All The Smoke podcast is clearly no longer limited to sports. Recently, the hosts interviewed Kamala Harris, and one of the hosts even expressed an interest in bringing Donald Trump to the show. But in sports personalities, once the late Kobe Bryant too joined the two hosts for an episode just days before the tragic incident in 2020. Certainly, he had nothing but praises for the hosts and their venture. Reflecting on the journey and what it means for the future, Matt Barnes recalled what Bryant said to them.

Hosted by former NBA players Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, the podcast quickly reached new heights, currently boasting around 2 million followers. Reflecting on his new career, the NBA player feels that young basketball players and fans might even forget their contributions to the sport and remember them for their work in media.

“We’ve been able to kind of take that to the next level and build a real brand and awareness and you know we’re recognized now as All The Smoke you know what I mean. It’s almost some of these younger people may not even know we really did anything in the NBA,” Barnes said

Speaking about the podcast, the basketball legend recalled that Bryant was surprised to see how the two built a separate image around podcasting when it wasn’t mainstream. “As Kobe said, Kobe said ‘You two? I would have never thought you two would do this s**t,’” Barnes said. 

This wasn’t what Barnes and Jackson had in mind when they started right after their retirement. All they had decided was to bring a refreshing and uncut take from athletes about the industry. But within a short time, the two basketball legends hit the big time.

In their first season, the podcast was honored with the title of Sports Podcast of the Year. Barnes believes the only sports podcast that was popular among fans at the time was Knuckleheads, which featured former NBA stars Darius Miles and Quentin Richardson.

Looking at the sports podcast scene now, there’s a new sports podcast popping up every year. The ‘New Heights’ Kelce brothers recently cracked a $100 million deal with Amazon’s Wondery! Launched on October 8, 2019, the All The Smoke podcast has completed five years. To celebrate the remarkable milestone, the two marked the occasion with a special book launch.

Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson reflect on 5 -year journey in their book

Titled All The Smoke, the book details the story and journey of how the podcast came into being. Interestingly, it was released on the same day the podcast launched. It features quotes from legendary icons such as Shaquille O’Neal, Kevin Garnett, and more. To promote the book, the hosts also had fan interactions and conducted live tapings in various cities.

Barnes and Jackson bonded during their time playing for the Golden State Warriors. They were part of the 2006-07 team that famously defeated the No. 1-seeded Dallas Mavericks. Close friends who shared several hobbies, their bond grew even stronger and deeper during the 2007-08 season when Barnes lost his mother. Jackson stood by his side during this difficult time as even their mothers shared a close bond.

“I wasn’t looking to change. And Matt was the guy who accepted me for who I was. Our mothers clicked immediately, I think that made our brotherhood grow and then his mother passed so quick. I was there for him the whole time and I made it a point to be there for him,” Jackson said.

The podcast’s immense popularity led to the launch of their own production company, All The Smoke Productions. The company now oversees multiple podcasts and partnerships. As Barnes points out, athletes no longer need to rely on major networks to share their perspectives. With platforms like these, they have the freedom to speak their minds.