V severnoameriški košarkarski ligi NBA je bilo v noči na četrtek na sporedu devet tekem, najodmevnejša pa je bila tista v mestu angelov, kjer so Houston Rockets premagali domače Clipperse (92:105).
Za to je poskrbel prvi zvezdnik gostujoče ekipe James Harden, ki je v zaključku uvodne četrtine s preigravanjem osmešil Wesleyja Johnsona in mu, kot radi rečemo, "polomil gležnje".
Preigravanje samo po sebi ni bilo problematično, precej bolj je odmevalo to, da je Harden po tem, ko je Johnson padel po tleh, za nekaj trenutkov postal in mu namenil zaničevalen pogled, šele nato je vrgel za tri točke in zadel.
Novinarji so ga po tekmi vprašali, kaj mu je v tistem trenutku rojilo po glavi, Harden pa je odvrnil: "Ne vem. Razmišljal sem, kaj počne (smeh). Gledal sem ga in on je gledal mene. Nisem vedel, kaj dela. Nato sem vrgel na koš."
James Harden didn’t know what Wesley Johnson was doing #14Straight 🚀 pic.twitter.com/uwvFP2idps
— Jarred Davis (@Jarreddaviss) 1 March 2018
"James Harden je polomil gležnje Wesleyju Johnsonu in nato strmel vanj, ko je ta nemočno ležal na tleh. Dajte mu že nagrado MVP," je preigravanje pospremil ameriški spletni portal Bleacher Report.
Odzivi košarkarske javnosti so bili večinoma pozitivni, čeprav se večina navijačev strinja, da je bila poteza nespoštljiva. "Nisem si mislil, da bo NBA predvajala umor na državni televiziji," se je norčeval nek uporabnik na Twitterju.
"Harden je pravkar končal njegovo kariero," je zapisal drugi. "Tako nespoštljivo!", "James Harden je barbar", "James Harden je nasilnež" in "Hardna bi morali aretirati zaradi tega, kar je storil Johnsonu" je le nekaj zapisov, ki so po tekmi preplavili tvitosfero.
😂 Every angle, replay & slow motion zoom on James Harden breaking Wesley Johnsons' ankles and disrespectfully staring at him before knocking down a three! pic.twitter.com/xPAKuhdUCe
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) 1 March 2018
James Harden just trolled the entire Clippers team. "Clean up on aisle 3!!" @ca_rockets pic.twitter.com/PVePS6GqvG
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) 1 March 2018
Had to do it....
— 🏀🚢🎶TITANIC HOOPS🏀🚢🎶 (@TitanicHoops) 1 March 2018
James Harden ending Wesley Johnson's career is even better with Titanic music!!!
🏀🚢🎶 pic.twitter.com/827p9pUr9p
James Harden had to laugh before he even responded 😂 pic.twitter.com/cjIm9utvv6
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) 1 March 2018
What James Harden just did... pic.twitter.com/9AaWJPkGTZ
— Alex Sandoval (@LEXthePEX) 1 March 2018
James Harden ended Wesley Johnson’s life
— 𝐵𝓇𝑒𝓃𝒹𝒶𝓃 (@CharmCityGoon) 1 March 2018
Retweet to pay respects pic.twitter.com/8O26xUC7T6
James Harden looked at Wesley Johnson like pic.twitter.com/YbTEb7cC73
— I am Carcajun (@RoyBeLike) 1 March 2018
NBA Twitter reaction to James Harden breaking Wesley Johnson ankles pic.twitter.com/60TdOMERp4
— Josiah Johnson (@KingJosiah54) 1 March 2018
James harden needs to be arrested and charged with murder
— Kung Fu Marc (@peopleschamp22) March 1, 2018
James Harden should be arrested for first degree murder..
— LeOusmane DeMessi Barça 20-5-0 (@ChrisCreacy) March 1, 2018
About to be a bunch of slow singin and flower bringin at Wesley Johnsons funeral.. pic.twitter.com/Hi2Qrj7Bkg
James Harden so disrespectful 😂 pic.twitter.com/SBfbaLWFYo
— SD (@SoloDinoBeatz) March 1, 2018
