Marcus Smart handed three-game NBA ban after punch at Charles Bassey
The Houston guard will miss games against Utah, Washington and Miami, with the unpaid suspension costing him US$125,462, according to ESPN.
Houston Rockets guard Marcus Smart has received a three-game unpaid suspension after punching Warriors player Charles Bassey in the face, the NBA announced. The punishment follows an altercation during the teams’ game in Houston.
The confrontation came in the third quarter with 21 seconds left. After exchanging words with Bassey, Smart threw a right jab that appeared to graze his nose. Bassey was not injured. Smart received a flagrant two foul and was ejected.
Rockets head coach Ime Udoka said afterward that Smart was upset because Bassey had wrapped up his elbow, which Smart had injured earlier in the season. According to Varun Shankar of The Houston Chronicle, the players had become tangled in the post during the previous possession. Bassey said he had deliberately provoked Smart.
ESPN’s Bobby Marks reported that Smart will forfeit US$125,462 from his US$6,064,000 salary for the season. Houston will get a US$62,731 tax variance credit, Marks said. Before the suspension, the team was US$14,077 below the luxury tax threshold.
Smart will begin serving the suspension against Utah, then miss Houston’s games at Washington and Miami. He is a former Defensive Player of the Year winner.
