The Zach Lowe Show, All The Smoke, and The Ringer NBA Show currently stand as the top NBA podcasts, blending analysis, insider access, and engaging personalities that keep basketball fans coming back for more.
I have ranked these podcasts based on audience reach, content quality, expert analysis, and listener engagement, considering how effectively they deliver breaking news, strategic insights, and behind-the-scenes NBA stories.
Ready to enhance your basketball knowledge? Let’s get into the top NBA podcasts of 2025!
Who Has The Best NBA Podcast?
After joining The Ringer in early 2025 following his departure from ESPN, Zach Lowe has quickly established The Zach Lowe Show as the most essential NBA podcast, combining his renowned analytical depth with engaging interviews and accessible basketball insights that appeal to casual and hardcore fans alike.
10 Best NBA Podcasts You Shouldn’t Miss in 2025
| Rank | Name Of The Podcast | Host | Popular Episode |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Zach Lowe Show | Zach Lowe | Western Conference Playoff Race |
| 2 | All The Smoke | Matt Barnes & Stephen Jackson | Kobe Bryant Tribute |
| 3 | The Ringer NBA Show | Logan Murdock, Raja Bell & Howard Beck | NBA Trade Deadline Special |
| 4 | Mind The Game | LeBron James & JJ Redick | Basketball IQ Breakdown |
| 5 | The Draymond Green Show | Draymond Green & Baron Davis | Stephen Curry Playoff Analysis |
| 6 | The Woj Pod | Adrian Wojnarowski | Breaking News Reactions |
| 7 | Thinking Basketball | Ben Taylor & Cody Houdek | Advanced Analytics Explained |
| 8 | NBA Today | Malika Andrews & Team | Post-Game Breakdowns |
| 9 | The Bill Simmons Podcast | Bill Simmons | NBA Draft Special |
| 10 | Dunc’d On Basketball | Nate Duncan & Danny Leroux | Salary Cap Breakdown |
To help you navigate the top basketball podcasts in 2025, let us discuss each of these NBA podcasts in detail:
1. The Lowe Post (Zach Lowe)
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Avg. Length Of Each Episode | 86 minutes |
| Apple Rating | 4.8/5 |
| Producer | The Ringer |
| Genre | NBA Analysis & Interviews |
| Description | Elite analytical breakdowns with engaging personality |
| Link To The Pod | Apple |
Zach Lowe brings his trademark analytical depth to this podcast with a unique ability to make complex basketball concepts accessible.
His gift for casual but insightful communication helps listeners understand sophisticated strategic elements like screens and defensive rotations without visual aids, while maintaining an engaging personality that balances serious analysis with enjoyable conversation.
2. All The Smoke (Matt Barnes & Stephen Jackson)
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Avg. Length Of Each Episode | 90 minutes |
| Apple Rating | 4.8/5 |
| Producer | Showtime Basketball |
| Genre | Player Perspective & Interviews |
| Description | Unfiltered player conversations and NBA storytelling |
| Link To The Pod | Apple |
All The Smoke has established itself as the premier player-hosted podcast with over 395 million YouTube views since its 2019 launch.
Former NBA champions Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson leverage their player relationships to create compelling interviews where guests feel comfortable sharing colorful stories that wouldn’t emerge in traditional media settings.
3. The Ringer NBA Show (Logan Murdock, Raja Bell & Howard Beck)
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Avg. Length Of Each Episode | 75 minutes |
| Apple Rating | 4.7/5 |
| Producer | The Ringer |
| Genre | NBA News & Analysis |
| Description | Comprehensive coverage with multiple weekly formats |
| Link To The Pod | Spotify, Apple |
The Ringer NBA Show ranks among the most influential basketball podcasts with over 130,000 Twitter followers in 2025.
Hosted by Logan Murdock, Raja Bell, and Howard Beck, the show delivers multiple formats weekly, covering everything from breaking news and trade analysis to in-depth player evaluations and team-building strategies.
4. Mind The Game (LeBron James & JJ Redick)
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Avg. Length Of Each Episode | 70 minutes |
| Apple Rating | 4.9/5 |
| Producer | Uninterrupted |
| Genre | Basketball Strategy & Player Insight |
| Description | Elite basketball minds breaking down the game |
| Link To The Pod | Spotify, Apple |
Launched to massive success, Mind The Game focuses specifically on basketball X’s and O’s, with NBA superstar LeBron James and former sharpshooter JJ Redick diving deep into the strategic elements of basketball.
Their debut episode generated over 1.3 million views as they dissected the qualities of great basketball players and game strategy.
5. The Draymond Green Show (Draymond Green & Baron Davis)
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Avg. Length Of Each Episode | 65 minutes |
| Apple Rating | 4.7/5 |
| Producer | The Volume Sports |
| Genre | Current Player Perspective |
| Description | Unfiltered commentary from a championship player |
| Link To The Pod | Spotify, Apple |
Four-time NBA champion Draymond Green joined forces with two-time All-Star Baron Davis in 2025 to create basketball’s most raw and entertaining podcast.
Delivering unfiltered takes on the biggest NBA stories, playoff breakdowns, and behind-the-scenes Golden State Warriors insights, the show features never-before-heard stories from both on and off the court.
6. The Woj Pod (Adrian Wojnarowski)
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Avg. Length Of Each Episode | 32 minutes |
| Apple Rating | 4.3/5 |
| Producer | ESPN |
| Genre | Breaking News & Analysis |
| Description | First source for NBA scoops and insider info |
| Link To The Pod | Spotify, Apple |
Adrian Wojnarowski, renowned for his storytelling and ability to get to the heart of a story, hosts insightful interviews with players, coaches, and executives. Beyond covering fan questions, he excels at humanizing his guests through personal narratives that reveal the people behind the basketball personas.
7. Thinking Basketball (Ben Taylor & Cody Houdek)
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Avg. Length Of Each Episode | 68 minutes |
| Apple Rating | 4.8/5 |
| Producer | Independent |
| Genre | Advanced Analytics & Basketball Theory |
| Description | Deep dive into basketball philosophy and strategy |
| Link To The Pod | Spotify, Apple |
Ben Taylor’s Thinking Basketball transcends typical sports talk by exploring the philosophy and theory behind modern basketball strategies. Alongside co-host Cody Houdek, Taylor examines everything from play designs to statistical trends, offering listeners a sophisticated understanding of coaching strategies and player performance metrics.
8. NBA Today (Malika Andrews & Team)
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Avg. Length Of Each Episode | 51 minutes |
| Apple Rating | 3.8/5 |
| Producer | ESPN |
| Genre | Daily NBA Coverage |
| Description | Comprehensive daily updates on all things NBA |
| Link To The Pod | Spotify, Apple |
NBA Today delivers comprehensive daily coverage with host Malika Andrews joined by a vibrant cast including analysts Vince Carter, Chiney Ogwumike, and Kendrick Perkins, plus senior writer Zach Lowe.
The show brings together ESPN’s top basketball minds to offer distinct perspectives on games, breaking news, and athlete interviews.
9. The Bill Simmons Podcast (Bill Simmons)
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Avg. Length Of Each Episode | 90 minutes |
| Apple Rating | 4.6/5 |
| Producer | The Ringer |
| Genre | NBA Commentary & Pop Culture |
| Description | Basketball analysis with cultural references and humor |
| Link To The Pod | Apple |
Consistently ranked among the top basketball podcasts of 2025, Bill Simmons offers a unique blend of NBA analysis and pop culture commentary.
With his extensive basketball knowledge and engaging personality, Simmons provides insights and historical perspectives that have earned him recognition as the NBA’s most prominent historian with unrivaled game recall ability.
10. Dunc’d On Basketball (Nate Duncan & Danny Leroux)
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Avg. Length Of Each Episode | 90 minutes |
| Apple Rating | 4.7/5 |
| Producer | Independent |
| Genre | Deep Analysis & Salary Cap Expertise |
| Description | Most detailed NBA podcast for serious fans |
| Link To The Pod | Apple |
Nate Duncan and Danny Leroux operate the most serious, analytics-focused NBA podcast with remarkable consistency, producing 90-minute episodes five times weekly from October through June.
Their commitment to detailed game breakdowns, salary cap analysis, and player scouting makes this an essential listen for fans seeking substantive basketball content beyond casual commentary.
NBA Podcasts for Daily Updates
For fans who can’t miss a single dribble of NBA news, these daily shows deliver fresh content throughout the week:
| Podcast Name | Update Schedule | Focus Area | Host |
|---|---|---|---|
| NBA Today | Weekdays | League-wide Coverage | Malika Andrews |
| No Dunks | Daily | Games & Headlines | J.E. Skeets & Team |
| Dunc’d On Basketball | 5x Weekly | Game Analysis | Nate Duncan & Danny Leroux |
| The Ringer NBA Show | Multiple Weekly | Rotating NBA Topics | Various Hosts |
| Locked On NBA | Weekdays | League-wide News | Various Hosts |
These daily NBA podcasts ensure you’re never out of the loop on basketball developments.
From in-depth game breakdowns and player interviews to fantasy basketball advice and injury updates, daily NBA podcasts provide continuous coverage with rapid turnaround on developing stories, making them essential for fans who need constant basketball content.
NBA Podcasts Reddit: What Fans Are Saying?
Reddit’s basketball communities offer unfiltered opinions on what makes certain NBA podcasts stand out.
NBA player-hosted podcasts have become a major part of the basketball media ecosystem, with fans on Reddit particularly appreciating how players create environments where guests feel comfortable sharing stories that wouldn’t emerge in traditional interview settings.
Here are fan recommendations from Reddit for you:
“I listen to The Ringer’s NBA pods (Group Chat, The Mismatch, Real Ones) for general NBA coverage, and Fear the Fro from Cavs only content and laughs.”
“Zach Lowe’s podcast is pretty good, Through the Wire is a fun one as well”
“Honestly, the NBA players on podcasts is great.
I really don’t care who the players are specifically, I just think it’s so cool to hear stories and learn new things about these players.”
Conclusion: Expert Analysis And Smart Takes By Zach Lowe Make His Podcast #1
The NBA podcast landscape continues to evolve in 2025, with current and former players, journalists, and analytical minds providing unprecedented basketball coverage.
Whether you’re looking for tactical breakdowns, player interviews, or the latest trade rumors, there’s a show perfectly suited to your basketball appetite.
The combination of insider access, expert analysis, and personality-driven content makes this the golden age of NBA audio content.
FAQs
After being laid off from ESPN in late 2024, Zach Lowe joined Bill Simmons at The Ringer in early 2025, launching The Zach Lowe Show as his new podcast home. The show maintains Lowe’s analytical approach while adding new features like video podcasting through Spotify.
The most popular NBA player podcasts in 2025 according to audience metrics include All The Smoke (Matt Barnes/Stephen Jackson), The Draymond Green Show, Mind The Game (LeBron James/JJ Redick), and Club 520 with Jeff Teague, with some player podcasts reaching hundreds of millions of views.
Reporter-hosted NBA podcasts like The Woj Pod and The Zach Lowe Show typically offer more analytical depth, breaking news, and league-wide perspective, while player-hosted shows provide authentic locker room stories, unfiltered opinions, and a more casual, insider look at the game from those who played it.
Thinking Basketball with Ben Taylor and Cody Houdek stands out as the premier analytics-focused NBA podcast, delving into the philosophy and theory behind basketball strategies while examining statistical trends, player evaluation metrics, and strategic breakdowns that go beyond surface-level analysis.
The NBA podcasting world has transformed significantly since 2023, with more active players launching shows, media companies investing in basketball content, and increased production quality across the board. The rise of video podcasts has also changed consumption habits, with most top shows now offering visual components to enhance their basketball analysis.
