Magic Johnson is synonymous with the five-time champion Showtime Lakers — the fast-break master with the no-look pass whose infectious smile belies one of the most competitive players ever to lace them up. In his incredibly well-researched new biography on Earvin "Magic" Johnson, author Roland Lazenby dives into the complex personality of of Magic, the guy who never forgot his roots and always seemed grounded, but also continues to compete with Michael Jordan on the financial front. Kurt Helin o...
Nov 07, 2023•45 min•Ep. 322
The Western Conference is stacked — 12 teams enter the season thinking they can make the playoffs. That will lead to some very disappointed fans (and front offices/coaches on the hot seat) come April, and veteran NBA journalist Mark Medina joins NBC Sports Kurt Helin to break it all down. The Denver Nuggets are the team to beat and believe they can start where they left off in championship form, despite the loss of Bruce Brown, because they have Nikola Jokic. Chasing them are the Phoenix Suns, a...
Oct 19, 2023•57 min•Ep. 321
Every NBA season comes with questions and opportunities, but this season more than most: What's going to happen with James Harden and the 76ers? Could the Cavaliers be better than the Sixers? Would that make Evan Mobley Defensive Player of the Year or maybe J.B. Bickerstaff for Coach of the Year? Those outcomes could make a savvy bettor money, so today we break down the coming NBA season with Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper) of NBC Sports Bet the Edge. We talk about under/overs we like and how to re...
Oct 17, 2023•57 min•Ep. 320
This year's version of Team USA, even without America's biggest names (or maybe because of that), has shown more chemistry than we have seen from the men's senior national team in a long time. However, will that be enough against a very good German team in the FIBA World Cup semifinals, and against Canada or Serbia in the Finals (if the Americans advance)? Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin of NBC Sports discuss what they have seen with Team USA, what has worked, and what players have looked good at ...
Sep 06, 2023•39 min•Ep. 319
In the middle of what is usually the quiet period of the NBA calendar — when the focus should be on the basketball Hall of Fame and the WNBA — James Harden and the 76ers have kept the drama going. The 76ers ended trade talks (for now) for Harden and say they want to bring him to camp, Harden called 76ers President Daryl Morey a "liar" and said he would never play in an organization Morey is part of. Is there a good outcome for anyone in this scenario? Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin of NBC Sports ...
Aug 16, 2023•44 min•Ep. 318
DiJonai Carrington's path to the WNBA was not smooth. While she came from an athletic family — her father, Darren Carrington, played eight years in the NFL, and her mother, Vickie, ran track at Northern Arizona — she had to overcome multiple knee surgeries, including one this past offseason. It hasn't slowed her down as Carrington is one of the frontrunners to be Sixth Player of the Year, and she has helped lead the Connecticut Sun to a 19-7 record that has them as one of the title contenders th...
Aug 02, 2023•20 min•Ep. 317
With Summer League and free agency in the rearview mirror, this is supposed to be the slow offseason of the NBA. Not so much this summer. There was plenty for Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin of NBC Sports to dive into, including the latest on the James Harden trade saga — while there is little movement on the trade front itself, there is plenty of posturing. What everyone around the NBA is really watching is how Joel Embiid reacts, and Corey and Kurt get into that. From there the topic shifts to t...
Jul 19, 2023•50 min•Ep. 316
The NBA off-season has come fast and furious and it's time to talk about the biggest moves so far — with the Damian Lillard and James Harden trades still hanging out there. Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin of NBC Sports dive into all the biggest NBA offseason stories: The Boston Celtics trading away Marcus Smart and bringing in Kristaps Porzingis, Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez coming back to Milwaukee, Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks heading to Houston, plus much more. They then get into the poss...
Jul 06, 2023•47 min•Ep. 315
So much news to get to this week that it took a few minutes even to get to the NBA Draft. But they got to it. First up was the news of the Bradley Beal trade to the Phoenix Suns. Did anyone win? Phoenix got its man but at the possible exception of roster depth, which was already its biggest weakness. Can Beal and Kevin Durant stay healthy? Can a "big three" roster work in the world of the modern CBA? Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin of NBC Sports debate all that then move on to the Ja Morant suspen...
Jun 22, 2023•55 min•Ep. 314
Here's what we know for sure: The San Antonio Spurs will select Victor Wembanyama with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. After that, it could be chaos with Charlotte at No. 2 and Portland at No. 3 open to trading their picks (as is Houston at No. 4), with names as big as Zion Williamson potentially in play. It's going to be a wild night next Thursday and Sean Highkin of the Rose Garden Report and podcast joined Kurt Helin of NBC Sports to discuss the Portland Trail Blazers plans. Fir...
Jun 16, 2023•53 min•Ep. 313
The Denver Nuggets left no doubt who was the best team in the NBA. Not only did they roll through the West, but also the Miami Heat dragged the game into the mud and played much of the Finals on their terms. It did not matter. The Nuggets beat the Heat at their own game. Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin from NBC Sports dive into the Nugget's win and then tackle the big questions: Can they repeat and win another? Can they turn this into a dynasty? That tied directly into Corey's jukebox, which compa...
Jun 15, 2023•40 min•Ep. 312
After three games of the NBA Finals, there are still so many questions. Can the Heat stop the Jamal Murray/Nikola Jokić pick-and-roll? Will Miami find 3-point shot again and will that be enough? Is Denver the team that does not wilt under the pressure Miami puts on them? Is there a better player on the planet than Nikola Jokić. Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin from NBC Sports get into all of that, then talk coaching hires. Is Frank Vogel a good hire in Phoenix? speaking of coach talk, Corey's Jukeb...
Jun 09, 2023•45 min•Ep. 311
The NBA Finals are here and it's not the matchup anybody predicted: The Denver Nuggets vs. the Miami Heat. In this latest PBT Extra podcast, Kurt Helin and Corey Robinson break down that Finals matchup and if the Heat have any chance of slowing down Nikola Jokić. First the pair talk the Heat's Game 7 win over the Boston Celtics and what this says for the future of the Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown era in Boston. After the Finals, in Corey's Jukebox, Corey compares the Bucks and the recent hiring...
May 31, 2023•48 min•Ep. 310
LeBron James and his retirement stole the headlines, but the Denver Nuggets and their play deserve to be front and center, and that's the first topic in this week's podcast. Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin get into what works for Denver, then dive into if LeBron is really thinking about retirement (he's not) and what the Lakers need to do. From there there is a conversation about the Heat and if the Celtics can come back on them. Then, for Corey's Jukebox, it's time to sing the blues with Johnny L...
May 25, 2023•48 min•Ep. 309
It's a Fiesta in San Antonio. Literally. And not just because the Spurs won the NBA Draft Lottery, and with it the rights to draft Victor Wembanyama, although Corey Robinson says that has added to the party along the River Walk — with some Afro-Cuban All-Stars music. In this latest episode of the PBT Extra Podcast, Robinson and Kurt Helin from NBC Sports talk about why landing in San Antonio is a win for Wembanyama as well as the Spurs, how starting his career under the tutelage of Gregg Popovic...
May 18, 2023•45 min•Ep. 308
This has been a wild playoffs and in this episode of PBT Extra Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin of NBC Sports dive into the second round with a discussion of the 76ers and Celtics Game 7. They touch on the epic Lakers and Warriors series, the Heat and Knicks, and spend time talking about what is next for the Suns this summer — plus why we always seem to overlook the Denver Nuggets. Speaking of the Nuggets, Corey's Jukebox compares Jokić and the Nuggets to a legendary Todd Rundgren album. From there...
May 13, 2023•48 min•Ep. 307
After a summer of brash talk and high-profile distractions — including poking the bear that is LeBron James — the Memphis Grizzlies exited the playoffs with a whimper. That was quickly followed by reports they were not bringing back free agent Dillon Brooks as part of a shift to make this more of a playoff team. Is that the right move? NBC Sports' Corey Robinson doesn't think so, although Kurt Helin is less sure. Before the duo goes walking in Memphis they take a stroll through the first round o...
May 05, 2023•48 min•Ep. 306
We're approaching the end of what has been an unexpectedly great first round of the NBA playoffs. Remember when we thought the West was going to be wild with upsets but the East was predictable and follow the chalk? Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat thought differently. Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin from NBC Sports dive into all the first-round matchups including the Warriors and Kings, the Heat and Bucks, if the Grizzlies can come back on the Lakers and more. Then for Corey's Jukebox, it's time f...
Apr 27, 2023•42 min•Ep. 305
No more talk of load management or the Groundhog Day nature of NBA regular season — the playoffs are here. The games matter, the intensity is high and coaching strategies — and team roster building — are put to the ultimate stress test. Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin of NBC Sports get into the play-in games — particularly the Lakers win over the Timberwolves — and then get into all the first-round matchups. Can the Lakers upset the Grizzlies? What about the Warriors knocking off the 3-seed Kings?...
Apr 13, 2023•47 min•Ep. 304
It's the busy season in the NBA with the playoffs about to start, but Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin of NBC Sports focus on the big picture this week. They talk about a deep Hall of Fame class — Gregg Popovich, Dwyane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker and more — then slide into talking about the new CBA and what it might mean for players and fans of elite teams. Corey's Jukebox this week uses the classic rock music of Heart to explain what is going on with the Dallas Mavericks. After that, the duo...
Apr 07, 2023•46 min•Ep. 303
The NBA is very good at backloading its schedule with games between its best teams, and that makes the final weeks of the regular season interesting. This week the suddenly-hot Timberwolves — who have come together with Mike Conley running the point — face the Lakers with LeBron James back from his foot issue. Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets take on Kevin Durant and the Suns in what could be a Western Conference second-round preview. Just how sideways are things in Dallas? Can the Heat beat the Kni...
Mar 29, 2023•42 min•Ep. 302
The last time the Sacramento Kings were in the playoffs, there was a Bush in the White House and Pixar released the first "Cars" movie. They are back with a vengeance this season, going into the playoffs with a top-three seed and an elite offense, but how far can they go once in there? Maybe a long ways if things break right, and Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin of NBC Sports get into all of that. They discuss the passing of Knicks legend Willis Reed, then Corey's Jukebox compares Jayson Tatum to E...
Mar 23, 2023•41 min•Ep. 301
Ja Morant and his gun incident at a club have understandably drawn the headlines — and an eight-game suspension from the NBA — but the issues with the Grizzlies are larger than that. There are the injuries to Steven Adams (he could return for the postseason) and Brandon Clarke (torn Achilles), but also there is what NBC Sports' Corey Robinson describes as a "punk rock attitude" about the team that can be a source of strength but also lead to undisciplined moments. [Editor's note: This podcast wa...
Mar 16, 2023•38 min•Ep. 300
Kevin Durant has the kind of game that will plug-and-play with any team, but how will his presence impact the rest of the Phoenix Suns? Does Devin Booker get better matchups and more open looks? Will Chris Paul be more of a passer and shoot less? Will Deandre Ayton be happy in his new role? Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin of NBC Sports dive into all of that, followed by Corey's Jukebox with some Marvin Gaye for the Chicago Bulls and a little George Frideric Handel for the Suns. Then the duo fall i...
Mar 02, 2023•45 min•Ep. 299
There are good things with the NBA All-Star Weekend: The 3-point Contest, this year the Dunk Contest and Mac McClung, and the many NBA-themed events that come up around it such as a Basketball Without Borders event, clinics and events with the youth of Salt Lake City, the Legends Breakfast and much more. But the actual All-Star Game itself is unwatchable. Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin of NBC Sports dive into the weekend and discuss if anything can be done to fix it. From there the topic turns to...
Feb 23, 2023•51 min•Ep. 298
The NBA is still reverberating from the shockwaves of the NBA trade deadline, and specifically the blockbuster that sent Kevin Durant from the Brooklyn Nets to the Phoenix Suns. Does this make the Suns contenders? Favorites to come out of the West? What do they need to do to prove they belong on that level? Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin of NBC Sports dive into all of that, plus where the Nets go from here. On this week's Corey's Jukebox segment it's more Suns talk, with a little Britney Spears t...
Feb 16, 2023•47 min•Ep. 297
It's one of the craziest weeks in the NBA — the week before the trade deadline is always insane — yet that is maybe the third biggest story in the league right now. First, we dive into LeBron James chasing history and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's all-time scoring record — what does that say about LeBron and his legacy? And his conditioning to be doing this 20 years into his NBA career. From there, Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin of NBC Sports dive into the biggest move in the basketball world this week —...
Feb 02, 2023•41 min•Ep. 296
Rui Hachimura is a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, which is a win for the Lakers front office — "Look! We're doing something!" — but how much of a win was that for the Lakers? Does it change much of anything for them on the court? Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin of NBC Sports discuss that, then talk about the Orlando Magic and the return of Jonathan Isaac to the floor. Corey's Jukebox ties together the Magic and the Phantom of the Opera, and from there the duo get into Kurt's selections for the ...
Jan 26, 2023•47 min•Ep. 295
Are the Raptors going to trade Fred VanVleet? What about the Spurs with Jakob Poeltl? The best player likely to be moved is John Collins from the Hawks, or Bojan Bogdanovic from the Pistons, but will they actually be traded? It's three weeks from the trade deadline in the NBA and rumors are popping up everywhere, which is part of what Corey Robinson and Kurt Helin of NBC Sports break down in the latest PBT Extra Podcast. First they get into Steve Kerr's comments that Stephen Curry is the new MJ ...
Jan 19, 2023•44 min•Ep. 294
We've reached the midway point of the NBA season, it's time to talk award frontrunners: MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Coach of the Year and more. Kurt Helin of NBC Sports gives out his mid-season picks with Corey Robinson of NBC adding his perspective and thoughts. First, however, the two discuss Corry's time in London, then the Kevin Durant injury and what that portends for the Nets. Then it's time for Corey's Jukebox, talking a little reggae and Atlanta Hawks. And more...
Jan 12, 2023•45 min•Ep. 293
