Media mixed zones, press conferences and media availability can lead to breaking stories, great angles for player features and building up to the event itself. Whilst in Europe last week, San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said what nearly all basketball fans outside of North America were thinking, or have been thinking.
POP TO JOURNALIST: WE’RE NBA CHAMPS; NOT WORLD CHAMPS
A journalist from the Spurs’ media availability in Istanbul asked a classic question about what kind of pressure is faced with the players now that they are “world champions”? That type of question is mainly reserved for the American media, but either way San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich, one of the very few against the term ‘world champions’ because it simply isn’t true [USA are the world champions, in case you don’t have any basketball knowledge] came out with an excellent response.
A credentialed journalist from Spurs' trip to Europe asked coach Popovich what pressure his guys will face now that they're world champions?
— John Hobbs (@johnswisshobbs) October 12, 2014
Popovich: "Let me correct you, we're the NBA champions. Not the world champs. I'll answer your question when you do your research properly."
— John Hobbs (@johnswisshobbs) October 12, 2014
KD OUT WITH FOOT INJURY
Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant will miss 6-8 weeks of action [roughly 15-19 games of the NBA season] due to a “Jones fracture” on the base of his toe.
Via ESPN:
Thunder general manager Sam Presti said no specific incident caused the injury, but that it happened over time. Durant has not been given an official timetable, but will likely miss 6 to 8 weeks based on the typical recovery time for an injury of this nature.
“From what I’ve been told, a Jones fracture is the most common surgical procedure performed on NBA players as of late,” Presti said. “It has happened enough so that there is enough of a body of work to look at an average recovery time.”
Durant will undergo further evaluation and consultation over the next few days and determine then if surgery is necessary, although it appears likely.
“We’re heading in that direction,” Presti said.
Following practice on Saturday, Durant informed the Thunder medical staff he was experiencing an “aching” in his right foot. Durant participated in both the Thunder’s preseason games thus far, playing a total of just 30 minutes.
“We’re really fortunate that we’re catching it when we’re catching it,” Presti said. “We are very fortunate that Kevin notified us yesterday and that we’re kind of catching it on the front end before this became more of an acute issue.”
LEBRON: IT WAS A SPECIAL MOMENT PLAYING AGAINST MIAMI
LeBron will not see the Miami Heat now until Christmas Day, but facing them in Brazil was a special moment.
Via Bleacher Report:
“It was a special moment for me to be out there competing against my old teammates,” James said. “I didn’t get that awkward feeling. But a lot of memories came back.”
