Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker has been mocked for his reaction after the NBA powerhouse was humiliated 134-124 to the Adelaide 36ers.
The basketball world was left stunned after Adelaide became the first NBL team to beat an NBA side and first non-American team to beat an NBA side since 2015 when Fenerbahce defeated Brooklyn.
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Although it was a pre-season tune up for the Suns, the likes of Booker, Chris Paul, Mikal Bridges and DeAndre Ayton all played in the match, albeit for 22 minutes each.
But after the match, Booker took to Instagram, posting an image of LeBron James after his Miami Heat were knocked out of the NBA finals in 2011 with the caption “Mood”.
At the time, LeBron was asked if he was bothered by fans revelling in his losses, to which he replied: “At the end of the day, all the people that’s rooting for me to fail, they have to wake up tomorrow and have the same life that they had before they woke up today.
“They can get a few days or a few months on being happy about not only myself but the Miami Heat not accomplishing their goal, but they have to get back to the real world at some point.”
James explained later he meant it to be that everyone moves on.
But Booker’s post was laughed off the internet as fan pointed out the Heat had lost the NBA Finals in 2011, not a pre-season game to an NBL side with a budget of $1.7m for talent — compared to $A270m for the Suns.
Even worse the 36ers were 10-18 last year and finished seventh on the NBL ladder, seven wins behind the fourth-placed Tasmania JackJumpers.
Sports Illustrated Clippers writer Farbod Esnaashari posted: “Devin Booker posting that LeBron video on his IG story is literally the opposite thing to do if you want people to stop making fun of you”.
MavsMoneyball.com’s editor-in-chief Kirk Henderson wrote: “There’s quite a list of lame incidents for Devin Booker for a super star player.”
Sports reporter Trey Matthews posted: “Devin Booker is making it harder and harder for people to root for him … he’s way too cocky.”
Radio host Danny Marang tweeted: “Updating the Bad Vibes ranking with Suns #1”.
The 36ers were loving the attention as well, posting last night: “Just a notice for you 36ers fans, the Sun goes down in Adelaide is at roughly 7.20pm tonight. Book it in so you can see your second Sun go down for the day”.
36ers coach CJ Bruton was thrilled with the victory as David once again slayed Goliath.
“Everyone wants to create history and I needed to remind my players that while we had this opportunity we needed to take advantage of it,” Bruton said from Arizona.
“I’m excited for my boys and the NBL and the 36ers and I’m excited that my family is here and happy and seeing my players happy … it’s not championship but it’s a good start for where our season may begin.
“I’ve played Olympics, played elite level and travelled around, and this is amazing. The reason why we are here is for the game.
“But that was for our league, it wasn’t just for us, it was for our league standing up.”
