Learning Basketball

Ep. 79 Learning Basketball with Steven Bagell! @TheNBAgell

Steven Bagell is the SBC 2024 Director of Brand & Operations for⁠⁠@thecenterhub_bb⁠,⁠ a Certified NIL agent, and dual Podcast Host of the ⁠@birdrightspod ⁠& ⁠@one_and_donepod⁠ where he covers NBA Salary Cap rules and NCAA basketball.

Today we learn about the NIL Landscape, the opportunities for Certified NIL Agents, Top 2025-26 College Hoops Storylines, and break down the Orlando Magic Salary Cap 5-Year Outlook

Timeline:

0:00 Introduction & Background

2:00 Opportunities after becoming NIL certified + advice to those trying to break into basketball

13:00 Top 2025-26 NCAA Storylines

35:00 Orlando Magic 5-Year Salary Cap Outlook

Full Podcast LINKS:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2WPNyHW4I8wNgDFdsL6ZLf

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/learning-basketball/id1775085550

YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNBCJ87gXz671ru-1b9s3U672nRO3k3nc

Ep. 78 Learning Basketball with Joel Rush @JoelRushNBA

Joel Rush covers the Denver Nuggets and NBA for Forbes Sports.

Today we learn about the Denver Nuggets Reloaded Offseason shifting them back into clear contender status, the motivations behind trading Michael Porter Jr. and a future unprotected 1st for Cam Johnson, how the new free agent acquisitions Valanciunas Hardaway and Brown fit into the rotation, what to expect with David Adelman moving into the permanent Head Coaching title, and the Christmas Day matchup between the budding rivalry of Minnesota and Denver.

Timeline:
00:00 Denver Nuggets Reloaded - 2025 Offseason

05:00 Appreciating Michael Porter Jr.’s time with the Nuggets and Motivations behind Nuggets trade for Cam Johnson

09:00 Assessing New Roster and Team Depth

13:00 Malleability of Bruce Brown

19:00 Tim Hardaway Jr.’s ideal role

26:04 Coaching Changes from Michael Malone and Calvin Booth to new Head Coach David Adelman

39:00 Jonas Valanciunas declaring he will honor his contract and how his presence preserves team identity

44:00 Prospects Julian Strawther and Peyton Watson having opportunity to claim playing time while Denver adds experienced options just in case.

01:00:00 Nuggets vs. Timberwolves Christmas Day Matchup & Budding Rivalry

01:07:00 Projecting the Orlando Magic's success next season and beyond

01:25:00 Nuggets' Depth and Championship Aspirations

Full Podcast LINKS:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2WPNyHW4I8wNgDFdsL6ZLf

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/learning-basketball/id1775085550

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNBCJ87gXz671ru-1b9s3U672nRO3k3nc

Ep. 77 Learning Basketball with Zena Keita! @itszenakeita

Zena Keita covers all things Golden State Basketball between the Warriors for NBC and the Valkyries for CBS as a TV Analyst. She also hosts two basketball podcasts (NBA Daily, No Offseason) with The Athletic NBA & WNBA.

Timeline:

00:00 Introduction & Background to Zena Keita’s Journey in Basketball, Sports Media Advice, Breakthrough Career Moments

05:00 The Golden State Valkyries Expansion Draft

09:00 How to credit the Valkyries early success under the team building of GM Ohemaa Nyanin, team culture built by HC Natalie Nakase, leadership of Owner Joe Lacob, and second chance opportunity being taken on by the players

18:00 The Consistency of Golden State Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr's Coaching Philosophy and Impact Heading into Year 12

25:00 Golden State Warriors' Franchise Outlook in the Jimmy Butler Era with another peak Steph season looming despite an uncertain future with Kuminga

35:00 Top-5 Most Interesting 2025-26 NBA Storylines

36:00 OKC Thunder's Dynasty Potential, how high of a ceiling does Bane give the Orlando Magic?

39:00 Warriors' Two-Timeline Strategy, Kevin Durant Rockets Offensive Identity, Cooper Flagg Living Up To Hype vs Mavs Sleeping Giants

43:00 How will the Luka LeBron Ayton Lakers surprise us this season? Are the Atlanta Hawks winning 50 games and a Top-4 seed? Can we finally trust the reloaded Clippers in the Playoffs? Is Giannis' Future in Milwaukee Secured?

Full video and clips on youtube/twitter/spotify: @beyondtherk

Ep. 76 Learning Basketball with Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguetGerald Bourguet covers the Phoenix Suns and the NBA as the Lead Suns Writer at ⁠@PHNX_Sports⁠ and the Co-Host of The ⁠@PHNX_Suns⁠ Podcast 

Today we are learning about the state of the Phoenix Suns with Gerald Bourguet, the 2025 offseason overhaul, how the KD Suns Era will be remembered, what went wrong and why, the retooling efforts this summer to keep Booker happy through his prime years, the new-look offense with Jordan Ott and incoming players Jalen Green, Khaman Maluach, Mark Williams.

Timeline:

00:00 2025 Phoenix Suns Offseason Overhaul

03:00 Kevin Durant's Legacy with Suns Fans

06:00 The Real Impact of Acquiring Bradley Beal

08:00 Jordan Ott’s Offense as New PHX Head Coach

11:00 2025 NBA Draft Night - The Mark Williams Trade, Selecting Khaman Maluach, Declining Giant Pelicans Offer

15:00 Jalen Green's Expected Role & How Ott’s Scheme could look with this roster

35:00 2025-26 Season Outlook & Beyond

40:00 Patience, Aligned Vision, Vertical Alignment from Owner to GM to Coach to Player

45:00 Celebrating The Chris Paul 2021 NBA Finals Team

Ep. 75 Learning Basketball with Matt Alquiza @malquiza8

Matt Alquiza covers the Charlotte Hornets with Sports Illustrated @SI_Hornets and as co-host of the @BuzzBeatPod.

Today we learn about the Charlotte Hornets identity-shifting summer of 2025, the draft strategy and clean fit of all four rookies (#4 - Kon Knueppel , #29 - Liam McNeeley, #33 - Sion James, #34 - Ryan Kalkbrenner) around its two stars LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, the opportunity and pathways for those draft prospects to develop together in well-fitting roles, Charlotte doubling down on playmaking and 3pt shooting to help establish a team identity no matter which player combinations are on the floor by adding these rookies along with bringing back Tre Mann and bringing in Collin Sexton and Spencer Dinwiddie, projecting next season and beyond.

Timeline:

00:00 Introduction + 2025 Offseason Winners - Charlotte Hornets

01:00 Young Core of the Hornets and clean fit of 2025 NBA Draft Haul - Knueppel, McNeeley, Sion James, Kalkbrenner

26:00 Complementary Guard Depth after adding Sexton, how will Charlotte’s 2025-26 rotation look?

32:00 Longterm Charlotte Hornets Franchise Outlook - Establish Fast-Pace Pass and Shoot Identity First

Ep. 74 Learning Basketball with David Lee @DLee4Three

David Lee covers the Atlanta Hawks on YouTube & Twitter @DLee4Three and creates Atlanta Hawks Film Breakdowns at @ATLHawksFilm

Today we learn about the Atlanta Hawks incredible 2025 offseason, 2025-2026 future franchise outlook, Drafting Asa Newell #23 while somehow adding a 2026 unprotected first from New Orleans, How a healthy Kristaps could be the key unlocking Trae Young, Atlanta’s front court two-way versatility and key additions of Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Luke Kennard to the backcourt.

Timeline

00:00 Introduction & 2025 Offseason Winners: Atlanta Hawks

03:00 The Potential D&3 Secondary Scoring Gravity of Kristaps Porzingis

05:00 The Value of Trading Back for Asa Newell and his incredible development path trajectory clean fit next to Trae Young to maximize Asa’s skillset
32:00 How Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Luke Kennard complement a Trae - Dyson Daniels Backcourt

37:00 Teambuilding challenge of Lineup Versatility - Building around Trae’s strengths by flanking him with versatile defensive play-finishers while finding options to survive without him on the court 

40:00 Expectations for Upcoming 2025-26 NBA Season and beyond - Can next year’s Atlanta Hawks win 50 games and a 4-seed?

Ep. 73 Learning Basketball with Maurya Kumpatla @TheFlareScreen

Maurya Kumpatla covers the Oklahama City Thunder and NBA Draft as a writer for Swish Theory

Today we learn about and celebrate the season of the 2025 NBA Champion Oklahoma City Thunder, (1:00) contextualize the individual greatness of MVP and Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, (23:00) respect the patient teambuilding process of Sam Presti, and detail how the Thunder built the greatest defense of all time by most measures. Then we detail 3 of Maurya's 2025 NBA Draft Winners between teams and prospect fit for long term player development. (44:45)

Timestamps:

0:00 Introduction

1:00 Celebrating OKC Thunder - The 2025 NBA Champions

23:00 Contextualizing Shai Gilgeous Alexander's All-Time Great MVP + Finals MVP Season

44:45 2025 NBA Draft - 3 Winners

Ep. 72 Learning Basketball with Matt Powers! @DraftPow

Matt Powers covers the NBA Draft as an Editor and Co-Founder of Swish Theory, formerly of the Stepien.

Today we learn about the 2025 NBA Draft, Swish Theory's 2025 NBA Draft Guide and the team's big board, potential sleepers and late risers, and analysis on some prospect names we're higher or lower on than consensus.

Timeline:

00:00

Introduction, Thunder win Title! KD to Rockets! 2025 NBA Draft Week!

02:00

Exploring the Swish Theory Draft Guide

9:00

Draft Class Depth and Potential Stars

16:00

Top Prospects and Team Needs

22:00

Comparing all the front court options and Bigs like Maluach, Sorber, Kalkbrenner

25:00

Evaluating Draft Prospects: Potential and Fit

32:00

Late Risers, Underrated Players, Potential Sleepers

42:00

Draft Predictions: Who Will Slip? Who should be a reach?

45:00

Final Thoughts on the Draft Class

Ep. 71 Learning Basketball with Parker Fleming (@Paka_Flocka) and Eric Weiss (@EricWeiss_SA)!

Parker Fleming covers the Memphis Grizzlies and the NBA Draft.

Eric Weiss has years of experience in the NBA Scouting industry with Draft Express and Luceo Sports.

Today we talk with Parker Fleming (0:00) about Desmond Bane as a person and player on and off the court, his Memphis Grizzlies legacy, the state of the Grizzlies' franchise after the trade, how KCP and Cole Anthony fit Memphis' rotation, the 2025 NBA Draft (41:00) and Memphis' best options with the #16 pick

before we talk with Eric Weiss (1:01:35) about the team building decision making process that NBA front offices go through, what the Magic and Grizzlies decision makers could be weighing in a blockbuster trade like this, and how to value draft pick potential against players in deals depending on the state of the team.

Timeline:

0:00 Parker Fleming, Desmond Bane, Memphis Grizzlies

41:00 2025 NBA Draft - Post Lottery Sleepers & Memphis Targets at #16

1:01:35 Eric Weiss - The NBA Team Building & Front Office Decision Making Process side of The Desmond Bane Trade

Ep. 70 Learning Basketball with David Steele! @SteeleMagic

David Steele is the voice of the Orlando Magic, the lead announcer on the sidelines when you tune on a Magic game.

Today we learn about his thoughts on the Desmond Bane trade, the culture built by Jamahl Mosley, what Cole Anthony and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope meant to this Magic team, the Orlando Magic's logo and jersey rebrand, and the idea of using the #25 pick on UF's Walter Clayton in the 2025 NBA Draft.

Timeline:

0:00 Introduction

1:30 Father’s Day Desmond Bane Trade Instant Reaction

7:00 Desmond Bane’s clean fit on and of the court, Jeff Weltman’s patient trade process to wait for the perfect target

18:00 Jamahl Mosley’s Team Identity & Culture

23:00 Cole Anthony’s Magic Legacy & Kentavious Caldwell Pope’s impact in Orlando

27:30 Orlando Magic Logo & Jersey Rebrand

35:30 UF’s Walter Clayton Jr. 2025 NBA Draft Outlook & potential fit at #25 for Orlando

40:00 Appreciating Gary Harris and Cory Joseph

43:00 Celebrating David Steele’s Career as Magic Broadcaster