News From Around the League and Reflecting on Kobe Bryant | Heat Check
29 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Today on 'Heat Check,' John, Dan, and Haley take a look at the news around the NBA, talk about a few...
Grappling With the Death of Kobe Bryant | The Mismatch
28 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We try to come to terms with the life and death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant after a tragic helicopter ...
Remembering Kobe Bryant | Group Chat
27 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Justin Verrier and Rob Mahoney remember Kobe Bryant on the day after the tragic death of the legenda...
All-Star Starters, Zion’s Return, and Montrezl Harrell Rumors. Plus: Horford for Gallinari? | The Mismatch
24 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We review the announced starters for the NBA’s All-Star Game (1:02) before discussing Zion William...
The Boring Clippers, Zion’s Debut, and Trade Deadline Preview | Group Chat
22 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Los Angeles Clippers are really, really good. But does that make them uninteresting to watch (0:...
The Lakers Are Missing a Piece. Plus: Ben Simmons Is Unleashed | The Mismatch
21 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Lakers got walloped by the Celtics last night—is there more to take away from this one game th...
Kent Bazemore Traded, Kyrie Back on the Record, and All-Star Starting Ballots | Heat Check
20 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Instant Replay: The Blazers have cut ties with Kent Bazemore and Kyrie Irving is back saying weird t...
Reassessing Brandon Ingram’s Ceiling, Talking Zion’s Return, and Examining the Depth of Denver | The Mismatch
17 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
After Brandon Ingram scored 49 points to outduel Donovan Mitchell, we wonder whether it’s realisti...
The Fast & Furious Grizzlies, SGA Is the Future, and Why the Bucks Don’t Get Their Due | Group Chat
15 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We discuss the impressive new-era Grizzlies (1:57), teams looking to go all in at the trade deadline...
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Is a Budding Superstar. Plus: Why Would Anyone Trade for Andre Drummond? | The Mismatch
14 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We review Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s historic triple-double and look at what the Clippers gave up w...
The Spurs Keep Coming Back | Heat Check
13 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Instant Replay: The Nets beat the Hawks, plus the impact of Spencer Dinwiddie's off-court interests,...
Kevin Durant vs. Kendrick Perkins. Plus: Russ Returns to OKC but Chris Paul Prevails. | The Mismatch
10 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We discuss the overperforming Oklahoma City Thunder and whether they should still consider dealing t...
Three Old Men and a Dunk Contest | Heat Check
08 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Instant Replay: Anthony Davis busts his bum, Blake Griffin is no longer the bee’s knees, and more ...
The Wild, Wild West and Midseason Overreactions | The Mismatch
07 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Spurs, Pelicans, and Grizzlies have all looked quite encouraging as of late; do they have what i...
Can the Sixers Fix Themselves With a Trade? Plus: The Never-ending Kevin Love Speculation | Group Chat
06 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Sixers are 3-7 in their last 10 games—is the floor really dropping out from under them, or are...
David Stern’s Monumental Legacy, the NBA’s Middle Class, and the Return of Zion | The Mismatch
03 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We take some time to review David Stern’s illustrious life and career after the news of his death ...
Pelicans, Suns, Timberwolves: Who Can Still Turn It Around? | The Mismatch
31 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We break down a Western Conference trio that had high hopes coming into the season but have struggle...
The Lakers Come Up Short Again Against the Clippers. Plus: Rockets Falter, Carlisle Calls the Post Extinct. | The Mismatch
27 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We recap the Christmas Day games: Are the Clippers better suited for the playoffs than the Lakers? D...
NBA Christmas Day Preview. Plus: Ben Simmons Is Jahlil Okafor and Michael Carter-Williams All in One. | The Mismatch
24 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Kevin deep-dives on his spicy Ben Simmons take (1:10) before we run down our wishes for the rest of ...
What’s the Point of an In-Season Tournament? | Heat Check
23 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Instant Replay: The Denver Nuggets’ sneaky resurgence, a Siakam-less Raptors comeback, IT suspende...
Is Giannis the Best Player in The World?| The Mismatch
20 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The weekend is here, and we are here to talk about the excellent face-off between the Lakers and the...
Are the Knicks Good or Are the Hawks Just That Bad? Plus: Solving the Sixers and Cutting Bait SZN. | Group Chat
18 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The New York Knicks win their third game in four against the Atlanta Hawks, exposing the Hawks’ ro...
The Bucks Stop There, Pelicans Down for the Count, and Drake Is Still Weird | Heat Check
17 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Instant Replay (03:24): News from around the league, including the end of the Bucks’ win streak, D...
Can the Lakers or Bucks Amass 73 Wins? | The Mismatch
16 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
With the Lakers and Bucks on a crash course to meet each other with identical 25-3 records, we wonde...
Luka Lights Up Mexico City. Plus: Is There a Trade Out There for the Celtics? | The Mismatch
13 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
With Luka Doncic continuing to put up gaudy numbers (this time in Mexico), we imagine a world in whi...
The Top 25 Players of the 2019-20 Season Thus Far | Group Chat
11 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We run down our lists of the 25 best NBA players so far this season, including Giannis Antetokounmpo...
The Bucks and Lakers Are the Cream of the Balanced NBA’s Crop. Plus: Trade Season Preview and the Denied Rockets Protest. | The Mismatch
10 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers continue to thrive atop their respective conferences, but...
Will Kevin Get Love, the Knicks Fire Fizdale, and Untucked Jerseys | Heat Check
09 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Instant Replay (03:40): News from around the league, the state of the Cavs and what the price of Kev...
The NBA’s Replay Review System Is Flawed. So Do the Rockets Have a Point? | The Mismatch
06 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We discuss the James Harden dunk that wasn’t counted in the Houston Rockets’ double-overtime los...
Does the NBA Have a TV Ratings Problem? | Group Chat
04 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We take a look at the Rockets protesting their loss to the Spurs (2:00) and discuss the NBA’s plum...
Giannis, Harden, and Luka Have Broken PER. Plus: Are the Raptors the 1993-94 Bulls? | The Mismatch
03 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The high-usage superstars of the league have all become so dominant and efficient that they’re in ...
The Ceiling For the Clippers, Nets Momentum without Irving, and Love Chokes | Heat Check
02 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Instant Replay (03:16): The Clippers and Raptors had wonderful games with no signs of slowing down. ...
A Thanksgiving NBA Mailbag! | Group Chat
27 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The ‘Group Chat’ crew answers questions from you, the listeners! Topics include: the biggest “...
The NBA’s Radical Proposed Schedule Shakeups. Plus: Is Giannis as Big a Star as He Deserves to Be? | The Mismatch
26 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We break down the ins and outs of the proposed changes to the NBA schedule, including playoff reseed...
Big League Changes, the Spurs' Surprise Victory, and Crazy Jersey Choices | Heat Check
25 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Instant Replay: The Spurs and the Bulls pull one out of the hat, along with Jimmy Butler returning t...
Brandon Ingram Is Better Than Ben Simmons | The Mismatch
22 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We talk about the Celtics' versatility, including Kemba Walker's range on and off the court (02:07),...
Carmelo Is Back, and He's the Same As Ever. Plus: Luka, Harden, LeBron, and Giannis Tangle for MVP Front-runner | Group Chat
20 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We dive deep on the Blazers' roster building and how it created a need for Carmelo Anthony just two ...
Should the Spurs Trade DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge? | The Mismatch
19 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We discuss Luka Doncic’s incredible start to the season, including his run of triple-doubles and h...
Paul George’s Historic Start, the Sixers’ Angst, and Austin vs. Doc | Heat Check
18 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Instant Replay: The Blazers sign Carmelo Anthony, Paul George’s Clippers debut, and Pop’s second...
Carmelo Anthony to the Blazers, Kristaps Porzingis Returns to the Garden, and Andrew Wiggins ... Superstar? | The Mismatch
15 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We discuss last night’s breaking news that Carmelo Anthony will be joining the struggling Portland...
Are AD and LeBron Better Than We Expected? Plus: Hipster Team Watch and Best Young Duos. | Group Chat
13 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We are three weeks into the season, and LeBron has seemingly unlocked Anthony Davis. However, are th...
A Knicks Coup! Plus: Injuries Are Starting to Pile Up. | The Mismatch
12 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
A rash of injuries has hit the NBA. We discuss the most impactful ones, including Gordon Hayward's a...
Dion Waiters’s Suspension, Hayward’s Hand, and the Nightmare in New York | Heat Check
11 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Instant Replay: Dion Waiters’s suspension, Gordon Hayward’s injury, and the success of the Rapto...
Is Kawhi Leonard’s Load Management a Problem? Plus: Gordon Hayward Is Back and the Wolves Need a Leader. | The Mismatch
08 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The load management conversation is at a fever pitch in the NBA after the Clippers were fined for no...
Trending: Lakers and Clippers Up, Blazers and Rockets Down | Group Chat
06 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We examine four Western Conference teams who have had a noteworthy week: the Los Angeles Lakers tren...
John Collins’s PED Suspension, the Truly Bright Future Suns, and Anthony Davis’s Chicago Comments | The Mismatch
05 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We react to the breaking news that Hawks forward John Collins has been suspended 25 games for violat...
The Tanking Warriors, the Overachieving Suns, and the Undefeated Sixers | Heat Check
04 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Instant Replay: The tanking Warriors, Giannis-to-Raptors rumors, early overachievers, and the Blazer...
Does Steph Curry’s Broken Hand Equal Tank for the Warriors? | The Mismatch
01 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Two-time MVP Stephen Curry broke his hand this week—will the mighty Warriors wave the white flag o...
Real or Fake: MVP Anthony Davis, the Deep Mavs, the Suns Sans Ayton, and More | Group Chat
30 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The Golden State Warriors’ bumpy start to the season highlights the steep cost of building a super...
Early Signs of Trouble for the Nets and Kyrie Irving? Plus: Five Early Takeaways From the First Week of the Regular Season. | The Mismatch
29 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We react to Jackie MacMullan’s story in ESPN about Kyrie Irving’s mood swings and the Nets’ or...
Is the West More Wide Open Than We Thought? Plus: NBA Media in L.A. | Heat Check
28 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
With one week in the books for the 2019-20 regular season, we share our takeaways from the first han...
It’s Overreactions SZN: All-Star Trae Young, Portland in Trouble, MVP KAT, and More | The Mismatch
25 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The guys share their concerns about the Houston Rockets experiment (1:26) as well as the revamped Lo...
The Clippers Expose the Lakers’ Flaws in Round 1 of the Battle for L.A. Plus: Must-Watch Games. | Group Chat
23 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The Los Angeles Clippers impress on opening night with a statement victory over crosstown rivals Los...
2019-20 NBA Season Preview: Three Bold Predictions, Title Picks, MVP, and More | The Mismatch
22 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We speed through the last pieces of preseason news—Zion’s knee, contract extensions, Michael Jor...
Zion’s Injury, Buddy Gets Paid, and Way-Too-Early Playoffs Predictions | Heat Check
21 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The NBA-China story drags on, Zion Williamson’s injury delays his much-anticipated debut, and Budd...
Bradley Beal Gets Extended, Buddy Hield’s Feud, and Zion’s Knee. Plus: Final Preseason Takeaways. | The Mismatch
18 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We’re shocked by Bradley Beal’s extension (1:00), confused by Buddy Hield’s public feud with t...
Rookie Standouts: Zion, Herro, Morant, Barrett, and More! Plus: KAT’s Next Step | Group Chat
16 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
With the regular season right around the corner, we examine the rookies with the most outstanding pr...
LeBron James’s Comments on China Spur Backlash. Plus: The Rookie Extension Deadline Is Approaching. | The Mismatch
15 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
LeBron’s comments about Daryl Morey’s tweet were surprising and spurred a lot of backlash—what...
The Shallow Lakers, a Kyrie Irving Setback, and Max Player Buddy Hield? Plus: the NBA League Pass Draft | Heat Check
14 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We review the stories coming out of this weekend: a minor Anthony Davis thumb injury, Kyrie Irving’...
What Are the Chances Zion Williamson Is Actually As Dominant As He’s Looked in the Preseason? | The Mismatch
11 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
With Daryl Morey’s tweet now almost a week in the rearview, we talk about the NBA preseason games ...
Ben Simmons Shoots 3s Now, We Just Can’t Quit the Thunder, and Preseason True or False | Group Chat
09 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Let’s overreact to preseason basketball! Ben Simmons shoots (and makes) a 3-pointer (7:30), the Ok...
Adam Silver’s Latest on Morey and China. Plus: The Five Things That Have Stood Out Most in the Preseason Thus Far. | The Mismatch
08 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We discuss Adam Silver’s press conference from Tuesday morning following up on the NBA’s stateme...
Daryl Morey, China, and the NBA | Heat Check
07 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey caused international ripples on Friday night after sendi...
NBA Approval Ratings and the Making of ‘Sonic Boom’ | Group Chat
02 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
As training camps kick off, Chris and Justin evaluate their perception of some noteworthy teams (1:5...
Media Day Highlights: The Houston Experiment, the Knicks’ Expectations, and the Pelicans’ Playoffs Excitement | The Mismatch
01 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Basketball is (almost) back! The guys discuss the most intriguing quotes from all 30 NBA teams’ me...
What Are the Things You’d Love to See From Each Team Heading Into the Season? | Group Chat
26 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We respond to a list of listener submissions about what they’d love to see for their team heading ...
Chris Paul–to–Miami Rumors, Bradley Beal Destinations, Warriors at a Crossroads, and ... No. 1 Prospect LaMelo Ball??? | The Mismatch
24 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The duo highlights a handful of selections from The Ringer’s 29 People and Things That Will Define...
James Harden Thinks the Media Settles on MVP Narratives Too Soon. Is He Right? | Group Chat
19 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We play a game of ‘Is This a Thing?’ with a slew of offseason story lines, including: James Hard...
Spain Wins the FIBA World Cup. Plus: NBA Islands! | The Mismatch
17 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The guys discuss Spain’s victory over Argentina in the 2019 FIBA World Cup finals (0:45) before co...
France Eliminates Team USA From the FIBA World Cup. What Now? | Group Chat
11 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We gather for an emergency reaction to Team USA losing in international tournament play for the firs...
Nikola Jokic and Serbia Get Bounced From the World Cup. Plus: Western Conference Big 3 Picks. | The Mismatch
10 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
NBA All-Star Nikola Jokic and Serbia were upset by a scrappy Argentina team at the FIBA World Cup (3...
2019 Story Line Over/Unders | Group Chat
05 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We do a little game of "predict the headlines" ahead of the 2019 NBA season: When will Anthony Davis...
Team US-Meh Survives. Plus: A Big 3 Team for Every NBA Eastern Conference Team | The Mismatch
03 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Team USA narrowly defeats Turkey in an unexpectedly competitive OT thriller, as FIBA World Cup actio...
The Eight Most Important NBA Players Heading Into the FIBA World Cup | Group Chat
29 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
As the beginning of the FIBA World Cup approaches, we run down the most important NBA players compet...
LeVert Gets Locked Up and Dwight Howard Returns. Plus: A Very Mismatch Mailbag. | The Mismatch
27 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The Brooklyn Nets extends Caris LeVert for $52.5 million over three years (0:43), and the Los Angele...
Midsummer Mailbag: Luka Doncic vs. Ben Simmons, Harden’s All-Time SG Rank, and 2019 Breakout Candidates | Group Chat
22 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We open up the mailbag in the dog days of August and field questions about dark-horse MVP candidates...
No One Wants to Play for Team USA. Plus: Rookie Survey Takeaways | The Mismatch
20 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
De’Aaron Fox joins the long list of Team USA dropouts for the upcoming FIBA World Cup, so how does...
DeMarcus Cousins Tore His ACL. Is This the End of Boogie As We Know Him? | Group Chat
16 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We go over the news out of Las Vegas that DeMarcus Cousins has torn his ACL—what does this mean fo...
Most Exciting Matchups of the 2019-20 NBA Regular Season | The Mismatch
13 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The NBA just officially announced the 2019-20 regular-season schedule. Which matchups are we most lo...
Can Kevin Durant Be the Face of Basketball in Brooklyn? Plus: The Present and Future of Team USA. | Group Chat
08 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We discuss Kevin Durant's first on-the-record interview since his Achilles tear. What is the NBA goi...
Draymond Gets Paid, Zion’s Big Draw, and the 2010s All-Decade Teams | The Mismatch
06 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The guys react to Draymond Green’s four-year contract extension with the Golden State Warriors (0:...
The Blazers Lock Into McCollum and Lillard, the Raptors’ Post-Kawhi World, and Carmelo Anthony Musical Chairs | Group Chat
01 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We break down CJ McCollum’s near-max extension, and what it means for the perennially good-but-not...
Lin-sad-ity, the End-of-Bench Rolodex, and Early Over/Unders | The Mismatch
30 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Jeremy Lin bemoans the likely end of his NBA career (1:59) which begs the question: Which fringe NBA...
Kawhi Is a Fun Guy, Zion Chooses Jordan, Fixing Free Agency, and the Best Young Cores | Group Chat
25 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We share our takeaways from the Los Angeles Clippers’ introduction of Kawhi Leonard and Paul Georg...
The Wacky Wizards, the LeBron-AD Duo, and Coach Tim Duncan | The Mismatch
23 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The guys discuss the noise coming out of the Washington Wizards (0:50), the Los Angeles Lakers’ ne...
The Point God Is Stuck in Trade Purgatory | Group Chat
18 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Chris Paul is reportedly “parked” in Oklahoma City. So how good will the Thunder be? (2:11) Plus...
The Actual NBA Offseason Is Here: The Bright-Future Grizzlies, Ripple Effects of the Westbrook Trade, and the Star Movement Era | The Mismatch
16 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
With the 2019 NBA summer league in the books, the guys discuss the bright future of the champion Mem...
Russell Westbrook for Chris Paul Emergency Podcast | The Ringer NBA Show
12 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The Oklahoma City Thunder and the Houston Rockets just shook the league—again—by swapping Russel...
To Russ or Not to Russ: Which Teams Should Be in on Westbrook? | Group Chat
11 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
With some distance from the initial shock value of the trade, we take a measured look at the unprece...
The Seven Most Intriguing Names of the 2019 NBA Offseason | The Mismatch
09 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Live from Las Vegas at NBA summer league, the guys discuss seven topics they're most interested in f...
Paul George Is Gone, What Happens to Russ? | The Ringer NBA Show
07 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Now that Kawhi and Paul George have joined forces, what is the market for Russell Westbrook (0:57)? ...
Kawhi Leonard AND Paul George Go to the Clippers | The Ringer NBA Show
06 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Emergency pod! The Los Angeles Clippers win the Kawhi Leonard sweepstakes and acquire Paul George fr...
Free Agency News Slows, but the Kawhi Tension Grows. Plus: Contrarian Corner | Group Chat
03 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Does anyone actually know anything about Kawhi Leonard’s impending decision (0:40)? Plus: Now that...
The Kawhi Decision Will Change Everything for an Already Changed NBA | The Mismatch
02 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Kawhi Leonard seems destined to wind up with the Los Angeles Lakers, but whatever he decides to do w...
Free Agency Day 1 Madness: The Sixers! The Knicks … The Nets! And Wherever Kawhi Goes | Heat Check
01 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Free agency is finally here! The Philadelphia 76ers sign-and-trade Jimmy Butler to the Miami Heat (1...
2019 NBA Free Agency Live Reactions: Hour 1 | The Ringer NBA Show
30 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The Ringer NBA crew gives instant reactions to the first wave of free-agency signings. Watch on The ...
NBA Free Agency Preview: Which Domino Will Fall First? | The Corner 3
28 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Ahead of the start of free agency on Sunday, we go over some of the emerging suitors for the top fre...
A Rockets, Sixers, and Jimmy Butler Love Triangle | Group Chat
26 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The Houston Rockets are doing what they can to insert themselves into the sweepstakes for free agent...
Is New York Really the Best Destination for Kevin Durant? | The Mismatch
25 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The results from the NBA awards were largely unsurprising (0:50), but free agency may have some surp...
Free Agency Speculation SZN Is in Full Swing | Heat Check
24 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
With the start of free agency right around the corner, everyone is wondering where some of the leagu...