Rephonic
Artwork for On The Ball
NBA
Golden State Warriors
Lebron James
Los Angeles Lakers
Luka Doncic
Oklahoma City Thunder
Caitlin Clark
Victor Wembanyama
Giannis Antetokounmpo
New York Knicks
Boston Celtics
Nikola Jokic
Dallas Mavericks
Denver Nuggets
WNBA
Indiana Pacers
Minnesota Timberwolves
Steve Kerr
Anthony Edwards
Michael Jordan

A weekly sports podcast with inside information and one-of-a-kind perspective on the hottest topics and behind-the-scenes happenings from veteran NBA insider, author and TV analyst Ric Bucher. Find all his work at RicBucher.com. Support this show at supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends

Support this show supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends.

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PublishesWeeklyEpisodes622Founded8 years ago
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Artwork for On The Ball

Latest Episodes

Did NBA opening night expose some serious weaknesses among the league's contenders — or are fans jumping to conclusions?

Ric Bucher explains why Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics' 22-point collapse against Cade Cunningham's Detroit Pistons hasn't ... more

Did the Boston Celtics actually improve despite sending Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia?

Ric Bucher makes the provocative case that Jayson Tatum could thrive as Boston's undisputed leader, explaining why Tatum's unselfish approach, renewed motivation a... more

The Philadelphia 76ers have assembled a potential powerhouse with LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. But Ric Bucher argues chemistry isn't their biggest concern — and they're hardly the only NBA team facing a difficult balancin... more

Ric Bucher asks whether American basketball has a star problem as Victor Wembanyama, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokić increasingly distinguish themselves as both elite players and compelling ambassadors for the NBA.

Ric also revisits Team USA’... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Landry Fields
Former Knicks, Raptors, Hawks executive; head of men's basketball for Project B
Project B
Episode: Landry Fields: Project B Has Players Signed — And the Men’s Stars Are Coming
TJ Highley
Associate professor of math and computer science at LaSalle University
LaSalle University
Episode: The NBA's Tanking Problem Has a Mathematical Solution — But Owners Won't Like It | On The Ball with Ric Bucher
John Carter
CEO of Noah Basketball Technology
Noah Basketball Technology
Episode: The Man Behind The Shooting Prowess of Every Final Four Team

Host

Ric Bucher
Host of On The Ball with Ric Bucher; veteran NBA insider, author and TV analyst with affiliations across Fox Sports Radio, United WeCast, and related networks.

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 566 ratings
  • Intentional Contrarian wrapped in the thin veil of nuance

    Falls into the trap of aligning criticism with intelligence.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    rt;3
    United States3 months ago
  • Repetitive and Low Effort

    Ric has mailed it in on this podcast. Darn near every episode is Lakers and Warriors. Now that he is an NBA outsider, it is difficult to identify what Bucher brings to the table these days.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    danbeyer
    United States10 months ago
  • The LeBron Show

    Darn near every episode is LeBron and Warriors centric. Unfortunately, my last basketball podcast has steadily diminished and is now unrecognizable.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    danbeyer
    United Statesa year ago
  • Nuanced analysis

    I love Ric’s decidedly non-hot-take style. The world would be a much better place if all media folks thought before they spoke. Keep it up, Ric.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    psimon88
    United Statesa year ago
  • Great Show!!

    Have always enjoyed Bucher for decades but podcasts is an even better way to get his opinions! Maybe the only mainstream media member who gives Kobe fair coverage would love to see Ric have a bigger presence on fox as well and longer episodes!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SkipSupporter
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the host's measured, non-hot-take style and in-depth NBA insight.
Some reviews criticize perceived bias or politicized takes, while others applaud candid, context-rich analysis.
Overall sentiment highlights thoughtful, informed coverage that stands out for depth and insider perspective.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#165
Canada/Sports/Basketball
Apple Podcasts
#215
United Kingdom/Sports/Basketball
Apple Podcasts
#156
Australia/Sports/Basketball
Apple Podcasts
#210
France/Sports/Basketball
Apple Podcasts
#219
Italy/Sports/Basketball
Apple Podcasts
#225
Germany/Sports/Basketball

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Landry Fields: Project B Has Players Signed — And the Men’s Stars Are Coming
Q: How groundbreaking is this entire project?
It's incredibly groundbreaking, combining an integrated global ecosystem with a new format designed to extend players' careers, engage fans globally, and redefine how basketball is structured and consumed.
The NBA's Tanking Problem Has a Mathematical Solution — But Owners Won't Like It | On The Ball with Ric Bucher
Q: What was the inspiration to find an anti-tanking formula for the NBA?
The host describes thinking about tanking for years, then formalizing and testing it with a research project to see if the idea could withstand scrutiny and be a practical anti-tanking mechanism.
The NBA's Tanking Problem Has a Mathematical Solution — But Owners Won't Like It | On The Ball with Ric Bucher
Q: Can you give us an overview of the formula that you have created and what you think is unique about it?
The guest explains that COLA shifts focus from regular-season results to playoff history, creates a stockpile of lottery tickets that carry over year to year, and outlines how tickets accumulate and decay based on playoff outcomes and lottery wins, with multiple variant designs.
Quad Shot: Jokic Deserves Better, Suns At Their Worst, Kerr The Maestro, Request for LeBron Fans
Q: How do you reconcile all the nonsensical things that he says with your love and appreciation for him as a player?
Bucher admits to struggling with this reconciliation and raises questions about LeBron's statements and their impact on his legacy.
Quad Shot: Jokic Deserves Better, Suns At Their Worst, Kerr The Maestro, Request for LeBron Fans
Q: Why do I not hear anyone asking when the Denver Nuggets are going to get Nikola Jokic some help?
Bucher points out that the lack of questioning around Jokic's support is concerning and contrasts this with similar discussions around stars like LeBron James and Steph Curry.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About On The Ball

What is On The Ball about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A sharp-edged, insider-driven NBA podcast that leans into the business of basketball as much as the on-court action. Episodes frequently tackle money, ownership, and league governance, analyzing how contracts, cap dynamics, and media narratives shape team-building, player movement, and championship windows. Expect dense, opinionated monologues and interviews that blend strategic breakdown with behind-the-scenes anecdotes from the NBA's front offices, media world, and global branding efforts. Notable through-lines include LeBron-era attention economics, the commodification of star power, and a commitment to context over hot takes, with a steady focus on the Phoenix-like tension between revenue and competitive balance. The show often shines w... more

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Which podcasts are similar to On The Ball?

These podcasts share a similar audience with On The Ball:

1. Finding The Seams
2. Open Floor: SI's NBA Show
3. Yahoo Sports NBA
4. Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective
5. The Ryen Russillo Show

How many episodes of On The Ball are there?

On The Ball launched 8 years ago and published 622 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on On The Ball?

Recent guests on On The Ball include:

1. Landry Fields
2. TJ Highley
3. John Carter

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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