Explore every episode of the podcast Basketball Island

The Toronto Raptors tip-off their regular season next week in a new era for the franchise. Hein, Wes, Hambone and Fab discuss whether the Raptors can make the play-in, the rise of Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett vs Immanuel Quickley for the MIP Award, and betting leans for Toronto this year.

The 2024-25 NBA season is just around the corner! Hein, Wes, Hambone and Fab discuss expectations for Victor Wembanyama, season-long award predictions, championship contenders and more. 

The NBA season is officially in full swing! Hein, Wes, Hambone and Fab discuss the Lakers hot start, the Thunder's embarrassment of riches and this year's disappointing rookie class in the latest episode of Basketball Island. 

Should Raptors fans be encouraged by what they've seen through two weeks of the NBA season? Hein, Wes, Hambone and Fab discuss Toronto's positive outlook, Gradey Dick's emergence and the 76ers dismal start in the latest episode of Basketball Island.

The Raptors were fun and competitive to start the NBA season, but injuries are starting to pile up. Hein, Wes, Fab and Hambone discuss what's next for Toronto, Golden State's resurgence and the NBA Cup in this week's episode of Basketball Island. 

The Raptors are starting to win some games... but it might not be in their best interest for the future. Hein, Wes, Hambone and Fab discuss Toronto's success at home versus on the road, the Rockets impressive season and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's MVP case. 

The Raptors are still losing games... but it's not necessarily for lack of effort. Hein, Wes, Hambone and Fab discuss Toronto's ethical tank, the return of Scottie Barnes and NBA futures at FanDuel in this week's episode of Basketball Island. 

Jakob Poeltl has been balling out for the Toronto Raptors...but is he a part of their long-term future? Hein, Wes, Hambone and Fab discuss what to do with Poeltl, RJ Barrett's ascension and other topical storylines around the NBA. 

The Raptors traded OG Anunoby to the Knicks for RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley a year ago... but has it proven to be worth it? Hein, Wes, Hambone and Fab discuss who got the better end of the deal, Scottie Barnes' recent injury and the Jimmy Butler trade rumors.

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. 

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.

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.

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

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. 

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. 

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.

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. 

With the 9th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Toronto Raptors select... Collin Murray-Boyles! How will the South Carolina forward fit into the Raptors rotation? Will Masai Ujiri and the front office shake up the roster? Who were the biggest winners and losers of the draft? Hein, Wes, Fab and Hambone break it all down. 

Who doesn't love Raptors trade speculation? It started with Giannis Antetokounmpo rumors a few weeks ago... but now Kevin Durant has entered the fray. Should Toronto try to trade for Durant? Would the basketball fit make any sense? Can the Pacers come back to win the NBA Finals with a hampered Tyrese Haliburton? Wes, Fab and Hambone break it all down.

An Oklahoma City tornado tried to stop them... but the Basketball Island crew would not be denied. Hein, Hambone and Jevohn Shepherd break down Pacers vs. Thunder in the NBA Finals with help from our friends at FanDuel. They also dive into Giannis Antetokounmpo/Toronto Raptors rumors and the firing of former Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau. 

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. 

Well... the Masai Ujiri era is over after 12 years in Toronto. What is the state of the Raptors without him moving forward? Is this team good enough to compete in the Eastern Conference next season? Who were the biggest winners and losers of free agency? Hein, Wes, Fab and Hambone break everything down. 

Toronto Raptors fans finally got a sneak peak of the team in Monday's pre-season game against the Nuggets. However, many questions still need to be answered as we approach the regular season. Will this team make the playoffs? How does the starting five fit together? How much pressure is on head coach Darko Rajakovic? Hein, Hambone, Wes and Fab are here to tell you. 

Basketball Island is BACK! The 2025-26 NBA Regular Season tips off in less than a month and expectations for the Raptors have changed drastically compared to last year. Is Toronto finally ready to go back to the playoffs? The crew sat down with Gradey Dick, Collin Murray-Boyles and Brandon Ingram at Raptors media day to find out more. 

The Raptors have lost three straight games since their opening night win against the Hawks... and it hasn't been pretty on the defensive end. Why is Toronto struggling to guard so much? Who's to blame and where do they go from here? Does Darko Rajakovic need to shake up his lineups? Hein, Hambone, Wes and Fab try to wrap their head around Toronto's slump. 

It's only one game... but the Raptors exceeded opening night expectations with a convincing win over the Hawks. What was the most impressive part about the victory? Can the Raptors sustain this throughout the season? Is Victor Wembanyama about to take over the league? Hein, Hambone, Wes and Fab discuss. 

The start of the NBA season is less than a week away! Our friends at FanDuel have the Raptors regular season win total set at 39.5... but will they go over or under once it's all said and done? Hein, Fab, Hambone and Wes discuss Toronto's outlook and the amount of games they will win. They also highlight some of their best futures bets at FanDuel to consider. 

Things seemed pretty dark up north in the midst of the Raptors losing streak, but it looks like they've steadied the ship with three straight wins. How much of Toronto's recent success is sustainable? Have RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes taken a leap? Can they continue to defend at a high level? Hein, Wes, Fab and Hambone discuss that and more on this week's episode of Basketball Island. 

After a questionable start to the season, the Raptors have won five of their last six to improve to 6-5 through 11 games. Is this team actually good? What have we learned so far? Is Toronto a lock to win their NBA Cup group? Should Jaylen Brown be bald and proud? Hein, Hambone, Wes and Fab discuss that and more. 

The Raptors are officially on fire! Toronto has won eight of their last nine games and sit third place in the Eastern Conference entering Tuesday's NBA slate. Has Brandon Ingram made them a legit top 6 team? Is Scottie Barnes playing at an All-NBA level? Can we expect this success to continue in the foreseeable future? Hein, Wes, Fab and Hambone discuss that and more. 

THE VIBES COULDN'T BE HIGHER! The Raptors have won eight straight games and 12 of their last 13. The Pistons are the only team with a better record in the eastern conference. How far can this team go? Is Brandon Ingram a top five wing in the east? Which Canadian NBA player has impressed you the most? Wes, Jevohn, Hambone and Fab discuss that and more.

Remember that winning streak? This season started off so promising for the Toronto Raptors... but after tough losses to the Celtics and Nets, things are looking bleak again. What's the Raptors biggest issue at the moment? Should the team regret trading OG Anunoby? Which NBA Christmas Day game are you looking forward to the most? Hein, Hambone and Fab discuss that and more. 

THE LOSING STREAK IS FINALLY OVER! However, that doesn't mean the Toronto Raptors shouldn't look to improve. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Anthony Davis have been rumored as potential trade options, but who are the more realistic targets? Hein, Wes, Fab and Hambone explore hypothetical trades for a back up center and discuss the Raptors win over the Heat on Monday.

The Raptors are out of the NBA Cup and have now lost 4 straight and 6 of their last 7. How does Toronto right the ship and how much of this losing streak is due to the absence of RJ Barrett? Fab, Hambone, Hein and Wes discuss the NBA Cup loss and more.