Cal basketball forward Fardaws Aimaq created a stir during a game against UTEP on Monday when he confronted a fan who allegedly called him a "terrorist." The incident took place at The Pavilion in San Juan Capistrano, California, and was captured on video. Aimaq, a 6-foot-11 sixth-year transfer, climbed the bleachers and confronted the fan face-to-face, waving his finger in the process. In the video reposted by his agent, Daniel Poneman, on X, Aimaq can be heard repeatedly asking, "Do you want to talk?"

According to Poneman, the fan, whose identity remains unknown, hurled racist insults at Aimaq throughout the game. This behavior is not new for Aimaq, as Poneman mentioned that after leaving Texas Tech, he received terrible and unimaginable messages from fans, but he did not react. However, this time, the constant racist insults and being called a terrorist pushed Aimaq to confront the fan. Poneman provided context about Aimaq's background, stating that although he was born in Vancouver, his parents are originally from Afghanistan, and his father faced hardships as a political prisoner during wartime.

Cal men's basketball head coach Mark Madsen expressed his support for Aimaq and condemned the offensive comments made by the fan. During the postgame press conference, Madsen announced that they have requested the fan to be banned from the venue and demanded an investigation into the incident. Madsen also personally spoke to Aimaq, advising him that confrontation with fans in the stands typically leads to negative outcomes. Nevertheless, Madsen emphasized that the main message to Aimaq was one of apology and empathy for having to experience such derogatory language.

Teammate Jalen Cone joined in supporting Aimaq and expressing his disapproval of the alleged insults. Cone stated that he and his family do not condone such behavior and vowed to offer emotional support to Aimaq during this difficult time. Cone also praised Aimaq's resilience, pointing out his outstanding performance in the game with 23 points and 14 rebounds, showcasing his ability to bounce back from adversity.

The UTEP Miners ultimately defeated the Cal Golden Bears with a score of 75-72, marking UTEP's first win over a Power Five conference team in three years. However, they faced a defeat against Bradley in the SoCal Challenge championship game on Wednesday night.

The incident involving Aimaq garnered attention due to the shocking nature of the fan's alleged comments. Aimaq's agent, Poneman, clarified that while he does not encourage players to confront fans, the fan's behavior was far worse than Aimaq's reaction. Poneman highlighted Aimaq's gentle and kind-hearted nature, emphasizing that the fan's actions were unacceptable.

Coach Madsen's statement echoed Poneman's sentiments, expressing his disappointment in both the fan's behavior and Aimaq's decision to confront the fan. Madsen stressed the importance of maintaining composure regardless of the circumstances and assured that the consequences related to the situation will be managed internally.

Aimaq's basketball journey includes a season at Texas Tech before transferring to Cal. In the current season, he has been a valuable asset to the team, averaging 16.0 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game while shooting an impressive 58.5% from the field. Prior to his time at Texas Tech, Aimaq played for Mercer and Utah Valley in his college career.