Former NBA player Nate Robinson got knocked out during his boxing debut, which unleashed a plethora of memes and clownery. However, boxing champ Floyd Mayweather and former NBA star Gilbert Arenas don’t find it funny. More inside…
Former NBA baller Nate Robinson, 36, signed up to make his celebrity boxing debut against YouTube star Jake Paul, 23, inside the Staples Center Saturday night. The match was the pre-event to the Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones main event.
Tonight I'm fighting for my brothers in the NBA, athletes across the world, and most importantly my children. #tysonjones#holdatpic.twitter.com/lkAqxRMBmQ
— Nate Robinson (@nate_robinson) November 28, 2020
However, the former NBA Slam Dunk champion suffered a devastating loss when he was KNOCKED OUT during the second round of the highly anticipated match.
Below is the KO that caused a frenzy on social media shortly after it happened:
Watch YouTuber Jake Paul knock out NBA Star Nate Robinson in tonight's fight pic.twitter.com/9wZyIKrT0A
— RapTV (@raptvcom) November 29, 2020
Yikes!
Fans and celebs – including two-time NBA MVP Steph Curry - quickly hopped on social media to react to the devastating blow, clowning the former point guard for getting knocked out:
Steph’s tweets to Nate before the fight were positive:
Let’s go @nate_robinson. Hold it down https://t.co/q5A7fTJcwY
— Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30) November 28, 2020
”Hold it down,” Steph tweeted Nate.
”Gonna shock the world bro,” Nate responded before the fight. After the KO, Steph responded to Nate’s tweet:
I see no lies
— Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30) November 29, 2020
”I see no lies,” Steph tweeted after the match. Savage.
Several other NBA ballers and former players, including Nick Young, Paul Pierce& Dikembe Mutombo, chimed in after the KO:
That was no representation of the NBA Family lol
— Nick Young (@NickSwagyPYoung) November 29, 2020
.@paulpierce34's reaction to the Jake Paul-Nate Robinson fight pic.twitter.com/DGDIWsuN5Y
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 29, 2020
My brother Nate https://t.co/cdELhKk04B
— Dikembe Mutombo (@officialmutombo) November 29, 2020
And so did other professional athletes like NFL stars Patrick Mahomes, Von Miller& more:
Lol
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) November 29, 2020
There are no amount of dunk contest wins that can overcome that knockout for Nate Robinson
— Brett Anderson (@_BAnderson30_) November 29, 2020
— Von Miller (@VonMiller) November 29, 2020
— Deandre Hopkins (@DeAndreHopkins) November 29, 2020
Man what the helll Nate doin
— Mark Ingram II (@markingram21) November 29, 2020
The memes are relentless:
— Jorge Ruiz (@funnyNphat) November 29, 2020
— RustproofBoar (@BoarRustproof) November 29, 2020
nate after getting rocked: pic.twitter.com/lBJrFhk9oV
— javon (@v0nathan) November 29, 2020
Netflix: Still watching?
Me: pic.twitter.com/t4fxIDGbdl
— Steezy Moolah (@REALSTARKS27) November 29, 2020
Bruh wtf pic.twitter.com/8Ab6y2ChaT
— Jamar got balls (@jamar__stokes) November 29, 2020
Nate is also the subject of a viral challenge dubbed the #naterobinsonchallenge. Sighs.
Following the fight, Nate hopped on IG to let everyone know he was OK and that he was thankful for the well wishes and support:
Now, undefeated boxing champ Floyd Mayweather is defending the former Celtics player, asking folks to quit kicking the man while he’s already down.
"Nate, I’m proud of you and I will always stand behind all my brothers," Mayweather wrote in his defense."I will never kick my brother when he’s down."
Former NBA baller Gilbert Arenas also showed him some love on social media:
"a great ass whooping by someone is what makes a champion," Gilbert wrote."lick ur wounds, watch what u did wrong, watch what u did right,adjust,study becuz it's never where u start it's where u finish," he continued.
Can't say we saw THESE two being the voices of reason in this. But, 2020.
Hopefully, Nate bounces back from this! His ego is likely more bruised than anything.
Photo: Nate's IG