Grizzlies’ Dillon Brooks is fined $35,000 for ‘unsportsmanlike conduct’ over cameraman collision
Grizzlies’ Dillon Brooks fined $35,000 for “unsportsmanlike conduct” after colliding with cameraman and shoving him onto court… but fans disagree on penalty
Dillon Brooks was fined $35,000 for shoving a sideline cameraman after chasing a loose ball in Miami on Wednesday, but fans are split on whether or not the Memphis Grizzlies forward really deserved the punishment.
The incident occurred with 2:40 remaining in the second quarter of the Grizzlies’ 138-119 loss to the Heat.
Memphis’ John Konchar prevented the ball from going over the end line, only tossing it across the court in front of the scorer’s table.
Always known for his hustle, Brooks attacked himself to save the ball, only to have it ruled out by a referee.
Brooks’ momentum carried him over the sideline, where he collided with the cameraman and appeared to push the man to the ground with his left arm.
Dillon Brooks was fined $35,000 for shoving a sideline cameraman after chasing a loose ball in Miami on Wednesday, but fans are split on whether or not the Memphis Grizzlies forward really deserved the punishment.
Joe Dumars, the NBA’s executive vice president and head of basketball operations, felt the incident warranted a $35,000 fine, but not everyone was convinced.
‘The guy was trying to get back in the game, relax kids!’ wrote a fan on Twitter. “We don’t need to cancel this guy just because he’s trying to compete at a high level.”
Others disagreed.
“They played well,” another fan wrote in response. He didn’t apologize, help or do anything. Also, he literally pushed the guy. That was intentional. I’m honestly surprised it’s just a ticket and not a suspension.
Brooks actually just came off a suspension, which he received for committing his 16th technical foul of the season during a loss to the Denver Nuggets on March 3.
The Grizzlies are currently without star point guard Ja Morant, who is currently suspended for conduct detrimental to the league after he was seen displaying a gun at a strip club in a video that went viral on social media.
While not all that serious, Brooks’ encounter with the cameraman was reminiscent of an incident in 1997 when controversial Chicago Bulls forward Dennis Rodman kicked a cameraman in Minnesota.
The Worm was wrestling with the Timberwolves’ Kevin Garnett for a rebound when he fell onto some photographers on the baseline. On his way back to his feet, Rodman looked at a cameraman, whom he kicked in the groin, prompting an 11-game NBA suspension.
Rodman also paid the cameraman $200,000.