"NOBODY SAW IT COMING" | Richard Jefferson On Playing With Young Steph and Klay 

Obligatory full episode link! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-dAdQCzvwYSE.html

That mid 2010s Warriors squad became the model for pretty much every team in the NBA. It was bizarre seeing one team in real time force the entire game of basketball to shift.

I gotta say this, the best thing about this podcast is there is absolutely no cutting the other person off, you say your piece then they do. JJ you’re an amazing host

When he said “I forgot you were here” to Tommy 😂😂

The most underrated part of Steph’s game is his stamina and endurance. He has the lungs of a professional cross country runner. And that’s what makes him such a threat off ball even well into his 30s. So many players talk about how drained they are after having to run around the court guarding him off ball.

One of the most amazing things about Steph's career arc is that he could (and should) have won Most Improved Player in 2016 after winning the MVP in 2015!

That "What if David Lee never got injured" is without question the BIGGEST what if. In hindsight, it completely changed basketball.

That 73 win season was draymond's best offensive season. Dude was a legit 3rd scorer. 14 ppg, 9.5 rpg, and 7.4 apg. While shooting 38% from 3.

I'm glad RJ mentioned David Lee he's very underrated

I love Curry stories man, dude really changed the NBA

20 years from now we will still be talking about the greatness of Steph Curry

"Would Draymond be as good on another team" can easily be answered by watching him in international play. In Tokyo for example, KD was the obvious scoring leader, but Draymond was doing everything else like he always does. Elite NBA players on the team were on the bench so that USA could have Draymond's defense, passing, picks, intensity, etc.

Always be grateful to Jerry West for making sure they didn’t trade Klay.

Crazy to think RJ played with Steph, Klay, and Draymond!

In an interview Andrew Bogut confirmed Draymond was asking to get traded off the team because Jackson rarely used him. That David Lee injury not only gave Draymond the opportunity to play more it also ensured Draymond didn't traded. Jackson really had no idea how to use Green.

RJ is a unique mix of super insightful, kinda funny, and a great big jerk. great interview.

I remember back around 2015 it felt like the Steph/Klay Warriors just came out of nowhere, shooting from all over the court. They completely changed the game. In 2012, 2013, it was still the old NBA, with the Spurs, Heat still competing, and other teams like the Kobe Lakers and Dirk Mavericks were hanging around. Then all of a sudden, almost overnight the league changed in 2015 with the Steph/Klay Warriors.

Too many people forget about the importance of Andrew Bogut. Yes, his stats are not eye-popping but watch the games. He was so important to the defensive identity to that team. His injury and Draymond's suspension were the reason they didn't win that 73-9 season.

Those warrior teams were so crazy fun to watch. The perfect blend of players with Livingston, Iggy, Bogut, the role players were so locked in.

I wish RJ could be a part of the podcast with you guys the chemistry is there.

I’ve been a warriors fan for 30 years and I thought that early Steph/Klay team was good and they’d be a playoff team for years but I never thought they would be championship caliber. I’m still amazed.

Richard Jefferson is the definition of being unapologetically HIMSELF and literally not caring what anyone thinks about him. Makes him a great pundit and media personality!

RJ speaks at the right intelligent level that JJ needs on the channel. This should be the new Stephen A and Skip. Real basketball talk, not a bunch of angry dudes talking nonsense.

I love Steph bcuz he made me sound like BBall philosopher bcuz his run in the March Madness was my 1st time watching college ball and I told all my friends he’s goin to change the league he proved me right thanks so much Steph 🙏🤣🤣🤣🤣

This was so refreshing to watch, by the time I knew it the video was done. No grown men yelling, no interjecting, allowing the others to clarify their theories, intelligent basketball IQ! One of the best basketball podcast out there, along with AllTheSmoke Podcast. Well done!

I’ve gained much more respect for Steph’s career as it’s gone by. I’ll be honest that I used to be a nonbeliever but he’s so special. Glad I grew up in this era of basketball

Gotta be the most articulate duo in basketball media.

RJ is right. Where the Warriors truly changed basketball is by proving teams could win championships with a small ball 5. Dray was/is savvy enough to guard bigger players, and Steph & Klay would torch teams that rolled out multiple big men on switches. That versatility made them a dynasty. Obviously Steph is the catalyst of it all, arguably a top 5 player of all time but Draymonds versatility also made them nearly unbeatable.

7:49 "I forgot you were here." Bro why did RJ do him like that 😂💀

People don't credit Draymond enough for figuring out what to do to compliment the shooting of both of them

Steph is absolutely a shooting guard that sometimes plays point. And good on the coaches for seeing that, sticking with Draymond, and letting him loose.

Game four of last year's finals defines Steph for me. The way he can will or carry that team to win sometimes despite what Klay or Draymond are contributing. In his full-on Batman mode, anybody can be his Robin. He and Wiggins were in basketball nirvana in that series. Steph will always be the catalyst..

Honestly you could see Steph was gonna be an offensive juggernaut if he could just stay healthy, obviously not to the level he has become, but Klay I felt really came out of nowhere.

Individually, Steph dray and klay have all glaring weakness in their game. But together it’s just a beautiful thing. Almost like a perfectly balanced D&D team designed to take down whatever monsters coming their way.

Warriors fan here from before and after the we believe team. Everything they touched on is true. Been a blessing getting to witness this from our home team

It’s amazing looking back what the Warriors accomplished, and they’re still going. Gives me that nostalgic feel 🥹

As a real life long warriors fans I loved this conversation and how they explored and understood the full trajectory we took...they hit the nail on the coffin! With so many points and aspects..I talk about about of these different subjects with the warriors all the time....great convo!

As a lifetime Warrior fan, I never saw it coming. I thought Steph would be a great roll player at best. Unbelievable.

One of the greatest modern era basketball clips

I always say this!!! Real one's remember da early G-State in 2K12-14😅😅🍻🍺

I immediately joined the Warriors bandwagon in 2014, I knew that team would be magical.

Steph isn't a pg like steoh said himself call me whatever you want regardless of position he's one of the best basketball players the game has ever scene and he actually creates more looks for his teammates on and off ball combined then anyone in the league

Thankyou for giving a shoutout to my favourite basketball trio of all time! Love my Dubs and love ya guys for this 💕

I love RJ .... I actually loved him as a player ... but even more as a commentator ... I need friends like RJ.

Im not a big fan of GSW and this era of basketball but i remember just telling to a friend that the warriors were something we never saw 1 or 2 years before steve kerr arrived... They were spectacular back then

On the contrary, my Highschool coach saw it coming in 2011. His number one emphasis when shooting was a quick release. We had drills where all we practiced was quick release. Looking back that is what Steph and Klay thrived on

The death lineup was so lethal it was scary and fun to watch at the same time.

They played like the Bad Boy Pistons, Zeke, Joe and Vinny were interchangeable at the 1 and 2 spot. The difference is that Steph was really benevolent in sharing the ball. Even if you wanna call him a 2 guard the guard wants to have the ball in his hands and Steph was willing to come off the ball for people to get touches. That's a real General. Richard always tryna find ways to diminish Steph with back handed compliments. Even tho it's Larry Bird folks always find ways to say LeBron is the Best Small Forward ever but don't mention he scores primarily at the rim, he doesn't space the floor and is a horrible free throw shooter to be at the wing position but no one ever calls him a undersized Center or Power Forward. They always try to find passive aggressive ways to hate Steph, especially anyone who played on that Cavs team, weather its Bron making Steph and Klay tombstones to step over at his party, weather that's Richard Tristan or Kendrick hating on him on NBA networks. The only Cav who didn't hate on Steph was Tye Lue who came out and said they still Doubled Steph even with KD on the Floor and even KD finds ways to shade Steph on social media, he got mad about that

Every all time great had elite teammates. People need to constantly be reminded that this at the end of the day is a team game.

Feels good to live that decade and witness the shift in the NBA. Dubs 🎉

I thoroughly enjoy the 2 of you together. I’ve long been a fan of JJ (I’m a lifelong Duke fan 🤷🏼‍♀️) but RJ has really grown on me the past few yrs and yes, I’m a Warriors fan 🙌🏼

7:29 I feel the same way bout ky, that says a lot about how good steph is at PG. To JJ’s last point that’s y they have 4 rings, individually would thrive but grew and still r together.

I love the dynamic when these two are together. The competitive $#%-talk is fantastic.

The "not understanding why Draymond is a valuable" trope is THE dividing line between people who watch basketball and people who understand basketball.

Richard is a top 3 guest of yours in my opinion

RJ is dead wrong on Steph being a shooting guard. What makes Steph so lethal is that as soon as he crosses half court with the ball, he's a threat to pull the trigger. This stretches the defense out and helps other players get open. He is also the best off the dribble shooter ever, so you wouldn't see that as much if he was a shooting guard.

If they traded Steph instead of Monte, there is no warriors.

Saw him play at the socon tourney right before his first run in the NCAA’s. Everyone in the gym knew he was special

I tear up a little when draymond gets his flowers man I love it

Love dray and jj’s pdocast, they just know how to talk and interview and dissect the game and players

People hold up LeBron and Giannis as examples of dominance these days, but Stephen Curry is in that category as well. I AM NOT putting Stephen over LeBron and Giannis, but since he debuted in the league, he dominates the league, not physically like Giannis and LeBron, but talent. It's been a decade and they still can't stop Curry, that's dominance too. He changed the game and it's been ten years and he's still one of the best and unstoppable.

I love hearing people talk about basketball who really kno what they’re talking about 💯

So much intelligent insight of basketball here.

I love hearing people that sound so smart about a thing that I don’t feel inadequate bc they are just that good

I saw it coming in 2013. All they needed was a healthy Bogut the whole time. They would've had more championships. It's only a hypothetical now.

I would live for JJ and Jefferson to have their own show on ESPN. Both arent boring and well spoken 👏 👌

To put in perspective, Rudy Fernandez held the record for most threes in a season as a rookie until Curry came out.

Im a warriors fan since run tmc. I watched the 07 we belive team, and RJ play for the dubs. Seeing Klay leave hurt my soul. He better get a standing ovation November 12.

Mark Jackson seen it coming.

It was Jerry West that said if the Warriors were to trade Klay for Love, he would leave. Well, as we know, that trade didn't come to pass and the rest is history. 💯

I feel like Klay slightly changed his shorting form post injuries. You can tell their is a slight difference.

I remember the playoffs when Curry and Thompson developed audacious shot making, and thinking, watch out NBA. They completely revolutionized efficiency by 3 pts, and what's great is nobody else who replicate that are as good. They stormed in the era of outside shooting and left Charles Barkeley forever in denial (no chips)

I watched Golden State back then the same way I watch the thunder rn

I enjoy your podcast a lot because you are both articulate and insightful thus easy to listen to.

Exactly daymond needs more recognition for playing the 5 at 6’6

JJ and RJ are the best commentators in basketball

I think Steph now would be good on any team but Steph when he came in the league idk he clearly had the stuff there to be good but I really believe every top player has the potential to be great and it's coaches and orginizations that see it and know what to foster to get them there. Like Steph and Steve Kerr were perfect for each other like Tim Duncan and Pop were and it took the absolute confidence Kerr had in Steph to get him the opportunity he excelled at. So idk if Steph would be the same player if he went to a team coached by say Larry Brown who hated 3s and just didn't use them.

The way he holds the pen like he's actually noting or writing something down is hilarious 😂😂😂😂😂

The first jump shooting team to win a title was the Dirk Mavericks.

Steph Curry is definition of hard work dude came out the woodworks how he hit the league and change the whole concept of the game he’s the reason why kids trynna shoot from half court nowadays 😂

This is the first time I questioned whether jj was the smartest basketball mind on the podcast, and I'm all for it!

I still think Steph is the catalyst for the game changing. Without Stephs elite shooting, Klay be another great shooter and Dray would be a defender without that playmaking

Great content! Thanks for posting

I remember Draymond getting benched in the first finals and Lee saving the day

2:07 Very endearing use of that phrase.

By RJ definition joker is a point guard

"They were moving faster than the defense can act" that perfectly encapsulated that 73-9 team, their movement was truly a work of art that has yet been replicated.

7:49 me too RJ lmaoo

Mark Jackson called it before anyone. He knew how great those two were destined to be.

Even Klay knows Steph is the God shooter. Good try RJ

this is the best podcast i watched at this day in JJ youtube👍🤭

If Steph trained he could probably got to the Olympics for the Mile 😭 🔥

I did💯 Peeped it 2013... The Warriors franchise shaped Klay into the shooter he is today due to lack of athleticism compared to Ellis who they traded a season or two before Klays arrival

“Shooting guard who can play point” no man he’s an all time great point guard and all time great shooting guard

I remember Lee coming up big in the playoffs...the finals in particular if my memory serves me correctly ❤❤❤❤

Warriors would have won even if they traded Klay for Love. As long as Steph was there they can win.

what a fantastic convo.

I remember playing college hoops 2k8 and I would use Davidson because I watched a few of stephs college games and I was like damn this kid is good I wanna use him in a video game and then he ends up being the greatest shooter to ever live!

Imagine if KD never went to the Warriors. There'd be a good chance that Lebron would have 6 rings right now

Here’s the thing about Draymond, people play the what if so much, who gives a damn he was drafted to the Warriors and he earned his spot. We don’t need to debate what if he was on another team, focus on what is. Who gives a damn