The Lead

One year ago, Raheem Mostert and the San Francisco 49ers were 4-12 and Kyle Shanahan was coaching at the Senior Bowl. Now, they're one win away from being crowned Super Bowl champions. The Athletic’s Tim Kawakami joins us to talk about how the 49ers have pulled off this remarkable turnaround, the players who have been key to their playoff run, and how, despite their success, they still see themselves as a bunch of journeymen.

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https://theathletic.com/author/tim-kawakami/?source=theleadpodcast

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The tributes to Kobe Bryant and other victims of Sunday’s helicopter crash continue. A number of NBA players who were close to Kobe, including Chris Paul and Kyrie Irving, have missed games . NBA teams have continued to let the 24-second shot clock run out during games to honor the former #24. The Athletic’s Andy and Brian Kamenetzky join us to reflect on the remarkable life and career of Kobe Bryant, how he’ll be remembered and what he meant to the city of Los Angeles.

You can read The Athletic's ongoing coverage of Kobe Bryant's passing here: https://theathletic.com/tag/remembering-kobe-bryant/

And revisit Kobe's relationship with Shaq on Wondery's 7-part Shaq/Kobe series on “Sports Wars”: https://wondery.com/shows/sports-wars/

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After Kobe's tragic death from a helicopter crash on Sunday, we walk through the latest news on the accident and ongoing investigation. Plus, we look at how people across the country have expressed their love and support for the late superstar and his family. And we travel to Staples Center, where thousands of people gathered to share stories and mourn the loss of the basketball icon.

Follow The Athletic's latest coverage of Kobe Bryant:

https://theathletic.com/tag/remembering-kobe-bryant/?source=theleadpodcast

Revisit Kobe's relationship with his Laker teammate Shaq on our 7-part series about their friendship and rivalry on “Sports Wars”: https://wondery.com/shows/sports-wars/

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New reporting from The Athletic has revealed problems inside the Clippers locker room. Kawhi Leonard has been red hot on the court, but his aloofness and unusual leadership style has created some friction within the team. The Athletic’s Jovan Buha joins us to talk about how the Clippers have been struggling to adapt to life with the reticent star, and what it could mean for the team's championship hopes.

Read Jovan Buha and Sam Amick's story about the culture of the Clippers:

https://theathletic.com/1557316/2020/01/23/chemistry-setting-behind-the-scenes-of-kawhi-leonard-and-the-clippers-merging-culture/?source=theleadpodcast

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Zion Williamson made a splash in his debut last night. But his fellow rookie, Ja Morant, has been dominating defenses all season and creating an incredible highlight reel along the way. Today, The Athletic’s Omari Sankofa II joins us to talk about Ja’s impressive rookie year, why he has a chip on his shoulder, and whether or not he, and not Zion, should have been the number one pick in the draft.

Follow Omari Sankofa II's coverage of the Grizzlies:

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In perhaps the most anticipated NBA debut ever, New Orleans Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson finally takes the floor tonight. Williamson had surgery in October for a torn meniscus and was slated to miss somewhere between 6 and 8 weeks. It's now been 14 weeks since the team announced he would be sidelined. So what can we anticipate from Zion's first NBA game? The Athletic's Will Guillory joins us to talk about Zion’s return, his unusual rehab, and what he could mean for the Pelicans and the city of New Orleans.

Read Will Guillory's story about Zion's debut:

https://theathletic.com/1553109/2020/01/22/zion-williamsons-long-awaited-debut-marks-the-beginning-of-a-new-era-in-new-orleans/?source=theleadpodcast

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The WNBA signed a monumental collective bargaining agreement with the players union last week. The maximum player salary was nearly doubled, the league minimum was increased by 35 percent, and elite players could now see their total income more than triple. The deal also includes new allowances for travel and maternity leave. The Athletic’s Lyndsey D'Arcangelo joins us to discuss how the deal came about and what it means for the WNBA and women’s sports in general.

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After convincing wins yesterday, the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs have advanced to Super Bowl 54. The Athletic’s Sheil Kapadia joins us to break down the two Championship games, to discuss what went right for the winners, and to talk about what to expect on February 2nd in Miami. Oh, and we also discuss Rob Lowe's hat.

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The Titans came into the playoffs as a long-shot Wild Card team. But after knocking off the Patriots and Ravens, Derrick Henry and Tennessee are the talk of the postseason. And in a league where passing is king, they’re winning with an old-school brand of smashmouth football. The Athletic's Joe Rexrode joins us to talk about how the Titans have pulled off this unlikely playoff run and just how far they could go.

Read Joe Rexrode's coverage of the Titans:

https://theathletic.com/author/joe-rexrode/

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Liverpool have been absolutely unstoppable this season. They now have a fourteen point lead over second-place Manchester City and are on pace to win their first league title in thirty years (among other historic accomplishments). Much of Liverpool’s success has been attributed to head coach Jurgen Klopp. The Athletic’s James Pearce joins us to talk about how Klopp has transformed the team through a rare combination of passion, tactics, and hugs.

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