Thon Maker disagrees with the international match ban handed down by FIBA for his role in the basket-brawl against the Philippines, saying a lack of security at the World Cup qualifier meant he needed to protect his teammates.
Daniel Kickert (five matches) and Chris Goulding (one) were also suspended for their roles in the fracas in Manila on July 2.
While Maker noted his respect for FIBA, he used Twitter to explain his involvement in the fight, which has also resulted in bans for 10 Philippines players (a total of 35 games), their assistant coach (three), and head coach Vincent ‘Chot’ Reyes (one and a fine).
“I disagree with their decision to sanction me for three games,” Maker said on Friday.
“I tried to break up a conflict, but without security things quickly devolved into a very dangerous situation where I needed to act to protect my teammates and myself from imminent harm.
“As a human being I cannot turn my back on anyone, Australian or Filipino, teammate or not, who is being attacked by a mob without the adequate help of security.”
The Milwaukee Bucks star said his focus would turn to preparing for the forthcoming NBA season and did not say if he would appeal his ban.
Kickert put out a statement on Thursday through his NBL side the Sydney Kings, accepting his penalty.
But Goulding’s agent Daniel Moldovan says he will be seeking legal council, labelling the one-match ban a disgrace.
Moldovan said on Twitter on Friday the fight “could have easily resulted in the death” of his client who “neither provoked or retaliated to a vicious mob assault”.
Basketball Australia are unlikely to appeal the FIBA bans and have scheduled a board meeting for Friday.
BA received a 100,000 Swiss francs (A$135,000) fine for removing floor decals during training on the day prior to the game and their part in the third-quarter incident.
BrainsTrust
Guest
The Phillipines is appealing the suspensions, Maker might have done the right thing to defend his teammates but he is a political casualty ,I can;t see why anyone would defend Kickert though. Goulding is the one they should be appealling. The Australian media have been beyond pathetic in their lack of attention
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Yeah, it's pretty insane really. As you say, all he really did was act intimidating to try and scare off the guys who were beating on his teammates. Meanwhile we had Filipino players and coaches ganging up on and beating up defenseless players on the floor and only getting the exact same punishment as him. And the idea of suspending a player, who, for all accounts, was simply one of the main victims of the whole thing, and in no way an aggressor, just boggles the mind. Kickert probably deserves a 1 game suspension or so for the cheap shot he took at the start. If nothing further happened after that, he may well have been ejected and then received some minimal suspension like this. Everything else that came after that seemed to be 100% the Filipino team attacking the Aussies. Don't see how any of the Boomers get similar suspensions to those Filipino players and coaches!
Minz
Guest
Bizarre. If you look at what Maker did (and look beyond all the "flying kick!" hysterical headlines), he was protecting his team-mates. Acted intimidating, but didn't hit anyone, and didn't pursue those who ran away. How he could get the same suspension as the coach (he's not even meant to be on the court!) who was punching people is perverse.