Isaiah Thomas was not pleased with the league's decision to suspend him for two games after going into the stands to confront a Philadelphia 76ers fan heckling him on Saturday. The Washington Wizards guard took to Twitter to express his displeasure with the league's decision.
Bullshit!
— Isaiah Thomas (@isaiahthomas) December 22, 2019
The NBA has very strict rules that require any player who deliberately enters the stands during a game be automatically ejected and subject to a fine and/or suspension, which the league said in an announcement Sunday. These rules were put in place after The Malice In The Palace happened 15 years ago, resulting in a wave of suspensions and fines as a brawl broke out at the Detroit Pistons' old arena: The Palace of Auburn Hills.
Thomas was ejected late in the fourth quarter of a 125-108 loss in Philly after he went to confront a Sixers' fan at Wells Fargo Center. The fan and another spectator also involved in the situation were banned from the Wells Fargo Center for a year.
Article Continues BelowThe 5-foot-9 Wizards guard said he ran back after making one of two free throws and the fan had “both of his middle fingers up and said, ‘F*** you, b***h,' three times.”
“I said: ‘Don't be disrespectful. I'm a man before anything. Be a fan,' Thomas told the fan, who later responded: ‘I'm sorry, I just wanted a Frosty,'” referring to an in-game promotion in which Sixers' fans receive the dessert if an opposing player misses two free throws in the second half, according to ESPN.
The fan had his season-ticket privileges revoked and was refunded for the remaining games he will not attend, while Thomas will begin serving his suspension when the Wizards take on the New York Knicks on Monday.
Given how the suspension will cost Thomas $32,000 in game checks, while the fan is getting his money back, it's not surprising to see Thomas so frustrated with the league's decision.