Brisbane Bullets big man Aron Baynes has been suspended for five games for his role in the ugly incidents that marred the Bullets’ loss to Cairns in a spiteful Queensland derby.
Baynes fronted the league’s tribunal on Thursday night, with the single member tribunal upholding charges against the three-time Olympian of Excessive Disputing, Unsportsmanlike Conduct and an Abnormal or Unacceptable Act in Basketball.
It means the former Boomers star will miss Friday’s home game against the Sydney Kings plus a further four games in a savage blow to Brisbane’s strong start to the new season.
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Baynes expressed his regret afterwards.
“I unreservedly accept that my conduct was unacceptable, and I have fallen short of the standard expected of a representative of the Brisbane Bullets and the NBL,” he said.
“I wish to sincerely apologise for my actions.”
The NBL issued a statement after the hearing to announce the game had accepted the ruling and five game ban for Baynes.
It remains to be seen if the Bullets will appeal the ruling themselves, although it is expected they will challenge the severity of the suspension.
Bullets coach Justin Schueller previously said the player and the club would learn from the incidents.
“We don’t condone how Aron handled the moment. He doesn’t himself in hindsight,” Schueller said.
“It is a frustrating one but it’s a lesson. There are no regrets, it’s all lessons, so we know we can handle that situation better as a collective and as a team to get around the moment.
“For me it’s always about the wellbeing of our athletes, and if they are OK.
“For us it’s an incident in a basketball game that’s happened time and time again. Obviously he was frustrated with how the officials initially handled it and then everything after that is what it is, but … we’re a tight knit group. We’re about constantly moving forward.”
Baynes’ blow-up with Cairns coach Adam Forde during halftime of the Bullets versus Taipans round 2 clash has dominated headlines all week.
Forde issued a statement of his own afterwards.
“I would like to acknowledge the NBL Integrity Unit and the Game Review Panel that conducted a thorough investigation. They went to considerable effort to obtain and examine CCTV video, audio and statements.
“Despite all the public speculation, I remained silent during this investigation as I felt this was the best course of action.
It has been difficult to remain quiet given all the accusations, but I have been comfortable knowing that once footage and audio was obtained, I would be cleared of any wrongdoing.
“The unedited and original CCTV footage and audio shows I was outside our team’s changeroom and proves I did not start the verbal conversation or instigate any physical exchange.
“I would like to thank the Cairns Taipans for their support during this process, the NBL and the Cairns community.”
The physical altercation, which caused damage to a wall, was captured on CCTV footage and the coach’s live microphone used during broadcasts.
This vision and audio helped NBL officials clear Forde of any wrongdoing, despite accusations from Brisbane that the Taipans mentor was the instigator.
Bullets senior basketball advisor Stu Lash had claimed the Cairns coach was “unprofessional” and deserves “multiple NBL game suspensions” for allegedly approaching Baynes in the tunnel at halftime, sparking a physical altercation.
However, the footage and audio proved otherwise, revealing Forde wasn’t waiting for the Bullets big man in the tunnel nor was he the instigator.
Baynes has also been criticised for aggressively approaching the referees after he received an elbow to the throat from Cairns forward Lat Mayen.
NBL great Andrew Gaze labelled the moment an over-reaction during commentary and doubled down on those comments when contacted this week.
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