Shaq and JJ Redick didn’t hold back when naming their NBA Mount Rushmore of assholes during a recent episode of the Big Podcast with Shaq. Here’s who made the cut for Shaq:
“These guys are all my friends so they’re not going to take it the wrong way. Gary Payton was an a**hole. I’ve seen that man talk to all my guards about their mamas about their wives about their kids.”
“Kevin Garnett seeing him do the same thing. Alonzo Mourning was an a**hole because he always tried to be mean and then the last one.”
“Antonie Walker was an a**hole. He talked a lot and like and like every time he hit that shot he always did that, he always did that shimmy.”
Shaq started off with Gary Payton, highlighting his notorious trash-talking skills that often crossed the line. Payton’s willingness to target opponents’ families made him a true menace on the court. Next up was Kevin Garnett, known for his intense demeanor and relentless verbal assaults on the court.
Shaq recounted witnessing Garnett’s ruthless behavior towards opposing players, making him a prime candidate for the Mount Rushmore of assholes.
Alonzo Mourning earned his spot on Shaq’s list for his penchant for intimidation and mean-spiritedness on the court. Mourning’s aggressive playing style and willingness to get under opponents’ skin solidified his reputation as one of the NBA’s biggest assholes.
Finally, Shaq rounded out his list with Antoine Walker, citing his constant trash-talking and showboating after making shots. Walker’s flamboyant personality and on-court antics earned him a place among the NBA’s top assholes.
JJ Redick chimed in with his own selections and he had a few surprise choices.
“KG For sure. I put Rasheed up there. It’s funny man I would have loved to been both those guys teammates, I never got the chance. Teammates, Hedo Turkoglu for sure.”
“Underrated all and I love him to death, TJ McConnell.” (46:01)
Redick started with Kevin Garnett, echoing Shaq’s sentiments about Garnett’s fierce competitiveness and abrasive demeanor. He also added Rasheed Wallace to the list, noting Wallace’s confrontational style of play and tendency to push the boundaries of sportsmanship.
Redick then shared a personal anecdote about his encounters with Hedo Turkoglu, recounting instances where Turkoglu intentionally targeted him during practice, even going as far as giving him a black eye. Despite the rough start, Redick admitted to developing a friendship with Turkoglu over time, showcasing the complexities of relationships in the NBA.
In the end, Shaq and Redick’s Mount Rushmore of assholes serve as a reminder of the competitive and often contentious nature of professional basketball, where players will do whatever it takes to gain an edge on the court, even if it means crossing the line of sportsmanship.
JJ Redick Says He Never Hung Out With LeBron James Before ‘Mind The Game’ Podcast
JJ Redick shed light on the genesis of the ‘Mind The Game’ podcast with LeBron James, revealing that despite their long-standing mutual respect, they had never hung out before the podcast.
“I explained this recently uh because a lot of people have asked me about this um so LeBron and I met uh when I was 16 at that Colorado thing right and he was 15. I was a year ahead, we’re the same age essentially, I’m six months older but he was a year behind me in school.”
“We met at that camp and obviously he went straight to the pros, I played Duke there has always been like a level of respect, like we would acknowledge each other at games and maybe make a joke later on in our careers. You know I’d ask him hey what’s the last great bottle of red burgundy.”
“I never hung out with a guy prior to us doing the podcast um I think part of it for me was like trying to create something that is different than most podcasts that was I think the biggest thing and then the fact that it was with him.”
“The fact he’s still playing and still has that like fresh perspective on the game right now which you know I’m three years out… the further you get out like… I watch every night I study but you do lose a little bit of the perspective of the current game and um as we said he’s one of the all-time great so just the the mix of all that stuff just felt like a fun thing to do.” (1:00:00)
Redick recounted their initial meeting at a basketball camp when he was 16 and LeBron was 15. Despite being in different phases of their careers – with LeBron heading straight to the pros and Redick playing for Duke – there was always a level of respect between them. However, their interactions were limited to acknowledging each other at games and exchanging occasional jokes.
Prior to the podcast, Redick and LeBron had never spent time together socially. Their relationship was characterized by professional courtesy and occasional banter about topics like fine wine.
The decision to start the podcast was driven by Redick’s desire to create something unique in the podcasting landscape. He wanted to offer a fresh perspective on the game, particularly with LeBron’s ongoing career providing insight into the current NBA landscape.
Redick emphasized LeBron’s status as one of the all-time greats and noted that his active involvement in the league provided a valuable perspective that Redick, who had been retired for three years, couldn’t fully grasp.
The combination of their mutual respect, LeBron’s ongoing career, and Redick’s desire to delve into the current state of the game made the podcast collaboration an appealing prospect.
Despite their lack of prior social interaction, Redick saw the opportunity to create engaging content and offer listeners a unique perspective on basketball from two different vantage points – an active superstar player and a recently retired veteran.
Additionally, the success of the podcast has been remarkable, with over 500,000 subscribers on YouTube within just six episodes. These episodes have garnered tens of millions of views, indicating a strong audience interest in the unique perspective offered by LeBron James and JJ Redick.
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