Unraveling the Zach Collins Ejection Saga

Incident Details and Context

In a clip shared on X (formerly Twitter) by Hoop Central, viewers were able to witness the sequence of events. Collins, a 27-year-old forward, was pacing the sidelines in the aftermath of his ejection. It was a moment of intense emotion as he gestured towards referee Michael Smith. The cameras quickly cut away, but the image had already been captured and shared widely.

According to NBC Sports, the incident stemmed from a foul call against Domantas Sabonis. It appeared as though Sabonis, who is 28 years old, may have bumped into Collins first. This seemingly minor incident set off a chain of events that led to Collins' anger. He could be heard yelling, "What the f—?" at Smith, which earned him his first technical foul. The Spurs then sidelined Collins, but it didn't end there. He reportedly cursed at Smith yet again, resulting in a second technical and his ejection from the game.

Consequences and Implications

The move is likely to come with a hefty fine for Collins. Such gestures are in direct violation of the NBA's official player code of conduct. In November, Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook was fined $35,000 for a similar gesture, and just a few days prior, Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star guard Anthony Edwards was fined the same amount for making a lewd gesture during a game against the Kings. This incident marks the third consecutive game in which a player has been ejected in a Kings matchup, following the ejections of Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant on Nov. 5 and Houston Rockets player Tari Eason and Rockets coach Ime Udoka on Dec. 3.

Collins finished the Dec. 6 match with two points, two rebounds, an assist, and three fouls. For the season overall, he is averaging 6.2 points per game. Despite the ejection, the Kings went on to win the game with a final score of 140-113.

NBA Rules and Ejection Criteria

According to NBA official rules, as per ESPN, a player can be ejected if they "receive two technical fouls" or are "called for an unsportsmanlike act twice." However, it's also possible for a player to be ejected for committing a single "unsportsmanlike act" if the referee deems it necessary. This incident serves as a reminder of the strict regulations that govern player behavior on the court and the consequences that can follow.