Wizards announcer Glenn Consor, a television analyst for NBC Sports Washington, issued a direct apology Thursday to Houston Rockets guard Kevin Porter Jr. for a mistaken reference he made during on-air analysis of Porter Jr.’s winning 3-pointer a night earlier.
“You’ve got to give credit,” Consor said on the air. “Kevin Porter Jr., like his dad, pulled that trigger right at the right time.”
Porter Jr.’s father, Bryan Kevin Porter Sr., pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in a shooting death of a 14-year-old girl in 1993. He was sentenced to 4 1/2 years in prison. Porter Sr. died in 2004 after being shot in a South Seattle bar, when Porter Jr. was only four years old.
Given that context, Consor’s remark was widely condemned on social media, including by NBA legend and future Hall of Famer LeBron James.
Oh he thought this was cool huh!!?? Nah we ain’t going for this! Sorry but this ain’t going to fly! How insensitive can you be to say something like this. Beat it man! I pray for you but there’s no place in our beautiful game for you! https://t.co/UgVOBUOsPK
— LeBron James (@KingJames) January 6, 2022
However, Consor said he did not know that context. On Thursday, Consor said he was mistakenly under the belief that former Baltimore and Washington Bullets player Kevin Porter was Porter Jr.’s father.
His apology to Porter Jr. reads:
Please allow me to take this opportunity to sincerely apologize to Kevin Porter Jr., his family, and the Rockets organization for the comments I made during last night’s game.
I mistakenly thought that Kevin was the son of former Washington player Kevin Porter and was unaware that the words I chose to describe his game-winning shot would be in any way hurtful or insensitive. I have reached out to Kevin to personally apologize and hope to be able to talk with him soon.
The former Bullets guard is now 71 years old, while the Rockets’ Porter Jr. is 21 — making for a 50-year age gap.
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I want to sincerely apologize to Kevin Porter Jr and clarify last night’s call. pic.twitter.com/UweFhFnkbt
— Glenn Consor (@glennconsor) January 6, 2022
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