The 20 Best Basketball Podcasts (2026)

The Ringer NBA Show is basically an umbrella for multiple sub-shows, and that turns out to be a real strength. On Sundays and Wednesdays you get Group Chat with Justin Verrier, Rob Mahoney, and J. Kyle Mann breaking down the week's biggest storylines with a sharp analytical eye. Then on Tuesdays and Fridays, Real Ones brings Logan Murdock, Raja Bell, and Howard Beck together for more reporting-heavy conversations that pull from genuine insider access. With over 1,700 episodes in the archive and new content dropping daily, there is an almost absurd volume of basketball talk here. The analysis stays grounded in actual game film and front office realities rather than just recycling Twitter takes, which sets it apart from a lot of daily NBA pods. Bell's decades of beat reporting add real depth, while Mann's scouting background means the player evaluation segments have teeth. One fair warning: several listeners have flagged inconsistent audio levels between hosts, so you might find yourself reaching for the volume dial more than you'd like. At a 4.2-star rating across over 9,000 reviews, it's clearly a polarizing show -- people who love the rotating cast format are all-in, while others miss the consistency of a single-host setup. If you want comprehensive NBA coverage from multiple angles and don't mind switching between different hosting crews throughout the week, this is one of the most prolific basketball pods out there.

Ben Taylor built a reputation with his YouTube channel and bestselling book, and his podcast with co-host Cody Houdek extends that same rigorous, film-driven approach to basketball analysis. This is the show for people who get genuinely excited about pick-and-roll coverage schemes and help-side rotations. Each episode digs into Xs and Os, statistical models, coaching philosophy, and historical player comparisons in a way that assumes the audience is paying attention -- and rewards them for it. The GOAT debates here actually feel substantive because Taylor backs his arguments with decades of game footage and carefully constructed analytical frameworks rather than just yelling louder. At 359 episodes and counting with a semiweekly release schedule, the library isn't massive, but the quality-per-episode ratio is outstanding. The 4.8-star rating across nearly 900 reviews reflects a dedicated fanbase that appreciates depth over volume. Guest episodes featuring journalists and former players add variety without diluting the show's identity. If you've ever paused a basketball broadcast to rewind a defensive rotation, or if you find yourself frustrated by surface-level NBA takes, Thinking Basketball speaks your language. It's not trying to be the fastest reaction pod or the funniest hang -- it's trying to make you smarter about the game, and it genuinely succeeds at that.

Zach Lowe spent years as the most respected NBA columnist at ESPN, and his move to The Ringer brought this podcast with him. The format is straightforward: twice-weekly conversations (Mondays and Thursdays) where Lowe invites fellow journalists, coaches, and basketball minds to break down what's actually happening across the league. What makes it work is Lowe's particular talent for asking the right follow-up question -- he doesn't just let guests monologue, he pushes them toward specifics about team schemes, roster construction, and the stuff happening between the box score lines. With about 90 episodes so far since the show launched under The Ringer banner, it's still building its archive, but the 4.8-star rating from nearly 2,000 reviewers shows the audience followed him enthusiastically. The conversations have a comfortable, peer-to-peer quality that avoids both the hot-take shouting of sports radio and the dry monotone of pure analytics shows. Lowe genuinely loves the NBA's weird corners -- he'll spend ten minutes on a mid-season Pacers lineup experiment with the same enthusiasm other hosts save for Lakers drama. If you already read his columns and appreciate that blend of tactical knowledge and elegant writing, the podcast captures that same sensibility in audio form. It's less about breaking news and more about understanding why the news matters.

Brian Windhorst has been covering the NBA for ESPN for what feels like forever, and his podcast with fellow ESPN insiders Tim Bontemps and Tim MacMahon functions like an ongoing insider briefing on league politics and business. The show releases multiple times per week and covers trades, front office maneuvering, player movement, and the organizational chess matches that shape rosters. Windhorst's particular strength is his deep sourcing network -- he'll casually drop context about a GM's thinking or an owner's financial situation that you simply won't hear elsewhere. The roundtable format with rotating ESPN reporters keeps things conversational, though some listeners have noted that cross-talk and interruptions can make certain episodes a bit chaotic. With 200 episodes in the current feed and a 3.9-star rating from over 3,700 reviewers, this is clearly a show that sparks strong opinions. People who love it appreciate the behind-the-curtain perspective on how the NBA actually operates as a business. People who bounce off it tend to find the delivery style meandering. But if you care about the why behind a blockbuster trade -- the salary matching, the relationship dynamics, the draft pick calculus -- Windhorst and company break that down better than almost anyone. It's essential listening during trade deadline season and free agency, when the business side of basketball takes center stage.

LeBron James and two-time MVP Steve Nash sit down every other Tuesday to talk basketball in a way that feels genuinely different from every other NBA podcast. The concept is simple but the execution is rare: two all-time greats breaking down actual game film, schemes, adjustments, and the mental side of competition based on decades of lived experience at the highest level. This isn't LeBron doing a media appearance -- it's more like eavesdropping on a conversation between two basketball obsessives who happen to have combined for over 40,000 NBA points. Nash's coaching background with the Brooklyn Nets adds a layer that pure player pods miss; he can articulate the strategic reasoning behind what James describes instinctively. Now in its third season with guest appearances mixed in, the show has settled into a comfortable rhythm across 37 episodes. The biweekly release schedule means each episode gets proper attention rather than churning out daily content. The 4.7-star rating from over 1,100 reviewers reflects genuine enthusiasm. It's a smaller catalog than most NBA podcasts, but every episode delivers insight you literally cannot get anywhere else. Nobody else on the podcast circuit can explain what it feels like to read a defense in real time from the perspective of someone who's done it at an MVP level for two decades.

Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson built this show on a simple premise: two guys who played hard, lived loud, and have zero interest in filtering their opinions. Both had long NBA careers and reputations as tough, outspoken competitors, and that energy carries directly into every episode. The interview format brings in current and former NBA players, entertainers, and cultural figures for conversations that go places most sports podcasts won't touch -- locker room politics, racial dynamics in sports ownership, personal struggles, and the real texture of life as a professional athlete. With 535 episodes and a 4.7-star rating from nearly 7,500 reviewers, the show has clearly found a massive audience. Barnes and Jackson have a knack for getting guests to relax and open up in ways that feel more like a barbershop conversation than a formal interview. The scope extends well beyond basketball into hip-hop, politics, and social commentary, which might be a plus or minus depending on what you're looking for. Some episodes barely touch hoops at all. But when they do lock into basketball -- sharing war stories about specific playoff series, breaking down what it's actually like to guard certain players, or giving honest takes on current NBA drama -- the former-player perspective is unmatched. It's raw, it's funny, and it's occasionally uncomfortable in the best way.

Nate Duncan's Dunc'd On is the podcast for the NBA fan who reads the CBA for fun. That's not a knock -- it's the show's defining strength. With over 1,200 episodes, Duncan has built one of the most thorough analytical NBA podcasts available, covering salary cap mechanics, trade legality, draft scouting, and detailed game breakdowns with a consistency that borders on obsessive. The weekly format gives each topic room to breathe, and Duncan regularly brings in guests who can match his depth on cap minutiae and organizational strategy. If you've ever wondered exactly how a team structured a sign-and-trade to duck the luxury tax apron, this is where you'll find the answer explained clearly. The 4.5-star rating from nearly 2,900 reviewers reflects a loyal audience that values substance over flash. Duncan doesn't do bits or comedy segments -- the show is dense, information-forward, and unapologetically nerdy about the business and strategy layers of professional basketball. It pairs particularly well with his Hollinger & Duncan show for listeners who want even more front-office-style analysis. The production is straightforward and no-frills, which fits the brand perfectly. Not every NBA fan needs this level of granularity, but the fans who do consider it absolutely indispensable.

Cam Johnson -- yes, the active NBA player -- hosts this podcast alongside co-host Tommy Alter, and the fact that a current player is doing a weekly basketball podcast gives it an angle nobody else can replicate. The show blends game analysis, trend breakdowns, and long-form interviews with other NBA players who feel comfortable talking to a peer rather than a media member. That peer dynamic produces conversations with a level of candor and basketball specificity that journalist-hosted shows struggle to match. Players discuss real in-game adjustments, scouting tendencies they've noticed, and the mental grind of an 82-game season in ways that feel authentic rather than rehearsed. With 360 episodes and a 4.8-star rating from nearly 3,000 reviewers, the show has earned genuine respect across the basketball podcast space. There's also a companion show called The Young Man and the Three where Alter interviews rising stars and cultural figures, expanding the universe a bit. The weekly release schedule keeps things manageable, and Johnson's thoughtful, articulate style means episodes don't devolve into hot takes or pointless debates. It's the kind of podcast where you come away genuinely understanding how NBA players think about the game, not just what they think about last night's scores.

If you want a quick daily hit of NBA news without committing to a two-hour deep dive, The Athletic NBA Daily is built exactly for that. The weekday show, hosted by Dave DuFour, Zena Keita, and Esfandiar Baraheni, delivers fast recaps of the previous night's games and the day's biggest stories in a tight, energetic format. On Saturdays, Andrew Schlecht and Alex Spears stretch out with their Slam n' Jam episode featuring trivia, fan segments, and a lighter tone. With over 2,000 episodes in the archive, this is one of the most prolific NBA pods around, and the daily cadence means you're never more than a few hours behind the news cycle. The show's secret weapon is access to The Athletic's deep roster of beat reporters -- Shams Charania, Sam Amick, and others pop in regularly to share reporting directly from their sources. That integration with a major newsroom gives it an editorial backbone that pure opinion shows lack. The 4.1-star rating across 2,100 reviews suggests mixed feelings about the rotating host lineup and occasional audio quality issues, but the core proposition is strong. It's the podcast equivalent of checking your morning sports headlines -- efficient, well-sourced, and designed to get you caught up fast without demanding too much of your time.

Draymond Green is one of the most polarizing players in NBA history, and his podcast leans all the way into that. The four-time champion and former Defensive Player of the Year drops episodes twice a week with raw reactions to games, behind-the-scenes stories from the Warriors dynasty, in-depth analysis of current matchups, and cultural commentary that extends well beyond basketball. With 284 episodes and a 4.2-star rating from about 2,000 reviewers, the audience is clearly split between people who love Draymond's unfiltered honesty and people who find him abrasive. That split is kind of the point. Green doesn't hedge his opinions or soften his delivery. When he breaks down a defensive possession, he's speaking from the perspective of someone who anchored one of the greatest defenses in NBA history. When he calls out a player for lack of effort, there's real authority behind it, even when the take is spicy. The show also ventures into business, entertainment, and social issues, reflecting Green's interests outside the game. Production quality is solid through the Audacy partnership. It's not a traditional analysis show and it's not purely entertainment -- it sits in an interesting middle space where an active superstar processes the NBA in real time. If you already have strong feelings about Draymond Green the player, his podcast will probably intensify those feelings in whatever direction they already lean.

Locked On NBA is the national hub of the massive Locked On podcast network, which has dedicated shows for all 30 NBA teams. The daily format packs league-wide news, analysis, and insider information into roughly 30-minute episodes, making it one of the most time-efficient ways to stay current on the NBA. The show pulls from a deep bench of hosts and contributors including Matt Moore, Nick Angstadt, Wes Goldberg, and a rotating cast of team-specific experts from across the Locked On network. The Game Night feature is particularly useful during the season -- it provides coverage of every single NBA game from preseason through the Finals, with local beat reporters offering context you won't get from national-only shows. With about 500 episodes and a 4.2-star rating from roughly 940 reviewers, it's a solid performer that benefits enormously from its network infrastructure. The real value proposition here is breadth: because Locked On has boots on the ground in every NBA city, the national show can tap into local storylines that bigger media outlets miss entirely. The trade-off is that with so many contributors, the hosting style varies quite a bit episode to episode. But if you follow the league broadly rather than just your home team, and you want daily coverage that respects your time, Locked On NBA delivers exactly that.

J.E. Skeets, Tas Melas, Trey Kerby, and JD have a legitimate claim to being the original basketball podcasters -- they've been at this since the early days of The Basketball Jones, long before every media company had an NBA pod. That history shows in the chemistry. After 1,700-plus episodes and counting, these four have a shorthand and rhythm that newer shows can't fake. The daily format covers game recaps, league news, trade rumors, and listener mail, but the tone is distinctly looser and funnier than your typical sports analysis show. It's four friends who happen to be basketball obsessives riffing on the NBA, and the comedy element is genuine rather than forced. The 4.9-star rating from over 4,100 reviewers is remarkable -- that's one of the highest-rated NBA podcasts on Apple Podcasts, period. The loyal fanbase has followed these guys through multiple name changes and network transitions, which tells you something about the relationship they've built with their audience. The show won't give you the deepest tactical breakdowns or the most connected insider scoops, and it doesn't pretend to. What it gives you is a daily dose of basketball joy from people who clearly love the sport and each other's company. If you want your NBA coverage served with genuine warmth and humor, No Dunks is the gold standard.

Dan Favale and Grant Hughes have been doing Hardwood Knocks for over 1,000 episodes now, and they've carved out a specific niche that's easy to appreciate: analytically minded NBA coverage that treats all 30 teams as worthy of discussion, not just the big-market glamour franchises. If you're a Thunder fan or a Pacers fan who's tired of every podcast spending 45 minutes on the Lakers and five seconds on your team, this show actually cares about the full league. The format is conversational -- two hosts bouncing ideas back and forth -- and the analysis blends statistical thinking with old-fashioned eye-test observations in a way that feels balanced rather than dogmatic. Favale and Hughes have strong opinions but they'll acknowledge uncertainty, which is refreshing in a sports media world that rewards overconfidence. The weekly release schedule means they can be thoughtful about topic selection rather than just chasing whatever happened last night. With a 4.6-star rating from about 400 reviewers, the audience is smaller but fiercely loyal. Listener reviews consistently praise the hosts' ability to make even mundane mid-season topics interesting through good-natured debate and genuine basketball knowledge. It's the kind of podcast that rewards long-term listening because you start to understand how Favale and Hughes think about the game, and their running disagreements become part of the entertainment.

Gilbert Arenas, the former All-Star known as Agent Zero, hosts this live show that airs Tuesday through Thursday on YouTube before hitting podcast feeds. The format is essentially a roundtable with rotating former NBA players -- Brandon Jennings, Nick Young, Kenyon Martin, and Rashad McCants are regulars -- and the vibe is unapologetically chaotic. Episodes run long, often past two hours, and the conversations swing between genuine basketball insight, outrageous personal stories from their playing days, and the kind of unfiltered hot takes that generate viral clips. With 416 episodes and a 4.5-star rating, the show has built a significant audience that comes for the entertainment value as much as the analysis. Arenas has always been one of the most colorful personalities in basketball, and he leans into that fully here. The former-player perspective means you get real talk about what certain coaches were actually like, how players viewed specific opponents, and what the lifestyle is really like behind closed doors. The live format adds an unpredictable energy that pre-recorded shows can't match, though it also means some episodes meander more than others. Production quality is YouTube-native -- think studio cameras and multiple angles rather than polished radio-style audio. If you want your basketball talk unfiltered, occasionally wild, and delivered by guys who actually lived the NBA life, Gil's Arena is hard to beat for pure entertainment.

New York Knicks stars Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart launched this podcast together, and the whole thing has a genuine best-friends energy that's hard to manufacture. Filmed from their studio they call Room 311 -- a nod to the Step Brothers movie -- the show features the two teammates plus co-host Matt Hillman talking basketball, reacting to league news, and goofing around in a way that feels like you're hanging out in someone's living room. The Knicks connection obviously gives it a strong New York flavor, but the conversations range across the full NBA and into current events and pop culture. What sets it apart from other player-hosted pods is the relationship between Brunson and Hart, who are actual close friends and former Villanova teammates, not just colleagues doing a business venture together. That authenticity comes through in the way they tease each other, disagree openly, and share behind-the-scenes details from the Knicks locker room. With 234 episodes and a 4.8-star rating from over 500 reviewers, the show has grown quickly since launching. The weekly format keeps it manageable alongside their playing schedules. Guest appearances from other NBA players tend to be especially good because athletes relax around their peers. If you're a Knicks fan this is obviously essential listening, but even if you root for another team, the window into active NBA player life makes it worth your time.

John Hollinger literally invented PER (Player Efficiency Rating) and spent years as the VP of Basketball Operations for the Memphis Grizzlies before returning to media. Nate Duncan runs his own deep-dive analytics podcast. Put them together and you get what might be the most analytically credentialed NBA podcast in existence. The show covers scouting reports, game breakdowns, salary cap strategy, and organizational analysis with a level of front-office expertise that most pods can only approximate. Hollinger's real-world experience making actual NBA roster decisions gives his commentary a practical grounding that pure media analysts can't replicate -- when he evaluates a trade, he's done similar math for real. With 237 episodes and a 4.6-star rating from 830 reviewers, the audience skews toward serious basketball nerds who want their analysis backed by data and institutional knowledge. The release cadence has slowed somewhat -- Apple lists it as monthly updates recently -- which is the main drawback for listeners who want consistent content. When episodes do drop, though, the depth is consistently impressive. Duncan plays an effective role as interviewer and sounding board, steering conversations toward the topics that analytics-minded fans care about most. If you find most NBA podcasts frustratingly surface-level and you want commentary from someone who's actually sat in the room where roster decisions get made, this is your show.

Amin Elhassan and Tom Haberstroh bring serious NBA credentials -- Elhassan worked in the Phoenix Suns front office, Haberstroh is an award-winning basketball journalist -- and then wrap all that knowledge in a genuinely funny, irreverent package. The show's premise plays on conspiracy-theory aesthetics (hence the name), but the actual content is smart basketball analysis delivered with a sense of humor that most sports podcasts can't pull off naturally. Weekly episodes feature segments like rapid-fire "believe it or not" discussions, guest interviews with NBA insiders they call "Truth Tellers," and deep dives into whatever's dominating the league that week. With 188 episodes and an outstanding 4.9-star rating from nearly 1,500 reviewers, this is one of the highest-rated basketball podcasts on Apple Podcasts. That rating reflects a show that's found the sweet spot between substance and entertainment -- you'll laugh, but you'll also learn something about why a team's offensive rating cratered after a specific lineup change. The comedy doesn't undercut the analysis; it makes the analysis more digestible. Trade deadline episodes and injury-impact discussions are particular strengths. If you're tired of choosing between podcasts that are funny but shallow and podcasts that are smart but dry, Basketball Illuminati manages to be both at once, and that combination turns out to be surprisingly rare.

Jeff Teague had a solid 13-year NBA career as an All-Star point guard, and now he channels that experience into one of the more entertaining basketball podcasts around. Alongside DJ Wells and Bishop B Henn, Teague brings an easygoing, storytelling-heavy approach that makes the show feel more like hanging out at a cookout than listening to a sports broadcast. The name comes from Teague's jersey number (0 + 5 + 2 = 520... okay, the math is a little creative), and that playful energy runs through everything. Episodes cover NBA trades, player drama, game reactions, and pop culture, but the real draw is the personal anecdotes. Teague has stories about nearly every star in the league from his years playing alongside and against them, and he tells those stories with a natural comedic timing that keeps you listening even when the topic isn't something you'd normally care about. With 548 episodes and a 4.8-star rating from over 1,300 reviewers, Club 520 has cultivated a devoted following. Guest appearances from current and former NBA players are frequent, and the conversations tend to be loose and revealing. The show doesn't pretend to be an analytics pod or a breaking news source. It's a personality-driven show built on Teague's likability and storytelling, and for the audience that appreciates that approach, it delivers consistently.

Sam Vecenie is The Athletic's senior NBA draft writer, and his Game Theory Podcast reflects that specialization while covering the full basketball spectrum. With co-host Bryce Simon, Vecenie produces marathon episodes -- often running 90 minutes to two-plus hours -- that cover the NBA, college basketball, the draft, and occasionally high school prospects. The draft coverage is the show's crown jewel. Vecenie's scouting reports are among the most detailed and respected in basketball media, and listening to him break down a prospect's handle, shooting mechanics, or defensive positioning reveals a level of film study that most podcasters simply don't put in. During draft season, this becomes essential listening for anyone who cares about the next generation of NBA talent. With 783 episodes and a 4.6-star rating from about 800 reviewers, the show has built a dedicated audience over many years. The weekly format allows for thorough topic coverage rather than surface-level reactions, and the episode lengths mean Vecenie rarely has to rush through a subject. The tone is knowledgeable but accessible -- he explains his evaluation criteria clearly enough that you don't need a scouting background to follow along. Outside of draft season, the NBA analysis and trade discussion remain strong, benefiting from Vecenie's Athletic connections and reporting access.

Kevin O'Connor has been covering the NBA since 2013, building a reputation as one of the sharper young voices in basketball media through stints at The Ringer and now Yahoo Sports. His show releases twice weekly and mixes film breakdowns, analytical deep dives, hot takes, and interviews with analysts, insiders, and current NBA players. The format is varied enough to keep things interesting -- one episode might feature a detailed film study of a team's offensive scheme, while the next brings in a guest for a wide-ranging conversation about the trade market. With 159 episodes and a 3.7-star rating from about 425 reviewers, the show is still relatively young and the ratings suggest a divided audience. Some of that tension comes from O'Connor's occasional NFL segments, which basketball-focused listeners understandably find distracting on what they consider an NBA podcast. When the show stays locked in on basketball, though, O'Connor's analysis is genuinely insightful -- he has a good eye for identifying trends before they become mainstream talking points, and his draft coverage benefits from years of scouting experience. The Yahoo Sports platform gives him access to solid guests and reporting resources. It's a show with real upside that's still finding its groove, and listeners who stick with the basketball-focused episodes will find a lot to appreciate.