NBA star Dillion Brooks has escaped further punishment for hitting LeBron James in the groin.
The Memphis Grizzlies star has attempted to antagonise the basketball icon throughout his team’s first round playoff series with the Los Angeles Lakers. Brooks was on the winning side in game two as he doggedly defended James and didn’t waste an opportunity to goad him during the game. The tables turned in game three as James led the Lakers to an important win and was struck by Brooks in the nether regions for his troubles.
As the second half began, with the Grizzlies trailing by 16 points, James dribbled the ball behind his back in the half court. James then dropped to the floor clutching his groin after Brooks struck him, and was ejected as a result. But now it has been confirmed that the controversial small forward will not be suspended or suffer any other further punishment for his actions.
“The NBA has reviewed Dillon Brooks' flagrant 2 foul on LeBron James and there will be no additional penalty, sources tell ESPN. League reviews all flagrant fouls,” ESPN Senior NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski tweeted. He added: “Brooks was assessed a flagrant 2 foul and ejected for a shot to James' groin in Game 3 on Saturday night, but the league will not suspend Brooks, sources said."
After their latest victory, James spoke to the media and was asked if he felt Brooks should be suspended for game four. "I'm not a part of that committee, James said. "If he's in the lineup, out of the lineup, we've got to prepare no matter what."
The referees’ judgement on certain calls throughout the playoffs has been a significant talking point, as those around the basketball world call for consistency from the officials. Brooks escaped a suspension for hitting LeBron down low, but Draymond received an ejection and one-game suspension after stamping on Domantas Sabonis in game two of the Golden State Warriors' playoff series with the Sacramento Kings.
Furthermore, Philadelphia 76ers star James Harden was ejected for an elbow to the groin of Brooklyn Nets star Nic Claxton in game three of their series, but teammate Joel Embiid kicked out at the same player earlier in the game, and received no punishment. Green is set to return to the Warriors’ lineup on Sunday for game four, with the defending champions aiming to square the series at 2-2. The animated power forward commented on his suspension, claiming it won’t be his last and vowed not to change.
“Them s*** don’t work,” Green said. “Here I am, still sitting here, still winning. They created those rules before, they didn’t work, they still don’t work,:" Green said. "Maybe they did but Draymond won’t be moved by no Draymond rules. I will continue to play the game how I play the game, operate how I operate, be exactly who I am, because that leads to winning.”
When asked how his latest suspension compares with missing game five of the 2016 NBA Finals, the four-time champion is unable to make a comparison. "It’s a different feeling, 2016 we were up 3-1, so whether you lose that game or not you have more,” Green explained. “Being down 2-0 you have more whether you lose or not, but it’s different. So I think for us being in a totally different position.
“Being in a dog fight and not being able to participate, that’s tough, not from the suspension. I’ve been suspended from Game 5 of the NBA Finals. There’s never a suspension that would bother me. There’s no game that could compare to that, so as far as my personal feeling about a suspension it’s neither here nor there. It doesn’t move me one way or another. … I’ll get suspended again at some point.”
