Claim OwnershipOn The Ball with Ric Bucher
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© Ric Bucher Productions, LLC
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A weekly sports podcast with inside information and perspective from veteran NBA insider and Fox Sports analyst Ric Bucher, along with NBA players, coaches, executives and media as occasional guests Support this show at http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends
Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
566 Episodes
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Ric provides a recap of the EuroBasket 2025 championship and examines why point guard Dennis Schröder has had so much recent success with the German national team -- MVP of the 2023 World Cup and EuroBasket 2025 -- yet has been an NBA journeyman, holding the record for most NBA teams played for by a foreign player. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ric discusses Slovenia's complaints after its loss to Germany in the EuroBasket 2025 quarterfinals and the NBA altering its rules to encourage more last-second heaves at the end of quarters.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ric discusses recent events at the James Naismith Hall of Fame induction ceremony, including Miami Heat owner Micky Arison making fun of LeBron James falling five championships short of his promise to Heat fans. Also covered: upset wins by Finland over Serbia and Georgia over France to open the round of 16 in the current EuroBasket 2025 competition. (Here is the link to the Acast show survey mentioned in the podcast: http://bit.ly/ontheballwithricbucher-survey)Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ric discusses the evidence tracked down by journalist and podcaster Pablo Torre that suggests the Los Angeles Clippers and owner Steve Ballmer may have circumvented the NBA salary cap by providing star forward Kawhi Leonard additional payment for a no-show role with an outside company, as well as updates on performances by NBA players currently competing in EuroBasket 2025, including the Portland Trail Blazers' Deni Avdija (Israel) and the Atlanta Hawks' Zaccharie Risacher (France). (Also, a request to listeners: please fill out this survey so that Acast and On The Ball can better serve you: http://bit.ly/ontheballwithricbucher-survey)Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ric discusses the performance of Los Angeles Lakers' star Luka Doncic for the Slovenian National Team in EuroBasket competition vs. Poland and France, and what it portends for the upcoming NBA season. (Also, a request to listeners: please fill out this survey so that Acast and On The Ball can better serve you: http://bit.ly/ontheballwithricbucher-survey)Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In a double-shot episode, Ric discusses the stand-off between the Golden State Warriors and restricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga and the dynamics that have created it; and San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama describing his pre-game routine and why it bodes well for both him and the Spurs. (Also, a request to listeners: please fill out this survey so that Acast and On The Ball can better serve you: http://bit.ly/ontheballwithricbucher-survey)Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ric discusses the most obvious ways to play several preseason win total over-under lines for the upcoming NBA season and whether or not Dallas Wings' No. 1 pick Paige Bueckers should be considered a better player than the Indiana Fever's Caitlin Clark.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ric discusses why it may be too early to assume prospective new owner Tom Dundon will not move the Portland Trail Blazers, a change in the power paradigm inside the Los Angeles Lakers and names the five teams who had the most impactful offseason moves.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ric discusses the Instagram post that revealed a meeting between LeBron James, his business manager Maverick Carter and Misko Raznatovic, the agent for Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic and one of the most powerful basketball agents in Europe. Part II of the podcast looks at the federal investigations into several NBA players and their part in suspicious activity involving prop bets that hinged on their performance.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ric discusses the recent WNBA All-Star Game protest that consisted of players wearing t-shirts that read "Pay Us What You Owe Us" as they collectively bargain for a new contract and a bigger percentage of league revenue. Included is a look at how NBA players successfully used the All-Star Game in 1964 to persuade the league to establish a pension program.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In a two-part podcast, Ric discusses the complaint by some Golden State Warriors' fans that the franchise is doing a disservice to superstar Steph Curry with their lack of offseason moves. Also discussed: comments by LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Steve Nash about Michael Jordan's mid-career retirement following the murder of his father.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ric discusses the 2025 NBA Draft's No. 1 pick, Cooper Flagg, the long list of players to whom he has been compared, his strengths and weaknesses, and Ric's method -- and struggle -- to identify the current player he sees as Cooper's ideal comparison.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ric discusses the events leading up to Game 7 of the NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers and what could determine who is the next champion. He also dives into the controversy surrounding Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark and whether or not the WNBA needs to implement more protective measures to address how opponents play her.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ric discusses the factors that led to the Oklahoma City Thunder tying their best-of-seven NBA Finals series with the Indiana Pacers at two wins apiece and what will decide who wins the supremely pivotal Game 5 in Oklahoma City.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ric discusses the moves that Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle made to win Game 3 and shares how he came to know Carlisle both as a person (and pianist) and coach.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ric discusses why the NBA Finals could prove to be transformative for the league and the blueprint for building championship teams.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ric discusses the shocking last-second win by the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Finals over the heavily favored Oklahoma City Thunder -- why it happened and whether or not the Pacers' chance of winning the series should be re-evaluated. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ric discusses why the Indiana Pacers could make the NBA Finals vs. the heavily favored Oklahoma City Thunder more competitive than expected, why Thunder point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander could be in the conversation for top 5 point guards of all-time if he wins this year's title and Finals MVP, and why rumors that the Lakers are hoping guard Bronny James -- son of LeBron -- can be in their playing rotation next season has to happen -- for Bronny's sake.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ric discusses the danger of anointing young NBA stars as can't-miss future champions or league MVPs as illustrated by the current projections for, and analysis of, Anthony Edwards with the Minnesota Timberwolves.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ric discusses four topics: the differences between new and old media; what Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has that Anthony Edwards doesn't; Gilgeous-Alexander's label as a foul hunter; and former Nuggets head coach Mike Malone's prospects of landing another head-coaching job.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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crazy how a "professional" basketball analyst can say in the same sentence the 19u lost for the 1st time EVER, then say we're losing. If you understand basketball, it is a team game, you can't aways just throw out the best talent, have a week mini camp then expect dominance over and over no matter the size of the pool. Basketball doesn't work that way, you wouldn't dare have those same expectations for those countries, who practice together 2 a days for years. It's ridiculous, but I know you needed filler so have at it.
Great message about 76ers
stars?? these guys WERE stars, but not currently. we get caught up in names to easily. These dudes are shells, and Drummond...I'd rather have Javale