In October 2022, French professional basketball player Steeve Ho You Fat went viral for his surname. Wait, is it his actual name? Here's what we know.
Although the NBA preseason is in complete swing, all eyes are at the French skilled league referred to as LNB Pro A.
On Oct. 4, an exhibition game between the G League Ignite and Metropolitans 92 ruled social media, thanks to 1 megastar athlete on the latter group. No, we aren't talking about Victor Wembanyama, who will be the No. 1 pick within the 2023 NBA Draft; we're speaking about, wait for it ... Steeve Ho You Fat.
The 34-year-old veteran basketball player has been within the league for 14 years, yet he is just taking the world by means of hurricane. Why is that? Well, we predict you can figure it out — his last name, of course! The Frenchman has long past viral on social media due to his surname, and many are curious to grasp: Is "Ho You Fat" his actual name, or is it a stage name? Let's find out.
So, is Steeve Ho You Fat his actual name?
As it turns out, Steeve's actual surname is, neatly, Ho You Fat. According to Yahoo! Sports, he comes from a family of "logistics men who lorded over the largest port in French Guiana." Steeve's paternal grandfather, Jean, immigrated from China searching for better opportunities; since then, the Ho You Fat family has saved an "iron grip" on the Cayenne bank.
"There was no ship that arrived on the shores of Cayenne without permission from the Ho You Fat company," the opening noted.
While their surname has been the butt of many jokes in America, it's carried a darkness with it for years — why is that? Well, Steeve's father, Ivan, fell for and married an African dance teacher, which did not bode too neatly with the Chinese community.
Announcer: "[Steeve] Ho You Fat with the three. Yes I just said that. That is that man's name. Don't tweet at me."
He's simply doing his job 🤣pic.twitter.com/J1nXjxZtYv
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) October 5, 2022"Chinese people don’t like to mix [marriages]. I’m Black, it’s a Chinese name, so it’s not easy to talk about that,” Steeve told Yahoo! Sports. "But that’s it. I’m proud of my name, I’m pleased with who I'm. I’m proud of my dad and my mom."
Speaking of feeling proud, Steeve doesn't appear to mind that his surname has blown up on social media. He's joined in on the fun by sharing several posts to his Instagram Story and acknowledging that his jersey is suddenly in high demand.
Steeve teased that a "Ho You Fat" jersey will be available soon.
Since his game on Oct. 4, hundreds have taken to Twitter to express their desire to purchase a Ho You Fat jersey.
"Where can I purchase a Steeve Ho You Fat jersey?" one person asked. Another said, "[I] desire a Ho You Fat jersey for the following track competition expeditiously." A third fan commented, "I’m gonna get a Steeve Ho You Fat jersey even though it’s the last thing I do."
Luckily, the baller understands his fans are desperate for a jersey because he's recently been teasing it's on the way.
"Looks like they in point of fact want that jersey," he wrote on one of his Instagram Story, adding later on that his jersey will be "available soon." So, make certain you are one of the vital first in line as a result of there is not any doubt in our minds Steeve Ho You Fat's jersey will be one among if not the best-selling jersey international.
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