Ep. 106 Learning Basketball with Josh Cohen @Josh_Cohen_NBA

Josh Cohen covers the Orlando Magic and NBA with OrlandoMagic.com and his YouTube channel

Today we learn about the state of the Orlando Magic halfway through the season, Paolo Banchero's clutch gamewinners and vital playmaking skills, Anthony Black's two-way development, Jamahl Mosley's motivational coaching tactics, and the strong rookie play of Jase Richardson and Noah Penda

Timeline:

00:00 Introduction & Background

02:00 Paolo Banchero's Clutch Shots, Playmaking Impact, and staying Confident through the noise of the NBA

18:00 Rookies Shine – Jase Richardson and Noah Penda

27:00 Coach Mosley's Motivational Coaching Tactics

35:00 Anthony Black's Development and Versatility + How do the Magic Rank Top-5 in Not Turning The Ball Over?

Ep. 105 Learning Basketball with Ku Khahil @KuKhahil

Ku Khahil covers the Detroit Pistons on his Substack newsletter and as host of the Locked On Detroit Pistons Podcast

Today we learn about the 1-seed Detroit Pistons, ask if Cade Cunningham can win MVP, and highlight the impact of Ausar Thompson's defense, Jalen Duren downhill playmaking, Jaden Ivey adjusting his role, Beef Stew's blocks, JB Bickerstaff's culture and the depth of this Pistons squad

Ep. 104 Learning Basketball with Aaron Proia is the owner of OWE Scouting, the host of the Hoops Thread Podcast, and a senior writer with Prep Hoops Maryland.
Today we learn about Aaron Proia’s basketball scouting philosophy, his process of scouting in person versus on film, NBA teams hunting intel, and an update on standout prospects on NBA Draft radars already in college and around the grassroots scene. Highlighting prospects like Jordan Smith Jr., Paul Osaruyi, Beckham Black, Jaxon Richardson, JoJo Philon, Baba Oladotun, Qayden Samuels, Meleek, Acuff, Bidunga

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction & Background

01:30 Scouting Philosophy

04:00 Comparing In-Person vs. Film Scouting Process, NBA Teams Hunting Intel, and Players (+FamilY) Understanding Pros & Cons of Scouts Always Watching

07:00 Player Developing Winning Traits that Translate to every level of basketball + The Importance of Character and Work Ethic

13:00 Communication between Coaches, Players, Scouts

16:00 Highlighting Standout Grassroots & High School basketball players at recent events

35:00 Deep Dive into IMG Academy's Roster

37:00 Beckham Black, Jaxon Richardson, Obinna Ekezie and Southeastern Prep

41:00 Made Hoops Event Standout Players

50:00 JoJo Philon and Steve Turner’s new Montverde program

57:00 Highlighting Standout Grassroots & High School basketball players at recent events

01:13:00 Meleek Thomas, Darius Acuff + Recent College Visits - Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma State

01:29:00 Past, Present, & Future of DMV Basketball

Ep. 103 Learning Basketball with Bennett Herbert! (@bendog28)

Bennett Herbert is a lawyer and San Antonio Spurs Fan who shares NBA Draft and NBA basketball analysis on Twitter.

Today we analyze and preview the Spurs-Thunder NBA Cup + Christmas Day marquee matchups and we learn more about Victor Wembanyama's shot deterrence, the Spurs guards (Fox Harper Castle Vassell) working together in complementary ways, the coaching stylistic similarities and differences between new Spurs Head Coach Mitch Johnson compared to Gregg Popovich, and we consider Wemby's award chances and the Spurs' title chances this season.

00:00 Introduction & Background

02:00 Scouting Process Watching Film & Evaluating NBA Draft Prospects

05:00 The Intersection of Stats and Film

09:00 The State of the San Antonio Spurs

12:00 Spurs-Thunder NBA Cup Matchup + Wembanyama’s on-court impact

15:00 San Antonio’s Three (four?) Guards are additive, not negative

18:00 Stephon Castle's Development and Ideal Offensive Role

21:00 The Spurs winning with and without Wemby playing small with Positionless Basketball

24:00 Defensive Goals of the Spurs

32:00 Comparing Head Coach Mitch Johnson’s styles to ‘el jefe’ Gregg Popovich39:00 Most Underrated Players in Spurs' Success?

42:00 Experimenting with Lineups: The Sneaky Killer Big Man Duo of Wemby and Kornet

45:00 Christmas Day Preview: Spurs vs. Thunder

48:00 Wemby’s Award Chances for DPOY and MVP

51:00 The Spurs are here early. Are they already Contenders or still playoff Pretenders?

Ep. 102 Learning Basketball with Horace Grant! @HoraceGrant54

a @SwishTheory Podcast

Horace Grant is an NBA Legend: 4x NBA Champ, 4x All-D, 1x All-Star known for his key roles with the Chicago Bulls, Orlando Magic, and Los Angeles Lakers, playing alongside All-Time greats like Jordan, Pippen, Shaq, Penny, Kobe, McGrady, Payton.

Today we learn about Horace Grant's new show "Legends in Session with Horace Grant" releasing next summer, and dive into Horace's early player development, his illustrious career, his all-time great teammates, and two generations of the Grant family making the NBA.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction & Background
01:00 Legends in Session with Horace Grant

02:00 The Grant NBA Family Spans Generations: Early Player Development alongside twin Harvey Grant compared to his paths for Harvey’s sons, Jerami Grant and Jerian Grant

07:45 The Goggles
9:00 Remembering Big Moments in Horace Grant's Career

11:00 What are some similarities and differences between the personalities, skills, and work ethics of Horace Grant’s legendary NBA teammates like Jordan, Kobe, Shaq, Penny, Pippen, T-Mac, Payton
12:45 Most Dominant Player Horace Played with: Jordan or Shaq?

16:00 How Horace Grant’s complementary skillset of defense, rebounding, play finishing, and a floor-spacing midrange jumper translated to two-way winning impact in every situation

19:00 Which great team was most fun to be a part of in the locker room, on the road?
22:00 All-Time Hypotheticals: Who wins 3-v-3 between all of Horaces big 3s? Horace + Jordan/Pippen, Penny/Shaq, Shaq/Kobe ?
23:00 Highlighting the first guests who will appear on Legends in Sessions with Horace Grant

24:00 Shaq & Penny Stories

Ep. 101 Learning Basketballl with Tiffany Meeks @TiffanyMeeks23Tiffany Meeks is an NBA Photographer, storyteller, and host of the Miami Heat Beat and Mixed Bag podcasts.Today we learn about Tiffany’s journey into basketball media, advice to anyone hoping to walk a similar path, the flow and challenges of sports photography, capturing the perfect shot, NBA press conference experiences, recap the Heat - Magic NBA Cup Quarter Final, talk Desmond Bane’s fit in Orlando and break down the State of the Miami Heat – lineups, players, play style, strategy, potential, ceiling

Timeline:

00:00 Introduction & Background

03:00 The Art of Sports Photography

06:00 Capturing the Perfect Shot

09:00 Experience Covering NBA Games

12:00 Insights from asking Coach Spoelstra Press Conference Questions

15:00 Analyzing the Miami Heat's new fast paced, screen less Play Style

18:00 NBA Cup Quarter Final Breakdown: Miami Heat vs. Orlando Magic

25:00 State of the Miami Heat – Defense First, still finding offensive identity

30:00 Miami Heat Best Lineup Strategies, Matchup Dynamics, working Tyler Herro back into lineup with Norman Powell, Kel’el Ware’s potential, Bam Adebayo’s defense, if the Heat prospects Jovic, Kasparas, Goldin can find minutes on a winning team

35:00 Miami Heat Defensive Foundations and Playoff Potential, Desmond Bane

41:00 Breaking into Basketball & Sports Media: Insights and Advice46:00 Desmond Bane’s rising stardom and perfect fit in Orlando

Ep. 100 Learning Basketball – Dante Marchitelli @DanteMagic

@SwishTheory

Carving Turkey with Dante Marchitelli – 100th Episode! – Sportscasting Insights, Magic - Heat Rivalry & NBA Cup Preview, Desmond Bane's impact, Anthony Black's leap, and Celebrating Richie Adubato

Timeline:

00:00 Introduction: The 100th Episode with Dante Marchitelli

01:00 The Magic’s Postgame Thanksgiving Tradition: Carving the Turkey

05:00 Calling NBA Games: Insights and Challenges

11:00 Appreciating Greatness in Sports

19:36 Celebrating Richie Adubato's Life & Magic Legacy

24:36 The Orlando Magic vs. Miami Heat Sunshine State Rivalry

29:35 Desmond Bane’s impact on and off the court

33:42 Anthony Black, Jase Richardson, Highlighting Key Magic Players

Ep. 99 Learning Basketball with Brian Geisinger @bgeis_bird
@SwishTheory

Brian Geisinger is a College Basketball Color Analyst covering the Charlotte Hornets on Sports Channel 8 and as host of The Buzz Beat Pod, covering the NBA Draft at Swish Theory, 247 Sports, Basket Under Review.
Today we learn about Scouting Cam Boozer in person at the high school and college level, Duke NBA Draft Prospects, Buzz or No Buzz on LaMelo Fake Trade Ideas with Brian Geisinger – Cam & Cayden Boozer, Dame Sarr, Isaiah Evans, Patrick Ngongba, Jon Scheyer Zipper Exit Screen Duke Film Breakdown, Kon Knueppel 2026 ROY Odds + Charlotte Hornets’ strong 2025 NBA Rookie Class in Kalkbrenner, Sion, Liam
Timeline:00:00 Introduction & Background

02:00 Duke’s NBA Draft Prospects - Cameron & Cayden Boozer, Dame Sarr, Isaiah Evans, Patrick Ngongba

05:00 Cam Boozer's Overall Impact & Finishing Development
11:00 Jon Scheyer Duke Film Breakdown - Zipper & Exit Screen actions
40:00 Comparing Cameron Boozer’s Shooting Versatility, Playmaking to recent top Duke prospects Tatum, Zion, Paolo, Flagg

52:00 Charlotte Hornets strong 2025 NBA Rookie Class: Knueppel, Kalkbrenner, Sion James, Liam McNeeley

55:00 Kon Knueppel's lights out shooting and 2026 ROY Odds

01:13:00 Buzz or No Buzz? Lamelo Ball Fake Trade Rumors

Boozer Duke NBA Draft, LaMelo Ball Fake Trades, Kon Knueppel ROY Odds with Brian Geisinger – Cayden Boozer, Dame Sarr, Isaiah Evans, Jon Scheyer "Zipper Exit Screen" Duke Film Breakdown
Full Podcast LINKS
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2WPNyHW4I8wNgDFdsL6ZLf
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/learning-basketball/id1775085550
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXIZscpoE80&list=PLNBCJ87gXz671ru-1b9s3U672nRO3k3nc