Houston Rockets guard Marcus Smart was ejected on Wednesday night after throwing a punch at Golden State Warriors center Charles Bassey .
While Bassey never engaged physically on the court in what could’ve been a massive altercation, he saved his jabs for his postgame media availability.
Bassey said, “That was weak,” when asked about what happened with Smart in the Warriors’ 115-108 loss in Houston.
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“I just think that, honestly, that was fake toughness,” Bassey added, per ESPN. “It didn’t surprise me. I knew he was going to do something.”
Bassey and Smart got tangled up on the other end of the court when they both tried to go for a rebound during a Warriors offensive possession in the third quarter.
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As Golden State took the ball up, Smart and Bassey continued to jaw at each other, and the former turned around to the latter and threw a punch. Smart’s jab never landed, and the situation was quickly broken up before it could escalate.
Bassey, with his arms at his side, stayed calm despite the approach from Smart.
“I don’t think he was trying to play,” he added. “I think he was trying to get himself out of the game. If he was trying to play, he wouldn’t do that. I think he was trying to chill. He wasn’t trying to hoop, bro. That was fake – fake toughness.”
Bassey alleged that he was simply trying to get an offensive rebound on the other end when Smart grabbed his hand. And as the Rockets took possession, Bassey said Smart wouldn’t stop.
“He’s been playing dirty the whole game, man,” Bassey said, adding that Smart grabbed his knee.
Smart is in his 13th NBA season, his first with the Rockets after playing the 2025-26 campaign with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Bassey, who was traded to Golden State from the Boston Celtics last season, is in his sixth NBA season.
