One of the most frustrating nights for the Boston Celtics was made worse by what most have argued was a bad foul call that led to a frustrated Rajon Rondo chest bumping referee Marc Davis.
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Rajon Rondo of the Boston Celtics
According to ESPN, NBA Commissioner David Stern would not say earlier whether or not the league had any plans to discipline Rondo, but his views on the incident are clear.
"I don't want to pre-judge on what my recommendation will be," Stern told Colin Howard on ESPN's Radio's "The Herd." "But as a fan, he obviously bumped him. And you know what happens with respect to that."
With 41 seconds left in the game, a very frustrated Rondo argued wit hreferee Marc Davis over a foul call against his teammate, Brandon Bass. The Celtics were down by 4. Rondo's actions got him a technical foul, but he wasn't finished. He chest bumped Davis, and was ejected immediately from the game.
According to The Boston Herald, Rondo claims the bump was an accident.
"Obviously, I was upset about the call and I said some words to Marc," he said. "I deserved the first tech, and as I was walking, I thought he stopped. My momentum carried me into him. I think I even tripped on his foot. I didn't intentionally chest bump him, but that's what it appears to be."
The NBA Rule Book states that "any player or coach guilty of intentional contact with an official shall be suspended without pay for one game. A fine and/or longer period of suspension will result if circumstances so dictate."
"We have a hard and fast rule," David Stern said. "Unless somebody trips you and sends you into him, nobody touches a referee. That's the proposition."
While Stern has never been known to be lenient on this sort of thing, Celtics coach Doc Rivers is staying positive and sticking by Rondo, The LA Times reports.
"I'm always worried, but I would be surprised if that happens," Rivers said regarding a possible suspension for Rondo. "I thought Rondo was walking toward Marc, and Marc turned back toward him, and that's when Rondo bumped him. That's all it was in my opinion, but we'll see."
ESPN reports that an official decision on this matter is expected later Monday.
"It's out of my control," Rondo said. "Obviously I want to be there for my teammates, but other than that, I have no control right now."
