazers (1990) 26:17 Leadership and Maturity of Isaiah Thomas 28:05 Strategic Gameplay of the Pistons 30:10 Dramatic Finish of the Game 43:...

Adam and Mitch move forward through their summer series with one of the most dominant scorers in the history of the sport, Shaq. One of the players in our Top 10 tier, Shaq's impact on the league is hard to quantify. Chapters 00:00 The Dominance of Shaquille O'Neal 02:45 The Anatomy of a Superstar 05:56 Shaq's Career and Legacy 08:52 Game Analysis: 1994-95 Regular Season 25:01 Game Analysis: 2000...

Adam and Mitch bring on the biggest Russell Westbrook fan they know, Evan Soell. As he retires this summer, it becomes more and more real how important a player he has been to this generation of players. Chapters 00:00 The Anatomy of a Superstar 03:13 The Impact of Russell Westbrook 05:52 The Unstoppable Force 09:00 The Peak of Russell Westbrook 11:54 Defining Moments 15:01 The Legacy of Russell W...

Adam and Mitch bring back Austin Johnson to talk about one of the greatest "sidekicks" in NBA history, Scottie Pippen. The trio discusses one of the greatest perimeter defenders in league history as well as one of the first point forwards. We discuss the highs of one of the greats, but also some of the lows that stopped him from being a true first option. Chapters 00:00 The Legacy of Scottie Pippe...

Adam and Mitch return to talk about one of the great clutch players, two-way stars, and underrated point guards in the history of the sport, Walt Frazier. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Walt Frazier 03:17 Walt Frazier's Defensive Prowess 07:05 Five Games That Define Walt Frazier's Career 12:10 1969 Eastern Division Finals Game One 17:13 Walt Frazier's Complete Performance 36:07 Walt Frazier's Lega...

Adam and Mitch bring on a first-time guest, Brayden Neubauer, to discuss the first of the Top 10 players in the Top 50 Players list, Larry Bird. Everything from the incredible shot-making, the all-around dominance, to the incredible shit talking gets covered in this episode. Chapters 00:00 The Legend of Larry Bird 01:59 The Impact on the NBA 07:11 Defining Games 21:00 Career High Performance 26:39...

Adam and Mitch break down one of the most underrated players in NBA History, Moses Malone. An NBA Finals MVP, a multi-time regular-season MVP, and is considered the best offensive rebounder of all time, Malone's impact on the sport is undervalued. Chapters 00:00 The Underrated Legacy of Moses Malone 03:01 The Impact of Team Hopping and Lack of Consistent Support 21:07 The 1983 Sixers Team 24:39 Mo...

Adam and Mitch bring back Austin Johnson to talk about the Point God, Chris Paul. Everything from his time in New Orleans to Lob City, to all the stops where he ends his career. Chapters 00:00 Chris Paul's Impact 03:05 The Evolution of Chris Paul's Role 33:37 Setting the Stage: Utah Jazz vs. Houston Rockets 34:06 Chris Paul's Dominant Performance 34:53 The Evolution of Chris Paul 35:22 Chris Paul'...

Adam and Mitch are back to discuss the 90's Knicks titan, Patrick Ewing. A player whose dominance on both sides of the ball continuously put the New York Knicks franchise in a place to win. 00:00 The Dominance of Patrick Ewing 01:15 Two-Way Dominance and Athleticism 03:07 Reliability and Underrated Legacy 04:37 Challenges and Rivalries 06:27 Ewing's Best Season and Game 26:04 Setting the Stage: Th...

The conversation delves into the legacy of Bob Cousy, his impact on the NBA, rewatching his games, his final game, and his influence and legacy. Chapters (00:00) The Legacy of Bob Cousy (03:06) Bob Cousy's Impact on the NBA (08:13) Rewatching Bob Cousy's Games (13:10) Bob Cousy's Final Game (22:02) Bob Cousy's Influence and Legacy

The left-handed offensive engine, James Harden, cracks our Top 50 Players of All-Time. Adam and Mitch break down his regular season success, his playoff shortcomings, and everything in between for this episode of Anatomy of a Superstar