Andrew Gaze fears the “light” one-match NBL ban handed to American star Josh Childress could have negative repercussions throughout Australian basketball.
Childress will miss just one match for the Sydney Kings despite pleading guilty to bringing the game into disrepute for what Gaze has described as “one of the biggest hits ever seen in the NBL”.
Touted as the best-credentialled import ever to come to the NBL, former NBA forward Childress charged at and clobbered Perth’s Jesse Wagstaff with his forearm in a heated reaction to a physical screen. The incident has attracted nearly one million YouTube views.
An NBL tribunal on Tuesday night cleared Childress of striking with his elbow but banned him for one game and fined him $3750 for another charge of unduly rough play.
He was fined an additional $3750 for bringing the game into disrepute.
Australian basketball great Gaze expressed some concern about what message the case may send.
“Based on the evidence I have seen, I think that (the punishment) is a little light-on,” said Gaze.
“If the same incident had happened in an AFL game I think it’s highly unlikely that… he would have got off any lighter than three or four games suspension and possibly a fine as well.
“I think when you have these type of instances and it’s seen to be punished in a way that most people consider relatively minor then you run the risk of that having a rippling effect (to lower grades of the sport).”
Childress has deactivated his Twitter account after copping vicious racial abuse on social media over the incident.
But he said on Wednesday he did not think the abusers should face punishment if tracked down, saying people were entitled to free speech.
He has expressed remorse over the incident, saying he acted out of character after being blindsided by Wagstaff’s screen play.
He told Fox Sports a two-game NBA suspension in 2006 was his only previous offence and he would like to contact Wagstaff, presumably to apologise.
“Obviously, it was a feeling of embarrassment, having to walk that long walk back to the locker room, and getting booed and all that stuff. It’s not my proudest moment,” he said.
“I think the process in itself was fair. But it’s not my call to say what type of suspension I get. That’s the tribunal’s call.”
The Minister
Guest
The lack of interest to this pathetic punishment handed out speaks volumes. That was one of the cheapest shots I've seen in any sport. He smashed his elbow into the guy's throat while he had his head up, unbraced, taking a shot. It was on par with Richard Loe's hit on Paul Carozza in Rugby Union back in the early 90's. Richard Loe was made a pariah and rightfully so. Childress is the glamour boy of the league on $7 million a year and he gets one week off because they simply can't afford to not have him on the court. Desperation stakes... Basketball in Australia....R.I.P.
mushi
Guest
The blurred line between local Saturday comp and professional league just keeps getting less and less distinct. Giving the green light to this stuff basically tells me the league has given up on putting out there something with skill, flair and athleticism. I would turn down free court side seats even if the alternative was an 8 hour shopping trip with my mother in law.
Squidward
Roar Rookie
It's pretty bad and I know it sets a bad standard. But he's a superstar for this league. Let him play
Peter
Guest
It was awful. Deserved 4-5 matches.
KenAgain
Guest
One week for that is a disgrace. No wonder nobody in this country takes the NBL seriously anymore. I have a fifteen year old son playing Men's comp basketball. If this happened to him and the transgressor got a week I would take it to the police and get him hauled off to court for assault. Complete joke of a league. Change a teams name to Melbourne United will fix it. Oops, sack the Coach after one game to prove how United we are. Pathetic
Silver Sovereign
Roar Rookie
stopped listening to Gaze after his ridiculous commentating of the world cup. Always afraid to call it like it is and sucks up to the players and coaches