Rick Reilly Asks Aaron Craft Why He's so 'Annoying,' Craft Trolls Back

He’s just throwing it out there. If you don’t like it, just throw it on back.

ESPN reporter Rick Reilly knifed through the veil of civility at Wednesday’s post-practice press conference with the Ohio State basketball team and got down to the nittiest of the gritty with his question.

After being called on, Reilly pointed his query at a rosy-cheeked Aaron Craft, asking the Buckeyes point guard if he “could see how someone might see [Craft] as annoying.”

The question came out of nowhere—kind of. Frankly, a lot of people hate Craft. Few men in the history of the NCAA have got away with committing more fouls than he has, so calling Craft “annoying” might have been the kindest way Reilly could have put it. 

But why now? Why here, in the middle of the NCAA tournament, when Craft’s charge-manufacturing and hand-slappery have long since been known to any and all college basketball fans?

To his credit, Craft turns what could be five seconds of dead-air awkwardness into a moment of levity and honesty and essentially admits he loves trolling.

“I think they’re talking to you, DeShaun,” Craft said, laughing. Reilly presses the point, making it 100 percent obvious that he’s not just talking about being on the basketball court. He means in life. 

The Ohio State point guard then went on to explain that yes, if you ask his friends back home, he can be annoying at times.

“But I think the way I play, I hope that’s the way I’m viewed,” Craft said. 

And the Craft trolling continues. 

You have to respect Craft. But you don’t have to like him: Dr__Carson