Charles Bassey had plenty to say after Marcus Smart swung at him during the Warriors’ loss to the Rockets. None of it was complimentary.
“He’s been playing dirty the whole game, man,” Bassey told reporters, via Chaitanya Dadhwal of Fadeaway World. “I remember in the first half, I was trying to set a screen, and bro, he grabbed my knees.”
Smart was assessed a flagrant foul penalty two and ejected following the Wednesday night altercation. The players became tangled under the basket, exchanged words and then Smart swung toward Bassey’s face.
Bassey said he had been trying to free his arm and return to the other end of the court.
“I was trying to run back on defense, so I did like this,” Bassey said while demonstrating the motion, “and then he got up on me and just swung, and obviously, that was weak.”
Asked whether he remembered another player swinging at him during a game, Bassey couldn’t recall an example. He did have a description for this one.
“Fake toughness.”
Bassey went further, questioning whether Smart even wanted to remain in the game.
“I don’t think he was trying to play. I think he was trying to get himself out of the game,” Bassey said. “I think he wouldn’t do that if he was trying to play. I think he was trying to chill; he wasn’t trying to hoop, bro. Like I said, bro, fake toughness.”
That’s Bassey’s interpretation of Smart’s intentions. The ejection, though, left the Rockets without their veteran guard for the remainder of a game they ultimately won 115-108.
Smart finished with six points, two rebounds and an assist. Bassey had seven points, six rebounds and a block.
Further NBA discipline is possible, but no additional punishment was included in the postgame report. Smart’s response to Bassey’s comments also wasn’t available.
The teams have three more meetings scheduled this season. They probably won’t need much help finding something to discuss.
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