Written by Ben Rohrbach at YahooSports.com
Just before his Washington Wizards suited up for a second home game in three nights, John Wall was hit with a $25,000 fine for what the NBA front office dubbed “inappropriate interaction with a game official and failing to leave the court in a timely manner following his ejection” in the final minute of Monday’s loss to the Houston Rockets. So, what did the All-Star point guard do for an encore?
Why, he got ejected again, of course.
Midway through the fourth quarter of a game his team led by 20 points, Wall leveled Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart with a clothesline in the backcourt that the officials ruled a Flagrant Foul 2.
Wall’s unnecessary contact resulted in an automatic ejection and could come with another fine or even a suspension, pending a league review, which occurs following a flagrant foul of any nature. Even if he avoids suspension for his second ejection in as many games, he is now halfway to the six flagrant points that automatically trigger a one-game ban after also picking up a Flagrant Foul 1 against the Memphis Grizzlies two weeks earlier. Keep in mind, the Wizards are just seven games into the season.
The larger question is what could possibly possess a player to go out of his way to commit such a foolish foul 60 feet from the basket with a 118-93 win well in hand. Afterwards, Wall was unapologetic about the incident, telling reporters he kept quiet about a series of perceived missed calls throughout the game and “just got frustrated at the end” of a game in which he attempted seven free throws.
“Just getting frustrated,” added Wall, via CSN Mid-Atlantic. “My finger was bleeding the whole game. Got stepped on on purpose. Drove to the basket a couple times, didn’t get calls,” Wall said of being tossed with 5:24 left and the Wizards ahead 106-86. “The play before I (drove) and got smacked right across the face. On my ear. So I just let my frustration get the best of me.”
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