Pro Basketball Talk on NBC Sports podcast (Kurt Helin, NBC Sports)

We're approaching the end of what has been an unexpectedly great first round of the NBA playoffs. Remember when we thought the West was going to be wild with upsets but the East was predictable and follow the chalk? Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat thought differently. Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin from NBC Sports dive into all the first-round matchups including the Warriors and Kings, the Heat and Bucks, if the Grizzlies can come back on the Lakers and more. 

Then for Corey's Jukebox, it's time for the King of Country George Straight to sing one for Kawhi Leonard. That leads to a conversation about where the Clippers  go from here after another injury-plagued season and playoffs. Should they run it back, or is it time to move on from the Paul George/Kawhi Leonard era? Then the duo talk officiating in the playoffs, always a fraught topic this time of year. Finally, the duo talk about what animal — real or imagined — they would take on a quest.

It doesn't feel like there is a lot of drama in the first round or the Western Conference playoffs this season — the Warriors, Spurs, Thunder and Clippers are expected to advance. Fairly easily. Kurt Helin and Sean Highkin of NBC's ProBasketballTalk discuss these series, including whether Portland can push Los Angeles a little bit. The two also get off topic at points and talk Lakers and Bulls going forward.

This is not the start the Wizards envisioned, but is it who they really are? Washington raced out to a 3-1 start against a soft spot in the schedule, but since the  Wizards have stumbled going 1-5 (heading into Monday). More concerning, they are bottom 10 in the NBA in offense and defense — how does a team with Bradley Beal, Kristaps Porzingis and solid role players such as Kyle Kuzma struggle to score, especially in the halfcourt? Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington joins Kurt Helin to talk about Beal (no, they are not trading him), Porzingis, the Wizards and  where they fit in an East with the red hot Cavaliers and the potential implosion of the Nets.

Draymond Green will return to the Warriors in time for the season opener, having gotten a fine and no suspension, something that the players reportedly not only were good with but pushed for. Can Golden State move past this and win another ring this year? What does it mean long-term for the Warriors? Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin of NBC Sports break all of that down, plus talk about Victor Wembanyama and if he (and Scoot Henderson) will bring tanking back to the NBA. At least for a year.

The Jazz trading Donovan Mitchell to the Knicks seems like a matter of when, not if.

Dan Feldman and Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune discuss what the final trade might include, how New York will look with Mitchell, how Utah will look without Mitchell, the Rudy Gobert-Karl-Anthony Towns pairing with the Timberwolves, the misunderstood Royce O'Neale-Nets trade, reporting in the Mitchell saga and the root of Mitchell's dissatisfaction with the Jazz.

LeBron James is sending out cryptic tweets, unfollows the Cavaliers on Twitter, is longingly talking about joining up with his buddies 'Melo/Wade/CP3 — he is clearly sending a message. That message is not "I'm leaving Cleveland" but it is a message. Kurt Helin and Dan Feldman of NBC Sports discuss what is driving LeBron's clear frustration. They also talk Warriors going for 73 wins and the playoff races at the bottom of both conferences. 

The NBA trade deadline is Feb. 18, less than three weeks away, and while there are some interesting names out there — Ryan Anderson, Rudy Gay — don't expect any blockbuster moves until the summer. Still, there are plenty of smaller moves and dynamics, something ProBasketballTalk's Kurt Helin and Sean Highkin break down. 

Every NBA season comes with questions and opportunities, but this season more than most: What's going to happen with James Harden and the 76ers? Could the Cavaliers be better than the Sixers? Would that make Evan Mobley Defensive Player of the Year or maybe J.B. Bickerstaff for Coach of the Year?

Those outcomes could make a savvy bettor money, so today we break down the coming NBA season with Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper) of NBC Sports Bet the Edge. We talk about under/overs we like and how to really take advantage of that if you're really confident a team will comfortably beat the number (as I am with the Raptors). 

We also talk about how to approach the awards market, as well as the East champion or division champion markets in a way that brings real value. Drew knows his hoops so this is more than a betting conversation but also a good basketball one. 

It's the busy season in the NBA with the playoffs about to start, but Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin of NBC Sports focus on the big picture this week. They talk about a deep Hall of Fame class — Gregg Popovich, Dwyane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker and more — then slide into talking about the new CBA and what it might mean for players and fans of elite teams. 

Corey's Jukebox this week uses the classic rock music of Heart to explain what is going on with the Dallas Mavericks.

After that, the duo gets into the NBA MVP and other end-of-season awards. Should it be Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokić or Giannis Antetokounmpo with the hardware this year? Did Jaren Jackson Jr. play enough games to earn Defensive Player of the Year honors, or should it go to Brook Lopez and all he has brought to the Bucks? Can anyone top Paolo Banchero as Rookie of the Year? They discuss it all and more.

For the first time since the 1990s and Charlie Ward, the Knicks have signed their first-round pick to a multi-year extension, keeping RJ Barrett and not putting him in a trade for Donovan Mitchell. Was that the right move for the Knicks? Now what happens with the Mitchell trade? Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin of NBC Sports get into all of that, plus they discuss the WNBA playoffs and the challenges the favorites face after losing the first game of the second round. Then the pair talk about the best and worst retro jerseys this season and all-time. 

Anthony Davis has played at an MVP-level for weeks now, outdueling even Giannis Antetokounmpo recently in a Lakers' win. LeBron James is still a force at age 37, Russell Westbrook has accepted the role and been a game-changer as a sixth man, and the Lakers' role players are hitting their 3-pointers. It's been an impressive run, but can the Lakers keep it up and be a threat in the West? Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin of NBC Sports discuss all that, plus whether the now-healthy Clippers can find a groove and become a threat. In Corey's Jukebox he dances a little salsa and explains how Nikola Jokic is like Beethoven. Then there is talk of the Kyle Kuzma trade rumors, and what exactly are the long-term plans in Washington. 

The last time the Sacramento Kings were in the playoffs, there was a Bush in the White House and Pixar released the first "Cars" movie. They are back with a vengeance this season, going into the playoffs with a top-three seed and an elite offense, but how far can they go once in there? Maybe a long ways if things break right, and Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin of NBC Sports get into all of that. They discuss the passing of Knicks legend Willis Reed, then Corey's Jukebox compares Jayson Tatum to Eddie VanHalen's "Eruption." Finally, they focus on some possible free agents this summer maybe making their final runs with teams — will Draymond Green be back with the Warriors? What about Kyrie Irving with the Mavericks? The Knicks want Josh Hart back but are not getting a discount, and don't be surprised if the Heat and Trail Blazers try to make some big moves.

Joe Johnson has been set free from Brooklyn — at a cost of $3 million to himself — and seems headed to Cleveland, although in this PBT Podcast NBC's Kurt Helin and Dan Feldman discuss how Oklahoma City might be a better landing spot. They also get to the other news of the day such as James Harden reportedly forcing Kevin McHale out, Marc Gasol's broken foot, and where Kevin Durant may play next season.

The Western Conference is stacked — 12 teams enter the season thinking they can make the playoffs. That will lead to some very disappointed fans (and front offices/coaches on the hot seat) come April, and veteran NBA journalist Mark Medina joins NBC Sports Kurt Helin to break it all down.

The Denver Nuggets are the team to beat and believe they can start where they left off in championship form, despite the loss of Bruce Brown, because they have Nikola Jokic. Chasing them are the Phoenix Suns, a top-heavy roster but one that's a threat if they can find enough depth and defense by the time the playoffs start. The Lakers and Warriors are threats, but both have aging cores — if the Lakers' LeBron James and Anthony Davis, and the Warriors' Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, can get to the playoffs healthy, they are threats.

What about Memphis, without Ja Morant for the first 25 games of the season? Do we trust the Clippers? Does Minnesota figure it out this season with two bigs and the emergence of Anthony Edwards? The Thunder are set to make a leap. Do we trust Zion Williamson to stay healthy and make the Pelicans a threat?

We break all that down and more.

The NBA is very good at backloading its schedule with games between its best teams, and that makes the final weeks of the regular season interesting. This week the suddenly-hot Timberwolves — who have come together with Mike Conley running the point — face the Lakers with LeBron James back from his foot issue.  Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets take on Kevin Durant and the Suns in what could be a Western Conference second-round preview. Just how sideways are things in Dallas? Can the Heat beat the Knicks — and how big a threat is New York?

Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin get into all that, and while talking Mavericks, Corey's Jukebox talks Mavericks and some classic rock from Deep Purple. Then the conversation turns to players being shut down for the season — Damian Lillard and Ben Simmons among them — and how that sparks trade talk. Especially for Lillard, even though he has done nothing but be loyal to Portland. Then that discussion evolves into talking... karaoke? Yes, Karaoke. 

In what will be a new regular feature for NBC Sports PBT podcast, Corey Robinson — the son of NBA legend David Robinson and a former wide receiver for Notre Dame — and Kurt Helin talk all the news around the NBA. That includes trade talk, such as what should be the asking price for Donovan Mitchell and do the Jazz just want picks? The duo discusses if Russell Westbrook can find a role with the Lakers, and what the public statement from Westbrook's agent means. They get into Deandre Ayton's return to the Suns and the risk the Suns took hin handling it the way they did. There was a discussion of the PBT NBA Power Rankings for the summer, and also who stood out at NBA Summer League. That includes talking about non-NBA athletes we'd love to see on the court.

Dan Feldman and Jared Weiss of The Athletic discuss Celtics-Bucks, Sean Marks' comments on Kyrie Irving, Executive of the Year, Danny Ainge's task with the Jazz and the NBA naming conference finals MVPs.

In the middle of what is usually the quiet period of the NBA calendar — when the focus should be on the basketball Hall of Fame and the WNBA — James Harden and the 76ers have kept the drama going. The 76ers ended trade talks (for now) for Harden and say they want to bring him to camp, Harden called 76ers President Daryl Morey a "liar" and said he would never play in an organization Morey is part of.

Is there a good outcome for anyone in this scenario? Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin of NBC Sports discuss that and how both sides have few good options.

Then the conversation shifts to Diana Taurasi, who became the first woman to break the 10,000-point barrier in the WNBA. They discuss her place in the league, and if she should be in Paris next summer as part of Team USA at the Olympics. From there the conversation takes a sharp shift to discussing how Radiohead ties into the Australian NBL in Corey's Jukebox.

Finally, the duo discusses and previews the Northwest Division. Denver is a contender with Nikola Jokić, but how much will they miss Bruce Brown and Jeff Green? Are we sleeping on the Oklahoma City Thunder? What exactly are the Minnesota Timberwolves and are they Anthony Edwards' team now? Where is Utah in its development, and where does John Collins fit in? Then there is Portland, with the Damian Lillard trade looming and a shift to the Scoot Henderson era.

Dan Feldman and "The Midrange Theory" author Seth Partnow – who also writes for the The Athletic and hosts "Callin Shots" – rank:

• Three NBA players most underrated by traditional box-score statistics
• Three NBA players most overrated by traditional box-score statistics
• Three NBA players most underrated by advanced statistics
• Three NBA players most overrated by advanced statistics

The greatest concentration of easily correctable NBA problems occur around All-Star.

On the ProBasketballTalk Podcast, Dan Feldman and Michael Lee of The Washington Post fix NBA All-Star – from selecting rosters to Rising Stars to the dunk contest to the All-Star game itself:

Toronto is the clear and away second best team in the East, a roster with one of the NBA's best backcourts featuring All-Stars Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan. But is now the time for the Raptors to make a bold trade and swing for the fences? Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun joins Kurt Helin of ProBasketballTalk to discuss that, Terrence Ross, the Raptors gaping hole at the power forward spot, and how the All-Star Game has Toronto buzzing. 

After three games of the NBA Finals, there are still so many questions.  Can the Heat stop the Jamal  Murray/Nikola Jokić pick-and-roll? Will Miami find 3-point shot again and will that be enough? Is Denver the team that does not wilt under the pressure Miami puts on them? Is there a better player on the planet than Nikola Jokić.

Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin from NBC Sports get into all of that, then talk coaching hires. Is Frank Vogel a good hire in Phoenix? speaking of coach talk, Corey's Jukebox talks Monty Williams and how a classic Aretha Franklin song sums him up.

Finally, the conversation turns to Team USA and the roster headed to the Philippines for the World Cup this summer — a lot of young, athletic talent, but will any of the American NBA elites join them? Also, who is your favorite NBA mascot? 

Stephen Curry's sprained knee seems to have change the feeling
of inevitability around the NBA playoffs. If the past and soon to
be again MVP misses a chunk of the second round series, can the
Clippers upset the Warriors? Can the Clippers get past the Blazers
to even find out? Kurt Helin and Sean Highkin of NBC Sports discuss
that and all the playoff series around the league in this podcast.
They also talk about the Lakers' coaching search.

The Los Angeles Clippers are one of the five best teams in the NBA, but for a core group of Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan, is that going to be good enough? Could they beat Golden State in the second round? Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times joins PBT's Kurt Helin to break down Los Angeles, and discuss if the Clippers need to be broken up.

There has been no more injury riddled team this season than the Utah Jazz, with Dante Exum, Alec Burk, Rudy Gobert, Derrick Favors, and others missing all or part of the season. Yet, with a month to go before the playoffs, most projection sites have the Jazz passing the Mavericks to make the postseason. Jody Genessy of the Deseret News joins NBC's Kurt Helin to talk all things Jazz, from Gordon Hayward to Quin Snyder. Plus they discuss ketchup potato chips.

DiJonai Carrington's path to the WNBA was not smooth. While she came from an athletic family — her father, Darren Carrington, played eight years in the NFL, and her mother, Vickie, ran track at Northern Arizona — she had to overcome multiple knee surgeries, including one this past offseason. 

It hasn't slowed her down as Carrington is one of the frontrunners to be Sixth Player of the Year, and she has helped lead the Connecticut Sun to a 19-7 record that has them as one of the title contenders this season.

Carrington joined NBC Sports' Kurt Helin on this week's PBT Podcast to discuss how a Southern California native is adjusting to Connecticut, what is feuling her run this season and how making it to the WNBA Finals last year and losing on their home court has motivated the Sun this season. They also talk about overcoming all those injuries, her desire to win Sixth Person of the Year, and what musical act she'd jump on stage with and sing/rap along with.

It's a Fiesta in San Antonio. Literally. And not just because the Spurs won the NBA Draft Lottery, and with it the rights to draft Victor Wembanyama, although Corey Robinson says that has added to the party along the River Walk — with some Afro-Cuban All-Stars music.

In this latest episode of the PBT Extra Podcast, Robinson and Kurt Helin from NBC Sports talk about why landing in San Antonio is a win for Wembanyama as well as the Spurs, how starting his career under the tutelage of Gregg Popovich is a good thing, and how the Spurs should be patient with their build-out around a franchise cornerstone. Then the pair discuss how the lottery was a win for the Hornets and Trail Blazers, but not so much for the Pistons.

From there they discuss Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals and what to take away from the Nuggets' dominant start and the Lakers' comeback. Then they get into the Eastern Conference Finals, where they agree the Heat will bring it and question how much they should trust the Celtics. 

All that plus discussing heroes and villains.

Ja Morant and his gun incident at a club have understandably drawn the headlines — and an eight-game suspension from the NBA — but the issues with the Grizzlies are larger than that. There are the injuries to Steven Adams (he could return for the postseason) and Brandon Clarke (torn Achilles), but also there is what NBC Sports' Corey Robinson describes as a "punk rock attitude" about the team that can be a source of strength but also lead to undisciplined moments. [Editor's note: This podcast was recorded just a couple of hours before the NBA handed down Morant's suspension.]

Robinson and NBC Sports' Kurt Helin dive into that and what steps the Grizzlies need to take in a tight West playoff race. From there it is Corey's Jukebox segment, with some underground Los Angeles hip hop for the Clippers, and some classic Irish music for the Knicks' Julius Randle.

Finally, the  duo discusses the changes at USA Basketball under Grant Hill — now players don't have to play in a World Cup to play in the Olympics? It's a concession to the modern game, but is it good for the American squad in an era where the gap between them and the world's other top teams has shrunk dramatically? The duo also talks a little March Madness — go UC Santa Barbara Gauchos.

This has been a wild playoffs and in this episode of PBT Extra Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin of NBC Sports dive into the second round with a discussion of the 76ers and Celtics Game 7. They touch on the epic Lakers and Warriors series, the Heat and Knicks, and spend time talking about what is next for the Suns this summer — plus why we always seem to overlook the Denver Nuggets.

Speaking of the Nuggets, Corey's Jukebox compares Jokić and the Nuggets to a legendary Todd Rundgren album. From there in Kurt's Korner it's time to talk about the NBA hiring Mike Krzyzewski for... something. Then there is the All-NBA teams and finally the excitement around the NBA Draft lottery and what it could mean for some of the teams at the top.

Nobody saw the Lakers beating the Warriors. Nobody is quite sure what LeBron James is tweeting. Nobody is quite sure what Ty Lawson will bring to Indiana. Nobody is quite sold on the up-and-down rockets. There's a lot to talk about in NBA as teams gear up for their playoff runs, and Kurt Helin and Sean Highkin of NBC Sports get to it all in this latest podcast. 

With DeMarcus Cousins, Rajon Rondo, and George Karl all trying to get along, the Sacramento Kings are one of the best stories in the NBA. Kurt Helin talks about where this team stands, its playoff chances, and potential trades with CSNBayArea.com's James Ham.

Can anyone knock off the Cleveland Cavaliers in the East? Probably not. But that doesn't mean the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs is without drama. Can Toronto finally get out of the first round against the Pacers? Then there are two very interesting chess matches between teams that all won 48 games: Boston vs. Atlanta, and Charlotte vs. Miami. Kurt Helin and Dan Feldman of NBC Sports' ProBasketballTalk break it all down.

Kevin Durant drama keeps unfolding like a good television series, and Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin of NBC Sports get into all of it: Durant's "the coach and GM or me" ultimatum to owner Joe Tsai, the stalled out negotiations, and how long things can drag out. Then the duo disagrees on what this says about Durant's legacy as a guy who puts the game first — did he tear down Brooklyn and ask out, or is this him wanting to compete and realizing he can't do it in Brooklyn? 

After that the conversation turns to the Christmas Day games, and the Bucks vs. Celtics matchup in particular. From there the discussion evolves into Dejounte Murray's call for more NBA players to do Pro-Ams and give fans who can't afford an NBA ticket the chance to see them play up close. That can be a great thing for hard-core hoops fans.

Ben Simmons has loomed over the NBA trade market for months. Jerami Grant, Harrison Barnes, Domantas Sabonis, Myles Turner, John Collins are drawing plenty of attention now. There's even speculation about Bradley Beal getting dealt.

But which NBA players are actually most likely to get traded before the trade deadline (Thursday, Feb. 10)?

On the latest ProBasketballTalk Podcast, Dan Feldman and “Built to Lose: How the NBA’s Tanking Era Changed the League Forever” author Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report give their top-10 lists:

Magic forward Jonathan Isaac and Wizards guard Bradley Beal said plenty about coronavirus vaccines.

As Kent Bazemore showed, there's value in engaging on the topic with people who aren't vaccinated.

On the latest ProBasketballTalk Podcast, Dan Feldman and Cassie Scarfone – an infection preventionist and registered nurse in critical care with a masters in epidemiology from the University of Michigan School of Public Health – discuss vaccination within the NBA and the league's coronavirus policies:

Why did the Magic run a subterfuge campaign before drafting Paolo Banchero No. 1, and – more importantly – was he worth the top pick? Which teams drafted the best fits? How did the Knicks, Thunder, Pistons, Hornets, Grizzlies and 76ers do in their trades?

Dan Feldman and Kurt Helin review the 2022 NBA Draft.

Dec. 15 is viewed as the unofficial start of NBA trade season. Though that date hasn't proven to be particularly significant, it is when most free agents who signed the prior offseason become eligible to be dealt. That opens numerous possibilities.

Dan Feldman and Kurt Helin discuss the most intriguing players who can hit the trade market Dec. 15.

Rui Hachimura is a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, which is a win for the Lakers front office — "Look! We're doing something!" — but how much of a win was that for the Lakers? Does it change much of anything for them on the court? Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin of NBC Sports discuss that, then talk about the Orlando Magic and the return of Jonathan Isaac to the floor. Corey's Jukebox ties together the Magic and the Phantom of the Opera, and from there the duo get into Kurt's selections for the NBA All-Star Game, both starters and reserves. Plus, who would you want to star as if you were in a movie?

MVP, Rookie of the Year, Coach of the Year — we're almost at the halfway point of the NBA season and ProBasketballtalk's Kurt Helin and Dan Feldman break down all six of the major NBA end of season awards and who is ahead at the break. So lots of Stephen Curry and Kawhi Leonard talk. The two also discuss the latest events with the Brooklyn Nets.

The Philadelphia 76ers are title contenders — if James Harden and Joel Embiid can up their performances on the biggest of stages. Philadelphia learned its lessons from the playoff loss to Miami last season and filled out the roster with more toughness and two-way players in the form of P.J. Tucker, Danuel House and DeAnthony Melton. Add in the development of Tyrese Maxey and Matisse Thybulle and you have a deep roster of quality players — all the way down to B-Ball Paul. Noah Levick of NBC Sports Philadelphia joins Kurt Helin of NBC Sports to discuss if Doc Rivers is ready to take this team to the next level and if all the additions can come together when it matters. And can James Harden shake his playoff reputation and lead a team to the Finals?

The Detroit Pistons did very well. The New Orleans Pelicans couldn't unload Ryan Anderson and now will lose him for nothing. The Clippers improved, but could they have done even better? Kurt Helin and Dan Feldman of NBCSports.com break down all the trade deadline moves, talk about what we liked and didn't, and try to imagine what the Memphis locker room suddenly looks like with Lance Stephenson, Matt Barnes, Chris Andersen, P.J. Hairston, and Tony Allen is going to be like. 

Steve Kerr is expected to soon be named the USA Basketball head coach to succeed Gregg Popovich, but Kerr's journey to this place  is unlike any other.  Kerr was barely recruited out of high school as a player, ended up becoming a legend at Arizona under Lute Olsen, and went from being a second-round NBA pick to 15 years in the league, five rings, and a black eye from a punch from Michael Jordan.  Kerr's life was not easy — his father was assassinated by terrorists in the Middle East while he was in college — but he also has had some breaks, then took full advantage of them. In this latest PBT Podcast, we talk about all of that with Scott Howard Cooper, the man who literally wrote the book on Kerr, which is available now, Steve Kerr: A Life. 

LeBron James got what he probably wanted deep down — a second chance at Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors. It's a chance for revenge from last season and to knock Curry off his pedestal. Except this is a difficult matchup for the Cavaliers and their current style of play, something Kurt Helin and Dan Feldman of NBC Sports get into in this breakdown of what's to come. They both foresee a long couple of weeks coming for Kevin Love.

I intended to talk only briefly with Chris Herring of Sports Illustrated about the 1990s Knicks. Those teams had such a strong identity – which fit some players exceptionally well… and others not so much. The plan was to pivot into the current NBA, ranking the players who fit best and worst with their current teams.

But Herring's new book – "Blood in the Garden: The Flagrant History of the 1990s New York Knicks" – is so fascinating, we spent considerable time on the 90s Knicks.

Then still got into the current players who are in the exact right spot and those who could use a change of scenery.

Note: This podcast was recorded before Kyrie Irving was cleared to play Nets home games.

Before the season tipped off, the Washington Wizards were expected to be right there with Toronto, Chicago, and Atlanta as teams that would vie for the two seed in the East. As of right now, they wouldn't even make the playoffs. It's not on John Wall, but what went wrong and why? J. Michael, the CSNMidAtlantic.com insider on the Wizards, joins Kurt Helin to talk about how the Wizards' season went sideways. 

Bill Oram puts it well, the Lakers should be one of the most exciting young teams in the NBA. They are not. Rather, they are hard to watch. It's bad basketball covered up by the Kobe Bryant farewell tour, which pulls the attention away from everything else. Oram, the Lakers' reporter from the Orange County Register, joins NBC's Kurt Helin to talk about where the Lakers are, where they go with both a new coaching search and maybe a new front office search, and how they want to go about building a team that can contend again.

Pacers president Kevin Pritchard backtracked after saying the team needed to "manufacture that real star." After all, Indiana has Domantas Sabonis, who made the last two All-Star games and might be playing even better this season.

But is Sabonis really a star?

How about Hornets guard LaMelo Ball? Or Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram? Or Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander?

On the latest ProBasketballTalk Podcast, Dan Feldman and Rod Beard of The Detroit News play "Star or Not a Star?":

Roland Lazenby's NBA novels are just fantastic reads — "Michael Jordan: The Life" or his Jerry West biography — and his next book coming out this August is about Kobe Bryant. Kurt Helin of ProBasketballTalk and Lazenby talk comparisons between Kobe and MJ, the Kobe farewell tour, the Rio Olympics, and more. These are two of the most fascinating NBA players of recent decades and nobody understands them like Lazenby.

NBA training camps just opened and teams have yet to play a preseason game, but already two contenders are dealing with problems. The Celtics have the suspension of coach Ime Udoka as a distraction, plus defensive anchor center Robert Williams will miss at least the start of the season. The Suns have the distraction of a suspended owner who is selling the team, plus Jae Crowder is out and demanding a trade, and Deandre Ayton does not seem happy. Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin from NBC Sports go through all the training camp news, including the wilder ones with the Lakers and Nets, breaking down what to take away from all that — plus how good Zion Williamson and James Harden look on the court. Then the pair discusses the potential of the NBA doing away with the one-and-done role and letting 18 year olds back in the game — is that good for the NBA?

The New York Knicks sit at .500 and are the eighth seed in the East at the time of this podcast recording, yet things feel worse than that. Maybe it's the 25th ranked defense, maybe its the clunky fit of Julius Randle and RJ Barrett, maybe it's coach Tom Thibodeau's system, but things don't feel right. Tommy Beer - author of the “What’s on Tap” newsletter about the Knicks - joins Kurt Helin of NBC Sports to break down all-things Knicks. There is the good, such as the play of Jalen Brunson and the fact some of the team's young potential stars — Quentin Grimes and Immanuel Quickley — are getting healthy. Then there are so many questions, such as the fit of Julius Randle, is Obi Toppin ready for the big stage, and are the Knicks going to make a bold move at the trade deadline? 

Some days, like Christmas Day, the Chicago Bulls look like clearly the second best team in the East. But they are a Jekyll and Hyde team and there are questions coming out of the locker room about whether Jimmy Butler is the leader he thinks he is. Sean Highkin and Kurt Helin break that down, plus talk Suns, Blake Griffin, Cleanathony Early and the other news around the NBA.

The Heat trail the Celtics 3-2 in the Eastern Conference finals and look worn down.

Yet, in a season that included an infamous blowup between Erik Spoelstra and Jimmy Butler, Miami made another deep playoff run behind its tremendous culture.

Dan Feldman and Wes Goldberg of Locked On Heat preview the NBA Finals and discuss the Heat's present predicament and their future with Butler, Kyle Lowry, Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro and a potential additional star.

December and early January NBA ball has been fun to watch — seemingly every night some player is putting up historic scoring numbers, from Donovan Mitchell's 71 to Giannis Antetokounmpo's personal best 55. But it's not just individuals, team scoring is up as well. Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin from NBC Sports talk about the phenomenon and what is behind it — and why it's fun in the middle of a long season. After that Corey's Jukebox focuses on a song for Luka Doncic. Then they discuss the new target score ending being used in the G-League and if it could come to the NBA for overtimes. 

Five teams have emerged as consensus favorites to win the 2022 NBA title: Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, Milwaukee Nets and Brooklyn Nets.

Does anyone else belong in that group?

Eight other teams have at least a 98% chance of making the playoffs, according to The Ringer:

• Miami Heat (41-22)
• Chicago Bulls (39-23)
• Cleveland Cavaliers (36-26)
• Boston Celtics (37-27)
• Memphis Grizzlies (43-20)
• Utah Jazz (39-22)
• Dallas Mavericks (37-25)
• Denver Nuggets (36-26)

On the latest ProBasketballTalk Podcast, Dan Feldman and Dan Devine of The Ringer – who recently wrote an excellent article on the Heat's playoff hopes – rank those eight best-of-the-rest teams:

Here's what we know for sure: The San Antonio Spurs will select Victor Wembanyama with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. After that, it could be chaos with Charlotte at No. 2 and Portland at No. 3 open to trading their picks (as is Houston at No. 4), with names as big as Zion Williamson potentially in play. 

It's going to be a wild night next Thursday and Sean Highkin of the Rose Garden Report and podcast joined Kurt Helin of NBC Sports to discuss the Portland Trail Blazers plans. First, that does not include a Damian Lillard trade, the plan in Portland remains to build around the greatest player in franchise history and win with him there. Building around Lillard means the Trail Blazers want to trade the No. 3 pick as a lot of teams covet Scoot Henderson, but will Charlotte trade its No. 2 pick for that reason before Portland can act? Or do the Hornets take Brandon Miller and let Scoot fall to three?

Also, is New Orleans really ready to move on from Zion? Is Brandon Ingram in play at all? And what other teams would have interest in a big, bold move to jump up to a top-three pick to land Scoot or Miller? Also, the duo talks about all the expected trades in the late teens and 20s as contenders try to round out their rosters with affordable rookie contracts, a byproduct of the new CBA.

The Golden State Warriors will enter the season hanging banner number four from this era and passing out their championship rings, but this is a team with more questions than most returning champs. Otto Porter and Gary Payton II are gone and their minutes are going to go to a young core — Jordan Poole, Moses Moody, Jonathan Kuminga, James Wiseman — who are going to be asked to carry a larger load. Particularly during the regular season. Dalton Johnson of NBC Sports Bay Area joins Kurt Helin of NBC Sports to break down this coming Warriors season, what to expect, and if the young core can get the older vets to the playoffs rested and ready to defend their title. There's also talk of what comes next in Golden State, as some hard contract choices are coming in the next few years.

The first half of the NBA season has gone by quickly, and to celebrate that midpoint it's time to talk NBA Awards, with Kurt Helin and Dan Feldman of NBC Sports giving their picks. Stephen Curry was the early favorite to win MVP, but is he still? Evan Mobley impressed early on, but is he still the Rookie of the Year? Who is the Sixth Man of the year when so many bench players were forced into starting roles? Kurt and Dan get into all of that plus Coach of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and more.

MVP? Stephen Curry. Rookie of the Year? Karl-Anthony Towns. But some of the NBA's end of season awards are not so clear cut this season. Sixth Man of the Year could go a lot of directions. Can you vote Steve Kerr coach of the year if he only coached half the year? Kurt Helin and Dan Feldman of NBC Sports and ProBasketball talk discuss all the major end of season awards in this podcast.

The Brooklyn Nets chose stability and gave interim coach Jacque Vaughn the job permanently on Wednesday, choosing not to hire suspended Celtics coach Ime Udoka (and avoiding the massive backlash that would have come with that deal).  Hiring Vaughn calms things down, but will it get the Nets more wins? Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin of NBC Sports break down where the Nets go from here, including should they trade Kyrie Irving or Kevin Durant? From there they discuss the red-hot Milwaukee Bucks, the Lakers and if they should make a trade, and there's another edition of Corey's Jukebox where he picks songs for the Utah Jazz and Russell Westbrook.

Kobe Bryant. Kevin Garnett. LeBron James. They are the most captivating players of the past couple decades in the NBA — and they all went straight from high school to the NBA. But there were a lot of others that had nice careers, and some who flamed out. Jonathan Abrams new book "Boys Among Men" takes a detailed look at the high school to NBA generation, and he joins NBC's Kurt Helin to discuss that trend, what happened to the players, and the future of the one-and-done rule.

The Nets-76ers James Harden-Ben Simmons deal was a monumental in-season trade.

But that was hardly the end of the action.

Kristaps Porzingis, Derrick White, Domantas Sabonis, Tyrese Haliburton, C.J. McCollum and more changed teams in the eventful leadup to the trade deadline.

On the latest ProBasketballTalk Podcast, Dan Feldman and Kurt Helin discuss the flurry of NBA transactions:

NBA All-Star weekend descends upon Toronto starting Friday, with everything from the Rookie/Sophomore... er, Rising Stars Challenge on Friday, the Dunk Contest on Saturday, and the main event on Sunday. Kurt Helin and Sean Highkin of NBC's ProBasketballTalk break it all down with event talk and predictions (plus both will be in Toronto with reports from the event all weekend). 

Russell Westbrook wants to be treated with a certain level of deference.

He wants the Lakers to keep his role prominent. He reportedly wants to leave Los Angeles this summer, even with the complication of his contract running through next season. And, most recently, he wants everyone to stop calling him "Westbrick" – publicly issuing a personal/appeal warning about how the nickname unacceptably shames his family.

On the latest ProBasketballTalk Podcast, Dan Feldman and Berry Tramel of The Oklahoman – of whom Westbrook once said "I just don't like you" – discuss Westbrook's issues in this phase of his career and the Thunder's post-Westbrook rebuild:

When is it time to start playing Christmas music? After Thanksgiving? Is there ever a time not to play Christmas music? Sure, there is a lot of NBA news that Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin of NBC Sports get into, including Steve Nash being out and Kyrie Irving Tweeting out another distraction in Brooklyn, but music draws some focus in this episode of the PBT Podcast. Coryey's Juke Box is back with a song — from an opera — for Irving, plus some classic Marvin Gaye for the Pistons. Then there is the Christmas music discussion. Also on tap is a discussion of the biggest surprises this young season, and how Zion Williamson has become a bigger threat with the addition of passing to his game.

While Golden State hogs the spotlight, the San Antonio Spurs have put together a better point differential — and they are still getting better. Jabari Young of the San Antonio Express-News and Kurt Helin of NBC's ProBasketballTalk discuss how the Spurs' style will counter the Warriors, why the Thunder could be a problem, and, of course, some Boban Marjanović (starting about the 35 minute mark). 

Auburn's Jabari Smith, Gonzaga's Chet Holmgren or Duke's Paolo Banchero?

Dan Feldman and Jeremy Woo of Sports Illustrated discuss the big three prospects in the 2022 NBA Draft, several other players slotted for the first round and a couple sleepers.

Which NBA players have improved most during their careers?

Dan Feldman gave his top 10 list for 2022 Utmost Improved Player.

He and Brett Koremenos discuss their top candidates for the award.

No more talk of load management or the Groundhog Day nature of NBA regular season — the playoffs are here. The games matter, the intensity is high and coaching strategies — and team roster building — are put to the ultimate stress test. 

Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin of NBC Sports get into the play-in games — particularly the Lakers win over the Timberwolves — and then get into all the first-round matchups. Can the Lakers upset the Grizzlies? What about the Warriors knocking off the 3-seed Kings? Will there be any upsets in the East.

Corey's Jukebox gets into LaMelo Ball and what's next for the star in Charlotte.

The NBA named 76 players to its 75th anniversary team.

Time to argue about it.

On the latest ProBasketballTalk Podcast, Dan Feldman and Kurt Helin discuss the biggest snubs, surprising inclusions, surprising exclusions, the entire 50 Greatest Players list making it, Andre Iguodala's top-20 endorsement of Kyrie Irving, several other borderline candidates (some in, some out) and players most likely to rise onto the 100th anniversary team:

Friday night sees some big Game 6s across the NBA playoffs —
Indiana has the best chance of forcing a Game 7 — but everyone is
looking ahead to Oklahoma vs. San Antonio in the next round. Kurt
Helin and Dan Feldman of NBCSports.com discuss those series, the
Friday night Game 6 matchups, and if Portland could beat Golden
State if the Warriors do not get Stephen Curry back.

Cade Cunningham is out for the season with a shin injury, setting back the rebuilding process in Detroit a little, but as they focus on the lottery should they trade Bojan Bogdanovic? Or is having a veteran in the locker room who shows the young players how to be professional worth $20 million a season? Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin of NBC Sports debate that, then talk about the new-look NBA awards — the new designs are fine, but did they choose the best players to represent those awards as the NBA tries to teach its history? In Corey's Jukebox its tango music for the Trail Blazers and a Purple Haze for Anthony Davis. Then the duo discusses the Warriors' road woes (before the Stephen Curry shoulder injury and loss to the Pacers) and why the Warriors aren't focused on the road. Finally, Corey and Kurt discuss the hole-in-the-wall favorite places they would take each other for dinner if they got together around the holidays.

We're a little over one week into the season and there's a lot to talk about. There are the fast starts for the Trail Blazers and Spurs — can they keep it up, or are those starts a mirage? What about the slow starts, are the Lakers in trouble? (Hint: yes.) What about the 76ers? The Heat? Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin of NBC Sports get into all of that in their weekly conversation, plus they break out a new segment Corey's Juke Box where he has a song choice for Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant. Then they look ahead at the week in the NBA and what games to watch.

The star everybody – including his own team – should be talking more about ahead of the trade deadline: Bradley Beal.

Beal has shown significant loyalty to the Wizards. He continues to say how much he appreciates a franchise building around him, which wouldn't happen if he joins a super team elsewhere. There's something cool about a star spending his entire career with the same team, trying to hurdle rather than dodge any obstacles, even if it ultimately results in less success. The journey can be rewarding, and the victories are even sweeter.

But Beal reportedly won't sign a $181,301,299 max contract extension before the trade deadline.

Maybe that's just so he can re-sign for $242 million over five years this summer. Yet, that route also opens the door for him leaving as an unrestricted free agent.

Beal has talked about being selfish for the first time in his career. A catastrophic loss this week could be ominous. How Washington sends him into the summer could be highly important. Despite a strong start, the Wizards aren't even a lock for the postseason, let alone the playoffs.

Dan Feldman and Ben Standig of The Athletic discuss the difficult decisions facing Beal and Washington.

Just five days into the NBA playoffs, the landscape is already shifting dramatically.

Dan Feldman and James Boyd of The Indianapolis Star discuss who has had the pressure on them increase most since the playoffs began.

Minnesota had already stumbled out of the gate this season, and now they will be without Karl-Anthony Towns for around a month with a calf strain. Just how much trouble are the Timberwolves in? Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin from NBC Sports discuss that then get into Giannis Antetokounmpo's Team USA vs. Team World matchup — does Evan Fournier get the world team in trouble? Who guards whom? From there it's time for Corey's Jukebox and some New Orleans jazz for Zion Williamson. That's followed by some Mavericks' talk — Dallas has put a big load on the shoulders of Luka Doncic, and while he's playing like an MVP it's a long-term concern for the Mavericks and their fans.

It's one of the craziest weeks in the NBA — the week before the trade deadline is always insane — yet that is maybe the third biggest story in the league right now. First, we dive into LeBron James chasing history and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's all-time scoring record — what does that say about LeBron and his legacy? And his conditioning to be doing this 20 years into his NBA career. From there, Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin of NBC Sports dive into the biggest move in the basketball world this week — Breanna Stewart shaking up the WNBA and choosing the New York Liberty in free agency. She formed a superteam in New York, there's another one in Las Vegas, and this is an opportunity for the WNBA to grow – and get charter flights for their players. From there, it's Corey's Jukebox and time to talk some Damian Lillard. Then the duo gets into trade rumors from around the league and everyone waiting on the Raptors to open up the market.

So much news to get to this week that it took a few minutes even to get to the NBA Draft. But they got to it.

First up was the news of the Bradley Beal  trade to the Phoenix Suns. Did anyone win? Phoenix got its man but at the possible exception of roster depth, which was already its biggest weakness. Can Beal and Kevin Durant stay healthy? Can a "big three" roster work in the world of the modern CBA? Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin of NBC Sports debate all that then move on to the Ja Morant suspension and if 25 games is the right number. 

From there it's time to discuss Draymond Green and Kyle Kuzma turning down their player options, was that the right move? Then what about the start to the WNBA season and just how impressive is Breanna Stewart (very, very impressive)? Finally, we move on to Corey's Jukebox and tie Mat Ishbia's Suns into Gang Starr.

In Kurt's Korner they run through Kurt's consensus NBA Mock Draft for the lottery. He feels pretty good about Victor Wembanyama going No. 1 to the Spurs, after that just about everything is up in the air.

Stephen Curry is the MVP, which was a foregone conclusion, but would he be the NBA's first-ever unanimous MVP was up in the air. He was, and Kurt Helin and Dan Feldman of NBC Sports discuss why Curry could get that consensus when LeBron James and Shaq couldn't in the past. The pair also talk all four playoff series — especially focused on Spurs/Thunder — and the coaching changes in Sacramento, Indiana, and Memphis.

The Chicago Bulls were in the running for most disappointing team in the NBA this season — some pundits thought they were the one team that could challenge Cleveland, but they didn't even make the playoffs. Injuries, chemistry problems, disinterested players that were poor fits for the new coach's system, and a new coach all combined in a perfect storm. Kurt Helin of NBCSports.com talks with Vincent Goodwill of CSNChicago about the Bulls season and future, as well as discussing what is going on in the rest of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Magic Johnson is synonymous with the five-time champion Showtime Lakers — the fast-break master with the no-look pass whose infectious smile belies one of the most competitive players ever to lace them up.

In his incredibly well-researched new biography on Earvin "Magic" Johnson, author Roland Lazenby dives into the complex personality of of Magic, the guy who never forgot his roots and always seemed grounded, but also continues to compete with Michael Jordan on the financial front. Kurt Helin of NBC Sports and Lazenby discuss how Magic and Larry Bird — along with David Stern — turned the NBA into a prime-time, must watch show (setting the stage for Michael Jordan). 

They also delve into Magic's HIV announcement and how that was received domestically and internationally, his family and the influence of his mother and father on the man Magic would be, and how Magic the businessman made his billion dollars by focusing on building for underserved black communities in Los Angeles. 

It's a full discussion of one of the NBA's greats with details not often discussed about the Magic man.

Kevin Durant has decided to return to the Brooklyn Nets, a decision that is both surprising and inevitable. Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin from NBC Sports delve into how Durant didn't have the leverage he thought he had, the Nets never lowered their sky-high asking price but the team and KD also could not create a bidding war. The pair discuss what this means for the Nets long-term, and if this really is a partnership like the Nets are trying to sell. Also, what does this mean for the top of the Eastern Conference — how big a threat is a stacked Nets team?

LeBron James and his retirement stole the headlines, but the Denver Nuggets and their play deserve to be front and center, and that's the first topic in this week's podcast. Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin get into what works for Denver, then dive into if LeBron is really thinking about retirement (he's not) and what the Lakers need to do. From there there is a conversation about the Heat and if the Celtics can come back on them. Then, for Corey's Jukebox, it's time to sing the blues with Johnny Lee Hooker and talk Lakers a little more. The conversation then shifts to Carmelo Anthony and his Hall of Fame career, before talking about the coaching searches around the NBA and how Nick Nurse is a hot name. Also, would you fire Joe Mazzulla? Finally, a quick conversation about the Game of Life. 

The Magic have won 11 playoff series in franchise history.

All 11 happened with a player they drafted No. 1.

After experiencing major success with 1992 No. 1 pick Shaquille O'Neal (and Penny Hardaway, who was acquired in a draft-day trade for 1993 No. 1 pick, Chris Webber) and 2004 No. 1 pick Dwight Howard, Orlando has once again won the NBA draft lottery.

Will the Magic select Auburn's Jabari Smith, Gonzaga's Chet Holmgren or Duke's Paolo Banchero?

Dan Feldman and Khobi Price of the Orlando Sentinel (reporting from the lottery in Chicago) discuss the Magic's decision, how getting the top pick changes the franchise's trajectory and what this particular outcome – Magic 1, Thunder 2, Rockets 3 – means for the NBA.

Ben Simmons of LSU is the name everybody knows, but is he really a franchise cornerstone player? Ed Isaacson of NBADraftBlog.com joins Kurt Helin to talk draft, and he isn't so sure. We also discuss Brandon Ingram and the others at the top of the draft board, as well as sleepers to watch.

John Hollinger of The Athletic coined the term "Bird Rights Trap" to describe when a team can exceed the salary cap to re-sign a helpful player but wouldn't open cap space if the player leaves.

Dan Feldman and Keith Smith of Spotrac analyze teams caught in the Bird Rights Trap this summer, making calls on whether they should pay up or let the player walk:

• 76ers: James Harden
• Wizards: Bradley Beal
• Bulls: Zach LaVine
• Suns: Deandre Ayton
• Hornets: Miles Bridges
• Mavericks: Jalen Brunson

Note: The episode opens with discussion of Kyrie Irving, who opted in with the Nets after recording. However, the evaluation of Irving's value still holds water, especially with Brooklyn eligible to sign him to an extension this summer.

The NBA's traditional slate of five Christmas Day games goes up against the NFL a triple-header of NFL games year, which could lead to some channel flipping in some households (or the kids streaming the NBA game on their phones while their grandfathers and uncles watch the NFL. But which of the NBA games are worth flipping away from the NFL to see? Bucks at Celtics for sure, but what about the 76ers at Madison Square Garden against the Knicks? Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin of NBC Sports get into all of that. First, the duo discusses the sale of the Phoenix Suns to Mat Ishbia and what that will mean for the franchise, then Corey's Jukebox picks a song for the Suns. After that comes a discussion of the NBA's international games — the league recently played in Mexico City and heads to Paris early next year — and the growth of the sport outside the United States, and how NBA 2K plays a big role in that. Then comes a discussion of all things Christmas. 

It's going to be a wild season in the Western Conference. There are sure-fire contenders at the top with the Warriors and Clippers, teams that could be contenders if things break right like the Nuggets and Suns, and finally just really good teams like the Mavericks and Grizzlies. There will be little margin for error. Mark Medina of NBA.com joins Kurt Helin of NBC Sports to talk all things Western Conference, including if the Clippers are for real, and if the Lakers could be. How much will Luka Doncic miss Jalen Brunson in Dallas? Did the Suns miss their window? Why we all should be watching the Pelicans, and much more.

The NBA is still reverberating from the shockwaves of the NBA trade deadline, and specifically the blockbuster that sent Kevin Durant from the Brooklyn Nets to the Phoenix Suns. Does this make the Suns contenders? Favorites to come out of the West? What do they need to do to prove they belong on that level? Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin of NBC Sports dive into all of that, plus where the Nets go from here. On this week's Corey's Jukebox segment it's more Suns talk, with a little Britney Spears thrown in, and a nod to the Jazz. Then the duo discusses All-Star Saturday night and what to look for in the Skills Competition, the 3-Point Contest, and the Dunk Contest. Finally, they end with a little Super Bowl halftime talk (and avoid the end-of-the-game talk). 

What will the Nets do with Kyrie Irving?

Dan Feldman and Nate Duncan of the "Dunc'd On" podcast hold mock trade negotiations between the Nets, Lakers and Mavericks:

The All-NBA debate is already raging more than a week before the season ends.

Dan Feldman and Michael Pina of Sports Illustrated give their picks.

Was it the Warriors' championship mettle and experience, or did the Celtics beat themselves? Or, was it just the fact Stephen Curry was just the best player in the series by a mile. Kurt Helin and Dan Feldman from NBC Sports sit courtside at the TD Garden in Boston not long after Golden State was crowned NBA Champions for the fourth time in eight years and talked about the Warriors' underrated defense, the greatness of Stephen Curry, the smart moves by Golden State in not making a big trade, the play of Andrew Wiggins, and what the Boston Celtics have to do to get back to this stage again. 

Ben Simmons handled his return to Philadelphia about as well as could be hoped, but his Nets team dropped the game to an extremely shorthanded 76ers team — what does that say about the Brooklyn Nets? is Kevin Durant frustrated? Then there is Ja Morant, who missed just one game with a Grade 1 sprained ankle and returned to drop 34 on the Kings — should we be worried about the long-term health of Morant? Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin from NBC discuss all that plus Corey picks punk music to describe the Grizzlies, they discuss the Cleveland Cavaliers and if they are for real. What about the Sacramento Kings? And what they will be watching on Thanksgiving Day. 

Big, dramatic storylines follow the NBA into what is supposed to be the quiet, slow part of the offseason, and Cory Robinson and Kurt Helin of NBC Sports get into all of it in this podcast. It starts with a discussion of the NBA's one-year suspension and $10 million fine of Suns' owner Robert Sarver for his racist and misogynistic actions in the Suns' offices and what comes next (this was recorded before Adam Silver's press conference on the matter, and before several players spoke out on the matter). From there the pair dive into the Donovan Mitchell trade to Cleveland and what that will mean, both for the Cavaliers and the Jazz. After that, the pair discuss if anyone will care when the NBA hosts an in-season tournament, and finally they talk NBA 2K player ratings, which came out this week. 

Toronto may have been cold (really, really cold) but it was home to the hottest All-Star Saturday Dunk Contest since.... Jordan and Dominique? Kurt Helin and Sean Highkin were in Toronto and discuss everything from Kobe Bryant to Sting to Russell Westbrook. All things All-Star in one place, plus some Charlotte talk. 

The Oklahoma City Thunder went small and blew out the Warriors. After looking completely overmatched for two games, the Toronto Raptors have evened the series with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Yet all anyone wants to talk about is Draymond Green kicking Steven Adams in the nether regions, and how the league handled that. So Kurt Helin and Dan Feldman of NBC Sports start with Green's kick, move on to his poor play in general in Game 3, and discuss Game 4 and the rest of that series. Also covered is Toronto and Cleveland, plus a little talk about Nate McMillan to Indiana and Frank Vogel to Orlando.

The Warriors beat the Celtics in Game 2, tying the NBA Finals 1-1.

Dan Feldman and Kurt Helin discuss Draymond Green's behavior, Stephen Curry's scoring and how Boston can adjust:

The NBA Finals are here and it's not the matchup anybody predicted: The Denver Nuggets vs. the Miami Heat. In this latest PBT Extra podcast, Kurt Helin and Corey Robinson break down that Finals matchup and if the Heat have any chance of slowing down Nikola Jokić. First the pair talk the Heat's Game 7 win over the Boston Celtics and what this says for the future of the Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown era in Boston. 

After the Finals, in Corey's Jukebox, Corey compares the Bucks and the recent hiring of Adrian Griffin as the team's head coach to the famed Mozart opera Don Giovanni — and that's not a complement to Milwaukee.

Then the duo get into the news around the NBA: What does Bob Myers leaving mean for the Warriors? Is Nick Nurse a good hire in Philadelphia? And what the heck is Eric Lewis thinking?

Kevin Durant has the kind of game that will plug-and-play with any team, but how will his presence impact the rest of the Phoenix Suns? Does Devin Booker get better matchups and more open looks? Will Chris Paul be more of a passer and shoot less? Will Deandre Ayton be happy in his new role? Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin of NBC Sports dive into all of that, followed by Corey's Jukebox with some Marvin Gaye for the Chicago Bulls and a little George Frideric Handel for the Suns. Then the duo fall into a discussion about loyalty in the NBA, and why Damian Lillard is a bit of an anomaly.

After starting with about 30 trade targets, 76ers president Daryl Morey said he lowered his asking price for Ben Simmons and would now accept a "top-40 player who’s a great fit."

Who cracks Philadelphia's list?

Dan Feldman and Noah Levick of NBC Sports Philadelphia discuss which players the 76ers would trade Simmons for, which teams can trade for Simmons without including a core star, Michele Roberts spreading a rumor that a promise was made about trading Simmons and what happens after the trade deadline if Simmons isn't dealt:

Are the Raptors going to trade Fred VanVleet? What about the Spurs with Jakob Poeltl? The best player likely to be moved is John Collins from the Hawks, or Bojan Bogdanovic from the Pistons, but will they actually be traded? It's three weeks from the trade deadline in the NBA and rumors are popping up everywhere, which is part of what Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin of NBC Sports break down in the latest PBT Extra Podcast. First they get into Steve Kerr's comments that Stephen Curry is the new MJ — is Curry really in the Jordan conversation? What about impact off the court? From there it's Corey's Jukebox and some VanVleet musical talk. Then it's trade talk time... followed by what world record do you think you could break?