Pro Basketball Talk on NBC Sports podcast · Kurt Helin, NBC Sports

MVP and NBA awards, new CBA, and a deep Hall of Fame class

·46 min·4 clips

Kaitlin Clark's final game drew 9.9 million viewers, outdrawing most NFL Thursday night games.

This episode of Pro Basketball Talk on NBC Sports is a season-ending NBA awards and news discussion between hosts Kurt Helin and a co-host. They open by briefly reviewing the recent NCAA men's and women's basketball tournaments. The hosts highlight UConn's dominant double-digit victory margin in every men's tournament game and LSU's win in the women's final. The conversation notes that the women's championship game drew 9.9 million viewers, outrating all but six Thursday night NFL games from that season. One host presents a theory comparing the current growth of women's basketball to the NBA's early era featuring Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain. They cite WNBA legends Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi as foundational figures who established great rivalries for the league. The episode then pivots to its main NBA topics, which include the MVP race and other end-of-season awards. They also plan to analyze the league's new collective bargaining agreement (CBA). A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to a deep discussion about the Basketball Hall of Fame. The hosts express that the Hall's broad, inclusive nature makes for fascinating debates about player legacies and selections. One surprising claim is the direct comparison of modern WNBA growth to the foundational period of the NBA itself. The staggering television rating for the women's college final is presented as a key piece of evidence for the sport's rising popularity. A memorable moment is the anticipation expressed for another season of watching collegiate star Caitlin Clark. The tone is conversational and enthusiastic, blending casual sports fan commentary with insider analysis of league business. Listeners who enjoy end-of-season NBA award debates and discussions about basketball history will appreciate this episode. Those seeking hard news or game analysis from the current NBA playoffs might find the broader topics less immediately relevant.

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Pro Basketball Talk on NBC Sports podcast