Add Gucci Mane to the list. On Wednesday, April 24, the Atlanta-bred rapper dropped “TakeDat,” a four-minute song that ruthlessly mocks Diddy. The first line uttered is, “I’m just f*cking around, but no Diddy.” Throughout the song, more or less every bar is punctuated with “No Diddy,” such as, “I got a Yung Miami b*tch from the city / I’m spendin’ money like a trick (No Diddy),” and “But she can’t be underage (No Diddy).”
The accompanying video finds Gucci Mane in a jacuzzi, surrounded by women. If the scene looks familiar, that’s because Gucci Mane not-so-subtly recreated Diddy’s scene from The Notorious B.I.G.’s 1994 “Big Poppa” video. And just in case there’s any confusion as to whether this was absolutely, one-hundred percent intentional, Gucci Mane posted a side-by-side image on Instagram alongside the caption, “Hardest song of the summer #TAKEDAT.”
Elsewhere in the video, Gucci Mane rides a motorcycle while delivering perhaps the song’s biggest blow to Diddy (and, unfortunately, the Detroit Pistons caught a stray): “Why you ain’t ever seen Wop at the brunch? / ‘Cause they might spike the punch, man, that sh*t too risky / Rule No. 1, never be too friendly / These industry n***** have bad intentions / I don’t trust nobody, and I stay my distance / Plus, your whole team suck, like the Detroit Pistons.”
When it comes to the world of mixed drinks, things changed with the cocktail renaissance of the early aughts. Before that, if you wanted an old fashioned, you’d have to hope the ancient bartender at your local watering hole knew how to make one (or had the directions on a laminated piece of paper somewhere). Now, it seems like you can visit any big city, small town, or one-stoplight pass-through and find at least one “bespoke” or “craft” cocktail bar.
This has also led to countless novices taking up mixology in the privacy of their own homes.
But, for everyone who purchased a home bar or bar cart and filled it with the necessary bottles, tinctures, and ingredients, countless others felt too overwhelmed to do anything more than buy a bottle of Jack and a six-pack of Coke. We’re here to help those would-be home bartenders along on their journies. Well, technically a slew of bartenders are going to help.
“Chefs know that their food depends on great ingredients, and as a home mixologist, you should too,” says Jim Lunchick, mixologist at Merriman’s Waimea in Waimea, Hawaii.
With this in mind, we asked a handful of well-known bartenders to tell us the most underrated home bar ingredients. They were kind enough to list their can’t-miss ingredients and even explained why they’re necessary home bar ingredients. We’re not talking about the alcohol or the tools today. Simply the important ingredients you can’t mix without. Keep scrolling to see all of their picks.
“In my opinion, one of the most underrated home bar ingredients is fresh herbs. While commonly used in cooking, fresh herbs like mint, basil, rosemary, and thyme can elevate the flavor profile of cocktails in a unique and refreshing way. Adding a sprig of mint to a mojito or a basil leaf to a gin cocktail can bring a burst of freshness and complexity to the drink that is often overlooked. The aromatic qualities of fresh herbs can complement and enhance the other ingredients in a cocktail, creating a more well-rounded and enjoyable drinking experience.”
Vermouth
COJE Group
Ray Tremblay, corporate beverage director of COJE Group in Boston
“I believe that vermouth is probably the most underrated home bar ingredient. It’s a staple of many classic cocktails, but in home bars, it’s usually collecting dust and poorly stored. Investing in quality vermouth and storing it properly in the fridge can result in some great cocktails such as martinis, Manhattans, boulevardiers/negronis, spritzes, and Americanos.”
“Ice! You can maintain bar quality drinks by prioritizing your ice. Mahina & Sun’s not only creates clear ice but has invented coconut water Ice. It’s incredible for not only the evolution of its texture and flavor in the cocktail as it melts but also its next-day benefits. Infusing ice with creative ingredients puts any whiskey, tequila, or any spirit on a journey.”
“I think there are a few underrated home bar ingredients, but I’d have to say bitters are the most underestimated. While some may see them merely as decorative pieces at their home bar or only good enough for an old fashion, they possess the power to elevate any cocktail. From margaritas to sweet rum punches, bitters add depth and complexity, transforming ordinary drinks into extraordinary experiences.”
“The most underrated home bar ingredient is fruit. Are you using freshly squeezed, high-quality limes? I cringe whenever I see a bottle of premade margarita mix. And using dry, inferior fresh limes isn’t a whole lot better. The fruit you are selecting for your cocktails should be picked out with as much attention as your choice of spirits. In fact, the seasonality of the fruit should be a factor in deciding what drinks you are going to make at home in the first place. Do the mangoes at the store look and feel amazing? Then your mango colada will be amazing too. Is it fresh blackberry season? Muddle them into your old fashioned and celebrate.”
Simple Syrup
Vasili
Justin Lawrence, head bartender at Vasili’s in Naperville, Illinois
“I think the most underrated home bar ingredient would have to be simple syrup. It’s not only used in so many popular cocktails but there are also so many cool ways to concoct your own at home. Even something as small as using demerara instead of regular white sugar is a huge difference maker. You can take that a step further and start adding different flavor profiles to suit your needs. I’ve recently been obsessed with making my own cucumber jalapeno syrup that I like to use in my tequila smash recipe. I use a 1:1 ratio and throw in tons of sliced cucumbers and jalapenos. I finish it off with a few bottles of Aegean tonic to bring the flavor of cucumber forward. You can try a technique like this with different flavors to fit your needs and it’s a fairly low-maintenance task.”
“Salt. We put salt in almost everything when it comes to food, but most people don’t think to do so in cocktails. It makes fruit pop in syrups, cancels bitterness/bite in spirit-forward cocktails, and overall, just makes for better flavor. We use Tamari in our old fashioned syrup which is a gluten-free soy sauce, along with demerara sugar and chicory. It helps all the individual flavors to pop. We put kosher salt in almost every syrup we use behind our bar for the same reasons. We’re always balancing sweetness/acidity/salt similarly to when cooking.”
Tomatoes
Hero Bar
Kelvin Thairu, head bartender at Hero Bar in Nairobi, Kenya
“My take would be tomatoes either ripe or unripe. There are a couple of ways I use to extract flavors from a tomato, be it ripe, green, or even almost going bad. For fresh and green tomatoes, I can blend and extract clear water through filtering with cheesecloth and filter paper. I can as well mix with vinegar and sugar to make a shrub that will stay long without going bad, and it’s always very refreshing and good for sours. For the almost going bad, I do lacto-fermentation which works best with tequila or mezcal.”
Tea
Apéritif Bar
Panji Wisrawan, head mixologist Apéritif Bar in Ubud, Bali
“Tea is the most underrated home bar ingredient, it’s always there in every house, easy to get, and offers layers of flavor in the cocktail making with its tannins and complexity. It can be a great mixer or infused with your favorite spirits. Or mix it into any punch or milk punch.”
“You can elevate your home bar experience with this underrated secret ingredient: homemade cocktail aromatics. These wonders have the power to transform your ordinary cocktail into a masterpiece that will leave your guests in awe. Not only does the aromatic spray take the flavors of your cocktail to new heights, but it also adds a touch of sophistication and elegance to your presentation. Imagine the conversations that will spark when your guests witness the final flourish of the aromatic spray. You can take your mixology skills to the next level with combinations of citrus oils and herbs to elevate your spring cocktail ideas, which will impress your friends and family with cocktails that are not just drinks but an experience to remember.”
“I would say citrus overall (orange, lime, mandarin, grapefruit, etc.) is one of the most underrated home bar ingredients. It is very versatile when it comes to making drinks at home and allows you to have many different choices depending on the mood for you and your guests.”
Fats
Crossroads Hotel
Kyle Bobkowski, beverage manager at Crossroads Hotel in Kansas City
“Butter, oil, and fats in a home bar are very underrated and underutilized ingredients. Cooking some bacon for breakfast? Reserve the rendered fat pour it into some whiskey and freeze it and you have an automatically rich and savory liquid for an old fashioned or Manhattan. Have some extra coconut oil from a curry you were making but don’t know what else to use it for? Pour it into some rum or tequila, let it sit cold overnight and you’ll make some complex and dazzling coconut daiquiris or margaritas without using overly and artificially sweet coconut-flavored rums or other flavored spirits. I cook often at home and I’m always trying to upcycle or re-use ingredients in my cooking that would otherwise go to waste. An olive-oil-infused dirty martini is also a showstopper and olive oil is usually a fixture in kitchens and easy to infuse.”
“At the risk of sounding like a nerd, citric acid has found a very comfortable place in my pantry at home. Its foremost use is as a preservative for extending the life of fresh juices and syrups, which I don’t use nearly as quickly at home as we do in a commercial bar. It’s great for helping to extract oils from citrus peels when making oleo and works wonders in a homemade sugar or salt rim to add a little pucker.”
Welcome to SNX DLX, your weekly roundup of the best sneakers to hit the internet. This week we’ve got a lot of variety! Jordans, NB 1000s, and Kawhi, PUMA — there is a little bit of something for everyone. Unless you’re an Adidas fan in which case… well, sorry, maybe next week.
We’re going to go ahead and say this week’s heavy hitter is a three-way tie, which has never happened in SNX history! That tie is between the women’s exclusive Jordan 3 Georgia Peach (no surprises there, a Jordan at the top spot), the New Balance Kawhi IV (a b-ball signature that isn’t made by Nike? What are the odds!), and the Fenty x PUMA Creeper Phatty Earth Tone, which Rihanna has graciously sized for men, women, children and toddlers.
Even as a sneakerhead, I’ll never understand shelling out big bucks for children’s shoes, but hey, who knows, when I have kids of my own I might want them to be dripped out too. We’ve got a lot of great sneakers to talk about so let’s just jump right into it!
Peach season has come early via Nike’s women’s exclusive Jordan 3 Georgia Peach. The sneaker sports a smoothed-out white leather upper with cement gray elephant print mudguards and hints of Cosmic Clay at the eyelets, heel piece, and on the embroidered swoosh branding.
We would’ve liked to see this one in a full-size run, but we’ll take what we can get! If you can fit into a Men’s 10.5, you can squeeze into these comfortably.
The Nike Women’s Jordan 3 Georgia Peach is out now for a retail price of $200. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.
Over the last two weeks, Joe Freshgoods has reintroduced the New Balance 1000 into rotation, and we thank him for that! Though it’s not a JF design, we’re happy to see New Balance giving this reintroduced classic some love by dropping a brand-new colorway.
The sneaker sports a black mesh underlay with metallic silver synthetic overlays over a sculpted ABZORB midsole with reflective details throughout. We’re counting down the days until we get a Teddy Santis spin on the sneaker.
The New Balance 1000 Silver Metallic is out now for a retail price of $149.99. Pick up a pair at New Balance.
Kawhi Leonard’s signature NB sneaker is back! For me, the IV is the best in the Kawhi lineage (my favorite Jordan is also the IV, I guess I have a thing for IVs) and this new rendition with its white, red, and black colorway can’t help but make me think of a certain famous Jordan colorway. I’m sure that wasn’t New Balance’s intention, but as a Jordan head, I can’t help myself from noticing these things.
The sneaker features a distinct low-rise silhouette with a lightweight mesh upper, an exposed carbon fiber plate designed for energy return, and a dual-density FuelCell midsole.
The New Balance Kawhi IV White is set to drop on April 25th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $159.99. Pick up a pair at New Balance.
Nike has been going hard on the Dunks this year and we assumed we were going to be getting some re-releases of beloved colorways, but if you told me one of those colorways would be the Veneer, I wouldn’t have believed it! First released in 2001 before going on a 19-year break and re-emerging in 2020, the Veneer is back after just a four-year break.
The sneaker sports an all-suede upper with a mix of dusty forest green and brown with loud purple accents at the outsole, laces, and branding. It’s the sort of colorway that demands to be seen, and given its legendary status, sneakerheads on the streets are bound to notice your exquisite taste. To normal eyes though, this sneaker probably looks insane.
The Nike Dunk Low Veneer is set to drop on April 25th for a retail price of $115. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.
Last year’s Fenty x PUMA collaboration, the Avanti, was one of our favorite releases of the year. And as much as we love new silhouettes, we couldn’t help but miss Rihanna and PUMA’s first sneaker, the Creeper, which thankfully returns this week in three brand-new colorways.
Dubbed the “Phatty Earth Tone” collection, the updated Creeper is made from luxe nubuck in a collection of earth-toned (hence the name) monochromatic colorways that can’t help but remind us of the golden days of Yeezys. Gold foil branding adorns each colorway. The entire collection is available in a full-size run, as is always the case with Rihanna, she’s making products for everyone. That’s part of why we love her.
The Fenty x PUMA Creeper Phatty Earth Tone is set to drop on April 25th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $140. Pick up a pair at PUMA.
If looking at all the sneakers dropping this week has you wondering, “where is all the weird stuff?” Nike has got you with its ISPA Link Axis. This weird alien shoe has sustainability in mind, being made with recycled parts, few materials, and absolutely zero glue. Although this shoe relies on recycled parts, Nike still decided to emphasize the feel, creating a responsive and bouncy outsole that gives you the sort of energy return and feel of your typical Nike Airbag.
The brand suggests that once you’re done with the sneakers, you can simply drop them off at a participating Nike store so they can continue the renewable project. The design makes sustainability in footwear a statement, and for that, we can’t help but like this admittedly very weird shoe.
The Nike ISPA Link Axis Multi-Color is set to drop on April 25th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $300. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.
For a second we forgot that Jaden Smith has been riding with New Balance since before the rest of the sneaker world got behind the brand. Now the original NB-head is back with a brand-new silhouette. The 0.01 (such a Jaden title) sports a low-top design with an oversized midsole and outsole, with proportions inspired by the Fibonacci Sequence.
The 0.01 sports a synthetic upper, a classic black and white colorway, and branding from MSFTrep, Jaden’s new clothing line.
The MSFTSrep x New Balance 0.01 is set to drop on April 26th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $109.99. Pick up at New Balance.
If you’re not feeling the early summer vibes of the Jordan 3 Georgia Peach and want something a bit more classic, closing out the week we’ve got the Jordan 1 High OG Artisanal Red. The sneaker is your classic AJ1, leather build, high-top design, and simple two-color combination. The red here leans more toward warm burgundy tones contrasted nicely with a bright white leather upper.
The Nike Air Jordan 1 High OG Artisanal Red is set to drop on April 27th at 7:00 AM PST for a retail price of $180. Pick up a pair via the Nike SNKRS app.
NikeNike
Disclaimer: While all of the products recommended here were chosen independently by our editorial staff, Uproxx may receive payment to direct readers to certain retail vendors who are offering these products for purchase.
“It’s hornier than Pornhub on here, sheesh,” the Detroit rapper posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday night, April 23. “Damn near gotta be dolo just to open dis b*tch up… this is NOT one them tweets to drop no freaky sh*t under either.”
Its hornier than pornhub on here, sheesh. Damn near gotta be dolo just to open dis b*tch up… this is NOT one them tweets to drop no freaky shit under either
Earlier Tuesday, Big Sean was revealed as the latest Essence cover star. The accompanying cover story written by Elijah Watson explored Big Sean’s experience as a relatively new father, including Sean’s admission that he has enjoyed “slowing down and focusing solely on Noah.” (He and Jhené Aiko welcomed Noah in November 2022.)
“I’m excited about a lot of things we’ve got dropping this year,” Big Sean said, in part, in a video posted on Instagram on April 3. “A lot of new music, new projects, but aside from the music, it’s another project that’s been years in the making that’s finally time — I can’t even believe it, for real.”
He continued, “I’ve always been about speaking from the heart, following your intuition, checking in with yourself mentally, because that’s how I was raised.”
And so, it goes without saying that Big Sean was raised better than those acting up on X.
Go Higher is out 10/8 via Simon & Schuster. Find more information here.
Dominic Fike is only asking for 14 minutes of your time. On Tuesday, April 23, Fike held a surprise gathering at a warehouse in West Hollywood to share 14 Minutes, a 14-minute video soundtracked by brand-new songs, complete with an 18-wheeler with “What were you really thinking about just now?” projected onto it.
“This is a collection of, like, eight of those songs that I really can’t listening to, and I can’t live without,” Fike said at the release party, as captured in a video by DJ Michael Weber and shared by a Fike fan account on X (formerly Twitter). “And I just get tired of holding it back. I think that sh*t is wack. I think all the sh*t that people tell us — [what] they teach us as musicians, like, wait three-to-five years in between albums and make sure when you come out with that next one, it’s gotta be f*cking nuts. I get tired of that. And so, here’s this. It’s just me running, and it’s just me making music, and that’s it.”
Dominic Fike speaking at his “14 Minutes” event in West Hollywood, CA via lifebymichael!
– “This is a collection of like 8 of those songs that I really can’t stop listening to and I can’t live without, and I just get tired of holding it back.” pic.twitter.com/7OlUbbKKPA
More from Dominic Fike’s exclusive fan event where he shared his new music project “14 Minutes,” a collection of 8 songs, along with a video directed by Jack Begert!
– Dom talked about the new music & shared some moments with fans during the event!
The Jack Begert-directed video is the definition of a mood. Fike’s actual location isn’t diclosed, but it’s easy to imagine Fike is walking (and eventually jogging) on the side of a highway in Forks, Washington — cloudy and damp — and viewers are listening to the same songs soundtracking his walk (and eventual jog).
Fike has not made the individual songs available on streaming services, but the 14 Minutes video is on his official website and YouTube channel. His official website also has a 14 Minutes 10″ vinyl listed for pre-order at $24.98.
A crucial member of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ frontcourt rotation is the 2023-24 Sixth Man of the Year. On Wednesday night, it was announced that Naz Reid will take home this year’s edition of the John Havlicek trophy, given annually to the best bench player in the league.
Minnesota Timberwolves center-forward Naz Reid is the recipient of the John Havlicek Trophy as the 2023-24 Kia NBA Sixth Man of the Year. pic.twitter.com/NhIHN5sQV7
While there were three finalists for the award, the voting showed that this ended up coming down to two options: Reid and Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk. Bobby Portis of the Minnesota Timberwolves came in a distant third place, while Reid beat out Monk for the award by a margin of 10 points — both came in second place on 39 ballots and third place on 10 ballots, but Reid got 45 first-place votes compared to 43 for Monk.
It’s hard for that margin to be much closer, and it is indicative of two players who were crucial to their team’s success in a reserve role. Reid, who has become a fan favorite in Minnesota, stuck with the team in free agency despite the expectation being that he could go get a starting role somewhere. While he did spend some time in the team’s starting lineup, Reid largely came off the bench this year, as he only had 81 starts in 14 appearances. He thrived in that role, putting-up career best numbers in scoring (13.5 points per game), rebounding (5.2 boards per game), and three-point shooting (41.4 percent on five attempts a night).
Paparazzi approached Healy and asked, “How would you rate your Taylor diss track compared to the 30 others?” First of all, leading the witness? Second of all, Healy could not have appeared more unbothered — casually strolling on the sidewalk in sweats. “My diss track?” he asked, seemingly earnestly confused. Once it was explained that he was being asked to comment on “Taylor’s new song,” Healy laughed and responded, “Oh, I haven’t really listened to that much of it, but I’m sure it’s good.”
Matty Healy admits he hasn’t listened to all of Taylor Swift’s new album ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ but is “sure it’s good.” pic.twitter.com/pKNaSwaYRA
It’s unclear which song from Swift’s 31-song album — initially the 16-song The Tortured Poets Department, followed by 15 more songs to make The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology — the pap was referring to, but the title track has most widely been linked to Healy, especially in the second verse: “You smoked, then ate seven bars of chocolate / We declared Charlie Puth should be a bigger artist / I scratch your head, you fall asleep / Like a tattooed golden retriever.”
Netflix’s Baby Reindeer probably won’t receive a second season because, well, have you watched? The subject matter not only resembles Michaela Coel’s I May Destroy You — which was likewise brilliant — that aired on HBO in 2020. Coel only saw fit to create a single season, which acted as an meditation of sorts to her real-life trauma that revolved around rape and sexual consent. For obvious reasons, Baby Reindeer (which is based upon a one-man stage performance from Gadd) follows a similar tone laced with dark comedy, and both series are difficult watches but rewarding at the same time.
Gadd, like Coel, is ready to move on with his next chapter, life and career-wise. Deadline now reports that Gadd has scored new representation due to his Netflix (limited) series’ success, and he’s already full-speed ahead with a greenlit BBC series:
Gadd also recently received a series order from the BBC for his original six-part drama Lions, which explores two estranged brothers across decades finding their way back to each other. The series is set and will be filmed around Glasgow.
The Scottish comedian struck a poignant chord with his Netflix run, so viewers will no doubt be waiting to see his next project. In the meantime, Gadd hopes that his audience will stop over-speculating about the identity of certain characters from Baby Reindeer. If you would like to witness the trending series, it’s currently streaming (with trigger warnings) on Netflix.
(WARNING: Spoilers for BMF episode will be found below.)
Meech and Terry’s expansion goals for the Black Mafia Family have brought them to Miami where the Flenory brothers get to business and have a bit of fun too. That’s what viewers will see in the next episode in season three of BMF. There are just two episodes left in the season, and if you’re familiar with the BMF and Power series, you know that the penultimate and final episodes will be filled with drama and be a thrilling end to the season. So here’s how and when you can watch episode nine.
When Will BMF Season 3, Episode 9 Come Out?
The ninth episode of BMF season three, titled “Death Trap,” will arrive on April 26. The episode will be available on Friday, 4/26 on the STARZ app starting at midnight EST/PST. The episode will later air on the STARZ TV channel at 8 pm ET/PT. A synopsis for “Death Trap” can be found below:
Meech and Terry travel to Miami to meet with a mechanic known as Francois; Glock and the MK’s welcome the Flenory brothers in true Miami fashion; despite the interference, the brothers escape determined to accomplish the American Dream.
New episodes of ‘BMF’ are available on the STARZ app on Fridays at 12 am ET/PT and on the STARZ TV channel at 8 pm ET/PT.
Reggie Miller spent 18 seasons playing for the Indiana Pacers on his way to a Hall of Fame career on the court, and this year marks his 18th season calling games for TNT, inking an extension earlier this year to remain part of the network’s lead booth alongside Kevin Harlan.
As such, the 58-year-old Miller has spent the vast majority of his life in the NBA, and what is maybe the most remarkable thing is his joy and love for basketball has not waned in the slightest. While some analysts grow jaded or frustrated by the natural evolution of the NBA, Miller simply marvels at what the sport has become. It perhaps helps that the game has shifted towards the thing he was defined by — three-point shooting — but even as his records get surpassed, no one has cheered on the current generation more than Miller.
“It’s my job to not only move the needle, but to pass the game along and put it in better hands,” Miller told DIME over the phone this week. “Why would I be bitter? Why would I be upset? Why would I have a chip on my shoulder watching a Stephen Curry break Ray Allen who broke my [record]? Why? The game is in such great hands. These players are unbelievable. Pass it and pay it forward. I feel it’s my duty and job to highlight these young players, because it was the very much the same as me.
“Larry Bird was the guy I really emulated my game after. I wanted to be Larry Bird. I’d practice all his shots, to then have the opportunity to go against him. You’ve got to pay the game forward. And I’m not going to be one of those players that, ‘In my day, this is how I…’ No! I’m not going to be a ‘kids get off my lawn’ type of analyst. That’s just not me. You’ve got to pay it forward.”
This year’s playoffs are particularly exciting because it feels so fresh. The guys the league has been built around for decades — LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry — have either missed the playoffs or are on lower seeds battling young, ascendant forces in the league. You have the Nuggets, looking to cement their place as the new dominant team in the league, the Celtics, looking to finally reach the pinnacle, and a host of challengers hoping to taste a deep playoff run for the first time.
That has only raised Miller’s ever-present excitement in a first round filled with intriguing matchups. On Wednesday, he’ll be in Oklahoma City for Game 2 between the Thunder and Pelicans (9:30 p.m. ET, TNT) after an epic defensive battle in the opener saw OKC escape with a 94-92 win.
“What a fun matchup of our future teams,” Miller said. “We’re seeing that with Minnesota versus Phoenix, too. You have two young teams that kind of want to make claim, like, we’re next. You’ve got a team that has the overall best record in a loaded Western Conference. For OKC to get the overall number one seed with an average age of what 26, 27? That is remarkable. You’ve got an MVP candidate who is scratching on the door of superstardom in Shai [Gilgeous-Alexander].”
On the Pelicans side, they’re not operating on all cylinders with Zion Williamson out, but it’s still a team loaded with young talent that’s looking to break through with a series win for the first time since Anthony Davis’ departure. Ahead of Game 2, Miller is particularly interested to see how Brandon Ingram responds to a rough opener.
“When you don’t have a ton of playoff experience, it’s that baptism by fire sometimes. And we’re kind of seeing that [with Ingram],” Miller said. “We saw that in that Lakers Play-In game. He didn’t even sniff the court the last seven minutes, and Willie Green didn’t say that was because of a minutes restriction. He just wasn’t playing well enough to be on the floor. But he bounced back because he had another opportunity and played fantastic to get them that number eight seed. So it’s baptism by fire.
“And look, Lu Dort is one of the premier wing defenders in our game. And what a matchup — I think what a series this is going to be. I still see this going six or seven games and Brandon is going to have plenty of opportunities to answer the bell versus Lu Dort and the Thunder. So you’ve got to understand that one of these things as a young player, and I went through this as well, the situations that you’re gonna go through are 100 percent different than what occurred during the regular season. You put them in the vault, you replay them, and when you face those situations again — because trust me, he will, because Lu Dort is going to be up his ass in Game 2, Game 3, and all series. How do you manufacture it and how do you assess it and how can you grow from it? That’s what I want to see. Is there growth coming from this?”
Getting to see these stories unfold is why Miller can’t help but keep coming back, and that joy for the game is his defining characteristic as a broadcast analyst. For all the criticism he faces from fans, who grow tired of most national TV analysts eventually, no one can question his genuine enthusiasm and love of basketball.
That same fervor is shared by his play-by-play partner in Harlan, and the duo create an infectious energy on the call that reaches a fevered pitch in big moments. Calling games alongside Harlan is a treat for Miller, who notes his partner has “the best” voice for big moments. Most recently, the two were on the call alongside Jamal Crawford for Denver’s thrilling comeback win over the Lakers in Game 2 of their first round series, as Jamal Murray ripped out the Lakers hearts with a fading midrange dagger over Davis. As the shot went through the basket and Murray fell into the bench, Harlan roared “GOOOOOOD, THE NUGGETS HAVE WON” and then the entire fell silent as the Denver crowd erupted.
As Miller explains, that was a conscious choice, as he threw his hands in front of his partners to make sure they all laid out and let the scene speak for itself.
“I don’t know if you can notice how long we went silent after the big shot because I threw my arms in front of Harlan and Jamal,” Miller said. “Because at that point, you know Harlan has the best voice for moments like that. And you can hear it in the beginning that the Nuggets win, and then I threw my arms out there, because sometimes less is more. And in that moment, it had to be less, because we wanted people at home to understand and hear the euphoria in that building.”
That’s a lesson Miller and every broadcaster has to learn to be successful. It’s hard as someone paid to talk to know when to, in his words, “shut up.” As he explains, when a play is live, that’s the play-by-play’s moment, so the analysts clear the stage and wait for the replays when they get to shine. In the in between, it’s a matter of feel and being present in the moment, and even with the best voice in the game when it comes to rising to the occasion alongside him, in that particular spot, nothing more needed to be said.
“Whether it’s a game-winning, huge moment shot like we saw last night, or a fan throwing a chicken wing on the floor in the Sacramento game [laughs], there’s never been a moment that Harlan hasn’t risen to the occasion,” Miller said. “And I think we are both Type-A players and analysts. We over-prepare, even if the game is a blowout, you want to have information to talk about. And I think there’s never been a moment that has surprised him because he is so well-prepared. So it makes you raise your level of game in terms of being prepared and being on point and being present. Sometimes I hear some analysts, they may drift away. We try to stay in the moment.”
Miller is certainly not perfect as an analyst. He will flub a name or ask a silly question at time, but that’s part of talking for hours on end. His job is to offer his thoughts in that moment, and while there are certainly head-scratchers — he came under criticism the other night after he asked if a team should miss a free throw that would put them up four because the other team didn’t have a timeout — he’s confident enough to give his thoughts ahead of time, rather than holding back to second guess. In Denver, that meant noting he liked the choice by Denver to not call timeout as Murray brought the ball across midfloor.
Miller is aware of the criticsm he receives, but knows you simply can’t please everybody. That’s especially true as a national broadcaster. When the goal is to strike a balance, fans are always going to think you’re going too far in praising the other team and not giving enough love to theirs. For Miller, as long as he’s hearing it from both sides, he’s doing well.
“The best compliments I have are on social media when I hear fans saying, ‘You’re such a homer for the Lakers,’ and then the very next comment is, ‘Why are you all on the bandwagon of the Nuggets?’ I’ve done my job,” Miller said. “That’s exactly what I want to hear. I want the criticism coming from both sides, which is 50-50 after every game. That means it was fair and balanced. The best compliments I ever get is, ‘Oh my God. Why are you all over LeBron?’ Or, ‘Do you live in Denver? Are you a Nuggets fan?’ That is the best! Those are the best. Thank you. That means I’m doing my job.”
It makes sense that Miller would take that approach to criticism. He has always been a showman. As a player, he soaked up the love from adoring fans in Indiana, but delighted just as much in basking in the boos when he went on the road. That desire to put on a show carries over to the broadcast booth, where he just wants to pay it forward and bring that same joy to those watching at home.
“As a player, I always wanted to perform,” he said. “I assumed in my head, there was a kid, boy or girl, coming either at home — at the time Conseco Fieldhouse — or on the road, that had heard about Reggie Miller. Heard about these threes. Heard about the trash talking. Heard about him being so skinny, not backing down to anymore. And I wanted to put on a show for that little boy or girl. It’s very much the same way how I approach my broadcasting. I’m at center court watching these unbelievable athletes perform at the highest level. Yes, we want to make this enjoyable for your casual fan, but not alienate your hardcore fans who are there for the stats, the runs, the history of the game. So you got to be able to merge both of them.
“I think Kevin and I, over time, we’ve built up a great cadence and rhythm, and we work well off of one another. Cause we’re both historians, but we both yet love to have a good time to make sure everyone around us does, too. Like, you should see the fans that are courtside that can hear us and see how animated we are, because I love the game. And I love calling the games, because at times you’ve got to pinch yourself. I was in these moments as a player, though you can dictate it more — which was great, because you’re forced to the action — and as an analyst, you’re waiting for that moment to happen, so you can capture it in only the way that you know how. And that’s with enthusiasm, with joy.”
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