In the latest episode of All The Smoke Unplugged, Matt Barnes spoke with former NHL player and current ESPN NHL analyst P.K. Subban, who gave more context to his viral comments criticizing today’s NBA.
The NHL is riding high after the success of the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, breaking viewership records along the way. The milestone hit by the NHL pushed some to wonder why the NBA can’t duplicate that same success with its All-Star Game, especially with viewership being down. On ESPN’s Get Up, Subban was asked to determine if the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off tournament could inspire the NBA to adopt a USA vs. World tournament-style format. Subban explained that what made the 4 Nations Face-Off a success was that the players played with a sense of honor and pride compared to the NBA, which is superstar and talent-driven. He asked NBA players the following question: What the hell are you playing for? He further challenged the notion of whether or not NBA players are hurt or injured, emphasizing that hockey players like himself have played hurt.
.@PKSubban1 weighs in on if the NHL could inspire the NBA to change the All-Star format to USA vs. the World ✍️ pic.twitter.com/QcJGB3kfL3
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) February 18, 2025
Subban gave further context to his comments by suggesting that he was not just speaking to fans of both leagues but also to current and past NBA players. The overall feedback he received from other athletes regarding his comments was positive. He further explained that some professional hockey players in the past may not have made $1 million, $8 million or $9 million from the game, so they had to get jobs after their playing careers. However, regardless of how much they made, they gave EVERYTHING and played through injuries and at a high level. Subban stressed that it is because of their efforts that he was able to make the money he made during his NHL career and even now as an analyst. He shared with Barnes that there is a select group of superstars in the NBA, and if you are going to be in that special class of what we consider great in basketball, you will be judged by how you push the game forward versus just playing for yourself. Subban admired greats such as Bryant and Michael Jordan, not for their championships but for their mental approach to the game. Sabban believes that if you can give it your all for 82 games and show up for your teammates, that is important to your legacy.
Barnes highlighted the backlash that NBA players get for not participating in back-to-backs, thus denying some paying fans their only opportunity to see their favorite superstar — especially given the model that the late David Stern built to promote superstars within a team game. It was a badge of honor to play all 82 games. He believes that some things you physically cannot play through, while there are also some little injuries that players can probably play through. Now that players today are making more than ever before, Barnes understands the criticism, even if some of it may just be hate. He agrees with most of what Subban said and suggests that sometimes athletes don’t like other athletes speaking about their sport when it comes to those not agreeing with Subban. Furthermore, Barnes agreed that the league has an issue with players who can play but choose not to.
To be clear, Subban is not against NBA players making BIG MONEY — he makes the point that NBA players deserve the money they make for growing the game. Further, Subban has some core principles regarding sports that need to be staples. You need to show up for work, you have to be on the floor playing. He makes references to Bryant having to pop his finger in and how he once shot free throws with a torn Achilles. He assured Barnes that it is about fighting for the next generation and fighting for the opportunity to play in the best league in the world. He wants to see NBA players that will go out there night after night and lay it on the line. Sabban believes it is your responsibility to shine a light on the league if you are a star player. When that responsibility is met, Sabban believes the league will have a different relationship with its fans because they trust in the players’ efforts.
Watch or listen to the full episode below and keep an eye on DraftKings Network for new episodes of All The Smoke Unplugged every Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET!
SHOW BREAKDOWN
PK Subban Goes at NBA, Warriors & Lakers Cooking, Luka’s Revenge Game | ALL THE SMOKE
- In this week’s episode, Matt is joined in the studio by former NHL star P.K. Subban, fresh off his bold comments comparing the NBA to NFL. Next, Keyon Dooling is back to dive into the latest NBA happenings, including Jimmy Butler’s resurgence with the Warriors and the Knicks’ struggles against top teams. Lastly, Rachel Nichols is here to talk all things NBA, from Luka Dončić’s revenge game to a potential USA vs. World All-Star Weekend format.
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