During Week 7 of BIG3 action in Cincinnati, tensions flared between NBA Hall of Famer Gary Payton, coach of Bivouac, and Jordan Crawford, an opposing player from the Enemies.
The incident began during a matchup between the Enemies and Bivouac when Payton approached Crawford closely while he was inbounding the ball. Crawford responded by driving to the basket and scoring, accompanied by a gesture indicating his confidence in overcoming Bivouac’s defense. As the game continued, Payton continued to exchange heated words with Crawford. The situation escalated after Crawford made a three-pointer and approached Payton during a timeout, prompting physical contact between them.
Crawford, a former NBA player with extensive experience, pushed Payton away before returning to his team’s bench. Both players received double technical fouls for their actions. This marked a rare instance of a coach and player engaging in such a confrontation in BIG3 history.
Despite the altercation, Crawford performed exceptionally well throughout the game, contributing 20 points, eight rebounds, and two assists to secure a victory for his team, which also secured their first playoff berth in franchise history. Bivouac, coached by Payton, suffered their first loss of the season amid the heated exchange.
The league may consider further consequences for Payton and Crawford following the incident. As both teams prepare for Week 8, they remain at the top of the standings in the BIG3 competition, which fans can follow throughout the season on CBS.
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