Wizards forward Justin Champagnie and Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell have been suspended one game apiece for their roles in Saturday’s scuffle between the two teams, the NBA announced in a press release (Twitter link).
Champagnie and Mitchell were suspended without pay for “fighting and escalating an on-court altercation which spilled over into the spectator stands,” per the league’s statement.
In addition to the two suspensions, Thunder big man Jaylin Williams was fined $50K, while Thunder guard Cason Wallace and Wizards forward Anthony Gill were each fined $35K for their parts in the incident, which occurred late in the second quarter of Oklahoma City’s victory.
After a long review by the officials, Champagnie and Williams were each given two technical fouls, which is an automatic ejection. Mitchell and Wallace were assessed one technical apiece and were also thrown out of the game.
In a pool report, crew chief John Goble explained that Champagnie and Williams each received one technical foul for pushing each other during a dead ball. Champagnie’s second technical was for making contact with Mitchell’s face, while Williams was T’d up for his actions during the fight.
Goble added that Mitchell and Wallace were tossed because they were not “acting as peacemakers” and were “escalating the altercation.”
Gill wasn’t penalized at all at the time, but obviously the NBA changed its stance upon further review.
As ESPN’s Bobby Marks tweets, while Champagnie and Mitchell were the ones suspended, they were actually penalized a little less severely from a financial standpoint because their respective contracts are relatively modest. Champagnie will lose $13,503 from $2.35MM salary, while Mitchell will forfeit $17,241 of the $3MM he’s earning in 2025/27.
The NBA has no standards. It took the officials 10 minutes to concoct an excuse to eject three Thunder players.
I can recall Jokic throwing a closed fist punch at JWill a few games back and getting nothing but a technical.
Mitchell should press charges against Champagnie. That was criminal assault.
An OKC fan claiming to not understand star treatment from referees is really funny
You assume, OP doesn’t state anything about being an OKC fan.
He not wrong though. The nba has a problem with pampering star players. Equal opportunity doesn’t exist in this world ig
“I can recall Jokic throwing a closed fist punch”
You recall incorrectly because that did not occur. He shoved him high because his hands were already up. No punch, no closed fist. That’s why he only got a tech.
“Mitchell should press charges against Champagnie. That was criminal assault.”
Oh, ok. You’re trolling.
Imagine being so unbalanced that a Wizards player can get under your skin. If anything they should
“press charges” against Ajay for being such a nit.
Anthony Gill should have gotten ejected as well, but outside of that it was fair overall
Wizards showing some fight —- are tgey tired of loosing yet ???? lols a top 8 pick plus AD n Young.
The losing should be over. As much as ALL of us are tired of players not playing. Both StreetClothes and IceCold. Are playing for new contracts. So there will be plenty of motivation. Two things guaranteed in life.
The sun will come 🙏out…
And AD will play for a new🤑Contract.
Not as tired as your keyboard Al.
Oh ….. and I forgot
“An optimist may see a light where there is none, then washed_bon r will always run to blow it out?”
Raynaud says —
“Garde la tête haute. Tu arrêteras de te cogner la tête.”
I think Trae will have a better career with the wizards instead of AD. The last time he was relevant was when the Lakers won it all a few years ago
Yeah I like Trae there too. He is needed there. I expect a big year.
That’s not really a stretch, Trae is the same age as Luka after all.
The Washington Not-Lukas, starring the only two players who were ever traded for him. (Apologies to future Wizard Max Christie).
Don’t you think it’s time to start penalizing these players by applying it to a percentage of their salaries. $50,000 is a lot to minimum salary players
No because the Player’s Association would never go for it. Total non-starter, regardless of whatever the fans may want.
While this makes sense in theory, it would be bad in practice. The rank & file need to be kept in check financially. Otherwise every 13th man is gonna look to create problems with stars since the penalties would be “equal”.
Jaylin Williams is making 8M btw, he is not a minimum salary player anymore. (has made 6M in the 3 years prior to this).
Champagnie has made something like 3M in 5 years as an NBA player, he definitely feels his 15K more.
*2.7M in 4 years for Champagnie, minus any Two-Way pay.