Reading this gave me a little bit of relief as an OKC fan - I expect nothing more than to be hated by our rivals, but the amount of slop and discourse on social media against this team really got out of hand at times. I yearn for the days when the meme template was Melo or CP3 were unable to pick up a phone because they couldn’t hear the ring lmao. Grateful and happy to see you address this🫡
First of all as an old head casual, I agree with the above. As a guy that consumes the NBA on the interwebs I find all the knee-jerk vitriol confusing. I think these are the same people who chase political bait in the off season.
Secondly As a old Bulls fan who grew up in Michigan the rage and haterade around both the Pistons and later the Bulls makes OKC look pretty friendly. Hell even the rage at GSW after they got Durant was (and really IS) madness.
But I get your drift, this isn't like a rivalry or competitive type hate. It's the sort that grows from boredom or lack of familiarity. I am not a huge fan of SGA, but the guy is so tepid personality wise idk how anyone could muster "hate" for him. I was actually a fan of Morant, for his game and his energy, but once that coaster started downhill, there wasn't much to stop it.
It's funny cause I am more of a fan of stoic players in general, but these days I kind of just want anyone to seem like they are doing a bit more than "getting that bag" or building a brand. I think Wemby has a shot there, but he also strikes me as a bit of a hot-house flower since he has all the tools gifted to him to dominate.
The league operates best when the culture is matched by it's intensity, and these days its hard to see that happening. Doesn't hurt that we are essentially the world league now as most of our best players aren't from the states. Now I know how Canada be feeling about hockey :D
I found it so interesting, watching Thunder vs Spurs, how much hatred there was for everything OKC and how quickly people glossed over Wemby's ejection against MIN, Wemby (maybe) telling Mason Plumlee to truck Jared McCain, Carter Bryant running through SGA, and yes, even the Spurs flopping.
Their time will come soon, "because that's what happens when someone becomes great."
not an OKC fan but in my house we call him so-gorgeous alexander. His foul-pulling power is truly unprecedented but what i will say is that his flops aren't as dramatic as a lot of the league. when these huge athletic grown men are whining on the floor over a love tap, then pop up when they dont get a call, i lose all respect!!
I mean I do hate them because they’re dirty beyond SGA’s flops lol. But sports hate is fun mainly. Do I think it’s annoying people say the Spurs “got lucky” with their rebuild (as though where Wemby landed could be earned by anybody)? Of course, but I get it, and don’t care because we’re in the finals lol
Great read! I wrote a similar article a few days back relating to how algorithms promote this negative discourse. I put an excerpt below.
The machinery that distorts how we see a basketball player is the same psychological and rhetorical machinery of propaganda. A nonrepresentative sample of clips, a meme that omits nuance, and algorithms that reward outrage over objectivity are the ingredients of online basketball discourse just as they are the elements of modern political propaganda. The cost for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is relatively innocuous, an undue reputation or derogatory chants at the free-throw line, but when the target is a community or an ideology, the cost is how millions perceive reality, make decisions, and shape policy.
While everything you said about the chronically online crowd is gospel truth, I do think the current iteration of the Thunder are a pretty worthy target for hate.
SGA gets the most attention but several of their players fall down like bowling pins at the mere whiff of a defending player, while on the other side of the court Dort, Hartenstein (who I love! Once a Knick etc.), Caruso and Holmgren play aggressive defense to the point that it's probably dirty.
Not necessarily Bruce Bowen dirty (except Dort, who's Bowen's adopted son), but... dirty, y'know?
So aside from them being pretty good at basketball, there are genuine things for opposing fans to latch onto and hate. Maybe it's not even that they're so easy to hate as much as they're so hard to root for. You're so good at basketball! Why don't you just play it and stop all the extracurricular nonsense?!
Reading this gave me a little bit of relief as an OKC fan - I expect nothing more than to be hated by our rivals, but the amount of slop and discourse on social media against this team really got out of hand at times. I yearn for the days when the meme template was Melo or CP3 were unable to pick up a phone because they couldn’t hear the ring lmao. Grateful and happy to see you address this🫡
SGA & LeBron hate is nothing compared to Joel Embiid hate. Signed, an extremely tired Sixers fan #trenches
They can never make me hate Joel!!
Brilliant (as always). Clever (as usual). Spot on ( ‘cuz Moll Don’t Lie).
Dang, this was so good Molly! Thanks for writing well thought out and constructed articles 👏
First of all as an old head casual, I agree with the above. As a guy that consumes the NBA on the interwebs I find all the knee-jerk vitriol confusing. I think these are the same people who chase political bait in the off season.
Secondly As a old Bulls fan who grew up in Michigan the rage and haterade around both the Pistons and later the Bulls makes OKC look pretty friendly. Hell even the rage at GSW after they got Durant was (and really IS) madness.
But I get your drift, this isn't like a rivalry or competitive type hate. It's the sort that grows from boredom or lack of familiarity. I am not a huge fan of SGA, but the guy is so tepid personality wise idk how anyone could muster "hate" for him. I was actually a fan of Morant, for his game and his energy, but once that coaster started downhill, there wasn't much to stop it.
It's funny cause I am more of a fan of stoic players in general, but these days I kind of just want anyone to seem like they are doing a bit more than "getting that bag" or building a brand. I think Wemby has a shot there, but he also strikes me as a bit of a hot-house flower since he has all the tools gifted to him to dominate.
The league operates best when the culture is matched by it's intensity, and these days its hard to see that happening. Doesn't hurt that we are essentially the world league now as most of our best players aren't from the states. Now I know how Canada be feeling about hockey :D
Anywho, good rip, keep at it.
*slow clap*
Mr Bean coaching got me on board.
As a Spurs fan I can't really hate the thunder, after all, Sam Presti is a Spur.
Thoughtful, on-point writing as always!
I found it so interesting, watching Thunder vs Spurs, how much hatred there was for everything OKC and how quickly people glossed over Wemby's ejection against MIN, Wemby (maybe) telling Mason Plumlee to truck Jared McCain, Carter Bryant running through SGA, and yes, even the Spurs flopping.
Their time will come soon, "because that's what happens when someone becomes great."
not an OKC fan but in my house we call him so-gorgeous alexander. His foul-pulling power is truly unprecedented but what i will say is that his flops aren't as dramatic as a lot of the league. when these huge athletic grown men are whining on the floor over a love tap, then pop up when they dont get a call, i lose all respect!!
I mean I do hate them because they’re dirty beyond SGA’s flops lol. But sports hate is fun mainly. Do I think it’s annoying people say the Spurs “got lucky” with their rebuild (as though where Wemby landed could be earned by anybody)? Of course, but I get it, and don’t care because we’re in the finals lol
Great read! I wrote a similar article a few days back relating to how algorithms promote this negative discourse. I put an excerpt below.
The machinery that distorts how we see a basketball player is the same psychological and rhetorical machinery of propaganda. A nonrepresentative sample of clips, a meme that omits nuance, and algorithms that reward outrage over objectivity are the ingredients of online basketball discourse just as they are the elements of modern political propaganda. The cost for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is relatively innocuous, an undue reputation or derogatory chants at the free-throw line, but when the target is a community or an ideology, the cost is how millions perceive reality, make decisions, and shape policy.
While everything you said about the chronically online crowd is gospel truth, I do think the current iteration of the Thunder are a pretty worthy target for hate.
SGA gets the most attention but several of their players fall down like bowling pins at the mere whiff of a defending player, while on the other side of the court Dort, Hartenstein (who I love! Once a Knick etc.), Caruso and Holmgren play aggressive defense to the point that it's probably dirty.
Not necessarily Bruce Bowen dirty (except Dort, who's Bowen's adopted son), but... dirty, y'know?
So aside from them being pretty good at basketball, there are genuine things for opposing fans to latch onto and hate. Maybe it's not even that they're so easy to hate as much as they're so hard to root for. You're so good at basketball! Why don't you just play it and stop all the extracurricular nonsense?!