Marcus Smart Gets Three-game Suspension for Swing at Bassey

WHO:

CBS Sports - Marcus Smart had two NBA suspensions, 12 ejections and nine fines during his 13-year career; the fine total excludes flopping and technical-foul fines.

The New York Times - Warriors forward Draymond Green said, “You up against one (of us), you up against all,” and praised teammates for getting involved after the altercation.

The New York Times - Warriors forward Georges Niang said he was shocked by the incident and that he had never seen that kind of incident in a game; he added that he had a close relationship with Smart and did not consider him a horrible person.

Newsweek - Marcus Smart, a Houston Rockets starter, was suspended after punching Charles Bassey; the suspension created a rotation challenge for Houston.

Fox News - Smart was a 32-year-old Houston Rockets guard and former Defensive Player of the Year; Bassey was a Golden State Warriors center.

ESPN - Smart was a 12-year veteran who joined Houston in free agency over the summer. He averaged 8.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.1 steals over nine games, including one start.

ESPN - Rockets coach Ime Udoka said Smart told him that Bassey bent Smart’s previously injured elbow during their tangle.

ESPN - Bassey accused Smart of playing dirty and called the punch “fake toughness.” He said Smart grabbed his knee while he was setting a screen, grabbed his hand while he tried to get a rebound and run back on defense, and appeared to want to leave the game.

RealGM Basketball - Smart averaged 8.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.1 steals in nine games for Houston.

WHAT:

The New York Times - Smart’s night ended with six points and two rebounds in 17 minutes.

CBS Sports - Smart had 12 ejections and nine fines, excluding flopping and technical-foul fines, across his 13-year NBA career.

Hoops Rumors - Smart’s suspension will cost him $125,462 of his $6,064,000 salary for the season; Houston will receive a $62,731 tax-variance credit.

Hoops Rumors - Houston was $14,077 below the luxury-tax line before Smart’s suspension.

Fox News - Bassey finished with seven points and six rebounds in 13 minutes.

Fox News - The NBA suspended Smart for three games without pay after he swung at Bassey and grazed his nose.

ESPN - Smart received a flagrant 2 foul and was ejected. The ejection was the 13th of his career, according to Fox News; Smart finished with six points, two rebounds and one assist in 17 minutes.

ESPN - Houston won 115-108; the Rockets were 9-3 and third in the Western Conference entering play Thursday.

ESPN - Smart had previously received NBA suspensions for hitting Matt Bonner in 2015 and threatening an official in 2021, according to Fox News. Fox also reported a $50,000 fine for shoving Joel Embiid in 2019.

WHERE:

The New York Times - Smart and Bassey confronted each other at the top of the key.

Hoops Rumors - Smart and Bassey were tangled up in the post at the opposite end of the court on the possession before the confrontation.

ESPN - The game was a Houston home win; the confrontation took place near the basket and in front of referee Mitchell Ervin.

Fox News - Smart’s suspension sidelines him for Houston’s home game against Utah, road game in Washington and game in Miami.

WHEN:

ESPN - The confrontation occurred late in the third quarter, 21 seconds after Amen Thompson’s transition basket extended Houston’s lead.

Fox News - Smart is scheduled to miss games against the Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards and Miami Heat and become eligible to return against the Indiana Pacers.

WHY:

The New York Times - Niang said he could not know what was happening in people’s lives outside basketball and that emotions in the arena can sometimes get the better of players.

Fox News - Bassey said he intentionally baited Smart, saying, “I knew he was gonna do something.”

ESPN - Udoka said Smart told him Bassey bent his previously injured elbow; Bassey challenged him with, “What you gonna do?” Udoka said Smart “did it.”

HOW:

Hoops Rumors - Bassey was not injured and appeared unfazed after the altercation.

Hoops Rumors - The NBA described the suspension as punishment “for throwing a punch that made contact with the face” of Bassey.

ESPN - Smart threw a right hook as Bassey stepped back; the punch grazed Bassey’s nose. Yaxel Lendeborg attempted to separate them, and Amen Thompson, Gui Santos, Brandin Podziemski and referee Brandon Adair intervened.

Houston guard Marcus Smart was suspended three games without pay for punching Golden State’s Charles Bassey. The punch grazed Bassey’s nose during Houston’s 115-to-108 win; Smart was ejected. Smart’s suspension leaves Houston facing a rotation challenge, while Bassey said Smart played dirty.