Basketball Island

Canadians and former Raptors have been shining in the postseason and it's time to take notice. Hein, Wes, Hambone and Fab discuss Canada's impact on basketball, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander versus Anthony Edwards, NBA rule changes and the Conference Finals. 

Things are looking grim in Milwaukee… and it might be time for Giannis Antetokounmpo to move on to another team. FanDuel has the Raptors as the 4th choice in their “Giannis next team” market, but is that a realistic outcome? Hein, Wes, Fab and Hambone propose trade options for Toronto and discuss which other teams are in the mix to acquire the Bucks superstar.

Did Shai Gilgeous-Alexander deserve to win the NBA MVP award over Nikola Jokic? Is he the best Canadian NBA player ever? What does this mean for the future of Canadian Basketball? Hein, Fab, Hambone and Jevohn Shepherd react to SGA being announced as the Most Valuable Player.

The Raptors spent the majority of the 2024-25 season tanking... for just the ninth overall pick? Hein, Hambone, Fab and Jevohn Shepherd discuss who the Raptors should target in the draft, the Spurs offseason options and whether or not the Mavericks deserved to win the NBA Draft Lottery. 

The second round of the NBA Playoffs are here and the matchups are tantalizing. Can Shai Gilgeous-Alexander outduel Nikola Jokic in a battle between MVP frontrunners? Are Steph Curry and the Warriors poised to make the Conference Finals? Should the Cavs be on upset alert against the Pacers? Hein, Wes, Fab and Hambone break everything down while sharing their best bets on FanDuel along the way.&nbs...

Defence wins championships, right Nico Harrison? There's no denying that the Mavericks made an epic mistake trading away Luka Doncic. However, there's also no denying Luka's defensive struggles in the playoffs. Hein, Fab and Hambone discuss the Lakers demise, the Rockets next move and the Thunder and Cavs in this week's episode of Basketball Island.

The first round of the NBA Playoffs is just getting started... but it's looking like the 2025 postseason could be one for the ages. Kawhi Leonard is balling like prime 2019 Raptors Kawhi, the Knicks and Pistons are going toe-to-toe and the Warriors look poised for another deep playoff run. Hein, Wes, Fab and Hambone share their early thoughts on the playoffs. 

Can the Timberwolves upset the Lakers? Are the Warriors vulnerable against the Rockets? What about the defending champion Celtics? The NBA Playoffs are finally here and the first round matchups couldn't be more intriguing. Hein, Wes, Hambone and Fab break down every series and share their best bets along the way. 

The NBA regular season is coming to a close, which means it's time to reflect on the Raptors. Hein, Hambone, Fab and Jevohn Shepherd use one key word to describe Toronto's 2024-25 season. They also revisit the OG Anunoby trade and discuss whether or not the Thunder will live up to expectations in the playoffs. 

Is the next great Toronto Raptor playing in the NCAA Men's Final Four this weekend? Hein, Wes, Hambone and Fab discuss potential Raptors draft prospects to watch, NBA playoff matchups they're hoping to see and award odds movement at FanDuel.

Basketball Island has been telling the Raptors to lean into the tank all season... but they just won't seem to listen. Hein, Wes, Hambone and Fab discuss some hard truths about the Raptors this season and potential prospects that have stood out during March Madness. 

March Madness is finally here - but why does it matter from a Toronto Raptors perspective? Wes, Fab, Hambone and Jevohn Shepherd discuss which Raptors players they want to see develop more, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander disrespect and which prospects Raps fans should be paying attention to in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. 

If you're a Raptors fan that's hoping the team will tank for optimal draft lottery odds, then the last two weeks have been stressful. That being said, it's always better to look on the bright side. Hein, Wes, Hambone and Fab discuss positive takeaways from the Raptors, award futures at FanDuel and fantasy basketball etiquette. 

The Raptors started this season with an ethical tank... but things have gotten dirty fast. Hein, Wes, Hambone and Fab discuss Toronto's blatant tanking tactics in their win against the Magic and why MVP favourite Shai Gilgeous-Alexander still deserves more appreciation.

There's no denying that Immanuel Quickley has been a major disappointment this season, although injuries have certainly played a factor. Hein, Wes, Fab and Hambone discuss IQ's future with the Raptors, the loaded Western Conference and the fall and rise of NBA Centel on X. 

TSN Toronto Raptors reporter Josh Lewenberg joins Wes, Hambone and Fab on the latest episode of Basketball Island! Josh was initially very skeptical of the Brandon Ingram trade, sparking backlash from Raptors fans online. Now he sets the record straight on BI. 

Now that the dust has settled from the NBA trade deadline, it's time to look ahead to what's next for the Raptors. Wes, Fab, Hambone and Jevohn Shepherd discuss Toronto's outlook post All-Star break and the importance of their upcoming draft pick. They also highlight which teams they're paying the most attention to in the second half of the season.     

The 2024-25 NBA trade deadline was one to remember... especially for Raptors fans. Wes, Fab, Hambone and Jevohn Shepherd discuss the Brandon Ingram trade and what's next for Toronto this season and in the future. 

The Raptors are officially on fire... but at what cost? Hein, Wes, Fab and Hambone discuss the impact of Toronto's recent winning streak, the future of BBQ (Barrett, Barnes, Quickley) and trade deadline options for the Raptors and Jimmy Butler.     

The NBA trade deadline is two weeks away, which means it's audition time for some of the Raptors. Hein, Wes, Hambone and Fab discuss Toronto's best trade options and where Jimmy Butler might be dealt. They also list their starters and reserves for the upcoming All-Star game. 

We're almost halfway through the NBA regular season, which means it's time for midterm report cards for the Raptors. Hein, Wes, Hambone and Fab give out grades for all five of Toronto's starters, as well as head coach Darko Rajakovic. 

The Raptors looked competitive to start the season... but they've quickly come back down to earth despite finally getting healthy. Hein, Wes, Hambone and Fab discuss Toronto's defensive woes, Jimmy Butler's trade options, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's MVP-caliber season and the NBA's declining ratings.

In honour of the Raptors 30th season, the guys are re-living Toronto’s history with a snake draft of their favourite moments. Hein, Wes, Hambone & Fab sort through three decades of fun, heartbreak & drama that’s come with following the Raptors.

What's on your wish list for the Toronto Raptors this holiday season? Hein, Wes, Hambone and Fab discuss what they hope to see from the Raps after Christmas. They also gift each other a Secret Santa future bet and build a parlay on FanDuel for the NBA's Christmas Day slate.

Should the Toronto Raptors focus on developing their current roster or look to make moves at the trade deadline? Hein, Wes, Hambone and Fab discuss next steps for the Raptors, RJ Barrett's polarizing play and bigger picture NBA topics in the latest episode of Basketball Island.