Jae Crowder attempted a three-point shot in the dying moment of Wednesday's game, which caught the ire of the Knicks.
Memphis, riding an 18-point lead, surely seemed to be on its way to its fourth-straight win when Crowder stole the ball and took an uncontested shot with 48 seconds left. Crowder missed, but Elfrid Payton took exception to Crowder's attempt and ignited a scuffle between both teams. He shoved Crowder to the floor as the two players exchanged a few words.
Former NBA player Stephen Jackson, once involved in the infamous "Malice at the Palice," believes Payton's action was justified as Crowder violated an unwritten code among players. WFAN's Gregg Giannotti believes the Knicks, who fell to 13-36, "invite this type of stuff" because their opponents don't respect them. Jackson shared a different viewpoint and said Crowder wouldn't have any teeth Thursday morning if he was on the court.
"People don't respect the organization because of one reason: the owner," Jackson said. "Two: (Payton) did right. Crowder was out of line. You're up 18 (points), there's no reason to take that shot. If it was me, he wouldn't have no teeth this morning. Not just push him down, what's all that for? You're not really doing nothing. You pushed him down, now you're giving each other fives? Why even push him down? Like if you're going to push him down, go straight in his mouth right there and make a point. You don't take that shot."
Payton stood by his decision to confront Crowder. He told reporters that it "doesn't matter who took that shot. Don't disrespect the game like that." Crowder responded to the backlash on social media, saying he plays "hard (until) the buzzer sounds.
"That's the disrespectful part of basketball," Crowder said. "See we didn't do that back then. Game over, you show respect to the team. We know the Knicks (are) sorry. You dont gain nothing by pulling a three at the end of the game, but look who it was. It was Crowder. Who is he? He's normally a cool dude but I lost respect for him for doing that. I think he should've got punched in the mouth instead of pushed down."
Payton's teammate, Marcus Morris, also expressed his frustration with the Grizzlies' player.
“When you step back and shoot a 3 and try to rub it in that they’re winning, it’s just unprofessional,” Morris said, via the New York Post. “That’s soft. His game is soft. He’s soft. That’s how he carries (himself). It’s just very woman-like.”