Game Theory Podcast
569 episodes - English - Latest episode: 3 days ago - ★★★★★ - 710 ratingsSam Vecenie, a Senior NBA Writer at The Athletic, talks all about basketball. From the NBA, to the NBA Draft, to college hoops and even some high school, Vecenie is has you covered in this show. And some thoughts on movies, too.
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Episodes
Potential Rookie Extension Breakdown with Tony Jones
September 29, 2018 01:56 - 1 hour - 58.6 MBIn this episode, Tony Jones from The Athletic joins the pod and chats with Sam about potential rookie contract extensions. They run through the two that have already been done, Karl-Anthony Towns and Devin Booker, then go through the rest and chat about which ones would make sense for both parties to explore, and which ones should wait until the offseason. Among the players discussed: Myles Turner, Kristaps Porzingis, D’Angelo Russell, Willie Cauley-Stein, Stanley Johnson, Justise Winslow...
More Jimmy Butler fallout in Minnesota; Media Day stuff
September 26, 2018 05:29 - 1 hour - 50.5 MBIn this episode, I chat with Dieter Kurtenbach. We mostly bullshit about Jimmy Butler, Tom Thibodeau, and the situation in Minnesota. But we also chat about some media day quotes, some of what wasn't said in media days. Also, about Elton Brand, and potential free agency questions, and my ridiculous theory on why it's beneficial for players to be coy with upcoming free agency.
Jimmy Butler requests a trade with Tony Jones
September 19, 2018 21:15 - 1 hour - 37.8 MBIn this episode, I chat with Tony Jones about some NBA news. Jimmy Butler has requested a trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves? What teams make sense for him? Should the Nets, Knicks and Clippers -- his three preferred spots -- get involved? Where do the Timberwolves go from here? All that and more.
Western Conference Win Total Over/Unders: MIN, NOP, OKC, PHX, POR, SAC, SAS, UTA
September 17, 2018 06:54 - 2 hours - 75.7 MBIn this episode, I chat with Dieter Kurtenbach and break down NBA Over/Under Win Totals. Which ones do we like? Which are we not sure about? This also acts as a great way to preview NBA teams as we head into camp later this month. In this episode, Dieter and I chat about the first half of the Western Conference. In order, those teams are: Minnesota, New Orleans, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, San Antonio, and Utah Then, we chat about movies, TV, some other random bulls...
Western Conference Win Total Over/Unders: DAL, DEN, GSW, HOU, LAC, LAL, MEM
September 14, 2018 05:17 - 2 hours - 75.7 MBIn this episode, I chat with Dieter Kurtenbach and break down NBA Over/Under Win Totals. Which ones do we like? Which are we not sure about? This also acts as a great way to preview NBA teams as we head into camp later this month. In this episode, Dieter and I chat about the first half of the Western Conference. In order, those teams are: Dallas, Denver, Golden State, Houston, Clippers, Lakers, Grizzlies. Then, we chat about the Raiders, about Henry Cavill and Superman, about Mission...
NBA Over/Under Win Totals! Miami, Milwaukee, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Toronto, Washington
September 11, 2018 05:36 - 1 hour - 38.3 MBIn this episode, I chat with Dieter Kurtenbach and break down NBA Over/Under Win Totals. Which ones do we like? Which are we not sure about? This also acts as a great way to preview NBA teams as we head into camp later this month. In this episode, Dieter and I chat about the second half of the Eastern Conference. In order, those teams are: Miami, Milwaukee, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Toronto, Washington
NBA Over/Under Win Totals! ATL, BOS, BKN, CHA, CHI, CLE, DET, IND
September 04, 2018 22:30 - 1 hour - 39.6 MBIn this episode, I chat with Dieter Kurtenbach and break down NBA Over/Under Win Totals. Which ones do we like? Which are we not sure about? This also acts as a great way to preview NBA teams as we head into camp later this month. In this episode, Dieter and I chat about the first half of the Eastern Conference. In order, those teams are: Atlanta, Boston, Brooklyn, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, and Indiana.
2018 Top-25 NBA Players, 23 and Under: Top Eight
August 31, 2018 12:05 - 1 hour - 45.8 MBIt's back. The Top-25 players in the NBA, 23 and Under list makes its second annual appearance on the Game Theory Podcast. This time, Cole Zwicker and I break down the top eight players listed here. I will note: this is entirely splitting hairs, and basically an impossible set of players to rank confidently. As usual, a quick rundown on eligibility: Any NBA player (including rookies) who are born 1995 or later. From last time: 9. Luka Doncic 10. Jaylen Brown 11. Brandon Ingram ...
2018 Top-25 NBA Players, 23 and Under: Nos. 16 to 9
August 27, 2018 04:51 - 59 minutes - 34.2 MBIt's back. The Top-25 players in the NBA, 23 and Under list makes its second annual appearance on the Game Theory Podcast. This time, Cole Zwicker and I break down the players listed Nos. 25 to No. 17 here, and also chat about some of the players that just barely missed the list. As usual, a quick rundown on eligibility: Any NBA player (including rookies) who are born 1995 or later. From last time: 17. Markelle Fultz 18. Marvin Bagley 19. Aaron Gordon 20. Myles Turner 21. Ky...
2018 Top-25 NBA Players, 23 and Under: Nos. 25 to 17 plus Honorable Mentions
August 24, 2018 02:17 - 1 hour - 45.1 MBIt's back. The Top-25 players in the NBA, 23 and Under list makes its second annual appearance on the Game Theory Podcast. This time, Cole Zwicker and I break down the players listed Nos. 25 to No. 17 here, and also chat about some of the players that just barely missed the list. As usual, a quick rundown on eligibility: Any NBA player (including rookies) who are born 1995 or later. Having fallen off the list from last season due to age: Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Gary Harris, an...
Kentucky breakdown in the Bahamas; Suns and Kings prospects
August 20, 2018 19:52 - 2 hours - 69.7 MBIn this episode, I chat with Cole Zwicker, where we finish up our series breaking down every prospect in the NBA by chatting about the prospect-loaded Suns and Kings. Before we do that, though, we chat about Kentucky and their trip to the Bahamas. What do we think about their team, and the NBA prospects of some of the guys listed? Then, we get deep into the Suns and Kings rosters, breaking down the players in this vague order: Suns: Devin Booker, DeAndre Ayton, Josh Jackson, Mikal B...
Barrett/Williamson; Lakers, Clippers, Warriors Prospects with Cole Zwicker
August 17, 2018 04:58 - 2 hours - 76.3 MBIn this episode, Cole Zwicker joins the podcast to chat about Duke, the Warriors, Clippers, and Lakers. First, they chat about Duke's win over Ryerson in the exhibition schedule, chatting specifically about RJ Barrett and Zion Williamson's performance. Should we think about Zion differently? Is Barrett the clear No. 1? Then, they jump into breaking down the Warriors, Clippers, and Lakers prospects, including some story time about the run up at UCLA's practice gym. Here's the order in w...
Buying out Joakim Noah doesn't make sense; Utah, Portland, Oklahoma City Prospect Breakdown
August 13, 2018 16:04 - 1 hour - 55 MBIn this episode, Cole Zwicker joins, and we chat about some of the later moves in free agency. We also chat about the Knicks stating their intention to buy out Joakim Noah, a move that makes absolutely zero sense to us. We also discuss the Pelicans signing Jahlil Okafor, and why Okafor has failed in the NBA so far. Then we talk about the Sam Dekker trade. Then we move on and get into the meat of the podcast. We break down the prospects for the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Portland Trail Bla...
Bad NCAA Rule Changes w/ Brian Snow; Denver, Minnesota Prospects w/ Cole Zwicker
August 09, 2018 20:04 - 1 hour - 65.6 MBA two-part podcast. First, I chat with Brian Snow from 247Sports for 25 minutes about the announced NCAA rule changes yesterday that show a pretty blatant misunderstanding of the process that elite level basketball players undertake now. On the recruiting calendar changes, the draft changes, the agency changes, and everything else. Then, I chat with Cole Zwicker, where the two of us drastically underestimate how long it is going to take us to get through the Northwest Division prospects i...
The Rockets' Offseason and Southwest Division Prospect Breakdown
August 06, 2018 18:20 - 1 hour - 57.9 MBIn this episode, Cole Zwicker joins Sam on the podcast and chats about the Southwest Division. First, they break down the Rockets' offseason, and chat if they're better or worse equipped to take down the Warriors next season. Next, they break down all of the prospects in the Southwest Division, including the Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, San Antonio Spurs. Here's the list of everyone we chatted about: Dallas Mavericks: Luka Doncic, Dennis Sm...
Melo/Schroder Trade; Southeast Division Prospect Breakdown
August 03, 2018 04:15 - 1 hour - 65.5 MBIn this episode of the podcast, Sam is joined by Cole Zwicker where the pair discuss the Carmelo Anthony/Dennis Schroder/PHI trade. Then, they get back into breaking down all of the prospects in the NBA, finishing off the Eastern Conference by discussing those in the Southeast Division. Again, the cut-offs here are 1995 birthdates or later, or players on rookie contracts under the age of 27. Here is the list of players discussed: Atlanta Hawks: Trae Young, John Collins , Taurean Prince...
Kawhi Trade Discussion; Atlantic Division Prospect Breakdown
July 31, 2018 17:11 - 1 hour - 62.1 MBIn this episode, Cole Zwicker joins Sam Vecenie and chats about the Kawhi Leonard trade. Do we like the risk for the Raptors now that we're a little bit of a ways out from the decision? Do we like the Spurs still just going in and competing? Then, they break down the prospects (23 and under and rookie scale guys) in the Atlantic Division. They are as follows: Boston Celtics: Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Terry Rozier, Robert Williams, Semi Ojeleye, Guerschon Yabusele, Jabari Bird Brook...
Kevin Love Extension; Central Division Prospect Breakdown
July 26, 2018 03:39 - 1 hour - 55.4 MBIn this episode, Sam Vecenie embarks on a new project with Cole Zwicker, where they break down every prospect either on rookie contracts or born after 1995 on each team. Here, they start with the Central Division. Before they do that, though, they break down the Kevin Love extension, a deal that Cole is understanding of but that Sam doesn't really like. Then, they go into prospects, and go in this order: Chicago Bulls: Lauri Markkanen, Wendell Carter Jr., Jabari Parker, Zach LaVine, Kr...
The Big Summer League Breakdown Podcast
July 23, 2018 17:06 - 1 hour - 47.5 MBThe big Summer League Breakdown podcast! Cole and I run through all of the best and worst that we saw at Summer League this year, giving in-depth breakdowns on all of the highest draft picks, the important second year players, and the third year players still stuck in Vegas. If you're interested in a player, the odds are we likely bounced around to him at some point.