NBA players say a lot of things on media day. Well, some of them … when they’re allowed to. And those comments range from admirable to entertaining to barely legal. Here are five from Monday:
5 » “As a competitor, as a guy who’s real with myself, I don’t think I’m on LeBron [James‘] level yet. I’m working, though.”
— Oklahoma City forward Kevin Durant, when it was pointed out that Dwight Howard recently said he’d take Durant over James.
Verdict » Admirable. Stop testing KD; he always says the right thing.
4 » “I come from an era where you don’t say nothing bad about someone’s parent. So not at all.”
— Boston guard Delonte West, when asked about rumors that he had an intimate relationship with LeBron James’ mother.
Verdict » Entertaining, though feels TMZ-ish.
3 » “It was just a bad, bad, bad incident. I was just trying to protect my teammate. Everybody who’s played sports, it happens. That’s part of the game, I guess. I’m not saying what I did is a good thing.”
— Oklahoma City C Nenad Krstic on his involvement in a brawl while playing for the Serbia national team.
Verdict » Questionable. “Part of the game”? Nenad, perhaps you forget you threw a chair.
2 » “I had that chance. I have no regrets. I don’t think twice about it. Before I got here, I did. But I’m here. I’m here for a reason, and I’m going to make the best of it.”
— Cleveland forward Antawn Jamison.
Verdict » Dubious. At least he isn’t talking about retiring out of sadness.
1 » “I’ve never said I wanted to be traded. I never once said anything about trade talk.”
— Denver forward Carmelo Anthony.
Verdict » Barely Legal. For every sentence Anthony says, add “in public” to the end.
