2014 Media Day

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With a smirk  and a microphone and perhaps some sweat on his palms, Nate Wolters started  the day with verve.

That was the  second year point guard’s lighthearted reply to Jim Paschke asking if he likes  Media Day.

And so the  first thing we learned on Media Day was more of a reminder of something we  already knew.

It is not  Player Day. Every other day on the calendar is Player Day. For good reason.  Once the season starts, people like me walk into locker rooms to observe and  ask questions and we become short or shorter or shortest. For one day, on Media  Day, this awkwardness is transferred to players. These heroes – who routinely make  basketball plays that we could never ever make even once – were probably  rehearsing their answers to questions the night before. I couldn't make it to  this Media Day, but I wish that I did. Jason Kidd likened it to the first day of  school.

And it is  endearing and entertaining, to see the human side. Because we cheer for players  and we cheer for players who are people… really.

DDankP: What would be your spirit animal?

Jabari: Probably a turtle. I love turtles.

Now it is  impossible to imagine that Jabari Parker could have answered anything other  than turtle.

Also  enjoyable: Parker said that he would be a history teacher if he was not a  basketball player.

Jerryd  Bayless Gave John Henson ≈ 15 Pounds

Meanwhile,  Jerryd Bayless didn’t get the headlines for professing to have trimmed down to  his college days weight of 199 pounds, but for someone who came into the league  as one of the fiercest rim-attacking players in the NBA (he ranked among the  league leaders in free throw attempts per minute by his second year)… this  could be a positive development.

Chris  Wright is your new source for Giannis Stories

If he has  this many Giannis stories in eight games for the Bucks, just think what Chris  Wright could tell us throughout a full 82 games.

Chris Wright: I got a couple…I gotta think…so one day he didn’t  win one-on-one in workout and he won one or two and was getting made cuz we  were calling him a rookie. Next day, he won six one-on-ones and started running  around and circles screaming “six! Six! That’s what I do!” Then walked out the  gym – didn’t see him for days.

Chris W: Oh and when I first met him, he introduced himself as  the Greek Freek. Didn’t even tell me his name.

Brandon  Knight: Brandon Knight is a Point Guard

Brandon  Knight is a point guard. He made massive strides as a point guard last season  at age 22, setting career-bests in field goal percentage, points per minute,  assists per minute, and assist-to-turnover ratio… to name a few. If he improves  in all of those areas again this season while playing the one, he may not need  to answer the position question next year at Media Day.

It may not be such a story/story/story anymore.

But at this  Media Day he was answering emphatically and repeatedly: “I am a point guard.”

Everyone  Loves FIFA and Eating on the East Side

canipaybycheck: What’s a surprising fact about you?

Damien: Wow… Surprising fact about me? Well, I am the best FIFA player  on the team.

Cut to 59:53  of the video of the full Media Day video to see Damien Inglis star as the most  modest NBA player in the world.

But  everything changes when it comes to FIFA. Inglis asserted that he is the best FIFA  player on the team in the Reddit AMA.

Apparently there is also a rivalry  between John Henson and Kendall Marshall, while Khris Middleton said that he  played FIFA “pretty much all day” when asked what he did this offseason for fun  (other than play basketball).

Meanwhile, everyone  who chatted about eating out in Milwaukee, chatted about eating out on the East  Side of Milwaukee. (John Henson: Café Hollander. Nate Wolters: Simple Café.  Jerryd Bayless: Beans &amp; Barley.)

Reminder:  Zaza Pachulia played with Toni Kukoc on Bucks, loved playing with Toni Kukoc on  Bucks

The best type  of person is the type of person who brings up Toni Kukoc voluntarily in  conversation. Zaza Pachulia is one of these people.

As you may recall,  Pachulia played as a 20-year-old with the 36-year-old Kukoc on the 2002-03  Bucks. As you also may recall, the 36 year-old Kukoc was the best passer on  that team.

Pachulia  spoke fondly of Kukoc and other veterans helping him along when he was new to  the league, and said he was privileged and honored to serve as a mentor to the  younger Bucks now.

One thing we  learned on Media Day was the 2014-15 promo schedule. It involves a Giannis Bobblehead Night.

Speaking of  Giannis, we all know by now that Jason Kidd is interested in experimenting with  Giannis at point guard this season, just as he did in Summer League. Giannis said that it is going to be hard. He said  that the first impression he gives you is not that he is a point guard. He said  that he will try his best. He was very honest, seemed excited to relish the  opportunity, but also understood (as we all should), that it won’t always be so  smooth.

As a rookie,  Brandon Knight shot a very encouraging 38.0 percent on threes, but that number  fell in each of the past two seasons, to 32.5 percent last season. Virtually  all of his other numbers have been improving. Getting back to rookie-level  accuracy on threes would be major boost to his offensive efficiency.

Here is the  part where we offer a fun little anecdote that we may bring back up if Knight  transforms into a 3-point ace this season (we probably won’t bring this up if  he doesn’t).

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10 Things We Learned on Media Day

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Through The 2014 Media Day Lens

Milwaukee Bucks

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Behind the Scenes - Media Day 2014

Monday's Bucks Media Day was a two hour event dedicated to player photo shoots, interviews and promotional pieces for both the team and media outlets prior to the start of a brand new season just around the corner. It wasn't open to the general public, but it was open for Bucks fans via #BucksMediaDay. Thanks to everyone who joined the conversation.

Bucks.com hosted a live video stream from media day hosted by Bucks Broadcaster, Jim Paschke, and Fox Sports Wisconsin's Sophia Minnaert. See and hear what the 2014-15 season has in store as Jim and Sophia talked to players and coaches throughout the afternoon.