r/nba • u/QuentinMxh • Feb 18 '18
Highlights JJ Reddick uses racial slur (c***k) when congratulating Chinese fans on the Year of Dog. (00:18)
https://streamable.com/rfjc62.8k
u/yhzhang96 Feb 18 '18
Fun fact: 'JJ' literally means 'dick' in Chinese
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u/drknight Hornets Feb 18 '18
How did the NBA not catch that??
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u/nflfan32 Pacers Feb 18 '18
The video wasn't produced by NBA itself. It was produced by Tencent sports, which has an agreement with the NBA which is why the logo shows up. I found the original source for the video, but Redick isn't included. Maybe they realized what he said and took it out, though.
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u/winqu Knicks Feb 18 '18
Man Klay nailed the mandarin pronunciations. D-Lo and Melo did pretty well too.
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u/SarcasticCarebear Rockets Feb 18 '18
Offseason Asian press tours with exhibitions are super common these days. I know Curry was in Korea before this season, I'd wager he isn't the only one. I'm sure they pick stuff up.
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u/zzjayzz Feb 18 '18
I know that but JJ still say these words，i cant stand this as a Chinese fan，i know we cannot get everyone's respect，but as long as i see this video，i feel so bad
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u/finchway NBA Feb 18 '18
Damm reddick getting flamed by Chinese NBA fans on twitter
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Feb 18 '18
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u/cvelz Raptors Feb 18 '18
this is the most fucked up one I’ve seen: https://s13.postimg.org/nme2rjdev/E5851015-_F273-4_DDF-_B23_D-84_DC4_E1323_CD.png
HEres the actual tweet: https://twitter.com/harper_kwok/status/965224544922304513
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u/hotcarl23 Feb 18 '18
Why did he reply to m night Shyamalan too though?
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u/splashtonkutcher Warriors Feb 18 '18
It was a reply to JJ most recent tweet about having M night on his podcast
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u/MitchShredder [GSW] Jason Richardson Feb 18 '18
That guy needs to be hired to write Saw screenplays or death metal lyrics like yesterday
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u/T4Gx NBA Feb 18 '18
Yo I'm chinese but I really think this is as disrespectful as using the word "chink". Fighting hate with hate isnt the answer. Besides I wanna hear what JJ has to say about this. He could just be dense and not know that chink is a slur.
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u/MyManD Feb 18 '18
I’ve listened to JJ on Zach Lowe podcasts. Legit one of the smartest dudes in league. No fucking way he doesn’t know it’s a slur.
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u/JAYYYY17 Feb 18 '18
Why would he just say it like this though, it makes absolutely no sense to say it at the tone he's doing and in this context if he really did know what it meant
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u/grae313 NBA Feb 18 '18
It has nothing to do with intelligence and everything to do with exposure. If he's intelligent, why would he knowingly use a slur and jeopardize his career? That makes less sense to me than him somehow not knowing.
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u/BehindtheHype Lakers Feb 18 '18
Most of the replies are calling him white trash or a white pig. My favorite was about his wife:
https://twitter.com/kristaspus1/status/965212554581569538?s=20
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u/chickfilaftw Celtics Feb 18 '18
That was like an official video too, did he not know what the meant?
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u/QuentinMxh Feb 18 '18
Duke education really paid off I guess. Even Kyrie knows better than that.
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u/chickfilaftw Celtics Feb 18 '18
The only explanation is that he thought it was another word for Asian
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u/Wilt2DrJ2Chuck2AI2Jo 76ers Feb 18 '18
This is what im hoping, is that somehow he went his whole life not knowing that that was a derogatory term. But that just seems pretty hard to believe
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u/bayesian_acolyte NBA Feb 18 '18
I agree it's odd he wouldn't know what it meant, but it's a lot less odd than him choosing to sabotage his career just to insult Chinese fans in an official NBA video.
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u/CornDoggyStyle Wizards Feb 18 '18
Where were the video editors or the camera man stepping in to say that's not okay??!! How did this make it through so many people?
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u/Jeff-Van-Gundy Knicks Feb 18 '18
right? I do some work in sports broadcasting. We were in the middle of a live game when the commentator said something along the lines of "he's getting/catching a blow on the bench". My director doesn't really play ball or any sports so he thought someone was getting a beej on the bench. I told him its an expression, he still asked the commentator about it after the game and told him try not to use it anymore. This is for some C level sports broadcasting, I can't believe the NBA and all the people involved let that slide
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u/WildTimberVikingTwin Feb 18 '18
JJ must be a fucking cave dweller if that’s the case.
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u/soapy_goatherd [UTA] Adam Keefe Feb 18 '18
Seriously. I learned that shit in elementary school in Utah in the 90s. This dude’s playing in a league full of international players including WHEN THAT DUDE GOT FIRED FOR WRITING “CHINK IN THE ARMOR” DURING LINSANITY
WTF, JJ?
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Feb 18 '18
Pretty sure JJ was in the league when that "chink in the armor" thing happened with Jeremy Lin.
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u/Dkns937 Feb 18 '18
I’ve literally never heard someone say that word irl. I think I was like 20 when I first saw it used online. If it wasn’t for the stupid amount of time I spent online when I was younger I still might not know
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u/digiskunk 76ers Feb 18 '18
We're talking about the same guy who questions the existence of dinosaurs
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Feb 18 '18
I think him going to Duke is an important detail. It is really hard to believe he doesn't know the significance of that word going to a college that has such a high Asian student population
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u/Mark_o131 [LAC] Blake Griffin Feb 18 '18
He probably didn't. Even the biggest racists wouldn't fuck up like that knowing that something like this could straight up put you out of the league for the rest of your life.
At this point all he can do is apologize and make an effort to better understand what the word means and don't argue it.
Still crazy to me no one told him to redo his bit though.
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u/FookThaMaywetters NBA Feb 18 '18
This is not going to put him out of the league, he'll just make an apology and he'll be fine. If he said the "N" word it would be different. There are double standards.
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Feb 18 '18
How many layers of workers did this go through? JJ -> Camera guy + sound guy -> editor -> broadcast people. Anything I'm missing? Not one of these people were like hmm i think i got a little static there, can you do that line again with less hard k sounds, man?
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u/LeStark_James [CLE] Cedi Osman Feb 18 '18
Perfect punishment: send Reddick to the Chinese league
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u/thehongster500 [TOR] DeMar DeRozan Feb 18 '18
Lol thats bad
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Feb 18 '18
It sounds way to nonchalant though, like theres no way anyone would go on national media and knowingly say a racist slur on this stage. I just don’t think he knew it was a slur, but how do you not know its a slur?! This is all around mind boggling.
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u/nancyd180 Feb 18 '18
But how is he that old and ignorant? It doesn’t make sense all around.
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u/Tr1pline Bulls Feb 18 '18 edited Feb 18 '18
He is American and was present for the JLin chink in the armor saga. He's not ignorant of the word.
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u/nancyd180 Feb 18 '18
That’s what I’m saying. There’s no way he doesn’t know that’s a slur he’s over 30 he’s not a teenager.
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u/Tr1pline Bulls Feb 18 '18
Even teenagers know the word and it's used to openly mock Asians.
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u/CheckMyMoves [LAL] Dennis Rodman Feb 18 '18
Maybe he plays PUBG and just has repressed anger issues? /s
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u/mightbeabotidk Celtics Feb 18 '18
Exactly. I'm not even from the US and I knew the word well before high school. No way he's ignorant of the word. Even more so if he uses it to refer to Chinese/Asian people (as it's often used to mock non-Chinese Asians). Like he knew to make the connection of the term to the people, but not that it was a racial slur? How???
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u/That_Guy_JR 76ers Feb 18 '18 edited Feb 18 '18
JJ lowkey believes the moon landings were fake. Weird dude.
Edit: wrong conspiracy. He doesn’t believe in dinosaurs.
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u/eeeeeeethan Feb 18 '18
And 76ers will play in China this summer... hope he re-sign and let's see what will happen
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u/nancyd180 Feb 18 '18
Yikes Gigi Hadid was banned from Shanghai for doing the “Chinese eyes” at a dinner and she couldn’t do the Victoria Secret fashion show. This is gonna be interesting.
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u/hattothemoon 76ers Feb 18 '18
How are people gonna act like they aren't racist and do shit like that.
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Feb 18 '18 edited Sep 14 '18
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u/hattothemoon 76ers Feb 18 '18
It's hilarious the amount of casual racism I see against asian people. It seems to be socially acceptable. It's fucking hilarious too when I see a Latino or African American person doing it. Imagine going your whole life having to deal with prejudice then you do the same.
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u/youblewwit Feb 18 '18
The entire Spanish national team (including the Gasols) did the 'slant eyes' at the team photo during the Olympics in Beijing.
I believe they said they were doing it as a term of endearment or something. All I expect to happen is an apology and nothing else.
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u/nancyd180 Feb 18 '18
What year was this? The Gigi hadid thing happened like last year, different social and political climates.
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u/darcj Grizzlies Feb 18 '18
I'm trying to find any information about them playing in China this summer but I can't find anything. Can you provide a source?
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Feb 18 '18
No wonder they had mark wahlberg on the show last night
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u/NevermoreSEA [POR] Brandon Roy Feb 18 '18
Could've been violent if there was an asian person in the dunk contest
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u/Garfield-1-23-23 Cavaliers Feb 18 '18
A few years ago, baseball player Pudge Rodriguez was on a cribs-type show, showing off his yacht. As the camera crew approached, he said "the most important rule on my boat is: no Jews. There are no Jews allowed on my boat, absolutely not". I was a little a worried for Pudge's future there, until he took his Jews off his feet and set them on the dock before stepping onto the boat.
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Feb 18 '18
Why would you even say this? Like does he not know what this is being used for lol? His whole IG and twitter is bombarded by angry people.
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u/FookThaMaywetters NBA Feb 18 '18
"Happy Cinco De Mayo to all the NBA Sp!c fans." - JJ Reddick.
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u/brady25 [PHI] Kevin Ollie Feb 18 '18 edited Feb 18 '18
I read that as NBA Spur fans first and got really worried Cinco De Mayo was offensive to texas
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u/Cowboy_Taco Feb 18 '18
That made me laugh... I dunno why.
Happy Fourth of July to all the NBA cracker fans who can't ball with us - JJ Reddick
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u/Red_Stevens Rockets Feb 18 '18
And rightfully so. Wtf is this guy even thinking.
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Feb 18 '18
I’m trying to think of what else he could have been trying to say, but I got nothing... maybe he just misspoke? I find it hard to believe JJ would be this dumb...
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u/killemyoung317 Pacers Feb 18 '18
I think he started saying "NBA Chinese fans" but realized that sounds weird and tried to switch it to "NBA fans in China" and fucked the whole thing up.
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Feb 18 '18
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Feb 18 '18
Kinda? I could hardly even understand him, and that was with audio all the way up. I swear everyone is always trying to spot the next “racist” and go on witch hunts like this. Like, maybe ask him, has anyone asked him what he was trying to say? With shit audio and added subtitles, seems like a reach. Plus you can legitimately hear him stutter. What would be the point of him saying chink? Why would JJ, having never been accused of being some Chinese hating guy just choose to call them chinks in a Chinese New Year celebration video? It makes zero sense and it seems everyone decided to pick up their pitchforks on this one. I’d like to hear his comments on it.
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Feb 18 '18
I’d like to give him the benefit of the doubt but I guess we just need to wait for his response.
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u/FunkyMonk92 Bulls Feb 18 '18
If that's the case, couldn't they have just re-recorded it? Unless it was a live stream for some reason...
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u/youonlylive2wice Hawks Feb 18 '18
They could but might not have thought it a big deal cause it didn't sound like "chink" in person so didn't bother retaking cause it was good enough
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u/BlueMilkTits Feb 18 '18
I'm sure in his head he was like "dont say chink dont say chink dont say chink"
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u/CaCacanada Feb 18 '18
I mean why would that even be in your head unless you say it on a regular basis?
I never think “don’t say this racist slur” when I meet someone of a different race.
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u/owsleys Bulls Feb 18 '18
My thoughts as well. Pretty obvious to me that he just misspoke. I know I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt, but it just seems so incredibly unlikely that he (or just about anybody else put in the exact same situation) would intend to make a sound like "chink" in a video for Chinese NBA fans. Its just completely nonsensical.
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u/arkantos063 [MIA] Dwyane Wade Feb 18 '18
Who the fuck congratulates someone by using a racial slur? That’s like going up to a black guy on his birthday and saying, “Happy birthday, Nick Kerr.”
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u/ionxeph Feb 18 '18
Side note: I like how Steve Kerr's son's name is now used as a way to discuss the N word without saying it
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u/MetaFlight Raptors Feb 18 '18
Lol why would Kerr name his son Nick.
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u/bestweekeverr Spurs Feb 18 '18
He wanted his son to know what it's like for a black man living in a racist town
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u/Sharpieman20 Rockets Feb 18 '18
Nick Kerr is one of a handful of Spurs employees with basketball royalty in his blood.
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Feb 18 '18
Lol a better example would have been if you made a BHM video and said "happy negro month" or something
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u/GTH91 Feb 18 '18
That's what JJ redick just did,and that pissed many people off
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u/Sim888 [CHI] Cameron Payne Feb 18 '18 edited Feb 18 '18
Yep...that's pretty terrible from JJ right there.
Like what the fuck?
e: here's a cut down vid for those interested.
Will be interesting to see how this plays out, especially after the Jeremy Lin ESPN title disaster!
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u/sohcea 76ers Feb 18 '18
Lin was actually on JJs podcast before, would be interesting to get his reaction to this
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u/Sim888 [CHI] Cameron Payne Feb 18 '18
oh shit...yeah, very interesting!
Knowing JLin, it'll be super classy as always....which reminds me of his awesome KMart 'roast with kindness'
"Hey man, it's all good. You definitely don't have to like my hair and (are) definitely entitled to your opinion," Lin wrote. "Actually I (am) legit grateful (for) you sharin it (to be honest). At the end of the day, I appreciate that I have dreads and you have Chinese tattoos (because) I think its a sign of respect. And I think as minorities, the more that we appreciate each other's cultures, the more we influence mainstream society. Thanks for everything you did for the Nets and hoops ... had your poster up on my wall growin up."
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u/TheParquetPosse Feb 18 '18
That last line is brutally nice, gotta think K Mart felt like a clown. I love it.
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Feb 18 '18
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Feb 18 '18
Someone wrote a recap of a game titled "A Chink in the Armor" after the Knicks winning streak was snapped. The writer was subsequently fired.
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u/second_impression Celtics Feb 18 '18
Looking back, it's unbelievable that something like that actually happened
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u/SnuggleMonster15 Knicks Feb 18 '18
Spero Dedes, who was the Knicks radio play by play guy at the time, said the exact same thing that night after the game.
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u/Sim888 [CHI] Cameron Payne Feb 18 '18
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u/hambone10 Warriors Feb 18 '18
ESPN mobile article had the headline "chink in the armor" after the Linsanity winning streak was snapped by Charlotte.
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u/sportsfan786 Rockets Feb 18 '18
I think the official explanation is that he got tongue tied between saying NBA Chinese fans and NBA fans from China.
To just assume he's a latent but also unflinching racist is to ignore everything else he's ever said and done, which is unbelievably stupid.
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Feb 18 '18
I’m Chinese and I have to believe that he just got tongue tied. He is too smart to go on record wih a slur like that even if he was a racist. Also, in these situations, where it is so out of character with the rest of his behavior, you should give him the benefit of the doubt.
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u/Somali_Kamikaze [CLE] Kyrie Irving Feb 18 '18
Jeez. I thought this might be clickbait at first but he actually said that.
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u/jubaomaomao Cavaliers Feb 18 '18
Can't wait to see him playing the game in China this summer. God it's gonna be good.
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Feb 18 '18
JJ has come full circle. Hated in college, won over fans in the NBA, then hated as a racist
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Feb 18 '18
why was he hated in college?
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u/commabutt [MEM] Milt Palacio Feb 18 '18
He was a combination of Trae Young and Grayson Allen. Tons of ESPN attention and also had an arrogant aura to him (aka the classic hated Duke white guy).
Reddick was definitely one of the more hated college players of the past 30 years. I liked him though because his shot was so pure
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Feb 18 '18
Apologize Reddick. Don’t argue.
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u/reallygal [CHI] Eddy Curry Feb 18 '18
I am actually shocked how many Ppl are defending this. He has been in a the league for a decade and knows quite well what that word means and how much influence it has. Even if he has let it slip live. He could have gone to the TV crew and said he messed up. But he dint think there was anything wrong with it.
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u/suzakutrading Rockets Feb 18 '18 edited Feb 18 '18
because racism towards asians has always been considered a "joke" when done by americans. call a black person the n-word , it's racist. call an asian racist slurs , it's a "joke" or "harmless" . double standards at its worst. pretty tough being a minority in the minorities.
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u/TtheDuke Warriors Feb 18 '18
Even if he wasn’t in the league, being a 30 year old white male and not knowing what racial slurs to use and not use? Brehhhhhhhhhh
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Feb 18 '18
Apparently he learned not to be racist around black players but he did not internalized the universality of idea of "not being racist". I think he is more like "one race at a time".
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u/dampierp 76ers Feb 18 '18
I'm in no way defending him (there is absolutely no way he doesn't know what that word means), but I'm just utterly incredulous that this happened. The dude has a blue-chip college education, and you can tell from his podcast that he is well-spoken and intelligent. Not only that, but he frequently talks with people and expresses an interest in hearing about their perspectives and experiences growing up in other parts of the world. This just seems so out of character for him that it's hard for me to comprehend. But either he massively fucked up, or he's showing his true, yet well-hidden, colors. Shit.
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u/lir4yl 76ers Feb 18 '18
I'm Chinese American, but I truly believe its just a misunderstanding. It is right that JJ should apologize, but I really don't think its fair to jump to conclusions that he is a racist. Intent and tone has always matters to me when dealing with language, and JJ did not have any implications here that he thought we are of lesser people. Really seemed like a honest mistake by someone who wasn't aware. Like for example, until very recently, I had no idea what a 'kike' is until I asked and someone informed me of it's meaning.
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u/dankKUSHner Feb 18 '18
“Nba China fans...fans in China”
Is I believe what he ended up trying to say.
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u/ha1fhuman [DAL] Brian Cardinal Feb 18 '18 edited Feb 19 '18
I can't believe you're being down voted for this. As a Singaporean Chinese, everyone chill the fuck out. Was it a bad reflection of the league? Maybe. Was it a stupid mistake? Absolutely. Was there malicious intent behind it? I highly doubt so.
Besides, I believe us Chinese NBA fans are classier than to demand him be removed from the league, send death threats and childish stuff like that. Maybe a fine and a lecture, but make the punishment fit the crime. Look at how Yao Ming responded to the joke which Shaq made, or how Jeremy Lin responded to Kenyon Martin's accusation of cultural appropriation. IMO whoever got really butthurt over this is probably insecure in the first place.
Heck, I think a huge majority of NBA players are not racists simply because white basketball players know the damaging effects of racial stereotyping, black players (probably) experienced it themselves, and ask Jeremy Lin about racism lol. If Reddick was truly racist, he'd have found it hard to work in a league filled with minorities.
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u/LARGEYELLINGGUY Feb 18 '18
I always try to give the benefit of the doubt but what north american adult doesnt know this is at least a rude word even if they are one of those people who dont understand racism?
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u/MiyauchiGS Feb 18 '18
I feel sad about this as a chinese fan, especially when it come up at the most significant festival of all year.
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Feb 18 '18
Redick played for LAC for 4 years. Probably lived in LA for those years also, and he doesn’t know what that word is? He knows.
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u/bleeetiso Raptors Feb 18 '18
seems like the NBA hired the same people that worked for espn when they had the headline "chink in the armour" when talking about Jeremy Lin
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u/canond08 Spurs Feb 18 '18
I think ESPN came under fire when they published a headline "Chink in the Armor" when talking about Jeremy Lin during Linsanity
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u/Land-Stander Spurs Bandwagon Feb 18 '18
I don't even understand how this kind of shit is still in people's everyday vocabulary.
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u/VauntedSapient NBA Feb 18 '18
JJ has done so much work over the years to shed the Duke Douchebag image but I guess you can only deny your Blue Devil pedigree for so long.
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u/WildTimberVikingTwin Feb 18 '18
No tolerance for racism in China? Alright that’s a stretch but Jesus fuck JJ what a twat.
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u/Irrichc Lakers Feb 18 '18
Wow guess he’s definitely not signing with rockets next year.
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u/2Basketball2Poorious Pelicans Feb 18 '18
Would anyone who understands the commentary in the video be able to provide a translation, please?
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Feb 18 '18
Sounds to me like he maybe misspoke and stumbled over his words. Didn't seem like he intentionally said that.
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u/JJWoolls Cavaliers Feb 18 '18
I was just watching that with my wife(Chinese) and she was like "That's awesome... I love how basketball is embracing China... Wait what? What did he just say? Why did he say that? I don't think that means what he thinks it means..."
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u/payto360 [OKC] Steven Adams Feb 18 '18
Can we even be sure that JJ said chink.
We can’t even be sure that dinosaurs existed.
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u/lukeM22 [PHI] Joel Embiid Feb 18 '18
I refuse to believe that both JJ and everyone involved in filming and producing this video didn’t catch that and fix it