Tuesday’s game between the Memphis Grizzlies and Phoenix Suns was not met with a great deal of intrigue from a national perspective. After all, the Grizzlies are solid but largely unexciting, with the Suns floundering near the bottom of the pack when it comes to the 2016-2017 NBA season. Still, it did not take long for some fireworks between the two teams and it came from a 40-year-old former All-Star in the direction of a 20-year-old future standout.
Less than nine minutes after the game began, Suns guard Devin Booker attempted to defend Grizzlies swingman Vince Carter in the mid-post. Booker was quickly whistled for what appeared to be a harmless foul but, after a brief hesitation, Carter unleashed a swinging elbow in Booker’s direction.
"Respect your elders." pic.twitter.com/RV0wwHnQpq
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 1, 2017
It appeared to connect in flush fashion, sending Booker flying to the floor with haste. Fortunately, Booker was able to pop off the floor immediately and he appeared to avoid injury. Still, various members of the Suns, headlined by Alex Len, took exception with Carter and the former Slam Dunk champion and potential Hall of Famer was unceremoniously ejected.
This could have much (much) worse and it is definitely a good thing that the incident did not escalate further. In the same breath, it is the fifth ejection of Vince Carter’s storied career and this was generation-on-generation crime.
