Awful Announcing Podcast: Chris Haynes on “Inside the NBA,” cultivating relationships in media, LeBron James, and more

Host Brandon Contes interviews TNT and Bleacher Report NBA insider Chris Haynes. Brandon and Chris discuss a wide range of topics including the future of the NBA on TNT and how the Inside the NBA guys are, being a local beat reporter and cultivating relationships, how LeBron James had a part in getting him a national reporting job, and more.

Here’s the full breakdown:

• :36: Second appearance on the podcast
• 1:54: Chris Hayes
• 3:28: Charles Barkley staying with TNT
• 5:33: Where was Chris when Barkley made his retirement announcement?
• 7:21: Discussion off camera after the announcement
• 9:01: Getting to know the Inside the NBA crew
• 12:21: Chris making sideline reporting role his own
• 15:31: Toughest person to interview
• 16:43: What makes Inside the NBA so special?
• 20:03: What to expect in final year of Inside the NBA with the NBA on TNT
• 21:09: Chris’ status with TNT
• 22:15: Being an independent insider
• 23:20: Being a local reporter
• 28:30: Chris’ media origin story
• 32:26: Odds being stacked against Chris starting out
• 37:50: Being perceived by other writers when starting out
• 42:58: Building relationships and trust
• 46:29: Going to cover Cleveland Cavs when LeBron James came back
• 48:35: Trying to build a relationship with LeBron
• 53:35: Is it more important to cultivate relationship with players, teams/GM’s, or agents in terms of info gathering?
• 54:07: Difference between being a reporter and being an insider in terms of relationships
• 56:39: Being in competition with Adrian Wojnarowski and Shams Charania?
• 57:58: How Chris gets the stories he breaks?
• 1:02:05: How much does Chris report?
• 1:04:01: Wildest report that Chris reported
• 1:06:25: Being on Undisputed
• 1:10:53: Skip Bayless and Shannon Sharpe off camera
• 1:13:08: Importance of breaking news
• 1:18:26: “Doc Rivers to Milwaukee Bucks” CNN Sports report
• 1:22:10: Report Chris is least proud of and most proud of

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