The Kansas City Chiefs are standing by Harrison Butker after his controversial commencement speech, but he’s lost his spot on NBA on TNT commentator and former NBA head coach Stan Van Gundy’s fantasy football team.
Butker’s remarks at the college event, where he called pride month a “deadly sin,” opposed abortion and transgender rights, and told graduating women they’d been fed “diabolical lies” about prioritizing careers over being wives and mothers, sparked significant backlash.
Appearing on The Dan Le Batard Show, Van Gundy condemned Butker’s statements.
“I don’t agree with anything he said. I think it’s backwards. I think it’s misogynistic,” Van Gundy said, with Le Batard adding that the comments were also homophobic and antisemitic.
Van Gundy criticized Butker for “cloaking bigotry under religious beliefs” and declared he wouldn’t draft the kicker this season.
“I stand firmly against everything that guy said. And I’ll tell you, I’m going this far, Dan. He was a kicker on my fantasy team this year. I won’t take him,” Van Gundy said. “I’m boycotting him now.”
Van Gundy’s stance, however, was not entirely serious, as he laughed while making the proclamation, and Le Batard jokingly labeled him “Stand Van Gundy” for his decision.
Despite Butker finishing fifth in fantasy points among kickers last season, making all 12 attempts from 40 yards or beyond, his exclusion from Van Gundy’s team isn’t a major sacrifice.
Kickers are widely considered interchangeable in fantasy football.
For example, Brandon McManus, the No. 13 kicker last year, averaged 8.2 points per game compared to Butker’s 9.0.
Anyone who plays fantasy football in a league that hasn’t eliminated the kicker position knows not to draft a kicker until the final round, if at all.
