Kurt Thomas wasn't here for the BS,Jalen.
Detroit, what up, though?
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December 28, 1999
In the league’s statement, Thomas was suspended and fined for “deliberately running into Rose at mid-court and subsequently elbowing and punching Rose in the head with 8:52 remaining in the third quarter.”
Thomas maintained he did not punch Rose and that Rose instigated the affair. “My teammates all saw what Jalen did,” Thomas said. “They wish that I would have handled myself a little better, but I didn’t and I just have to deal with that … I didn’t throw a punch. I just put my forearm up to protect myself, even though I did make contact. If I had thrown a punch he’d probably be knocked unconscious today.”
After reviewing films of the incident Rod Thorn, the NBA senior VP of basketball operations, admitted that Rose should not have been ejected, but commended referee Ted Bernhardt for rushing in to break up the incident at the new Conseco Fieldhouse. Bernhardt thought he saw Rose throw a punch, but the films showed Rose did not retaliate.