The Right Time with Bomani Jones

Bomani Jones reacts to a jam-packed weekend of NBA playoff action. First, he discusses James Harden and the Cleveland Cavaliers' loser behavior & why the Knicks suddenly look like the most locked-in team in basketball. Later, he breaks down why OKC’s style has earned them the “Blue Devils” label, and why Jackson Dart’s Trump rally appearance was such a brutal self-own. Finally, Bomani digs into the CBC vs. SCORE Act fight and explains why using college athletes as political bargaining chips misses the point entirely. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bomani Jones is joined by Spencer Hall to break down why a 24-team College Football Playoff sounds inevitable — and terrible. They discuss how the Big Ten won college football’s money game, why the SEC may have picked the wrong horse, and whether expanding the playoff will ruin what made the sport weird and regional in the first place. Then Bomani and Spencer get into the new world of college sports: transfer portal free agency, Will Wade’s LSU roster strategy, Texas A&M oil money, Miami’s questionable money, and why LSU might be entering a full-blown black hat era with Lane Kiffin, Will Wade, and Kim Mulkey. Plus: Kim Mulkey’s shocking middle name, boosterism as tricking, Brittany Griner, and jokes that probably should have been left in the writers’ room. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bomani Jones is joined by The Ringer's Joel Anderson to break down Victor Wembanyama’s monster playoff performance and why it felt like one of those rare sports moments where you realize you’re watching the future. Bo and Joel compare Wemby’s arrival to LeBron, Allen Iverson, Randy Moss, Michael Vick, Usain Bolt and Shaq, then ask what the Thunder can possibly do next.Later, Bomani and Joel discuss the NAACP urging Black athletes and fans to withhold support from public universities in states attacking Black voting representation, and whether it’s fair to ask young athletes to carry that kind of burden. Plus, they react to Stephen A. Smith’s response to Jaylen Brown & the limits of athlete-run media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bomani Jones is joined by J.A. Adande for Time Machine Tuesday to look back at the Shaq-Kobe Lakers three-peat and the drama behind one of the most dominant runs in NBA history. They discuss how Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant arrived in Los Angeles, why it took years for the Lakers to finally break through, and how the 2001 team became one of the most unstoppable playoff squads ever. Bomani and J.A. also revisit the tension between Shaq and Kobe, Phil Jackson’s role in holding it all together, the iconic 2000 Game 7 comeback against Portland, the 2001 destruction of the West, Allen Iverson’s Game 1 moment, and the controversial 2002 Western Conference Finals against Sacramento. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bomani Jones reacts to a wild NBA playoff weekend, from James Harden somehow escaping slander despite a rough stat line to the Knicks, Cavaliers, and the fascinating Donovan Mitchell vs. Jalen Brunson subplot. Bo also breaks down why Karl-Anthony Towns may be quietly changing the Knicks’ ceiling, and why one bad game could flip the conversation all over again. Then, Bomani turns to the matchup he’s been waiting for all year: Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the defending champion Thunder. Bo explains why Wemby’s defensive dominance already feels historic, why the MVP presentation could add even more juice to the series, and why OKC’s style of play gets under his skin. Plus, Bomani discusses Aaron Rodgers signing with the Steelers, Waffle House workers rallying for better pay and safer working conditions, the fake-feeling internet age of stealth marketing campaigns, and listener voicemails. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bomani is joined by Yahoo Sports' Steven Godfrey to break down the fallout from Lane Kiffin’s comments about Oxford and Baton Rouge, why the Ole Miss vs. LSU debate is really a conversation about money, and how NIL has changed the rules for who can win in college football. They also get into why the old coach-driven model is cracking, what made the Saban era so dominant, and which major programs are facing real pressure in this new version of the sport. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bomani Jones is joined by Nick Wright to break down the biggest NBA Playoffs questions right now, including LeBron James’ future, whether the Knicks make any sense for him, and what the Lakers do next. They also get into the Victor Wembanyama controversy, why the reaction to his ejection felt off, and whether Wemby is already getting a different kind of treatment from the media. Plus, Bomani and Nick talk about LeBron’s Lakers era, why it may be getting judged too harshly, and what the end of LeBron’s career could actually look like if he keeps playing at this level. If you’re looking for NBA analysis on LeBron James, Victor Wembanyama, the Los Angeles Lakers, the New York Knicks, and the latest NBA Playoffs storylines, this episode of The Right Time with Bomani Jones has you covered. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this edition of Time Machine Tuesday, Bomani Jones is joined by DJ Wally Sparks to break down the Michael Jackson movie and why it doesn’t fully capture how massive Mike really was. They get into why Michael Jackson connected with kids better than almost any superstar ever, how his fame translated across the world, and what made the Off the Wall, Thriller, and Bad era so hard to put on screen. They also talk about Joe Jackson, the movie’s framing of Mike as too passive, and why the ending should’ve hit harder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bomani Jones reacts to a packed week in sports, starting with Victor Wembanyama’s flagrant 2 ejection after elbowing Naz Reid and what it says about the Spurs needing a true “goon.” Bo and Ryan also break down a surprisingly fascinating NBA Draft Lottery, the Wizards landing the No. 1 pick, Utah’s AJ Dybantsa intrigue, and Kevin Pritchard’s wild “due some luck” explanation. Later, Bomani shares his thoughts on Skip Bayless returning to First Take with Stephen A. Smith, why their chemistry still works, and why the criticism of First Take has always been more complicated than people admit. Plus, Bo remembers legendary Braves manager Bobby Cox and what the 1990s Braves meant to him. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bomani Jones is joined by Domonique Foxworth for another Thursday episode of The Right Time. The guys start by diving into Draymond Green’s rough week in the media, including his back-and-forth with Austin Rivers, his comments about Steve Kerr, and the awkward moment with Charles Barkley on Inside the NBA. Bomani and Domonique break down why some jokes land, why some just feel mean, and why trust matters so much on television. Then they remember Ted Turner, from CNN and the Atlanta Braves to his wild stories, contradictions, and massive impact on media and sports. Finally, they discuss the ongoing Mike Vrabel controversy, the New England Patriots’ strange offseason, and why some scandals just don’t seem to go away Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bomani Jones is joined by Tom Haberstroh to break down why Anthony Edwards feels like the NBA’s new legend killer, what Victor Wembanyama still has to prove in this playoff run, and why the Wolves aren’t backing down. They also dig into Jaylen Brown’s on/off numbers, whether the Celtics’ title window is closing, what’s gone wrong in Boston, and why the conversation around Nikola Jokic, Rudy Gobert, and analytics keeps missing the point. Plus, thoughts on the Knicks, Mike Brown, and Karl-Anthony Towns’ evolution. Topics include: Anthony Edwards vs. Wemby Jaylen Brown and the Celtics’ future Rudy Gobert’s reputation shift The Jokic analytics backlash Why the Knicks look dangerous Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bomani Jones is joined by Jason Goff for Time Machine Tuesday to look back at the legendary 1995-96 Chicago Bulls, Michael Jordan’s return to dominance, and the team that went 72-10 on the way to an NBA championship. Bomani and Jason break down how Dennis Rodman changed the Bulls, why Jordan’s 1996 season still feels mythical, Scottie Pippen’s place in the dynasty, and what it felt like to live through that era in Chicago. They also get into the cultural moment around the Bulls, Space Jam, and why that team became bigger than basketball. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bomani Jones reacts to a wild NBA playoff weekend as the Celtics’ season ends, the Nuggets’ championship window gets a lot more complicated, and the New York Knicks suddenly have no excuse not to win the East. Bo breaks down why Boston may no longer be the same team that won the title, what Jason Tatum’s injury means for the Celtics going forward, and why the margins have gotten so tight for recent NBA champions. Then, he looks at Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets’ playoff exit, and why the backlash to Denver says as much about NBA discourse as it does about Jokic himself. Plus, Bomani explains why the Knicks should now be viewed as the favorite in the East, why Madison Square Garden is facing its biggest basketball pressure in decades, and why New York fans are right to expect this team to get it done. He also discusses his viral clip discussing The Wire vs. The Sopranos, the return of Verzuz and takes more of your voicemails! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bomani Jones and Danny Parkins break down a chaotic first round, starting with the Lakers struggling to close out Houston and the moment everyone’s talking about: Reed Sheppard picking LeBron James clean in crunch time. Is this series slipping away… and are we watching a real regression from L.A.? Plus, Parkins makes the case for something wild: trusting James Harden and the Cavaliers in the East. Is Harden actually underrated in the playoffs—or are we setting ourselves up for the same ending? They also dive into: Why the Eastern Conference feels wide open (and kinda shaky) Whether the Knicks, Celtics, or Cavs can actually be trusted The Thunder’s looming dynasty potential 👀 Why modern NBA playoffs feel more unpredictable than ever And to close it out, Parkins shares details on his “Cubs for a Cure” fundraiser supporting brain cancer research. You can donate HERE https://www.mlb.com/cubs/tickets/specials/cubsforacure Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bomani and Vinny Goodwill unpack an NBA postseason that makes no sense in the best way. Bomani Jones is joined by ESPN’s Vinnie Goodwill to talk through why this Knicks team has no excuse not to make the NBA Finals, the delicate balance between Jalen Brunson’s usage and unlocking Karl-Anthony Towns, and whether Boston’s ceiling is lower than people want to admit with this version of Jason Tatum coming off the Achilles injury. From there, they dive into Victor Wembanyama’s terrifying playoff debut, why the Spurs already look ahead of schedule, and how Oklahoma City vs. San Antonio feels like a looming Western Conference war. They also hit LeBron, KD, and the aging superstar class who can still hit the “high notes” for one night even if they can’t live there anymore. Later, Bomani and Vinnie break down Adam Silver’s new anti‑tanking lottery rules, what it means for franchises like Detroit and Orlando, and why conditioning young stars to lose might be the most underrated failure of “The Process” era in Philly. Plus, what the league should actually be embarrassed by, and why Steve Ballmer’s Kawhi situation is way more complicated than internet outrage allows. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bomani Jones is joined by Logan Murdock for Time Machine Tuesday to look back at the Warriors team that changed basketball forever. They break down Steph Curry's rise, the 73-win season, Game 6 Klay, Draymond's chaos, and how Golden State became the biggest story in sports. They also get into why this run hit differently: the shift in how the game was played, the tension between Steph and LeBron, and why the 2016 Warriors felt bigger than just another great team. For a limited time, our listeners get 50% off FOR LIFE, Free Shipping, AND 3 Free Gifts at Mars Men at Mengotomars.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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The Ringer's Diante Lee joins Bomani Jones to break down all the storylines ahead of the NFL draft. First, they discuss Fernando Mendoza's ceiling and if he can reach it playing for the Las Vegas Raiders. Later, they break down the impending breakup between A.J. Brown and the Philadelphia Eagles and why it's "loser behavior" on the part of the Eagles. Finally, they discuss Mike Vrabel's latest press conference and the questions he wasn't asked... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bomani Jones is joined by Bruce Bowen to talk NBA playoffs, from the Spurs' chances at a title run after Victor Wembanyama’s concussion to whether the Houston Rockets just embarrassed themselves against LeBron and the Lakers. They also hit Anthony Edwards’ rise as a leader, Rudy Gobert’s redemption, and why CJ McCollum is suddenly playing Madison Square Garden villain against Jalen Brunson.Bomani and Bruce get into: How Wemby has already changed what’s possible on defense, why the paint disappears when he’s on the floor, and how that compares to Tim Duncan never winning DPOY. The Spurs–Blazers series, Wembanyama’s concussion, and what young teams actually learn in playoff collapses. The cheap new vibes in Portland under owner Tom Dundon — from coaching salaries to cutting back on arena T‑shirts. Why the Rockets’ Game 2 performance vs. the Lakers was so disappointing, what accountability really looks like, and how LeBron is still manipulating games at his age. Anthony Edwards’ force-of-personality leadership, how he lifts guys like Rudy Gobert, and what it means for Denver’s title defense. CJ McCollum hunting Jalen Brunson, embracing being “that guy” in the Garden, and what separates elite playoff scorers from everyone else. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s TIME MACHINE TUESDAY on The Right Time with Bomani Jones – we’re going back 15 years to the 2011 NFL Draft, a class that might be the best of all time.They break down Why this was THE Cam Newton draft – and why you’d still take Cam No. 1 overall in a redraft How Cam single-handedly dragged the Panthers’ franchise to relevance and changed how the NFL thinks about QBs Von Miller vs. JJ Watt and what “game-wrecking” really looks like Julio Jones vs. A.J. Green – who had the more Hall of Fame–worthy career, Tyron Smith and Jonathan Ogden as “alien” offensive tackle athletes Patrick Peterson vs. Richard Sherman, Revis Island, and why corner is a young man’s job Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices