League: NBA Sport: Basketball Country: United States Category: Transactions

Voice-cloned video falsely attributes NBA recruitment plans to late player

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 6, 2026, 7:44 AM

Last updated Aug 6, 2026

Voice-cloned video falsely attributes NBA recruitment plans to late player

Summary

A TikTok video falsely claims that Oklahoma City Thunder coach Mark Daigneault planned to recruit late Filipino basketball player Rene Baterbonia for the 2026-27 season. The video, which amassed over 869,000 views since its July 20 posting, shows altered footage and misrepresents Daigneault's statements. Baterbonia drowned during a team-building exercise on June 8, prompting a wave of social media tributes and misinformation. AFP confirmed that the video's original content was published before Baterbonia's death, and Daigneault never mentioned him.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

Key Details

•Rene Baterbonia died in June during a team-building exercise.
•The altered video falsely claims NBA recruitment plans were in motion.
•The original video predates Baterbonia's death.
•AFP verified the video alterations and the authenticity of Daigneault's comments.
•Social media users continue to share the misleading clip.

Latest Updates

7:44 AMYahoo Sports — Voice-cloned video falsely claims NBA coach planned to recruit late Filipino basketball player

What they're saying

"
T he death of young Filipino basketball player Rene Baterbonia at a training camp in June captivated social media users in the Philippines, including a TikTok post falsely claiming that an NBA coach had planned to recruit the 18-year-old for the 2026-27 season. AFP found that the clip had been digitally altered, while the original video was published before Baterbonia's death.
— Yahoo Sports

Related Teams & Leagues

Oklahoma City Thunder NBA Basketball