The Just Basketball Show

NBA Media Day has come and gone while the WNBA Finals loom. Chris Manning and Brendon Kleen react to the best moments from media day, break down what will decide the WNBA Finals, and do a deep dive season preview on the Golden State Warriors. Then, Lucas Kaplan joins the show to preview the Brooklyn Nets. 0:00 Intro 1:44 Media day news 14:46 Best media day quotes 38:41 WNBA Finals preview 49:58 Wa...

NBA rosters finally look set and so is the WNBA Finals matchup. Chris Manning and Brendon Kleen are joined by Wes Goldberg to break down the Jrue Holiday trade to the Boston Celtics before previewing the Miami Heat season. Then they go solo to discuss the New York Liberty clinching an appearance in the WNBA Finals and preview the Los Angeles Lakers. 0:00 Intro 0:50 Holiday trade 22:01 Heat preview...

Breanna Stewart won WNBA MVP over A’ja Wilson and Alyssa Thomas, while our NBA season preview series gets to our first 2023 playoff teams. Chris Manning and Brendon Kleen break down the latest in the WNBA playoffs and the three MVP candidates, plus a full preview of this year’s Minnesota Timberwolves and the Karl-Anthony Towns conundrum. Then they welcome Brad Rowland to break down Trae Young and...

Damian Lillard is headed to the Milwaukee Bucks as the Portland Trail Blazers finally hit reset and shirk the Miami Heat. Chris Manning and Brendon Kleen break the deal down from every angle including how Lillard fits with Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks, how Portland handled its business, the Heat's transaction losing streak, and why the Phoenix Suns got involved. Plus, where is Jrue Holi...

The Damian Lillard sweepstakes near a conclusion while our NBA season previews continue. Chris Manning and Brendon Kleen dissect the Toronto Raptors pursuit of Lillard, why the Miami Heat aren’t playing ball, and how each team would look with Lillard. Then, our full season previews for the Chicago Bulls and New Orleans Pelicans. 0:00 Intro 1:01 Lillard latest 25:07 WNBA semis G1s 32:44 Bulls previ...

Our NBA team preview series continues with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers. Chris Manning and Brendon Kleen discuss the rise of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and predict how good the supporting cast in OKC might be around him before being joined by Caitlin Cooper to break down Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers. 0:00 Intro 2:40 Thunder preview 39:25 Pacers preview ____________________...

NBA training camps are close and the WNBA is headed toward Round Two of the playoffs. Brendon Kleen and Chris Manning discuss recent Damian Lillard chatter and what Portland is waiting for, plus the new rest rules and what they tell us about the NBA, owners, players and teams. Then, what we can learn from two recent Lakers move. Finally, a quick check-in on each WNBA playoff series plus our deep-d...

It’s time to preview Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and the Dallas Mavericks as well as the upstart Orlando Magic. Plus, the WNBA playoffs start on Wednesday! Chris Manning and Brendon Kleen welcome Austin Ngaruiya of Dime, D Magazine and more to talk Dallas before analyzing the Magic. Then they bring on Maddy (wnbadata on TikTok) to break down each first-round series of the WNBA postseason. 0:00 Intro...

Team USA failed to medal, two big WNBA free agents went off the board, and the NBA season is looming. Chris Manning and Brendon Kleen react to the end of the FIBA World Cup as well as Jewell Loyd and Betnijah Laney getting contract extensions before going deep on the Charlotte Hornets and Utah Jazz as they continue their NBA season preview series. 0:00 Intro 2:45 FIBA wrap up 18:17 Loyd and Laney...

Our season preview series continues as we break down the new-look Houston Rockets before welcoming Ku Khahil of Locked On Pistons to discuss Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons. First, Brendon Kleen and Chris Manning look ahead to Klay Thompson’s next contract and the future of the Golden State Warriors and break down how Trey Murphy’s meniscus tear could affect his future and this year’s New...

Team USA lost to Lithuania despite 35 points from Anthony Edwards, so we discuss how worried we are about their fate at the FIBA Basketball World Cup. Plus, who should be in Steve Kerr’s closing lineup and what has this tourney taught us about Brandon Ingram? Then, a deep dive season preview on the San Antonio Spurs including their most important players, preseason hype candidates, best lineup, an...

The New York Liberty beat the Las Vegas Aces again, setting the stage for a fascinating WNBA postseason. Chris Manning and Brendon Kleen break down the title odds and preview the WNBA stretch run including the MVP race, the dark horse Washington Mystics and more. But first, a quick check-in on Team USA and a discussion on whether Ben Simmons can return to form in Brooklyn this season. 0:00 Intro 2...

Giannis Antetokounmpo questions his future with the Milwaukee Bucks while France and the USA split in different directions at the FIBA World Cup. Chris Manning and Brendon Kleen discuss it all, but first a quick discussion about PJ Washington, his new contract, and what this season could look like for the Charlotte Hornets. 0:00 Intro 2:53 PJ Washington signed 16:15 Giannis watch 34:46 Frances goe...

The 2023 FIBA World Cup starts on Friday as Anthony Edwards and Team USA try to beat Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Rudy Gobert and more to win gold. Chris Manning and Brendon Kleen are joined by Robby Kalland of DIME to preview the tournament, with full predictions on the champion, MVP, Cinderella team and more. 0:00 Intro 3:43 Team USA analysis 11:09 Ant Edwards breakout? 17:30 Lauri Mark...

From Ja Morant and Zion Williamson’s first halves to the great Milwaukee Bucks regular season to the jump-started Utah Jazz led by Lauri Markkanen, we sift through NBA storylines we forgot from 2023 that will matter this year. Then, Chris Manning and Brendon Kleen discuss the strong second season of “Winning Time,” including the actors, storylines and real-life history. 0:00 Intro 3:33 Pels, Grizz...

The New York Liberty beat the Las Vegas Aces in another WNBA battle of the best in the Commissioner’s Cup Final, is it time to treat New York as the favorites for the title? Brendon Kleen and Chris Manning break it down, but first they sift through injury updates on Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kristaps Porzingis as well as the latest Joel Embiid intrigue and UConn guard Paige Bueckers’ return to the...

James Harden called out Daryl Morey and the Philadelphia 76ers by name at a marketing event in China, adding fuel to the fire that has been brewing between player and team since last December. Brendon Kleen and Chris Manning dissect Harden’s words as well as what they tell us about the Sixers and the NBA more broadly. Then, a discussion of Cooper Flagg reclassifying to graduate next spring and how...

The New York Liberty beat the Las Vegas Aces in a clash of WNBA super teams over the weekend, while Anthony Davis cemented his future with the Los Angeles Lakers. Chris Manning and Brendon Kleen break down the latest across the NBA and WNBA, with additional check-ins on Caitlin Clark and her draft status, Diana Taurasi hitting 10K points, and Team USA after its first exhibition game. 0:00 Intro 1:...

The NBA G League takes center stage in ‘Destination NBA: A G League Odyssey’ the latest sports documentary from Prime Video, featuring Scoot Henderson, Denzel Valentine, Ryan Turrell and more. Chris Manning and Brendon Kleen break down the film and what the NBA might be trying to do with it before being joined by co-directors Liam Hughes and Bryant Robinson to discuss their filmmaking process, wha...

Anthony Edwards leads the way in our 10 most intriguing NBA players of the upcoming season as Chris Manning and Brendon Kleen get hyped for the coming year with their respective lists. They also discuss Bradley Beal, Josh Giddey, Kristaps Porzingis and more. 0:00 Intro 2:15 Make It Basketball game 15:30 Ant Edwards hype 21:50 Most exciting players _________________________________________________...

The NBA sent a memo about Damian Lillard and the Miami Heat that signals paranoia and optics, but not much action. Brendon Kleen and Chris Manning break it down in detail before bringing on Sabreena Merchant of The Athletic to discuss the top of the WNBA standings and the league’s contenders versus pretenders, starting with the two superteams in the Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty. 0:00 Intro...

After Jaylen Brown and the Boston Celtics agreed to the richest contract extension in NBA history, it’s time for our NBA ‘Should Be Traded But Won’t Be’ All-Stars. Chris Manning and Brendon Kleen list off their All-Stars including Karl-Anthony Towns, Tyrese Maxey, Klay Thompson and more. But first, a look at how the Las Vegas Aces could survive Candace Parker’s absence after foot surgery and our l...

The dog days of the NBA offseason are here but there are several key storylines worth watching including Jaylen Brown still without an extension, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s knee “cleanup” surgery, the New York Knicks not having a general manager, and more. Brendon Kleen and Chris Manning discuss the biggest under-the-radar NBA storylines. But first, they put their spin on an NBA version Netflix’s ‘Qu...

While uncertainty surrounds Joel Embiid and James Harden with the Philadelphia 76ers, the NBA will soon move into extension season for players like Immanuel Quickley, Josh Green and Onyeka Okongwu. Chris Manning and Brendon Kleen give their predictions on whether the 2023 class of extensions will or won’t happen by the October deadline, plus match them up with the most similar deal from 2022. Plus...

NBA players will get a tech for flopping, will it stick or fall by the wayside? Brendon Kleen and Chris Manning break it down before breaking down Luka Doncic, Trae Young and more in a 2018 NBA Redraft. Plus, a look at the 10 players who have defined the WNBA season at the midway point, including A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart and Aliyah Boston. This episode was produced by Jake Stephens and Dillon...