Grand Rapids, Mich. (WZZM) – unless you are Floyd Mayweather, Jr., don’t mess with boxer Manny Pacquiao.
At least not in the Philippines.
That’s the expensive lesson learned by Daniel Orton, a new member of the Grand Rapids Drive NBA Development League basketball team.
Last month former NBA center Orton was playing for Purefoods Star Hotshots in the Philippine Basketball Association. After a game against Manny Pacquiao and his Kia Carnival team, Orton was critical of Pacquiao’s basketball skills.
“He’s a terrible basketball player,” explains Orton.
Reporters quoted Orton’s calling Pacquiao “a joke.”
“Professional Boxer? Yeah. But professional basketball player? It’s a joke.”
Pacquiao is a part time player-coach for Kia Carnival. After Orton’s comments were published, he was fined and cut from the Hotshots.
“I feel like I wasn’t wrong in what I said,” says Orton. “I know I upset the whole country but I wasn’t wrong in what I said.”
Pacquiao is a super star in the Philippines and attracts fans to whatever he does. Boxing, politics, acting and, yes, basketball.
Orton says letting Pacquiao play with men who have devoted their lives to the game is disrespectful.
“My message was to not disrespect the game I know and love,” he says. “I feel like that’s what it was. Disrespect more than anything.
Orton, who played college at Kentucky and was a first round draft pick by the Orland Magic is not the starting center for the Grand Rapids Drive. He is reunited with Coach Otis Smith, who was general manager of the Magic when Orton was drafted.
