In today’s game against the Bulls, Trae Young and Kris Dunn got into a scuffle just a few minutes into the 1st Quarter, which resulted in both players getting a technical foul. Later in the 3rd Quarter, Trae Young drained a long three and then turned to Kris Dunn and stared him down. This shot put the Hawks up by 16 points at the time and the Bulls called a timeout. Young turned back to go to the bench and then realized that he received a technical, which resulted in his ejection from the game. Here is a clip of the scenes unfolding.

How did that little action warrant an ejection? It is an automatic rule to eject a player if they receive two technicals, but seriously? I don’t claim to be a Trae Young fan, but if all the guy did was just stare him down, then the NBA is too soft. If these grown men can’t take a little playful banter, during a game that doesn’t even really matter, then they really shouldn’t step on the court. The problem isn’t with the players though, the refs make the calls and give technical fouls. I will agree that the first instance between the two players should’ve been a technical, but the one that resulted in Trae Young’s ejection shouldn’t have been called.

I consider this taunting, but is it worthy of a tech? Of course not.

Now, I don’t know what was said between the two players and personally, I don’t think it really matters. If there wasn’t any physical contact between the two players, a technical shouldn’t have been called. In professional sports, I personally don’t think reasonable taunting should be penalty of any sort. I can understand if it goes on in youth sports, but a stare down? If they’re going to go that far, why not call a tech when a player sticks up three fingers after a long-range shot or when a player makes a big play and celebrates with his team? In a way, that is taunting and should receive the same type of consideration for a penalty, shouldn’t it? Obviously it wouldn’t be considered the same, but how is it really that different?

My best guess for calling the stare down a technical foul is to not send a wrong message to the youth. As we know, young athletes pattern themselves after the professional athletes and if they see Trae Young staring down Kris Dunn, then little Jimmy in his 6thgrade pick-up game will do the same thing. That responsibility shouldn’t rely on professional athletes. Coaches and parents should teach young athletes to reflect good sportsmanship. Trae Young, a rookie in the NBA, shouldn’t be the one to teach kids integrity. If a player gets to the NBA, he shouldn’t be forced to be a good sportsman. Players getting angry about running the score up, taunting, etc. should not be a problem once you get to the highest level.

I want to finish by saying that I still love the NBA, but examples like I saw today are things that will turn potential fans away from the game. Nobody wants to see a player get ejected for something as petty as a stare down. Things like taunting, flopping penalties, and just the frivolous nature of the NBA is not helping their case heading into the playoffs. People already think the sport is boring throughout the regular season, instances like today aren’t helping matters.

Yacs

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The NBA is Too Soft