I have a ton of respect for JJ Redick because he has brought forth a new style of discussing topics he’s passionate about.
Unfortunately for Redick — a self-avowed hater of hot takes — the way with which he talks resembles the peak of hot takery.
Redick has been in the news after his very public clash on First Take with ESPN NBA analyst Kendrick Perkins. His argument with Perkins has since been co-opted by the worst people in your Twitter feed as proof that ESPN is “woke”, Perkins is a racist, and other malarkey that we won’t dive much further into today.
I love the way Redick presents his arguments. The man can be accused of many things, but a conventional thinker he is not. Redick is wise, has knowledge, experience, and is well-spoken.
However, as many confident, knowledgeable people do, Redick can come across as a blow-hard know-it-all at times, and condescending at others.
Brash. Abrasive. Unapologetic. All words that can be used to describe JJ Redick and his approach to his role at ESPN.
But, for someone who has repeatedly shared his disdain for the hot take format like Redick has, couldn’t you say those some adjectives about Skip Bayless? Stephen A. Smith? Max Kellerman? Jason Whitlock? I could go on and on.
What separates Redick from those folks? There’s a simply answer: I don’t think JJ Redick is spewing bullshit.
I don’t believe that Skip Bayless believes a word that is ever coming out of his mouth. I think Jason Whitlock’s opinions are as real as the fruit in the bowl on my dining room table. Stephen A. and Max Kellerman were assigned roles as characters from ESPN and continue them to this day.
But Redick? Redick is speaking from the heart. He truly believes the NBA is more physical now than in the 1980s. Do I agree with him? No, not really, but he’s not just saying things to fit into a soundbyte to feed the ESPN echo chamber.
His podcast is phenomenal. His work on ESPN is great. I learn things, not just about basketball but the way professional athletes think and carry themselves when JJ Redick is on my screen.
But if you mix outside-the-box, unpopular, sarcastic opinions and a slightly condescending, dismissive attitude with people that don’t agree with you, do you know what you get? Damn near the definition of hot takes. They are the tent pole attributes of the format! And for someone who claims to hate them as much as Redick does, he sure is good at giving them.
Garrett Searight is Barrett Media’s News Editor, which includes writing bi-weekly industry features and a weekly column. He has previously served as Program Director and Afternoon Co-Host on 93.1 The Fan in Lima, OH, and is the radio play-by-play voice of Northern Michigan University hockey. Reach out to him at Garrett@BarrettMedia.com.
