Episodes
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In the final episode of the first season of “The Ariel Helwani Basketball Show,” we look toward the future.
With the NBA’s broadcast deal set to expire at the end of the 2023-24 season, it’s unclear whether the NBA will re-up its long-standing partnerships with TNT and ESPN. As we tread deeper into the waters of the streaming era, it’s quite possible the NBA could find a new TV home in the coming years.
And so Ariel Helwani calls upon Andrew Marchand, the world’s No. 1 expert in all things sports media, to make sense of this crazy world the NBA is about to find itself in. The guys discuss topics like:
How this past season’s recent NBA ratings will affect upcoming negotiations (12:47)
The differences between TNT and ESPN and how they each approach their coverage of the NBA (20:25)
Marchand’s prediction for how the NBA media package will look once the current deal ends (26:28)
If NBC, the home of the NBA in the 1990s, has a legitimate shot at getting NBA rights in the next deal (30:04)
Recently retired players and coaches who make good candidates for transitioning to the broadcast booth (50:52)
Plus, Marchand gives Ariel his dream NBA broadcast trio and he also talks about LeBron James’ prospects as a broadcaster once he calls it quits.
Andrew Marchand is a writer for The New York Post. The leading voice when it comes to covering sports media, Marchand is also the host of “The Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast” alongside John Ourand of Sports Business Journal. Formerly of ESPN, Marchand is the go-to for everything about broadcasting deals, industry gossip, on-air talent drama, and more.
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On Thursday night, the basketball world turns its eyes toward the young men who will have basketball fans glued to their screens not only on NBA Draft night, but for years to come.
And one of the men who will work on the desk for ESPN’s coverage of the 2023 NBA Draft, Jay Bilas, joins Ariel Helwani today for a wide-ranging conversation about not only what will take place on Thursday, but also an array of subjects, like:
His memories from the night Nikola Jokic was drafted by the Denver Nuggets in 2014 (17:45)
How Bilas has built a career out of telling it like it is, even if it puts him at odds with ESPN (26:28)
The potential of Victor Wembanyama, the French phenom who the San Antonio Spurs will select with the No. 1 overall pick on Thursday night (36:00)
The NIL movement in college athletics and whether it’s working the way Bilas hoped it would (42:12)
Plus, Bilas goes deep on his law career, his annual basketball camp, his famous Young Jeezy tweets, the TikTok-ification of basketball, and why he feels 1986 No. 2 overall draft pick Len Bias could have been one of the greatest players ever.
Jay Bilas is a college basketball analyst for ESPN. One of the foremost voices in collegiate athletics, Bilas has called games for the worldwide leader since the 1990s. A four-year player at Duke under coaching legend Mike Krzyzewski, Bilas is also a practicing lawyer.
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Episodes manquant?
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Nuggets Superfan Chuck Mindenhall Returns to Celebrate Denver’s First NBA Championship!
In a history-making episode of the program, Ariel Helwani’s colleague and Denver Nuggets superfan rejoins the show to discuss his beloved Nuggets, who defeated the Miami Heat Monday night to win the franchise its first Larry O’Brien trophy. He and Ariel discuss:
The emotions he felt immediately after the final buzzer sounded (4:52)
Nikola Jokic’s unusual reaction to winning the Finals (11:11)
If he ever doubted Denver would get it done (18:10)
Sharing the moment with his kids, whom he’s brainwashed to be Nuggets fans (31:39)
Plus, will the Nuggets make it back to the title next season?
For more Ariel and Chuck in your life, check them out every week on their hit MMA podcast, “The Ringer MMA Show.”
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Picture this:
It’s the NBA Finals, and one of the star players of the Denver Nuggets or Miami Heat decides to pick up a side gig. Imagine one of those players, say Michael Porter Jr. or Bam Adebayo, flies to another city following a game so he can go work at his other job.
Can you imagine the outrage? The media coverage? The Twitter firestorm?
If you grew up watching basketball in the 1990s like Ariel Helwani did, of course you can. Because Dennis Rodman, the erratic Hall of Famer, did this exact thing in 1998 when he appeared live on WCW Nitro just after playing in Game 3 of the Finals!
And the guy who orchestrated this deal, Eric Bischoff, joins Ariel on today’s episode to talk about how he convinced larger-than-life basketball heroes Rodman and Karl Malone to enter the world of pro wrestling and a whole lot more, like:
What Dennis Rodman is actually like off camera (5:41)
How Rodman helped take Bischoff’s wrestling promotion, WCW, to a new level in the late ‘90s (16:30)
Partying with Rodman and Hulk Hogan … and how one late night out gave Bischoff a visual he’s never quite forgotten (23:02)
Bischoff’s close relationship with the late Muhammad Ali and what he learned from the boxing legend (35:09)
Plus, Bischoff goes around the horn on a number of pro wrestling topics (37:51)! He and Ariel get into Endeavor’s purchase of WWE, if the upstart AEW has what it takes to topple the behemoth WWE, Tony Khan’s fitness for leadership, MJF’s free agency, and much more.
Eric Bischoff is a titan of the professional wrestling industry. He is the former Executive Vice President of World Championship Wrestling, the pro wrestling organization that competed head on with Vince McMahon’s WWE, most notably in the ‘90s. After leaving WCW, Bischoff joined WWE’s creative team. Now a proud resident of Wyoming, the 68-year-old WWE Hall of Famer lives a much quieter life than when he was one of the biggest names in the business.
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When you’re bored at work, do you ever catch your mind drifting away somewhere? Away to a far away place, a point in the future, a dream, or to some type of new endeavor you want to pursue?
Today’s guest knows the feeling. Leigh Ellis, once one of the top content creators in all of NBA media, seemingly had it all: top performing NBA podcasts, worldwide recognition, big paychecks, and a number of unforgettable one-of-a-kind experiences every basketball fan dreams of having.
And then he walked away.
On today’s episode, Ariel Helwani talks to Leigh Ellis about his childhood in Australia, becoming an NBA fan and then media member, and how he’s now combining his two loves of travel and basketball into something much bigger than himself. The guys discuss:
How, as a young boy in Australia, Ellis fell in love with the NBA (4:39)
The 2011 NBA lockout and how it led to Ellis’ first big break in NBA media (13:10)
The time he shot around with Stephen Curry for an hour (21:02)
Why he made the tough decision to leave The Athletic to go do something that’s never been done before (28:04)
If he has any interest in joining NBA media again (55:41)
Plus, Ellis shares stories from his time so far on the road, which includes hanging out with former NBA players and getting drunk with Luka Doncic’s dad!
Leigh Ellis is an Australian basketball personality. Formerly the co-host of basketball podcasts “The Basketball Jones,” NBA TV’s “The Starters,” and The Athletic’s “No Dunks,” Ellis now finds himself on a mission to play 20 games of pick-up basketball in 20 different countries. You can follow along with Ellis’ basketball journey by subscribing to his YouTube channel or Instagram page.
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The Miami Heat are no strangers to June basketball. But their opponent in this year’s NBA Finals, the homegrown little-engine-that-could Denver Nuggets, will make their first NBA Finals appearance tomorrow night. With memories of 1994 and many forgettable seasons still haunting the franchise, the 2022-23 season almost feels too good to be true for Nuggets fans.
Enter today’s guest, Ariel’s dear colleague and friend Chuck Mindenhall, a native Coloradan who has stood by the Nuggets since day one despite the franchise’s tormented past. In this episode, Mindenhall pours his heart out about the team he loves in a can’t-miss conversation about the following:
What it feels like, after decades of suffering, to see his favorite team finally reach the NBA Finals (12:25)
Carmelo Anthony’s complicated legacy in Denver and why the Allen Iverson experiment didn’t work (21:18)
When he realized the Nuggets had something special in Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray (27:43)
Whether Jokic should have won the MVP Award this season (36:36)
And much more, including Chuck’s thoughts on the extra rest for the Nuggets (46:15) and his prediction for how the NBA Finals will go down (57:08).
Chuck Mindenhall is one of the greatest writers in the history of combat sports. But … he’s also a lifelong Denver Nuggets fan. Born and raised in Denver, Chuck has witnessed firsthand all of the ups and downs the Nuggets have experienced since their entry into the NBA in 1976. If you’re looking for more Chuck and Ariel in your life, feel free to check out “The Ringer MMA Show” exclusively on Spotify. You can also check out Chuck’s web site here.
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With the Miami Heat returning to the NBA Finals once more, Ariel Helwani calls upon friend and former colleague Jorge Sedano of ESPN to talk about the history of the Heat, Sedano's vivid memories from covering them, and how he thinks Miami stacks up with the dominant Denver Nuggets in the NBA Finals. The guys also get into:
Favorite memories from the 2006 championship team that featured Dwyane Wade, Shaquille O'Neal, Gary Payton, Jason Williams, and more (10:35)
The infamous "Ray Allen Game" in 2013 (16:04)
What it's been like watching Erik Spoelstra rise through the ranks of the Heat organization and what makes him so special (23:25)
"Heat Culture" and what it actually means (43:42)
Plus, Sedano gives his bold prediction for the NBA Finals (43:42) and he relives a tense on-air moment he shared with Dan Dakich in 2019.Known most for his work as an ESPN NBA sideline reporter, Jorge Sedano also makes regular appearances on ESPN's acclaimed "Around The Horn" program. Before joining ESPN, Sedano worked in Miami local radio where he spent a number of years covering his beloved Heat. Nowadays, he resides in Los Angeles where he also hosts "Sedano & Kap" weekdays on ESPNLA 710.
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One of the brightest minds in NBA commentary joins Ariel Helwani just a few hours prior to Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals. On today's episode, Barry discusses:
Playing for the beloved late '90s Sacramento Kings (6:05)
His memories of playing alongside Carmelo Anthony in 'Melo's rookie season in Denver (9:46)
What it was like being teammates with the late Kobe Bryant (13:10)
His issues with the current NBA broadcasting scene and the key differences between the TNT studio team and the ESPN one (19:17)
Plus, Barry tells you why he thinks the Boston Celtics are capable of pulling off the unthinkable in the coming days (23:40).
Jon Barry spent 14 years in the NBA playing for the Milwaukee Bucks, Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento Kings, Detroit Pistons, Houston Rockets, and Denver Nuggets. After his playing days ended, Barry transitioned to the broadcast booth, calling games on television and radio for ESPN.
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For the first time since 2001, Sue Bird is not stepping foot on the WNBA hardwood for the Seattle Storm. So with nothing else better to do, she joins Ariel Helwani today for a conversation about the retired life, as well as the following topics:
Why she hasn't laced up a pair of basketball sneakers since walking away from the game last year at age 41 (5:18)
What she learned from her time spent in the Denver Nuggets front office (10:52)
If an NBA team will ever return to her beloved city of Seattle (15:00)
Whether she believes LeBron James will actually call it quits after he recently hinted about retirement (18:32)
Plus, Bird talks about her aspirations for basketball broadcasting.
Sue Bird is one of the most decorated players in the history of women's basketball. The winner of five Olympic gold medals, four WNBA titles with the Seattle Storm, and two college basketball championships at UConn, Bird is undeniably one of the best to ever play the women's game.
"Sue Bird x Corona Finer Recliner launching June 7"
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As we approach the NBA Finals, as the NBA Draft Lottery awards the San Antonio Spurs the No. 1 pick, and as NBA free agency looms ... it's very easy for basketball fans worldwide to get lost in the frenzied news cycle the NBA brings.
But what you're probably missing is the greatness that's happening across the pond.
Tomorrow, Friday, May 19, Euroleague begins its massive Final Four event. Euroleague, the league that's produced the likes of NBA stars Luka Doncic, Kristaps Porzingis, and many more, is home to the best basketball Europe has to offer. Think English Premier League for basketball.And on today's episode, Euroleague CEO Marshall Glickman joins Ariel Helwani for a conversation about Euroleague, the Final Four, and his many years of experience working both at home and abroad. The guys discuss:
The differences between NBA and Euroleague (4:15)
The incredible passion that European fans have for Euroleague (18:54)
His experiences working and learning from the late David Stern (24:14)
Why the European brand of basketball is so aesthetically appealing (43:10)
And much more.
Marshall Glickman is the Chief Executive Officer of Euroleague, the premier basketball organization in Europe. The son of Portland Trail Blazers founder Harry Glickman, Marshall has carved his own path both inside and outside of the NBA. After spending several years in the Blazers front office and in the boardroom of Euroleague, he's cemented himself as one of the best minds in basketball
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In the era of 24/7 on-demand streaming, the cable television industry has taken a massive hit. But somehow, seemingly impervious to changing media landscapes and difficult economic times, one cable TV show has remained as appointment viewing for basketball fans everywhere: Inside the NBA on TNT.
And one of the co-hosts of one the most popular broadcast in sports television, Kenny Smith, joins Ariel Helwani in the thick of the NBA playoffs to discuss his new book "Talk of Champions," and a recent photo of him that's been circulating the internet! They also discuss topics like:
Why Smith decided that now was the right time to publish the book he's always wanted to write (5:30)
The most memorable moments from his time as a co-host of the Emmy Award-winning basketball studio show Inside the NBA alongside Shaquille O'Neal, Charles Barkley, and Ernie Johnson (12:52)
Enticing NBA front office roles he's received offers for and why he turned them down (16:27)
If he's ever successfully mended the fences between his friends Barkley and Michael Jordan (24:30)
Plus, Smith also tells Ariel who he thinks will win the NBA Finals this season.
Kenny Smith is a former NBA player who currently serves as a co-host for the award-winning TV show, Inside the NBA. The No. 6 overall pick in the 1987 NBA Draft, "The Jet" spent 10 seasons in the NBA playing for the Sacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic, and Detroit Pistons. Before playing in the NBA, Smith attended the University of North Carolina where he played alongside the one and only Michael Jordan.
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For the first time in a very long time, there's hope again at Madison Square Garden.
As young stars R.J. Barrett, Julius Randle, and Jalen Brunson are leading the way on the world's biggest basketball stage, one name is conspicuously missing from Madison Square Garden during the 2023 NBA Playoffs.
Kristaps Porzingis was supposed to be the one to lead the once-storied Knicks back to the promised land. But, as we find out far too often in the NBA, things don't usually go according to plan.
On today's episode, the man they once called "The Unicorn" joins friend Ariel Helwani to look back on the highs and lows of his time in New York and also to look forward to what is still a very bright future for one of the game's most fascinating players. The guys discuss:
The pressure Porzingis felt to be the face of a struggling franchise when the Knicks selected him with the No. 4 overall pick in 2015 (4:35)
Why he didn't quite fit in with the Dallas Mavericks (9:21)
His rocky relationship with Knicks fans (12:35)
Whether he'll re-sign with the Washington Wizards in the offseason (22:14)
Plans to play for Latvia in the FIBA World Cup this summer (26:00)
The potential of budding European superstar Victor Wembanyama (30:06)
Plus, Ariel thanks Porzingis for helping him out in 2019 and KP also talks about Saturday's big UFC 288 event.
Kristaps Porzingis is a center for the Wizards. The fourth overall pick in 2015, Porzingis has also played for New York and Dallas. He is a 1x All-Star and is also a massive fan of mixed martial arts.
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When you talk about 1990s NBA nostalgia, sure, you think about Jordan's Bulls, Ewing's Knicks, Reggie's Pacers, The Dream Team, and Shaq and Penny's Orlando Magic.
But the memories don't stop there.
Because at the tail end of the decade, a cult icon emerged. And that transformative figure -- a skinny white point guard from West Virginia lauded for his flair and swagger on the court -- joins Ariel Helwani on today's program. The guys discuss:
Why he believes the 2022-23 Sacramento Kings are better than the early 2000s Kings he played for (4:21)
His cult icon status and why fans look back on his career so fondly (6:30)
If he was comfortable serving as an inspiration for white children in America (20:00)
The origins of his unforgettable nickname (21:17)
Why he dislikes modern NBA trends like load management and the play-in tournament (28:05)
What he would tell his younger self (33:50)
Plus, Williams talks about rookie hazing he experienced, the one current NBA player who most closely resembles his game, and how YOU could play a round of golf with him!
Jason Williams played in the NBA from 1998 - 2011. Drafted with the 7th overall pick by the Sacramento Kings in 1998, "White Chocolate" also played for the Memphis Grizzlies, Orlando Magic, and Miami Heat, where he won a championship alongside Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O'Neal in 2006. For more on Williams, please visit JasonWilliams55.com.
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Live from the BlueWire studios in Las Vegas, Ariel Helwani is joined by NBA legends Stephen Jackson, DeMarcus Cousins and Paul Pierce. Former professional boxer Andre Ward also joins the guys to preview tomorrow night's MASSIVE boxing showdown between Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia.
After talking about the fight -- which airs exclusively on Showtime -- the guys talk about this year's NBA playoffs and all the drama happening on and off the court.
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For almost the entirety of the 2000s, the New York Knicks haven't been a mainstay atop the Eastern Conference leaderboard like they once were in the 1990s. But with the Knicks currently leading the Cavaliers 1-0 in the first round of this year's playoffs, can we say that playoff basketball is FINALLY back in New York?
We'll see. But in the meantime, Knicks superfan Action Bronson joins his friend Ariel Helwani for a conversation about the Knicks, the NBA of new and old, and more:
Memories of the '90s Knicks (8:10)
Jalen Brunson's breakout season (19:27)
Why Ariel is nervous about the Knicks' playoff hopes (20:25)
Draymond Green's pro wrestling-style antics last night in Game 2 against the Sacramento Kings (26:55)
Why basketball was so much cooler in the '90s (33:40)
Favorite Madison Square Garden memories (43:30)
What New York City would be like if the Knicks won the NBA Finals (54:49)
Plus, Action Bronson talks about his insane basketball shoe and jersey collection, his own foray into the shoe design game, NBA arena food, this weekend's big Showtime boxing match between Ryan Garcia and Gervonta Davis, and so much more.
Action Bronson is a New York-born rapper, actor, host, chef, entrepreneur, shoe artist, and overall renaissance man with 2.2 million followers on Instagram. For more information, please visit actionbronson.com.
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As the NBA playoffs tip off this week, 16 teams find themselves dreaming of hoisting the Larry O'Brien trophy in June.
The Orlando Magic, however, are not one of those teams ... again. A short-lived franchise filled with longing for the days of Shaq and Penny, Dwight and Turkoglu, the Magic actually haven't won a playoff series since 2010.
But for the first time in a long time, there's hope in Orlando.
This week’s guest is a veteran leader on that team: point guard Michael Carter-Williams.
On today's show, MCW discusses the following with fellow Syracuse alum Ariel Helwani:
His battles with injuries and if he considered hanging it up after missing all of the 2021-22 season
What it's like being the oldest member of the youthful Magic
His MMA fandom and why he likes to train in Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Battles with mental health issues and how he's overcome them
What it was like to hire -- and later fire -- his mother as his manager
Getting drafted in the same class as and playing with perennial MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo
And much more!
Michael Carter-Williams was the No. 11 overall draft pick in the 2013 NBA Draft. A former standout at Syracuse, MCW has played for six teams: the Magic, Houston Rockets, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Philadelphia 76ers, and Milwaukee Bucks.
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For many sports fans in North America, one singular voice has dominated the sports broadcasting landscape over the last forty-plus years.
Celebrated for his unmatched abilities, spine-tingling calls, brutal honesty, and unwavering calmness in the most chaotic of moments, Bob Costas is the gold standard of sports broadcasting. And despite his decades of World Series, Super Bowl, and Olympics broadcasting experience, it's perhaps his coverage of the NBA in the 1990s that sports fans remember most fondly.
And on today's episode, Costas joins Ariel Helwani to look back on not just a period many consider to be the best era of NBA basketball, but also to reflect on a career that's spanned multiple sports, countless iconic moments, and generations past and present. Together, the two Syracuse alumni discuss:
Why we look back so fondly to the NBA on NBC era of the 1990s
His legendary call of the 1998 NBA Finals, an era-defining moment we often look back on when remembering the glory of Michael Jordan's Bulls
What it was like to relive the magic of the '90s by watching "The Last Dance" during the COVID-19 pandemic
His bone-chilling memories of broadcasting during the NBA Finals on June 17, 1994 -- the day of the infamous O.J. Simpson chase -- and what he would do differently if he could do that day all over again
Hosting NBC's coverage of the 1992 Summer Olympics and his favorite memories of "The Dream Team"
His relationship with the late NBA commissioner David Stern and whether Stern ever reprimanded him for his tough line of questioning in their conversations
The current state of NBA broadcasting
Plus, Costas tells us whether he has any interest in covering the NBA ever again.
Bob Costas is a titan of American sports broadcasting. From 1980-2019, he worked for NBC Sports, where he covered the NBA, MLB, and NFL. In addition, he hosted NBC's coverage of 12 Olympic Games. The 2018 winner of the Ford C. Frick Award for MLB broadcasting, Costas is also a 28-time Emmy Award winner. We could go on about his endless accolades, but you get the point.
Audio clips courtesy of NBC Sports.
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The NBA season is like a movie. From beginning to end, there's good guys and bad guys, love stories and breakups, heroes and villains. And by all measures, the 2022-23 season has been a box office hit.
And on today's episode, one of the preeminent writers, speakers, and thinkers about the NBA joins Ariel to break down some of the season's most tantalizing stories, discussing things like:
Another tight MVP race and why the NBA MVP debate attracts so much attention
If the Sacramento Kings, the underdog of the season, will make noise in the postseason
Isola's time covering the whole Kyrie Irving mess in Brooklyn, and if Irving is to blame for the Mavericks' recent struggles
Kevin Durant's fit in Phoenix
Whether this season marks the end of the road of Damian Lillard's tenure in Portland
If Jaylen Brown is on his way out of Boston after this season
Plus, the guys talk about the current NBA media landscape, if Isola ever experiences burnout covering the NBA, and much, much more.
Frank Isola is an American sportswriter who covered the New York Knicks for The New York Daily News from 1995-2017. He then wrote about the Knicks for The Athletic. Today, he co-hosts a SiriusXM radio show, serves as a Nets studio analyst for YES Network, and is also a regular contributor to ESPN's "Around the Horn" and "Pardon the Interruption." He is also the author of the 1999 book, "Just Ballin': The Chaotic Rise of the New York Knicks."
You can follow Frank on Twitter and Instagram @TheFrankIsola.
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The Sacramento Kings weren't supposed to be this good this year. But yet, they currently sit in third place in the Western Conference standings. This week's guest has quite a bit to do with that.
On today's episode, Ariel and fellow MMA fan Mike Brown, the head coach of the surprising Sacramento Kings, discuss the following:
The expectations Brown had for the Kings coming into the 2022-23 season
Why he made all of his players sign a "know your role" contract at the beginning of the season
If he thought his coaching days were behind him following the end of his second stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014
What it was like to be an assistant for the Golden State Warriors after years of being a head coach
Why he prefers to be "one of the guys" with his players
What it was like coaching the Nigerian men's basketball team in 2021
Plus, Coach Brown talks about his hopes for the postseason, members of the team who have pleasantly surprised him, and he also gives his take in the MJ vs. LeBron debate.
Mike Brown is currently the head coach of the Sacramento Kings. He first entered the coaching ranks in 1997 as an assistant for the Washington Wizards. Since then, he's coached for the San Antonio Spurs, Indiana Pacers, and the Golden State Warriors. The 2009 NBA coach of the year, who served as a head coach for the Cavaliers (twice) and the Los Angeles Lakers, is considered the front-runner to win the award for a second time this season.
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Just a few days after the passing of basketball icon Willis Reed, one of the world's foremost writers on New York Knicks basketball joins Ariel Helwani to look back on the legendary career of Reed: a Hall of Famer, MVP, 7x All-Star, and 2x NBA champion.
On today's episode, Ariel and Araton reflect on the life and career of a basketball pioneer by discussing the following:
Why "The Captain" is remembered so vividly and viscerally for his lasting impact on the game
How Reed used to take younger players under his wing
Comparing the 1970 Knicks championship team to the 1973 squad
How a story Araton wrote contributed to the Knicks firing Reed as a head coach
Some of Araton's favorite stories from throughout the time he covered Reed and the Knicks
Araton's final interactions with Reed
And unfortunately, what it was like to write the obituary for a man Araton considered to be not just an athlete he covered ... but also a friend.
Harvey Araton is a former sports columnist and reporter for The New York Times, where he spent 25 of 40 illustrious years in the sportswriting business. He remains a contributor for the paper. He's also the author of nine books, including The Garden of Eden, the 2011 bestseller which ESPN later turned into a 30 for 30 film.
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