NBA All-Star Weekend was this close to being declared dead—until Victor Wembanyama flipped the entire vibe, shamed everybody into competing, and turned a “jumped-the-shark” event into must-watch hoops. On this episode of On The Ball, Ric Bucher breaks down why the All-Star turnaround matters, what it revealed about the league’s real hierarchy, and why Adam Silver’s public tough talk (including the nuclear “eliminate the draft” idea) lands as hollow compared to the era of David Stern.Ric also dives into the league’s messy optics: tanking, gambling partnerships, half-empty arenas, influencer-first priorities, and the growing sense that the NBA’s “brand showcase” is replacing the game itself—right up until Wemby decided otherwise.Then Ric shifts to the off-court theater: Stephen A. Smith flirting with a presidential run (and why sports platforms + politics are a dangerous credibility cocktail), plus Ric’s take on LeBron James’ retirement fog—including a wild, hypothetical endgame that involves NBA expansion, Las Vegas, and a final-season father-son spectacle with Bronny James. <h3>Time Stamps / Chapters</h3>00:00 — Intro: “Cooking with gas” + where to find Ric Bucher 00:41 — Ric’s new book: The Value of Being Coachable (pre-order info) 01:20 — United We Cast Network shows: Full Court Passport, Finding the Seams, Pacific Rims 02:03 — Was All-Star Weekend cooked? The “dead event” narrative 02:18 — Tanking panic: Adam Silver hints at eliminating the draft 02:46 — David Stern vs. Adam Silver: who actually had the hammer? 05:14 — Stern’s punishments: Sprewell / Joe Smith / Malice at the Palace 06:21 — Silver’s biggest power move: Donald Sterling (and why it was “easier” than it looks) 07:06 — The mood was bad: NBA Europe confusion + teams openly gaming losses 07:52 — Half-empty stands, weak dunk contest, and low expectations 08:18 — Wembanyama ignites the weekend: “no prisoners” intensity 08:45 — Team Stars vs. Team World goes OT; Anthony Edwards crediting Wemby 09:02 — Team Stripes (LeBron/KD/Kawhi) adds drama; De’Aaron Fox buzzer-beater 09:37 — MVP debate: Ant wins, but did Wemby actually deserve it? 10:05 — Ric’s airport confession: this All-Star &gt; Super Bowl for entertainment 10:39 — All-Star as brand showcase vs. real basketball storytelling 12:41 — A “page-turn” moment: new generation vs. old guard 14:47 — Why Wemby losing might be the best future fuel (playoffs + next All-Star) 15:10 — Calling out Luka Dončić + Nikola Jokić for minimal effort 16:23 — Jokić mocking Wemby’s pregame book… and what that says about the league 17:28 — The “pickup game” truth: hierarchy and roles exposed 18:06 — Reads on stars: Edwards, Fox, Tyrese Maxey, Jamal Murray, Alperen Şengün, Karl-Anthony Towns 20:02 — Stephen A. Smith for president? Ric’s benchmark for leadership credibility 23:10 — LeBron retirement uncertainty + “at the right price” reality 24:31 — The big hypothetical: NBA expansion fast-tracked (Vegas + Seattle) 26:17 — The spectacle plan: LeBron + Bronny as an expansion-team launchpad 28:06 — Sponsor: New Air Club + outro<h3> </h3> #NBA #NBAllStar #VictorWembanyama #Wembanyama #AnthonyEdwards #AdamSilver #DavidStern #NBADraft #Tanking #LeBronJames #BronnyJames #KawhiLeonard #KevinDurant #StephenASmith #OnTheBall #RicBucher #UnitedWeCast #NBAExpansion #LasVegas #Seattle

Did Victor Wembanyama Save the NBA All-Star Game… While Adam Silver Looks Weak on Tanking? | On The Ball with Ric Bucher

Is NBA tanking really ruining basketball — or is the outrage just noise?In this solo episode of On The Ball with Ric Bucher, Ric dismantles the modern hysteria around tanking and explains why what fans think is a crisis is actually a decades-old strategy baked into the league’s business model.Drawing on 30+ years covering the NBA, Ric reveals:<ul><li>Why tanking isn’t new — and never stopped</li><li>How the media profits from outrage narratives</li><li>The hidden economics behind losing on purpose</li><li>Why the 2026 draft may justify tanking more than ever</li><li>The real difference between subtle tanking and obvious tanking</li><li>Why some franchises must draft stars to survive</li><li>And why tanking is only a 50-50 gamble anyway</li></ul>He also breaks down real-world examples involving the Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers, and Sacramento Kings — plus historical tank jobs involving the Spurs, Cavaliers, and Rockets.Bottom line: the NBA isn’t broken — you just haven’t been told the whole story. <h2>⏱️ Time Stamps</h2>00:00 Intro + show update (now video + audio) 00:53 Why tanking outrage is overblown 02:42 Ric’s philosophy on sports media vs hot takes 04:12 Tanking history from a 30-year NBA insider 05:30 Don Nelson’s hidden Warriors tank attempt 08:10 The Chris Webber–Penny Hardaway draft saga 10:05 Famous tank jobs vs forgotten ones 12:02 Why tanking makes financial sense 13:19 Why the 2026 draft is different 14:21 Teams openly tanking today 16:12 Wizards strategy breakdown 17:39 Pacers injuries vs tank narrative 18:45 Kings reset under Scott Perry 20:50 Why tanking rarely guarantees titles 22:00 The truth: tanking is permanent NBA strategy 22:40 Closing thoughts<h2>🏷️ </h2>#NBA #NBADraft #NBATanking #Basketball #NBANews #RicBucher #UtahJazz #WashingtonWizards #NBAPodcast #SportsMedia #NBATalk #UnitedWeCast

NBA Tanking Panic Is Fake? The Truth Teams Don’t Want You to Hear

Everyone says sports coverage is too negative — and the “fix” was supposed to be ex-players taking over the microphone. So why does it feel like the takes are hotter, harsher, and sloppier than ever?In this episode, Ric digs into the hypocrisy of modern sports debate culture: endless era wars, manufactured arguments that can’t be settled, and the engagement-driven “hamster wheel” that turns players into pundits… and pundits into flamethrowers.Ric spotlights recent examples — including Draymond Green’s baffling defense of Bronny James — and explains why “I played” isn’t automatically a media credential. Then he shifts to the NBA’s newest pressure cooker: Cooper Flagg in Dallas, why the criticism is missing the point, and what the Mavericks’ post-Luka Dončić reality says about leadership, context, and expectations.Plus: Ric’s trade deadline observations, including what Chicago’s moves signal, why Mike Conley could boomerang back to Minnesota, and why Boston’s move for Nikola Vučević is the kind of “he killed us, so get him” logic teams swear they don’t use… until they do. <h3>Time Stamps</h3><ul><li>0:00 “We’re cooking with gas” — welcome to On The Ball</li><li>0:39 Ric’s third book: Coachability (pre-order info coming)</li><li>1:30 “There’s only one place you hear me” — why this pod is different</li><li>1:44 The myth: players hate “negative media”… so ex-players should fix it</li><li>2:42 The reality: negativity is worse than ever (era wars, cheap shots)</li><li>4:10 Why era debates are a trap (and a ratings machine)</li><li>4:48 Example #1: Draymond Green, Bronny James, and basic facts</li><li>6:45 “Only players can talk hoops”? Here’s why that argument collapses</li><li>7:46 Example #2: Jamal Mashburn takes a shot at Cooper Flagg</li><li>12:38 The real topic: what Flagg is carrying in Dallas (post-Luka)</li><li>18:44 Dallas watch: Jason Kidd, Sean Sweeney, front office intrigue</li><li>22:44 Trade deadline quick hits (what caught Ric’s attention)</li><li>23:05 Bulls signal the end for Coby White (and why)</li><li>24:17 Mike Conley path back to Minnesota?</li><li>26:14 Celtics get Nikola Vučević — and the “he torched us” phenomenon</li><li>28:21 Outro + what’s next (deadline aftermath + All-Star weekend)</li></ul> #OnTheBall #RicBucher #NBA #NBATradeDeadline #CooperFlagg #DallasMavericks #LukaDoncic #DraymondGreen #BronnyJames #SportsMedia #NBAAnalysis #UnitedWeCast

NBA “Player Media” Is Loud… and Often Wrong — Plus the Cooper Flagg Pile-On, Mavs Fallout & Trade Deadline Truths | On The Ball

When Expectations Kill Culture: Raptors Rising, Warriors Straining

Toronto just did something that should scare the league: they’re winning big without a single “ball-stopper,” and the vibes aren’t a gimmick — they’re the engine. On this episode of On The Ball, Ric Bucher breaks down why the Raptors’ pregame “house party” bench routine and locker-room freedom aren’t cute… they’re culture, and culture becomes chemistry, and chemistry becomes wins.Ric contrasts that with Golden State’s current reality: an oddly quiet locker room, outsized expectations, and the uncomfortable question nobody wants to ask out loud — what exactly are the Warriors supposed to be right now? If you’ve been wondering why some teams look like they enjoy basketball and others look like they’re surviving it, this is the roadmap.Timestamps:<ul><li>00:00 “Cooking with gas” + show intro</li><li>00:40 Ric’s third book tease: The Value of Being Coachable</li><li>01:45 Why this episode became “All Raptors” (and why that matters)</li><li>02:17 The Raptors’ bench mob: conga line energy, welcome-in vibes</li><li>03:24 Locker-room leaders you wouldn’t expect: Jamal Shead + Gradey Dick</li><li>04:03 Why hierarchies can help… or suffocate a team</li><li>05:12 Off-court chemistry → on-court chemistry (especially for young teams)</li><li>06:31 Warriors locker-room contrast: quiet, pressure, veteran routines</li><li>08:02 The Warriors’ expectation problem: “one move away” thinking</li><li>09:13 The Buddy Hield reality check (and what fans project onto role players)</li><li>10:26 What the roster actually is: youth, second-rounders, undrafted grinders</li><li>11:18 Raptors parallels to early Mark Jackson Warriors (joy + hunger)</li><li>13:32 Raptors “secret sauce”: unselfishness + relentless help-and-recover defense</li><li>14:34 Ric interviews Darko Rajaković: character, consistency, no favorites</li><li>17:13 The “no hesitation” rule — why Toronto’s ball movement is different</li><li>19:54 The possession that explains everything (Ingram → Jamal Shead → Walter)</li><li>22:21 Context: OKC injuries, January realities, why panic takes are lazy</li><li>24:08 Ric’s bigger point on greatness — and why highlight culture lies</li><li>24:41 Ingram’s evolution: proving he can win, not just score</li><li>26:18 Scottie Barnes as “team janitor” (dirty work that closes games)</li><li>28:23 Can this translate to playoffs? Ric’s honest outlook</li><li>29:32 Tease: Giannis, Milwaukee, and a “game of chicken” next episode</li></ul> #OnTheBall #RicBucher #NBA #TorontoRaptors #Warriors #NBAAnalysis #NBACulture #TeamChemistry #BallMovement #ScottieBarnes #BrandonIngram #DarkoRajakovic #StephCurry #DraymondGreen #UnitedWeCast

Toronto’s Secret Weapon Isn’t Talent — It’s Trust

The NBA isn’t “American property” anymore — and this year’s All-Star voting made that impossible to ignore. Ric Bucher breaks down why the top fan vote-getters being international stars isn’t a problem… it’s the point. But there’s a twist: the players’ vote tells a very different story than the fans and media, raising an uncomfortable question about who the league’s real hierarchy respects.Then: Ric takes aim at the “free throw merchant” label on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, previews the new All-Star format (Americans vs. foreigners), and explains why it might finally bring competitive juice back to All-Star weekend.And in a hard left turn into culture + business: Ric calls out the optics of Nike/LeBron’s MLK Day shoe release, and closes with a look at Jeanie Buss, the Buss family, and the future of the Lakers, including the resentment over the Bronny roster spot and why Steve Ballmer’s financial advantage may have forced Jeanie’s hand. <h4>Time Stamps</h4><ul><li>00:00 “Cooking with gas” + show intro</li><li>00:41 Ric announces upcoming book on being coachable</li><li>01:41 NBA → “IBA”: the league’s global takeover is complete</li><li>02:19 All-Star vote shocker: Luka/Giannis/Jokic lead — and fans don’t care where you’re from</li><li>03:07 Deni Avdija leapfrogs Anthony Edwards: how did that happen?</li><li>04:34 Why the league changed voting rules after Zaza Pachulia</li><li>05:08 Ric’s theory: Ant’s off-court noise may be costing him votes</li><li>06:40 Players vs fans/media: who actually respects which stars?</li><li>08:45 SGA isn’t a “free throw merchant” — blame the whistle, not the scorer</li><li>10:07 New All-Star format: Americans vs foreigners — and why internationals may have something to prove</li><li>12:41 Social media’s “everything is debatable” disease + Ric’s contrarian code</li><li>13:39 Nike + LeBron MLK shoe: “sounds wrong” and gets worse the more you explain it</li><li>16:41 The real lesson: stars need advisors who say “no”</li><li>20:04 Jeanie Buss + Lakers sale strategy: what’s new (and what isn’t)</li><li>21:12 The Bronny favor and why some Lakers voices feel unappreciated</li><li>26:14 Ballmer’s money changed the Lakers’ reality — and Jeanie’s endgame</li><li>27:50 Wrap-up + what Ric might cover next (Raptors/Warriors locker rooms)</li></ul> #OnTheBall #RicBucher #NBA #AllStar #LukaDoncic #GiannisAntetokounmpo #NikolaJokic #AnthonyEdwards #DeniAvdija #ShaiGilgeousAlexander #VictorWembanyama #LeBronJames #Nike #MLKDay #Lakers #JeanieBuss #BronnyJames #UnitedWeCast

NBA = IBA? All-Star Voting Exposes a Global League — and an American Backlash

This episode of On The Ball hits two hot-button topics with one throughline: who gets to shape the story—players, fans, media… or the loudest clip on social media.First, Ric breaks down his NBA All-Star starting fives and why this year’s ballot was shockingly simple—while the bigger question looms: what happens if LeBron James doesn’t “make it” the traditional way? Ric digs into the realities of fan/media/player voting, the new All-Star format, and why the definition of “All-Star” keeps shifting.Then the conversation pivots to the viral Jacksonville Jaguars postgame press conference moment—and why the internet’s reaction says more about society’s trust in media than it does about one reporter’s etiquette. Ric explains the old-school rules (“no cheering in the press box”), how they’ve been blurred, and why “anti-journalism” rage has become a profitable brand. <h3>Timestamps</h3><ul><li>0:00 “We’re cooking with gas” + show intro</li><li>0:39 Where to find Ric (FS1 / Fox Sports Radio) + third book tease (“coachable”)</li><li>1:27 Why this episode goes beyond the NBA</li><li>1:57 Ric’s All-Star ballot: starters + why it was “the easiest” ever</li><li>2:39 New All-Star format: Americans vs Internationals + round-robin breakdown</li><li>3:24 How voting works: fans / media / players—and why it matters</li><li>4:20 Ric’s East starters + West starters (and the “free-throw merchant” jab)</li><li>5:02 The Scottie Barnes dilemma + why closers get rewarded</li><li>5:41 The LeBron question: where fans have him—and why player voting is the wildcard</li><li>7:10 Fixing the system: how Ric would restructure All-Star voting</li><li>8:16 The viral Jaguars presser moment: what happened, what people missed</li><li>10:26 “No cheering in the press box”: why decorum still matters</li><li>20:56 ESPN, fame, and the collapse of old media lines</li><li>23:26 Pat McAfee’s rant—and Ric’s response to the hypocrisy</li><li>25:01 The key point: compassion isn’t the issue—time and place is</li><li>28:44 Wrap-up + sponsor (Mizzen+Main) + promo code</li></ul><h3> </h3> #OnTheBall #RicBucher #NBA #AllStar #NBAAllStar #LeBronJames #ShaiGilgeousAlexander #LukaDoncic #NikolaJokic #VictorWembanyama #AnthonyEdwards #GiannisAntetokounmpo #JalenBrunson #CadeCunningham #TyreseMaxey #JalenBrown #SportsMedia #Journalism #UnitedWeCast

All-Star Voting Is About to Expose the LeBron Reality + Why the Jaguars Presser Blew Up | On The Ball

In this episode of On The Ball, Ric Bucher unloads on the NBA’s most uncomfortable truths: why “tanking” is getting harder to justify, why a rumored Trae Young-to-Washington deal would be less about basketball and more about money + leverage, and why the supermax era is changing (maybe forever). Ric also tackles the loudest Warriors debate—why fans coming for Steve Kerr are missing the point—and explains what Steph’s late-career reality actually means in the new salary-cap NBA. Then Ric turns his attention to LeBron’s podcast positioning, the optics of “the league is moving away from ISO” while playing next to Luka, and the awkward self-mythmaking that comes with the exit ramp of a legend. Finally, a fascinating tell from All-Star voting: the NBA’s next “face” may be foreign, and Ric names the frontrunner. Time stamps 00:00 — Intro: “Cooking with gas” + where to find Ric 01:32 — Mission statement: angles you won’t hear anywhere else 01:39 — Making every NBA game matter + the tanking problem 02:43 — Trae Young traded to the Wizards?! Why this is a financial play 04:20 — The $229M supermax that Atlanta wouldn’t offer (and why) 05:33 — Why the league can’t hand out max deals “like candy” anymore 06:50 — Trae’s real issue: stats vs impact, defense, and locker-room gravity 08:10 — What the Hawks actually need (and why bigs are the problem) 09:45 — Anthony Davis to Atlanta? Buyer beware + the Luka trade hangover 12:58 — Why Ric is bullish on Cooper Flagg as a culture-setter 17:25 — Warriors corner: the anti–Steve Kerr crusade (and why it’s galling) 21:12 — Lacob pressure, Kerr extension talk, and Steph’s real decline curve 23:03 — The Jimmy Butler move: what it fixed—and what it didn’t 24:13 — Why small-ball “wrinkles” are necessity, not stubbornness 27:17 — Kuminga: effort, role acceptance, and why it may be over 29:32 — Jordan Poole reality check (and what his market might be) 31:18 — LeBron’s “ISO is dying” take: why now, and why it reads self-serving 36:39 — All-Star voting clue: the NBA’s next “face” may be a foreign star 37:26 — Ric’s bet: Wembanyama as the future consensus face of the league 37:52 — Wrap-up + trade season ahead #NBA #NBATrades #TraeYoung #WashingtonWizards #AtlantaHawks #CJMcCollum #SteveKerr #GoldenStateWarriors #StephenCurry #JonathanKuminga #LeBronJames #LukaDoncic #AnthonyDavis #CooperFlagg #VictorWembanyama #NBASalaryCap #NBASupermax #OnTheBall #RicBucher #UnitedWeCast

Trae Young to the Wizards?! Why the Hawks “Supermax No” Says Everything About Today’s NBA + Kerr, LeBron, and the Next Face of the League

Nikola Jokic goes down with a knee injury — and suddenly the volume spikes to kill the NBA’s 65-game minimum for MVP and All-NBA eligibility. Coincidence? Or the latest example of the league (and its loudest voices) trying to rewrite the definition of greatness in real time?In the first On The Ball episode of 2026, Ric Bucher explains why the 65-game rule shouldn’t be rescinded just because a superstar might miss out. Awards aren’t about who we think should win based on peak moments, reputation, or “what he’d do if healthy.” They’re about who actually delivered over a full season — and availability has always been part of the job.Ric revisits why the rule was created (hello, load management), why voters needed a clear benchmark, and why removing it would encourage exactly what fans hate: rewarding partial seasons while pretending it’s the same as dominance over 82 games. He also calls out the shifting standards in NBA media, the growing subjectivity of awards voting, and the obsession with making everything “perfect” — even when perfection creates new injustices.Plus: Ric makes the case that we should be expanding eligibility rules, creating one to deem who is eligible to be an All-Star. Timestamps 00:00 — Intro: “Cooking with gas” / welcome to On The Ball 00:31 — Ric’s platforms + book tease: the value of being coachable 01:32 — First pod of 2026: thank you + what’s changing the show today 02:03 — The new flashpoint: NBA’s 65-game rule + Jokic injury fallout 02:55 — Jokic vs SGA: how the MVP race shifts 03:16 — Why Ric disagrees with eliminating the rule 04:12 — Why the NBA instituted 65 games: load management + voter clarity 05:07 — The voting problem: who has ballots now (and why it matters) 06:35 — Why 65 games is “etched in stone” 07:23 — The old standard: playing 82 used to be the flex 08:03 — “Perfect” officiating vs reality: the replay obsession analogy 09:20 — The hard truth: injustice happens — that’s sports (and life) 10:08 — Injuries, modern training, and why the real issue isn’t awards 11:07 — Why changing awards rules dodges the real problem 12:32 — Supermax + health: should durability matter? 14:02 — Awards aren’t for “who we think”: they’re for who proved it 14:40 — The Bill Walton precedent: MVP with 58 games (and the controversy) 16:45 — The fear: rewarding stars for half-seasons 17:26 — Standards eroding: media, mentorship, and the “old head” dilemma 20:28 — Social media pedestal culture + rule changes for entertainment 21:25 — Why removing 65 games diminishes awards 22:12 — Ric’s counter: eligibility rules for All-Star voting instead 22:52 — LeBron + All-Star weekend: honor him, don’t gift him a spot 25:05 — Emotional policy-making is bad policy 25:47 — What’s next: boosting competition, addressing tanking 26:54 — Outro #NBA #NikolaJokic #MVP #AllNBA #LoadManagement #NBAMedia #OnTheBall #RicBucher #BasketballPodcast #UnitedWeCast

The NBA’s 65-Game Rule Is Doing Its Job — Stop Trying to Save Stars

The NBA loves a fairytale ending — legends riding off into the sunset with one last ring. But the reality is harsher: aging championship stars can become a “poison pill” for franchises, locking teams into oversized salaries, outdated roster-building, and stalled player development.In this episode of On The Ball, Ric Bucher breaks down why it’s so difficult to break up a title-winning core — and why the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors are the latest examples of teams paying the price for loyalty while still selling championship expectations.Ric also explains why the best organizations make the cold-blooded pivot before the clock strikes midnight, the role fans and media play in keeping “one more run” alive, and how teams end up stuck when the window closes but the payroll doesn’t.00:00:35 – Where to find Ric (FS1/Fox Sports Radio) + new book on being coachable 00:01:18 – Holiday delay + why Christmas Day set up this episode 00:01:49 – The “poison pill” problem: aging champions and marquee teams 00:02:14 – Why breaking up a championship core is so hard 00:03:11 – History lesson: teams that waited too long to turn the page 00:03:38 – Loyalty is fine… if you’re honest about expectations 00:05:02 – The hidden cost: money, roles, roster, coaching, and marketing built around stars 00:06:02 – Why “contend + develop” usually doesn’t work (Warriors example) 00:06:48 – What real transition looks like (Wade → LeBron, Duncan → Kawhi) 00:07:52 – Fans, connection, and the business of keeping “the guy” 00:09:45 – Media vs fan reality: why we get it twisted about “upgrades” 00:11:31 – Booker/Suns as the blueprint for “glimmer of hope” economics 00:15:26 – The “glimmer” sidebar + players who sell hope without June basketball 00:16:53 – Why it’s different when the star actually won a ring 00:17:41 – The ruthless move: trade the star before midnight 00:18:42 – Recent examples of teams doubling down on aging stars 00:19:12 – Bill Walsh trading Joe Montana: the blueprint 00:20:19 – Which current GMs will actually make the hard pivot? 00:21:52 – Teams that missed the window: Lakers/Warriors/Clippers (and why it matters now) 00:22:39 – Lakers roster-building problem around Luka + payroll realities 00:23:20 – Warriors payroll trap: Steph/Jimmy/Draymond math 00:25:17 – Why re-signing Draymond locked in the old identity 00:25:50 – Klay nostalgia vs reality + the real mistake 00:26:22 – Wrap-up + teaser on tanking/competition solutions next episode Follow Ric Bucher: X / Instagram / Threads / Bluesky: @RicBucher #NBA #Lakers #Warriors #LeBronJames #StephenCurry #JimmyButler #DraymondGreen #NBATalk #NBAAnalysis #OnTheBall #RicBucher #UnitedWeCast

The Poison Pill of Aging Champions: Why the Lakers & Warriors Can’t Quit Their Cores

The best weekly sports pod for NBA insight and analysis

A weekly sports podcast with inside information and one-of-a-kind perspective on the hottest topics and behind-the-scenes happenings from veteran NBA insider, author and TV analyst Ric Bucher. Find all his work at RicBucher.com. Support this show at http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends