In the third quarter of Thursday night’s Game 6 between the Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix big man Deandre Ayton threw down a big dunk on Dallas superstar Luka Dončić. It was ruled a defensive foul on Dončić, even though Ayton elbowed him in the face in the process.
So, that was a questionable call, but what was even more questionable was Ayton being assessed with taunting and a technical foul for (briefly) staring at Dončić after the dunk.
ESPN color commentator JJ Redick mockingly said,”Yeah, that’s taunting in the NBA in 2022.”
Redick continued, “That is not taunting. Why can’t players react after an and-one dunk? I don’t understand.”
These taunting calls in the NBA and NFL just seem to be getting worse and worse.
Here’s a look at how the basketball world has reacted to the taunting call:
The call didn’t mean much for the final score, at least. The Mavericks pummeled the Suns 113-86 to send the Western Conference semifinals series to a Game 7.
Dončić led the way for Dallas in the series-tying victory, scoring 33 points (a game-high), pulling down 11 rebounds (tied for a game-high), dishing out eight assists (a game-high), and swiping four steals (tied for a game-high).
[Photo Credit: ESPN]
About Matt Clapp
Matt is an editor/writer at The Comeback and Awful Announcing.
He can be reached by email at mclapp@thecomeback.com.