The Lead

So far during this NBA season, you can make an argument that no player has had a bigger impact on his team’s success than Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Nick Kosmider to look at why the triple-double threat is playing the best basketball of his life, and the unexpected similarities between him and one of the game’s all-time greats, Tim Duncan. Read Nick Kosmider’s story about Nikola Jokic and Tim Duncan: https://theathletic.com/2421107/2021/03/02/nikola-jokics-admiration-for-tim-duncan-gives-insight-into-what-makes-him-tick/?source=theleadpodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dawn Staley is one of the most accomplished players and coaches in basketball history. Over the past 13 years, she's built a powerhouse program at the University of South Carolina, and recently took home her sixth SEC championship in the past seven years. Outside of her basketball accomplishments Staley has become well-known for her outspoken approach to social and political issues. Today, The Athletic's Josh Kendall tell us about how Staley's North Philadelphia upbringing made her into a person who refuses to back down either on the court or off it.Read Josh Kendall's story about Dawn Staley here: https://theathletic.com/2420351/2021/03/03/the-unrelenting-force-of-dawn-staley-my-heart-wont-let-me-shut-up/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Portland Trail Blazers start the second half of their season with a big matchup against the Phoenix Suns on Thursday night. And so far, they’ve gotten another MVP-caliber season from point guard Damian Lillard. However, over the last 18 months, Lillard has endured a wave of tragedies in his life outside of basketball. The Athletic’s Jason Quick recently spoke to Lillard, and today, he joins us to talk about everything that the Blazers’ star has been living through — and playing through — this season. Read Jason Quick’s story about Damian Lillard: https://theathletic.com/2424011/2021/03/03/portland-trailblazers-damian-lillard/?source=theleadpodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Back in October, the Detroit Tigers hired a new manager, and normally, a last place team making such a move would fly under the radar. But the Tigers didn’t hire just any manager — they hired A.J. Hinch. The Athletic’s Cody Stavenhagen recently did a long interview with the former Astros manager, and he joins us today to talk about what Hinch’s life has been like since the sign-stealing scandal, how he’s being received in his new city, and how Hinch reflects on his legacy. Read Cody Stavenhagen’s story about A.J. Hinch: https://theathletic.com/2406890/2021/02/26/a-j-hinch-returns-to-tigers-after-astros-cheating-scandal/?source=theleadpodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Over the past year and a half, Borussia Dortmund's Erling Haaland has established himself as one of the best goal scorers in world soccer. At just 20 years of age, the Norwegian is already rewriting the record books and hoping to carry his team to Champions League glory. Today, the Athletic's Raphael Honigstein describes how a combination of preternatural athletic prowess and an extreme dedication to his craft has put Haaland on the fast track to superstardom.Read Raphael Honigstein's story about Erling Haaland: https://theathletic.com/1669047/2020/03/22/erling-haaland-borussia-dortmund/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rudy Gobert played in his second consecutive NBA All-Star Game on Sunday night, further cementing his reputation as one of the league's very best players. But while many basketball fans today think of Gobert as a powerhouse shot blocker and an inevitable superstar, there was a time when his success in the league was much more uncertain. The Athletic's Christopher Kamrani recently interviewed Gobert and he joins us to talk about the two-time Defensive Player of the Year's rise from skinny, unknown French teen to back-to-back NBA All-Star, and how he was able to succeed where so many others have failed.Read Chris Kamrani's story about Rudy Gobert:https://theathletic.com/2425030/2021/03/04/rudy-gobert-transformation-into-utah-jazz-all-star-started-in-the-d-league-you-have-to-be-able-to-show-you-dont-belong-there/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The NBA has officially arrived at the All-Star break, and before the season hit its halfway point, we saw — among other things — another huge performance from Joel Embiid. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Wosny Lambre to break down the big man’s case for MVP, consider why LeBron and the Lakers are still the front runners (on the court and in fashion), and why he’s excited to watch Steph Curry above anyone else during the strange All-Star Weekend ahead. Follow Wosny Lambre’s coverage of the NBA: https://theathletic.com/author/wosny-lambre/?source=theleadpodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In February, 2020, Baltimore Orioles' first baseman Trey Mancini figured his life couldn't get much better. He was coming off a breakout 2019 season, he had signed a big new contract with the Orioles, and he was a few months into an exciting new relationship. But a month later, baseball had shut down and Mancini, who had never had an operation in his life, was wrestling with a new colon cancer diagnosis. The Athletic's Dan Connolly began chronicling Mancini's journey a year ago, just before the diagnosis, and he joins us today to describe the slugger's strength and struggles along the path to recovery, and his triumphant return to the O's lineup last week.Read Dan Connolly's full story about Trey Mancini:https://theathletic.com/2413122/2021/03/01/orioles-trey-mancini-cancer-recovery/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Los Angeles-based doctors Nilesh Vora, Rahim Govani and Salima Thobani were three of the 7,500 vaccinated frontline healthcare workers invited to attend the Super Bowl in Tampa Bay. But what started as a relaxing getaway from the stresses of fighting Covid-19 abruptly devolved into another harrowing brush with death. The Athletic's Jourdan Rodrigue tells the story of the doctors who stepped up in a crisis and helped prevent a tragedy.Read Jourdan Rodrigue's full story about the three California doctors: https://theathletic.com/2389949/2021/02/19/super-bowl-flight-doctors-saved-life-healthcare-workers-vaccinated/?article_source=search&search_query=Super%20Bowl%20doctorsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Last season, Julius Randle was arguably the Knicks' most despised player. Last week, fans gave him a standing ovation and chanted "MVP" at Madison Square Garden. The Athletic's Mike Vorkuov, who covers the Knicks, walks us through his remarkable journey from Lakers castoff to Knicks underachiever to NBA All-Star -- and explains how a new off-season training program helped him take his game to the next level.More from Mike Vorkunov:https://theathletic.com/author/mike-vorkunov/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.