By ISABEL BALDWIN, US ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
Published: 09:29 EST, 7 January 2026 | Updated: 09:30 EST, 7 January 2026
Former college basketball and NBA player Paul Davis has apologized after being ejected for verbally abusing an official during a Michigan State game on Monday.
The 41-year-old, a former Spartan, was seated in the second row at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, Michigan when he was unexpectedly tossed by referee Jeffrey Anderson during MSU's blowout win over USC.
Less than 24 hours after his sudden ejection from the stands, Davis addressed his actions, expressing remorse to reporters before MSU head coach Tom Izzo's press conference on Tuesday.
'I'm up here to take accountability - to own it,' Davis, a former NBA center, said before adding that he had apologized to Anderson during a phone call.
'Short conversation, but an amazing conversation,' Davis said. 'Amazing guy.'
Davis said he was sorry for being a distraction for Michigan State's players during their strong start this season and for taking away from USC's experience.
Paul Davis apologized after being ejected for verbally abusing an official during an MSU game
Official Jeffrey Anderson reacts to Tom Izzo during Monday's USC-Michigan State game
Izzo was stunned to see former Spartan Davis tossed from Monday's win from the sideline
He also apologized to Michigan State fans at the game, and watching on television, the university, along with parents and kids for not being a role model.
He called Izzo, who coached Davis when he played for the Spartans 20 years ago, several hours after the game and wanted to publicly address his mistake.
The coach had been left 'ticked off' by Davis over the ejection, which occurred with six-plus minutes left and the Spartans leading the Trojans 67-46.
'A fan has been pointed out in the crowd,' FS1 play-by-play announcer Kevin Kugler said on the coverage before Davis was identified. 'I believe the fan was a little too aggressive.'
Curious about the stoppage in play, Izzo approached the official, who gestured in Davis' direction, leaving the Hall-of-Fame Spartans coach stunned.
Cameras then showed Izzo shouting across the court at Davis after the officials stopped the game.
'What are you doing?' Izzo screamed.
Davis raised his 6-foot-11 frame, put his hands on his chest and followed security towards the exit. Interestingly, he appeared to be drinking a Twisted Tea at the arena, which only recently began allowing alcohol for spectators within the last year.
The Spartans head coach admitted following the game that the ejection left him 'ticked off'
Davis, who stands 6-foot-11, put his hands on his chest and followed security to the exit
However, despite online speculation, there is nothing to suggest that Davis was drunk at the time of his ejection.
Izzo did address the incident after the game, although he stopped short of saying exactly what got Davis tossed.
'Let's not get carried away. It wasn't something racial, it wasn't something sexual,' Izzo told reporters, as quoted by the Detroit Free Press. 'It was just the wrong thing to say. I'll leave it at that.
'I love Paul Davis, I really do. He's one of my favorite guys. He's always calling and doing things,' Izzo continued. 'What he said, he should never say anywhere in the world.
'That ticked me off. Just because it's 25, 20 years later, I'm gonna have to call him tomorrow and tell him what I thought of it. And you know what he'll say? 'I screwed up, coach. I'm sorry.'
'He kind of got after the official, and he was 150 percent wrong. And for a guy like me to 150 percent agree with the official, it's almost illegal.'
Davis played for Michigan State from 2002-06 and was a three-year starter. He had career averages of 13.2 points and seven rebounds, including 17.5 points and 9.1 rebounds his senior season.
'You're a basketball player when you're here, and you're an ambassador when you leave,' Davis said.
Davis played in the NBA with the Los Angeles Clippers from 2006-09 and the Washington Wizards in 2009-10.