Wizards broadcaster makes shocking 'trigger' comment about Kevin Porter Jr.'s father, but was it a mix-up?
Kevin Porter Jr. hit a magical buzzer-beater for the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night, but a comment made by a Washington Wizards broadcaster just after is drawing considerably more attention, and for all the wrong reasons.
Right after Porter sunk the buzzer-beater that lifted the Rockets over the Washington Wizards, longtime Wizards broadcaster Glenn Consor made a comment about Porter's father that sounded extremely inappropriate.
“Kevin Porter Jr., like his dad, pulled that trigger right at the right time”
I can’t believe this was actually said on the Wizards broadcast.. Completely inexcusable. pic.twitter.com/bZcWEVqPOP— Braddeaux (@BraddeauxNBA) January 6, 2022
According to USA Today, Porter's father, Bryan Kevin Porter Sr., spent 4 1/2 years in prison after pleading guilty to first-degree manslaughter in the 1993 shooting death of a 14-year-old girl. In 2004, Porter Jr. was 4 when his father was shot multiple times and killed after trying to help a woman who was being attacked in a Seattle bar. So obviously any comment about Porter's father "pulling the trigger" is both tasteless and unprofessional.
Consor's comment sparked shock, but LeBron James had an especially strong reaction when he found out about it Thursday morning.
Oh he thought this was cool huh!!?? Nah we ain’t going for this! Sorry but this ain’t going to fly! How insensitive can you be to say something like this. Beat it man! I pray for you but there’s no place in our beautiful game for you! https://t.co/UgVOBUOsPK
— LeBron James (@KingJames) January 6, 2022
Could Consor's comment be a mix-up?
It's possible that Consor made a tremendously unfortunate mix-up with his comment.
There's another Kevin Porter who played in the NBA in the 1970s and early 1980s. He was drafted by the Baltimore Bullets in 1972, a team which eventually changed their name to the Washington Bullets and later the Washington Wizards. He ended up playing six seasons for the Bullets over two different stints.
Consor has been a broadcaster for the Wizards for over 20 years, and spent several years with the team as a scout, so he would be familiar with Kevin Porter. Given their names, Consor might have made the assumption that they're father and son, but that Kevin Porter is not the father of Kevin Porter Jr.
LeBron softens stance after Consor's explanation
And according to Consor, that's exactly what happened. He released a statement Thursday morning to apologize and explain what was behind his comment, and indeed he did mistakenly assume that Kevin Porter Jr. was the son of Kevin Porter.
I want to sincerely apologize to Kevin Porter Jr and clarify last night’s call. pic.twitter.com/UweFhFnkbt
— Glenn Consor (@glennconsor) January 6, 2022
After hearing of Consor's explanation, James softened his stance, telling the Orange County Register's Kyle Goon that he's not calling for his job. But he's not completely satisfied.
"I never met the guy," James said, per Goon. "I don't know him. I pray for him, like I said in my tweet. But I can't let that comment ride about a guy who looks up to me."