The Lead

Football stars, celebrities, and fans have descended upon Miami for the greatest side-show on Earth. Kavitha wades into the madness of Radio Row to speak with former Super Bowl winner turned spiritual guru Martellus Bennett, Giants running back Saquon Barkley, omnipresent fan "Marlins Man," former NBA journeyman Stephen Jackson, and a host of other characters. We also hear how people are betting on the color of the Gatorade bath that will rain down upon the winning coach and how Kobe Bryant's death feels like a dark shadow over the weekend.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tyreek Hill has a history of domestic violence charges that many people find disturbing. The wide receiver has been an integral part of the Chiefs' offense all season long and is expected to play a major role in the Super Bowl on Sunday, but some people have trouble rooting for the team when he's on the field. The Athletic's Lindsay Jones joins us to talk about Hill's past, how the Chiefs organization has dealt with his case, and the dilemma that reporters and fans face when trying to separate the art from the artist. Follow Lindsay Jones's NFL coverage: https://theathletic.com/author/lindsay-jones/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Superstar QB Patrick Mahomes and veteran head coach Andy Reid complete each other's sentences in team meetings. Chiefs fans are on their way to the Super Bowl after 50 years of suffering. And defensive tackle Mike Pennel broke down sobbing after Kansas City's victory over the Tennessee Titans, knowing he'd be playing for his hometown team in a Super Bowl. The Athletic's Nate Taylor joins us to talk through these (and other) Chiefs love stories.Follow Nate Taylor's coverage of the Chiefs:https://theathletic.com/author/nate-taylor/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

One year ago, Raheem Mostert and the San Francisco 49ers were 4-12 and Kyle Shanahan was coaching at the Senior Bowl. Now, they're one win away from being crowned Super Bowl champions. The Athletic’s Tim Kawakami joins us to talk about how the 49ers have pulled off this remarkable turnaround, the players who have been key to their playoff run, and how, despite their success, they still see themselves as a bunch of journeymen.Follow Tim Kawakami's coverage of the 49ers:https://theathletic.com/author/tim-kawakami/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The tributes to Kobe Bryant and other victims of Sunday’s helicopter crash continue. A number of NBA players who were close to Kobe, including Chris Paul and Kyrie Irving, have missed games . NBA teams have continued to let the 24-second shot clock run out during games to honor the former #24. The Athletic’s Andy and Brian Kamenetzky join us to reflect on the remarkable life and career of Kobe Bryant, how he’ll be remembered and what he meant to the city of Los Angeles.You can read The Athletic's ongoing coverage of Kobe Bryant's passing here: https://theathletic.com/tag/remembering-kobe-bryant/And revisit Kobe's relationship with Shaq on Wondery's 7-part Shaq/Kobe series on “Sports Wars”: https://wondery.com/shows/sports-wars/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After Kobe's tragic death from a helicopter crash on Sunday, we walk through the latest news on the accident and ongoing investigation. Plus, we look at how people across the country have expressed their love and support for the late superstar and his family. And we travel to Staples Center, where thousands of people gathered to share stories and mourn the loss of the basketball icon.Follow The Athletic's latest coverage of Kobe Bryant:https://theathletic.com/tag/remembering-kobe-bryant/?source=theleadpodcastRevisit Kobe's relationship with his Laker teammate Shaq on our 7-part series about their friendship and rivalry on “Sports Wars”: https://wondery.com/shows/sports-wars/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

New reporting from The Athletic has revealed problems inside the Clippers locker room. Kawhi Leonard has been red hot on the court, but his aloofness and unusual leadership style has created some friction within the team. The Athletic’s Jovan Buha joins us to talk about how the Clippers have been struggling to adapt to life with the reticent star, and what it could mean for the team's championship hopes.Read Jovan Buha and Sam Amick's story about the culture of the Clippers:https://theathletic.com/1557316/2020/01/23/chemistry-setting-behind-the-scenes-of-kawhi-leonard-and-the-clippers-merging-culture/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Zion Williamson made a splash in his debut last night. But his fellow rookie, Ja Morant, has been dominating defenses all season and creating an incredible highlight reel along the way. Today, The Athletic’s Omari Sankofa II joins us to talk about Ja’s impressive rookie year, why he has a chip on his shoulder, and whether or not he, and not Zion, should have been the number one pick in the draft.Follow Omari Sankofa II's coverage of the Grizzlies:https://theathletic.com/author/omari-sankofa-ii/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In perhaps the most anticipated NBA debut ever, New Orleans Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson finally takes the floor tonight. Williamson had surgery in October for a torn meniscus and was slated to miss somewhere between 6 and 8 weeks. It's now been 14 weeks since the team announced he would be sidelined. So what can we anticipate from Zion's first NBA game? The Athletic's Will Guillory joins us to talk about Zion’s return, his unusual rehab, and what he could mean for the Pelicans and the city of New Orleans. Read Will Guillory's story about Zion's debut: https://theathletic.com/1553109/2020/01/22/zion-williamsons-long-awaited-debut-marks-the-beginning-of-a-new-era-in-new-orleans/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The WNBA signed a monumental collective bargaining agreement with the players union last week. The maximum player salary was nearly doubled, the league minimum was increased by 35 percent, and elite players could now see their total income more than triple. The deal also includes new allowances for travel and maternity leave. The Athletic’s Lyndsey D'Arcangelo joins us to discuss how the deal came about and what it means for the WNBA and women’s sports in general.Follow Lyndsey D'Arcangelo's coverage of the WNBA:https://theathletic.com/author/lyndsey-darcangelo/?source=theleadpodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.