It has been a running joke for a couple of years now that NBA stars make outlandish remarks when getting interviewed by Taylor Rooks. Word regarding that has obviously reached her as well and Rooks stated why it happens.
“I will say I have seen the tweets,” Rooks said. “This belief that if a player gets in front of me, they’re just gonna say whatever. I don’t agree with the narrative. I think that people confuse just the fact that I can ask a good question with the way that I look. And I think that without even realizing it, it can be a little diminishing to the work that I put in for the interview.”
While Rooks says it can be flattering to get complimented for her looks, she doesn’t like it when that is seen as the only reason why stars give those answers.
“This happens on men’s podcasts all the time that athletes come on there and say something wild, but nobody says that it’s because of the man,” Rooks continued. “They say, ‘Oh, that was a good conversation.’ So, I think that, that narrative really should shift to the way that I prepare and the things that I’m able to get out of somebody.”
Yes, @TaylorRooks has seen the tweets about NBA players getting in front of her and saying outlandish things, but don't let that narrative diminish her work as a top tier interviewer. 💯
Full Rankings: https://t.co/u0zStqG2xV pic.twitter.com/NOEfDd5TgE
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) December 11, 2023
Rooks like the fact that her interviews are seen as ones where fans will find out something regarding a player that they didn’t know before. It is where some revelations are made, but the 31-year-old wants to make sure that the narrative is that it happens because she is good at her job and works hard as well.
You do understand that she’d get a bit offended that people believe her looks are the only reason why she’s so good at interviewing people. It can be really funny to go with that narrative, but it does take away from her skills, which isn’t good.
The Wild Statements Made By NBA Stars When Interviewed By Rooks
The list of the wild statements made by stars when interviewed by Rooks would probably be quite a big one. There are some, though, that have stood out even among the wild ones, with Jaylen Brown’s comments perhaps being the most famous.
“I’m not going to jinx myself but what’s that 6 years? I’m gonna go ahead and say five or six,” a 22-year-old Brown said when asked by Rooks how many championships he’d have when he’s 28.
(starts at 0:39 mark):
Brown ultimately settled on five and while you admired the confidence, he went a bit too far. The Boston Celtics star is now 27 years old and is yet to win a title, so this certainly didn’t age too well.
While this is the most famous one, the boldest claim perhaps came from Ja Morant. During an interview with Rooks, the topic of Michael Jordan came up and Morant claimed he’d have dominated against Jordan if they played 1-on-1.
“I would have cooked him (Jordan) too,” Morant said. “Nobody got more confidence than 12.”
(starts at 49:40 mark):
Unsurprisingly, NBA fans destroyed Morant for saying he would cook Jordan. He didn’t back down, however, as Ja responded to his haters with a rather simple message.
Up next, we have Bam Adebayo. During his interview with Rooks earlier this year, the Miami Heat big man claimed he should have been a back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year winner.
“I believe that. Yeah, 100%,” Adebayo said when asked if he felt he deserved to win DPOY in 2021 and 2022.
(starts at 29:09 mark):
Adebayo said that 2021 winner Rudy Gobert’s defense didn’t translate into the playoffs while Marcus Smart, who won in 2022, couldn’t guard all five positions like him.
Lastly, we get to Adebayo’s teammate, Jimmy Butler. Rooks asked Butler during media day if he believes he is the best player in the world, and the Heat star said he was.
“Damn right I do,” Butler said. “Luckily, this is a team game. And I realize that I need my teammates to win… But as far as being the best basketball player in the world goes? One-on-one? I’m taking my chances.”
(starts at 1:41 mark):
Interview Moments from NBA Media Day:
Jimmy Butler on having enough help in Miami + being the best basketball player in the world pic.twitter.com/tr66BGX8Ql
— Taylor Rooks (@TaylorRooks) October 3, 2023
She sure knows how to get those juicy answers out of these players in a manner that few others can. Rooks was speaking here to Complex Sports, who recently ranked her as the 18th most entertaining sports media personality.
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