Pro Basketball Talk on NBC Sports podcast

Kevin Durant drama keeps unfolding like a good television series, and Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin of NBC Sports get into all of it: Durant's "the coach and GM or me" ultimatum to owner Joe Tsai, the stalled out negotiations, and how long things can drag out. Then the duo disagrees on what this says about Durant's legacy as a guy who puts the game first — did he tear down Brooklyn and ask out, or...

Bill Russell helped change the game on the court, but Corey Robinson of NBC Sports talks about the impact he had off the court and the respect other greats of the game (like Corey's father David) have for Mr. Russell. After that discussion, Corey and Kurt Helin get into the modern Celtics with a discussion of a potential Jaylen Brown for Kevin Durant trade and whether that would be wise. The focus...

In what will be a new regular feature for NBC Sports PBT podcast, Corey Robinson — the son of NBA legend David Robinson and a former wide receiver for Notre Dame — and Kurt Helin talk all the news around the NBA. That includes trade talk, such as what should be the asking price for Donovan Mitchell and do the Jazz just want picks? The duo discusses if Russell Westbrook can find a role with the Lak...

The Jazz trading Donovan Mitchell to the Knicks seems like a matter of when , not if . Dan Feldman and Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune discuss what the final trade might include, how New York will look with Mitchell, how Utah will look without Mitchell, the Rudy Gobert-Karl-Anthony Towns pairing with the Timberwolves, the misunderstood Royce O'Neale-Nets trade, reporting in the Mitchell saga...

What will the Nets do with Kyrie Irving? Dan Feldman and Nate Duncan of the " Dunc'd On " podcast hold mock trade negotiations between the Nets, Lakers and Mavericks: Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Hollinger of The Athletic coined the term "Bird Rights Trap" to describe when a team can exceed the salary cap to re-sign a helpful player but wouldn't open cap space if the player leaves. Dan Feldman and Keith Smith of Spotrac analyze teams caught in the Bird Rights Trap this summer, making calls on whether they should pay up or let the player walk: 76ers: James Harden Wizards: Bradley Beal...

Why did the Magic run a subterfuge campaign before drafting Paolo Banchero No. 1, and – more importantly – was he worth the top pick ? Which teams drafted the best fits? How did the Knicks, Thunder, Pistons, Hornets, Grizzlies and 76ers do in their trades ? Dan Feldman and Kurt Helin review the 2022 NBA Draft . Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our...

Auburn's Jabari Smith, Gonzaga's Chet Holmgren or Duke's Paolo Banchero? Dan Feldman and Jeremy Woo of Sports Illustrated discuss the big three prospects in the 2022 NBA Draft, several other players slotted for the first round and a couple sleepers. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. See omnys...

Was it the Warriors' championship mettle and experience, or did the Celtics beat themselves? Or, was it just the fact Stephen Curry was just the best player in the series by a mile. Kurt Helin and Dan Feldman from NBC Sports sit courtside at the TD Garden in Boston not long after Golden State was crowned NBA Champions for the fourth time in eight years and talked about the Warriors' underrated def...

The Warriors beat the Celtics in Game 2 , tying the NBA Finals 1-1. Dan Feldman and Kurt Helin discuss Draymond Green's behavior, Stephen Curry's scoring and how Boston can adjust: Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Boston Celtics vs. the Golden State Warriors for the NBA Title. It's a fitting matchup. There are fascinating storylines of franchise history, and it's a chess of player matchups. Stephen Curry with Marcus Smart on him, Jayson Tatum guarded by Andrew Wiggins. Kurt Helin of NBCSports.com and Mark Medina of NBA.com break down the Finals matchup, the history, and what it means for both franchises...

The Heat trail the Celtics 3-2 in the Eastern Conference finals and look worn down . Yet, in a season that included an infamous blowup between Erik Spoelstra and Jimmy Butler, Miami made another deep playoff run behind its tremendous culture. Dan Feldman and Wes Goldberg of Locked On Heat preview the NBA Finals and discuss the Heat's present predicament and their future with Butler, Kyle Lowry, Ba...

The Magic have won 11 playoff series in franchise history. All 11 happened with a player they drafted No. 1. After experiencing major success with 1992 No. 1 pick Shaquille O'Neal (and Penny Hardaway, who was acquired in a draft-day trade for 1993 No. 1 pick, Chris Webber) and 2004 No. 1 pick Dwight Howard, Orlando has once again won the NBA draft lottery . Will the Magic select Auburn's Jabari Sm...

Dan Feldman and Jared Weiss of The Athletic discuss Celtics-Bucks , Sean Marks' comments on Kyrie Irving, Executive of the Year , Danny Ainge's task with the Jazz and the NBA naming conference finals MVPs . Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a blip , the Suns – up 2-0 on the Mavericks with Devin Booker healthy – have regained their status as championship favorite . The other three second-round series look far closer. Grizzlies-Warriors and Celtics-Bucks are each tied 1-1. Though the Heat are up 2-0 on the 76ers , Joel Embiid could return . Dan Feldman and J. Michael of the Orlando Sentinel discuss all four ongoing playoff series...

The Suns lost Devin Booker to injury . The Bucks lost Khris Middleton to injury . The Nets just lost . Meanwhile, the already-strong Warriors (with Stephen Curry getting healthier ), Celtics (with Robert Williams getting healthier ) and Heat (at least if Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry are healthy ) look even better than expected. Not even a full round through the playoffs, the NBA championship race l...

Just five days into the NBA playoffs, the landscape is already shifting dramatically. Dan Feldman and James Boyd of The Indianapolis Star discuss who has had the pressure on them increase most since the playoffs began. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

The NBA playoffs tip-off this weekend and it's the best time of the NBA season — and a chance for savvy betters to make some money. Drew Dinsick of NBC Sports Edge (@whale_capper on Twitter) joins NBC's Kurt Helin (@basketballtalk) to break down all the first-round matchups. Are the Miami Heat undervalued by betters? Are the Milwaukee Bucks overvalued? Who comes out on top when Kevin Durant, Kyrie...

Which NBA players have improved most during their careers? Dan Feldman gave his top 10 list for 2022 Utmost Improved Player . He and Brett Koremenos discuss their top candidates for the award. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All-NBA debate is already raging more than a week before the season ends. Dan Feldman and Michael Pina of Sports Illustrated give their picks. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I intended to talk only briefly with Chris Herring of Sports Illustrated about the 1990s Knicks. Those teams had such a strong identity – which fit some players exceptionally well… and others not so much. The plan was to pivot into the current NBA, ranking the players who fit best and worst with their current teams. But Herring's new book – " Blood in the Garden: The Flagrant History of the 1990s...

Dan Feldman and " The Midrange Theory " author Seth Partnow – who also writes for the The Athletic and hosts " Callin Shots " – rank: Three NBA players most underrated by traditional box-score statistics Three NBA players most overrated by traditional box-score statistics Three NBA players most underrated by advanced statistics Three NBA players most overrated by advanced statistics Hosted by Simp...

Russell Westbrook wants to be treated with a certain level of deference. He wants the Lakers to keep his role prominent . He reportedly wants to leave Los Angeles  this summer, even with the complication of his contract running through next season. And, most recently, he wants everyone to stop calling him "Westbrick" – publicly issuing a personal/appeal warning about how the nickname unacceptably...

Five teams have emerged as consensus favorites to win the 2022 NBA title: Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Nets and Brooklyn Nets. Does anyone else belong in that group? Eight other teams have at least a 98% chance of making the playoffs, according to The Ringer : Miami Heat (41-22) Chicago Bulls (39-23) Cleveland Cavaliers (36-26) Boston Celtics (37-27) Memphis G...

The greatest concentration of easily correctable NBA problems occur around All-Star. On the ProBasketballTalk Podcast, Dan Feldman and Michael Lee of The Washington Post fix NBA All-Star – from selecting rosters to Rising Stars to the dunk contest to the All-Star game itself: Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data...