PHILADELPHIA — The NBA issued a two-game suspension to Washington Wizards guard Isaiah Thomas for entering the stands to confront fans in Philadelphia, the league announced Sunday night. The two 76ers fans who made obscene gestures and directed profanities at Thomas during Saturday night’s game, causing the player to walk several rows into the stands, were issued a 12-month ban from Wells Fargo Center, a 76ers spokesperson announced.
Players who deliberately enter the stands can be subject to a fine or a suspension, and the league has the rule in place to “prevent altercations or other hostile interactions between players and fans, for the benefit of both,” the league’s statement read. Although Thomas calmly addressed the fans and the interaction did not escalate, the NBA still deemed it necessary to punish Thomas.
The league has enforced its policy since a brawl between players and fans at a Detroit Pistons-Indiana Pacers game in November 2004, the infamous “Malice at the Palace,” led to the suspension of nine players.
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In June 2006, Dallas Mavericks center DJ Mbenga was suspended six games for entering the stands to help the wife of then-head coach Avery Johnson, who was involved in a confrontation with two fans. In January of that year, New York Knicks forward Antonio Davis was issued a five-game ban for entering the stands to help his wife, who he felt was being accosted by fans.
On Sunday night, Thomas, who spoke with NBA security following the incident, tweeted an expletive as a reaction to the news of his suspension.
The fans, whose names were not released by the 76ers, admitted to arena security they had used inappropriate language and gestures, a violation of the arena’s conduct policy. Their seats in Section 120 belonged to a 76ers season ticket holder, and as a result of the incident, the team revoked the ticket owner’s privileges and issued a refund for the remaining games of the season, the spokesman said.
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Late in Saturday’s game, a 125-108 Philadelphia win, Thomas entered the stands to confront the pair because he said one had held up both middle fingers and yelled, “F--- you, b----,” three times.
The male fan who made the obscene comment and gesture toward Thomas was responding to the player splitting a pair of free throws and denying the crowd a small Frosty from Wendy’s as part of an in-game promotion. Thomas calmly entered the stands to confront the fan, who was angry about missing out on free food, but Thomas said he never raised his voice while addressing him.
“I say, ‘Don’t be disrespectful.’ I’m a man before anything, and be a fan,’ ” Thomas said. “And his response was: ‘I’m sorry. I just wanted a Frosty,’ because if you miss two free throws, I guess the fans get a Frosty. So that’s what happened, and I walked back.”
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Saturday wasn’t the first incident this month between a 76ers fan and an opposing player.
Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry, who hails from North Philadelphia, exchanged words with a fan while heading back to the visitors’ locker room Dec. 8. After being heckled, Lowry yelled at the fan, “Come see me!”
In another incident, Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell had a courtside fan ejected for what he perceived as rude comments.
“He was being disrespectful,” Mitchell told reporters after the Dec. 2 game. “I like Philly. I think talking trash, I appreciate it. [It’s] part of the game. When you start talking personal stuff, that’s when things get out of control. ... I won’t repeat what [the fan said]."
Thomas, in his ninth NBA season, knows how unforgiving Philadelphia fans can be. Still, the way he sees it, that reputation does not excuse inappropriate language. Thomas was unaware of the previous incidents involving Lowry and Mitchell, but he echoed similar sentiments about standing up against disrespect.
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“You know how Philly fans are. Like that doesn’t bother me,” Thomas said. “When you say the ‘B’ word, that’s not okay. Because if I’m on the street, you won’t ever say that if I’m right next to you, so that’s not okay on any level, and I will not be disrespected like that. Fans can say whatever they want. Don’t talk about my family and don’t say that word.”
According to a 76ers spokesperson, the previous verbal harassment directed at Lowry and Mitchell factored into the team’s decision to issue a year-long ban for the two fans, as well as to come down hard on the season ticket holder.
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Thomas will miss the next two games, Monday against the Knicks and Thursday against the Pistons, without pay. The Wizards are down to eight available players for Monday night’s game in New York.
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