76ers Fan Ejected for Allegedly Calling Lakers' Carmelo Anthony 'Boy'

Paul KasabianFeatured Columnist IIJanuary 28, 2022

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 27: Carmelo Anthony #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives to the basket during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on January 27, 2022 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

A pair of Philadelphia 76ers fans were apparently ejected after getting into a verbal altercation with Los Angeles Lakers forward Carmelo Anthony on Thursday at Wells Fargo Center.

Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
Melo got into it with this fan and he was removed from the game 👀 <a href="https://t.co/V3vpPHBXmx">pic.twitter.com/V3vpPHBXmx</a>

According to Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes, one of the fans was ejected for repeatedly calling Anthony "boy."

Chris Haynes @ChrisBHaynes
Sixers fan that was ejected for taunting Los Angeles Lakers star Carmelo Anthony kept calling him a “boy” and yelling “get in the corner boy” and “keeping shooting boy,” league sources tell <a href="https://twitter.com/YahooSports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@YahooSports</a>.

Anthony confirmed the report postgame:

Dan Woike @DanWoikeSports
Carmelo Anthony confirmed that he was called "boy" by fans in Philadelphia and that line-crossing comments came from two different groups of people.

“Unacceptable language and unacceptable behavior by fans, is the simplest way to put it," Lakers head coach Frank Vogel told reporters after the game. "There’s gotta be a higher standard and hopefully that’s handled the right way."

The game temporarily paused after 76ers forward Georges Niang committed a personal foul on a Lakers possession with 7:01 remaining in regulation and Philadelphia up 94-78.

Anthony then appeared to walk in the direction of a pair of fans who were shouting in his direction. Officials stepped on the court between Anthony and the fans, who were soon escorted out by event staff.

Melo soon walked over to the corner of the court and then a third fan appeared to have words with Anthony as 76ers center Joel Embiid got between the two to defuse the situation:

John Clark @JClarkNBCS
Carmelo Anthony not happy with a Philly fan<br><br>Joel Embiid tried to calm the situation <a href="https://t.co/7Q3ImKh9OZ">pic.twitter.com/7Q3ImKh9OZ</a>

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The matchup restarted less than two minutes after the initial stoppage with the Lakers inbounding the ball. Anthony stayed in.

As for the game itself, the 76ers won 105-87.