In the aftermath of #Spitgate. the NBA slapped suspensions on Houston Rockets point guard Chris Paul and Los Angeles Lakers point guard Rajon Rondo and forward Brandon Ingram for their roles in the on-court altercation on Oct. 20, when the Rockets faced the Lakers at Staples Center.
In a statement, NBA executive vice president for basketball operations Kiki VanDeWeghe announced that the league meted out a four-game suspension on Ingram, while his teammate Rondo would sit out three games, while Paul received a two-game suspension.
The suspensions are "without pay," meaning the players will not receive their salaries while they are serving their disciplinary action.
While Paul received the lightest penalty, he is estimated to lose US$491,781 in salary forfeited as he serves the suspension. Lakers' Rondo stands to lose US$186,206 in the course of the suspension, while Ingram forfeits US$158,817.
Ingram bore the brunt of the suspension for triggering the entire incident when he threw a punch "'in the direction of Paul, confronted a referee in a hostile way, and pushing Rockets guard James Harden, the NBA said.
Rondo was found to have instigated the altercation, and "spitting and throwing multiple punches at Paul."
The Rockets starting point guard was adjudged taunting and pointing fingers at Rondo, and throwing punches at him as well.
VanDeWeghe defended the league's penalty on the players, explaining that the NBA comes down hard on such actions in the hopes of players not repeating such altercations which undermine the safety of players in general.
"All of the punishments are done with an eye towards, we don't want this to happen again and sending a clear message that this is not acceptable behavior and you cannot do this," he pointed out.
The incident occurred at the 4:13 mark of the fourth quarter with both teams trading shots. While frustrations simmered among the players, things got testy after Ingram fouled Harden. The Lakers forward shoved the Rockets guard, which referees immediately whistled a technical foul on Ingram.
Lakers guard Lance Stephenson pulled Ingram away from the referee, but Paul and Rondo faced off, having an exchange of heated words. It was said that Rondo spit on Paul, and the latter stuck out his finger on the Lakers guard's face.
At that point, Rondo threw punches at Paul, who also managed to punch the Lakers guard, while Ingram rushed to his teammate's side and threw a punch at the Rockets guard. Cooler heads separated the instigators, and the three were subsequently thrown out of the playing court.
The incident dampened the electrifying reception Lebron James received from the home crowd in his first game wearing the Lakers colors. When the game resumed, it appeared LA lost steam as Houston rolled to a 124-115 victory.
