Dillon Brooks Ejected After Kicking Jamal Murray in the Groin
The Suns star received a flagrant two foul for the move during a 127-120 loss to Denver, a play that both players described as part of their long-standing rivalry.
By Marek Collins ·
Dillon Brooks was removed from the court after kicking Jamal Murray in the groin during a Friday night NBA Cup game in Phoenix.
The incident occurred early in the third quarter when Brooks released a jump shot. He extended his leg while trying to draw a foul from the contesting Nuggets guard. Officials initially called an offensive foul on Brooks. After a review, crew chief Tyler Ford upgraded the call to a flagrant two foul. Ford determined that Brooks overtly kicked Murray in a sensitive area. The ruling resulted in an automatic ejection.
Murray dismissed the idea that the kick was deliberate. He stated that Brooks was shooting the ball and perhaps flopped slightly. Murray said he did not think Brooks was trying to kick him in that specific spot. When asked if he expected the ejection, Murray admitted he did not know the rule well enough to predict the outcome.
Suns forward Miles Bridges suggested the call reflected Brooks' reputation in the league. Bridges noted that if another player had made the same move, the ejection might not have happened. He described Brooks as a villain in the league, a role that comes with a price.
Brooks was Phoenix's leading scorer at the time of his departure. He had recorded 22 points in 20 minutes of play. Denver defeated Phoenix 127-120. Murray finished with a game-high 39 points. The two Canadian players had been exchanging words throughout the contest. Murray described their verbal sparring as a tradition between buddies who have played together for years.
Suns coach Jordan Ott defended the play as competitive rather than malicious. He pointed out that the two are national team teammates who have competed against each other for a decade. Ott hoped that Brooks' reputation would not influence the flagrant two designation. He noted that players' feet swing frequently during such encounters.
Murray's season statistics remain strong despite the incident. He is averaging 25.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.6 assists over the first five games. He is shooting 53.5% from beyond the three-point line. Murray shrugged off the pain after the game. He said he could not call it himself, so he accepted the officials' decision.
Source: The Denver Post
