Washington Wizards guard Isaiah Thomas was ejected late in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers after he entered the stands to confront a fan who had been cursing at him.
Thomas said after the game that the Sixers fan had given him the finger and said “F–k you, bitch” to him multiple times during the 125-108 loss. When the Wizards called a timeout with 2:53 remaining in the fourth quarter, he went into the stands to verbally confront him.
@NBATV didn’t bleep out Isaiah Thomas from regurgitating what the fan in Philly said to him during tonight’s game. I give him kudos for staying calm. pic.twitter.com/rJXJt0Kr94
— Paul Bonerko (@KonerkosBonerko) December 22, 2019
Isaiah Thomas goes into the Philadelphia stands to confront a fan. He was ejected for this.
(Via @TheAthletic) pic.twitter.com/Z04Q0gWdXS
— Samuel J. Robinson (@samuelrobinsonJ) December 22, 2019
“I said: ‘Don’t be disrespectful. I’m a man before anything. Be a fan.’ His response was, ‘I’m sorry, I just wanted a Frosty,’” Thomas told reporters after the game, explaining that the 76ers have a promotion where fans get a Wendy’s Frosty dessert if an opposing player misses two free throws in the second half.
The player identified the fan to security to have him removed from the game, insisting that his insults were inappropriate.”That crossed the line,” he said. “I’ve got kids. I’ve got a family. That’s not OK at all. So I just went to go tell him that. I’m never going to be disrespected in any way.”
NBA rules state that a player must be ejected for “deliberately entering the stands other than as a continuance of play.” Thomas faces a $2000 fine.
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