Author image

Mat Issa

Sports Editor

About

Mat Issa is based in Sterling Heights, Michigan. Yes, he spells his name with one "t." He's obsessed with NBA history, so much so that he's dedicated nearly two years of research to his two mini-series', "Blazing the Trail" and "The Quest for the Best." Right now, Mat goes to law school and writes about the NBA for The Analyst, Forbes, and of course, Basketball Insiders. His work has also been featured in ESPN, SB Nation, FanSided, Basketball News, ONE37pm, and Raptors Republic. Also, he's a lifelong Spartans fan. Go Green!

Articles by Mat Issa (119)

Can Brandin Podziemski extend the Golden State Warriors’ dynasty?

Key Highlights: As a rookie, Brandin Podziemski’s combination of IQ, physicality, and effort already makes him a solid starting player in the NBA Podziemski’s biggest questions right now involve his spacing, size, and on-ball usage Given his similarities to Jalen Brunson, there is a pathway for Podziemski to develop into an All-Star caliber player. Although, […]

Mat Issa  •  01 Mar 2024
NBA Study: Which NBA Coach Is The Best At Calling Plays?

Key Highlights: Since teams only really run set plays after timeouts, the best way to evaluate a coach’s play-calling acumen is to analyze how their team performs in after timeout possessions. Coaches with better offensive personnel have an advantage when it comes to raw ATO data. So, we need to adjust for that in order […]

Mat Issa  •  27 Feb 2024
Two-time Slam Dunk Champion Mac McClung works a “shift” at Raising Cane’s

Who remembers the iconic clip/commercial of then New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees saying that he was going to Disney World after winning Super Bowl XLIV? Anyone? No? Oh well. Anyway, now two-time Slam Dunk Contest Champion Mac McClung didn’t follow in Brees’ footsteps after securing his second dunk contest victory this weekend. But he did have some post-dub plans of […]

Mat Issa  •  21 Feb 2024
Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo redeems promotion code for free Wingstop

Milwaukee Bucks superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is a two-time MVP. He’s earned roughly 234.5 million dollars throughout the course of his career (it’ll be 459.1 million once his extension is completed). His net worth is estimated to be worth between 60 and 70 million dollars. And he’s created a media company with Jay Williams. Simply […]

Mat Issa  •  20 Feb 2024
Damian Lillard leaves teammate Giannis off his dream starting five

Despite the game itself rapidly declining in terms of ratings, All-Star weekend does produce a lot of great content. And, of course, the game’s best rapper, Damian Lillard (aka Dame D.O.L.L.A), had to contribute to the social sound bite. Unfortunately, what he said could be a little bit concerning for fans of the Milwaukee Bucks. Dame’s Dream Starting Five […]

Mat Issa  •  20 Feb 2024
What is the most watched All-Star Game of the all-time?

Many NBA fans (casuals and diehards) have a bone to pick with All-Star weekend. When you ask them, they say a big reason for their distaste for the midseason classic is that the All-Star Game (the main event) has lost its luster. A common complaint about the game is that none of the players take […]

Mat Issa  •  18 Feb 2024
Advanced stats don’t like Micah Parsons’ 37-point celebrity game performance

The 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend is upon us. That means many things. No regular season games for a while (unfortunately), the All-Star game (duh), and cool events like the 3-Point and Slam Dunk Competition. Among those cool events is a fan favorite: the All-Star Celebrity Game. This event is fun because it gives us the […]

Mat Issa  •  17 Feb 2024
What is the ceiling for Washington Wizards forward Deni Avdija?

Key Highlights: Deni Avdija is playing the best basketball of his career this season He’s made massive improvements to his 3-point shooting, drive game, and ability to generate free throws Avdija has the outline of a future superstar role player Over his last four games, fourth-year forward Deni Avdija is averaging 28.3 PPG, 11.5 RPG, […]

Mat Issa  •  16 Feb 2024
Detroit Pistons Head Coach Monty Williams Contract, Salary, Net Worth, Coaching Record, and Wife

After guiding the downtrodden Phoenix Suns from the abyss back to basketball relevancy, Monty Williams was let go by the team after his second consecutive Western Conference Semifinals exit. However, his efforts in Phoenix didn’t go unnoticed, as the Detroit Pistons threw a bag at Williams in the hopes that he could revive their franchise […]

Mat Issa  •  15 Feb 2024
Milwaukee Bucks Head Coach Doc Rivers Contract, Salary, Net Worth, Coaching Record, and Wife

After abruptly firing their rookie head coach, Adrian Griffin, the Milwaukee Bucks turned to the seasoned veteran Doc Rivers to help them save their season. Rivers has been around the basketball world more times than almost anyone – putting together a prosperous career as both a player and a coach. But how much are the […]

Mat Issa  •  15 Feb 2024