Denver Nuggets Hunter Tyson Sparks Clemson-South Carolina Rivalry With Postgame Jab at Gamecocks Reporter
The Clemson-South Carolina rivalry has always been one of the most heated in college sports, but who says it has to stay confined to the state—or to football?
Hunter Tyson certainly doesn’t think so.
The former Clemson basketball star, now with the Denver Nuggets, brought a little bit of that Palmetto State tension with him to the NBA this week. Following Denver’s loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night, Tyson had a postgame moment that caught the attention of fans from both sides of the rivalry.
As he was stepping off the podium after speaking with reporters, Tyson noticed Ryan Blackburn—a Nuggets reporter—wearing a South Carolina Gamecocks hoodie. Tyson couldn’t let it slide.
To make matters worse for South Carolina fans, the Gamecocks indeed did not make the postseason. Clemson, meanwhile, made the NCAA Tournament, advancing past the first round before being eliminated.
Other media members in the room couldn’t help but share the moment. One noted that Tyson stopped mid-exit just to deliver the jab and added that the former Tiger “got ’em again on the way out.”
Mar 19, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Hunter Tyson (5) drives past Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Goodwin (30) in the second half at Crypto.com Arena.
© Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Tyson, who played at Clemson from 2018 to 2023, finished his career with a 3-2 record against South Carolina in basketball. Now in the NBA, Tyson has appeared in 49 games for the Nuggets, averaging 2.7 points and 1.6 rebounds per game while shooting 37.8% from the field and 30.8% from three-point range. He’s also made waves in the G League, where he averaged nearly 24 points per game.
He had one of his best performances yet against the Spurs, finishing with 18 points and six rebounds in a starting role.
Whether in Columbia, Clemson, or Denver—Tyson made it clear: the rivalry doesn’t fade.