The Winning Formula

Ballislife’s The Winning Formula sits down with Yahya Abdul-Mateen II for a wide-ranging conversation that blends film, culture, and basketball at the highest level. Yahya breaks down his latest project, Man on Fire, diving into the mindset behind the role, the preparation it takes to bring intensity to the screen, and what drew him to the story in the first place. From there, the conversation shifts to hoops—the rise of the 1v1 scene, and why that style of play is becoming such a major part of basketball culture. It’s a conversation about discipline, creativity, and what it really means to compete—whether you’re on set or on the court

Bionic and Dev sit down with Kenya Barris to break down the making of the Jerry West documentary—diving into how the project came together and what it was like sitting face-to-face with one of basketball’s most iconic figures. The conversation explores Jerry West’s legacy as one of the greatest guards of all time, his mentality, and the layers behind the man known as the NBA logo. Kenya also shares his perspective on greatness, including a bold take on who could have been the true GOAT. https://www.instagram.com/winningformulapod/ Produced by Christopher Hundley Edited by Nolan Duff

Bionic and Dev sit down to break down Bones Hyland’s journey and make the case for why he might be the best 1v1 player on the planet. They dive into his mindset, skillset, and what separates him in the one-on-one space. The conversation also explores what it’s like playing alongside superstars like Anthony Edwards and Nikola Jokić, and how those experiences have shaped his game at the highest level 0:30 – 8:15 — Bizzy speaks about 1v1 basketball 9:00 – 9:45 — Best one-on-one player on the planet 10:00 – 11:15 — “You can’t do nothing with me” mindset 12:00 – 13:15 — Kids playing outside + building toughness 14:00 – 15:25 — Staying ready after practice, 1v1 work (Dev helping Bones) 15:40 – 16:45 — Time in Denver 16:45 – 17:30 — Playing with Jokic 17:50 – 18:35 — Watching film 18:40 – 19:55 — Hardest workers: Ant Man & James Harden (late-night work) 20:00 – 21:50 — Clippers stint + time with James Harden 22:30 – 23:00 — What he learned from PG, James, Russ, Kawhi 23:30 — “God’s timing” 25:20 – 26:30 — Talking about Minnesota 27:00 — Life outside basketball 28:30 – 29:50 — Segment continues 30:21 – 31:15 — “Welcome to the NBA” moment 31:20 – 31:50 — “I’ll play anyone 1v1” 31:50 – 33:00 — Luka is tough to guard 33:50 – 34:45 — Scored 50 at age 10 35:30 – 36:15 — Throwing a football far 39:00 – 40:00 — Kyrie (Mavs vs Clippers) hang dribble Produced by Christopher Hundley Edited by Nolan Duff

Bionic and Dev break down the latest 1v1 matchups in San Francisco, diving into standout performances and who’s really at the top of the 1v1 basketball space right now. They discuss the matchups they want to see next, evaluate how each player showed up, and debate potential rule changes that could take the competition to the next level. The conversation also explores how the 1v1 scene can continue to grow and evolve as a major part of basketball culture 1:00-8:15 Judgment Day Overview 8:15-16:38 Best Matchups and Highlight moments 16:38-20:00 Nas previous 1v1 matchups 28:30-31:00 Zay vs Nas 31:50-33:00 Uncle Skoon Handle 35:00-37:00 1v1 Foul Rules 38:30-40:10 Nas vs Rob 40-57:10 Next Steps in 1V1 and next matchups

In this episode of The Winning Formula Podcast, DevintheLab and Bionic Brooks discuss the evolving 1v1 basketball landscape—breaking down the recent surge of leagues, creators, and brands entering the space, and why the current model still lacks true structure and long-term sustainability. They also touch on the balance between entertainment and competition, the importance of storytelling and star-building, and how 1v1 basketball can grow into a legitimate ecosystem within the sport.

Dev and Bionic sit down with future potential #1 pick AJ Dybantsa to talk about the pressure of being the top prospect, his March Madness mindset, and the NBA players he studies and can beat 1v1. He breaks down why he’s been a dog since 7th grade, how he approaches the game differently, and even taps into his off-court vibe — including his favorite artist, NBA YoungBoy. 0:47 – 2:00 AJ says he learned his hesi move from DevintheLab. 2:30- 3:47 AJ talks about watching Devinthelab 4:05 – 4:32 AJ explains he knew he wanted to be an NBA player in 6th grade 4:40 – 5:10 Conversation about the next generation of stars — himself, Cooper Flagg, Darryn Peterson, and Cameron Boozer. 5:46 – 8:12. AJ talks about going 6–0 (good competitive clip moment). 9:25-11:40 “Carmelo March Madness moment.” 10:07-`11:40 “Carmelo March Madness moment.” 11:55 – 12:29 What it’s like being on campus as a top player. 12:29-- 14:15 His relationship with Boston Celtics stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. 16:07 – 16:45. Discussion about being the No. 1 pick and wanting to keep that title. 21:00 – 22:15. NBA Runs & Competition 22:20--- Running pickup with NBA players. 25:10 – 25:37. Who AJ would want to play in a 1v1 matchup. https://www.instagram.com/winningformulapod/

Dev and Bionic break down the rapidly growing world of 1v1 basketball and the rise of new leagues and brands entering the space. With multiple organizations launching their own versions of 1v1 competition, the guys explore whether the landscape is becoming too fragmented — and what it would take to bring everyone together under one unified league. They also dive into how 1v1 athletes can secure more lucrative contracts, the business behind the format, and why fans are gravitating toward these head-to-head battles. From grassroots culture to the future of professional 1v1, Dev and Bionic discuss where the game is headed and what it will take for the sport to reach its full potential

Bionic and Dev break down what a 1-on-1 tournament in the NBA would look like and which players they believe would thrive in that type of setting. They debate who the current MVP of the league is and who they consider the true face of the NBA today. The conversation continues with their Final Four predictions before closing out with who they would select with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Devinthelab and Bionic Brooks talk about what it means to be a GOAT and what are the traits you need to become a Goat. They sit down with Gabrielle Union and Caleb McLaughlin to talk about their new movie, Goat. Dev and Bionice discuss the Superbowl, NBA vs The World.

Devinthelab and Bionic Brooks talk with Freddie Gibbs about his new film Night Patrol, the creative chemistry behind his ongoing run of classic albums with The Alchemist, and why that partnership keeps leveling up. Freddie also weighs in on Chris Brown’s all-around talent.