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Former NBA player Richard Jefferson blasted Jay Bilas for his silly resolution to the court storming debate that’s taken over college basketball. RJ called Bilas’s suggestion “the dumbest thing” he’s ever heard.
The topic has been top of mind following a recent incident at Wake Forest where Duke star Kyle Filipowski was reportedly injured when fans rushed onto the floor after an upset.
As Filipowski attempted to leave the court, he was swarmed by a number of Demon Deacon students, eventually having to be helped to the locker room by Duke staff.
A similar scenario played out for women’s star Caitlin Clark, who collided with an Ohio State fan on the floor following a loss to the Buckeyes.
She, too, had to be helped off the court sparking a college basketball controversy.
Should court storming be banned?
Jay Bilas was one talking head most opinionated on the discussion, going as far as to suggest legal action be taken against culprits.
“If they wanted to stop it, they could stop it tomorrow… Once they’re on the court, don’t let them off. Just say, ‘You’re all detained’ and give them all citations or arrest them.”
That seems… extreme.
Richard Jefferson ripped Jay Bilas’s resolution.
Richard Jefferson doesn’t seem to agree with Jay Bilas. pic.twitter.com/knNIpZeqpV
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 26, 2024
In an ESPN segment, the NBA personality sided with basketball tradition.
“This is the dumbest thing I have ever heard in my entire… Did he say, ‘Detained??’ Ten thousand people? Did he say, ‘Give 10,000 people citations?’
“I get it… I’ve had the court stormed on me four or five times. It’s a part of it, it sucks… But this is about college basketball… That is asinine to suggest that.
“This is a part of college sports. It always has been… We’re talking about one situation, two situations over the course, how many court stormings?… Let’s not old, and get the ‘Get off my lawn, get a citation, let’s arrest them all’ [mentality].
“To me, if you paid your tuition, and [your school is] an underdog against a high-level team… and you get the win, you deserve to storm the court.”
The argument always comes down to tradition vs. safety, and the NCAA powers are likely working on a solution that doesn’t completely remove the celebration from sports.
Else, we wouldn’t have scenes like the one at Mississippi Valley State on Monday following the team’s first win – on Senior Night, no less!
What that solution is, we’re not yet sure. We are fairly certain, though, that it won’t involve arresting college students for enjoying the moment.