Ejections for Flagrant 2 fouls typically are pretty egregious and easy to understand. By definition, they involve excessive force, which rarely leaves doubt about an ejection.
And yet, when Deandre Ayton was ejected for a Flagrant 2 foul on Alperen Şengün during the third quarter of Game 4, which the Lakers were already losing handily en route to defeat, literally nobody understood why.
Şengün and Ayton were battling in the post when the latter’s arm slipped up the former’s back and caught him in the back of the head. It was a pretty clear Flagrant 1 foul, even if it was also a bit of bad fortune for Ayton, who clearly was bracing himself for contact.
However, James Williams had other ideas and, after review, ejected him from the game.
After the game, literally nobody understood why Ayton was ejected. First, his teammates — led by Marcus Smart calling it “some BS” — and coaches defended him, as you’d expect.
“On the [Ayton] thing, [Ayton] has got such a sweet, just like kind soul,” head coach JJ Redick said postgame. “[I] know that wasn’t dirty or intentional. It looked, from our vantage point, like he was trying to brace himself with that off arm, I think it was his left arm, but trying to brace himself against Şengün’s body.
It looked like his arm just kind of slipped and, obviously, hit him in the head. I don’t know that a [Flagrant] 2 was warranted. I don’t think that [Ayton] would ever do anything malicious.”
“I think he was bracing for Şengün on the post-up,” LeBron added. “Then, obviously, you see that his arm slipped going up and then hit him in the head. The refs said they didn’t see it that way and made the call. You have to be pretty damn good at it to elbow someone like that on purpose.”
To his credit, Ayton was apologetic about the play, though he was also adamant it was an accident after his arm slipped.
“I really was trying to brace for contact with Şengün,” Ayton said. “We’re both sweaty guys. I just slipped off his shoulder. Literally, my elbow hit him right there above his shoulders. It looked crazy on camera. I’m not no guy who’s a dirty player or plays like that. If anything, me trying to play dirty, I’ll damn near hurt myself.
“I just hope he’s alright and didn’t think it was intentional…The outcome of what the results were, I accept it. But definitely wasn’t intentional. I don’t play like that.”
To make matters worse, even the Rockets didn’t understand or agree with the ejection.
For some reason, there was no pool report after the game, so there is no official comment from the officials or Williams.
A Flagrant 2 foul does not carry an automatic suspension, though a suspension can be added later if it’s a particularly bad foul. While the league will review the play, there’s a far greater chance it’s downgraded to a Flagrant 1 than Ayton being suspended.
But this speaks to a great issue the league has with officiating right now, as recently called out by Devin Booker. And do you know who the official was that Booker called out by name? James Williams.
This is now back-to-back games with officiating controversy from him. It’s unacceptable to keep putting him in playoff games.
You can follow Jacob on Twitter at @JacobRude or on Bluesky at @jacobrude.bsky.social.
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