NBA Cup: Bulls’ Kevin Huerter is ejected for tapping the ball on the referee
Attention, NBA officials. Chicago Bulls forward Kevin Hurter might begrudgingly throw the ball to you.
The Bulls’ 143-107 loss to the Miami Heat in Friday’s NBA Cup game featured one of the most bizarre ejections of the young NBA season. In the third quarter, Huerter was whistled for a blocking foul after making too much contact with Miami’s Pelle Larson.
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Frustrated, Huerter tossed the ball into the air in the direction of Che Flores, the referee who called the foul. The ball bounced off Flores’ right leg, lightly enough that the referee didn’t immediately react to the impact. However, he looked back when veteran official (and potential mayoral candidate) Tony Brothers hit Huerter with a technical foul and instant ejection.
The decision was confirmed after review.
In case you’re curious, here’s what Rule 12, Section V of the NBA Rules says about technical fouls and ejections for official abuse:
D. A technical foul will be assessed for unsportsmanlike tactics such as:
• Addressing an official in a disrespectful manner
• Physically contact an official
• Overt actions that indicate resentment of a call or a lack of call
And. Cursing or swearing at a referee will not be considered the sole cause for imposing a technical foul. Pulling out, constantly criticizing or complaining can be reason enough to evaluate a technician. Excessive misconduct will result in ejection from the game.
It therefore appears that Brothers believed that Huerter’s play fell into the realm of “excessive misconduct.”
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The saving grace here is that Hurter’s ejection hardly cost the Bulls the game. They were down 78-57 at game time on a tough night at the United Center. Eight different Heat players scored in double figures as they won the rebounding battle 53-39, along with 13 steals as a team.
Huerter finished the game with 3 points on 1 of 4 shooting off the bench, plus 2 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block and, perhaps, a lesson learned.