GustavBahler wrote:When LeBron and Wade are singing your praises, it has an effect. Great recruiting tool.
Ultimately, it means nothing. Players want max money, max years and best opportunity to win. Some players will trade less money and less years for a better pathway to starting or playing time. Some players just want to stay in the league.
What players and coaches and front office people say in the press means pretty much nothing.
If someone sticks a mic in your face and says , "Do you think X is a great coach?" What are you going to say?
If you say No, you will get run over in the press. Which is why they asked the question in the first place.
If you hesitate, you will get run over in the press. They'll just make up a headline.
If you say Yes, they'll write the story they PLANNED OUT ANYWAY. Which is why they asked it in the first place.
Most press questions are just bait. See if they can catch you on a bad day or make a mistake and then you say something you didn't mean or got out of context and they run with the story.
The only "effect" it has on is some readers/viewers. There is not enough real legit NBA news to cover a 24/7/365 cycle. Thus the fake feuds, the fabricated drama, the softball type interview questions, the draftees being hyped.
Do you think Kawhi Leonard will consider reupping with Toronto because some people say they love the place? No, it's max money, max years, best chance to win/contend.
Most pro athletes are just very insecure "big" children, most of whom have issues with narcissism and entitlement. Most in this generation also have been heavily trained in how to give the press nothing and something ( Nothing in terms of content that will damage them, something in terms of promoting the player and his "brand" and giving the beat writers something to write so they leave you alone otherwise or sit on a story that could hurt you later)
