Utah Jazz reporter Ben Dowsett picked a fight he was not going to win.
After the Golden State Warriors beat the Utah Jazz on Monday, Dowsett, a writer for Salt City Hoops, tweeted his displeasure with Steph Curry and Draymond Green’s post-game behavior:
Can I be honest about something? I expected just a little more respect thrown the Jazz's way from GSW's locker room than what actually came.
— Ben Dowsett (@Ben_Dowsett) December 1, 2015
Beyond Ian Clark, who might have more reason for frustration with Utah than anyone in there, lot of shrugs and chuckles on Jazz questions.
— Ben Dowsett (@Ben_Dowsett) December 1, 2015
Example: Draymond and Steph next to a TV showing Root Sports, with a tweet up about how the Jazz are playing "like champions", or close.
— Ben Dowsett (@Ben_Dowsett) December 1, 2015
Obv. a fan tweet, clearly. But both started laughing at it like it was the funniest thing they'd every seen. Dray yells "F**k that!"
— Ben Dowsett (@Ben_Dowsett) December 1, 2015
Both downplayed questions on Utah, and Steph straight up laughed at Utah's switch on his big 3 at the end. I just didn't expect that.
— Ben Dowsett (@Ben_Dowsett) December 1, 2015
Listen, these guys are entitled to every bit of ego they want at this point. It was just surprising to me.
— Ben Dowsett (@Ben_Dowsett) December 1, 2015
Again, this isn't close to sour grapes. Those guys have earned this. Just esp. in Steph's case, it's not what you expect is all.
— Ben Dowsett (@Ben_Dowsett) December 1, 2015
Well, because this is Twitter, where everyone sees everything, Curry and Green took note of these tweets, and they weren’t thrilled.
Curry went for humor…
Hey @Ben_Dowsett….that’s a personal foul………..“REACHING” pic.twitter.com/eM8FbOL4Mr
— Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30) December 1, 2015
While Green made things a bit more personal:
Yo @ben_dowsett why you lying bruh? Trying to make your name bigger off lying? Want more importance? Report something worthwhile & true!
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) December 1, 2015
You mad corny dude and media privileges should be revoked coward @ben_dowsett
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) December 1, 2015
But there you go… I just helped get you some attention @ben_dowsett
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) December 1, 2015
I get along with just about all the media very well… But, the NBA need to tighten up on who get a credentials to the locker room!!!
— Draymond Green (@Money23Green) December 1, 2015
Even at 19-0, the Warriors probably shouldn’t be openly laughing at opponents (and the Jazz are 8-8!), but it’s hard to know exactly what happened here. Did Dowsett misinterpret what he saw? Is it a mistake to presume what sort of behavior to expect from Curry when not covering him regularly? How many athletes act one way in front of the media, then differently when around teammates in their locker room.
Dowsett has taken back part of his initial story and is now (unfairly) forced to fend off all kinds of heinous tweets (some of which accused him of being racist), which probably just proves you should be careful when provoking social-media beefs with NBA players, especially ones that are extremely popular.
