A former NBA player says racial slurs were hurled at him following a game in China, and the incident was caught on camera, Complex reports. The video, which was posted to Twitter on Monday (January 17), shows basketball fans yelling the n-word as Guangdong Southern Tigers player Sonny Weems got off a bus. They even said "get out of China," reporters added.
"Black athletes are greeted in China by a crowd using the 'N' word," Charles R. Smith wrote in the post while tagging the Olympics. "Enjoy your Martin Luther King day..."
Reporters say the incident happened last Thursday (January 13) after Weems got into an altercation with Chinese player Han Dejun of the Liaoning Flying Leopards. They were both reportedly ejected from the game.
Weems also got a five-game suspension and a $22,000 fine for the confrontation, Fox News learned from local media.
WARNING: The footage contains uncensored racial slurs. Viewer discretion advised.
The Chinese Basketball Association issued an official statement on the incident, saying they have a "zero-tolerance attitude toward any discriminatory words or deeds."
"Whether on or off the field, fans should watch the game in a civilized manner, respect each other, do not do anything that damages the reputation of the team," the statement reads. "Respect for the opponent is a basic quality that every player should have, and it is also a basic requirement for a qualified fan."
Before his current position with the Southern Tigers, Weems played with the Chicago Bulls, the Denver Nuggets, the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Phoenix Suns during his time in the NBA. He's also played professional basketball in Canada, Lithuania, and Russia. He has not commented on the incident.
Get the latest news 24/7 on The Black Information Network. Listen now on the iHeartRadio appor click HERE to tune in live.