Open Run

Stefan is back to talk about free agency, and not just any old free agency! We're talking Knicks free agency and Nets free agency. KD. Kyrie. It's a battle o' the boroughs—and the winner may not be as clear as you think. Or is it?! Only two ways to find out: buy a time machine, or download this fresh-out-of-the-oven episode of your favorite podcast's favorite podcast: Open Run.

It's a bona fide homecoming as old-school Open Runner Ben Cruz rejoins the pod to talk about his beloved Warriors, their heated series against the Rockets, and the offseason that lies ahead. Will the Dubs win it all one more time? What will the team look like next season? Does Stefan finally...empathize with the Warriors? • Ben Cruz on Twitter • Listen to It Doesn't Matter What Your Podcast Is Called As always, follow Open Run on Twitter and Instagram.

Our host has a lot on his mind this week: Dagger Dame and the shot heard 'round the world, the mysterious inner workings of Russell Westbrook, the Rockets-Warriors matchup, NBA Finals predictions, and a whole mess of Knicks hypothesizing to Du-rant & rave about. It's officially time for another installment of Deep Thoughts with Stefan, a.k.a. "Stefan My Mind."

J. Kyle Mann of The Dime Drop is back! And he's here to school Stefan and all the other college hoops ignoramuses on what to watch in this year's Sweet 16. The players to look out for, the most competitive games, the nicknames we need to work on—it's all here in Open Run's Guide to the Sweet 16. • Follow Kyle Mann on Twitter • Watch Kyle's Ja Morant video on The Dime Drop  • ...and watch his Rookie Midterm video on DeAndre Ayton for The Ringer As always, follow Open Run on Twitter and Instagram.

Vice News Tonight correspondent, Weediquette host, and fellow Knicks fan Krishna Andavolu joins Stefan to talk about the evolving definition of NBA success, the legacy of Kevin Durant's strange "The Servant" nickname, avant-garde rebuild theories, and doin' it for the Gram. • Krishna Andavolu on Twitter and Instagram • Watch Krishna's show Weediquette As always, follow Open Run on Twitter and Instagram.

It’s all Knicks all the time as Stefan is joined by Andrew Kuo of our other favorite hoops pod, Cookies! Stefan and Kuo put on their GM hats and architect the Knicks rebuild of their dreams. Want a side of Mitchell Robinson with your Mitchell Robinson? You’ve come to the right place. • Andrew Kuo on Twitter and Instagram • Cookies on Twitter and Instagram  As always, follow Open Run on Twitter and Instagram.

Dave Hartley of The War on Drugs and Nightlands is back to talk about the state of The Process, the battle at the top of the East, and how good it hurts to get emotionally attached to a team. Other topics include: Is the Greek Freak the best player in the NBA? Will Mitchell Robinson be the new logo? What do Marie Kondo and Sam Hinkie have in common? And of course, don't miss an instant classic edition of the fan favorite segment, "Should I Buy This?" • Dave Hartley on Twitter • Stefan on Twitter and Instagram As always, be sure to follow Open Run on Twitter and Instagram.  

Friend o' the show J. Kyle Mann is back and he's here to help Stefan tackle all the big questions! What is the proper way to pronounce Luka Dončić? Will he and Porzingis thrive in Dallas? Is LeBron James psychic? Is KD coming to the Knicks? Should Stefan by the KD 11s? Is Zion Williamson as good as everyone seems to think he is? And once more, with feeling...is KD coming to the Knicks??  • Kyle Mann on Twitter • The Dime Drop on YouTube • Kyle's Luka Dončić Rookie Midterm video for The Ringer • Stefan on Twitter  As always, be sure to follow Open Run on Twitter and Instagram.

Our special Valentine's Day edition of Open Run is all about NBA relationships. Jesse calls Stefan from the Grey's Anatomy set to dole out some tough love about KD and the Knicks, Stefan makes his case, and then they both ponder what the future holds for LeBron and the Lakers. Come for the hoops talk, stay for the surprise Debbie Allen cameo.

Aaaaaand we're back! Stefan heads down to New Orleans to talk about a pair of franchises in flux with two of his favorite writers and basketball minds: Nathaniel Rich (New York Times Magazine, The Atlantic, New York Review of Books) and Thomas Beller (novelist, essayist, hoops columnist for The New Yorker). Treat your ears to a three-man weave that covers the aftermath of the Kristaps Porzingis trade, the future of the Knicks, the fate of Anthony Davis, and the state of modern NBA fandom. Follow Nathaniel Rich on Twitter: @NathanielRich Check out his work at nathanielrich.com. Follow Thomas Beller on Twitter: @ThomasBeller Click here to check out his basketball writing forThe New Yorker.

J. Kyle Mann of The Dime Drop checks in to talk about the NBA's youth movement and his new video series about it for The Ringer called The Leap. Stefan & Kyle revisit their Summer League predictions to see what they got right—and so Stefan can mention Mitchell Robinson as many times as possible. Then, they tackle the big questions. Can the young core of the Celtics match the might of the Warriors? Are the Sixers real contenders in the East? Should you leave your phone at home when you walk your dog so you can really stop and smell the roses?? Find out...on Open Run. • Follow The Dime Drop on YouTube • Watch The Leap on YouTube • Follow @jkylemann on Twitter • Follow @dimedrophoops on Twitter

Basketball player, ESPN analyst, and bestselling author Jay Williams joins our man Stefan Marolachakis to talk about his recent experience coaching high school basketball and his quest to become the Oprah of the sports world. Other topics covered: the Celtics's chances of winning it all next season, the future of the Porzingod, what he learned from Coach K, and the art of living a full life.

Rod Strickland a.k.a. the Point God joined us to weigh in on the incoming rookie class, the comparisons to Kyrie, and Boogie's decision to join the Warriors. He also talks about Charles Oakley's unique ability to foul you and talk trash at the very same time, as well as just how dirty a player John Stockton was/wasn't. Oh, and you'll want to stick around for the Arvydas Sabonis portion of the conversation. Bonus: This episode features friend o' the show Kyle Mann of the Dime Drop! Enjoy.

Our man Stefan headed out to Las Vegas with longtime friend o' the show Nat Livingston Johnson for their first—but certainly not last—visit to NBA Summer League, where they did their due diligence on the incoming rookie class. Kyle Mann of The Dime Drop joins the show to talk about the standout rookies, so-so basketball, and fantastic hobnobbing on offer at Summer League. Viva Las Vegas.

Open Run's favorite NBA Draft Nostradamus, Kyle Mann of the Dime Drop, joins us for the one-stop NBA Draft pop-up shop of your dreams. That's right: it's the official Open Run x Dime Drop 2018 NBA Draft Preview! Heart-stopping predictions and life-changing new nicknames abound. The draft won't know what hit it. Follow Kyle Mann on Twitter: @jkylemann ...and Instagram: @jkylemann Follow The Dime Drop on Twitter: @dimedrophoops ...and Instagram: @thedimedrop Subscribe to the Dime Drop on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdf5X8hXBKnkVTfxuxkLiOQ

There's a whole lot of drama this week as Jesse and Stefan wrap up the NBA Finals, crown a Championship Parade King, and look ahead to what is going to be a wild summer of free agency. We're talking LeBron, Kawhi, Paul George—oh, and don't miss their dramatic reading of Kyrie's latest flat-earth musings. You're gonna like the way you look, we guarantee it!

It's Midnight in the Garden of Game 5! So Jesse and Stefan met up on an NYC rooftop to talk about the Celtics' strong Game 5 victory and the impressive Game 4 performance by the Rockets. Can the Rockets withstand another old-school Warriors haymaker? Can the young Celtics really oust LeBron James? Does making it to the Finals another time without winning the chip actually hurt LeBron's legacy? So many questions, not enough rooftops. It's time for...Midnight in the Garden of Game 5 a.k.a. It's Not Me, It's Them!

Jesse and Stefan meet at an undisclosed NYC location to have a much-needed playoffs catchup. We're talking about: LeBron's scary new level; the dismissal of Coach of the Year Dwane Casey; the Rockets' chances against the Olympic team—er, the Warriors; the seeming inevitability of Cavs-Warriors IV; and Becky Hammon, and the path to the NBA's first female head coach.

Who knew Round 1 would be this fun?? Jesse and Stefan share their thoughts on the high-flying Pelicans, the surprising Jazz, and the arrival of The Process: Playoffs Edition. The new guard has arrived!

Journalist Abe Streep joins the show to talk about his experience reporting a New York Times Magazine cover story about the Arlee Warriors of Montana's Flathead Indian Reservation. This high school basketball team started the season looking to repeat as state champs, then found themselves starting a "warrior movement" to help prevent suicide. • "What the Arlee Warriors Were Playing For" by Abe Streep for The New York Times Magazine • Arlee Warriors State Dedication video • Follow Abe Streep on Twitter: @abestreep

Newly minted Hall of Famer Ray Allen joins Jesse and Stefan to talk about the art of shooting, the best teams of the modern era, and how he hit one of the greatest shots in NBA history. He takes the guys behind the scenes of his legendary career, shares his take on the G.O.A.T. debate, and decides which animals best represent the members of the 2008 NBA champion Boston Celtics team.

It's a big week for Open Run! We've got the homecoming of co-host Jesse Williams AND the return of longtime friend-of-the-show Dave Hartley of the *Grammy-winning* band The War on Drugs! First, Jesse shares tales from the Grey's Anatomy set (2:35) before Stefan puts him on the Hot Bench to talk about all the hottest NBA matters (10:56). Then we go to Philly (29:20) where Stefan and Dave catch the Sixers-Knicks game before discussing the state of The Process, the magic of Ben Simmons, the surprisingly surprising playoff picture, and the delicate dance of rooting for a rebuilding team. Prepare for a hoops epic!

Former NCAA and professional basketball player Luke Bonner joins the show to talk about his new life as a player advocate, taking us behind the scenes of NCAA hoops and outlining how he'd like to change the broken system of so-called "amateur" athletics. He shares tales of his time playing ball for both West Virginia and UMass, as well as his tenure in the Lithuanian league—letting us know just what the Ball brothers should expect over there, and rhapsodizing about his life-changing experience seeing ELO in Vilnius.

Your man Stefan is out here roaming the NBA podcast wilds all by his lonesome this week! He ponders what the future might hold for the injured Splash Brothers, The Process, LeBron James, his tanking Knicks, and soon-to-be free agent Isaiah Thomas. Throw on your headphones—it's time for a little basketball walkabout.

Open Run's special New Orleans correspondent Nathaniel Rich joins the show to talk about the state of the Pelicans and the utterly dominant play of the Brow. Then, it's time for the hard questions: Why can't the NBA embrace the thrill of the tank and the weird, wild race to the bottom? Will the Rockets finally, finally, finally pose a threat to the Warriors? Should Porzingis be up and walking around already?? Is Kawhi Leonard going to play basketball this year??? There's one way to find out...

Jesse and Stefan weigh in on the latest NCAA scuttlebutt, and then talk about being on the panel for Slam's new Top 100 issue—and which player earned their much-deserved Honorable Mention spot.

The All-Star break is over and the NBA is back in full swing! We have questions. What on earth is going on with Kawhi? Who will win Rookie of the Year? If your team is tanking, do you have to watch them do it? And once more, with feeling: can anyone give the Warriors a run for their money?

Jesse and Stefan slept a total of 47 minutes during All-Star Weekend just so they could return with a full report for you, our dear listeners! From a conversation with 3-time All-Star Draymond Green, to the game at Staples Center, to one of Dave Chappelle's legendary juke joint parties, to the best Wakanda pun you've ever heard, THIS is the one-of-a-kind All-Star Weekend recap you won't find anywhere else.

Stefan has been inconsolable ever since Kristaps Porzingis tore his ACL, so we called in ESPN's Knicks specialist Ian Begley to help bring him back from the edge! They discuss the future of the Unicorn, the team's plans for rebuilding, the latest on the Joakim Noah situation, and how on earth the Knicks will ever claw their way back into title contention.

There's no sleep for your Open Run hosts when it's NBA trade deadline time! Jesse and Stefan hop on the phone at the midnight hour to talk about the flurry of trades by the Cavs, the Lakers, and...well, that one trade the Knicks made. Then they marvel at the Quincy Jones interview for a while. The question is: Y'all like Brazilian music?

Gilbert Arenas a.k.a. Agent Zero joins us to talk about dropping 60 on Kobe, the state of the point guard position, and the mystery of Markelle Fultz. He shoots us straight on the whole gun issue and shares his picks for the All-Star team—and even explains why he once wanted to own every DVD ever made.

Open Run is back to take 2018 by storm! It's a Shame or Fame marathon as Jesse and Stefan weigh in on Klay's assist comments, Rodney Hood's phone etiquette, and Lauri Markannen's dining habits.

There was a whole lot of NBA action for Jesse and Stefan to tackle this week: Kobe had both his numbers retired, the Bulls are on a hot streak even though two of their stars aren't on speaking terms, Kyrie's out here dropping illuminati kicks, and the Southeast division has driven their fans to puking in public! (Which raises the question: Is there a "right" way to puke in public?) Download the latest Open Run to find out all about it. NOTE: Since this pod had a lot of visual references, here's a link to a gallery of all (or at least most) of the stuff discussed: https://instagram.com/p/Bc8wtlMHgX4/

Kevin Durant is out here making kids cry tears of joy! So the Open Run crew had to draw up their list of the players who move them to tears. Also on the menu: Joel Embiid's NBA Finals prediction, the debut of the Big Baltic Brand, the continuing concern about OKC, and David West's magical ability to make old men feel relevant.

Can the Rockets give the Warriors a run for their money in the West? Are the 76ers and the Lakers poised to be the next great rivalry? Should Stefan blow all of his Christmas money on the Knicks jacket of his dreams?! And do we still not know what "basketball reasons" are? All this, and more, in the latest episode of Open Run.

Jesse gets us up to speed on his recent work with Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj, and Demi Lovato and then he and Stefan weigh in on all the pressing issues of the young '17-18 NBA season. Is OKC better or worse than their record? Are the Clippers in a state of panic? Who is the best and brightest young megastar? Can Stefan dare to wear the Pippen Uptempos Jesse bought him as a "present"?! We tackle all the hard questions this week, AND unveil our brand-new, soon-to-be fan favorite segment: Should I Buy This? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Open Run squad reconvenes to talk about the shockingly fun Eastern Conference. Are the Hayward-less Celtics building something sustainable? Are the 76ers poised to take over the world? Is Kristaps Porzingis of this planet? It's time to talk about the East.

Stefan weighs in on the rise of Kristaps Porzingis and shares a Ruffalo-related tale of epic proportions. Then, 13-year NBA veteran and former Phoenix Suns head coach Earl Watson joins the show to talk about his time in Phoenix, the challenges of the modern NBA, and the next wave of NBA mega-stars.

NBA veteran Al Harrington joins the show to talk about the new Uninterrupted short film "The Concept of Cannabis," a documentary about his second career as a cannabis entrepreneur. Then Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr calls in to share his thoughts on medicinal marijuana, why he tried it for his chronic back pain, and its potential viability as a tool for NBA players.

It's an emotional Open Run this week as Stefan takes a trip down memory lane with a player who gave him so many nightmares as a young man: Indiana Pacers legend and NBA Hall of Famer, Reggie Miller! They talk about how Reggie would fare in the modern NBA, Michael Jordan's super-team comments, and how Reggie was there when Kyrie learned he'd been traded. AND, of course, they dig deep into the epic Knicks-Pacers rivalry of the '90s (including the push-off on Greg Anthony and Reggie's beef with LJ's 4-point play).

The day has finally arrived: Metta World Peace makes his Open Run debut! Stefan talks to the NYC basketball legend about how his game was influenced by growing up with the likes of Nas and Mobb Deep in Queensbridge, his time in LA with Kobe & Phil, his take on the state of both the Knicks and the Lakers—and, of course, the animal he'd most like to be.

Jesse and Stefan reconnect to break down one hell of a week in the world of sports. Then Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson joins the show to talk about what life is like with the up-and-coming squad, his goals for the year, and what to expect from the Lakeshow this season.

Stefan caught up with reigning Rookie of the Year Malcolm Brogdon of the Milwaukee Bucks at The Meadows Music and Arts Festival last week to talk about what it's like playing for a legendary PG like Jason Kidd, the delicate art of pronouncing "Antetokounmpo," and the staying power of Jay Z and Nas.

Jesse and Stefan discuss Kyrie's game of interview dodgeball, KD's notorious tweets, and the weird world of social media. Then they answer your Open Run Hotline questions on topics like next season's MVP race, the finest nicknames of the '00s, and the best of the incoming rookie class.

This week: Jemele Hill makes a whole lot of sense, KD unveils some new kicks, and NBA fans are in an uproar about Melo's ESPN ranking! Then Robert Horry a.k.a. Big Shot Rob joins the show to talk about the coldest dude he ever played with, why he was shocked by Kyrie's trade request, and how he thinks Grandmama-era LJ is underrated. He also tells us which legendary coach gives the best halftime speeches—and reveals which one of his many big shots is his all-time favorite.

Stefan, Jesse, and Open Run's Special OKC Correspondent Garrett Colton tackle how to deal with the doldrums of the NBA offseason, the future of the Thunder, and whether or not Kyrie really believes the earth is flat.

Will this Warriors squad face any real challengers this decade? What are the ramifications of the Cavs-Celtics drama? Is there an added layer of meaning to the parking habits of Kristaps Porzingis?! Our Special Correspondent Nathaniel Rich helps us unpack it all on this week's Open Run.

Jesse and Stefan talk to Taj Gibson about reuniting with his old teammate Jimmy Butler in Minnesota, making the transition from young buck to seasoned veteran, and the time a little Knicks talk took his relationship with Coach Tom Thibodeau to a whole new level. Trainer Travelle Gaines also joins the show to shed light on what pro trainers do to help players deal with the rigors of the NBA, and just how all these epic offseason pickup games come together.

We talk to new Laker Kentavious Caldwell-Pope about how he's liking LA so far, and what it feels like to be called "bread from heaven" by his new team. Then we ask him about the hardest player to guard in the NBA and his go-to pregame soundtrack before workshopping some new nickname ideas together.

We've got three, count 'em THREE guests for you this week! First, The Undefeated's senior NBA writer Marc Spears tells us about his fantastic times at the NBA Africa Game, and why he left Harrison Barnes's wedding before any infamous dance sequences occurred. Then legendary NBA badass Kenyon Martin checks in to talk about his undefeated Big 3 Squad, where he thinks his former teammate Melo will end up, and the best trash talkers he's ever met. And we talk to Jeff Chen, organizer of the NYC Jam (sponsored by Bleacher Report), about the new basketball tourney that pits the nation's best high school ballers against each other in an NBA Jam-inspired, full-court, 2-on-2 battle. BOOMSHAKALAKA!

What is the greatest high school basketball team of all time? Many would argue it was the Dunbar Poets of the early '80s, which featured future NBA players Muggsy Bogues, Reggie Lewis, David Wingate, and Reggie Williams. Director Sheldon Candis joins us to talk about his upcoming documentary about the team, "Baltimore Boys," and then the legendary Tyrone "Muggsy" Bogues tells us what it was like being part of that celebrated squad, the secret to making it in the NBA at 5'3", and the time he blocked Manute Bol in a game of one-on-one.