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On The Ball with Ric Bucher

by Ric Bucher, NBA insider and Fox Sports NBA analyst

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Latest episodes

Jayson Tatum Is Making His Case, Jaylen Brown Is Raising More Questions

October 29, 2026 · 24 min

Was Jaylen Brown's departure from Boston about more than money? Ric Bucher examines the growing controversy surrounding the Celtics' decision to trade Brown, his comments about Jayson Tatum, and Brian Scalabrine's disputed reporting about…
Celtics Collapse, Wemby Exposed, Sixers Shock Knicks: What NBA Opening Night Really Revealed

October 22, 2026 · 25 min

Did NBA opening night expose some serious weaknesses among the league's contenders — or are fans jumping to conclusions? Ric Bucher explains why Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics' 22-point collapse against Cade Cunningham's Detroit…
Did the Celtics Get BETTER Despite Trading Jaylen Brown?

October 15, 2026 · 24 min

Did the Boston Celtics actually improve despite sending Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia? Ric Bucher makes the provocative case that Jayson Tatum could thrive as Boston's undisputed leader, explaining why Tatum's unselfish approach, renewed…
Five NBA Teams With Enough Talent to Win — and Enough Problems to Fail

October 8, 2026 · 22 min

The Philadelphia 76ers have assembled a potential powerhouse with LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. But Ric Bucher argues chemistry isn't their biggest concern — and they're hardly the only NBA team facing a…
The NBA’s American Star Problem: Why Wemby, Giannis & Jokic Are Taking Over

October 2, 2026 · 25 min

Ric Bucher asks whether American basketball has a star problem as Victor Wembanyama, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokić increasingly distinguish themselves as both elite players and compelling ambassadors for the NBA. Ric also revisits…

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NBA's Biggest Pressure Cookers: Why Jayson Tatum Has More to Prove Than Luka Doncic or LeBron James

September 24, 2026 · 26 min

Kendrick Perkins calls Anthony Edwards and LaMelo Ball the NBA's best backcourt. Ric Bucher isn't buying it. But that bold proclamation raises a bigger question: Who faces the most pressure heading into the 2026-27 NBA season? Ric breaks…
Caitlin Clark Just Changed the Team USA Equation — Whether They’re Ready or Not

September 18, 2026 · 25 min

Team USA won another FIBA Women’s World Cup, but Ric Bucher believes the tournament exposed a decision USA Basketball won’t be able to avoid much longer: Is it time to stop worrying about hierarchy and start giving Caitlin Clark a bigger…
STEPH CURRY’S LAST ACT: When Does Loyalty Become a Liability for the Warriors?

September 11, 2026 · 23 min

Steph Curry has earned virtually unlimited goodwill in Golden State. But is that goodwill about to face its toughest test? On this episode of On The Ball, Ric Bucher challenges the annual fantasy that Curry and the Warriors have one more…
The Clippers Got Hammered — But History Says They’re Far From Dead

September 3, 2026 · 28 min

Five first-round picks. A $30 million fine. Steve Ballmer suspended for a year. The NBA came down hard on the Clippers over the Kawhi Leonard cap-circumvention scandal — but Ric Bucher explains why calling it a franchise “death penalty”…
Enes Kanter Freedom Found the NBA’s Weak Spot — And Analytics Are Killing Its Game

August 28, 2026 · 29 min

Ric Bucher examines Enes Kanter Freedom’s WNBA protest and why his real target may be the NBA — a league he believes ended his career to protect its business interests. Then, Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis’ revelation that he’s been…
The NBA Has Made Winning Too Expensive

August 21, 2026 · 28 min

Ric Bucher opens this episode of On The Ball by addressing the backlash to his recent WNBA commentary — including criticism from former ESPN colleague Jemele Hill — and explains why he believes social-media outrage routinely turns nuanced…
Landry Fields: Project B Has Players Signed — And the Men’s Stars Are Coming

August 18, 2026 · 34 min

Former NBA player and Atlanta Hawks GM Landry Fields joins Ric Bucher for a special edition of On The Ball to pull back the curtain on Project B, the ambitious new global basketball league aiming to rethink how professional basketball is…

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About the show

A weekly sports podcast with inside information and one-of-a-kind perspective on the hottest topics and behind-the-scenes happenings from veteran NBA insider, author and TV analyst Ric Bucher. Find all his work at RicBucher.com. Support this show at http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/bucher-and-friends. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.