Jakob Poeltl: It makes no sense to try to win every single game

[LoveMyRaps]

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HE'S ONE OF US!!

[Drakeem]

This gotta be some of the lamest stuff I've seen from a professional athlete and I went from liking the fact that he was on this team just bc I like him as a player and a person to wanting him gone.

Sure, this team might not be great rn (although you never know how young people can take that step) but you try. The organization might put you in a position to lose, but as a player with pride, you try and you go out there to win that game. To publicly say we don't care about winning is insane to me. Idc if he really thinks that, someone like Barnes I'm SURE isn't on that same page and to sit beside your teammate after having said that would piss me off.

[TorontoBarneys]

Is that something he should be saying?

[Zeno]

I’m not a huge fan of this being expressed by players in this way. Maybe he is talking of the choices made by the coaching staff in rotations and minutes. But if the focus for players is not exclusively on trying to win while on the court, I don’t see how you can talk about culture building and development at all…not that I’m going to take this media day stuff too seriously anyway but players need to be lying to us and themselves on days like today.

[DelAbbot]

He wants to be traded

[TheGeneral99]

I get this the team is prioritizing development but that's not what he should be telling the media.

[REJECTEDBYCLARK]

He wants to be traded

probably heard the rejectedbyclark exclusive breaking news of the raps FO having targeted Donovan Clingan on RealGM before it got locked by the Gatekeeper

[TimeForChange]

what a poor attitude to have for a professional athlete, especially one making $20m.

[Tofubeque]

Maybe watch the whole short interview, the question was posed as Masai saying it's a rebuilding year VS players trying to compete. Players trying to win is presupposed.

It's like you ask him "hey Jak will you be upset when you, Scottie and IQ aren't played 40mpg to eke out every possible win", like what do you want him to say

[AndreasLeftCalf]

so its a full on tank this year

[Harcore Fenton Mun]

We're running Darko back, it was assumed.

[junot111]

Maybe watch the whole short interview, the question was posed as Masai saying it's a rebuilding year VS players trying to compete. Players trying to win is presupposed.

It's like you ask him "hey Jak will you be upset when you, Scottie and IQ aren't played 40mpg to eke out every possible win", like what do you want him to say

Didn't have to watch the video to assume this was the context. Not sure why people are outraged. Just because he's aware of the team situation doesn't mean he's going to mail it in every game

[Brinbe]

this is why clickbait and soundbites work on simple-minded folk. getting outraged over nothing. if you watch the full presser there's nothing about what yak said or presented about himself that says he's not gonna be giving 100% out here. What he's saying isn't any different from what other players expressed too, which is a recognition of what this season is likely to involve, a lot of development where winning isn't necessarily the priority.

[MessiahUjiri]

He’s talking about Masais comments on rebuilding.

I absolutely despise this clickbait, and hope this thread gets locked.

[GLF]

I’m glad a few of you stepped in because I was shocked to see the amount of outrage over it. Very clear these people didn’t listen to the whole interview. It’s funny because I would have thought team tank would have loved hearing this. Anyway, just because he’s being realistic about the situation doesn’t mean he’s going to go into games not playing hard and trying to win. It actually shows that there is good communication between him and the front office. He knows we want to develop as well and playing young players usually leads to loses. He’s just living in reality and stating the facts. I actually loved how forthcoming and real he was with his answers. He does not seem like he wants to be traded if you watch the entire interview. He actually seems like he likes the team and is embracing being the vet on the team to help the young guys. He likes it here and thinks the team is going in a positive direction, Click bait is gonna be the death of our society lol

[Spida888]

People getting too worked up. He's not saying he's going out there trying to lose, but he understands that player development is their top priority. So, young players will get more reps which generally means less wins.

This is music to my ears.

[ItsDanger]

I respect Poeltl for expressing a realistic perspective about this current situation.

[Zeno]

Maybe watch the whole short interview, the question was posed as Masai saying it's a rebuilding year VS players trying to compete. Players trying to win is presupposed.

It's like you ask him "hey Jak will you be upset when you, Scottie and IQ aren't played 40mpg to eke out every possible win", like what do you want him to say

Didn't have to watch the video to assume this was the context. Not sure why people are outraged. Just because he's aware of the team situation doesn't mean he's going to mail it in every game

I am not outraged but I think Yak has enough media experience to know is comments are going to be cut into sound bites. If he was asked what rebuilding means to him just saying the word culture and competing a bunch of times and step off the podium. I don’t think it is a big deal but he botched this answering in that way.

[MEDIC]

Leave it to management to make comments like this. Kind of strange coming from him. I am sure he is repeating something that has been said to him by management.

The players goals should be to get better individually and as a team. Nothing else.

I think there is enough talent on this team to make playoff push and that's what the goal.of the players and coach should be.

If we see a bunch of guys dogging it this season, we'll know whats up. I think RJ & IQ will compete hard no matter what. If we see veterans on the roster giving poor effort on defense.........the towel has been thrown in from day one..

[kalel123]

We all know what's up and we area ll thinking it but this isn't something players should be saying out loud.