Eric Koreen
@ekoreen.bsky.social
Writing Raptors/NBA opinion at The Athletic, and organizing NBA opinion content. Invented the #HotTake.
If my heart should burst or break, it was overdue
If my heart should burst or break, it was overdue
Pinned
It's a random Wednesday night and the Raptors aren't playing, which means it's time for my 20 favourite songs of the year. Remember — I'm 40! I'm definitely not cool.
Raptors waive Mo Bamba. Wouldn't be surprising if they re-sign him on a 10-day.
January 6, 2026 at 3:02 PM
Raptors waive Mo Bamba. Wouldn't be surprising if they re-sign him on a 10-day.
Scottie Barnes and Jalen Johnson are two sides of the same coin.
Scottie Barnes and Jalen Johnson: two sides of the same multi-skilled coin
Teams are known to place bets on athletic, 6-foot-8 forwards. In their fifth seasons, Barnes and Johnson are showing why.
www.nytimes.com
January 6, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Scottie Barnes and Jalen Johnson are two sides of the same coin.
Is Collin Murray-Boyles surprised how well he's handled the physicality of the NBA? "Nah, I lift."
January 6, 2026 at 3:31 AM
Is Collin Murray-Boyles surprised how well he's handled the physicality of the NBA? "Nah, I lift."
'Topes win! 118-100 That was a very good performance.
18/8/10 for Scottie, 17/7/7 for CMB, 19 and 9 for IQ, seven in double figures.
17 for Okongu, 13/14/7 for Johnson.
18/8/10 for Scottie, 17/7/7 for CMB, 19 and 9 for IQ, seven in double figures.
17 for Okongu, 13/14/7 for Johnson.
January 6, 2026 at 2:56 AM
'Topes win! 118-100 That was a very good performance.
18/8/10 for Scottie, 17/7/7 for CMB, 19 and 9 for IQ, seven in double figures.
17 for Okongu, 13/14/7 for Johnson.
18/8/10 for Scottie, 17/7/7 for CMB, 19 and 9 for IQ, seven in double figures.
17 for Okongu, 13/14/7 for Johnson.
15 points, six rebounds, seven assists, three steals, two blocks, +18 for CMB.
January 6, 2026 at 2:53 AM
15 points, six rebounds, seven assists, three steals, two blocks, +18 for CMB.
Scottie is a runaway train sometimes. Wow.
January 6, 2026 at 2:49 AM
Scottie is a runaway train sometimes. Wow.
Off scoring night from RJ, but he is helping off Daniels and making useful defensive plays.
January 6, 2026 at 2:35 AM
Off scoring night from RJ, but he is helping off Daniels and making useful defensive plays.
Raps up 86-73 after 3. Scottie and CMB with nearly matching stat lines (15/5/5 for SB, 15/5/6 for CMB). 13 apiece from Ingram + IQ.
Very mature game so far. Let's see if they can close.
Very mature game so far. Let's see if they can close.
January 6, 2026 at 2:27 AM
Raps up 86-73 after 3. Scottie and CMB with nearly matching stat lines (15/5/5 for SB, 15/5/6 for CMB). 13 apiece from Ingram + IQ.
Very mature game so far. Let's see if they can close.
Very mature game so far. Let's see if they can close.
Nice little floater from Walter off a closeout, seeing if Porzingis would come out to contest. Followed by a Shead pick-6. Sophomores stand up!
January 6, 2026 at 2:23 AM
Nice little floater from Walter off a closeout, seeing if Porzingis would come out to contest. Followed by a Shead pick-6. Sophomores stand up!
The Raps are shooting 7-24 from 3 and 10-17 from FT line. They're still up 13. Honestly, one of their best performances of the year.
January 6, 2026 at 2:17 AM
The Raps are shooting 7-24 from 3 and 10-17 from FT line. They're still up 13. Honestly, one of their best performances of the year.
A fun little stat on a night he has 0 and 0: Scottie Barnes came into tonight as the only player in the NBA with at least 50 blocks and 50 steals.
January 6, 2026 at 2:11 AM
A fun little stat on a night he has 0 and 0: Scottie Barnes came into tonight as the only player in the NBA with at least 50 blocks and 50 steals.
I dunno what's more worrisome for Hawks: That Zach Risacher has five fouls in eight minutes, or that Quin Snyder seems perfectly happy to let him pick up the sixth early in the third quarter.
January 6, 2026 at 2:00 AM
I dunno what's more worrisome for Hawks: That Zach Risacher has five fouls in eight minutes, or that Quin Snyder seems perfectly happy to let him pick up the sixth early in the third quarter.
Raps up 61-49 at the half. Toronto has played more disruptive defensive halves, but in terms of just being tough, physical and guarding 1-on-1? That might be as good as they have been.
13/4/5 for CMB, 11 for IQ, 9/3/2 for Barnes. 13/9 for Johnson, 10 for NAW.
13/4/5 for CMB, 11 for IQ, 9/3/2 for Barnes. 13/9 for Johnson, 10 for NAW.
January 6, 2026 at 1:44 AM
Raps up 61-49 at the half. Toronto has played more disruptive defensive halves, but in terms of just being tough, physical and guarding 1-on-1? That might be as good as they have been.
13/4/5 for CMB, 11 for IQ, 9/3/2 for Barnes. 13/9 for Johnson, 10 for NAW.
13/4/5 for CMB, 11 for IQ, 9/3/2 for Barnes. 13/9 for Johnson, 10 for NAW.
The Raps need to go RJ/BI/Scottie/Mamu/CMB before this year is out.
January 6, 2026 at 1:42 AM
The Raps need to go RJ/BI/Scottie/Mamu/CMB before this year is out.
I dunno, maybe Barnes and CMB are just the Raptors' centre of the future.
January 6, 2026 at 1:34 AM
I dunno, maybe Barnes and CMB are just the Raptors' centre of the future.
Collin Murray-Foils a Hawks inbounds pass and goes the other way for a layup.
January 6, 2026 at 1:29 AM
Collin Murray-Foils a Hawks inbounds pass and goes the other way for a layup.
IQ just batted out an offensive rebound in the middle of, like, three Hawks. Nice effort by him, but yeesh, Hawks.
January 6, 2026 at 1:21 AM
IQ just batted out an offensive rebound in the middle of, like, three Hawks. Nice effort by him, but yeesh, Hawks.
Raps play 10 excellent minutes and two awful ones, lead 31-26 after 1.
9 and 3 for Barnes, 8 for IQ. 11 assists on 13 buckets.
9 and 3 for Barnes, 8 for IQ. 11 assists on 13 buckets.
January 6, 2026 at 1:08 AM
Raps play 10 excellent minutes and two awful ones, lead 31-26 after 1.
9 and 3 for Barnes, 8 for IQ. 11 assists on 13 buckets.
9 and 3 for Barnes, 8 for IQ. 11 assists on 13 buckets.
Kristaps Porzingis and Jamal Shead having a disagreement on a hard foul should result in some amusing photos.
January 6, 2026 at 1:06 AM
Kristaps Porzingis and Jamal Shead having a disagreement on a hard foul should result in some amusing photos.
Great first run for CMB, who comes out with 7/2/2 in 8 minutes.
January 6, 2026 at 1:00 AM
Great first run for CMB, who comes out with 7/2/2 in 8 minutes.
Raps locked into start, up 15-4. Obviously this means they'll lose.
January 6, 2026 at 12:47 AM
Raps locked into start, up 15-4. Obviously this means they'll lose.
Brandon Ingram on the perimeter? Kind of a flighty defender? Brandon Ingram at the rim? Pretty feisty!
January 6, 2026 at 12:43 AM
Brandon Ingram on the perimeter? Kind of a flighty defender? Brandon Ingram at the rim? Pretty feisty!
CMB is starting again for raps. Same starters for both teams, although Porzingis is available
January 6, 2026 at 12:07 AM
CMB is starting again for raps. Same starters for both teams, although Porzingis is available
Jakob Poeltl has been cleared for contact. He's out tonight.
January 5, 2026 at 10:54 PM
Jakob Poeltl has been cleared for contact. He's out tonight.
Reposted by Eric Koreen
Knicks HC Mike Brown used to babysit Pistons HC J.B. Bickerstaff.
You read that right.
Talked to the top two coaches in the East ahead of Monday’s showdown about their 30-plus-year relationship, which features a love for Jelly Roll.
Exclusive:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/693...
You read that right.
Talked to the top two coaches in the East ahead of Monday’s showdown about their 30-plus-year relationship, which features a love for Jelly Roll.
Exclusive:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/693...
Mike Brown used to babysit J.B. Bickerstaff. Now the coaches are atop the East
Babysitting matured into a mentor-mentee relationship, and more than 30 years later, the two bond over hoops and ... Jelly Roll.
www.nytimes.com
January 5, 2026 at 1:36 PM
Knicks HC Mike Brown used to babysit Pistons HC J.B. Bickerstaff.
You read that right.
Talked to the top two coaches in the East ahead of Monday’s showdown about their 30-plus-year relationship, which features a love for Jelly Roll.
Exclusive:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/693...
You read that right.
Talked to the top two coaches in the East ahead of Monday’s showdown about their 30-plus-year relationship, which features a love for Jelly Roll.
Exclusive:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/693...