South Sudan’s Royal Ivey: Officiating in loss to Serbia was a “travesty. … I need an answer. I’m baffled. … My guys are in there in tears. … I’d rather lose by 30 than have this happen to us.”
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) August 3, 2024
South Sudan head coach Royal Ivey slams the post-game media session following a loss against Serbia:
“What a travesty, what a travesty! My guys put their heart and soul into the game, and what a travesty! That’s all I’ve got to say.”
— Donatas Urbonas (@Urbodo) August 3, 2024
Royal Ivey says the 31-6 free throw discrepancy is the story of this Serbia-South Sudan game. “I need an answer. Explain it to me. I’m baffled,” Ivey said. He’s furious.
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) August 3, 2024
South Sudan’s Luol Deng: “If these referees are not familiar with our game or our style, the. I don’t know what the world championship or the Olympics is. Is it just the European style and we’re not allowed to be aggressive?”
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) August 3, 2024
South Sudan coach Royal Ivey: “They shoot 31 free throws. We shot six. That’s a travesty. It was blatant. My guys competed.” #Paris2024
— gary washburn (@GwashburnGlobe) August 3, 2024
South Sudan’s Royal Ivey and Luol Deng blasted the referees after the loss to Serbia, saying that the officiating criteria were deliberately unfair to their team
“It was deliberate, blatantly”https://t.co/zY2jgc6GOD
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) August 3, 2024
So we finally had an *important* basketball game at the Olympics. Serbia vs South Sudan. Winner moved on guaranteed, South Sudan needed to keep it within 3 to advance. Instead Serbia shot 31 free throws to South Sudan’s 6 and Luol Deng and Royal Ivey immediately blasted everyone.
Good.
Refs suck. That’s a firm stance that I will never change from. Also count me in for Royal Ivey being an NBA head coach in the future. Look, South Sudan is legit. They pushed the US in the exhibition and had a chance to advance at the Olympics. I’d post videos but they’d get taken down the instant I hit publish. Just take my word that it 31-6 in free throws shouldn’t have been a thing. It wasn’t like Serbia was constantly driving, playing in the post and getting free throws that way. It was weird to say the least. Plus, I love a good sports conspiracy theory. I should mention South Sudan is known for playing physical. They will beat you up, they want to set hard screens and maybe get a little wild. But 31-6 on free throws in any game is insane.
Obviously Nikola Jokic, is, well, Nikola Jokic. You got him to advance plus Giannis and Greece. All I’m saying is, wouldn’t TV want Giannis and Jokic in the medal round? Good on Deng to get involved too. He personally financed this entire team, built South Sudan basketball up and had them competing in the Olympics. If there’s one guy in all of France with a right to blast whoever he wants, Deng is that guy.
But now we move to the medal round. US has the perfect draw. Brazil in the quarterfinals, winner of Australia/Serbia in the semis. Greece, France, Canada and Germany on the other side. See y’all in the finals.
