NEWSLETTER
Despite the Chicago Bulls snapping a three-game skid and erasing a 21-point deficit to beat the Miami Heat, Zach LaVine didn’t look happy. The two-time All-Star was caught by cameras swiftly exiting the court on Saturday night, even brushing off a PR staff member who tried to grab him for a postgame interview.
If you missed the moment (and the insinuating drama), check out our post here:
LaVine called the snuffing a mere “miscommunication” after the game, Meanwhile, the Chicago Sun-Times’ Joe Cowley reported that neither the organization nor the coaching staff was pleased with his actions. LaVine’s agency has now spoken on the situation, claiming that the microscope LaVine is under due to his trade talks is turning this incident into something it’s not.
Here is what Shams Charania said that Klutch CEO Rich Paul told him on Monday’s episode of Run It Back on Fanduel TV:
“[This] is being blown out of proportion,” Paul reportedly told Charania. “That actually happens more times than not. It’s just the timing of it with the trade talks makes it out to something it’s not. Players run away avoiding postgame interviews all the time.”
If Paul is right about one thing, it’s that LaVine’s involvement in trade rumors is undoubtedly going to impact how much attention a moment like this receives. I can’t deny that. But that also doesn’t necessarily mean people are blowing it out of proportion.
Indeed, even former NBA player Chandler Parsons sounded shocked to see the footage of LaVine. And when he shared his thoughts, another long-time NBA vet Lou Williams nodded and smiled in agreement.
“First of all, that postgame interview, Shams, that was crazy,” Parsons said. “Usually, you don’t turn down the on-court interviews in front of everybody because even if he’s not in trade rumors, it’s a bad look to do that and to kind of storm out like that. So this I wouldn’t say is the norm. Yes, the press conference. Yes, taking a shower, not speaking to the media, and just inside the locker room. That’s common. I’ve played that game before. On the court is different.”
While Rich Paul can downplay the incident all he wants, I think it speaks volumes when two former players have that kind of response. No matter what the motive was from LaVine, it gives us further insight that, yes, it was a bizarre decision.
Anyway, I’m sure the Bulls just want to move on from this and stay out of the headlines for the foreseeable future. LaVine may have also learned a valuable lesson that – whether it’s warranted or not – he will be under a big fat microscope for the foreseeable future.
