The Sacramento Kings’ Media Day took an unexpected turn after a private conversation between reporters was picked up by a live microphone. The clip quickly spread online, and people began discussing the reporters’ identities. Now, Tristi Rodriguez has spoken out and made her position clear.

Rodriguez denied being the person behind the voice heard during the viral Kings Media Day conversation. The NBC Sports Bay Area journalist said the incident had nothing to do with her. However, she still faced online criticism and abuse. She used X to address the situation and clear up the confusion.

Before discussing the online reaction, Rodriguez first made it clear that the voice heard during Kings Media Day was not hers. She also explained why she decided to speak publicly about the issue. 

In the first part of her X post, she wrote, “The past few days have been tough. I got dragged into something that had nothing to do with me, and I watched my name and reputation be tarnished across the internet. To be very clear—that was not my voice at Kings Media Day.”

Rodriguez then said the online reaction went beyond normal criticism. She said people sent horrific messages to her mentions and direct messages. The journalist also thanked the people who knew her and quickly understood that the voice was not hers.

“I want to clear my name, not for the trolls who have flooded my mentions and DMs with horrific messages, but for myself. Thank you to those who know me and know my professionalism and immediately knew that wasn’t me,” Rodriguez shared. “Your messages, support and love have gone a long way over these extremely dark days.”

Rodriguez ended her post by saying she wants to move on.

“I’m looking forward to another exciting NBA season and continuing to do what I do best — my job,” Rodriguez concluded. 

Rodriguez wanted to focus on her work as the new NBA season starts.

What happened at Kings Media Day?

The controversy started on Monday, September 28, 2026, during the Sacramento Kings’ Media Day. The team was livestreaming player press conferences. However, the microphones also picked up a conversation between media members as they waited for the next player.

The conversation focused on the Kings’ players Ben Simmons and Zach LaVine. One female reporter called Simmons “cringe.” Another voice then said Simmons was “lucky he’s so fine.” The conversation continued with comments about Simmons’ appearance, including his smooth skin and lack of tattoos.

The reporters then talked about Zach LaVine. One female voice called him “hella fine.” Another said LaVine was attractive but disliked his personality. She said his personality “f****** annoys” her and that he seemed like a “prick.”

The speakers apparently did not know that their conversation was still being broadcast. The clip soon spread across social media, and the Kings removed the livestream. However, copies of the footage continued to appear online. Early reports did not identify the reporters heard in the clip.

This lack of confirmed identities became important as people online tried to figure out who was speaking. Rodriguez then became part of the discussion, even though she has now directly said that the voice was not hers.

Rodriguez is a sports journalist and Digital Content Editor at NBC Sports Bay Area. She regularly covers the Sacramento Kings and other Bay Area sports. Her work includes news, analysis, player interviews, and NBA stories.

Rodriguez was also working at Kings Media Day. On September 28, she published a story about Ben Simmons returning to the NBA with Sacramento after spending the previous season away from the league. The next day, she published a story about the Kings’ rookie Darius Acuff Jr.

This makes the controversy especially relevant to her. She was at the event as a working journalist, but she now says the voice heard in the viral conversation did not belong to her.

The Kings’ hot-mic incident has now become more than a story about comments involving Simmons and LaVine. Rodriguez’s statement has added another part to the story as she tries to separate herself from a conversation she says she did not have.

Rodriguez now wants to refocus on the NBA season and her regular work covering the Kings.