Auburn basketball departee Wendell Green Jr., who declared for the NBA draft on April 2, is now seeing speculation run rampant following his father’s “LOL” response tweet at Bruce Pearl’s farewell message to the five-foot-11 guard.
One of the hardest working most competitive players I've coached! Wen led Auburn to back to back NCAA TOURNAMENTS and the 2022 SEC CHAMPIONSHIP. https://t.co/RlipM5i5G9
— Bruce Pearl (@coachbrucepearl) April 2, 2023
LOL
— Wendell Green Sr. (@WendellGreen6) April 3, 2023
Things seemed cut and dry regarding Green’s departure from Auburn basketball following his draft announcement across his social media accounts:
“Thank you,” Green’s draft announcement graphic read. “It has been a great honor to play for Auburn University for the past few seasons. Thank you to the coaching and training staff for your guidance, advice and leadership. I would also like to thank my teammates and everyone who has played a role in helping me get to where I am today. I would like to announce that I will be starting my professional career and declaring for the 2023 NBA Draft.”
Now, though? There’s far more questions than answers and Tiger fans are torn on who to believe and what happens next…
Auburn basketball fans blast Wendell Green Sr. in Twitter comments
Not a lot is known about why Green’s father seemingly called out Pearl, but several Auburn fans took to Twitter to defend the program and call out Green Sr. for what they perceived as little league parent behavior:
This isn’t the little leagues anymore. You don’t have to act like this. Loved having your son play for auburn but acting like this to a coach that gave your son a chance in the sec is crazy
— Tanner🥶 (@SissonTanner) April 3, 2023
Not sure what’s so funny or why you choose to be sarcastic about a coach commemorating and congratulating your son, im sure there’s LOADS of other things he could’ve said that weren’t as kind. Auburn and Bruce singlehandedly gave wen his basketball future
— bg (@bigbaggetta2) April 3, 2023
The fact that you son is walking away with more grace and gratitude speaks volumes. How about you support your kid and the next step in his career instead of showing your ass to the man who gave him the opportunity to go to an SEC school on scholarship…
— PJ (@Born2Barn_) April 3, 2023
Green’s departure, along with Chance Westry (via the transfer portal) and Zep Jasper’s, creates several openings in the Tigers backcourt for the 2023-24 season. Aden Holloway will fill one of those vacancies, but there will be work for Pearl and co. to do in the transfer portal.