Houston Rockets players Trevor Ariza and Gerald Green have both been suspended for two games, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski,
The suspension is a result of Ariza, Green, James Harden and Chris Paul forcing their way into the Clippers locker room following a heated, end-of-game exchange during a loss in Los Angeles.
Sources. The NBA is suspending Houston’s Trevor Ariza and Gerald Green two games for aggressively entering Clippers locker room. No penalties for Chris Paul and James Harden.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 17, 2018
No discipline for Clippers Blake Griffin, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 17, 2018
NBA’s Kiki Vandeweghe tells ESPN that interviews with 20 people on scene caused them to conclude that Chris Paul and James Harden acted as “peacemakers” and tried to diffuse the situation with Ariza and Green.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 17, 2018
I’m shocked they only got two games. Absolutely shocked. The penalties for entering the locker room of an opposing team looking to stir up a fight should be way more than two games.
Again, I already said this would never happen in hockey because it’d result in somebody getting sent to the hospital. Obviously, NBA players don’t have a fraction of the toughness of NHL players. That doesn’t mean the league should just give them a slap on the wrist, which sends the signal that there’s not too much of a price to pay for looking to start fights. You want to behave that way then head over the NHL and do it like a man.
These players clearly forget what sport and what league they’re in. No room for this in the NBA. I would have hit them both with at least five games. Is an NBA player going to notice if two game checks go missing? Probably not, but five game checks disappearing is a different story. That’s sending a message.
Commissioner Adam Silver really dropped the ball on this one. Looks like they need to crown me the czar of basketball. I’d put an end to these shenanigans immediately.