Podcast Summary
Podcast: No Dunks (iHeartPodcasts)
Episode: The Drop | Leigh Ellis Returns To Talk Traveling, Basketball & Life
Date: January 16, 2026
Hosts: J.E. Skeets, Tas Melis, Trey Kirby, JD
Special Guest: Leigh Ellis
Episode Overview
This celebratory episode marks 20 years of podcasting for the No Dunks crew and features the much-awaited return of Leigh Ellis, a beloved former member who left in 2022 to pursue his dream of traveling the globe and playing pickup basketball. The episode dives deep into Leigh’s basketball and travel adventures, the lessons he's learned from different cultures, and his quest to turn his experiences into an inspiring show that extends well beyond basketball highlights. The crew also reminisces about classic podcast moments, discusses current NBA headlines, and explores some light-hearted, rapid-fire topics.
Main Topics & Key Discussions
1. Leigh Ellis Returns: Catching Up After 3.5 Years
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Leigh’s Departure & Project Origins
- Left No Dunks in Oct 2022 to pursue the "20-2020 Challenge": play pickup basketball in 20 countries, 20 cities, 20 games.
- Successfully completed in 14 months and has since transitioned the venture into "Basketball Passport," aiming for a docuseries.
- [06:01] Leigh: "I wrapped it up in 14 months and I was like, oh, damn... So I sort of rebranded to this new basketball passport.”
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Project Evolution & Goals
- Building comprehensive stories around the culture, people, and courts, not just hoops (“I don't think there's a huge mark for watching a middle-aged man just play pickup alone…” [07:21])
- Main challenge: DIY content creation, from traveling and playing to producing and pitching footage for streaming platforms.
- Aspirations include streaming on Netflix or similar.
2. Top 5 Favorite Basketball Experiences Abroad
Leigh lists his most memorable international basketball moments, each with unique stories, reflecting the culture and community at every locale.
[Time index for each story]
#5 – Kenya (Umoja Court, Nairobi) [09:49]
- Hosted a clinic and a tournament at the “Rucker Park of Nairobi,” run by Masai Ujiri’s Giants of Africa.
- The community rolled out the red carpet—moved the tournament date for Leigh.
- “Playing under lights there with the crowd and everything like that, it was just such a cool experience...” [10:58]
#4 – Argentina (Buenos Aires) [12:41]
- Organized with a local named Tarzan—turnout of around 100 people.
- Played on the picturesque Ginobili Court.
- “...Argentina is such a fantastic basketball country... the amount of people who I meet at these who know the show, who have followed the show, followed The Starters, The Basketball Jones—that's what's truly incredible.” [14:13]
#3 – Brazil (Rio de Janeiro) [15:25]
- Welcomed by the local community for another epic pickup event.
- Talks about the universality and mutual respect of the game.
#2 – Serbia (Belgrade, Kalemegdan Park) [16:23]
- “Look at this unbelievable setting...” [16:23]
- Shared a story about followers bringing him bananas in homage to his potassi-yum segments.
- “When you get photos like that, you're just like, wow, that's a framer right there. That is just on the iPhone.” [17:41]
#1 – China (Beijing, Cooling Tower Court) [18:12]
- Epic adventure trying to find and access a court built inside a decommissioned nuclear cooling tower.
- Navigated language barriers and technology obstacles, ultimately aided by a young local, Hannah.
- “After about an hour... still pouring the rain... I said, I'm going to come back tomorrow. Is there any chance you can come back tomorrow and basically be a translator and help me? And she was like, yeah, yeah, no worries.” [22:18]
- Rewarded Hannah with a Kevin Durant jersey for her help.
- Reflects on how each journey is a story of uncertainty and community.
3. Challenges of the Solo Content Creator Life [30:08]
- Filming: “No team at all. I think, no, the hardest thing… embracing the uncertainty… but more challenging… is when I've had deals...and then they've fallen through.” [30:42]
- Staying motivated by community support and the potential for impact beyond just content.
4. Impact & Viral Moments [33:17]
- Viral Video: “In Belgrade, actually. That one had about 3 million views…” [33:17]
- Positive impact stories: In Zagreb, highlighting a rundown historic court led to government renovations.
- “That’s the sort of genuine impact that I’m trying to leave behind: so much better than the way I left it.” [34:39]
5. Packing, Gear & Basketball Logistics [36:29]
- Always travels with several deflated basketballs and kicks off half-court competitions.
- “I always carry one in my carry-on for that reason, if I lose my luggage or whatever, I've always got a ball.” [37:05]
6. International Basketball Culture & Pickup Observations
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On differences: intensity, rules, trash talk, and how three-on-three is popular in many locations.
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“Everywhere I’ve gone, people have welcomed me and showed me around, and I don’t want to separate people, but... the big community and people coming out and supporting.” [16:03]
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Most challenging run: “Probably Brazil—just athletes, Hoopers...maybe the football, the soccer translates as well.” [41:49]
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Notable Cultural Quotes:
- “I've been called the crazy gringo in Brazil.” [32:33]
- “...the universal hilarity of seeing people try to dislodge a wedgie.” [05:22]
- On trash talk: “When you step out on the court, you hear a few things... all the niceties go away…” [32:55]
7. NBA Discussion & Analysis
International NBA & EuroLeague
- No Dunks crew and Leigh discuss current NBA news, including games in Berlin, Anthony Black’s viral Eurostep dunk, EuroLeague anxiety over NBA/FIBA’s new league, and Real Madrid/Barcelona split [37:56].
NBA Teams & Standouts
- Pistons: “Cade Cunningham…he is so smooth... passes well, trusts his teammates... they were honestly like two or three shots away from knocking out the Knicks last season.” [65:23]
- Knicks: Discussing fatigue, Thibodeau’s rotations, impact of injuries. Skeptical about deep playoff runs.
- All-Star Format (USA vs World): “It makes no difference what the format is if the players don't play—Preach...You need the players to feel like we've got to win this game, and they don't, and then they're not going to.” [67:41] (Leigh on lack of All-Star Game competitiveness)
On Tanking & Lottery Reform
- Leigh proposes more radical lottery punishment for sustained failure: “If you finish last in the east and the west, you don't get a draft pick.” [70:04]
8. Life & Travel Sidebars
- Adventure stories: swimming with sharks in Belize, dangling over Victoria Falls in Africa with only two men holding his ankles [87:26].
- Packing quirks: travels with basketball nets to fix up courts; favorite bread discovery in Belgrade [101:29].
- Not being lonely while traveling: “I think sometimes when you get back to the hotel, you just want to see your boys and your wife, but...other than that...it's not like I'm just out there playing ball, having fun, and drinking beer, but I'm actually working pretty much every day to try to create the content.” [99:36]
- Current count: ~60 countries visited [100:59].
Notable Quotes & Moments
- On Culture and Connection:
- “Basketball is the language. Like, you can host a clinic when people...don’t speak English. We can teach through body language and movement and non-verbal communication to still achieve something.” (45:00)
- On Uncertainty:
- “Part of that is like, let's just see what happens. Like, embracing the uncertainty...” [30:17]
- On Content Creation:
- "Everything's a lesson in that sense. You know, you learn and you just think... did I do something wrong? Was too aggressive or not aggressive enough? ...But it's fine. You keep on going." [31:30]
- On NBA All-Star Effort:
- "It makes no difference what the format is if the players don't play...You need the players to feel like we've got to win this game, and they don't, and then they're not going to." [67:41]
- On Leaving Impact:
- "...the genuine impact that I'm trying to leave behind—so much better than the way I left it." [34:39]
- On Basketball Expressing Universal Values:
- “...once you play, then it's like, all right, let's go. You know, and it was really, really cool.” [15:25]
- On International Trash Talk:
- “I've been called the crazy gringo in Brazil.” [32:33]
Rapid Fire + Fun Segments
- Airport/packing strategies for basketballs and nets.
- Admitting what each person “half-asses” in life – taxes (Leigh), in-ear monitors (Trey), sagging pants as a teen (Tas).
- Favorite winter Olympic events: hockey, halfpipe snowboarding, speed skating.
- “Have you ever touched a horse?”: Most panelists have; some adventures shared about horses on beaches.
- Most unusual food/travel stories and embarrassing podcast punishments.
Memorable Episode Moments
- Leigh narrates his Beijing basketball adventure—an odyssey of miscommunications, rain, and kindness from strangers—showcasing the spirit of the journey.
- Celebratory shout-outs: Fans from across the world tuning in live; “Shout out to Will, Johnny, Tarzan, Conrad, Hannah…”.
- The debate over best/worst courts and international pickup rules.
- Leigh’s steadfast plug for Netflix, with repeated jokes about "tsurandos@netflix.com" being the key to a deal.
- Humorous, self-deprecating talk about old podcast punishments: wetsuit, chest waxing, and Taco Bell eating.
Concluding Thoughts
- Leigh remains committed to sharing positive basketball culture stories from around the world, hoping to inspire community investment in public courts and to spotlight how the game builds friendship and transcends language barriers.
- His ultimate goal: expand the simple act of pickup hoops into a docuseries that celebrates cross-cultural connection and the game’s power.
- The No Dunks crew reflects on the serendipity and endurance of 20 years making basketball content, with heartfelt thanks from Leigh and the team.
Quick Reference Timestamps for Notable Segments
- Leigh’s project recap/goals: 06:01–08:45
- Top 5 international experiences: 09:49–26:29
- DIY filmmaking, viral moments: 30:08–35:54
- NBA discussion (including Pistons/Knicks): 46:06–52:23, 65:23–66:22
- On tanking and All-Star: 67:41–72:49
- Adventure sidebars: 87:26–90:15
- Rapid Fire/Fun (Olympics, horses, packing): 102:58–113:10
Final Notes
This episode is a love letter to basketball, travel, and chance encounters—with laughs, nostalgia, and insights for fans old and new. Leigh’s adventures remind us that the best sports stories often happen far from the limelight, on sun-baked outdoor courts where “basketball is the language.”