This week on JBTpod: We give our thoughts on the second round ballot of All-Star voting and Adam silver’s decision not to televise the draft choices. We chat about whether Stephen Curry’s hot form has elevated him into the MVP conversation and are the Timberwolves a greater threat for the title than the Oklahoma City Thunder. Plus we’ve got JBTeam of the Week, Rookie Watch and an Off Topic inspired by the world’s greatest cuisines. All that and more on this week’s episode of

1. Joel Embiid (20.2 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 2.1 APG, 24.1 PER) Far and away the most talented rookie from the 2016/2017 season, Joel Embiid was not able to stay on the court long enough to finish the season with Rookie of the Year honors. Regardless, Embiid proved that he was by far the most talented and impactful rookie from last season, becoming just the sixth rookie since 2000 to average 20+ points per game, joining LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin and Tyr

We all know about the MVP race, but what about the young guys just trying to make it in this league? They deserve a race too and they have one; the Rookie Race. These are the top 5 NBA rookies so far this year. 1. Joel Embiid (17.0 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 2.3 bpg, 21.42 PER) Last week: 1 Joel Embiid is beasting and feasting and the best part about it is that he is still on a minute’s restriction. His most recent game is a ten point ten rebound game against the T’Wolves. He went down tw

We all know about the MVP race, but what about the young guys just trying to make it in this league? They deserve a race too and at OTG we give them one; the Rookie Race. These are the top 5 NBA rookies so far this year. It may look like one candidate is running away with the award, but there is plenty of basketball to be played. 1. Joel Embiid (17.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.6 bpg, 24.47 PER) Embiid has been doing it all this season for the 76ers. He has been in the league for three y

After just one season the NBA class of 2015 looks like one for the ages. The class has potential superstars at the top as well as a many potential NBA role players. Here is a look at the 2nd year players with the brightest future: 1. Karl-Anthony Towns: Towns may have the brightest future of anyone in the league, let alone his draft class. Towns was the unanimous Rookie of the Year and is already one of the top players in the league. Towns was one of three players last season

11. Milwaukee Bucks: Demetrius Jackson PG Notre Dame *Photo via USA Today Strengths: Jackson is probably my favorite point guard in this year’s draft. He is very quick and crafty and can get to the rim with ease against high level competition. All you have to do to see that is watch the Elite Eight game Jackson played against North Carolina, a team filled with future NBA players. Jackson put up 26 points on 10-16 shooting. He really was un-guardable and showed his creativity

6. New Orleans Pelicans: Jamal Murray PG/SG Kentucky *Photo via USA Today Strengths: Let’s face it the Pelicans have a lot of problems. Three injury prone guards in Jrue Holiday, Tyreke Evans, and Eric Gordon. The only good thing the Pelicans have going for them is Anthony Davis, but how deadly would a Jamal Murray and Anthony Davis combination be? That would be a pick and roll nightmare as you can see how well Murray runs the pick and roll if you just watch the Pan Am games

1. Philadelphia 76ers: Ben Simmons LSU *Photo via Getty Images Strengths: Ben Simmons has been the consensus number 1 draft pick in the 2016 NBA Draft since last year when he was a senior in high school. Yes he´s that good. His body and physical attributes are light years ahead of where most 18 to 19 year old freak athletes would be. He´s 6´9¨ and 240 pounds of pure muscle with a 41 inch vertical it´s really hard to do any better than that, and we haven't even begun to talk a

*Photo via Getty Images Hailed by boos in his first appearance donning Knick gear on draft night, Kristaps Porzingis fixed to “turn those boos into cheers” come opening night. Porzingis has done just that, and with every release of the ball on his new home court there’s a sudden gasp of “ah” as if every shot has the potential to be a game winner. Now, the young Latvian stud, whom uneducated Knicks fans were ready to boo away from Madison Square Garden before his first appeara