2024 NBA Season and Playoffs

[Phantom255x]

I had no idea the Wolves players decided to sit out from postgame interviews with "Inside the NBA" TNT crew after Game 4 because of Draymond Green's hate.

Draymond is a thug and should just get lost

I am surprised this doesn't happen with Shaq also. He insults star players regularly. Telling Jokic he didn't deserve MVP, SGA did. Telling Donovan Mitchell he is not a superstar / franchise player.

If I was a star player, I wouldn't bother doing any interviews with TNT where Shaq was involved. All he does is throw shade on other people.

I agree. Shaq has gotten really condescending. When Chuck does it, it’s definitely light-hearted and jovial.

I hope the new network picks up EJ (although unlikely with his ties to Turner), Kenny, and Chuck… but not Shaq. He really doesn’t add anything other than back and forth with Charles. Almost no insight, can’t articulate what he’s thinking.

And obviously Draymond should stick to his podcast or whatever.

Shaq was negative all season. Very combative. Just really was a downer on the show.

Ernie and Chuck make that show 1000%. Whenever Shaq and/or Kenny are not there, the show runs fine still. But when Ernie and/or Chuck are gone, it's simply not the same and very dry. Idk why Draymond is considered someone they wanted to bring in as a guest analyst though. Many other better options than him IMO.

[celticsclay]

I have enjoyed Vince Carter on the show much more than green. I actually even preferrred Candace Parker

[Roy H.]

I have enjoyed Vince Carter on the show much more than green. I actually even preferrred Candace Parker

Vince Carter is a delight.  He used to come across as a diva, but becoming a role player really changed my perception.

[Who]

I saw a fun one online. D Lively has now played more career playoff games than Porzingis.

Lively = 16 career playoff games
Porzingis = 14 career playoff games

[Birdman]

I had no idea the Wolves players decided to sit out from postgame interviews with "Inside the NBA" TNT crew after Game 4 because of Draymond Green's hate.

Draymond is a thug and should just get lost

I am surprised this doesn't happen with Shaq also. He insults star players regularly. Telling Jokic he didn't deserve MVP, SGA did. Telling Donovan Mitchell he is not a superstar / franchise player.

If I was a star player, I wouldn't bother doing any interviews with TNT where Shaq was involved. All he does is throw shade on other peopl

If he put me down on live TV, I would just say if it wasn’t for Kobe & Wade, u wouldn’t won any championships

[Phantom255x]

I had no idea the Wolves players decided to sit out from postgame interviews with "Inside the NBA" TNT crew after Game 4 because of Draymond Green's hate.

Draymond is a thug and should just get lost

I am surprised this doesn't happen with Shaq also. He insults star players regularly. Telling Jokic he didn't deserve MVP, SGA did. Telling Donovan Mitchell he is not a superstar / franchise player.

If I was a star player, I wouldn't bother doing any interviews with TNT where Shaq was involved. All he does is throw shade on other peopl

If he put me down on live TV, I would just say if it wasn’t for Kobe & Wade, u wouldn’t won any championships

Shaq can't take a joke and it's pretty sad. Like any little tease from Chuck and he defaults to his "rings" and he also pouts about stuff off-air. It's pathetic. Tbh Kenny Smith is similar, Chuck used to do it often but Kenny got so sensitive about it and now you probably notice the guys don't tease Kenny as much. Might have gotten "spoken to" on behalf of Kenny. Chuck and even Ernie are awesome at taking jokes and providing the comedy.

[celticinorlando]

I had no idea the Wolves players decided to sit out from postgame interviews with "Inside the NBA" TNT crew after Game 4 because of Draymond Green's hate.

Draymond is a thug and should just get lost

I am surprised this doesn't happen with Shaq also. He insults star players regularly. Telling Jokic he didn't deserve MVP, SGA did. Telling Donovan Mitchell he is not a superstar / franchise player.

If I was a star player, I wouldn't bother doing any interviews with TNT where Shaq was involved. All he does is throw shade on other peopl

If he put me down on live TV, I would just say if it wasn’t for Kobe & Wade, u wouldn’t won any championships

Shaq can't take a joke and it's pretty sad. Like any little tease from Chuck and he defaults to his "rings" and he also pouts about stuff off-air. It's pathetic. Tbh Kenny Smith is similar, Chuck used to do it often but Kenny got so sensitive about it and now you probably notice the guys don't tease Kenny as much. Might have gotten "spoken to" on behalf of Kenny. Chuck and even Ernie are awesome at taking jokes and providing the comedy.

That is Shaq's go to. I wish Barkley would say "If I played with Kobe Bryant and D Wade. I'd have rings also".

[Phantom255x]

I had no idea the Wolves players decided to sit out from postgame interviews with "Inside the NBA" TNT crew after Game 4 because of Draymond Green's hate.

Draymond is a thug and should just get lost

I am surprised this doesn't happen with Shaq also. He insults star players regularly. Telling Jokic he didn't deserve MVP, SGA did. Telling Donovan Mitchell he is not a superstar / franchise player.

If I was a star player, I wouldn't bother doing any interviews with TNT where Shaq was involved. All he does is throw shade on other peopl

If he put me down on live TV, I would just say if it wasn’t for Kobe & Wade, u wouldn’t won any championships

Shaq can't take a joke and it's pretty sad. Like any little tease from Chuck and he defaults to his "rings" and he also pouts about stuff off-air. It's pathetic. Tbh Kenny Smith is similar, Chuck used to do it often but Kenny got so sensitive about it and now you probably notice the guys don't tease Kenny as much. Might have gotten "spoken to" on behalf of Kenny. Chuck and even Ernie are awesome at taking jokes and providing the comedy.

That is Shaq's go to. I wish Barkley would say "If I played with Kobe Bryant and D Wade. I'd have rings also".

Actually, I believe he has used that and Shaq just scoffed at him and went silent (because he was right lol). Shaq was also really mad when Ernie admitted he voted for Nash over him for MVP which was hilarious, but I think Shaq was genuinely irked after finding out.

[Goldstar88]

Almost an apology. 

Kyrie Irving on his tenure in Boston: 'I wasn't my best self during that time'

“I don’t mind, after a few years, taking the brunt of the blame (for my time in Boston not working out),” Irving said. “(I’m) one of the best players in the world so I know what comes with that fair criticism. You know, it’s just that a little bit more grace could have been extended my way, especially with what I was dealing with during that time as a human being. “I know sometimes in sports, it’s literally about the end goal and result in what you accomplish, and that’s one thing. But we’re still human. At the end of the day, I wasn’t my best self during that time. When I look back on it, I just see it as a time where I learned how to let go of things and learned how to talk through my emotions.” – via New York Times


“But I will say last time in Boston, I don’t think that was the best — not this regular season, but when we played in the playoffs and everyone saw me flip off the birds and kind of lose my s— a little bit — that wasn’t a great reflection of who I am and how I like to compete on a high level. It wasn’t a great reflection on my end towards the next generation on what it means to control your emotions in that type of environment, no matter what people are yelling at you. – via ESPN

Irving said some “fair criticism” has come his way due to his short tenure in Boston, considering his status as one of the league’s best players, but he felt that “a little bit more grace could have been extended my way, especially what I was dealing with during that time as a human being.” “It was just a chapter in my life that I got to enjoy for the most part,” Irving said of his stint with the Celtics. “We had a great opportunity to do some special things, but it was cut short, just based off personal reasons on my end. One thing I look back on my time in Boston — I’ve said this over the past few years, but somehow it gets tossed under the rug — but the greatest thing I learned from Boston was just being able to manage not only my emotions or just what’s going on on a day-to-day basis of being a leader of a team or being one of the leaders, and having young guys around you that have their own goals, but you have to learn how to put the big picture first.”  – via ESPN

[BitterJim]

Almost an apology. 

Kyrie Irving on his tenure in Boston: 'I wasn't my best self during that time'

“I don’t mind, after a few years, taking the brunt of the blame (for my time in Boston not working out),” Irving said. “(I’m) one of the best players in the world so I know what comes with that fair criticism. You know, it’s just that a little bit more grace could have been extended my way, especially with what I was dealing with during that time as a human being. “I know sometimes in sports, it’s literally about the end goal and result in what you accomplish, and that’s one thing. But we’re still human. At the end of the day, I wasn’t my best self during that time. When I look back on it, I just see it as a time where I learned how to let go of things and learned how to talk through my emotions.” – via New York Times


“But I will say last time in Boston, I don’t think that was the best — not this regular season, but when we played in the playoffs and everyone saw me flip off the birds and kind of lose my s— a little bit — that wasn’t a great reflection of who I am and how I like to compete on a high level. It wasn’t a great reflection on my end towards the next generation on what it means to control your emotions in that type of environment, no matter what people are yelling at you. – via ESPN

Irving said some “fair criticism” has come his way due to his short tenure in Boston, considering his status as one of the league’s best players, but he felt that “a little bit more grace could have been extended my way, especially what I was dealing with during that time as a human being.” “It was just a chapter in my life that I got to enjoy for the most part,” Irving said of his stint with the Celtics. “We had a great opportunity to do some special things, but it was cut short, just based off personal reasons on my end. One thing I look back on my time in Boston — I’ve said this over the past few years, but somehow it gets tossed under the rug — but the greatest thing I learned from Boston was just being able to manage not only my emotions or just what’s going on on a day-to-day basis of being a leader of a team or being one of the leaders, and having young guys around you that have their own goals, but you have to learn how to put the big picture first.”  – via ESPN

Even with an """apology""" he can't help but blame everyone else

[byennie]

Almost an apology. 

Kyrie Irving on his tenure in Boston: 'I wasn't my best self during that time'

“I don’t mind, after a few years, taking the brunt of the blame (for my time in Boston not working out),” Irving said. “(I’m) one of the best players in the world so I know what comes with that fair criticism. You know, it’s just that a little bit more grace could have been extended my way, especially with what I was dealing with during that time as a human being. “I know sometimes in sports, it’s literally about the end goal and result in what you accomplish, and that’s one thing. But we’re still human. At the end of the day, I wasn’t my best self during that time. When I look back on it, I just see it as a time where I learned how to let go of things and learned how to talk through my emotions.” – via New York Times


“But I will say last time in Boston, I don’t think that was the best — not this regular season, but when we played in the playoffs and everyone saw me flip off the birds and kind of lose my s— a little bit — that wasn’t a great reflection of who I am and how I like to compete on a high level. It wasn’t a great reflection on my end towards the next generation on what it means to control your emotions in that type of environment, no matter what people are yelling at you. – via ESPN

Irving said some “fair criticism” has come his way due to his short tenure in Boston, considering his status as one of the league’s best players, but he felt that “a little bit more grace could have been extended my way, especially what I was dealing with during that time as a human being.” “It was just a chapter in my life that I got to enjoy for the most part,” Irving said of his stint with the Celtics. “We had a great opportunity to do some special things, but it was cut short, just based off personal reasons on my end. One thing I look back on my time in Boston — I’ve said this over the past few years, but somehow it gets tossed under the rug — but the greatest thing I learned from Boston was just being able to manage not only my emotions or just what’s going on on a day-to-day basis of being a leader of a team or being one of the leaders, and having young guys around you that have their own goals, but you have to learn how to put the big picture first.”  – via ESPN

Even with an """apology""" he can't help but blame everyone else

Heh, I mean it's not the worst thing he could have said, but it's very Kyrie, and it's not really an apology.

Apology: I acted poorly and I regret that.

Kyrie: As one of the greatest players in the world, people were a little hard on me, and I wasn't as perfect as usual I guess, but I did become a better leader and sacrifice for the greater good.

[Donoghus]

Kryie & his team seem to be on a real PR cleanse as of late.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Almost an apology. 

Kyrie Irving on his tenure in Boston: 'I wasn't my best self during that time'

“I don’t mind, after a few years, taking the brunt of the blame (for my time in Boston not working out),” Irving said. “(I’m) one of the best players in the world so I know what comes with that fair criticism. You know, it’s just that a little bit more grace could have been extended my way, especially with what I was dealing with during that time as a human being. “I know sometimes in sports, it’s literally about the end goal and result in what you accomplish, and that’s one thing. But we’re still human. At the end of the day, I wasn’t my best self during that time. When I look back on it, I just see it as a time where I learned how to let go of things and learned how to talk through my emotions.” – via New York Times


“But I will say last time in Boston, I don’t think that was the best — not this regular season, but when we played in the playoffs and everyone saw me flip off the birds and kind of lose my s— a little bit — that wasn’t a great reflection of who I am and how I like to compete on a high level. It wasn’t a great reflection on my end towards the next generation on what it means to control your emotions in that type of environment, no matter what people are yelling at you. – via ESPN

Irving said some “fair criticism” has come his way due to his short tenure in Boston, considering his status as one of the league’s best players, but he felt that “a little bit more grace could have been extended my way, especially what I was dealing with during that time as a human being.” “It was just a chapter in my life that I got to enjoy for the most part,” Irving said of his stint with the Celtics. “We had a great opportunity to do some special things, but it was cut short, just based off personal reasons on my end. One thing I look back on my time in Boston — I’ve said this over the past few years, but somehow it gets tossed under the rug — but the greatest thing I learned from Boston was just being able to manage not only my emotions or just what’s going on on a day-to-day basis of being a leader of a team or being one of the leaders, and having young guys around you that have their own goals, but you have to learn how to put the big picture first.”  – via ESPN

Even with an """apology""" he can't help but blame everyone else

Heh, I mean it's not the worst thing he could have said, but it's very Kyrie, and it's not really an apology.

Apology: I acted poorly and I regret that.

Kyrie: As one of the greatest players in the world, people were a little hard on me, and I wasn't as perfect as usual I guess, but I did become a better leader and sacrifice for the greater good.

I felt that was the best public apology by an athlete I've heard in a long time. He's not wrong that people were hard on him, and he's not wrong that does come with the territory of being a star athlete.

I've said it before: players admire Kyrie because he is as genuine as they come. He says and acts what he feels, and that combined with charisma makes him magnetic to his peers.

There's flightiness there, and a lack of loyalty and sticking with your commitments, and a willingness to blame other non-peers too quickly, but it does seem he's grown in his time at Dallas as a teammate and a person coming to terms with his past actions.

[GreenEnvy]

Is Kyrie insinuating we treated him poorly when he was playing here? As far as I remember we were more than accepting while here the uniform. We began to turn when he clearly gave up in the 2019 playoffs. And then when he left, he became the enemy.

But he can’t blame the fans, the city, or the franchise for him wanting to leave. And I’m glad he left. He proved he’s not a 1. He’s a 2, and I think he finally accepted it.

[BitterJim]

Almost an apology. 

Kyrie Irving on his tenure in Boston: 'I wasn't my best self during that time'

“I don’t mind, after a few years, taking the brunt of the blame (for my time in Boston not working out),” Irving said. “(I’m) one of the best players in the world so I know what comes with that fair criticism. You know, it’s just that a little bit more grace could have been extended my way, especially with what I was dealing with during that time as a human being. “I know sometimes in sports, it’s literally about the end goal and result in what you accomplish, and that’s one thing. But we’re still human. At the end of the day, I wasn’t my best self during that time. When I look back on it, I just see it as a time where I learned how to let go of things and learned how to talk through my emotions.” – via New York Times


“But I will say last time in Boston, I don’t think that was the best — not this regular season, but when we played in the playoffs and everyone saw me flip off the birds and kind of lose my s— a little bit — that wasn’t a great reflection of who I am and how I like to compete on a high level. It wasn’t a great reflection on my end towards the next generation on what it means to control your emotions in that type of environment, no matter what people are yelling at you. – via ESPN

Irving said some “fair criticism” has come his way due to his short tenure in Boston, considering his status as one of the league’s best players, but he felt that “a little bit more grace could have been extended my way, especially what I was dealing with during that time as a human being.” “It was just a chapter in my life that I got to enjoy for the most part,” Irving said of his stint with the Celtics. “We had a great opportunity to do some special things, but it was cut short, just based off personal reasons on my end. One thing I look back on my time in Boston — I’ve said this over the past few years, but somehow it gets tossed under the rug — but the greatest thing I learned from Boston was just being able to manage not only my emotions or just what’s going on on a day-to-day basis of being a leader of a team or being one of the leaders, and having young guys around you that have their own goals, but you have to learn how to put the big picture first.”  – via ESPN

Even with an """apology""" he can't help but blame everyone else

Heh, I mean it's not the worst thing he could have said, but it's very Kyrie, and it's not really an apology.

Apology: I acted poorly and I regret that.

Kyrie: As one of the greatest players in the world, people were a little hard on me, and I wasn't as perfect as usual I guess, but I did become a better leader and sacrifice for the greater good.

I felt that was the best public apology by an athlete I've heard in a long time. He's not wrong that people were hard on him, and he's not wrong that does come with the territory of being a star athlete.

I've said it before: players admire Kyrie because he is as genuine as they come. He says and acts what he feels, and that combined with charisma makes him magnetic to his peers.

There's flightiness there, and a lack of loyalty and sticking with your commitments, and a willingness to blame other non-peers too quickly, but it does seem he's grown in his time at Dallas as a teammate and a person coming to terms with his past actions.

FTFY:
"it does seem he's grown in his time at Boston Brooklyn Dallas as a teammate and a person coming to terms with his past actions"

Who's next?

And I just have a hard time with calling him "genuine" for always dodging blame. If you aren't even honest with yourself, how genuine can you be?