Certified NBA (National Basketball Association) fan BTS‘s Suga is not receiving love from his fellow fans.
In April, Suga was appointed as the NBA’s latest ambassador. The longtime basketball fan‘s stage name, Suga, is even derived from his position in the sport: “Shooting Guard.”
We’re thrilled to join forces with SUGA – a superstar musician, fashion icon, and passionate NBA fan. We look forward to working with SUGA to bring the same excitement he engenders from his global fanbase in support of our continued efforts to grow our brand.
— NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum
#SUGAxNBA pic.twitter.com/x1uqdsddEO
— NBA (@NBA) April 6, 2023
Suga himself described the opportunity as a “dream come true.” For years, he has been outspoken about his love for the NBA, and it previously garnered him attention from his favorite basketball player, Damian Lillard, and more
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
This meeting between Steph Curry and Suga from BTS went smooth like butter 🧈 pic.twitter.com/V365wvmIwf
— Steph Curry Nation (@StephNationCP) September 29, 2022
Recently, Suga showcased his acting skills in an ad for the 2023 NBA FINALS. The advertisement focuses on famous NBA fans while declaring, “WE ARE ALL IN THE FINALS.”
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Currently, the playoffs are underway as teams compete to qualify for the finals. Suga, who is currently on his SUGA | Agust D “D-DAY” TOUR IN US, attended the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors semifinals game amidst his L.A. concerts.
They played Haegeum at tonight’s semifinals game and showed SUGA on the Jumbotron #SUGAxNBA
SEMIFINALS WITH SUGApic.twitter.com/zXidWkcg6B— 𝐒𝐔𝐆𝐀 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐭
⁷
(@dSUGA_1993) May 13, 2023
After the Lakers won, the team and NBA posted photos and video of Suga posing with a custom team jersey.
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View this post on Instagram
Instantly, netizens flooded the comment section. Unfortunately, the majority were negative.
Many comments were derogatory and racist. Some referred to Suga as a female, while others asked, “Who?”
Most of the comments bashed Suga for being a “bandwagon fan.” They accused him of following the popular, successful teams as they previously saw him support other teams, such as the Golden State Warriors and New York Knicks.
Those familiar with Suga know he just genuinely enjoys the sport. So, regardless of team, he attends NBA games whenever he is in the U.S. This is one of the many reasons he is perfect to be an ambassador for the NBA. When he was announced, it was promised that he would “participate in several league initiatives that will be featured on the NBA’s and his personal social media channels, including attending NBA games and events in the U.S. and Asia, and participating in the league’s promotional activities.”
Last September, SUGA attended The NBA Japan Games 2022 Presented by Rakuten & Nissan, which featured the reigning NBA champion Golden State Warriors and the Washington Wizards playing two preseason games, where he sat courtside and posted behind-the-scenes social media content including meet-and-greets with NBA players and legends. SUGA most recently attended the Dallas Mavericks at Los Angeles Lakers game on Jan. 12.
— NBA
1ST LAKERS GAME WITH MY BROTHER SUGA. MAMBA FOREVER pic.twitter.com/GKztrVJRgW
— MAX (@MAXMusic) February 1, 2020
Suga’s not the only K-Pop idol being attacked online by NBA fans. His labelmate TXT was flooded with hate comments after the NBA posted a photo of the members. Read more below.
Hate Comments Flood The NBA’s Post Featuring TXT
