Basketball - Carmelo Ejected for Arguing

Officials whistled two time Denver Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony before ejecting him from the game for arguing a pair of calls during a 3-minute span of the third quarter on Thursday night against the Los Angeles Clippers.

As The NBA is attempting to eliminate complaints and other reactions after calls, they have given as a rule “zero-tolerance”. This is not really a new rule but more a principle for referees. Players and coaches were informed during the pre-season that such reactions would no longer be tolerated by the league.

Anthony left the game while the Clippers were up 56-54 with 8:22 left in the quarter. He was the Nuggets' leading scorer at the time with 15 points. He was whistled his first technical after he was called for a foul 45 seconds into the third period, then was tossed shortly afterward for arguing about a charging foul against him.

Like Carmelo, Detroit's Rasheed Wallace and Sacramento's Mike Bibby have been both ejected on Wednesday night for their reactions to calls. NBA commissioner David Stern has long been fed up with players questioning referees’ calls. Before the start of the season, Stern alerted players and owners that officials would issue quick technical fouls, which can later become fines, for those who curse, throw their hands up, or make other gestures that show disgust.

Stern explained in October that this process aims at having the best athletes in the world, playing a spectacular game as well as it has ever been played. Stern added that this process concerns a small handful of players who spend their time negotiating and slowing the game down. Eventually, the coaches this decision since it consequently means that the player will get back on defense rather than staying down to argue a call he didn't get on the offensive end.