The Lead

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The Three Big Questions Surrounding The Brooklyn Nets Mar 01, 2022

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No NBA team has experienced more ups and downs this season than the Brooklyn Nets. The one-time favorites have gone from first place in the East to eighth, and have seen plenty of drama -- on and off the court -- along the way. Now, after a signature win over the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday, followed by a spectacular defeat by the Toronto Raptors on Monday, plenty of concerns remain around the squad. The Athletic’s Alex Schiffer joins us to break down the three biggest questions facing the Nets' three biggest stars -- but why there's also reason for optimism.

Follow Alex Schiffer’s coverage of the Nets: https://theathletic.com/author/alex-schiffer/?source=theleadpodcast

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‘Better Not To F*** With Me’: How Zdeno Chara Became The NHL’s Iron Man Feb 28, 2022

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The tallest man to ever play in the NHL, Zdeno Chara, set a record on Thursday by playing in his 1,652nd game -- the most ever by an NHL defenseman. And while the 6-foot-9-inch Slovakian has been a household name to hockey fans for nearly three decades now, his path to greatness was certainly not written in stone. Today, The Athletic's Kevin Kurz joins us to explain how Chara -- who turns 45 years old next month! -- went from lanky, mystery prospect to hockey legend through a combination of drive, perseverance, and, that's right, pull-ups.

Read Kevin Kurz's story about Zdeno Chara's path to the NHL:

https://theathletic.com/3142293/2022/02/23/zdeno-charas-path-from-islanders-mystery-prospect-to-the-nhl-record-books-he-made-himself-a-player

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The NBA’s Next Unicorn? Chet Holmgren’s Rise At Gonzaga Feb 25, 2022

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Chet Holmgren is one of the most unique basketball players you will ever see. The Gonzaga freshman stands 7’1" but weighs just 195 pounds, he has the height of a big man but can play on the perimeter like a guard, and in spite of his slight frame he’s a defensive menace in the paint. Today, The Athletic’s Dana O’Neil joins us to talk about Holmgren’s journey from playing AAU with Jalen Suggs to following in his footsteps with the Zags and if this "unicorn" can become the first number one overall pick in Bulldogs history.

Read Dana O’Neil’s story about Chet Holmgren: https://theathletic.com/2922184/2021/11/03/hes-not-soft-gonzagas-prize-recruit-chet-holmgren-is-7-foot-1-195-pounds-and-backs-down-from-no-one/

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What The Eric Kay Verdict Means For The Angels — And Major League Baseball Feb 24, 2022

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Last week in a courtroom in Fort Worth, Texas, a jury found Eric Kay, the former Los Angeles Angels communications director, guilty of distributing counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl that led to the death of Tyler Skaggs in 2019. Today, The Athletic's Sam Blum tells us some of the key points that were argued in the trial, what we learned in explosive testimony from some of Skaggs’s former teammates, and what all of this could say about the impact of the opioid epidemic on Major League Baseball.

Follow Sam Blum’s coverage of the Eric Kay trial, and the Angels: https://theathletic.com/author/sam-blum/?source=theleadpodcast

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The Forgotten Queen Of Basketball Feb 23, 2022

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Lusia Harris is one of the best basketball players to ever live: a 3-time collegiate national champion, an Olympics silver medalist, and the only woman to be officially drafted by an NBA team. But, chances are, you've never heard of her. A documentary about Harris's life drew upon mountains of previously unseen footage, and was recently nominated for an Academy Award. Today, the director of that film, Ben Proudfoot, joins us to discuss Harris's incredible journey from the Mississippi Delta to the pinnacle of basketball, and why her story has largely been lost to history.

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How The Celtics Became The Eastern Conference's Surprise Contender Feb 22, 2022

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We’re headed into the final stages of the NBA season and the hottest team in the NBA resides in Boston. Today, The Athletic’s Jared Weiss gives us insights into how the Celtics overcame their early season struggles on both sides of the floor and he tells us if this team actually has a chance to make it out of a loaded Eastern Conference come June.

Read all of Jared Weiss’ Celtics coverage here: https://theathletic.com/author/jared-weiss/

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Old Man And The Bulls: DeMar DeRozan's Impact On Chicago (Re-Air) Feb 21, 2022

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DeMar DeRozan has been having a career year in Chicago, and helped lead the Bulls to a 38-21 record heading into the All-Star break. And just a few days before playing in his fifth All-Star Game on Sunday night, he also broke a very old NBA record -- previously held by Wilt Chamberlain -- by scoring 35 points while shooting over 50 percent from the field in seven straight games. So, in honor of all this, we're rebroadcasting an episode that first aired back in early November, when DeRozan had already started turning heads. Tiff spoke with The Athletic's Darnell Mayberry about what’s been behind DeRozan’s resurgence at age 32, and why it’s coming at exactly the right time for Chicago fans.

More from Darnell Mayberry:

https://theathletic.com/author/darnell-mayberry/

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2022 Winter Olympics: Storylines And Scandals You May Have Missed Feb 18, 2022

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The second week of the Beijing Winter Olympics has brought us a lot of incredible athlete performances, but it has also seen more controversy, most notably the ongoing saga with figure skater Kamila Valieva. Today, we break down some of the sights, sounds and storylines and that have defined these Winter Games, from Mikaela Shiffrin’s Alpine skiing struggles to Erin Jackson’s stunning speed skating win.

Follow The Athletic’s coverage of the Olympics: https://theathletic.com/olympics/?source=theleadpodcast

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The Best (And Worst) 2022 Super Bowl Commercials Feb 17, 2022

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Dr. Evil takes over General Motors. Pete Davidson eats a chip and gets tackled to the ground. And a rabbit on a soapy island is talking, and nobody is sure why. The Athletic's Jake Ciely and Nando Di Fino take a break from their usual roles as fantasy sports writers, to walk us through what they believe were the best -- and worst -- commercials of Super Bowl LVI.

Read Jake and Nando's full rundown:

https://theathletic.com/3125172/2022/02/14/best-and-worst-2022-super-bowl-commercials-ranking-the-ads-including-larry-david-dr-evil-and-more/

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From DR Congo To Kentucky: Oscar Tshiebwe’s Incredible Journey Feb 16, 2022

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After a dismal 2021 season, Kentucky men's basketball is back near the top of the college basketball rankings. A huge reason for the Wildcats resurgence has been the play of their junior transfer, and National Player of the Year candidate — Oscar Tshiebwe. Today, The Athletic’s Kyle Tucker takes us through the big man's remarkable journey from The Democratic Republic of Congo all the way to Lexington, Kentucky and then he tells us why this Wildcats team could bring home John Calipari’s first national title in a decade.

Read Kyle Tucker’s story about Oscar Tshiebwe: https://theathletic.com/3020970/2021/12/17/kentuckys-oscar-tshiebwe-will-not-be-boxed-out-if-i-quit-now-im-quitting-on-my-family/

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