Smith & Jones

Eric Smith & Paul Jones take a break from their vacation and check back to go over what the future of the Raptors will look like without Masai Ujiri as the President. Do they feel optimistic about the outlook of the Raptors now? Is the team positioned to compete next year? And why would they be looking for a new team president? The guys are then joined by NBA.com's Shaun Powell to get his thoughts on what happened with the Raptors so far this offseason and if we can expect anything else. Does Shaun think they are a playoff team? What were some of his winners and losers from the offseason? The guys wrap up over who is a bonified star in the Eastern Conference. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliate.

Eric Smith and Paul Jones close this year with a look back on 30 years of Raptors basketball. The guys share their memories from covering the team over the past three decades and look back at both some of their favorite memories and players along the way. Former Raptor Tony Massenburg joins the program to look back on Paul's "welcome to the NBA" moment. We also hear from Charles Oakley and Dee Brown on what they first thought when news broke that they had been traded to Toronto. Eric and Paul then take some time to look back at the years that led up to the 2019 championship, before ultimately reflecting on what it meant to win the Larry O'Brien Trophy with Phil Handy. The guys wrap up with thoughts on the future in Toronto and what we can learn from Massi Uriji's end of season press conference.Thanks for listening - see you next season!The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliate.

Eric Smith and Paul Jones are back! This week, the pair are joined by the CEO of Canada Basketball, Michael Bartlett! The guys get into this week's announcement by the program regarding the road map to 2028 Olympics. Michael outlines what Canadian basketball fans can expect going into this summer, the changes on the horizon on the heels of the Paris 2024 Games, and the state of the team's core ahead of the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup. The trio also sort through the financial side of the program, before sharing their most exciting things to look forward to as a basketball fan in Canada! Eric and Paul wrap up discussing how the game has grown from coast to coast over the 30 years since the Raptors' inception, along with thoughts on the development still to come! The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliate.

Former Toronto Raptor Matt Bonner joins Eric Smith and Paul Jones to discuss Florida's NCAA championship win. He reflects on his experience as a fan vs. a player and shares insights about the current state of college basketball. The conversation covers his upbringing, his journey through basketball from Florida to Italy and Toronto, and his thoughts on the current Raptors season and lessons for the future.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliate.

Eric Smith and Paul Jones are joined by former Raptor and NCAA Champion, Ed Pinckney! The guys start off by chatting with Ed about his memories of Villanova's upset over Georgetown in 1985. How did they achieve this great milestone and what is the lasting legacy of that group? They also dive into his NBA career, how that tournament run propelled his basketball journey, and the ways that the NCAA game has changed 40 years later. Ed wraps up with a look back on time in Toronto and shares what he remembers from those early days on the team, what it was like to play on an expansion team, and the lasting impact the experience left on his life today.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliate.

Eric Smith and Paul Jones are back with another episode! This week, they are joined by former Raptor Pops Mensah-Bonsu! Pop shares his story of moving to the United States of America in Grade 10, the challenges that presented him, being a two-sport athlete with track and field, and why he ultimately chose basketball. The trio dive into his journey to George Washington University, why he ultimately chose to enroll there, and the program's influence on his basketball development. Pop also chats about his time in Toronto, what he learned about the city, and the impact of the area's large Ghanaian community. Eric and Paul take some time to catch up with the former Raptor about his current endeavors with the SEED Ghana Academy, before discussing how fast basketball has grown across Africa. They wrap up with thoughts on the late Dikembe Mutombo and his influence on all African players, as well as the game of basketball as a whole. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliate.

Eric Smith and Paul Jones are back just before March Madness, joined by Michigan legend and former NBA top 10 pick, Nik Stauskas. They discuss his upbringing in the GTA during the rise of the Raptors, and how the team influenced his basketball development. Nik shares his thoughts on how Canadian basketball has evolved since his early days, and whether it's easier for Canadians to break into the pros now. They also dive into why Nik chose Michigan, the influence of the Fab Five, adjusting to college life and what contributed to his on-court success. The conversation then shifts to his decision to enter the NBA draft, whether he would change that choice before exploring Nik's current ventures in broadcasting and what's next for him in his career.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliate.

Eric Smith & Paul Jones are back with former Toronto Raptors assistant Tom Sterner! The guys get into how Tom broke into the NBA with analytics on the Orlando Magic, how the analytics have changed since then, working with Dwane Casey on the Dallas Mavericks before ultimately joining him with the Raptors. What was the first thing he noticed in Toronto? How did he adjust living and working in a different country? Finally, the guys get into his "TV Tom" personality and iconic half time interviews he would have.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliate.

Eric Smith and Paul Jones are back with another former Raptor to celebrate the Raptors 30th anniversary season! This week, John Lucas III joins the guys to chat about his father's legacy of playing and coaching in the NBA as well as the tennis court, and how he passed that love onto his son. John talks about his journey in basketball and what led him to a tumultuous situation at Baylor, eventually leading him to the Final Four with Oklahoma State Cowboys. The guys discuss John's NBA career, his start with Dwane Casey and the Timberwolves, and how that led him back to Toronto later in his career. John also shares some of his memories of playing in Toronto and why he loves the city so much. Finally the guys talk about what John is up to now in his coaching career and what he hopes to achieve as he moves forward.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliate.

Eric Smith & Paul Jones are back after a week off and they are joined by former Raptors and 13 year NBA vet Darrick Martin! The guys go over his career in basketball from starting on the hardcourts in NYC, to going to UCLA. What was it like adjusting on the other side of the country as an under sized guard? The guys then go over his NBA career, how did he end up on a court with Michael Jordan and talking trash to him? What did he make of Toronto when he first go here? And why couldn't he wear his favorite number?  Guys close out the episode getting Darrick's thoughts on the modern NBA and how it has changed from when he played.  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliate.