Cat Marnell: I went to boarding school, but I was supposed to go to Whitman in Bethesda. I grew up on the Bethesda–Potomac border, and [ESPN NBA correspondent] Rachel Nichols went to Churchill which was the next high school. I always feel this affinity with her. She’s just so nice. I love how her hair is so awesome. It doesn’t move. The ESPN people really have the hair on lock. All of it for me comes down to media. That’s really what I love. I realize that’s what I enjoy as much as the games.

I think with the NBA in particular, that’s pretty common.

Listen, the NBA is doing outreach, and they’ve reached me. I can’t tell you how it happened, but somehow it did. They’re doing it right. The pop-culture stuff is so good, and so white-hot that it’s come to me, and I’m someone who just wants the new, interesting thing.

I don’t connect with Kim Kardashian, I don’t like her. I noticed that the Kardashian story lines were really only really good when there was a basketball player involved. Lamar Odom to Kris Humphries, anything. I admit it, I heard of James Harden first because he dated Khloé Kardashian. Isn’t that hilarious?

There’s a certain point with pop culture where I’m like: Enough, I don’t want to read about these people. But I try not to be so negative. The Kris Humphries stuff was amazing. Those episodes aren’t on the air anymore, but those were the best.

Are you enjoying the shift toward star players having more of a say in where they play?

Everything gets picked up and shaken like a snow globe. I’ve been telling people that the way it’s been recast with these duos this year is just so fucking exciting. When I tell people who are just coming to the NBA now, because I’m encouraging everyone—my audience, girls—I say to just follow two teams, the Lakers and the Pelicans. The Pelicans are a new story because of Zion [Williamson]. Follow Zion and LeBron [James], and then they’ll get into everything else from there. But even if it was just Zion, that’d be so exciting. Instead, there’s 90 amazing stories. It’s just gonna be so fucking fun, and I’m gonna be in Europe the whole first month like an idiot. I’ll be watching everything at like eight in the morning.

What’d you make of LeBron’s recent China comments?

Look, no matter what, I trust his character. I know what he said was light, but whatever he was speaking out for, it wasn’t for his own greed. He’s looking out for other people.

I was actually surprised with LeBron. But he’s the face of the league, and maybe he felt like he had to make a difference to help the situation. And I also think he must have something with Daryl Morey, if you think about people who have gone through that orbit who he’s close to. Carmelo [Anthony] and Chris Paul. There was definitely some venom behind it.

What’s your NBA media diet like?

I love the Ringer people. Bill Simmons’s podcast is just so good. It’s long as fuck, so I listen to that when I do other things. Jason Concepcion and NBA Desktop, I think that shit is so fucking dope. It kind of reminds me of The Eric Andre Show, a little punk rock, it’s so fresh and new and fun. And he’s so brilliant and creative.