The Good, the Bad and the Interesting from Friday's Round of NBA Media Days
The NBA is back...sort of.
Training camps across the league are nearly underway, but before the best and brightest ballers on planet Earth get back to the business of playing basketball, they'll have to spend some quality time sitting at podiums, answering inane questions and mugging for the cameras.
That is to say, it's time for media days.
Five teams—the Brooklyn Nets, San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers and Sacramento Kings—got a head start to their festivities on Friday before preparing for their respective preseason trips overseas as part of the NBA's Global Games. The rest of the Association's scrum-taculars will get going in earnest next week.
For now, let's have a look at some of the highlights, lowlights and erstwhile lights from the opening day of the NBA's pre-preseason.
Brooklyn Nets
The Nets were the first to fling open their doors at 10:30 a.m. ET. Not surprisingly, the offseason coaching change—more specifically, Jason Kidd's decision to bolt for the Milwaukee Bucks' gig—was the topic du jour.
With Kidd gone, Joe Johnson took the opportunity to question his old coach's practice regimens, particularly comparison in those of Brooklyn's newest headmaster (via ESPNNewYork.com's Mike Mazzeo):
He also noted how the front door at the Barclays Center might as well be a revolving one, in so many words (via Newsday's Rod Boone):
Johnson's Rolodex of former Nets coaches pales in comparison to that of Brook Lopez, who's seen way more turnover in that department in his six NBA seasons (via Boone):
And who characterized Kidd's exit as, well, "quick" (again, via Boone):
Apparently, Alan Anderson was late to Kidd's departure party (more Boone):
As far as Kidd's replacement is concerned, Lionel Hollins didn't seem to fear that his job would be at all jeopardized by his star point guard, Deron Williams (via The Record's Andy Vasquez):
For what it's worth, D-Will insisted he feels better after offseason ankle surgery, though the best may have to wait for now (via Vasquez):
Johnson, it seems, has sought out less invasive means to keep his body in order (via Nets Daily's Tom Lorenzo):
Kevin Garnett, who needs all the help he can get to stay healthy, seemed unburdened by expectations heading into what will be his 20th NBA season (via the New York Daily News' Stefan Bondy):
Like his teammates, Garnett was confused by the whole Kidd fiasco (via Vasquez):
Though, he'd never confuse a pair of "Wallies" when he sees them (via the Brooklyn Nets):
The real confusion of the day seemed to surround a newcomer to the roster: Bojan Bogdanovic, pictured here as Andrei Kirilenko (via Lorenzo):
There's the Croatian sensation we all (don't really) know and (aren't sure yet if we) love (via Lorenzo):
San Antonio Spurs
Right around noon, the defending champions took to the floor at their practice facility, partly to show off their shiny, new banner (via the San Antonio Express-News' Dan McCarney):
As expected, Gregg Popovich's snark was already in midseason form (via Dan McCarney):
As was his facial hair (via Bleacher Report NBA):
Pop didn't waste much time invoking his military background, however unintentionally (via Basketball Insiders' Yannis Koutroupis):
He also was not slow in weighing in on Boris Diaw's physique (via the Express-News' Jeff McDonald):
With regard to matters of actual basketball consequence, Pop clarified what it will take for Kawhi Leonard to translate his excellence as a Finals MVP into being a focal point of the Spurs' operation.
Popovich said (via McCarney):
"I’m probably going to talk to him more about consistency now. He’s reached a certain level and if you look at those last three games he played they were pretty special. But to be in that top echelon of players in our league it’s a huge responsibility to have to come and do that every night.
The Duncans, the Durants, the James-es and all those kinds of guys do it night after night after night and it’s a huge responsibility.
"
Leonard, on the other hand, insisted it was more a matter of opportunity. "In the Finals I’m playing 35 minutes a game, so I’m on the floor more and able to score the ball more and get more rebounds," Leonard explained. "So I’m going to have to get consistent minutes to play at a consistent level like that. I’ve been trying to (be a dominant player) since I’ve been here."
Certainly, Leonard is capable of dominating two balls at once, at the very least (via the San Antonio Spurs):
Granted, the seemingly slow expansion of Leonard's role in San Antonio probably has something to do with his teammates, as well. Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili have carried the Spurs' star torch for well over a decade, and if last season's triumph is any indication, they're not ready to let up just yet.
Duncan, of course, is at the forefront of that success. His decision to return for his 18th season as a pro wasn't so easy (via McCarney):
You wouldn't know it by watching him pass the ball in front of a green screen, though (via the Spurs):
Whenever The Big Fundamental decides to call it quits, he'll be ready to fill his free time with all manner of classic retirement hobbies (via ESPN San Antonio):
Ginobili certainly wasn't ready to retire after the 2013-14 season. In fact, he was miffed about the Spurs' refusal to let him represent Argentina at the FIBA Basketball World Cup. Ginobili, though, said he's hashed out his frustrations with Pop and general manager R.C. Buford (via McCarney):
On a lighter note, Ginobili had nothing but praise for the team's most notable offseason addition: assistant coach Becky Hammon (more McCarney):
Better yet, the Spurs have beefed up their facilities somewhat to make Hammon, the NBA's first full-time female assistant coach, feel more at home (even more McCarney):
In other news, Danny Green's swapped out his No. 4 jersey for No. 14, which he wore in high school (via the Spurs):
And Matt Bonner is the star of a comic book series, though the demands of his basketball life prevented him from hawking it himself (via Josh Kunkel):
Miami Heat
At the same time, the Spurs' most recent victims (i.e. the Heat) unveiled their LeBron James-less roster to the media. All of the players, including summer signee Josh McRoberts, sported jerseys adorned with tags reminding them of the franchise's three championship triumphs (via The Associated Press' Tim Reynolds):
For head coach Erik Spoelstra, media day served as a surprising milestone of sorts in his lengthy relationship with the franchise (via NBA TV's Kristen Ledlow):
Beyond that, Spoelstra insinuated that the situation at point guard between Mario Chalmers, Norris Cole and rookie Shabazz Napier is anything but settled (via The Palm Beach Post's Jason Lieser):
And for those keeping score at home, Spoelstra barely mentioned the "L" word during his press conference (via the Sun-Sentinel's Ira Winderman):
Chalmers took certain strides to avoid referencing his former teammate, as well (via Winderman):
Rio, though, wasn't shy about showing off his new hair or his rendition of the Shmoney Dance (via the Heat):
Dwyane Wade wasn't quite so reluctant to discuss his buddy Bron-Bron's departure (via Winderman):
The Heat may be different, but Wade won't be, at least as far as his outside shot is concerned (via ESPN's Tom Haberstroh):
That hasn't kept Wade from shifting his expectations for others. He suggested that he'd like to see a Chris Bosh who's familiar in some respects but foreign in others (via the Miami Herald's Joseph Goodman):
Like Wade, Bosh made clear that the team is ready to move on—or should be, seeing as how James isn't coming back (via Sun Sports' Will Manso):
Even without James, Bosh didn't think the Heat's standing in the Eastern Conference should be affected all that adversely (via Jason Lieser):
James' absence wasn't the only elephant in the room, though. Luol Deng's unfortunate involvement in the recent Atlanta Hawks fiascos came up, as well. To his credit, Deng took the high road after having his integrity brought into question on account of his ethnicity (more Winderman):
In the "odds and ends" category, Birdman isn't the only nickname by which Chris Andersen goes (via Joseph Goodman):
Also, NOOGIE! (via the Heat):
Cleveland Cavaliers
Shortly after mid-day, the Cavaliers tipped off their new day at the team's practice facility in Independence, Ohio. New head coach David Blatt opened the proceedings with, among other things, a reference to a musical legend (via The Washington Post's Michael Lee):
Blatt also deflected suggestions that Cleveland's success is about its loaded stock of stars rather than the aptitude of its entire team (via ESPNLosAngeles.com's Dave McMenamin):
The coach made sure to quip about the 300-or-so members of the media who were on hand for the Cavs' unveiling (via the Northeast Ohio Media Group's Chris Haynes):
Blatt wasn't exactly kidding, either (via the Cavaliers):
Blatt's partner at the podium, general manager David Griffin, took the opportunity to praise LeBron James for his efforts on behalf of the Cavs this summer (via Bleacher Report's Ethan Skolnick and Haynes):
And then, the man of the hour stepped to the front of the room in his wine-and-gold jersey to talk about his return:
Among the highlights, James had only positive things to say about being a Cavalier again (via McMenamin):
James also insisted that he underwent his Paleo-inspired weight loss for personal reasons rather than professional ones (via Pro Basketball Talk's Brett Pollakoff):
But size isn't the only thing that's changed about James since his last go-round in Rock City. His verbiage has also taken on a decidedly different tone (via Skolnick):
That more patient approach, inspired by two titles in four trips to the Finals with Miami, has James thinking month-to-month nowadays with his team (via McMenamin):
Having James around will be an adjustment for everyone in Cleveland, including Kyrie Irving. The reigning All-Star MVP probably won't mind, so long as he still gets his fair share of looks (via Michael Lee):
Ditto for Dion Waiters (via USA Today's Jeff Zillgitt):
Mike Miller figures to be among those who'll get plenty of good looks, thanks to James. The veteran marksman, who spent three seasons with LeBron in Miami, had nothing but the highest praise for the four-time MVP (via Zillgitt):
Perhaps that's because Moondog, one of the Cavs' official mascots, seemed to put Miller in a rather chipper mood (via the Cavaliers):
It seems safe to assume that Miller wouldn't be anywhere near Cleveland if not for James. Shawn Marion, another of the Cavs' elder additions from the offseason, spelled it out rather plainly (via McMenamin):
Though Marion did say that there was more to his own decision than James' (via ESPN's Ramona Shelburne):
For Anderson Varejao, James' lone remaining teammate from his first stint in Cleveland, it seemed as though LeBron had never left for Florida (via Jeff Zillgitt):
Irving might need some help, both figuratively and literally, getting on the level of his new superstar teammates (via 19 Action News' Tony Zarrella):
Here's how the Three Amigos looked from the front, sans soapboxes (via CNN's Rachel Nichols):
And here's a selfie featuring Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson (via Tristan Thompson):
Also, THIS JUST IN: LeBron can do amazing things with a basketball (via the NBA):
Sacramento Kings
And now, a quick jaunt through the Kings' media day, which didn't start until 5 p.m. ET (via the Kings):
This season, the Kings will be wearing a patch on their jerseys to mark their 30th year in Sacramento (via KXTV's Bryan May):
Derrick Williams marked the occasion by adding some tattoos to his collection and growing a fresh set of dreadlocks (via the Kings):
DeMarcus Cousins took fans behind the scenes (via the Kings):
That was before assuming his position behind a wall of reporters (via KHTK Sports' Deuce Mason):
New starting point guard Darren Collison discussed his goals for the upcoming season (via the Kings):
Rookie center Sim Bhullar, the NBA's first signee of Indian descent, made people look small (via KHTK Sports' Carmichael Dave):
Including his own teammates (via The Sacramento Bee's Jason Jones):
And general manager Pete D'Alessandro explained how the Kings landed backup point guard Ramon Sessions (via Jones):
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