Welcome to Posters: A Fan’s History of Professional Basketball. Each episode, Posters takes a deep dive on one player: their career, their place in the larger basketball culture at the time, and what they can teach fans about our relationship to the game.
Hosted by 2X Emmy-winning writer and comedian James Hamilton, Posters is a blend of basketball knowledge, jokes, history, nostalgia and obscure pop culture references. It’s the perfect show for the modern basketball fan– the fan who loves a good sports documentary but also follows House of Highlights.
Hosted by James Hamilton
Produced by Eric Parrie
Ep. 10: Before Steph, Klay, & KD: The Warriors Trio That Built the Modern NBA
Host James Hamilton explores how Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond, and Chris Mullin's "Run TMC" trio revolutionized the NBA game, offering insights into their lasting impact.
17 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT
Ep. 9 An Injury So Tragic, It Changed the NBA
Host James Hamilton explores the tragic career of NBA pioneer Maurice Stokes and how his injury spurred the creation of the NBA Players Association and free agency.
2 Sept 2026TRANSCRIPT
Ep. 8 The Baffling Legacy of Rasheed Wallace
Kevin Garnett's toughest cover was also one of the NBA's most polarizing stars. In 1993, Sports Illustrated called Rasheed Wallace part of a "new species" of big man. Ten years later, Bill Walton called him a "force of ruin." Meanwhile, countless NBA legends said Wallace was one of the most talented, toughest-to-defend players they'd ever seen.
Rasheed Wallace was a 6'11" forward with was equally reliable from the mid-range and for cussing out the refs. He set the single-season record with 41 technical fouls and was unstoppable from all over the court.
In this episode of Posters, James Hamilton breaks down the complete arc of Rasheed Wallace: tracing how 90s AOL chat rooms, Portland’s 19th-century history, screaming on dunks, a 1-game stint in Atlanta, and the 2004 Detroit Pistons championship team all fit together.
Subscribe to Posters for a new pro basketball deep dive each episode. Watch full episodes on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/RpBoVqG6bLs
Host, writer, producer: James Hamilton
Executive producer, co-writer, GFX: Eric Parrie
Producer: Ashish Yamdagni
Edited by Tyler Ward
Theme song by Jon Lampley
Recorded at Dude, IDK Studios in Denver, CO
24 Aug 2026TRANSCRIPT
Ep. 7 The Year the NBA Disappeared
40% of America watched Michael Jordan win his 6th ring in 1998. Eight days later, the NBA shut down.
In 1998, the NBA owners and Commissioner David Stern locked out the players. By the time play resumed, 428 games and $1.5 billion had been lost. The Lockout came at a turning point in history, as hip-hop and the internet changed how old fans saw the game and what young fans were excited about. The various divides — between players and owners, old and new fans, and Jay Leno’s struggle to write new material — changed the league forever and made the modern NBA.
Host James Hamilton jumps from billionaire owners’ potentially suspect book keeping to Kobe Bryant’s failed rap career, from the exhibition game on Showtime that flopped to the rooms in Midtown Manhattan where the future of the league was decided.
Subscribe to Posters for a new pro basketball deep dive each episode. Watch full episodes on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/RpBoVqG6bLs
Host, writer, producer: James Hamilton
Editor, co-writer, executive producer: Eric Parrie
Producer: Ashish Yamdagni
Filmed at Dude, IDK Studios in Denver, CO
Theme song and music by Jon Lampley
16 Aug 2026
Ep. 6 What Do We Really Know About Kawhi Leonard?
Kawhi Leonard is unlike any superstar the NBA has ever seen. He’s the Klaw, the Fun Guy, the league’s most silent star, and, now, wrapped up in some of the most serious allegations in league history. But how much do we actually know about him? Is it possible we’ve been making up stories about Kawhi for years, as a way to describe what exactly we’re witnessing.
In this episode of Posters, James Hamilton explores the life and career of Kawhi Leonard as a way to look at why sports fans need tall tales to explain players whose impact and presence is bigger than traditional boxscores. From titles with the Spurs and Raptors, Uncle Dennis, load management, Steve Ballmer, Aspiration, and those huge huge hands.
Subscribe to Posters for a new pro basketball deep dive each episode or check us out on YouTube!
https://youtu.be/hsxcskZXPHA
Host/Writer/Producer: James Hamilton
Executive Producer/Co-writer/GFX: Eric Parrie
Producer: Ashish Yamdagni
Edited by Footage Finesse
Theme song: Jon Lampley
Additional music: Dark Ages by MaxKoMusic
Filmed at Dude IDK Studios in Denver, CO
7 Dec 2025
Ep. 5 Lisa Leslie: How Sitcoms, Fashion, and Pure Grit Built the WNBA
Lisa Leslie was unstoppable: four Olympic gold medals, two WNBA championships, and 3 WNBA MVPs. Yet, the specifics of her greatness sometimes get lost in the larger struggle to keep the league she helped built afloat.Episode 5 of Posters travels back to the late 90's and early 2000's, when Leslie was everywhere: The Simpsons, Moesha, the cover of every type of Sports Illustrated. The ep looks at how one of the most dominant players of all time (unguardable post moves, underrated passing, vicious defense) had to spend so much of her time appealing to the casual viewer. And that comes at a cost.Looking for some vintage-style WNBA gear? Use this link to head over to Homage and grab shirts and sweatshirts for your favorite team: https://homage.sjv.io/posters ➡️ Subscribe to Posters for a new deep dive on an iconic player each episode! 🔗 Watch the full video episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/YHu9sNpFQYgHost/Writer/Producer: James HamiltonExecutive Producer/Editor/Co-writer: Eric ParrieTheme Song: Jon LampleyRecorded at Taino Studios in Philadelphia, PASneaker Head Correspondent: Courtney Fearrington
30 Nov 2025
Ep. 4: Chris Paul: The Mastermind of the NBA Cinematic Universe
Chris Paul has been the NBA's constant, brilliant, and divisive force through the cinematic universe era. From Lob City and the vetoed trade to the Lakers, to his MVP-esque run with the Hornets to his patented rip-through, this episode looks at everything that might be left out on Chris Paul's farewell tour.
Episode 4 of Posters connects the dots between his career-long competitive fire, his role in the recovery of a city, and how his role as a labor leader and CEO changed what it means to be an athlete forever.
What is your favorite (or least favorite) Chris Paul memory? Let us know in the comments!
Looking for some vintage NBA gear? Use this link to head over to Homage and grab shirts and sweatshirts for your favorite team: homage.sjv.io/posters
➡️ Subscribe to Posters for a new deep dive on an iconic player each episode! 🔗 Watch to the full video podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PostersBball
Host/Writer/Producer: James Hamilton
Executive Producer/Editor/Co-writer: Eric Parrie
Theme Song: Jon Lampley
Recorded at Big Couch New Orleans
Fan Correspondents: Madison Allen-Fisher, J.P. McDade, Raj Sivaraman
23 Nov 2025
Ep. 3: Dikembe Mutombo's Finger Wag Was Part of a Larger Plan
NBA fans spent decades adoring the larger-than-life enigma that was Dikembe Mutombo. Mutombo spent his career dominating the paint and responding with one of the most iconic gestures in sports: the finger wag. But what fans often couldn't see was that the Finger Wag was one of Mutombo's tools for achieving a bigger vision.
This episode explores the full legend of of Mutombo: the competitive fire that led to four Defensive Player of the Year awards, the life mission that began before he ever picked up a basketball, and the way he used his fame to eventually funded his home country's biggest hospital.
Where does on-court greatness end and legendary status begin? What responsibility do on-court greats have to being great off the court as well? This episode looks at how a reluctant medical student who was pulled to basketball by chance became one of one.
What athletes do you think transcended their sport and changed the world? Let us know in the comments!
Looking for some vintage NBA gear? Use this link to head over to Homage and grab shirts and sweatshirts for your favorite team: homage.sjv.io/posters
➡️ Subscribe to Posters for a new deep dive on an iconic player each episode!
🎥 See full video episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PostersBball
Host/Writer/Producer: James Hamilton
Executive Producer/Editor/Co-writer: Eric Parrie
Music and "Posters Theme Song": Jon Lampley
Fan Correspondents: Kojo Asamoa-Caesar, Adam Cayton-Holland, Courtney Fearrington, and Denver's Mayor Mike Johnston
16 Nov 2025
Ep 2: Jayson Tatum Being Boring Isn't The Problem. (We are.)
Jayson Tatum is the NBA's paradox. He's one of the league's most accomplished superstars, but fans often have the same take on him: he's boring.
In Episode 2 of Posters, we explore why we think that, what Tatum could do about it, and why we might be wrong.
Jayson Tatum grew up on YouTube. We can look back and see every success, failure, and thought process going back to a school project where he used a PowerPoint to teach how to tie a tie. In other words, Tatum has "shown his work" on his path to superstardom, and it seems like a lot of people don't like that.
How much has social media changed what we want from superstars? At what point does on-court greatness stops being enough to be the face of the league? And what do reality dating shows have to do with the NBA? It's all here, in episode 2.
Find more deep-dive basketball essays on the Posters YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PostersBball
Host/Writer/Producer: James Hamilton
Executive Producer/Editor/Co-writer: Eric Parrie
Theme Song: Jon Lampley
Fan Correspondents: Justin Lamb, Casey McGowan, Kofi Thomas
9 Nov 2025
Ep. 1: Penny Hardaway & How A Whole Generation Bought Into the NBA
Anfernee 'Penny' Hardaway was a fixture in the golden era of the 90's NBA: a regular All-Star, a face of Nike, and the best pick to follow in Michael Jordan's footsteps. But how much our fandom was about basketball, and how much was just the product of exceptionally good marketing? This week on Posters, we explore Penny's short reign at the top of the league and how another golden era— of NBA marketing, commercials, and merchandising— led a whole generation to buy into the league.
The episode has a ton of gems:
• Old commercials, from Lil Penny to Kareem singing about a candy bar
• the movie Blue Chips
• the story of Penny's grandmother, Louise
• the one known NBA player to collect pigeons
Check out the visuals for the ep and clips on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PostersBball
We're also on IG: https://www.instagram.com/postersbball/
And on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@postersbball
Posters is a fan’s history of professional basketball, exploring a new player's career, societal impact, and our relationship to the game as fans. (If you follow House of Highlights AND watch every "30 for 30," this show is for you.)
Host/Writer/Producer: James Hamilton
Executive Producer/Editor/Co-writer: Eric Parrie
Theme Song: Jon Lampley
Fan Correspondents: Courtney Fearrington and Charlie Vergos
17 Jul 2025
Posters Podcast: A Fans’ History of Pro Basketball, One Player at a Time [TRAILER]
Welcome to Posters: A Fans' History of Professional Basketball. Each episode of this new video podcast does a deep dive on a new player: their story, place in culture at the time they played and what they show us about our fandom to the game.
Posters is a show for the modern basketball fan. The one who loves a good sports documentary but also follows House of Highlights. The one whose social feeds are full of NBA and WNBA news, but are also interested in bigger questions: How much of our love of the game is a product of brilliant marketing? How has social media transformed what we demand from our sports stars? And what can a forgotten commercial tell us about a changing league?
Posters is hosted by two-time Emmy-winning writer and comedian James Hamilton, who brings his signature blend of sharp joke writing, deep research and cultural curiosity. Executive producer Eric Parrie brings a trove of archival footage to create a fast-paced, one-of-a-kind show about where basketball meets culture.
Subscribe to the "Posters" podcast and never miss an episode!
Listen to "Posters" wherever you get your podcasts or watch the full video version of this trailer and all episodes on YouTube: ➡️ www.youtube.com/@PostersBball
Connect with us! @postersbball on IG and TT
Music: "Ladies First," John Runefelt via Epidemic Sound
Inside a recent episode
Ep. 10: Before Steph, Klay, & KD: The Warriors Trio That Built the Modern NBA
Published 18 Oct 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] And we think that's pretty cool. Arbok's first six-man was Frank Ramsey, then it was John Havlicek, and in 1965, Arbok signed Don Nelson, a man known for having one of the ugliest but effective free-throw shooting forms in history. Don Nelson shot a career 76% from the line, looking like he was trying to score without waking the ball up from a deep slumber. What Nelson was good at was sitting for the first few minutes of the game, seeing what his team needed, and then delivering it. Here comes number 19, Don Nelson. Boston needs to get points from everyone. One of the many things that Red Arbok was good at was finding and fostering very smart basketball players. […]
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
