Fan gets life ban: NBL gets it absolutely right

Nailed. It.

The NBL banished a spectator for life and another for 10 years for their roles in an ugly bench blow-up with virtually the entire Adelaide 36ers roster during the Round Nine clash against Adelaide United.

"The NBL is, and always will be, a family-friendly sport and we will not tolerate any behaviour that goes against that," NBL CEO David Stevenson said.

Yes.

"We hope this sends a clear message that sitting court-side at NBL games is a privilege. One of the great things about basketball is sitting up close to talented players, and we will always strive to protect and preserve that experience."

Yes.

The NBL imposed the sanctions today (November 26, 2024) less than 10 days after the incident.

It takes time to gather the facts, talk to all those involved before making a decision. But all said and done, it was swift and decisive.

There is absolutely no place for spectators to put their hands on players — at any level of basketball in Australia, or indeed anywhere in the world.

Zero tolerance is the only approach and the NBL delivered for players and fans. The NBL also showed, clearly, where its principles sit and loyalties lay.

Spectators — I won't use the descriptor: fans — immediately lose any right to being in the stadium if they cross that line.

And in this case, the line was not just crossed, it was stomped on.

Anything could have happened.

It could have escalated far beyond the pushing and shoving in the heat of the moment but the 36ers did an exceptional job in deescalating the situation.

Yes, Montrezl Harris and Kendric Davis could have been better but professional basketball is intense and emotional. Coming back to the bench after an on-court melee should be a safe space to take the heat out of anything that happens on the floor. Harrell has been suspended for three games and fined $3,685 while Davis is suspended for three games for inappropriate grabbing or handling of a spectator.

The bench is a sacred space for teams and for it to be violated is unacceptable regardless of what preceded the five players on the floor returning to teammates and coaching staff.

Make no mistake, this wasn't the Malice in the Palace — coincidently, 20 years prior almost to the day (November 19, 2004) — but fact it invokes memories of that infamous night in Detroit gives pause.

Australians are passionate about sport, unlike the Brits, we don't need to be separated by club affiliation as they need to be in the English Premier League and for that we are blessed whether it's at the AFL, NRL or, indeed the A-League. So, when this happens its an aberration and must be dealt with as such.

The fact 36ers guard Dejan Vasiljevic had to be restrained by teammates after being pushed in the chest by a spectator is abhorrent. The fact Kendric Davis had to be physically lifted off his feet and removed from the bench is abhorrent.

The fact Harrell got into a physical altercation with with Melbourne United point guard Shea Ili is part of the battle. Sanctionable, yes, forgivable, also yes. It's professional basketball played by elite, serious athletes.

United coach Dean Vickerman summed it up perfectly in the post game presser: "I don’t think we did anything to super escalate the situation, our intention once it got heated was to defuse it as quick as we could.

"Fans are there to view the game and support the game. It’s something you never want to see, right.

"You never want to see a crossover between players and fans, you want to see it in the part of engagement and stuff like that, but obviously we’ve crossed the line in the game, they’ve reacted to whatever has been said and it’s something that we don’t want to see."

And at least two fans won't see it live again — one for the rest of the life and another until 2034.

The NBL got it right and they rightly deserve praise for their decision.