Shows / On The Ball with Ric Bucher
On The Ball with Ric Bucher
On The Ball with Ric Bucher is a weekly NBA and sports podcast featuring inside information, behind-the-scenes stories, and one-of-a-kind perspective on the biggest topics in basketball and beyond. Ric Bucher is a veteran NBA insider, TV analyst, and author of Coachable, and each episode gives you the story behind the headlines. That includes trades, free agency, front-office moves, locker-room dynamics, and the people who shape the league.
Find all of Ric’s work at RicBucher.com and watch…
Episodes
On The Ball with Ric BucherAre the Warriors Title Contenders Once More?
Ric discusses the hot start by the Golden State Warriors, the likely blueprint for how coach Steve Kerr is utilizing his roster and what their prospects are…
On The Ball with Ric BucherQuad Shot: Jokic-Towns, JJ's Reality, Kerr's Magic, Bronny Plan
Ric introduces a new format, diving into four topics or events that caught his attention on a single night's slate of games. In this one: Nikola Jokic laying…
On The Ball with Ric BucherWho is in Bigger Trouble, Bucks or Nuggets?
Ric discusses the early struggles of two teams projected as title contenders this season, the Denver Nuggets and Milwaukee Bucks. Also: a look at LeBron James'…
On The Ball with Ric BucherLonzo and Giannis, Both Breaking New Ground
Ric discusses the return of Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball thanks to the latest innovative surgery to replace damaged knee cartilage and what it would mean if…
On The Ball with Ric BucherThe Danger of Playing by Numbers
Ric discusses the emphasis by the New Orleans Pelicans and Los Angeles Lakers on increasing their volume of three-point shooting and the questionable wisdom of…
On The Ball with Ric BucherThe Early Returns on JJ Redick
Ric discusses the impact first-year coach JJ Redick has had on the Los Angeles Lakers through the first four games of the season and if he has erased any…
On The Ball with Ric BucherWhy The Lakers Still Have The Suns' Number
Ric discusses the Los Angeles Lakers' latest comeback upset victory over the Phoenix Suns and sheds light on a few early conspiracy theories that have cropped…
On The Ball with Ric BucherTakeaways From the NBA's Opening Night
Ric discusses the Boston Celtics' dominant win over the New York Knicks, the Los Angeles Lakers' upset of the Minnesota Timberwolves and how we will look back…
On The Ball with Ric BucherWhat the NBA Could Learn From the WNBA Championship
Ric discusses the New York Liberty's Game 5 victory over the Minnesota Lynx to clinch the 2024 WNBA title and the elements that reminded him of the NBA's more…
On The Ball with Ric BucherWhat the Bucks Need from Giannis to Contend
Ric discusses what he has seen of Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo this preseason and what it foreshadows for the Bucks' chance of competing for…
On The Ball with Ric BucherTale of Two Returns: Donte to NY, Lonzo to Baller
Ric discusses what he's heard about the recent fracas between former Knicks guard Donte DiVincenzo and assistant coach Rick Brunson, and examines what the…
On The Ball with Ric BucherCan Zach Edey Be Big for the Grizzlies?
Ric discusses the early showing of the most intriguing rookie in the NBA, Zach Edey, at 7-foot-4 and 300 pounds the biggest player in the NBA, taken ninth in…
On The Ball with Ric BucherAssessing the Wemby-CP3 Pairing
Ric discusses the first glimpse of veteran point guard Chris Paul and sensational second-year center Victor Wembanyama playing together for the San Antonio…
On The Ball with Ric BucherExamining the Riddle that is the Golden State Warriors
Ric discusses the Golden State Warriors' performance through two preseason games, the answers given and questions raised, and what realistic expectations for…
On The Ball with Ric BucherLeBron and Bronny: Gimmick or Historic?
Ric discusses LeBron James and his son, Bronny James, becoming the first father-son duo to play in an NBA game together this past weekend, how it compares to…
On The Ball with Ric BucherWhere and How the WNBA Has To Grow
Ric shares what he has learned about the recent conflict between USA Today columnist Christine Brennan and WNBA players union executive director Terri Jackson…
On The Ball with Ric BucherDraymond Green Plays First-Team All-Defense on a Question About His Availability
Ric discusses an exchange between San Francisco Chronicle columnist Scott Ostler and Warriors forward Draymond Green concerning Green's expected availability…
On The Ball with Ric BucherThe WNBPA Picks A Fight, Knicks Land A KAT
Ric discusses the WNBPA's social-media attack of journalist Christine Brennan and explains why the New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves will benefit…
On The Ball with Ric BucherBreaking Down the Win Totals for All 30 NBA Teams, Part 3
Ric completes his review of the oddsmakers' win-total lines for all 30 NBA teams, sharing whether each team will go over or under their lines, and why. Support…
On The Ball with Ric BucherThe Missed Storyline in Caitlin Clark's Playoff Debut
Ric discusses WNBA Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark's first playoff performance, the source of her popularity and why she has emerged as a polarizing figure in…
On The Ball with Ric BucherBreaking Down Win Totals for All 30 NBA Teams, Part 2
Ric examines the oddsmakers' win totals for all 30 NBA teams for the 2024-25 season. Teams covered in this episode: Rockets, Pacers, Clippers, Lakers…
On The Ball with Ric BucherBreaking Down Win Totals for All 30 NBA Teams, Pt 1
Ric discusses whether to go over or under the win-total lines set by oddsmakers for all 30 NBA teams. Support this show…
On The Ball with Ric BucherA Forgotten NBA Superstar and a Formula for Comparing Eras
Ric offers a new way to compare all-time great NBA players from different eras and discovers a player rarely mentioned as an all-time great who deserves to be…
On The Ball with Ric BucherThe New NBA Media: Player-on-Player Hate Crimes
Ric discusses the recent and unprecedented surge of NBA players talking negatively about each other, particularly players discussing their counterparts from…
On The Ball with Ric BucherWhat Made This Team USA Different
Ric discusses the U.S. national men's basketball team's gold medal-winning performance in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Support this show…
On The Ball with Ric BucherSteve Kerr and His Handling of Team USA
Ric discusses the varied starting lineups and playing rotations Team USA coach Steve Kerr has implemented, and the criticism they have elicited. Support this…
On The Ball with Ric BucherThe Jayson Tatum Kerrfuffle
Ric discusses the events that led to Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum not playing in Team USA's opening win over Serbia in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris…
On The Ball with Ric BucherThe Truth About Team USA
Ric discusses Team USA's hopes of winning a gold medal in men's basketball at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Support this show…
On The Ball with Ric BucherJaylen Brown's Complaint, the Lakers' Summer Prep
Ric discusses NBA Finals' MVP Jaylen Brown being passed over for Boston Celtic teammate Derrick White as a Team USA replacement and how the Los Angeles Lakers…
On The Ball with Ric BucherNepotism, the NBA and LeBron
Ric discusses the Los Angeles Lakers drafting Bronny James, son of Lakers star LeBron James. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends…
On The Ball with Ric BucherMaking A Case For JJ Redick Being A Success
Ric discusses the qualities that could benefit JJ Redick in his role as the Los Angeles Lakers' new head coach. Support this show…
On The Ball with Ric BucherThe Comeuppance of Luka Doncic
Ric discusses the performance of Dallas Mavericks' star Luka Doncic in the 2024 NBA Finals. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends…
On The Ball with Ric BucherUnpacking Caitlin Clark, LeBron-Kyrie & Dan Hurley-Lakers
Ric discusses the ongoing drama surrounding Caitlin Clark's start in the WNBA, Kyrie Irving's reaction to LeBron James' latest remarks about their time…
On The Ball with Ric BucherThe Education of Anthony Edwards
Ric discusses the Western Conference finals' battle of stars between the Minnesota Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards and the Dallas Mavericks' Kyrie Irving and…
On The Ball with Ric BucherCaitlin Clark Anxiety and Why the Nuggets Fell
Ric discusses the reaction to Caitlin Clark's rocky start in the WNBA and why the defending champion Denver Nuggets fell to the upstart Minnesota Timberwolves…
On The Ball with Ric BucherThe Unlucky Atlanta Hawks and the Unrepentant Tom Thibodeau
Ric discusses the Atlanta Hawks winning the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NBA draft lottery and the New York Knicks taking the series' lead against the Indiana Pacers…
On The Ball with Ric BucherFixing the Phoenix Suns
Ric discusses how the Phoenix Suns can improve after being swept out of the playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Support this show…
On The Ball with Ric BucherNBA Playoffs: How to Tell the Winners from the Losers
Ric discusses takeaways from post-game reactions by key players and coaches in the NBA playoffs. Support this show…
On The Ball with Ric BucherNBA Playoffs: Takeaways From Every Game One
Ric discusses the results of all eight Game Ones in the 2024 NBA playoffs. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends. Hosted on Acast…
On The Ball with Ric BucherThe Warriors: Where It Went Wrong, What To Expect Next
Ric discusses the state of the Golden State Warriors -- what led to their disappointing 2023-24 season, what to expect them to do next. Support this show…
On The Ball with Ric BucherExplaining the 2024 NBA Draft's Bad Rap
Ric gives an update on Chicago Bulls' guard Lonzo Ball, a review of the new LeBron James-JJ Redick podcast and explains why GMs and scouts are not thrilled…
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Women's College Basketball and the NBA Euro Takeover
Ric discusses the dynamics that have led to the rise in popularity of collegiate women's basketball and make it a matter of time before an foreign-born…
On The Ball with Ric BucherDe'Aaron Fox and the Media, Bucks and Crunchtime
Ric discusses Sacramento Kings guard D'Aaron Fox's recent exchange with a reporter and the Milwaukee Bucks' collapse against the Los Angeles Lakers playing…
On The Ball with Ric BucherWas Draymond Right About Kyrie and KD?
Ric discusses the recent assertion by Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green that Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving "is the scorer that everyone, the…
On The Ball with Ric BucherDissecting A Star Three-Pack: PG, Kawhi and Zion
Ric discusses the mercurial performances of Los Angeles Clippers' forwards Kawhi Leonard and Paul George and an exchange with New Orleans Pelicans' fans about…
On The Ball with Ric BucherUnderstanding the Value of Steve Kerr
Ric discusses why some fans were calling for Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr to be fired and the team responded by giving him a two-year, $35…
On The Ball with Ric BucherKD's Olympic Dreaming
Ric discusses Phoenix Suns' forward Kevin Durant's recent comments about Team USA dominating the basketball competition at this summer's Olympics in Paris…
On The Ball with Ric BucherForecast: How The NBA Regular Season Ends
Ric breaks down which teams will have homecourt advantage in the first-round of the NBA playoffs, which ones will earn guaranteed spots in the postseason and…
On The Ball with Ric BucherThe True Value of Being An All-Star
Ric discusses the various ways NBA All-Stars have been selected over the years and how much value fans and media should give the award. Support this show…
On The Ball with Ric BucherWhy The Lakers, Warriors and 76ers Are Where They Are
Ric discusses why the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors failed to make any significant moves at the NBA trade deadline and the injury that is…
On The Ball with Ric BucherDefining Greatness: Re-raising the Bar
Ric discusses the recent spate of outstanding individual scoring performances by NBA stars and what we measure to identify great players. Support this show…
On The Ball with Ric BucherEverything that was Right and Wrong about the Jokic-Embiid Battle
Ric discusses the epic showdown between the reigning NBA champion center, Nikola Jokic, and the reigning NBA MVP, Joel Embiid. Support this show…
On The Ball with Ric BucherWhat Do Franchises Owe Their Superstars?
Ric discusses the public pressure on teams to make moves to improve a team to accommodate their superstar. Support this show…
On The Ball with Ric BucherThe What-If Game and Steve Kerr's Complaint
Ric chooses from a list of five injury-derailed stars -- Yao Ming, Tracy McGrady, Brandon Roy, Grant Hill and Derrick Rose -- the one who would've been the…
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Ja's Return, Steph's GOAT Qualifications, Draymond's State of Mind
Ric discusses the return of Memphis Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant, Steph Curry's place among all-time greats and questions about Draymond Green's psyche…
On The Ball with Ric BucherWhy Victor Said What He Said About LeBron
Ric discusses No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama's remarks after facing LeBron James for the first time. Support this show…
On The Ball with Ric BucherCan Devin Booker Lead The Suns To A Title?
Ric discusses the potential of Phoenix Suns All-Star guard Devin Booker leading the franchise to its first championship, as well as why he believes Super teams…
On The Ball with Ric BucherThe Incredibly Shrinking NBA Competitive Spirit
Ric discusses what is fueling complaints about in-season tournament rules and examines the Houston Rockets' renaissance under head coach Ime Udoka. Support…
On The Ball with Ric BucherRecipe For Disaster: Making Your Star the GM
Ric examines the result of recent NBA teams who catered to the personnel demands of a star player in order to acquire or retain them. Support this show…
On The Ball with Ric BucherThe DNA of the Dallas Mavericks' Transformation
Ric discusses the surprising start by the Dallas Mavericks this season. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends. Hosted on Acast. See…