RealGM

We saw what happened when Kobe Bryant (superstar) called a ref a homophobic slur on national television: Fine, no suspension.

We saw what happened when Myers Leonard (not a star) said an anti-semitic word on livestream: Fine, suspension + trade + waived.

Now, in the 2023 season, what would happen if a superstar was caught calling another player either a homophobic slur or a racist slur on live TV?

My guess is the punishment would be somewhere between what Kobe and Leonard got - maybe a suspension and fine, but no team would cut the player? What are your thoughts? Would it depend on the type of slur (ex. racist vs. homophobic vs. religious)?

What a weird thing to be wondering about.

Cubbies2120 wrote:We saw what happened when Kobe Bryant (superstar) called a ref a homophobic slur on national television: Fine, no suspension.

We saw what happened when Myers Leonard (not a star) said an anti-semitic word on livestream: Fine, suspension + trade + waived.

Now, in the 2023 season, what would happen if a superstar was caught calling another player either a homophobic slur or a racist slur on live TV?

My guess is the punishment would be somewhere between what Kobe and Leonard got - maybe a suspension and fine, but no team would cut the player? What are your thoughts? Would it depend on the type of slur (ex. racist vs. homophobic vs. religious)?

Why would you care about this?

BK_2020 wrote:What a weird thing to be wondering about.

Prompted by the "Has anyone been blackballed" thread and seeing the name Myers Leonard in the final page. Completely forgot about the guy lol.

MagicFan12345 wrote:

Cubbies2120 wrote:We saw what happened when Kobe Bryant (superstar) called a ref a homophobic slur on national television: Fine, no suspension.

We saw what happened when Myers Leonard (not a star) said an anti-semitic word on livestream: Fine, suspension + trade + waived.

Now, in the 2023 season, what would happen if a superstar was caught calling another player either a homophobic slur or a racist slur on live TV?

My guess is the punishment would be somewhere between what Kobe and Leonard got - maybe a suspension and fine, but no team would cut the player? What are your thoughts? Would it depend on the type of slur (ex. racist vs. homophobic vs. religious)?

Why would you care about this?

Same response as to other poster:

Prompted by the "Has anyone been blackballed" thread and seeing the name Myers Leonard in the final page.

I'm wondering if being a superstar would get you leeway that regular stars wouldn't get, even in 2023.

In 2011, Kobe saying that got away with just a fine. I'm wondering given how much more progressive society has become if a superstar in today's NBA would get away with just a fine, or if they'd get the Myers Leonard treatment regardless of status in the NBA.

Cubbies2120 wrote:

MagicFan12345 wrote:

Cubbies2120 wrote:We saw what happened when Kobe Bryant (superstar) called a ref a homophobic slur on national television: Fine, no suspension.

We saw what happened when Myers Leonard (not a star) said an anti-semitic word on livestream: Fine, suspension + trade + waived.

Now, in the 2023 season, what would happen if a superstar was caught calling another player either a homophobic slur or a racist slur on live TV?

My guess is the punishment would be somewhere between what Kobe and Leonard got - maybe a suspension and fine, but no team would cut the player? What are your thoughts? Would it depend on the type of slur (ex. racist vs. homophobic vs. religious)?

Why would you care about this?

Same response as to other poster:

Prompted by the "Has anyone been blackballed" thread and seeing the name Myers Leonard in the final page.

I'm wondering if being a superstar would get you leeway that regular stars wouldn't get, even in 2023.

In 2011, Kobe saying that got away with just a fine. I'm wondering given how much more progressive society has become if a superstar in today's NBA would get away with just a fine, or if they'd get the Myers Leonard treatment regardless of status in the NBA.

No superstar is getting cancelled from the NBA for calling a ref gay, unless you consider someone like Patrick McCaw a superstar. The NBA hasn't actively promoted LGBT stuff, unlike some other leagues.

What would be different would be a white star player, like Luka or Jokic yelling racial slurs at an opponent. That would cause all kinds of issues even within the team.

As for religious, it would have to be directed towards Jewish faith exclusively for it to be an issue.

lambchop wrote:
What would be different would be a white star player, like Luka or Jokic yelling racial slurs at an opponent. That would cause all kinds of issues even within the team.

Do you think that's the case regardless of which race/ethnicity the slur is directed at (Ex. Latino, African American, Asian)?

lambchop wrote: As for religious, it would have to be directed towards Jewish faith exclusively for it to be an issue.

Is Judaism the primary non-Christian religion in the NBA? Or is it due to owners in the NBA?

Cubbies2120 wrote:

lambchop wrote:
What would be different would be a white star player, like Luka or Jokic yelling racial slurs at an opponent. That would cause all kinds of issues even within the team.

Do you think that's the case regardless of which race/ethnicity the slur is directed at (Ex. Latino, African American, Asian)?

lambchop wrote: As for religious, it would have to be directed towards Jewish faith exclusively for it to be an issue.

Is Judaism the primary non-Christian religion in the NBA? Or is it due to owners in the NBA?

Antisemitism is not condoned in western culture. Therefore, I'm sure it would be a major issue, not just due to the owners.

The racial slur would have to be directed at an African American. No one is getting blackballed for insulting Jeremy Lin, Manu etc.

Rondo got suspended for a game in 2015 for calling a ref (who was gay and came out of the closet as a result of the Rondo incident) a homophobic slur. Maybe today it would be 2 games? Not much of a difference in my opinion.

Not sure what would happen if Jokic or Doncic called someone the n-word but they sure as hell wouldn't be cut. People would be more forgiving and try to view things in context ("got carried away in the heat of the moment", "doesn't reflect their true character") than they would be for non-superstars.

I think it would be a fine and a long suspension. A racial slur from a white player would be the worst but i dont think Luka or Jokic would get blackballed from the league unless the backlash from society is too big. Some owner will always take a chance on them

Didn't Montrezl Harrell call Doncic a "b*tch ass white boy" on the court like 2 years ago? Don't remember any suspension

Only a non Kobe would try and tarnish Bean's good name, Let the dead rest in peace.

BK_2020 wrote:What a weird thing to be wondering about.

Its the era man...now the real question is who is the top 10 GOAT woke athlete?

Depends on the player. There is a double standard in the NBA.

It is what it is.

The "bitch ass white boy" thread was funny because it was just a bunch of posters complaining why white people can't call black people the N word or say "bitch ass black boy" knowing FULL well the history of America and the connotation that comes with that. Some words just hold more meaning whether you like it or not depending on where it is and who it's from. It is what it is.

Ex: A Ukrainian being called something negative by a Russian person, calling someone Jewish a "**** Jew" versus a British person "**** Brit", a lot of Balkan related stuff where someone from a specific country saying it to another holds more gravity than someone from.. Canada making the same statement, etc. You can't equivocate "white boy" with "black boy".

There is one simple truth however, that no racial, homophobic, sexist trash talk should be uttered because it just causes a bunch of issues, is ignorant, and it's 2022, there's better trash talk out there that doesn't have to get personal. But people need to stop with the "wHy CaN'T I Do ThiS bAcK!?!"

lonzo_pelota wrote:Only a non Kobe would try and tarnish Bean's good name, Let the dead rest in peace.

What? I'm not making something up about him to "tarnish his good name"...

I'm using him as an NBA example of a superstar doing something a role player got away with, and it happened in a time period before every little thing went viral.

I am curious what would happen if a superstar today said a slur similar to that, if they'd get the proverbial "blackball".

SOUL wrote:The "bitch ass white boy" thread was funny because it was just a bunch of posters complaining why white people can't call black people the N word or say "bitch ass black boy" knowing FULL well the history of America and the connotation that comes with that. Some words just hold more meaning whether you like it or not depending on where it is and who it's from. It is what it is.

Ex: A Ukrainian being called something negative by a Russian person, calling someone Jewish a "**** Jew" versus a British person "**** Brit", a lot of Balkan related stuff where someone from a specific country saying it to another holds more gravity than someone from.. Canada making the same statement, etc. You can't equivocate "white boy" with "black boy".

There is one simple truth however, that no racial, homophobic, sexist trash talk should be uttered because it just causes a bunch of issues, is ignorant, and it's 2022, there's better trash talk out there that doesn't have to get personal. But people need to stop with the "wHy CaN'T I Do ThiS bAcK!?!"

You're doing the same thing trying to justify racism over some wierd rule you made up. How bout you just don't be racist altogether?

There should be no acception no matter your color to get a free pass.

MotownMadness wrote:You're doing the same thing trying to justify racism over some wierd rule you made up. How bout you just don't be racist altogether?

Don't try to strawman me with this tired ass argument. Nobody is justifying racism. I straight up said "nobody should use any sort of racial trash talk." This alone means that "bitch ass white boy" would qualify as a racial statement. I said that some words hold more weight when uttered, especially in America, justifiably.

If you don't believe that any of my examples of certain things meaning more in certain countries between races, ethnicities, countries, etc.. then it seems one of us is living in denial and it isn't me.

SOUL wrote:

MotownMadness wrote:You're doing the same thing trying to justify racism over some wierd rule you made up. How bout you just don't be racist altogether?

Don't try to strawman me with this tired ass argument. Nobody is justifying racism. I straight up said "nobody should use any sort of racial trash talk." This alone means that "bitch ass white boy" would qualify as a racial statement. I said that some words hold more weight when uttered, especially in America, justifiably.

If you don't believe that any of my examples of certain things meaning more in certain countries between races, ethnicities, countries, etc.. then it seems one of us is living in denial and it isn't me.

Why is "bitch ass black boy" worst then "bitch ass white boy"? The N word sure but why are you saying theres a big difference between those two meanings?

We all know the answer to this. All SBNation websites, ESPN, yahoo, msn, etc would write the same articles about how insensitive it was and how we need to be more inclusive in our world views.

All of the fat SB Nation authors wearing their pink suspenders would be filled with anger.