The first USA TODAY NBA mock draft is out and the man who put it together, Derek Bodner, joins Kevin Spain to discuss. They talk about possible top pick Ben Simmons from LSU and how his game fits into the NBA. They break down other players in the Top 10 -- guys who can make an immediate impact and possible surprises. Then they discuss guys at the lower end of the draft and their opportunity to be a good longterm player.
There are few NBA players who evoke reaction from the public than Dwight Howard. The Houston Rockets big man sat down with USA TODAY NBA reporter Sam Amick to discuss the season, the Rockets' style of play and his future. They also talk about why he changed agents and how Howard thinks the Rockets have what it takes to win a championship
Miami Heat forward Luol Deng joins the NBA A to Z podcast to discuss the chances of his team knocking off the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference with USA TODAY reporters Sam Amick and Jeff Zillgitt. They talk about how the Heat's style of play has changed with the injury to big man Chris Bosh and the way they can play with various lineups. They also discuss Deng's impending free agency and what he likes about the Heat and if he's open to playing somewhere else next season....
Jared Dudley of the Washington Wizards joins NBA A to Z guys Sam Amick and Jeff Zillgitt to talk about the evolution of the game and how his position of stretch four has changed. They also discuss free agency and Dudley’s opinion that the mid-level salaries need to be adjusted. Amick talks to LeBron James about former players criticizing Stephen Curry’s game, as well as some of the other current players and Dudley also weighs in. Being a foodie, Dudley talks about some of the great food cities i...
Kevin Durant talks to NBA A to Z guy Sam Amick to discuss the Oklahoma City Thunder’s recent struggles, not only on the floor but off. And, of course, Durant discusses his forthcoming free agency that will be the top story when July rolls around. As Durant made clear, the unprecedented nature of the league’s salary cap situation this summer means the possibilities are seemingly endless. Amick, Jeff Zillgitt and Kevin Spain break down the continuing dominance of the Golden State Warriors. They ta...
Since there's not much discussion of Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors, the NBA A to Z guys Sam Amick and Jeff Zillgitt talk about his season with USA TODAY's Kevin Spain. The guys also discuss the race in the Eastern Conference and if the Toronto Raptors can catch the Cleveland Cavaliers and what teams will make the playoffs. They explore the candidacy of Portland's Terry Stotts as coach of the year.
Los Angeles Lakers president Jeanie Buss joins NBA A to Z to discuss Kobe Bryant's future with NBA A to Z guys Sam Amick and Jeff Zillgitt. She also talks about her stance on ads on jerseys and what it's like in the owners meetings. They talk about being a woman in a man's world of ownership. She says her and coach Byron Scott don't talk.
Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves rookie center, joins NBA A to Z guy Sam Amick for a quick conversation after practice. Towns is the leading candidate for NBA rookie of the year, an award he says that he's not necessarily chasing, but that he realizes that if he succeeds, so does the team.
NBA A to Z guys Sam Amick and Jeff Zillgitt break down the trades made at NBA trade deadline. There's more to the story of Jeff Green being shipped out of Memphis. What to make of Lance Stephenson with the Grizzlies. How did the Wizards make out in their move. And, Dwight Howard is still in Houston.
NBA A to Z guy Sam Amick talks to Jordan Kilganon, who is a professional dunker from Canada. Kilganon was the guy who came out of the stands in jeans at the NBA All-Star Game and performed a no-look dunk that sent everyone - including the NBA players - into a frenzy. He talks about how he got started, his inspiration for his dunks and how he should be coaching the participants of the NBA Slam Dunk Contest. Sam also chats quickly with DeMar DeRozan, the Toronto Raptors guard who will be a free ag...
Now that the NBA All-Star weekend is over, NBA A to Z guy Jeff Zillgitt breaks down the best of the festivities -- which seemed to be all about Kobe Bryant and the great Slam Dunk contest -- with USA TODAY's Kevin Spain. They then look ahead to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers as they prepare for the second half sprint. We hear from Gregg Popovich on how great of a defender Kawhi Leonard has become. The guys look ahead to the Spurs, the Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Clippers seco...
Just like the regular season, the NBA All-Star weekend is a farewell tour for Kobe Bryant. The 20-year Lakers veteran has been praised by everyone in Toronto and flanked by hordes of media members from all over the world. NBA A to Z guy Sam Amick talks to Orange County Times reporter Bill Oram, who is there to cover Bryant, about what it has been like. USA TODAY's Kevin Spain catches up with Indy Car driver James Hinchcliffe, the mayor of Hinchtown, who is a Toronto native and loving the fact th...
In an All-Star edition of the NBA A to Z podcast, Sam Amick discusses with Kevin Spain Al Horford's future in Atlanta and talks to Horford after Eastern Conference practice. Amick then talks to Chris Bosh, who was a late scratch from Sunday's game, in the group setting after practice.
New York Knicks rookie Kristaps Porzingis has a good relationship with new coach Kurt Rambis and has adjusted well to the changes, NBA A to Z guy Sam Amick reports from Toronto. Sam also talks to Golden State Warriors' Draymond Green about his first trip to All-Star weekend and his newly found fashion sense.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver joins the NBA A to Z guys Sam Amick and Jeff Zillgitt to discuss how players are now moving to markets for opportunity and how there is starting to be more parity. They talk about the growth of basketball globally and some rule changes, including the hack-a-player. He talks about the Blake Griffin incident. They also chat about his two years on the job and his outlook for the future.
NBA A to Z guys Sam Amick and Jeff Zillgitt discuss the practice of intentionally fouling players who are poor free throw shooters and NBA commissioner Adam Silver saying a rule is going to be changed. Later in the show, Sam Amick has a phone conversation with ESPN analyst and former coach Jeff Van Gundy, who is an outspoken critic of the rule.
With the Cleveland Cavaliers being the best team in the Eastern Conference, why didn't they get more than one player on the All-Star team? USA TODAY's Jeff Zillgitt breaks down why Kevin Love didn't make the roster with Kevin Spain. The guys also discuss the case for Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, and break down the guys who did make it. Jeff discusses the difference in the Cavaliers since Tyronn Lue has taken over for David Blatt as coach.
NBA analyst Jalen Rose joins NBA A to Z guys Sam Amick and Jeff Zillgitt to talk about his book "Got to Give the People What They Want" and what inspired him to take on the project. The guys discuss Rose's career in media, a lot of which he writes about in the book. Zillgitt, who is a Michigan native, and Rose talk about some of the all-time great high school players from the state of Michigan during their time growing up. They also talk about an incident with Rose, while at the University of Mi...
Philadelphia 76ers coach Brett Brown, who endured the ultimate culture shock after leaving the San Antonio Spurs to take on a monumental challenge of leading the Sixers, calls in to chat with the NBA A to Z guys Sam Amick and Jeff Zillgitt to discuss the pain of losing and the joy of (recent) improvement. From his take on embattled rookie Jahlil Okafor to the timeline for this Sixers rebuild to his relationship with Spurs coach Gregg Popovich to reflections about his upbringing as a Davy Crocket...
Does the Cleveland Cavaliers blowout loss to the Golden State Warriors mean they're in trouble come playoff time? Does it mean the Warriors are unstoppable? The NBA A to Z guys Sam Amick and Jeff Zillgitt break it down with USA TODAY Sports' Kevin Spain. Zillgitt covered the game and talks about what was going on at the arena. The guys explore the topic of the pregame trash talk, and did it have an effect? They also discuss the big game looming with the Warriors against the San Antonio Spurs and...
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard joins the NBA A to Z podcast to discuss his video and song called "Bigger Than Us" that is available on iTunes at www.itunes.com/damedolla. Lillard talks about his inspiration for writing the song and what went into the video. Not shy about expressing his thoughts on social issues, Lillard tells Sam Amick and Kevin Spain about his own experience with racial profiling and how he reacted. Amick talks to veteran NBA player Vince Carter about why he wants ...
Brooklyn Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov fired his coach, Lionel Hollins and reassigned his general manager, Billy King, after the team got off to a poor start. NBA A to Z guys Sam Amick and Jeff Zillgitt discuss these moves with former Nets beat reporter Tim Bontemps, who covers the league for the Washington Post. They look at what's next for the Nets and how we got into this situation. Then Zillgitt, Amick and Kevin Spain break down the conference races, how the Cleveland Cavaliers have joined th...
Alvin Gentry discusses what has gone right and wrong with the New Orleans Pelicans this season and his outlook for the second half with USA TODAY's Sam Amick. He talks about what kind of player he has in Anthony Davis. They also discuss Gentry’s old team, the Golden State Warriors and the injury to coach Steve Kerr and the job that Luke Walton has done. Amick, Jeff Zillgitt and Kevin Spain discuss the outstanding play of Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green, aka DrayMagic, and how it com...
What's up with Mark Jackson saying that Stephen Curry is hurting the NBA? The NBA A to Z guys Sam Amick and Jeff Zillgitt discuss that with USA TODAY's Kevin Spain. The guys talk about the Warriors vs. Cavaliers on Christmas, and how it was a good, but ugly game. They talk about Blake Griffin's injury and what that will do to the Los Angeles Clippers. They talk about the Matt Barnes suspension, which everyone had forgotten about. Sam talks to Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic about the Phoenix S...
Kyrie Irving is back with Cleveland and the NBA A to Z guys discuss what that means. The guys also talk about the Rajon Rondo situation and why Rondo hasn't been more remorseful about what he said to referee Bill Kennedy. Jimmy Butler's comments about coach Fred Hoiberg was another topic on the agenda, and it's interesting the guys' take on that. USA TODAY Sports first MVP voting was released this week and the guys discuss how that went. They also give their airball and swish.
The Golden State Warriors long winning streak ends, but there is still plenty to talk about regarding this team. NBA A to Z guys Sam Amick and Jeff Zillgitt discuss the streak and what's next for the Warriors with Kevin Spain of USA TODAY Sports. The guys also talk about the great game the Warriors had against Boston and what the Celtics can be moving forward. They also talk about the Oklahoma City Thunder, now the team with the longest streak in the league and how well they're playing. Sam and ...
USA TODAY Sports Sam Amick talks to Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut in a phone interview and they discuss the winning streak and what he's doing during off time on the road. Bogut talks about what the team has to put up with in other cities as fans try to get close to the team.
As the Philadelphia 76ers continue to flounder, the fans, the team and the league have decided a change is needed. Longtime NBA executive and current director of Team USA basketball Jerry Colangelo takes over as chairman of basketball operations and the A to Z guys Sam Amick and Jeff Zillgitt break it down with USA TODAY Sports' Kevin Spain. The guys also discuss LeBron James' new shoe deal with Nike and about how great, yet under the radar, the San Antonio Spurs have been. Sam and Jeff make the...
With the Golden State Warriors off to a record-breaking 20–0 start, NBA A to Z guy Sam Amick chats with San Francisco Chronicle beat writer Rusty Simmons about covering the team. Will they remain undefeated on this seven-long road trip, and might they break the 1971-72 Lakers' 33-game winning streak? What's more, is there a downside to this dominance that they'll pay the price for come playoff time? Simmons - who has covered the Warriors since 2009 - discusses their road from laughable to lauded...
Kobe Bryant made official what we've known for a while that this will be his final season in the NBA. The A to Z guys Sam Amick and Jeff Zillgitt discuss what Bryant means to the game and how this year's poor play shouldn't affect his legacy. The guys also talk about Philadelphia 76ers rookie Jahlil Okafor, who has been in the news lately for the wrong reasons and answer the question, "Should the team be worried longterm about their young star?" Amick has a sit down interview with Oklahoma City ...
