Chris Herring on Shaq calling Jokić Russian: “It’s always been treated as this endearing quality to not know how to pronounce these guys’ names (literal MVP winners), or not know what countries they’re from (MVP candidates), or not know which teams they play for… It’s really not that funny, tho.”

[Posts here](https://twitter.com/Herring_NBA/status/1349956371354152961)

Chris Herring is a Senior NBA writer for ESPN/FiveThirtyEight
>”It’s always been treated as this endearing quality to not know how to pronounce these guys’ names (literal MVP winners), or not know what countries they’re from (MVP candidates), or not know which teams they play for… It’s really not that funny, tho.”

> I fully get that it’s entertainment. I don’t expect analytical arguments with every segment. I just think no one is done any favors w playing into this lowest-common denominator thing all the time.

>I think what legitimately frustrates me, too, is that it’s almost incentivized at this point, too. Wasn’t lost on me that Bleacher Report announced they were killing their whole magazine within the same two-day window that Turner re-upped w Shaq. Which … I get it!

>But in light of something like that, bringing a certain level of effort to something would be wonderful. It would be more than welcome if and when it actually happens

 

Look I love Inside the NBA because it’s mostly a comedy show that sometimes includes some basketball and I know that it’s meant for the American market but the way NBA is globalized now I thinks it’s damaging to the actual product you’re tryna promote to be butchering names and origins of MVP candidates for years and years. Jokić handled it perfectly even if he wasn’t cool with it

[Here’s the video](https://youtu.be/7sWteDCLmDQ?t=232)

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