Point Game with Isaiah Thomas and C.J. Toledano

C.J. and I.T. break down a fun weekend of college hoops (and some coach-on-coach drama) before digging into NBA stories: LeBron will have to power through the playoffs without Luka & Austin Reaves, the Nuggets are looking healthy and ready for battle, and the Giannis situation is at an all-time low in Milwaukee. In addition to No Days Off and trivia, we're also debuting a special new segment on the show this week: Shoe & Tell. I.T. pulls a special pair of shoes off the shelf and tells the unique backstory of why they are part of his legendary collection. Have a question for I.T.? Drop us a comment on YouTube or social and you might just be featured on next week's show! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NBA Champion Fred VanVleet joins the show this week! Fred & I.T. met back at Chris Paul's basketball camp in 2012 and have been good friends ever since. As a fellow small guard in the league, I.T. has mentored Fred over the years, and we're lucky enough to share some of the wisdom with you all this week. And of course we can't help but talk about UConn's dramatic buzzer beater over Duke from this past weekend, and how Cayden Boozer can get past his unfortunate mistake. The immediate aftermath also gave us a vintage Dan Hurley moment that had C.J. and I.T. cracking up. We finish out the show with the latest edition of No Days Off, which goes to the Bulls' Matas Buzelis this week. Have a question for I.T.? Drop us a comment on YouTube or social and you might just be featured on next week's show! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re in the thick of March Madness and the home stretch of the NBA season so C.J. and I.T. have plenty to discuss on today's episode!The Madness: AJ Dybantsa’s insane performance in the first round Darius Acuff Jr. showing out big for Arkansas Darryn Peterson giving his all in Kansas' loss to St. John's A viral moment on the Maryland Women’s team The NBA: Cade Cunningham out for 4-6 weeks + potential impact on Pistons Breaking down Bleacher Report’s suspect Top 15 Pure Scorer List C.J. quizzes I.T. on where his former NBA teammates went to college I.T. talks about his friendship with LaMelo Ball and awards this week's No Days Off to Bones Hyland, who's stepped up big for the T-Wolves in Anthony Edwards' absence Have a question for I.T.? Drop us a comment on YouTube or social and you might just be featured on next week's show! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brackets lock in today, so you know we had to dive into March Madness. Isaiah gives C.J. a firsthand look at what it was like to hit a buzzer-beater to win the Pac-10 Tournament, and walks us through his unforgettable NCAA tournament runs year by year. The guys also break down this year’s bracket, share predictions, and spotlight some of the standout freshmen ready to make noise on the biggest stage. They also give props to Bam Adebayo for surpassing Kobe Bryant on the scoring list, react to Austin Reaves’ perfectly-missed free throw against Denver, and hand this week’s No Days Off to Naji Marshall in Dallas. Plus, stick around for some fun: IT builds a starting five of Washington Huskies players and tests his knowledge by naming every Isaiah in NBA history.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When we taped our live episode during NBA All-Star Weekend, we received an incredible number of listener questions — more than we could fit into the show. So this week, we’re circling back to make sure the rest of them get answered. Isaiah Thomas reflects on the kind of legacy that truly matters to him, shares stories about his relationship with the late great Nipsey Hussle, and talks about what it felt like playing for the Celtics while growing up a fan of the Lakers. He also weighs in on the growing trend of NBA G League players returning to college basketball, along with several thoughtful — and fun — questions straight from the audience. Have a question you want IT to answer? Head over to YouTube and drop it in the comments on the video version of the pod. You might just hear it on a future episode of Point Game.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tensions are rising in the home stretch of the season, with all kinds of commotion popping up across the league. After Lu Dort clearly tripped Jokić this week, a full-on scuffle materialized in seconds. IT weighs in on the incident and how Lu Dort is emblematic of a certain kind of defensive player who makes questionable decisions in the heat of battle. In another heated moment, a fight nearly broke out after Tyler Herro taunted KD about his alleged burner accounts. And on the opposite coast, we saw Anthony Edwards get into it with his own coach last week after draining a dagger three. IT condemns using burner accounts, weighs in on the art of trash talk, and spells out what constitutes fair play when doing what it takes to win. IT and CJ also take a moment to appreciate NBC's revival of its 90s-era NBA coverage, share some excitement for the start of March Madness, and give out this week's No Days Off award to Minnesota's Jaden McDaniels, who's quietly one of the most impactful power forwards in the league today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week’s episode we’re jumping into some college hoops talk as controversy has bubbled up around Darryn Peterson. Why is he going off in games and then benching himself when there’s still time on the clock? Will this kind of load management become more common in college sports as players gain more power? We also can’t help but compare Darryn and other top prospect AJ Dybantsa to past NBA greats like Tracy McGrady and Kobe Bryant. In other news, Adam Silver addressed blatant tanking during a league-wide conference call last week. C.J. and I.T. discuss the inevitability of tanking, but also explore potential solutions, including changing how the lottery system works. We also wanted to show some love to Steph Curry’s shoe game, weigh in on Pat Riley’s take that coaches should go back to wearing suits, and give love to Amen Thompson for doing his thing down in Houston. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week's episode of Point Game is a special one! We're coming to you live from All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles with a live, energetic crowd. In the spirit of this year's All-Star Game we focused on all things LA: IT breaks down what it was like growing up as a Lakers fan in Seattle, playing for the Celtics as a Lakers fan, and then some quick memories from his two short stints played here in LA for his childhood favorite team alongside greats like Carmelo Anthony, Rajon Rondo, Dwight Howard, and of course LeBron James. IT also took some great audience questions, breaking down how he made the jump to super-stardom in Boston, how small guards can still make it in the NBA, and why he's so dedicated to building the basketball community in Seattle. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamal Crawford joins Point Game this week to share stories from his decades-long friendship with Isaiah Thomas — from early battles and shared respect to the moments that built a lifelong bond. Few players have seen as much basketball as Jamal, and he brings that perspective to a conversation that blends hoops history with real-life growth. Now former pros coaching their own kids, Jamal, CJ, and IT get candid about the realities of youth sports. They talk about navigating competitive environments, balancing encouragement with accountability, and how parents can support without overstepping. It’s honest insight from guys who’ve lived it at every level. With the All-Star break providing a natural pause, the crew also takes stock of the NBA season so far. They break down first-half surprises — including how the Celtics have managed to stay dominant even without Jayson Tatum — and look ahead to what’s coming after the break. And yes, there are bold predictions… including a case for the Spurs making a serious run.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the show we break down major NBA trade deadline news, including the James Harden trade to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz, and a three-team trade involving the Bulls, Timberwolves, and Pistons. We also react to the 2026 NBA All-Star Reserves, featuring first-time All-Stars Jamal Murray and Jalen Duren. Plus, IT defends Jason Kidd’s coaching decisions and gives props to Murray and Duren in this week’s No Days Off.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Point Game, Isaiah Thomas & C.J. Toledano tap into the latest updates on the Ja Morant, Anthony Davis, and Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors and how their injuries factor into the equation. IT takes a moment to talk about the true difficulties of getting traded, especially mid-season. Then we take a trip down memory lane in the wake of Derrick Rose's jersey retirement in Chicago this past weekend: from battling in the early 2010's during his unbelievable prime to becoming friends during their season together on the Cavs. We also discuss KD's habit of talking back to aggressive fans, how Luka took care of his loyal fans in Dallas – and almost went into the Mavs locker room at half time – and close out with a quick chat about Jordan brand retiring the Zion signature shoe. Enjoying the show? Make sure to rate, review, and subscribe. Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and X @pointgamepodSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Point Game, Isaiah Thomas & C.J. Toledano react to the 2026 All-Star starter announcements, especially the young stars Cade Cunningham and Tyrese Maxey, explore some possible new directions for the league's European expansion initiative, and dive into trade rumors swirling around Anthony Davis, Jaren Jackson Jr., Austin Reaves, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Ja Morant. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Point Game, Isaiah Thomas & C.J. Toledano recap Isaiah’s multi-sport retreat with Julio Rodriguez in the Dominican Republic, break down Trae Young’s trade to the Washington Wizards, the market for Ja Morant & Anthony Davis, Dennis Schroder’s three-game suspension for quietly confronting Luka Doncic, NBA referee Bill Kennedy’s recent injury and much more! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special episode, Isaiah Thomas joins C.J. Toledano to answer questions from you, the fans; covering the following topics: his welcome to the NBA moment against Kobe Bryant, important tactics for playing in the league as a smaller player, his toughest cover in the league, pre-and-post game meals, his favorite student-athlete memories from the University of Washington, his most notable All-Star Game memories and more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a special episode we recap the best stories from Isaiah Thomas & C.J. Toledano so far, including: the origin of Isaiah's "Pizza Guy" nickname, being Jaylen Brown's vet in Boston, his sudden trade to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Evan Turner's funniest moments with David Lee, how to avoid getting dunked on, NBA handshakes and so much more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Isaiah & C.J. discuss: Isaiah’s trip back to Boston to be honored for his career-high 52 point game at the Garden, the tradition of Christmas Day games in the NBA, Isaiah’s own chapter in the Celtics-Knicks rivalry, and winning predictions for each holiday matchup on Thursday. Also, they illuminate the 2026 Basketball Hall of Fame nominees, including Jamal Crawford, Blake Griffin, Joe Johnson & Brandon Roy. And finally, find out who took No Days Off this week!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, C.J. & Isaiah discuss: Victor Wembanyama’s return for a playoff-like NBA Cup semifinal between the Spurs & Thunder, how well Jalen Brunson represents smaller guards in the league, Giannis to-the-Knicks trade rumors, whether Philip Rivers has an NBA equivalent, Jonathan Kuminga’s role on the Warriors and their all-time favorite Christmas movies.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Isaiah Thomas & C.J. Toledano discuss Isaiah’s Sun Valley Film Festival experience for his documentary short, Go Forward; his proud dad moment after his son’s high school debut; how realistic a Giannis Bucks trade really is; NBA Cup predictions for the week and acknowledge the legend of Red Panda. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Isaiah and C.J. discuss Thanksgiving basketball in the Bahamas, whether the Oklahoma City Thunder can win 73 games this season, if the Mike Brown-led Knicks can finally get over the hump, Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves and the evolution of Lakers leadership, how the Wizards can make an organizational u-turn, the Clippers recent history of mishandling veteran players, how NBA players create their handshakes & Isaiah’s upcoming documentary, Go Forward.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Isaiah Thomas & C.J. Toledano react to Chris Paul's retirement announcement & Klay Thompson's postgame verbal jousting with Ja Morant. Then, Evan Turner, joins for a conversation from Boston to recap his time as Isaiah's teammate with the Celtics, coming up as AAU players and some of the similarities and differences between Chicago & Seattle hoops. Tap in!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week’s episode, Isaiah Thomas and C.J. Toledano check in from Boston as Isaiah receives a legacy award from The Sports Museum. They discuss: Isaiah's fondest memories from his time in Boston, Nico Harrison’s Dallas dismissal, Steph Curry parting ways with Under Armour, how NBA players land “player exclusive” shoes & the universal struggles of the SNKRS app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Isaiah Thomas and C.J. Toledano unpack the passing of Lenny Wilkens and his stature within the greater Seattle area, the state of Isaiah's NBA comeback pursuit, Cade Cunningham propelling the surging Detroit Pistons, Myles Turner's rocky relationship with Indiana Pacers fans, and an eye-popping Deandre Hunter's ankle breaker on Josh Giddey that we won't soon forget.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the debut episode of the new season, Isaiah Thomas and C.J. Toledano discuss Isaiah's foray into podcasting while maintaining his role as father and hooper; Victor Wembanyama's ascension that pushed the San Antonio Spurs to a franchise-record 5-0 start; Ja Morant's contentious one-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the Memphis Grizzlies; new faces in the league, including Cooper Flagg and V.J. Edgecombe, and what exactly went wrong with Jaylen Brown's revamped hairstyle. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

C.J. and John discuss the Celtics winning the NBA Finals, Jaylen Brown vs Jayson Tatum for MVP and how they stack up against the best teams of the past 5 years. They talk NBA Draft, who is Reed Sheppard's NBA comp, and John gives advice to the guys on Draft Night. Plus, and incredible interview with new Kentucky Head Basketball Coach Mark Pope about what makes UK and BBN so special, his expectations for the team this season, and when John will be back on campus!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John and C.J. talk NBA Finals... Who is the MVP so far? Who is the Celtics best player? What is up with Kyrie, how does he bounce back, and what do the Mavs need to do to avoid the sweep. John weighs in on Caitlin Clark being left off the Team USA roster for the Olympics and what the Lakers need to do now that Dan Hurley has turned them down and JJ Redick is the likely front runner for the job. Plus John has an interview with his friend, one of the best tennis players in the world, huge Wizards fan and the DMV's own Frances Tiafoe. They discuss Frances's incredible life story, both of their greatest career moments, and what the Wizards need to do to improve. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

C.J. and John talk with Kentucky legend and 3-time All-Star for the Miami Heat Bam Adebayo. Bam gets into the possible starting lineup for the Olympic team this summer, the secrets behind Heat Culture, some of his favorite Kentucky memories and who would win a 2-on-2 game featuring Bam and De'Aaron Fox vs John and Boogie Cousins. Bam talks about his rivalry with Jayson Tatum and the Celtics, he makes his Finals prediction, gives his best Jimmy Butler story and reminisces about his North Carolina AAU days. In Bucket or Brick John picks his NBA Finals MVP, and address the Caitlin Clark controversy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John answers questions from fans... about his legendary game vs North Carolina, his favorite meal, guarding Kyrie, favorite hoop shoes, best moments with Bradley Beal, Rob Dillingham vs Reed Shepard, playing Derrick Rose, his advice to young hoopers, his greatest game ever, his favorite sneakers, music and throwback jerseys. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

C.J. and John react to Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves Game 7 win in Denver as well as Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers Game 7 win in New York. Plus they preview the Conference Finals in both the East and West. John discusses his meeting with new Kentucky Head Coach Mark Pope over the weekend in Indy. Then they are joined by 4-time champ Draymond Green who talks about why he loves the Mavs in the playoffs, how he developed his game in the NBA, the sacrifices that NBA players make, the possibility of him coaching the Warriors in the future and he weighs in on the NBA players in the NFL debate.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

C.J. and John are joined by the legend, Shaquille O'Neal, to talk about the playoffs, the rise of Anthony Edwards, the future of Inside the NBA, why Shaq was the most dominant player ever, why SGA should have won the MVP over Jokic, his "beef" with Shannon Sharpe, and the piece of advice Shaq got from Michael Jordan that changed his career.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

C.J. and John discuss who has had the best performance in the playoffs so far, what he thinks about the Drake vs Kendrick battle, who should win Defensive Player of the Year and what the Lakers should do for their next head coach. Plus Gilbert Arenas joins the show and they talk about playing for the Wizards, connecting with D.C. and what Washington needs to do to get better. Gil and John then get into being the parent of an elite athlete as well as the 2006 playoff series when Gilbert and the Wizards went head to head with LeBron James and the Cavs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

C.J. and John react to the latest playoff games, including Anthony Edwards incredible performance against the Suns, where the Suns go from here, Jalen Brunson and Kyrie Irving putting on a show and getting snubbed from Team USA. Plus John's long-time Wizards teammate Marcin Gortat joins the show and they discuss their amazing teams in Washington, the issues in their friendship over the years and how they created the the famous Gortat screen. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John and C.J. react to the first weekend of playoff basketball. Talking Knicks/Sixers, Lakers/Nuggets, Jamal Murray, Damian Lillard, Anthony Edwards, Mavs/Clippers, Pelicans/Thunder and Celtics/Heat. Plus Sam Cassell joins to discuss coaching John his rookie year in the league, the infamous "Big Balls Dance" as well as winning championships with the Rockets and Celtics and wanting to be a Head Coach in the NBA.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John and C.J. talk about the Mark Pope coaching hire at Kentucky, NBA Playoff positioning and the Gortat screen. Plus Jamal Crawford joins the show and they discuss playing in Pro-Am's, their AAU programs, the return of an NBA franchise to Seattle, mastering their flow on the court, 1-on-1 vs Kobe, and what they want to see in the playoffs this season including Jokic, Luka, Kyrie and the Suns. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John gives his opinions on John Calipari leaving Kentucky to become the head coach at Arkansas and what it means for the future of both programs. He also discusses the Men's and Women's NCAA title games, and if Dawn Staley could be a good candidate for the Kentucky job. Trevor Ariza joins the show and they talk about Trevors legendary high school days in LA, winning an NBA title with the Lakers and what Trevor learned from Kobe that he brought to John on the Wizards. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John and C.J. talk about the situation with Coach Calipari at Kentucky after the upset loss in the NCAA Tournament. They are then joined by Spencer Dinwiddie who discusses his reason for choosing the Lakers, why he loves going back to Colorado to see Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes, the intensity of playing with LeBron James and the keys for the Lakers as they fight for a playoff spot.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John and C.J. talk about the Anthony Edwards dunk, the Kyrie Irving buzzer beater and the truth about NBA defense. They are also joined by 3-time NBA champion, and 2009 NCAA Tournament champion Danny Green to discuss the North Carolina vs Kentucky rivalry, NCAA Tournament predictions, playing with LeBron James, dealing with Gregg Popovich and the top young players in the league today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John and C.J. talk about Drake's concert at Kentucky, his impact on the UK program and if he can really hoop. They discuss Luka Doncic, how John guarded him, his closest NBA comp. and if they would take Luka or SGA to start a franchise. Plus, John answers fan submitted questions, including if he would rather his jersey be retired by Kentucky or the Wizards.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John and C.J. are joined by the Hall of Famer, Kentucky Head Coach John Calipari. They talk about John's first recruiting visit, One and Done culture, the impact of NIL money, John's first Game Winner, and what makes Kentucky basketball so special. They also discuss the possibility of John going into coaching one day, and the advice he gave to Coach Cal and the team this season. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

C.J. and John are joined by 4-time NBA All-Star, and fellow Kentucky legend DeMarcus "Boogie" Cousins. John and Boogie discuss how they met and decided to go to Kentucky together, their favorite moments in college, including the real story behind the "John Wall Dance," the loss to West Virginia in the Tourney, what would have changed with NIL and why Coach Calipari is so special. Boogie also talks about what could have been with Anthony Davis in the NBA, fatherhood and the possibility of playing with John again one day.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Episode 1, John and C.J. talk about John's wild 18 hour ride from Raleigh to Chicago that put him on the national basketball map, and ultimately led him to the #1 pick in the NBA Draft, plus John's ideas about how to fix the Dunk Contest and All-Star game, and who he thinks would win an NBA King of the Court contest. John also weighs in on the Doc Rivers controversy, the Clippers chances to win the title this season, and where he thinks he could still fit in the NBA.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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