Watch: NBA Getting Roasted After 1 of the Worst Ejections Ever
Trash talking is nothing new in the NBA. Larry Bird and Michael Jordan were considered two of the biggest trash talkers in NBA history. And the referees often let it go.
But in today’s NBA, the refs have little tolerance the kind of jawing that was so prevalent in the past, whether it’s arguing a call or trash talking an opponent — and that’s not lost on the players.
But on Sunday, the referees took it to another level when they T’ed up a player for just giving another player a dirty look.
Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young stared down Chicago Bulls guard Kris Dunn after drilling a three-pointer in his face with about 9:20 left in the third quarter.
Trae Young was ejected from the game for staring down Kris Dunn after a deep three pic.twitter.com/IIKouHFiuB
— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) March 3, 2019
For the stare down, Young was hit with a technical foul, his second of the game, and ejected.
His first technical was ridiculous, too.
Young was T’ed up in the first quarter for getting slapped in the back of the head by Dunn, who was upset that Young launched a three after the whistle blew.
Kris Dunn didn’t appreciate Trae Young getting a shot up after the timeout
(via @NBAOfficial) pic.twitter.com/gswT9bfmCA— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) March 3, 2019
Both players drew technicals for that incident.
After the game, Young seemed to shrug off the ejection.
“They made a call, I live with it. I looked at someone, and that was about it,” he said, according to ESPN.
Dunn was confused by the call, too.
“I don’t really know what happened, to be honest,” Dunn said, according to ESPN. “I just know that he got ejected, and I felt that he shouldn’t have got ejected.”
Of course, players complain about officials all the time, and technical fouls can always be controversial. But criticism of this call came from all over.
What’s happened to my beloved NBA game? So damn SOFT and SENSITIVE now, nooooo way Trae Young should be given a technical for this.. I would have been broke and out of the league in 2 years ???… #LetBallersBall pic.twitter.com/0eKlxOCx8V
— Reggie Miller (@ReggieMillerTNT) March 3, 2019
I think this is so trash. A tech for this??? He’s just out there having fun. Not to mention Dunn deserved it for pushing him earlier
— Von Snow (@VonSoTrill) March 3, 2019
Worst ejection ever
— Ed (@UjiakoPHX) March 3, 2019
This is up there with the legendary Tim Duncan getting ejected for laughing as the worst ejection I have ever seen in the history of sports.
It’s theft. These guys get fined thousands of dollars for such minuscule and ridiculous reasons. pic.twitter.com/5uudDlX9Tf
— Bless’m Baker (@BakersLand6) March 4, 2019
The referee who T’ed up Young, Mark Ayotte, defended his call.
“Taunting is directed at an opponent specifically,” he said, according to ESPN.
“Celebration is not directed at an opponent.”
Young had 18 points when he was ejected but the Hawks still managed to win, 123-118.
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