The Athletic NBA Daily
Start your day with The Athletic NBA Daily – a fast, entertaining recap of the most important games and stories from the world of professional basketball with new episodes dropping Monday through Friday. Hosted by Dave DuFour, Zena Keita, and Esfandiar Baraheni with regular appearances by The Athletic’s award-winning NBA reporters. Andrew Schlecht and Alex Spears cap the week with the full-length Saturday Slam n’ Jam episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
NBA Pressure Draft with JE Skeets | Slam N Jam
Who has the most pressure this NBA Season? Andrew Schlecht and Alex Speers are joined by JE Skeets of No Dunks to answer that question. Which All Star, Young Player, Playoff Team, Front Office and Wild card has the most pressure on them this season. Then the guys finish with another round of Andrew vs. the Beat.
FILL OUT OUR LISTENER SURVEY:
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NBA Player Ranking 16-11
Dave DuFour, Es Baraheni, and Andrew Schlecht break down their 16-11 ranked players for the upcoming NBA Season.
FILL OUT OUR LISTENER SURVEY:
Host: Dave DuFour
With: Es Baraheni, Andrew Schlecht
Producer: Andrew Schlecht
Audio/Video: Alex Oliver
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NBA Player Ranking 20-16
Dave DuFour, Es Baraheni, Zena Keita and Andrew Schlecht break down their 20-16 ranked players for the upcoming NBA Season.
FILL OUT OUR LISTENER SURVEY:
Host: Dave DuFour
With: Es Baraheni, Zena Keita, Andrew Schlecht
Producer: Andrew Schlecht
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Lakers Bizarre Sale, Westbrook Retires, and the NBA Schedule Release
The NBA never stops and Dave DuFour and Es Baraheni are here to discuss Russell Westbrook's retirement, the odd sale of the Los Angeles Lakers and what it means, and then discuss the release of the NBA's schedule.
Host: Dave DuFour
With: Es Baraheni
Producer: Andrew Schlecht
Audio/Video: Alex Oliver
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NBA Player Rank: 25-21
The NBA season is just around the corner and we are counting down our top 30 players before the season. In this episode we are discussing players ranked 25-21.
Host: Dave DuFour
With: Es Baraheni, Zena Keita
Producer: Andrew Schlecht
Video/Audio: Alex Oliver
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
NBA Player Ranking 26-30 + Honorable Mentions
Dave DuFour, Es Baraheni, Zena Keita and Andrew Schlecht break down their 26-30 ranked players for the upcoming NBA Season.
Host: Dave DuFour
With: Es Baraheni, Zena Keita, Andrew Schlecht?
Producer: Andrew Schlecht
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First Time All Stars with Law Murray | Slam N Jam
Every year there are 6 new All Stars in the NBA on average, and the Slam N Jam pod is going to try and predict the next first time all stars. Law Murray of the Athletic joins to predict which players will make their first All Star Teams. Then the guys finish with another round of Andrew vs. the Beat.
•Video Producer: Monica Compton
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Did the Wolves improve? | Northwest Division Preview
Our offseason series continues and Dave DuFour, Es Baraheni and Andrew Schlecht are here to hand out offseason grades for the Thunder, Wolves, Nuggets, Blazers and Jazz.
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Pacers back on top? | Central Division Grades
Dave DuFour, Zena Keita and Es Baraheni give offseason grades to the Central Division teams including the Pacers, Bulls, Bucks, Cavs and Pistons.
Host: Dave DuFour
With: Es Baraheni and Zena Keita
Producer: Andrew Schlecht
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Are the Spurs the favorites? | Southwest Division Preview
Our offseason series continues and Dave DuFour, Es Baraheni and Zena Keita are here to hand out offseason grades for the Spurs, Rockets, Pelicans, Mavericks, and Grizzlies.
Host: Dave DuFour
With: Es Baraheni and Zena Keita
Producer: Andrew Schlecht
Audio/Video: Carl Finocchiaro
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Can the Knicks repeat or will LeBron spoil it? | Atlantic Division Preview
Dave DuFour, Es Baraheni, and Andrew Schlecht break down the Atlantic Division and if the Knicks can repeat as champions, how much better are the 76ers?, Can the Celtics find some regular season magic?, are the Raptors contenders with Kawhi, and what are the Brooklyn Nets?
Host: Dave DuFour
With: Es Baraheni and Andrew Schlecht
Producer: Andrew Schlecht
Audio/Video: Carl Finocchiaro
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Big NBA Problems with Mike Vorkunov
Dave DuFour and Es Baraheni are joined by Mike Vorkunov of the Athletic to discuss the investigation into Kawhi Leoard and the Clippers, what is going on with the Blazers and more issues facing the NBA.
Host: Dave DuFour
With: Es Baraheni and Mike Vorkunov
Producer: Andrew Schlecht
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
LeBron James signs with the 76ers EMERGENCY POD
Dave DuFour, Zena Keita, and Es Baraheni discuss LeBron James joining the 76ers and what it means for the East, the championship odds and more.
Host: Dave DuFour
With: Zena Keita, Es Baraheni
Producer: Andrew Schlecht
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Does Giannis make the Heat contenders? | South East Division Preview
The NBA Offseason is in full swing and Dave DuFour, Es Baraheni and Zena Keita are here to hand out offseason grades for the Heat, Magic, Hornets, Hawks, and Wizards.
Host: Dave DuFour
With: Es Baraheni and Zena Keita
Producer: Andrew Schlecht
Audio/Video: Lara Sinclair
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
NBA Summer League Awards | Slam N Jam
NBA Summer League is over, and Andrew Schlecht and Alex Speers are here to hand out Summer League Awards with Bryce Simon of the Game Theory podcast. They hand out the following awards:
Are the Lakers better? | Pacific Division Grades
Dave DuFour, Es Baraheni, and Zena Keita discuss if the Lakers are better, what happened with the Clippers, who the Suns are now, the Warriors plan, and can the Kings climb out of the basement.
Host: Dave DuFour
With: Es Baraheni and Zena Keita
Producer: Andrew Schlecht
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
CJ Miles on the Evolution of the NBA
Dave DuFour and Es Baraheni are joined by NBA veteran CJ Miles in Las Vegas. CJ shares insights on his transition from player to photographer, the evolution of basketball strategies, and the impact of analytics on the game. Discover how his creative journey and league observations offer a unique perspective on modern basketball.
Host: Dave DuFour
With: CJ Miles and Es Baraheni
Producer: Andrew Schlecht
Video/Audio: Alex Oliver
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Pablo Torre on the delay in the Kawhi Leonard scandal
The NBA Board of Governors met and Adam Silver gave an update on the status of the Kawhi Leonard trade. To help guide us through where the process is Pablo Torre joins Dave DuFour and Es Baraheni to discuss where the investigation is at, what the possible punishments are, if there is a second no show deal and much more.
Host: Dave DuFour
With: Pablo Torre and Es Baraheni
Producer: Andrew Schlecht
Video/Audio: Alex Oliver
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Where do the Hawks rank in the East?
The Atlanta Hawks made a surprising run to the playoffs before being sent home by the eventual champion New York Knicks. The Atlanta Journal Constitution’s Hawks beat writer, Lauren Williams, joins Dave DuFour and Es Baraheni to discuss Atlanta’s offseason moves, life without Trae Young, and the need for a Jalen Johnson leap.
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Host: Dave DuFour
With: Es Baraheni and Lauren Williams
Executive Producer: Andrew Schlecht
Audio/Video Producer: Alex Oliver
Hosted on Acast. See acas...
Do the Lakers have enough to compete in the West?
The LeBron James era is officially over in Los Angeles and the Lakers have built next year’s squad around Luka Dončić. The Athletic’s Lakers beat writer, Dan Woike, joins Dave DuFour and Es Baraheni to go behind the scenes on the Lakers offseason moves and life after LeBron. Then, Dan ranks the Western Conference contenders and gives his takes on how the Lakers stack up in the playoffs.
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Host: Dave DuFour
With: Es Baraheni and Dan Woike
Executive Produc...
Inside the Kawhi trade to the Raptors
The Kawhi Leonard trade between the Los Angeles Clippers and Toronto Raptors is currently on hold. The Athletic’s Raptors beat writer, Eric Koreen, joins Dave DuFour and Es Baraheni with the latest news on the hold up and the league’s investigation into the Clippers and Kawhi. Then, the guys take a look at the Raptors team with Kawhi, Scottie Barnes offensive growth, and their best lineups.
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Host: Dave DuFour
With: Es Baraheni and Eric Koreen
Executive Producer: Andrew Schlecht
Wemby takes a discount + Caleb Wilson’s debut
Victor Wembanyama is giving the Spurs a hometown discount on his next contract, much to the chagrin of the Player’s Association. The Athletic’s Bulls beat writer, Joel Lorenzi, joins Dave DuFour and Es Baraheni to discuss what Wemby’s deal means for other star players, Caleb Wilson’s shooting and projection as a rookie, and how Thiago Splitter will operate in Chicago.
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Host: Dave DuFour
With: Es Baraheni and Joel Lorenzi
Executive Producer: Andrew Schlecht
Audio/Video Producer...
Are the 76ers Contenders? | Slam N Jam
The Philadelphia 76ers traded for Jaylen Brown in what was one of the most surprising trades of the offseason, and Trill Bro Dude of the You Know Ball Podcast is here to discuss the trade, how it happened, if the Sixers can get LeBron, and so much more. Then the guys finish with another round of Andrew vs. the Beat.
Host: Andrew Schlecht and Alex Speers
With: Trill Bro Dude
Producer: Andrew Schlecht
Video Producer: Monica Compton
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for...
Dybantsa's Competitive Fire + Kawhi Leonard Trade Drama
A.J. Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson faced off on day one of NBA Summer League and did not disappoint. Dave DuFour and Es Baraheni give their takeaways from Jazz vs. Wizards and their favorite things from opening day of Summer League. Then, the guys react to the weirdness around the Kawhi Leonard trade back to Toronto and the league’s lack of resolution in the Clippers-Aspiration investigation.
Join our Discord! https://discord.gg/eme2tPcUM2
Host: Dave DuFour
With: Es Baraheni
Executive Producer: Andrew Schlecht
Audio/Video Pr...
Why you should watch NBA Summer League
NBA Summer League in Las Vegas begins today and Tyler Metcalf of No Ceilings joins to discuss why you should want to watch Darryn Peterson and Caleb Wilson in Vegas, why the Jazz, Wizards and Grizzlies are must watch teams, why Charlotte is a sleeper SL team, which games to watch and much more.
Host: Andrew Schlecht
With: Tyler Metcalf
Producer: Andrew Schlecht
Audio/Video: Alex Oliver
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Is Donovan Mitchell the next Jaylen Brown?
Donovan Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers agreed to a 4-year, $273 million contract extension, but is it already a bad contract? Dave DuFour and Es Baraheni give their early Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer takes and discuss Kyle Lowry’s retirement and claim to “Greatest Raptor Ever”. Then, the guys discuss Donovan Mitchell’s new contract, the salary dynamics surrounding the Jaylen Brown trade, and what it means for the NBA looking forward.
Join our Discord! https://discord.gg/eme2tPcUM2
Host: Dave DuFour
With: Es Baraheni
Executive Producer: Andrew Schlecht...
The Boston Celtics new direction
How did the Celtics net such a low return in their trade of Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers? Jay King gives Dave DuFour and Zena Keita his breakdown of what caused the Celtics to trade Jaylen Brown and how his value seemed to plummet over the course of trade talks. Then, Jay gives his assessment on the Celtics roster for this upcoming season, how Mitchell Robinson could make Boston the best rebounding team in the league, and which young wing is poised to breakout.
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...
NBA Offseason Mania with Fred Katz | Slam N Jam
Andrew Schlecht and Alex Speers are back for another episode of the Saturday Slam N Jam. Fred Katz joins to discuss the trade of Jaylen Brown to the 76ers, how the Lakers rounded out their roster, LaMelo ball in Minnesota, and a lightning round of questions about the offseason so far. Then they finish with some trivia in our weekly show Andrew vs. the Beat.
Hosts: Andrew Schlecht, Alex Speers
With: Fred Katz
Producer: Andrew Schlecht
Video Edit: Monica Compton
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for m...
What happened with Jaylen Brown and the Celtics?
Jaylen Brown's trade to the Philadelphia 76ers from the Boston Celtics was shocking. Dave DuFour and Sam Amick take a look Jaylen Brown's value around the league and why the Celtics might have felt the need to make the move for Paul George. Then, Sam gets into the Lakers pursuits of Walker Kessler and Jalen Duren and how they made a deal with Utah, the latest on Duren's restricted free agency, and why LeBron James going back to the Cleveland Cavaliers makes the most sense.
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...
Jaylen Brown TRADED to 76ers + Lakers make BIG moves
The NBA offseason is off to an insane start and Zena Keita, Dave DuFour and Es Baraheni are here to break it all down. They discuss the trade of Jaylen Brown to the 76ers for Paul George, the Lakers moves, and more.
Host: Zena Keita
With: Dave DuFour, Es Baraheni
Producer: Andrew Schlecht
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Kawhi Leonard TRADED to the Raptors | FREE AGENCY SPECIAL
NBA Free Agency is underway and Dave DuFour, Es Baraheni and Andrew Schlecht are here to break it all down. Kawhi to the Raptors, where is LeBron going, and so much more.
Host: Dave DuFour
With: Es Baraheni and Andrew Schlecht
Producer: Andrew Schlecht
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Will LeBron James return to the Lakers?
The rumors surrounding the future of LeBron James are swirling around the Golden State Warriors convincing. Dave DuFour, Zena Keita, and Dan Woike take a look at the odds of the Lakers retaining LeBron and discuss Austin Reaves' big contract. Then, they take a look at how the Lakers fill their roster, who replaces Marcus Smart, and the crucial decision Los Angeles has to make at center.
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Host: Dave DuFour
With: Zena Keita and Dan Woike
Executive Producer: Andrew Schlecht
<...Ja Morant TRADED to the Trail Blazers EMERGENCY POD
Dave DuFour and Andrew Schlecht break down the Ja Morant trade to the Blazers for Jerami Grant. Why did the Blazers do this? What is next for the Grizzlies, and more. Plus they break down the contract decisions around the NBA including Lu Dort, Jonathan Kuminga and more.
Host: Dave DuFour
With: Andrew Schlecht
Producer: Andrew Schlecht
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
NBA Free Agency Preview
LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, Jalen Duren and others could have new NBA homes and Zena Keita, Dave DuFour and Es Baraheni are here to break it down. Who are the most interesting teams that could make big changes? What role players could make a difference in the market? What other stars could move? All that and more on today’s episode.
Join our Discord! https://discord.gg/eme2tPcUM2
Host: Zena Keita
With: Es Baraheni and Dave DuFour
Executive Producer: Andrew Schlecht
Audio/Video Producer: Alex Oliver
...LaMelo Ball trade reaction with Jon Krawczynski
The Minnesota Timberwolves swung for the fences with a LaMelo Ball for Naz Reid swap with the Charlotte Hornets. Jon Krawczynski, the Athletic's Timberwolves beat writer, joins Dave DuFour to break down LaMelo's fit with Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert, what the Hornets future is like with Naz Reid, and Micah Nori as head coach of the Portland Trailblazers.
Join our Discord! https://discord.gg/eme2tPcUM2
Host: Dave DuFour
With: Jon Krawczynski
Executive Producer: Andrew Schlecht
Audio/Video Producer: Alex Oliver
Hosted on Acast...
LaMelo Ball Traded! EMERGENCY POD
LaMelo Ball is one of the most exciting players in the NBA and now he is teammates with Anthony Edwards in Minnesota. Andrew Schlecht and Es Baraheni break down the LaMelo for Naz Reid trade and how it will affect the present and future for the Wolves and Hornets.
Host: Andrew Schlecht
With: Es Baraheni
Producer: Andrew Schlecht
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
LaMelo Ball, Kawhi Leonard, Jaylen Brown trade destinations
The trade rumors are swirling around LaMelo Ball, Kawhi Leonard, and Jaylen Brown. Dave DuFour and Es Baraheni tie a bow on the 2026 NBA Draft, discuss Austin Reaves new contract, and take a look at trade fits for Ball, Leonard, and Brown.
Join our Discord! https://discord.gg/eme2tPcUM2
Host: Dave DuFour
With: Es Baraheni
Executive Producer: Andrew Schlecht
Audio/Video Producer: Alex Oliver
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
NBA Draft Awards with Sam Vecenie
The first round of the NBA Draft is OVER and Andrew Schlecht and Alex Speers are here to break it all down for you with the best NBA Draft expert in Sam Vecenie they give out draft awards for the following categories:
1) Snug as a Bug Award
a. This award goes to your favorite player/team fit in the entire draft.
2) League Pass Leap Award
a. This award goes to the team who most improved their watchability next season.
3) Not Like This Award<...
Giannis Traded to the Heat EMERGENCY POD
Giannis was traded to the Heat and we are here to break it all down. Dave DuFour, Es Baraheni, Zena Keita and Andrew Schlecht discuss who won the trade, if the Heat are contenders, and if the Bucks can start their rebuild from this trade and more. In part 2 we discuss the Randall trade to the Nets and what the Wolves are doing to improve their standing in the West.
Host: Dave DuFour
With: Es Baraheni, Zena Keita, and Andrew Schlecht
Producer: Andrew Schlecht
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com...
Mock Draft with Ben Pfeifer
The NBA Draft is just days away and Es Baraheni is here with guest and NBA Draft expert Ben Pfeifer to discuss the draft through a first round mock draft. Es and Ben discuss which players will go in the lottery, and how good the 2026 draft class is. Why Cam Boozer, AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson could change franchises. Which guard in the 5-10 range will make the biggest difference? Which late lottery pick is the biggest sleeper?
Host: Es Baraheni
With: Ben Pfeifer
Producer: Andrew Schlecht
Audio/Video Edit...
