The NBA announced Washington Wizards guard Isaiah Thomas was suspended for two games for entering the stands to speak to fans during Saturday night’s game at the Philadelphia 76ers.
Earlier Sunday, the 76ers announced the two fans who prompted Thomas to enter the stands were banned from the Wells Fargo Center for 12 months.
“NBA rules state that any player who deliberately enters the spectator stands during a game will be automatically ejected and subject to a fine and/or suspension,” the league said in a statement.
Wizards guard Isaiah Thomas has been suspended two games for entering crowd during verbal confrontation with fans Saturday night in Philadelphia.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 23, 2019
NBA statement: “NBA rules state that any player who deliberately enters the spectator stands during a game will be automatically ejected and subject to a fine and/or suspension.”
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 23, 2019
76ers have banned the fans involved from their arena for one year. https://t.co/dfsIf7eVtm
Late in the game, one of the two 76ers fans yelled multiple obscenities at Thomas and raised his middle fingers at him, per reports.
Thomas told reporters in Philadelphia that he hoped the NBA would understand his side of the story — particularly that he was not cursing the fans out or acting physically in any way.
When the suspension was announced, Thomas expressed his displeasure with the ruling with a single vulgarity on Twitter.
• Adam Zielonka can be reached at azielonka@washingtontimes.com.
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