BBNBA Media Day Recap: Fresh unis, fresh starts, and fresh antics
In the NBA, Media Day is the players’ first day of school. Everyone makes sure to look their best, brandish their new clothes, and take extremely posed pictures that are later posted on the Internet. The dog days of summer are gone and the crispness of fall marks the beginning of a new year, one where anything is possible. For former Kentucky players, some are trying to make a good first impression, others are reestablishing themselves as big man on campus, and a few are simply happy to be in the building.
John Wall fits all three of these categories. Fresh off writing one of the more impactful articles you’ll ever read by an NBA player, Wall kicked off the LA Clippers era of his career where he will team up with other veterans, Paul George, and Kawhi Leonard, who are all gearing for a comeback. On Media Day, he donned his new blue #11 jersey and talked about how excited he was to get the season started.
Same, John. Same.
The logo, Jerry West, also stopped by the LA Clippers’ Media Day and spent time with Brandon Boston Jr. Hopefully West gave him some sage advice because, after an up-and-down Summer League, Boston is in need of some positive mojo as he enters an important season for his future in the league.
Devin Booker models new uniforms and talks Robert Sarver fallout
In one of the more depressing Media Days, the Phoenix Suns tried to smile through what was a gloomy atmosphere in the wake of the damning findings related to owner, Robert Sarver. In short, Sarver is now shopping both the Suns and the WNBA’s Mercury after being suspended for the year and fined $10 million dollars for creating a horrible workplace environment and being responsible for several irredeemable utterances.
The face of the franchise, former Kentucky sharpshooter and NBA2K cover boy, Devin Booker, walked an admirable line when asked about the subject on Media Day, saying how it was tough to hear the full context of the investigation’s findings, but that wasn’t the Robert Sarver he knew. It is an extremely tough situation, but Suns fans have been clamoring for Sarver to sell the team for years for a variety of perceived incompetencies, so a new face will be welcomed after this inevitably awkward transition period.
The good news? Booker and the Suns are title contenders once again and they got new uniforms. In addition to a new black jersey that is a mashup of past looks, the team will be donning a throwback favorite. 1990s fanatics claim the team’s purple sunburst unis will never be topped and this year they will make a resurrection.
In other downtrodden Media Day news, Shai Gilgous-Alexander had to shrug off trade rumors and speculation he didn’t want to play for Oklahoma City and Karl-Anthony Towns missed Media Day altogether for the Minnesota Timberwolves due to a non-COVID illness.
On a positive note, SGA claims his knee sprain is healing well and KAT is still excited to form modern-day twin towers with Rudy Gobert.
More Kentucky players prepping for a comeback
Aside from John Wall, there are a few other Kentucky players ready to make a resurgence.
Recently, Hollywood’s team has been more Real Housewives than Showtime, but with a healthy Anthony Davis back on the court, the Los Angeles Lakers plan to jump back in the spotlight once again. On Media Day, the Brow and Wenyen Gabriel gave their shoutout to Lakers fans and expressed their excitement in the most stoic way ever.
In a more expressive display of anticipation, the Denver Nuggets are pumped to get Jamal Murray back this season and celebrated the kickoff to their high-expectations campaign with a retro photoshoot, Polaroid style. The Blue Arrow is coming off a major knee injury but is now ready to take aim at a major comeback. According to his head coach, “He’s got that confidence back. He’s got that swagger back.”
Most importantly, he’s also got the back-to-back MVP back as his running mate, and the potential is limitless.
The Social Media gimmicks were out in force
The New York Knicks leaned into the first-day-of-school theme and had players pose with signs straight from a mom on Facebook with young children. Julius Randle was amongst this group and completed the look with a big grin on his face.
He later told a reporter the two words that describe the Knicks this year are “fun” and “energetic.” Considering he gave the questioner a hard time putting him on the spot like that before their first practice, he’s not wrong.
His teammate, Immanuel Quickley, was a little more business in a similar interview, claiming that just because it is technically the start of a new season, doesn’t mean he ever stopped working.
The Miami Heat also ran with the first-day-of-school vibes and asked players who they were most looking forward to seeing now that they’re back. Tyler Herro was most excited to see Dewayne Dedmon because he puts a smile on his face every time he sees him, and Bam Adebayo picked Udonis Haslem in part because he’s old.
Speaking of Bam, Victor Olidipo claims the two have formed a duo called, “B.O.” Why the name? Because they’re nasty.
While the Knicks channeled their Facebook vibe, the Sacramento Kings targeted the TikTok generation when they had De’Aaron Fox attempt to bounce a ping-pong ball off pots and pans into a cup. It turns out that is a lot harder than the trick shot bros make it look.
Fox will reunite with Kentucky teammate Malik Monk this season as the two hope to reignite the magic that brought the Wildcats one shot away from the Final Four in 2017.
Young Kentucky stars keep up the positive energy
Tyrese Maxey furthered his tour of Brotherly Love, where earlier in the summer he lovingly compared Philadelphia fans with Kentucky fans. On Media Day, he praised the 76er faithful for more than just their passion for the team.
“The city of Philadelphia is such a blue-collar city. And it’s like everybody here that goes to games or I see around town works extremely hard for what they have. Extremely hard for what they have. And when you work hard for what you have, you really cherish it, and I really believe that because I worked extremely hard to get where I am today. Nothing was given to them; nothing was given to me.”
Tyrese Maxey
He also took time to grab the social media intern’s phone and do a little selfie video with James Harden. His positive attitude is infectious, and he has become a rising star for one of the best teams in the East. He will look to build upon a great sophomore season, even if he has to occasionally sit beside the Beard.
Another former Kentucky player who is seemingly always in a good mood, Keldon Johnson, did a green-screen promo video where he was directed to yell and look ferocious. He did it, but couldn’t help but give off a much less intimidating smile afterward.
Johnson dislocated his shoulder recently but plans to be ready for the start of the season as the Spurs’ best player. This could be the year we see Johnson put up All-Star caliber numbers.
The rookies make their Media Day debut
TyTy Washington landed with the Houston Rockets after dropping way too far in the draft. During his first Media Day, he answered hard-hitting questions like who is the best on the team at NBA2K.
His answer? Himself, of course.
He claimed that when he took on #3 overall pick Jabari Smith, it did not go well for his former Auburn foe. Let’s just hope he hit the griddy when the beatdown was over like he did after big Kentucky wins.
On the court, no one expects the Rockets to rack up a ton of wins this season, but that lack of championship-caliber talent could pave the way for Washington to see a decent amount of court time.
Kentucky’s other rookie, No. 7 overall pick, Shaedon Sharpe made an appearance at the Portland Trailblazers’ Media Day. Across the league, photographers and videographers maximize their talents to make players look as heroic as possible, but the picture the Trail Blazers posted on Twitter of Sharpe is, well, not that. Instead, it perfectly captures the lack of enthusiasm Kentucky fans perceived him to have all last season. Whether that is true or not, who knows, but come on, Blazers. That was the best picture you had to caption with, “Lights, camera, action!”?
Sharpe only played in six minutes of Summer League before departing with a shoulder injury, but he should be healthy and ready to go when the Trailblazers start their season.
Just like the first day of school, once it is over, the real work begins. Teams are now off to training camp as the start of the 2022-23 NBA season is somehow, but thankfully, just around the corner.
Discuss This Article
Comments have moved.
Join the conversation and talk about this article and all things Kentucky Sports in the new KSR Message Board.
KSBoard