The NBA isn’t “American property” anymore — and this year’s All-Star voting made that impossible to ignore. Ric Bucher breaks down why the top fan vote-getters being international stars isn’t a problem… it’s the point. But there’s a twist: the players’ vote tells a very different story than the fans and media, raising an uncomfortable question about who the league’s real hierarchy respects.

Then: Ric takes aim at the “free throw merchant” label on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, previews the new All-Star format (Americans vs. foreigners), and explains why it might finally bring competitive juice back to All-Star weekend.

And in a hard left turn into culture + business: Ric calls out the optics of Nike/LeBron’s MLK Day shoe release, and closes with a look at Jeanie Buss, the Buss family, and the future of the Lakers, including the resentment over the Bronny roster spot and why Steve Ballmer’s financial advantage may have forced Jeanie’s hand.

Time Stamps

• 00:00 “Cooking with gas” + show intro
• 00:41 Ric announces upcoming book on being coachable
• 01:41 NBA → “IBA”: the league’s global takeover is complete
• 02:19 All-Star vote shocker: Luka/Giannis/Jokic lead — and fans don’t care where you’re from
• 03:07 Deni Avdija leapfrogs Anthony Edwards: how did that happen?
• 04:34 Why the league changed voting rules after Zaza Pachulia
• 05:08 Ric’s theory: Ant’s off-court noise may be costing him votes
• 06:40 Players vs fans/media: who actually respects which stars?
• 08:45 SGA isn’t a “free throw merchant” — blame the whistle, not the scorer
• 10:07 New All-Star format: Americans vs foreigners — and why internationals may have something to prove
• 12:41 Social media’s “everything is debatable” disease + Ric’s contrarian code
• 13:39 Nike + LeBron MLK shoe: “sounds wrong” and gets worse the more you explain it
• 16:41 The real lesson: stars need advisors who say “no”
• 20:04 Jeanie Buss + Lakers sale strategy: what’s new (and what isn’t)
• 21:12 The Bronny favor and why some Lakers voices feel unappreciated
• 26:14 Ballmer’s money changed the Lakers’ reality — and Jeanie’s endgame
• 27:50 Wrap-up + what Ric might cover next (Raptors/Warriors locker rooms)

#OnTheBall #RicBucher #NBA #AllStar #LukaDoncic #GiannisAntetokounmpo #NikolaJokic #AnthonyEdwards #DeniAvdija #ShaiGilgeousAlexander #VictorWembanyama #LeBronJames #Nike #MLKDay #Lakers #JeanieBuss #BronnyJames #UnitedWeCast

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