Isaiah Thomas was ejected from Saturday’s Washington Wizards game at the Philadelphia 76ers for entering the stands with 2:53 left in the fourth quarter.
Donning a Philadelphia Allen Iverson jersey while speaking to reporters after the game, Thomas said one of the fans disrespected him with screams of “F—- you, b——” while also flipping him the bird.
“I’m never going to be disrespected in any way,” Thomas said. “My dad taught me at a young age, don’t ever let anybody call you out of your name. It doesn’t matter where I am, that’s not gonna happen.”
On the game broadcast, it was reported that the two 76ers fans Thomas addressed were also ejected from the arena. The 76ers later banned the two fans from the Wells Fargo Center for 12 months and revoked the season tickets from the season ticket-holder who gave tickets to the fans, a team spokesperson said.
The following video contains uncensored offensive language:
Isaiah Thomas, putting on an Iverson jersey, address reporters about entering the stands.
— Candace Buckner (@CandaceDBuckner) December 22, 2019
Thomas said a fan raised both middle fingers and screamed at him: “ F—-you, B—-!”
Here’s Thomas detailing the incident, without censure. pic.twitter.com/bPwSF5cVxE
The incident came after Thomas took a pair of free throws, missing the first and making the second. In many NBA arenas, promotions exist where fans can receive free fast food if a visiting player misses two free throws. In Philadelphia, it’s a free Frosty from Wendy’s.
“His response was, ’I’m sorry. I just wanted a Frosty,’” Thomas said.
Isaiah Thomas was ejected for entering the stands and talking to a pair of Sixers fans #RepTheDistrict pic.twitter.com/aRqmvNWUQ2
— NBC Sports Wizards (@NBCSWizards) December 22, 2019
Thomas is likely to receive some form of discipline from the NBA for entering the stands. Observers noted that he remained calm throughout the entire interaction.
“I didn’t scare nobody. I didn’t even use a curse word,” Thomas said. “So when the league investigates, I’m going to tell them the exact same thing — and hopefully they should understand it.”
Wizards teammates like C.J. Miles came to Thomas’ defense:
Y’all gotta chill man.. y’all out here disrespecting grown men and then calling them fragile for not just taking it..a lot of the things said would never be said you if ran into any guys on the street.. I get trash talk and booing all that is what is it is .. but there is a line
— C.J. Miles (@masfresco) December 22, 2019
And y’all know there’s a line… This idea that the amount of money made makes any difference is the problem.. that it shouldn’t be felt or cared about .. you know how insane that sounds ?! That disconnect is wild..
— C.J. Miles (@masfresco) December 22, 2019
• Adam Zielonka can be reached at azielonka@washingtontimes.com.
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