NBA reporters have a strenuous job. They are tasked with interviewing and probing the minds of disgruntled NBA players and coaches on each game day. In many cases, players hold an obvious indifference for reporters, mainly because they feel like they have other important things to do than talk to reporters about ever frivolous topic. That goes without saying that NBA reporters sometimes delve too much into the wrong things, asking off-the-wall questions in the process.
You don't believe me? Now that we are in the new year, here are 10 of the dumbest questions asked by NBA reporters. May you hope that none of this idiocy rub off on you.
10. Best offense and defense?
Many basketball fans remember the 2014 NBA Finals, with the exception of Cavalier and Warriors bandwagon fans. In the previous year, LeBron James and the Miami Heat defeated the San Antonio Spurs in a legendary fashion. Ray Allen's heroic, game-tying three-pointer and LeBron James' epic Game 7 performance put the tough Spurs team to rest. However, in this year's NBA Finals, the Spurs came to play in a major fashion. Tim Duncan outplayed every match-up that the Heat could throw on him, Tony Parker crossed over everyone on the Miami Heat, and Kawhi Leonard became the superstar we all know and love today. He would go on to capture the Finals MVP, averaging 17.8 PPG and 6.4, while playing incredible defense on LeBron James.
In Game 3, the Miami Heat found themselves down 2-1 by a rejuvenated Spurs team. Obviously, LeBron James and Dwayne Wade would have not been in the right mood to answer any idiotic questions from any reporter. Yet, someone had to just try.
So, let's get this straight. Was this guy even serious? How do you have a great defense allowing 104 points per game, and how do you have a great offense not breaking 100 points? Then, somehow, this reporter flips his stance and asks the two if their problems are because of their offense or their defense. It's funny how James just laughs the question off, while passing the baton to Wade. Even Wade, ignores the question with a prototypical response. Normally, reporters may ask intriguing questions to get a soundbite from a player, but that certainly wasn't the case. This was just a horrible question.
9. What about the flood?
Draymond Green is known as the Warriors' emotional leader. He is outspoken, rude, and always has continent-size chip on his shoulder. This may have originated from him being selected in the second round, but it has led to negative consequences in his career. I don't even have to name them, but I will. Green essentially cost his team the 2016 NBA Finals by attempting to strike LeBron James in the crotch. He has been constantly been involved in disputes with the referees, and even a nude-picture leak. That still doesn't stop Draymond Green from being the defensive anchor of the best team in the NBA, and the Association's most versatile player and defender. Still, you would think that reporters would second-guess trying to soundbite the reigning Defensive Player of the Year.
Guess not.
In that particular question, Green went off on a reporter for comparing the Golden State Warriors' situation to the disastrous floods happening in Houston. Green's volatile response was definitely warranted in this case, not only because the question was stupid and ill-advised, but because the reporter obviously tried to get a controversial statement from Green. The Warriors were the defending Champions at the time, and there were forces out there that tried to do everything they could to bring a negative light to the historic 73-9 team.
In this scenario, it didn't work by a long shot, and it even cost the reporter his job for asking one of the dumbest questions in a NBA press conference. Good job, Draymond Green, at least until the 2016 NBA Finals.
8. Will you be here for Game 7?
Chris Paul, aka the Point God, is currently averaging 17.2 PPG and 8.9 APG, while shooting 39% from downtown. He has fit wondrously with the Houston Rockets, and is still proving that he is one of the best point guards in the NBA. When he is on the court, the Rockets are outscoring teams by a whopping 18.4 points per game. He has shown that his exemplary playmaking skills are what the Rockets need, and it has helped them become a top team in the Western Conference, with eyes on the Warriors' trophy. Though it wasn't always like this for Paul. Once upon a time, he was a member of the Los Angeles Clippers, and he never made it to the Western Conference Finals. In last year's playoffs, the Clippers would lose to the Utah Jazz in the first round after a major injury to Blake Griffin. Still, before their Game 7 match-up, this reporter asked Chris Paul if the Clippers would see the Jazz in the final game of the series.
Chris Paul had a hilarious response to the dim-witted question.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGkS5hz8WMM
Chris Paul is normally a respectable player, but anyone can clearly see that he was upset in this press conference. Paul was correct. He was asked a leading question in an attempt to generate a obvious response. The question itself was dumb, but Paul's displeasure with the outcome of the series made him point it out in a comical way.
7. LeBron James the Father Figure
What is Kyrie Irving known for? Is it his sick handles, his legendary game-winning shot over the Warriors, or his calm killer instinct? It's all of these things and more. Kyrie Irving is an exceptional talent. He is one of the best point guards in the NBA, and he is right now silencing all of the critics that had doubts about a “Robin” leading his own team. It even seems like Irving has found his Teen Titans with the Boston Celtics, who are currently the best team in the Eastern Conference. Nowadays, it seems like even LeBron James misses the explosiveness of his former teammate, while he is willing his team to wins and losses alone at 33 years of age. Kyrie Irving seems to have made a great position, and it looks like he may just meet LeBron James in the Eastern Conference Finals. Unlike last year, the Boston Celtics may just have a chance.
Earlier in the summer, there were constant rumors spreading about Irving's' dissatisfaction with the Cavaliers and LeBron James. I believe that this question by a eager reporter showed that Irving was truly fed up with being viewed as a sidekick.
Let's get something straight. LeBron James is 33 years is old. Kyrie Irving is 25. They are merely six years apart, so why was this question asked? It's true. LeBron James could be a mentor to Irving. He as played 15 seasons in the NBA, and he has tons of experience. But, even LeBron's children are nowhere near Kyrie's age. At first, Irving looks confused when the reporter asked the question. Then, he gets visibly frustrated and states that he has only one father. That was a polite way of handling the reporter. Imagine was Russell Westbrook would have done.
6. The most awkward question ever
Ever basketball fan is familiar with Shaquille O'Neal, one of the most vibrant athletes of all time. Not only is Shaq one of the greatest NBA players of all-time, he is a fan favorite known for his penchant to have fun. From his funny run-ins with Charles Barkley to his hilarious Shaqtin' a Fool blooper segment, Shaq knows how to turn anything into a joke. After Shaq's tumultuous final cry with the Los Angeles Lakers, the big man joined the Miami Heat and led them to their first championship, alongside a budding Dwayne Wade. It would be his final championship, signifying that the once-dominant center was entering the twilight of his career. That still didn't stop Shaq from having fun in his last championship run, even when a reporter asked him the most awkward question in the history of the NBA.
To begin, under what pretenses did this question even make sense? Granted, the reporter was probably trying to make a joke since Shaq was in position to win his fourth NBA title. Still, the question the reporter asked had to have been the most ridiculous question asked in the NBA. It literally has to be a NBA record for this. It was a great thing that Shaq responded the way he did. Otherwise, he the reporter would have gotten a confused or angry response.
5. Untimely Question Part 1
Russell Westbrook is an intriguing player. He is the second player in NBA history to average a triple double, he is the reigning 2017 NBA MVP, and he is a definite fashionista with a unique eye for what's fashionable. Russell Westbrook also has a an indifference towards just about everyone that isn't is teammate. He shows no regards for other NBA players, referees, and the media. In fact, Westbrook has frequent run-ins with the media ever since he was drafted. This is due, in large part, to Westbrook's cold nature and the knack of reporters to ruffle his feathers from time to time. Early n his career, Westbrook had to deal with annoying reporters, and it has affected him since. Here is an example of a classic interaction between Westbroo and a clueless reporter.
What was the point of this question? Was the reporter truly trying to ask if Harden was a max player to gauge Westbrook's sincere feelings about his former teammate? It apparently wasn't. This reporter tried to get a response from Westbrook, and he was clearly not having it. Who asks a player if their teammate is a max player. That wasn't an appropriate question, and the reigning MVP made sure he understood that.
4. Untimely Question Part 2
Again, the media has a knack for dissecting things that don't quite relate to players. In this instance, Russell Wesbtrook is the victim of another dumb question. Understandably, the question made sense. It was just asked at the wrong time.
Take a look at the reporter that is visibly next to Westbrook. If you look closely, you can see a warm grin on his face. He probably knew himself that the question had bad timing behind it. It didn't make it any better that a reporter asked a stupid question to Westbrook after a loss. Apparently, this reporter wasn't aware that once you ask Westbrook a bad question, you tend to get embarrassed on the spot. That's exactly what happened to this NBA reporter who thought it was okay to ask if the Thunder lost the game or did the Jazz just win it. The question made some sense, but why ask Westbrook?
3. Untimely Question Part 3
Last season, Russell Westbrook was on a mission to will his team to the NBA Playoffs. He eventually succeeded but the Thunder had to endure some tough losses during Westbrook's historic season. Usually, when a team loses a game, players never talk about their personal stats to the media. It's just not something that NBA players do. Yet, this reporter asks none other than Russell Westbrook about his stats in a loss to the Houston Rockets. Westbrook had a typical NSFW response to the reporter's question.
Why would the reporter ask Westbrook to grade his stat line after a demoralizing loss to the Rockets? It's beyond anyone. Westbrook wasn't pleased with the question one bit, so the reporter kind of had the response coming. After all, he knew what he was getting into when he asked the question.
2. Don't ask LeBron about Twitter
LeBron James isn't the immature player he used to be. He is a professional now that is focused on winning now that his career is finally coming to its climax. However, LeBron James still is capable of doing things that boggle the minds of everyone, including the media. He proved this when he un-followed the Cavaliers on Twitter. The action deserved attention, but it probably should have never been mentioned to LeBron James in the first place. Why? He doesn't have to explain to explain everything he does.
The reporter's motive for asking the question was to “diffuse the situation.” Again, LeBron James doesn't have to explain to the media about hat he does on Twitter. No NBA player does.
1. Thank you, Kyrie
If you assumed that a Russell Westbrook media interaction would top this list, you guessed correctly. The media and Westbrook clearly don't agree on what is a suitable question, and they don't even hear the same apparently. In 2016, the Golden State Warriors payed the Cleveland Cavaliers on Christmas day. Kyrie Irving hit a game-winner in the game, much like he did in the previous NBA Finals. Coincidentally, that was the year that Kevin Durant joined the Warriors. After the Warriors lost the game, a video surfaced where Westbrook was thought to have said “Thank you, Kyrie”, in reference to Irving's game-winning shot. You can be the judge of what he said for yourself.
Of course, the sports was buzzing that Westbrook seemingly trolled the Warriors after a loss. They even tried to clear it up by asking the man himself. That didn't go we at all.
People are going to hear what they want to hear, but Westbrook obviously is going to have the last say-so. It's almost incredible that any reporter would have the gall to tell Westbrook what he said after he was clear in the previous video. Therefore, it's official. Reporters can ask some of the dumbest questions, much to the dismay of NBA players.
Follow Us
Subscribe