Milwaukee Bucks big man Robin Lopez, 35, found himself in the spotlight on Sunday when he faced off against the Utah Jazz. Unfortunately for Lopez, the encounter ended in a loss for his team.
During the game, the Utah Jazz mascot, Jazz Bear, decided to taunt Robin with a sign. The sign playfully mocked him for being just a step behind his twin brother, Brook Lopez.
Brook was unable to play that night due to an injury, and the absence of another starter, Khris Middleton, didn’t help the Bucks either. Jazz Bear clearly took pleasure in this and wasn’t shy about expressing it.
In response to the taunting, Robin couldn’t resist taking action. He pounced on the mascot, grabbing the sign and tearing it to shreds.
While Jazz Bear’s sign was a clever play on the tired trope of fans flaunting their long journeys to watch star players, it also took a dig at Robin for living in his brother’s shadow. It may have been a bit cruel, but that’s just the nature of sports.
Robin Lopez has a complicated history with mascots. In the past, he has attacked the Indiana Pacers mascot, Boomer. However, he has also been seen swapping jerseys with San Antonio’s Coyote, showing a more friendly side towards mascots.
It’s unclear where Robin truly stands when it comes to mascots. His actions against Jazz Bear might not only draw attention from the league offices but also prompt a response from animal rights organization PETA for his treatment of a fictional animal.
In the end, Robin Lopez’s clash with Jazz Bear serves as a reminder that sports can bring out both the best and worst in athletes.
