Desmond Bane’s aggressive toss against the New York Knicks turned out to be anything but a free throw.
The NBA announced on Monday that the Orlando Magic star would be fined $35,000 for forcibly flinging the ball at Knicks forward OG Anunoby during the day prior’s visit to Madison Square Garden. The official charge, in a statement from executive vice president/head of basketball operations James Jones was “throwing the game ball with force at an opponent in an unsportsmanlike manner.”
The incident in question occurred just before the midway mark of the fourth quarter: Anunoby was attempting to turn a Mikal Bridges steal into a fastbreak but was robbed from behind by the pursuing Anthony Black.
As Anunoby fell out of bounds, Bane threw the ball at him despite appearing to legally secure possession in bounds. Bane was charged with a technical foul after review and Jalen Brunson sank the penalty free throw.
Per Barbara Barker of Newsday, Anunoby was left “confused” by the incident while also calling it “funny” and Bane “a good dude.” He and Bane appeared to laugh about it on the floor afterward while Knicks head coach Mike Brown offered a hug and whispered conversation for the former Memphis dual-threat.
Bane is working through his first season in Orlando after the Magic (14-10) sent over a good bit of their future draft stock to Memphis to obtain his services over the summer. This is his second fine in the midst of a frustrating debut, previously getting $2,500 for a similar incident in a Nov. 4 game against the Atlanta Hawks, one where he threw the ball at the head of Onyeka Okongwu after forcing him to the ground.
New York took Sunday’s game by a 106-100 final to earn its first win against Bane’s Magic this season. Both are slated to partake in NBA Cup quarterfinal action on Tuesday night, with the Knicks heading north to face the Toronto Raptors (8:30 p.m. ET, MSG/Prime Video).
