Pro Basketball Talk on NBC Sports podcast
324 episodes - English - Latest episode: 6 months ago - ★★★★ - 36 ratingsKurt Helin and the team from ProBasketballTalk at NBCSports.com talk all things NBA basketball: news, analysis and even the ridiculous. Regular guests include NBA players and media members.
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Episodes
Western Conference Playoff Preview with Dane Carbaugh of NBC
April 13, 2017 19:21 - 40 minutes - 37 MBRussell Westbrook vs. James Harden. Is this the year the Clippers break through, or can the Jazz end their playoff run early? Can Memphis or Portland even win a game? Kurt Helin and Dane Carbaugh of NBC Sports break down the Western Conference first round.
Future of Isaiah Thomas, Ricky Rubio, also award talk with Dan Feldman
March 30, 2017 19:55 - 39 minutes - 35.9 MBListener questions from Twitter lead to a discussion of the Celtics' future with Isaiah Thomas, Ricky Rubio with Minnesota, and Devon Booker. Kurt Helin and Dan Feldman of NBCSports.com also discuss the tight award races this year. #NBA #Celtics #NBAMVP
B.J. Armstrong talks Krauss, triangle, Derrick Rose and more
March 24, 2017 05:39 - 35 minutes - 32.4 MBThree-time NBA champion B.J. Armstrong joins Kurt Helin from NBC to talk about the late Bulls' GM Jerry Kraus, the triangle offense in today's NBA, his being an agent for Derrick Rose heading into free agency, and there's even a Luc Longly story.
NCAA Tournament prospect watch (and some picks) with NBC's Rob Dauster
March 14, 2017 23:08 - 41 minutes - 37.7 MBMarch Madness is here, and while you're rooting for Rhode Island to upset it's way to the Elite Eight, there are NBA draft prospects you should be keeping an eye on. College Basketball Talk's Rob Dauster joins NBC's Kurt Helin to discuss the NCAA Tournament with an NBA eye.
Talking coaching, "Basketball is Jazz" with David Thorpe
March 07, 2017 06:19 - 48 minutes - 44.9 MBBasketball is Jazz. It's about people with different skills and styles working to find common ground and be better as a whole. It's about solos and compromise. It's life lessons. Trainer to the pros and ESPN writer David Thorpe and NBC's Kurt Helin talk about all that in the latest PBT Podcast.
Kevin Durant injury, plus taking your questions from Twitter.
March 01, 2017 21:01 - 36 minutes - 33.9 MBGolden State has it's adversity now on its way to the title: Can it hold on to the No. 1 seed without Kevin Durant? Will he be fully healthy for the playoffs? Kurt Helin and Dane Carbaugh of NBC Sports talk KD plus take your questions from Twitter on chemistry, Ben Simmons, and burgers.
What does Magic's return mean for Lakers with Mark Medina
February 22, 2017 19:01 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBMagic Johnson is back... well, he neve really left the Lakers but now he has been put in charge of basketball operations with Jim Buss thrown to the curb. Kurt Helin of NBC Sports and Mark Medina of the LA Daily News break down what led to this and where the Lakers go from here.
Breaking down DeMarcus Cousins trade with Dan Feldman
February 22, 2017 08:30 - 33 minutes - 30.5 MBIt happened very quickly and snuck up on the league — DeMarcus Cousins was traded from Sacramento to New Orleans. Who won? What do the Pelicans do now? Kurt Helin and Dan Feldman of NBC Sports break it all down, and talk some other trade possibilities.
Trade deadline preview with Sean Deveney of The Sporting News
February 10, 2017 18:14 - 46 minutes - 42.5 MBCarmelo Anthony? Probably staying put. But Serge Ibaka, Jahlil Okafor and a host of other players could be on the move at the trade deadline Feb. 23. Kurt Helin of NBC Sports And Sean Deveney of The Sporting News break it all down as a preview of what to expect. #NBA #NBATrade #NBAonNBC
What's gone right for Wizards with CSN insider J. Michael
February 01, 2017 18:29 - 44 minutes - 40.6 MBSince Dec. 1, the Washington Wizards have the best record in the East (22-9). They have statistically the best starting five in the East this season. Is this team on par with Toronto and Boston? NBC's Kurt Helin talk about what's gone right (Scott Brooks) and where the Wizards belong with CSNMidAtlantic.com's Wizards' Insider J. Michael.
Bulls, Carmelo Anthony trade talk, All-Star snubs
January 28, 2017 16:05 - 30 minutes - 27.6 MBInfighting threatens the Chicago Bulls. The Knicks want to trade Carmelo Anthony but are not finding it easy. Joel Embiid and others felt snubbed as All-Stars. It's a lot to talk about, but Kurt Helin and Dan Feldman of NBCSports.com break it all down.
Raptors talk with Ryan Wolstat of Toronto Sun
January 26, 2017 01:10 - 32 minutes - 29.5 MBThe Raptors are the second best team in the East, but they had lost four in a row heading into Wednesday night and the offense has slumped. I discussed what is going on and the team's future with Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun. #NBA #Raptors #Toronto
Debating NBA midseason awards with Dan Feldman
January 17, 2017 21:22 - 44 minutes - 40.9 MBRussell Westbrook or James Harden for MVP? Is Mike D'Antoni the runaway Coach of the Year? Kurt Helin and Dan Feldman of NBC Sports debate all of that, plus Sixth Man, Defensive Player of Year, and even takeaways from the Warriors win over the Cavaliers Monday. #NBA #Cavaliers #Warrriors #PBTPodcast
All-Star Starters, Derrick Rose talk with Dane Carbaugh
January 12, 2017 07:43 - 40 minutes - 37 MBWho should start the All-Star Game? Not Zaza Pachulia, but after that it gets tricky, Kurt Helin and Dane Carbaugh of NBC Sports try to hash it out. They also break down the Derrick Rose situation and talk Kyle Korver to the Cavaliers. #NBA #PBTPodcast #Bulls #Cavaliers
Chicago Bulls talk with Sean Highkin of The Athletic
January 04, 2017 22:05 - 39 minutes - 35.9 MBRajon Rondo is benched, is he long for Chicago? Would the Bulls listen to Jimmy Butler trade offers? Taj Gibson? Kurt Helin of NBC Sports breaks it all down with Sean Highkin who covers the Bulls for The Athletic. #NBA #ChicagoBulls #Bull
Christmas Day games previews
December 22, 2016 22:14 - 41 minutes - 38.4 MBThe NBA's slate of five games on Christmas Day is seen as the unofficial start of the season for many fans. This year that includes the NBA Finals rematch/preview of Golden State at Cleveland. Kurt Helin and Dan Feldman from NBCSports.com break down all five games and what to look for. #NBA #NBAChristmas #NBCSports
Early look at 2017 NBA draft prospects with NBC's Rob Dauster
December 20, 2016 07:25 - 40 minutes - 39 MBMarkelle Fultz. Lorenzo Ball. Harry Giles. Dennis Smith. The 2017 NBA Draft will be loaded with interesting players, but just how good is this class? Kurt Helin brings in NBC's college hoops expert Rob Dauster to break down the top prospects.
Harrison Barnes talk adjustments to being Dallas' No. 1 option (then crew talks NBA news)
December 14, 2016 16:09 - 31 minutes - 29.4 MBHarrison Barnes of the Dallas Mavericks spends about 10 minutes with Kurt Helin of NBC Sports talking ending up in Dallas, Dirk Nowitzki, and adapting to being a No. 1 offensive option. Then Dane Carbaugh joins Kurt to talk Mavericks and other NBA news.
Breaking down Eastern Conference standings with Dan Feldman
December 05, 2016 23:01 - 33 minutes - 30.6 MBThe Cavaliers are clearly at the top, Toronto is next, then Boston, but who are playoff teams and who is going to slide as we look at the rest of the Eastern Conference? Will the Knicks hold on? Will Atlanta bounce back? Will the Bulls regress? Kurt Helin and Dan Feldman of NBC Sports break it all down.
Sacramento Kings, Western playoff chase with James Ham of CSN Bay Area
December 01, 2016 20:32 - 38 minutes - 35.3 MBMention the Kings to fans around the league and the question is "when do they trade Cousins?" But Sacramento still has playoff dreams this season. James Ham of CSN Bay Area breaks down the Kings, why Cousins and Rudy Gay may not be moved at deadline, and the Western Conference playoff race.
Lakers talk — playoffs?!? — with Baxter Holmes
November 22, 2016 11:14 - 43 minutes - 40.3 MBThe Lakers have been the biggest surprise in the NBA this season, and Baxter Holmes of ESPN joins Kurt Helin of NBCSports.com to discuss what Luke Walton has meant to the team, plus the growth of D'Angelo Russell, Brandon Ingram, Julius Randle, Nick Young, and more. #NBA #Lakers
Lakers, Wiggins, and discussing your Twitter questions
November 18, 2016 00:07 - 46 minutes - 42.9 MBIs no Kobe the reason the Lakers are winning? Can Andrew Wiggins keep this pace up? Kurt Helin and Dane Carbaugh of NBC Sports tackle those and other questions you posed to them on Twitter in this latest PBT Extra. Plus, some Seattle expansion talk.
Five biggest surprises of young NBA season
November 10, 2016 07:29 - 44 minutes - 40.5 MBDwyane Wade hitting threes? Nick Young's mature game? There are a lot of surprises this newly minted NBA season, and Dan Feldman and Kurt Helin of NBC Sports break down their top surprises through the first couple weeks of the season. Including Boston's terrible defense.
Utah Jazz, weight loss talk with Jody Genessy
November 08, 2016 13:07 - 32 minutes - 30.2 MBUtah is everybody's favorite breakout team this season, and with Gordon Hayward now healthy this team is ready to take the step. Jody Genessy of the Deseret News joins Kurt Helin of NBCSports.com to talk Jazz now, Rudy Gobert, if they can keep this team together, and how Jody lost more than 100 pounds. #NBA #UtahJazz
Kobe Bryant biography "Showboat" with author Roland Lazenby
November 01, 2016 15:29 - 48 minutes - 44.6 MBKobe Bryant is one of the most captivating, polarizing, nearly inscrutable, and one of the best players ever to come through the NBA. Author Roland Lazenby of the new Kobe biography "Showtime" joins Kurt Helin of NBC Sports to talk Bryant, his youth and development, his influences, Shaq, Phil Jackson and more. #NBA #KOBE #KOBEBRYANT #Lakers
More than just Warriors/Cavs: NBA playoff, Finals predictions
October 25, 2016 10:16 - 41 minutes - 38.1 MBCleveland vs. Golden State. Yes, we at ProBasketballTalk are predicting that as the NBA Finals, but Kurt Helin and Dane Carbaugh of NBC Sports talk what teams could challenge them, who makes the playoffs, teams to keep and eye on and much more. #NBA #Cavaliers #Warriors #NBAFinals #NBApredictions
MVP, Rookie of Year, other NBA award predictions with Dan Feldman
October 20, 2016 03:34 - 41 minutes - 38.4 MBStephen Curry and Kevin Durant are on the same team, so who wins MVP now? Ben Simmons likely will not play enough games, so who wins Rookie of the Year. Kurt Helin and Dan Feldman predict them all in this latest PBT Podcast. #NBA #MVP #NBAAwards
Anthony Davis, Pelicans, Southwest division preview with Sean Deveney
October 18, 2016 03:26 - 36 minutes - 34 MBHas New Orleans finally put a better team around Anthony Davis? Will the Pelicans finally be healthy enough to make a run? Sean Deveney of The Sporting News joins Kurt Helin of NBC Sports to talk Pelicans, plus the Spurs, Rockets, Mavericks, and Grizzlies. #NBA #Pelicans #AnthonyDavis
Sixers coach Brett Brown talks job security, Joel Embiid, building culture
October 13, 2016 05:05 - 32 minutes - 29.6 MBPhiladelphia coach Brett Brown joins NBC's Kurt Helin to talk about the slow evolution of the Sixers, the process of building a culture, how Joel Embiid is at heart of those plans, and his job security. #Sixers #NBA #NBC #JoelEmbiid
Dwyane Wade, Chicago Bulls, and Central Division with Vincent Goodwill
October 10, 2016 06:04 - 50 minutes - 46.1 MBDwyane Wade has come home to Chicago, partnering with jimmy Butler and Rajon Rondo. But is this even a playoff team? Probably, but Kurt Helin of NBC breaks it down with Vincent Goodwill of CSNChicago.com. The two also discuss if anybody in the East can beat Cleveland, and just how good are Detroit and Milwaukee?
Damian Lillard's Blazers, NorthWest Division preview with Jason Quick
October 06, 2016 05:25 - 43 minutes - 40.1 MBPortland was last season's surprise team, this season everyone will be ready for them. Will bringing in Evan Turner help the Blazers take a step forward? Kurt Helin of NBC and Jason Quick of CSNNW.com talk Portland, plus OKC, Utah, and the entire NorthWest Division. #NBA #NBApreview #TrailBlazers #Lillard
John Wall's Wizards, SouthEast Division preview with J. Michael of CSNMidAtlantic
October 04, 2016 01:31 - 38 minutes - 35.5 MBScott Brooks is now coach, the roster got younger and more athletic, but did John Wall's Wizards get better? Can Wall and Beal get along? Kurt Helin of NBC is joined by J. Michael of CSNMidAtlantic to talk Wizards, plus Dwight Howard in Atlanta, the young Magic, and the rest of the SouthEast Division. #NBA #NBApreview #Wizards #Heat #Magic
Lakers, Pacific Division preview with Mark Medina of L.A. Daily News
September 29, 2016 19:07 - 48 minutes - 44.4 MBKobe who? The Lakers new era begins for real this year with D'Angelo Russell and Brandon Ingram front and center. Kurt Helin of PBT and Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News talk Lakers and the Pacific Division: Can anyone beat Golden State? #Lakers #Warriors #NBA #PBTPodcast
What went wrong for USA in 2004, previewing 2016 Rio Olympic men's hoops
August 03, 2016 19:48 - 43 minutes - 40.2 MBUSA Basketball = Olympic Gold. That will be the case in 2016 where Team USA are beyond heavy favorites to take home the gold in Rio. Which is why I spend the first part of this podcast speaking with Bill Leopold and Ben Teitelbaum of NBCOlympics.com about their oral history of Team USA at the 2004 Olympics. Then Dan Feldman of NBCSports and I break down the 2016 Rio games and who else might medal.
Dwyane Wade to Bulls, Kevin Durant to Warriors, more with Dan Feldman
July 07, 2016 22:42 - 36 minutes - 33.5 MBKevin Durant chose Golden State — and that wasn't the biggest shock in free agency. Dwyane Wade left the Heat for the Bulls, which was shocking but still left Miami in a better spot than Chicago. Kurt Helin and Dan Feldman of NBC break it all down, plus talk about the big winners during free agency. #KevinDurant #DwyaneWade #Warriors #Bulls #NBA
NBA Free Agency roundup (pre Durant decision) with Sean Highkin
July 04, 2016 12:51 - 31 minutes - 29.3 MBAl Horford chose Boston. Mike Conley stayed in Memphis — and brought Chandler Parsons with him. Bradley Beal, Nicolas Batum, Hassan Whiteside, and DeMar DeRozan all get maxed out. In this latest PBT Podcast Kurt Helin and Sean Highkin of NBC's ProBasketballTalk break it all down. This podcast was recorded before Kevin Durant made his call (and before Jamal Crawford made his, so that part of the podcast is dated).
Sean Deveney of Sporting News stops by for NBA free agency preview
June 29, 2016 06:43 - 55 minutes - 50.6 MBThanks to an unprecedented spike in the salary cap, we are just days away from the most unpredictable, head-scratching free agency in NBA history. It's far more than just the summer of Kevin Durant. Sean Deveney of The Sporting News stops by to break down free agency with Kurt Helin of NBC Sports. #KevinDurant #NBAFreeAgency #NBA
Breaking down 2016 NBA Draft with Dan Feldman
June 24, 2016 20:02 - 42 minutes - 39.2 MBFrom Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram through the trade of Serge Ibaka to Orlando, Kurt Helin and Dan Feldman of NBC Sports break it all down in detail. Also, they discuss the Derrick Rose to the Knicks trade. #NBADraft #Sixers #BenSimmons #BrandonIngram #SergeIbaka
Who should Boston draft at No. 3? Rob Dauster breaks Draft down.
June 09, 2016 20:49 - 53 minutes - 49.6 MBBen Simmons will go first to the Sixers, followed by Brandon Ingram second to the Lakers. The NBA Draft gets interesting at No. 3: Will Danny Ainge and the Boston Celtics take? Kris Dunn? Dragan Bender? Marquese Chriss? Kurt Helin of NBC's ProBasketballTalk and Rob Dauster of NBC's CollegeBasketballTalk put their heads together and talk NBA Draft, from Simmons and Ingram down through guys who should be rated a little higher, such as Tyler Ulis and Gary Payton II.
NBA Finals Game 3 preview with Dan Feldman
June 07, 2016 21:03 - 46 minutes - 42.8 MBIt's been a rough first two games of the NBA Finals for the Cleveland Cavaliers, who lost those games by a record combined 48 points. And that's without the Splash Brothers going off yet. What do the Cavaliers plan to do at home in Game 3? What do they need to do? Kurt Helin and Dan Feldman of NBC Sports break it all down. #NBAFinals
NBA Finals Game 1 review, Game 2 preview with Sean Highkin
June 03, 2016 22:29 - 29 minutes - 27.6 MBHow much trouble are the Cleveland Cavaliers in? Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson combined for just 20 points on 27 shots, and the Golden State Warriors still won by 15. Kurt Helin and Sean Highkin of NBCSports.com break it all down from Oakland and look ahead to Game 2 of the NBA Finals.
Cavaliers vs. Warriors NBA Finals preview with Dan Feldman
May 31, 2016 18:36 - 31 minutes - 29.1 MBLeBron James got what he probably wanted deep down — a second chance at Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors. It's a chance for revenge from last season and to knock Curry off his pedestal. Except this is a difficult matchup for the Cavaliers and their current style of play, something Kurt Helin and Dan Feldman of NBC Sports get into in this breakdown of what's to come. They both foresee a long couple of weeks coming for Kevin Love.
Thunder /Warriors, Raps/Cavs, grown men kicked in nuts
May 24, 2016 19:56 - 32 minutes - 29.4 MBThe Oklahoma City Thunder went small and blew out the Warriors. After looking completely overmatched for two games, the Toronto Raptors have evened the series with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Yet all anyone wants to talk about is Draymond Green kicking Steven Adams in the nether regions, and how the league handled that. So Kurt Helin and Dan Feldman of NBC Sports start with Green's kick, move on to his poor play in general in Game 3, and discuss Game 4 and the rest of that series. Also covered ...
Stephen Curry MVP, playoff & coaching talk with Dan Feldman
May 10, 2016 19:24 - 38 minutes - 35.7 MBStephen Curry is the MVP, which was a foregone conclusion, but would he be the NBA's first-ever unanimous MVP was up in the air. He was, and Kurt Helin and Dan Feldman of NBC Sports discuss why Curry could get that consensus when LeBron James and Shaq couldn't in the past. The pair also talk all four playoff series — especially focused on Spurs/Thunder — and the coaching changes in Sacramento, Indiana, and Memphis.
Thunder/Spurs, Hawks/Cavs, and Game 6s talk with Dan Feldman
April 29, 2016 21:23 - 30 minutes - 27.9 MBFriday night sees some big Game 6s across the NBA playoffs — Indiana has the best chance of forcing a Game 7 — but everyone is looking ahead to Oklahoma vs. San Antonio in the next round. Kurt Helin and Dan Feldman of NBCSports.com discuss those series, the Friday night Game 6 matchups, and if Portland could beat Golden State if the Warriors do not get Stephen Curry back.
Stephen Curry, NBA playoff talk with Sean Highkin
April 25, 2016 20:56 - 42 minutes - 39.1 MBStephen Curry's sprained knee seems to have change the feeling of inevitability around the NBA playoffs. If the past and soon to be again MVP misses a chunk of the second round series, can the Clippers upset the Warriors? Can the Clippers get past the Blazers to even find out? Kurt Helin and Sean Highkin of NBC Sports discuss that and all the playoff series around the league in this podcast. They also talk about the Lakers' coaching search.
Chicago Bulls future talk, Eastern Conference playoffs with Vincent Goodwill
April 20, 2016 20:47 - 50 minutes - 46.3 MBThe Chicago Bulls were in the running for most disappointing team in the NBA this season — some pundits thought they were the one team that could challenge Cleveland, but they didn't even make the playoffs. Injuries, chemistry problems, disinterested players that were poor fits for the new coach's system, and a new coach all combined in a perfect storm. Kurt Helin of NBCSports.com talks with Vincent Goodwill of CSNChicago about the Bulls season and future, as well as discussing what is going...
Western Conference first round playoff preview with Sean Highkin
April 16, 2016 11:46 - 45 minutes - 42.1 MBIt doesn't feel like there is a lot of drama in the first round or the Western Conference playoffs this season — the Warriors, Spurs, Thunder and Clippers are expected to advance. Fairly easily. Kurt Helin and Sean Highkin of NBC's ProBasketballTalk discuss these series, including whether Portland can push Los Angeles a little bit. The two also get off topic at points and talk Lakers and Bulls going forward.
Eastern Conference first round playoff preview with Dan Feldman
April 14, 2016 21:14 - 28 minutes - 26.3 MBCan anyone knock off the Cleveland Cavaliers in the East? Probably not. But that doesn't mean the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs is without drama. Can Toronto finally get out of the first round against the Pacers? Then there are two very interesting chess matches between teams that all won 48 games: Boston vs. Atlanta, and Charlotte vs. Miami. Kurt Helin and Dan Feldman of NBC Sports' ProBasketballTalk break it all down.
NBA end of season awards preview with Dan Feldman
April 04, 2016 21:36 - 47 minutes - 43.8 MBMVP? Stephen Curry. Rookie of the Year? Karl-Anthony Towns. But some of the NBA's end of season awards are not so clear cut this season. Sixth Man of the Year could go a lot of directions. Can you vote Steve Kerr coach of the year if he only coached half the year? Kurt Helin and Dan Feldman of NBC Sports and ProBasketball talk discuss all the major end of season awards in this podcast.