Oddball w/ Amin Elhassan & Izzy Gutierrez

In this episode, Amin and Izzy delve into the NBA’s Most Improved Player race, wondering if a former #1 pick like Cade Cunningham can ever win the award, even after an impressive season with the Detroit Pistons. Plus, we look at other contenders like Dyson Daniels, Tyler Herro, and Christian Braun, and the broader implications of the Most Improved Player award. We also talk about the NBA and FIBA...

Taylor Jenkins is no longer the head coach in Memphis! What's up with this timing, how much did Ja Morant have to do with the move, and who is the new guy? Get all your answers on Oddball, along with Izzy and Amin's takes on the Pistons and Timberwolves' brawl and a brand new edition of Hot Streak! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We've reached the Odds of March, that mythical time on the NBA calendar when truth is put on hold and chaos reigns. The Bulls, Suns, and Clippers are among the hottest teams in the league, while Nikola Jokic and Jayson Tatum are on the bench. Bronny is putting up star numbers (don't ask who he's playing) and Anthony Davis' return has given the Mavericks new hope. Plus, Amin and Izzy share some hig...

Jimmy Butler and the Warriors came up small in their first game in Miami since the trade deadline.. or maybe it just meant more to Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, and the rest of the Heat. Plus, Izzy and Amin explore the works of sculptor Akbar Domestique and his efforts to get Jimmy Butler a statue outside of the Kaseya Center. Also, Damian Lillard's deep vein thrombosis diagnosis puts the Bucks' seaso...

Jimmy Butler makes his highly anticipated return to Miami as the Golden State Warriors take on the struggling Miami Heat. Amin and guest cohost Jeremy Tache reflect on Butler's time in South Beach, and analyze Draymond Green and Butler' differing takes on how much this game means. We close the show with the first-ever edition of Shot Clock, an NBA trivia tic-tac-toe game show from the mind of Jere...

Don't be fooled by the standings or the calendar: Amin lets guest cohost Jeremy Tache know that the playoffs have already begun! The Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets are battling for the No. 2 seed in the West, while the Los Angeles Lakers suffered a brutal loss to the Chicago Bulls that may have knocked them out of contention. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder compete...

What happens when every NBA team loses its best player? Amin and Izzy analyze how teams would perform without their biggest stars. They break down the New York Knicks without Jalen Brunson, the Los Angeles Lakers without LeBron James (not Luka Doncic), and the Milwaukee Bucks without Giannis Antetokounmpo. Does Oklahoma City become a lottery team without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander? To close the show,...

Introducing Statline Shuffle, a new game built for box-score watchers. Too bad Izzy and Amin grind tape! We give the statline, you guess the player. How did the Nuggets pull off a win over the Warriors without Jokic? And how did the Warriors pull off a win over the Bucks without Steph? Plus, we shout out Boston Celtic Baylor Schierman for our Iciest Play of the Week and play Prop-a-slot! Learn mor...

Enough of these whippersnappers! Today Izzy and Amin are drafting teams of the best NBA players age 36 and older. The old heads have been hooping this year! You've got LeBron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, and... well actually the list kind of drops off after that, doesn't it? Tune in to see who else makes the cut. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Amin and Izzy play Odd One Out to discuss the hottest NBA storylines of the day, including the Cleveland Cavaliers’ surprising weaknesses despite their win streak, the Orlando Magic’s real MVP, and the Houston Rockets’ six-game surge. The Washington Wizards completed a stunning season sweep over Nikola Jokić’s Nuggets over the weekend. Should we be worried about Denver? Izzy has some notes for J.B...

The Oklahoma City Thunder took down the Boston Celtics 118-112 behind a dominant fourth quarter from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Celtics’ late-game struggles continued, as they rank near the bottom of the league in fourth-quarter net rating over their last 10 games. Crunch time gets even crunchier in the playoffs... Can Boston right the ship in time? Plus, we break down whether SGA is the NBA’s b...

The NBA MVP race is heating up, and Nikola Jokić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are making their cases. What were Amin and Izzy’s takeaways after a back-to-back showdown between the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder earlier this week? We break down Jokić’s comments on the race, and Coach Mike Malone’s argument for his star player to take home the award. Plus, Tyrese Haliburton delivers the Ici...

NBA champion and Cleveland Cavaliers legend Channing Frye steps into the hot seat to separate fact from fiction about the Cavs’ title hopes. How does Cleveland’s starting five compare to Oklahoma City and Boston? Is Donovan Mitchell better than Jalen Brunson? Did the Cavs overpay for De’Andre Hunter? Could this year’s squad beat the 2016 championship team? And most importantly: can Channing Frye h...

With the playoffs one month away, these regular season powerhouse matchups are hitting a little different. After watching the Lakers take on two of the top teams in the East and the Thunder take down the Nuggets over the weekend, Izzy and Amin are turning their attention to the hunt for the Larry O'Brien trophy. Today they're power ranking the top six teams by record-- Cavaliers, Thunder, Celtics,...

Claire de Lune, NBA reporter for The Guardian, joins Amin and Izzy to dispel some myths about the Los Angeles Lakers. Is Luka Doncic already the best teammate LeBron James has ever had? Did JJ Redick figure out the secret to beating Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets? Who will have a longer career with the Lakers: Austin Reaves or Bronny James? All that and more on today's episode of Oddball. Learn more...

The Mavericks season from hell added another chapter this week with Kyrie Irving suffering a torn ACL. Kyrie's season is done, putting him at the front of the list of injuries up and down the Mavs' roster-- plus Anthony Davis might be done for the year, and oh yeah, Luka Doncic plays for the Lakers. Amin and Izzy ask if there's any precedent for an implosion of this scale, and see if they can find...

Kevin Durant's time with the Phoenix Suns may be coming to an end. We break down potential trade destinations, including the Houston Rockets, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves and Memphis Grizzlies. Plus, the Philadelphia 76ers suffer a major blow with Joel Embiid being sidelined for the season—what does this mean for Daryl Morey’s future in Philly? We also dive into the red-hot Los Angeles Laker...

Anthony Edwards made waves by dismissing the idea of being the NBA’s next face, instead pointing to Victor Wembanyama. Amin and Izzy break down LeBron James’ response and what it truly means to carry that responsibility. With Edwards leading the league in technical fouls, is he actually shaping up to be the NBA’s next great heel, following in the footsteps of Charles Barkley and Allen Iverson? Plu...

Is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander really a "free throw merchant," or is he just great at drawing contact? We dive into the debate around SGA, James Harden, Joel Embiid, Jalen Brunson, and other NBA stars who thrive at the line. Amin and Izzy break down what makes a player a foul merchant, why some fans hate it, and whether it’s actually a skill. Plus, Amin and Izzy close the show by filling in a "Player...

Luka Doncic emerged victorious from his first matchup against his former team, with a little help from LeBron James. Even after watching Luka go head to head with Kyrie Irving and the Mavericks, we still can't believe the trade actually happened. Is it possible for Nico Harrison to ever be redeemed? Plus, our picks for game of the week were both hits! Amen Thompson is developing a reputation, and...

As the NBA season hits the home stretch, we’re breaking down what top contenders need to prove before the playoffs. The New York Knicks continue to struggle against elite competition—can they fix their defensive issues? Are the Boston Celtics primed for another easy path to the Finals? Plus, we dive into the Cleveland Cavaliers’ legitimacy, the surging Golden State Warriors, and whether the Oklaho...

Luka Dončić responded to JJ Redick’s challenge with a dominant performance, while the Lakers found a way to slow down Nikola Jokić. Did Redick crack the Nuggets’ code, or was it just a one-off? And are the Lakers legitimate title contenders? Plus, Amin and Izzy react to the news that Joel Embiid’s season may be over and discuss how Kevin Garnett’s potential front-office role could shape the Timber...

Victor Wembanyama’s season is likely over—what does his absence mean for the NBA? Plus, Amin and Izzy react to the controversy surrounding the Lakers after failing Mark Williams’ physical and LeBron James' returns to action after skipping All-Star Weekend. To close the show, Amin fires back at PK Subban’s NBA vs. NHL culture comparison. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/ad...

Amin and Izzy bring fan takes straight from the streets in today’s episode of Oddball. Is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander truly the MVP favorite over Nikola Jokić? Are Warriors fans justified in believing Draymond Green’s championship guarantee? Should Anthony Edwards leave Minnesota? Plus, we break down Ja Morant’s legacy, Jayson Tatum’s leadership in Boston, and Mac McClung’s potential dunk contest thre...

The 2025 NBA All-Star Game introduced a brand-new format, but did it deliver? Steph Curry took home All-Star MVP as Shaq’s veteran squad won the first-ever All-Star tournament, but reactions were mixed. Amin and Izzy break down what worked, what flopped, and the impact of LeBron James and Anthony Edwards sitting out last-minute. They also discuss Mac McClung’s historic dunk contest three-peat and...