Prior to Friday night’s pre-season matchup against the Dallas Mavericks, Cleveland Cavaliers’ power forward Tristan Thompson pulled a page right out of Joe Namath’s book.
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According to Yahoo, when Fox Sports Ohio reporter Allie Clifton asked how changing positions would alter Thompson’s approach to the game, the Cavs big man gave a sloppy response:
It’s still, “see ball, get ball. You know how I do,” Thompson informed Clifton, before giving her a peck on the side of the head and sprinting off camera.
Clifton handled the situation in the most professional manner possible, noting that Thompson just “goes off the feel of the game — just like he does with interviews, I guess?”
A four-year veteran of the league, Thompson should have known better than to try out cheesy, pickup lines before the game — ESPECIALLY IN A TELEVISED INTERVIEW — and while his behavior might have been intended as humorous, Thompson’s actions bordered on sexual harassment.
While the NBA has not commented on Thompson’s pre-game antics, the Internet is already calling for NBA commissioner Adam Silva to pass down some type of sanction.
Thompson did not appear to let his earlier discretion affect his play on the court. He posted 17 points and 11 rebounds in just under 30 minutes of play, and continued to impress as he transitions back from the center position to power forward.
With the addition of LeBron James and Kevin Love this offseason, the Cavaliers are the projected favorites to win the Eastern Conference title this season.
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