Knuckleheads with Quentin Richardson & Darius Miles

The Two Taps celebration? It never would have happened without Trevor Ariza, this week’s guest on Knuckleheads with Quentin Richardson and Darius Miles. The guys talk about what it was like when Q and D were coming to Trevor’s high school practices when they were on the Clippers. They laugh about how good Westchester High’s team was then and discuss in detail how the Two Taps became a thing. The Cali kid then reveals how close he was to choosing Florida for school but ended up staying home to go to UCLA. He also gets into his decision to be a one-and-done and ultimately getting drafted by the Knicks. Q and Trevor reminisce about their time together in New York, including some wild pranks that happened on that team. They move on to Trevor’s return to L.A., when he got traded from the Magic to the Lakers and what it was like to be around Kobe at such a young age. Ariza went on to win a championship with the Lakers in ’09 and surprisingly got traded for Ron Artest the following year. He describes how important it was for him to bounce around the league. He also talks about what it was like to play with each of his idols — Penny, T-Mac, and Kobe, and details what he learned from each of them. Trevor remembers what it was like to play with a young CP3 and what impressed him so much about Chris then and why he isn’t surprised CP3 is still balling at age 34. Bringing it up to the present, Trevor talks about playing in Portland and specifically gives Melo some love. These guys go way back, you won’t want to miss their bond. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The legendary Chicago rapper-actor-writer-activist Common joins the guys on the latest Knuckleheads with Quentin Richardson and Darius Miles! The Chicago-born Grammy and Academy Award winner kicks off the episode by revealing that Canibus was the first person to bust his ass in the studio — but says that on the basketball court his first spanking was delivered by a neighborhood kid known as Speedy. From there, Common goes on to discuss two things that had a huge impact on his early career: Nas’s album Illmatic and the experience of working with Kanye for the first time. The guys then get him talking about what it was like to take his talents beyond rapping and how he landed his first movie role. That leads the three into a discussion of their all-time favorite movies, as well as the actors who made them. Common gets curious and asks the guys a few questions of his own, like what truly made them want to be ballers and when exactly they knew they were going to make it to the league. They each name their favorite young guy in the league and get hyped about the future of the NBA altogether. Darius gives love to Common for that time he dropped D’s name in a song ... “to have you tapping your head like Darius Miles” … remember? And finally, the guys have to ask what it was like to perform at the White House and just how dope it is to be a friend of the Obamas. Listen in to hear more from the guy who flat out does it all.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Los Angeles, California’s finest, Swaggy P, joins the fellas on this week’s episode of Knuckleheads with Quentin Richardson and Darius Miles. The guys get right into what life as a high school and college basketball star in L.A. was like for the young man then known simply as Nick Young. He reveals that he really wanted to stay in town after USC, and hoped that the Clippers would pick him in the draft. Then the talk turns from L.A. to D.C. and to playing for the Wizards. Swaggy P drops some hilarious stories about Gilbert Arenas and how close the two got over their years in Washington. Gil even loaned him his $2 million pool when he got traded away from the Wizards, and their relationship has stayed strong ever since. Gil even has a celebrated beef with Nick’s oldest son. Nick then touches on his trade to the Lakers and how excited he was to get back home. Asked by the guys about Kobe, he tells some funny — and revealing — stories, including one about a 4 a.m. workout at which Kobe came across more coach than teammate. The talk turns to the origin of the Swaggy P nickname and then Nick tells what it meant to him to win a championship with the Warriors. Nick, er, Swaggy then talks about his own brand, Most Hated, and gives his take on fashion in the league these days, specifically who he thinks has the most swag in the NBA. Swaggy P never fails to bring the celebrations and the chill California vibes. Tune in! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the West Side of Chicago, to the Basketball Hall of Fame, to this week’s episode of Knuckleheads with Quentin Richardson and Darius Miles, it’s the OG Isiah Thomas (aka Zeke). The guys start by taking it back to Zeke’s high school days playing for legendary Chicago coach Gene Pingatore (2:27). Zeke recounts a few memorable moments from his college recruitment process (7:32), including the time one coach showed up at his house with a briefcase full of cash — and the time his mom called a press conference to announce his commitment to Indiana for him! He laughs about deliberately tanking interviews with NBA teams in an effort to get drafted later in the round by Chicago, but admits that going to Detroit was a huge blessing after all (17:59). Zeke then takes the guys through the history of one of the most underrated great teams in NBA history: the Bad Boy Pistons (21:01). We’re talking Dennis Rodman, Mark Aguirre, Joe Dumars … you know the lineup. Q and D recall their feelings when Isiah was left off the 1992 Dream Team, but Zeke holds no grudge, saying he realized that the basketball gods had a bigger plan (41:38). The Knuckleheads share some of their favorite stories from Isiah’s coaching years, including one with a lesson on how not to react after someone dunks on you (58:45). And Isiah has a message for all the NBA front offices: You want Jamal Crawford on your team, on your coaching staff — somewhere. Straight up (1:23:27). The guys wrap up talking about Derrick Rose, the kid from Chicago who got to live out that dream they all had: to be a Bull (1:14:11).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sparks star and legendary Lady Vol Candace Parker joins the guys for this week’s episode of Knuckleheads with Quentin Richardson and Darius Miles. The three start the show talking Chicago basketball and reminiscing on those legendary 90’s Bulls that they all grew up on. Then they relate their journeys to their first dunks — from toe raises on the stairs to touching high up on every wall they saw. Plus, Candace spills the secret to winning the McDonalds dunk contest: just make your dunks (Sorry Josh Smith and J.R. Smith). Then she tells the guys why she chose Tennessee and, of course, shares a few coveted Pat Summit stories. Candace speaks about her first years in the league and the physical impact having a baby had on her body, as well as the mental aspect of being a mom and a baller at the same time. The guys ask Candace for her take on the WNBA’s new CBA, and they discuss some of the surprising differences between the men’s and women’s leagues. Candace talks about clinching the 2016 WNBA Championship and tells Q and D that — if the Sparks didn’t have some of the injuries that they did in her first few years — they would’ve had a few more championships under their belt. Just saying. Tune in for more from one of the dopest female GOATs in the game.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we mix it up as Quentin and Darius collaborate with Team Coco to produce a live taping recorded during NBA All Star Weekend 2020. For this one the fellas are joined by comedian Lil Rel Howery and of course, the three get into everything Chicago. This hilarious episode highlights Lil Rel’s early comedic career coming up in Chicago, with Rel reminiscing about the time he snuck into a comedy club for his first live show. He also touches on what it was like to watch Q play at Whitney Young and how Richardson’s DePaul team remains one of his favorite college basketball teams of all time. The guys then touch on Rel’s mentors, getting into why Eddie Murphy influenced so many comedians — though Rel reveals that J.B. Smoove was the first comic to have him “dyin’ laughing.” He also talks about doing Uncle Drew and why working with Shaq and Nate Robinson on a daily basis is A LOT. The guys then focus on the Celebrity All-Star game, in which they played together. Lil Rel has a bone to pick with Darius, since D struggled to pass him the ball. Later on, Rel explains why Get Out was such a special project to be a part of and stands firm in his belief that it should have won an Oscar. Lil Rel brings the pride of Chicago and a whole lot of laughs to Knuckleheads’ second-ever live event! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s Dame Time on this week’s episode of Knuckleheads with Quentin Richardson and Darius Miles. The Trail Blazers superstar comes on to talk all things hoop, looking back on his meteoric rise from unknown high school player to small school star to one of the best in the NBA. Dame explains how he ended up at Weber State and why getting hurt during his junior year was the best thing for his career. Then Lillard takes it back to his getting drafted by Portland and why he refused to believe he was going to be a lottery pick until the moment his name was called. He gets into his growth in the league, what it was like to play with LaMarcus Aldridge and what could have been if LA had stayed in Portland. Dame also touches on CJ McCollum’s rise as a player and opens up about just how close the two of them are. Then he gets into how he learned to shoot so effectively from deep range and how that led to his epic walk-off shot against OKC in last year’s playoffs. The flow of the conversation then turns to Dame’s music, what it’s like to be close with Lil Wayne and how he started his rap career. Later on, the guys get into Dame’s self-surprising shoe deal, and he reveals what he first bought when he made it big and how he wanted to bring it back to the crib immediately. Damian Lillard is a beast on and off the court and you won’t want to miss him sitting down with Q and D. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s nothing but The Truth on this week’s episode of Knuckleheads with Quentin Richardson and Darius Miles. Celtics legend Paul Pierce talks growing up a Cali baller, from sneaking into the club with Snoop to his coach flying Kevin Garnett in on a jet for the championship — Cali AAU ball is no joke. Then the guys chat about how it really feels to hear your name called on draft night. Q and D ask Paul what it was like to beat the Lakers in 2008, leading to The Truth’s story about flaunting an MVP trophy in an L.A. restaurant, only to be humbled a few years later by a kid in a Johnny Rockets. Paul gives credit to the true unsung heroes of the game, naming some of the most underrated players from his time in the league. The trio compares the fiercely competitive culture of their playing days to the new generation’s chummy eagerness to swap jerseys and do business together. Darius shares a cautionary tale about taking it easy on Zo, an approach which hilariously backfired. Then the three get real about life in the league and the sacrifices that came with it, and Paul talks about what he feels when he sees his jersey up in the rafters of TD Garden alongside those of other Celtic greats. But the Knuckleheads couldn’t let The Truth head out before getting the low down on that time Paul hit the game winner at MSG that ended with Nate Robinson on the floor. And, of course, Quentin and Paul squash an old beef — it’s all respect out here on Knuckleheads.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Big Diesel starts off Season 3 of Knuckleheads with Quentin Richardson and Darius Miles in a way only Shaq can do. The fellas sit down with one of the most dominant players in NBA history, describing what it was like when they were in L.A. as young boys and the Lakers, led by the Big Fella, were in the midst of their three-peat. Shaq then expounds on his high school journey, recalls the first backboard he broke and explains why his father was such a huge influence on him. He also touches on his time at LSU and how he came up with some early Shaq marketing plans while in Baton Rouge. Then the Big Diesel shifts gears to describe his draft process, why he didn’t work out for any teams and how he knew he was going top three. The discussion then turns to the Magic years, with Shaq rehashing a hilarious story about the first time he met Penny Hardaway. From there, it’s back to Los Angeles and life during the Lakers three-peat, with the conversation touching on Shaq and Kobe’s status as the greatest big-little duo of all time. Then Shaq gets into how, when trade rumors began to swirl, he ensured that he would go to Miami — and why he approached his relationship with D-Wade differently than he did his relationships with Penny and Kobe. The discussion then moves on from basketball, as Shaq talks about his kids, and discusses the process Shareef had to go through with his surgery this past year. Finally, the trio digs deep into the renaissance man that is Shaq — assessing his movies, how he got into the rap game, and why one day he knows he’ll be a county sheriff. The Big Diesel dominates everything he does, period. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To commemorate our one-year anniversary as well as prepare for the official launch of Season 3 the guys look back on their relationship and share some never-told stories from their time in the league. Q explains what went into his decision to transfer to Whitney Young and Darius laughs about the time that everyone wanted to cover him when he was wearing goggles in high school. They move on to their experiences transitioning to the league, what it was like on Draft Night, and how their first couple of days in Los Angeles were like living in a dream. The pair recall their efforts at making the Clippers ‘cool’ and wonder what might have been had the team signed a legitimate star in one of those early seasons. The guys also share what it was like to get endorsed by Jordan and how Michael, himself, was the reason behind that happening. You won’t want to miss each of them describing the first guy in the league they bodied and then finishing up with their favorite highlight with each other. Season 3 — we back! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.