Excuses, Excuses: Kings Target Roth

It seems bad blood still exists between the Sydney Kings and Tasmania JackJumpers, with the reigning champions taking umbrage at recent comments made by Scott Roth.

After a fiery 2022 Championship Series, a war of words has now broken out over big spending clubs. 

JackJumpers coach Roth commented on SEN, “There are three or four teams this year that have spent a great deal of money … I’d be shocked if some of these teams lose three or four games”. 

Although no specific teams were named, the Kings were quick to weigh in through co-owner, Andrew Bogut.

“Reminds me of the year the Sydney Kings beat the JackJumpers in the Grand Final Series and the JackJumpers roster spend was 6 figures above ours….a GREAT underdog story,” Bogut tweeted. 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Reminds me of the year the <a href="https://twitter.com/SydneyKings?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SydneyKings</a> beat the <a href="https://twitter.com/JackJumpers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jackjumpers</a> in the Grand Final Series and the Jackjumpers roster spend was 6 figures above ours. <br><br>A GREAT underdog story <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBL</a> .......??? <a href="https://t.co/S56Tj9G3aQ">https://t.co/S56Tj9G3aQ</a></p>&mdash; Andrew Bogut (@andrewbogut) <a href="https://twitter.com/andrewbogut/status/1680893429356822528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 17, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Bogut doubled down in a follow-up Tweet, “I laugh at their (JackJumpers) underdog Cinderella BS that continues on and on and on”.

Sydney's Paul Smith also got involved claiming Roth was making excuses. 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A cinderella story does not pay 100’s of thousands more than the team they lost to is my point.<br><br>I agree they needed to spend.<br><br>I laugh at their underdog cinderella BS that continues on and on and on.</p>&mdash; Andrew Bogut (@andrewbogut) <a href="https://twitter.com/andrewbogut/status/1681067865997447168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 17, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“When NBL coaches pedal this rhetoric months before the season (it’s remarkably early for excuses) maybe it’s time for the League to grow a little and disclose salary spend? So, NBL players, who actually objects to disclosure?” he tweeted.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">When NBL coaches pedal this rhetoric months before the season (it’s remarkably early for excuses) maybe it’s time for the League to grow a little and disclose salary spend? So, NBL players, who actually objects to disclosure? @ me!</p>&mdash; Paul Smith (@psmithtse) <a href="https://twitter.com/psmithtse/status/1680967017275469829?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 17, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“I believe in sports psychology parlance Coach Roth is invoking a Performance Disclaimer as opposed to a blatant swipe at Hoops Capital. Maybe a bit of the old “focus on what you can control” may be a better play in July. Or perhaps speak to his ownership … nah, nix that idea,” Smith tweeted.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I believe in sports psychology parlance Coach Roth is invoking a Performance Disclaimer as opposed to a blatant swipe at Hoops Capital. Maybe a bit of the old “focus on what you can control” may be a better play in July. Or perhaps speak to his ownership….nah, nix that idea.</p>&mdash; Paul Smith (@psmithtse) <a href="https://twitter.com/psmithtse/status/1681086764583387137?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 17, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

One thing is for sure: Sydney and Tasmania's Round 2 clash on October 6 just got more interesting.