Top 10 NBA podcasts to download right now

• NBA players are taking control of their own stories using podcasts to amplify their voice
• Traditional media outlets are also using podcasts to expand their audiences
• For basketball fans, uncensored anecdotes and hottakes through their headphones are unmissable

Listen up! These are the top 10 NBA podcasts. My No1 choice isn't all about the NBA but its hosted by former NBA star Rex Chapman. As far as storytelling goes it is simply extraordinary. It only has one season in 2021 but all 20 episodes are some of the best interviews you will ever hear.

NBA players both active and retired have turned the media landscape on its head with their own shows, taking listeners deep into the heart of the world's toughest basketball league to share behind the scenes insights where they can own their own stories.

These are my Top 10 NBA podcasts.

1. Charges with Rex Chapman

First and foremost, Rex Chapman has a voice for audio. It is mesmerising more often than not and when he's interviewing sports stars from all walks of life about their toughest moments, often away from their sporting arenas, listeners hang off every word. Rex Chapman was a basketball star from high school through to the NBA but he became addicted to painkillers and his fall from grace culminated in getting arrested for stealing from an Apple Store. Chapman explores the stories of other superstars that enjoyed unbelievable success as athletes but endured punishing and painful fall from graces. It's definitely one for the grown-ups — mature audiences only. Of the NBA players, he talks to Bonzi Wells, Antoine Walker, Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson (All The Smoke), Jayson Williams, and John Amaechi (wow).

2. All The Smoke

Former NBA players Stephen Jackson and Matt Barnes host candid conversations with athletes and celebrities, discussing basketball and broader cultural topics. All The Smoke Drops weekly and is a free-flowing, unscripted, must listen. All The Smoke was one of the first player-hosted podcasts that is uncut and deep with basketball knowledge that all NBA fans can immerse themselves in. Barnes is releasing an episode more than once a week with former Houston Rockets star Vernon Maxwell and journeyman Keyon Dooling. The latest episode is with Darius Miles being "brutally honest about his journey from East St. Louis phenom to NBA lottery pick, opening up about the pressure of being drafted by the Clippers and signing with Jordan Brand at just 18 years old and the mental health struggles that hit him after retirement."

3. The Bill Simmons Podcast

HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons hosts the most downloaded sports podcast of all time, with a rotating crew of celebrities, athletes, and media staples, as well as mainstays like Cousin Sal, Joe House, and a slew of other friends and family members who always happen to be suspiciously available. Simmons has encyclopaedic knowledge of the NBA and the show often creates its own headlines.

4. The Ringer NBA Show

A dynamic podcast featuring various hosts discussing NBA news, game recaps, and player performances, providing a comprehensive look at the league.

5. Dunc'd On Basketball NBA Podcast

Hosts Nate Duncan and Danny Leroux provide detailed game breakdowns, salary cap analysis, and scouting reports, catering to hardcore basketball enthusiasts.

6. Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective

ESPN's Brian Windhorst and his team discuss the latest NBA news, trends, and behind-the-scenes stories, offering a well-rounded perspective on the league. Few NBA journalists have the access an insight Windhorst has. He's one of the best in the business, which makes his podcast an absolute must-listen when it drops every two days.

7. Numbers on the Board

Hosted by YouTuber Kenny Beecham, this podcast combines statistical analysis with engaging discussions on NBA topics, appealing to both casual fans and analytics enthusiasts. Apple describes the show as "Four lifelong friends, Kenny, Pierre, Mike, and Darrick, talk all things basketball from every angle, on and off the court."

8. Hardwood Knocks

Hosted by Dan Favale and Andy Bailey, this podcast provides comprehensive NBA coverage, including player evaluations, team analysis, and discussions on league trends.

9. The Athletic NBA Daily

Everyone knows The Athletic — and its NBA Daily podcast (Monday to Friday) is rich in the same storytelling that has made The Athletic one of the go-to sports websites in the world. The show is hosted by Dave DuFour and Zena Keita. For fans it's a daily fix of about 25 minutes of all the NBA news you need to know.

10. The Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis

Draymond Green is one of the most polarising players in modern history and his podcast brings the same energy — twice a week. Apple describes it as a "no-holds-barred takes on the biggest stories in basketball, break down the latest with the Golden State Warriors, and share never-before-heard stories from on and off the court. It lives up to the billing.