The NBA recently rescinded the 17th technical foul assessed to OKC Thunder All-Star Russell Westbrook.
The OKC Thunder often insinuate the NBA has an agenda against the organization. However, the league recently rescinded the 17th technical foul collected by All-Star guard Russell Westbrook. Earlier this season Westbrook picked up his 16th technical, earning the 11-year player out of UCLA his first career suspension.
Westbrook received his 17th tech in the Thunder’s match versus the Dallas Mavericks. With 2:39 remaining in the third-quarter, Russ drove the lane and was fouled by Dorian Finney-Smith. Upon receiving the contact Westbrook flailed his arms, prompting official CJ Washington to assess the Brodie his 17th tech.
Breaking down the rescinded tech
Following each night of action, the NBA reviews all the games, and the league possesses the ability to upgrade and or down-grade all penalties assessed. That is precisely what occurred with Russ. On Tuesday afternoon, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Kiki Vandeweghe revealed Westbrook’s 17th tech would be rescinded.
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What does that mean? Once a player reaches the allotted maximum of 16 technical fouls they are suspended one-game without pay, Russ already did that. However, once the suspension has been served the count does not reset until the playoffs, or the following regular season, whichever occurs first.
Instead, for each two technical’s assessed thereafter, the initial 16 the player must serve an additional one-game suspension. Hence, Russ having number 17 rescinded could prove vital for Oklahoma City.
Answering a peculiar question
For what it’s worth if Westbrook were to picked his 18th tech in the Thunder’s final regular season contest on April 9, versus the Bucks; he would not serve the one-game suspension in the Thunder’s first playoff game.
However, it is unclear whether or not he would serve the suspension on opening night of the 2019-20 campaign.
That’s it for today Thunder Nation; the Thunder will be back in action on Friday, to close out their season-long five game homestand. Taking on Andre Drummond and hopefully injured hometown All-Star Blake Griffin and their Detroit Pistons.