By Pierre-Andréa Fraile | Sports journalist
Despite the evolution of society, differences in treatment based on skin color remain at the heart of debates in the NBA. Thus, like Larry Bird, a current player would tend to curse when a white opponent takes charge of him.
While the NBA continues to open up to various international markets, never have the different ethnic groups there seemed to coexist so well. However, discussions about the skin color of its players remain relevant. Including within the league itself, some members of which adapt their behavior on the pitch according to the complexion of their direct opponent.
A spiritual son of Larry Bird present in the ranks of the Pacers?
Generally considered the best white player in history, Larry Bird admitted in 2004 that he took badly to being marked by one of his peers during his career:
Larry Bird : The thing that always bothered me when I played in the NBA was when the opposing team would put a blank on me. I still don’t understand why.
A white player would come in front of me and I would always ask him, “What, do you have a problem with your coach?” Is your coach punishing you? » He told me no and I said, “Seriously, a white guy is defending me; you have no chance. » For some reason, it always bothered me. (…) I just didn’t want a white player to defend on me. It was a lack of respect for my game.
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A decades-old speech which, however, has recently found resonance in the league. Following a match between Miami and Indiana, Myles Turner actually said similar things about… TJ McConnell, then author of a big performance:
Myles Turner : I think he hates it when a white player defends on him, he takes it personally. I think he wants to be THE white guy, you know what I mean?
It should be noted, however, that this explanation provided by the Pacers pivot is intended to be somewhat shaky. Indeed, in the meeting in question, McConnell achieved the vast majority of his highlights when he was defended by Caleb Martin and Haywood Highsmith, and not by Tyler Herro as was the case in certain sequences. Enough to undermine this alleged connection with Larry Legend.
Moreover, the leader himself came to refute this version offered by his teammate after having discovered it with amusement at a press conference:
T.J. McConnell : Oh, Myles… Yeah, we’re looking at classic stuff from him. I really don’t have anything else to say to you about that.
Unlike Larry Bird, who openly admitted that he did not appreciate being defended by a white player, TJ McConnell ensures that he does not take into account the skin color of his opponents. This, even if Myles Turner apparently would have liked to believe it.
2024-05-06 20:30:00
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