Nate Duncan on the NBA Finals

Nate Duncan on the NBA Finals

Author: Ethan Strauss June 13, 2026 Duration: 14:34
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.houseofstrauss.com

Dunc’d On Founder and co-host of my new favorite YouTube channel Nate Duncan, everybody.

* How huge is this Finals?

* Wembanyama temp check: Nate loves Wemby, but how does the public feel?

* Does Wembanyama’s unprecedented physical advantage make him more compelling—or less entertaining—to watch?

* Is Wembanyama actually a dirty player, or is he simply dealing with the challenges of being 7-foot-5?

* Should playoff basketball be officiated differently than regular-season basketball?

* Does today’s NBA Finals atmosphere compare to the league’s peak popularity during the 2016 Warriors–Cavs era?

* Does James Dolan care what anyone thinks?

* Why does Steve Kerr have a growing coaching tree?

* Did OG Anunoby’s chase-down block deserve more appreciation than De’Aaron Fox’s mistake deserved blame?

* Why does Nate view skiing as a more legitimate passion than golf?

* Effects of parents actually spending more time with their children than previous generations.


Ethan Strauss hosts the House of Strauss, a podcast that operates on a simple premise: the games we watch are never just games. They are reflections of our culture, our politics, and our rapidly evolving relationship with technology. Each episode digs into the collisions and convergences between these seemingly separate worlds. You might hear a deep analysis of an NBA dynasty followed by a conversation about how artificial intelligence is reshaping the media that covers it, or a debate on a political headline examined through the lens of a stadium funding fight. The discussions are built on the understanding that the playing field, the voting booth, and the Silicon Valley boardroom are increasingly part of the same conversation about power, money, and the future. This isn't about hot takes for their own sake, but about tracing the deeper connections that explain why we care so much about sports and what they tell us about everything else. Tune in for thoughtful, often unpredictable explorations where a debate about league policy can easily spiral into a discussion about societal change, all guided by Strauss's curious and contrarian perspective. The House of Strauss podcast is where the passion for competition meets a critical examination of the forces shaping it.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

House of Strauss
Podcast Episodes
Narrated: You May Not Be Political, But Politics Finds You [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:02
This audio article is up. Happy Friday, folks. House of Strauss is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd…
Sherman Alexie [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:04
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.houseofstrauss.comAuthor, filmmaker and ardent basketball fan Sherman Alexie joins me to discuss one of my favorite topics: The 1990s. Though, to be hones…
Mike Pesca on Eileen Gu and Patriotism Decline [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:24
Mike Pesca wrote a fine piece for the Free Press on how oddly not controversial the supposedly very controversial Eileen Gu is. She’s from the United States, but competes for China, and yet receives…mostly glowing mainst…
John Middlekauff [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:58
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.houseofstrauss.comFirst of all, congratulations to our SportsPredict Super Bowl winners SFZevi, Nathan Shea and Peter V. I had fun competing against all o…
Rob Henderson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:28:08
As I told Chuck Klosterman, I planned to do a pod on his Football book with non sports fan Rob Henderson. So what did our favorite sports agnostic intellectual think of such a deep dive into America’s favorite game? Topi…
Chuck Klosterman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:49
I highly recommend Football, Chuck Klosterman’s latest book. In this podcast, we discuss his trenchant and personal exploration of the sport, along with the following topics…* Are we primarily writers or podcasters?* Man…
Mike Pesca [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:07
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.houseofstrauss.comGreat conversation with Mike Pesca in which I, unfortunately, regressed to my old ways of pronouncing Chuck Klosterman’s name incorrectl…
Kat Rosenfield [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:13
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit www.houseofstrauss.comKat Rosenfield has, as she often does, written brilliantly of late. I especially enjoyed her nuanced takes on the Minnesota shootings. W…
Tyler Dunne [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:43
The House of Strauss SportsPredict playoff contest continues, so make some picks for this weekend. For the championship round, the prize is a $500 DICK’S gift certificate, plus, of course, bragging rights. So join in.In…