As a sports girl who's fairly new to following the NBA, I try my best to stay as up-to-date as possible. But it's not always easy to keep up with the 1200+ games that occur in a regular basketball season. Enter NBA podcasts. Throughout this season, I've been listening to a lot of podcasts that have kept me in the loop when I've missed a few games. Each one offers a different kind of feel, so there's some variety to choose from depending on your mood. Here are my top 3.
This League Uncut
Chris Haynes and Marc Stein typically produce this podcast about twice a week. The duo puts on a lively show that lasts less than an hour. Short and sweet. This uncut show covers analyses, predictions, game recaps, and league drama as well as some lively storytelling from Haynes. The hosts have great humorous banter with one another to contribute to the light but informative conversations. Plenty of sports pods sometimes try too hard to sound like the most knowledgable analyst, but Stein and Haynes are just the opposite. The dynamic conversation naturally puts their sports knowledge on display without all the pomp. Every so often, they'll have a guest appearance from a coach or player as well.
Clean rating: Clean
Hosts: @TheSteinLine and @ChrisBHaynes
Latest Release: Apple Podcasts // Spotify
The Lowe Post
If you're looking for a longer and deeper dive, I'd recommend The Lowe Post. Zach Lowe of ESPN releases this podcast multiple times a week. The Lowe Post typically runs over an hour with some episodes lasting almost 2 full hours. He and his guest, which is somebody
new every week, offer a wide array of takes to give you the full scope of NBA
happenings. They make a successful effort at leaving no stone unturned
while recapping the league. Lowe and his guests give thorough and unfiltered
opinions at a level head.
Clean rating: Clean
Hosts: @ZachLowe_NBA
Latest release: Apple Podcasts // Spotify
The Mismatch
This podcast hits the perfect sweet spot. Kevin O'Connor and Chris Vernon have a laid back vibe to their show that lasts anywhere between right under an hour to an hour and a half max. They like to get into the nitty-gritty and have some intriguing debates as well. They don't have as many guests as the other shows I mentioned, but their coverage of trade rumors, performance, and the ever-evolving NBA are enough to keep you amused. After listening to an episode of their upbeat breakdown, you're left with a better understanding of the leagues' current events than you had prior to tuning in.
Clean rating: Explicit
Hosts: @KevinOConnorNBA and @ChrisVernonShow
Latest release: Apple Podcasts // Spotify
Keep Up With the NBA All Year Round
Podcasts are great way to digest information, especially for those who don't have time to scroll online for NBA news 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All three of these podcasts keep active in the off-season as well, so you get that NBA itch relieved doing the inevitable withdrawals. There is an extensive amount of sports podcasts out there, but you'll be placed in a great starting position with any of the ones listed. Happy listening!
