On a recent episode of “First Take,” Stephen A. Smith shared that several black coaches in the NBA were offended by LeBron James’ decision to start the “Mind The Game” podcast with JJ Redick during the season. Smith revealed that numerous black coaches reached out to him, expressing their displeasure with the timing and implications of the podcast.
“What I can tell you is this, numerous coaches, black coaches, called me expressing how they took issue with that podcast taking place. Some of them felt very salty about that. We certainly are not blaming JJ Reddick.”
“You got your podcast, Maverick Carter approaches you about doing this idea, who the hell wouldn’t, I’d jump at the opportunity… Because it hurt Darvin Ham. So, any of us would do a podcast with LeBron James.”
“So we’re not faulting JJ in any way for doing the podcast or for the content on the podcast with LeBron James. As I said to Windy last week, we have to remember the things that we’ve said about LeBron James as it pertains to his brilliance, as it pertains to controlling a narrative, as it pertains to being two, three, five steps ahead of others in terms of what you’re plotting and what you’re planning and what have you.”
“And then that’ll raise an antenna. We knew before the podcast ever started that Darwin Hand was on the hot seat. We knew this… But as the podcast gained steam and then the spotlight became more magnifying for Darvin Ham.”
“And then you saw an Anthony Davis after game two against Denver. Talk about how lost and you know, we, we, we just weren’t on the same page. We just seem to be out of sync, et cetera, et cetera. We saw all of these things.”
“What I was saying on the air with Windy last week and Molly was that, couldn’t you have started during after the playoffs? Couldn’t have started it after Darvin Ham lost his job. Did you have to start it in the middle of the damn season when he’s on the hot seat?”
“Because why that’s what some of the coaches were saying.” (3:49)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_zvI1UIVzw
Smith explained that these coaches felt the podcast hurt Los Angeles Lakers coach Darvin Ham, who was already on the hot seat. While Smith made it clear that no one blamed Redick for participating in the podcast, as collaborating with LeBron James is a significant opportunity, the situation was perceived as problematic.
The podcast, which began in March, quickly gained popularity, but its success coincided with increased scrutiny of Ham’s performance.
The podcast’s launch came at a sensitive time. The Lakers were struggling, and the spotlight on Ham’s coaching intensified. Following a disappointing playoff exit, where the Lakers lost to the Denver Nuggets in five games, Ham was fired. This sequence of events led to speculation about the timing of the podcast and its impact on the coaching staff’s stability.
Smith emphasized that LeBron is known for being strategic and aware of optics, making the decision to start the podcast during the season questionable. The criticism wasn’t about the content or the podcast itself, which has been highly successful and well-received, but rather about the timing and its potential implications for Ham’s tenure.
LeBron’s involvement in the podcast, combined with JJ Redick emerging as a front-runner for the Lakers’ coaching job, added fuel to the controversy. The Lakers, after parting ways with Ham, have been actively searching for a new coach.
They even offered a substantial $70 million contract to Dan Hurley which was declined. Subsequently, Redick’s interview for the position has made him a leading candidate.
The issue raised by Stephen A. Smith highlights the delicate balance of professional relationships and public perception in the NBA. While the “Mind The Game” podcast has been a massive hit, garnering millions of views and becoming one of the most-watched basketball podcasts ever, its timing has sparked debates about respect and professional conduct within the league.
The situation underscores the broader challenges and sensitivities involved in managing high-profile careers and the impact of public actions on private professional dynamics.
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