Billy Donovan said it best himself: “It was really really bad.”
When the Bulls broke out on a fastbreak in the 3rd quarter of Friday night’s game, Grayson Allen got himself ejected. The Bucks forward jumped to meet a driving Alex Caruso in the air before grabbing at his arms and shoving him to the hardwood.
Caruso landed hard on his shoulder, and he was understandably shaken up.
Grayson Allen draws a flagrant 2 for a HARD foul on Alex Caruso pic.twitter.com/NjCJEzo7zu
— Bulls Talk (@NBCSBulls) January 22, 2022
Grayson Allen foul on Alex Caruso. Replays included. pic.twitter.com/1ixcve9i0s
— ✶ Ⓜ️𝕒𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕤 ▶️ ✶ (@_MarcusD3_) January 22, 2022
Fortunately, Caruso rose to his feet and stayed in to play the remainder of the game. Donovan later told reporters he is dealing with some kind of wrist discomfort due to the fall, and he also told reporters exactly how he felt about Allen’s decision:
“It’s really bad. Really really bad,” Donovan said. “I’ll just say this, we lost Patrick on a flagrant foul to a pretty significant injury. I said this after the game, I think it was against New York and Mitchell Robinson, I think Mitchell Robinson was trying to make a legitimate play on the basketball. It happened to be flagrant. There are times there’s flagrant fouls.
For Alex to be in the air like that, for him to take him down like that, he could have ended his career. And he has a history of this. That, to me, was really dangerous, and I hope the league takes a hard look at something like that because he could have really seriously hurt him.”
Donovan went on to reiterate several of those points, not only harping on the fact that Allen could have significantly injured Caruso, but that he has a history of making the dirty play.
While playing for Duke, Allen became known for taking cheap shots on opponents, specifically falling into hot water numerous times for tripping players. In fact, the guy had done so much over his college career that ESPN could put together a full highlight reel:
Alex Caruso was also asked about the incident after the game, and he kept his thoughts on the manner brief:
“I didn’t really know what happened during the play, but afterwards looking at it, the dude just grabbed me out of the air. It’s kind of bullsh*t.”
Agreed, AC.
I have to imagine the NBA will take a look at this one. Who knows if anything will come of it, but it sure seems worthy of a suspension or fine.
Watch head coach Billy Donovan’s full press conference below:
LIVE: Coach Billy Donovan after tonight’s game against the Bucks https://t.co/fd2vjXg1dC
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 22, 2022