Best Basketball Podcasts 2026: The Top 19 Shows: Ranked by Real Chart Data
Updated September 2026 · Based on CastFox data covering 24 Apple Podcasts chart snapshots in 78 countries (2026-02-24 to 2026-09-08) and 5M+ indexed podcasts
If you search for the best basketball podcasts 2026 you get lists of whatever the writer happens to listen to. This one is built from chart data. CastFox scrapes the Apple Podcasts charts every day in 78 countries, and these 19 shows are the ones that held a spot in the US Basketball top 100 in all 24 chart snapshots taken between February 24 and September 8, 2026, scored by how high they ranked and how many countries they reached.
The category has split into five recognizable formats. National insiders and analysts who break news and explain it (Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective, The Zach Lowe Show, The Kevin O'Connor Show, Hoops Tonight). Daily shows built for a commute, including weekday sports debate (The Athletic NBA Daily, No Dunks, Locked On NBA, First Things First). Player-hosted shows where former and current pros talk to each other (All The Smoke, Club 520, 7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony). Creator-led shows that came up through YouTube and group chats (Numbers on The Board, The Deep 3). And team podcasts, which are the biggest single block on this list: six of the 19 cover one franchise.
Each card below shows the cover art, who hosts it, what the show is, why it earned its place, and who it is best for, plus the chart record behind the ranking: how many of the 24 US snapshots it appeared in, its average US rank, its best rank, and how many countries it was charting in on the latest scrape. You can monitor any of these shows in CastFox for the full profile with audience estimates, chart history by country, and contact details.
The 19 best basketball podcasts of 2026 at a glance
| # | Podcast | Hosted by | Avg US rank | Best rank | Countries charting | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective | ESPN, Omaha Productions, Brian Windhorst | 2.1 | #1 | 74 | 200 |
| 2 | The Zach Lowe Show | The Ringer | 2.7 | #1 | 72 | 150 |
| 3 | First Things First | FOX Sports | 4.5 | #2 | 71 | 1,000 |
| 4 | The Athletic NBA Daily | The Athletic | 7.4 | #4 | 70 | 1,000 |
| 5 | All The Smoke | The Black Effect Podcast Network and iHeartPodcasts | 7.3 | #4 | 69 | 598 |
| 6 | The Kevin O'Connor Show | Yahoo Sports | 12.8 | #5 | 68 | 244 |
| 7 | No Dunks | iHeartPodcasts | 13.4 | #9 | 69 | 1,000 |
| 8 | Club 520 Podcast | iHeartPodcasts and The Volume | 2.7 | #1 | 56 | 743 |
| 9 | Locked On NBA – Daily Podcast On The National Basketball Association | Locked On Podcast Network | 17.9 | #10 | 62 | 500 |
| 10 | 7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony | Wave | 13.4 | #6 | 48 | 126 |
| 11 | Numbers on The Board | Kenny Beecham | 20.9 | #12 | 54 | 320 |
| 12 | Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers | Locked On Podcast Network, Andy and Brian Kamenetzky | 25.5 | #10 | 59 | 500 |
| 13 | Laker Film Room - Dedicated to the Study of Lakers Basketball | Pete Zayas | 28.3 | #14 | 52 | 1,000 |
| 14 | The Deep 3 Podcast | Isaac Gutierrez | 36.5 | #15 | 60 | 475 |
| 15 | Rights To Ricky Sanchez: The Sixers Podcast | Rights to Ricky Sanchez | 20.2 | #7 | 36 | 1,000 |
| 16 | Locked On Celtics - Daily Podcast On The Boston Celtics | Locked On Podcast Network, John Karalis | 33.3 | #17 | 45 | 500 |
| 17 | Hoops Tonight with Jason Timpf | iHeartPodcasts and The Volume | 39.1 | #13 | 48 | 1,000 |
| 18 | Locked On Knicks - Daily Podcast On The New York Knicks | Locked On Podcast Network, Gavin Schall, Xavier Justin | 31.6 | #6 | 34 | 500 |
| 19 | Down to Dunk OKC Thunder Podcast | The Athletic | 34 | #16 | 36 | 1,000 |
Jump to a Show
- #1. Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective
- #2. The Zach Lowe Show
- #3. First Things First
- #4. The Athletic NBA Daily
- #5. All The Smoke
- #6. The Kevin O'Connor Show
- #7. No Dunks
- #8. Club 520 Podcast
- #9. Locked On NBA – Daily Podcast On The National Basketball Association
- #10. 7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony
- #11. Numbers on The Board
- #12. Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers
- #13. Laker Film Room - Dedicated to the Study of Lakers Basketball
- #14. The Deep 3 Podcast
- #15. Rights To Ricky Sanchez: The Sixers Podcast
- #16. Locked On Celtics - Daily Podcast On The Boston Celtics
- #17. Hoops Tonight with Jason Timpf
- #18. Locked On Knicks - Daily Podcast On The New York Knicks
- #19. Down to Dunk OKC Thunder Podcast
Rising this month · How we ranked these · How to pick the right show · FAQ
The 19 Best Basketball Podcasts to Listen To in 2026
National Insiders and Analysts
#1. Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective
Hosted by ESPN, Omaha Productions, Brian Windhorst
About this show: ESPN's Brian Windhorst and a rotating group of ESPN Insiders sort out life in and around the NBA, from front-office moves to what is happening around the league. It is reporting first and opinion second.
Why it made the list in 2026: The most consistent basketball podcast on the US chart in 2026 and the one other shows react to when news breaks. Chart record: 24 of 24 US snapshots, average US rank 2.1, best #1, charting in 74 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Best for fans who want to understand why a trade happened, not just that it did.
#2. The Zach Lowe Show
Hosted by The Ringer
About this show: Zach Lowe's NBA show in its new home, mixing league conversations and game breakdowns with guests who cover or shape the league. New episodes land on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Why it made the list in 2026: It changed networks and kept its chart position, which almost never happens in this category. Chart record: 24 of 24 US snapshots, average US rank 2.7, best #1, charting in 72 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Best for listeners who want long-form analysis from the writer other analysts read.
#6. The Kevin O'Connor Show
Hosted by Yahoo Sports
About this show: Kevin O'Connor has covered the NBA since 2013 and builds episodes around film breakdowns and deep analysis, with analysts, insiders, and players joining him for the biggest stories.
Why it made the list in 2026: One of the few shows that holds a high chart position on film study rather than hot takes. Chart record: 24 of 24 US snapshots, average US rank 12.8, best #5, charting in 68 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Best for listeners who want to be shown what is happening on the floor.
#17. Hoops Tonight with Jason Timpf
Hosted by iHeartPodcasts and The Volume
About this show: Jason Timpf breaks down the NBA's biggest games and storylines, in that order, in long episodes built around what just happened on the floor.
Why it made the list in 2026: A nightly breakdown show that built a top-100 position without a legacy network behind it. Chart record: 24 of 24 US snapshots, average US rank 39.1, best #13, charting in 48 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Best for watching a game and then hearing it re-examined the same evening.
Daily Shows: News, Recaps, and Debate
#3. First Things First
Hosted by FOX Sports
About this show: The podcast feed of the FS1 weekday show, where Nick Wright, Chris Broussard, and Kevin Wildes argue about the biggest stories in sports. Basketball is the spine of it, and the show covers the NFL and the rest of the sports calendar too.
Why it made the list in 2026: A daily television show that charts as high in Basketball as shows built only for podcast feeds. Chart record: 24 of 24 US snapshots, average US rank 4.5, best #2, charting in 71 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Best for people who want opinionated sports debate running in the background of a work day.
#4. The Athletic NBA Daily
Hosted by The Athletic
About this show: A fast weekday recap of the games and stories that mattered, hosted by Dave DuFour, Zena Keita, and Esfandiar Baraheni with reporters from The Athletic dropping in. Andrew Schlecht and Alex Spears close the week with a longer Saturday show.
Why it made the list in 2026: The daily NBA show with the widest international footprint on this list. Chart record: 24 of 24 US snapshots, average US rank 7.4, best #4, charting in 70 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Best for catching up on the whole league in the time it takes to make coffee.
#7. No Dunks
Hosted by iHeartPodcasts
About this show: A daily NBA show hosted by Skeets, Tas, Trey, and JD, breaking down the league's games and headlines, answering listener questions, and bringing on guests.
Why it made the list in 2026: One of the longest-running crews in podcast basketball and still a daily top-15 show. Chart record: 24 of 24 US snapshots, average US rank 13.4, best #9, charting in 69 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Best for fans who want the league covered by people who clearly enjoy each other.
#9. Locked On NBA – Daily Podcast On The National Basketball Association
Hosted by Locked On Podcast Network
About this show: The Locked On network's league-wide show, where Matt Moore, Haize, and Wes Goldberg cover the day's news, rumors, and analysis in 30 minutes. A companion Game Night show covers every game, every night.
Why it made the list in 2026: The anchor of the largest team-podcast network on the chart, and daily without exception. Chart record: 24 of 24 US snapshots, average US rank 17.9, best #10, charting in 62 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Best for a reliable half-hour of league news on the commute.
Player-Hosted Shows
#5. All The Smoke
Hosted by The Black Effect Podcast Network and iHeartPodcasts
About this show: Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson interview players, coaches, and figures from the culture around basketball, drawing on their own careers as two of the more outspoken players of their era.
Why it made the list in 2026: A top-10 fixture all year, and the show that set the template for player-hosted interviews. Chart record: 24 of 24 US snapshots, average US rank 7.3, best #4, charting in 69 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Best for long interviews where the hosts have been in the same rooms as their guests.
#8. Club 520 Podcast
Hosted by iHeartPodcasts and The Volume
About this show: NBA All-Star Jeff Teague tells stories from his career alongside DJ Wells and Bishop B Henn, covering the biggest topics in sports and culture in weekly episodes that run more like a group chat than a show.
Why it made the list in 2026: It reached #1 in the US Basketball chart and was still ranked first on the latest scrape, the best current position of any show here. Chart record: 24 of 24 US snapshots, average US rank 2.7, best #1, charting in 56 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Best for listeners who want the league through players' stories and jokes.
#10. 7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony
Hosted by Wave
About this show: Carmelo Anthony hosts with a rotating crew including The Kid Mero, Rudy Gay, Monica McNutt, and Kazeem Famuyide, mixing basketball with the culture around it and guests from well outside the sport. New episodes drop on Mondays.
Why it made the list in 2026: One of the newest shows on the list and it publishes more often than anything else here. Chart record: 24 of 24 US snapshots, average US rank 13.4, best #6, charting in 48 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Best for listeners who want hoops and culture in the same conversation.
Creator-Led Basketball Shows
#11. Numbers on The Board
Hosted by Kenny Beecham
About this show: Kenny Beecham and his friends Pierre, Mike, and Darrick talk NBA opinions, stats, and culture, with the narrative framing that came out of Kenny's video work.
Why it made the list in 2026: A creator-led show holding its own against national networks all year. Chart record: 24 of 24 US snapshots, average US rank 20.9, best #12, charting in 54 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Best for fans who follow basketball through creators as much as television.
#14. The Deep 3 Podcast
Hosted by Isaac Gutierrez
About this show: Isaac Gutierrez keeps listeners up to speed on NBA news and analysis while being deliberately unserious about it, mixing advanced stats with jokes. Episodes are also available ad-free through SiriusXM Podcasts+.
Why it made the list in 2026: An independent show that charted every week of the window against network competition. Chart record: 24 of 24 US snapshots, average US rank 36.5, best #15, charting in 60 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Best for listeners who want the numbers without the solemnity.
Team Podcasts
#12. Locked On Lakers - Daily Podcast On The Los Angeles Lakers
Hosted by Locked On Podcast Network, Andy and Brian Kamenetzky
About this show: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky have covered the Lakers since 2005 for outlets including the LA Times, ESPN, and The Athletic, and bring that reporting to a daily show mixing journalism, commentary, and humor.
Why it made the list in 2026: The highest-charting single-team show on the list, and daily through the whole calendar. Chart record: 24 of 24 US snapshots, average US rank 25.5, best #10, charting in 59 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Best for Lakers fans who want a reported take every morning.
#13. Laker Film Room - Dedicated to the Study of Lakers Basketball
Hosted by Pete Zayas
About this show: Pete Zayas and Darius Soriano study Lakers basketball on tape, working through what the team is running and why it is or is not working.
Why it made the list in 2026: A film-study show with a national-sized chart position, which is rare for a team podcast. Chart record: 24 of 24 US snapshots, average US rank 28.3, best #14, charting in 52 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Best for Lakers fans who want schemes and rotations rather than reaction.
#15. Rights To Ricky Sanchez: The Sixers Podcast
Hosted by Rights to Ricky Sanchez
About this show: Spike Eskin and Michael Levin host a show that is mostly about Sixers basketball, and has been for long enough that it is part of the team's fan culture.
Why it made the list in 2026: The most established independent team podcast on the chart, publishing twice a week or more. Chart record: 24 of 24 US snapshots, average US rank 20.2, best #7, charting in 36 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Best for Sixers fans, and for anyone curious what a team podcast looks like at full maturity.
#16. Locked On Celtics - Daily Podcast On The Boston Celtics
Hosted by Locked On Podcast Network, John Karalis
About this show: Boston Sports Journal beat writer John Karalis covers the Celtics daily, with the access of someone who is at every practice and game and the perspective of a former basketball player.
Why it made the list in 2026: Beat-level Celtics coverage that held a top-100 spot in every snapshot of the window. Chart record: 24 of 24 US snapshots, average US rank 33.3, best #17, charting in 45 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Best for Celtics fans who want a reporter rather than a commentator.
#18. Locked On Knicks - Daily Podcast On The New York Knicks
Hosted by Locked On Podcast Network, Gavin Schall, Xavier Justin
About this show: Gavin Schall and Xavier Justin cover the Knicks daily, from news and analysis to the wider league picture as it affects New York.
Why it made the list in 2026: Consistent daily Knicks coverage in one of the most crowded team markets in the league. Chart record: 24 of 24 US snapshots, average US rank 31.6, best #6, charting in 34 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Best for Knicks fans who want the franchise covered every day rather than after big games.
#19. Down to Dunk OKC Thunder Podcast
Hosted by The Athletic
About this show: The Athletic's official Oklahoma City Thunder podcast, featuring Andrew Schlecht, Jay Smith, Luke Stephens, Taylor Dickerson, Michele Berra, and Alex Speers.
Why it made the list in 2026: Thunder coverage that charted nationally in every snapshot we measured this year. Chart record: 24 of 24 US snapshots, average US rank 34, best #16, charting in 36 countries on the latest scrape.
Best fit for: Best for Thunder fans and for anyone tracking the league's youngest contenders.
Rising This Month: Basketball Podcasts Climbing the Charts (September 2026)
These are the basketball shows moving up fastest in CastFox rankings. We compare each show's average US chart position across the 3 most recent snapshots (2026-08-18 to 2026-09-08) with the 3 snapshots before that. A show that was outside the top 100 in the prior window is marked as new to the top 100. This section is refreshed every month; the main list above changes more slowly because it rewards consistency.
Duke Basketball Roundup New to the top 100
Hosted by Duke Basketball Roundup. Duke Basketball Roundup new to the US top 100, now averaging #49, with a best US rank of #20 so far in 2026 and a top-100 position in 6 countries on the latest snapshot. For fans of the Gothic Wonderland, the Duke Basketball Roundup is your best source for analysis of the Duke Blue Devils anywhere on the internet since 2014!
The Tom Tolbert Show
Hosted by Tom Tolbert. The Tom Tolbert Show moved from an average of #88.7 to #38.7 (up 50 places), with a best US rank of #26 so far in 2026 and a top-100 position in 10 countries on the latest snapshot. Former radio host and NBA player Tom Tolbert covers the latest news in sports, pop culture, and the world of beer. He shares his unique insights and takes on all things sports, alongside entertaining stories and ideas....
Locked On Clippers - Daily Podcast On The LA Clippers New to the top 100
Hosted by Locked On Podcast Network, Darian Vaziri. Locked On Clippers - Daily Podcast On The LA Clippers new to the US top 100, now averaging #52.5, with a best US rank of #40 so far in 2026 and a top-100 position in 25 countries on the latest snapshot. Locked On Clippers podcast is your daily ticket to stay ahead of the game and the first to know the latest news, analysis, and insider info for the Clippers and the NBA. Die-hard Clippers fan Darian Vaziri provides...
RealGM Radio
Hosted by RealGM NBA Radio with Wes Goldberg. RealGM Radio moved from an average of #87.7 to #43.5 (up 44.2 places), with a best US rank of #41 so far in 2026 and a top-100 position in 37 countries on the latest snapshot. All of RealGM Radio's NBA content in one place. Get new podcasts from Wes Goldberg, 'Double Dribble,' 'Good Take' and more. RealGM Radio goes beyond the headlines and hot takes and brings you the NBA conversations that...
The Jenkins & Jonez Podcast New to the top 100
Hosted by iHeartPodcasts. The Jenkins & Jonez Podcast new to the US top 100, now averaging #63, with a best US rank of #61 so far in 2026 and a top-100 position in 12 countries on the latest snapshot. Longtime friends Jenkins and Jonez have cultivated a passionate fanbase due to their irreverent takes on social media. On The Jenkins and Jonez Podcast, the duo bring the banter of NBA Twitter straight to your ears....
How We Ranked These: CastFox Methodology
CastFox scrapes the Apple Podcasts charts every day in 78 countries and stores every position in the top 200 of every genre. For this list we took the 24 2026 snapshots of the US Basketball chart between 2026-02-24 and 2026-09-08, and scored every show that appeared in the top 100 of any of them.
- Consistency (50% of the score): the number of snapshots in which the show appeared in the US top 100. Every show on this list scored 24 out of 24, which is the filter that removes one-week spikes.
- Average US rank (30%): the mean of the show's US chart positions across those snapshots. Lower is better.
- Global reach (20%): the number of tracked countries in which the show was in the genre top 100 on the most recent snapshot. This is what separates a show with a large US following from a show with a global one.
There are no paid placements and no editorial overrides. A few shows on this list would not be our personal picks; they are here because the chart data put them here, and we would rather show you what people are actually listening to than what we think they should be. Chart position is not the same as audience size, so treat the ranking as a measure of sustained popularity rather than a download count. For a deeper look at what chart data can and cannot tell you, read how podcast audience demographics are calculated.
How to Pick the Right Basketball Podcast for You
You want the best NBA podcasts 2026 has produced and only have room for one
Start with Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective, the most consistent show on this list and the closest thing the category has to a default. If you prefer analysis over reporting, The Zach Lowe Show is the other obvious pick.
You are looking for the best NBA podcasts for beginners
The Athletic NBA Daily explains the day's games in a short weekday episode with no assumed background. No Dunks is the friendliest of the long-running shows, and Club 520 works if you want the league through stories rather than analysis.
You want the best basketball podcasts daily, in a commute-sized slot
Locked On NBA covers the whole league in about 30 minutes every day, The Athletic NBA Daily drops Monday through Friday, and Hoops Tonight breaks down the games the night they happen.
You follow one team and want beat-level detail
Six team shows made the list: Locked On Lakers and Laker Film Room for the Lakers, Rights To Ricky Sanchez for the Sixers, Locked On Celtics, Locked On Knicks, and Down to Dunk for the Thunder.
You would rather hear players than analysts
All The Smoke pairs Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, Club 520 is hosted by Jeff Teague, and 7PM in Brooklyn is Carmelo Anthony's show. All three lean on what it was like inside the league.
You want film study and numbers instead of takes
The Kevin O'Connor Show is built on film breakdowns, Laker Film Room is exactly what its name says, and Numbers on The Board and The Deep 3 mix stats with the culture around the game.
Want the next 181 basketball podcasts?
This list is the top 19. The CastFox Basketball chart page shows the top 50 updated daily, and PodcastGPT can find shows on any specific topic across 5M+ podcasts.
See the daily top 50 → Search by topic →Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Basketball Podcasts
What is the best basketball podcast in 2026?
By CastFox's chart-consistency score, Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective is the best basketball podcast of 2026. It appeared in all 24 US Basketball chart snapshots between February and September 2026, held an average US rank of 2.1, reached #1, and was charting in 74 of the 78 countries CastFox tracks on the latest scrape. The Zach Lowe Show is second with an average rank of 2.7, and First Things First is third.
How is this list ranked?
Each show's score combines three things from CastFox's daily Apple Podcasts chart data: how many of the 24 US Basketball chart snapshots it appeared in the top 100 of (50% of the score), its average US rank across those appearances (30%), and how many of the 78 tracked countries it was charting in on the latest scrape (20%). There are no paid placements and no editorial overrides.
What are the best college basketball podcasts in 2026?
The US Basketball chart is dominated by NBA shows, so no college show made the top 19 on our score. The closest is Eye On College Basketball from CBS Sports, which ranked 28th with an average US rank of 23.6, a best rank of #1, and a top-100 position in 12 countries. Duke Basketball Roundup was the fastest climber in the category this month, new to the top 100 with an average rank of 49 across the three most recent snapshots.
What are the best WNBA podcasts in 2026?
No WNBA-focused show ranked highly enough to make the top 19, but Post Moves with Candace Parker and Aliyah Boston placed 27th in the same data, with an average US rank of 27.3, a best rank of #7, and a top-100 position in 19 countries. It is hosted by Candace Parker and Indiana Fever player Aliyah Boston.
What are the best fantasy basketball podcasts in 2026?
No dedicated fantasy basketball show appeared in the top 30 of the US Basketball chart across the 24 snapshots we measured, so none qualified for this list. The daily league shows are the practical substitute: Locked On NBA, The Athletic NBA Daily, and No Dunks all cover news, injuries, and rotations every weekday. You can search CastFox for fantasy-specific shows and check their chart history before subscribing.