The first few days of the 2024-2025 NBA season are in the books and there is much to discuss. For the first third of the podcast, Kevin O'Connor is joined by Gibson Pyper (aka @HalfCourtHoops) to discuss Thursday evenings games in which Oklahoma City Thunder pummeled the Denver Nuggets, the Minnesota Timberwolves narrowly snuck one by the Sacramento Kings and the Dallas Mavericks had all the answers for the San Antonio SpursLater, Tom Haberstroh joins KOC to react to the first few nights of regular season NBA action. The guys start in New Orleans, where an injury to Dejounte Murray's hand could mean the return of "Point Zion" for the Pelicans.The NBA has said that they are investigating the 76ers after Joel Embiid missed opening night and said that he is done playing in back-to-back games. The bigger question is whether the Sixers can win enough games with Embiid and Paul George sitting so often?LaMelo Ball lived up to the hype in his return from an ankle injury and led the comeback charge against the Rockets for a road win. Is there any player more fun to watch when they catch fire?Finally, the guys play a game of "Fact, Fiction or Fantasy" to answer questions about Scoot Henderson's future, the Magic's claim as Florida's best team, the new wall of Clippers fans at the Intuit Dome and a lot more.(0:40) - Oklahoma City Thunder rolls, time to panic in Denver?(10:30) - Anthony Edwards and Timberwolves outlast Kings(19:55) - Klay's debut in Dallas' win over San Antonio(30:46) - Pelicans' Dejounte Murray fractures hand(35:30) - NBA investigating 76ers over Joel Embiid's player participation(40:10) - The Bucks defense looks great(42:45) - LaMelo shines in comeback win over Rockets(50:40) - Where have all the rookies been?(54:40) - FACT, FICTION or FANTASY: Storylines from the first few days of the season🖥️ Watch this full episode on YouTube📢 Yahoo Sports podcast network: https://apple.co/3zEuTQj

On the very first episode of The Big Number, Tom Haberstroh digs into the numbers with Dan Devine to find out if centers shooting 3s in the preseason will translate into the regular season and beyond.(01:30) - The Big Number: 79%(04:00) - Which centers have improved their 3pt attempt rate?(08:10) - Why Bam Adebayo's 3pt shooting might be real(15:50) - Why Anthony Davis' 3pt shooting might be real(18:45) - Will Isaiah Hartenstein shoot more 3s with OKC?(27:30) - Why DeAndre Ayton's 3pt shooting might be real(31:00) - PREDICTIONS: Which centers will shoot more from distance?On the very first episode of The Big Number, Yahoo Sports contributor Tom Haberstroh digs into the numbers with Yahoo Sports senior NBA writer Dan Devine to find out if centers shooting 3s in the preseason will translate into the regular season and beyond.According to Tom's big number, only about 20% of the centers that greatly increase their three-point attempts in the preseason carry that over to the regular season and beyond. But will the success of the Boston Celtics change that this year?Tom and Dan discuss four players (Bam Adebayo, Anthony Davis, Isaiah Hartenstein & DeAndre Ayton) who have seen increased volume from long range this preseason and pour over the numbers to see if there is any sign that those guys will shoot more once the games really matter.The guys finish the show by setting over-unders for the guys discussed and planting their flag on whether they think each guy will increase their three-point attempt rate dramatically this season. Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at Yahoo Sports Podcasts

Vincent Goodwill is joined by best-selling author Mirin Fader, who recently published a biography of Hakeem Olajuwon, to talk about Hakeem's legacy and some of the most intriguing NBA storylines heading into the season. (01:30) - Dream: The Life and Legacy of Hakeem Olajuwon(20:30) - Revisiting the 1984 NBA Draft(30:50) - Jalen Brunson & the New York Knicks(33:30) - Is Anthony Edwards ready to be the face of the NBA?(36:00) - Did the championship window close on the Denver Nuggets?(38:00) - How did Hakeem end up in Houston? On this episode of the Good Word with Goodwill, Yahoo Sports senior NBA reporter Vincent Goodwill is joined by best-selling author Mirin Fader to talk about her latest book, Dream: The Life and Legacy of Hakeem Olajuwon.Vinnie and Mirin talk about Hakeem blazing a trail that has since led guys like Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo to find their way into the top tier of NBA players. They also discuss the blatant racism that Olajuwon faced when he first got to Houston and wonder if things have gotten any better for young players coming to America from Africa.Vince points out that Hakeem is a connector to NBA history. He played against Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O'Neal, David Robinson and Tim Duncan. Outside of Wild Chamberlain and Bill Russell, Olajuwon played against almost every great center that has ever played in the NBA.Mirin revisits the 1984 NBA Draft, where Hakeem was picked #1 by the Houston Rockets before the Chicago Bulls selected Michael Jordan with the 3rd overall pick, to talk about all of the potential trades that were up in the air that night and all of the league-altering outcomes that were narrowly avoided.Later, Vincent and Mirin talk about the stories they find most intriguing in the NBA heading into the 2024-25 regular season. For Mirin, she is fascinated by New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson and can't wait to watch him take another leap this year. For Vinnie, he's worried that Anthony Edwards is facing the same challenges that failed Ja Morant three years ago.The two of them finish the podcast on the Denver Nuggets, who are locked into a core of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. for the foreseeable future. A little over a year removed from winning the championship, has their window already closed? And has any team been hurt more by the new CBA? Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at Yahoo Sports Podcasts

Kevin O'Connor is joined by Legend of Winning for an episode of predictions before the start of the 2024-25 NBA season. Later, KOC tackles mailbag questions and talks with Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht. (01:40) - PREDICTION: Magic finish top 3 in the East(06:20) - PREDICTION: Bucks fans turn on their GM(11:40) - PREDICTION: The Knicks are overrated(18:05) - PREDICTION: The NBA will shoot more 3s(23:05) - PREDICTION: The Grizzlies will miss the playoffs(29:15) - PREDICTION: De'Aaron Fox will be a trade target(35:25) - PREDICTION: Rockets will pursue Durant & Harden(47:55) - Breaking: Jalen Green contract extension(50:00) - NBA Finals predictions(51:55) - PREDICTION: Lakers in the Western Conference Finals(57:20) - The mailbag!(01:13:35) - Interview with Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht On this episode of The Kevin O'Connor Show, we prepare for the start of the 2024-25 NBA season by making predictions about what will happen this season along with guest co-host Legend of Winning.Listen in to find out why the guys think the Magic will overperform, the Bucks will underperform and why the Knicks big offseason moves might be overrated (if they can't stay healthy).KOC adds a prediction about 3-point shooting rates league-wide and explains why he thinks De'Aaron Fox might be the most popular trade target when the deadline comes around. Meanwhile, LOW has some questions about what the Rockets are doing and has a theory that ends with James Harden and Kevin Durant in Houston.In the mailbag segment, KOC picks a contender to fall out of the playoff race, explains who he thinks will be the most important center on the Suns roster and predicts a trade for the Denver Nuggets.Finally, Lakers rookie 1st round pick Dalton Knecht joins the show to talk about life under the Los Angeles spotlights (especially around LeBron James and Bronny) and using video games as an escape from the grind. Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at Yahoo Sports Podcasts

Vincent Goodwill and Bomani Jones continue their conversation from last week, discussing the biggest NBA storylines heading into the start of the 2024-25 regular season.(05:15) - Are the 76ers or Knicks bigger threats to the Celtics?(11:05) - Who is the best player in the Eastern Conference?(18:55) - Can the Boston Celtics repeat?(23:00) - Can the Los Angeles Lakers make the playoffs?(34:30) - Does Bronny James belong in the NBA?(38:40) - Is parity good for the NBA?(46:05) - Preseason predictions for MVP & NBA championOn this episode of the Good Word with Goodwill, Yahoo Sports senior NBA reporter Vincent Goodwill is joined by Bomani Jones to continue the conversation they were having about the NBA last week.The guys start with the champion Boston Celtics. With the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers making major changes to their rosters to try and catch Boston, which one is the bigger threat to win the Eastern Conference this year?Who is the best player in the Eastern Conference? Are we sure it's not Jayson Tatum? And, if it's not, why isn't it Jayson Tatum after he cemented himself as the best player on the best team in the league? Whether or not the Celtics can repeat might end up determining how we think of Tatum for the rest of his career.Switching over to the Western Conference, are the Los Angeles Lakers good enough to make the playoffs? They have talent, but they might not have enough to compete in one of the deepest conferences in NBA history. And adding Bronny James to theoretically play real minutes during his rookie season shows that their priorities might not be in order.Finally, before we let Bomani go, Vinnie was wondering how Adam Silver's push towards more parity in the NBA sits with someone who has watched the NBA closely for decades. Also, since we have him, we asked Bo to give us his predictions for MVP, NBA champion and Finals matchup for the upcoming season. Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at Yahoo Sports Podcasts

Kevin O'Connor is joined by Tom Haberstroh to go through the NBA news of the day, including Kawhi's indefinite return from injury and some drama surrounding Giannis and the Bucks, before diving into Tom's Title Tiers.(00:40) - Clippers F Kawhi Leonard out indefinitely (knee)(05:15) - Thunder C Isaiah Hartenstein out 5-6 weeks (hand)(07:20) - 76ers avoid bad news on Paul George's knee(09:35) - Bulls G Lonzo Ball looks great in preseason return(16:20) - Timberwolves F Julius Randle debuts(18:35) - Giannis wonders if the Bucks would trade him(29:45) - Going over Tom's Title TiersAs he is every Friday, Kevin O'Connor is joined by Tom Haberstroh for a trip all over the NBA in this episode of The Kevin O'Connor Show.The guys start in Los Angeles, with the news that Kawhi Leonard is out indefinitely with knee inflammation. It's the same knee that kept him out of the Olympics and it's pretty scary that it's not ready to go after so much time away from basketball.Isaiah Hartenstein's regular season debut with the OKC Thunder will be delayed due to a broken hand, but it doesn't sound serious. The 76ers breathed a sigh of relief when it turned out that Paul George's knee was not seriously injured.Julius Randle made his Timberwolves debut in a preseason game against the Bulls, but the bigger story was the return of Lonzo Ball after dealing with knee issues for nearly 3 years. Tom and Kevin talk about their favorite parts of his first preseason game back on an NBA court.After discussing the Milwaukee Bucks, who possibly inched closer to trading Giannis Antetokounmpo next offseason, Kevin goes through Tom's Title Tiers and picks out some of the teams that he feels are worthy of discussion. Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at Yahoo Sports Podcasts

Vincent Goodwill and Isis "Ice" Young discuss the 76ers' injury issues, Lonzo Ball's long-awaited return, WNBA Finals thoughts and a lot more! (01:15) - Can Paul George carry the 76ers?(12:05) - Lonzo Ball's long-awaited return to the NBA(21:00) - WNBA Finals: Liberty & Lynx tied 1-1(28:15) - Which NBA team will jump into the playoffs this year?(36:25) - Which NBA coaches are already on the hot seat?(40:20) - Capture the Flagg: Who is tanking for the #1 pick? On this episode of the Good Word with Goodwill, Vincent Goodwill and Isis "Ice" Young get caught up on the WNBA Finals and the NBA's preseason.They start with the Philadelphia 76ers, who found out that Paul George's knee injury is a bone bruise and announced that Joel Embiid wouldn't be playing until the start of the regular season. More importantly, Embiid told a reporter that he likely won't play back-to-back games for the rest of his career. Vince and Ice have thoughts on big men who don't play every game.Lonzo Ball is slated to be on an NBA court tonight for the Chicago Bulls, almost three years and three knee surgeries removed from the last time he played. Ice has been through similar knee injuries, and she talks about the mental part of recovery.Game 3 of the WNBA Finals is tonight in Minnesota, and Ice still likes her pick of the Lynx to win it all in 5 games....or maybe even 4? Find out why she still thinks the Liberty can't keep up with the Lynx, even after their impressive game 2 victory.When discussing which NBA team could jump from outside the playoffs into title contention, both Vinnie and Ice focused on the Memphis Grizzlies. If they can stay healthy, and if Zach Edey is the player they think he can be, this team could be really good right away.Finally, Vinnie and Ice break down the NBA coaches starting the season on the hot seat before wondering which teams will have the most success tanking their way to the #1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, where Cooper Flagg remains the biggest prize. Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at Yahoo Sports Podcasts

On this episode of The Kevin O'Connor Show, Kevin is joined by Yahoo Sports fantasy basketball analyst Dan Titus to analyze his All-Breakout team before the 2024-2025 season.Additionally, on today's show, they react to news around the league during the preseason. They highlight Donte DiVincenzo's contentious game against his former team, Bulls guard Lonzo Ball finally returning, the expectation for Joel Embiid to miss most of the 76ers preseason, and the emergence of Suns rookie Ryan Dunn.Lastly, Kevin wraps up the show by answering listener questions ranging from the Lakers rotation to the start of his sports media career. (1:10) Donte DiVincenzo's heated matchup with the Knicks(7:10) The return of Lonzo Ball(9:02) How good are the 76ers without Joel Embiid?(15:52) Ryan Dunn is an emerging weapon for the Suns(22:09) Dan Titus's All-Breakout Team(52:19) Mailbag QuestionsCheck out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at Yahoo Sports Podcasts

Vincent Goodwill is joined by James Edwards III, who writes for The Athletic about the New York Knicks and who previously worked the Detroit Pistons beat. The guys talk Knicks, Pistons, NBA Hall of Fame and Seattle's basketball future. (06:55) - NBA inducts superfans into the Hall of Fame(16:35) - Seattle shows why it's ready to bring back the Sonics(20:15) - Knicks building around Jalen Brunson(48:15) - Can Cade Cunningham make the leap? On this episode of the Good Word with Goodwill, Yahoo Sports senior NBA reporter Vincent Goodwill is joined by James Edwards III, who writes for The Athletic about the New York Knicks and who previously worked the Detroit Pistons beat.The guys start by talking about the Detroit Lions (who beat the Cowboys yesterday) and the Detroit Tigers (who didn't make it to the ALCS) before wondering why the NBA is inducting Jack Nicholson, Spike Lee and Billy Crystal into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.The Los Angeles Clippers, at the behest of owner Steve Ballmer, once again played a preseason game in Seattle and showed how much support for the NBA exists in that city. James tells stories about his time in Seattle and Vinnie talks about how adding Seattle and Las Vegas to the NBA could reshape the conferences.With James here, the guys deep-dive into the very interesting New York Knicks. James explains what he doesn't love about the trades for Karl Anthony-Towns and Mikal Bridges, why he considers Tom Thibodeau to be one of the three best coached in the NBA and the guys discuss whether building a championship team around a player as short as Jalen Brunson might not be a great idea.Finally, James has left the Pistons beat behind but he still has plenty of thoughts on the organization and its young players, including making the case for Cade Cunningham to be an all-star this season. Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at Yahoo Sports Podcasts

Kevin O'Connor is joined by Dan Devine to talk through some preseason NBA narratives and news, including the incredible roster of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Bronny James' place on the Lakers.(01:05) - Can the Pelicans play Herb Jones at center?(10:00) - Is Bronny James ready for the NBA?(15:15) - How long can the Knicks survive with KAT at center?(25:30) - Are the Thunder the best team in the West?(36:45) - Can James Harden carry the Clippers with Kawhi out?(43:15) - How will DeMar DeRozan fit in with the Kings?(48:30) - Embiid's knee getting evaluated(54:40) - Early impressions of Zaccharie Risacher(60:15) - What is the Bulls' identity?On this episode of The Kevin O'Connor Show, Kevin is joined by Yahoo Sports senior NBA writer Dan Devine to bounce around the league as the NBA preseason continues.The guys start in New Orleans, where the Pelicans are saying they will play Herb Jones at center in a small ball lineup. How far can that take them in the loaded Western Conference? Also, how long will Bronny James stay in the NBA before the Lakers have to send him to the G League?The Knicks will be without Mitchell Robinson until 2025, leaving Karl Anthony-Towns as the team's only option at starting center. Will their offense be good enough to mitigate any issues with the defense?The Oklahoma City Thunder have more tradeable draft picks than any team and seemingly no holes on their roster. Can anyone in the Western Conference keep them out of the #1 spot?Kawhi Leonard is, once again, facing knee issues that are keeping him from practicing with the Los Angeles Clippers. Can James Harden recreate his Houston Rockets magic and carry them to the playoffs?The guys talk about how DeMar DeRozan fits with the Sacramento Kings before diverting to the 76ers, who might need more from Tyrese Maxey if Joel Embiid's knee isn't ready for the season.Before closing with a conversation about the Bulls being stuck in between good and bad, Kevin and Dan give their thoughts after seeing some preseason action from Hawks rookie #1 overall pick Zaccharie Risacher.Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at https://apple.co/3zEuTQj or at Yahoo Sports Podcasts