‘Severely outlawed’: Andrew Gaze and fellow NBL great Derek Rucker call for rule change

Australian basketball legend Andrew Gaze and fellow NBL great Derek Rucker have called on the league to outlaw the punch, declaring it’s a “bad look” for the game.

Australian basketball legend Andrew Gaze and fellow NBL great Derek Rucker have called on the league to outlaw the punch, declaring it’s a “bad look” for the game.

Punching in basketball has emerged as a talking point after South East Melbourne Phoenix guard Gary Browne hit out at Brisbane big man Aron Baynes during last Saturday’s loss to the Bullets.

Browne was charged with striking and slapped with a one-game suspension, reduced to $1550 as he accepted the early guilty plea.

The punishment has been questioned and considered light in some quarters, but multiple legends believe the act of punching is the greatest concern for the NBL.

Gaze has led the push for change, saying any punch can’t be tolerated.

“I think that punching needs to be severely outlawed,” Gaze said.

“We don’t want it – it’s a bad look and we can’t have it with where we are at as a league, who we are trying to appeal to and what we want to stand for.

“Fortunately, there wasn’t any great damage done from (Browne’s punch), but it’s just the look we need to make sure it doesn’t become a consistent behaviour.”

Fellow legend Derek Rucker agrees with Gaze – labelling a punch as a “terrible” look.

Rucker conceded Browne’s sucker punch wouldn’t have boxing champion Mike Tyson concerned.

Gary Browne was ejected after this foul on Aron Baynes. pic.twitter.com/tCWjqS7sbn

— NBL (@NBL) December 30, 2023

Jokes aside, he knows the NBL can’t afford for such an unsavoury act to become common practice.

“It must be clear to anyone else playing the game that you can’t go down this path,” Rucker said.

“If you don’t come down on this (punch), then you could get one into someone’s eye and then you’ve got a whole world of problems.

“He (Gary) really wanted to clock Baynes, but as he made contact he realised, ‘this isn’t good’, but it was too late to stop it.

“It was a half punch, however it must be punished severely because what if a punch goes to someone’s head or throat?

“And it doesn’t have to be a closed fist. Just that contact alone from the hand can cause damage.”

Browne’s punch on Baynes was deemed as intentional, medium impact and low contact.

The panel, under NBL rules, did not take into account a similar November incident, where the Phoenix guard was fined for striking Adelaide big man Tohi Smith-Milner.

It means Browne will be free to suit up for the slumping Phoenix in their next outing against Illawarra on January 5.

Gaze was “shocked” with the light penalty given it was the second time the Phoenix star has hit out at an opponent this season.

“So, the penalty for the first punch earlier this season didn’t have the desired impact and the change in behaviour that is required,” he said.

“I do understand it was in the heat of the moment, and it can happen.

“He (Gary) has also copped a penalty by being tossed out of the game when they had a chance to win.”

‘A punch is a punch’: One-punch victim slams NBL’s sanction

One-punch attack victim Harry Froling has slammed the NBL after South East Melbourne import Gary Browne avoided suspension for striking Brisbane big man Aron Baynes.

Froling, who was left with a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain following an alleged attack in a street in Wollongong in January, said “a punch is a punch” and Browne’s one-game suspension — reduced to a $1550 fine on account of an early guilty plea — for the Saturday night brain fade “sets a bad precedent”.

Browne’s victim Baynes, earlier this season, was suspended for five games over three separate incidents, including a halftime run-in with Cairns coach Adam Forde, in an October 7 loss to the Taipans.

It’s the second time Browne has been fined, after a near-identical incident earlier in November when he gave Adelaide’s big Kiwi Tohi Smith-Milner some knuckle.

Former Bullet Froling, who has not played since the January 2023 incident, took to Twitter to slam the disparity in the penalties for the two incidents.

“I think the NBL has it wrong giving Baynes 5 games and only giving Browne 1 game,” Froling wrote.

I think the NBL has it wrong giving Baynes 5 games and only giving Browne 1 game. A punch is a punch. Sets a bad precedent and smells a bit fishy to me, using Baynesy to make a point, but not bringing the hammer down on Browne is wrong especially a second striking incident.

— Harry Froling (@HarryFroling) December 31, 2023

“A punch is a punch. Sets a bad precedent and smells a bit fishy to me.

“Using Baynesy to make a point, but not bringing the hammer down on Browne is wrong, especially a second striking incident.”

Down seven with a tick under seven minutes to go in the game, Browne was hammered by a typically physical Baynes’ screen that walked the line of legality, before lashing out in frustration, his blow connecting with the big man’s midsection.

As Baynes hit the deck, Browne appeared to immediately grasp the seriousness of his action, throwing his hands up, and he was subsequently ejected from the 95-83 loss.

Harry Froling bears the scars of surgery to repair his fractured skull and alleviate bleeding on the brain. Picture: Shane Froling/Twitter

The 30-year-old Puerto Rican is a popular figure in The Heartland and a genuine nice guy but It’s the second time this season he has lashed out on the court.

The NBL Game Review Panel’s decision has divided NBL fans and officials alike, with some calling for a stiffer punishment. It determined the incident, described by Phoenix coach Mike Kelly as “bonehead” “selfish” and “out-of-character”, was intentional, medium impact and low contact.

The panel, under NBL rules, did not take into account the November incident involving Smith-Milner.

It means Browne will be free to suit up for the slumping Phoenix in their next outing against Illawarra on January 5.

Originally published as ‘Severely outlawed’: Andrew Gaze and fellow NBL great Derek Rucker call for rule change