

Hello and Welcome
The Nation Network
Will Lou, Alex Wong, and producer Jerome Cheng have you covered on all things Raptors, in addition to the NBA and other culturally relevant topics. New episodes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 2, 2025 • 1h 19min
The Annual Matt Devlin interview: Are the Raptors ready to win this year?
Will and Alex sit down with Matt Devlin to discuss whether the Raptors are ready to win this season, Bobby Webster’s new role leading the team, and the challenges of covering a rebuild. They also get into Kyle Lowry’s potential future as a TV analyst, Devlin’s favorite Asian athletes, his top four movies, career advice, and more.#raptors #torontoraptors Reach out to the show by leaving a voicemail at hellowelcome.show or email the guys info@hellowelcome.showCheck out our merch! Visit hellowelcome.show and click on the merch link.Original Music by DIVISION 88.Reach out to sales@thenationnetwork.com to connect with our Sales Team and discuss opportunities to partner with us!Simply Spiked Canada: https://www.simplyspiked.ca/en-CA Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 1, 2025 • 1h 4min
Who should be the Raptors' first option? Key questions from Raptors training camp
Will Lou and Alex Wong are joined by Joseph Casciaro of theScore to break down the three biggest storylines coming out of Toronto Raptors training camp. They discuss who will be the first option will be this season, a new role for Scottie Barnes, and expectations for Immanuel Quickley. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 29, 2025 • 36min
Raptors Media Day takeaways: Raptors expect playoffs, unselfishness, and a lot from Brandon Ingram
Will Lou and Alex Wong go live from Hotel X after the Toronto Raptors' media day for 2025-26. They discuss the team's excitement for Brandon Ingram, defense as a main priority heading into pre-season, playoff expectations, RJ Barrett winning media day, and Bruce Brown confirming he never wanted to be in Toronto.#raptors #torontoraptors #nba Reach out to the show by leaving a voicemail at hellowelcome.show or email the guys info@hellowelcome.showCheck out our merch! Visit hellowelcome.show and click on the merch link.Original Music by DIVISION 88.Reach out to sales@thenationnetwork.com to connect with our Sales Team and discuss opportunities to partner with us! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 26, 2025 • 1h 10min
Raptors GM Bobby Webster lays out expectations for 2025-26, Brandon Ingram, and Scottie Barnes
Will and Alex react to Bobby Webster’s season-opening presser, covering his expectations for the year, Brandon Ingram’s fit, and the urgency for the Raptors to win now. Later, they dive into Sam Presti’s headline-making media day quote, Kyle Lowry working two jobs, and Draymond Green sampling baijiu in China.#raptors #nba #brandoningram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 24, 2025 • 1h 49min
Redrafting the Toronto Raptors & The Basketball Reference game w JE Skeets
Will and Alex are joined by JE Skeets of No Dunks to re-draft the Raptors’ starters and debate Scottie Barnes’ next leap, Immanuel Quickley’s future as a full-time starter, and more. Later, Skeets takes on the Basketball Reference game.#raptors #torontoraptorsReach out to the show by leaving a voicemail at hellowelcome.show or email the guys info@hellowelcome.showCheck out our merch! Visit hellowelcome.show and click on the merch link.Original Music by DIVISION 88.Reach out to sales@thenationnetwork.com to connect with our Sales Team and discuss opportunities to partner with us! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 23, 2025 • 1h 29min
10 (or more!) reasons to be excited about the 2025-26 Toronto Raptors
Will and Alex are joined by Vivek Jacob to break down what excites them about the upcoming Raptors season. They get into Brandon Ingram’s impact on offence, RJ Barrett’s long-term future, a full year of Immanuel Quickley, and whether Gradey Dick can make a leap. Plus: potential rivalries in the East, Matt Devlin calling meaningful games again, a pivotal year for Darko Rajaković, and more.#raptors #torontoraptorsReach out to the show by leaving a voicemail at hellowelcome.show or email the guys info@hellowelcome.showCheck out our merch! Visit hellowelcome.show and click on the merch link.Original Music by DIVISION 88.Reach out to sales@thenationnetwork.com to connect with our Sales Team and discuss opportunities to partner with us! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 17, 2025 • 34min
Andrew Nembhard teaches us his signature move, and how Pacers will bounce back after Finals run
Indiana Pacers point guard Andrew Nembhard sits down with Will Lou for the second summer to discuss another very eventful season. Andrew opens up about losing in Game 7 of the Finals, how his role will change with Tyrese Haliburton's injury, and Team Canada's run at the 2024 Olympics. Then, Andrew breaks down his signature moves, and answers spicy questions about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Brunson, Chet Holmgren and Myles Turner.#indianapacers #pacers #andrewnembhard #canadabasketball Reach out to the show by leaving a voicemail at hellowelcome.show or email the guys info@hellowelcome.showCheck out our merch! Visit hellowelcome.show and click on the merch link.Original Music by DIVISION 88.Reach out to sales@thenationnetwork.com to connect with our Sales Team and discuss opportunities to partner with us! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 15, 2025 • 1h 25min
Kawhi Leonard scandal continues + 5 ways the NBA can punish Steve Ballmer
Will and Alex continue to follow the Kawhi Leonard–Clippers scandal (2:39), debating whether it signals a larger trend of cap circumvention across the league, if Kawhi should take the same blame as Uncle Dennis, and revisiting past and present other potential cases of tampering (22:10). Later, Alex lays out five ways the league could actually punish Steve Ballmer and the Clippers (35:31). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 10, 2025 • 1h 30min
Kawhi Leonard and Uncle Dennis’s crazy demands from 2019, does it affects his Raptors legacy?
Will is joined by the Toronto Star's Bruce Arthur to discuss his article on the attempted dealings for Kawhi Leonard through his uncle Dennis in the summer of 2019 following the Toronto Raptors championship. (read here: https://www.thestar.com/sports/raptors/inside-kawhi-leonard-s-bizarre-list-of-secret-demands-from-raptors-and-how-they-line/article_9f1b0398-0ebd-4193-bc06-798efda95023.html) How crazy were the demands? Does this affect Kawhi's legacy with the Raptors?#raptors #torontoraptors #kawhileonard #losangelesclippersReach out to the show by leaving a voicemail at hellowelcome.show or email the guys info@hellowelcome.showCheck out our merch! Visit hellowelcome.show and click on the merch link.Original Music by DIVISION 88.Reach out to sales@thenationnetwork.com to connect with our Sales Team and discuss opportunities to partner with us! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 4, 2025 • 41min
AJ Lawson picks his greatest Raptor, defends Brampton slander, and getting scammed at CNE
Toronto Raptors guard and Brampton's very own AJ Lawson joins the Hello and Welcome podcast for an in-depth interview. AJ gives us a look behind the scenes on the Toronto Raptors' offseason, reviews his inspiring journey to the NBA, revels in pride of his Canadian roots and coming up through Brampton, and shares his stories about playing with Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Along the way, the boys share some laughs about common life experiences growing up in the GTA. #raptors #torontoraptors #nba Special thanks to the Museum of Toronto for hosting us at their Home Game exhibit: https://museumoftoronto.com/collection/home-game-exhibition/Get your tickets for the Hart House Mid-Autumn Festival Market here: https://harthouse.ca/events/hey-fun-x-hart-house-mid-autumn-market?utm_source=chatgpt.comReach out to the show by leaving a voicemail at hellowelcome.show or email the guys info@hellowelcome.showCheck out our merch! Visit hellowelcome.show and click on the merch link.Original Music by DIVISION 88.Reach out to sales@thenationnetwork.com to connect with our Sales Team and discuss opportunities to partner with us! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.