Riley Goes Euro, Ant's Missing Ingredient, Odd Lineups Explained

On The Ball with Ric Bucher

On The Ball with Ric Bucher delivers sharp, no-nonsense NBA analysis from veteran insider Ric Bucher (FS1, Fox Sports Radio) on the United WeCast Network. In this episode, Ric examines how the NBA’s entertainment engine shapes today’s game and player development, contrasting it with EuroLeague and international club systems. He spotlights Pat Riley’s shift toward international talent with the Miami Heat, why European training (movement, passing, team concepts) is closing the gap, and how global stars like Nikola Jokić, Luka Dončić, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Victor Wembanyama are redefining MVP conversations.

Ric then zooms into on-court problem solving: why scorers must also be playmakers, using Anthony Edwards’ struggles vs. a box-and-one as a case study, and why teams like the Rockets (even with Kevin Durant) need a true table-setter. He breaks down Ime Udoka’s blueprint for maximizing KD (pinch-post touches, free-throw-line catches), and offers practical context on early-season rotations and experimentation—citing the Warriors, Steve Kerr, and how constraints from sports science impact lineups. If you want basketball talk that connects NBA strategy, international hoops, and player development—with clear takeaways you won’t hear elsewhere—subscribe and follow @RicBucher for weekly episodes.

📚 Coming soon: Ric’s new book, The Value of Being Coachable, featuring lessons from Stephen Curry, Steve Young, Brandi Chastain, and more.

Follow @RicBucher on X, Instagram, Threads, and BlueSky — and tune in for NBA insight that cuts deeper than the headlines.

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