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Redick Has Nash, Crawford On Latest Podcast

Rowan Kavner Digital Content Coordinator

BOSTON – J.J. Redicks brought on Steve Nash and teammate Jamal Crawford for his second edition of “The Vertical Podcast.”

Some of the topics included each of their lists of the top four point guards of all time, the inspiration behind Redick’s tattoos, the upcoming 3-point contest, basketball in Canada and much more.

Redick said he wanted a tattoo sleeve on his left arm for four or five years and decided he’d finally go through with it. He wanted something representing his Christianity, and he went with a tattoo of a winged man for the Book of Matthew, a winged lion for the Book of Mark, a winged ox for the Book of Luke and an eagle for the Book of John.

Once he decided what he wanted, he needed to actually get it done. Redick said he bumped into Adam Levine on a golf course in Cabo and asked where he got his tattoos. He went to the same person once getting the OK from his wife, who supported the sleeve idea.

Redick went through three sessions during the season – about 14 hours of work – and said he still needs about an hour more for fill-ins to finish it off.

After talking about being more serious this time around at the 3-point contest, he brought on Nash, who’s now a player development consultant for the Warriors and the general manager of the Canadian national team following his illustrious career, which included two MVPs.

Nash said he the last few years of his career, he might not have loved the game as much, but he still loved challenging himself every day and loved the preparation and pushing past what’s expected. Nash said as much as he loves and appreciates the game still, he’s not one to continue going to the gym and putting up shots.

That won’t be the case for Crawford whenever he retires.

“The day I retire from playing in the NBA, I’ll be playing at LA Fitness the next day,” Crawford said.

Top Four Point Guards

Redick, Nash and Crawford all gave their answers for their personal top four point guards of all-time.

  • Nash – Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, John Stockton, Bob Cousy (also wanted a place in there for Stephen Curry and said he loved Jason Kidd, Gary Payton and Oscar Robertson)
  • Redick – Magic, Stockton, Isiah, Nash (added that it’s tough to leave out Kidd)
    “For me, when I talk about the all-time list and all-time greats, it’s difficult for me to put a current player in that,” Redick said. “At no point in my life have I ever watched a movie or read a book and three-quarters of the way through thought to myself, ‘Oh, this is my favorite movie of all time,’ or, ‘This is easily one of my top three books ever.’”
  • Crawford – Magic, Isiah, Stockton, Oscar Robertson

Quick Hits

  • Nash said Rex Chapman, Danny Manning, Jason Kidd, Dirk Nowitzki, Michael Finley, Jared Dudley, Raja Bell, Grant Hill, Amar’e Stoudemire, Shawn Marion and Leandro Barbosa are all some of his favorite teammates of all time.
  • Nash said Nowitzki’s the best shooter he’s ever played with
  • Crawford on Oscar Robertson – “You’re as good as your peers think you are. If the greats talk about you like that, you have to be up there (among the top guards of all-time).
  • Redick and Nash had a long conversation about the improving state of Canadian basketball and the influx of talented Canadian players to the league, something Nash said has been exciting to see happening.
  • Nash credited the NBA’s presence in Canada, better coaching and opportunity in the country, the Internet and YouTube and AAU basketball for helping build the game and provide opportunities for kids in Canada.
  • Nash said he’s not interested at the moment in coaching and wants to spend time with his kids.
  • Redick and Crawford also talked about the difficulties of making comparisons from current NBA players to old legends, and the importance of championships while judging point guards