A war of words has broken out between two of Australia’s biggest basketball stars on the eve of the Rio Olympics.
The Twitter spat between NBA champion Andrew Bogut and Opals centre Liz Cambage started earlier this month and was reignited this week by indigenous rapper and activist Briggs.
Briggs suggested on Monday Bogut watch the ABC’s Four Corners program on the abuse of young men at a Northern Territory detention centre.
He said Bogut “might learn something” before calling him an “ignorant goose” over a tweet on July 17 in which he poked fun at those protesting against police brutality in Melbourne.
Bogut on Monday apologised for the post, saying he highly regretted it.
“Did some research and shocked at the number of police shooting ppl in Melb,” he wrote.
Cambage, who attended the Black Lives Matter rally Bogut referred to, replied on Tuesday: “Better late than never”, with a smiley face.
And Bogut hit back.
“Would not have guessed better late than never is your mantra! Know of any music festivals I can skip training for in Rio?” he tweeted.
Cambage last year missed an Opals training camp and subsequent Olympic qualifying games against New Zealand after fulfilling a commitment to be at the Splendour in the Grass music festival.
“lol you haven’t even played for Australia for years until last year but ok” she wrote back.
“If you’re looking for truth and honesty maybe you should ask @basketballaus why I sat out last year.”
Cambage is currently in the US preparing for three Olympic warm-up games before heading to Rio, starting against Canada in Delaware on Thursday (AEST).
Bogut is continuing recovery from a knee injury suffered in Golden State’s NBA Finals series, admitting last month he needs a miracle to be fit in time to play in Rio.
The Boomers, in South America playing practice games, open their Olympic campaign against France on August 6, while the Opals face hosts Brazil the same day.
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