BTS‘s Suga has been appointed as the ambassador of the NBA (National Basketball Association), which the K-Pop rapper described as a “dream come true.”
Music and basketball have been shared passions of mine since my youth, and it’s a dream to be named an NBA Ambassador. I’m excited to formalize my relationship with the NBA, and I can’t wait to share some exciting collaborations I have planned with the league over the coming months.
— Suga
#SUGAxNBA pic.twitter.com/x1uqdsddEO
— NBA (@NBA) April 6, 2023
Suga has been a longtime fan of basketball, so it’s well-deserved. Here are 10+ moments that prove he was destined to be the global ambassador for the NBA.
1. Suga has dreamed of playing basketball professionally since childhood.
He gave up on the dream due to his “short” height.
2. When Suga proved his basketball skills in the 2015 ISAC (also known as the 2015 Idol Star Athletics Championships)
#SUGAxNBA
Throwback toathlete @BTS_twt Min Yoongi scored at the 2015 Idol Star Athletics Championships.#BTS #SUGA #AgustD #D_Daypic.twitter.com/BTQXL91BWV
— Sari Setiogi Griberg (@setiogi) April 6, 2023
3. His stage name, Suga, is derived from his basketball position, “Shooting Guard.”
4. When he went to the Los Angeles Lakers game with MAX
1ST LAKERS GAME WITH MY BROTHER SUGA. MAMBA FOREVER pic.twitter.com/GKztrVJRgW
— MAX (@MAXMusic) February 1, 2020
5. When Suga made up a story about a guy who dreamed of playing in the NBA
throw back to Season greetings 2021, when yoongi made his character a guy from LA who has dreams of going to NBA 🥹
NBA Ambassador SUGA#SUGAxNBA pic.twitter.com/xVCsaZBNtm
—
🪞사람 PT2 (@syubjimfever) April 6, 2023
6. When he let the maknaes beat him in basketball
NBA ambassador SUGA who plays basketball really well, except he’d let the maknae line win because they’re cute #SUGAxNBA pic.twitter.com/YyPaUoReXa
— sugawa⁷ (@sugawainscoting) April 6, 2023
7. When Suga went to the Los Angeles Clippers game
8. When he told Vogue Korea that he “lives” for the NBA
I prefer the underdogs to the big teams. …It’s the NBA season. This is what I live for these days.
— Suga
We’re a fan of yours, too!
https://t.co/QF9AnD0qum
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) December 21, 2021
This earned him a shoutout from The Portland Trail Blazers and their star player Damian Lillard.
.@dame_lillard + Suga from @BTS_twt is the pair you never knew you needed!#NBAAllStar | @bts_bighit pic.twitter.com/U6osusKUBu
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) December 28, 2021
9. When Suga went to Japan for The 2022 NBA Japan Games to watch the Golden State Warriors play against the Washington Wizards from courtside seats and meet the players
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Selfie of the year! @BTS_twt x #SUGAatNBAJapan pic.twitter.com/0Flvt60hck
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) September 29, 2022
Not to mention how he became a “referee” while attending the game!
Idk if someone explained this or not but saw few armys thinking he is playing with his hair tie
but I am pretty sure he is referring to a foul “traveling foul” made in the game.
He is just too much of basketball enthusiast where he becomes the ref 🥲 pic.twitter.com/FPTiFYH5hN— nish⁷People pt.2 on my Face 🫂🪞 (@suga_s_santara) September 30, 2022
10. When Suga included basketball in music videos, specifically “Dynamite” and “No More Dream”
11. When he flexed his basketball skills on variety shows
12. When Suga included a basketball in multiple photoshoots
13. When Suga wore Chicago Bulls jerseys for concerts
14. When he wore New York Knicks jersey in the “DNA” MV
15. When Suga attended a Los Angeles Lakers vs. Dallas Mavericks game and posed with his custom jersey
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