Best The MidRange Theory Podcasts (2025)

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#347: AR's ascension, Cade's passing & Point Jrue 53:17

Play Pause

7d ago53:17

53:17

We discuss the Lakers resilience and Austin Reave’s place among the 2021 draft class, Cade Cunningham’s passing and Jrue Holiday’s point guard resurgence in Portland. Support at ⁠www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball

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#346: Seriously, how good is Wemby? Plus Week 1 thoughts 49:01

14d ago49:01

49:01

We discuss the incredible start from Victor Wembanyama, and where he fits into the NBA hierarchy right now. Plus the teams and players that jumped out to us in week 1, including the Warriors, Blazers, 76ers, Magic and Pelicans. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball

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#345: 2026 Season preview 1:29:45

21d ago1:29:45

1:29:45

We preview the 2025-26 NBA season. We discuss Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs, the enormous Denver Nugget off season, teams that could win the west, the Clippers/Warriors age conundrum, Franz Wagner's lack of shooting, the Rockets and Knicks new offenses and more. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball…

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21st century peaks Ep 14 | Rankings & Lessons from the series 1:28:57

1M ago1:28:57

1:28:57

What were the big themes and takeaways we had from this series? What specifically players changed in our minds and why? We reflect on the series, rankings in general, p layer synergies and more before discussing our best offensive players and overall players from the series. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball Bubble : Jimmy Butler, Paul …

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21st century peaks Ep 13 | The mind-blowing value of gravity 1:37:24

1M ago1:37:24

1:37:24

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21st century peaks Ep 12 | The 3 LeBrody problem 1:26:53

1M ago1:26:53

1:26:53

We look at, perhaps, the 3 best peaks of the 21st century, all from slightly different time periods, environments and circumstances. How does an “ideal” or non ideal environment influence how we evaluate a mega peak? How do we account for era changes that influence spacing and the proliferation of shooters? Can anyone solve the 3 LeBrody problem? S…

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21st century peaks Ep 11 | Judging playoff value beyond scoring 1:45:56

2M ago1:45:56

1:45:56

How do we make sense of small samples and outlier signals in the playoffs? How much should specifically good or bad matchups influence playoff “performance?” We discuss some titanic big men, their coaches, environments, teammate synergies and how much we should care about their individual scoring numbers in the postseason. Support at www.patreon.co…

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21st century peaks Ep 10 | The Kings of downhill basket pressure 1:37:36

2M ago1:37:36

1:37:36

We discuss two of the most dominant downhill penetrators in league history, and the critical ways in which they're different. First, the strengths and weaknesses of Giannis's battering ram approach and how that influences his playoff impact. Then, Dwyane Wade's unique balance between slicing through traffic and passing through traffic. Support at w…

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21st century peaks Ep 9 | Mega Hybrid scorers 1:13:18

2M ago1:13:18

1:13:18

Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant were both voluminous score on and off-ball. We discuss Durant's playoff scoring, the impact of his gravity, his floor-raising in Oklahoma City and his more mobile Thunder defense. Then, we upend Kobe Bryant's “inefficiency” narrative, contextualize his problem-solving and huge scoring numbers without dominating the ball…

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21st century peaks Ep 8 | Floor generals, “engines” & 2-way Midrangers 1:28:15

2M ago1:28:15

1:28:15

We tackle Chris Paul's “floor general” approach to offense and the pros and cons of how he pressured defenses (and his turnover suppression). Also, how did he change defensively from 2008 in New Orleans to his Clippers tenure? Where does he rank among small defenders? Then we make sense of Kawhi Leonard's historic scoring numbers and shooting, and …

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21st century peaks Ep 7 | The perfect “quarterback?” & the 7-foot unicorn 1:12:00

2M ago1:12:00

1:12:00

Steve Nash was an early “heliocentric” star. Dirk Nowitzki was a big man who played on the perimeter and off the ball. We discuss team building around them, how big of a concern their defense is, exactly how and why they imparted so much value on an offense and whether they were beneficiaries of a fortunate system. Support at www.patreon.com/thinki…

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21st century peaks Ep 6 | Global impact and modern midrange isolation 1:19:35

2M ago1:19:35

1:19:35

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Joel Embiid are all-time level scorers with a ton of midrange shots. We discuss their unique (and concerning?) geometric footprints on the entire team, the concept of influencing stats for the entire team, and then the conundrum of evaluating Anthony Davis. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball…

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21st century peaks Ep 5 | The Tracy McGrady enigma & Playoff Luka 1:12:23

3M ago1:12:23

1:12:23

Would Shaq's Lakers have won 3 titles with T-Mac instead of Kobe Bryant? We tackle this question and more discussing Tracy McGrady's magical but brief peak in 2003. Then we discuss Luka Doncic's improvements in the playoffs, how hard he is to scheme for, and he polarizing defense. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball…

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21st century peaks Ep 4 | Flexibility & gaining/losing value in the playoffs 1:15:36

3M ago1:15:36

1:15:36

Harden and Ginobili had nearly opposite roles and box score stats. We discuss Manu's underrated defense, his role filling in the gaps in San Antonio, what to make of his more pedestrian numbers, and then dissect James Harden's offensive environment with Mike D'Antoni and what changes with him from the regular season to the playoffs and the tradeoff…

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21st century peaks Ep 3 | A+ defenders with unique (but flawed) offense 1:22:08

3M ago1:22:08

1:22:08

Draymond Green and Dwight Howard were defensive superstars, but how good were they offensively? We discuss their fairly unique roles, and the progressive context of each player in Golden State and Orlando respectively, the “system player” idea and more. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball

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21st century peaks Ep 2 | Can a weak scoring guard be a superstar? 1:02:35

3M ago1:02:35

1:02:35

Jason Kidd was one of the best defensive point guards ever, but what about his lower scoring offense? How valuable is his pace and passing despite his problematic shooting reputation? How valuable are all of the little things he does and guard rebounding? We also discuss Jayson Tatum's lack of superpowers. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketb…

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21st century peaks Ep 1 | Honorable Mentions 1:34:27

4M ago1:34:27

1:34:27

What player peaked the highest in the 21st century? We kickoff our 25 best peaks of the 21st century by discussing all the players who didn't quite make the list (and many who could have). Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball.

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#330: 2025 free agency reactions 50:46

4M ago50:46

50:46

We discuss the major moves of the free agency and trade seasons, from Kevin Durant's trade to the Bane Magic to the Bucks wave and trade. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball. For 50% at FACTOR: www.factormeals.com/GREATDAY50OFF and use code GREATDAY50OFF

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#329: Top-10 players of 2025 1:38:09

4M ago1:38:09

1:38:09

Who were the best players in 2025? First, we discuss all players as if they were healthy and ready for a playoff run, and then we trying to balance a year of chaotic injuries and semi-healthy players. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball and sign up at SportsBusinessClassroom.com with code THINKINGBASKETBALL for $300 off.…

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#328: The legendary Pacers & the Thunder championship 1:05:22

5M ago1:05:22

1:05:22

We discuss the Pacers egalitarian “ecosystem” that nearly stunned the NBA world, and the Thunder's unique team construction that led to the 2025 championship. We also discuss OKC's defense and where it ranks historically, along with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Pascal Siakam and Tyrese Haliburton. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball and get 5…

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#327: Indy's chances, OKC hatred & SGA's paradigm 1:11:44

5M ago1:11:44

1:11:44

The first two games of the NBA Finals and the Pacers prospects. Also, OKC's best defender, their historical versatility, why fans hate them and the complaints about their “special” officiating, and how Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is introducing a unique paradigm.

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#326: Final Preview + All-Playoff teams 1:09:44

5M ago1:09:44

1:09:44

Does this Finals represent the future of the sport? Where does this Pacers run rank historically? We discuss this along with our All-playoff teams and a preview of the Thunder-Indiana Finals. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball

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#325 What we've learned in the 2025 Playoffs 1:13:04

6M ago1:13:04

1:13:04

What players are we higher on and lower on after seeing them in the 2025 NBA playoffs? What concepts or trends have emerged in these playoffs? From offensive rebounding to zones, we discuss what we've learned so far. Support atwww.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball Sign up at SportsBusinessClassroom.com with code THINKINGBASKETBALL for $300 off.…

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#324: Jokic-Caruso war & Conference Finals previews 1:14:49

6M ago1:14:49

1:14:49

We preview the Eastern and Western Conference Finals, but first, a look back at OKC-DEN. Do we feel differently about different players after the series? How did the Nikola Jokic vs. OKC defense battle shake out? And Ben rants about responses to the physical officiating in the playoffs. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball. For 50% at FACT…

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#323: Rob Mahoney on DEN-OKC! Playoffs vs Regular Season 1:09:33

6M ago1:09:33

1:09:33

Rob Mahoney of the Ringer is here to discuss the incredible Thunder-Nuggets series before Game 7, how good the play has been, Playoff Jamal Murray, rim finishing differences and coaching moves and Jalen Williams. We also hit on the importance of the regular season versus playoffs today and how today's league could break the traditional championship…

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#322: Themes of the 2025 NBA Playoffs 1:16:13

6M ago1:16:13

1:16:13

Why are defenses defending stars so well? Why are rotations so short for some teams? We discuss the key themes and trends from the playoffs, from physicality to defensive coverages to the importance of versatile “playoff players” like Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges. Also, the best defensive game ever and is there a star who could beat …

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#321: The MVPs can't score! Zones are everywhere! The Cavs & Celtics have life! 1:08:30

6M ago1:08:30

1:08:30

Xs and Os expert Mike De La Rosa returns to break down the latest games of the week, including the insane Nuggets-Thunder OT thriller in Game 3 and how they are defending the MVPs so well. We also discuss Donovan Mitchell's explosions, the Cavs huge zone move, and the Celtics winning in New York. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball…

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#320: The 2nd round is crazier than the first! 1:10:49

6M ago1:10:49

1:10:49

Who should be most worried among Cleveland, Boston and Oklahoma City? Is there something to Shail Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams bumpy offensive starts? Do the Celtics take too many 3s? Do the Pacers have the matchup edge? We break down all 3 top seed losses and then preview (mini) Minnesota and Golden State. Support at www.patreon.com/think…

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#319: 3 West finishes + mini East previews 50:42

6M ago50:42

50:42

ESPN's Bobby Marks joins to discuss the end of the Western Conference 1st round: The Wolves wrapping the Lakers, the Clippers-Nuggets going to the brink behind more Ty Lue magic, and the Warriors trying to survive the Rockets. Support atwww.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball Sign up at SportsBusinessClassroom.com with code THINKINGBASKETBALL for $300 o…

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#318: The best 1st round ever? 1:13:25

7M ago1:13:25

1:13:25

We discuss the incredible physicality, wild Rockets-Warriors series, the latest in the Nuggets-Clippers classic, the importance of “playoff players” and depth, some Lakers-Wolves and more! Bonus: who has the most “inelastic” move in NBA history? Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball Sign up at SportsBusinessClassroom.com with code THINKINGB…

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#317: Week 1 emergency reactions! 59:14

7M ago59:14

59:14

Our Xs and Os expert Mike De La Rosa joins for an emergency episode on the first week of the 2025 NBA playoffs: Lakers-Wolves, Clippers-Nuggets, Knicks-Pistons and do the Bucks have any life against the Pacers? Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketballSign up at SportsBusinessClassroom.com with code THINKINGBASKETBALL for $300 off.…

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#316: Playoff opening weekend! 1:11:24

7M ago1:11:24

1:11:24

Clippers-Nuggets! Rockets-Warriors! Lakers-Wolves! What an opening weekend of the playoffs! We also discuss Knicks-Pistons, and a brief acknowledgement of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks. Will Cody make it through the show without saying Andrew Nembhard or Jrue Holiday? Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball Sig…

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#315: 2025 Playoff Preview 1:18:01

7M ago1:18:01

1:18:01

We focus on three (potentially) huge series in the Western Conference, along with some light discussion about the potentially competitive Eastern Conference series in the 1st round. With @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball Sign up at SportsBusinessClassroom.com with code THINKINGBASKETBALL for $300 off.…

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#314: The 2025 Thinkies (Defensive Awards) 1:04:11

7M ago1:04:11

1:04:11

It's time for our 7th annual Defensive Awards – we discuss the best defenders in the NBA across categories like best paint protector, best perimeter helper, best point of attack defender and more. With @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball Sign up at SportsBusinessClassroom.com with code THINKINGBASKETBALL for $300 off.…

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#313: The Giannis Offense + “Top-10” shooters 1:00:20

7M ago1:00:20

1:00:20

We discuss the Giannis Offense, Zion Williamson and more, and then Cody “presents” his top-32 shooters (or is it April's Fools?) as we think about spacing effects of different shooting skills in today's game. With @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball

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#312: What's real in March?? 1:07:55

8M ago1:07:55

1:07:55

We discuss the exploding (and crumbling) teams in March, players coming out of nowhere like Quentin Grimes and Josh Giddey, tanking, the up and down Lakers and more. With @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball

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#311: How good is Shai historically? 1:09:47

8M ago1:09:47

1:09:47

What exactly has made Shai Gilgeous-Alexander the MVP favorite this season, and where does he stack up historically with some of his skills? We discuss the great MVP race between Shai and Jokic, the all-time seasons their having, and more. But first, the rise of Quentin Grimes and misinformation on NBA Reddit! With @codyhoudek. Support at www.patre…

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#310: The best offensive players in the NBA 1:37:02

8M ago1:37:02

1:37:02

Who is the best first option in the league? The best second option? We discuss the top offensive players right now from off-ball big men who space the floor to more heliocentric options who might not fit well with other players. With @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball

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#309: Power ranking the top challengers 1:10:29

8M ago1:10:29

1:10:29

Ben thinks his camera is flipped, there are 2 new teams in a “dangerous” tier to challenge the Inner Circle title contenders, and Cody and Ben have a big disagreement about a lurking lower seed. But first, the aesthetics of today's offenses and the Celtics. With @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball Sign up at CBAMastery.com wi…

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#308: Depth & the crazy history of trading 3 1st round picks 1:19:19

9M ago1:19:19

1:19:19

We discuss the importance of depth in today's NBA, focusing on the Knicks, Lakers and Suns, and then break down the incredible history of trading 3 first round picks, and how that high-risk, high-reward move can build a dynasty or completely crater a team's depth. With @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball Become a CBA expert: …

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#307: Great Debates | Jalens vs. Jaylen 1:14:27

9M ago1:14:27

1:14:27

Who is the best Jalen in the league right now!? We debate Jaylen Brown, Jalen Williams and Jalen Brunson – what are their strengths and weaknesses? How do they compare offensively and defensively? With @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball

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#306: Trade deadline fit 1:07:57

9M ago1:07:57

1:07:57

How will these new teams fit together after the wild trade deadline? Are the Lakers dangerous? Are the Mavs? We discuss the Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis blockbuster, along with De'Aaron Fox in San Antonio next to Wemby, Jimmy Butler in Golden State, Zach Lavine in Sacramento, Brandon Ingram in Toronto, and the biggest move of all, Kyle Kuzma to the Bu…

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#305: 2025 Sub All-Stars 1:36:55

9M ago1:36:55

1:36:55

It's time for our 7th annual Sub All-Star team – who are the best players in the next tier AFTER the All-Stars. Who straddles the line and makes the actual All-Star team? Who were the toughest omissions? And what position of player is deeper than ever? With @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball…

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#304: How good is OKC? How good is Shai!? 1:09:44

10M ago1:09:44

1:09:44

The Oklahoma City Thunder currently have one of the best point differentials ever. How good is their defense? How good are they overall? And how well is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander playing right now? Before that, we discuss teams suddenly filling up with new (injured) players like the Clippers and Kawhi Leonard. With @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon…

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#303: LaMelo's empty stats & Cutting-edge offenses 1:06:15

10M ago1:06:15

1:06:15

What are the best offenses doing differently this year? What makes teams like Cleveland, Memphis and OKC so hard to guard? Before that, we address the “non winning” of style of play for LaMelo Ball and the idea of empty stats. Bonus questions on the Thompson Twins and Evan Mobley vs. Jaren Jackson. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball…

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#302: January Battle Royale & 2 surging teams 1:12:28

10M ago1:12:28

1:12:28

We discuss the hottest teams in the last month, the standings without bottom-feeding, whether the Nuggets still have life and the red hot Indiana Pacers led by...Andrew Nembhard? With @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball DONATE to LA Fire relief: https://www.directrelief.org

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#301: Victor Wembanyama's Year 2 Leap 1:08:06

10M ago1:08:06

1:08:06

Wemby Hour! Is he the best defender in the league now? Where does he rank as an offensive player? How good is his passing? And where does this year compare to other 2nd year 21-year old seasons on the 3-point era? With @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball

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#300: Power Rankings | The “playoff-ness” of the Cavs, Grizz and Knicks 1:10:27

11M ago1:10:27

1:10:27

Are the Cavs an inner-circle contender? Where do other hot teams fall in the hierarchy? We discuss some of the potential playoff issues (or strengths) of teams not located in Boston or Oklahoma City. With @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball

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#299: 25 under 25 draft Part 2 1:24:25

11M ago1:24:25

1:24:25

After a rousing Part 1, we return to discuss the rest of the best young players in the NBA. Who do we decide to change the order one? Will one team dominant the remaining picks? Will Ben ever be happy with the 25th pick? With @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball

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#298: 25 under 25 draft Part 1 1:12:16

11M ago1:12:16

1:12:16

Who are the best young players in the NBA right now? It's time for our annual under 25 draft, where we pick our way through the top under 25 players in league after a third of a new season. With @codyhoudek. Support at www.patreon.com/thinkingbasketball