Sports Commentator Tim Hardaway Apologizes After Comparing Players’ Defense To Rape Amid Warriors Broadcast

Sports Commentator Tim Hardaway Apologizes After Comparing Players’ Defense To Rape Amid Warriors Broadcast

Are sports commentators getting a little out of hand?

Former Golden State superstar Tim Hardaway issued an apology after making an unusual comparison on a sports broadcast.

While commenting on a defensive play during the third quarter of the Golden State Warriors vs. San Antonio Spurs game, Tim Hardaway exclaimed:

“Ya’ll thought that was great D, I thought that was just raping him.” 

The former basketball player turned sports commentator went back-and-forth with his fellow broadcasters Chris Mullin and Mitch Richmond before he added:

“I think he should have called the police on that.”

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It didn’t take long for the 56-year-old to realize the error of his ways. According to reports, during the fourth quarter, Tim Hardaway took accountability for what he said and issued an apology. He said, 

“Hey everybody. I used a poor choice of words earlier in the broadcast. I want to apologize for that. Let’s get back to the game and finish this game off with a 30-point win and go home happy.”

Hardaway played in the NBA from 1989 to 2003, 6 of those years he reportedly spent suiting up for the Golden State Warriors. In addition to being a five-time NBA All-Star, Hardaway was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame this year.

Despite his success in basketball, this isn’t the first time Hardaway shared questionable comments on air. In 2007, he appeared on “The Dan Le Batard Show,” announcing that he hated gay people after he was asked about the possibility of having a gay teammate. He said:

“You know, I hate gay people, so I let it be known. I don’t like gay people and I don’t like to be around gay people. I am homophobic. I don’t like it. It shouldn’t be in the world or in the United States.”

Following this hateful comment, Hardaway was banned from All-Star weekend by the league and was denounced by both Miami Heat coach Pat Riley and then-NBA commissioner David Stern. He later apologized for what he said, claiming his remarks are why he didn’t make the Hall of Fame until 2022. In 2019 he admitted:

“I hurt a lot of people’s feelings and it came off the wrong way and it was really bad of me to say that.” 

Hardaway added:

 “Since then, I’ve turned a wrong into a right. And that’s what I did. I’m trying to do what’s right, supporting gay people and transgender people. I want people to understand [what they go through] and understand them as people.”

What are your thoughts on Tim Hardaway’s recent comments during his NBA broadcast? Share it with us in the comments below.

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