People need to stop being so sensitive.
During Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors, Lakers superstar big man Anthony Davis was forced to exit the contest after suffering a head injury.
AD will NOT return after getting hit in the face by Kevon Looney. pic.twitter.com/IIAMDR45GP
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 11, 2023
Davis was so dizzy that he had to be taken back to the locker room in a wheelchair, according to Chris B. Haynes of TNT.
Anthony Davis has been escorted away by a wheelchair for further evaluation, per @ChrisBHaynes pic.twitter.com/PqEIAJGOsJ
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 11, 2023
Following the game during a report about Davis’ injury, Inside the NBA’s Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal started laughing, and then later on, Barkley ended up mimicing someone in a wheelchair while laughing with the rest of the crew (except for Ernie Johnson) and accusing Kenny Smith of doing it.
Shaq and Charles Barkley can’t stop laughing at Anthony Davis for leaving game in a wheel chair with a head injury pic.twitter.com/yQhWmcbxCE
— Gifdsports (@gifdsports) May 11, 2023
And though it just looks like innocent fun, and they weren’t actually making fun of Anthony Davis (from my point of view), and it was friggin’ hilarious — I’m not gonna lie, I chuckled — some people weren’t happy about it at all. (RELATED: Los Angeles, Miami, New York City Among Best Cities For Basketball Fans; Daytona Beach, Austin Among Worst)
And to be exact, Lakers fans … who were absolutely livid.
Laughing at a head injury is a new low. https://t.co/GhzmwXsNy0
— arj (@hooparj) May 11, 2023
Laughing over a man possibly having a concussion but this is who y’all boost up. I can’t stand sports media anymore. https://t.co/OQk0cv96cG
— Randall Barnes (@AuthorRandallB) May 11, 2023
Incredibly disappointed in both Shaq and Barkley. You’d think being former players that they’d empathize with a guy seemingly needing serious medical attention for an on-court injury that ANYONE would’ve sustained but…
Disgusted and disrespectful behavior all around. https://t.co/3JaUEMjAfO
— 𝗕𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘🚨 (@bmoretalks_ball) May 11, 2023
Imagine NFL analysts doing this if Patrick Mahomes got a concussion in the playoffs. Literally laughing at him. This is disgusting. https://t.co/Lmf7VQe6oi
— Dallas (@dalsharp) May 11, 2023
Respect for Shaq just went tremendously down.
This is an All-Time Great Center playing for YOUR Lakers and this is how you act?
Such a clown 🤡
— ⁶ (@SpeakContext) May 11, 2023
Imagine being this fake outraged … stink.