It always seems to happen around LeBron, when things aren’t going well: [https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2023/01/lebron-james-again-hints-at-desire-for-roster-upgrades.html](https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2023/01/lebron-james-again-hints-at-desire-for-roster-upgrades.html)
I don’t necessarily blame the player, because (a.) he’s not wrong, and (b.) he’s just answering the question.
But if the media is just hunting for controversy, sooner or later some writer will make a mountain out of a molehill. Not Marc Stein or Landon Thomas, but possibly a Tim MacMahon (ESPN), Mike Fisher or Dalton Trigg (SI), Brad Townsend or Callie Caplan (DMN), if there are clicks to be had, and the Mavs don’t show continual progress in building a contender, adding pieces, making moves, etc.
Curious if you think it benefits a local outlet, because even if they get more clicks and sell more ads on the controversy, what good does it do their paper if it alienates the superstar or makes him leery of answering questions?
Dirk never seemed to draw that kind of controversy, but he played in a different era where player empowerment wasn’t yet the big deal it is today. Luka doesn’t seem the type to throw his front office under the bus, but it would help if the media would stop with this line of questioning, don’t you think? (“Are you happy with the moves your front office has made?” … “How is the roster?” etc.)
The European reporters rarely seem to ask Luka these type of pointed questions, which makes me wonder if this is some uniquely American thing where there is no shame in inviting controversy if it makes money.