Watch: Ex-NBA Finals MVP Iguodala Ejected for 'Hostile Act' Targeting Fans
The Golden State Warriors avenged a loss earlier in the week against the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday night, and they did it without the services of guard Andre Iguodala for the second half.
The 2015 NBA Finals MVP was ejected at halftime for committing a “hostile act, according to ESPN. After the first-half buzzer sounded, he hurled the ball into the stands, where it landed about 20 rows deep.
Iguodala was trying to bring the ball up the court to get one last shot off. But he fumbled the ball a bit, and time expired before he gained complete possession.
When he did gain possession, about one second after the buzzer sounded, it appeared he was going to attempt a half-court shot even though the quarter was over, which is quite common among NBA players.
But instead of trying for a legitimate shot, he simply threw the ball up in frustration toward the general direction of the basket.
Blazers coaches were not happy, prompting the officials to review the play during halftime. They ultimately decided to eject the 15-year NBA veteran.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr discussed the ejection after the game.
“Not surprising,” Kerr said of his reaction. “If you throw something into the stands … a mouthpiece, or a ball or whatever, you get ejected.”
“I guess the distinction the officials had to make was, ‘Was that a shot? Was he just throwing the ball towards the hoop at the end of the half? Or was it out of frustration?’ And they deemed that it was out of frustration,” he added.
Iguodala claimed his heave was a shot attempt, even though it came after the buzzer sounded and didn’t land anywhere close to the basket.
“I was trying to shoot,” he said, per The Athletic’s Anthony Slater. “How do (the officials) know my depth perception?”
The referees may have been trying to restore order in was turning into a chippy game. Less than 90 seconds before Iguodala’s heave, Warriors forward Draymond Green was hit with a technical foul.
The Warriors had no difficulty defeating the Blazers without Iguodala, defeating Portland 115-105.
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