Curry and Thompson have brought enthusiasm and some humor to NBC Sports Bay Area's Warriors gamesNBAE/GETTY IMAGES
Injured Warriors Gs Steph Curry and Klay Thompson have become "must-see sideline reporters in their guest appearances on the Warriors' NBC Sports Bay Area telecasts, leaving fans crying out for more," according to Bruce Jenkins of the S.F. CHRONICLE. NBC Sports Bay Area's Kerith Burke, who has "ranked with the NBA's best sideline reporters from the day she joined the Warriors' crew two years ago ... continues to do her thing, while the players perform their spontaneous riffs at all the appropriate times." Thompson's "laconic humor is an eternal hoot, and it's pleasantly shocking to see him get excited." With Curry, as "into the action as he would be on the floor, the camera people pay strict attention -- lest he leap into the air, sprint a few steps or break into a dance." Burke said of the duo, "The enthusiasm is real. ... It's fun. It's disarming. It's just a nice occasion to see their faces, their love for the team, to have their moment in the sun" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 1/23).
HAVE FUN WITH IT: THE ATHLETIC's Steve Berman noted for Thompson and Curry, these games provide a "rare opportunity while injured to engage with fans and poke fun" at announcers Bob Fitzgerald and Kelenna Azubuike. Thompson "called Azubuike 'Kelani' by accident" during his run as a sideline reporter, which "led to Curry calling him 'Khaleesi' on purpose during Saturday's game." For NBC Sports Bay Area, it is "all part of a strategy to get through this season and keep ratings numbers from dipping" amid the team's 10-36 record. That means "promoting things other than the games themselves" (THEATHLETIC.com, 1/21).
