Nothing really happened. But that was more than the league wanted to happen.
So the NBA league office has suspended the Knicks Carmelo Anthony one game for trying to confront the Celtics Kevin Garnett after the game between their teams Monday night.
Anthony and Garnett were often matched up on the court, particularly with KG defending ‘Melo. At one point they earned double technical. Garnett talks a lot of smack on the court, a seeming constant flow of it.
At one point Garnett said something that got under Anthony’s skin, something Anthony said later crossed the line. Anthony wanted to confront KG about that and was even waiting outside the Celtics bus after the game because of it. Anthony and KG later spoke on the phone and cleared the air.
That crossed the line for the league.
“There are no circumstances in which it is acceptable for a player to confront an opponent after a game,” said Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President Basketball Operations, in a released statement. “Carmelo Anthony attempted to engage with Kevin Garnett multiple times after Monday’s game and therefore a suspension was warranted.”
Anthony will sit out the Knicks game against the Pacers Thursday night on TNT.
I get where the league is going with this. Don’t love the suspension, but I get why they need to draw that line. But this really comes back to Anthony needing to let it go in the first place. KG talks a lot of smack, he tries to get into your head. If he does it’s on you, not him.