Swishonomics

Brandon Minaya, Swishonomics

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Swishonomics' Sideline Speculation: Unsubstantiated musings about sports business and the economy of basketball.

08/07/2025

The Age of Exuberance & The Billionaire Bottleneck: Are AI and Sports Team Valuations Echoes of the Dot-Com Bubble?

This is a read-aloud version of article "The Age of Exuberance & The Billionaire Bottleneck: Are AI and Sports Team Valuations Echoes of the Dot-Com Bubble? " by Brandon Minaya on August 6, 2025. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠swishonomics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ to subscribe, read articles, follow on socials, and get in touch. --- This episode dives into the parallels between past economic bubbles, the current AI industry boom, and the soaring valuations of professional sports teams. We explore how factors like speculative demand and restrictive ownership rules are creating a "billionaire bottleneck" in sports, questioning if we're nearing peak valuations.

17 min
07/23/2025

The Dame Lillard Homecoming

This is a read-aloud version of article "The Homecoming: Why Damian Lillard's Return to Portland is a Masterclass in Business, Not Just Basketball" by Brandon Minaya on July 22, 2025. Go to ⁠⁠⁠swishonomics.com⁠⁠⁠ to subscribe, read articles, follow on socials, and get in touch. --- This episode unpacks Damian Lillard's return to the Portland Trail Blazers, revealing it as a strategic blend of personal desire and shrewd business for both Lillard and the franchise. It highlights how this homecoming leverages his legacy for financial and social capital, including the unexpected reunion with Jrue Holiday.

9 min
07/15/2025

The Royalty Playbook: Why Percentage Deals Are the Real Game-Changer in Sports Video Game Licensing

This is a read-aloud version of article "The Royalty Playbook" by Brandon Minaya on July 15, 2025. Go to ⁠⁠swishonomics.com⁠⁠ to subscribe, read articles, follow on socials, and get in touch. --- In this episode, we break down the real money behind sports video games and why the savviest athletes don’t just get paid, they get paid forever. From Tony Hawk’s royalty empire to college football’s flat fees, we explore why percentage-based deals are the real game-changer.

8 min
07/07/2025

The Milwaukee Bucks' Risky Business: Why appeasing Giannis is the ultimate financial play

This is a read-aloud version of article "The Milwaukee Bucks' Risky Business" by Brandon Minaya on July 6, 2025. Go to ⁠⁠⁠swishonomics.com⁠⁠⁠ to subscribe, read articles, follow on socials, and get in touch. --- The Bucks’ shocking decision to waive Dame and stretch his contract wasn’t just about roster fit — it was about keeping Giannis at all costs. This episode unpacks why their superstar’s financial impact outweighs any long-term basketball logic.

6 min
06/26/2025

The Blazers' Beijing Playbook: Why Portland Just Drafted Its Future Billion-Dollar Asset

This is a read-aloud version of article "The Blazers' Beijing Playbook" by Brandon Minaya on June 26, 2025. Go to ⁠⁠swishonomics.com⁠⁠ to subscribe, read articles, follow on socials, and get in touch. --- Portland shocked the draft by reaching for Hansen Yang — but the move may have less to do with basketball and more to do with boosting franchise value before a sale. In this episode, we break down how the Blazers may be betting on global economics and future billions.

6 min
06/20/2025

The $10Billion Silver Lining: How the Lakers Sale Could be Seattle's NBA Lifeline

This is a read-aloud version of article "The $10Billion Silver Lining" by Brandon Minaya on June 19, 2025. Go to ⁠swishonomics.com⁠ to subscribe, read articles, follow on socials, and get in touch. --- The record-breaking $10 billion Lakers sale may be the tipping point that finally makes NBA expansion too lucrative to delay — and Seattle the clear frontrunner. In this episode, we break down how this historic valuation sets the stage for the Sonics’ long-awaited return.

11 min
06/13/2025

The Dallas Gambit

This is a read-aloud version of article 'The Dallas Gambit' by Brandon Minaya on June 12, 2025. Go to swishonomics.com to subscribe, read articles, follow on socials, and get in touch. --- The Dallas Mavericks are at a pivotal crossroads, holding the No. 1 pick and a chance to rebuild around phenom Cooper Flagg while navigating fan unrest and a shifting front office. This episode explores how Dallas could flip veteran stars, reset its timeline, and bet big on a bold, long-term vision for the franchise’s future.

8 min
06/04/2025

The College Cash Grab: How NIL is Remaking the NBA Draft's Middle Class

This is a read-aloud version of article 'The College Cash Grab: How NIL is Remaking the NBA Draft's Middle Class' by Brandon Minaya on June 3, 2025. Go to swishonomics.com to subscribe, read articles, follow on socials, and get in touch. --- Here we unpack how NIL money is transforming college basketball and disrupting the traditional NBA Draft pipeline. With top prospects opting to stay in school for lucrative deals, a new "draft day discount" is emerging & potentially reshaping trade values, opening fresh market inefficiencies for savvy front offices.

6 min
05/30/2025

The "Bootstrapped Star" Paradox

This is a read-aloud version of article 'The Bootstrapped Star Paradox' by Brandon Minaya on May 29, 2025. Go to swishonomics.com to subscribe, read articles, follow on socials, and get in touch. --- We explore the “Bootstrapped Star” paradox — how small-market NBA teams develop elite talent, only to see them lured away by big-market franchises. We examine the economic forces shaping this cycle, highlight notable examples, and consider whether teams like OKC offer a rare blueprint for sustainable success.

7 min
05/29/2025

NBA Expansion Slowed by Sidequests

This is a read-aloud version of article 'NBA Expansion Slowed by Sidequests' by Brandon Minaya on May 28, 2025. Go to swishonomics.com to subscribe, read articles, follow on socials, and get in touch. --- The NBA's path to expansion is facing unexpected hurdles beyond the anticipated new TV deal. Recent high-profile franchise sales, like the Boston Celtics and Portland Trail Blazers, are now significantly reshaping the league's growth trajectory

4 min
05/21/2025

Welcome to Swishonomics

Hello and welcome to Swishonomics, the home of Sideline Speculation. Here you can find Unsubstantiated musings about sports business and the economy of basketball. This is just a placeholder episode to get our feed up and running. Soon, you can come here to find episodes of new Swishonomics's written articles read aloud as well as occasional extras and bonus thoughts.

24 sec

11 Episodes

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Swishonomics' Sideline Speculation: Unsubstantiated musings about sports business and the economy of basketball.

Creator

Brandon Minaya, Swishonomics
Years Active

2K
Episodes

11
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© Brandon Minaya, Swishonomics
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Swishonomics