Matter of Stats Podcast

A sports podcast (with an emphasis on the NBA and LA Lakers) where we talk stats, facts, and other crap. Available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!

[Shams Charania @ShamsCharania]

BREAKING: The Chicago Bulls are finalizing the hire of Portland Trail Blazers interim Tiago Splitter as the franchise's new head coach, sources tell ESPN. Splitter succeeds Billy Donovan as the Bulls' coach after stepping into the head job and excelling in Portland last season.

[Novig @Novig]

The Knicks just became the first champion since the 2021 Bucks to win the title despite failing Phil Jackson’s famous 40/20 rule.

Previous exceptions:

1995 Rockets 🏆
2004 Pistons 🏆
2006 Heat 🏆
2021 Bucks 🏆
2026 Knicks 🏆

[BetMGM 🦁 @BetMGM]

Has 2026 been the craziest sports year of our lifetime?

[NLB @NBALAKERSBLOG]

Más de Stein: Si Lakers llegan a un acuerdo con Reaves para un nuevo contrato, retrasarán su firma para completar sus demás movimientos de la temporada baja. Si LA opta por liberar espacio salarial, podrían generar casi $50M. Utilizarían ese espacio primero, manteniendo el cap hold de Reaves y los derechos Bird, para luego renovarlo.

[Underdog NBA @UnderdogNBA]

Latest offseason intel from @TheSteinLine:

- Heat still have momentum for a Giannis deal
- Herro, Ware, Jaquez Jr., No. 13 pick in 2026 draft are "presumed certainties" in potential deal
- Celtics "increasingly projected" to be the other landing spot Giannis prefers
- Lakers widely expected to re-sign Austin Reaves
- Aaron Gordon is drawing trade interest
- Nuggets prefer to trade Christian Braun over Gordon or Jamal Murray
- Nuggets searching for trade(s) to provide financial flexibility to re-sign Peyton Watson
- Bulls could make head coaching decision as soon as Monday

[Kobe Bryant Stories & Motivation @kobehighlight]

17 years ago today: Kobe Bryant and the Lakers won the 2009 NBA championship.

This one was special 🏆

[LakersMuse @LALMuse]

🚨 The Lakers opening odds for next season:

— 4th highest odds to win the West
— 7th highest odds to win the NBA Finals 🏆

[Ballislife.com @Ballislife]

17 years ago today, Kobe won his first Finals MVP award

This video is emotional: RIP Kobe, Gigi, Russell, Stern & Stuart Scott

[LakersMuse @LALMuse]

🚨 Starting today, the Lakers are able to start negotiations with their own free agents and extension eligible players

Every team in the NBA is now eligible to make trades, and the offseason has started 👀

[Ryan Rueda @PlayoffDude]

Instead of spending the summer training with monks, Wemby should be working with Hakeem Olajuwon. Adding elite post moves to his game would be a game-changer.

[Yahoo Fantasy Sports @YahooFantasy]

Victor Wembanyama in the 4th quarter of the NBA Finals:

7.8 PPG
34.3% FG
25.0% 3PT
72.2% FT
-20 +/-

He scored 5 points in Game 4 and 3 points in Game 5.

[FOX Sports: MLB @MLBONFOX]

Oh no...

Yamamoto loses his perfect game bid with 2 outs in the 8th as Betts can't make this play at SS.

[Underdog @Underdog]

Players currently set to make more than De'Aaron Fox in 2029-30:

Jayson Tatum
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Devin Booker
End of List

[Rachel Nichols @Rachel__Nichols]

So this is perfect, @Nike 💙🤎🤍

[Ryan Rueda @PlayoffDude]

Please be the third team and get these two.

@Lakers 🙏🏼

[OptaSTATS @OptaSTATS]

There have been 48 total 5-game spans by teams in NBA history (reg or post) where they led by 8+ points at the end of the first quarter in all 5.

In 47 of the 48, the team had a winning record over the 5 games.

All except the Spurs in the 2026 NBA Finals.

They went 1-4.

[Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 @big_business_]

Stephen A. Smith believes Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks “saved the NBA” by defeating Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs for the championship.

“If San Antonio wins it all, the whole league has to start building around one question: how do you stop the alien, that 7-foot-5 alien from France? But instead, a 6’1 guard not the most explosive athlete, not someone playing above the rim just a smart, crafty basketball mind with elite footwork, ended up leading his team to the title.”

[Brett Siegel @BrettSiegelNBA]

Mitch Johnson on Friday: "De'Aaron Fox will have the basketball in his hands at the end of the game tomorrow."

De'Aaron Fox in 4th quarter Saturday in Game 5:

10 minutes, 0-4 FG, 1 foul, -5 on the court.

No impact, and a decision that cost the Spurs yet another Finals game.

[SportsCenter @SportsCenter]

“It’s the best feeling I’ve ever had in my life covering sports.”

@stephenasmith reacts to the Knicks winning their first NBA Finals in 53 years 🙌

[Kevin O'Connor @KevinOConnor]

The Knicks are an example of smart, courageous team building. Firing Thibs for Mike Brown was a ballsy decision by the Knicks. One of many that got them to this point. RJ & Quickley for OG, trading a 1st for Hart, signing Brunson to a big deal, the Randle for KAT deal, sending a ton of picks for Bridges, and moves around the edges like adding Shamet and Alvarado. Some teams are built through the draft. The Knicks were built through masterful trades and signings. Big time credit to Leon Rose and that New York front office.