Stay ConnectedBen Taylor, creator of the popular YouTube channel Thinking Basketball (and author of Thinking Basketball the book) goes deeper on basketball analysis, history, philosophy and theory with co-host Cody Houdek, and a variety of guests ranging from journalists to former players.
Ideal for fans interested in Xs and Os, stats & analytics, coaching and team strategy and adjustments, in-depth breakdowns on player strengths and weaknesses, and who is better and who is best in the NBA. (GOAT debates!)
Copyright: © Thinking Basketball
In episode 6 of the top-40 career series, we make the case for Chris Paul as one of the most underrated players in NBA history – has he had the worst “playoff luck” of any modern player? How great was he in the postseason? And what do we make of his defense? Also, how far has Steph Curry moved up the list? How much does he decline in the playoffs? And are his individual and team numbers underwhelming, or actually really impressive in the postseason? With @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball
In episode 5 of the top-40 career series, we try to make sense of just how good Julius Erving's peak was, and why he looked so much better in the ABA compared to the NBA. We also discuss Kevin Durant's all-time, flexible scoring, his weaknesses as a primary option and strengths blending with other talent. With @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball
In episode 4 of the top-40 career series, we explore the differences and similarities between John Stockton and Steve Nash. What part of Stockton's career is Ben more impressed by lately? Where does Nash separate himself on offense? How many great season did both have and how did they evolve over the course of their careers? With @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball
In episode 3 of the top-40 career series, we discuss the different offensive styles of James Harden and Reggie Miller, the (surprising) success of their respective teams in the playoffs, and how they stack up as scorers and all-time offensive players. Plus, why did Jason Kidd never play on a good offense? NB: The playoff “net rating” cited in this series is not a raw net rating, but instead is adjusted for opponent quality based on the opponent's regular season net rating. With @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball
In episode 2 of the top-40 career series, we take a long look at Isiah Thomas. Why is Thomas often viewed as one of the 3 or 4 best point guards in NBA history? How responsible was he for the success of the Detroit Bad Boys? And why has he moved up on this update? We also discuss Clyde Drexler Elgin Baylor and debate whether there are generally too many 1960s stars near the top of traditional NBA GOAT lists. With @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball
In episode 1 of our top-40 career update, we look at the modern players who may or may not have cracked the top-40 list in the 5 seasons since the original “Backpicks GOAT” project. Will Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kawhi Leonard make it? Are there any other newcomers? And what other criteria and key ideas are we going to focus on as we update the 40 best on-court careers in NBA history. With @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball
In a follow-up to a recent video on the evolution of NBA rules, we discuss whether changes in officiating can “hurt” the health and popularity of the league. How should players and coaches react based on the continuous changes in the way the game is called? And what should the league, if anything, do about foul-baiting and other controversial elements of the rules? With @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball
In the final installment of our series on retro Conference Finals MVPs, we hand out the award in the East from 2011-2021. Again, we asked the Thinking Basketball discord community to vote for a broader perspective. How many will LeBron James win? Who will end up with the most Conference Finals MVPs? And what kind of season does it take to claim all 3 main MVP trophies? With @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball
After finishing the West, we hand out Eastern Conference Finals MVPs awards starting in the Year 2000. Again, we asked the Thinking Basketball discord community to vote for a broader perspective. Who will end up with the most Larry Bird trophies? Where will we get stuck? With @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball
In Part 2 of a mega podcast, we go back and select Conference Finals MVPs (Magic Johnson and Larry Bird trophy) before the award was officially handed out in 2022, covering 2011-2021. We asked the Thinking Basketball community to vote as well for a broader perspective. With @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball
Our TOPPODCAST Picks 
