NBL Blitz: Breakers import Freddie Gillespie faces ban after headbutt on Kings veteran Shaun Bruce

A New Zealand import has been learned his fate after the NBL’s Game Review Panel ruled on an unsavoury incident in which he headbutted a rival player.

New Zealand import centre Freddie Gillespie hass been offered a suspension over a violent late-game headbutt that left Sydney Kings’ guard Shaun Bruce bloodied.

The incident, which happened with two minutes to go in the Kings’ 90-79 NBL Blitz win, was referred to the NBL’s Game Review Panel.

The GRP uses a scale to assess the severity of a player’s conduct but, unlike the AFL where there are multiple weekly instances, there is less precedent in the NBL, given physical incidents are very rare.

The 17-year-old Minnesota native was offered a two-game suspension, reduced to one game with an early guilty plea, after an incident determined as being intentional, medium impact and high contact.

Bruce waited for Gillespie on halfway, exchanging a few words before the two came together.

Gillespie’s head appeared to dip forward as they connected, with Bruce busted open next to his left eye from the incident.

Breakers import Freddie Gillespie is ejected. Picture: Getty Images

Both benches cleared, with Kings coach Brian Goorjian among the throng as the groups exchanged words.

The incident was recorded as a disqualifying foul, which was among a suite of new rules introduced by the NBL this season.

Gillespie was removed from the game, which the Kings led by eight points at the time of the incident, but it will have a direct impact on the Breakers, who are set to lose the potential game-breaker for at least a few games.

Freddie Gillespie has been ejected after this incident with Shaun Bruce pic.twitter.com/DMTO2XOyyu

— NBL (@NBL) September 13, 2024

TOOHEY KNEW

Reckon Toohey had an idea the Gold Coast Entertainment Centre was packed with scouts and potential NBA suitors?

It took just 90 seconds of this clash for Toohey to fire a shot which will land on a few highlight reels, as the young Kings forward drove his way to the basket and put two Breakers on a poster.

Alex Toohey showed out for the Kings in a superb performance against the Breakers. Picture: Getty Images

It was an emphatic jam which sent a message to the critics, scouts and his opponents – both on Friday and for the season – and proved he was bigger, and could be more physical, than he might’ve been in his debut campaign.

Toohey was tough all-round.

He shot well, landing seven-of-14 field goal attempts in his 24 points, grabbed a few rebounds and assists, and drew six crucial fouls for his team. The 20-year-old was strong defensively as well.

It was a good early show for the NBL Next Star who is eyeing a strong season to maximise his NBA Draft stock.

FULL MOONEY RISING

Matthew Mooney could be an absolute handful during his stint in this league. .

The Breakers swooped on the former NBA-contracted shooting guard as a man to play alongside star import Parker Jackson-Cartwright.

Matthew Mooney put up 25 points for the Breakers. Picture: Getty Images

But, without the breakout star of NBL24 on-court in Friday’s clash with the Kings, Mooney proved he will forge his own identity – and it could prove huge for the Breakers.

Mooney, who played five NBA games between the Cavaliers and Knicks and has played high-level basketball in Germany and Turkey, punched holes in the Kings’ questionable defence as he racked up 25 points and eight assists in 26 minutes.

The Kings kept him quiet in the fourth quarter, but he showed glimpses of what he is capable of in NBL25.

He shot well, found his teammates in good shooting position and had the vision to set up several scoring plays in a solid last hit-out at the Gold Coast.

Originally published as NBL Blitz: Breakers import Freddie Gillespie faces ban after headbutt on Kings veteran Shaun Bruce