Imagine how much fun we could be having if this was the main NBA controversy of the moment.
Kwilly462
A lot of black people are into anime. Like *a lot*. I feel I’m in the minority that is black and isn’t into anime. So Zion is probably right with this.
notafan1
It’s not that surprising. Most of the current generation of NBA players (ages 20-30) grew up with the top shounen anime (Naruto, Bleach, DBZ etc.) dubbed and easily accessible. From there it’s just a gateway to other shit.
CIark
Lebron started using the hyperbaric chamber after watching DBZ for sure
JTown_lol
Pure Insecurity.
Ok_Stomach_5755
The first player that admits their love for one piece will become my new favorite player
IrritableIchthyosaur
Nah. 80% of players in Zion’s age group, sure… but not overall. Maybe half at the most.
PusseySleigher
What’s wrong with liking anime tho lmao i dont watch them but its a form of entertainment, pretty harmless to be controversial
marcus3485
Is that kuwabara playing basketball?
onamonapizza
I liked the classics….Akira, Ninja Scroll, Ghost In The Shell, Project A-Ko, Record of Lodoss War….and some of the mainstream like Pokemon, DBZ, Ronin Warriors, and yes even Sailor Moon
Then I kinda checked out on anime…what are some of the good new ones?
NemanyaMI
Zion to Minny
Grosjeaner
What about hentai?
Monte735
LeWeeb
DubsFanAccount
Kelly Oubre doing the Naruto run in warmups was a top three highlight of his GSW career.
Dubstep_Caruso
Udonis Haslem shakes his head as he pops his Good Times VHS into the VCR
LAtotheA
Slam Dunk being the thumbnail is fitting. All basketball anime watchers should watch that masterpiece.
Banner_Hammer
I wonder how many are into thrash like KanoKari. Like an accident you just cant take your eyes away from.
Alarmed-Classroom329
I mean, it’s probably fair to say that 80% of Gen Z is or was into anime at some point.
Global_Calendar104
As long as theyre not into that slice of life pedo shit.
mex036
Ok then, now how do we get Blake Griffin to play Kuwabara in the live series?
slurnie
Yet 100% cannot pronounce any characters names
themindofafool
While you still have the occasional weirdos, anime is pretty mainstream now.
Accomplished_Welder3
You are projecting Zion. There is no fucking way this is true.
KupaSikiBaki
Makes sense. They are all a bunch of immature children.
Lol I kid I kid. Except not reaally. Anime is fuckin weird to me.
YuurisLastTour
As a black guy, you can probably have shonen anime in your back pocket if you want a conversation starter when trying to get to know black guys (or girls). 80% sounds accurate, at least for younger players.
Like, no one will say anything, and then someone brings up the most recent season of attack on titan or demon slayer and all of a sudden there’s a debate or big conversation going.
Just look at black channels like RDCworld. When I think of their content, I immediately think of basketball and anime, and then all the other skits.
durianlover13
Control the rebound, control the game!
onepokemanz
LEBRON posted him and his kids as goku Gohan and goten as a comparison. If LEBRON watches DBZ, everyone does
tiggs
I think it has more to do with age than he’s making it out to be. Sure, some older players (and fans) are into anime, but a very large percentage of the total number has to be people under 30. Even on this sub, if you were to take a poll of anime fans, you’d see that overwhelming majority is under 30. It just seems a lot higher because most people on here and posting memes on Twitter are also in that age group.
CritikillNick
I’m getting a Jersey of the first one to come out as a JoJo fan
clownnasss
bruh idk how yall can watch some of this shit.. so much exposition and internal monologues. so many strained grunts.
FormerlyShawnHawaii
I just know Udonis Haslem fucks with Naruto
zgamer200
Odds are that the majority of the current crop of NBA players, both the rookies and the 10+ year vets, were fans of Toonami(an anime block on Cartoon Network that ran from 97-08 and then revived in 2012 and still ongoing) in the 90s/00s when they were kids, and even a lot of Saturday morning cartoon blocks from that time period like Kids WB, 4Kids and FoxBox also had anime in their lineups as well, so I think this actually makes a lot of sense.
However there’s still a bit of a stigma about watching anime because animation in general is still as very kid centric and not something adults should be enjoying. There’s a good chance that some of the older players got made fun of in school for liking it if they ever admitted to it. That stigma has slowly been fading away over the last 15-ish years which is nice, but it’s still there sometimes, so I can see why a lot of NBA players would still hesitant about admitting to being an anime fan if Zion’s estimation is accurate. Hopefully more and more players will be fine with letting it be known though.
Anime is a medium filled with many great(and also terrible) shows and movies. I hope more people will get to experience it as time goes on and it becomes more normalized.
36 Comments
Pretty unsurprising tbh
Imagine how much fun we could be having if this was the main NBA controversy of the moment.
A lot of black people are into anime. Like *a lot*. I feel I’m in the minority that is black and isn’t into anime. So Zion is probably right with this.
It’s not that surprising. Most of the current generation of NBA players (ages 20-30) grew up with the top shounen anime (Naruto, Bleach, DBZ etc.) dubbed and easily accessible. From there it’s just a gateway to other shit.
Lebron started using the hyperbaric chamber after watching DBZ for sure
Pure Insecurity.
The first player that admits their love for one piece will become my new favorite player
Nah. 80% of players in Zion’s age group, sure… but not overall. Maybe half at the most.
What’s wrong with liking anime tho lmao i dont watch them but its a form of entertainment, pretty harmless to be controversial
Is that kuwabara playing basketball?
I liked the classics….Akira, Ninja Scroll, Ghost In The Shell, Project A-Ko, Record of Lodoss War….and some of the mainstream like Pokemon, DBZ, Ronin Warriors, and yes even Sailor Moon
Then I kinda checked out on anime…what are some of the good new ones?
Zion to Minny
What about hentai?
LeWeeb
Kelly Oubre doing the Naruto run in warmups was a top three highlight of his GSW career.
Udonis Haslem shakes his head as he pops his Good Times VHS into the VCR
Slam Dunk being the thumbnail is fitting. All basketball anime watchers should watch that masterpiece.
I wonder how many are into thrash like KanoKari. Like an accident you just cant take your eyes away from.
I mean, it’s probably fair to say that 80% of Gen Z is or was into anime at some point.
As long as theyre not into that slice of life pedo shit.
Ok then, now how do we get Blake Griffin to play Kuwabara in the live series?
Yet 100% cannot pronounce any characters names
While you still have the occasional weirdos, anime is pretty mainstream now.
You are projecting Zion. There is no fucking way this is true.
Makes sense. They are all a bunch of immature children.
Lol I kid I kid. Except not reaally. Anime is fuckin weird to me.
As a black guy, you can probably have shonen anime in your back pocket if you want a conversation starter when trying to get to know black guys (or girls). 80% sounds accurate, at least for younger players.
Like, no one will say anything, and then someone brings up the most recent season of attack on titan or demon slayer and all of a sudden there’s a debate or big conversation going.
Just look at black channels like RDCworld. When I think of their content, I immediately think of basketball and anime, and then all the other skits.
Control the rebound, control the game!
LEBRON posted him and his kids as goku Gohan and goten as a comparison. If LEBRON watches DBZ, everyone does
I think it has more to do with age than he’s making it out to be. Sure, some older players (and fans) are into anime, but a very large percentage of the total number has to be people under 30. Even on this sub, if you were to take a poll of anime fans, you’d see that overwhelming majority is under 30. It just seems a lot higher because most people on here and posting memes on Twitter are also in that age group.
I’m getting a Jersey of the first one to come out as a JoJo fan
bruh idk how yall can watch some of this shit.. so much exposition and internal monologues. so many strained grunts.
I just know Udonis Haslem fucks with Naruto
Odds are that the majority of the current crop of NBA players, both the rookies and the 10+ year vets, were fans of Toonami(an anime block on Cartoon Network that ran from 97-08 and then revived in 2012 and still ongoing) in the 90s/00s when they were kids, and even a lot of Saturday morning cartoon blocks from that time period like Kids WB, 4Kids and FoxBox also had anime in their lineups as well, so I think this actually makes a lot of sense.
However there’s still a bit of a stigma about watching anime because animation in general is still as very kid centric and not something adults should be enjoying. There’s a good chance that some of the older players got made fun of in school for liking it if they ever admitted to it. That stigma has slowly been fading away over the last 15-ish years which is nice, but it’s still there sometimes, so I can see why a lot of NBA players would still hesitant about admitting to being an anime fan if Zion’s estimation is accurate. Hopefully more and more players will be fine with letting it be known though.
Anime is a medium filled with many great(and also terrible) shows and movies. I hope more people will get to experience it as time goes on and it becomes more normalized.
[y’all remember Joel watching DBGT ?](https://twitter.com/NBAonTNT/status/991087875348484097?s=20&t=r1DoWZzMnJh4_rBXk693Zg)
He said this two months ago, why is it being posted again?
Where’s the Boruto fan