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Atlanta Hawks rookie Trae Young was ejected early in the third quarter of the team's 123-118 win against the Chicago Bulls on Sunday. The 20-year-old rookie received his second technical of the game after staring down Kris Dunn of the Bulls. Young had just made a long 3-pointer.
After the game, the league officials released a statement on Twitter, explaining why Trae Young had been ejected.
Transcript: NBA Referee Mark Ayotte Comments to Pool Reporter after Hawks – Bulls Game pic.twitter.com/j03CGABW0y
— NBA Official (@NBAOfficial) March 3, 2019
Young already received a technical early in the first quarter after an altercation with Dunn.
He finished the game with 18 points, five assists, and two rebounds in 18 minutes of action.
Fans are not buying this reasoning by the league officials, with one even calling it despicable.
Despicable call, that happens 30 times a night in much more intense/deliberate fashion across the NBA and is NEVER called. And this time it results in ejecting a star player that everyone paid money to specifically come watch. Would turn me away from ever paying to watch again
— D (@ironfitness23) March 3, 2019
This decision by referees has been added to a long list of questionable calls that have drawn heavy criticism this season. There have already been instances when players went directly to the league office to raise concerns about officiating, but nothing has been addressed so far.
Still, Young's ejection raises a new set of questions, especially since the playoffs are just a few weeks away. The Hawks might not be in the playoffs, but tolerance for certain gestures has certainly become a point of focus. Many people think it shouldn't warrant a technical (especially not a second one), but it is hard for players to know exactly what crosses the line. In a playoff game, the consequences of not knowing where that line exists could be enormous.
It has yet to be determined if the commissioner's office will release its own statement about the matter, but one thing's for sure: The referees need to allow the players to show emotion on the floor, within reasonable (non-verbal) limits. Limiting their actions through petty calls like the Trae Young ejection on Sunday takes away the excitement of the game.
