Marcus Smart, a potential lottery pick in the 2014 NBA draft, was caught on camera shoving a Texas Tech fan during a heated confrontation late in a game in Lubbock, Texas last night. Smart was charged with a technical foul but escaped being ejected—regardless, he could face a multi-game suspension.
It’s unclear what started the fight but there are, of course, theories: Smart said he called him the n-word, the fan (a guy named Jeff Orr) vaguely said he “said something he shouldn’t have,” and NBA’er John Lucas, who played at OSU from 2001 to 2005, said he knew the fan enough during his college days to paint him in a negative light.
I just saw the video that same fan was at the games talking crazy even when I was in school I don’t forget a face he says a lot of crazy ish
— John Lucas III (@Luke1luk) February 9, 2014
When a fan was talking reckless about me and my family about my dads problems back in the day calling me a crack baby and all, but my fam
— John Lucas III (@Luke1luk) February 9, 2014
Orr was also caught on camera wagging his tongue at a Texas A&M player during a 2010 game:
Bottom line: Players cannot go into the crowd. Smart, whose draft stock has already taken a beating this year from his play on the court, should be smarter.
AND, If you’re a middle-aged guy who gets off on following around Texas Tech and pretending like you’re a part of the team, you run the risk of getting treated that way when you say some abhorrent shit to a player. The basketball court isn’t a bubble.
(Or maybe everyone can all be a little less shitty to each other.)
[H/T: The Big Lead]