Matt Barnes on Kobe Bryant: The Hardest Player to Guard in the NBA

Guarding Kobe Bryant

• 🏀 Kobe Bryant is identified by Matt Barnes as the hardest player to guard in the NBA.
• 🧠 Kobe's approach was described as a mental game, focusing on attacking any perceived weakness and destroying opponents mentally.
• 💡 Unlike others who relied on specific moves, Kobe's attacks were unpreconceived, adapting to how defenders lined up or swiped at the ball.

Other Tough Covers

• 🌟 While Kobe was the toughest, Rudy Gay and Jeff Green are mentioned as players with significant untapped potential who could have been great with a different mentality.
• 🎯 Barnes primarily guarded the opposing team's number one option, meaning he rarely had to worry about secondary scorers off the bench.

The Genesis of 'All The Smoke'

• 🎙️ The podcast 'All The Smoke' originated from a casual conversation between Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson while smoking weed in Berkeley.
• 🤝 Barnes pitched the idea to Showtime Digital, initially facing resistance to including Jackson, but ultimately securing a deal for both.
• 🏆 The podcast quickly gained traction, winning Sports Podcast of the Year in its first season, disrupting the established media landscape.

Evolution into a Media Company

• 🚀 After leaving Showtime due to Paramount's acquisition, Barnes and Jackson launched their own company, securing a significant deal with DraftKings.
• 📈 The company has expanded rapidly, now encompassing basketball, boxing, MMA, and launching NFL and exploring MLB, alongside political content and documentaries.
• 🏢 What started as a podcast has grown into a substantial business with 35 employees and its own building.

Post-Playing Career and Media Landscape

• 🌿 Barnes's first mission after retiring was advocating for cannabis use among NBA players, pushing the league to reconsider its policies.
• 🗣️ Encouraged by his articulate interviews, Barnes entered media, aiming to change the narrative and provide authentic athlete perspectives.
• 💰 He highlights the significant financial opportunities in the current media landscape, where brands value athlete influencers and direct-to-fan content creation.