On Saturday against the Warriors, OKC Thunder guard Russell Westbrook picked up his 16th technical foul, earning the All-Star his first ever suspension.
Prior to tearing his meniscus during the 2013 playoffs, courtesy of a collision with then Rockets guard Patrick Beverley. OKC Thunder starting point guard Russell Westbrook had never missed a game in his NBA career. His consecutive games streak dated back through his collegiate and high school career as well.
Since then, Westbrook has missed numerous games for injuries or rest but mostly injury purposes. On Monday night, March 18th, 2019, Westbrook will miss his first game ever for disciplinary reasons.
Somewhat lost in the shuffle of Saturday’s loss, was Russell Westbrook picked up his 16th technical foul of the season, after arguing a Klay Thompson non-call. Due to NBA rules, once a player accumulates his 16th tech they earn an automatic one-game suspension without pay.
From here on out (through the regular season), every two technicals Westbrook receives will result in another one game suspension. The technical count resets in the playoffs.
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) March 17, 2019
In the past, with KD, Westbrook, and even DeMarcus Cousins the league has rescinded a player’s 16th technical or a different technical, therefore the player did not serve the suspension. That did not occur this time around, nor should it have.
Westbrook knew what would happen if he reached the league maximum of technical fouls, for that reason he should and will face the consequences for his actions. As a result of his actions, Westbrook put his team at a disadvantage when they are fighting for playoff positioning in a tight seeding race.
Oklahoma City’s record this season without Westbrook is 5-3. ESPN’s Royce Young highlighted an important caveat in the NBA’s rule after a player serves his suspension every two additional techs result in another one-game suspension, therefore, if Westbrook is not on his best behavior this will not be his only absence due to discipline.
Thunder star Russell Westbrook has been suspended one game for his 16th technical foul. He’ll serve the suspension on Monday.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 17, 2019
Statistical Oddity
This season, for the first time in franchise history and possibly NBA history all three point guards on one team were suspended for at least one game each. Westbrook and his backups, Raymond Felton and Dennis Schroder have now each faced a suspension during the 2018-19 season.
For the ownership group led by Clay Bennett, it will be a welcome sight to their pocketbooks, because each suspension results in loss of salary for each player. As highlighted by NBA Salary Cap Enthusiast Albert Nahmad and former NBA executive and current ESPN insider Bobby Marks:
Russell Westbrook picked up his 16th technical foul of the season, which, if it’s not rescinded, will lead to an automatic one-game suspension. The suspension would cost him $246K (plus $5K for the technical itself), and save the Thunder $523K in luxury taxes.
— Albert Nahmad (@AlbertNahmad) March 17, 2019
All three OKC point guards have now been suspended at some point of the season. Total savings toward the tax is $784K plus an additional $369K in salary.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) March 17, 2019
In closing the fact Westbrook will face his first career suspension when the Thunder face the Heat
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is simply disappointing. Not, only because the team is jockeying for postseason positioning, but because Wade was suspected to exchange jerseys with Russ. Considering Wade swapped jerseys with Paul George when the OKC Thunder faced the Heat in February, it was nearly a given he would do so with Westbrook on Monday.
The NBA made the correct decision by upholding Westbrook’s suspension. The league should hold its All-Stars and former MVP’s to the same level of accountability as even the most fringe player.
In this instance they did, and it was Westbrook who put his team in this difficult position, not the league.