The NBA should not penalize Naji Marshall for this interaction
The Mavericks and Suns have had something of a rivalry for the last few years, no doubt due to their playoff matchups and the intensity that comes with that, but more specifically because of the animosity that almost always heats up between Luka Doncic and Devin Booker once they both get cooking. Neither player saw action this evening as both of them are on the injury list. However, that fact didn’t prevent sparks from flying within the Footprint Center in Phoenix during the Mavericks rousing 98-89 win Friday night.
With 9:02 left in the third quarter, Suns center Jusuf Nurkic knocked Mav’s defender Daniel Gafford to the court with a high elbow connection that was very obviously something more aggressive than a normal basketball move. As Gafford lay there recovering, teammates P.J. Washington and Naji Marshall came to his aid, while apparently also vocalizing their displeasure towards Nurkic as he walked away from the scene. Whatever message it was that Marshall brought to Nurkic’s attention, it was apparently enough to prepare the big man to fight.
As he returned to the fray, Nurkic dealt Marshall a blow across the face with his open hand, prompting Naji to defend himself with a closed fist against an attacker over half a foot taller than himself. At this escalation point was reached, P.J. Washington too stepped forth to drive the reeling Nurkic into the ground with a swift, two-handed thrust. That was as far as it went. The players were broken up and Marshall was immediately guided towards the locker room by Dallas personnel as NBA protocol calls for an ejection for any player who deals a punch.
After several minutes of huddled review, the refs finally ended by tossing Nurkic and Washington, as well. The Nurkic ejection was an obvious call. He started the drama and was quick to escalate the physical altercation that followed. Washington’s ejection was something of an afterthought, probably designed more to dissuade players from engaging in any sort of physicality, punching aside, rather than to serve as an indictment of truly questionable behavior on his part.
Ultimately, though, both Marshall and Washington were merely standing up for their teammate who had just been the victim of an unjust bit of physicality from a 7-foot-tall player on the opposing team, and in an unfriendly Phoenix court. As mentioned earlier, Naji was immediate in his reaction towards Nurkic. Whatever he shouted definitely provoked him, but it’s clear that Nurkic was already seeking violence, and his subsequent strike to Marshall’s face proved that he was the ultimate aggressor in this spat, and also that he was aware of the closed-fist ejection protocol.
Seconds into the spat, Maverick’s play-by-play announcer, Mark Followill, was quick to point out that people from the New Orleans Pelicans organization and fanbase (where Marshall was previously employed) have long said that “If you need someone to take up for his teammates, Naji Marshall is going to do that, no questions asked”. And that’s very clearly exactly what occurred this evening.
The fact that Marshall’s fist was closed when he stuck Nurkic in defense should not be a point of focus when the league determines any further punishment for Naji. In fact, there should be no further punishment for him. The ejection was already too much. The non-basketball related violence in Phoenix last night was all due to Jusuf Nurkic. He was having a horrible game and became emotional like a child when having to deal with a grown man capable of knocking him around in the paint (Gafford).
Losing Nurkic didn’t affect anything for Phoenix. He was awful all night. But losing Marshall and Washington created a hardship for the Mavericks. The two of them were masterful from a defensive standpoint for the first 2 ½ quarters. Already down starters Luka Doncic and Derick Lively II, the Mavericks weren’t prepared to lose two of their strongest defensive players for the evening. And, yet, they found a way to prevail even still, coming away with a strong win on the road.
It’s always good to see the team get a win in Luka’s absence, but it’s especially comforting to know that if an opposing players finds himself suddenly feeling inclined to choose violence against someone in a Mavs uniform, they’re definitely going to have to answer for their actions.