Frosty reception for Thomas
Confronting fans who didn’t get frozen treat brings two-game ban
PHILADELPHIA—The NBA issued a two-game suspension to Washington Wizards guard Isaiah Thomas for entering the stands to confront fans in Philadelphia, the league announced Sunday night.
The two 76ers fans who made obscene gestures and directed profanities at Thomas during Saturday night’s game, causing the player to walk several rows into the stands, were issued a 12-month ban from Wells Fargo Center, a 76ers representative announced.
Players who deliberately enter the stands can be subject to a fine or a suspension, and the league has the rule in place to “prevent altercations or other hostile interactions between players and fans, for the benefit of both,” the league’s statement read. Although Thomas calmly addressed the fans and the interaction did not escalate, the NBA still deemed it necessary to punish Thomas.
The league has enforced its policy since a brawl between players and fans at a Detroit Pistons-Indiana Pacers game in November 2004, the infamous “Malice at the Palace,” led to the suspension of nine players.
In June 2006, Dallas Mavericks centre DJ Mbenga was suspended six games for entering the stands to help the wife of then-head coach Avery Johnson, who was involved in a confrontation with two fans. In January of that year, New York Knicks forward Antonio Davis was issued a five-game suspension for entering the stands to help his wife, who he felt was being accosted by fans.
On Sunday night, Thomas, who spoke with NBA security after the incident, tweeted an expletive as a reaction to the news of his suspension.
The fans, whose names were not released by the 76ers, admitted to arena security that they had used inappropriate language and gestures, a violation of the arena’s conduct policy. Their seats in Section 120 belonged to a 76ers season ticket holder, and as a result of the incident, the team revoked the ticket owner’s privileges and issued a refund for the remaining games of the season, the spokesperson said.
Late in Saturday’s game, a 125108 Philadelphia win, Thomas entered the stands to confront the pair because he said one had held up both middle fingers and yelled “F- you, b-” three times. The male fan who made the comment and gesture toward Thomas was responding to the player splitting a pair of free throws and denying the crowd a small Frosty from Wendy’s as part of an in-game promotion. Thomas calmly entered the stands to confront the fan, who was angry about missing out on free food, but Thomas said he never raised his voice while addressing him.
“I say, ‘Don’t be disrespectful.’ I’m a man before anything, and be a fan,” Thomas said. “And his response was, ‘I’m sorry. I just wanted a Frosty,’ because if you miss two free throws, I guess the fans get a Frosty. So, that’s what happened, and I walked back.”
Saturday wasn’t the first incident this month between a 76ers fan and an opposing player.
Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry, who hails from Philadelphia, exchanged words with a fan while heading back to the visitors’ locker room Dec. 8. After being heckled, Lowry yelled at the fan, “Come see me!”
Thomas will miss the next two games, Monday against the Knicks and Thursday against the Pistons, without pay. The Wizards are down to eight available players for Monday night’s game in New York.