The Baseline

The Baseline

The Baseline

Hosted by: Jonathan Rears, Meir Cohen

On “The Baseline”, Meir Cohen and Jonathan Rears dive into the world of international basketball, interviewing characters from all around the basketball community. On this show, we will leave no stone unturned and discover the difficulties and rewards of the basketball grind. Stay tuned to gain weekly access to the inside scoop with division I NCAA players, Israeli league superstars, and many more.

Image Credits: Shali Bernstein
  • Jonathan Rears

    Jonathan Rears

    I grew up in Boston Massachusetts where I played varsity basketball all 4 years of high school and also played AAU for a few years as well. Basketball is my biggest passion in life and I love everything that comes with it. I moved to Israel to study at RU where I have founded this […]

  • Meir Cohen

    Meir Cohen

    From a young age I’ve been fascinated with sports media, ever since the days of early morning radio shows I would listen to as a kid growing up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. There is nothing I love more than sports, and having a platform to hear stories from all kinds of people is a dream come […]

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Season 2 Tip-Off: Global Hoops and The Shot Clock

The Baseline
18/11/2024

Season 2 of The Baseline is here, and we’re kicking things off with a dynamic episode! Hosts Jonathan Rears and Meir Cohen reintroduce the podcast, share our renewed vision for connecting the basketball world, and dive into some of the most exciting stories in the global hoops scene.

Joining us as a special guest is EJ Mildwurf, our behind-the-scenes mastermind who’s stepping into the spotlight to share his perspective on basketball’s global influence. Together, we explore the sport’s impact across borders and cultures, highlighting the stories that make the game so much more than just what happens on the court.

We’re also debuting our brand-new segment, The Shot Clock—a rapid-fire Q&A that keeps the energy high and the insights flowing.

Get ready for another season of powerful storytelling, in-depth discussions, and all things basketball.

👉 Catch the episode now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen!

Image Credits: Shali Bernstein

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Ep 6 – Tamir Goodman

The Baseline
15/06/2023

On this weeks episode, Jon and Meir have the opportunity to hear from Tamir Goodman, whose inspirational story has been shared around the world of Jewish hoops many times. We discuss his career and challenges, and how he has used his experience to guide others.

Image Credits: Shali Bernstein

Text of the The baseline in an arch with an icon of a basketball player dunking the ball on the microphone

Ep 5 – Jon and Meir

The Baseline
01/06/2023

On this week’s episode, Jon and Meir are in the studio for a solo episode to discuss the Eastern Conference Finals and the NBA playoffs so far. We dive into each series and give you our takes on each one, including the disappointing Bucks, and the Lakers surpassing expectations. Winner league playoffs are heating up, and so is our coverage as we discuss the playoff environment here in herzliya, and much more. We wrap up with our favorite basketball movies, and our NBA finals predictions.

Image Credits: Shali Bernstein

Text of the The baseline in an arch with an icon of a basketball player dunking the ball on the microphone

Ep 4 – Lior Berman

The Baseline
11/05/2023

On our fourth episode, Lior Berman joins us to discuss what it is like playing in a Division I college basketball program in the United States. Lior has many ties to Israel, and spoke to us about how the team has traveled to Israel in the past, and the insights his teammates have gotten from a place almost none of them had been before. Lior plays for a prestigious program, one with much success in recent years. We discussed playing with a top NBA draft pick, Jabari Smith. Additionally we spoke about the play style of college versus overseas and in the NBA. We wrapped up with discussion of the current NBA season, and Liors favorite players to watch. We hope you enjoy!

Image Credits: Shali Bernstein

Text of the The baseline in an arch with an icon of a basketball player dunking the ball on the microphone

Ep 3 – Maurice Kemp

The Baseline
04/05/2023

For our third episode, Israeli League MVP Maurice Kemp joins us in the studio to discuss how the game of basketball is changing, his style of play, and stories from his unique experiences on the court all over the world. This episode is one you don’t want to miss! Maurice is a great storyteller, and additionally taught us a lot about how the players are treated all over the world! Tune in. Trust us.

Image Credits: Shali Bernstein

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Ep 2 – Jason Siggers

The Baseline
27/04/2023

In our second episode, Maccabi Raanana superstar Jason Siggers joins us in the studio! We discuss everything from his greatest memories playing basketball, to adjusting to the unique culture, people, and food of Israel. Jason is an amazing interviewee  who goes into detail telling us about his experience playing a dropping 40(!) points on the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder. We hope you enjoy!

Image Credits: Shali Bernstein

Text of the The baseline in an arch with an icon of a basketball player dunking the ball on the microphone

Ep 1 – Ofek Reef

The Baseline
20/04/2023

On the inaugural of “The Baseline”, we interview Ofek Reef, former point guard at Yeshiva university, and current player for Hapoel Akko in Israel. on this interview we discuss his part in the historic 50 game winning streak with Yeshiva University, and discuss some of the unexpected events from his basketball career, along with his future playing here in Israel.

Image Credits: Shali Bernstein

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