What are the best podcasts made by NBA players? Draymod Green, JJ Redick, CJ McCollum...

The NBA has seen players, both active and former, join the media world. Their insights and knowledge of basketball make it all the more interesting to hear their thoughts on the current events going on in the league. Podcasts have been one medium that NBA players have begun to explore in recent years, and several of them have seen decent success. Here is our list of top 5 NBA podcasts hosted by NBA players.

5. Pull Up with CJ McCollum

New Orleans Pelicans’ CJ McCollum is one of the few active NBA players who hosts his own podcast. He actually studied journalism at Lehigh University before joining the NBA. He co-hosts the series Pull Up with CJ McCollum together with ESPN analyst Jordan Schultz. He has had several guest stars on the show, including Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony. McCollum’s future in broadcasting looks bright, as he recently signed a Multiplatform deal with ESPN as an NBA analyst.

4. Road Trippin’

Getting its start in 2017, Road Trippin’ is one of the longest-running podcasts hosted by NBA players. It is hosted by two former players, Richard Jefferson and Channing Frye, and journalist Allie Clifton. Guests have included the likes of Dwayne Wade and LeBron James. It began as a way to kill time while they were on the road with the Cavaliers, but now it’s one of the most insightful NBA podcasts out there.

3. All the Smoke

All the Smoke is hosted by two former NBA players, Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson. The weekly series features the two former champions giving their unfiltered and outspoken opinions and they don’t shy away from controversial topics. Guest stars have included Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, and Carmelo Anthony.

2. Old Man and the Three with JJ Redick and Tommy Alter

Former NBA player JJ Redick co-hosts Old Man and the Three together with producer Tommy Alter. They started the show when Redick was still an active player in the NBA in 2020. He announced his retirement in 2021 and then became an on-air analyst for ESPN. The show has had success due to how comfortable the athletes feel speaking there as opposed to traditional media.

1. The Draymond Green Show

The Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green’s podcast took off at full speed the morning after the Warriors lost Game 1 of the NBA Finals in 2022. Instead of ignoring the issues, Green looked them directly in the eye and talked about them on The Draymond Green Show. Green is one of the most outspoken players in the league and after the Game 1 loss, everyone wanted to know what he had to say. That Finals series helped his podcast skyrocket to the top, giving content to other media outlets and giving Celtics coaches reason to listen as well. Hearing the thoughts of an NBA player himself while the series was happening was something fans had never experienced before. The morning after the Warriors won the championship, it was the 11th most popular podcast on Apple.