Read and React

Ben Ladner and Jon Sauber discuss and debate the top 30 players in the NBA going into the 2024-25 season. 

Ben Ladner and Jon Sauber break down the blockbuster trade involving Karl-Anthony Towns, Donte DiVincenzo, and Julius Randle, and where it leaves the Wolves and Knicks heading into the 2025 NBA season. Then they discuss the recent extensions signed by Steph Curry, Joel Embiid, and Jamal Murray, and the departures of two seminal media figures at ESPN. 

Ben Ladner and Jon Sauber discuss the United States' gold medal win in the Paris Olympics, including LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Kevin Durant's ageless performances, Jayson Tatum's lack of playing time, and the state of international basketball. Plus: What the U.S. men's basketball team could look like in 2028. 

Ben Ladner and Jon Sauber traverse the post-free agency landscape, breaking down the biggest signings, trades, and dominoes yet to fall in the league, including: how Paul George reshapes the 76ers; whether the Nuggets are still in the top tier of the Western Conference; the Pelicans trading for Dejounte Murray; Dallas' upgrades on the wing; and much more. 

Ben Ladner and Jon Sauber recap the two-day event that was the 2024 NBA Draft, including which players might fit the best on their new teams, how some of the more experienced rookies might help their new teams next season, Bronny James' fit on the Lakers, and more. Then, they dive into the Knicks' busy week that included trading for Mikal Bridges and re-signing OG Anunoby.   

Ben Ladner and Jon Sauber are joined by Brad Rowland of Locked On Hawks and Dime UPROXX to discuss the most interesting prospects in the 2024 NBA Draft, including the two Frenchmen at the top of the board, first-round sleepers who could make an impact, the Hawks' options with the first pick, who the Spurs should target, and much more. 

Ben Ladner and Jon Sauber break down the Boston Celtics' run to their 18th NBA title, including Jaylen Brown winning Finals MVP, how last offseason solidified the team, their incredible balance, Joe Mizzula's coaching, and much more. Then they dive into the Thunder trading Josh Giddey for Alex Caruso and a pair of coaching hires. 

Ben Ladner and Jon Sauber break down the Celtics' wins over the Mavericks in the first two games of the NBA Finals, including how Boston has defended Dallas' pick-and-roll attack, Luka Doncic's brilliance, who the "best player" on the Celtics is, and much more. 

Ben Ladner and Jon Sauber break down the tactical and strategic battles that could swing the NBA Finals, including how the Celtics will defend Luka Doncic in the pick-and-roll, why Kristaps Porzingis is so important in the series, and much more. Plus: a discussion on how modern championship teams are built, the stylistic differences between the Celtics and Mavericks, and a note on the late Bill Wa...

As the NBA playoffs start to heat up, Ben Ladner and Jon Sauber discuss how the Wolves dethroned the Nuggets and where Denver goes from here, the parity in the NBA over the last six seasons, the strategic and tactical areas that will determine the Conference Finals series, and much more. 

Ben Ladner and Jon Sauber discuss the Denver Nuggets' dominant bounceback after falling behind to the Timberwolves, the Thunder's gritty Game 4 win over the Mavericks, and where each second-round series could be headed. Then they touch on the Hawks jumping to the top of the lottery, Trae Young's future in Atlanta, and whether the top pick might pull the Hawks out of mediocrity. 

Ben Ladner and Jon Sauber break down and predict every first-round and play-in matchup of the NBA postseason, including how the 76ers might look with a healthy Joel Embiid in the lineup, the high stakes of Mavs-Clippers III, how Giannis' injury impacts the Bucks' chances against the Pacers, whether the Warriors will scrap their way to a playoff spot, and much, much more. 

Ben Ladner and Jon Sauber pick and discuss their unofficial awards ballots for the 2023-24 NBA season, including a disagreement on who should win MVP, LeBron James' All-NBA candidacy, whether Victor Wembanyama is already the Defensive Player of the Year frontrunner, which young players improved the most this season, and much more. 

Ben Ladner and Jon Sauber discuss the jam-packed races for the 3-8 seeds in the Eastern Conference, which play-in teams pose the greatest threat to the top seeds, the Magic's sudden rise, potential fit issues in Cleveland, and much more. 

Ben Ladner and Jon Sauber debate whether the Oklahoma City Thunder's inexperience will matter in the postseason and whether the Nuggets have taken a step back or just taken their foot off the gas. Then they check in on the MVP race and look at the Celtics' potential weaknesses in the playoffs. Plus: the rock-paper-scissors game between the top teams in the West, the biggest threats to those teams,...

Ben Ladner and Jon Sauber break down the most impactful trades of a relatively quiet NBA trade deadline. Then they discuss Joel Embiid's meniscus injury, how much the 65-game rule is to blame, and how it affects the MVP race.

Ben Ladner and Jon Sauber discuss the impact of the OG Anunoby-Immanuel Quickley trade on the Knicks, Raptors, and NBA as a whole. Then they break down the Thunder's rise to the top of the Western Conference, the new crop of stars in the NBA, how today's league fits into the arc of NBA history, and much more.

Just over a month into the NBA season, Ben Ladner and Jon Sauber discuss the NBA In-Season Tournament, how it has changed the regular season, and who could win it. Then they assess how Boston's 3-point heavy offense might translate in the playoffs and the new wave of lead guards taking over the NBA.

Ben Ladner and Jon Sauber discuss the Clippers' struggles since trading for James Harden, Tyrese Maxey's early breakout and the Sixers' improved offensive continuity, why the Bucks have yet to find a rhythm on either end of the floor, and other key storylines from the three weeks of the NBA season.

Ben Ladner and Jon Sauber react to the Sixers trading James Harden to the Clippers, discuss how the trade affects both teams on the court, and assess potential next steps for the 76ers.

Ben Ladner and Jon Sauber prepare for the new NBA season by bouncing around to the most interesting, exciting, and confusing teams in the league. Can anyone crack the Milwaukee/Boston tier in the East? Do the Hawks have a path toward short-term relevance? How will Chris Paul fit with the Warriors? Can the Kings replicate last season's success? They also discuss their predictions and expectations f...

Ben Ladner and Jon Sauber discuss a busy week in NBA media, including Calvin Booth's inflammatory comments to the Ringer, profiles on Shams Charania and Adrian Wojnarowski, Terance Mann's reported trade (un)availability, and much more.

Ben Ladner and Jon Sauber break down the Celtics' huge trade for Jrue Holiday, including where it leaves other Holiday suitors, Portland's handling of the Damian Lillard situation, and how much better Boston will really be next season. Then they react to Devin Vassell's 5-year, $146 million extension with the Spurs.

Ben Ladner and Jon Sauber break down every angle of the blockbuster trade of Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks, including how Lillard will elevate Milwaukee's offense, where Jrue Holiday could be traded next, what the Suns might see in Jusuf Nurkic, and much more.

Ben Ladner and Jon Sauber discuss the top 30(ish) players in the NBA, including some rising young stars in the league, LeBron's gentle decline, and whether anyone else is on Nikola Jokic's level right now. Plus: What these rankings can tell us about the state of the modern NBA.