ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy caught heat after he used a terrible choice of words to describe Devin Booker during the NBA Finals.
Jeff Van Gundy is in hot water for a problematic flub he made during Game 2 of the NBA Finals.
While describing Suns star Devin Booker, the ESPN analyst said he “looks like a choir boy, but plays like a hoodlum.”
Immediately, the choice of words was called into question on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/gotjojo_/status/1413330429680099330?s=20
Jeff Van Gundy made a serious breach describing Devin Booker
NBA Twitter took notice, especially coming from an ESPN personality this week while the network deals with the fallout from Rachel Nichols comments disparaging Maria Taylor.
Jeff Van Gundy and Rachel Nichols doing no favors for ESPN’s image of diversity this week.
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) July 9, 2021
Jeff Van Gundy saying Booker looks like a choir boy but plays like a hoodlum in 2021 in an ESPN nba broadcast team already trying to pull itself through a racism…
— Justin Ellis (@JustinNXT) July 9, 2021
There was plenty of disbelief all around.
Jeff Van Gundy just said Book play like a hoodlum….. pic.twitter.com/JICQtrPuXA
— Migo (@JBW90) July 9, 2021
https://twitter.com/ayveemia/status/1413329848060231683?s=20
There is just no context in which calling Booker a “hoodlum” would be okay. The racial implications of that description are serious.
Hoodlum: a person who engages in crime and violence; a hooligan or gangster - @ABCNetwork, is that what Jeff Van Gundy meant? pic.twitter.com/ZceRJYdLh3
— Lucy Berrier Matheson (@LucyABerrier) July 9, 2021
The fact that he paused before it, as though he was thinking about saying it, then decided to go ahead, made it worse.
https://twitter.com/sadblkboy/status/1413330371173888001?s=20
Some thought he should be punished.
https://twitter.com/IamJustTae/status/1413332697121005568?s=20
I can't imagine what Jeff van gundy must've been like as a coach. His players probably wanted to rock him in the face more than I do right now.
— Talha (@talhaaariaz) July 9, 2021
If I was a fighter and not the smooth ass lover that I am, I'd want to punch Jeff Van Gundy right in his fn face right about now.
— Good ol' KS (@GoodOlKS) July 9, 2021
Go Bucks
Oh yeah, Jeff Van Gundy getting cooked for that hoodlum comment soon as the clock run out in the 4th.
— Rob Sherrell (@RobJustJokin) July 9, 2021
To lighten the mood, there were some great tweets about the need for Nick Castellanos to hit a home run during a live broadcast apology.
Jeff Van Gundy at the 4:42 mark apologizing for calling Devin Booker a “hoodlum” pic.twitter.com/AY8F53mgcv
— Klay Thompson’s Burner (@iKlayThompson) July 9, 2021
QUICK! Someone tell Nick Castellanos to hit a home run!
— Drew Magary (@drewmagary) July 9, 2021
It’s unfortunate that Van Gundy’s awful call got in the way of fans enjoying what turned into a thrilling fourth quarter between the Suns and Bucks in Phoenix.
Phoenix led 56-45 at halftime, but Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo exploded in the third quarter to help draw Milwaukee back into the game as the fourth quarter wore on.
Booker led the Suns with 31 points and six assists going into the final minutes of the game as they tried to hold onto their lead and the chance to take a 2-0 lead in the series.