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WINNERS: PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
The culture in Philly looks immaculate. James Harden, who holds the bulk of the pressure with the team, looked as comfortable as ever addressing the media. Harden, who is usually dry and generic with his responses, was actually having fun out there.
Even when addressing a touchy subject like his weight, he rolled with the punches. Harden was asked how much weight exactly he lost, and he rapidly responded “100 pounds.” For someone who is generally very emotionally reserved, James Harden looked very jubilant to be with his team on a day most seasoned stars dread.
It doesn’t begin and end with James Harden, though. Everyone on the Sixers is taking part in the positive spirits on Media Day. James Harden got a cake and gathered the team together to sing Jaden Springer happy birthday. “The Human Good Mood,” Tyrese Maxey, was everywhere, sprinkling his presence around teammates and blasting a smile in front of every camera in sight. PJ Tucker said he and Harden were planning on re-uniting in Philadelphia last year. Joel Embiid was giggling all over the place when Harden was sitting next to him answering questions by the media, as well as juggling a basketball like a soccer ball on the court, and talked heavily about the defense and how he would rather win Defensive Player of the Year than MVP. Take a second to look at the body language in the team photos! Everyone is a benison to see.
It may not be hanging a banner before the first game of the season is played, but these are the things that instill a winning culture. You can have the most talented team in the world, and that won’t mean a thing if the players aren’t happy and don’t like each other (and it helps that the 76ers might also be the most talented team in the world.) For a team that was disappointingly eliminated in the second last season, it’s a very good sign that spirits are this high on Media Day for the Philadelphia 76ers.
LOSERS: PHOENIX SUNS
What a mess. From the time of the game 7 implosion against the Mavericks in front of their home fans in last year’s playoffs, it’s really sad to see what’s become of the most winningest team in the Western Conference mere months ago.
This extends beyond just Media Day, but it’s incredible how fast everything seems to be falling apart with the once contenders. Issues predate the Robert Sarver saga, and actually originate the day of their infamous collapse when head coach Monty Williams and Deandre Ayton had a falling out during that game. Deandre Ayton played just 17 minutes in the 33-point loss, and refused to come back into the game when Monty Williams was ready to sub him back in. To make things worse, the two have yet to make amends.
“I haven’t spoken to [Monty Williams]”, said Ayton. No, I haven’t spoken to him at all since the game”.
There was serious contention between Ayton and the Suns organization for months, when Ayton’s teammate Mikal Bridges penned a 4-year/$91 million contract extension, and Ayton, a bigger focus in the team’s core, wasn’t offered the rookie max extension. He entered the summer as a restricted free agent, and had his massive 4-year/$143 million offer sheet from the Indiana Pacers matched quickly, but the rift was already created. Ayton’s disaster of a media day only got worse when he was asked about how he initially felt when the Suns matched the Pacer’s offer.
“I was happy,” said Ayton, very dryly. “It was all done. I guess.”
After a pause, the reporter responds with a confused “that’s it?”
“Yup,” Ayton quickly answers.
Above the guy they drafted two picks before Luka Doncic looking and sounding like he wishes he’d be anywhere but with the team on Media Day, the Suns are forced to deal with Jae Crowder’s announcement he wishes to part ways with the team. After only two seasons with the Phoenix Suns, including that 2021 NBA Finals run, Crowder thanked the organization for his time there and proclaimed he needs to take on another challenge elsewhere in his ALL CAPS tweet. Reports came out of Crowder’s destinations being the Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, and Boston Celtics, ironically, all teams he’s played for previously. No surprise he didn’t mention the Jazz there.
Lastly, the dysfunction has trickled down to (or in this case up to) ownership. After the series of crude comments Suns owner Robert Sarver made in private that earned him a $10 million fine, as well as a one year suspension from the team, he announced last week that he would move forward and plan to sell the team and its WNBA affiliate Phoenix Mercury. If anything, this is the best news possible for Suns fans who suffered his frugal tyranny over the last two decades.
Robert Sarver finally having his name unattached from the Phoenix Suns organization can potentially be a great thing for the Suns of the future, but for the Suns of the present, the whole falling out of Sarver with the team and his eventual sale is an unmitigated failure. No team contending should be swapping ownership, especially with that window for contention shrinking by the day. The Suns will win a lot of games this year, but at this rate, winning in Phoenix might stop there.
WINNERS: ALEX CARUSO
On a day where you hear A LOT of quotes from players and coaches, it’s exceptionally alarming to think one from Alex Caruso might have been the most shocking. The Bulls’ stud defender talked about how he was planning to change his jersey number to 6 in honor of the late great Bill Russell who recently passed away. An honorable nod to one of the best to ever do it, but he was as shocked as we were when he was denied by the league from doing so because he is in the top 75 in the league in jersey sales.
This is the best way a player can be denied by the league from doing pretty much anything, but good on him for the popularity. Not to downplay his impact on the court because he is a very good player, but it’s no secret that Caruso is a meme amongst hoop fans. You don’t get the nickname “The Bald Mamba” without being one. Even with the social media popularity it comes as a shock that it’s converting to jersey sales, but it looks like the Carushow more than pays the bills.
LOSERS: AARON GORDON
Historically great Dunk Contest Runner-Up Aaron Gordon took some heat on Twitter prior to Media Day for quote tweeting some thumbs down emojis on the announcement of Anthony Edwards fine by the league for posting homophobic slurs on Edwards personal Instagram account. Gordon was addressed about his quickly-deleted tweet while facing the press. Newly-minted teammate Ish Smith silently glares ahead as Gordon tries to dig himself out of the crap hole he buried himself in without a shovel.
Gordon did admit to being the one to write the tweet, so props to him for at least accepting responsibility in that department, but that’s pretty much where the credit cuts off. He directed his disapproving thumbs down emojis at the sentiment of the league taking $40,000 from Ant Edwards for “freedom of speech things.” The NBA isn’t the United States constitution; it’s a business. Having one of the league’s most recognizable and highly marketable players put homophobic remarks on their own social media allows them to be penalized for their actions.
Gordon doesn’t deserve more blame than Edwards, the person who actually said the homophobic remarks, but downplaying the remarks by disapproving of the punishment– admittedly before knowing what exactly Anthony Edwards said– deserves some criticism itself. Aaron Gordon shouldn’t be persecuted to no end for this, but it would’ve made things at least a little better if he apologized for his actions during his response.
LOSERS: JIMMY BUTLER
Who is this and what has he done with Jimmy Butler? This has no effect on his tremendous play on the court, but is the man once briefly known as James Butler going through a midlife crisis? The bare face is jarring enough, but the Atlanta-rapper dreads are so ridiculously over the top, it’s impossible to focus on a word he said during the Miami Heat’s media sessions.
When he did speak, Butler was hilarious. Some highlights during his time with the media include
- poking fun at now former teammate PJ Tucker, calling him a traitor, and telling him that “every single day” since he left the Heat to join Butler’s old team
- Said the “correct term” to call soccer is futbol
- Stated he can score 50 points in a game whenever he feels like it, but “it’s not about me”
What he lacks in real hair, Butler more than makes up for in charisma. Probably the worst thing about the hair is he told Malika Andrews that the extensions are going to before he plays a game, but that means he’s probably going to have his official picture taken with them, and we’re going to have to look at a photo of Jimmy Butler all over team websites for the entirety of the year with his dreadlocks. Jimmy Butler gets the nonexistent “Worst Hair” award on Media Day 2022.
WINNERS: JEREMY SOCHAN
If Jimmy Butler wins the award for Worst Hair, Jeremy Sochan earned the honors of Best Hair. Paying homage to the newly announced Spurs’ City Edition “Fiesta” jerseys, Jeremy Sochan dyed his hair in the iconic pink, orange, and teal. Sochan, a lifelong hair dye advocate, is warming himself up in his new home of San Antonio, as fans of the Spurs have to support a full rebuilding team for the first time in over two decades. Spurs fans are going to love Jeremy Sochan.
