The Woj Pod

Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith

January 06, 2021 11:02 - 46 minutes

New Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith joins The Woj Pod to discuss transforming his fandom into buying franchise, arriving along with Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert extension talks, leveraging NBA platform for social equality and charity and translating success of his tech empire into Jazz culture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kings GM Monte McNair

December 22, 2020 18:34 - 43 minutes

Sacramento Kings GM Monte McNair joins The Woj Pod to discuss the challenges of taking over a franchise with a 14-year playoff drought, working with Vivek Randadive and Luke Walton, the craziest idea he remembers working in the Rockets front office, his Jim Harbaugh fandom and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ian Eagle

December 17, 2020 11:15 - 45 minutes

Turner Sports and Brooklyn broadcaster Ian Eagle joins The Woj Pod to discuss the most anticipated Nets season in history, traveling with the 90s Nets of Derrick Coleman and Chris Morris, drinking with Bill Raftery, broadcasting in the age of COVID and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Doris Burke on Giannis and Harden

December 10, 2020 16:57 - 41 minutes

ESPN's Hall of Famer Doris Burke joins The Woj Pod to discuss Giannis and the suspect impact of the super max contract on keeping stars in small markets, James Harden and the Rockets, the Lakers becoming even better, and the league's future with its fans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Blazers President Neil Olshey

December 04, 2020 20:44 - 36 minutes

Portland Trail Blazers President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey joins The Woj Pod to discuss the importance of established players for teams in a pandemic, retooling the Blazers in free agency, the impact of Carmelo Anthony on his organization, remembering The Bubble and preparing for the chaotic possibilities of a 2020-2021 season amid a raging pandemic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

THE GIANNIS DRAFT Ep. 1: Who is Giannis?

November 16, 2020 08:02 - 48 minutes

He was a Greek teen of Nigerian descent, hawking trinkets on the streets of Athens. And when he started playing basketball, few people knew what to make of Giannis Antetokounmpo. The only thing the scouts could see was that he was all arms and legs. The only thing Giannis could envision was an opportunity for his family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

THE GIANNIS DRAFT Ep. 2: Shut him down

November 16, 2020 08:01 - 33 minutes

After a showcase in a coastal Italian town, the Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks had seen enough. And yet, it was the Hawks' courtship that secured a promise for the franchise to believe they had an inside track on drafting Giannis. And when Giannis touched down in Atlanta prior to the draft, the organization became even more obsessed with making this Greek teen a Hawk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

THE GIANNIS DRAFT Ep. 3: And with the 15th pick

November 16, 2020 08:00 - 35 minutes

From Atlanta to New York, Giannis' new American journey delivered him to the NBA draft. First, he needed to understand how it all worked. He needed a suit. He needed a Greek flag. And he needed a team. No one knew who would be selected no. 1. As the picks started to come off the board, Giannis Antetokounmpo finally wondered whether this grand plan would all come together. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ESPN's Tim MacMahon

October 29, 2020 00:22 - 40 minutes

ESPN NBA reporter Tim MacMahon on Daryl Morey's move to the 76ers, Stephen Silas' hiring in Houston, James Harden's future, a new Jazz owner, what's at stake for the NBA in restarting next season before Christmas, and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lakers EVP and GM Rob Pelinka

October 23, 2020 13:52 - 1 hour

The Los Angeles Lakers Executive VP and GM Rob Pelinka on The Woj Pod: Inside the championship season, LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Kobe and Gigi Bryant, Magic Johnson, chasing big free agents, growing on job and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Toronto coach Nick Nurse

October 13, 2020 11:00 - 44 minutes

Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse joins The Woj Pod on his new book, "Rapture," what most bothered him about life in the bubble, his pilgrimage to visit Phil Jackson, proving yourself to players as an NBA coach, and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Undefeated's Marc Spears

October 07, 2020 16:03 - 49 minutes

The Undefeated and ESPN's Marc Spears on the dynamic of the LeBron James and Kobe Bryant relationship, his new book, "The Spencer Haywood Rule," NBA hiring practices of minority candidates and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brooklyn coach Steve Nash

September 29, 2020 17:04 - 39 minutes

Brooklyn Nets coach Steve Nash, a Hall of Fame guard, joins The Woj Pod to discuss Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, the leap into coaching, the influence of Steve Kerr and Mike D'Antoni, his final years with the Lakers, and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Fizdale on Heat-Lakers

September 28, 2020 17:54 - 53 minutes

David Fizdale joins The Woj Pod to discuss the Lakers-Heat NBA Finals, including LeBron James’ burden to deliver a title in LA, the trying early days of the Big 3 in Miami, Erik Spoelstra's place among elite of the coaching profession, the evolution of the Pat Riley-Spo dynamic and much, much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Front-Office Insider Bobby Marks

September 23, 2020 19:50 - 36 minutes

ESPN Front Office Insider Bobby Marks joins The Woj Pod to discuss the Chicago Bulls hiring of coach Billy Donovan, the 76ers coaching search including Mike D’Antoni and Ty Lue, the emergence of the Denver Nuggets as a sustainable NBA force, and how the pandemic could impact free agency and roster spending in the 2020-2021 season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nuggets President Tim Connelly on advancing to the Western Conference Finals

September 16, 2020 21:17 - 43 minutes

Denver Nuggets President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly joins The Woj Pod to discuss the Nuggets' wild ride to the Western Conference Finals, constructing the best young roster in the league, resisting trading Jamal Murray for established veteran All-Stars, fighting self-doubt as a young GM, turning down offers to leave Denver, and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CNN's Daniel Dale

September 06, 2020 19:09 - 45 minutes

CNN’s Daniel Dale – the presidential fact-checker – talks about his intense Raptors fandom, his appreciation for Kyle Lowry, Masai Ujiri and Kawhi Leonard, how the popularity of his responsibilities grew at CNN...and a dog named Breezy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brooklyn GM Sean Marks on Steve Nash

September 03, 2020 17:31 - 22 minutes

Brooklyn Nets GM Sean Marks joins The Woj Pod for his first interview on the hiring of Steve Nash as the franchise’s head coach. Marks describes the 20-year relationship with Nash that kick-started the conversation, what Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving told him were important to find in the next coach, and why Marks believes that Nash can make a rapid transition into the head coaching role. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ESPN's Malika Andrews

August 27, 2020 11:55 - 32 minutes

ESPN NBA reporter Malika Andrews joins The Woj Pod to go inside the intensive 24 hours inside the bubble that could shape the future of the league - beginning with the Milwaukee Bucks' decision to boycott a playoff game, the domino impact it had on the rest of the teams and an emotional league-wide meeting on Wednesday night that left the league uncertain that it would complete the playoffs in the wake of more police brutality in America. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/...

Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic

August 14, 2020 09:45 - 48 minutes

Miami Heat guard Goran Dragic joins The Woj Pod to discuss the how the Miami Heat are isolated in The Bubble, his indelible place in European basketball lore, why Jimmy Butler's confrontational style fits the franchise, his mentorship and the genius of countryman Luka Doncic, and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

August 11, 2020 20:00 - 30 minutes

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander joins The Woj Pod to discuss lessons learned under Chris Paul, his rookie indoctrination into the NBA with the Clippers and Patrick Beverley, Canadian basketball, the AAU tournament feel of The Bubble and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Phoenix's Deandre Ayton

August 10, 2020 09:45 - 38 minutes

Phoenix Suns star Deandre Ayton joins The Woj Pod to discuss the Suns' remarkable run in The Bubble, shaking the label of losers, how Monty Williams won him and his teammates over and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ESPN's Rachel Nichols

August 08, 2020 18:05 - 38 minutes

ESPN’s Rachel Nichols joins The Woj Pod to discuss Bubble Basketball, the environment for players, challenges for restarting the NBA next season and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Golden State President Bob Myers

July 31, 2020 21:13 - 52 minutes

Golden State's Bob Myers joins The Woj Pod to discuss the restart of the NBA season, reshaping the Warriors to chase more championships, Kevin Durant and the toll the Warriors finals run took on him. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Malika Andrews and Bobby Marks

July 02, 2020 16:07 - 39 minutes

ESPN’s Malika Andrews and Bobby Marks join The Woj Pod to discuss the Orlando restart, including the Lakers, Clippers and Bucks championship aspirations, the 76ers leadership, the Nets future and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Toronto President Masai Ujiri

June 18, 2020 14:47 - 44 minutes

Toronto Raptors President Masai Ujiri joins The Woj Pod to discuss the NBA's restart in Orlando, his global perspective on America and race, solutions for so few black executives in the NBA, how President Obama and Prime Minister Trudeau impact his thinking and how that Raptors championship impacted his life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JB Bickerstaff and James Borrego

June 08, 2020 10:48 - 40 minutes

Cleveland Cavaliers coach JB Bickerstaff and Charlotte Hornets coach James Borrego join The Woj Pod to discuss the difficulties of their teams getting left behind from the NBA's restart in Orlando, the shutdown's impact on rebuilding organizations, the NBA coaches association's resolve to impact race in America and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lloyd Pierce and Quin Snyder

June 01, 2020 16:13 - 41 minutes

Atlanta's Lloyd Pierce and Utah's Quin Snyder join The Woj Pod to discuss the NBA coach's association response and plan of action in the wake of continued racial injustices, Pierce's leadership in the civil rights bastion of Atlanta, Snyder on the responsibility of white coaches to impact change, and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Woj & Lowe Crossover Part II

May 26, 2020 18:18 - 35 minutes

ESPN's Zach Lowe joins The Woj Pod for a Part II of our reporting centered on the NBA's return to play, issues surrounding a bubble environment, future challenges for the league, what teams benefit from a layoff, and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tom Thibodeau

May 20, 2020 16:10 - 53 minutes

Tom Thibodeau joins The Woj Pod to discuss the difficulty for coaches with teams coming out of a pandemic shutdown, Bulls/Rose/management, Timberwolves/Butler, watching old practice tapes of the Jordan Bulls in Chicago and the environment he hopes to find as an NBA coach again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ESPN's Jeff Passan

May 18, 2020 13:06 - 1 hour

ESPN Senior MLB Insider Jeff Passan joins The Woj Pod to discuss the parallel paths the NBA and MLB are taking in trying to play this summer, how dramatically different the union/league relationships are in the two sports, the impact of the star players' role in labor talks, Adam Silver and Rob Manfred and what's at stake for these sports in the future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Father and son: Detroit Pistons executive Ed Stefanski and Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski

May 15, 2020 15:24 - 39 minutes

Father and son NBA and NFL visit with Detroit Pistons Senior Advisor Ed Stefanski and Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski on The Woj Pod. The Stefanski's discuss the influence that Ed's front office career has had on Kevin's development as an NFL coach, including witnessing the Nets remarkable 2002 NBA Finals run, learning how a GM and coach need to build working relationships, virtual drafts, Ed's dubious future candidacy as Kevin's quality-control coach on the sidelines. Learn more about...

Rachel Nichols and Bobby Marks

May 09, 2020 17:38 - 57 minutes

ESPN's Rachel Nichols and Bobby Marks join The Woj Pod to discuss Adam Silver's insights to players on a possible return to play and league future, how the NBA's evolving view on coronavirus testing impacts the chances of the season resuming this spring, the details of a playoff structure, how the loss of revenue will impact free agency and salary caps, Silver's leadership style and how it bodes for the hard decisions the league needs to make. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone...

ESPN's Adam Schefter and Jeff Passan

April 29, 2020 20:56 - 1 hour

ESPN's Adam Schefter and Jeff Passan join The Woj Pod to discuss the futures of the NBA, NFL and MLB, how we're covering sports in a pandemic, the commonality of insider roles and Passan's latest ode to The WuTang Clan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ESPN's Jonathan Givony

April 16, 2020 17:15 - 26 minutes

ESPN Draft Analyst Jonathan Givony joins The Woj Pod to discuss the NBA's willingness to pay top high school star Jalen Green $500K-plus and restructure its G-League professional pathway program to compete with the NCAA and Australia. We explore what this means for the future of the NBA, college basketball and the significant impact it will have on the future of the sport. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patrick Ewing and Jeff Van Gundy

April 15, 2020 10:30 - 44 minutes

Hall of Fame center Patrick Ewing and Jeff Van Gundy join The Woj Pod to go inside the 1990's New York Knicks-Chicago Bulls rivalry, including Michael Jordan, the playoff series fights, the 'Con Man' game, Pat Riley and the X-Man, and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vanderbilt coach Jerry Stackhouse

April 08, 2020 16:25 - 57 minutes

Vanderbilt coach Jerry Stackhouse - an 18-year NBA veteran - joins The Woj Pod to remember a young Kobe Bryant as a teenage kid playing pickup with this 76ers (13:50), playing with an aging Michael Jordan with the Wizards (29:01), waiting in tunnels post-game to finish on-court skirmishes with opponents, why he didn't think Dwane Casey was comfortable with him as an assistant coach in Toronto and the challenge of recruiting and coaching at Vandy in the SEC. Learn more about your ad choices. V...

Front Office Insider Bobby Marks

April 03, 2020 20:15 - 34 minutes

ESPN front-office insider Bobby Marks joins The Woj Pod to discuss the Chicago Bulls search for a new top front office executive, the appeal and challenges of the job, the financial impact the NBA shutdown will have on front office/coaching moves (15:53), the possible rollout for a return to play this season and how free agency will be impacted (27:34). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ESPN NBA Analyst Doris Burke

March 27, 2020 18:35 - 18 minutes

ESPN NBA Analyst Doris Burke joins The Woj Pod to reveal that she has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, including details of her symptoms, her hospital testing experience and her recovery process. In opening up, she is hopeful to make more people aware of the importance of social distancing and other important measures being taken to try and combat the pandemic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Denver Nuggets President Tim Connelly

March 26, 2020 20:13 - 41 minutes

Denver Nuggets President of Basketball Operations Tim Connelly joins The Woj Pod to discuss the NBA shutdown, the franchise's quarantine, how the league could be changed coming out of the hiatus (14:49) and ... his love for 1980's and 1990's professional wrestling (30:40). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Olimpia Milano's Tom Bialaszewski

March 24, 2020 15:16 - 33 minutes

Olimpia Milano assistant coach Tom Bialaszewski - a decade-long NBA assistant and scout - discusses life in coronavirus isolation with his family in Italy (2:04), his close relationship with Kobe Bryant as a Lakers assistant (12:51), the story of the most vulnerable he had ever seen Kobe (23:16), learning of Kobe's passing in Italy and how Kobe diagrammed Tom and his wife's honeymoon in Italy (31:17). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andy Slavitt, Obama healthcare head and founder of U.S. of Care

March 20, 2020 15:27 - 28 minutes

Andy Slavitt, a former head of healthcare for President Obama and founder of the United States of Care, joins The Woj Pod to discuss the facts surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, what we need to do, what's coming and how the NBA fits into the conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NBA Shutdown

March 16, 2020 22:31 - 35 minutes

Adrian Wojnarowski takes on some of your most pressing questions about the NBA shutdown - what's happening and what could come next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dell and Sonya Curry

March 05, 2020 10:10 - 32 minutes

Dell and Sonya Curry join The Woj Pod to discuss Stephen's absence and return (2:22), their new sports parenting podcast, and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Memphis Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins

March 04, 2020 10:23 - 1 hour

Memphis Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins joins The Woj Pod to discuss Ja Morant (10:41), the influences of Mike Budenholzer, Quin Snyder and Gregg Popovich, how he had to convince RC Buford to let him become a G League assistant (19:46), building your voice as an NBA coach. Plus, Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., visit for a mini-pod together (38:22). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ESPN's Max Kellerman

February 27, 2020 20:19 - 42 minutes

ESPN's Max Kellerman joins The Woj Pod to discuss the Sixers trajectory, Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, James Dolan's Knicks (24:47), Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis (33:31) and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2020 All-Star Game

February 17, 2020 08:29 - 33 minutes

Woj Pod Live at an unforgettable 2020 All-Star Game in Chicago: Trae Young, Joel Embiid, Pascal Siakam and Nick Nurse. Plus ESPN's Malika Andrews and Tim Bontemps on Kobe Bryant's imprint on the weekend, the dramatic game and the stretch run for Lakers and Clippers, Bucks and rest of East. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patrick Beverley, Jackie MacMullan, and Ryen Russillo

February 15, 2020 23:13 - 1 hour

Clippers guard Patrick Beverley joins The Woj Pod to discuss his path to the NBA, his reaction to the Clippers landing Kawhi Leonard and Paul George this summer (11:33), and his Chicago upbringing. Plus, ESPN's Jackie MacMullan and The Ringer's Ryen Russillo join the conversation to discuss the battle in LA for supremacy in the West (25:54), much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Woj & Lowe Trade Deadline Show

February 05, 2020 22:51 - 23 minutes

ESPN's Zach Lowe joins The Woj Pod as part of The Woj & Lowe Show to discuss the arms race between the LA teams (2:59), a sleeper team for Andre Igoudala (13:42), trades they want to see happen (20:40), and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bobby Marks on Trade Deadline in the Western Conference

February 03, 2020 02:00 - 40 minutes

ESPN's NBA front-office insider Bobby Marks joins The Woj Pod to discuss the latest on how Western Conference teams will factor into Thursday's NBA Trade Deadline. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episodes