The Jj Redick Podcast

Verno and KOC are back with all the potential trades you need to know about before the trade deadline this Thursday. First up: The Lakers have made Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Montrezl Harrell available in trade conversations and are still interested in Andre Drummond (4:00). The Bucks look like they’re back to their elite level after their invigorating trade for PJ Tucker (9:24). Next, they talk about where Aaron Gordon could end up at the deadline (14:07) and whether Kyle Lowry will get traded to the 76ers, the Heat, or at all (31:10). Then they talk about whether the Pelicans should trade Lonzo Ball when he’s the only player trying on the defensive end of the floor (42:00). Finally, they talk about the controversy and drama surrounding Steve Kerr’s recent comments on 'Real Ones' on 'The Ringer NBA Show' with Logan Murdock and Raja Bell (50:14). Hosts: Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Verno and KOC dive into the recent success of the Hawks and Timberwolves, who both replaced their head coaches midseason, and how a coach can unlock players’ talents and effort (6:52). Then they wonder whether the Pelicans will ever figure it out with Steven Adams and Eric Bledsoe, who simply aren’t setting the example needed from veterans (24:23), and whether Sacramento will let go of any of its players at the trade deadline (45:56). And at last they take a look at the first iteration of KOC’s 2021 NBA Draft Guide as the first round of March Madness commences (51:54). Hosts: Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Verno and KOC go all the way around the league this Tuesday starting in sunny Miami where Jimmy Butler could be playing himself into the MVP conversation (0:30), and moving on to the team that’s taking the league by swarm, the Charlotte Hornets (6:00), and Atlanta’s comeback in the thus-far-successful Nate McMillan era (10:50). Then they quick-hit the Knicks (19:34), Lakers (32:00), and Blazers (39:42) before diving deep into the success of the Chris Paul–led Phoenix Suns (43:37). Hosts: Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Verno and KOC first get into a little beef this Friday because Kevin said he would take LaMelo Ball over Ja Morant on 'Ringer NBA University' (0:45). Then they get into all the games that have happened since the second half of the season commenced, including the 76ers’ bench win over the Bulls (21:07), the Pelicans' icky loss to the Timberwolves (24:06), Aleksej Pokusevski’s first NBA start for the Thunder against the Mavericks (36:05), Tony Snell’s death knell to beat the Raptors (47:34), Kyrie’s incredible game against the Celtics (49:32), and the Bucks looking better than ever against the Knicks (54:05). Finally, they discuss whether they’d rather have newly available LaMarcus Aldridge or PJ Tucker on a winning team (57:05) and Caris LeVert’s return to the court after a surgery to remove a mass on his kidney (67:10). Hosts: Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Verno and KOC discuss their reactions to the All-Star Game (0:25) and what, if anything, Blake Griffin has left in the tank to pursue a championship with the Brooklyn Nets (9:20). Then they dive deep into several aspects of KOC’s NBA midseason power rankings (20:20), including whether Jamal Murray is on a hot streak or making the leap (22:35), Bam Adebayo having the best season of his career (26:45), Kyle Lowry’s future with the Raptors (30:25), what team Victor Oladipo could end up on (35:00), interest from multiple teams in the G League’s Alize Johnson (45:05), and much more.  Hosts: Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Verno and KOC start off the podcast with the shady-as-all-hell All-Star draft in which the two Jazz stars were chosen last (0:30) before getting into what Jrue Holiday adds to the Bucks' postseason potential (10:00) and wondering what's up with all these young players getting ejected for complaining about the refereeing (23:30). Then they talk about the best surprises and worst disappointments of the first half of the season (28:50) and where Blake Griffin might be headed after getting bought out by the Pistons (46:25). Finally, they open up the mailbag and answer some listener questions (48:40). Hosts: Chris Vernon and Kevin O'Connor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Verno and KOC get into all the factors that led to the Atlanta Hawks firing head coach Lloyd Pierce midseason and what this Hawks team’s ceiling can be moving forward (0:30). After the Pelicans' exhilarating win over the Jazz, they look into the roster and leadership decisions that still need to be made in order to maximize the Pelicans’ potential (14:00). Then they discuss Brooklyn slicing and dicing its way through the league over the past couple of weeks and the even higher levels of play the Nets can reach once Kevin Durant returns (28:30), what Julius Randle and RJ Barrett are doing for the Knicks (39:00), Malik Monk and LaMelo Ball’s production on the Hornets (51:00), and the steep decline of the Sacramento Kings (58:00). Hosts: Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Verno and KOC are back this Friday covering the Bucks' win over the Pelicans and what makes the Pelicans the most confusing team in the NBA (4:30), Michael Malone’s ill-advised comments after the Nuggets lost a tough one to the Wizards (18:00), Ben Simmons's devastating defense stifling Luka Doncic (27:00), and G League player Jonathan Kuminga making a name for himself on the Ignite team (34:40). Then they delve into the mailbag to answer questions about basketball, life, video games, and more (40:45). Hosts: Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Verno and KOC are back this Tuesday getting into the Wizards’ overtime win over the Lakers and five-game winning streak that raises the question of whether the team’s newfound success will last (0:30). Then they talk about what the Timberwolves can do to salvage this season and their future (17:00), whether Houston should rebuild or try for the playoffs (25:30), their picks for All-Star reserves (37:00), and more. Hosts: Chris Vernon and Kevin O'Connor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Verno and KOC take a look at the All-Star starters and talk about the inclusion of Luka Doncic over Damian Lillard (1:00), then get into the injury-riddled Blazers and Lillard’s incredible effort (13:00). After that they jump around the league and hit the Celtics and what pieces they might still need (32:00), Utah’s continued dominance through a tough section of its schedule (36:00), and the Nets' win over the Lakers (38:30) before answering a few listener questions (48:00). Hosts: Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Verno and KOC have so much to talk about this week. They get into the Utah Jazz just dominating the league (1:00), Julius Randle’s 44-point game (16:30), and the Hawks taking a nosedive in recent weeks with De'Andre Hunter out (26:30). Then they talk about the Suns’ success with Devin Booker and Chris Paul (45:00), AD’s injury (50:30), and Draymond Green’s comments about Andre Drummond and Blake Griffin being benched after their teams made them available for trades (56:00).  Hosts: Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

ESPN’s Zach Lowe stops by to talk with Verno and KOC about how he got into sports journalism (0:45), the teams he’s most surprised by this season (20:00), the state of his All-Star ballot (31:45), Joel Embiid’s monster season (51:00), and quite a lot more. Hosts: Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor Guest: Zach Lowe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Verno and KOC take a tour around the league, starting with LaMelo Ball's success in Charlotte (3:00) and what factors play into the increasingly early success of young players over the past decade (11:00). Then they jet over to San Antonio, where Dejounte Murray led the Spurs to victory over the Warriors (28:36) and Steph Curry continued to make a fringe case for MVP (31:30). Finally, they hit Utah to discuss an underappreciated Jazz team (34:40), Boston to parse through trade whispers (37:45), and Sacramento to acknowledge De’Aaron Fox’s bona fide star power (51:15). Hosts: Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Verno and KOC are back this Friday talking about Adam Silver’s LeBron James–induced headache over the NBA’s All-Star plans in Atlanta (0:30) and James's MVP-level performance against the Nuggets on Thursday night (18:05). Then KOC officially hits the panic button on the struggling Dallas Mavericks, as Kristaps Porzingis continues to play below expectations (28:16). And finally, KOC and Verno give some love to six players who deserve more shine for their achievements this season (41:30). Hosts: Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Verno and KOC get into LaMelo Ball’s first start and Malik Monk’s fantastic play in the Hornets’ win over the Heat, as well as how the Heat haven’t been putting the pedal to the metal this season after their Finals run (7:23). Then they talk about what is causing the Mavericks to perform below expectations, including worse shooting than last season and Kristaps Porzingis’s inability to stay on the court and play at a high level (16:26). They take a look at this hungry Rockets team (32:36), the Grizzlies’ winning streak (38:30), the Pelicans’ issues (47:45), and why Bradley Beal likely won’t be traded this season (1:03:37). Hosts: Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this Friday, Chris and Kevin get into the new-look, defensively minded Rockets after the James Harden trade brought them Victor Oladipo (8:00), how good Jerami Grant looks on the "giant killer" Pistons (15:25), and what Mikal Bridges brings to the bright-now Suns (21:35). Then Chris shows us his diamond hands in a game of Do Not Sell, where he invites KOC to buy low on some of the players whose stock is going straight to the moon (30:30).  Hosts: Chris Vernon and Kevin O'Connor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chris and Kevin start off by reflecting on the legacy of the late great Kobe Bryant a year after his death (3:00). Then they get into the pure fun of the Lakers-Cavaliers game Monday night where LeBron James went for 46 points in a dominant performance (12:15). And in an episode all about the surprises of the season, a not-so-surprising surprise is that LeBron James has not been coasting early, and the Lakers look like the clear favorites (14:30), but the Clippers are not too far behind with Kawhi and Paul George playing out of their minds after faltering in the bubble (18:45). Other surprises of the season include the little amount of separation between teams and how many teams are trying to make a playoff run this season (22:45), Tom Thibodeau’s defensive impact on the Knicks (29:30), Jaylen Brown’s explosion towards greatness (37:00), and the NBA’s plans for a potential All-Star Weekend in Atlanta in February (46:00). And finally, Chris and Kevin give their awards predictions a quarter of the way into the

Chris and Kevin get into the most interesting games of the week, starting with the Lakers’ lackadaisical win over the not-quite-complete Bucks (0:45). Then they get into Tom Thibodeau’s continually surprising positive effect on the Knicks after a win over the Warriors (18:35), the difference in development between RJ Barrett and Zion Williamson, and the Pelicans’ struggles this season (30:00). Finally, they get into the generally unremarked-upon success of the Utah Jazz and Shaq’s bizarre interaction with Donovan Mitchell after their win over the Pelicans (44:00), and the late-night trade of Kevin Porter Jr. from the Cavaliers to the Rockets for a protected second-round pick (54:00). Hosts: Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chris and Kevin dive into the emerging story lines in the league, starting with how James Harden and KD played together against the Bucks on Monday (1:00), how CJ McCollum’s injury, in conjunction with Nurkic’s injury, will affect Portland’s playoff aspirations (12:15), and Jamal Murray’s disconcerting step down from his bubble play in contrast to Paul George’s step up (16:45). Then they talk about whether the Suns are getting the most out of Devin Booker (29:00), how the Grizzlies are playing with Ja Morant back in the fold (37:00), and the Warriors’ win over the Lakers on Monday (50:30).  Hosts: Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chris and Kevin discuss the details of the intricate and wide-reaching James Harden trade on Wednesday (0:40). Then they get into a conversation about what the nature of Harden’s trade request says about the changes that have occurred across the NBA and NBA coverage, including player empowerment, the media boom, and shifts in fandom (12:30). They cap it all off with a conversation about the specific on-court and off-court chemistry concerns for the Nets with their new star-studded roster (40:30). Hosts: Chris Vernon and Kevin O’Connor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices