Kenny Smith recently stirred the college basketball world with his Mount Rushmore of college shooters. His list included Jimmer Fredette, Steph Curry, Donald Williams, and Glen Rice. Notably absent was JJ Redick, a sharpshooter whose Duke career left a lasting mark.
This omission has sparked some speculation, some of which even hints at the recent beef between Redick and Charles Barkley.
Kenny Smith Keeps JJ Redick out of His Mount Rushmore Selection
Smith’s selection of college basketball’s elite shooters raised some eyebrows for leaving out Redick. Redick is a Duke legend, setting scoring records and earning national honors during his time in college.
Yet Smith opted for Fredette, Curry, Williams, and Rice—names that, while impressive, don’t overshadow Redick’s collegiate legacy. The decision becomes even more interesting when we add the recent NBA drama involving Smith and his NBA colleague, Barkley, to the mix.
.@TheJetOnTNT reveals his Mount Rushmore of shooters he’s seen play in college basketball 🔥 pic.twitter.com/hTpZ4Xt0LY
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) April 3, 2025
Barkley has been at odds with Redick, now the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, for months. The tension boiled over during TNT’s first doubleheader of 2025. Barkley didn’t hold back, responding to Redick’s claim that some TV analysts hurt NBA viewership with their criticism.
“You’re just a dead man walking,” Barkley said, making his feelings clear. He doubled down, adding, “JJ, you better calm down because when you come for the king, you better not miss.” The Hall of Famer also took aim at Redick’s coaching, pointing out the Lakers’ struggles and suggesting Redick couldn’t fix the team’s deep-rooted issues.
Redick didn’t pay much heed to the criticism. He responded with a curt, “literally, don’t care,” making it clear that he wasn’t interested in engaging further. But the feud has drawn attention from other analysts, including Stephen A. Smith, who offered a more balanced take.
He noted that the Lakers, under Redick, held a 20-16 record and a top-six seed in the Western Conference.
Stephen A. also pointed out that Redick’s roster lacked the talent needed to truly compete, contrasting his situation with that of former Lakers coach Darvin Ham, who led the team to the Western Conference Finals in his first year despite challenges.
The timing of Kenny Smith’s Mount Rushmore list adds more fuel to the fire. Given the ongoing friction between Barkley and Redick, some speculate that Smith’s omission might reflect the broader sentiment within the Inside the NBA crew.
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The group is known for its tight-knit dynamic, often aligning on hot-button issues. Smith and Barkley, alongside their colleagues, have a history of blunt commentary, and Redick’s absence from the list could be a subtle nod to that loyalty.
Meanwhile, Smith’s inclusion of Stephen Curry on his Mount Rushmore aligns with the broader consensus. Curry’s college career at Davidson was a shooting clinic, and his NBA legacy has only amplified his status. Placing him alongside Fredette, Williams, and Rice feels like a safe choice, but it’s the exclusion of Redick that keeps the conversation alive.
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