Nick Kyrgios took part in an Australian charity basketball match in Sydney, but his antics left former NBL legend Steve Carfino unimpressed.
Kyrgios competed against other famous Australians during the NBL Celebrity game, such as the NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and Miss Universe Australia Maria Thatti, in the charity match played in Qudos Bank Arena.
As an athlete who has played also basketball before taking on tennis professionally, Kyrgios naturally excelled on the basketball court, so much that some were not happy with his domination in the charity game.
Former NBL player Steve Carfino, who later became a commentator, wasn't happy with Kyrgios' antics during the match, as he discussed on Fox Sports.
"What a je*k. Oh my goodness. What a lack of sportsmanship. He's blocking girls' shots, he's not passing to his teammates. This is a celebrity game. There's be funds to be raised for the Starlight Foundation. It was ridiculous."
Kyrgios quickly got to know about what was being said about him, and clearly, the Australian tennis player wasn't happy about Carfino's comments, hitting back on social media.
"Lack of respect? You potato, have a look at my foundation and look me in my eyes and tell me what lack of respect there is for that?' he posted on social media. Maybe if you showed less sportsmanship your NBA career would have lasted longer."
The following morning, however, Carfino doubled down on his initial comments. According to him, charity events should be played differently than the Australian tennis player did.
"I've been to a lot of charity events, you know, whether it's golf, or whether it's, you know, AFL celebrity game, or whether it's, you know, rugby league, you know, players who have skills and players that are playing at the top level, they understand where they are, they're playing against, you know, Miss World contestant, they're playing against people that haven't played basketball before."
"If that's what he has to tap in to get to the world-class level, that’s fine I get it. But there's, that was the wrong time in the wrong place. I just felt like his behaviour in that game, you know, wasn't right for that moment. That's all."