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 BucherWho Gains The Most From the Lakers' Championship and exploring why LeBron wasn't Must-See TV
Ric examines how the Miami Heat fell short to the Los Angeles Lakers, the biggest beneficiaries of the Lakers winning the 2020 and a possible reason why LeBron…
On The Ball with Ric BucherSwitching Ships, Resurfaced Hips and Players Stealing Quips
In a Bucher, Friendless episode, Ric talks about what it feels like to watch the NBA Finals from afar for the first time in 20-plus years, Doc Rivers' smooth…
On The Ball with Ric BucherNBA Finals Preview -- who is going to win, why (and possibly why not)
Ric explains what will decide the battle between LeBron James' and the Lakers and Pat Riley's Miami Heat. Also discussed: whether or not the bubble was as…
On The Ball with Ric BucherIs LeBron a Hot Topic Among High School Athletes and Are the Lakers an Outlier In the Bubble?
Ric explores who high school athletes today are most interested in with his 16-year-old son, Mat, examine why young teams and stars have fared so well in the…
On The Ball with Ric BucherGuests former NFL WR TJ Houshmanzadeh & comedian/actor Gary Owen talk NFL Preview & Performing with No Fans
Ric is joined by former NFL WR and FS1 analyst TJ Houshmanzadeh and comedian/actor Gary Owen to discuss TJ's former team and Gary's hometown favorite, the…
On The Ball with Ric BucherLeBron James, Russell Westbrook and the gift/curse of being über athletic
Ric discusses how, why and when LeBron and Russell's careers diverged, the shift in the game that has helped both (but LeBron more and longer) and how the…
On The Ball with Ric BucherThe power of Athletes and Social Media -- How Much Influence Do They Really Have?
Ric examines what impact, if any, the NBA players' social activism has had, why they're pressuring NBA team owners to join their cause, and why we have a…
On The Ball with Ric BucherGetting to know breakout Bubble star T.J. Warren
Ric explains why he refers to the Indiana Pacers' new star forward T.J. Warren as a "scorer with a conscience" and shares the conversation they had that…
On The Ball with Ric BucherReggie Miller's Calls, Kyrie's Curious Handout and the Lakers' Achilles Heels
In the wake of the NBA's re-opening night, Ric discusses why TNT broadcaster Reggie Miller catches so much grief from viewers, making sense of Kyrie Irving…
On The Ball with Ric BucherWhy LeBron is First On My MVP Ballot
Ric discusses the many flaws in drawing a conclusion from a player making 3s or free throws in practice, the problem with the arguments he's heard about why…
On The Ball with Ric BucherName Changes Don't Signify Change
In an episode of Bucher, Friendless, Ric examines why changing the racially insensitive name of an NFL or MLB franchise might make us feel like a move toward…
On The Ball with Ric BucherTale of Two Realities
Ric and Will discuss the current social unrest sparked by the death of George Floyd and quarterback Drew Brees' part in the controversy. Will also recounts his…
On The Ball with Ric BucherA conversation with Cavs coach JB Bickerstaff about being black in America
JB, part of the only black father-son duo to both coach in a major professional U.S. sport, talks with Ric about what he learned from his father Bernie, what…
On The Ball with Ric BucherRemembering Roger B., Marty Mac & Jerry Sloan
Ric reflects on the impact made by Ft. Worth-Dallas sports figure Roger B. Brown, Sacramento Kings beat writer Marty McNeal and Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan…
On The Ball with Ric BucherWas Michael Jordan a Bully, Will More Players Be Like Mike & Who To Blame for The Last Dance
Ric questions the accuracy of describing Michael Jordan as a bully, the possibility of a player today operating the same way, two numbers never considered when…
On The Ball with Ric BucherLast Dance Controversies That Missed the Mark (Including Isiah Thomas Not Being On The Dream Team)
Ric examines several controversial topics in the ESPN documentary "The Last Dance," including what the 1992 Dream Team really represented and why Isiah Thomas…
On The Ball with Ric BucherDissecting the Charles Barkley-Draymond Green beef -- what inspired it, why it won't go away
Ric knows the two combatants as well as anyone and pinpoints why Charles has taken shots at Draymond for years and why the general criticism of Draymond's…
On The Ball with Ric BucherLast Dance Ep. 3&4 Reviewed, Why Some NFL Teams Consistently Draft Better Than Others
Ric & Will discuss how Michael Jordan has changed since his playing days, why the Baltimore Ravens consistently draft well, the secret ingredient every college…
On The Ball with Ric BucherColin Cowherd on the five greatest inventions in his lifetime, the best magician he's ever seen and the one athlete he wished he could interview
Ric gets to turn the tables on Fox Sports TV/Radio star Colin Cowherd and ask the questions. Colin explains why his ideal golf foursome would not include an…
On The Ball with Ric BucherTakeaways from Ep. 1&2 of The Last Dance: why Jordan's legend has stood the test of time and how today's stars have been robbed
Ric identifies the aspects of Jordan's character that have led to his timelessness, along with the disservice done to today's stars that diminishes their…
On The Ball with Ric BucherWhy We Talk So Much About LeBron (and why I talk about LeBron the way I do)
Ric examines why LeBron James is an unrelenting and polarizing subject of conversation by fans and media alike. Support this show…
On The Ball with Ric BucherAlaa Abdelnaby on the legend of Drazen Petrovic, his road dog the late Reggie Lewis and pulling pranks with Danny Ainge
Ric and Alaa swap stories about a variety of NBA legends, including those gone far too soon, preserving a love for the game when it becomes a business and one…
On The Ball with Ric BucherDanny Ainge's Black Ops ways, Bobby Hurley throwing dice, Moses Malone as a Buck & the greatness of Drazen Petrovic with Alaa Abdelnaby
Ric catches up with Alaa, whose five-year NBA career with five teams afforded him a chance to play with an array of legendary players and experience everything…
On The Ball with Ric BucherTodd Ramasar, Pascal Siakam's agent, on how and when NBA playoffs/draft could return this summer
Ric and Todd Ramasar, CEO & founder of Life Sports Media & Entertainment, discuss the growing buzz that the NBA will find a way to hold playoffs this summer…
On The Ball with Ric BucherWhy NBA Draft Prospects don't seem to care about playing and the Biggest Difference between Jordan and LeBron
Ric reminisces about discovering the difference between Michael Jordan and his champion predecessors, Magic and Bird. Also examined: how LeBron James showed…
On The Ball with Ric BucherWhy Most Pro Athletes Won't Work Out By Themselves and Who Will Miss Who More, Brady or Belichick
Ric and Will discuss why a home gym won't keep a pro athlete in shape, what they don't have when they can't train in a performance center and who stands to be…
On The Ball with Ric BucherMy Brushes With Covid-19 and why the NBA should go to any length to finish the season
Ric looks back at who he interacted with and how at the Nets-Lakers game and then discovering who tested positive for the novel coronavirus, as well as how the…
On The Ball with Ric BucherFormer NBA center Lance Allred on his new book, "The New Alpha Male" and how Kobe Bryant tapped into both his masculine and feminine sides
Ric talks with Lance Allred, the first legally deaf player ever to play in the NBA, about the inspiration for his new book, "The New Alpha Male," the super…
On The Ball with Ric BucherGiannis, Luka and the Race Among Foreign-Born NBA Stars for a Ring
Ric discusses the challenge for foreign-born NBA stars to lead a championship team and why Luka Doncic may be a different breed; why it would be a mistake to…
On The Ball with Ric BucherA solution for the NBA dunk contest, five things we learned from the NBA All-Star Game and how Colin Cowherd cheats in arguments
In an episode of the ever popular Bucher, Friendless, Ric channels his inner Chris Paul and provides a new format to solve the NBA dunk contest's issues…
On The Ball with Ric BucherAll-Star Weekend Live with Zach LaVine
Ric and Chicago Bulls' star Zach LaVine sit down in front of a live audience to discuss Kobe Bryant's impact, Zach's evolution from dunk champion to team…
On The Ball with Ric BucherThe Perkins-Hollins Twitter Beef Goes Live
Former NBA centers Ryan Hollins and Kendrick Perkins join Ric to hash out their argument on Twitter about who the best players in the game today are, as well…
On The Ball with Ric BucherNBA Trade Deadline Review, Rockets' First Microball Win and Jimmy Butler Revision
Ric reviews all his trade deadline predictions, including what led him to believe Marcus Morris was headed to the Lakers. Also discussed: seeing in person the…
On The Ball with Ric BucherWho Really Deserved MVP of SB 54, What It's Like to Win a Super Bowl, Who Is Living Up To Kobe's Legacy
Ric and Will discuss where the 49ers fell short in Super Bowl 54, which Kansas City Chief deserved to be MVP, the meaning behind Tom Brady's Super Bowl…
On The Ball with Ric BucherDJ Augustin on surviving Hurricane Katrina, the trade deadline and NBA competition for his spot
Orlando Magic DJ Augustin, listed at 5'11" and 183 pounds, is in his 12th NBA season. DJ and Ric discuss how being displaced by Hurricane Katrina shaped DJ's…
On The Ball with Ric BucherRemembering Kobe
In a special podcast with Ric and his rotating co-hosts Will and Ryan, the threesome discuss the shock of Kobe Bryant's death and his legacy. Ric and Ryan also…
On The Ball with Ric BucherMidseason Do-Overs (or Double-Downs) on 2019 draft, East Team to Beat, Etc.
On the eve of Zion Williamson's debut, Ric and Ryan list the unlikely events that would have to transpire for the No. 1 pick to win ROY over Ja Morant. Also…
On The Ball with Ric BucherThe Preposterous Claim After The McGregor-Cerrone Fight. What Packers and Titans Could Have Done Different
Ric and Will discuss the allegedly novel strategy Conor McGregor used to defeat Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone in their recent UFC showdown, the NFL championships…
On The Ball with Ric BucherFormer Knick/Wizard and TV Fishing Show host Jared Jeffries talks MJ, Kwame, Hibachi
Former NBA C Jared Jeffries shares stories about playing with Michael Jordan, why Kwame Brown never liked him, the kaleidoscope that is Gilbert Arenas, the…
On The Ball with Ric BucherFive Most Deserving All-Star Starters in Each Conference and Ja Morant or Trae Young -- who are you taking?
Ric and Ryan give their top five players in each conference going into the All-Star break and disagree on who they'd take to start their franchise between Ja…
On The Ball with Ric BucherLamar Jackson and Bill O'Brien share the same flaw, who new Browns coach Kevin Stefanski must be
Ric and Will examine the NFL Divisional Playoff games and unveil the element that sabotaged both Ravens QB Lamar Jackson and Texans coach Bill O'Brien in their…
On The Ball with Ric BucherKent Bazemore on hangin' with look-alike Chance the Rapper, Rookie Pranks & Luring Steph to
Ric is joined by Portland Trail Blazers swingman Kent Bazemore to talk about why the Warriors vets filled his car with popcorn, the prank he decided not to…
On The Ball with Ric BucherAll That AD Must Weigh Before Re-Upping With the Lakers
Ric and Ryan discuss what it will take for Anthony Davis to remain a Laker, how to fix All-Star voting, how to load manage without missing games and how some…
On The Ball with Ric BucherThe three QBs who could keep the Patriots' dynasty alive
Will and Ric assess the fallout from the first weekend of NFL playoff action, how and if the New England Patriots can keep their dynasty alive, three QBs who…
On The Ball with Ric BucherTop 10 Most Meaningful Events in the NBA in 2019
Ric Bucher provides a countdown from 10 to 1 of the most meaningful events that occurred in the NBA for the 2019 calendar year. Support this show…
On The Ball with Ric BucherDid Kyle Kuzma's trainer lob a grenade into the Lakers' locker room?
Ric and Ryan discuss social media posts by Kyle Kuzma and his reported trainer that appeared to throw shade at his Lakers' teammate, LeBron James, as well as a…
On The Ball with Ric BucherWhy what Isaiah Thomas did was right and why the NBA did him and the fans wrong
NFL vet Will Blackmon and Ric Bucher discuss player-fan interaction and whether Isaiah Thomas or the fans he confronted were treated fairly. Also: Will…
On The Ball with Ric BucherWhat gettable player could move the needle for one of the NBA title contenders?
Ric Bucher and Ryan Hollins discuss which team now holding a playoff seed is likeliest to lose it by season's end and which team will take its place in both…
On The Ball with Ric BucherHow the NFL and NBA today make it painfully clear all-time selections are inherently flawed
Bucher examines why it's time to stop thinking of Brady, Rodgers and Brees as great quarterbacks, why picking all-time teams is not much more than a marketing…
On The Ball with Ric BucherAre Kyrie Irving and Antonio Brown Dealing With The Same issues?
Will and Ric, after discussing what Will losing his "football weight" signifies and his potential as a model, debate whether Antonio Brown deserves sympathy…
On The Ball with Ric BucherState of the Knicks, Why All Is Not Lost and Where They Go From Here
NBA vet Ryan Hollins spent his career dealing with midseason coaching changes and shares what the Knicks players are going through. NBA analyst Ric Bucher and…
On The Ball with Ric BucherBucher, Friendless, on why the NBA game (and its ratings) are down
Bucher dives into why James Harden's style is simply the most extreme version of a style taking over the NBA, how referees are in on fool-the-ref tactics, why…
On The Ball with Ric BucherWill Blackmon's pick for his alma mater's next FB Coach (Boston College)
Will has a prime candidate to succeed Steve Addazio at his alma mater, Boston College, while Ric disputes Will's contention that Kirk Cousins was on the brink…
On The Ball with Ric BucherWill Blackmon's pick for his alma mater's next FB Coach (Boston College)
Will has a prime candidate to succeed Steve Addazio at his alma mater, Boston College, while Ric disputes Will's contention that Kirk Cousins was on the brink…
On The Ball with Ric BucherPortland is so Melo
Ric and Ryan examine the reasons Portland -- and nowhere else -- is the perfect fit for Carmelo Anthony; what made OKC hard and Houston impossible, according…
On The Ball with Ric BucherWhat Kyrie Irving Got Right -- And Wrong -- in his Instagram Post
An edition of Bucher, Friendless, examines Kyrie Irving's complaint about the trappings of success and celebrity after Celtics' fans made their dislike for him…
On The Ball with Ric BucherWhat We Learned from the NFL's Week 12 & Will Taking on Millennials on Twitter
Will and Ric discuss Will's generational take on UofMiami bench dancing down 13-0 and the subsequent backlash. Also: Pats' struggling to beat Cowboys at home…
On The Ball with Ric BucherWhat Does the LeBron-Kobe dap signify + Is load management hurting the NBA's TV ratings
Today, Ric and Ryan explore what the dap-up between LeBron and Kobe signifies, is load management a real concern for the Clippers and is it negatively…
On The Ball with Ric BucherExposing An Unknown Clippers Weakness, A Change of Heart Post Kaepernick Workout
On today's episode of Bucher Friendless, Ric puts himself on the psychiatrist's couch and works through concerns over the Clippers possibly having a weakness…
On The Ball with Ric BucherWill Shares Convo With Roger Goodell About Colin Kaepernick,
On today's podcast, Will and Ric discuss Will's recent conversation with Roger Goodell regarding Colin Kaepernick's workout, what they expect to happen to…