As teams across the NBA hold their annual media days, basketball fans are geared up for a new season. Lakers media day was held like a Super Bowl media day taking up their entire practice facility. Of course, attention is naturally drawn to the Lakers with the superstar signing of LeBron James, but there was no question their media day was the biggest.
Up past the Canadian border, the Toronto Raptors revealed their offseason additions of Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green. Many curious Spurs fans tuned in to see what Kawhi had to say after being famously silent during the entire summer drama surrounding himself and the Spurs. Spurs fans weren’t pleased with his reasoning of wanting to leave and play with a team that wants to win. The entire interview in question was an awkward one. Danny Green didn’t say much but was excited to start a new season in Toronto. Green, will most likely be excited to play for a team where superstar rapper Drake sits courtside for Raptors games.
Tony Parker was introduced at the Charlotte Hornets media day. He jokingly told members of the media that he told his new teammates “You guys better not mess with my playoff streak – I’m going on 17 years right now.” Former Spurs coach James Borrego will join Parker in Charlotte.
At the Spurs media, Coach Pop kicked off media day by speaking to the media first and thanked them for their support along with fan support over the past few months. Coach Pop lost his wife in the middle of the opening round of the playoffs last season, but fans rallied around him over the summer. DeMar DeRozan and Jakob Poeltl, the former Raptors, were welcomed by the media and joined in with laughs and smiles by current Spurs players. The Spurs players dodged many questions about the team’s previous drama with Kawhi and said their relationships are above basketball and still remain outside of the spotlight.
Continuing to be underestimated, Spurs players said throughout the day that they were excited for the new season and the team is filled with talent. Spurs fans will get their first look at the team as preseason kicks off this Sunday as the Spurs will host the Miami Heat at 4pm. The game is scheduled to air on NBATV if fans can’t attend the game.