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Thinking Basketball

Thinking Basketball
NBA
NBA Playoffs
Oklahoma City Thunder
Boston Celtics
Victor Wembanyama
Basketball
Lebron James
Luka Doncic
Cleveland Cavaliers
Golden State Warriors
Denver Nuggets
Nikola Jokic
Anthony Davis
Philadelphia 76ers
Chet Holmgren
Joel Embiid
Kevin Durant
James Harden
Rudy Gobert
Tyrese Maxey

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes376Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Sports

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Artwork for Thinking Basketball

Latest Episodes

We preview the 2026 NBA Finals, matchup dynamics, expectations and more. But first, we reflect on the classic Western Conference Finals and some of the reactions to the Thunder and Chet Holmgren. Support at ⁠www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball and Spo... more

What caused Wemby to have such a poor Game 5? We discuss the incredible back and forth chess match, Oklahoma City’s latest adjustments and more in this classic series, plus New York makes NBA Finals and Ben stays at a Holiday Inn. Support at ⁠www.pat... more

How good is Victor Wembanyama? Is he the best defender ever? We discuss the incredible Thunder-Spurs series, Dylan Harper, the Game 1 classic in Oklahoma City and more. Support at ⁠www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball and SportsBusinessClassroom.com Co... more

We discuss the 2nd round, the incredible physicality, the importance of off-the-dribble creators, Wolves-Spurs, the Thunder dominance and a flu game. Support at ⁠www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball and SportsBusinessClassroom.com Code THINKINGBASKETBA... 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

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
Dave Dufour
Analyst and contributor for The Athletic
The Athletic
Episode: #350: Slop Ball rules & Are the surprise teams for real?
Ahmed Jama
Basketball analyst and guest on the podcast
Swish Theory
Episode: #279: 2024 NBA Draft (post Summer League)

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
  • 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 States8 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 States8 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 States8 months ago
  • Greatest peaks

    Please bring back the greatest peaks on youtube!! Big fan of the podcast on apple music and YouTube. I would love for you guys to bring back the greatest peaks during the downtime of the boring offseason as other basketball podcasts struggle to find topics to talk about and i get tired of hearing the same things from other podcasts.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    wdarren20
    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
#79
Chile/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#115
Philippines/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#121
South Korea/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#125
Poland/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#164
Taiwan/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#165
South Africa/Sports

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#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.
#359: Who pairs WITH ball-dominant stars & Pistons energy!
Q: Who are the best players to pair next to another ball dominant player?
This includes players like Jamal Murray and Tyrese Maxey who can function well in catch and shoot scenarios and be effective off-ball.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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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.

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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. RealGM Radio
5. The Zach Lowe Show

How many episodes of Thinking Basketball are there?

Thinking Basketball launched 8 years ago and published 376 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 Thinking Basketball?

Recent guests on Thinking Basketball include:

1. Jordan Dyer
2. Jordan Sperber
3. Dave Dufour
4. Ahmed Jama

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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