Is Andrew Bogut's Twitter Helping Or Hindering Sydney Basketball?
Google Advertisements

It’s a question to which there is no simple answer. Where is the balance when it comes to an individual’s right to an opinion, versus the potential consequences of sharing that opinion? And nowhere is this more apparent than the world of celebrity and social media.

And Basketball in Australia is not immune.

Sydney Kings star recruit, NBA veteran and aussie-returned-home Andrew Bogut is no stranger to social-media controversy. He is unapologetic for sharing his opinions and hitting back at those who disagree. But when a professional athlete has great reach and influence is there a point when restraint is called for?

This weekend Bogut’s tweets on gender identity did not go unnoticed, with several people calling him out, including former-ABC star and comedian, Matt Okine . On Sunday, Bogut tweeted;

‘Young fella has figured out boy and girl……Proud moment that he now knows all the genders!’

 

To which Okine replied ‘Why would you even tweet this??’.

Okine was one of a number of people in the Twittersphere to express disagreement and even anger at Bogut for his tweet. However, there was no reversal from the Kings star, who stood his ground.

This wasn’t the first time Bogut had tweeted his thoughts on gender identity. At the start of the month he suggested that the use of ‘they’ and ‘them’ pronouns was akin to him asking to be called an astronaut.

He has entered the debate on the plastic bag ban, the voting system for the Brownlow and has, although not avertedly, had cheeky swipes at the both ‘the left’ and ‘feminism’, in one tweet questioning the Australian Navy for their support of gender inclusion programs.

Bogut, as with all Australian’s has the right to have views on plastic bags and sporting matches. His political ideologies are his own, and if he wishes to share them, so be it. In fact, good on him. And of course, a cheeky swipe here and there is typically Australian. But when a celebrated sports identity, being paraded all over the country to get people to games expresses an opinion that is at best misguided, and at worst, bigotry – has it gone too far?

The transgender and intersex community are seeking simple compassion, recognition and respect. And tweets like that from Bogut on the weekend denies them this.

We know that suicide rates among LGBTQI+ kids are among the highest in our country. According to the National LGBTI Health Alliance, 35% of transgender and 19% of intersex people in Australia have attempted suicide. This is comparative to a national rate of 3.2%.

Gets you thinking, what of the young transgender basketball fan? The 15 year-old gender-diverse kid looking to their basketball hero’s for support? I am confident that Bogut means no harm. He is simply tweeting his (totally tone deaf in this case) opinion, but when your opinion has the ability to impact on the most vulnerable among us, surely we all have a responsibility to keep it to ourselves?

In the words of Rumi – Is it kind? Is it helpful? Is it necessary?

In a show of solidarity with the LGBTQI community how great would it be if the Kings fly a rainbow flag at the first game. Invite all transgender and intersex people along, welcoming them with open arms. Basketball is for everyone.

Let’s fill QUDOS arena, with all the people, whatever their gender identification may be. And let’s all of us make a commitment to consider the impact of our opinions.

 

 

 

Olivia Oliver-Hopkins (5 Posts)

Olivia is a long-suffering Sydney Kings fan as well as playing and refereeing basketball in local competitions for over a decade. In her real life, she's trying to get into academia, having just completed her PhD in film studies, and runs her own high school tutoring business. Her hobbies include trying to get love from unfriendly cats, drinking tea, and being jealous of fans of teams that actually win.


Share:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Adam Caporn’s Vision for the Boomers: Merging Goorjian and Lemanis’ Success

    With Adam Caporn taking over as head coach of the Australian Boomers, the national team enters a critical phase in its evolution. A student of both Brian Goorjian and Andrej Lemanis, Caporn intends to build on their foundations, blending their distinct philosophies to create a balanced, adaptable, and high-performing team. In a recent interview with Aussie Hoopla, Caporn outlined his vision for the Boomers, his approach to coaching, and how he plans to shape the roster heading into major tournaments like the 2027 FIBA World…

    READ MORE
  • Luke Kendall on developing basketball in India, 2006 FIBA World Champs & Sydney’s 2005 NBL Title

    Former NBL player and current Casey Cavaliers head coach Luke Kendall joins the podcast to share his journey—from his junior basketball days to professional success and now a rising coaching career. Kendall developed under legendary coach Mike Dunlap at Metro State, where he won a national championship before moving to the NBL. He played for the Sydney Kings, Melbourne Tigers, Perth Wildcats, and Gold Coast Blaze, winning a championship with the Kings before injuries forced an early retirement. Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of…

    READ MORE
  • Larry Kestelman Says Geelong Deserves an NBL Team But Is Missing a Real Estate Component

    The possibility of an NBL expansion team in Geelong has gained momentum, with league owner Larry Kestelman confirming the city is a strong candidate—provided it can secure a suitable venue. However, much like we outlined in an article a number of years ago, How the Geelong Supercats could return to the NBL within 3 years, the missing piece isn’t just a stadium, but a real estate-backed development plan to make the project financially viable. Kestelman recently acknowledged Geelong’s growing basketball scene, citing record participation numbers…

    READ MORE
  • The Wollongong Hawks’ 2001 NBL Championship: The defining moment of an underdog’s rise

    There have been championship runs in the NBL defined by dominance and the sheer weight of talent that could overwhelm opponents before the ball was tipped. The dynasties of Perth, the star-studded reign of Melbourne, and the rise of Sydney’s financial muscle all tell tales of powerhouses that knew how to stay at the top. But there has only ever been one championship like Wollongong’s in 2001—a title won through sheer resilience, a team that had no business being there until they forced their way…

    READ MORE
  • If Dyson Daniels Doesn’t Win Defensive Player of the Year, It’s a Disgrace

    The Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) award is supposed to recognise the most dominant defender in the NBA. If that’s the case, then Dyson Daniels should already have his name engraved on the trophy. But as the season winds down, there’s a growing concern that Daniels might get overlooked simply because he’s a guard. If that happens, it won’t just be unfair—it will be a disgrace. Daniels is Leading the NBA in Every Key Defensive Stat There’s no argument against Daniels’ defensive dominance this…

    READ MORE
  • Sydney Kings’ Xavier Cooks Faces Further Consequences After Positive Cocaine Test

    Sydney Kings captain Xavier Cooks has served most of his one-month suspension for testing positive for cocaine but may still face additional disciplinary action from his club. He was provisionally suspended in early February after returning an adverse analytical finding just two days before the Kings’ sudden-death clash against Adelaide. Basketball Australia later confirmed the ban, though the club initially cited “personal leave” as the reason for his absence. Despite the violation, Sydney Kings officials reportedly want to retain Cooks, who remains under contract for…

    READ MORE
  • NBL Free Agent Tracker

    Below is an up-to-date roster for each NBL team and a list of rumours and potential signings derived from discussions with NBL staff and media. Players listed as contracted come from information supplied by the National Basketball League. * = Denotes import player ** = Naturalised Australian DP = a member of the team's development roster SRP = the previously named Asian player exception denoting an Asian player who qualifies as a local in the NBL. MP = Marquee players listed as known Click here…

    READ MORE
  • How Aussie Hoops Is Vital For Asia Basketball

    The recent FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers in Traralgon showcased not just Australia's dominance in the region but also why Australian basketball is becoming an invaluable asset for Asian nations looking to grow their game. The Boomers' commanding victories over Indonesia (109-58) and Thailand (114-64) were not just displays of superior talent but reflections of an elite system that consistently produces world-class players. For Asian basketball federations seeking a model to learn from, Australia offers an ideal blueprint—one that balances elite player development, a thriving professional…

    READ MORE
sekolahtoto SEKOLAHTOTO SEKOLAHTOTO sekolahtoto

SITUS TOGEL

depo 5k

sekolahtoto

sekolahtoto

situs togel

situs togel

Sekolahtoto