Richard Jefferson Redefines the NBA Interview

NEW YORK, Dec. 24 – Young Richard Jefferson didn’t just play basketball; he studied the theater of it. As the youngest of three boys, he spent his weekends glued to NBC, listening to Marv Albert and Bob Costas narrate the drama of the league, dreaming of a life inside the television. Decades later, after a championship ring and a distinguished 17-year playing career, Jefferson isn’t just part of the broadcast—he is actively deconstructing it.

This Christmas Eve, Jefferson unveils his latest project, “The Richard Show,” launching across NBA TV and the league’s digital platforms. The debut episode features New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson, but viewers shouldn’t expect a standard post-game breakdown of pick-and-roll coverage. Instead, Jefferson is channeling his inner Zach Galifianakis, aiming for a vibe that sits somewhere between a late-night talk show and “Between Two Ferns.”

Jefferson, who admits he was always the “goofball” in the locker room, has crafted a format that subverts the traditional athlete interview. In a recent taping with Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, Jefferson bypassed the usual inquiries about shot selection to ask a far more pressing question: in a hypothetical game, would Haliburton start or sit his own mother and fiancé over WNBA phenomenon Caitlin Clark? It’s the kind of playful, slightly awkward ribbing that usually stays behind closed doors, but Jefferson is betting that fans are desperate to see it.

“We want to get reactionary stuff,” Jefferson explains. “Ultimately, the goal is just to have fun and put them in that environment.”

The path to this moment began at a crossroads. As his playing days dwindled, Jefferson watched close friends like Jamahl Mosley and Luke Walton grind their way through the coaching ranks. To Jefferson, that life looked “miserable.” Instead of picking up a clipboard, he enrolled in improv classes at the Upright Citizens Brigade in Los Angeles. He didn’t just want to talk about basketball; he wanted to have the comedic timing to make it entertaining.

That improv training, combined with his success on the “Road Trippin’” podcast, highlighted a void in the market. Jefferson realized that while players are naturally funny and prone to roasting each other, they rarely show that side to the public. By barely glancing at prepared questions and keeping the atmosphere unpolished, he forces his guests to drop their media training and just hang out.

“The Richard Show” arrives at a moment when the power dynamic between athletes and media has fundamentally shifted. In the golden era of Jefferson’s youth, players needed broadcasters to build their brands. Today, a superstar like Stephen Curry commands a social media following that dwarfs most networks.

Jefferson’s pivot recognizes this new reality. He isn’t trying to break news; he is trying to provide a service that modern athletes actually want—a platform that feels less like an interrogation and more like a peer-to-peer conversation. By positioning himself as the “late-night host” for the NBA, he creates a space where players can control their narrative without feeling managed.

What They Are Saying

“If you’re talking about asking a person like Stephen Curry to sit down with you and he’s got 100 million social followers? He’s doing ESPN the favor, but it used to be vice versa.” – Richard Jefferson

This quote encapsulates Jefferson’s entire philosophy. He understands that access is no longer guaranteed; it must be earned through authenticity. The show is designed to be a collaboration, not an extraction of information.

As the NBA prepares for its marquee Christmas Day slate, Jefferson is building a library of content that will stretch well into the playoffs, with future guests including Draymond Green and Robert Horry. He has successfully transitioned from the kid watching Marv Albert to the man reinventing how we watch the game’s biggest stars. In a world where athletes are their own media companies, Richard Jefferson has figured out the one thing they still need: a co-star who is in on the joke.