The Magic Insider

9 Magic Players Suspended After Pistons Fight: Did NBA Get It Right?

The Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons were punished for their roles in Wednesday's fight. Was it fair or not?

Jeremy Brener

9 Magic Players Suspended After Pistons Fight: Did NBA Get It Right?
9 Magic Players Suspended After Pistons Fight: Did NBA Get It Right? /

ORLANDO - The Orlando Magic is facing the consequences of the team's brawl Wednesday night against the Detroit Pistons, resulting in eight players being suspended for one game.

Moe Wagner, the primary Orlando instigator in the incident, was suspended for two games.

It's an unprecedented moment in NBA history. Even in the league's most infamous brawl, "The Malice at the Palace" back in 2004, fewer players were suspended than what happened in Wednesday night's "Big Fight at Little Caesars Arena."

But why were so many Magic players suspended? 

NBA Rule No. 12 Section VII states the following ...

"During an altercation, all players not participating in the game must remain in the immediate vicinity of their bench. Violators will be subject to suspension, without pay, for a minimum of one game and fined up to $50,000."

Clearly, several Magic players violated the rule, one that the suspended Orlando teammates knew about before approaching the other bench during the altercation.

"Obviously we're aware [that we could be suspended]," Franz Wagner said. "Normally something like that happens on the court and not in front of the other benches. That was part of our worry as teammates. You don't want your teammate alone amongst the whole other team."

Should the Magic have been granted a free pass given the nature of the situation? Moe Wagner was surrounded by the entire Pistons team and was punched in the back of the head by Killian Hayes, a move that isn't even legal in combat sports.

And Hayes was only suspended three games for his role. The Magic's suspensions all add up to 10 games (one game each for Cole Anthony, Mo Bamba, Wendell Carter Jr., R.J. Hampton, Gary Harris, Kevon Harris, Admiral Schofield and Franz Wagner; two games for Moe Wagner), while the Pistons only count up to four.

Hamidou Diallo, who shoved Wagner after the play, received the same punishment to players who did nothing to escalate the situation. Instead, Orlando players are being punished with the same sentence for making sure their teammate wasn't in any danger.

Rules are rules, but the crime doesn't match the time.

Does that mean Diallo and Hayes should have been suspended longer? Or should the NBA have recognized this rule of leaving the bench shouldn't be as harsh as pushing another player?

The league reverted back to its rule book and gave the suspensions it felt necessary, but the NBA should revisit the situation at season's end and look to see if any changes should take place for next year.

You can follow Jeremy Brener on Twitter @JeremyBrener.

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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