Ex-NBA Star Darius Bazley Cut by Chinese Team After Wild Altercation With Teammate

Darius Bazley (Image Credits: Imagn)

Ex-NBA Star Darius Bazley Cut by Chinese Team After Wild Altercation With Teammate

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports | By Kenny Nosay | Last updated Apr 10, 2026 1:09 AM ET

Darius Bazley, a once highly touted young prospect, is now out of a basketball job – in China.

While his former teammate, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, has become one of the best players this season, Bazley is doing the total opposite, at least in his basketball career. Selected 23rd overall in the 2019 NBA Draft by Oklahoma City, many thought that the Thunder had a young prospect who could become a star.

Five seasons later, the 25-year-old has embarked on an international career, mainly in East Asia. However, after his outburst in the CBA, his Chinese team, the Ningbo Rockets, immediately cut him on the spot while he was still wearing the team’s uniform.

“No foreign players have special privileges,” the Ningbo Rockets announced as they cut Darius Bazley.

Darius Bazley, who spent 5 years in the NBA, was cut by the Nungbo Rockets in China for refusing to inbound the ball after a turnover that led to an argument with a teammate, & for allegedly shoving a teammate.

Bazley averaged 4.9 PPG & 3.8 RPG in 12 games played for the team.… pic.twitter.com/JRop7jLL4L
— Courtside Buzz (@CourtsideBuzzX) April 9, 2026

That’s brutal for the youngster. And that might be it for his basketball career, at least in China. His stint with the Rockets lasted barely more than a month. He signed with them on March 7, 2026.

What’s next for him? That’s a difficult one to answer. The G-League will always be an option. He could also try other leagues in Asia, particularly in Southeast Asia.

Why Darius Bazley Fell Out of Favor in OKC?

Believe it or not, there was a time when Bazely was the running mate of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for the Oklahoma City Thunder. In the 2020-2021 season, Darius Bazely started and played in 55 games, averaging a career-high 13.7 points per game. For at least a couple of years, it looked like Bazley would become an important piece for OKC moving forward.

However, a tibial plateau fracture in his right knee late in the 2021-2022 season ended his career with the Thunder. The team traded him to the Suns in 2023, and soon after, he was out of an NBA job in the following year.

Since his demise from the NBA, OKC has become a juggernaut and is now looking to win back-to-back titles in 2026.

This article first appeared on Total Pro Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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