On Monday night, the Washington Wizards took more “L’s” than just the Miami Heat loss.
Wizards assistant coach Mike Batiste was involved in an altercation with a fan at the last minute of the game on Monday night.
With only 13.4 seconds remaining, Batiste jumped over the floor seats and into the stands to confront a fan who was heckling. Reportedly, the fan had said something “out of line,” but it’s unclear precisely what was said or who started it.
6-8, 245 Mike Batiste is the last coach I would want to trash talk https://t.co/6dKTZOMPq9
— Neil Dalal (@NeilDalal96) February 8, 2022
Let’s Get Physical
(Photo: Screenshot/NBA Youtube/ Getty Images)
However, before any real action began, Wizards players Montrezl Harrell and Thomas Bryant hurried and interceded before Batiste and the fan got physical.
Batiste was then guided by Wizards center Harrell into the tunnel and locker room.
Batiste went toward a fan who sat behind the team’s bench, apparently after some heckling. However, Wizards center Montrezl Harrell separated him from the fan.
Batiste is a former professional basketball player who is now the Wizards’ player development manager. Batiste is a two-time All-EuroLeague selection, winning three EuroLeague championships in 2007, 2009, and 2011.
Taking The High Road
Although Wizards head coach Wes Unseld Jr. mentioned that some fans taunted the team, he noted that NBA teams on the bench have to take the high road.
“I was kind of at the scorers’ table, so I turned around after I think it kind of began,” Unseld said to NBC Sports Washington.
“To my understanding, a fan or several fans said something that was out of line. Obviously, we have to take the high road and just can’t indulge in that. I think it was a situation where something was said that was a bit over the line, and I think it got the best of one of our coaches. Either way, you have to take the high road.”
The fan seems to be sitting with people wearing jerseys from Turkish team fenerbace. The coach, Mike Batiste played for them for a season before going back to Panathinaikos in Greece.
I don't know if that means anything, but it could be what the fan was heckling about.
— fofo (@molnpappa) February 8, 2022
Washington Wizardry
The Wizards have lost eight of their last ten games, and now the Wizards has lost one of its star players after the Washington Wizards announced that guard Bradley Beal would have surgery on his left wrist.
Sources: Wizards star Bradley Beal will undergo season-ending surgery for a torn scapholunate ligament in his left wrist.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 8, 2022
However, Beal will miss the rest of the regular season. The Wizards said a specialist in New York re-evaluated Beal on Tuesday. The three-time All-Star was initially diagnosed with a torn scapholunate ligament.
He was then examined again by Dr. Michele Carlson, a hand specialist at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, and the Wizards medical team.
Bradley Beal Wants To Hand Paul George Multiple Ls In Madden
Life Without Beal
His team and his representation made Beal’s decision to have the procedure.
“Despite the last 10 days of getting intensive treatment and rehab on my wrist, it became clear that I would not be able to compete to my standards or to the level that our team and our fans deserve,” Beal said in a statement released by the Wizards.
“I’m disappointed to have my season end this way, but we all agreed that this was the best decision.”
Before Beal was hurt on Jan. 29 in Memphis, he averaged 23.2 points and a career-high 6.6 assists in 40 games.
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