The Ringer Nba Show

We revisit some of the stories and players that we dropped the ball on covering this year—including Goran Dragic (the unsung anchor of the Miami Heat), Victor Oladipo’s return to form, Alex Caruso, and more. Hosts: Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We look to other countries’ professional basketball leagues and wonder whether the NBA can develop a model to return that works in the United States (0:42) before discussing a bevy of college players that have declared for the NBA draft in the time since basketball’s hiatus began (12:46). Then, we revisit some of the questions we didn’t get to from last Friday’s mailbag, including basketball book and movie recommendations, potential rule changes to the league, and more (21:11). Hosts: Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We sifted through all your questions and picked our favorites: What were our most memorable arguments? Which teams are primed to blow it up next season? What music are we listening to? And much more. Hosts: Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kevin reacts to the news that his favorite football player of all time, Tom Brady, is leaving the New England Patriots (0:00). Then, we discuss the NBA’s myriad of options for proceeding with the season—all contingent on global news—and discuss what we’ve been doing while sports have been on hiatus (0:00). Hosts: Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In light of the news that the Utah Jazz’s Rudy Gobert has tested positive for COVID-19, the NBA announced that the 2019-20 season has been suspended. Hosts: Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lakers lose a shocker to the Nets, only their second defeat in 13 games (1:04). We then discuss what rebuilding looks like for the league and its teams these days (10:12). Plus: another segment of Line ’Em Up, where Tjarks analyzes the lineups we are seeing on the floor (33:17). Host: Chris Ryan Guest: Jonathan Tjarks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kevin wonders whether LeBron James should be getting more serious consideration for the MVP award, which leads us to a knock-down, drag-out fight about whether or not Khris Middleton is a top-20 player in the NBA (0:40). Then, with the coronavirus threatening to affect the NBA regular season, we imagine what it might be like if games have to be played without fans (36:40). Host: Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Instant Replay: In this special extended segment, the gang looks at the latest news from around the NBA, including what further precautions the league might take to respond to the coronavirus outbreak. They also discuss the Nets' firing of Kenny Atkinson as well as LeBron looking a lot like an MVP (03:57). Good Call/Bad Call: The 'Heat Check' family gets weird, and concocts and drinks the Ben Bartch smoothie with special guest Colleen Wolfe of the NFL Network (34:16). Host: John Gonzalez Guests: Haley O'Shaughnessy, Dan Devine, Colleen Wolfe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Here are some highlights from our podcast 'Winging It With Vince Carter.' On this special preview, Vince and Annie Finberg talk to an array of guests from around the NBA, including Lamar Odom, Markelle Fultz, and Kyle Lowry. You can find 'Winging It' on the Ringer Podcast Network wherever you find podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After laying it on the Houston Rockets last night, the full-strength Clippers look about as good, if not better, than anyone in the NBA right now. Can they reach their final gear when the playoffs roll around (1:21)? Plus: We discuss Andrew Wiggins’s future with the Warriors and the race for the eighth seed in the West (10:49). Hosts: Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our very own Chris Ryan recaps what he saw last night at the Lakers-Sixers game (1:45). Spike Lee addresses his feud with the Knicks and the infamous James Dolan (19:15). Plus: Line ’Em Up—a Jonathan Tjarks Joint, a new segment where Tjarks highlights the most pressing story lines in the league (28:30).  Host: Justin Verrier  Guests: Chris Ryan and Jonathan Tjarks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In Kevin’s return to the show, we return to our old ways: arguing about James Harden’s gather dribble and Giannis’s claim to the MVP (10:30). Then, we discuss the Knicks' awkward handling of Spike Lee (29:40), the Elam ending in the All-Star Game, and Jayson Tatum’s ascendance since Kevin’s absence from the podcast (56:26). Host: Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Instant Replay: The Knicks make a hire, developments in the Giannis-Harden beef, and the Timberwolves get a resting policy violation (03:16). The Main Event: We play Heat Check Survivor and vote tired conversations off Heat Check Island (22:58). Good Call/Bad Call: Dan Devine gets a new nickname, the aftermath of the mystery box, and should the gang try a disgusting smoothie (37:49)? Host: John Gonzalez Guests: Haley O'Shaughnessy, Dan Devine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We parse James Harden’s comments in response to Giannis Antetokounmpo passing him over during the All-Star draft (16:28), before breaking down which middle-seeded Western Conference playoff teams should be the most feared (22:47). Finally, we take a look at the lowly Chicago Bulls, who are getting good minutes from Coby White, and try to determine which of their young players most deserve to stay for the long haul (44:34). Host: Chris Vernon Guest: Jonathan Tjarks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks walked away with a win over Toronto, but who deserves the credit? Zion Williamson faced off against LeBron James in their first matchup and gave us a glimpse into what we can anticipate for the rest of the season from this young Pelicans team. Plus, Ben Simmons's back injury and the tentative timeline for his return to the court. Hosts: Justin Verrier and Chris Ryan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We recap some news from around the league, including Vanessa Bryant’s moving tribute to Kobe Bryant, Bradley Beal’s big scoring night, and Ben Simmons’s back injury (2:15). Then, we preview what it will mean when Zion Williamson plays in Los Angeles against LeBron James for the first time in his career (46:39). Finally, we finish by talking about some draft prospects that might fly under the radar (58:03).  Host: Chris Vernon Guest: Jonathan Tjarks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Instant Replay: Dwyane Wade's jersey is retired, Mark Cuban has a very expensive meltdown, and we analyze the buyout market (03:08) The Main Event: The gang takes a look at Dan's ranking of the NBA’s five most interesting teams of the stretch run, including the Rockets, Pelicans, and podcast favorite Grizzlies (21:31). Good Call/Bad Call: Zion debuting some new shoes, spending time at a Milwaukee casino, and deciding to go in on a $100 mystery box (40:39). Host: John Gonzalez Guests: Haley O'Shaughnessy, Dan Devine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We go over some highlights of the first night the NBA returned to action, including Trae Young's and Joel Embiid’s big games against the Miami Heat and Brooklyn Nets, respectively (1:27). Then we try to make sense of the Western Conference playoff race and predict who will grab the eighth seed out of Memphis, Portland, and New Orleans (25:39). Host: Chris Vernon Guest: Jonathan Tjarks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With a new head coach and a less-than-impressive season, what does the future look like for the Cleveland Cavaliers (3:30)? Plus, major story lines for the rest of the regular season: the impact of buyouts for the league (16:30), what Kyrie Irving’s injury means for the Nets (28:55), and Giannis’s MVP reputation (39:28). Host: Justin Verrier Guest: Rob Mahoney Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We run down a list of items, including rumors that John Beilein might be on his way out in Cleveland and news that the G League is unionizing (1:23). Then, with the All-Star Game in the rearview, we ask four questions about the landscape of the league, including: Who should the Bucks and Lakers fear most in their respective conferences (27:12)? Hosts: Chris Vernon and Jonathan Tjarks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices