The Underdogs Podcast with Jordan Daly, Mike Taylor, and Craig Smith

Real ones know him from the Drew League, but he became a household name after his time on Netflix's Last Chance U - Detroit's own Coach Ken Hunter! In this episode, Coach Hunter takes us through his upbringing, his unfortunate injury that left him paralyzed, and how he got into coaching. Growing up in a rough area of Detroit, coach Ken used basketball as a way out. During his playing career in college, he was left with an unfortunate injury that would end his career and leave him paralyzed. Coach walks us through the mental health struggles of dealing with and accepting his injury, and how being led into a coaching career saved his life. Over his coaching career, he has quickly become known for being one of the best college basketball recruiters in the country, always finding hidden gems. He gives gems to youth players, letting us in on what he looks for, and what makes a player successful at the college level and beyond. Coach Ken is a beloved Drew League coach, known for coaching some of the game's best players, from the NBA and beyond. He is also a successful assistant coach at East Los Angeles College, ELAC, a JUCO school known for delivering players to a D1 level. Catch Coach Ken and the rest of the ELAC crew on Last Chance U, now streaming on Netflix! Follow the Hosts: Jordan Daly: https://www.instagram.com/jordandalynba/ Mike Taylor: https://www.instagram.com/88miketaylor/ Craig Smith: https://www.instagram.com/blackrhino83/ Buy Craig's book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/1dOsINE Follow the Guest: Ken Hunter: https://www.instagram.com/coach_ken_last_chance_u/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/khunterjr ELAC Basketball Twitter: https://twitter.com/ElacBball Find the video version of this podcast on YouTube!

To close out our first year as a podcast, we sat down and looked back at some of our favorite moments, going episode by episode. In order: 1. Podcast intro episode 2. Jared Dudley 3. Ricky Davis 4. Antwon Tanner 5. George Gervin 6. Jumaine Jones 7. Mario Chalmers 8. Ryan Hollins 9. Chris Copeland 10. Dorell Wright 11. Mike Bibby 12. Chaniel Smiley 13. Cedric Ceballos 14. Andre Miller 15. Thomas Scott 16. Troy Hudson 17. Jordan Norwood 18. Donte Greene 19. Eddy Curry 20. James White 21. David Hawkins 22. Bobby Jones Jr. All-Stars, Hall of Famers, Champions, record breakers, commissioners, actors, advocates, and more - we did it all this year. Thank you for rocking with us in 2022! Here's to new heights in '23. In this episode, we also announce our partnership with Slic Studios, led by NBA great Baron Davis. Follow the Underdogs Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/underdogs.podcast Follow the Hosts: Jordan Daly: https://www.instagram.com/jordandalynba/ Mike Taylor: https://www.instagram.com/88miketaylor/ Craig Smith: https://www.instagram.com/blackrhino83/ Find the video version of this podcast on YouTube!

This is one of the League's greatest unknown stories. For those who haven't lived it, many believe making it to the NBA is the hardest part, but it's not - staying in the league is harder. Bobby starts his basketball career in his home city of Compton, where he played on one of the greatest high school basketball teams of all time, alongside the most coveted draft prospect in Tyson Chandler - Dominguez High School. After transferring schools during his junior year of high school due to controversy from the team's coach, Bobby had to learn how to cope with change early on. During the college recruiting process, Bobby decided to stay on the west coast. Bobby goes into detail on how the September 11th attacks actually affected his college decision, pushing him away from selecting Boston College to play alongside Craig Smith and Jared Dudley. Deciding on Washington, Bobby played alongside basketball greats Brandon Roy and Nate Robinson. He was a 4-year starter, proving his talent enough to get drafted into the NBA. We also talk about Bobby and Craig's time on Team USA, winning the gold medal. Bobby's rookie year was spent with the Philadelphia 76ers. His sophomore year was when things went crazy. Bobby spent his second and final year in the NBA playing for an NBA record 5 teams. Starting with the Denver Nuggets, Bobby then went to the Memphis Grizzlies, Houston Rockets, Miami Heat, and finally to the San Antonio Spurs. This has us talk about the struggle of staying in the league and what it takes. We also break down the mental health effects of 10-day contracts and constantly fighting for your life to stay on a roster. We then talk about Bobby's overseas experiences, his filmmaking journey, and what he is up to now. Follow the Hosts: Jordan Daly: https://www.instagram.com/jordandalynba/ Mike Taylor: https://www.instagram.com/88miketaylor/ Craig Smith: https://www.instagram.com/blackrhino83/ Buy Craig's book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/1dOsINE Follow the Guest: Bobby Jones Jr: https://www.instagram.com/basketballjones84/ Bobby's documentary: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/basketballjones Find the video version of this podcast on YouTube!

While he may not be a household name, this Worldwide Champion (who was also just sent to the Temple University Hall of Fame) is a name you need to know - David Hawkins. Growing up in the DC Metro area, Hawk didn't pick up a basketball until his brother put the ball in his hands. Following in his bro's footsteps, Hawk joins the Archbishop Carroll High School basketball team, a team known for sending guys to the NBA. Committing to Temple, Hawk played under Hall of Fame coach John Chaney. He had a solid start to his college career until he was suspended for bad grades. The suspension made him miss major, Nationally televised games - something he credits the lack of NBA attention to. He ended his senior year being 3rd in the country for points per game (PPG). Hawk, who is a guard/forward combo, ultimately goes undrafted. He was later told that being a 4-year college player was part of the reason why - scouts had seen too much of him and preferred untapped, straight-from-high school players. Bouncing around in the NBA Summer League, Hawkins failed to find a permanent home, sending him, overseas. Finding instant success overseas, Hawkins became a multi-time MVP and Champion in some of the top leagues in Europe (Italian Cup, EuroLeague, EuroBasket, etc...) and beyond - he is one of the most decorated overseas basketball players of all time. Fast forward a few years, all while having continued success overseas, Ice Cube forms a 3-on-3 basketball league, the BIG3. Originally intended for former NBA players only, David Hawkins impressed Ice Cube and the rest of the team captains enough to bend the rules to let him into the Draft, where he was later selected. Since the inaugural season, David Hawkins has dominated. He has won 3 of the 5 league championships and is the only 3-time champion in the league. He is the Bill Russell of the BIG3. Follow the Underdogs Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/underdogs.podcast/

Many remember James White, better known by fans as Flight, as one of the greatest dunkers we have ever seen. From dunking from the free throw line with ease to landing some of the most acrobatic dunks ever done, he had every dunk in his arsenal. What fans don't know is the rest of his career. Flight was labeled as "just a dunker" early on, which definitely affected how teams looked at him. Starting at the University of Florida, Flight takes us back to why he committed there, and why he ultimately transferred to Cincinnati, where he truly made a name for himself. He then talks about his draft night struggles, and how staying in college for so long actually hurt his NBA chances. He then talks about being traded on draft night and being cut by the Pacers before the season even started. This is where he learned that the NBA is where the real work began, and he needed to start treating it as a full-time job. He ends up getting signed by the Spurs for his rookie season, where he learned from coach Gregg Popovich and NBA legends Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, and Robert Horry. He claims he learned more in this one season than he did the rest of his career combined. They went on to win the NBA Finals, giving Flight a championship ring. Following that championship season, Flight decided he wanted some playing experience, so he signs overseas. Following his domination of overseas basketball, he returns to the NBA, where he bounces on and off different rosters trying to find a home. He plays a few games with the Houston Rockets before returning overseas. Now, at the age of 30, he returns to the NBA to play for the New York Knicks in his most successful season. He also competes in the NBA Dunk Contest, which he walks us through. He goes into detail about that process and why he wasn't able to compete at his highest level that night. Flight then reflects on his time with the BIG3 so far, being the league's only 3-time champion. Let us know your favorite James White moment in the comments below! Where do you rank Flight in the list of best dunkers of all time? Follow the Underdogs Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/underdogs.podcast/ Follow the Hosts: Jordan Daly: https://www.instagram.com/jordandalynba/ Mike Taylor: https://www.instagram.com/88miketaylor/ Craig Smith: https://www.instagram.com/blackrhino83/ Follow the Guest: James Flight White: https://www.instagram.com/flight8/ Find the video version of this podcast on YouTube!

For Episode 19 of the Underdogs Podcast, we sat down with and interviewed the 4th overall pick of the 2001 NBA Draft, Eddy Curry. Eddy Curry was quickly labeled "a bust" by many fans, who didn't know the full story. In a short time span, Eddy went through more hard times than most people do in an entire lifetime, and he prevailed. This is a story of overcoming adversities to succeed. Growing up on the south side of Chicago, Eddy spent most of his early years wanting to be a gymnast. In the 7th grade, Eddy picked up a basketball for the first time and very quickly found success. He was very quickly introduced to the AAU circuits and skyrocketed up the scouting boards. After dominating high school basketball, he was invited to numerous high-end basketball camps, which he credits with bringing his name into the mix. With only 6 years of basketball experience, Eddy entered the draft straight out of high school knowing he'd be a top 5 pick. He ends up being drafted by his hometown team, the Chicago Bulls, with the 4th pick in the infamous "Kwame Brown" draft. After a slow rookie year due to a lot of positional competition, he bursts out in his second year, leading the NBA in field goal percentage. He became the first Bull since Michael Jordan to lead the NBA in a major statistical category. We then fast forward to the 2004-05 NBA Season. Eddy starts noticing an irregular heartbeat. He reports this to the team doctors, which lead to him being hospitalized. With Doctors worried he may have the same heart issue that lead to Reggie Lewis and Hank Gathers' deaths, the Bulls bench him. The Bulls offer him $400K a year for the rest of his life if he would agree to take a DNA test to see if he was predisposed to heart issues. After talking with his agent, he declines, since a positive test would instantly end his career. (We chose not to discuss this next chapter of Eddy's life during the podcast out of respect, but we want you to be well informed.) While dealing with these heart issues, Eddy's family is robbed at gunpoint. In a separate instance, Eddy's ex-girlfriend and newborn daughter are murdered in front of his son's eyes. Doctors are worried that Eddy's heart may be too large, so they tell him to sit out and not exercise so his heart can shrink down to normal size. This is where he gained that weight that fans so often ridiculed him for. We discuss the mental approach he had the be able to continue on while dealing with all of these things. It's extremely incredible that he was able to deal with these things while being a professional athlete in the public eye. On a lighter note, Eddy also tells us some never before heard stories about Jay-Z and Fat Joe during his time in New York with the Knicks. Put some respect on his name. Follow the Underdogs Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/underdogs.podcast/ Follow the Hosts: Jordan Daly: https://www.instagram.com/jordandalynba/ Mike Taylor: https://www.instagram.com/88miketaylor/ Craig Smith: https://www.instagram.com/blackrhino83/ Follow the Guest: Eddy Curry: https://www.instagram.com/theeddycurry/ Eddy's Podcast: https://linktr.ee/caramelcheddar Find the video version of this podcast on YouTube!

One decision can change your life, which is exactly what happened to Donte Greene. A fan favorite and record-breaker at Syracuse University, Donte Greene decided to go the "one and done" route to play in the NBA after his freshman year - breaking the hearts of all of the Orange fans across the country. His decision to go pro turned him from a campus legend to someone who was looked down upon for leaving the school. In this episode of the Underdogs Podcast, Donte takes us through his entire basketball journey - including his explanation of why he left Syracuse to go pro - a decision that ultimately came down to helping his family. The Baltimore native had an unusual start to his pro career, being traded twice before his rookie debut. From falling in the draft after a report leaked about him being un-coachable, being traded on draft night, to only once again be traded after the NBA Summer League. (Memphis Grizzlies to the Houston Rockets to the Sacramento Kings) Donte then talks about his 4 years in Sacramento, a city that he calls his second home thanks to the love from the fans in that city. He goes on to talk about his decision to leave the NBA to actually get some playing time overseas. This leads him into talking about the struggle of getting back into the NBA after leaving - something that isn't though about by players in that situation. We then fast forward to today, where Donte has become an All-Star in Ice Cube's 3x3 basketball league - the BIG3. Follow the Underdogs Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/underdogs.podcast/ Follow the Hosts: Jordan Daly: https://www.instagram.com/jordandalynba/ Mike Taylor: https://www.instagram.com/88miketaylor/ Craig Smith: https://www.instagram.com/blackrhino83/ Follow the Guest: Donte Greene: https://www.instagram.com/dontegreene_cos Video version on YouTube!

Constantly moving around during his childhood years, it was hard for the undersized receiver to get scouted. With only one other college offer, Penn State offered Jordan Norwood a roster spot to play under the winningest football coach in college football history. Going from practice squad to practice squad after going undrafted, Norwood carved out a role for himself within the Cleveland Browns organization. After his time with the Browns concluded, Norwood was signed to the Denver Broncos - just in time to play with the newly acquired Peyton Manning. Unfortunately, Norwood tore his ACL and never stepped on the field that season. The following season, Norwood and the Broncos made NFL history by winning Super Bowl 50. Norwood himself had a major part in that win by setting a Super Bowl record 61 yard punt return. Norwood decided to retire on his own terms soon after, closing that chapter of his great underdog story. After football, Norwood found interest in the cryptocurrency and NFT space, eventually founding his own NFT community: The Whitelist.io ACES. Since its founding, Norwood sold out all 10,000 NFTs and has since bought a BIG3 basketball team - Power. Want to get involved with the Whitelist? Check out their official website and join their discord! https://thewhitelist.io Purchase a Whitelist ACE here: https://opensea.io/collection/thewhitelistioaces Follow the Underdogs Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/underdogs.podcast/ Follow the Hosts: Jordan Daly: https://www.instagram.com/jordandalynba/ Mike Taylor: https://www.instagram.com/88miketaylor/ Craig Smith: https://www.instagram.com/blackrhino83/ Follow the Guest: Jordan Norwood: https://www.instagram.com/jordanorwood/ Find the video version of this podcast on YouTube!

Troy Hudson, aka the Laker Killer, is an 11-year NBA vet known for his knockdown shooting and increased skill whenever he played against the Lakers. T-Hud played for the Jazz, Clippers, Magic, Timberwolves, and Warriors. In this episode of the Underdogs Podcast, Troy Hudson walks us through his journey of growing up in a small town in Illinois. He then goes through his college career, including a transfer, and leaving early to declare for the draft - in which he went unselected.He continues on to tell us about his NBA career. He was often told that he needed to change his style of play, as he focused on shooting the ball and scoring at a fast tempo - a style of play that was not well accepted until Stephen Curry many years later. Troy eventually found a home in Minnesota with the Timberwolves, where the organization gave him the green light, leading to his career-high stats. Follow the Underdogs Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/underdogs.p... Follow the Hosts: Jordan Daly: https://www.instagram.com/jordandalynba/ Mike Taylor: https://www.instagram.com/88miketaylor/ Craig Smith: https://www.instagram.com/blackrhino83/ Follow the Guest: Troy Hudson: https://www.instagram.com/t_hud_laker... Find the video version of this podcast on YouTube!

Thomas Scott joins Jordan Daly and NBA vets Craig Smith and Mike Taylor for Episode 15 of the Underdogs Podcast. Hear the story of how the son of 3x NBA Champion Byron Scott created his own role in basketball. After starting in the media room as a video coordinator for the New Orleans Hornets in 2006, Thomas Scott discovered his true career path in the NBA. Soon after his time as a video coordinator, Thomas Scott became a coach's apprentice, and shortly after became a player development coach with the Cleveland Cavaliers. By 2011, Thomas became the lead assistant coach for the G-League's Leagues Canton Charge in their inaugural season. This is where he truly learned all that goes on behind the scenes of a professional basketball organization. When 2014 came around, Thomas accepted a position as an assistant coach of his hometown team, the Los Angeles Lakers. Shortly after, Ice Cube decided to create a 3-on-3 basketball league, later named the BIG3, in which Cube personally hired Thomas as the Director of Basketball Operations. This past year, Thomas was also hired as an assistant coach for the new and exciting G-League Ignite team - the team that is meant for future NBA stars. Follow the Underdogs Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/underdogs.podcast/ Follow the Hosts: Jordan Daly: https://www.instagram.com/jordandalynba/ Mike Taylor: https://www.instagram.com/88miketaylor/ Craig Smith: https://www.instagram.com/blackrhino83/ Follow the Guest: Thomas Scott: https://www.instagram.com/youballtraining Find the video version of this podcast on YouTube!

Andre Miller is an absolute LEGEND that deserves more respect. After not being able to play his first year in college, Andre carved himself a role in a successful University of Utah basketball program, leading his team to multiple deep NCAA March Madness tournament runs, including the Finals, where they lost to Mike Bibby and the Arizona Wildcats. In that time, he became the fourth player to ever notch a triple-double in the NCAA tournament. After consistently proving himself, the Cleveland Cavaliers drafted him with the 8th pick in the 1999 NBA Draft, a pick that would work out well for both sides as Miller was named to the All-Rookie first team. Miller had an outstanding career with the Cavs, Clippers, Nuggets, 76ers, and 5 other NBA teams. In the third year of his career, he led the league in assists. Miller is also known for being an Iron Man, playing in 632 games straight, only losing the streak due to a questionable suspension. In fact, he only missed 3 games in his entire 17-year career - an unheard-of stat. Miller also made history as the player that was traded to the 76ers for the Nuggets to acquire Allen Iverson. Andre Miller is the only player in NBA history to have at least 16,000 career points, 8,000 assists and 1,500 steals without an All-Star nod. Follow the Underdogs Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/underdogs.p... Follow the Hosts: Jordan Daly: https://www.instagram.com/jordandalynba/ Mike Taylor: https://www.instagram.com/88miketaylor/ Craig Smith: https://www.instagram.com/blackrhino83/ Follow the Guest: Andre Miller is not on social media. Find the video version of this podcast on YouTube!

From riding the bench in high school, to being recruited at a Taco Bell to play JuCo ball, Cedric Ceballos was able to end up having an All-Star NBA career, becoming a household name by winning the 1992 NBA Dunk Contest with his famous blindfolded dunk.

Chaniel Smiley, commissioner of the world-famous Drew League, joins Jordan Daly, Craig Smith, and Mike Taylor for Episode 12 of the Underdogs Podcast. Chaniel starts off the episode by talking about her early life, and what it was like being the daughter of former Drew League commissioner, Dino Smiley. We talk about what it was like growing up around the Drew and its famous athletes. We also ask about life growing up in South Central Los Angeles and the struggles that came with surviving inner-city life as a kid. From there, Chaniel tells us how she learned to fall in love with basketball through the Drew, playing through high school herself. We ask about growing up around pro athletes in the Drew and how that affected her personally. She also walks us through her first job within the Drew - in-game DJ! Chaniel then tells us about the Drew League's rise to popularity, especially during the NBA's 2011 Lockout year - which brought guys like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and countless other NBA stars to the courts of the Drew League. This led us into talking about how the Drew League is a breeding ground for underdogs. We talk about the success of some players coming out of the Drew, such as Frank Nitty Sessions - a former T-Mobile employee turned pro hooper thanks to the Drew. Frank Nitty has now won overseas championships, finds success in the BIG3, and in other influencer duties after growing a large social media following. We then talk about how her transition to commissioner happened and what that was like taking over for her father. Chaniel then goes into surviving during the COVID shutdown years and how they are now built for the future and ready for this season to kick off. We close out the episode by having Chaniel give advice to all of the young girls out there that have big aspirations in life! This episode's main theme is that you can't let anyone tell you that you can't do something. If you find a barrier - break it. Follow the Underdogs Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/underdogs.podcast/ Follow the Hosts: Jordan Daly: https://www.instagram.com/jordandalynba/ Mike Taylor: https://www.instagram.com/88miketaylor/ Craig Smith: https://www.instagram.com/blackrhino83/ Follow the Guest: Chaniel Smiley: https://www.instagram.com/ms.chaniel/ The Drew League: https://www.instagram.com/drewleague/ http://www.drewleague.com Support our guy and past guest Jumaine Jones by getting his book! https://www.amazon.com/Last-Man-Standing-Behind-Game/dp/B09XLY6PKY/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3D4IEBB7VFSOP&keywords=Jumaine+l+jones&qid=1651213911&sprefix=jumaine+l+jone%2Caps%2C87&sr=8-1 Find the video version of this podcast on YouTube!

NCAA Champion, 14 year NBA vet, and overall basketball legend Mike Bibby joins Jordan Daly, Craig Smith, and Mike Taylor for Episode 11 of the Underdogs Podcast. Bibby starts of the episode by talking about his early life, and what it was like being a son of a former NBA legend and champion, Henry Bibby. He then goes into winning a high school championship in Arizona and why he chose to play at the University of Arizona. From there, Bibby takes us through his time at Arizona, which includes winning a National Championship. He tells us why he decided not to go into the draft after his freshman year championship season. He also talks about his Draft Night experience and how he almost went 1st overall to the Clippers, but instead was drafted 2nd by the Vancouver Grizzlies - a team he told in the pre draft that he did not want to play for them. Then, Bibby takes us step by step through his NBA career. He talks about his start to his career in Vancouver, and how it all built up to his trade to the Sacramento Kings. He walked us through the whole trade process, and why he asked to be traded to Sacramento. This led us into talking about that first year with the Kings, where they achieved an NBA best 61-21 record, taking the first seed. We couldn't talk about that season without asking about the infamous 2002 Western Conference Finals between the Kings and the Lakers (with Kobe Bryant and Shaq!). Bibby walked us through his Game 5 game winning buzzer beater. We then looked into some documents that claimed that Game 6 of this series was rigged in favor of the Lakers in order for the NBA to get more ticket sales and ad revenue. In game 6, the Lakers had 18 free throws in the 4th quarter alone, more than the Kings had the entire game. Bibby confesses that he still cannot watch this game over again. NBA refs have come forward and admitted to the fact that this game was rigged to extend the series. Bibby says they were the best team that year, and that everyone knew it - Bibby was robbed of an NBA championship. We then ask Bibby about how he felt about never getting an All-Star nod (even though his stats were better than some other All-Stars during his years) and how that made him feel. We close out the episode by talking about Bibby references throughout the culture, coaching, his shoe collection, and being a member of the first Jordan class. This episode's main theme is that you need to define your own success, and not let anyone else define it for you. Follow the Underdogs Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/underdogs.podcast/ @JordanDalyNBA @BlackRhino83 @88MikeTaylor @Mike_Bibby_10 Video version on YouTube!

NBA Champion, 12 year NBA vet, and sports analyst Dorell Wright joins Jordan Daly, Craig Smith, and Mike Taylor for Episode 10 of the Underdogs Podcast. Dorell starts by talking about his early life in California, being a two-sport athlete (baseball and basketball), and making the tough decision to skip college a go straight to the NBA. He also talks about his Draft Night experience. From there, Dorell takes us step by step through his NBA career. He talks about his first few years with the Miami Heat - including winning an NBA Championship in 2006 being the youngest player on the roster. He continues to tell us about how winning a title early on helped him shape the rest of his career as a team leader. Dorell then talks about signing with the Golden State Warriors. He goes into detail about how he saw firsthand the passing of the torch from Monta Ellis to Stephen Curry. He continues to praise Curry for how much work Curry put in early on in his career. Dorell closes out the episode by talking about his transition away from playing. This episode's main theme is that everyone runs their own race, and not to feel rushed by someone else's progress. Follow the Underdogs Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/underdogs.podcast/ Follow the Hosts: Jordan Daly: https://www.instagram.com/jordandalynba/ Mike Taylor: https://www.instagram.com/88miketaylor/ Craig Smith: https://www.instagram.com/blackrhino83/ Follow the Guest: Dorell Wright: https://www.instagram.com/dwrightuno/ Find the video version of this podcast on YouTube!

Chris Copeland (Knicks, Pacers, Bucks) joins Jordan Daly, Craig Smith, and Mike Taylor for Episode 9 of the Underdogs Podcast. In this episode, Chris takes us through his unprecedented career. Copeland starts by talking about some tough early life experiences he faced. He then talks about his high school career, and how he came to choose Colorado for college ball. He then talks about his college career at Colorado and what his draft preparation and draft night were like - going undrafted. From there, Chris talks about starting his professional career in the NBA D League but soon chose to go overseas. He talks about his experiences playing overseas in multiple different countries. Chris then talks about how he ended up being signed by the New York Knicks at 28 years old with no NBA experience - something that was unheard of at the time. He then talks about his four-year NBA career with the Knicks, Pacers, and Bucks. To close out the episode, Chris talks about going back overseas. The guys then ask Chris about the potential of playing in the BIG3. This episode's main theme was that faith trumps all. Follow the Underdogs Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/underdogs.podcast Follow the Hosts: Jordan Daly: https://www.instagram.com/jordandalynba/ Mike Taylor: https://www.instagram.com/88miketaylor/ Craig Smith: https://www.instagram.com/blackrhino83/ Follow the Guest: Chris Copeland: https://www.instagram.com/optimuscope/ Find the video version of this podcast on YouTube!

10 year NBA vet and sports analyst Ryan Hollins joins Jordan Daly, Craig Smith, and Mike Taylor for Episode 8 of the Underdogs Podcast. Often misheard and disrespected, Ryan Hollins sets the record straight by talking about all of the hard work and grind he had to make it to the NBA and becoming a sports analyst. Ryan starts by talking about his rough early life in California, being cut from his high school basketball team, committing to play for UCLA in college, and his NBA Draft night experience. From there, Ryan takes us step by step through his NBA career. Starting his career with the Michael Jordan owned Bobcats, and then becoming a journeyman in the league, Ryan talks about the mental health struggles he faced. He also talks about how hard it is to constantly change teams, learning new schemes, and forming professional relationships with other players, coaches, and team staff. Ryan then talks about how playing overseas after the NBA was a humbling experience for him. This brings us into talking about his experiences playing in Ice Cube's BIG3 basketball league. To close out the episode, Ryan talks about his grind to become a sports analyst/reporter, and sets the record straight on a few things... This episode's main theme was to always have faith in what you are doing. Follow the Underdogs Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/underdogs.podcast/ Follow the Hosts: Jordan Daly: https://www.instagram.com/jordandalynba/ Mike Taylor: https://www.instagram.com/88miketaylor/ Craig Smith: https://www.instagram.com/blackrhino83/ Follow the Guest: Ryan Hollins: https://www.instagram.com/ryanhollins/ See the Link Tree in his bio for Ryan's other platforms! Find the video version of this podcast on all major streaming platforms! (If you made it this far, we had no luck finding any video of Ryan's missed dunk attempt!)

Two-Time NBA Champion Mario Chalmers joins Jordan Daly, Craig Smith, and Mike Taylor on the Underdogs podcast!

NBA Hall of Famer Jumaine Jones joins Jordan Daly, Craig Smith, and Mike Taylor for Episode 6 of the Underdogs Podcast. In this episode, Jumaine walks us through his career and talked us through how mental health was a big part of it. Jumaine starts by talking about his rough early life in Florida and Georgia, committing to play for Georgia in college, his dominant NCAA career, and his NBA Draft night experience. From there, Jumaine takes us step by step through his career and how each team impacted him as a person in different ways. Starting in Philadelphia with the Sixers, Jumaine talks about his experience playing with Allen Iverson and being thrown into the starting lineup of the NBA Finals to guard Kobe Bryant. Jumaine also talks about then teaming up with Kobe in LA with the Lakers. Jumaine then gets into how pro athletes are affected by mental health and opens up about his personal journey with his mental health. To close out the episode, Jumaine talks about his experiences overseas and tells us his 2022 BIG3 plans. This episode's main theme was that everyone is going through their own battles, regardless of fame, money, popularity, status, etc... Follow the Underdogs Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/underdogs.podcast/ Follow the Hosts: Jordan Daly: https://www.instagram.com/jordandalynba/ Mike Taylor: https://www.instagram.com/88miketaylor/ Craig Smith: https://www.instagram.com/blackrhino83/ Follow the Guest: Jumaine Jones: https://www.instagram.com/iamjumainejones33/ Find the video version of this podcast on YouTube!

NBA Hall of Famer 'The Iceman' George Gervin joins Jordan Daly, Craig Smith, and Mike Taylor for Episode 5 of the Underdogs Podcast. Gervin - a 12x consecutive NBA All-Star, 4x Scoring Champion, and a member of the NBA's top 50 players team - is one of, if not the best scorer the game of basketball has ever seen. The only two players with more scoring titles are Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain. In this episode Iceman brings us through his whole story, starting with high school ball in Detroit. He then goes into his college experience and how that led him into playing in the ABA with the Virginia Squires. The San Antonio Spurs legend then goes on to tell us about the ABA and NBA merger, and what that experience was like for him and the rest of the players in the newly merged league. This leads him into talking about the NBA's addition of the three-point line, and how he can see the NBA adding a four-point shot to the game, much like Ice Cube's own BIG3 League has. Gervin also talks about how he perfected the finger roll by being a student of the game and building off of those who came before him, such as Dr. J - Julius Erving. Always do your research and know the history of basketball! Ice continues to talk about his experience playing with Michael Jordan early in his career, leaving the NBA to play overseas, and being inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame. To end the episode, Gervin talks about how he claimed one of his scoring titles over David Thompson by scoring 63 points in 33 minutes in the final game of the season. He also goes on to talk about what fan interaction was like back in the day, and why he thinks some players in today's NBA are soft. Catch Iceman, Mike, and Craig in the BIG3 this summer, starting June 18th! Go Ghost Ballers! This episode's main theme was being in love vs loving something. Being in love brings much more passion and desire, and will lead to greater things. Another recurring theme was that everybody needs somebody to succeed. Follow the Underdogs Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/underdogs.podcast/ Follow the Hosts: Jordan Daly: https://www.instagram.com/jordandalynba/ Mike Taylor: https://www.instagram.com/88miketaylor/ Craig Smith: https://www.instagram.com/blackrhino83/ Prefer video? Watch this episode on our YouTube channel as well! Please LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE to help support our podcast!

Antwon Tanner, most popularly known as Skills from One Tree Hill and Worm from Coach Carter, joins Jordan Daly, Craig Smith, and Mike Taylor for Episode 4 of the Underdogs Podcast. In this episode, Antwon talks about how his acting career began when a talent scout saw him hooping in Los Angeles. He tells us how his journey began originally as an extra for the basketball scenes but was quickly cast as a lead role in Sunset Park. Being a hooper before becoming an actor, Antwon talks about how his knowledge of the game and the basketball community helped land him roles in One Tree Hill and Coach Carter. He goes on to tell us some behind-the-scenes secrets from projects he has worked on. Antwon also talks about how he still stays hooping in the DREW League as a player and a coach. This episode brought to light how life can be unexpected, and to enjoy the ride and to follow where life leads you. Follow the Underdogs Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/underdogs.podcast Follow the Hosts: Jordan Daly: https://www.instagram.com/jordandalynba/ Mike Taylor: https://www.instagram.com/88miketaylor/ Craig Smith: https://www.instagram.com/blackrhino83/ Follow the Guest: Antwon Tanner: https://www.instagram.com/antwontanner2214/ Find the video version of this podcast on YouTube!

Ricky Davis, a 12 year NBA vet, joins Jordan Daly, Craig Smith, and Mike Taylor for Episode 3 of the Underdogs Podcast. Being drafted at only 17 years young, Ricky was often misunderstood by fans, media, and front office staff. In this episode, Ricky breaks down some of the moments that lead to that stigma, finally letting his side of the story be heard. To start off, Ricky talks about his trend-setting one and done year at Iowa, leading into his early years in Charlotte after being drafted. He talks about early medical issues he faced with his foot that not many people knew about. After a change of scenery to Cleveland, Ricky finally starts finding his groove, when the next season LeBron James is drafted to the team. He talks about butting heads with coach Paul Silas about a misunderstanding of how LeBron was being treated. Even after LeBron defends Ricky, the Cavs traded Ricky almost immediately. Ricky also gets into his famous triple double attempt, where he got the nickname "Wrong Way Rick". Mike, Craig, and Ricky also reflect on the years they spent together with either the LA Clippers or the Minnesota Timberwolves. They also reflect on the past summer they all spent together on the Ghost Ballers in Ice Cube's BIG3 Basketball League. Ricky also tells some stories of what it was like playing with guys like Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. This episode brought to light how there are always two sides to every story, and to make sure you have all of the facts before you make an assumption. Don't judge a book by it's cover, and really get to know a person! Follow the Underdogs Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/underdogs.podcast/ Follow the Hosts: Jordan Daly: https://www.instagram.com/jordandalynba/ Mike Taylor: https://www.instagram.com/88miketaylor/ Craig Smith: https://www.instagram.com/blackrhino83/ Follow the Guest: Ricky Davis: https://www.instagram.com/tricky12/ Find the audio-only version of this podcast on all major streaming platforms!

Jared Dudley, a 14 year NBA vet, Champion, and current assistant coach for the Dallas Mavericks, joins Jordan Daly, Craig Smith, and Mike Taylor for Episode 2 of the Underdogs Podcast. Listen to Jared reflect on his career and his personal journey, where he takes us back to his Boston College days, talks about what the NBA draft process was like and how the pressure of his accolades added to that stress, his journey through the NBA and the adjustments he had to make as an NBA journeyman, and what the transition to coach has been like. Jared also talks about the definition of value, how leadership is different than talent, and lets us know what the secrets to longevity in the NBA are. This episode brought to light how adjustment is necessary, and to always be aware of what your role is and how you can always find a unique way to contribute. Know your role and know your value! Follow the Underdogs Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/underdogs.podcast/ Follow the Hosts: Jordan Daly: https://www.instagram.com/jordandalynba/ Mike Taylor: https://www.instagram.com/88miketaylor/ Craig Smith: https://www.instagram.com/blackrhino83/ Follow the Guest: Jared Dudley: https://www.instagram.com/jareddudley10/ Find the video version of this podcast on YouTube!

Welcome to the Underdogs Podcast! Check out our debut episode where hosts Jordan Daly and NBA vets Mike Taylor and Craig Smith take a deep dive into their personal journeys and underdog stories. Listen to Mike and Craig's stories on how they overcame adversity and made their own paths to the NBA, where they found their own definitions of success. The future of this podcast will be dedicated to showcasing other athletes and influencers and giving them a platform to open up about their own underdog stories. Follow the Underdogs Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/underdogs.podcast/ Follow the Hosts: Jordan Daly: https://www.instagram.com/jordandalynba/ Mike Taylor: https://www.instagram.com/88miketaylor/ Craig Smith: https://www.instagram.com/blackrhino83/ Find the video version of this podcast on YouTube! Check back next Friday, 1/14/22, for episode 2 featuring Craig's former BC teammate and NBA Champion Jared Dudley!