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The Athletic NBA Daily

The Athletic

Start your day with The Athletic NBA Daily – a fast, entertaining recap of the most important games and stories from the world of professional basketball with new episodes dropping Monday through Friday. Hosted by Dave DuFour, Zena Keita, and Esfandiar Baraheni with regular appearances by The Athletic’s award-winning NBA reporters. Andrew Schlecht and Alex Spears cap the week with the full-length Saturday Slam n’ Jam episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Location:

United States

Networks:

The Athletic

Description:

Start your day with The Athletic NBA Daily – a fast, entertaining recap of the most important games and stories from the world of professional basketball with new episodes dropping Monday through Friday. Hosted by Dave DuFour, Zena Keita, and Esfandiar Baraheni with regular appearances by The Athletic’s award-winning NBA reporters. Andrew Schlecht and Alex Spears cap the week with the full-length Saturday Slam n’ Jam episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Language:

English


Episodes
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East + West Playoff check-in

3/2/2026
Dave DuFour, Es Baraheni and Zena Keita react to the marquee games from the weekend and their impact on the playoff race with only six weeks remaining in the regular season. Do the Nuggets just need to get healthy? Can anyone in the East stop the Pistons? Join our Discord! https://discord.gg/eme2tPcUM2 Host: Dave DuFour With: Zena Keita and Es Baraheni Executive Producer: Andrew Schlecht Audio/Video Producer: Alex Oliver Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:28:44

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The NBA’s Best and Worst Shooters + The Mavs Vision | Slam N Jam

2/28/2026
Andrew Schlecht and Alex Speers are back for another episode of the Saturday Slam N Jam. They discuss the week of basketball plus their Good, Bad, and What including the best and worst shooters in the NBA, the Pelicans, Kon Knueppel and more. In part 2, Christian Clark of the Athletic joins to discuss the Mavs, Cooper Flagg’s rookie season, and what their plan is moving forward. Then they finish with a fun edition of Andrew vs. the Beat. Hosts: Andrew Schlecht, Alex Speers With: Christian Clark Producer: Andrew Schlecht Video Edit: Monica Compton Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:01:07:50

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Rockets fight back, Shai Returns, and what is the Heat’s future?

2/27/2026
Es Baraheni is joined by Andrew Schlecht to discuss the Rockets win over the Magic, Shai’s return and the Spurs going undefeated in the month of February. Then after the break Wes Goldberg of Locked On joins to discuss the Heat’s loss to the Sixers, and how the Heat move forward in this summer. Host: Es Baraheni With: Andrew Schlecht and Wes Goldberg Producer: Andrew Schlecht Audio/Video Producer: Alex Oliver Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:27:54

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Contenders Revealed + Pistons handle Thunder

2/26/2026
Zena Keita is joined by Law Murray of the Athletic to discuss the Nuggets big win over the Celtics. They also touch on the Bucks win over the Cavs and if the Bucks are going to make the Play In. Then after the break Hunter Patterson of the Athletic joins to discuss the Piston’s win over the short handed Thunder. Host: Zena Keita With: Law Murray and Hunter Patterson Producer: Andrew Schlecht Audio/Video Producer: Alex Oliver Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:30:03

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Who do you TRUST more? | Morning Shoot Around

2/25/2026
Andrew Schlecht and Es Baraheni play a game of Who do you trust more? and discuss who are the most trustworthy teams come Playoff time. Host: Andrew Schlecht With: Es Baraheni Producer: Andrew Schlecht Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:50:33

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Cavs shut down Knicks + Cason Wallace

2/25/2026
Es Baraheni is joined by Andrew Schlecht to discuss the Thunder’s win over the Raptors and Cason Wallace’s big night. Then they discuss the debuts of Coby White and Jonathan Kuminga plus the return of Dejounte Murray. Then after the break, James Edwards of the Athletic joins to discuss the Knicks loss to the Cavs and how the Knicks can solve their issues before the playoffs. Host: Es Baraheni With: Andrew Schlecht and James Edwards Producer: Andrew Schlecht Audio/Video Producer: Lara Sinclair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:28:36

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Spurs stay hot + Who are true Contenders?

2/24/2026
Zena Keita and Law Murray discuss Law’s power rankings and who are the true contenders in the NBA right now, and what his process is like selecting the teams. Then Jared Weiss of the Athletic joins to discuss the Spurs win in Detroit over the Pistons, if they are title contenders, and much more. Host: Zena Keita With: Law Murray and Jared Weiss Producer: Andrew Schlecht Audio/Video Producer: Lara Sinclair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:31:52

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Thunder slow down Cavs

2/23/2026
Zena Keita and Es Baraheni discuss Celtics dominating the Lakers, the Nuggets falling to the short handed Warriors, and then after the break Andrew Schlecht joins to discuss the Thunder’s big win against the red hot Cavs without SGA, Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell. Host: Zena Keita With: Es Baraheni and Andrew Schlecht Producer: Andrew Schlecht Audio/Video Producer: Lara Sinclair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:31:30

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Can the Thunder Repeat? + Post All Star Break Leap Team | Slam N Jam

2/21/2026
Andrew Schlecht and Alex Speers are back for another episode of the Saturday Slam N Jam. They discuss the All Star Weekend, the Sixers, the success of the Pistons, and their pre-leap players. Then after the break they are joined by Rylan Stiles of the Locked on Thunder Podcast and OKC Dream Team to discuss the Thunder’s season, their injuries, leaps from Cason Wallace and Isaiah Joe and much more. Then they finish with a fun edition of Andrew vs. the Beat. Hosts: Andrew Schlecht, Alex Speers With: Rylan Stiles Producer: Andrew Schlecht Video Edit: Monica Compton Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:01:22:40

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Is Cade Cunningham the MVP?

2/20/2026
Dave DuFour and Es Baraheni react to the Clippers win over the Nuggets and Kevin Durant’s burning performance against the Hornets. Then, James Edwards joins the show after the Knicks’ disheartening loss to the Pistons to discuss the problem with Karl-Anthony Towns in the offense, New York’s defensive problems, and Cade Cunningham’s MVP case. Join our Discord! https://discord.gg/eme2tPcUM2 Host: Dave DuFour With: Es Baraheni and James Edwards Executive Producer: Andrew Schlecht Audio/Video Producer: Carl Finocchiaro Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:25:50

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Can the Wolves win the title?

2/19/2026
Dave DuFour and Zena Keita are joined by Jon Krawczynski to react to Anthony Edwards’ All-Star MVP, why the Wolves seem bored with the regular season, and the importance of Mike Conley’s return. Join our Discord! https://discord.gg/eme2tPcUM2 Host: Dave DuFour With: Zena Keita and Jon Krawczynski Executive Producer: Andrew Schlecht Audio/Video Producer: Carl Finocchiaro Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:22:49

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NBA Expansion Draft Protections | Morning Shoot Around

2/18/2026
Andrew Schlecht, Dave DuFour, Zena Keita and Es Baraheni do the full NBA expansion draft protections for all 30 teams in the NBA. Host: Andrew Schlecht With: Dave DuFour, Es Baraheni and Zena Keita Producer: Andrew Schlecht Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:01:21:24

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Kon Knueppel and the Charlotte Hornets

2/18/2026
Dave DuFour and Zena Keita are joined by Mirin Fader to discuss her profile of Kon Knueppel, his incredible rookie season, and the Charlotte Hornets fun season. Join our Discord! https://discord.gg/eme2tPcUM2 Host: Dave DuFour With: Zena Keita and Mirin Fader Executive Producer: Andrew Schlecht Audio/Video Producer: Carl Finocchiaro Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:26:03

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How Harden has changed the Cavs

2/17/2026
Dave DuFour and Es Baraheni are joined by Justin Rowan of the Chase Down Podcast to discuss the Cavs post trade deadline. How has James Harden changed the Cavs offense? How will they be different come playoff time? What are the defensive concerns come playoff time? And then….. will LeBron come back to Cleveland this summer? Host: Dave DuFour With: Justin Rowan and Es Baraheni Producer: Andrew Schlecht Audio/Video Producer: Carl Finocchiaro Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:30:49

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Is the All Star Game Back??

2/16/2026
Zena Keita and Es Baraheni are joined by Dave DuFour who is in LA for the All Star Game to discuss the new All Star format and how it was a success, and if it can be replicated. Then they discuss the 3 point contest, the slam dunk contest and how Saturday night can be improved. Then the crew close out the show discussion Adam Silver’s press conference about tanking and the state of the league. Host: Zena Keita With: Dave DuFour and Es Baraheni Producer: Andrew Schlecht Audio/Video Producer: Carl Finocchiaro Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:30:10

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Clippers Perpetual Chaos + Tanking is Good | Slam N Jam

2/14/2026
Andrew Schlecht and Alex Speers are back for another episode of the Saturday Slam N Jam. They discuss the week of basketball including a fight between the Hornets and Pistons, Clippers drama, new faces in new places and more. Then they go over their Good, Bad and WHAT??? Including tanking, Topic’s return, CP3’s retirement and more. In part 2, Law Murray of the Athletic joins to discuss the Clippers on and off court drama, what it’s been like covering them, and more. Then they finish with a fun edition of Andrew vs. the Beat. Hosts: Andrew Schlecht, Alex Speers With: Law Murray Producer: Andrew Schlecht Video Edit: Monica Compton Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:01:11:48

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Suns Rising with Sam Amick + Trade Deadline Leftovers

2/13/2026
Dave DuFour and Es Baraheni are joined by Sam Amick of the Athletic to discuss his sit down with Suns owner Mat Ishbia. How did the Suns get here? What lessons has he learned, and much more. Then in segment 2, the guys discuss the trade deadline leftovers, tanking and much more. Join our Discord! https://discord.gg/eme2tPcUM2 Host: Dave DuFour With: Zena Keita and James Edwards Executive Producer: Andrew Schlecht Audio/Video Producer: Carl Finocchiaro Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:32:07

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Kawhi’s Game Winner + Knicks rock Sixers

2/12/2026
Dave DuFour and Zena Keita react to the Kawhi Leonard’s 4th quarter in a Clippers win over the Rockets and Cam Thomas exploding off the bench to take down the Magic. Then, James Edwards joins the show after the Knicks’ dismantling of the 76ers to talk Jose Alvarado and what the Knicks need coming out of the All Star break. Join our Discord! https://discord.gg/eme2tPcUM2 Host: Dave DuFour With: Zena Keita and James Edwards Executive Producer: Andrew Schlecht Audio/Video Producer: Carl Finocchiaro Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:22:02

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NBA Role Player Draft | Morning Shoot Around

2/11/2026
Andrew Schlecht, Dave DuFour, Es Baraheni, and Zen Keita do an NBA role player draft to highlight the best supporting players in the NBA. Host: Andrew Schlecht With: Dave DuFour, Es Baraheni, Zena Keita Producer: Andrew Schlecht Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:52:13

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Pacers Embarrass Knicks + Rockets Offensive Struggles

2/11/2026
Dave DuFour and Es Baraheni break down the insane performance by Wemby against the Lakers, the Suns taking down the Mavs, and then Kelly Iko of Yahoo Sports joins the show to discuss the slog of a game between the Clippers and Rockets, how the Rockets can improve their offense between now and the Playoffs, if they can sign anyone to play point guard for them, and more. Host: Dave DuFour With: Es Baraheni, Kelly Iko Producer: Andrew Schlecht Video Producer: Carl Finoccchiaro Join our Discord! https://discord.gg/eme2tPcUM2 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duration:00:26:33