logo
episode-header-image
Feb 2025
1h 5m

Michael Cooper on Guarding Larry Bird, K...

The Black Effect and iHeartPodcasts
About this episode

Lakers legend Michael Cooper joins All The Smoke for a walk down memory lane that reveals untold stories behind one of basketball's most celebrated defensive titans. The newly inducted Hall of Famer breaks down his incredible journey from junior college underdog to becoming the ultimate "Larry Bird stopper" during the iconic Showtime Lakers era. Cooper pulls back the curtain on his legendary defensive prowess—a career that earned him Defensive Player of the Year in 1987 and eight All-NBA Defensive team selections. Matt and Stak get Cooper to open up about his remarkable transformation from NBA player to successful WNBA coach, sharing intimate stories about basketball royalty like Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Lisa Leslie, Kobe Bryant, and more. From guarding the game's most challenging opponents to navigating the competitive landscape of professional basketball, Cooper delivers raw, unfiltered insights that only a true basketball icon can provide.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Today
Drug Dealer to AAU Dream Maker: The Curtis Malone Story
<p>From D.C. drug dealer to AAU kingmaker.</p> <p>Curtis Malone built one of the most powerful youth basketball pipelines in America&hellip; while secretly running a criminal empire.</p> <p>In this exclusive ALL THE SMOKE Unplugged sit-down, Malone breaks down his double life, th ... Show More
50m 3s
Nov 19
DeAndre Jordan’s HILARIOUS NBA Stories, Playing with Jokic & LeBron, Lob City vs. 2019 Nets
<p>We took a trip down memory lane with one of Matt&rsquo;s all-time favorite teammates, DeAndre Jordan. This episode is packed with laughs, stories you have never heard, and a look at one of the league&rsquo;s most respected veterans. From Matt and DJ&rsquo;s wild trip to Amster ... Show More
1h 17m
Nov 18
Rajon Rondo’s Coaching Revelation & Quarterbacking NBA’s Most UNEXPECTED Breakout
<p>Rajon Rondo pulls up to ALL THE SMOKE: UNPLUGGED and drops straight GEMS.</p> <p>From coaching Giannis day-to-day in Milwaukee to mentoring Ryan Rollins into the NBA&rsquo;s most unexpected breakout, Rondo breaks down the game like only he can.</p> <p>Rondo reacts to Rick Piti ... Show More
36m 18s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2024
Sloane Knows - Derek Fisher on Celtics-Lakers 2010 NBA Finals, Kobe Bryant & best teammates
Former NBA guard and Los Angeles Lakers icon Derek Fisher sits down to be interviewed on this episode of the Sloane Knows! Podcast. They discuss his upbringing in Arkansas as a Lakers fan, the biggest difference he’s seen in high school basketball then and now as the head coach a ... Show More
45m 7s
Jul 2024
Sloane Knows - Derek Fisher on Celtics-Lakers 2010 NBA Finals, Kobe Bryant & best teammates
Former NBA guard and Los Angeles Lakers icon Derek Fisher sits down to be interviewed on this episode of the Sloane Knows! Podcast. They discuss his upbringing in Arkansas as a Lakers fan, the biggest difference he’s seen in high school basketball then and now as the head coach a ... Show More
46m 21s
Jul 2024
Hour 3 – Kobe Bryant Drafted on this Day, Jim Boeheim
Dan details everything that everything that went down when Kobe Bryant was drafted by Jerry West and the Lakers on this day in 1996. And former Team USA Assistant Coach Jim Boeheim stops by to weigh in on why Jaylen Brown was left off the Olympic squad.See omnystudio.com/listener ... Show More
41m 34s
Dec 2024
Club 520 - Jeff Teague on Nikola Jokic becoming GOAT NBA center on Nuggets, Jordan Poole celebration
We’re back with Season 3, Episode 14 of Club 520, where Jeff Teague and the guys react to Nikola Jokic’s MVP start to the NBA season, and debate where he ranks on the all-time centers list. If Jokic can notch his fourth MVP, that puts him in a class with only LeBron James, Wilt C ... Show More
1h 14m
Feb 2025
The Definitive Western Conference Finals Contenders, Cavs-Celtics Battle & Legendary Sonny Vaccaro Stories
Brian Windhorst is joined by ESPN's Tim Bontemps and Tim MacMahon to dish out the teams that truly have a chance to get to the NBA Finals from the Western Conference, break down an interesting statement from Gregg Popovich and preview a potentially telling matchup between the Cav ... Show More
55m 35s
Feb 2021
Julius Randle (featuring Kevin Love)
Julius Randle is known league wide as someone who doesn't take plays off, a tireless worker, and a very underrated player. But that last narrative might be changing a bit this year as he is enjoying the finest season of his career, leading the Knicks to a surprising 6th seed posi ... Show More
1h 3m
Nov 11
Lakers Bounce Back in Charlotte
After starting slowly and struggling defensively early on, the Lakers got back on track with a win over the Hornets, moving to 8-3 on the season. Pete and Darius discuss the game, highlighting the team’s defensive struggles to start out, Luka setting the tone offensively, Austin ... Show More
34m 10s
Nov 13
Shaquille "Shaq" O'Neal: A Night at the Roxbury
<p>Shaq says that Rob Lowe taught him how to be a superstar! The legendary basketball player and "Inside the NBA" host joins Rob Lowe to discuss their first meeting in 1990s Los Angeles, what Shaq’s ideal week would look like, his sleep apnea journey, the recent NBA gambling cont ... Show More
34m 33s
Feb 2025
Nightcap - Hour 1: Jamal Crawford, Mark Jackson, Luka’s Lakers debut
Shannon Sharpe and Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson recap the top stories from the NBA season so far. Topics include former NBA-er Jamal Crawford joins the show to discuss Luka Doncic joining LeBron James and the Lakers after being traded for Anthony Davis, former NBA star and head coach ... Show More
1h 20m
Mar 2025
Alex Caruso on the State of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Plus Trey Murphy’s Experience Playing the New Lakers
<p>On this week’s episode of ‘The Young Man and the Three’ we welcome Alex Caruso of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Trey Murphy III of the New Orleans Pelicans. To start the episode, Trey shares what it was like facing the Los Angeles Lakers with Luka Doncic for the first time and ... Show More
1h 15m