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NBA Draft 2026, the Giannis Trade, and World Cup Fever | Running It Back | Lessons Learned From Sports

Welcome back to Running It Back, the Lessons Learned From Sports podcast! We are eyeballs deep in sports lesson fodder this week, fresh off the Knicks hangover period and diving straight into a brand new World Cup season. We bring you the raw analysis, front-office chemistry checks, and unique banter you love, keeping it completely real as we look at the shifting landscape of modern sports.

The 2026 NBA Draft: Analytics vs. Proven Winners

We kick things off by looking at the NBA Draft and questioning why front offices continue to shy away from drafting proven winners. We look at Jalen Brunson’s incredible championship history as the ultimate counterpoint and debate why we would still select a winner like Cameron Boozer over high-ceiling potential bets like AJ Dobbins. We also break down how NIL changes are shifting the landscape of college sports, keeping top-tier talent playing domestically so fans actually get a chance to see them before draft night. Then we discuss how Danny Hurley is fast becoming the Nick Saban of the NBA draft by molding UConn players to be immediately ready for the league. Finally, we examine how the Knicks provided a blueprint on “wemby-proofing” a team by throwing raw upper-body strength and wide frames at Victor Wembanyama, and why OKC and the Spurs are playing chess while everyone else plays checkers.

Mega Trades & LeBron’s Passive-Aggressive Shenanigans

Next, all hell breaks loose in the trade landscape as we unpack the massive blockbuster trade sending Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat. Miami gives up Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware, and a haul of picks, prompting us to debate whether a twin-towers frontcourt with Giannis and Bam Adebayo will dominate or just look awkward on shooting and spacing. We run it back by analyzing the historical returns of the 2019 Anthony Davis trade and the 2021 James Harden deal to figure out who actually won those legacy-defining moves. Then we dive headfirst into the scuttlebutt surrounding LeBron James’s shenanigans and a wild potential LeBron-AD mega-team reunion with Golden State. We break down whether LeBron is playing the role of a passive-aggressive drama king or if the Warriors can actually assemble a savvy, elite veteran lineup with Steph, Draymond, and the crew. Plus, Mike drops live news about DeAndre Ayton picking up his player option, leaving Tarlin completely stunned and reckoning with Pelinka’s draft shortcomings and a defensively-challenged Lakers backcourt.

World Cup Fever & Soccer Lingo Quiz

We wrap things up by catching World Cup fever because the absolute biggest stars like Messi, Mbappe, and Haaland are actually performing and delivering dominant spectacles on the pitch. We talk about the impressive TV product, the incredible depth of the US men’s team reserves, and the unexpected beautiful bond between international fans and American host cities. To close it out, Tarlin puts Mike’s football knowledge to the test with a surprise lingo quiz, leaving you with everything you need to know about a brace, a hole, and a glut!

Timestamps:

  • 00:00 – Intro: The Post-Knicks Hangover & World Cup Bandwagon Fashion
  • 02:00 – 2026 NBA Draft: Scouting Winners, NIL Impacts, and Hurley’s UConn Pipeline
  • 12:00 – Wemby-Proofing the League: OKC and the Spurs Play Chess
  • 15:00 – Giannis Blockbuster Trade: Unpacking the Heat’s Mega-Swing
  • 17:30 – Running It Back: Historical Returns of the AD and Harden Trades
  • 23:00 – LeBron to the Warriors Scuttlebutt & Live DeAndre Ayton Updates
  • 28:30 – World Cup Fever: Performing Superstars, US Reserves, and Tarlin’s Soccer Quiz

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Lessons Learned from the 2026 NBA Finals | Knicks Win! | To the Victor Goes the “L”

53 years of waiting is officially over. New York is officially Knick-a-bonkers.

The gentleman’s sweep of Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs is complete, and Mike and Tarlin are back for Year 6 of Running It Back to unpack the definitive lessons learned from the 2026 NBA Finals. From Jalen Brunson’s masterclass in footwork to the elite grit of the Nova Knicks, we are breaking down how culture, character, and clutch timing systematically dismantled Vegas’s favorite “alien.”

Pop a top, shrug off the NFL media takeover, and let’s run it back.

Timestamps:

  • 00:00 — Year 6 of the pod, NFL trade distractions, and the upcoming NBA Draft (“wingspan,” not arm length!).
  • 01:15 — The 53-year drought is over: Brunson-sanity takes over Brooklyn.
  • 04:00 — Tarlin’s dispatch from enemy territory (Times Square) and escaping JFK lightning strikes.
  • 05:40 — To The Victor Goes The L: The 63 Saturday night arrests and why Macy’s wooden escalators are lucky to still be standing.
  • 07:45 — Taylor Swift’s crumpled hat & the Knicks as America’s Team.
  • 08:30 — The Lamppost Theory: Why analytics failed the Spurs.
  • 10:00 — Lesson 1: You always want an OG as your wingman (and the legend of “Twinkle Toes” Brunson).
  • 12:10 — Lesson 2: Who let the dogs out? Real grit vs. genetic lotteries.
  • 15:30 — Lesson 3: Experience matters. There are no shortcuts to the mountaintop.
  • 21:50 — Basketball Intelligence: A San Diego callback to the Luka vs. Brunson debate.
  • 24:15 — Roster Construction: How Leon Rose and Worldwide Wes built a culture of underdogs.
  • 28:45 — Can you coach heart? (Spoiler: Hell yeah you can).
  • 30:50 — The Explicit Outro: Don’t get enamored of youth, the street meat metaphor, and putting Draymond Green on absolute blast.
  • 32:45 — Ticker Tape Parade Predictions: Will Jose Alvarado end up on top of a street light?

🏀 Key Lessons From The 2026 Finals

  • You Want an OG as Your Wingman: Everyone thought KAT was Brunson’s primary shield, but OG Anunoby proved to be the ultimate, introverted, cold-blooded killer when it mattered most.
  • Analytics Are a Lamppost: The analytics said the Spurs were the better team on paper. The basketball court said otherwise.

“Analytics are like a lamppost to a drunk person. They’ll hold you up. They’re not gonna get you anywhere.” — Josh Hart (quoting Jay Wright)

  • Don’t Get Enamored Of Youth: Talent is great, but Gen Z can’t win championships alone. Unseasoned street meat is a stay-away; you need mature, battle-tested veterans who know how to close out the fourth quarter when the game slows down to “winning time.”
  • Character Over “Wingspan”: The Knicks built an entire identity around New York grit. From trades for Mikal Bridges to elite bench minutes from Jose Alvarado, they hired for character and reaped a championship.

🌶️ The Clean-Up Crew (EXPLICIT CONTENT WARNING)

We managed to keep it PG-13 for most of the run, but the final whistle required some explicit, lyrical flow. Mike finally crosses the line to clear up a massive cultural misconception: Street meat is NOT about the white sauce. Draymond Green, consider yourself officially put on notice.

As for Thursday’s ticker tape parade? Let’s just hope the city greases the poles, because Jose Alvarado is definitely climbing a lamppost by noon.

Hit that Subscribe button, leave a 5-star review, and let us know in the comments: Will the Knicks repeat in 2027?

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Knicks Spurs NBA Finals Breakdown, Predictions, Crazy Comps

The dance card is officially set, and we are running it back to 1999! The 2026 NBA Finals are locked in: Victor Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs versus Jalen Brunson’s rough-and-tumble New York Knicks.

In this episode—unfiltered and pulled straight from the raw recording—Mike completely throws objectivity out the window and goes 1,000% insufferable Knicks fan. Tarlin tries to inject some actual data with an objective breakdown rubric, but it’s hard to fight the “street meat seasoning” and pure destiny of Midtown bedlam. From Baby Yoda comparisons to ginger-on-ginger crime, the energy is completely unplugged.

  • The 1999 Revenge Tour We are trading the Y2K panic for the AI apocalypse as the Knicks and Spurs meet again on the ultimate stage.
  • The Pod Burn Book Find out why Draymond Green, Becky Hammon, and Brian Scalabrine are officially banned from the rotation.
  • The Objective Rubric Tarlin breaks down the data on Mike Brown vs. Mitch Johnson, River Walk vs. Midtown, and who actually has the championship pedigree.
  • Star Wars Fandom Only Why Jalen Brunson is a mix of Grogu and Captain Kirk, and why Trekkies aren’t welcome here.
  • Forged in Suffering The difference between a fast-ascent team and a squad that built its culture in the trenches of heartbreak.

Timestamps:

  • 00:00 – The Dance Card is Set: Knicks vs. Spurs
  • 01:10 – 1999 vs. 2026: From Y2K to the AI Apocalypse
  • 02:05 – The Media Hate List: Done with Draymond and Scalabrine
  • 03:45 – Bedlam in Midtown: Why it’s Knicks in Six
  • 05:15 – Is Jalen Brunson actually Baby Yoda?
  • 06:40 – The Coach Rubric: Mike Brown vs. Mitch Johnson
  • 09:15 – New York Street Meat vs. The Alamo Dome
  • 14:40 – History Repeating Itself: The 22-Year-Old MVP Narrative
  • 21:15 – Team Culture: Forged in Suffering vs. Lucky Ascent
  • 25:30 – Roster All-Stars and the Playoff Eye Test
  • 28:15 – Final Predictions & Mike’s Impending Wellness Check

“Put the women and children to bed. Don’t bring your family to Times Square for game six.”

Connect with us:

Enjoyed the breakdown? Don’t miss a single second of our post-Finals reaction. Follow Running It Back on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Smash that follow button, leave us a 5-star review, and let us know who you have taking the Larry O’Brien trophy home!

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The Nova Knicks’ Historic Run to the 2026 NBA Finals

It is almost June, and that can only mean one thing: the NBA Finals are here. On this episode of Running It Back, Mike Palmer and Tarlin Ray sit down to process the immaculate, unexpected vibes of a New York Knicks squad that has defied expectations to play for basketball’s ultimate prize. Why is Knick Nation so uncharacteristically quiet right now? Because they know exactly how fragile a postseason run can be.

The guys break down how this team evolved from the top-down, starter-heavy grind of the Tom Thibodeau era into a selfless, 10-deep “Voltron” unit under head coach Mike Brown. With the Knicks boasting top offensive, defensive, and net ratings in the playoffs, the conversation shifts to their potential Western Conference opponents: will they face a resilient but banged-up OKC squad, or the “Godzilla” presence of Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs?

But it wouldn’t be Running It Back without a detour through sports culture, personal milestones, and a healthy dose of perspective. Before diving deep into the hardwood strategy, Tarlin opens up about getting beat in HORSE by his daughter following his hip surgery, launching an unofficial injury rehab support group, and executing a passionate corporate takedown of Starbucks’ existential mobile-ordering crisis.

Whether you are a die-hard member of the blue-and-orange faithful or just love elite sports storytelling, this episode captures the exact blend of nostalgic history, advanced-stat breakdowns, and authentic banter you need.

What’s Inside the Episode

  • The Starbucks Living Room Rant: Tarlin calls out why hanging drapes and plants can’t fix a business model completely dominated by mobile-ordering robots.
  • 1994 vs. 1999 vs. 2026: Mike looks back at the heartbreak of the Patrick Ewing era—complete with the infamous June 17, 1994 OJ Simpson chase interruption—and contrasts it with the collective, selfless basketball of the current “Nova Knicks”.
  • The Mitchell Robinson “Granny Shot” Campaign: How a broken pinky might force Mitch to go full WWE Cowboy Bob Orton with a heavy hand club, and why MSG is ready for a Rick Barry-style free-throw revival.
  • The Mike Brown Masterclass: A look at how Brown’s player-coach mentality empowered Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns while keeping the starters fresh for the fourth quarter.
  • Generational Finals History: Celebrating Jalen and Rick Brunson as they become the sixth father-son duo to reach the NBA Finals.

Episode Timestamps

  • 00:00 – Welcome to June: The Knicks are Finals bound.
  • 01:00 – Tarlin’s quick hitters: Memorial Day HORSE matches and driving tests.
  • 02:00 – Creating an injury support community and calling out Starbucks’ identity crisis.
  • 04:00 – Assessing Knick Nation’s quiet confidence and the scars of past postseasons.
  • 05:00 – Mitchell Robinson’s broken pinky, WWE clubs, and the legendary “granny shot”.
  • 06:00 – Scouting the West: Banged-up OKC vs. Victor Wembanyama’s Spurs.
  • 07:00 – Nostalgia lane: The heartbreak of ’94, the OJ chase, and the ’99 miracle run.
  • 09:00 – Deep dive into the numbers: #1 ratings and a 10-deep rotation.
  • 14:00 – Top-down vs. Player-empowered leadership: From Thibs to Mike Brown.
  • 16:00 – The “Nova Knicks” chemistry, KAT’s defense, and 2014 Spurs-style ball movement.
  • 22:00 – All-NBA slights, media potshots, and the “team of destiny” narrative.
  • 27:00 – Rick and Jalen Brunson join rare father-son Finals history.
  • 29:00 – Bandwagons, 30th college reunions, and non-alcoholic beer survival tips.

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BAM’s 83 | Running It Back to Kobe, Wilt, and The Ethics of Going for the Record

Bam Adebayo 83 points

Bam Adebayo: 83 Points, No Apologies

Did that actually just happen? In an era of load management, Bam Adebayo just sent a shockwave through the league by dropping 83 points on the Washington Wizards. Join Mike Palmer and Tarlin Ray for an emergency session of Running It Back as they break down one of the most surreal scoring outbursts in NBA history. We examine whether this was a pure display of physical dominance or a manufactured “barnstorming” moment against a G-League-heavy roster.

In this episode, we dive into the “A’ja Wilson Effect” and whether Bam went supernova specifically to show off for the WNBA GOAT in the stands. We also analyze the “purity” of the scoring output by comparing it to Kobe’s 81-point game and Wilt Chamberlain’s legendary 100 in a chocolate-scented gym. We discuss the reality of the Wizards’ tanking efforts and how a lack of starters allowed Bam to rack up a record-breaking 43 free throw attempts. Finally, we look at what this says about Heat Culture, as Coach Erik Spoelstra and the rest of the roster rallied to help Bam plant his flag on the mountain.

Whether you think it was a masterpiece or rec league stat-padding, you can’t deny the greatness. Bam didn’t apologize for the free throws, and we aren’t apologizing for this pod.

Read: ⁠Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-Point Game: The Associated Press Original Report (1962)⁠

Timestamps:

  • 00:00 Emergency Pod Setup
  • 01:10 Bam Showing Off
  • 02:12 New Hip Update
  • 02:55 How They Heard
  • 03:58 Wizards Context
  • 05:05 Breaking Down 83
  • 06:40 Wilt Comparisons
  • 08:19 What Makes 80 Plus
  • 10:38 Kobe Purity Debate
  • 12:26 Hershey Legend Talk
  • 13:34 Box Score Deep Dive
  • 14:32 Comparing 100 81 83
  • 15:37 Kobe Comeback Context
  • 15:58 Smush Parker Detour
  • 16:18 Stat Lines Breakdown
  • 17:56 Free Throw Backlash
  • 19:17 Chasing Records Debate
  • 20:08 Celebrate Bam Night
  • 21:29 Playoffs Versus Regular
  • 22:28 Sports Cliches Segment
  • 23:22 Leadership Team Lessons
  • 24:54 NBA News Cycle Wins
  • 28:14 Final Thoughts Signoff

Like, follow, and subscribe so you never miss a conversation like this one!

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SUPER BOWL XL PREVIEW | NFL COACHING CAROUSEL | THAT’S MY QB | WE’RE JUST HERE SO WE DON’T GET FINED

Super Bowl LX Preview

Running It Back Super Bowl XL Preview!

It’s Media Week 2026, and while the league builds the stage for Super Bowl XL, a coaching “Red Wedding” has left the NFL landscape looking like a chaotic game of musical chairs. In this episode, Mike Palmer and Tarlin Ray break down the fallout of the massive coaching turnover and a Super Bowl matchup defined by redemption stories and “Harvard-style” job interviews.

The guys dive deep into the hiring trends of the year—from the rise of the quarterback-influenced front office to the confusing lockout of the winningest coach in history from the Hall of Fame . We’re also paying homage to the 11th anniversary of the 2015 Marshawn Lynch era, reminding everyone that sometimes—“We’re just here so we don’t get fined” .

Key Takeaways:

🏈 The Quarterback Bequeathment: In an act of “tremendous generosity,” Mike hands Drake May over to Tarlin while betting his own reputation on a Sam Darnold redemption tour .

🤡 The HoF “Clown Show”: Why Bill Belichick’s first-ballot denial is being labeled a total farce and what it means for the future of coaching legacies .

🩸 The Coaching Red Wedding: From Eric Bieniemy’s demanding accountability to the “Harvard interview” essays in Cleveland, we track the bloodbath across the league .

🧬 Bloodlines & Systems: A look at the Kubiak family tree—Clint, Clay, and Klein—and how coaching dynasties are tightening their grip on the NFL .

📉 A Low Watermark: A candid look at the current state of minority head coaching hires in 2026 and why the numbers are hitting a historical low .

Timestamps:

  • 00:00 Tactical shovels and the “sharper, more substantive” way to dig out of a Brooklyn snowstorm
  • 02:35 Tarlin’s “Titanium Hip” update: The bizarre experience of meeting a surgeon for 20 minutes and then being “released to the wild”
  • 03:55 Media week and the all-time press conference GOATs: From “Practice” to “I’m just here so I don’t get fined”
  • 06:55 Bequeathing Drake May: Why Mike is holding onto the “distressed asset” of Sam Darnold for the Super Bowl
  • 15:55 Bill Belichick and the Hall of Fame snub: Is the voting process a “clown show”?
  • 18:45 The Red Wedding: Analyzing the Eric Bieniemy dilemma and the “accountability” he brings back to Kansas City
  • 31:30 Mike McCarthy goes home: The “Yinzer” homecoming in Pittsburgh and the end of the Mike Tomlin era
  • 37:45 The Rooney Rule final tally: Exploring the “low watermark” and the movement of coaches like Robert Saleh
  • 39:15 Super Bowl predictions: Can Sam Darnold actually matriculate himself to the Vince Lombardi trophy?

If your GM forced you to write a “Harvard-style” essay just to keep your job, would you cite your sources or just walk out like a coach heading to Cancun?

Join the Conversation:

🚀 Follow the show on your favorite podcast app to catch every breakdown of this 2026 coaching cycle.

⭐ Leave a Review: Does Bill Belichick deserve to wait for the Hall of Fame, or is “Spygate” old news?

Tap that follow button like a tactical shovel through Brooklyn ice—Subscribe to Running It Back so you never miss a conversation like this one.

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Fantasy Football 2025: Draft Strategy, Flores v The NFL, the Rooney Rule and More | Running It Back

Fantasy Football 2025

Get ready, fantasy football fans, because we’re officially running it back! After a well-deserved summer hiatus, your favorite sports podcasters are back and ready to kick off the NFL season in style. This episode has everything you love: a healthy dose of signature banter, some wild personal updates, and a deep dive into the world of fantasy football—from its surprising origins to the drama of your home league.

Don’t miss a single second as we tackle the big topics:

  • The Origins of Fantasy: We’re talking 1960s, a league with a mouthful of a name (The Greater Oakland Professional Pigskin Prognosticators League), and the very first player ever drafted in fantasy history. Tarlin, with his deep Gemini research, connects the past to the present with players who play both sides of the ball.
  • The Modern-Day Fantasy Grind: The guys break down their own league obsessions, from old-school in-person drafts with stickers to the new “Guillotine League”. We also get a look into Mike’s “Palmertron 5,000” and the eternal debate of bros versus cos.
  • Running Backs and the Art of General Management: Is the running back dead? The guys debate strategy, assess player health, and reveal their own plans for the upcoming drafts. Tarlin even has a new rule he’s trying to pass to “make tight ends great again”.
  • The Flores Lawsuit and the Rooney Rule: We shift gears to a serious but crucial conversation about the NFL’s ongoing legal battles. The guys discuss the Brian Flores lawsuit, the fact that he’s still a defensive coordinator while suing the league’s owners, and what it all says about the Rooney Rule and the future of minority coaches.

Whether you’re a seasoned veteran with a “war room” and multiple leagues or a rookie looking to get a leg up, this episode is a must-listen. So grab your draft magazines, open up your pre-draft spreadsheets, and get ready because you know we’re ⁠Running It Back⁠.

Timestamps

  • 00:00 Introduction and Casual Banter
  • 01:07 Baseball Talk and Team Loyalty
  • 02:05 College Preparations and Nostalgia
  • 04:25 Transition to NFL and Fantasy Football
  • 06:00 Deep Dive into Fantasy Football
  • 07:42 Fantasy Football Strategies and History
  • 09:34 Fantasy Football Leagues and Rules
  • 11:28 Fantasy Football Drafts and Management
  • 19:47 Bros Over Cos: Fantasy Football Draft Strategies
  • 20:17 The Value of Running Backs in Modern Fantasy Football
  • 22:08 Quarterback Draft Picks: Who to Watch
  • 23:27 Wide Receivers: Top Picks and Strategies
  • 25:13 The Impact of the Rooney Rule and Minority Coaches
  • 26:56 Brian Flores’ Legal Battle Against the NFL
  • 30:21 The Future of Minority Coaches in the NFL
  • 37:43 Concluding Thoughts and Upcoming Topics
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Thibs’ Firing, Hali v SGA NBA Finals, Plus “Big Shot Rob” and the History of Clutch

Thib's Firing and Hali v. SGA

Get ready for an unfiltered and energetic breakdown of the NBA playoffs as we, Mike Palmer and Tarlin Ray from ⁠Running It Back⁠, dive headfirst into the latest on the hardwood!

We kick things off by dissecting the Knicks’ recent playoff run, asking the tough questions about what went wrong and what’s next for Mike’s beloved and Tarlin’s bandwagon team. Tarlin connects Coach Thibs’ firing to a fascinating historical trend—it seems winning Coach of the Year can be a bit of a curse. Meanwhile, Mike remains optimistic that this shake-up opens up exciting new possibilities for the Knicks in the trade and free agent markets.

Then, we shift gears to marvel at the Indiana Pacers’ surprising success. We’re talking about Tyrese Haliburton’s incredible clutch shooting and Rick Carlisle’s brilliant coaching. While we might not label Haliburton a “superstar,” you’ll hear why Mike concedes he is an elite point guard who consistently delivers in the clutch. Tarlin even drops some compelling stats, drawing comparisons between Haliburton and Chris Paul.

Of course, we can’t ignore the Oklahoma City Thunder (OKC). We delve into their suffocating defensive intensity, and I’m even bold enough to make a finals prediction you won’t want to miss! We’re exploring the evolving landscape of basketball, celebrating deep teams that bring high intensity for all 48 minutes, rather than relying on just one “alpha” superstar. And Tarlin makes a powerful point: it’s about the quality of basketball, not just who’s the “face of the NBA.”

So, join us for all this and more—we promise a fun, insightful, and passionately debated journey through the world of NBA.

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Knicks Pacers Rivalry | Reggie v Patrick, Hali v Brunson and More | Running It Back

Knicks Pacers Rivalry

Tarlin and Mike are back to chop it up about the Knicks Pacers rivalry through the years heading into the big series starting this week. Tarlin asks in on the Knicks bandwagon. Mike extols Brunson’s leadership, doesn’t fear Haliburton, the Pacers, Pat McAfee, or even Hans Perez, the firefighter who wore a Haliburton jersey to the midtown New York celebration outside MSG on Friday night. Mike and Gilbert Arenas are saying Knicks in 5. Tarlin is on Knicks in 6–It sounds good, doesn’t it?

Where do you stand? Which half of Knicks Nation do you belong to? Or are you riding or dying with the House of Haliburton? Listen in and learn. Subscribe wherever you get your pods. Video episodes up on Youtube and Spotify.

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Allen Iverson’s “Practice?!?!” Turns 23 | Plus Pop Promoted to El Jefe, House of Haliburton and More

Allen Iverson

In this engaging episode, Running It Back takes you on a journey from the iconic to the immediate. We start by commemorating the anniversary of Allen Iverson’s “Practice” press conference – a moment that gave us one of the most quotable moments in NBA history. Then, we shift gears to the present, analyzing the ongoing NBA playoffs, the buzz around Tyrese Haliburton, and the contrasting leadership styles of coaches Larry Brown and Gregg Popovich. It’s a study in contrasts – from a legendary player’s raw emotion to the strategic minds shaping the game today.