I don’t know, “punch” seems like a strong word to me. There was definitely an altercation and maybe a small jab, but I didn’t see a punch the way everyone is calling it.
Metta World Peace was hit with a flagrant foul 1 during the Lakers/Pistons game on Sunday for getting tangled up with Pistons guard Brandon Knight, and Knight doesn’t believe that punishment was severe enough because he was hit with a fist.
Check out the video and what both players had to say after the jump…
According to Dave McMenamin at ESPN:
“The play needs to be reviewed because he definitely threw a punch,” Knight told reporters after the game. “It felt like he threw a punch. That’s why I reacted the way I did.
“The play was over and he grabbed me around the neck. If someone grabs you around the neck, you’re not just going to let that happen. You do what you need to get that person off you.”
World Peace and Knight tussled under the hoop with 1:43 remaining in the second quarter while going for the rebound after Greg Monroe was called for a shooting foul on a shot attempt by Pau Gasol. Play was stopped and an official timeout was signaled so the referees could assess the situation.
“He’s a small guy,” World Peace said after finishing with eight points and nine rebounds in the win. “(Knight) was trying his hardest to keep me off him. He worked hard, man. That kid, I don’t know where he’s from, I don’t know what school he went to, because he was guarding me and I was crashing the boards. He’s a tough kid, man. He tried to keep me off the glass and he did a good job. That’s all I can say. He’s a tough kid, very great. He’s a tough point guard or shooting guard or whatever he is.”
*UPDATE: Metta World Peace has been suspended by the NBA for 1 game for this*
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