On The NBA Beat

Attentively bringing the National Basketball Association to you

Author: Aaron Fischman (Page 3 of 10)

Seeking On-Air Contributors

July 15, 2021 / / 0 Comments
Join the Crew

Five years and nine months ago, three fellow basketball nerds and USC alums started this podcast with high hopes and an idea to tell timely and nuanced stories by interviewing the journalists closest to the action, with an emphasis on team beat reporters and national writers covering the league. We’ve (and pardon the switch from third-person to first-) also conducted a number of book interview specials. The founding hosts included Loren Lee Chen, Joshua Fischman and Aaron Fischman, though a few years ago Joshua moved on to focus on other projects. Over the years, we’ve done incredible things, we’ve fallen short in some ways, we’ve learned, we’ve grown, and we’ve had loads of fun along the way, all the while amassing incredible experience and expanding our connections within the basketball journalism community.

((Over 157 episodes, we’ve brought on 110 different guests, and their total Twitter following is approaching 2.37 million. We’ve been blessed to interview some of the very best. While it’s impossible to name all of our favorites, some notable OTNB guests include Alex Kennedy, Jonathan Abrams, Holly MacKenzie, Sekou Smith (He was such a kind soul. Rest in peace.), Tas Melas, Howard Beck, Jake Fischer, Melissa Isaacson, Dave Zirin, Zach Harper, Michael Pina, Lang Whitaker, Kacy Sager, Adam Mares, Kelly Dwyer, Coral Lu, Harrison Faigen, Adena Jones, Seth Rosenthal, Jovan Buha, Michael Levin, Dan Devine, Max Rappaport, Sue Favor, Eric Pincus, Ian Levy, Keith Smith, Sam Vecenie, James Edwards, James Herbert, Katy Winge, John Karalis and Will & Grace co-creator David Kohan. For a comprehensive list, visit our six Interview Central pages sorted by season.)) We’re extremely proud of the show and look forward to its future as a vehicle to tell more illuminating NBA stories via our strong guest interviews.

At this juncture, we hope to transition into emeritus-like roles, where we help coordinate booking and mentor new contributors without being involved in the production every single week. Accordingly, we’re looking for talented, hard-working and hungry journalists who want to do what we’ve done. This opportunity is low-commitment to start and would begin early this offseason, around the start of August. To begin, you neither would need to record every week nor need to worry about audio editing the first show or two on which you appear. Unfortunately, the contributor position will be unpaid until the podcast turns a profit, but it will provide an excellent opportunity to build your portfolio with interview clips and, as mentioned before, gain experience, meet established reporters and show the basketball community and prospective employers what you can do.

For now, we’re looking for four to eight talented and passionate contributors to be involved for a span of 11 weeks, stretching from the start of August through mid-October (just ahead of the 2021-22 regular season). Continue reading

Dan Morgan: “Ben Simmons” Will Be “the Guy Blamed” for 76ers’ Collapse

June 25, 2021 / / 0 Comments

Ben Simmons converted barely more than one-third of his 73 free-throw attempts this postseason, the worst percentage in NBA history for anyone w/ 70+ attempts. (All-Pro-Reels/Wikimedia Commons).

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Dan Morgan of the Process Potables podcast joins Loren and Aaron to break down the Philadelphia 76ers’ unexpected elimination at the hands of the Atlanta Hawks. From Ben Simmons’ offensive disappearing act to Joel Embiid playing through injury to Dan’s faith (or lack thereof) in head coach Doc Rivers to President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey’s offseason task ahead, this episode has everything. Enjoy some excerpts below:

11:57-13:49: “Unfortunately, Philadelphia is one of the most negative markets that I think probably exists in major sports in North America, even when things are going well. People in this city have wanted to tear the team down from before even rising up. … Depending on who you talk to, the process ranged anywhere from three to 37 years, so it’s unclear about when it started, it’s unclear about when it ended and then every season when they lose, it’s “Welp, the process is over.” The process was over three years ago, two years ago, this year. It’s an absolute mess. It’s unfortunate but the reality of it all, honestly, is that the team is in really good shape. It is very unfortunate that they blew an opportunity like this when it seemed like the stars were aligning for them. … It felt like everything was working for the Sixers, and then Trae Young comes in and shuts it all down. But they have Joel Embiid, who if you take out the games played argument was the MVP of the league. You have Ben Simmons who is a 24-year-old transformative player, both sides, should have been the Defensive Player of the Year in my opinion. You have Tobias Harris… They have things they can do. They have promising young players in Matisse Thybulle and Tyrese Maxey…

15:02-16:26: “‘Can they [co]exist, Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid?’ Well, that’s been the question for a long time. They did enough to be the No. 1 seed in an improved East this year, so there’s something to be said for that. I still don’t know that you can say, ‘No, it absolutely can’t work.’ But the problem is year after year, the conversation happens, and of all of Ben Simmons’ shortcomings, this was the worst, and I don’t think it’s close at all. This was far and away one of the most atrocious things I’ve ever seen. … Continue reading

Mike Singer: Stopping Phoenix an “Impossible Equation” for Nuggets

June 13, 2021 / / 0 Comments

Nikola Jokic garnered 91 out of 100 first-place votes to win the first NBA MVP award in Denver Nuggets history. (All-Pro Reels/Wikimedia Commons)


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Nikola Jokic earned 2020-21 MVP honors and was presented with his trophy before Denver’s home Game 3 against the Phoenix Suns. But an epic individual performance from the skilled center was not enough for the team to avoid another double-digit loss, its third in as many games of the series. Facing a 3-0 hole, the Nuggets will need a miracle in order to make NBA history and become the first ever team to come back from such a series deficit. Our guest, Mike Singer of the Denver Post, breaks down how the Nuggets got to this point, with specific emphasis on Denver’s ongoing quest to replace the scoring void left by Jamal Murray’s season-ending knee injury and the team’s inadequate defense against Phoenix’s devastating pick-and-roll attack. Finally, Singer looks ahead to the most pressing offseason priorities looming ahead for the franchise.

8:08-8:33: “If Austin Rivers and Facu Campazzo are not giving you anything offensively, that means that you are not making Chris Paul and Devin Booker work on the defensive end. Therefore they’re saving all their energy for the offensive end and just picking you to pieces. So, talent disparity, but more specifically if you zoom in, it’s in the backcourt.” Continue reading

Pratik Patel: “This Is the Loosest the Bucks Have Been”

June 7, 2021 / / 0 Comments

Defensive specialist P.J. Tucker’s ability to contain Kevin Durant, to the extent that he can, will be something to look for in the Bucks-Nets second-round series (@Bucks/Instagram).

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Despite a dominant performance by reigning, two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nets star James Harden going down with a hamstring injury in the first minute of Game 1, the Milwaukee Bucks were not able to take advantage and secure the first victory in this highly anticipated second-round series. Pratik Patel of ESPN Wisconsin helps us digest that first game, the implications of the injury and what adjustments need to be made for the Bucks to advance. Specifically, he delves into how the Bucks can hope to slow down the supremely gifted Brooklyn offense, the leadership new addition Jrue Holiday provides and how Milwaukee’s supporting cast must step up to support its stars. Finally, we discuss the possible consequences of another disappointing Bucks postseason, coming on the heels of early playoff exits in the prior two seasons as well.

6:04-6:27: “If that truly is a re-aggravation of that hamstring injury, I’d be shocked if he even played in this series, let alone in Game 2. And if that’s the case, obviously it makes things a little bit easier for the Bucks defensively to hone in on two stars rather than three. But if the others for the Nets are going to play as well as they did in Game 1, then it might not matter.”

8:30-8:52: “This is also kinda the loosest the Bucks have been the last couple postseasons. The last two years, they were really pressed. There was a lot looming, a lot of talk about championship window. There was all of the conversation surrounding Giannis’ future and this year just felt different. The entire attitude of the team, the aura around them, the feeling in the locker room, was just different this year.”

Continue reading

Espo on Suns’ “Cinderella Story”: CP3 “Helped Them Grow Up”

May 19, 2021 / / 0 Comments

According to Greg Esposito, veteran point guard Chris Paul has made a splash in his first season in the desert, teaching the young Suns how to compete each and every game (@Suns on Twitter).


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The 2020-21 NBA regular season has officially come to a close, and one of the most pleasant surprises was the year the Phoenix Suns recorded. Suns fans already had reason for optimism after an 8-0 performance in last year’s Orlando bubble, but rarely does a team make the jump so quickly from outside of the playoffs all the way to the No. 2 seed, especially in the crowded Western Conference. We’re joined this episode by Greg “Espo” Esposito of The Solar Panel podcast, who attributes this growth to the veteran leadership of new addition Chris Paul, the coaching of Monty Williams, and a cadre of supporting players who all have effectively filled their roles when their names have been called. Espo also takes us through a few potential playoff scenarios, including a possible first-round matchup with the defending champion Lakers.

Note: This episode was recorded on Sunday, before the Suns were locked into the No. 2 seed and the full seeding in the play-in games was still yet to be determined.

4:54-5:23: “I had them going like 41-31. I thought a 5 or 6 seed was probably where they’d top out. I did not see this coming. And a big part of it was they’ve been healthier than most teams, but I just did not see them being a top two team in the West, finishing with 51 wins and an over .700 winning percentage. It was not in my wildest dreams.”

9:19-10:38: “His [Chris Paul’s] talent is undeniable, but what he brought to this young group was a mindset, an approach to the game. And they did not take any night for granted this year. … And every night, they came out and they played hard. Rarely did they lose back-to-back games. … That’s Chris Paul’s doing. It was like having a head coach on the floor that went completely along with Monty Williams’ philosophy as the coach off of it. And that’s what Chris Paul did for this team. He helped them grow up.” Continue reading

Seth Rosenthal: Randle’s “Rare” Turnaround Fuels Knicks’ “Dream of a Season”

May 11, 2021 / / 0 Comments

Julius Randle’s shooting and playmaking have improved considerably in Year 7 as the University of Kentucky product prepares to lead the Knicks into the playoffs for the first time in eight years (ACDixon).


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Seth Rosenthal, video producer for SB Nation’s Secret Base, makes his triumphant return to discuss his beloved Knicks’ superb season in the face of extremely low expectations coming into the year. They’ve done it through seismic shooting improvements from Julius Randle and second-year guard R.J. Barrett, inspired bench play from Derrick Rose, new head coach Tom Thibodeau’s seamless fit and much more highlight in the episode. Also included: A discussion of where the franchise is headed and where it stands with the playoffs just around the corner.

6:10-6:55: “As a fan of the team who has been stuck in his apartment for the last year, what a thing it’s been to be able to depend on a player and a team like the Knicks to sort of cheer me up at the end of the night. I wasn’t counting on that. And it’s just the way Randle has turned his performance and his career around during this incredibly difficult year has been really inspiring, and it’s meant a lot to me. And it’s hard to fully describe. … I was searching around ESPN Trade Machine for ways to dump him for, like, Cory Joseph like four months ago, five months ago today. And now I’m ready to extend the dude. I’ve never seen anything like it as a Knicks fan, and the timing could not have been better.”

7:58-8:10: “This is what we’ve been waiting for. This is why you take a gamble on a player. This is why you sign him to an initial sub-max contract. He’s 26 years old right now. Pay the dude.” Continue reading

Kevin Cottrell: “Ball Don’t Lie” Reporting “Felt Like a Therapy Session”

May 5, 2021 / / 0 Comments

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NBA TV producer Kevin Cottrell Jr. joins the show to discuss his debut book, Ball Don’t Lie, a collection of detailed conversations with 10 legends of the game.

9:23-9:42: “I never wanted to be the forefront of the book. I wanted to be the writer, but I wanted to share other people’s stories that I thought were interesting. So I thought the quotes were very, very, very important. I didn’t want to really paraphrase anything. I wanted to you to feel what they feel. I wanted you to understand what they saw and how they thought.

13:06-13:40: “Did you know he [Vince Carter] was injured going into the dunk contest? Naw, yeah. So when I found out things like that, I was like, ‘OK, this a perfect story to tell because people might think one thing and they get another.’ Chris Webber, honestly, I don’t think the game we talked about ultimately, him playing for the Sixers, that’s not a game he wanted to even discuss. And I had to explain to him the reason why I wanted that game was ‘cuz people would forget A, that he got traded to the Sixers, and B, his first game was against the team that traded him. That’s just a crazy story.” Continue reading

Jared Weiss: The Nets “Have a Giant Frickin’ Laser Beam”

December 23, 2020 / / 0 Comments

For Jared Weiss, KD and the Brooklyn Nets will have to get by Giannis’ Bucks first. Still, he places them just narrowly behind in terms of their potential to wreak havoc this season (Globalite/Creative Commons).

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Just in time for the start of the season, The Athletic’s Jared Weiss broke down the most striking storylines around the Eastern Conference with an emphasis on the Boston Celtics, whom he covers so closely. Among a slew of timely topics, Jared discusses his favorites to emerge out of the East, Jayson Tatum’s next expected leap, how good the Heat actually are and the new-and-improved Atlanta Hawks who seek to get back into the playoffs after a three-season absence.

*Due to dynamic advertising, time stamps may vary:

5:14-5:40: “I think it was Ryan Ruocco. I’ll give him credit for putting them as…they’re basically like the Death Star. And the Death Star very famously had a major vulnerability that allowed you to blow it up. And so if somebody can nestle right in there between Kyrie (Irving) and KD (Kevin Durant) and make the chemistry fall apart, this team can really, really fall apart . But they’ve got a giant frickin’ laser beam basically when it comes to KD and Kyrie.”

15:57-17:30: “And then in the playoffs, he (Jimmy Butler) flipped the switch. So I do think he’s gonna start performing like a top-10 player in the NBA or even top-five player, like he was last year, when we get to the playoffs. And Bam Adebayo will be better. He’ll hopefully be healthy for the entirety of the run, but Bam Adebayo, as great as he was last year, there’s still a lot of improvement for him to make. He still isn’t even a threat outside of 10 feet. Continue reading

Sekou Smith: “In the West, Everybody is Swinging for the Fences at All Times”

December 18, 2020 / / 0 Comments

Guest Sekou Smith is “juiced” about seeing an unleashed Zion Williamson in his sophomore NBA season (Erik Drost/Creative Commons).

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Sekou Smith of NBA TV, NBA.com and the Hang Time podcast returns to the show to survey the ultra-competitive West, a conference replete with fascinating storylines ahead of the season’s start. For instance, should the Lakers be considered heavy favorites, what’s going on in Houston, which teams are best primed to squeeze into the postseason and what can we expect from the Warriors following a lost ‘19-20 season? Sekou tackles all these Western Conference questions and more, plus he offers a bonus Giannis extension reaction and Aaron delivers a Spurs-themed Sexy Stats segment coming out of the break.

*Due to dynamic advertising, time stamps may vary:

7:09-7:38: “To me, there’s a built in advantage for (head coach) T(yronn) Lue in familiarity that wouldn’t have been there otherwise. He’s the kind of human being – knowing him as well as I do – and kind of coach who’s going to be extremely beneficial to the Clippers as an organization. You’re talking about a guy who’s had experience with the pressures that come with a win-or-else proposition like he had with LeBron.”

11:16-11:53: “They’ve changed the expectation for themselves in the postseason, which if you’ve built the way that they have – which I think is some of the best front-office work, roster building, player development we’ve seen in the past few years – then you’re right where you want to be. You’re in that conversation among the best teams in the Western Conference. You have young stars who are entering into their primes. You have even younger potential stars, like Michael Porter. Jr. – Bol Bol being an even bigger reach but certainly with an upside that is really incomparable when you think about his size and skill set.” Continue reading

Melissa Isaacson on STATE: “We’re Gonna Remember This the Rest of Our Lives”

December 14, 2020 / / 0 Comments

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Longtime journalist Melissa Isaacson, who spent years reporting at the Chicago Tribune and ESPN, among other outlets, appears On the NBA Beat for a discussion devoted to her third book, “State: A Team, a Triumph, a Transformation.” It’s an intensely personal tale documenting her and her teammates’ four years as bona fide high school basketball pioneers. Join Missy, who currently serves on the faculty at Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism, as she details her team’s inspiring journey.

*Due to dynamic advertising, time stamps may vary:

9:14-10:17: “I think that we’ve had our days of incremental progress. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with demanding change. … In the same ways that getting a uniform was a huge step and playing in the boys’ gym was a huge step, and we were patient and we did take each victory as the big thing that it was, I don’t know that patience is something that we should have (today). Not to get all political, but we’ve been waiting for the ERA (Equal Rights Amendment) to pass for some time now, and patience hasn’t done us any good.”

15:42-16:10: “I walked out into this bitterly, bitterly cold, cold, cold night back to the car with my friend Connie, and she said, ‘Miss, you’ve gotta tell our story.’ And it just hit me that I did. And it wasn’t mine to tell. It was our story to tell, but I was gonna be the one to have to tell it. And it was gonna be quite an undertaking, a responsibility, but I knew at that point that I had to tell the story.” Continue reading

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