Nearly a week and $35,000 later, Desmond Bane has told his side of his New York Knicks story.
The Orlando Magic guard became the latest entry to the Knicks rogues gallery after he forcibly flung the ball at New Yorker OG Anunoby during a Sunday showing at Madison Square Garden. Anunoby had fallen out of bounds after his attempt at a fastbreak double was interrupted by an Anthony Black steal. Bane then threw the ball at his back despite appearing to catch it and establish possession with his feet in play.
Bane had a chance to explain his side of the incident as the Knicks and Magic prepped for an instant rematch in Saturday’s NBA Cup semifinal action in Las Vegas (5:30 p.m. ET, Prime Video). While still labeling it a “basketball play” and using humor to deflect the situation, Bane said there was no ill intent on his behalf.
“Nah, it wasn’t intended to ramp up the team,” Bane said (h/t New York Basketball on X). “I thought it was a good basketball play in the moment. Then I go watch the slo-mo [replay]. It still wasn’t a bad one, I just think I threw it a little too hard.”
“I’m chasing down a ball and I throw it off of [Anunoby]. My homeboy, he was joking with me, said the Cincinnati Reds are going to be giving me a call. So, if y’all are watching this, invite me to training camp, or spring training, this summer, come check it out. But, yeah, there was no foul play intended.”
At the time of the incident, Bane’s Magic was trying to fight off a double-figure deficit against the hosting Knicks. A replay review eventually yielded a technical foul charge for Bane and Jalen Brunson sank the awarded single at the foul line. While Anunoby confronted Bane after the incident, all parties involved were seen sharing a laugh about it shortly after.
Anunoby was likewise questioned about Bane’s blow, but simply responded “No, I’m not” when asked if he had “special protection” from a repeat of such extracirriculars (h/t Tomer Azarly, ClutchPoints).
The Knicks eventually won the game 106-100, with Anunoby scoring 21 points in the win.
The league office ensured that Bane’s toss was anything but a free throw: having already been cited for a similar incident in Atlanta earlier this season, Bane was charged a five-figure fine for small-time metropolitan melee.
Bane has a prime opportunity to win the money back in Las Vegas: each member on the NBA Cup champion’s roster is awarded just over a half-million in prize money, while semifinalists get over $100,000.
