"I Hate Gay People," NBA Player Says

Former NBA player Tim Hardaway said in a radio interview Wednesday that he would not have tolerated a gay player on his team and that he would have demanded that either the gay teammate, or Hardaway himself, be traded if so had happened.

"Well, you know, I hate gay people," Hardaway said. "I let it be known, I don't like gay people. I don't like to be around gay people.

"Yeah, I'm homophobic. I don't like it. It shouldn't be in the world for that or in the United States for that. So, yeah, I don't like it."

When asked how he would have dealt with a gay teammate, Hardaway responded, "First of all, I wouldn't want him on my team. And second of all, if he was on my team, you know, I would really distance myself from him because I don't think that is right."

Hardaway later reiterated the comments in an interview with the local TV station Channel 4, "I don't condone it. And if people got problems with it, I'm sorry. I'm saying I can't stand being around that person, knowing that they sleep with somebody of the same sex."

Former NBA player John Amaechi, who came out of the closet last week, said to the AP Thursday, "I don't need Tim's comments to realize there's a problem. People said that I should just shut up and go away. Now they have to rethink that.''

"His words pollute the atmosphere," Amaechi said. "It creates an atmosphere that allows young gays and lesbians to be harassed in school, creates an atmosphere where in 33 states you can lose your job, and where anti-gay and lesbian issues are used for political gain. It's an atmosphere that hurts all of us, not just gay people."

"Famously, they're saying in 2007 that homophobia is not an issue," Amaechi said. "While (Hardaway) is not a representative of the NBA or of straight men, there's no point pretending it's not an opinion that is out there."

Hardaway had just been listed as an "NBA Legend" and was part of the NBA's Community Caravan program but NBA has now removed him from further league-related appearances after learning about his comments.

"It is inappropriate for him to be representing us given the disparity between his views and ours," NBA Commissioner David Stern said in a statement to the Sun-Sentinel.

Hardaway played for the Miami Heat from 1996 to 2001.