Off the Screen

About Off the Screen

Discussing everything NBA, new episodes out every Wednesday!

Publisher

Factional Media

Category

sports

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

14 Jul 2020

Latest episode

13 Aug 2026

Latest episodes

124 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   13 Aug 2026

   12.5 Billion Lakers, LeBron in Philly, and Kawhi's Growing Scandal

   In this episode of the "Off the Screen" podcast, hosts Jordan (jor), Michael (Mike) Brunache, Alejandro Olivo, and Sid return from an extended off-season break to break down major news across the NBA. Key topics discussed during the episode include: Tribute to Don Nelson: The crew pays respect to legendary NBA head coach Don Nelson following his passing at age 86. They highlight his 5 championships as a Celtics player, ranking second all-time in head coaching wins, pioneering the "point forward" role, and early scouting of European talent like Dirk Nowitzki. Russell Westbrook's Retirement: Russell Westbrook officially retires after a historic career as a former MVP, Top 75 player, and all-time leader in triple-doubles. The hosts debate his legacy in OKC alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Kevin Durant. Lakers Ownership Sale: The Los Angeles Lakers have been sold for $12.5 billion to Bob Iger and Josh Kushner. Former owner Mark Walter turns a $2 billion profit after holding the team for just one year. This leads into banter about expansion team costs ($7–10 billion) and buying private islands. LeBron James Signs with the 76ers: LeBron James officially signs a discount deal ($8 million over 2 years) with the Philadelphia 76ers to form a star-studded lineup with Jaylen Brown, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey. The hosts evaluate the fit, commuting between NYC and Philly, and Jaylen Brown's analytical value. Kawhi Leonard & Clippers Cap Circumvention Investigation: The hosts analyze Pablo Torre's investigative reports on Kawhi Leonard and Steve Ballmer's LA Clippers. The reports allege under-the-table cap circumvention involving Aspiration (tree planting), Daktronics (Intuit Dome halo scoreboard), and a Rhode Island soccer team (RIFC). The hosts discuss why the Toronto Raptors backed out of trading for Kawhi and debate appropriate league penalties. Chapters & Timestamps 00:00 - Off-Season Return & Travel Stories The hosts welcome listeners back after a long scheduling hiatus. Mike describes his travel nightmare returning to NYC from Central Europe via Prague and London. 03:15 - Remembering Don Nelson (1940–2026) Honoring the life and legacy of Don Nelson following his passing at 86. Reviewing his 5 Celtics titles, European scouting, and pioneering the point forward position. 07:30 - Russell Westbrook Announces Retirement Celebrating the career of the former MVP and all-time triple-double leader. Debating the greatest players in OKC Thunder franchise history. Lighthearted banter about age gaps and "UNC" jokes among the crew. 14:45 - Lakers Sold for $12.5 Billion Breaking down the Lakers' sale to Bob Iger and Josh Kushner. Mark Walter netting $2 billion in profit after holding the team for one year. 17:00 - Off-Topic Banter: Islands, Seaplanes & Expansion Teams Side conversation about buying $40k islands and terraforming with beavers. Examining the $7–10 billion price tag for NBA expansion franchises. 22:30 - LeBron James Signs with the Philadelphia 76ers LeBron taking a massive pay cut ($4 million per year) to play in Philadelphia. Discussing commuting routines between NYC and Philadelphia. Assessing Philly's championship potential with LeBron, Embiid, Jaylen Brown, and Maxey. 28:00 - Jaylen Brown: Eye Test vs. Advanced Analytics Discussing Jaylen Brown's net negative plus-minus ratings versus his on-court impact. Comparing Jaylen Brown's polarising analytical narrative to peak Russell Westbrook. 34:15 - Kawhi Leonard & Clippers Investigation (Pablo Torre Report) Unpacking Pablo Torre's reports on Clippers salary cap circumvention. Details regarding Aspiration, Daktronics halo scoreboard sponsorships, and Rhode Island FC. Explaining how the Raptors rescinded their trade offer for Kawhi following NBA warnings. 42:00 - Debate: What Should the Punishment Be? Comparing cap circumvention to PED and drug policy violations. Debating contract voiding, suspensions, and Steve Ballmer's potential reaction.

2. 

   23 Jun 2026

   The Knicks Are Champions & The World Cup Takes Over America

   In this episode of Off the Screen, host Jordan and co-hosts Michael Brunache, Alejandro Olivo, and Sid celebrate and dissect the New York Knicks' recent 2026 NBA Championship victory over the San Antonio Spurs. The hosts discuss their personal experiences watching the finals, tracking their skyrocketing June budgets spent at sports bars, and pivoting to talk about their excitement for the ongoing World Cup matches occurring across the United States. Michael highlights his experience traveling to Philadelphia to watch his home country, Haiti, take on Brazil. The conversation then shifts back to basketball as they critique the Knicks' championship parade in lower Manhattan, the antics of team owner James Dolan, and Jalen Brunson's historic run. They test their basketball knowledge by attempting to name prominent members of Gregg Popovich's San Antonio Spurs coaching tree before concluding with a look at what went wrong for the young, runner-up Spurs squad. 00:00:00 – Podcast introduction and congratulations to the 2026 NBA Champion New York Knicks. 00:00:56 – The hosts discuss how an action-packed month of basketball, soccer, and hockey has forced them into sports bars multiple times a week, drastically exceeding their monthly budgets. 00:01:53 – Michael recaps his experience traveling to Philadelphia to watch Haiti play Brazil in the World Cup with his family. 00:04:31 – Discussion on how international tourists are experiencing the United States, providing the country with its best public relations boost in 15 years. 00:10:03 – Analyzing the logistics of the Knicks' massive ticker-tape parade in lower Manhattan, which drew an uncomfortably packed crowd of two million people. 00:14:21 – Rookie guard Tyler Kolek gets hilariously mistaken for a random fan by the police due to standing at 6'2". 00:15:34 – Highlighting Jalen Brunson's legendary parade speech, contrasting it with the poorly received appearance of team owner James Dolan. 00:17:35 – Drama surrounding Dolan's tax exemptions for Madison Square Garden, forcing former coach Tom Thibodeau out, and his public feud with the players over a potential White House visit. 00:20:21 – Post-championship fan antics, including a destroyed taxi cab that prompted French Montana to start a $75,000 GoFundMe page. 00:22:57 – Praise for Jalen Brunson breaking the mold as a smaller, second-round guard leading a team to a definitive title. 00:23:15 – Reacting to Stephen A. Smith and ESPN anchors immediately trying to create negative offseason headlines instead of letting the team enjoy the win. 00:25:12 – The origins of Knicks head coach Mike Brown's "Who let the dogs out?" catchphrase. 00:27:54 – A spontaneous trivia game where the hosts try to guess every notable head coach or former player that stems from Gregg Popovich's San Antonio Spurs tree. 00:33:27 – Looking back at NBA history, tracking Phil Jackson's championship lineage from playing on the 1970s Knicks to coaching the Bulls and Lakers. 00:34:52 – The history of Pat Riley, the Van Gundy brothers, and Erik Spoelstra's rise from the Miami Heat film room to a multi-time champion head coach. 00:43:59 – The Knicks players troll Victor Wembanyama by attending a French National Team game on the day that would have been Game 6. 00:44:45 – Breaking down the actual on-court finals series; Alejandro criticizes the Spurs for collapsing after being up by 30 points in the second half. 00:45:22 – Jordan defends San Antonio, noting that a roster with an average age of 23 making it to the finals and leading for 70% of the series is a massive achievement. 01:53 – World Cup Fever & American PR09:09 – Summer Wedding Plans10:03 – The Knicks Championship Parade & Dolan Drama22:57 – Jalen Brunson's Legacy & Media Bias25:12 – Trivia: The Gregg Popovich Coaching Tree43:59 – Dissecting the San Antonio Spurs' Collapse

3. 

   10 Jun 2026

   NBA Finals in Gotham

   In this extensive episode of the Off the Screen basketball podcast, hosts Jordon, Alejandro, Sid, and Michael engage in a passionate, long-form discussion centered around the massive cultural, economic, and analytical storm of the ongoing NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs. Michael kicks off the conversation by detailing his firsthand experiences on the ground in a completely transformed New York City, describing the atmosphere as mirroring a massive, city-wide New Year's Eve or Mardi Gras celebration on a standard Monday night. Watch parties are drawing tens of thousands of sports fans and casual viewers alike to public venues like Bryant Park and Central Park, demonstrating how a competitive Knicks team is actively uniting disparate communities across the five boroughs. This immense fandom has translated into an incredible economic windfall, generating an estimated $465 million in local economic activity, though the hosts lament the chaotic local side effects, such as crowded standing-room-only bars and hidden, inflated menu prices resulting in $20 margaritas. The defining spectacle of the series, however, remains the unprecedented logistical nightmare of a sitting U.S. President attending the Finals game at Madison Square Garden. The hosts break down the sheer operational madness this political visit imposed on Manhattan's infrastructure, which sits directly on top of the second busiest transit hub in North America. They discuss TSA-style street checkpoints, rigid bag bans, early building lockouts forcing workers to arrive hours ahead of schedule, and gridlock that completely paralyzed train routes and subway commuter lines connecting Jersey, Long Island, and the northern suburbs. While Sid considers the raw concept of a presidential appearance historic, Jordon brings up De'Aaron Fox’s blunt remarks labeling the event a massive public inconvenience. The hosts also comment on courtside "Celebrity Row," highlighting appearances by prominent figures like Michael Bloomberg, Derek Jeter, Eli Manning, and Spike Lee. They share a laugh over a viral moment where Kings guard Jose Alvarado accidentally crashed into billionaire Bloomberg, before pivoting to mock DJ Khaled for aggressively clout-chasing and staring at his mobile phone instead of watching the action. As the podcast shifts into structural hoops analytics, the conversation evolves into a heavy debate regarding high-stakes officiating and coaching philosophy. The group critiques the foul trouble that plagued high-leverage moments in Game 3, criticizing coaching staffs for overly resting star players due to early whistles instead of letting them play through physical defensive stands. They dissect a highly controversial, uncalled push by Victor Wembanyama on Jalen Brunson, noting how a lopsided free-throw margin in the second half ultimately swung the fourth-quarter momentum. Looking at organizational legacies, Jordon raises the stakes by arguing that Wembanyama's historic ceiling gives him a legitimate, long-term opportunity to rival or even eclipse Tim Duncan's legendary Spurs legacy, while also expressing confidence in young coach Mitch Johnson's ability to fill the massive footsteps left by Gregg Popovich. Concluding with concrete predictions, Alejandro admits he initially underestimated the Knicks' true postseason dominance. Ultimately, the crew identifies Karl-Anthony Towns playing at a clear Finals MVP level as the definitive game-changer of the series, before mapping out a final transit warning: Michael desperately hopes the series concludes before a potential Game 6, which directly conflicts with a massive World Cup soccer match (France vs. Senegal) at MetLife Stadium, threatening to completely shut down Penn Station and isolate the city.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

9 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

6 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 41 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

61

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

51