Rephonic
Artwork for Thinking Basketball

Thinking Basketball

Thinking Basketball
NBA
NBA Playoffs
Oklahoma City Thunder
Victor Wembanyama
Boston Celtics
Basketball
Lebron James
Luka Doncic
Cleveland Cavaliers
Golden State Warriors
New York Knicks
Denver Nuggets
Nikola Jokic
San Antonio Spurs
Anthony Davis
Philadelphia 76ers
Chet Holmgren
Joel Embiid
Kevin Durant
James Harden

Ben Taylor, creator of the popular YouTube channel Thinking Basketball (and author of Thinking Basketball the book) goes deeper on basketball analysis, history, philosophy and theory with co-host Cody Houdek, and a variety of guests ranging from journalists to former players. Ideal for fans interested in Xs and Os, stats & analytics, coaching and team strategy and adjustments, in-depth breakdowns ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes380Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Sports

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Thinking Basketball

Latest Episodes

We discuss the changing landscape and value of the NBA draft in the 21st century, valuing prospects differently, development arcs (eg Kyle Lowry) and some of the most interesting 2026 draftees. Support at ⁠www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball and Sport... more

We reflect on the unprecedented New York run and close to the Finals, but first, thoughts on the Spurs incredibly unique season, Victor Wembanyama and more. Support at ⁠www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball and SportsBusinessClassroom.com Code THINKINGB... more

The OG tip! We react to the biggest comeback in Finals history. What happened to the Spurs? Is the series over? How did the Knicks come back from 29 points in Game 4 to take a 3-1 Finals lead? Support at ⁠www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball

The Athletic’s Fred Katz tries to help explain New York’s magical run and winning streak in the playoffs. What’s changed on offense, defense, with Karl-Anthony Towns, Landry Shamet, and more. Support at ⁠www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball and SportsB... 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.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

RealGM Radio
RealGM RadioRealGM NBA Radio with Wes Goldberg

Recent Guests

Fred Katz
Staff writer covering Knicks for The Athletic
The Athletic
Episode: #379: The Knicks magical run
Jordan Dyer
Guest, YouTube creator known as JD on JD YouTube
JD (YouTube)
Episode: #372: LeBron’s comeback! Celtics War & Playoff surprises
Jordan Sperber
Video content creator and expert in college basketball analysis
Hoopvision68
Episode: #351: NBA trends (and college comps) with Jordan Sperber
Ahmed Jama
Basketball analyst and guest on the podcast
Swish Theory
Episode: #279: 2024 NBA Draft (post Summer League)
Dave DuFour
Basketball analyst and commentator
Episode: #249: OG's unstoppable Knicks & modern offensive rebounding

Hosts

Ben Taylor
Host and creator of Thinking Basketball; primary voice on basketball analysis, historical context, and theory.
Cody Houdek
Co-host and analyst; focuses on on-court execution, player roles, and pragmatic basketball insights.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 6.2k ratings
  • Good show

    Great insights. Great show. But really you think the nuggets just ran into a bad matchup and not a better team!? The wolves were down their best player and their 5th best player and won easily. The wolves beat them in a series two years ago. The wolves went further than them last year. The wolves only lost a series to the nuggets when Jaden and Naz were out in 22(?). How is that not just a better team beat the nuggets…? You guys are good but that’s kind of crazy.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    wax cramer
    United States24 days ago
  • The GOAT podcast

    I started listening to the podcast 5 years ago when I was about 11 years old and have since listened to nearly every episode. I absolutely love the pod, as well as Ben and Cody. Because Im not working yet I haven’t subscribed to the patreon and sadly only get one episode a week. Apart from that the show is perfect. This is by far the best podcast ever!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Minuunim
    Germany6 months ago
  • Really smart guys

    So refreshing to find a bkb pod run by guys who understand the game, what makes a player valuable (or wildly overrated), and are genuinely curious and open-minded enough to keep learning.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Frog Chris
    United States9 months ago
  • Muy Bien

    This podcast proves there's more than one way to skin a cat when it comes to basketball analysis

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    WilliamTheHermit
    United States9 months ago
  • Fave Ball Pod

    I gotta pay attention for this one. Cody was a great add. They don’t do interview pods often but they’re great.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Amityville646
    United States9 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners value long-form, nuanced discussions over flashy hot takes.
Some critique occasional pacing but respect the depth and clarity when topics click.
Many appreciate the pairing of historical context with modern analytics.
Fans praise the thoughtful, data-driven approach to basketball analysis.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#209
Canada/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#195
Italy/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#30
Philippines/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#49
South Korea/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#69
India/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#85
Russia/Sports

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#379: The Knicks magical run
Q: And I think that's a perfect segue into probably my first huge question for you, Fred, which is like, where has this been all year? Has this always been here?
Confidence and schematic cohesion have grown together; the Knicks have tight rotations, a clear offensive identity that blends Brunson's playmaking with a fluid, reading-based system, and a defensive stance that has steadily improved with trust and communication across the lineup.
#372: LeBron’s comeback! Celtics War & Playoff surprises
Q: What impact does the Celtics' center situation have on their playoff strategy?
The choice between dropping Vucevic-like centers or using a more dynamic, space-generating setup with a center like Kada affects spacing, drive lanes, and how aggressively they hunt matchups, with Brown stepping up when spacing opens up and Tatum sharing more playmaking responsibilities.
#360: The value of great plays, the Hornets are good? & Best offensive players Part 3
Q: What are your thoughts on the Murray vs. Maxi shooting comparison?
Both players are similar in terms of shooting percentages, but their shot variety and contest levels differ significantly.
#359: Who pairs WITH ball-dominant stars & Pistons energy!
Q: How do you feel about the pairing of Luka Dončić with certain big men?
While players like Jokic are great, sometimes other styles that allow for more off-ball movement and cutting might yield better synergy.
#359: Who pairs WITH ball-dominant stars & Pistons energy!
Q: Do you think there's an upper limit for players bringing energy on the court?
Yes, it's important to balance the intensity of players without crossing into chaos that disrupts team flow.

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 Thinking Basketball

What is Thinking Basketball about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two hosts dive deep into basketball analysis, covering Xs and Os, strategy, coaching philosophy, and player evaluation with data-driven rigor. Episodes frequently dissect playoff series, offensive and defensive schemes, and the evolving roles of stars and role players, blending historical context with modern analytics. A standout throughline is how teams win by adjusting lineups, tempo, and schemes, often using vivid game-and-film comparisons and a touch of humor to keep complex concepts accessible. The format tends to emphasize careful reasoning, long-form discussions, and tangible takeaways for listeners who want actionable basketball insight or production-style storytelling for sponsorships and guest appearances.

Where can I find podcast stats for Thinking Basketball?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Thinking Basketball. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Thinking Basketball and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Thinking Basketball get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Thinking Basketball, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Thinking Basketball?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Thinking Basketball, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Thinking Basketball have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Thinking Basketball has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Thinking Basketball?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Thinking Basketball:

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

How many episodes of Thinking Basketball are there?

Thinking Basketball launched 8 years ago and published 380 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Thinking Basketball?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Thinking Basketball?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Thinking Basketball from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Thinking Basketball?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Thinking Basketball. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Thinking Basketball?

Recent guests on Thinking Basketball include:

1. Fred Katz
2. Jordan Dyer
3. Jordan Sperber
4. Ahmed Jama
5. Dave DuFour

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days