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Golden State Warriors
Houston Rockets
Sep 1, 2025 11:49 PM EDT
The start of the 2025-26 NBA season is still more than a month away, with regular-season games tipping off on Oct. 21, starting with the Houston Rockets going on the road to take on the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder. Even though Kevin Durant won’t make his debut with the Rockets for a few more weeks, that hasn’t stopped the superstar from staying in the headlines by going at fans on social media with his opinions.
Currently, the only notable basketball being played is overseas, with superstars Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo representing their countries in EuroBasket 2025. During the matchup between Doncic’s Slovenian squad and France, tempers flared as the clock ran out in the fourth quarter. Doncic dapped up French guard Sylvain Francisco, basically conceding the game was over. Francisco then took a wide-open lane to the basket to score the final bucket, sparking outrage from Doncic and his team.
This became a controversy because it appeared to be a cheap move to score an uncontested basket with the game in hand for France. Although final scores matter in this tournament during the Group stage, as they can ultimately be the difference between advancing or going home, the seemingly shady tactic didn’t go down well, prompting an apology from Francisco.
NBA star and Slovenian guard Luka Doncic
NBA star and Slovenian guard Luka Doncic during an international basketball game. — Source: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
“I said I was sorry,” Francisco told reporters via BasketNews. “I actually went to shake hands and go to the layup like I said to Luka. The only thing that I really regret is just shaking hands — I should have told him, ‘Nah, play defense,’ because I was going for a tie.”
It comes as no surprise that Francisco’s decision to act as he did on the floor against Slovenia sparked social media buzz, with numerous fans and some current NBA stars chiming in, including Durant. The Rockets newcomer couldn’t help but call out a diehard Los Angeles Clippers fan for his take on what happened at EuroBasket.
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Durant never shies away from expressing his opinion or calling out fans when they take to social media to criticize what happens on the basketball floor on the professional level.
However, Durant’s former teammate, Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors, had a different opinion about what went down. Green brought up what is probably a sore subject for France.
It’s hard to argue that Francisco’s actions weren’t unsportsmanlike. He took advantage of the situation and admitted he shouldn’t have shaken hands with Doncic. It’s common knowledge in basketball on all levels that when the game is decided, players refrain from running up the score with time expiring.
However, France didn’t benefit from the layup, so an argument can be made for both sides here. Technically, neither Durant nor Green is wrong about what Francisco did, but it’s safe to say the French guard won’t make the same mistake again in this tournament.
About the Author
Ryan Ward
Trending News Writer at Athlon Sports
Ryan Ward is a credentialed NBA and NFL journalist with over a decade of experience, known for exclusive interviews with iconic athletes and insightful coverage featured in leading sports outlets.