The Player On Every NBA Team Who Should Launch a Podcast
A take you're not likely to hear often: The NBA podcast market feels a little underserved.
That may seem ridiculous, given the through-and-through saturation when it comes to pods about the league. Think of it another way, though. At any given time, there are roughly 450 active NBA players. And there are, what, a dozen widely recognized podcasts hosted by members of that group?
That's an inside-information void that needs filling.
Everyone can opine about the NBA at a remove. Some might say too many already do. But there's plenty of room for active players to get their opinions, stories and experiences out there.
We picked one from every team.
Atlanta Hawks: Kristaps Porzingis
1 of 30
Sometime around 2017, before the Sacramento Kings took on the New York Knicks, I was standing in the tunnel facing the floor, watching warmups. Out of my peripheral, I vaguely sensed something coming up behind me through the tunnel. It registered in my brain as someone carrying a very tall ladder, or maybe it was a spare basket standard being wheeled onto the floor.
It was Kristaps Porzingis.
The topic of his podcast wouldn't necessarily have to be centered on the question "What's it like to be so tall that normal humans clock you as heavy machinery?", but I'd still be very interested in at least a little glimpse into that world.
Plus, Porzingis has been around a bit. He could dish on the New York Knicks, what it's really like to play with Luka Dončić and maybe even reveal just how much Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla actually watches The Town.
Boston Celtics: Joe Mazzulla
2 of 30
We're fudging the "every player" gimmick to make Joe Mazzulla the pick for the Boston Celtics.
The reason is obvious.
If he's willing to say things like "I'm always up to get knocked out" and "We're either gonna win or we're not, and 40 years from now, none of you are invited to my funeral and that's it" at a press conference, what might we get in a free-flowing, less inhibited podcast setting?
You're telling me you wouldn't listen to 90 minutes a week of Mazzulla expounding on his exact plans for a Fenway Park robbery, which he's convinced he could successfully execute? You don't want to hear him elaborate on what makes the animal kingdom "the most pure form of hierarchy and role definition that there is"?
Find Mazzulla a co-host who gets him to discuss how a three-quarter-court zone press is actually about lions bringing down zebras in the Serengeti, and you've got a chart-topper for sure.
Brooklyn Nets: Egor Demin
3 of 30
There are roughly seventy trillion podcasts out there, so the only way to stand out is to have a hook nobody can replicate. Brooklyn Nets rookie Egor Demin could carve out a unique niche pretty easily.
There aren't any other Moscow-born wunderkind prospects who play professionally in Spain at age 15 (Real Madrid; no big deal), make the Russian Forbes 30 Under 30 list as an 18-year-old and then go on to become the first five-star recruit to ever play for BYU.
The Moscow-to-Spain-to-Provo journey would be interesting from a cultural whiplash perspective all by itself. Add in Demin's hard-wiring as a creative passer (those guys are always a little quirky), and you've got more than enough material to put together a compelling podcast.
Charlotte Hornets: Pat Connaughton
4 of 30
It's possible the Charlotte Hornets will soon part with Pat Connaughton and his expiring $9.4 million salary because the veteran wing doesn't really have a place on a rebuilding team. But as long as he's on the roster, the former two-sport star with championship experience and a front-row seat to the prime years of Giannis Antetokounmpo would have plenty of interesting things to say.
As someone who starred in baseball and basketball (and was drafted in both), Connaughton could help curb the ridiculous rise of for-profit youth-sport specialization. If you don't have young kids, you might not know it, but the Youth Sports Industrial Complex is a money grab built on the fallacy that kids have to specialize extremely early, and that parents are short-changing them by not pouring gobs of money into year-round development.
Connaughton could serve as an example that it's better to just play everything for as long as possible. Every episode would be like a much-needed PSA.
Chicago Bulls: Noa Essengue
5 of 30
The only thing anybody knows about Noa Essengue is that he got meme-dunked into oblivion by Johnny Furphy during Summer League. If nothing else, podcasts allow their hosts and subjects to reshape narratives. Essengue could use the platform to shift the conversation away from his posterization.
For example, were you aware that the teenaged rookie can solve a Rubik's cube in under 20 seconds? Or that he has perfect pitch and can hum an on-key imitation of any sound he he hears? He's also an accomplished baker and amateur cartographer.
None of those things are true, but do you see how you're already thinking of him in ways that go beyond the Furphy dunk?
That's how easy it'd be for Essengue to take control of his story, expanding it beyond a single snapshot he'd rather forget.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Jarrett Allen
6 of 30
Jarrett Allen doesn't have his own podcast, but he was once a guest on "The Young Man and the Three" in an episode that billed him as "The Most Interesting Man in the NBA."
Which is to say, Allen should have your curiosity and attention.
In addition to spilling the beans on who leaked the juicy stuff in that notorious Cleveland Cavaliers postmortem in 2024, Allen is probably one of the few NBA players who could also lead a roundtable on fantasy novels and electric skateboard construction. Among conventional centers, he's also probably the only guy capable of giving you the shortcuts necessary for early Master Sword acquisition in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
That's range you're just not going to get from anyone else in the league, let alone on the Cavs.
Dallas Mavericks: Kyrie Irving
7 of 30
One great way to drive listenership is to have a host who's liable to say anything. Though history suggests the risks of regularly putting a microphone in front of Kyrie Irving can be substantial, you've got to admit that his penchant for controversy would ideally suit him for the modern podcast space.
To his credit, Irving seems to have evolved since his days of vaccine skepticism and wrongheaded refusal to apologize for promoting an antisemitic documentary in 2022. Or, at least he's recognized that just staying quiet about his thoughts is a good way to avoid suspensions.
Either way, it's time for a check-in. I'd personally like to know where Irving stands today in the flat-earth discussion. And what does he really think about Luka Dončić's work habits?
Go back further, and maybe Irving would ruminate at length on what drove his decision to ditch LeBron James in Cleveland, skip town in Boston and whatever happened during the brief KD-Harden-Nash era with the Nets.
There's a rich vein of content to mine here.
Denver Nuggets: Nikola Jokić
8 of 30
Passion drives the best podcasts. When the host deeply cares about the subject and wants to share that love with the audience, something magical happens. The enthusiasm is infectious; you can feel the sincerity seeping into your head through your AirPods.
That's why Nikola Jokić's podcast wouldn't have anything to do with basketball, quite clearly his second-favorite sport.
It'd be about harness racing, the only athletic endeavor known to have brought Jokić to tears.
Bonus: This would be a learning experience because, odds are, you don't know anything about harness racing.
Are the horses divided by weight classes? Do they get ridiculous Kentucky Derby names like Lucky Debonaire or Big Truck or War Admiral? How much is the guy in the little chariot thing behind the horse actually doing—besides holding on for dear life? Feeding-wise, are we thinking oats only or is there some barley mixed in there?
The answers to all these questions and more on the next episode of The Nikola Jokić Harness Racing Podcast Which is Only About Harness Racing and Not Basketball.
Detroit Pistons: Isaiah Stewart
9 of 30
This one's easy. We even have the title right there in Isaiah Stewart's nickname, Beef Stew.
The premise: Stewart sits down immediately after games (or following his ejection, whichever comes first), uniform on, competitive fire still burning at 600 degrees, and puts his thoughts on the record.
Ideally, we'd get a handful of choice episodes in which Stewart, a notoriously feisty frontcourt enforcer, gives us a blow-by-blow account of whatever altercation was most notable during the game.
Just think of the opportunities we've already missed. Remember when Stewart went hard at LeBron James? What about the time Stewart was on the receiving end of a flagrant foul by PJ Washington?
Constantly in the middle of scraps, Stewart would have plenty of interesting postgame takes.
Golden State Warriors: Jonathan Kuminga
10 of 30
This might have to be a limited engagement, but with all the tension between Jonathan Kuminga and the Golden State Warriors during a drawn-out and painful restricted free agency, there's bound to be some raw nerves.
Kuminga wouldn't have to confine his comments to recent frustrations. He's been shuttling in and out of head coach Steve Kerr's rotation for his entire career. Every time he flashes high-end scoring potential that makes it seem like he's finally broken through, defensive lapses and failures to move the ball land him right back on the pine.
From Kuminga's perspective, he's never gotten a real chance to prove himself. From the Warriors', he's never done the little things required of a rotation player in their system.
What would an unfiltered Kuminga have to say about Kerr, who'd have to be a guest co-host at least once? How would he contain his frustration when chronicling the list of bit-part role players (remember Anthony Lamb?) who've gotten minutes ahead of him?
If and when Kuminga is playing elsewhere, he might even feel free to really unload on Golden State. That'd be appointment listening.
Houston Rockets: Steven Adams
11 of 30
You sometimes hear that the person who least wants a position of power is exactly the one who should be put in charge. In much the same way, the NBA player who might have less interest than anyone in hosting a podcast would be the right pick to hold the mic.
Steven Adams doesn't come across as an aspiring media magnate, which is why he'd be a perfect choice.
Adams raises cattle, is widely regarded as the strongest man in the NBA, was once awed by seeing tables on an airplane and tricked Kevin Garnett into believing he couldn't speak English.
Though he's got no shortage of material to discuss, the subject matter wouldn't even be that important. Adams has an undeniable charm about him that would immediately endear him to a listening audience. He could talk about anything from his nine-figure career earnings to the finer points of New Zealand dairy farming, and it'd be entertaining as long as it was delivered in Adams' unserious, self-deprecating tone.
Indiana Pacers: TJ McConnell
12 of 30
Tyrese Haliburton has no shortage of podcast experience, having appeared on loads of episodes of The Young Man and the Three. He's interviewed President Barack Obama, and he looked legitimately comfortable doing it.
No matter! This is TJ McConnell's podcast to lose.
There's a joke here somewhere about how McConnell's penchant for ratcheting up the pace of games with full-court pressure and relentless drives would result in every episode sounding like it was being played at 3x speed. We haven't quite worked out the beats yet. But what's pretty clear is that Mcconnell would be a good interviewer if he brought a fraction of that intensity to podcasts.
He could pepper guests with rapid-fire questions, breaking them down physically until they got so fatigued that they'd drop their guard and answer candidly. Just imagine him getting, say, Kevin Durant to admit that the last time he cried was during Toy Story 4.
McConnell could revolutionize journalism through sheer speed.
LA Clippers: Bradley Beal
13 of 30
Bradley Beal has had a fascinating last few years, and this is a bet that audiences would like to hear about them.
How did he secure what was, at the time, the league's only no-trade clause from the Washington Wizards? Did he even have to ask for it? And then, what went through his mind when he was traded to the Phoenix Suns?
How quickly did his feelings change when he arrived in Phoenix and realized his backcourt scoring was mostly duplicative there? Could he shed light on what seemed like a testy dynamic between Devin Booker and former head coach Mike Budenholzer?
Just imagine the intrigue of Beal listing all the different enticements the Suns must have offered in exchange for him waiving that pesky no-trade clause.
Now, as a newly bought-out member of the Clippers, Beal would be free to give us all the dirt on the bizarre and ultimately ill-fated time he spent with the Suns.
Los Angeles Lakers: Luka Dončić
14 of 30
Luka Dončić's recent media blitz is pretty out of character for a superstar who grants relatively few interviews and doesn't seem to care for exposure. The predictable "best shape of his life" narrative was probably motivated by PR concerns, and the rest of his presence in the news cycle seemed tied to his contract extension.
He could lapse back into silence at any time.
Now that we've got Dončić enmeshed in the media machine, we can't let him go. There are too many unanswered questions about his affinity for the Backstreet Boys.
This, then, would be a BSB-specific podcast in which Dončić offers up his thoughts on topics like Nick Carter's solo career and Howie's dubious importance to the group. Does he have a take on the key difference between BSB and *NSYNC, which was that the former tended to give occasional solos to all five members, while the latter only ever let Justin Timberlake and JC Chasez get out front?
Is Luka a traditionalist who prefers "I Want It That Way"? or does he appreciate deeper cuts like "The Call"?
Inquiring minds (from 1999) need to know.
Memphis Grizzlies: Scotty Pippen Jr., Jaren Jackson Jr. and More!
15 of 30
OK, let's get ambitious. We need to form a four-person panel that includes Scotty Pippen Jr., Jaren Jackson Jr. and both of their dads, each of whom also played in the NBA.
Scottie Pippen had plenty to say on The Last Dance, but it's not like anyone ever got tired of hearing about the dynastic Chicago Bulls and all the intrigue that attended their final years. Meanwhile, Jaren Jackson could tell us what it was like to play with a rookie Tim Duncan and for a young coach named Gregg Popovich.
We could get the whole group to compare eras, opine on the differences in style of play (cue the old guys calling the young guys soft) and run through clips of their highlights and lowlights.
The old guys could reminisce, the young guys could learn a few things and everyone could marvel at the fact that the elder Pippen, who is 59 years old, was in the league at the same time as LeBron James in 2003-04.
Miami Heat: Pat Riley
16 of 30
Along with Joe Mazzulla in Boston, Miami Heat team president Pat Riley is the only other non-player with whom we're stretching the rules of this exercise. It's worth it. You know you want to hear Riley, generally unfiltered even in press-conference settings, really get into his straight-talking bag in a format that encourages candid takes.
Maybe he'd offer up never-before-heard thoughts on LeBron James' departure a decade ago (relevant with the 40-year-old's free agency and not-impossible return in 2026 free agency). We might also get a 30-minute deep dive into the lowball offer for Dwyane Wade that resulted in the franchise icon leaving for the Chicago Bulls in 2016.
Riley, 80, is at a point in his life where he's gloriously unconcerned with what others might think when he calls it like he sees it. We need him mic'ed up as often as possible. You never know when he's going to take a shot at a superstar's demeanor or commitment. Just ask Jimmy Butler.
Milwaukee Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo
17 of 30
If only to put an end to cryptic comments and the ensuing speculation about his future, Giannis Antetokounmpo needs some long-form opportunities to explain exactly what his plans are.
These noncommittal snippets from interviews in Greece aren't cutting it. And we're just not getting any clarity from Shams Charania's ESPN reporting—one in May, one in early August—that basically says nothing's set in stone when it comes to the two-time MVP's intentions.
Stick a mic in Giannis' hand, roll the camera and force him to lay out his plans. The product might not be all that entertaining (unless you're into dad jokes), but we and the Milwaukee Bucks could definitely benefit from some straight talk.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Anthony Edwards
18 of 30
It's an old interview, but Anthony Edwards gave us the premise and title for his podcast in a 40-second snippet during which he confidently claimed he's been "A-1 from day one" at basically any sport. Or activity. His unshakeable self-belief also extends to cooking.
The whole idea of the pod would involve listeners suggesting a sport for Ant to try, and we'd get to see clips of his attempts followed by a sit-down debriefing in which the Minnesota Timberwolves superstar gets notes on his performance and offers some of his own evaluations.
Is Edwards really capable of playing MLB-caliber baseball? How's his javelin throw? Is his steeplechase game up to Olympic quality? Let's see if backgammon is his thing.
All this and more on A-1 from Day One with Anthony Edwards.
New Orleans Pelicans: Kevon Looney
19 of 30
Kevon Looney overcame double hip surgeries that sapped his mobility early in his career, wound up in a critical role for a multi-time champion and evolved into a locker-room sage before departing the Golden State Warriors for the New Orleans Pelicans this summer.
Looney is now uniquely situated to deliver some dirt on his time with the dynastic Dubs.
In addition to offensive rebounding, Looney's defining feature in Golden State was his discretion. He was the guy rookies and vets confided in, but the shrewd big man kept everything in house. Now playing elsewhere, he showed a surprising willingness to pull back the curtain when The Athletic's Marcus Thompson III landed a rare interview with Looney in July on the Warriors Plus/Minus podcast.
When players change teams, the code of silence tends to get a little looser. Looney, fresh off a decade with the Warriors, would have a lot of interesting anecdotes to relay.
New York Knicks: Mitchell Robinson
20 of 30
In a 2023 interview with Stefan Bondy of The New York Post, Mitchell Robinson revealed that, as part of his country lifestyle, he owned 19 dogs and something called sugar gliders, which are apparently "acrobatic possums."
Anybody else like to hear a little more on that topic?
The life of a 7-footer is interesting on its own. Where do they buy their clothes? How tall are the door frames in their houses? But Robinson's situation seems particularly worthy of a longer look—if only for a more detailed breakdown of what sugar gliders are and how one comes to possess them.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Everyone, At Once
21 of 30
The Oklahoma City Thunder don't do much in isolation—except when they're standing around watching Shai Gilgeous-Alexander attack a set defense.
One-on-one interviews are tough to get in general, and they're basically impossible following a game. OKC answers questions as a committee, with a good portion of the team surrounding regular postgame interviewer Nick Gallo.
There's often a lot of barking, which might make for some challenging edits, but the all-for-one vibe should work well on a podcast. As long as the Thunder can keep from talking over each other too much, we should get a pretty exuberant, unpredictable product in the end.
You can't knock the collective approach. It helped OKC win a title. Maybe it'll also produce a good podcast.
Orlando Magic: Moritz Wagner and Franz Wagner
22 of 30
It works for the Kelces, so why couldn't the Wagner brothers succeed in the podcast space?
Added bonus: Franz and Mo Wagner live together! That means the podcast could be used for an airing of grievances. One or the other has to be the messier brother. Somebody probably forgets to put the toilet seat down once in a while, and it stands to reason we'd get some spillover from whatever domestic issues the pair might be going through.
The Wagners could let us in on what it's like to share an NBA team as brothers. Plus, they've competed together for Germany in the Olympics and the FIBA World Cup. That's the kind of unique perspective that makes for compelling listening.
Philadelphia 76ers: Kyle Lowry
23 of 30
Much in the vein of Pat Riley with the Heat, Kyle Lowry is the Philadelphia 76ers representative most likely to speak with full candor. He's been in the league since 2006 and has been everything from a fringe rotation player with a notoriously bad attitude to an MVP candidate and emotional leader on an NBA champion.
All that experience gives Lowry more perspective than most players, and he's at a point in his career where there really won't be any repercussions if he ruffles feathers.
Back with his hometown Sixers on a one-year deal, the 39-year-old has crossed paths with everyone from Mike Fratello to Daryl Morey to Kawhi Leonard. DeMar DeRozan, one of Lowry's best friends in the league, once said Lowry was "worse than his four-year-old" and "acts like a one-year-old."
Let's get that weird combination of age and immaturity in front of some recording equipment.
Phoenix Suns: Khaman Maluach
24 of 30
Rookies are under-represented on our list, so we'll rectify it by nominating Phoenix Suns center Khaman Maluach.
Strange as it sounds, nobody else on the Suns can touch the 18-year-old in the life-experience department.
Maluach was born in South Sudan but landed in Uganda as a refugee and only took up basketball when he was spotted (being very tall) while walking down the street by a stranger. Imagine going from total anonymity to playing alongside Cooper Flagg at Duke in the span of less than five years. And consider how starstruck he must have been when, at just 17 years old, he suited up for South Sudan against Team USA in the 2024 Olympics.
That experience alone would be good enough for a handful of episodes.
Portland Trail Blazers: Yang Hansen and Jrue Holiday
25 of 30
Jrue Holiday was born almost exactly 15 years earlier than Yang Hansen, and that's not even the biggest chasm separating the Portland Trail Blazers teammates. More profound is the difference between Hansen's Chinese upbringing and Holiday's Southern California experience.
What would these two even talk about?
The wildly different journeys and perspectives would make for incredible contrast. Holiday would have cultural reference points Hansen couldn't possibly comprehend, and vice versa. Ideally, the two would find some common ground in discussing basketball. But the real appeal of this hypothetical pod lies in the possibility of both guys learning about each other.
Sacramento Kings: Domantas Sabonis
26 of 30
Despite suggestions that he might be looking to play elsewhere, Domantas Sabonis is still a member of the Sacramento Kings. If he's not happy about that, we could get some real dirt on one of the more dysfunctional sports franchises of the 21st century.
Even if Sabonis is content to continue toiling in Sacramento, he could offer some valuable perspective on life as a relatively stable mainstay amid swirling chaos.
It'd be great to hear Sabonis' thoughts on Vivek Ranadive's capricious ownership, the coaching carousel, De'Aaron Fox's abrupt exit and what went so wrong after the Kings seemed to break through with 48 wins in 2022-23.
Everybody slows down and rubbernecks when there's a wreck on the side of the road. The Kings are the crash in this analogy, and Sabonis could help explain it to everyone listening.
San Antonio Spurs: Victor Wembanyama
27 of 30
Did Harrison Barnes spend part of his offseason training at a Shaolin monastery in China? Was he initiated "to the life of a warrior monk, which combines Buddhism and intensive kung fu practice"?
Does Stephon Castle or Keldon Johnson pepper in speed chess with cardio training to improve decision-making when fatigued?
No? Well, then that leaves Victor Wembanyama as the San Antonio Spurs' only aspiring kung fu master and check-mater. He's easily the most interesting Spurs player, and that's got far more to do with his uncommon outlook on life and training than it does with his generational frame and talent level.
The sheer novelty of Wemby's existence makes him fascinating. And despite his youth, he's clearly capable of seeing things from interesting, curious and unusual angles.
We need to hear more from him before he gets famous enough to realize there's not much upside in being forthcoming about his life.
Toronto Raptors: Garrett Temple
28 of 30
Garrett Temple is back with the Toronto Raptors on a one-year deal, extending a sage veteran tour to his age-39 season. He hasn't averaged more than 7.6 points per game since 2019-20 and hasn't been a regular starter since he split 2018-19 between the Memphis Grizzlies and LA Clippers.
And yet, another contract came his way.
Clearly, he's contributing in ways that don't involve on-court production. We need an extended look into what it is about Temple that keeps him in the league. NBA teams have a finite number of roster spots, and not all of them set one aside for veteran leadership. It certainly seems like Temple could offer some wisdom about the league—and life in general.
He might even know what it is that Jakob Poeltl does for the Raptors that keeps resulting in shockingly early contract extensions.
Utah Jazz: Jusuf Nurkić
29 of 30
Utah Jazz center Jusuf Nurkić could put together some seriously compelling content about his association with not one, but two mythological creatures.
It's easy to forget now, but Nurkić was the Denver Nuggets' top center prospect back in 2014-15. The bruising big man finished sixth in Rookie of the Year voting and appeared primed to lock down a starting spot for years to come.
The next year, Nikola Jokić happened. It'd be fascinating to get some behind-the-scenes takes on how that dynamic developed, when Nurkić knew his backup was going to take his job and how heated some of their practice battles got.
The other legend in Nurkić's life is his father, a 7-foot, 400-pound former policeman who allegedly fought 14 assailants at once and hospitalized every last one of them. Turn the podcast into a series where Nurkić tracks down all 14 of those poor souls and asks why, after the first eight or nine of them went down, the others kept coming.
Washington Wizards: Khris Middleton and Cam Whitmore
30 of 30
One is a 13-year vet with three All-Star nods, a championship ring and a history of hunting high-percentage looks as a second option. The other is a recently traded chucker with immense potential and, to put it mildly, suspect shot selection.
Khris Middleton and Cam Whitmore could team up for a series called "Is This a Good Shot?" in which they watch various clips of players taking field-goal attempts of varying quality.
Middleton would answer in the negative pretty often, as he's been around long enough to know when someone's forcing a tough look. The comedy would arise with Whitmore (career average of 18.3 shot attempts per 36 minutes) labeling every single try a good one before it even leaves the shooter's hand.
Triple coverage? Shot clock at 21? Superstar teammate open in the corner? That's a great look!
Maybe they'd learn something from each other. But mostly it'd be hilarious to hear Middleton react to Whitmore's good-shot standards.
Stats courtesy of NBA.com, Basketball Reference and Cleaning the Glass. Salary info via Spotrac.
Grant Hughes covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Bluesky and subscribe to the Hardwood Knocks podcast, where he appears with Bleacher Report's Dan Favale.
.jpg?w=600 "Wild Lottery Simulation 🫨")
