US basketball

Wizards’ Bryant fined $45,000 for contact with NBA ref

Dec 20, 2020 12:12 PM PHT

Agence France-Presse

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Wizards’ Bryant fined $45,000 for contact with NBA ref

PENALIZED. Wizards big man Thomas Bryant (right) figures in a preseason scuffle.

Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images/AFP

Thomas Bryant, expected to be the Wizards' starting center this season, gets fined for shoving a game official

Washington Wizards center Thomas Bryant was fined $45,000 by the NBA on Saturday, December 19, for “inappropriate contact” with an official in a preseason game on Thursday.

The incident occurred in the 3rd quarter of the Wizards’ game against Detroit, after Pistons big man Blake Griffin manhandled Bryant to the floor.

Bryant bounced up and tried to confront a laughing Griffin, but a game official got between them.

Bryant touched and shoved the official as he tried to get to Griffin, who was assessed a flagrant foul for his actions. Bryant received a technical foul.

Bryant, entering his fourth season, is expected to be the Wizards’ starting center. Last season he averaged career highs in points (13.2), rebounds (7.2), assists (1.8), blocks (1.1), and minutes (24.9) per game. – Rappler.com