Ex-NBA player banned from league for choking teammate
By REUTERS
|
  
|
  Renaldo Balkman of Puerto Rico grabs a rebound during action against Canada at the Pan American Games in Guadalajara, October 28, 2011. (REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson)
|
Former NBA player Renaldo Balkman has been banned from the professional basketball league in the Philippines for grabbing a teammate around the neck during a game.
The former New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets player has also been slapped with a fine of 250,000 Philippine pesos ($6,100) over the incident, Philippine Basketball Association commissioner Chito Salud said in a statement on Monday.
Balkman, who was playing for the Petron Blaze Boosters against the Philippines-based Alaska Aces, assaulted Arwind Santos while his team mate tried to stop him from venting his frustration at a referee’s decision.
Salud said he took into consideration Balkman’s past record as a player, which included a head-butting incident during a FIBA-Americas game between his Puerto Rico side and Venezuela.
“I also took into consideration Balkman’s evident disregard for local and the host country’s sensibilities highlighted by his choking act on-court in full public view of his own team mate who was trying to pacify him,” Salud said.
“I do encourage passion for the game but I also want to firmly instil a culture of accountability among our players. If one does something that violates the rules and the norms of sportsmanship and decent behaviour, he will be made accountable.”
The 28-year-old also pushed away his other team mates and one of his coaches during the match, which the Boosters went on to lose 83-73.
It was not clear from the statement if the ban was for good.
