Jeff Van Gundy's 'Hoodlum' Remark About Devin Booker Draws Major Controversy On Social Media (VIDEO + TWEETS)

Jeff Van Gundy’s ‘Hoodlum’ Remark About Devin Booker Draws Major Controversy On Social Media (VIDEO + TWEETS)

July 9, 2021, 7:43pm EST (Updated: November 14, 2022, 8:48pm)By Darrelle Lincoln

Jeff Van Gundy caught scrutiny on social media on Thursday night for his remark about Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker in Game 2 of the NBA Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks.

The ESPN commentator made a comment in the third quarter after ZBooker missed a jumper, but followed his shot and put the ball back in the hoop to put the Suns back up 10 points on the Bucks.

“He’s got an edge to him. He looks like a choir boy, but he plays like … a hoodlum,” Van Gundy said.

Did Jeff Van Gundy really just say, “He (Booker) looks like a choir boy, but plays like a hoodlum”. Okay what does that mean? ? @ABCNetwork #NBAFinals2021 pic.twitter.com/dj3QwlQvjX
— Jo. (@gotjojo_) July 9, 2021

The comment prompted a laugh from his co-host Mark Jackson, but Ryan Clark, a current ESPN NFL analyst, did not find it so funny.

“Van Gundy just called D Book light skinned. ‘He looks like a Choir boy’. That was certainly code,” Clark tweeted.

TRENDING NEWS

Van Gundy just called D Book light skinned. “He looks like a Choir boy”. That was certainly code
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) July 9, 2021

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Oh yeah, Jeff Van Gundy getting cooked for that hoodlum comment soon as the clock run out in the 4th.
— Rob Sherrell (@RobJustJokin) July 9, 2021

Jeff Van Gundy saying Booker looks like a choir boy but plays like a hoodlum in 2021 in an ESPN nba broadcast team already trying to pull itself through a racism…
— Justin Ellis (@JustinNXT) July 9, 2021

Jeff Van Gundy needs to take it down several notches
— Tanya Ray Fox (@TanyaRayFox) July 9, 2021

Jeff Van Gundy and Rachel Nichols doing no favors for ESPN’s image of diversity this week.
— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) July 9, 2021

“Devin Booker plays like a choir boy, but plays like a hoodlum…” what does that even mean Jeff Van Grundy!?
— Kyle J. Andrews (@KyleJAndrews_) July 9, 2021

First “the sissification of basketball” now “Devin Booker looks like a choir boy, plays like a hoodlum”

Jeff Van Gundy can’t get out of his own way. pic.twitter.com/H1u6NZcX6G
— Carter Donaldson (@Carti__D) July 9, 2021

hoodlum by definition means “a person who engages in crime and violence; a hooligan or gangster.” How tf is that a compliment?
— Jo. (@gotjojo_) July 9, 2021

Do better, Van Gundy.