The Athletic NBA Daily
The Athletic
Start your day with The Athletic NBA Daily – a fast, entertaining recap of the most important games and stories from the world of professional basketball with new episodes dropping Monday through Friday. Hosted by Dave DuFour, Zena Keita, and Esfandiar Baraheni with regular appearances by The Athletic’s award-winning NBA reporters. Andrew Schlecht and Alex Spears cap the week with the full-length Saturday Slam n’ Jam episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 4, 2026 • 29min
Can Cade Cunningham Do It By Himself?
Tony Jones, veteran NBA reporter for The Athletic who covers the 76ers and Joel Embiid, joins to unpack Philly’s fragility after a blowout loss. The conversation hits Cade Cunningham’s off night and Detroit’s spacing issues. They also dive into Victor Wembanyama’s defensive takeover and how roster moves reshape playoff landscapes.
Mar 3, 2026 • 30min
Inside Jayson Tatum’s impending return to the Celtics
Jay King, NBA reporter and Celtics beat writer for The Athletic, gives insider perspective on Jayson Tatum’s imminent return and Joe Mazzulla’s coaching. Conversation covers Tatum’s rehab timeline, mental hurdles and likely rust. They discuss how Mazzulla will reintegrate Tatum, manage minutes for rising wings, and how Boston’s identity of rebounding and low turnovers shapes playoff outlook.
Mar 2, 2026 • 29min
East + West Playoff check-in
Weekend marquee games get dissected to check the playoff picture with six weeks left. Conversation covers Denver's injury questions and why Minnesota troubles the Nuggets. Lakers inconsistency and OKC’s physical style get attention. Detroit’s surge and Charlotte’s chemistry are highlighted as intriguing Eastern storylines.
Feb 28, 2026 • 1h 8min
The NBA’s Best and Worst Shooters + The Mavs Vision | Slam N Jam
Christian Clark, an NBA reporter for The Athletic covering the Dallas Mavericks, discusses Cooper Flagg’s rookie development and the Mavs’ roster outlook. Short takes cover shooting efficiency across the league, surprising hot and cold shooters, and Dallas’ offseason priorities. Quick, lively, and focused on who’s rising, who’s struggling, and what the Mavs might do next.
Feb 27, 2026 • 28min
Rockets fight back, Shai Returns, and what is the Heat’s future?
Wes Goldberg, host of Locked On Heat and Locked On NBA Daily, offers concise Miami Heat analysis and roster perspective. He discusses the Heat’s loss to the Sixers and its playoff implications. He breaks down Miami’s turnovers, offensive rebounding, Bam and KZ’s minute dynamics, Tyler Herro’s bench role, and whether the current offense can be a long-term ceiling.
Feb 26, 2026 • 30min
Contenders Revealed + Pistons handle Thunder
Law Murray, an NBA reporter who adds historical context, and Hunter Patterson, Detroit Pistons beat reporter with locker-room access. They break down contenders' standing and Denver vs Boston. They recap Detroit's win over an injured Oklahoma City, team culture, Cade and Jalen’s chemistry, Duren’s impact, shooting concerns, and what Detroit might add for spacing.
Feb 25, 2026 • 51min
Who do you TRUST more? | Morning Shoot Around
A playful trust game compares which playoff teams feel reliable when it matters most. Short debates cover Lakers vs Rockets, Suns and injury questions, Spurs vs Pistons youth vs experience, and Knicks vs Celtics steadiness. Conversations hit Thunder vs Nuggets depth, Cavs vs Timberwolves ceilings, Raptors vs Sixers first-round chances, league parity and possible offseason shakeups.
Feb 25, 2026 • 29min
Cavs shut down Knicks + Cason Wallace
James Edwards, Cleveland-based NBA reporter for The Athletic, gives a concise look at Cleveland’s win over New York and what it means for both clubs. Discussion covers New York’s shooting woes and erratic play. They question Mike Brown’s offensive identity and Towns’ limited touches. Cleveland’s new additions and defensive boost are also highlighted.
Feb 24, 2026 • 32min
Spurs stay hot + Who are true Contenders?
Jared Weiss, NBA reporter for The Athletic who breaks down games with sharp player-level analysis. He recaps the Spurs’ win in Detroit and how physicality shaped the matchup. He discusses Stephon Castle’s defense on Cade Cunningham and Victor Wembanyama’s late-game growth. The conversation also asks whether the Spurs have true championship credentials.
Feb 23, 2026 • 32min
Thunder slow down Cavs
Andrew Schlecht, NBA reporter and Thunder specialist, breaks down Oklahoma City’s system win over Cleveland. He highlights the bench players who stepped up and how Chet Holmgren anchored the defense. He explains coaching matchup choices and what extended minutes revealed about rotation fits.
