Kevin Garnett: Why KG Deserved Suspension from NBA for Absurd Postgame Antics

The NBA continued to destroy its credibility by deciding to not punish Kevin Garnett for his foolish late-game actions during the Christmas opener against the Knicks.

The Boston Herald reported that an NBA spokesman had announced there would be no fine or suspension for Garnett.

The news will not come as a surprise to Celtics GM Danny Ainge. The Herald quoted Ainge, following the incident, as saying, "I don’t think it was that kind of thing. It might be a technical foul, but that’s all. I don’t know what was said. He was provoked in some regard."

If you haven't seen it yet, take a look at the incident and you decide if this deserved only a technical foul.

The Antics

The incident occurred right at the end of the game. Bill Walker rushed out on Garnett, and KG missed the game winner. He then walked towards Garnett, and KG gave him the ol' throat shove. 

Walker added this about the incident following the game. Here is Walker, as quoted by the Herald:

"

I’m a grown-up. You put your hands on my face, what part of the game is that? You know what the man does.

"

NBA's Failure

This is a league that hands out a technical for a player who puts his hands to his own neck to make the "choke" sign. It is preposterous that someone may receive a similar penalty for putting their hands on someone else's throat.

The NBA suspends people for fighting. They suspend players for just getting off the bench during a fight. Yet they aren't going to suspend Garnett for this.

This shove was as heinous as a punch, and it should be treated that way.

While Ainge has a point that Walker likely said something to provoke Garnett, there is also the very real possibility that it was following something Garnett said earlier.

KG is one of the most demonstrative players in the game and one of its most notorious trash-talkers.
By allowing Garnett to get away with this kind of behavior, it opens the door for Garnett to behave in an even uglier fashion the next time he is frustrated. 

It also sends a bad message to the rest of the players, and it chips away at the Association's fading credibility.

This is just another incomprehensible decision by a league that is beginning to specialize in causing its fans to scratch their heads.