Players and the media

[AnthonyCorona]

Russ and his “next question” the “I don’t know” post game press conferences is the reason for this post but this can be any player. I listen to sports talk and I keep hearing them complain about how players teach media people, these host keep trying to make this sound like an attack on media and fans for the “disrespect”.

Do fans care about that? I can’t imagine most fans care about the post game presser and if Russ or KD or anyone even shows up. I believe a radio host probably does care but I only believe it’s because they want sound bites to play on their shows.


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[drobfan8]

I agree. I only really watch them during the Playoffs and then it's only if something happens.

This is nothing new. Guys are having their seasons crushed and then they have to sit in front of a bunch of dorks and have to answer dumb questions..

I don't have a problem with Russ doing that, as long as he doesn't cross the line.

We've seen some great stuff over the years.

[AnthonyCorona]

I agree. I only really watch them during the Playoffs and then it's only if something happens.

This is nothing new. Guys are having their seasons crushed and then they have to sit in front of a bunch of dorks and have to answer dumb questions..

I don't have a problem with Russ doing that, as long as he doesn't cross the line.

We've seen some great stuff over the years.



Agreed here. A few years ago Boogie Cousins was physically intimidating a Sac reporter which was way too far


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[byronscott4ever]

It’s part of their job...

[jstephens24]

It’s part of their job...

I feel this way too. pretty lame players treat media like that. I can get it if it was an isolated one time deal but not every time. The whole Marshawn lynch "im just here so I don't get fined" answer was ridiculous. I would have fined him for that

[AnthonyCorona]

I don’t get what these players are suppose to answer. One of the questions to Russ was something along the lines of “what did Lillard do the second half after u stopped in the first half?” Russ says good question, I dunno. Another was something like you guys came back from 30 points to make it close is that a good sign for the rest of the playoffs, Russ says next question. Those are both kinda dumb questions and I don’t know what reporters expect.


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[Chris P]

I feel like some fans only care if it's against a player they don't care for. It gives them more ammo..i.e if you already didn't like KD or Russ or Lebron etc

[spurs50fan]

They are asking questions that they feel their audience will consume. If the questions are dumb, let the reporter's consumers make that call???

Their job is to answer the questions. Some questions can be annoying, some interviews can seem useless but media availability is part of their revenue. These are professionals and adults btw. There are worse jobs to have...

[AnthonyCorona]

I feel like some fans only care if it's against a player they don't care for. It gives them more ammo..i.e if you already didn't like KD or Russ or Lebron etc



100% agree. I don’t hate any player so I’m on the players side 99% of the time.


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[HacksPacks]

It costs nothing to be civil and to set a good example for younger people looking up to you that it's not okay to act like an ass just because you can. They lost a game, not a child.

[ninjabum87]

I can see both perspectives but at the end of the day they are entertainers. Their job is to entertain an audience and media appearances are part of that.

It'd be like an actor who films a movie having it in their contract to go and generate buzz on Conan or Late Show and being sour cause they just want to film movies. "Next question Conan."

[dasiegel]

Steve Kerr made a good simple point. It's a dangerous precedent to set.

I absolutely think Russ should be answering legit basketball questions, even if brief.

With that said, this should be resolved off the court/press room. I think as bad as Westbrook has been and PG13 following suit, Berry Tramel is getting a free pass. He hasn't done anything to make it better.

[Siberian13]

People actually watch these interviews? They don't matter, so it shouldn't matter what they say. I only see them when someone has a meltdown or says something crazy. It seems Russell did them a favor because it's getting attention and that's all the bloodsucking media twats want anyways.

[smalltown]

It’s part of their job...

I agree with this.

I can't remember who it was... but a couple years ago after a loss a player said something along the lines of.

"Guys we lost. I'm Pissed. I know it's your job but i don't have any answers for you. Come find me tomorrow."

I'd rather that then endless no comment.

[spurs50fan]

Just provide every player with an opt-out clause and adjust their salary accordingly. Won’t take long

[ballhawkdawk]

I don’t get what these players are suppose to answer. One of the questions to Russ was something along the lines of “what did Lillard do the second half after u stopped in the first half?” Russ says good question, I dunno. Another was something like you guys came back from 30 points to make it close is that a good sign for the rest of the playoffs, Russ says next question. Those are both kinda dumb questions and I don’t know what reporters expect.


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Probing for sound bytes. Poke the bear over and over and then act like you had no idea what you were doing when the bear snaps. The media has a story that has now turned into something we talk about. I don’t think they actually care what Russ has to say as much as they just wanna ask annoying questions.

[rman112]

It's about professionalism.

[ballhawkdawk]

It costs nothing to be civil and to set a good example for younger people looking up to you that it's not okay to act like an ass just because you can. They lost a game, not a child.

Is it really that simple to you? It’s just a game? As if they’re playing Monopoly and haven’t worked their lives to try to win a championship. Athletes have it made, but I can see why being displayed on stage to get grilled with questions after a tough loss isn’t the easiest thing for a player to do. The wound is pretty fresh at that point. These questions may be better received with some time for the player to digest the lost and reflect.

[rman112]

Is it really that simple to you? It’s just a game? As if they’re playing Monopoly and haven’t worked their lives to try to win a championship. Athletes have it made, but I can see why being displayed on stage to get grilled with questions after a tough loss isn’t the easiest thing for a player to do. The wound is pretty fresh at that point. These questions may be better received with some time for the player to digest the lost and reflect.

Why not just skip the postgame and take the fine?

[gomiamigo]

GOAT answer: Both teams played hard.

[ballhawkdawk]

Why not just skip the postgame and take the fine?

I’m cool with that. I’m just saying I can see why a human being who puts their heart and soul into a sport and loses a big game may not be in the best mental state to answer questions that are often times antagonistic.

[yiguiri2002]

I'm fine with them doing stuff like that under the right circumstances:

- Dumb questions
- Hot takes

That's it. The reason basketball is so popular around the world is also because of media. It's part of the job.

[byronscott4ever]

I’m cool with that. I’m just saying I can see why a human being who puts their heart and soul into a sport and loses a big game may not be in the best mental state to answer questions that are often times antagonistic.

There must be a minimum amount of time after a game to do a press conference, just give them a bit more time

[NinjaJohnny]

It is only certain guys, generally the ones that seem downright sullen all the time. I don't pay much attention to interviews of a guy like Westbrook. To me he just seems like a strange guy, imho.

[spurs50fan]

There must be a minimum amount of time after a game to do a press conference, just give them a bit more time


At least enough time to go check social media :D

But haven't they always done short 1-1 interviews like right after the game on the court? I think if you can't pull it together, just take a second L for the night :coffee:

[the mesiah]

I just see majority of the players , media ask dumb questions and answer foolishly .Dont take the interviews seriously at all

[rman112]

I’m cool with that. I’m just saying I can see why a human being who puts their heart and soul into a sport and loses a big game may not be in the best mental state to answer questions that are often times antagonistic.

I understand that. No one expects them to be happy after a loss. There are certainly better ways to go about things than the pettiness Russ has displayed, though.

[ljandkg]

It's the player equivalent of Pop doing the quarter time interviews. He hates doing them, gives one word answers.
I believe Russ has a long standing beef with one OKC reporter and always says 'next question' to anything he asks.
It's not a great look though, and of course now George has started it too and it's becoming an issue.

[Mantis2499]

I actually have a huge problem with Russ, as he is paid millions of dollars not just to play basketball, but also to interact with the media and answer questions. He’s the first person to run to the media when it serves his purpose, ie when he dedicated his performance to Nipsey. He went out of his way that night to seek out the media, but when he doesn’t need them for his own purposes, he acts like a complete douche in a lot of cases when he refuses to answer legitimate questions.

[HacksPacks]

Is it really that simple to you? It’s just a game? As if they’re playing Monopoly and haven’t worked their lives to try to win a championship. Athletes have it made, but I can see why being displayed on stage to get grilled with questions after a tough loss isn’t the easiest thing for a player to do. The wound is pretty fresh at that point. These questions may be better received with some time for the player to digest the lost and reflect.

Haha yeah, it's pretty simple. There are not many jobs out there where just because you had a bad day, week, month, or year.....or game....means you get a pass and are allowed to act like a jerk at work. I wish more young people took their cues from more admirable or "professional" professions, but they don't. So it's disappointing to see an adult, at work, act like an immature brat. EVEN if they had a bad game, or day, or they're facing the everyday trials of adult life just like the rest of us and their husband/wife/gf/bf was mean to them for something that wasn't their fault. It doesn't matter, be a professional, just like the rest of us would have to do at our jobs. Where, mind you, we aren't making millions, or having every aspect of our lives catered to our liking as well as the other countless benefits of being a professional athlete. I do agree with some that I saw saying the questions being asked need to be held to a higher standard, they really do. I can also see how and why this may be difficult...sometimes I'm in a very justifiable bad mood and don't want to do or put up with an aspect of my job that day...buuut....it's my job....so....lol...and it may be a totally different thing if we weren't talking about adults answering questions lolol it baffles me that people defend and victimize the millionaire athlete cuz he worked so hard on his game and he lost boohoo can we ask those questions tomorrow when this athlete feels better?? boohoo boohoo boohoo yiiikes..oh and "displayed on stage" lolol aww poor millionaires gotta answer the bad men's questions up on a stage when they don't wanna awww I feel so bad....:eek::doh:

[ballhawkdawk]

Haha yeah, it's pretty simple. There are not many jobs out there where just because you had a bad day, week, month, or year.....or game....means you get a pass and are allowed to act like a jerk at work. I wish more young people took their cues from more admirable or "professional" professions, but they don't. So it's disappointing to see an adult, at work, act like an immature brat. EVEN if they had a bad game, or day, or they're facing the everyday trials of adult life just like the rest of us and their husband/wife/gf/bf was mean to them for something that wasn't their fault. It doesn't matter, be a professional, just like the rest of us would have to do at our jobs. Where, mind you, we aren't making millions, or having every aspect of our lives catered to our liking as well as the other countless benefits of being a professional athlete. I do agree with some that I saw saying the questions being asked need to be held to a higher standard, they really do. I can also see how and why this may be difficult...sometimes I'm in a very justifiable bad mood and don't want to do or put up with an aspect of my job that day...buuut....it's my job....so....lol...and it may be a totally different thing if we weren't talking about adults answering questions lolol it baffles me that people defend and victimize the millionaire athlete cuz he worked so hard on his game and he lost boohoo can we ask those questions tomorrow when this athlete feels better?? boohoo boohoo boohoo yiiikes..oh and "displayed on stage" lolol aww poor millionaires gotta answer the bad men's questions up on a stage when they don't wanna awww I feel so bad....:eek::doh:

You appear to have some serious insecurities about your position in life. Best of luck with that.

[PKIPP]

Guess I'm in the minority but.. I thoroughly enjoy watching the millionaire athletes belittling the guys who can't make it down the court twice without vomitting. It adds more entertainment to the league.

In all seriousness, if you ask a legitimate question, you should get a legit answer, whether it be from Westbrook, pg, curry, harden, freak, etc. But if they choose to be a Richard about it, doesn't effect me one way or the other. But said player must realize why they're getting bad articles written about them or not enough coverage when they choose that route. some of them just might really not care.

And if you ask a stupid question, you deserve to get a stupid answer. Simple as that.

I think it was Westbrook (not 100% sure) once was asked a stupid question, he gave his response and said "no more questions for you, bro".. Love it!!

[ballhawkdawk]

I understand that. No one expects them to be happy after a loss. There are certainly better ways to go about things than the pettiness Russ has displayed, though.

For sure. My comments are more in general. A lot of times these reporters are deliberately prodding with some drama BS that has nothing to do with the game. Russ is a loose cannon on and off the court and could definitely handle the media better. Some players are smart enough to flip the script on them, but that’s not Russ.

[PKIPP]

Another great moment in media pwn'age was Bryce Harper telling the Toronto media member "That's a clown question, bro".. Absolute gold

[ballhawkdawk]

I think it was Westbrook (not 100% sure) once was asked a stupid question, he gave his response and said "no more questions for you, bro".. Love it!!

I googled this just now. This was back when the big 3 were still in OKC together...

Reporter asks: Do you think Harden is a max contract player?
Russ: Harden’s great blah blah... no more questions for you, bro.

Why is this guy asking a man about another man’s money? What purpose does that serve? This is what I’m talking about... these little weasels try to stir up drama.

[ninjacookies]

We all know majority of NBA athletes are MENSA members that had high hopes of one day becoming nuclear physicists or cardiothoracic surgeons if the bball thing didn't pan out.

So I always get a bit agitated when they don't seem keen to give amazingly thoughtful or insightful answers in post game conferences. It ruins my general fan experience.

[PKIPP]

I googled this just now. This was back when the big 3 were still in OKC together...

Reporter asks: Do you think Harden is a max contract player?
Russ: Harden’s great blah blah... no more questions for you, bro.

Why is this guy asking a man about another man’s money? What purpose does that serve? This is what I’m talking about... these little weasels try to stir up drama.

Exactly! What is he supposed to say? He says yes, that puts perceived pressure on the front office. He says no, James Harden is going to be waiting for him in the parking lot at practice the next day. Instead, he gave the best answer possible.

[drobfan8]

If anyone has been involved in sport at a high level, you would understand that when you have what is essentially a season ending loss, the players really don't want to talk about the game.

You get the old "just gotta take it one game at a time"
Or "we've gotta stay together" or "stay positive"

Yes, this stuff is really the best part of the game. Not the on court stuff they do.

[HacksPacks]

You appear to have some serious insecurities about your position in life. Best of luck with that.

lol :doh:

[spurs50fan]

Who wants Lillard to skip the post game lmao