“Naomi Osaka’s got emotional issues” – Sports analyst accuses Japanese of lying about Allen Iverson ‘role model’ in US Open tribute
A prominent American sports analyst has accused Naomi Osaka of lying about Allen Iverson being her role model. Osaka, who is currently competing at the 2026 US Open, has taken it upon herself to pay tribute to the basketball legend at the year’s last tennis major.
From her overall look featuring cornrows to her on-court Nike kit with an Iverson-inspired arm sleeve to her debuting a Law Roach-styled custom dress ahead of her opening-round match in New York this year, Osaka seems to have left no stone unturned in her tribute to the retired 11-time NBA All-Star. The former World No. 1 also spoke up about Iverson being a role model for her during a press conference. However, these developments failed to impress Jason Whitlock.
The former sports columnist, who has previously worked with ESPN, AOL Sports and other prominent media networks, recently shared an Instagram Reel and vociferously criticized Naomi Osaka. According to Whitlock, Japan-born Osaka is a ‘mixed race superstar’ who has never really idolized Iverson. He also claimed that the former two-time champion in New York is using the US Open as a platform ‘to buy hood credibility’.
“Jigga, please. I’m not buying Naomi Osaka’s Allen Iverson tribute. Trying to cosplay as Allen Iverson, putting these cornrows in and all this other stuff really turned me off. Osaka was born in Japan. Allen Iverson is not and has never been her role model. This is a mixed race superstar using the US Open to buy hood credibility,” Whitlock said.
Whitlock also claimed through the Reel’s caption that Osaka has ’emotional issues’.
“Naomi Osaka cosplayed Allen Iverson… she’s got emotional issues,” he wrote.
