'LIKE CLOCKWORK'
‘You gotta be better than that,’ fume ESPN viewers as Shannon Sharpe called out for Lakers comment live on First Take
Sharpe's comment came during the first of his twice weekly appearance on First Take
NFL Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe has a bone to pick with Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone.
Following the Nuggets' NBA Playoffs exit on Sunday after their 98-90 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Malone angrily snapped at a reporter during the postgame press conference.
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Malone was asked how difficult it was for him "to absorb a loss like this after going ahead by 20."
"The season's over. That's what's hard. F**k being up by 20," he replied, before bluntly adding, "Stupid a** questions."
Appearing on ESPN's First Take on Monday, Sharpe gave his assessment of Malone's emotional response, citing comments made by the coach after their Conference Finals win against the Los Angeles Lakers a year ago.
"I want you with your chest out like you was poking fun last year when everybody was talking about the Lakers, 'Oh they're still talking about that? We're the Champs,'" Sharpe commented.
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"You see. You have to handle disappointment and prosperity the same way.
"Nobody likes to lose, especially when you get to this level. But it's a part of it."
Unfortunately for Sharpe, some viewers were less than impressed with his decision to bring up his beloved Lakers during a conversation about the Nuggets and Timberwolves.
"Shannon Sharpe gone do whatever he can to mention the Lakers," one fan tweeted,
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"@ShannonSharpe always try to bring up the Lakers," commented a second.
"What the hell [does the] Nuggets coach's response to a reporter have to do with the Lakers???"
Nuggets coach Michael Malone slams reporter for 'stupid question' after reigning NBA champions see season end
A third agreed, saying, "@FirstTake see? Talking about the Nuggets and something the coach said and he could not resist bringing up the Lakers."
While a fourth said, "Like clockwork… @ShannonSharpe goes straight to talking about the Lakers once the Nuggets lose."
Malone's comments Sharpe appeared to be referring to came during a press conference in May 2023.
It was brought to Malone's attention that a lot of the talk throughout their sweep of the Lakers circulated around Denver's opponents.
"If anybody is still talking about the Lakers in the NBA Finals, that's on them," he replied.
First Take viewing figures
First Take went from strength to strength under the guidance of Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim last year.
The weekday ESPN debate show averaged 496,000 viewers in 2023 - making it the most-watched year in program history.
Its December average of 611,000 was a 24% year-on-year increase compared to 2022.
The show also reported more than 250 million views on YouTube.
First Take was helped by the addition of Shannon Sharpe alongside Smith and Qerim after he left Fox Sports' Undisputed.
"I mean, they've gone fishing. We're still playing."
Unfortunately for Malone, this year he will be able to join the Lakers on their fishing trip while the Timberwolves prepare to take on the Dallas Mavericks for a spot in the NBA Finals.
The Timberwolves will host Dallas for Games 1 and 2 on May 22 and 24 before heading for Texas for Games 3 and 4 on May 26 and 28.
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Should they be required, Game 5 will be held in Minneapolis on May 30, followed by Game 6 in Dallas on June 1.
Game 7 would see the teams venture back to the Target Center on June 3.
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