Steven Adams throws a social media elbow at Andre Iguodala
Andre Iguodala, you’re now on notice.
After the New Zealand basketball team did an awesome rendition of the Haka before taking on Team USA on Tuesday, leaving a few U.S. players with blank, confused stares, Iguodala sent out an innocuous tweet sort of mocking it.
New Zealand thought they dance was gone intimidate us…. That ain’t nothing but the A town stump! #GoUSA #FIBAWorldCup2014
— Andre Iguodala (@andre) September 2, 2014
Steven Adams, who is not playing in the tournament, was not amused. In a since-deleted tweet, Adams simply responded, “show some respect for my culture.”
Adams is an extremely proud New Zealander that is exceptionally mindful of his country’s cultures and traditions. When Sam Presti and assistant coach Mark Bryant visited Adams’ camp in New Zealand, the players presented them with the honor of performed a Haka.
(A Haka is described as “a traditional ancestral war cry, dance or challenge from the Maori people of New Zealand.” New Zealand’s national rugby team the All Blacks does it before every match they play, and the basketball team has adopted it as well. As you can see, it’s no joke. It’s an honor to have it performed and Adams is stone-faced through it. It would be kind of like someone making fun of singing the Star Spangled Banner or something before a game.)
Adams is a complete physical brute with sharp, omniscient elbows, so Iguodala might want to have his head on a swivel when the Thunder and Warriors play. If I were Adams, I’d bust out a Haka at midcourt right before tipoff for good measure.
The Thunder and Warriors play Nov. 23.
