Former NBA player Sonny Weems targeted in China by angry fans shouting racial slurs, vulgarities

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Former NBA player Sonny Weems appeared to be targeted by a group of angry fans who shouted racial slurs and told him to "get out of China" following his game with the Guangdong Southern Tigers last week, according to a video circulating on social media. 

Weems, who has been playing with Guangdong in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) since 2018, appeared to be exiting a team bus after Thursday night’s game against the Liaoning Flying Leopards when a group of people were heard aggressively shouting the N-word and other vulgarities, according to Insider. 

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"Get out of China," someone in the video can be heard saying. "F--- you."

Sonny Weems #13 of Guangdong Southern Tigers drives the ball during 2020/2021 Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) League final match between Liaoning Flying Leopards and Guangdong Southern Tigers on April 29, 2021 in Zhuji, Zhejiang Province of China. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images)

It was not immediately clear if Weems was the person being targeted in the video. His team did not immediately respond to Fox News' request for comment. 

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The incident prompted the CBA to issue a statement on the social media platform, Weibo, the following day saying it has "a zero-tolerance attitude towards any discriminatory words and deeds, and firmly opposes and severely condemns any racially discriminatory words and deeds."

Sonny Weems #13 of Guangdong Southern Tigers drives the ball during 2020/2021 Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) League final match between Liaoning Flying Leopards and Guangdong Southern Tigers on May 1, 2021 in Zhuji, Zhejiang Province of China.  (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images)

The league also issued a letter to fans asking them to avoid "uncivilized behavior" and "resist vulgar words and deeds" ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing next month. 

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Earlier in the night, Weems had been ejected from the game after getting into a courtside confrontation with Leopards center Han Dejun. According to local media, both players were thrown out and Weems was handed a five-game suspension and a roughly $22,000 fine. 

Weems was drafted by the Chicago Bulls in 2008 before being traded to the Denver Nuggets. He had stints with the Toronto Raptors, Phoenix Suns and Philadelphia 76ers before playing overseas.