There aren’t many moments where John Wall looks genuinely caught off guard, but NBA fans didn’t miss one during Amazon Prime’s NBA Cup coverage — and they had jokes ready instantly.
Wall was spotted sneaking a quick glance at lead anchor Taylor Rooks during the broadcast. Maybe he was waiting for his cue. Maybe the bright lights were hitting him. But if you ask the internet, there was only one explanation: he was distracted by Rooks herself.
John Wall couldn’t keep his eyes off Taylor Rooks.
She wasn’t even talking 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/tneF0Wue6o
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) December 11, 2025
@DaRulerMM threw the first punchline: “When the brownies kick in…”
@za_lady1 kept it real and relatable: “I don’t blame him one bit. Taylor Rooks is a walking distraction.”
And @sean_incredible was convinced Wall had a little moment of hope: “She caught him looking the second time and smiled on the low. Locked in. All imma say. God bless.”
Rooks has been one of the most prominent media figures in basketball since 2018. She joined Amazon Prime Video’s Thursday Night Football broadcasts in 2022 before expanding to TNT’s college basketball and later NBA coverage. When Prime launched its full NBA studio crew for the 2025–26 season, Rooks took over as the lead anchor, flanked by Dirk Nowitzki, Blake Griffin, Udonis Haslem, Steve Nash and, this year, John Wall in his studio debut.
“Taylor Rooks could stop world hunger”: NBA fans gush after her pregame dance segment
Before the quarterfinals tipped off, Rooks opened the Prime Video pregame show with a lighter moment — convincing the entire panel to dance with her. Nash, Griffin, Wall, and Haslem all loosened up on camera, with Wall even dusting off the signature dougie that first blew up during his Washington days.
Fans loved the rare, goofy moment from the former stars, and plenty believed only Rooks could pull that off.
@KingAjar gave her the ultimate compliment: “Taylor Rooks could stop world hunger just get her in front of the power brokers they fold like laundry.”
Taylor Rooks could stop world hunger just get her in front of the power brokers they fold like laundry
— AJAR (@KingAjar) December 12, 2025
And @Spademeta summed up what a lot of people were thinking: “@TaylorRooks living her best life with all those NBA legends.”
With the way the internet reacts every time Rooks pops up on screen, it’s clear she’s become just as big a draw as the players she covers.
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