Alex Wong @ Raptors Show Appreciation Thread

[RapsFanInOhio]

Definitely deserves credit for helping bring a legit raptor focused show to the forefront. Listening to this show is WAY better than the radio coverage the raptors used to get.

Right. It wasn’t all that long ago we didn’t get this kind of content.

Since I’m sure he posts here, good luck on your next adventure dude!

[Mr Funk]

Amazing news!

Alex is simply an insufferable, insanely annoying on air personality. This guy had no business being on the mic for a considerably large show, providing zero insight or analysis: just the most unfunny jokes, everything of course being hysterically funny including his own lame jokes, constantly interrupting with absolutely nothing worthwhile nor interesting. His contributions were always very basic fan level stuff (or self-indulgent).

He was pretty bad, especially with that laugh

If it wasn't for blake that show was going to get cancelled

His laugh is the equivalent to nails on a chalkboard. With the addition of Blake (a brilliant move which vastly improved the show), Alex's role was significantly reduced, which was a welcome change, but this is tremendous.

[Syd-TK3]

If you listened to the Will Lou show for actual basketball takes Alex was the worst part but if you just wanted some random sometimes funny banter he's honestly not bad

[Chalky_White]

I don't think the Alex-Will interaction worked on mainstream radio, but I'll miss him. Probably the direction is more towards guys who can talk b-ball strategy (like Samson or Vivek). Or maybe bring in a woman (Savannah?). With their beloved OG gone, the team has to extend an olive branch to female fans.

But Alex is a jokester, and I always appreciated it. He's a good follow on X. His gifs are consistently hilarious. And his "side hustles" are NBA related, so worth bringing up on the show. As a writer myself I always have time for guys who are trying to market their intellectual property.

I do wonder if them focusing so much on the basketball minutiae will shorten the shelf life of this show. I know die-hards like most people here appreciate that sort of analysis but i'm not sure if the average radio listeners care too much about breaking down pick and roll coverage and Quickley's off-ball defense.

I hope the top decision makers allow this show to grow because this sort of coverage is really needed in this county.

[Chalky_White]

He was pretty bad, especially with that laugh

If it wasn't for blake that show was going to get cancelled

Blake focusing on baseball in the spring will be disastrous.

[And1Skip]

I find that Alex's role on the show was many times offering non-basketball insights and yeah the bantering between him and Will Lou which I guess is trying to lighten up the discussions and try to be more entertaining than just talking ball for the entire show. It only works for those in the audience that has similar interests and POV as him, and too all others it comes accross as lame and uninteresting and thus, causes people to switch channels or not tune in again. I enjoy listening to Will Lou's reaction pod because its just him talking about Raptors and I enjoy when its just Will Lou and Blake who then adds the analytical aspect. I do not need to listen to all the other non-basketball crap which I can get from my Instagram feed from influencers.

[DatHomieYouHaTe]

He was pretty bad, especially with that laugh

If it wasn't for blake that show was going to get cancelled

You need guys with some personality.. That fat guy with a beard is just some sports geek. That's why guys like Chuck are more valuable cause they can get the casuals involved. You need at least 1 in the unit. It's all about the fit and without Alex Wong(he not even that funny but the best they got) it's all geeks and boring

[billy_hoyle]

I enjoyed Alex on the show. I thought he was quite funny.

[T_saurus]

He was ok but Will and Blake are the best final form of that podcast.

[JL2002]

I find that Alex's role on the show was many times offering non-basketball insights and yeah the bantering between him and Will Lou which I guess is trying to lighten up the discussions and try to be more entertaining than just talking ball for the entire show. It only works for those in the audience that has similar interests and POV as him, and too all others it comes accross as lame and uninteresting and thus, causes people to switch channels or not tune in again. I enjoy listening to Will Lou's reaction pod because its just him talking about Raptors and I enjoy when its just Will Lou and Blake who then adds the analytical aspect. I do not need to listen to all the other non-basketball crap which I can get from my Instagram feed from influencers.

Alex and Will is just a little startup that has made it on the biggest stage (in Canada), Alex has probably more to do with everything behind the scene to make the show possible. It wasn't too long ago that the only Raptors content we get has to come from listening to Hockey news first. Blake obviously has a lot to do with Alex leaving, I mean they both weren't even able to get Nick Nurse on the show until Blake is covering the show solo, Blake was on Lowe Post while his main focus is on the Jays at the time, and I don't even know if they can get Adam Silver without Blake's connection. It was probably just time, but again, Alex was probably the one that made a lot of this possible behind the scene, despite what he shows on air.

[WuTang_CMB]

He was pretty bad, especially with that laugh

If it wasn't for blake that show was going to get cancelled

You need guys with some personality.. That fat guy with a beard is just some sports geek. That's why guys like Chuck are more valuable cause they can get the casuals involved. You need at least 1 in the unit. It's all about the fit and without Alex Wong(he not even that funny but the best they got) it's all geeks and boring

ya.. they found their own charles barkley in alex wong. Lol

guy was insufferable.

[DatHomieYouHaTe]

He was pretty bad, especially with that laugh

If it wasn't for blake that show was going to get cancelled

You need guys with some personality.. That fat guy with a beard is just some sports geek. That's why guys like Chuck are more valuable cause they can get the casuals involved. You need at least 1 in the unit. It's all about the fit and without Alex Wong(he not even that funny but the best they got) it's all geeks and boring

ya.. they found their own charles barkley in alex wong. Lol

guy was insufferable.

Yup, they need the Barkley.. Maybe get some stand up comedian that aint doing so well with low Bball knowledge that's hefty. People can relate to this type of guy and they will have tons of casuals tuning in! lol

[nuggett]

I liked Alex, seemed chill. Sometimes off topic.

"Fat guy with the beard" wtf man . Blake is incredible.

[Smalltown]

I do wonder if them focusing so much on the basketball minutiae will shorten the shelf life of this show. I know die-hards like most people here appreciate that sort of analysis but i'm not sure if the average radio listeners care too much about breaking down pick and roll coverage and Quickley's off-ball defense.

Count me as someone who enjoys in-depth analysis - in moderation. To often they can't just walk away from the analysis. For instance when they've had Samson on it veers into "Waaa waa waa Charlie Brown" territory. I don't need to hear 15 times that you've watched every pick and roll. I don't need to hear the same point over and over. Make your point, discuss and move on.

I think the show has leaned into their Twitter pals a little too much. Not that I don't want to hear from them. But it can get a little too self-congratulatory and repetitive.

[C Court]

Definitely deserves credit for helping bring a legit raptor focused show to the forefront. Listening to this show is WAY better than the radio coverage the raptors used to get.

Exactly. The Raptors Show is infinitely better than listening to the Raptors cheerleaders led by Paul Jones and Eric Smith.

[WaltFrazier]

Much respect to Alex for being an OG and part of the Raptors Show journey with Will.

It was clear that he didn't belong on the mic. I don't know the Producer's side of the house well enough to say how necessary he was or how he'd been adapting, but frankly, I think the show is better off with just Will and Blake talking hoops.

It was his decision apparently. Good luck to Alex on whatever's next. I do like him a lot as a writer. Prehistoric and Cover Story were both solid.

Yeah he's awful on air but in googling him it does seem like he's a good writer. Respect for that.

[UnbelievablyRAW]

Like Alex on the pod for the banter. Show won't be as fun anymore with inside jokes if its just Blake and Will

[ebo]

Alex is a legend and will be missed. Just a few years ago it would be crazy to have thought that the Raptors could have a daily 2 hour show on the Fan. We used to have to suffer through puck heads like Bob McCown - but here we are and a lot of that is due to Alex and Will.

It is also interesting to see the difference in reaction to this news between here and Reddit - where people here seem to be kind of glad he is moving on, and on Reddit there is much more sadness. My sense is there is not only an age and demographic difference between here and Reddit, but that difference also contributes to how much people enjoyed his commentary.

Alex and Will brought a distinctively young, immigrant, and person of colour perspective to their analysis, banter, and humour - all of which made their dynamic and show so great and unique. I don't think that always worked well with the primarily older and white demographic of those who consume radio shows. There is definitely some dog whistling going on with the way people are describing why they are so glad he is gone.

[Tor_Raps]

He was pretty bad, especially with that laugh

If it wasn't for blake that show was going to get cancelled

Blake focusing on baseball in the spring will be disastrous.

I'm sure Blake is excited to talk about a team whose biggest offseason move was getting IFK lol.

[Mr Funk]

If Will is feeling down due to his good friend Alex's departure, he should find out if Nikki Reyes can be his replacement (dude's got a crush on her)