The NBL’s Game Review Panel (GRP) has handed down its findings following a heated fourth-quarter altercation between the Adelaide 36ers and Illawarra Hawks on Saturday night, with three players charged and one facing a potential suspension.
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Adelaide import Nick Rakocevic and Illawarra duo Makur Maker and Will Hickey have all been charged following the incident, with Hickey facing the most serious punishment of a one-game suspension, which can be reduced to a $1,550 fine with an early guilty plea.
GAME REVIEW PANEL FINDINGS
Nick Rakocevic (Adelaide 36ers)
Rakocevic has been charged with Unsportsmanlike Behaviour, classified as a Fixed Financial Offence.
As this is his second Fixed Financial Offence within the current or previous two NBL seasons, an increased penalty has automatically been applied.
The Adelaide big man faces a base fine of $1,550, which can be reduced to $1,165 with an early guilty plea.
Makur Maker (Illawarra Hawks)
Maker has been charged with Engaging in a Melee / Brawl / Scuffle, classified as a Fixed Financial Offence.
The Hawks big man faces a base fine of $775, which can be reduced to $585 with an early guilty plea.
Will Hickey (Illawarra Hawks)
Hickey has been charged with Striking, a Classifiable Offence, with the GRP determining his conduct was intentional, involved medium impact and made contact with the body.
The Hawks guard faces a one-game suspension, although an early guilty plea would allow him to avoid the suspension and instead pay a $1,550 fine.
Both Adelaide and Illawarra have been issued Charged Offence Notices, with the clubs given the option to accept the early guilty pleas or appeal the findings.
HOW THE INCIDENT UNFOLDED
The altercation occurred with 3:51 remaining in the fourth quarter of Saturday night’s matchup at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.
The incident began when Rakocevic pushed Maker following a rebounding contest, prompting Hickey to intervene and shove the Adelaide big man in the chest.
The confrontation quickly escalated into a heated scuffle involving several players, spilling towards the Illawarra bench, where Hawks head coach Justin Tatum attempted to separate those involved.
All three players received technical fouls, while Maker was also assessed a flagrant foul and ejected from the contest.
Following the game, Tatum questioned the decision to eject Maker while Rakocevic remained on the court, suggesting both players should have received the same punishment.
“He should not have been kicked out, but if he was, then both of them (including Rakocevic) should have been kicked out. But Adelaide’s Adelaide, so it is what it is,” Tatum said.
The Hawks coach also expressed his frustration with the officiating, specifically referencing NBL referee Chris Reid during his post-game press conference.
The clubs now have the option to accept the GRP’s findings through the early guilty plea process or appeal the charges.