Published by Chucking Darts
A basketball podcast of debatable accuracy. Rigorously, joyfully discussing the NBA. 100% correct until the ball is tipped. Darts are meant to be chucked forward. It's ok to be wrong about sports.
Listen on Apple PodcastsYou Know Ball's green-thumbed cornerstone, Sam Sheehan, returns to reorder the Eastern Conference in the wake of Lebron James joining the Sixers and a wild offseason. Enjoy! (Order of conversation is not order of predicted finish). TIME STAMPS: (0:00) Intro (4:00) Boston Celtics (21:15) Philadelphia 76ers (30:30) New York Knicks and repeat chances (36:15) Toronto Raptors (42:30) Miami Heat (51:00) Orlando Magic (58:00) Indiana Pacers (1:07:20) Detroit Pistons (1:17:00) Cleveland Cavaliers (1:24:00) Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Wrap
I empty the tank reacting to each (or about 27 or so) team's moves in the NBA Draft, as well as the seimic trades involving Giannis, Lamelo Ball, Kawhi Leonard, Jaylen Brown, and Walker Kessler. My companion substack piece: https://chuckingdarts.substack.com/p/2026-nba-draft-final-dart-board-distrust Enjoy! TIME STAMPS (0:00) Intro + Substack Thesis (6:05) Wiz - Dybantsa (21:30) Jazz -Peterson (26:35) Grizzlies - Boozer, Lopez, Saunders (36:35) Bulls - Wilson, Swain (44:30) Clippers - Wagler, Baba Miller, Kawhi bounty (55:20) Nets - Mikel Brown Jr., Joshua Jefferson, Bilodeau (1:02:55) Kings - Darius Acuff, Karaban, Sharp (1:07:05) Hawks - Kingston Flemings, Zuby Ejiofor, Henri Veesaar (1:29:25) Mavs - Morez Johnson, De Larrea, Ischenko, Lawal (1:40:00) Bucks - Giannis bounty, Burries, Ament, Castro, Lewis (1:49:05) Warriors - Yaxel, Lajae Jones (1:51:55) Thunder - Mara, Stirtz, Oweh (1:56:50) Hornets - Lamelo bounty, Steinbach, Anderson (2:03:00) Pistons - Ebuka Okorie, Ogonna Onyenso (2:05:00) Raptors - Allen Graves, Kawhi Trade (2:11:15) Spurs - Quaintance, Tarris Reed, Gillespie, Brown (2:13:30) Wrap - Sixers draft + Jaylen Brown, Lakers draft + Kessler, Heat draft + Giannis, etc
Brian Geisinger (@bgeis_bird; @bgeisinger.bsky.social) talks the Knicks' victory, the Spurs' arrival and mandate, his history with Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby, and the Hornets' unique opportunity at 14 and 18 in the 2026 draft. https://briangeisinger.substack.com/ Enjoy! TIME STAMPS (0:00) Intro (3:00) How the Knicks Won the Finals (17:00) The Spurs' Shortcomings (30:00) Spurs' Roster Choice Ahead (55:00) OG Anunoby the Unicorn (1:09:50) Hornets and Morez Johnson Jr. (1:30:00) Hannes Steinbach (1:45:30) Zuby Ejiofor, Allen Graves, and Wrap
My old friend and Spurs diehard Pat joins to recount a legendary game 7, appreciate the Spurs' roster build, and preview the NBA Finals. Plus, some draft options for the Spurs at 20. Enjoy! TIME STAMPS (0:00) Intro + Game 7 recap (28:00) The Spurs roster build (38:10) Knicks-Spurs NBA Finals (1:11:22) Spurs draft at pick 20 + wrap
Prez (@_prezidente) of the Strickland returns as we wax poetic on the dominant New York Knicks, the special sauce behind their roster build, and the matchup problems they will present in the NBA Finals. Then, a 14 team Lottery Mock Draft. Enjoy! TIME STAMPS (0:00) NBA Finals New York Knicks (35:25) Wizards - Cam Boozer (39:55) Jazz - Darryn Peterson (46:45) Grizzlies - AJ Dybantsa (53:40) Bulls - Caleb Wilson (1:03:20) Clippers - Kingston Flemings (1:12:30) Nets - Keaton Wagler (1:16:15) Kings - Brayden Burries (1:25:30) Hawks - Ebuka Okorie (1:30:20) Mavericks - Darius Acuff Jr. (1:35:35) Bucks - Yaxel Lendeborg (1:39:05) Warriors - Aday Mara (1:43:35) Thunder - Dailyn Swain (1:48:00) Heat - Mikel Brown Jr. (1:51:15) Hornets - Morez Johnson Jr. (1:56:00) Knicks Options at 24 + wrap
Lucas Kaplan (@LucasKaplan) of Nets Daily discusses OKC-San Antonio Game 2 and how Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's problem solving led them to a win. Then, we discuss the Brooklyn Nets and yet another crossroads when the draft opens up at number 6, whether taking a PG makes sense, and which of Flemings, Acuff, Wagler, Brown, or someone else makes the most sense. Lucas also discuss his WNBA coverage and the NY Liberty's upcoming season. Check his substack out below and his work at Nets Daily for great W coverage all summer. https://lucaskaplan.substack.com/ TIME STAMPS (0:00) Intro + NY Liberty (9:25) Thunder-Spurs G2 (21:40) Egor Demin's rookie season (36:30) Mikel Brown, Darius Acuff, Keaton Wagler, Aday Mara (1:02:40) Kingston Flemings (1:10:10) Dailyn Swain + Yaxel Lendeborg + wrap
I gush about one of the greatest games ever played, and highlight some prospects who may one day be lucky enough to play in one like it. Enjoy! TIME STAMPS (0:00) The Game (19:00) The Draft
My buddy Ross, a Wiz diehard, makes his debut to give a secular perspective on the Wizards' incredible good fortune and difficult choice at number 1. Dybantsa, Peterson, Boozer, and how they project to uplift a hungry franchise. Enjoy! TIME STAMPS (0:00) Intro + Current Wizards Core (10:20) AJ Dybantsa (22:30) Darryn Peterson and Wiz Culture (44:30) Trae Young Impact (51:30) Trade Strategy (56:30) Cam Boozer, 2026 PGs, wrap
A solo episode into each 2nd round series, a first round autopsy, and some related draft thoughts on the 2026 class. Enjoy! TIME STAMPS (0:00) Intro (4:20) Thunder-Lakers (22:35) Spurs-Wolves (31:00) Knicks-Sixers (43:00) Pistons-Cavs (52:30) 2026 Draft + Wrap
I sprint through Michigan-Arizona and Illinois-UConn, with deeper looks at Yaxel Lendeborg, Aday Mara, Morez Johnson, Brayden Burries, Keaton Wagler, and the 10 or so total NBA players playing this weekend. Enjoy! TIME STAMPS (0:00) Intro + Title Pick (5:00) Yaxel Lendeborg (32:00) Aday Mara (41:40) Morez Johnson Jr. (49:00) Brayden Burries (58:30) Koa Peat, Ivan Kharchenkov, Motiejus Krivas (1:03:30) Keaton Wagler, Mirkovic (1:14:00) Braylon Mullins, Karaban, Reed
Brian Geisinger, author of Split the Action and host of BuzzBeat, breaks down Duke's title path within the March Madness bracket. Then, we dive into the many PGs with Final Four and NBA Draft aspirations - Darius Acuff, Kingston Flemings, Tyler Tanner, Bennett Stirtz, Labaron Philon, and Christian Anderson. We wrap by discussing possibly our favorite NBA PG dart of all - Stanford's dynamo Ebuka Okorie, whose team is not in the bracket at all. Enjoy! https://briangeisinger.substack.com/ TIME STAMPS (0:00) Intro (3:15) The Bracket and Duke's Path (30:35) Acuff, Flemings, Tanner, Wagler, Philon, Stirtz, Anderson (1:03:50) Ebuka Okorie + Wrap
Brian Geisinger, host of Buzzbeat and author of Split the Action, rejoins to rejoice in the Charlotte Hornets' exceptional season, their envelope pushing offense, Kon Knueppel, and the draft lessons that suggest a 1-2 ranking for Cam Boozer and Caleb Wilson. Enjoy! TIME STAMPS (0:00) Intro (4:00) Charlotte Hornets Success (17:35) Kon Knueppel as NBA trendsetter (50:00) Cam Boozer as 1 or 2 (1:15:45) Caleb Wilson as 1 or 2 + Wrap
I advocate why a standings freeze on January 1 followed by a wins race for lottery odds among the bottom 7 teams would solve the NBA's tanking crisis. Enjoy! And credit to Matt Powers ( @DraftPow ) of Swish Theory for the first version of the idea that I have heard.
Bennett Herbert (@bendog28) stops by to discuss the San Antonio Spurs' rise and their title chances "ahead of schedule," the James Harden trade, and a loaded top of the 2026 draft (Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, AJ Dybantsa, Caleb Wilson, Kingston Flemings, Keaton Wagler). Enjoy! TIME STAMPS (3:40) The Spurs and the West (41:30) James Harden Trade and the East (52:30) 2026 Number 1 Pick
Brian Geisinger, host of the Buzz Beat podcast and the Split the Action Substack, returns to check in on the scouting reports of prospective top 5 picks Cameron Boozer and Caleb Wilson. We also contrast and debate Mikel Brown, Neoklis Avdalas, Patrick Ngongba, and Henri Veesaar. Enjoy! TIME STAMPS (0:00) Intro (6:30) Cam Boozer (43:50) Caleb Wilson (1:07:30) Mikel Brown Jr. (1:28:50) Neoklis Avdalas (1:45:30) Patrick Ngongba Jr. + Henri Veesaar and Wrap
Sam Ferris (@DraftDummies) joins to bring back Dart Rank, a cumulative redraft of the 3 most recent draft classes headlined by Victor Wembanyama, Zaccharie Risacher, and Cooper Flagg, respectively. We go out to 21, identifying the "average" top 7 picks over a 3 year sample, and cover a bunch of draft philosophy as well. Dart Rank is back! Enjoy. TIME STAMPS (0:00) Intro + Dart Rank Explainer (9:35) Picks 1-7 (1:03:25) Picks 8-14 (1:38:35) Picks 15-21 + wrap
Nathan Grubel of @NoCeilingsNBA returns to discuss his weekly rookie rankings 1-10, and we update our scouting reports and thoughts on a rookie class with landmark responsibility within the league, from Cooper Flagg, VJ Edgecombe, Cedric Coward, Kon Knueppel, to many more. Enjoy! Enjoy! TIME STAMPS (0:00) Intro (5:30) Kon Knueppel (28:10) Cedric Coward (47:55) Cooper Flagg (57:00) VJ Edgecombe (1:10:20) Dylan Harper (1:21:10) Ryan Kalkbrenner (1:27:45) Derik Queen (1:34:45) Jeremiah Fears (1:43:15) Will Richard, CMB, Tre Johnson + Wrap
Esfandiar Baraheni (@justesbaraheni) of @TheAthleticNBADaily and @raptorsrepublic joins to round out a belated preview ranking where we expect all 30 offenses to end at the end of the season. Es also analyzes the curious roster build of his beloved Toronto and we mix in some early reactions as well. Enjoy! TIME STAMPS (0:00) Intro (6:55) Raptors Roster Build + Collin Murray Boyles (16:30) Offense Ranks 1-30
Jack Quantrill, host of the Drop Step NBA POdcast and contributor to Celticsblog, swings by for a season preview episode where we draft our favorite "locks" for over or under performance by teams this year. Enjoy! TIME STAMPS (0:00) Intro (7:35) Grizzlies (18:10) Bucks (29:30) Orlando Magic (38:05) Spurs (49:40) Kings (57:45) Pelicans (1:03:05) Hornets (1:12:30) Bulls + Wizards (1:23:45) Thunder + wrap
Lucas Kaplan (@LucasKaplan_), Nets beat writer and contributor to Nets Daily, Basketball Insiders, and Swish Theory, joins to chat about the demented Nets" gambit surrounding their 5 first roundrs, predict all rookie teams, and tier out regular season defenses 1-30. Enjoy! TIME STAMPS (0:00) Intro (3:30) Brooklyn Nets' 5 rookies (37:05) Predicting All-Rookie Teams (44:30) NBA Defenses Tier 1 + Tier 2 (50::55) Tier 3: Rest of Top 10 (59:30) Tier 4: Mavs, Hawks, Pacers, Heat, Knicks? (1:14:00) Tier 5: LAL, Den, and the Contender Middle (1:25:00) Tier 6, DPOY talk + wrap