Serge Ibaka fined $25,000 for violation. Hmmm.

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka was just $25,000 by the league for a low blow to Blake Griffin during their game against the Los Angeles Clippers, sunday. During the game, Ibaka was given a Flagrant Foul 1, which essentially means that he wasn't trying to make a move for the ball, but rather intended to harm another player. This violation sits somewhere between an intentional foul and a Flagrant Foul 2. However, the league bumped it up to a Flagrant Foul 2, which means Ibaka should have been immediately ejected from the game.

Now, I wouldn't usually make a big fuss about this, but the Thunder won 108-104. Ibaka plays a big role on OKC's squad. Did he make the difference in the game? The problem with flagrant fouls is that whether it was a 1 or a 2 is essentially up to the officials. Now, if they had called a 2, he would've missed the last 1:52 of the game, more than enough time for the Clips to stage a comeback.

I'm not gonna get too far into the fine, and if it was appropriate or not, because NBA players make too much money and can afford paying that back to the league for being out of line in any context. But this was clearly out of line. He straight up hit Griffin where it hurts. Now, being a teenager that does not play in the NBA, obviously I don't know how things work there. But as a basketball player, I do know that there are unwritten rules about these things to honor the game and the art of fair competition. And this? Definitely a violation of "the code".

As big and threatening as he is, look for him to catch an elbow with his jaw pretty soon. Maybe that's how they do it in Spain...?

Picture credit: http://nowthatsthunderbasketball.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/serge-ibaka-spain1.jpg

If you wanna see a GIF, here is the play.