The NBA on Sunday slapped Miami Heat big man Thomas Bryant with a three-game suspension for his involvement in a recent on-court skirmish. The decision somehow caught the 26-year-old center off guard.
Bryant was one of three Heat players suspended following a brawl that broke out during Friday’s Heat-Pelicans clash at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, La. Thomas was seen exchanging blows with Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado.
While speaking to the media on Sunday, Bryant admitted that he was “surprised” by the lengthy suspension. He also claimed that he was trying to serve as a “peacemaker” during the altercation.
Judging by how heavy Bryant’s hands were when he went at Alvarado, it’s hard to paint the Heat reserve as a peacemaker of any kind for his involvement in the fight.
The timing of the suspension stings extra for Bryant given that he was supposed to be awarded his championship ring on Thursday when the Heat visit the Denver Nuggets. Bryant played 18 games as a backup center for the eventual-champion Nuggets last season.
While Bryant is reportedly still hopeful that he can claim his ring, it won’t be during the game in front of the fans at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo.
Heat star Jimmy Butler, one of the three players suspended along with Bryant, tried to make light of the situation with some hilarious social media posts.
The Heat will be without Butler, Bryant, and forward Nikola Jovic for Monday's game against the Sacramento Kings, Tuesday's game against the Portland Trail Blazers and Thursday's aforementioned showdown with the Denver Nuggets.
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