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Nick Kyrgios has returned serve after being described as a ‘jerk’ and unsportsmanlike following his on-court antics at a celebrity charity basketball game for sick kids.
Kyrgios went head-to-head with other famous Aussies, including NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and Miss Universe Australia 2020 Maria Thatti, in the Sydney Kings’ charity match at Qudos Bank Arena on Sunday.
NBL great turned commentator Steve Carfino tore the controversial tennis star to shreds in a scathing review of Kyrgios’ display while appearing on Fox Sports on Tuesday night.
Carfino, himself a former distinguished professional basketballer, was appalled by the ATP world No. 77’s performance as he watched from the sidelines while coaching the rival team.
Kyrgios, who turned 27 on Wednesday, has since hit back at accusations he took the charity game too seriously as Carfino doubled down on his comments.
‘Lack of respect? You potato, have a look at my foundation and look me in my eyes and tell me what lack of respect there is for that?’ he posted on social media.
‘Maybe if you showed less sportsmanship your NBA career would have lasted longer (laugh emoji).’
Nick Kyrgios (pictured playing in Sunday’s charity match) was accused of being a ‘jerk’ and unsportsmanlike during a Celebrity All Stars match raising funds for the Starlight Foundation
Carfino doubled down on his comments on Wednesday morning, saying there was a better time and place for Kyrgios to show off his sporting prowess.
He added the situation looked like the scene from a classic Seinfeld episode when Kramer was beating up on little kids in the karate class.
‘I’ve been to a lot of charity events, you know, whether it’s golf, or whether it’s, you know, AFL celebrity game, or whether it’s, you know, rugby league, you know, players who have skills and players that are playing at the top level, they understand where they are, they’re playing against, you know, Miss World contestant, they’re playing against people that haven’t played basketball before,’ Carfino told Nova’s Fitzy & Wippa.
‘So I just thought, you know what, all the tennis players in Australia, I find it Nick Kyrgios the most entertaining to watch, I do think there’s a time and a place for it.
‘If that’s what he has to tap in to get to the world class level, that’s fine I get it. But there’s, that was the wrong time in the wrong place. I just felt like his his behavior in that game, you know, wasn’t right for that moment. That’s all.’
Carfino also addressed the backlash he’s copped since slamming Kyrgios.
‘I’ll wear that I just think that it wasn’t the right time in the right place,’ he continued.
‘You know, to me, it looked like it looked like a Seinfeld episode when Kramer was beating up on little kids in the karate class. That’s what it looked like to me.
Thattil has jumped to Kyrgios’ defence after Carfino accused the tennis star of blocking her shots.
‘I’m not too fussed with the fact Nick Kyrgios blocked my shot,’ she said.
‘I’m going to take it as he saw me as a threat. Nick’s a sportsman and I think it was clear he wanted to do well.
‘For a lot of us who don’t possess the same sporting prowess, we didn’t take it as seriously. His version of giving it his best is different to our version.
‘Nick was engaging with the kids and we all did our best to raise a ton of money for a great cause.’
Carfino claimed on Tuesday night Kyrgios hogged the ball, failed to work with teammates, and stood over other players to block their shots.
‘What a jerk. Oh my goodness,’ Carfino said on Fox Sports’ The Back Page.
‘What a lack of sportsmanship. He’s blocking girls’ shots, he’s not passing to his teammates.
‘This is a celebrity game. There’s be funds to be raised for the Starlight Foundation. It was ridiculous.’
Carfino was shocked by Kyrgios’ antics towards non-athlete competitors and suggested he should have ‘shown some respect’ while on court with the NSW premier.
Rather than putting on a collaborative show for the sake of the fundraiser, Carfino believes the 2022 Australian Open men’s double winner was more focused on flaunting his skills.
‘He came out there to show his worth,’ he said.
Carfino, who was coaching one of the teams, said Kyrgios (right) was hogging the ball and towering over other competitors, including NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet (left)
‘I just thought it was unsportsmanlike, you know? It wasn’t the right moment to show how dominant you can be against, you know, Australia’s contestant for Miss World.
‘He’s trying to block her shot. He’s going hard, blocking the shot of the premier, you know, didn’t come out, refused to come out of the game.
‘We had 18 players and we got ever and we got everybody in. I think it was you know, for the betterment of the game. You know, that was the right thing to do.’
Carfino, an ex Boston Celtics player said it seemed Kyrgios had a bout of ‘white line fever’ and claimed ‘his coach Shane Heal suffers from it as well’.
‘Shane actually said to Nick, he was like come over here – Carfino doesn’t think you can get 20. And he looked at me like he was ready to kill me,’ he said.
Despite unfavourable commentary, Kyrgios’ domination of the court steered his team to an emphatic victory 37-13 win.
Kyrgios was declared best on the court with his 16 point haul.
‘Celebrity all star game was a vibe, MVP energy for a good cause,’ Kyrgios posted on Instagram afterwards.
Pictured: Miss Universe Australia 2020 Maria Thattil warms up ahead of the Sydney Kings Starlight Celebrity Game at Qudos Bank Arena
Nick Kyrgios (pictured right with NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet) has divided NBL legends over his on-court performance on Sunday
Footage shows the six-time ATP title holder, who spends a lot of free time playing basketball and stands at 1.93m tall, racing across the court, towering over Ms Thatti, and knocking the ball away from Mr Perrottet.
Kyrgios’ fierce show in the stadium also caught the attention of NBL legend Corey Williams, who noticed he was ‘going hard’.
‘OMG @NickKyrgios put a series of moves on the NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet in the Celebrity ASG and hit the bucket. He blocked his shot twice,’ Williams tweeted.
’16 points 2 dimes 2 blocks in 20 minutes. Even in a celebrity game he’s going hard. My man Nick ain’t no joke.’
Carfino played five seasons for the NBL between 1986 to 1991, spending the first two years with the Hobart Devils before joining the Sydney Kings.
He was forced to retire in 1991, aged 29, due to back problems and became a television sports commentator, earning a spot on the NBL Hall of Fame in 2004.
The long-time basketball commentator suggested Nick Kyrgios should have ‘shown some respect’ during Sunday’s charity match
Nick Kyrgios put on a loved up display while getting brunch with girlfriend Costeen Hatzi last week
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