Send us a text Trojans assistant coaches Anthony Ruta and Quincy Pondexter plus assistant athletic director for basketball operations Michael Reutt joins the pod to tell their stories, trade tales, and discuss philosophies about basketball and life. It's a Staff-a-palooza! Don't miss this inside look at the new era of USC basketball under head coac…

Send us a text USC head basketball coach Eric Musselman comes on the DCP to share his vision for Trojan hoops, with reflections on roster construction, scheduling, the move to the Big Ten, his biggest worries for this year's team, the Olympics, Pete Carroll and more! This episode is a must-listen for any basketball fan who wants to get to know the …

Send us a text USC assistant Michael Musselman joined Chris and Mark to discuss his journey as a coach, what he looks for when he evaluates prospects, how the Trojans plan to manufacture a rebounding edge this season, and more! Also, questions from the message board, with a recommendation on where to eat around campus. The Dunk City Podcast is the …

Send us a text Former University of Washington star and new USC assistant coach Will Conroy joins the Dunk City Podcast to tell Chris and Mark about his Seattle roots and how he ended up getting into the coaching business. Conroy shares some great stories at UW, including the time he had Nate Robinson on a leash before a game, and reflects on how m…

Send us a text The Eric Musselman Era has officially begun at USC, bringing a wave of excitement and intense summer practices to the Trojans basketball team. In the latest episode of the Dunk City Podcast, hosts Chris and Mark dive into an in-depth conversation with USC's Assistant Coach Todd Lee, who shares exclusive insights into the program’s in…

Can you recall your favorite sports movie of all time? (No, the Karate Kid doesn't count, stop it.) Well one of our favorites, an underrated and forgotten gem, is Above The Rim. A 1994 classic that may very well have the best basketball played in a sports film ever. But is it good enough to be the first sports movie ever inducted into the First Bal…

Send us a text USC now has a full scholarship allotment for the 2024-25 season following the transfer of USD wing Kevin Patton, who joins an intriguing, wing-dominant roster. Chris and Mark rank the 12 incoming players, answer message board questions, and discuss the challenge it will be for Trojans fans to connect with a team comprised of so many …

Inside the NBA isn't just a show, it's an institution. In an extra special episode, long-time Inside the NBA producer Tim Kiely joins the pod to talk about his career, working with Shaq and Charles Barkley, and if any iconic Inside the NBA moments are First Ballot Hall of Fame worthy. Timecodes: (03:54) There's no "I" in Team, but there's one in TI…

On the latest episode of "From the Point by Trae Young," OKC Thunder guard Lindy Waters III joins pod host Trae Young, and Young's co-host Winston, for a honest, real, and raw conversation. Waters, who played at Norman North (OK) High with both Trae and Winston opened up about a variety of topics including: hanging out with Trae as kids, being a me…

In 2013, fueled by two years of resentment after losing to Jason Terry and the Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 NBA finals, LeBron James pulled off one of the most incredible casket dunks ever. Comedian and writer on DAVE, Niles Abston joins the pod to discuss his journey to Hollywood (10:30), working with Lil' Dicky (39:40), and if the Miami Heat bury…

On an April 30, 2024, recording of "From the Point by Trae Young" filmed in partnership with Bleacher Report, NBA All-Star Trae Young and Winston discuss: 01:00 Trae's schedule since his NBA season ended 01:30 "Coach" Trae, the AAU leader 02:10 Trae's Sprite Campaign 03:30 On Becoming Hawks franchise leader in assists 05:40 An injury update 07:20 T…

"Which one of you guys is playing for second?" In 1988, Larry Bird shot the lights out to win his third straight 3-point contest... in his warm-up jacket. Dale Ellis, a 17-year NBA veteran, 1987's NBA Most Improved Player, a 1989 NBA All-Star and All-NBA Selection, and the Godfather of the 3-point shot joins the pod to break down competing with Lar…

All sports news may just be...gossip! Breaking down Marcus Jordan and Larsa Pippen's relationship is Impersonal Foul writer Madeline Hill, who also talks about the best reality tv shows, how Rich Paul is an athlete, America's Royal Family, and her substack (a newsletter that is the lovechild of Bravo and ESPN). Showtime Codes: (3:30) The four best …

Send us a text Chris and Mark discuss the deluge of recruits coming to USC out of the transfer portal over this past week, including Saint Thomas, Isaiah Elohim, Chibuzo Agbo and Rashaun Agee. Later, Chris yells at a cloud in an attempt to understand what it's like to be a modern college basketball athlete. The Dunk City Podcast is the podcast of r…

There was no doubt that Caitlin Clark would make history by becoming the all time NCAA leading scorer. It was only a matter of how and when she would do it. Here to discuss the moment is Dunk Comp's Creative Director Mike Corbett, who joins the pod to talk about Caitlyn’s record breaking moment, the impact of Vince Carter, and the greatness of a ho…

Iconic sports moments can happen anywhere and to anyone. In this episode of the First Ballot Hall of Fame Podcast, friend of the show, comedian, and actor Michael Torpey breaks down one umpire's effort to leave it all on the field. Torpey also dissects the sweet relief of a barf and the most iconic vomits throughout his life. Timecodes: (10:11) Tor…

Send us a text Mark and Chris delve into the significant appointment of Eric Musselman as the new USC men's basketball coach, a move that's poised to elevate the program to new heights. They explore the current landscape of the Trojans in the transfer portal, highlighting the pivotal role Musselman, affectionately known as 'Muss,' will play in reju…

On this episode of "From the Point by Trae Young," recorded in early April, Atlanta Hawks guard Dejounte Murray joins pod host/his teammate Trae Young, and Young's co-host Winston, for a honest, real, and raw conversation. Murray opened up about a variety of topics including: The pairing of him and Trae and their relationship; playing in San Antoni…

On an April 2024 episode of "From the Point by Trae Young" recorded in partnership with Bleacher Report, NBA All-Star Trae Young and Winston discuss: 00:10 Trae's injury rehab and return timetable 01:55 On the Atlanta Hawks play without Trae 03:40 The full extent of his finger injury (IYKYK) 05:40 Hawks 30-point comeback against the Boston Celtics …

With 5 seconds left on the clock, Ray Allen hit a clutch three from the right corner, tying the game and forcing overtime in a moment that would change NBA championship history. Here to talk about the moment is the Head of Content and Communications at the National Basketball Retired Players Association Julio Manteiga, who talks about what he saw a…

In 2016 Zach Lavine and Aaron Gordon went head to head in what is now regarded as potentially the greatest dunk contest in NBA history. Featuring a free throw line windmill dunk, a free throw line 'tween the legs dunk, and a miraculous "sitting in the air" dunk. Here to discuss is poet, essayist, and cultural critic Hanif Abdurraqib (@NifMuhammad).…

Send us a text In the latest college basketball coaching news, USCBasketball.com's Mark Backstrom and Chris Huston delve into the swirling rumors about Andy Enfield potentially leaving USC to accept the head coaching position at SMU. As the sports community speculates on this significant potential move, attention turns to who might be the best fit …

Our first true emergency podcast! Two monster plays in two weeks from one rising superstar, Anthony Edwards. And who better to help us navigate which of these two plays should be in the FBHOF than Zach Harper (@talkhoops) of The Athletic. On this episode we talk sp5der hoodies, horse noises, thrunks, and the perfectly balanced omegablade that Thano…

Send us a text This is the way the Pac-12 ended: Mark and Chris discuss USC's loss to Arizona in game two of the Pac-12 tournament, as the program says farewell to the Conference of Champions and hello to the Big Ten. Mark provides the final metrics for the seniors while Chris gives the latest updates from the transfer portal, including fresh news …

Di First Ballot: The Hall of Fame Podcast

Send us a text Mark and Chris discuss USC's sweep of the desert schools that included a 78-65 victory over No. 5 Arizona and how the Trojans are playing like a top-17 team over the last seven games. DJ Rodman is on a tear! Can he and USC continue its magic in the Pac-12 tourney? Can incoming recruit Trent Perry play point next year for the Trojans?…

On the latest episode of "From the Point by Trae Young," recorded in partnership with Bleacher Report, NBA All-Star Trae Young and Winston discuss Trae's recent injury, NBA All-Star 2024, the inaccurate narrative around Trae, and talk about Trae's little brother Timothy. The co-hosts also discuss the best players they saw in high school, NFL player…

In this episode of the First Ballot Hall of Fame, we're on the search for the funniest sports moment of all time. TV writer and producer, George Anagnostakos rejoins the pod to break down the Isaiah Thomas Frosty Freeze Out Ejection and Gregg Popovich's Hack-A-Shaq special and help decide if either moment is worthy of the First Ballot Hall of Fame.…

Send us a text Mark and Chris discuss USC's late season road surge that saw it win two of its last three away from Galen, how the team is suddenly playing its best ball, and how Kobe Johnson is still the engine that makes the Trojans go. They also harken back to past Trojans who were as dominant as Isaiah Collier was against Washington, project how…

March Madness is arguably the best part of college basketball and generates iconic moments year after year. SVP of Late Night West Coast at ViacomCBS and the Official College Basketball Fan of the First Ballot Hall of Fame Podcast, Nick Bernstein and Actor and Writer Michael Torpey join the pod to break down some of NCAA's most iconic moments and i…

Send us a text Mark and Chris discuss USC's win over UCLA at Pauley Pavilion, how the Trojans are playing better ball of late, what USC's record might've been without injury and bad luck, what Kobe Johnson's role might be on the team next year and a look ahead at the coming trip to the Pacific Northwest. The Dunk City Podcast is the podcast of reco…

On the latest episode of "From the Point by Trae Young," WNBA Star A'ja Wilson joins pod host Trae Young, and Young's co-host Winston, for an abbreviated-but-deep conversation on all-things hoop, Las Vegas Aces, and confidence. Wilson, who recorded this podcast with the guys while in Indianapolis for NBA All-Star 2024, specifically opened up about:…

Stephen Curry is one of the greatest shooters of all time. In 2016, with just 0.6 seconds on the clock, Curry hit a game-winning three against the Oklahoma City Thunder and got a Double Bang from Mike Breen. Is this shot the moment that changed the NBA? Producer and co-host of the Jenkins and Jonez podcast, John "LaJethro Jenkins" Nichols joins the…

Send us a text Mark and Chris discuss the sudden re-emergence of USC's big three of Boogie Ellis, Kobe Johnson and Isaiah Collier as the trio scored a combined 69 vs. Colorado. They also discuss the rebounding emergency, whether the team is maybe a little out of shape this year, whether Oziyah Sellers should be playing more, and if the Trojans have…

In the 2021 Eastern Conference Semifinals, Philadelphia 76er Ben Simmons infamously passed up a wide-open dunk over Trae Young. Comedian, Philadelphia native, and host of the We Want Moore podcast, Anthony Moore joins the pod to break down this infamous play and decide if it is worthy of the First Ballot Hall of Fame. Anthony also breaks down Wemby…

Send us a text Chris and Mark discuss USC's disappointing sweep at the hands of the Bay Area squads that included a heartbreaking OT loss to cal and 31-point crushing at the hands of Stanford, but why it's still crazy to fire Andy Enfield after one bad season. They also muse at why announcers are so deferential to Bronny, what it's like to go to Ma…

One of the greatest sports journalists in the country and New York Times bestselling author of seven books, Joe Posnanski joins the podcast to talk about the longest jump never recorded and Mike Powell's long jump record. Plus, Joe's favorite baseball moments, how he and Michael Schur started their podcast, and things that kick ass. Timecodes: (7:5…

Send us a text Chris and Mark discuss USC's games against Oregon and Oregon State. The Trojans showed some life and snapped a six-game skid with the victory over the Beavers. Can they build on that and keep improving? Will the return of Isaiah Collier make a difference down the stretch? How long should Kobe Johnson sit on the bench? The Dunk City P…

In this very special edition of the First Ballot Hall of Fame Podcast, legendary SLAM contributors Ben Osborne, Lang Whitaker, and Russ Bengtson join the pod to celebrate SLAM magazine's 30th anniversary. They go into all the gritty details of working at one of the most important publications in basketball history from Shawn Kemp's emails to fist b…

Send us a text Mark and Chris discuss USC's 65-50 loss to UCLA and look for answers as to why the Trojans continue to struggle. They also look to the future and project what the roster might look like next season in the first year in the Big Ten. Could Trent Perry be the next great USC player? The Dunk City Podcast is the podcast of record for the …

In 2006 the Dallas Mavericks lost in the NBA finals to the Wade and Shaq led Miami Heat. (Thanks in large part to an astounding 97 free throws by D-Wade…) Later in the 2011 NBA Finals, Nowitzki would find himself on the precipice of rewriting NBA history with one fateful lefty lay. Jason Gallagher, of The Old Man and The Three, joins the pod to dis…

Send us a text Chris and Mark discuss the debacle in the desert and whether the Trojans might have hit rock bottom. With the UCLA game approaching, other topics include the need for Oziyah Sellers to shoot more three pointers and for Vince Iwuchukwu to get more opportunities down low. It's all about getting USC up to speed to make a run in the conf…

On the latest episode of "From the Point by Trae Young," NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal joins host Trae Young, and Young's co-host Winston, for some motivational and legendary media and NBA conversation. Shaq, a four-time NBA Champion and long-time TV host, starts off the episode by giving the duo some tips about podcasting. Once Shaq’s done te…

On the third episode of "From the Point by Trae Young" recorded in partnership with Bleacher Report, two-time NBA All-Star Trae Young and Winston discuss the NFL Playoffs, scoring 10,000 career points, and the “best ever” potential of rookie Frenchman, Victor Wembanyama. The Hawks star guard and his friend also talk about the art of the alley-oop, …

Dan Devine, Paul from @Dunkcomp, and David Astramskas are back for Part 2 of determining the greatest shattered backboard dunk. This week they break down Shaq's 1992 dunk on NBA Inside Stuff and Darryl Dawkins' OG back-board shattering dunk against the Kansas City Kings and decide which of these dunks are worthy of induction into the First Ballot H…

Send us a text Mark and Chris discuss the losses to WSU and Colorado and ask the following questions: Are the bigs back? Who should be getting more playing time? How do we balance the need for player development for next year with the need to salvage wins this year? The Dunk City Podcast is the podcast of record for the USC basketball community. Yo…

On the latest episode of "From the Point by Trae Young," the second in conjunction with Bleacher Report, NBA Champion Michael Porter Jr. joins AAU Teammate-turned-friend Trae Young and co-host Winston for some introspective, honest, and raw conversation. MPJ, who recently won an NBA title with the Denver Nuggets, opens up about his back injury lead…

On the first episode of "From the Point by Trae Young" recorded in conjunction with Bleacher Report, Trae and Winston discuss the LA Lakers, Indiana Pacers, and the NBA’s first-ever In-Season Tournament. Trae also gets real about the Atlanta Hawks' start to the season, what would have happened if he didn't get injured in the 2021 Eastern Conference…

Legends of the industry, Dan Devine, Paul from @Dunkcomp, and David Astramskas join the pod as the first-ever First Ballot Hall of Fame voting committee panel to determine and induct the greatest shattered backboard dunk into the First Ballot Hall of Fame. In part one of the first ever two-part episode, the panel breaks down Jerome Lane's thunderou…

Send us a text Chris and Mark discuss USC's sweep of the Bay Area schools and what it might mean for the rest of the season. One big plus: The team was moving again on offense and defense. Is Kobe back? Also, you'll hear Mark's Mean Minute, a breakdown of Pac-12 power rankings thus far, and a look ahead to games against Washington State and Colorad…