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Golden State Warriors: Is the Media Friend or Foe?

By Greg Chin

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Over the past few weeks, it seems as though the Golden State Warriors have given the media a lot of material to publish and report on. One good example would be Klay Thompson’s response to Los Angeles Clippers’ head coach Doc Rivers’ comments on how the Warriors were “lucky” to have won the title. Sure, the comments made by Doc were inflammatory, and were meant as a slight to the Warriors’ achievements, but it is rare to hear such players speak so freely.

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As the start of the new season approaches, the Warriors will have to decide on the team’s philosophy regarding their candor and openness with the media. Last season, we barely heard much from them through the regular season. But as national champions and the new darlings of the media, you can bet that the national spotlight will be on them.

The biggest thing that the Warriors need to remember is that the media can be their greatest foe and greatest friend at the same time. Stephen Curry’s ascension to mega-superstar status can be widely attributed to the media’s attention on him. With such a likeable personality and such an enjoyable game, it was only a matter of time before the Warriors’ superstar became a household name.

But, the reverse is just as true. There are countless examples of where players were turned into scapegoats, or molehills into mountains just for a quick story. The media loves to sensationalize – after all, we’re all suckers for a good piece of clickbait.  The common cliché of “you’re only as good as your last game” rings especially true for the dog-eat-dog world of the media. One moment you’re the popular hero, the next you’re a scapegoat for a team’s failure.

After Doc Rivers’ comments to the media made sporting headlines everywhere, he attempted to contain the situation by offering clarification of his statement. He blamed the media for not sending the full message, and that the Warriors’ angst was understandable, but unfounded. Whether Rivers’ claims are true is uncertain, but it wouldn’t be the first time the media created a story through misinformation and the deliberate withholding of information.

The last thing the Warriors need on their title defense campaign are distractions. If the Warriors aren’t able to sign Harrison Barnes to an extension, there will already be distractions in the form of his impending free agent status. The Warriors need to be focused if they wish to successfully defend their title – they have the talent to do so, but putting it altogether is a tricky task.

Without the media reporting on the Warriors and their sparring words with the Clippers and the haters, the offseason would have been even more boring. The Warriors had some fun with the reporters by being more accessible, but as the start of the season draws closer, that accessibility will have to diminish.

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