Hello and Welcome

Will, Alex, and Jerome recap Indiana’s Game 3 win over the Thunder, rate Reggie Miller’s courtside fit, put an end to Giannis Watch (?), debate who will end up being the next Knicks head coach, celebrate the one-year anniversary of Hello & Welcome, and preview their outfits for this weekend’s Holt Renfrew event. Timestamps: Game 3 reaction: 0:37 Is Giannis Watch over? 31:37 Who will coach the...

Will is joined by theScore’s Joe Wolfond to break down OKC’s Game 2 win and what it means for the series. Later, Will, Alex, and Jerome dive into the Kevin Durant-to-Toronto rumors, rank where the Pacers’ playoff run stands in NBA history, chat about the NBA’s half-hearted attempt at adding a Finals decal to the court, try to figure out when we started caring about NBA ratings, and look into Victo...

Will and Alex recap Indiana’s Game 1 comeback win against OKC in the Finals, discuss Tom Thibodeau’s firing, get to know the Pacers better, and answer listener questions.  Thank you to Saul Brown for your mega city gift box. Check them out here: https://www.itsaulgood.com/collections/gift-baskets-toronto Live show with Bobby Webster: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/in-conversation-with-bobby-webs...

Will, Alex, and Jerome break down Toronto’s Game 6 win over the Bucks, relive the unforgettable 26–3 run, and share personal memories from one of the most iconic nights in Raptors history. Three stars: Kawhi Leonard, Kyle Lowry, Pascal Siakam DJ Augustin award: Ersan Ilyasova #raptors #torontoraptors #nbaplayoffs #nbafinals Reach out to the show by leaving a voicemail at hellowelcome.show or email...

Will and Alex break down reports of mutual interest between Giannis and the Raptors, and examine Masai Ujiri’s ambition to reel in a “big fish” this summer. They serve up a generous slice of blame pie for the Knicks’ playoff exit, dissecting Tom Thibodeau’s rigid coaching, Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns’ shortcomings, Timothée Chalamet’s dream life, and Michael Imperioli (??). Then, they pre...

Will Lou speaks with Anthony Milton, author of this month's Toronto Life feature story on former Toronto Raptors center Jontay Porter and how he ended up placing illicit bets on his own performance. Milton shares details from court filings that show a pattern of how Porter worked with co-conspirators that ultimately resulted in his expulsion from the NBA and potential criminal sentencing down the...

Will and Alex break down Indiana’s Game 4 win and what’s missing from the Knicks’ starting lineup, before diving into Pascal Siakam’s Hall of Fame case, the debate over banning the foul-up-three strategy, and a fix for excessive coach’s challenge requests. They also speculate: are we heading toward the wildest offseason ever? Later, Will, Alex, and Jerome close out Asian Heritage Month with a deep...

Will and Alex break down OKC’s nail-biting Game 4 win over Minnesota and debate whether Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the most over-hated star in the league. They revisit the Knicks’ gutsy Game 3 comeback against Indiana and ask: is Rick Carlisle trolling New York’s bench? Later, they explore RJ Barrett’s trade value this summer and how MLSE’s ownership shakeup could have ripple effects on the Raptor...

Will and Alex are joined by Vivek Jacob for a Friday Six-Pack, diving into: Indiana’s stunning Game 1 comeback, whether John Haliburton should be allowed back in the arena, their favorite playoff games of the 2020s, how the 2019 Raptors should be honored across Toronto, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s MVP thank-you baskets, the odds of an American winning MVP in the next three years, whether NBA parity...

It’s the All-Giannis Episode! Will and Alex dive deep into the idea of a Giannis-to-Toronto trade, exploring it from every angle: Masai Ujiri’s long-standing pursuit, what a realistic starting offer looks like, the Raptors’ best possible package, and how the roster would shake out post-trade. They also survey the landscape of other potential destinations—including Houston, OKC, San Antonio, and… B...

Will and Alex dish out blame pies for the Nuggets’ and Celtics’ season-ending losses, breaking down OKC’s Game 7 performance, whether the Nuggets are heading down a Giannis-Bucks path, and what Tatum’s injury means for Boston’s future. They also question the overuse of the term “emergency pod,” make their conference finals picks, and cap things off with a Leafs blame pie to close the show’s playof...

Will, Alex, and Jerome break down OKC’s impressive Game 5 win, debate whether the Celtics can survive the Knicks without Jayson Tatum, and serve up blame pies for the Warriors’ and Cavs’ season-ending exits. They also weigh in on Atlanta’s reported interest in Masai Ujiri and answer listener questions. #nbaplayoffs #warriors #raptors Reach out to the show by leaving a voicemail at hellowelcome.sho...

Will Lou shares the results of a poll of who Toronto Raptors fans want at the 9th overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft. He then discusses broadly the 10 names involved: Khaman Maluach, Derik Queen, Jeremiah Fears, Carter Bryant, Collin Murray-Boyles, Noa Essengue, Kasparas Jakuciounas, Rasheer Fleming, Thomas Sorber, Egor Demin. #nba #raptors #nbadraft Reach out to the show by leaving a voicemail at...

Will Lou and Alex Wong go live after the result of the 2025 NBA draft, where the Toronto Raptors slid to the ninth pick. They go through the live emotions of not winning the lottery, and settle with the strange feelings of the Dallas Mavericks winning the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes with 1.8 percent odds. They also discuss where Giannis Antetokounmpo could potentially end up. Then, Libaan Osman of Th...

Will and Alex are joined by theScore’s Joseph Casciaro for a playoff six-pack, debating which team — the Cavs or Celtics — is in more trouble, whether Golden State has a path to an upset, and the top playoff risers and fallers so far. They also pick who they’d bring to a 100 men vs. 1 gorilla battle. Later, Will and Alex dive into James Harden vs. Russell Westbrook, the most intriguing off-season...

Will and Alex debate which second-round team concerns them most, then break down the Wolves’ puzzling Game 1 performance, the impact of Steph Curry’s injury, Boston’s streaky three-point shooting, OKC’s late-game fouling strategy, and Indiana’s surprising playoff run. Later, Will introduces "The Pat Spencer All-Stars" for two-sport white NBA hoopers, and gives a review of his first Leafs playoff g...

Will, Alex, and Jerome hand out blame pies after the Clippers and Rockets crash out in Game 7, breaking down James Harden’s latest playoff no-show, whether Kawhi Leonard can still be a postseason difference-maker, Steve Ballmer’s bold move to fly fans to Denver, and what’s next for Jalen Green in Houston. Later, they make their second-round predictions and reflect on Gregg Popovich’s legendary coa...

Will Lou catches up with Chris Boucher to discuss his involvement with the Make-A-Wish foundation, being a finalist for the 2025 NBA Social Justice Champion Award, his upbringing in Montreal, and his future with the Raptors. Reach out to the show by leaving a voicemail at hellowelcome.show or email the guys info@hellowelcome.show Check out our merch! Visit hellowelcome.show and click on the merch...

Will and Alex dish out blame pies for the Lakers and Bucks, and dive into: JJ Redick’s first playoff series as a head coach, LeBron entering the final stage of his career, Luka’s struggles, Austin Reaves’ disappearing act, Bobby Webster vs. Rob Pelinka, Giannis vs. John Haliburton, Kyle Kuzma’s case as the worst trade deadline upgrade ever, and much more. #lakers #lebronjames #lukadoncic #giannis...

Will Lou is joined by Raptors Republic's Samson Folk to give some grades to the 2024-25 Toronto Raptors. Grades were assessed in three categories in offense, defense, and intangibles. They also share what the next steps of improvement are for each player in the rotation. Player (grade) Scottie Barnes (B) RJ Barrett (B) Ochai Agbaji (B) Jakob Poeltl (A-) Gradey Dick (C+) Jamal Shead (B+) Jonathan M...

Will and Alex recap a thrilling second weekend of the playoffs, breaking down the future of the Milwaukee Bucks, what a potential Raptors trade package could look like, Anthony Edwards’ rise as the best player in the Lakers-Wolves series, and Julius Randle’s redemption arc. Later, they serve up a blame pie for the Grizzlies’ first-round sweep, debate who has more at stake in the Clippers-Nuggets m...

Will and Alex break down the Clippers’ dominant Game 3 win over the Nuggets, the Grizzlies’ collapse after leading by 29 at home, and how Jimmy Butler’s injury could shift the Warriors-Rockets series. Then, they crack open a playoff six-pack and discuss: Nico Harrison’s end-of-season presser, The Athletic’s anonymous player poll, viral Asian NBA fans, and a debate on Mad Men vs. Succession. Finall...

Will, Alex and Jerome are joined by Mr. Raptor Moments to draft their favorite moments from the 2024-25 Toronto Raptors season as they reminisce about: Ja’Kobe Walter’s game-winner in Orlando, hot mics, Matt Devlin’s most iconic on-air call, their favorite 30th anniversary moments, the team dancing their way through a rebuilding year, and much more. #raptors #torontoraptors Reach out to the show b...

Will, Alex, and Jerome recap the opening weekend of the NBA Playoffs (1:00), diving into Pascal Siakam’s role in Indiana, Kyle Kuzma’s unforgettable box score, and early impressions of Kawhi Leonard and Russell Westbrook. They break down Detroit’s fourth quarter no-show at Madison Square Garden, the Lakers’ growing concerns, Orlando’s offensive struggles, Cleveland’s G1 Big Three, and Golden State...

Will, Alex, and Jerome make their first round picks and discuss most intriguing players and storylines heading into the postseason including: James Harden’s playoff resume, the history of “Steph Stoppers,” Giannis’s supporting cast in Milwaukee, the Pacer having the best team hashtag in the NBA, Cade Cunningham’s post-season debut, which former Raptor to root for, and more. Finally, we unveil Hell...