Brandon Ingram just learned an expensive lesson about keeping your cool on the sidelines. The Toronto Raptors forward was hit with a $25,000 fine on Monday for throwing a water bottle during Saturday’s 130-120 loss to Philadelphia.
NBA executive James Jones, head of basketball operations, announced the penalty after reviewing what went down in the third quarter. Ingram had just been pulled from the game with 6:25 left on the clock, right after an and-one foul on Trendon Watford. That layup stretched Philly’s lead even further, and frustration got the better of him.
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As he headed to the bench, Ingram picked up a technical for delay of game. But that wasn’t the end of it. While sitting at the far end of the bench, he spiked a water bottle toward the floor. The bottle bounced back up and caught a game attendant square in the upper arm.
Water went flying, splashing a cameraman and even teammate Scottie Barnes. The attendant had been simply cleaning the court when it happened, and officials had to stop play briefly to dry everything up.
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Now, NBA fans are weighing in on where that money should actually go. One supporter wrote, “70% should go to the man in glasses that was hit, and the rest to the people who cleaned it up.”
Another didn’t hold back: “They need to give it to the guy he assaulted.”
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The sentiment kept rolling in. “Make sure the NBA give the money to the staffer,” one fan shared. Another put it plainly: “They should give the $25k to the towel guy.”
One more added, “If they don’t give the $25k to buddy in the glasses than they are just as bad as (Brandon Ingram).”
Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram (3) reacts in the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
The timing stings a bit differently for Ingram, considering he just locked in a three-year, $120 million extension with Toronto. The organization clearly believes in him long-term.
Moments like these show how quickly emotions can boil over under pressure. For the Raptors moving forward, composure matters just as much as talent.
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