On April 6, many fans and even non-fans were probably surprised when the NBA announced its newly appointed global ambäṩṩador, SUGA. This is the first time Kpop fans have witnessed a K-pop artist become a global icon of this prestigious tournament.
Meanwhile, SUGA recently took on his first job in his new role, attending a basketball game between HEAT and the Knicks in the NBA. Also on this occasion, an ARMY working for the NBA team at The Garden had a rare lucky opportunity to work with SUGA for one day.
With happiness and great feeling working with her idol, she shared her experience and received many compliments from other ARMYs. Her tweet also quickly caught the attention of netizens:
SUGA was known as a fan of basketball before officially becoming an ambäṩṩador of the NBA. Even his name SUGA comes from the phrase Shooting Guard that he used to play in every early game when he was a student.
His päṩṩion for basketball is endless as despite his busy work, he still tries to make time for this personal hobby. In the past, many times people caught SUGA at basketball games when he went to watch them during his break time.
Therefore, more than anyone else, SUGA is a typical ambäṩṩador who will help the basketball trend and the reputation of the NBA reach further. When announcing SUGA as the new global ambäṩṩador of the NBA, NBA Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer Mark Tatum said that: “We’re thrilled to join forces with SUGA – a superstar musician, fashion icon, and päṩṩionate NBA fan. We look forward to working with SUGA to bring the same excitement he engenders from his global fanbase in support of our continued efforts to grow our brand.”
Meanwhile, the NBA also pays special attention and care to SUGA in the events that he participates in as an ambäṩṩador. Recently, SUGA came to watch a basketball game between the New York Knicks and the Miami HEAT basketball team at Madison Square Garden. The NBA had a team to support SUGA's protection and care for him during his time here.
And fortunately, among the NBA staff at the Garden, an ARMY was sent to support SUGA. Thanks to that, we now have a brief but interesting story about ARMY's valuable experience working with this OP's idol.
Specifically, a Twitter account named Ellie (@bark4tae) re-shared on his personal page a photo of SUGA taken in the last game by the NBA along with the status that: "I still can’t believe it but I’m soooo grateful for the opportunity to have worked with Yoongi yesterday...meeting him feels so surreal". Then, in the comments section, she continued to share what she did while taking care of SUGA that day.
Of course, OP also wanted to keep SUGA's privacy so just sharing some simple things but that was enough to make other fans feel excited. She wrote: "I don’t want to say too much cause I do what to keep my experience but I work at the Garden and the people I work with know how much I love BTS, I think I’m the only army in my department and so they trusted me and äṩṩigned me to Yoongi the whole day.
I made sure that he didn’t know I was really army until the end so he could enjoy his day. and about him he is the Yoongi we all know and love. I’m glad I was able to take care of him. His team was also the best, they know an army when they see one and made me so happy".
She ended by mentioning that: "I also made sure that he knew that Army wishes him the best on his first solo tour and that he is very loved. I also want to say Thank you to everyone who has been commenting nothing but nice things to me...it means so much".
After that, Ellie's post quickly attracted great attention from fans because not everyone has the opportunity to do this:
- yoongi is so lucky to have you (and so am i )
- I’m so glad the sweetest, loveliest, most respectful ARMY ever (you) was the one who got to bring him hσrríвlє MSG nachos. Thank you for taking such good care of him
- Ellie, you made us all so proud - we AND HE are so lucky have you
- You are a rock star! So professional. I've no doubt he was grateful for an ARMY like you to äṩṩist him so kindly and respectfully!
- What a sweet experience. Thank you for sharing your story and taking care of our Yoongi. I’m glad he was in good hands.
- Oh thank you for looking after him I'm so happy you got this opportunity
- Thank you for being so professional with him. And keeping everything private.You absolutely deserved the chance to work with him! I hope it was an amazing day for you!
- Oh but this is αωєsome! I'm so glad genuine, respectful Armys get to work with them and contribute to their new experiences too!
Meanwhile, this is not the first time SUGA has attended a basketball game in the NBA framework. At the end of last year and the beginning of this year, SUGA was also repeatedly invited to attend NBA stars' games such as the Golden State Warriors practice match in jαpαn in September 2022 or the Los Angeles Clippers match in January 2019. 2023. It shows the early NBA exposure to the global K-pop superstar!
In addition, SUGA is also doing his world tour in the US and coincidentally, it's a reasonable time for him to enjoy this exciting basketball game!
