"Legit the worst host I have ever seen in my life": NBA fans outraged by Shane Gillis' 'hey girl' comment for Karl-Anthony Towns

Shane Gillis hosted the 2025 ESPY Awards on Wednesday. The comedian raised eyebrows with his jokes about Indiana Fever sensation Caitlin Clark and OKC Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Gillis also made a joke about New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns. After acknowledging KAT’s presence, the actor said, "Hey girl".

KAT has often been mocked by fans online for his mannerisms on and off the court. At one stage, Kyrie Irving had to step in and defend Towns, saying he would go after anyone who continued to spread KAT's "zesty" moments on the internet.

A clip of Gillis' comment did the rounds on social media, and fans were quick to react:

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"KAT should've walked on stage and gave him the Chris Rock special," one fan wrote.

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"Kyrie Irving do something big dawg," another fan commented.

"That wasn’t funny," another wrote.

"Guy who couldn’t handle playing college football and got fired from SNL makes a lame joke about an NBA star with impressive accomplishments on and off the court. Hilarious," another commented.

"Legit the worst host I have ever seen in my life," one user wrote.

NBA's OKC Thunder lost "Best Team" award to NFL's Philadelphia Eagles

Karl-Anthony Towns' Knicks reached the NBA Eastern Conference finals for the first time in 25 years, but lost to the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers were beaten by the OKC Thunder in the NBA Finals.

The Thunder represented the NBA at the ESPYs on Wednesday, vying for the best team award. Reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won the best NBA player award. However, the team lost the group award to the Philadelphia Eagles, who won the Super Bowl in February.

Shane Gillis hyped the Eagles with a skit supposedly showing the origin of the 'tush-push' play. Gillis, along with social media influencer Druski, detailed how the plan started and was eventually implemented, a decision that helped Philadelphia's success in the NFL.

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Meanwhile, the Thunder were simply acknowledged. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander even received a slight dig from the comedian. OKC came well represented but could not go home with the team award.

About the author

Michael Macasero brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his coverage of basketball at Sportskeeda with over 18 years of diverse work experience. This includes stints at Convergys, Interpace and RunRepeat.

Michael's background in English and Journalism has provided him with the analytical skills and precision necessary for creating content, and he is a lifelong fan of the Boston Celtics. His favorite players include legends like Larry Bird and Michael Jordan, modern stars like Tim Duncan, and Nikola Jokic, as well as emerging talent like Victor Wembanyama.

Michael respects Gregg Popovich, despite his contentious demeanor in interviews, and recognizes Popovich's genius in adapting his coaching style to maximize the talent on his roster over the years. Michael eagerly anticipates seeing how Popovich will structure the offense around emerging talent like Victor Wembanyama.

Understanding the story and details is crucial to Michael's reporting philosophy and he believes overlooking details, particularly when pressed for time, can lead to misunderstandings and inaccurate conclusions.

Aside from work, Michael's children are his hobbies, and he also likes to go running, swimming and weightlifting.

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Edited by Michael Macasero