‘Furious’ Aron Baynes ejected after heated argument in wild NBL drama

Boomers cult hero Aron Baynes was tossed from an NBL game after the big man became furious and lashed out in wild scenes.

Boomers great Aron Baynes was ejected from the Brisbane Bullets’ loss to Cairns Taipans in the NBL after tempers flared in a fiery altercation.

The veteran big man lashed out late in the second quarter on Saturday night when Cairns forward Lat Mayen elbowed Baynes in the throat as the pair contested a rebound.

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A furious Baynes remonstrated with the referees about the no-call and had to be held back by his Bullets teammates as he was given a technical foul.

As the teams left the court, Baynes and Mayen were side by side. They were both ejected from the game before the start of the second half.

Liam Santamaria said on ESPN: “Baynesy’s furious. He’s going to get tossed.”

Andrew Gaze added: “It’s almost like he’s wanting to get thrown when you get to that level (of anger).

“That’s the elbow that put Aron Baynes into a place where it didn’t look good. He lost control of his emotions. He was upset with his teammates trying to calm him down.

“As they walked off the floor, a few words that went on and what took place in the hallway underneath is what we’re focusing on.”

WATCH THE FIERY ALTERCATION IN THE VIDEO PLAYER ABOVE

Aron Baynes was furious over a no-call in the Brisbane Bullets’ NBL game. Photo: ESPN.

According to ESPN, the NBL is now investigating a separate physical altercation between Baynes and Taipans coach Adam Forde at halftime as the teams made their way down the tunnel at Brisbane’s Nissan Arena.

The NBL is in the process of obtaining security footage of the alleged incident.

Aussie basketball fans were divided by the incident, but the consensus was Baynes lost his cool too easily.

One last #SunshineStoush observation. For someone of his considerable and stellar experience, Baynes has to be much, MUCH, better than that. Don’t care that he was elbowed. Be a better leader. He lost control. Not good enough. #NBL24

— Greg Davis (@GregDavis006) October 7, 2023

The Baynes-Mayen incident is interesting. Baynes is rag-dolling the outmatched Mayen. Mayen throws a very dirty elbow to the jaw. Baynes gets hit with the tech for his reaction and hunts a second. He can smell the fear off the smaller Mayen and hunts him down at the half. Brawl.

— NBLpocketpodcast (@NBLpocketpod) October 7, 2023

Ridiculous behaviour from Baynes. Elder statesman of Australian basketball letting his emotions get the better of him. Yet the @NBL commentators can’t say exactly what has happened because they aren’t in the arena! #NBL24

— Ben Fitzsimons (@BenFitz) October 7, 2023

Real opportunity for new Brisbane Bullets coach Justin Schueller to bench Baynes next game and start Harrison or even Zikarsky. Make him earn his starting spot back. Would be that way for anyone else on the team. That's unacceptable from your NBA/Boomers veteran leader. #NBL24

— Jack M (@jjmvoice) October 7, 2023

Cairns went on to claim a thrilling 89-86 victory, handing the Bullets their first loss of the NBL season.

At the time of Baynes’ blow up (55.7 seconds left in the second), the home side trailed by five (36-41) and then by 14 at the end of the third when the Taipans held a commanding 70-56 lead.

Bullets trio Nathan Sobey, Chris Smith and Sam McDaniel inspired a fourth-quarter comeback when their jump-shooting and lockdown defence saw Brisbane come within one, down 87-86, with forty seconds left on the clock.

That was the closest they came.

Baynes was given technical fouls before eventually being ejected from the game. (Photo by Russell Freeman/Getty Images)

SOBEY AND SMITH

The Bullets trailed by 14 with one quarter remaining, but where there is a Nathan Sobey, there is a way.

He splashed two treys and finished two and-one plays, and with the help of the sharpshooting Chris Smith along with the titanic defence from McDaniel, the Bullets clawed their way back into the game.

The boys in blue came within three, fell away to trail by eight, came back within three before a pull-up three from Akoldah Gak sent a dagger through the hearts of the Bullets faithful.

Or so we thought.

And-one kings Sobey and McDaniel set up a thrilling finish where the Bullets had the chance to take the lead with 40 seconds left.

Sobey missed on that opportunity, and Isaac White the same when heaving up a contested up three which would’ve tied the game in the final seconds.

Taipan Patrick Miller was a crunch-time-king when sinking both free throws in the clutch to ensure the Bullets could only tie the game if they scored a three on the last possession.

With NCA Newswire

Originally published as ‘Furious’ Aron Baynes ejected after heated argument in wild NBL drama