The Whiteboard: Don’t believe anything on NBA media day

NBA media day is a fun time for just about everybody involved, but don’t take anything said during it as gospel.

The title of this piece about NBA media day may make it seem as though I, the author, am against this storied tradition. That couldn’t be farther from the case. I love NBA media day and everything it represents, mostly that the NBA season is approaching again after a long offseason.

All that said, it’s important to keep in mind that the entire point of the day is for NBA franchises to get their fans excited about the coming season, so they buy tickets and jerseys and watch the games and everything else that excited fans do, all of which just so happens to make those teams money. This is a time for positive PR to be cranked up to 11.

Every player has either developed a serviceable jumper, added 15-20 pounds of pure muscle, or solved whatever their biggest weakness as a player was. Every front office feels good about their team — their expectations are high (really Chicago??), but they can live up to them, no sweat.

The clips that end up featured on Old Takes Exposed usually have more to do with player movement, or lack thereof, than anything else. Every star player plans on retiring with their current team, and envisions their jersey in the rafters someday. Every team is committed to their stars in return, and sees a future championship thanks to them.

There’s nothing wrong with saying all of that, but just look at DeMar DeRozan rocking a Spurs jersey or Kawhi Leonard laughing(?) in Toronto and think about how much can change in a matter of months. NBA media day is fun. But never, ever trust it.

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