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Game Theory

Barstool Sports
NBA
NBA Draft
Oklahoma City Thunder
New York Knicks
San Antonio Spurs
Philadelphia 76ers
Los Angeles Lakers
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Detroit Pistons
Cleveland Cavaliers
Victor Wembanyama
Indiana Pacers
Minnesota Timberwolves
Milwaukee Bucks
Golden State Warriors
Washington Wizards
Atlanta Hawks
Charlotte Hornets
Los Angeles Clippers
Houston Rockets

Sam Vecenie 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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes895Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BasketballSports

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Game Theory

Latest Episodes

Sam is joined by The Athletic Daily’s Dave DuFour for an early rookie check-in on Dybantsa (00:00), Peterson (18:51), Boozer (28:22), and Wilson (35:34). Plus, they discuss the Mavs as the most fun team in the NBA right now (47:43), the Jaylen Brown-... more

Sam is live after Tuesday's NBA slate to react to games, as well as a slew of early-season injuries including Anthony Edwards, Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace, Jalen Suggs, and Jaren Jackson Jr. (00:00) Intro (04:20) Trail Blazers Beat Lakers (14:20) P... more

After Sunday's NBA action Sam is joined by Tyler Britton to look back on the first week of the NBA season and hand out some awards including, "Best Player Performance of the Week", "Most Surprising Team", "Most Concerning Team", and more. They also t... more

Sam is LIVE directly after Nuggets-Thunder to discuss SGA vs. Jokic, 76ers-Cavaliers, and the best parts of Day 2 of the NBA season! (00:00) Intro (03:00) Thunder Beat Nuggets, Thoughts on OKC's Defense, Denver's Offense (23:55) 76ers Beat Cavaliers ... more

Key Facts

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

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Recent Guests

Tyler Britton
Basketball analyst producing film breakdowns and team analysis at Hoop Venue.
Hoop Venue
Episode: NBA First Week Awards with ‪Tyler Britton‬ | Also, JDub, Suggs Injured
Ryen Russillo
Sports podcast host covering the NFL, college sports and NBA
Episode: NBA Opening Night with Ryen Russillo! Wemby vs. SGA, New-Look Sixers and Celtics Blow A Lead
Terrence Ogelsby
Basketball analyst who covers NBA and college basketball, works with ESPN/Field of 68
ESPN Field of 68
Episode: Predicting the Top 10 NBA Offenses & Defenses | The NBA Draft Watchability Index
Eric Nehm
NBA reporter
The Athletic
Episode: 2026-27 NBA Award Predictions | Can Luka, Wemby, Jokic challenge Shai? | Pritchard, Podz Extensions
Adam Finkelstein
NBA draft analyst
CBS Sports
Episode: 2027 NBA Mock Draft v. 1.0 with Adam Finkelstein
Bryce Simon
Basketball analyst and guest on the show
Basketball contexts discussed on episode
Episode: Biggest NBA X-Factors of the 2026-27 Season
Dave DuForu
NBA writer and guest on the show
The Athletic
Episode: NBA Watchability Index, Plus The Jalen Duren Saga Continues, and KAT Extension Talks with Dave DuFour
Law Murray
Sports journalist and analyst
The Athletic
Episode: LA Clippers Get LARGEST Punishment in NBA History for Kawhi Leonard Cap Circumvention | What Now?
Andrew Claudio
NBA content creator and analyst
Game Theory Podcast
Episode: BREAKING: Giannis Antetokounmpo TRADED To Miami Heat! | Julius Randle to Nets | Ayo Dosunmu Contract | Game Theory Podcast

Hosts

Sam Vecenie
Host of Game Theory Podcast; senior NBA writer at The Athletic
Bryce Simon
Co-host/guest on the show; Pistons-focused basketball analyst

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 1.9k ratings
  • Goodbye

    Used go love this show but cant continue listening now that you’ve crossed over to barstool. Very disappointing.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    SB2423
    Canadaa month ago
  • Barstool?

    No draft guide and a barstool employee. Yuck, quickest unfollow of my life

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    supremeClientele4
    United Statesa month ago
  • Sam and Brice

    Sam you’re fantastic. Love listening to you and learning so much. But Brice? Nice guy I’m sure but really adds nothing. No original ideas just parrots what you say ! Agrees with everything you say. Suggest you switch co-hosts or have rotating guests regularly. Would be WAY more interesting ! Sometimes I won’t listen to an ep if I see Brice is on it which is really a shame. Again good guy and all but …

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    GoodLeft32
    United States2 months ago
  • Bryce Simon trash

    Less Bryce Simon please . He was absolute garbage

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    deebo_518
    United States3 months ago
  • Whistle

    The use of the whistle for a transition in this show makes it unlistenable. If it's on your headphones it is jarring and uncomfortable. If it's in a car you're worried that something is going on in traffic. What a terrible choice.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    nikhil
    United States4 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Overall, the show is considered top-tier for NBA discussions by many listeners.
Feedback is mixed on pacing and some recurring phrases, but analysis is valued by fans.
Listeners appreciate deep, analytical takes on trades and cap策略.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#18
United States/Sports/Basketball
Apple Podcasts
#198
United States/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#17
United Kingdom/Sports/Basketball
Apple Podcasts
#17
Canada/Sports/Basketball
Apple Podcasts
#245
Canada/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#9
Italy/Sports/Basketball

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Nuggets-Thunder, Cavs-76ers | Luka and Yaxel, Wolves Dominate Heat, Other Day 2 NBA Season Reactions
Q: Which current player would you be most curious to see coach, and which player do you think is most likely to coach after they've finished playing?
Vecenie would most like to see Draymond Green coach, citing his basketball intelligence and defensive communication. He also named Alex Caruso, Jamal Shedd, Fred VanVleet, TJ McConnell and Chris Paul as players who could be interesting coaches.
NBA Opening Night with Ryen Russillo! Wemby vs. SGA, New-Look Sixers and Celtics Blow A Lead
Q: Is it a good idea to bet on shooting-only prospects in the NBA Draft?
The hosts discuss how shooting prospects can struggle when they lack defensive versatility or never get enough in-game opportunities to handle the ball and develop other skills. They note that shooting alone remains difficult to project, and that players with size or additional ball-handling ability may have better chances of succeeding.
NBA Opening Night with Ryen Russillo! Wemby vs. SGA, New-Look Sixers and Celtics Blow A Lead
Q: Have we just found a fancy way to say, let's not fucking turn the ball over and be better on the defensive glass?
Sam says the underlying ideas, limiting turnovers, controlling the defensive glass and pursuing offensive rebounds, have been central to basketball for decades. He argues that combining those priorities with three-point optimization is effective but not a newly invented approach.
NBA First Week Awards with ‪Tyler Britton‬ | Also, JDub, Suggs Injured
Q: Most surprising team to this point?
Tyler names Philadelphia, especially because of Joel Embiid's improved movement on defense. Sam selects Detroit, highlighting its improved offensive creativity and strong start.
NBA First Week Awards with ‪Tyler Britton‬ | Also, JDub, Suggs Injured
Q: Team of the week. Who was your team that you thought was most impressive this week?
Tyler chooses Houston, citing its strong defense, roster depth and early offensive performance. Sam chooses Minnesota, pointing to LaMelo Ball's impact alongside Anthony Edwards and the team's dominant wins.

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 Game Theory

What is Game Theory about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A fast-moving basketball analysis show led by two veterans who dissect NBA moves, rosters, contracts, and drafts with a heavy emphasis on front-office decision-making and analytics. Episodes often feature rapid-fire team-by-team grades, cap-sheet discussions, and scenario planning around free agency, trades, and upcoming drafts, with occasional guest perspectives from established analysts. Noteworthy elements include long-form deep dives balanced by concise verdicts, a data-driven approach to roster construction, and sponsor-read integration that doesn't derail the core basketball beat. The show stands out for blending rigorous evaluation with spirited host banter, making it a good fit for listeners who want actionable insights for front-of... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Game Theory?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Game Theory:

1. Dunc'd On Basketball NBA Podcast
2. Hollinger & Duncan NBA Show - NBA Basketball Podcast
3. RealGM Radio
4. The Kevin O'Connor Show
5. The Zach Lowe Show

How many episodes of Game Theory are there?

Game Theory launched 11 years ago and published 895 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 Game Theory?

Recent guests on Game Theory include:

1. Tyler Britton
2. Ryen Russillo
3. Terrence Ogelsby
4. Eric Nehm
5. Adam Finkelstein
6. Bryce Simon
7. Dave DuForu
8. Law Murray

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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