TNT color commentator and Hall of Famer Reggie Miller was befuddled by Carmelo Anthony's ejection in the third quarter of the Oklahoma City Thunder's Sunday night game against the Portland Trail Blazers.
As the Thunder faced an 11-point deficit during the latter stages of the period, Anthony drove baseline and double-clutched at the front of the rim, where center Jusuf Nurkic met him, fouling him and catching an elbow to the face as Melo scored the basket.
CARMELO ANTHONY HAS BEEN EJECTED!!! pic.twitter.com/wL0hkrgbHA
— NBC Sports Northwest (@NBCSNorthwest) November 6, 2017
While the call on the floor was a shooting foul, giving Carmelo Anthony a free-throw for a 3-point play. The officials, however, decided to call it a Flagrant 2 for targeting Nurkic above the shoulder during the play — leading Miller to tweet out in despair.
The NBA is so SOFT!! Carmelo got thrown out for that?? Mind you call on floor was a foul on Nurkic!! What a joke, seriously, A JOKE.
— Reggie Miller (@ReggieMillerTNT) November 6, 2017
The league has made emphasis to contact above the shoulders and below the belt, which referees will enforce now more closely than ever.
While the intention is up for dispute, Carmelo Anthony had to bring his arms down to finish the layup attempt, and it just so happens that it caught the Blazers' rim protector squarely in the mug in the process.
Reggie Miller's times in the NBA were a lot different, with a lot more physicality allowed — between hand-checks, pushes, and hard fouls not even garnering a flagrant denomination.
The league has certainly changed to protect the players, as have many others, but Miller isn't letting this “joke” go anytime soon, as he's sure to mock the actions by the officials in the days to come.
Follow Us
Subscribe