No self respecting black man should ever let a white person tell him what is or isn’t acceptable in his vernacular.
This was nothing but a white person saying “well, why can’t I say it too?” As if it’s some type of discrimination being placed on them. If his teammate was too stupid to understand that nuances that come along with that word, along with the history attached, then he doesn’t deserve an explanation in the first place.
He should’ve told him mind his damn business as others in here have stated.