“Oh, he thought this was cool, huh!!??”
(Picture: Getty Images)LeBron James is calling for an NBA commenter to be fired over remarks made about Houston Rockets player Kevin Porter Jr pulling “that trigger” - because Porter’s father was jailed for shooting someone, and later killed by a gun.
On Wednesday night, Porter Jr led the Rockets to victory, but as this was happening, Washington Wizards announcer Glenn Consor made the comment that he later insisted was an error.
“You’ve got to give credit. Kevin Porter Jr., like his dad, pulled that trigger right at the right time,” Consor said on the NBC Sports Washington game broadcast, over footage of a scoring shot.
Porter’s father was charged with first-degree manslaughter for shooting a 14-year-old girl and spent four years in prison.
Porter Sr, who was 19 at the time, said the rifle was fired by mistake.
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After being released from jail in 2004, Porter Sr was shot five times and murdered in a bar fight. Porter Jr was just four-years-old at the time.
Consor has since apologised and said he incorrectly thought Kevin Porter Jr. was the son of a former NBA point guard who played professionally from 1972 to 1983, including a period with the Washington Wizards.
I want to sincerely apologize to Kevin Porter Jr and clarify last night’s call. pic.twitter.com/UweFhFnkbt
— Glenn Consor (@glennconsor) January 6, 2022
He also said that he reached out to Porter Jr to personally apologise, with the hopes that he could speak with him soon.
Consor’s reference to a gun “trigger” had sparked a backlash from people on Twitter who thought it was insensitive.
An hour before he issued his apology, basketball legend LeBron James wrote: “Oh, he thought this was cool, huh!!?? Nah, we ain’t going for this! Sorry but this ain’t going to fly! How insensitive can you be to say something like this.”
Oh he thought this was cool huh!!?? Nah we ain’t going for this! Sorry but this ain’t going to fly! How insensitive can you be to say something like this. Beat it man! I pray for you but there’s no place in our beautiful game for you! https://t.co/UgVOBUOsPK
— LeBron James (@KingJames) January 6, 2022
“SERIOUSLY?????....... HIS DAD CAUGHT A CASE FOR ACCIDENTALLY FIRING GUN & HITTING A YOUNG GIRL..... WHY WOULD ANY OF DAT SHHH BE FUNNY BROADCASTING?.... IS IT A CULTURE THING TO CARE???” another added.
A third wrote: “All yall talking about he thought he was Ex player Kevin porter son that’s BULL YOU A COMMENTATOR YOUR JOB IS TO KNOW THESE THINGS you’re calling NBA GAMES FACT CHECK, and if you didn’t know it to be true as it being his dad you don’t make that statement.”
Ultimately, it seems like one unfortunate and upsetting mix-up.
