The NBA has delivered its final verdict regarding the fight between Jose Alvarado of the New Orleans Pelicans and Mark Williams of the Phoenix Suns. The league announced the punishment for the two players in a press release on Sunday.
In a post on NBA.com, the league’s Executive Vice President and Head of Basketball Operations James Jones dropped the hammer on Alvarado and Williams. Both players received suspension without pay and will serve with immediate effect.
Alvarado gets a two-game suspension and will miss the Pelicans’ games against the New York Knicks on December 29 and the Chicago Bulls on December 31.
Williams, on the other hand, only received a one-game suspension and will be absent in the Suns’ matchup versus the Washington Wizards on December 29.
According to Spotrac, Alvarado and Williams are the first players to get suspended by the league this season. Ja Morant was suspended by the Memphis Grizzlies back on November 1, while Terry Rozier is on leave amid the FBI’s investigation into alleged illegal gambling in sports.
How Did The Fight Happen?
The Athletic’s William Guillory shared a detailed report on what went down between Jose Alvarado and Mark Williams. It all started after Alvarado pushed Williams, who was trying to set a screen on Collin Gillespie at the 2:06 mark of the third quarter.
Alvarado was whistled for a foul and tried to reason with the referee. Williams gave him a slight nudge to the back, which the Puerto Rican guard didn’t appreciate. He pushed the 7-foot-1 center and grabbed his jersey.
That’s when the chaos ensued, when Williams accidentally elbowed Alvarado’s head. The Pelicans guard retaliated with an overhand punch that landed straight on the Suns big man’s face.
Williams also threw and missed a punch of his own before landing a left-handed tap to Alvarado’s head before players, coaches and referees separated them. Both of them were immediately thrown out from the game, which the Suns won, 123-114.
Alvarado left the game with seven points, three assists and two steals, while Williams registered 10 points and eight rebounds before the ejection.
How Much Money Did Alvarado and Williams Lose?
Due to their punishment, Jose Alvarado and Mark Williams will lose money because of the suspension. ESPN’s Bobby Marks detailed how much money both players had to give up because of their fight.
Alvarado lost a total of $62,069 or $31,034.50 per game, while Williams missed a game check worth $36,072. While these two players are earning millions with their contracts, it’s still a huge amount of money.
The Pelicans guard is currently in the first year of a two-year, $9 million contract he signed in the offseason. He has a player option for next season, which he could exercise to become a free agent.
Williams, on the other hand, is in the final year of his four-year, $18 million rookie contract signed with the Charlotte Hornets. He’s set to become a restricted free agent next summer. That means he can join any team, but the Suns retain the right to match the contract he signs.
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