Trevor Booker Suspended 1 Game for Taking Swing at Roy Hibbert

Utah Jazz power forward Trevor Booker has been suspended one game after attempting to hit Los Angeles Lakers center Roy Hibbert in the face during Tuesday's preseason game between the two teams.

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports reported the news of Booker's brief ban on Thursday, and the league confirmed the punishment on Friday. The 27-year-old was ejected for his actions in Tuesday's game after an altercation with Hibbert with 7:14 remaining the third quarter.

Given how aggressively Booker went after Hibbert, he's fortunate to only incur a one-game suspension—and to not have made clean contact with Hibbert's face.   

The Jazz still managed to win the game sans Booker, 117-114, in overtime. Even though Booker isn't a typical starter, he's the next man up behind power forward Derrick Favors and is important to Utah for depth purposes.

Booker showed promise last season with per-36-minute averages of 13.1 points and 9.1 rebounds, but his contract year will begin without him suiting up for Oct. 28's regular-season opener at the Detroit Pistons.

The 6'7", 240-pound veteran does have the rest of the season to prove he's learned from the incident and build on his strong maiden season in Utah as part of a talented, young Jazz squad. Rookie first-round pick Trey Lyles now has a better chance to shine against the Pistons in his prospective NBA debut.