Jeff Van Gundy chastises NCAA over 'nonsense' of student-athletes going to China after UCLA shoplifting incident
Wilfredo Lee/AP
- Three UCLA basketball players, including LiAngelo Ball, were arrested on charges of shoplifting during the team's excursion to China for an exhibition game.
- Jeff Van Gundy said the team was only there to help the NCAA sell something to make more money.
- Van Gundy said it's not a "cultural excursion" if the team was out shopping.
ESPN analyst and former NBA coach Jeff Van Gundy criticized the NCAA on Wednesday for what he called the "nonsense" of sending student-athletes to China.
The comments came after three UCLA basketball players, including LiAngelo Ball, were arrested on charges of shoplifting over an alleged theft at a Louis Vuitton store in China.
The three students were reportedly released on bail but were ordered to stay at the team's hotel until the legal process concludes.
During the Golden State Warriors' 125-101 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, Van Gundy questioned why the teams were in China in the first place.
"Why is UCLA and Georgia Tech in China to play a basketball game?" Van Gundy said. "Missing all that school, and then force-feeding their fans the idea of 'student-athletes.' If it's such a cultural excursion, what is UCLA doing in the Louis Vuitton sunglass section? They can do that in Beverly Hills. You're in charge of that league, I'll tell you what the answer is: money. They are trying to sell something to get more money."
Van Gundy added: "Stop the nonsense about 'student-athlete.' And I know they have tutors on there, and all that. You're always going to get fed the same lines."
William Nee, a Hong Kong-based legal expert, told Yahoo that it's rare for people to get American-style bail, which could be a good sign for the players. However, Chinese law enforcement is also unlikely to just let them off the hook simply because they're foreigners.
"If it's a cultural excursion, why aren't they doing something cultural?" Van Gundy said. "You can shop anywhere."
Watch Van Gundy's comments below:
Jeff Van Gundy and Dave Pasch discussing the UCLA incident in China, and also college athletics. pic.twitter.com/llrdhqt1vs
- Justin Russo (@FlyByKnite) November 9, 2017
- US buys 81 Soviet-era combat aircraft from Russia's ally costing on average less than $20,000 each, report says
- 2 states where home prices are falling because there are too many houses and not enough buyers
- A couple accidentally shipped their cat in an Amazon return package. It arrived safely 6 days later, hundreds of miles away.
- Markets rebound in early trade amid global rally, buying in ICICI Bank and Reliance
- Women in Leadership
- Rupee declines 5 paise to 83.43 against US dollar in early trade
- Election Commission issues notification for sixth phase of Lok Sabha polls
- 6 Coffee recipes you should try this summer
- JNK India IPO allotment date
- JioCinema New Plans
- Realme Narzo 70 Launched
- Apple Let Loose event
- Elon Musk Apology
- RIL cash flows
- Charlie Munger
- Feedbank IPO allotment
- Tata IPO allotment
- Most generous retirement plans
- Broadcom lays off
- Cibil Score vs Cibil Report
- Birla and Bajaj in top Richest
- Nestle Sept 2023 report
- India Equity Market