South Sudan's men's basketball team is making history at the 2024 Paris Olympics, a testament to the nation's burgeoning basketball talent and a source of national pride just 13 years after independence. Led by former NBA star Luol Deng and head coach Royal Ivey, the team has captivated audiences with its impressive performances, including a thrilling exhibition game against Team USA.
However, the team's journey was overshadowed by inflammatory and uninformed comments from former NBA player Gilbert Arenas. After Team USA's narrow victory, Arenas launched into a xenophobic rant, disparaging South Sudan's basketball prowess and making offensive generalisations about the African nation.
"We got the males â almost lost to some Africans," Arenas said in a video posted on TikTok. He went on to mimic a blowgun, claiming South Sudan's players were like an "Ahi Ahi Tribe" and that Embiid, a Cameroonian, was "throwing the game for his cousins." He also mocked their supposed lack of basketball infrastructure, referring to films like "The Air Up There" and "Cool Runnings," despite their lack of connection to South Sudan.
Arenas' comments, riddled with factual inaccuracies, perpetuated harmful stereotypes about African nations and their people. His narrative painted a picture of South Sudan as an uncivilised, underdeveloped country, lacking the basic resources and skills necessary for basketball.
The backlash to Arenas' remarks was swift and severe. Deng, the President of the South Sudan Basketball Federation, took to Instagram to address the comments, expressing his disappointment at the former NBA colleagues' ignorance and lack of research.
"I normally don't pay attention to these type of comments, but as an African, a leader in my community, and the president of the South Sudan Basketball Federation, I feel it is important to respond," Deng wrote. He expressed gratitude to Paul Pierce, another former NBA star, for apologising after making similar uninformed comments.
However, Deng did not mince words about Arenas' comments: "As for Gilbert's comments, they were certainly more disrespectful and cruel. Personally, I don't care much. I would never trade places with anyone; being African is special. However, for young African and African American kids who admire and listen to Gilbert, these comments can make you think less of yourself and make the rest of the world think less of Africans."
Embiid, the Philadelphia 76ers star, also condemned Arenas' remarks, emphasising his African identity and the positive impact of African basketball: "I don't condone it," Embiid said. "I'm African, first and foremost. You know, I might be playing for Team USA but I'm Cameroonian first and foremost. ... It's really unfortunate, especially in the world we live in now. There's so much negativity."
The response to Arenas' comments highlights the power of athletes to use their platforms to educate and challenge harmful stereotypes. It also underscores the importance of addressing ignorance and misinformation, particularly when it comes to sensitive topics like cultural identity and national pride.
South Sudan's Olympic debut is a celebration of their nation's resilience and progress, a story that deserves to be told with respect and understanding. The team's journey is a testament to the power of human spirit and the unifying force of sport, a message that should resonate far beyond the basketball court.
