Interview Only Part 2: TikTok basketball influencer Chris “Lethal Shooter” Matthews

Summary

Summary of "The Stephen A. Smith Show" Episode: Interview Only Part 2 with Kenny Smith

Release Date: November 17, 2024
Host: Stephen A. Smith
Guest: Kenny Smith

In this engaging episode of "The Stephen A. Smith Show," Stephen A. Smith sits down with esteemed basketball analyst and former NBA player Kenny Smith. Their conversation delves deep into the nuances of basketball training, the importance of work ethic, the current state of the NBA and college basketball, and the essence of greatness in sports. The dialogue is rich with insights, personal anecdotes, and motivational perspectives that cater to both athletes and fans alike.

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1. Training and Skill Development

Stephen A. Smith commences the discussion by seeking Kenny's feedback on his own performance, initiating a dialogue about the intricacies of basketball training:

• Stephen A. Smith ([01:02]): "So, man, how'd I do?"

Kenny Smith commends Stephen's dedication, highlighting the importance of effective training techniques:

• Kenny Smith ([01:04]): "You look great... you was ready to learn. And that's why your shot got better."

Key Points:

• Emphasis on footwork and balance in training.
• Stephen acknowledges the unique insights Kenny provides about his playing style.
• The necessity of consistent practice to enhance skills.

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2. Avoiding Complacency and Maintaining Work Ethic

The conversation transitions to the theme of staying motivated and not becoming complacent, especially after achieving success:

• Stephen A. Smith ([02:12]): "But I really appreciate it, man."

• Kenny Smith ([02:12]): "If you want to be the best, you can never be feeling like you've arrived."

Key Points:

• Kenny stresses that true greatness requires perpetual effort and resilience.
• Stephen reflects on the broader implications of individual performance on team and league dynamics.
• Both agree that maintaining a competitive edge is crucial for sustained success.

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3. The Current State of the NBA

Kenny shares his observations on the modern NBA landscape, praising competitiveness while critiquing certain complacent attitudes:

• Kenny Smith ([04:48]): "In the last few years, this is the best I've ever seen."

• Stephen A. Smith ([03:52]): "You're depriving 50 others of doing it."

Key Points:

• Recognition of teams like the Cavaliers and Sacramento Kings for their hungry play styles.
• Critique of players who become too comfortable post-success, potentially hindering their performance.
• The importance of relentless dedication to maintain high standards within the league.

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4. College Basketball and Player Motivation

The discussion shifts to college basketball, where Kenny expresses both admiration and concern:

• Kenny Smith ([05:29]): "Some of the kids now are just getting so infatuated with money so fast."

• Stephen A. Smith ([05:28]): "I love it."

Key Points:

• Appreciation for the passion and skill level in college basketball.
• Concern over young athletes prioritizing financial gains over personal and athletic development.
• The impact of commercialization on the purity and dedication within college sports.

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5. Defining Greatness in Basketball

Stephen delves into what truly defines a basketball superstar, emphasizing work ethic and genuine love for the game:

• Stephen A. Smith ([05:52]): "The true element of greatness from superstars is those who put in the work."

• Kenny Smith ([06:21]): "Greatness takes [...] you studied your notes, you studied the stats, you studied the names."

Key Points:

• Highlighting legendary players like Jordan, Kobe, LeBron, and Steph Curry for their relentless work ethic.
• The intrinsic motivation that drives superstars to excel and inspire others.
• The role of continuous learning and preparation in achieving and maintaining greatness.

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6. Reflections on the Basketball Hall of Fame

Kenny shares a heartfelt moment regarding his recognition by the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame:

• Kenny Smith ([07:04]): "I got to meet Michael Jordan. [...] It's priceless, man."

• Stephen A. Smith ([07:04]): "Anybody that contributes to the game of basketball in any way should be appreciated."

Key Points:

• Kenny's pride in having his memorabilia exhibited at the Hall of Fame.
• The significance of recognizing all contributors to basketball, not just players.
• Encouraging a holistic appreciation of the sport's ecosystem, including coaches, analysts, and other behind-the-scenes roles.

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7. Commitment to Continued Improvement

In the concluding segment, Stephen expresses his determination to further his athleticism with Kenny's guidance:

• Stephen A. Smith ([08:10]): "I'm coming back to work out with you more... I understand it now."

• Kenny Smith ([08:35]): "Absolutely."

Key Points:

• Emphasis on lifelong learning and physical maintenance, especially as one ages.
• Mutual respect and commitment between hosts to uphold high standards in their respective fields.
• A motivational close encouraging listeners to stay dedicated and "locked in."

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Stephen A. Smith ([01:02]): "So, man, how'd I do?"
• Kenny Smith ([02:12]): "If you want to be the best, you can never be feeling like you've arrived."
• Stephen A. Smith ([03:52]): "You're depriving 50 others of doing it."
• Kenny Smith ([04:48]): "In the last few years, this is the best I've ever seen."
• Stephen A. Smith ([05:52]): "The true element of greatness from superstars is those who put in the work."
• Kenny Smith ([07:04]): "I got to meet Michael Jordan. [...] It's priceless, man."

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Conclusion

This episode of "The Stephen A. Smith Show" with Kenny Smith offers a profound exploration of what it takes to excel in basketball and maintain one's status in a highly competitive environment. Through their candid conversation, both hosts underscore the importance of relentless effort, continuous improvement, and maintaining a humble attitude despite success. Their insights serve as valuable takeaways for athletes aiming to elevate their game and for fans seeking a deeper understanding of the sport's inner workings.

Transcript

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[Stephen A. Smith]

So, man, how'd I do?

[Kenny Smith]

You did great. I'm not gonna lie to you. All due respect, right, I've seen the shot. We did our thing all star weekend. But I've never trained you right. You got my respect, man.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I'm gonna come back. Yeah, I'm gonna come back. I'm old. I pulled a little something right here, you know, but I slipped on the court a little bit before. A little something. But I gotta give you credit where credit is due. All my years of playing basketball, knowing basketball, I've never had somebody talk to me about my footwork, how I went up, how I come down, how balanced I need to be. They always said to me, don't lean right or fall left or fall right. But I really appreciate it, man.

[Kenny Smith]

And I can say, like I said, I'm not doing this because of the cameras for 57. No, no, no. I'm being serious right now. You look great. And the one thing I love about you, especially training you, you're really understanding. And that's why I love to train certain people that know I can't do everything perfect. When I was telling you something, you was looking me right in my eyes. You was ready to learn. And that's why your shot got better. So, I mean, two, three more sessions, I think we might be ready for anybody that want to step up against us.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Why is it that we live in a World where you got cats, this is their living. And the more successful you can be, the more money you can make. But they're not doing these kind of things on a regular religious basis. Why do you think that is?

[Kenny Smith]

Well, I think some people get comfortable, you know, and that's why me and you love the greats. The greats never got comfortable. Like, you're one of those guys, you're never comfortable with what you do. But I feel like in today's basketball, respectfully saying this, a lot of the people that are playing in some of the professional sports, once they get a taste of a little bit success, they forget what got them there. And I feel like if you want to be the best, you can never be feeling like you've arrived. You always got to look back when you used to eat bologna sandwiches of some of that stature. So I feel like a lot of guys now, they'll go away from making 500 shots a day. They might just go to shoot around. You heard what LeBron said yesterday. He said he go to the game five hours early and this dude, 40 years old. But imagine if every professional was that way. But they're not right now. But I feel like it's just showing in today's basketball, the people who can't shoot respectfully, you're not putting in the work. And the people who are shooting well, they're putting in the work.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I look for the competitive fervor. And one of the things that, you know, you got so many people that are so sensitive to the criticism, to the critiques, et cetera. Here's how I look at it, and I want to say this in front of you in the camera. There's 450 players in the league. For every one cat that got a spot, there's 50 who can't get in. So if you're not doing a job as a player, if you're not doing a job as a scout, if you're not doing a job as a Coach or a GM, there's 30 coaches in the NBA, obviously, 30 presidents of basketball operations, 30 GMs, et cetera, et cetera. For every one person that doesn't do it, but you still got your job, you depriving 50 others of doing it. So it's not me looking at somebody and critiquing them just to be critiquing them. It's saying, wait a minute. If you in this position, in this role, this is your job description. And if you can't do it, it's supposed to be somebody else that's there. Is there anything wrong with that?

[Kenny Smith]

I mean, I agree with you. That's how life works. You know what I'm saying? If you're not putting out a certain type of product, respectfully, you shouldn't be in that position. And I feel like. I feel the same way you feel. I feel like a lot of people are getting comfortable. And like I said before, if you want to be the best, you can never get comfortable. I don't care if you had 40 points yesterday, you got to go to bed, wake up in the morning, work out again, try to do it again. But a lot of guys now, to me, as a trainer, I'm talking as a trainer, you know, being around. You know, being around this field, some people get comfortable, and those are the people that I don't train. I like to train people who are hungry.

[Stephen A. Smith]

So you turn down people?

[Kenny Smith]

Respectfully, I do turn down a lot.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Because, like I said, so there's professional athletes. You have said, no, I'm gonna do my thing. You do your thing.

[Kenny Smith]

Well, if you're not committed to working out every single day, if you're not committed to possibly if I see your shot and I say, I need two a days. If you're not committed to understanding, you might need to make a thousand shots a day. I don't want nothing to do with you. I need a person that, if I say, hey, Stephen, I need you to shoot 500, I want you to say, I want to shoot 700. My man. Let's go. Those are the type of guys I like to work with.

[Stephen A. Smith]

How do you feel about the state of the NBA game today?

[Kenny Smith]

I feel like it's great, and I think I spoke to you about that earlier. I love the way how hard everybody's playing right now, especially the Cavs, the Sacramento Kings, everybody. These guys are playing hungry. You get what I'm saying? And I felt like, like you were saying some of the players before, they were getting so comfortable, you know, coming out there. I'm not trying to say you can't have friends, but everybody out there laughing and playing around for, no, we need you guys in kill mode. Because like you saying, it's a thousand million other people that can play. Can they play in the NBA? No. But understand that you are a special being. Understand that you are the creme de la creme, and take this serious every single day. But I feel like the NBA right now, to me, in the last few years, this is the best I've ever seen.

[Stephen A. Smith]

What about college basketball?

[Kenny Smith]

I love it.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Really?

[Kenny Smith]

I love it really. The only thing I don't love, like I said, because you saw what happened with Tony Bennett. You know, my ex coach, he just. He just stepped down as well. I don't love that kids are just going to the highest bidder, and I think that's taking the love away from the kids in college basketball. But I think playing hard is great, but the only thing I don't love is some of the kids now are just getting so infatuated with money so fast.

[Stephen A. Smith]

What I love about the superstars, whether it was Jordan to Kobe to LeBron, Steph Curry, to me, the true element of greatness from superstars is. Is those who put in the work. And you see, they put in the work. You could tell they put in the work all the time. And they compel you to love the game because you see the love they have for the game while they're performing in the game.

[Kenny Smith]

That's a really good example. So yesterday when I was watching LeBron, when I saw. I said, this dude, 40, and got.

[Stephen A. Smith]

A triple double, his third straight triple double at the time of this tape.

[Kenny Smith]

And then look, after the game, they asked him, how you feel? He said, I feel great because I'm putting in the work. And the one thing you're saying is the guys that you name me and you can watch them and feel like we could run through the wall. And we need everybody to step it up in that way. Just like you, when I'm watching you on tv, you've studied your notes, you've studied the stats, you studied the names. And that's what a lot of people don't understand. That's what greatness takes. And if the NBA wants to stay in the state that it's in for right now, we need guys that are gonna go hard. We don't want. No. And remember, me and you not talking like we NBA players. I don't want people. They talking like they. No, I'm just saying we're talking like.

[Stephen A. Smith]

We know the game.

[Kenny Smith]

I know the game. We need guys that are gonna run through the wall and play hard.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Yes.

[Kenny Smith]

Yeah.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Yeah. Gotta talk to you about that, Mr. Naismith. Basketball hall of Fame. Talk about that for a second.

[Kenny Smith]

So God is good. I'm actually not in the hall of Fame, but they do have an exhibit for me in the Naismith Basketball hall of Fame. And for the NBA to. I can't even talk about it right now because it gets me emotional. But for them to say they want my rims and my shoes and my shorts to be in the Naismith Basketball hall of Fame. And that same night, I got to meet Michael Jordan.

[Greg Rosenthal]

Right?

[Kenny Smith]

You know what I mean? And I can't even explain it, bro. It's priceless, man. I never played in the NBA, and to have that type of moment was insane.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Let me help your conscience when it comes to being a Hall of Famer. An owner once said this to me. He said, yeah, you see them guys playing on the basketball court? I said, yeah. He said, if there wasn't a basketball court to play on, if there wasn't lights that was turned on, if there wasn't 20,000 seats in an arena, if the engineer didn't make sure everything was working right, if the producers and the editors didn't make sure everything was working right, if the construction workers and the architects didn't put this stuff together to make sure this stuff was right in place, what would they be right? He said, so anybody that contributes to the game of basketball in any way should be appreciated.

[Kenny Smith]

Congratulations.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Thank you so much. But I got something that I wanted to say. I wanted to wait until you train me a little bit, show me a little bit of stuff, you know, and I got more to learn. I'm coming back. I'm coming back to work out with you more. Yes. As I'm rolling up on 60 and all of that stuff, I want to roll up on 60 looking like I'm in my 30s or 40s. That's what I want to do. That's what I'm. But I just wanted to say this to you, to everybody out there. I understand now. I understand it now. Did I get that right, babe?

[Kenny Smith]

Absolutely.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Did I get that right?

[Kenny Smith]

Absolutely.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Yes, sir. I understand it now.

[Kenny Smith]

Stay locked in, guys.

[Stephen A. Smith]

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[Stephen A. Smith]

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[Greg Rosenthal]

What's up, everyone? It's Greg Rosenthal, and I'm teaming up with the King of spring. Daniel Jeremiah he requires me to say that we're going to be bringing you 40s and free agents, the only podcast you'll need this NFL Draft season in from DJs mock drafts to my top 101, free agents will have it covered for you, with all new episodes every Thursday keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL Draft. Listen to 40s and free agents starting on March 6th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.