Cruz to Yang on basketball challenge: Just bring it

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang have informally agreed to play each other in a one-on-one basketball game for charity on Friday in Houston. 

The loser of the game will donate $5,000 to the nonpolitical charity of the winner’s choice.

“Hmm. You’re taller than I am. From the video, you’re probably a better shot. And, I’ve seen you dunking (on an 8-foot rim). Altogether, pretty strong. So…,” Cruz tweeted Thursday in response to a tweet from Yang challenging the Texas senator to a game of one-on-one.{mosads}

Cruz added a gif of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson that said, “Just bring it.”

Let’s play one-on-one. Give the fans a show.

— Andrew Yang (@AndrewYang) September 12, 2019

The idea came about when a Fox News producer tweeted the idea after ABC News aired an interview Wednesday with Yang playing basketball at a Houston court ahead of Thursday’s primary debate. 

Cruz quipped back, “Sorry. You gotta poll at 5% or more to play on my court.”

Yang replied that he’d be “delighted” to beat Cruz in basketball, including a clip from a recent Hill-HarrisX poll showing Yang at 5 percent.

Ted I would be delighted to beat you in basketball. pic.twitter.com/RHFrdAfcZ9

— Andrew Yang (@AndrewYang) September 12, 2019

Cruz wrote “bring it,” and suggested a four-on-four game, with each bringing three paid staffers, but Yang suggested a one-on-one match. 

“Give the fans a show,” Yang tweeted. 

The Hill reached out to Yang and Cruz’s staff to confirm if the game has been set up between the two unlikely players.

Yang told ABC News in his interview that he’d challenge President Trump to a game, too, but not his fellow primary opponents. 

“I like the other candidates a great deal. We all get along quite well, and we’re all unified in beating Donald Trump in 2020,” Yang said. 

“I would school him,” Yang said, on challenging Trump.

Updated at 12:23 p.m.