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. 
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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

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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. 

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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