Oddball w/ Amin Elhassan & Izzy Gutierrez

Dillon Brooks debuts with the Houston Rockets... and gets ejected for hitting someone in the junk. Some things never change! Amin joins Charlotte in the Oddball NYC studio this week and his New York accent makes a stunning return. Plus, Basketball Illuminati is here on Oddball and wants you to keep your third eye open to what's REALLY going on with Team USA. Oh, and it's Wednesday, which means Amin and Charlotte decide whether the Lakers or Clippers will be the best team out of LA and the West on Word Count! Again, some things never change... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chris Paul made his debut with the Warriors in their preseason win over the Lakers which Steve Kerr described as "really fun"; Jaylen Brown and the Celtics look good even when things are backwards, and Victor Wembanyama plays in front of Spurs fans for the first time. All that and so much more as Oddball tackles headlines from the NBA. Then, Amin and Charlotte continue their conversation with Duke legend and two-time NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer about some of his favorite teammates and moments from his career, plus some of the wildest stories from his upbringing in Alaska. Be sure to get a copy of Carlos Boozer's fascinating memoir, EVERY SHOT COUNTS, available now wherever you get your books. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mark Cuban and Steve Ballmer may be rich, but do they ever feel like they'd like someone cheering for THEM on the sidelines? LeBron James is sitting out the first preseason game this weekend and Jalen Green is feeling the pressure to lead the Houston Rockets out of the bottom of the league - sounds like they all could use some HYPE ME UP! Then, Duke legend and two-time NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer joins Oddball for a powerful and heartfelt conversation about his intimate and inspiring memoir, EVERY SHOT COUNTS, available now wherever you get your books. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When you're a champion, you can ignore all the haters... sort of? Amin & Charlotte try to figure out Nuggets Head Coach Michael Malone's 'carefree' comments about the Lakers and also what James Harden FINALLY showing up to Sixers training camp means in finding any resolution to the drama in Philadelphia. Plus, Russ Bengtson, former editor in chief of Slam Magazine and sneaker editor of Complex, joins Oddball to discuss his awesome new book, "A History of Basketball in Fifteen Sneakers", available for pre-order now and wherever you get books October 10th. Oh, and Charlotte gets to flex the new studio in NYC while Amin still flexes his Georgia Tech alumni status in hopes of becoming a "Super Influencer Alum". Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There's got to be an easier way to get a new iPhone and an expensive meal in Vegas than being teammates with Russell Westbrook on the Clippers, right? RIGHT?! Amin and Charlotte take a look at an astonishingly healthy Clippers team going into training camp - can this be the year that Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and Russell Westbrook all stay healthy and have a real run? Also, does LeBron really think Anthony Davis is the face of the Lakers and who will the Celtics miss the most this season even with Jrue Holiday bringing his veteran, Championship presence? You can count on Word Count to decide! Also, don't let Charlotte and Amin know we aired the stuff at the end of the episode, cool? Promise you won't watch on YouTube and tell them about it, okay? Thanks! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

D.A.R.E to resist Oddball. Amin and Charlotte are back after a long weekend of NBA headlines and compete to one-up each other on their experiences from NBA media day. Jimmy Butler goes full 'Emo' mode? Will Joel Embiid play for Team USA in Paris? First Marcus Smart, then Grant Williams, now Time Lord? Resident Celtics fan Charlotte Wilder reacts to the Celtics acquiring Jrue Holiday - welcoming new faces while having to say goodbye to old friends. Finally, we explore the numerology behind what might be the most legendary number in NBA history when Amin and Charlotte scroll NBA Reddit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You asked for it... Amin & Charlotte react to the online backlash surrounding Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report's look at the "messy divorce" between Portland and Lillard. If that wasn't enough, look out BING BONG nation... could the Knicks use a little Magic (Johnson)? Amin and Charlotte discuss Magic Johnson's recent comments about the Knicks being the only other team he'd want to have an ownership stake in besides the Lakers. Then, after all the uproar and drama to end the week, you know what we all really need? Oh, yes, it's everyone's favorite Friday segment... HYPE ME UP! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While the streets of Miami are flooded with the tears of Heat fans, Milwaukee and Giannis rejoice in landing Damian Lillard... but what's the future look like for Jrue Holiday and DeAndre Ayton if they're now stuck in Portland? How does Jusuf Nurkic impact and improve the Suns chances right away? In other words, Amin and Charlotte look at how Lillard and Giannis got what they wanted, while Portland continues to win in the what-the-hell-were-they-thinking competition. Plus, Amin and Charlotte look to the ultimate NBA expansion team destination... Mars! Once again, it's time to explore the never-ending blackhole that is NBA Reddit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

FINALLY... there's breaking news in the NBA and Damian Lillard is going to... NOT Miami. Are you looking for Amin and Charlotte's reaction to Damian Lillard being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks? Well, the trade happened too late in the day, and it's not included. BUT we did add a nice ticker announcing the news to scroll throughout the episode... AND we added Amin's instant reaction he did on @LeBatardShow as a bonus at the tail end of the episode. It's Wednesday, which means a fresh WORD COUNT WEDNESDAY for you sandwiched between Mike Dunleavy Jr. reacting to the NBA's new apron penalties, advice for Chris Paul, and then the bonus trade reaction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Love is in the air, no time for Dame! While Charlotte is more than happy to report on Marcus Smart's fairytale wedding over the weekend, Amin is eager to get into the latest trade proposals surrounding Damian Lillard. Headlines gets oddly competitive on Oddball this week and if that’s not enough, Amin and Charlotte kick it up a notch with BOLD OR SPICY! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices