VIDEO: Isaiah Thomas Got Ejected From Wizards Game After 2 Minutes for Making Contact With the Ref
By Jerry Trotta
A split second of losing his cool has cost Isaiah Thomas the opportunity to show out against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night. The Washington Wizards point guard was wrestling for possession of the basketball with Carmelo Anthony when he brazenly opted to shove the nearby referee.
IT was ejected a minute and a half into the game for making contact with the official ? pic.twitter.com/RXwKes3pfK
— Bleacher Report NBA (@BR_NBA) January 4, 2020
While IT looked flabbergasted by the official's decision to send him for an (extremely) early shower, it appears to be the right call.
Placing hands on a referee is grounds for an immediate ejection, as is stated in the rules. Thomas looked like he was waiting for the official to whistle for a jump ball, which never came. Instead, IT gave the referee a nudge, and he stepped backwards into some fans sitting courtside before ejecting the 5-9 point guard.
Isaiah Thomas has been ejected for shoving the ref
— NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) January 4, 2020
(? @BR_NBA) pic.twitter.com/kvX6aeyJJm
It was a no-brainer settlement by the ref, and a questionable decision from IT, regardless of how much force was behind the contact.