The Lead

The Houston Rockets are making a big bet on small ball. By trading away their only proven big man three weeks ago, they committed to playing one of the smallest lineups the NBA has seen in recent years. The Athletic’s Kelly Iko joins us to talk about Houston’s grand experiment, whether or not it could actually work, and what’s at stake for the team and head coach Mike D’Antoni.

Follow Kelly Iko's coverage of the Houston Rockets:

https://theathletic.com/author/kelly-iko/?source=theleadpodcast

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NASCAR has deep roots in the American South. It has also had its share of racial tension. As part of our Black History Month coverage, we’re joined by David Aldridge of The Athletic to talk about black NASCAR drivers from the past and present, what the organization is doing to make its future more diverse, and what David experienced while attending a race.

Read David Aldridge's story about traveling to a NASCAR race:

https://theathletic.com/1233963/2019/09/26/the-race-and-race-what-it-is-like-for-people-of-color-in-and-around-nascar/?source=theleadpodcast

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The Baylor men's basketball team has been one of the best teams in the country all year, and much of the success can be attributed to head coach Scott Drew. The Athletic’s CJ Moore joins us to talk about how Drew rebuilt the program after the tragic murder of a player 17 years ago, how listening to his players helped transform the way the team plays defense, and Coach Drew's unusual combination of competitive fire and goofiness.

Follow CJ Moore's college basketball coverage:

https://theathletic.com/author/cj-moore/

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Saturday night is one of the most anticipated heavyweight rematches in a long time. Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder square off in Las Vegas. The stakes are particularly high for Deontay Wilder who is considered by many to be the next great American heavyweight. The Athletic’s Lance Pugmire joins us to talk about how Wilder has overcome incredible odds just to get become a champion and how, even as a kid in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, he knew his fate.

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The long-suffering New York Knicks are turning to an unlikely savior: NBA agent Leon Rose is expected to take over as team president. The Athletic's Mike Vorkunov joins us to talk about how the Knicks landed on Rose, whether or not he'll actually be able to turn things around, and why more and more teams are staffing their front offices with player agents.

Read more of Mike Vorkunov's coverage of Rose and the Knicks:

https://theathletic.com/1590270/2020/02/07/knicks-finally-have-a-reason-for-optimism-with-leon-rose-coming-and-marcus-morris-exiting/?source=theleadpodcast

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Things are bad for the Houston Astros. Players from around the league have been going on camera over the past few days to criticize Astros players and owner Jim Crane for not fully owning up to their role in the sign stealing controversy. Commissioner Rob Manfred has also come under fire for his botched handling of the case. The Athletic’s Marc Carig joins us from spring training in Arizona to talk about why player rage has reached a boiling point and what comes next for the troubled team.

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https://theathletic.com/author/marc-carig/?source=theleadpodcast

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Manchester City has been banned from the Champion’s League, Europe’s most prestigious and lucrative club tournament, after an investigation found that the team lied on important financial documents. The future of one of the world's biggest and richest clubs is now very much in question. The Athletic’s Sam Lee joins us to break down the ban, what further fallout there could be, and what’s at stake for the team's highly controversial billionaire owner, Sheikh Mansour.

Follow Sam Lee's ongoing coverage of Manchester City:

https://theathletic.com/author/sam-lee/?source=theleadpodcast

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The NBA All-Star Game is this weekend and there are expected to be many tributes to the late Kobe Byrant. Kobe is, of course, a king in Los Angeles, but his relationship with his hometown, Philadelphia, was complicated. The Athletic’s Michael Lee, who covers the NBA and lives in Philadelphia, joins us to talk about how the city made Kobe the competitor he was, but didn’t give him much love until the very end.

Read Michael Lee's story about Kobe Bryant's complex relationship with Philadelphia:

https://theathletic.com/1585634/2020/02/05/he-was-really-philly-kobe-bryant-had-a-complex-relationship-with-philly-but-deserves-its-adoration/?source=theleadpodcast

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The U.S. Women’s National Team qualified for the Olympics this past weekend and leading the way, once again, was Rose Lavelle. The talented young midfielder also turned heads at the World Cup last year, capturing the Bronze Ball as the tournament’s third best player. The Athletic’s Megan Linehan joins us to talk about Lavelle’s rapid ascent to stardom, how she cracked a U.S. lineup that is heavily stocked with veterans, and just how bright her future could be. (And also, her unnatural love of dogs.)

Follow Megan Linehan's coverage of Rose Lavelle and the USWNT:

https://theathletic.com/author/meg-linehan/?source=theleadpodcast

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It's been a heck of a week for the Boston Red Sox. The team agreed to send their best player, Mookie Betts, to the Dodgers in a blockbuster trade, along with former Cy Young Award winner David Price in a three-team deal. But the trade almost fell apart in spectacular fashion. The Athletic's Jen McCaffrey joins us to talk about what went on behind the scenes, why the Red Sox made this move now and how Boston fans feel about losing a generational player.

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