The Athletic NBA Daily

The first round of the NBA Draft is OVER and Andrew Schlecht and Alex Speers are here to break it all down for you with the best NBA Draft expert in Sam Vecenie they give out draft awards for the following categories: 1) Snug as a Bug Awarda. This award goes to your favorite player/team fit in the entire draft.2) League Pass Leap Awarda. This award goes to the team who most improved their watchability next season.3) Not Like This Awarda. This award goes to the prospect that you don't necessarily dislike, but you don't love the situation they ended up in.4) Deep Impact Awarda. This award goes to the player selected in deep in the first round that you think will make the biggest impact in Year 1.5) Miffed and Peeved Awarda. This award goes to the fanbase that we think is most frustrated after draft night.6) Pick 31 Awarda. This award goes to the player that you would select with the first pick of Day 2.7) Slam and Jam Best Draft Awarda. This award goes to the team that we think had the best overall draft.Host: Andrew Schlecht and Alex SpeersWith: Sam VecenieProducer: Andrew SchlechtVideo: Alex Oliver

Giannis was traded to the Heat and we are here to break it all down. Dave DuFour, Es Baraheni, Zena Keita and Andrew Schlecht discuss who won the trade, if the Heat are contenders, and if the Bucks can start their rebuild from this trade and more. In part 2 we discuss the Randall trade to the Nets and what the Wolves are doing to improve their standing in the West. Host: Dave DuFourWith: Es Baraheni, Zena Keita, and Andrew SchlechtProducer: Andrew Schlecht

The NBA Draft is just days away and Es Baraheni is here with guest and NBA Draft expert Ben Pfeifer to discuss the draft through a first round mock draft. Es and Ben discuss which players will go in the lottery, and how good the 2026 draft class is. Why Cam Boozer, AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson could change franchises. Which guard in the 5-10 range will make the biggest difference? Which late lottery pick is the biggest sleeper?Host: Es BaraheniWith: Ben PfeiferProducer: Andrew SchlechtAudio/Video Edit: Alex Oliver

The 2026 NBA Draft has been called one of the deepest in recent years and Andrew Schlecht and Alex Speers are back for another episode of the Saturday Slam N Jam. This time Sam Vecenie from the Athletic joins to help walk the guys through his most recent mock draft and dissect it with questions they have about multiple draft prospects. Is Caleb Wilson’s downside being ignored? Why is Yaxel falling on draft boards? Morez on the rise? And which late round prospects could make an impact? Then the guys finish with another round of Andrew vs. the Beat.Host: Andrew Schlecht and Alex SpeersWith: Sam VecenieProducer: Andrew SchlechtVideo Producer: Monica Compton

Trade chatter is heating up and Es Baraheni and Andrew Schlecht discuss multiple trade scenarios including trades with Giannis, the Oklahoma City Thunder trading up in the draft, the Warriors upgrading their roster, and much more.Join our Discord!: https://discord.gg/eme2tPcUM2Host: Es BaraheniWith: Andrew SchlechtProducer: Andrew SchlechtAudio/Video Producer: Alex Oliver

Will Giannis finally be traded before next week's NBA Draft? Dave DuFour, Zena Keita and Sam Amick discuss Mike Brown's evolution as a coach, how the Knicks won, and what happens next for De'Aaron Fox and the Spurs. Then, the gang takes a look at the trade market, Jaylen Brown's value, and the drama in Utah with Walker Kessler.Join our Discord! https://discord.gg/eme2tPcUM2Host: Dave DuFourWith: Zena Keita and Sam AmickExecutive Producer: Andrew SchlechtAudio/Video Producer: Alex Oliver

Cameron Boozer leads the class of bigs in the NBA Draft and Es Baraheni is here to break down these players with John Hollinger and CJ Moore of the Athletic. Can Caleb Wilson actually be the best player in the class? Is Steinbach a potential starter? All that and more. Then after the break Alex Karaban of the UConn Huskies joins Es to answer some “get to know you” questions.Host: Es BaraheniWith: John Hollinger, CJ Moore, and Alex KarabanProducer: Andrew SchlechtAudio/Video Producer: Alex Oliver

The 2026 NBA Draft is coming up and Bryce Simon of the Game Theory Podcast joins the pod to talk about the NBA Draft. They discuss which prospects fit best with NBA Franchises. Does Dybantsa fit best in Utah or Washington? Will the Thunder trade up for the best fit for them? Which late first rounder could make a difference for a good team?Host: Es BaraheniWith: Bryce SimonProducer: Andrew SchlechtVideo/Audio: Alex Oliver

The New York Knicks are NBA champions after defeating the San Antonio Spurs in the finals, capping off one of the most memorable playoff runs in years. Dave DuFour, Zena Keita and Es Baraheni reflect on what everyone got wrong about the Spurs, the Knicks' incredible resolve, and throw out some hot takes on what San Antonio's roster is missing. Then, the trio look ahead to a pivotal offseason for both teams and make their predictions for the 2027 NBA champion.Host: Dave DuFourWith: Zena Keita and Es BaraheniProducer: Alex Oliver