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© Thinking Basketball
Description
Ben Taylor, creator of the popular YouTube channel Thinking Basketball (and author of Thinking Basketball the book) goes deeper on basketball analysis, history, philosophy and theory with co-host Cody Houdek, and a variety of guests ranging from journalists to former players.
Ideal for fans interested in Xs and Os, stats & analytics, coaching and team strategy and adjustments, in-depth breakdowns on player strengths and weaknesses, and who is better and who is best in the NBA. (GOAT debates!)
Ideal for fans interested in Xs and Os, stats & analytics, coaching and team strategy and adjustments, in-depth breakdowns on player strengths and weaknesses, and who is better and who is best in the NBA. (GOAT debates!)
345 Episodes
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We discuss the Lakers resilience and Austin Reave’s place among the 2021 draft class, Cade Cunningham’s passing and Jrue Holiday’s point guard resurgence in Portland. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball
We discuss the incredible start from Victor Wembanyama, and where he fits into the NBA hierarchy right now. Plus the teams and players that jumped out to us in week 1, including the Warriors, Blazers, 76ers, Magic and Pelicans. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball
We preview the 2025-26 NBA season. We discuss Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs, the enormous Denver Nugget off season, teams that could win the west, the Clippers/Warriors age conundrum, Franz Wagner's lack of shooting, the Rockets and Knicks new offenses and more. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball
What were the big themes and takeaways we had from this series? What specifically players changed in our minds and why? We reflect on the series, rankings in general, p layer synergies and more before discussing our best offensive players and overall players from the series. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketballBubble : Jimmy Butler, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Paul George'03 Jason Kidd [21-32]'17 Russell Westbrook [20-32]'25 Jayson Tatum [20-28]'11 Dwight Howard [17-28]'16 Draymond Green [18-26]'05 Manu Ginobili [17-24]'21 Joel Embiid [11-23]'19 James Harden [13-25]'24 Luka Doncic [12-24]'20 Anthony Davis [12-23]'03 Tracy McGrady [10-24]'25 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander [7-20]'09 Dirk Nowitzki [7-19]'05 Steve Nash [8-19]'14 Chris Paul [6-17]'17 Kawhi Leonard [7-16]'16 Kevin Durant [7-15]'22 Giannis Antetokounmpo [6-15]'08 Kobe Bryant [6-15]'09 Dwyane Wade [4-11]'03 Tim Duncan [2-10]'25 Nikola Jokic [2-9]'04 Kevin Garnett [2-9]'17 Steph Curry [1-8]'01 Shaquille O'Neal [1-6]'13 LeBron James [1-3]
1For our final two players, we quantify the unique and devastating forms of “gravity” in basketball. In particular, off-ball gravity that is essentially missing from the box score and traditional NBA stats or measurements, the strongest interior force of the century and what happens to a team with a mega gravitational force running around the entire court. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball
We look at, perhaps, the 3 best peaks of the 21st century, all from slightly different time periods, environments and circumstances. How does an “ideal” or non ideal environment influence how we evaluate a mega peak? How do we account for era changes that influence spacing and the proliferation of shooters? Can anyone solve the 3 LeBrody problem? Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketballPreviously discussed players and their ranges:Jason Kidd [21-32]Jayson Tatum [20-28]Dwight Howard [17-28]Draymond Green [18-26]Manu Ginobili [17-24]James Harden [13-25]Luka Doncic [12-24]Tracy McGrady [10-24]Anthony Davis [12-23]Joel Embiid [10-23]Shai Gilgeous-Alexander [7-20]Dirk Nowitzki [7-19]Chris Paul [6-17]Steve Nash [8-19]Kawhi Leonard [7-16]Kevin Durant [7-15]Giannis Antetokounmpo [6-15]Kobe Bryant [6-15]Dwyane Wade [4-11]
How do we make sense of small samples and outlier signals in the playoffs? How much should specifically good or bad matchups influence playoff “performance?” We discuss some titanic big men, their coaches, environments, teammate synergies and how much we should care about their individual scoring numbers in the postseason. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketballPreviously discussed players and their ranges:Jason Kidd [21-32]Jayson Tatum [20-28]Dwight Howard [17-28]Draymond Green [18-26]Manu Ginobili [17-24]James Harden [13-25]Luka Doncic [12-24]Tracy McGrady [10-24]Anthony Davis [12-23]Joel Embiid [10-23]Shai Gilgeous-Alexander [7-20]Dirk Nowitzki [7-19]Chris Paul [6-17]Steve Nash [8-19]Kawhi Leonard [7-16]Kevin Durant [7-15]Giannis Antetokounmpo [6-15]Kobe Bryant [6-15]Dwyane Wade [4-11]
We discuss two of the most dominant downhill penetrators in league history, and the critical ways in which they're different. First, the strengths and weaknesses of Giannis's battering ram approach and how that influences his playoff impact. Then, Dwyane Wade's unique balance between slicing through traffic and passing through traffic. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketballPreviously discussed players and their ranges:25 Jason Kidd [21-32]24 Jayson Tatum [20-28]23 Dwight Howard [17-28]22 Draymond Green [18-26]21 Manu Ginobili [17-24]20 James Harden [13-25]19 Luka Doncic [12-24]18 Tracy McGrady [10-24]17 Anthony Davis [12-23]16 Joel Embiid [10-23]15 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander [7-20]14 Dirk Nowitzki [7-19]13 Chris Paul [6-17]12 Steve Nash [8-19]11 Kawhi Leonard [7-16]
Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant were both voluminous score on and off-ball. We discuss Durant's playoff scoring, the impact of his gravity, his floor-raising in Oklahoma City and his more mobile Thunder defense. Then, we upend Kobe Bryant's “inefficiency” narrative, contextualize his problem-solving and huge scoring numbers without dominating the ball. Support atwww.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball
We tackle Chris Paul's “floor general” approach to offense and the pros and cons of how he pressured defenses (and his turnover suppression). Also, how did he change defensively from 2008 in New Orleans to his Clippers tenure? Where does he rank among small defenders? Then we make sense of Kawhi Leonard's historic scoring numbers and shooting, and the surprising heights of his team's offenses, along with his fluctuating defensive signals. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball
Steve Nash was an early “heliocentric” star. Dirk Nowitzki was a big man who played on the perimeter and off the ball. We discuss team building around them, how big of a concern their defense is, exactly how and why they imparted so much value on an offense and whether they were beneficiaries of a fortunate system. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Joel Embiid are all-time level scorers with a ton of midrange shots. We discuss their unique (and concerning?) geometric footprints on the entire team, the concept of influencing stats for the entire team, and then the conundrum of evaluating Anthony Davis. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball
Would Shaq's Lakers have won 3 titles with T-Mac instead of Kobe Bryant? We tackle this question and more discussing Tracy McGrady's magical but brief peak in 2003. Then we discuss Luka Doncic's improvements in the playoffs, how hard he is to scheme for, and he polarizing defense. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball
Harden and Ginobili had nearly opposite roles and box score stats. We discuss Manu's underrated defense, his role filling in the gaps in San Antonio, what to make of his more pedestrian numbers, and then dissect James Harden's offensive environment with Mike D'Antoni and what changes with him from the regular season to the playoffs and the tradeoffs of extreme heliocenstrism. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball
Draymond Green and Dwight Howard were defensive superstars, but how good were they offensively? We discuss their fairly unique roles, and the progressive context of each player in Golden State and Orlando respectively, the “system player” idea and more. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball
Jason Kidd was one of the best defensive point guards ever, but what about his lower scoring offense? How valuable is his pace and passing despite his problematic shooting reputation? How valuable are all of the little things he does and guard rebounding? We also discuss Jayson Tatum's lack of superpowers. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball
What player peaked the highest in the 21st century? We kickoff our 25 best peaks of the 21st century by discussing all the players who didn't quite make the list (and many who could have). Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball.
We discuss the major moves of the free agency and trade seasons, from Kevin Durant's trade to the Bane Magic to the Bucks wave and trade. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball. For 50% at FACTOR: www.factormeals.com/GREATDAY50OFF and use code GREATDAY50OFF
Who were the best players in 2025? First, we discuss all players as if they were healthy and ready for a playoff run, and then we trying to balance a year of chaotic injuries and semi-healthy players. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball and sign up at SportsBusinessClassroom.com with code THINKINGBASKETBALL for $300 off.
We discuss the Pacers egalitarian “ecosystem” that nearly stunned the NBA world, and the Thunder's unique team construction that led to the 2025 championship. We also discuss OKC's defense and where it ranks historically, along with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Pascal Siakam and Tyrese Haliburton. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball and get 50% off plus free shipping at www.factormeals.com/GREATDAY50OFF with code GREATDAY50OFF
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I need that Kelly Olynyk section
Starting a petition to get Cody's "Pizza party" take made into a YouTube short. The masses need to hear this take!!!
Hi, as a manager of basketball team I really enjoyed your thinking about basketball.
around 21:20 it skips ahead, seems to be an incomplete upload
Writing this here 2 years late before I forget it: if a lower seeded team won the season series against their opponent, they get home court. Maybe just for the first round or two.
This is an amazing pod.
Love the podcast. I cannot recommend it enough if you're a fan of NBA basketball. I devour every episode.
keep doing them!
best basketball podcast still!
2 of my favorite basketball content creators 🔥🔥🔥woop woop