76ers Fan Who Heckled Lakers' Carmelo Anthony Banned Indefinitely from Home Games

Paul KasabianFeatured Columnist IIJanuary 29, 2022

Los Angeles Lakers' Carmelo Anthony, center, gets held back by the officials after having words with a fan during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022, in Philadelphia. The 76ers won 105-87. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

AP Photo/Chris Szagola

The Philadelphia 76ers have indefinitely banned a fan from all future team home games and Wells Fargo Center events after he allegedly shouted racist remarks at Los Angeles Lakers forward Carmelo Anthony during an NBA game Thursday.

A 76ers spokesperson relayed to ESPN's Dave McMenamin that the team made the decision following an investigation into the matter.

The incident occurred with 7:01 left in regulation of the 76ers' 105-87 home win over the Lakers. A pair of fans appeared to yell at Anthony, who walked near them as the game temporarily paused:

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>

Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes reported that 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 and added more information:

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.

The pair of fans Anthony initially gestured towards were soon ejected. The game restarted after stopping for nearly two minutes and finished without further incident.

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