Former NBA champion and All The Smoke co-host Matt Barnes joins LZ Granderson for a raw and unfiltered conversation about life after basketball, the realities of sports media, and the state of modern discourse around athletes. Matt opens up about his transition from the NBA to media, why so many sports journalists misrepresent athletes, and how he’s learned to stay authentic in an industry obsessed with hot takes. The two also go deep on the disrespectful Kobe Bryant discourse, the mysterious world of brand “top 10” lists, and why college may or may not still be worth it in today’s world. 🎧 Timestamps: 0:00 – Welcome to The LZ Granderson Show 3:05 – Matt Barnes Joins LZ 4:20 – Transitioning from the NBA to Media 10:35 – What Sports Journalism Gets Wrong About Athletes 16:25 – Staying True to Yourself in Media 18:35 – Addressing The Disrespectful Kobe Discourse 21:50 – Who Creates Lists At Major Brands?! 25:05 – Pressure on Athletes to Make Hot Takes? 27:10 – Biggest NBA What If’s 36:30 – Is College Still Worth It? 38:52 – UCLA’s Impact on Matt’s Career 40:50 – What’s Matt’s Legacy? 👉 Subscribe for more in-depth conversations that go beyond the headlines. #LZGranderson #MattBarnes #NBA #SportsMedia #KobeBryant #AllTheSmoke #ESPN #Athletes #SportsJournalism
Former NBA champion and All The Smoke co-host Matt Barnes joins LZ Granderson for a raw and unfiltered conversation about life after basketball, the realities of sports media, and the state of modern discourse around athletes.
Matt opens up about his transition from the NBA to media, why so many sports journalists misrepresent athletes, and how he’s learned to stay authentic in an industry obsessed with hot takes. The two also go deep on the disrespectful Kobe Bryant discourse, the mysterious world of brand “top 10” lists, and why college may or may not still be worth it in today’s world.
🎧 Timestamps:
0:00 – Welcome to The LZ Granderson Show
3:05 – Matt Barnes Joins LZ
4:20 – Transitioning from the NBA to Media
10:35 – What Sports Journalism Gets Wrong About Athletes
16:25 – Staying True to Yourself in Media
18:35 – Addressing The Disrespectful Kobe Discourse
21:50 – Who Creates Lists At Major Brands?!
25:05 – Pressure on Athletes to Make Hot Takes?
27:10 – Biggest NBA What If’s
36:30 – Is College Still Worth It?
38:52 – UCLA’s Impact on Matt’s Career
40:50 – What’s Matt’s Legacy?
👉 Subscribe for more in-depth conversations that go beyond the headlines.
#LZGranderson #MattBarnes #NBA #SportsMedia #KobeBryant #AllTheSmoke #ESPN #Athletes #SportsJournalism