On The Ball with Ric Bucher

On The Ball with Ric Bucher

By Ric Bucher, NBA insider and Fox Sports NBA analyst

A weekly sports podcast with inside information and one-of-a-kind perspective on the hottest topics and behind-the-scenes happenings from veteran NBA insider, author and TV analyst Ric Bucher. Find

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Best of On The Ball with Ric Bucher

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  1. Number 1: The NBA Has Made Winning Too Expensive

    Ric Bucher opens this episode of On The Ball by addressing the backlash to his recent WNBA commentary — including criticism from former ESPN colleague Jemele Hill — and explains why he believes social-media outrage routinely turns nuanced arguments into something they were never intended to be. Then comes the bigger NBA issue: Are teams still being constructed primarily to win championships? The four-team trade sending Peyton Watson from the Denver Nuggets to the Cleveland Cavaliers is the latest example of why Ric believes instant NBA trade grades are nearly worthless. Denver didn't lose Watson because it suddenly decided he wasn't worth keeping. His new contract would've pushed the Nuggets' luxury-tax bill from roughly $68 million to more than $220 million. The real mistake, Ric argues, came years earlier, when organizational dysfunction between former coach Michael Malone and GM Calvin Booth squandered precious seasons of Nikola Jokic's prime. Ric applies the same long-term test to the Celtics' Jaylen Brown trade, the Clippers' acquisition of Max Strus, and other moves increasingly dictated by the NBA's punitive second apron. The result? Instead of asking how Denver can put another championship roster around Jokic, fans are left discussing tax bills, cap sheets and whether Jokic eventually needs to leave. But the money isn't the only thing changing the league. Ric examines the transformation of NBA ownership from locally rooted businessmen who viewed players as employees into globally connected billionaires who may see franchise ownership as membership in an exclusive social club — with superstar players becoming prized relationships as much as prized employees. That shift, he argues, has changed the balance of power among owners, stars, agents and even the reporters who cover them. Has the modern NBA become better at creating billionaires than creating champions? 00:00 — Welcome to On The Ball 01:15 — Why Ric changed the show's introduction 02:20 — Responding to the backlash over the WNBA episode 03:13 — Jemele Hill's criticism and what Ric actually said 04:49 — The question about WNBA broadcast diversity 05:15 — Lynx-Valkyries and the problem with “safe” commentary 07:15 — Transgender athletes and what Ric says his argument actually was 09:01 — Men's scout teams, women's basketball and competitive advantage 10:12 — Peyton Watson traded: why Denver's return isn't the real story 11:32 — Why Ric says NBA trade grades are “worthless” 12:16 — Why Denver couldn't afford Watson's $88 million deal 13:00 — The real Nuggets failure: Malone, Booth and wasted Jokic years 14:15 — How close Denver may have been to more championships 15:08 — Why Jokic's best championship window may already have been squandered 15:52 — Cleveland's tax savings and the contradiction in grading the trade 16:45 — Denver's real grade: wasting two prime Jokic seasons 16:59 — Jalen Brown to Philadelphia: why that trade can't be graded yet 18:19 — Boston's squandered opportunities with Brown and Tatum 18:41 — Clippers get Max Strus — but what's their actual plan? 19:57 — Giannis, Jokic, Steph and the Clippers' possible 2027 strategy 20:25 — The NBA's second apron is changing the purpose of trades 21:00 — Denver's “yard sale” and why Jokic departure talk is inevitable 21:51 — Jalen Brunson's sacrifice vs. what Jokic may eventually face 22:43 — How a new generation of NBA owners changed the league 23:37 — Are NBA teams becoming billionaire status symbols? 24:07 — From employees to “wingmen”: how owners now view superstars 25:03 — Steve Ballmer, Kawhi Leonard and modern owner-player relationships 25:28 — How agents and NBA newsbreakers became intertwined 26:36 — Why losing old-school owners like Jeanie Buss matters 27:27 — What disappearing local ownership means for NBA fans 27:40 — Closing thoughts #NBA #NikolaJokic #DenverNuggets #PeytonWatson #ClevelandCavaliers #BostonCeltics #JalenBrown #WNBA #JemeleHill #JeanieBuss #Lakers #NBATrades #OnTheBall #RicBucher Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    29min
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  2. Number 2: Enes Kanter Freedom Found the NBA’s Weak Spot — And Analytics Are Killing Its Game

    Ric Bucher examines Enes Kanter Freedom’s WNBA protest and why his real target may be the NBA — a league he believes ended his career to protect its business interests. Then, Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis’ revelation that he’s been discouraged from shooting mid-range jumpers launches a deeper look at how analytics have reshaped — and homogenized — NBA basketball. Plus: Caitlin Clark’s evolution, Stephen A. Smith’s WNBA take, Jalen Brunson’s old-school brilliance and whether load management is actually making players more vulnerable. 00:00 – Welcome to On The Ball 01:16 – Enes Kanter Freedom, the WNBA and the controversy 04:27 – Challenging the WNBA’s eligibility rules 07:16 – Is Kanter Freedom really supporting women? 10:30 – Ric’s perspective from years around women’s basketball 13:44 – Why Kanter Freedom’s real target may be the NBA 15:21 – Caitlin Clark’s evolution and Stephen A. Smith’s WNBA take 16:35 – Matas Buzelis and the NBA’s war on the mid-range 18:23 – How analytics took over NBA basketball 21:20 – The math behind eliminating the mid-range 22:24 – What analytics fail to measure 23:48 – Kenny Atkinson and analytics taken to the extreme 25:40 – How distinctive NBA offensive systems disappeared 26:48 – Jalen Brunson proves old-school basketball still works 27:41 – Load management, injuries and unintended consequences 28:14 – Why modern NBA basketball has become too formulaic 28:46 – Closing thoughts #NBA #WNBA #EnesKanterFreedom #MatasBuzelis #CaitlinClark #JalenBrunson #ChicagoBulls #OnTheBall #RicBucher Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    30min
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  3. Number 3: The Clippers Got Hammered — But History Says They’re Far From Dead

    Five first-round picks. A $30 million fine. Steve Ballmer suspended for a year. The NBA came down hard on the Clippers over the Kawhi Leonard cap-circumvention scandal — but Ric Bucher explains why calling it a franchise “death penalty” would be a mistake. The Timberwolves survived a remarkably similar punishment and actually got better. Plus: Jonathan Kuminga bets on himself in Minnesota despite an NBA market that keeps questioning his value, and Peyton Watson tells a revealing Michael Malone story that helps explain why Denver eventually moved on from its championship coach. #NBA #Clippers #KawhiLeonard #SteveBallmer #JonathanKuminga #Timberwolves #MichaelMalone #Nuggets #OnTheBall #RicBucher 00:00 — Why offseason conditioning can be misleading 02:57 — Clippers hammered over Kawhi cap circumvention 05:21 — Kawhi, Ballmer and who deserves the blame 06:33 — Five lost picks — severe, but no “death penalty” 08:54 — Ballmer’s fine, appeal and Clippers’ future 10:10 — Jonathan Kuminga bets on himself in Minnesota 14:14 — Why Kuminga’s next payday is far from guaranteed 17:00 — The Jalen Brunson lesson Kuminga should follow 19:00 — Why Portland might've been a better fit 22:22 — Peyton Watson’s revealing Michael Malone story 24:29 — What Malone’s confrontation says about his coaching 26:02 — Did Malone maximize Denver’s potential? 27:00 — Wrap-up Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    28min
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  4. Number 4: STEPH CURRY’S LAST ACT: When Does Loyalty Become a Liability for the Warriors?

    Steph Curry has earned virtually unlimited goodwill in Golden State. But is that goodwill about to face its toughest test? On this episode of On The Ball, Ric Bucher challenges the annual fantasy that Curry and the Warriors have one more championship run left in them. Golden State is coming off a 37-win season, made no transformative offseason addition and is relying on a 38-year-old superstar whose workload already has to be carefully managed. Yet Curry could remain among the NBA’s highest-paid players for years to come. Ric explains why Curry deserves every dollar after transforming the Warriors and the NBA—but also why his salary, age and diminished supporting cast create a late-career situation unlike the ones faced by Magic Johnson, Larry Bird or Michael Jordan. Can Warriors fans simply enjoy Curry’s remaining magic without expecting another championship? And if the losses pile up, will they? Ric also looks beyond the NBA storylines the national networks are likely to push, explaining why Oklahoma City and San Antonio are more compelling than LeBron James’ first week in Philadelphia, why the Western Conference may be more top-heavy than wide open, and why the Eastern Conference could become the NBA’s real battleground after a massive migration and consolidation of star talent. Plus: why last season’s panic over tanking was overblown, and Ric closes with a personal remembrance of his former ESPN colleague Barry Melrose and the lesson he took from not reaching out before it was too late. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Welcome to On The Ball 01:16 – The NBA storylines Ric believes actually matter 01:40 – Why the LeBron-in-Philadelphia hype misses the point 02:55 – OKC and San Antonio: the matchup Ric really wants to see 03:40 – The annual Steph Curry “one more ring” fantasy 04:25 – Why the Warriors no longer look like contenders 05:03 – Curry’s next contract and the coming test of Warriors fans 05:21 – Ric addresses his history with Golden State 06:15 – How team relationships influence sports media coverage 07:38 – Why access has become king in sports television 07:43 – Ric’s real feelings about Steph Curry and the Warriors 09:02 – Why the end of the Warriors dynasty fascinates Ric 09:30 – What makes Curry different from past NBA icons 10:25 – Bird, Magic and Jordan: how legends exited the NBA 12:11 – Why Curry’s late-career situation is different 13:05 – The reality of Golden State’s chances in the West 14:09 – Does Curry deserve to remain one of the NBA’s highest paid? 15:16 – Why Curry’s salary could eventually create backlash 16:07 – The limits of Steph’s late-career magic 17:03 – The dilemma: Golden State needs more Curry but must play him less 17:28 – Enjoy the Steph Curry show—without expecting another trophy 18:06 – Why the Eastern Conference could deliver the NBA’s best drama 18:59 – How deep could the East really be? 19:24 – Why the NBA’s tanking panic was overblown 20:15 – Remembering Barry Melrose 21:34 – Ric’s regret—and the lesson Barry’s death left behind 22:41 – Final thoughts and sign-off #NBA #StephenCurry #StephCurry #Warriors #GoldenStateWarriors #LeBronJames #76ers #Thunder #Spurs #EasternConference #BarryMelrose #OnTheBall #RicBucher Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    24min
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  5. Number 5: Landry Fields: Project B Has Players Signed — And the Men’s Stars Are Coming

    Former NBA player and Atlanta Hawks GM Landry Fields joins Ric Bucher for a special edition of On The Ball to pull back the curtain on Project B, the ambitious new global basketball league aiming to rethink how professional basketball is played, presented and consumed. Fields, now Project B’s head of men’s basketball, confirms that players are already signed, says recognizable names are coming to the men’s side and reveals that announcements should begin rolling out soon. He explains why Project B believes it can lure elite talent with player equity, fewer games and back-to-backs, competitive compensation, greater career longevity and opportunities to build truly global brands. Fields also lays out Project B’s unusual F1-style global model, integrating men and women on the same platform while taking events to cities and countries around the world. He discusses the worldwide search for talent, why the women are currently leading Project B’s development, and what he learned about leadership, culture and decision-making from stops with the San Antonio Spurs, Atlanta Hawks and Overtime Elite. Fields also gets candid about his Hawks tenure and the lesson he carries forward: when you’re the decision-maker, set the vision, own the vision and build toward it. And, yes, Ric also uncovers one of the more unexpected chapters of Fields’ résumé: the former Knick once impersonated Nicki Minaj, Pitbull and Lionel Richie on national television. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Landry Fields joins On The Ball 00:49 – Nicki Minaj or launching a global basketball league: which is harder? 03:00 – How Fields unexpectedly became a TV singing competitor 04:21 – Why Project B appealed to Fields 05:50 – The F1-style vision for a global basketball league 07:37 – Igor Kokoškov and Project B’s player-development plan 08:17 – How Project B can recruit men against the NBA and EuroLeague 09:40 – The untapped pool of global basketball talent 11:10 – Lessons Fields took from the Spurs, Hawks and Overtime Elite 12:09 – What R.C. Buford taught Fields about leadership and culture 14:20 – Fields looks back on his tenure as Atlanta Hawks GM 15:16 – What he would do differently as an NBA decision-maker 16:33 – Where Project B will find its men’s players 18:00 – What the women’s side tells us about Project B’s men 19:00 – Women leading the way toward an equal men’s/women’s platform 20:30 – Will recognizable stars sign with Project B? Fields says yes 21:00 – Equity, fewer games, compensation and Project B’s recruiting pitch 22:00 – How Fields was recruited to Project B 23:00 – What his job looks like right now 23:40 – How NBA insiders are reacting to Project B 24:20 – Taking live basketball to underserved fans around the world 25:40 – Project B’s YouTube partnership and global accessibility 26:20 – Why Fields calls the format “incredibly groundbreaking” 28:20 – Fields’ response to Project B skeptics 29:35 – “It is happening”: players are signed and infrastructure is in place 30:00 – When Project B’s first men’s names will be revealed 30:35 – Why player announcements will arrive in stages 31:11 – The type of player Project B wants 32:40 – Fields and Bucher look ahead to what comes next 33:10 – Closing thoughts and future Project B coverage #ProjectB #LandryFields #NBA #GlobalBasketball #Basketball #NBANews #AtlantaHawks #Spurs #OvertimeElite #OnTheBall #RicBucher Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    34min
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