Sports Media with Richard Deitsch The Athletic's Mike Vorkunov on the business of basketball in 2025 and beyond
Oct 23, 2025
Mike Vorkunov, a senior sports business writer at The Athletic, dives into the fusion of basketball and business. He discusses the unique challenges of launching an independent podcast and his insights on NBA media rights and valuations. Vorkunov explores the NBA's global strategy, including potential expansions in Europe and Africa. He highlights the burgeoning opportunities in women's basketball and assesses the proposed Project B league's rivalry with the WNBA. With a keen eye on future growth, he outlines the factors driving women's sports into the spotlight.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Explain Business To Sports Fans
- Explain league business mechanics to fans to deepen their understanding of on-court decisions.
- Teach how media deals and the CBA shape player movement and team strategy.
Grow Indie Shows With Platform Leverage
- Use social platforms and your existing work to promote independent shows without a marketing budget.
- Let quality content drive organic growth while leveraging Twitter, Bluesky, and LinkedIn.
European Basketball Episode Surprised Audiences
- Mike recorded an episode about an American investor buying Napoli basketball to explore European investment.
- The episode showed niche topics can attract wider interest when explained well.