NBA Writer for EssentiallySports
Mat Issa is an NBA Writer for EssentiallySports. Mat has been covering the NBA at-large for five years.
Mat is also a member of the Professional Basketball Writers' Association (PBWA).
He attended Michigan State University, where he earned both his Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology and a Juris Doctorate. He is a lifelong Spartans fan. Go Green!
Along with his role at Essentially Sports, you can also find his work at Forbes, SB Nation, and Opta Analyst.
Karl-Anthony Towns Is Like Dirk…Just Not in the Way Everyone Thinks
They have been connected for Towns' whole career, but now, the comparison to Dirk Nowitzki finally makes some sense.
The 27-Year NBA Circle Connecting Patrick Ewing, Tim Duncan, Victor Wembanyama, and Jalen Brunson
The New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs are in the 2026 NBA Finals...just like they were 27 years ago. What's changed?
“Nah, He Too Small”: How Jalen Brunson Proved a WNBA HoF Head Coach Wrong After 2 Years
Now that Jalen Brunson has the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals, Becky Hammon's old comments seem pretty silly.
Is Josh Hart Right About Analytics Use in the NBA? Understanding the Use Cases for Advanced Metrics
Josh Hart says analytics can't take you home. But is the New York Knicks veteran actually right about this?
The True Wemby Stopper: Who Is the Best Victor Wembanyama Defender in the NBA?
We ran a poll to see who is the best Victor Wembanyama defender in the league. Who came out as the top player?
Will OKC vs Spurs Series Reach Game 7? What Victor Wembanyama Exposed About Thunder Should Terrify the Rest of League
Losing Game 1 isn't usually the end of the world, but there are a lot of reasons why the Oklahoma City Thunder should be very concerned.
Why The San Antonio Spurs Are The Best Bet Of The Conference Finals
The San Antonio Spurs are coming, and you better capitalize on them soon by betting them to win the Western Conference Finals.
“I Don’t Even Know if I’m Going to Be Here”: Joel Embiid, Domantas Sabonis, and a Radical Sixers Pivot
This hypothetical trade between the Philadelphia 76ers and Sacramento Kings could be so wild that it just might work.
Should Pistons Extend or Trade Jalen Duren? Harsh Truth Other Teams Must Know Before Making a Move
We break down Jalen Duren's confusing postseason to see how the Detroit Pistons (and the rest of the league) should value him.
Is This The New York Knicks Best Chance To Break Their 53-Year Title Drought?
The New York Knicks are heading back to the conference finals with their best chance of winning it all since 1973.
Should LeBron James & Austin Reaves Return to Lakers? Four Players LA Must Keep Around Luka Doncic
The Lakers need to start building the perfect team around Luka Doncic. Here who is they should prioritize keeping on their current roster.
Has Victor Wembanyama Proved He’s Better Than Nikola Jokic? Looking At Evidence From 2026 Playoffs
Has Victor Wembanyama officially surpassed Nikola Jokic as the best center in basketball? We look at the data to see what the numbers say.
