Kings Reporters Caught Debating Players’ Attractiveness in Awkward Hot-Mic Moment

Natasha DyeTue, September 29, 2026 at 4:37 PM UTC

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Zach LaVine; Ben SimmonsCredit: hearon W. Henderson/Getty; Thearon W. Henderson/GettyOne reporter called Ben Simmons “cringe” while another called Kings’ Zach LaVine “hella fine” -

Beat reporters for the Sacramento Kings were caught discussing players’ attractiveness during a media day livestream

One female reporter said Ben Simmons is “cringe” before calling him a “good looking dude” with “smooth skin”

The Kings deleted the livestream when fans noticed they could clearly hear the reporters’ awkward comments

Things got a little awkward at the Sacramento Kings media day.

Multiple beat reporters were caught on a live mic discussing players’ attractiveness as the team live-streamed player press conferences during media day on Monday, Sept. 28. The reporters appeared not to realize that the livestream continued as they waited for the next player to appear at the podium, with their conversation still being broadcast to the fans watching at home.

One female reporter was heard calling Ben Simmons “cringe,” as another said Simmons is “lucky he’s so fine.”

“He is a good looking dude,” the first reporter replied before complimenting Simmons’ “smooth” skin. “His skin is so smooth I was like, ‘damn, no tattoos.’ ”

Ben Simmons on Feb. 13, 2025Credit: Alex Goodlett/Getty

A male reporter chimed in to say he thought Pelicans’ Jordan Poole was her “type,” to which she agreed. The male reporter then asked the women what they thought about Zach LaVine, to which one of the female reporters said, “Hella fine.”

But another female reporter said LaVine’s “personality annoys the s--- out of me.” After some unintelligible conversation, she added, “Zach’s cute but his personality f---ing annoys me,” and said he “seems like a prick.”

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Then, the reporters discussed if they should put together a ranking list of the “finest” players and debated whether or not they’d put LaVine above Simmons. “They’re about the same age but Ben looks way younger,” one of the female reporters said.

The identities of the reporters involved have not been made known. The Kings deleted the live stream, but several X and Instagram accounts have already re-uploaded the footage.

LaVine’s wife, Hunter LaVine, reacted to the hot-mic moment in comments on an Instagram post of the livestream. In her first comment, she posted three laughing emojis, and in another, she said, “girl lmao that hot mic got them down bad 😩😂.”

Some fans called for the reporters to be fired or have their credentials revoked, while others defended the conversation as “small talk” among colleagues.

on People

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”