The Vertical Podcast with JJ Redick

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Mike Dunleavy Jr., joins JJ Redick on The Vertical Podcast. Dunleavy and Redick discuss everything from his Dunleavy's trade to the defending champions, the issue of parity in the NBA and whether true competitive balance can ever exist in the league. Dunleavy and Redick talk about the issues facing the league in the collective bargaining discussions, Kevin Durant's move to Golden State and whether he should be criticized for the move. Dunleavy talks about his own career, the changes he's seen and whether he has an interest in staying involved in the NBA once he retires.

Duke and U.S. National Coach Mike Krzyzewski joins JJ Redick on The Vertical Podcast. Krzyzewski and Redick discus their shared times and relationship together, the vast differences in coaching different skill levels of Duke teams through the years and the issue of whether players should get paid on the NCAA level. Redick and Krzyzewski talked about the coach's time as the U.S. National coach and if that experience has played a part in filling the void of having never taken the leap to coach in the NBA. Krzyzewski talked about his experiences coaching multiple Olympic and World Championship teams and what he has learned coaching the best players in the world.

Adrian Wojnarowski joins JJ Redick on the Vertical Podcast to discuss NBA free agency. Woj and JJ discuss the Kevin Durant move to Golden State, the influx of a new cash from a $24 billion TV contract into free agency to Woj discussing how he does his job this time of year. Woj and JJ remember back to Redick’s own free agency, when Clippers owner Donald Sterling nearly reneged on Redick’s own free agent deal with the Clippers. They also talk about the future collective bargaining agreement and the likelihood of a lockout in 2017.

Clippers Executive VP of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank and Boston Celtics free agent guard Evan Turner join host JJ Redick on the Vertical Podcast. Frank discusses his move from coaching into upper management with the Clippers, his quest to book pal Chris Rock onto JJ's podcast and a tribute to late Tennessee coach Pat Summitt, with whom Frank as a colleague at the University of Tennessee. Turner discusses his intense summer workouts at an innovative Santa Barbara facility, how JJ was Turner's favorite player in high school and caused Turner to be starstruck upon finally meeting him as an NBA Player. In the this weeks' Four on Four: Weird things about Evan Turner. Here are some key moments: 2:00: Redick address a fake trade report from the NBA draft. Lawrence Frank 4:00: Frank’s support of the podcast and his favorite episode. 5:05: Frank trying to get Chris Rock to go on Redick’s podcast. 5:33: His new front-office position with the Clippers. 8:30: The technology plans Frank and owner Steve Ballmer have for the Clippers. 11:15: The challenges the Clippers face in free agency. 14:57: A tribute to Pat Summitt and Frank’s relationship with her. 19:36: Frank’s coaching influences, including Summitt and Bobby Knight. Evan Turner 25:34: Turner’s offseason training at P3 in Santa Barbara. 27:45: Turner being starstruck upon meeting Redick in Las Vegas. 30:44: The excitement surrounding this summer’s free agency with the rising salary cap. 33:55: Turner’s priorities entering free agency. 37:07: Reflecting on his time with the Celtics. 38:40: Being relieved of the burden of being the No. 2 pick and the difficulty of playing in Philadelphia. 41:54: Turner’s view of himself and his role entering free agency. 44:30: Four-on-Four: Weird things about Turner.

Portland Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum joins JJ Redick on The Vertical Podcast. McCollum and Redick were on opposite sides of the Western Conference semifinal playoff series in May, and reunite on the podcast to discuss everything from Blake Griffin and Chris Paul’s season-ending injuries to how those losses impacted the Blazers’ conversation in the locker room. Redick and McCollum discuss the young Blazers’ guard rise from a small Eastern college to become the NBA’s Most Improved Player in 2016. McCollum discusses his partnership with Blazers All-Star Damian Lillard in the Portland backcourt. In this week’s Four on Four, CJ remembers his draft day memories with JJ.

Jason Day, the world’s top-ranked golfer, joins The Vertical Podcast with JJ Redick on the eve of the 2016 United States Open tournament. Day talks to Redick about the mental preparation it takes to prepare for a tournament and how that parallels with preparing for NBA regular season and playoff games. Day discusses his magnificent run as the world’s No. 1 golfer, how his motivation to stay at the top of the world rankings has been undeterred. Day discusses his humble beginnings as young man in Australia, about playing for award money more than tournament victories as a young player on the tour. Also, Day discusses his wife’s courtside brush with LeBron James, who once dove into the seats for a loose ball in Cleveland and crashed into her. Here are some key moments: 4:45: Day and Redick talk watches and Jason’s Rolex sponsorship. 8:20: Does Day’s preparation differ for a major event? 11:02: James crashing into Day’s wife during a game this season. 15:51: Day’s recent hot streak entering the U.S. Open and his motivation. 19:04: How competitive is Day with contemporaries like Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy? 21:26: Day’s childhood in poverty and his financial motivations for his career. 27:30: Thinking about tournament earnings while playing. 31:57: Day discusses what part of the game he misses most during the offseason. 35:23: Day and Redick list favorite golf movies. 38:00: In the Four-on-Four segment, Redick talks about his draft-day memories.

Seven-time NBA All-Star Tracy McGrady joins JJ Redick on the Vertical Podcast for a candid visit on the state of the NBA. McGrady discusses his belief that the league has been watered down talent-wise since his prime years in the NBA, and how the style of play has evolved. Washington Wizards forward Jared Dudley returns to the podcast and discusses, among other topics, how players spend their offseason and what it’s like to watch the playoffs once you’ve been eliminated.

Author and Comedian Jensen Karp joins JJ for an in depth look at their love of rap music. Both men tell stories of how they got into rap music and how a radio station contest landed Karp a music deal. During this candid discussion we learn that Jensen had once collaborated with Kanye West and that is the inspiration for the title of his new book "Kanye West owes me $300: And Other True Stories from a White Rapper Who Almost Made It Big", ​JJ tells that Warren G was the rapper that really got him into rap music and how he would partake in rap battles against some of his AAU teammates. The guys also discuss which NBA players have made the best rappers. Here are some key moments: 2:35: Jensen’s rap name and his memoir. 5:30: Their early influences in rap. 10:30: Jensen’s transition from performing on the radio to battle rapping. 11:20: J.J. using rap to try and fit in with teammates, his college rap group and which teammate took a swing at him over a battle. 14:06: Jensen recalls when a battle rap ended with a Jason Vorhees mask and a machete. 19:22: How did Jensen’s parents react to his rap career? 21:50: Jensen’s million dollar record deal and working with Kanye West. 25:00: JJ’s rap notebook getting lost or stolen. 30:18: Eminem’s place in rap and his impact on the genre. 34:22: The current state of rap. 38:08: Jensen's new gig writing a battle-rapping skit for "The Late Late Show." 41:25: The best rappers in the NBA. 49:00: Negotiating for one Lakers courtside ticket in his rap contract. 51:20: Does Jensen believe in the Clippers curse? 57:26: The origin of their friendship. 59:30: Why does Kanye owe Jensen $300? 1:02:20: The battle raps that Jensen has written for J.J. 1:04:30: Their four best lyricists ever.

Detroit Pistons president and coach Stan Van Gundy reunites with his longtime shooting guard on The Vertical Podcast with JJ Redick. Van Gundy and JJ have a close and long relationship, and go into fascinating detail about several facets of team building in the NBA, including style of play and locker room culture. Van Gundy goes into great detail about his own self-doubt as a coach, about how hard he can be on himself and where that comes from in his background. They talk about the challenge of Van Gundy’s dual roles with the Pistons, and remember back to the worst verbal undressing that Redick ever received as a player (from Stan, of course). Here are some specific moments: 2:10: Redick reflects on joining ESPN’s NBA Countdown as a studio analyst last week. 7:56: How great team defenses don’t require five great individual defenders. 12:49: The time Van Gundy yelled at JJ more than any other coach for not understanding pick-and-roll coverage. 14:35: Van Gundy’s work ethic and sense of accountability. 19:10: Balancing the dual role of coach and president of basketball operations. 22:50: The value of different perspectives and transparency in the Pistons' organization. 27:44: Van Gundy's offseason travels to speak with coaches and leaders. 34:02: “I’d almost rather lose with a great group of guys than win with a bunch of a-------.” 41:06: How do the Pistons look to improve and build upon this season? 47:16: The influence of their Magic teams on today’s NBA. 59:00: Needing the right personnel to play small.

Ryan Anderson of the New Orleans Pelicans joins the Vertical Podcast with JJ Redick. Ryan and JJ formed a strong bond as teammates with the Orlando Magic discuss a common love of beats, rap music and the formation of a rap supergroup called Waste Management. Ryan speaks candidly about his impending free agency this summer. In a moving segment, Ryan delves into the impact that ex-Pelicans coach Monty Williams and his late wife, Ingrid, had on Anderson while dealing with the suicide of his girlfriend. Anderson discusses how he reached out to Williams after the recent tragic death of Ingrid. Here are some key moments from this week's podcast: 1:40: The two discuss living in Los Angeles 3:55: Waste Management: the rap group they formed during their time with the Magic 10:53: Ryan’s Wikipedia page calling him the fraternal twin of NFL quarterback Derek Anderson 13:27: Their time as teammates with the Magic 18:31: Stan Van Gundy’s impact on their careers and their departures from the Magic 24:00: Their perspective on restricted free agency 26:06: The ups and downs of Ryan’s four years with the Pelicans, including injuries and the suicide of his girlfriend 28:55: Ryan discusses how former Pelicans coach Monty Williams and his wife, Ingrid, helped him during his grieving process and how he reached out to Monty following Ingrid’s death this season 37:14: The mindset of a player in a contract season 41:04: Ryan feeling he was on the trading block every season with the Pelicans 44:22: Ryan’s top priorities entering free agency

Charlotte's Spencer Hawes joins the Vertical Podcast with JJ Redick to discuss a number of issues, including the future of NBA basketball in Seattle, playing for owner Michael Jordan and things that Hawes and Redick would change about the NBA.

Three-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year winner Jamal Crawford, joins his Los Angeles Clippers teammate JJ Redick for a candid conversation a day after being eliminated from the 2016 NBA playoffs. Jamal opens up to J.J. about the ups and downs of the season and how the Clippers were unable to escape the injury bug that hit Chris Paul and Blake Griffin late in the first round series loss to Portland. A free agent this summer, Jamal talks to J.J. about his desire to re-sign with the Clippers and his dream of playing in Seattle—if the NBA ever brings a team back there. JJ and Jamal get in-depth with this week's Four-on-Four: The Top-4 Musical Acts /Performers, in honor of the late musical icon, Prince.

Green Bay Packer superstar QB Aaron Rodgers joins JJ Redick for an in depth discussion on being one of the best QB's in the NFL and what characteristics the new crop of NFL QB's need in order to succeed at the next level. JJ, who hit his first game-winning buzzer beater this year, asks Aaron to describe the feeling of connecting on not one, but two Hail Mary's this season. The guys also tackle this week's 4 on 4 which is top NFL QB's that never won a Super Bowl.

Ben Winston, the Executive producer of The Late, Late Show with James Corden, joins The Vertical Podcast for a candid interview with JJ. Ben and JJ discuss how their families met while on vacation and how there is usually a weird amount of pressure to remain friends after the vacation ends. They guys also discuss the birth and success of a Late,Late Show staple, Car Pool Karaoke. Ben also tries his hand at this week's 4 on 4, which is top athletes that would make great Late Night talk show hosts.

Portland Trail Blazers great Brandon Roy joins The Vertical Podcast with JJ Redick for a compelling interview. Roy goes deep on a career that ended far too soon because of chronic knee injuries, discussing his thoughts on how great of a player he could've been. They remember a close relationship that included Brandon wearing a Kobe Bryant jersey to a Lakers playoff game that he attended with Redick and shared agent Greg Lawrence prior to joining the NBA. Roy discusses competing against Kobe, pushing past awe and learning to attack the legend. In the 4-on-4 segment, Redick and Roy talk about their four top shooting guards ever.