Summer 2025 Mailbag

Summer 2025 Mailbag

Author: John Hollinger and Nate Duncan August 2, 2025 Duration: 1:06:36

John and Nate discuss the Mikal Bridges extension and potential implications for the Knicks before answering listener mailbag questions covering NBA comparisons to tennis legends, potential first-time All-Stars, NBA expansion updates, Summer League standouts, and salary cap complexities.

Timestamps:

Intro and Mikal Bridges Extension Analysis: 00:00

Mailbag: NBA Comparisons to Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Murray: 13:19

Mailbag: Most Likely First-Time All-Stars for Upcoming Season: 19:56

Mailbag: NBA Expansion and Possibility of Relocation vs. New Teams: 25:47

Mailbag: NBA's Potential New European League Plans: 29:26

Mailbag: Former Summer League Standouts Still Worth Watching: 33:46

Mailbag: How the Hawks Should Use Their $13 Million Trade Exception: 42:05

Mailbag: Reevaluating the 2024 Draft Class After One Year: 43:55

Mailbag: Pathways for Spurs to Reach Finals in Next Three Years: 50:16

Mailbag: Explanation of NBA Salary Escrow System: 54:55

Mailbag: Should the NBA Adjust Second Apron Rules for Teams Retaining Drafted Players?: 55:50

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For anyone who wants to move past the surface-level takes and truly understand the mechanics of professional basketball, Hollinger & Duncan NBA Show offers a weekly deep dive. Hosted by John Hollinger, an analytics pioneer and former NBA front office executive, and Nate Duncan, a seasoned host known for his detailed game analysis, this podcast operates with a unique blend of insider knowledge and objective scrutiny. Each episode feels like a conversation between two of the sharpest minds in basketball, dissecting not just what happened on the court, but why it happened and what it means for the future. You’ll hear detailed breakdowns of team strategies, nuanced player evaluations that go beyond basic stats, and clear explanations of complex financial rules like the salary cap and luxury tax that dictate roster construction. The discussion is grounded in film study and advanced data, providing a comprehensive picture of league trends, trade implications, and playoff races. It’s a show for the dedicated fan who craves substance, whether the topic is a rookie’s footwork, a contender’s defensive scheme, or the ramifications of a new collective bargaining agreement. Listening to this podcast is like gaining access to a front office meeting, where the league’s narratives are unpacked with intelligence, humor, and a relentless pursuit of what actually wins games.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Hollinger & Duncan NBA Show - NBA Basketball Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Summer League Spectacular 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:51
John and Nate sweated and froze their way through a week on Nerd Row at the Vegas Summer League to tell you about everything they saw. Included: Who will be the best rookie this year, and who will have the best career? W…
Kawhi and Trent; Favorite and Least Favorite Free Agency Moves [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:15
John turns his seasoned front office eye to the pause in the Kawhi Leonard trade and the Bucks’ apparent circumvention with Gary Trent, Jr. Then, he and Nate discuss their favorite and least-favorite free agent deals and…
Tying the Offseason Together [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:28
John and Nate start by revisiting the Jaylen Brown trade, hitting on whether Boston needed to make this trade now, and why Brown’s two-way versatility is underrated by analytics.
Which Crazy Moves Reshaped the League the Most? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:32
Nate and John talk about what being in a front office is like this time of year, start to pivot to which of these huge moves has shaken up the league the most–but then react LIVE to the stunning Jaylen Brown trade. Then…
Giannis Antetokounmpo trade reaction [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:55
Nate and John react to Giannis Antetokounmpo’s move to Miami, breaking down whether the Heat overpaid, Milwaukee’s return and Boston’s pursuit.
Draft Boards; Finals Takeaways; Should BOS Trade for Giannis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:45
John joins Nate to compare our draft boards. Hear why John has Cameron Boozer number 1, and Nate disagrees. Where do they disagree with the consensus on Darryn Peterson? Why does Nate have AJ number 1? Plus, we sort thro…
Veteran Extensions 2026-27 Part Un [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:14
Hollinger & Duncan open with brief Knicks-Spurs Finals picks, then spend the episode on veteran extension decisions around the league: who should be extended now, who should wait, and where player options or trade value…
Changing the Game to Reduce Injuries; The Playoff Crucible Week 3 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:01
In the wake of a series of depressing playoff injuries, John and Nate take 30 minutes to brainstorm some potential rule changes they think would help. Then we look back on week 3 of the playoff crucible and discuss the c…
The 2026 Crucible Week 2, Lottery Reform [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:19
Hollinger and Duncan react to Minnesota’s stunning series win over Denver, the Knicks’ historic Game 6 destruction of Atlanta, the proposed lottery reform, and the biggest strategic developments of the playoffs so far. T…