https://simplecast.com The Professor and the Point Guard is a father-and-son conversation about the NBA, where basketball meets banter. One host is a professor who loves strategy, history, and the big ideas behind the game. The other is a sharp, basketball-obsessed point guard who knows the league inside and out—and isn't afraid to call his dad's takes washed. Together, they break down the latest games, debate stars and sleepers, revisit classic moments, and explore what makes basketball the most fascinating sport in the world. Nico and Jal Mehta en Sun, 11 Oct 2026 22:53:49 +0000 Sun, 11 Oct 2026 22:55:12 +0000 https://the-professor-and-the-point-guard.simplecast.com https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/6f9e1b4d-4f6b-42a1-9974-c6ae0c674137/20dd9af0-46bd-40f3-88a8-1a39fbc1cf30/3000x3000/d9a0a474-2c50-4138-be41-89e341c04751.jpg?aid=rss_feed https://the-professor-and-the-point-guard.simplecast.com episodic The Professor and the Point Guard is a father-and-son conversation about the NBA, where basketball meets banter. One host is a professor who loves strategy, history, and the big ideas behind the game. The other is a sharp, basketball-obsessed point guard who knows the league inside and out—and isn't afraid to call his dad's takes washed. Together, they break down the latest games, debate stars and sleepers, revisit classic moments, and explore what makes basketball the most fascinating sport in the world. Nico Mehta and Jal Mehta false https://feeds.simplecast.com/c0KgMRNu celtics Jal Mehta mehtaja@gse.harvard.edu 1fbe8906-1d1a-4abe-bb84-b6b17aad113f Sun, 11 Oct 2026 22:53:49 +0000 mehtaja@gse.harvard.edu (Jal Mehta) https://the-professor-and-the-point-guard.simplecast.com/episodes/i-didnt-leave-my-family-to-lose-in-the-2nd-round-media-day-fun-and-individual-awards-XZiqba34 I Didn't Leave My Family to Lose in the Second Round--Media Day Fun and Individual Awards Jal Mehta 01:08:54 In this episode, we have some fun breaking down some of our favorite quotes from media day. Then we breakdown individual awards, including some unconventional categories like "most carried by a teammate" and "most likely to be traded to the Kings." We conclude with 90s vs. today, where Jal has to somehow rep Reggie Miller and Nico sings the praises of Klay Thompson. In this episode, we have some fun breaking down some of our favorite quotes from media day. Then we breakdown individual awards, including some unconventional categories like "most carried by a teammate" and "most likely to be traded to the Kings." We conclude with 90s vs. today, where Jal has to somehow rep Reggie Miller and Nico sings the praises of Klay Thompson. false full 5 5582ff39-5316-44dc-af10-56dc44e8c640 Tue, 22 Sep 2026 10:00:00 +0000 mehtaja@gse.harvard.edu (Jal Mehta) https://the-professor-and-the-point-guard.simplecast.com/episodes/knicks-celtics-nicos-first-trip-to-a-bar-and-the-top-of-the-east-with-special-guest-john-maclachlan-zmbKQW2b Knicks, Celtics, Nico's First Trip to a Bar, and the Top of the East With Special Guest John MacLachlan Jal Mehta 01:06:02 In this episode, we are joined by our favorite Knicks fan friend, John MacLachlan. We do a round of over/unders for the top four in the East, discuss which Knicks and Celtics we would most like to hang out with in real life, and engage in an epic clash of 80s vs. today (Bernard King vs. Jimmy Butler). Also hear about when Nico was offered a shot in a bar, as well as hear his life advice about how to seat people for Thanksgiving. In this episode, we are joined by our favorite Knicks fan friend, John MacLachlan. We do a round of over/unders for the top four in the East, discuss which Knicks and Celtics we would most like to hang out with in real life, and engage in an epic clash of 80s vs. today (Bernard King vs. Jimmy Butler). Also hear about when Nico was offered a shot in a bar, as well as hear his life advice about how to seat people for Thanksgiving. false full 4 a35351db-60a0-47ed-a321-301497f9b8e6 Tue, 1 Sep 2026 10:00:00 +0000 mehtaja@gse.harvard.edu (Jal Mehta) https://the-professor-and-the-point-guard.simplecast.com/episodes/bill-simmons-isnt-the-only-one-who-can-have-a-mailbag-_kxzwJ_r Bill Simmons Isn't The Only One Who Can Have a Mailbag Jal Mehta 01:15:27 On this episode of the pod, we poll our listeners for some mailbag questions. We discuss whether Lebron was the best of his era at every position, offer NBA doppelgangers for a series of WNBA stars, and debate which decade would win in an All Star match-up for the ages. For 90s and now, we compare the original Bad Boy, Dennis Rodman, with today's straw who stirs the drink, Draymond Green. We close with a new segment: Nico's life advice. On this episode of the pod, we poll our listeners for some mailbag questions. We discuss whether Lebron was the best of his era at every position, offer NBA doppelgangers for a series of WNBA stars, and debate which decade would win in an All Star match-up for the ages. For 90s and now, we compare the original Bad Boy, Dennis Rodman, with today's straw who stirs the drink, Draymond Green. We close with a new segment: Nico's life advice. false full 3 f339067d-f386-40ca-9b84-154a0180ab3a Thu, 13 Aug 2026 02:15:00 +0000 mehtaja@gse.harvard.edu (Nico Mehta and Jal Mehta) https://the-professor-and-the-point-guard.simplecast.com/episodes/people-who-deserve-to-be-in-the-hall-of-fame-more-than-doc-rivers-uDv470cF People Who Deserve to be in the Hall of Fame More Than Doc Rivers Nico Mehta and Jal Mehta 01:09:04 In this second episode, we use the travesty of Doc Rivers being chosen for the HOF as a reason to explore some guys who deserve it more than him (not hard). We discover that it is less about stats and more about whether you shaped the game in your era. Nico praises Bill Laimbeer and Jal makes a case for the Reign Man. We also introduce a new segment -- 90s versus today -- beginning with a face-off between Scottie Pippen and Kawhi Leonard. In this second episode, we use the travesty of Doc Rivers being chosen for the HOF as a reason to explore some guys who deserve it more than him (not hard). We discover that it is less about stats and more about whether you shaped the game in your era. Nico praises Bill Laimbeer and Jal makes a case for the Reign Man. We also introduce a new segment -- 90s versus today -- beginning with a face-off between Scottie Pippen and Kawhi Leonard. nba false full 2 5d5c5f9c-c80f-4841-a60d-14c0ea00c6bc Thu, 30 Jul 2026 19:00:00 +0000 mehtaja@gse.harvard.edu (Jal Mehta, Nico Mehta) https://the-professor-and-the-point-guard.simplecast.com/episodes/pilot-eastern-conference-power-rankings-DsXyOY4O Pilot -- Eastern Conference Power Rankings Jal Mehta, Nico Mehta 01:05:13 In this first episode, we learn what Nico thinks of his Dad's day job (hint: not impressed), and then launch into some post free agency Eastern Conference Power Rankings. There are some surprises -- Giannis and the Heat are not where you would think, and one of us is a lot higher on the Sixers than the other. We close with some summer league takes and argue that Doris Burke is criminally underrated. In this first episode, we learn what Nico thinks of his Dad's day job (hint: not impressed), and then launch into some post free agency Eastern Conference Power Rankings. There are some surprises -- Giannis and the Heat are not where you would think, and one of us is a lot higher on the Sixers than the other. We close with some summer league takes and argue that Doris Burke is criminally underrated. giannis, celtics, power rankings, nba, lebron james false full 1