On today’s BRING IT IN TrueHoop’s Jarod Hector and David Thorpe discuss: * The Lakers got beat by the Warriors on opening night and David has some concerns. Does LeBron believe in this team? * Jarod was at the Nets opener against the Pelicans. He talked to David’s “sons” Pelicans assistant coaches Corey Brewer and Ryan Pannone, they are very high on the team this season. * How long will Kevin Durant be patient with Ben Simmons who David says is not an NBA player right now? * Rookies Paolo Banche...
Oct 20, 2022•58 min
On today’s BRING IT IN TrueHoop’s Jarod Hector and David Thorpe discuss: * Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins get the bag from the Warriors. What does that mean for Draymond Green and Klay Thompson? * David talks to a lot of NBA players during the season. One of them shared thoughts about LaMelo Ball. David gives further context on the conversation and his thoughts on Ball. * David did his annual NBA regular season predictions column. He and Jarod discuss a handful of teams and some potential break...
Oct 17, 2022•1 hr 7 min
On today’s BRING IT IN TrueHoop’s Jarod Hector and David Thorpe discuss: * Draymond Green’s return to the Warriors. That was fast … but whatever they decided Jarod says it’s on the Warriors and their lauded culture to show they are doing the right thing. * David handed out progress reports for Ben Simmons, Kawhi Leonard, and Zion Williamson. How do they look? * David thinks Russell Westbrook is a huge problem for the Lakers and might need to be kept away from the team. * Jarod and David are both...
Oct 13, 2022•1 hr 9 min
On today’s BRING IT IN TrueHoop’s Jarod Hector and David Thorpe discuss: * The Draymond Green assault video that has now been seen by everyone. Does this change anything? Jarod and David ultimately agree but differ on a few things. * This isn’t how you want to begin a title defense. Where do the Warriors go from here? David thinks Steph Curry’s leadership is needed now more than ever. * Anthony Davis and Zion are back playing basketball and that’s a good thing. RECENT BRING IT IN EPISODES: * Oct...
Oct 10, 2022•58 min
On today’s BRING IT IN TrueHoop’s Henry Abbott, Jarod Hector, and David Thorpe discuss: * The excitement around 2023 NBA draft prospects Victor Wembanyama and Scoot Henderson. Who should teams draft first overall? David has thoughts. * Jarod has dreams of a future NBA of all tall players. * A bunch of injured players are back this season, how will they mesh with their teams? Henry has thoughts about Zion. * Friend of the show John Hollinger is all in on the Philadelphia 76ers to win the title th...
Oct 06, 2022•1 hr 19 min
On today’s BRING IT IN TrueHoop’s Jarod Hector and David Thorpe discuss: * David’s recent article on Ben Simmons and the Brooklyn Nets . He is the key to the Nets’ season. * The Phoenix Suns got beat by the Adelaide 36ers of the NBL on Sunday. The 36ers were led by Robert Franks, a player David knows well and believes every NBA team could use. * Is there trouble brewing in Philly? Jarod doesn’t like some of the noise coming out of 76ers training camp. * What should smart teams be doing this pres...
Oct 03, 2022•55 min
On today’s BRING IT IN TrueHoop’s Jarod Hector and David Thorpe discuss: * David and his family are very grateful they made it through Hurricane Ian * James Wiseman looked great in the Warriors preseason game. Are the Warriors young players the best in the league? * Doc Rivers had an interesting conversation with James Harden. Monty Williams and Deandre Ayton haven’t spoken in months. David has thoughts on how you connect with NBA players. * Ben Simmons seems happy in Brooklyn so far. David teas...
Sep 30, 2022•1 hr 2 min
On today’s BRING IT IN TrueHoop’s Henry Abbott and Jarod Hector discuss NBA media day: * Wait, where is coach Thorpe? * Jarod attended media day in Brooklyn and it was a doozy … but Henry says at least stuff is out in the open. * The Cavaliers seemed poised to do big things this year. * The right people in Denver started to say smart things about their players and injuries … * The Lakers don’t appear to be giving Russell Westbrook any royal jelly. * Zion Williamson is back, ready, and citing Not...
Sep 27, 2022•1 hr 28 min
On today’s BRING IT IN TrueHoop’s Jarod Hector and David Thorpe discuss: * Ime Udoka and the Boston Celtics. * Robert Sarver is selling the Phoenix Suns, who will the NBA get in bed with next? * The Detroit Pistons are making a push towards relevancy * David and Jarod make their 2022-23 All-NBA predictions. The teams you could make of the players that don’t make it, are really good! RECENT BRING IT IN EPISODES: * September 19, 2022 The greatness of LeBron, KD and Steph and the upcoming MVP race ...
Sep 22, 2022•59 min
On today’s BRING IT IN TrueHoop’s Jarod Hector and David Thorpe discuss: * The brilliance of LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry * David wrote a piece handicapping the upcoming NBA MVP race . Who are the candidates and which player is the “best bet”? * A case for Zion Williamson as MVP * What did David learn watching EuroBasket 2022 ? RECENT BRING IT IN EPISODES: * September 15, 2022 The Robert Sarver situation and Brittney Griner with Louisa Thomas of The New Yorker * September 12, 202...
Sep 19, 2022•1 hr 3 min
On today’s BRING IT IN, New Yorker staff writer Louisa Thomas hosts with Jarod Hector and David Thorpe: * Phoenix Suns governor Robert Sarver was suspended for a year and fined $10 million for abhorrent behavior. Louisa just published a New Yorker story about Sarver , and has thoughts on what could the league have done better or differently. * Brittney Griner has been detained in Russia for over 200 days, what actually matters and what did Louisa learn writing about Griner’s situation ? * In the...
Sep 15, 2022•1 hr 3 min
On today’s BRING IT IN TrueHoop’s Jarod Hector and David Thorpe discuss: * Steph Curry’s comments about former teammate Kevin Durant and trust. * The NBA midseason tournament will begin in 2023-24. David has an idea to make it beneficial to a larger community and Jarod has an idea about a full on Champions League model tournament. * The Detroit Pistons and Sacramento Kings might find themselves in the play-in hunt this season. David reveals the key to their potential success. RECENT BRING IT IN ...
Sep 12, 2022•55 min
On today’s BRING IT IN TrueHoop’s Jarod Hector and David Thorpe discuss: * The US Open and the mental toughness of athletes. * EuroBasket 2022 is going on, is there anything David sees that might transfer to the NBA when they players return to their teams? * We wrote about the Cavaliers acquiring Donovan Mitchell , how much did they improve their title odds? * David thinks S hai Gilgeous-Alexander could be the next big name on the move , where could he land? * An extension of our championship bu...
Sep 08, 2022•1 hr 1 min
On today’s BRING IT IN TrueHoop’s Henry Abbott, Jarod Hector and David Thorpe are back together for the first time in a while. They discuss: * Alligators, crocodiles and why you should never live in Florida. * What the LIV Golf Tour situation should be teaching the heads of other professional sports leagues. * Every year David writes an article called the “NBA Championship Bus” at this point who is on it? David is very inclusive in his criteria, Jarod is exclusive, and Henry thinks winning a tit...
Sep 01, 2022•1 hr 26 min
On today’s BRING IT IN professor, and sports historian at Arizona State University Victoria Jackson hosts with Jarod Hector. * What exactly is the NCAA? Victoria will give us an answer you won’t hear anywhere else. * Now that NIL endorsements exist, how is that working out for the players and universities? * Victoria’s pragmatic approach on reshaping collegiate athletics into a three-tiered system. * The ever present elephant in the room of any NCAA discussion. RECENT BRING IT IN EPISODES: * Aug...
Aug 29, 2022•1 hr
On today’s BRING IT IN, Abigail Smithson is back as guest host and she sits down with NBA legend Muggsy Bogues. * Why does everyone in Muggsy’s family have a nickname? * What was the best team he’s ever played on? * How does it feel to give an assist to a teammate? * Muggsy and Dell Curry were teammates for years and he watched the Curry kids grow up. What does he think of them now? * How does Muggsy feel about the game today and “small ball”? RECENT BRING IT IN EPISODES: * August 22, 2022 Space...
Aug 25, 2022•43 min
On today’s BRING IT IN author, space writer and Warriors fan Shannon Stirone hosts with Jarod Hector and David Thorpe. * What is space? Shannon delves into the phenomenon that surrounds us. * Uranus is the funniest planet and it’s for exactly the reasons you think. * How do movies and popular culture correctly or incorrectly inform us about space? * Which NBA players are most likely not from earth? RECENT BRING IT IN EPISODES: * August 11, 2022 Kevin Durant and the NBA as Game of Thrones * Augus...
Aug 22, 2022•1 hr 6 min
On today’s BRING IT IN Jarod Hector and David Thorpe discuss: * Kevin Durant’s ultimatum. What is the supremely gifted basketball star searching for? * David recently compared the NBA season to Game of Thrones. How can we inject more humanity into our sports? * We are a basketball podcast but Jarod had to give a few minutes of appreciation to the greatest tennis player of all time, Serena Williams, as she prepares to end her playing career. RECENT BRING IT IN EPISODES: * August 8, 2022 Dream Tea...
Aug 11, 2022•1 hr 4 min
On today’s BRING IT IN Jarod Hector and David Thorpe discuss: * The 30th Anniversary of the 1992 “Dream Team” its significance on the game today and an appreciation for the team’s best player, Charles Barkley. * Nobody outside of Scottie Barnes’ family is a bigger fan of Barnes than David. He talks about Barnes’ summer work. * The early lines on team O/U are out. Whose win total is set too high? Whose total is set too low? * Jarod doesn’t think an NBA lockout is coming but this next collective b...
Aug 08, 2022•1 hr 2 min
On today’s BRING IT IN Jarod Hector and David Thorpe talk about player development. * Bronny James is the most scrutinized high school player in the country because of his famous dad. David sees a lot in his game to like both in terms of play and his spirit. * It’s mixtape season as Jarod calls it. How do we make sense of videos players and teams put out “doing work”? David has some distinctions to call out about what we see versus what actually goes on. * Jarod and David both have breakout cand...
Aug 04, 2022•1 hr 4 min
On today’s BRING IT IN Henry Abbott, Jarod Hector, and David Thorpe are reunited after some time off. * They discuss the late Bill Russell who passed away on Sunday. Henry describes him as one of the “real ones.” * The Celtics reportedly might consider trading Jaylen Brown for Kevin Durant. Nobody on the podcast likes that. * The title favorites for next year have been set by Las Vegas. The guys agree on four top contenders, but after that David is difficult. RECENT BRING IT IN EPISODES: * July ...
Aug 01, 2022•1 hr 20 min
On today’s BRING IT IN artist, professor, and basketball fan Abigail Smithson hosts with Jarod Hector and David Thorpe as guests. * How can art impact the way we think about basketball? * David often talks about the artist and the scientist, who does Abigail think are the NBA’s best artists? * Abigail hosts a podcast called “Dear Adam Silver” where her letters to the commissioner used to be more direct and are now more poetic. Why the change? RECENT BRING IT IN EPISODES: * July 19, 2022 What doe...
Jul 22, 2022•1 hr 9 min
TrueHoop’s Jarod Hector and David Thorpe discuss the benefits of taking summer league seriously for players, coaches, teams and executives. * If Donovan Mitchell gets traded to the Knicks, what does that mean for Julius Randle? * The latest on the Brooklyn Nets. * EYBL and the state of U.S. player development. RECENT BRING IT IN EPISODES: * July 15, 2022 The human cost of business in the NBA * July 7, 2022 Dr. Steve Ilardi on the creation of Bonus Wins * July 1, 2022 Kevin Durant drops a bomb an...
Jul 19, 2022•1 hr 2 min
TrueHoop’s Jarod Hector and David Thorpe discuss summer happenings in the NBA. * Deandre Ayton had to get the Indiana Pacers to offer an exorbitant contract in order for the Phoenix Suns (the team that drafted him #1 overall) to pay him. There are going to be some awkward moments and hurt feelings this summer and heading into camp. How do the Suns fix that? * The Utah Jazz are in full teardown mode and David is not happy. * Where does Donovan Mitchell best fit in the NBA? * Jarod loves some Broo...
Jul 15, 2022•1 hr 14 min
TrueHoop’s Henry Abbott, Jarod Hector, and David Thorpe spent a lot of time talking to each other today, but only about an hour made it onto this podcast! * What David sees in the Summer League performances of Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren, Jabari Smith Jr., Keegan Murray, Jaden Ivey, and Bennedict Mathurin. * David’s early pick as the most likely rookie of the year. * Henry forces the conversation to the Tour de France more than once. * LeBron James and Kevin Durant are some of the best basketb...
Jul 11, 2022•1 hr 2 min
TrueHoop’s Jarod Hector and David Thorpe are joined by Dr. Steve Ilardi. Building on the work of Dunks and Threes’ Taylor Snarr (and in partnership with TrueHoop) Ilardi created the new Bonus Wins stat. They discuss: * Chet Holmgren’s Summer League start * The origin of Bonus Wins * The biggest takeaway from the data around Bonus Wins? * The Utah Jazz traded Rudy Gobert for a TON OF DRAFT CAPITAL and players. David says the Wolves have a chance to ascend to contention , but what does Ilardi say?...
Jul 07, 2022•1 hr 19 min
TrueHoop’s Jarod Hector, and David Thorpe discuss the NBA’s silly season, aka free agency: * What is leadership? David has a very specific definition and discusses how it applies, or doesn’t, to Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets. * This is the time of year where teams solidify their rosters, our new stat, Bonus Wins , helps cut through the noise this time of year and identify which players provide the most value. * The Warriors said they were bringing everyone back, Gary Payton II and Otto Port...
Jul 01, 2022•1 hr 11 min
TrueHoop’s Henry Abbott, Jarod Hector, and David Thorpe open the show discussing the serious events impacting our nation, then they discuss: * Jalen Brunson and free agency. Is $25 million per year a good deal for a team that wants to sign him? * Kyrie Irving… * The Warriors want to bring EVERYONE back. Can they? Will they? Which teams might pay a lot to acquire the excellent Kevon Looney and Gary Payton II? (And if the Warriors wanted to shed one of their big salaries, could they?) * There is a...
Jun 27, 2022•1 hr 9 min
[This podcast was dead and buried! Kaput! Lost to technical issues! But then … the hero Jarod Hector put in all kinds of extra time, did something magical stripping audio from the backup video file and well … here it is! Thank you Jarod.] TrueHoop’s Henry Abbott, Jarod Hector, and David Thorpe breakdown the NBA Draft. * David has a nickname for this draft and it involves a Pelicans player… * Henry was live at Barclays Center and had a very different experience than those who watched at home. * T...
Jun 25, 2022•1 hr 13 min
TrueHoop’s Henry Abbott, Jarod Hector, and David Thorpe discuss: * The Golden State Warriors are NBA champs for the fourth time in the last eight years. How did they do it? * There will be a lot of talk about Jayson Tatum not being “ready” for the moment, but Henry knows the Celtics and the NBA broke Tatum well before the Finals. * What is Stephen Curry’s superpower? Jarod has a theory and it’s not his sublime offense. * Thorpe has ideas on how the Celtics can get better. * Looking ahead to the ...
Jun 17, 2022•1 hr 17 min
