On a packed episode of The Kevin O’Connor Show, Kevin O’Connor is joined by Tom Haberstroh to break down the latest NBA headlines, including James Harden’s broken thumb and Lauri Markkanen’s injuries.

KOC and Tom go back and forth on their Western Conference power rankings.

From there, KOC is joined by Jason Gallagher to tackle questions about what’s going on with Luka Dončić and why fandom has changed so much.

All that and more on this episode of The Kevin O’Connor Show.

Harden Injury (1:06)

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Kevin O’Connor sits down with former Denver Nuggets GM Calvin Booth for an unfiltered look inside team building, executive strategy and the realities of finding success in the NBA. How did he manage the team during their championship run?

Booth also shares candid reflections on his relationship with former head coach Michael Malone, insights on sustaining a championship window and his philosophy behind drafting players and developing talent.

(1:11) Keys to building a championship team

(10:06) Bruce Brown’s development

(11:30) Jokic’s growth in Denver

(16:30) Nuggets post-championship

(31:33) Friction between Booth & Malone

(40:43) What would Booth do differently looking back?

(49:42) Is Denver on the path to a dynasty?

(52:18) College basketball landscape & impact on Draft

(1:03:53) Overrated traits & underrated players

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On today’s Kevin O’Connor Show, KOC is joined by NBC broadcaster John Fanta to talk everything NBA. They start with Eastern Conference contender power rankings: who’s the number one team in the East? Could Cade Cunningham really be MVP?

Then, they turn to Team USA hockey’s gold-medal win against Canada before John tells the story of his call-up to the NBA on NBC by Mike Tirico.

Plus, they discuss if Anthony Edwards is the face of the league, address the troubles in Phoenix & Houston, and take a look at the top prospects in this year’s fiery draft class.

That and more, today!

Eastern Conference Contenders (1:39)

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Today on the Kevin O’Connor show, KOC is joined by Tom Haberstroh to ask some big questions in the NBA world: Are the Houston Rockets done? What teams have the most to prove in the 2nd half of the season? Which young players might break out and which coaches are on the hot seat?

Then, the pair look at two of the hottest names in college basketball: Darius Acuff and Darryn Peterson. How does Acuff’s 49-point explosion affect his draft stock? Is Peterson’s self-check-out gambit for Kansas threatening his no. 1 draft pick potential?

Later, KOC is joined by Daman Rangoola, Sam Esfandiari & Claire De Lune from All-Star Weekend to talk the latest with the Lakers and Warriors. That and more on today’s show!

(1:11) Contenders with the most to prove

(13:38) Young players to watch

(20:26) NBA coaches on the hot seat

(33:46) Kings decimated by injuries

(37:12) Darius Acuff drops 49 points vs. Alabama

(41:44) What's going on with Darryn Peterson?

(56:32) Daman Rangoola & Sam Esfandiari join from All-Star

(1:43:10) Claire De Lune joins from All-Star

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NBA skills coach Drew Hanlen joins Kevin O’Connor to break down the season’s hottest topics, from star player development to the reality of tanking in the league. Drew shares inside stories about working with Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Jayson Tatum and others and explains why self-belief can be both a gift and a curse for rising talent.

(0:48) When will Tatum return for Celtics?
(12:13) Player development & Deni Avdija
(21:43) Can Hornets maintain their winning ways?
(26:25) How can NBA stop tanking?
(31:09) Joel Embiid's recovery and development 
(43:02) How teams use data & analytics to improve 
(49:03) Chris Paul retires from NBA
(56:43) How will defensive coaching evolve?
(01:00:11) Future of the All-Star game

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Kevin O’Connor gives his seven biggest takeaways from a star-studded NBA All-Star Weekend. Was the new format a success? Is expansion back on the board? Kevin gives his thoughts.

Next, Ben Golliver joins the show to break down the tanking crisis and which teams are most guilty of tanking the most.

Plus, Cedric Coward joins to share his lessons from his rookie season, his progression as a player and the toughest players to defend.

0:28 Seven biggest takeaways from All-Star Weekend

15:41 Ben Golliver joins the show

45:23 Cedric Coward joins the show

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In today’s Kevin O’Connor Show, KOC goes over his NBA awards rankings approaching the midway point of the season. Plus, he reacts to the news of the Jaren Jackson Jr. season-ending surgery, and proposes a new system to weed out the problem of tanking in the NBA.

Then, KOC does a live mail-bag segment with questions from the YouTube chat. That and more for today’s pre-All-Star Weekend show!
 

(0:33) NBA Awards check-in

(8:36) How can the NBA solve tanking?

(29:07) Live YouTube Q&A

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Kevin O’Connor is joined by Dane Moore to talk Timberwolves on today’s Kevin O’Connor Show. What’s behind the meltdown in Minnesota?

Next, KOC is joined by Boston Celtics play-by-play announcer Drew Carter to talk all things Celtics—particularly what needs to be done to right the ship after trading for Nikola Vucevic at the trade deadline.

Then, KOC mulls over the question: is this year’s Charlotte Hornets team the new Indiana Pacers? What is the key to their newfound success?

Plus, KOC is joined by Swish Theory’s Matt Powers to chat Draft Class—which draft prospect has improved most in the new year? How does AJ Dybantsa bring BYU out of a 4-game losing streak? That and more on today’s show!

(0:14) Dane Moore talks Timberwolves

(30:40) Drew Carter on Celtics

(1:07:20) Are the Hornets this year's Pacers?

(1:13:21) Matt Powers joins KOC's Draft Class

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On today’s Kevin O’Connor show, we’ve got a trade-deadline special! Kevin O’Connor is joined by Tom Haberstroh to dissect any and all movement in the league before the 3 PM ET buzzer, going through the biggest winners and losers in what may be the weirdest trade deadline in NBA history.

First, the pair discuss the Milwaukee Bucks’ decision to retain Giannis Antetokounmpo, and what that means for the landscape of the NBA–and for the future outlook of the Golden State Warriors, especially after the anticlimactic end of the Jonathan Kuminga saga. Were the Warriors the biggest losers of the trade deadline? Will another team arise in the summer to win the Antetokounmpo sweepstakes?

Next, they discuss the James Harden trade to the Cleveland Cavaliers, and if this move can bring the city of Cleveland to the Finals once again.

Then, they muse on what exactly made this deadline so weird: multiple All-Stars being traded to bad NBA teams. They ask: why are bad teams trading for good players? Why are the Utah Jazz putting their top-8 protected first round pick in jeopardy? Why such a paltry return for Anthony Davis, who was traded for Luka Doncic just last year?

Plus, they cover all the bases with the more local trades made, from the Chicago Bulls picking up 9 second round picks to the Boston Celtics acquiring their long-coveted big man in Nikola Vucevic. Plus more questions: why didn’t the Sacramento Kings trade for Ja Morant? Why did the Philadelphia 76ers let go of Jared McCain? All that and much, much more on today’s KOC Show!

(0:16) Trade deadline instant reactions
(4:33) Giannis not traded by Bucks
(10:39) Warriors trade Kuminga to Hawks
(25:49) Cavs get James Harden
(43:34) Wizards acquire Anthony Davis
(48:22) Clippers trade Zubac to Pacers
(55:57) Jazz trade for Jaren Jackson Jr.
(1:02:18) Ja Morant stays in Memphis
(1:07:45) Timberwolves trade recap
(01:10:18) What are the Chicago Bulls up to?
(01:13:05) Celtics trade Simons for Vucevic
(01:19:04) 76ers trade Jared McCain to OKC

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In a jam-packed Kevin O’Connor show, KOC discusses the first trade of the deadline week and what it means for Keon Ellis, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Sacramento Kings. Then, he discusses updates in the Ja Morant trade market: is there a new interest in him coming out of Chicago?

Next, Kyle Neubeck joins to talk Sixers: what’s up with the Paul George suspension? Is Joel Embiid back? Is a trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo without giving up VJ Edgecombe a possibility?

Later, KOC chats All-Star reserves before being joined by Kirk Henderson. They look back at the Luka Doncic to Los Angeles trade one year later, marvel at Cooper Flagg’s 2-game tear and ask the question: will Anthony Davis be traded this season?

Corey Tulaba then joins the pod for this week’s Draft Class to chat AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson, the future of Richie Saunders and the biggest college games to watch for this weekend.

(0:25) Cavs trade for Ellis & Schroder
(6:31) Bulls interested in Ja Morant?
(8:22) Kyle Neubeck talks 76ers
(27:27) All-Star reserves announced
(30:48) Kirk Henderson talks Mavericks
(46:01) Hornets win 6 straight games
(1:00:00) Draft Class with Corey Tulaba

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