News

Watch: Bulls’ Fred Hoiberg Walks Out Of Press Conference After Isaiah Thomas Dribbling Question

Fred Hoiberg had no desire to answer a question about Isaiah Thomas’s ball-handling following the Chicago Bulls‘ 108-97 road loss to the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night.

Watch: Bulls’ Fred Hoiberg Storms Out of Press Conference After Isaiah Thomas Question

A reporter asked the second-year Bulls coach if he saw the Celtics guard carrying the ball in Wednesday’s Game 5. Boston leads the first-round series 3-2 after losing the first two games against Chicago.

After being asked the question, Hoiberg curtly replied “No” and stormed out of the media conference.

Sports Illustrated’s Ben Golliver shared the moment:

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!

A week of sports news in your in-box.
We find the sports news you need to know, so you don't have to.

The query was likely made as a follow-up to comments Hoiberg made about Thomas after the Bulls’ Game 4 loss to the Celtics on Sunday. The coach praised the All-Star for his performance, noting how particularly impressive Thomas has played given “everything he’s going through,” a reference to the Celtics star having lost his younger sister Chyna to a deadly car accident. However, Hoiberg also said Thomas’s occasional carrying makes it “impossible” to guard him.

“Let me say this: Isaiah Thomas is a helluva player. An unbelievable competitor. He’s a warrior — everything he’s going through right now, he had a helluva game tonight,” Hoiberg said on Sunday. “But when you’re allowed to discontinue your dribble on every possession, he is impossible to guard. He’s impossible to guard. When you’re able to put your hand underneath the ball, and take two or three steps and put it back down, it’s impossible to guard him in those situations.”

The coach was booed for his remarks before Wednesday’s game in Boston.

The question does seem awkward, yet not entirely surprising or unreasonable given Hoiberg’s statement about Thomas from three days prior.

In another strange NBA Playoff press conference moment on Wednesday, Washington point guard John Wall showed up to his post-game interview wearing a cape after the Wizards defeated the Atlanta Hawks 103-99 in Game 5 at Verizon Center. The Wizards lead the first-round series 3-2.

The Wizards next visit the Hawks for Game 6 Friday night, when the Bulls will host the Celtics.

BOSTON, MA – APRIL 26: Fred Hoiberg Head Coach of the Chicago Bulls reacts during the third quarter of Game Five of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on April 26, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Pablo Mena

Writer and assistant editor for usports.org. NY Giants and Rangers fan. Film and TV enthusiast (especially Harry Potter and The Office) and lover of foreign languages and cultures.

Recent Posts

LIV Golf Plans For Liquidation After Investors Back Out

LIV Golf has now ended. The league met in New Jersey bankruptcy court; it took…

2 days ago

Victor Wembanyama Sets Career-Highs In Video Game-Like Performance Against Mavericks

Victor Wembanyama earned the MVP chants that he received from fans at the Frost Bank…

2 days ago

Russell Wilson Interviews For NC State Head Coaching Job

After retiring from the NFL earlier this year, former QB Russell Wilson has reportedly interviewed…

2 days ago

Cristiano Ronaldo Announces His Retirement From Portugal National Team After Fight With Coach

Cristiano Ronaldo announced that he is retiring from the Portugal national team, ending one of…

2 days ago

Deshaun Watson Could Miss Week 9 After Being Placed In Concussion Protocol

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has been placed in the NFL’s concussion protocol. Watson was…

3 days ago

Bills Release C.J. Gardner-Johnson After Spitting Suspension

The Buffalo Bills have released safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson after serving a one-game suspension for spitting…

3 days ago