Game Theory

Latest episodes

Showing 20 · updated from the feed

Nuggets-Thunder, Cavs-76ers | Luka and Yaxel, Wolves Dominate Heat, Other Day 2 NBA Season Reactions

Sam is LIVE directly after Nuggets-Thunder to discuss SGA vs. Jokic, 76ers-Cavaliers, and the best parts of Day 2 of the NBA season! (00:00) Intro (03:00) Thunder Beat

Oct 23
1 h 39 min

NBA Opening Night with Ryen Russillo! Wemby vs. SGA, New-Look Sixers and Celtics Blow A Lead

Sam is joined by Ryen Russillo to recap to NBA Opening Night! They react to Celtics-Pistons, 76ers-Knicks, and Thunder Spurs. (00:00) Intro (03:15) Thunder beat Spurs o

Oct 21
1 h 26 min

Predicting the Top 10 NBA Offenses & Defenses | The NBA Draft Watchability Index

Sam and Terrence Ogelsby discuss the Top 10 NBA offenses and defenses including the Thunder, Spurs, Wolves, Celtics, Heat and plenty others. Then, we take a look at the 2

Oct 19
1 h 31 min

2026-27 NBA Award Predictions | Can Luka, Wemby, Jokic challenge Shai? | Pritchard, Podz Extensions

Sam is joined by The Athletic's Eric Nehm to discuss the Brandin Podziemski and Payton Pritchard extensions before predicting the 2026-27 NBA Awards! Can Victor Wembanyam

Oct 15
1 h 16 min

2027 NBA Mock Draft v. 1.0 with Adam Finkelstein

Sam is joined by Adam Finkelstein of CBS Sports do to the first NBA mock draft of the season! (00:00) Intro (09:33) 1 - Tyran Stokes (19:40) 2 - Stefan Joksimovic (25

Oct 12
2 h 08 min

NBA Western Conference Win Total Over/Unders with Jason Timpf

Sam Vecenie is joined by Jason Timpf of @HoopsTonight to go through win total over/unders for every team in the Western Conference with help from DraftKings Sportsbook. W

Oct 9
1 h 59 min

NBA Eastern Conference Over/Under Win Totals with Es Baraheni

Sam is joined by The Athletic's Es Baraheni to go through win total over/unders for every team in the Eastern Conference. (00:00) INTRO (04:18) Knicks (18:05) Celtics

Oct 6
2 h 04 min

Jalen Duren Watch, Plus Future NBA Trade and Free Agency Lookahead with Grant Liffmann

Sam is joined by Grant Liffmann of NBC Sports to discuss the ongoing contract battle between the Pistons and Jalen Duren. Then, they look ahead to some of the biggest pla

Oct 2
1 h 08 min

Biggest NBA X-Factors of the 2026-27 Season

Sam Vecenie is joined by Bryce Simon to draft the NBA names that could totally swing their team's 2026-27 season, including Paolo Banchero, LaMelo Ball, Walker Kessler, a

Sep 28
1 h 55 min

NBA Watchability Index, Plus The Jalen Duren Saga Continues, and KAT Extension Talks with Dave DuFour

Sam is joined by The Athletic's Dave DuFour to discuss the tense contract standoff between Jalen Duren and the Pistons, and Karl-Anthony Towns' stalled extension talks wi

Sep 25
1 h 57 min

Top 10 NBA Rookies We're Excited to See, Plus Keyonte, Ausar & Other New Deals

Sam opens by talking about his move to team up with Russillo and Barstool and what people can expect from the new version of the show! Then, Bryce Simon joins to react to

Sep 21
1 h 42 min

Mock Rookie Extensions for 2023 NBA Draft | Miller, Wallace, Ausar, more | Game Theory Podcast

In this edition of the Game Theory Podcast, Sam Vecenie & Bryce Simon going through the 2023 Draft Class & prediction all potential rookie extensions for each eligible pl

Sep 7
2 h 23 min

LA Clippers Get LARGEST Punishment in NBA History for Kawhi Leonard Cap Circumvention | What Now?

The Pablo Torre Clippers investigation has come to a final conclusion, where the Clippers have received the worst punishment in NBA history. The Athletic's Law Murray joi

Sep 4
1 h 31 min

Peyton Watson Traded to Cavaliers | Kuminga signs with Wolves | Klay to Heat | Mathurin to Pelicans | Game Theory Podcast

Sam Vecenie, a Senior NBA Writer at The Athletic, talks all about basketball. From the NBA, to the NBA Draft, to college hoops and even some high school, Vecenie has you

Aug 31
1 h 45 min

TOP 25 DEFENDERS IN THE NBA! | Part Two: 12 to 1 | Game Theory Podcast

In this edition of the Game Theory Podcast, Sam Vecenie is joined by Bryce Simon to continue their annual countdown of the best defenders in the NBA today! Here in part 2

Aug 24
1 h 31 min

TOP 25 DEFENDERS IN THE NBA! | Part One: 25 to 13 | Game Theory Podcast

In this edition of the Game Theory Podcast, Sam Vecenie is joined by Bryce Simon for their annual countdown of the best defenders in the NBA today! Here in part 1, they c

Aug 17
1 h 20 min

Lakers Sale, Russell Westbrook Retires, Remaining NBA Free Agents, Vet Extension Predictions

In this edition of the Game Theory Podcast, Sam Vecenie & Bryce Simon begin with their reactions to the stunning Lakers sale before going through a few NBA news topics &

Aug 14
1 h 38 min

NBA Offseason Grades, Part 3! Bucks, Heat, Hornets, Bulls, Pistons, more | Game Theory Podcast

Sam Vecenie, a Senior NBA Writer at The Athletic, talks all about basketball. From the NBA, to the NBA Draft, to college hoops and even some high school, Vecenie has you

Aug 10
2 h 27 min

NBA Offseason Grades Part 2! Lakers, Spurs, Mavs, more | Plus Watson Fake Trades, Brooks Extension

Sam Vecenie, a Senior NBA Writer at The Athletic, talks all about basketball. From the NBA, to the NBA Draft, to college hoops and even some high school, Vecenie has you

Aug 7
1 h 50 min

NBA Offseason Grades, Part 1! | PHI, NYK, TOR, BOS, BKN, PHI, PHX, GSW, SAC | Game Theory Podcast

Sam Vecenie, a Senior NBA Writer at The Athletic, talks all about basketball. From the NBA, to the NBA Draft, to college hoops and even some high school, Vecenie has you

Aug 3
1 h 34 min

Chart trend

Position in the Basketball chart (US), last 90 days.

#1#35#68JulAugSepOct

all-time peak

days in the top 10 since Nov 2024

Chart positions

Where Game Theory ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Oct 23, 2026).

#10 ▲ 2 Basketball US

#96 ▼ 1 Sports US

What listeners say

A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.

This would be a 5 star podcast if the host could quit saying “Right?” to manufacture agreement with himself after every other sentence. The constant sharp on-mic inhalations also makes for a tough listen for what is otherwise an excellent deep (deep, deep, very deep) dive nerdy NBA analysis show.

Guitars Ruin Lives- Josh · May 2026

Even in the long boring months of summer (no basketball) Sam and Bryce as well as the occasional guests and friends of the show do an excellent job at giving relevant basketball information in a very smart manner. It makes for an enjoyable listen every episode. A big fan of the show 🙏

trevinq7 · Aug 2025

I love this podcast. Sam is great. One little thing I’ve noticed is that lately Sam has been a little aggressive with his opinions, almost shoving them in your face. He usually doesn’t do this, so I’m hoping he’s just trying to spice things up during the offseason. Thanks for all the hours of great information and entertainment!

Tomix3568 · Aug 2023

One of my favorite pods. So awesome to get in-depth analysis that often focuses on positives, contrasting those who just want to point out flaws and concerns. Only critique would be maybe don’t use “high level” as an adjective so much, haha.

cool dude, named tom · Jun 2023

The use of the whistle for a transition in this show makes it unlistenable. If it's on your headphones it is jarring and uncomfortable. If it's in a car you're worried that something is going on in traffic. What a terrible choice.

nikhil · Jul 2026

Long time listener and usually love the show but the repeated phrases has made the pod unlistenable. I’ve lost count at the amount of times Sam said “in reality” in the latest episode.

Multiple Moose · Nov 2025

We strive to present a balanced view by showing a diverse range of reviews from Apple Podcasts.