The playoffs are where players and teams get tenser as the tournament progresses. After Atlanta Hawks lost to Boston Celtics in game 4 of the first round, Hawks guard Dejounte Murray got heated and purposely bumped a referee whilst still on the court. The captured footage has gone viral and now that the Hawks are just one game closer to ending their season, people are now wondering – Is Dejounte Murray going to be suspended? What could the NBA do to Murray following his inappropriate act?
Dejounte Murray bumps into the referee and appears to say something after the game
The Atlanta Hawks lost to the Boston Celtics in a close game, 129-121. The Celtics now take a 3-1 lead and are looking to win game 4 and advance to the second round of the 2023 NBA Playoffs. However, the Hawks, especially Dejounte Murray, did not take this loss lightly. With just a few seconds left before the game ends, Murray went to referee Gediminas Petraitis across the court. Murray looked directly at Petraitis then bumped his chest into the referee’s right shoulder as the buzzer sounded. He also appeared to say something to Petraitis but it was inaudible. This whole interaction was caught on camera and the video has been buzzing the internet since that game.
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Dejounte Murray bumped a referee at the end of Celtics-Hawks Game 4 😬
(via @creatorjordan23)pic.twitter.com/mhUbeEW5Cc
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 24, 2023
What will happen now to Dejounte Murray? Is he suspended?
As it was already the end of the game, Dejounte Murray was not called for a technical foul nor was he ejected. But, according to the NBA rulebook, “Any player or coach guilty of intentional physical contact with an official shall automatically be suspended without pay for one game. A fine and/or longer period of suspension will result if circumstances so dictate.” In addition to that, a fine of at least $50,000 will be imposed on the offender. This means that, while there is no confirmation yet, Dejounte Murray is highly likely to be suspended for at least one game in the playoffs.
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History may just have repeated itself. Another NBA player who had a similar altercation with a referee is the legendary point guard, Rajon Rondo. During the 2012 playoffs when Boston Celtics played the Atlanta Hawks, Rondo bumped into the referee after being called for a technical foul. He was ejected and was later on given a suspension by the league.
Meanwhile, the NBA is now investigating the incident. As of this writing, no official statement has been released by the league and the Atlanta Hawks. In whatever way the NBA perceives Dejounte Murray bumping the referee would affect the decision whether to suspend the All-Star or not.
Is this the end of the road for Dejounte Murray and the Atlanta Hawks? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below. For more content, stay with us, here at Spiel Times.
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