Gordon Hayward explains why gamers are more toxic than NBA players
Instagram: gordonhaywardThe Boston Celtics’ Gordon Hayward has explained why he “can’t imagine” being on an NBA team as toxic as gamers are to each other during a livestream on March 24.
The Indiana-native was first drafted to the NBA in 2010, but has never made his love of video games a secret and, with the postponement of all major sporting leagues due to the ongoing global crisis, has taken to livestreaming on Twitch.
He’s not the only one, as other stars such as Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil and Sead Kolasinac have also started streaming on the platform throughout the delay.
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During a League of Legends livestream, Hayward was asked who is more toxic out of NBA players or League players, and he didn’t struggle much for an answer.
“Definitely League players,” he said. “100,000%. League of Legends players are so toxic. I can’t imagine being on a team in the NBA where they’re as toxic as they are in League of Legends.”
He started laughing at the idea of his teammates flaming him for missing a three-pointer or “talking sh*t about each other during a timeout,” the idea obviously completely alien to him when considering the differences between the NBA and League players.
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He went on to mention how annoying it would be if NBA players were pinging him to make runs or certain plays throughout the entire game similar to in League or any other multiplayer game.
Although Hayward was talking specifically about League of Legends, some of the phrases used such as “best three-point shooter NA” are prevalent across any major title, with players finding ways to mock their peers at any given opportunity.
Toxicity has typically been a regular component of multiplayer gaming for as long as it has been around, but like Hayward suggests, it might not be the optimal way to run a team – especially a professional sports team.
