logo
episode-header-image
Nov 2020
15m 34s

LaMelo Ball's Basketball Odyssey

Wondery
About this episode

LaMelo Ball is projected by many to be the first overall pick in Wednesday’s NBA Draft, the culmination of a basketball journey that has taken him from California to Lithuania to Ohio to Australia. Today, we’re joined by The Athletic’s Joe Vardon to discuss LaMelo’s growth and setbacks during his basketball odyssey, and why LaVar Ball’s youngest son remains such a polarizing player.  

Read Joe Vardon’s story about LaMelo Ball’s time in Ohio: https://theathletic.com/2195542/2020/11/17/lamelo-ball-nba-draft-2020-doing-lamelo-things-the-ball-familys-quiet-wild-year-in-ohio/?source=theleadpodcast

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next
Jun 23
Listen Now: Liberty Lost
In Evangelical homes across the United States, sex outside of marriage is a sin against God. So, when Abbi becomes pregnant at 16, her devout parents hide her away at the Liberty Godparent Home, a little-known facility for pregnant teens on the campus of Liberty University. The H ... Show More
5m 55s
May 22
Listen Now: Mind the Game
LeBron James and Steve Nash sit down for an unfiltered, in-depth conversation about basketball—how it’s played, how it’s evolved, and what it really means to understand the game.From breaking down the Nash dribble and the evolution of the short roll, to dissecting playoff adjustm ... Show More
4m 33s
Jan 2024
The Lead Says Farewell
An announcement about our showSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. 
3m 50s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2023
This is a Disaster for LaMelo Ball
LaMelo Ball just signed a 5 year supermax contract that sets his family up for generations. He’s also becoming an irrelevant young player in the NBA. This video looks at what’s gone wrong for Ball and how his team ranks among other up-and-coming squads in the league. 
8m 7s
Dec 2020
Episode 7: LaVar Ball
On this episode, KD and Eddie talk to Mr. Big Baller Brand himself, the one and only, LaVar Ball. LaVar discusses his three sons making it to the NBA and their winding paths to get there. Plus, he talks about Lonzo, LiAngelo and LaMelo's first games together, his wife Tina's inte ... Show More
1h 10m
Aug 2021
Carmelo Anthony | Ep 100 | ALL THE SMOKE Full Episode | SHOWTIME Basketball
Episode 100. It doesn't get much bigger then this. 10x All-Star and 6x All-NBA, Carmelo Anthony rocks with the boys on ALL THE SMOKE as he dives into his legendary career. He opens up about his relationships with Kobe and Lebron and discusses his career stops in Denver, New York, ... Show More
1h 3m
Dec 2020
Giannis Stays! Plus: Mark Cuban on Luka’s Ceiling, NBA Bubble Lessons, and Dirk as Dallas’s Sports GOAT.
The Ringer's Bill Simmons shares his thoughts on Giannis's signing the supermax contract to stay in Milwaukee, and all the winners (there's more than you'd think) that result (2:30). Then, he talks to Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban about the NBA season starting in just a week, ... Show More
1h 39m
Mar 2021
Lebron & LaMelo Injuries, Trade Deadline, Nets-Jazz | WHAT’S BURNIN’ | SHOWTIME Basketball
New WHAT'S BURNIN' is here. Matt and Stak breakdown the unfortunate injury news for both Lebron James and rookie of the year front-runner LaMelo Ball. Plus, they preview the trade deadline and some big matchups coming up this week between the Heat & Suns and Nets & Jazz. Learn mo ... Show More
28m 9s
Aug 2017
LOCKED ON LAKERS -- 8/11/17 -- Why is Lonzo Ball so polarizing?
NBA Twitter in the middle of August can be a dark, desolate (and at times angry) place. Very rarely will discussions end with the acknowledgement that truth typically lies somewhere in the middle, and with guys as polarizing as Lonzo Ball and Kobe Bryant, this trend gets taken to ... Show More
1h 12m
Aug 2021
NBA champion Eddie House on LeBron and the Lakers, Giannis, the New-Look Heat & More!
On today's episode, NBA champion and FOX Sports Radio NBA analyst Eddie House swings by for a lengthy basketball conversation. In the interview, House explains to Jason why he thinks the additions of Kyle Lowry and PJ Tucker gives the Miami Heat a slight edge over the Milwaukee B ... Show More
37m 29s
Nov 2020
NBA 2020-2021 Season Dates Are Set. Plus: Where LaMelo Ball and Other Prospects Will Wind Up in the Draft | The Mismatch
Verno and KOC get into all the NBA news that’s broken over the past couple of days regarding the start of the 2020-2021 season (0:45) and where LaMelo Ball could end up in the draft (11:00), and then they talk through some of the most interesting prospects in the draft (30:30).Ho ... Show More
55m 16s