The NBA has entered a new era of current and former players taking to podcasts or talk shows to give fans exclusive inside stories. This new era has given many basketball fans around the world ideas of what NBA players go through and their takes on situations around the league.
NBA fans have gotten the treat of hearing stories from basketball greats through these shows. All the Smoke Productions is bringing multiple retired veterans together, and Sacramento Kings fans especially should be interested.
All the Smoke Productions announced their new team of retired basketball legends, including former Sacramento duo Rajon Rondo and DeMarcus Cousins, along with co-former King Matt Barnes.
Rondo, a four-time NBA All-Star, played in Sacramento during the 2015-16 season, where he averaged 11.9 points, 6.0 rebounds, a league-high 11.7 assists, and 2.0 steals per game. While his time as a King was short-lived, Rondo is an all-time talent and one of the last true point guards the league will ever see.
Cousins, the 5th overall pick by the Kings in the 2010 NBA Draft, played five-and-a-half seasons in Sacramento, where he cemented himself as a franchise legend. In 470 games as a King, Cousins averaged 21.1 points, 10.8 rebounds, 1.4 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game on his way to three All-Star appearances and two All-NBA Second Teams.
Barnes, a one-time NBA Champion, had two short stints in Sacramento, one in 2004-05 and the most recent in 2016-17. While Barnes did not have a lasting impact in Sacramento, having three former Kings team up for the talk show could make it worth tuning into.
Barnes and Stephen Jackson launched the All the Smoke podcast in 2019, as the two retired NBA veterans have done a phenomenal job helping the sport grow off the court. Giving active and retired players a voice is a concept that these shows have helped tremendously, and the industry will continue to grow.
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