Sports

Angry Fans Spammed $6 Million Florida Player’s Instagram Account After March Madness Upset

#Florida Gators
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iStockphoto / © Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images


The Florida basketball team fell in NCAA Tournament play against Iowa in the Round of 32. The team’s national title pursuit is over after the first weekend of postseason play.

Transfer guard Xaivian Lee has received the brunt of the criticism on social media after the fact. Angry college basketball fans spammed his Instagram account to voice their disgust.

Supporters of the program do not believe he was worth the investment. Others that wanted to see the Gators advance in the Big Dance were also miffed. Lee’s final play of the 2025-26 campaign only provided fuel for hate.

Xaivian Lee didn’t get a shot off.

The Gators faced the Hawkeyes with a Sweet 16 opportunity on the line. Florida was a heavy favorite playing as the 1-seed in the Sunshine State. It quickly found itself in a dogfight.

Iowa jumped out to a double-digit first half lead. That advantage grew to as many as 12 after halftime. The Hawkeyes was in front for the majority of the contest.

Florida chipped away at its deficit in the second half. They took a lead with seven minutes left to play. From there, the two sides would trade blows until the final buzzer.

The Gators led by two on Iowa’s last offensive possession. The Hawkeyes thwarted Todd Golden’s plan to foul and took the lead on a three.

Xaivian Lee received the ensuing inbound pass and dribbled up the court for a potential game-winner. He wouldn’t get a shot off.

Lee passed up the shot to dish to a teammate. That attempt came late. Florida ran out of time. Its season is now over.

Upset with how those final moments played out, a number of viewers immediately took to social media with criticism.

Fans spammed the guard’s Instagram.

Lee signed an NIL deal with an international shoe brand upon transferring to Florida. That, combined with his NIL contract with the Gators, made him worth an estimated $6 million.

While productive, he failed to meet expectations. Fans wanted the transition from national champion Walter Clayton Jr. to be smooth. It was anything but.

Lee’s senior year was a roller coaster. It took him time to adapt to SEC basketball after three years at Princeton. His scoring average dipped by more than five points as a senior. He also struggled with turnovers while seeing a decline in assist rate.

His season stat line totaled 11.6 points, 4.2 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. He did get better as the year went on. The guard scored double figures in 11 of his final 13 games. That included a 17-point performance vs. Iowa.

Unfortunately, the last image of Lee in a Gator uniform halted that positive momentum. What support he’d gained from the fanbase was lost on the final possession.

Aware of the hefty investment made in securing his transfer, fans began leaving angry comments below one of his brand partnerships.

Lee’s debut season with the school did not unfold according to plan. Both sides are likely upset with that outcome.

Spamming his socials over a poor decision in crunch time is not productive. It also does not erase the fact that Florida’s season is over.

Xaivian Lee’s eligibility has expired barring an NCAA exception. He will now focus his attention to a professional future while the Gators turn the page to next season.