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The Big Number

The Big Number

Written by: Yahoo Sports
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About this listen

Each week, Tom Haberstroh pours over the data and digs through the stats to come up with THE BIG NUMBER – the one metric that defines the NBA that week. Tune in as he and Dan Devine put Tom’s big number to the test and explain the one thing from the world of basketball that was hidden in plain sight. Listen to THE BIG NUMBER for a fun conversation filled with jokes, stats that you won’t hear anywhere else and become a smarter NBA fan in the process.2026 Yahoo Sports Basketball
Episodes
  • NBA Cup hangover: why winning in Vegas means losing in January + Trae Young trade watch
    Jan 7 2026

    On this episode of The Big Number, Tom Haberstroh and Dan Devine discuss if what happens in Vegas, truly does stay in Vegas. The numbers show that the NBA Cup champions face a very interesting decline in the Cup’s immediate aftermath, and the New York Knicks are the most recent victims of the NBA Las Vegas hangover, losing 4 straight.


    They also look into other teams suffering post-NBA Cup, including the once-seemingly invincible Oklahoma City Thunder and the preseason Eastern darling Orlando Magic. What’s causing this sudden slip for these contenders? Tom and Dan investigate.


    Plus, the pair look into Trae Young’s fit as a Washington Wizard and predict next season’s success with the star guard at the helm.

    (0:57) The Big Number: NBA Cup hangover

    (16:10) Jalen Williams shooting woes

    (24:37) Knicks defensive drama

    (33:17) Magic struggling without Suggs

    (43:17) Does trading Trae to the Wizards make sense?

    Subscribe to the The Big Number on your favorite podcast app:

    🎧 Apple Podcasts

    🎧 Spotify

    🖥️ YouTube

    📢 Check out the Yahoo Sports podcast network, yahoosports.tv and Yahoo Sports NBA on YouTube

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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Nikola Jokic injury implications + should Trae Young be WAIVED?
    Dec 30 2025

    In the final Big Number episode of 2025, Tom Haberstroh and Dan Devine discuss the major implications of the Nikola Jokic knee extension and how it affects both the NBA’s MVP race, as well as the Denver Nuggets’ playoff chances.

    Then, they take a look at some of the most trade-eligible players for the new year, leading with Anthony Davis, who despite being one of the most effective players while on the court, still provides question marks on his ability to stay on it. The pair also address the Zach LaVine situation in Sacramento - should he get traded, and where to?

    Finally, the Trae Young fiasco in Atlanta is picked apart - what should the Hawks do? Is waiving the former superstar point guard on the table? That and more on today’s Big Number.

    (01:08) The Big Number: 4 - minimum number of weeks Jokic misses with knee injury
    (19:08) The Little Numbers: 1.5 - Anthony Davis’ estimated plus minus
    (21:03) New team, new year: potential landing spots for Anthony Davis
    (24:06) The Little Numbers: 13 - players avg. 25+ points on .600 true shooting percentage
    (26:16) New team, new year: will Michael Porter Jr. have a new team in 2026?
    (28:51) The Little Numbers: 10 - Zach LaVine 3-point attempts per possession
    (38:18) The Little Numbers: 126.2 - Hawks’ defensive rating with Trae Young
    (49:06) Should the Hawks waive Trae Young?

    Subscribe to the The Big Number on your favorite podcast app:

    🎧 Apple Podcasts

    🎧 Spotify

    🖥️ YouTube

    📢 Check out the Yahoo Sports podcast network, yahoosports.tv and Yahoo Sports NBA on YouTube

    Show More Show Less
    56 mins
  • NBA Christmas Day players to watch + should the NBA ditch the Draft?
    Dec 23 2025

    Tom Haberstroh & Dan Devine break down the NBA’s Christmas Day slate and preview Cooper Flagg’s historic holiday start at just 19 years, 4 days old. Dan then shares four little numbers for the top players to watch in each Christmas Day game: Karl-Anthony Towns’ defensive leap for the Knicks, Stephon Castle’s ascent with the Spurs, LeBron James’ shift away from predominantly creating his own shots and Jamal Murray’s elite efficiency for Denver.

    Later, Tom & Dan push for radical reform and suggest the NBA get rid of the Draft system to prevent teams from tanking.

    (1:23) The Big Number: Flagg’s Christmas Day debut
    (17:28) The Little Numbers: KAT at-rim defense
    (22:21) The Little Numbers: Stephon Castle a superstar?
    (27:35) The Little Numbers: LeBron’s assisted baskets
    (33:11) The Little Numbers: Jamal Murray’s efficiency
    (38:24) Should the NBA get rid of the Draft?

    Subscribe to the The Big Number on your favorite podcast app:

    🎧 Apple Podcasts

    🎧 Spotify

    🖥️ YouTube

    📢 Check out the Yahoo Sports podcast network, yahoosports.tv and Yahoo Sports NBA on YouTube

    Show More Show Less
    53 mins
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