Slam Dunk Science (Part 2)

About This Episode

Our Playing with Science TuneIn party at the SXSW festival concludes with hosts Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly discussing what makes an NBA superstar, with astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, NBA All-Star Caron Butler, and actor Michael Rapaport, the co-host of the Two Man Weave podcast on TuneIn. You’ll find out why Caron doesn’t think LeBron James is in the same category as Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul Jabbar and Kobe Bryant even though he’s still on basketball’s “Mount Rushmore.” Explore the attributes beyond individual skill that make a true champion in a team sport like basketball. The group ponders what it means to be “in the zone” and whether stars are born or bred. Caron, who grew up in the inner city, dealt drugs, and ended up in jail, talks about how he overcame that adversity as described his new book, Tuff Juice: My Journey from the Streets to the NBA, soon to be a movie produced by Mark Wahlberg. You’ll learn why NBA stars rarely ever play 100% fit, and why “the hardwood is undefeated… it always wins.” Chuck, Gary and the gang share their choices for the most beautiful play in sports, at least in terms of physics, and they debate the ethics of changing teams in search of a championship ring. Plus, Neil discusses what basketball would be like on Mars, Gary talks about big data, analytics, and peak performance, and Michael jokes about “A-Rod’s Juice Bar” and trash talks the 2017 Philadelphia 76ers.

NOTE: All-Access subscribers can listen to this entire episode commercial-free here: Slam Dunk Science (Part 2).