Thinking Basketball
Ben Taylor | |
|---|---|
 | |
| YouTube information | |
| Channel | |
| Years active | 2018−present |
| Genre | basketball |
| Subscribers | 672 thousand |
| Views | 118.8 million |
| Last updated: April 23, 2026 | |
Thinking Basketball is a YouTube channel that analyzes National Basketball Association (NBA) game footage. Produced and narrated by Ben Taylor,[1] the channel launched in December 2018.[2] It shares a name with a 2016 book Taylor previously wrote.[3][4] Taylor also hosts a podcast with the same name,[5] launched in August 2018.[6]
On the YouTube channel, many Thinking Basketball videos focus on individual players or a team's gameplan, reviewing and analyzing their game footage and statistics.[7][8] Taylor also released a series discussing the greatest player peaks in NBA history, such as Larry Bird's.[9] Taylor later released a follow-up 21st Century Peaks series.[10]
Taylor has officially partnered with the NBA to break down game footage.[11] Several of his videos have been reposted on the NBA's official website,[12] and Thinking Basketball was included among the content platformed on the league's mobile app when it was revamped ahead of the 2025−26 season.[13] In 2021, Taylor has appeared as a guest on The Void, a podcast platformed on the sports website The Ringer.[14] In 2025, Taylor was a guest on the website's flagship NBA-centered podcast.[10]
Taylor's analysis has been referenced by basketball media outlets including Slam and Bleacher Report,[15] with the latter's Andy Bailey writing, "There may not be anyone who blends cutting-edge statistical analysis with NBA history better than Thinking Basketball's Ben Taylor".[16]
References
- ↑ Larsen, Andy (December 23, 2025). "The Triple Team: Does the NBA need to change the way players are being officiated?". Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
- ↑ "Thinking Basketball - About". YouTube. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
- ↑ "Thinking Basketball". Goodreads. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
- ↑ "Lineup values: An analytical look at how to make the Knicks' 2021 roster better". The Athletic. The New York Times. September 25, 2020. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
- ↑ "Ben Taylor | Author and Podcaster of Thinking Basketball | NBA Data and Analytics (EP.097)". Sports Business Classroom. June 27, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
- ↑ #1: Best Scorers in NBA History Part I. Thinking Basketball. August 16, 2018. Retrieved April 18, 2026 – via Apple Podcasts.
- ↑ Hardee, Daniel (September 30, 2023). "Thinking Basketball analyzes how Steph Curry's playmaking evolved". Golden State of Mind. SB Nation. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
- ↑ Brooks, Brent (November 24, 2025). "The Heat Are Running the Craziest Offense in the NBA — and the Mavericks Aren't Built for It". Mavs Moneyball. SB Nation. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
- ↑ Quinn, Justin (December 21, 2020). "WATCH: Larry Bird's impact -Thinking Basketball's deep analysis". Celtics Wire. USA Today. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
- 1 2 Mann, J. Kyle (September 5, 2025). Reflecting on 25 Years of NBA Evolution With Ben Taylor. The Ringer NBA Show. The Ringer. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
- ↑ Anani, Zakaria (July 11, 2025). "NBA Fan Engagement Strategy 2025: Digital Innovation, All-Star Weekend, and Constant Coverage". Global Institute of Sport. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
- ↑ "Thinking Basketball". NBA.com. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
- ↑ Kulkarni, Divji (October 13, 2025). "'Reimagined' NBA TV details revealed ahead of relaunch". The Big Lead. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
- ↑ O'Connor, Kevin (December 15, 2021). Steph Curry's Greatness, Rise of the Zone, and a Look Around the Association. The Void. Retrieved March 15, 2025 – via The Ringer.
- ↑ Kent, Austin (August 26, 2020). "Giannis Antetokounmpo Named 2019-20 Defensive Player of the Year". Slam. Retrieved April 18, 2026.
- ↑ Bailey, Andy (April 7, 2020). "Twitter, TikTok and Instagram's Best NBA Follows While Social Distancing". Bleacher Report. Retrieved April 18, 2026.