NBA insider attempts to correct himself for taking a shot at another journalist

ESPN’s Tim MacMahon attempted to apologize for besmirching reporter Grant Afseth as a “wannabe journalist” on Wednesday’s episode of the Hoop Collective podcast. Afseth is credentialed for Dallas Mavericks games, practices and pressers, and writes for his Substack page, Dallas Hoops Journal.

On Feb. 7, MacMahon reported that the Mavericks’ top executive of basketball ops, Nico Harrison, received death threats and racial insults following the team’s controversial move, trading Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers. MacMahon said security would raise its presence, and Harrison would not be at his normal seat for games because there was “no need to subject him to that kind of security risk.”

Afseth did what every journalist is taught in school: reporting an official statement without making it personal. He did it by quote/posting (writing above a previous entry) the NBA on ESPN’s post on X (formerly Twitter). On Feb. 8, the Dallas Police Department’s public information officer said, “There are no known threats at this time.” 

MacMahon’s disparaging remarks were hurtful and surprised Afseth because they’ve been cordial with one another in the past. It didn’t cross the former’s mind to stand by his reporting, but he added that the threats were not serious enough to be passed to the police. Considering how Dallas was the hotspot for the biggest sports story in America at the time, MacMahon’s unverified info unnecessarily made Harrison a sympathetic figure.

Screenshot from the We Talk Mavs podcast

“I’ve poured a lot into covering the Mavericks and the NBA overall,” Afseth told Five Reasons Sports Network over a phone call. “I freelance and do multiple jobs to be able to cover their road games, and I take it very seriously.” He has also covered Mavericks players in international competitions, such as the FIBA Basketball World Cup and the Olympic qualifier.

“I’ve been there… that’s a great way to get to know people that know the players, you get to know the players more as well and experience a little bit of their backgrounds,” Afseth said. “To me, if that’s a wannabe reporter, then that’s what I would want to be…” 

It’s a good thing MacMahon tried to clear things up on his next Hoop Collective appearance, but it was a bit insufficient. It seemed sincere, and his co-host, Brian Windhorst, quickly and correctly called it a quasi-apology, too. He never mentioned Afseth by name or the impact his comments could have. Consider this, MacMahon and his cohorts, Windhorst and Tim Bontempts, are the big kids on the block working for an NBA partner. They have a large audience and not everyone is familiar with Afseth’s work, who is a smaller fish in a big pond. Many listeners could’ve believed his insult. 

Perhaps many people in the business think it about their colleagues, maybe not, but calling someone a wannabe journalist when they are as real as it gets is some of the most insulting stuff one can hurl at another. I can’t recall seeing a reporter openly say it about someone. The only people I’ve witnessed go that low are the malignant in city government who try to intimidate the press.

This situation is more disappointing because MacMahon was once the up-and-comer who got stepped on for trying to do his job. Now minority owner of the Mavs, Mark Cuban, banned MacMahon from the press room for nearly three weeks because he was categorized as a “blogger” in 2008.

MacMahon said on Wednesday’s episode, “I will admit I flapped my gums in that with a couple words, [an] unnecessary little jab that got me in a little hot water with some folks…” He also contacted Afseth privately, trying to diffuse the situation, which was appreciated. 

ESPN’s public relations team denied FRSN’s request to speak with MacMahon over his comments.