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NBA fans are furious at Reggie Miller for suggesting Herb Jones hit Deandre Ayton on purpose

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

I hate when I watch sports and find myself thinking more about something dumb an announcer said than actually reflecting on the game itself.

But during the fourth quarter of the first game of the series between the Suns and the Pelicans, TNT broadcaster Reggie Miller said something colossally upsetting, and I’m afraid that I can’t let it go.

New Orleans rookie Herbert Jones was making his way back to defend Chris Paul, which was his primary defensive role on Sunday. He did a fantastic job at that, too, as the veteran guard scored nearly all his points when guarded by other players on the Pelicans.

While hurrying back to cover his assignment, Jones made inadvertent contact with Phoenix big Deandre Ayton. Jones’ shoulder hit Ayton in the jaw and the center was left feeling woozy.

Miller took a look at the replay and came away with an assessment: This was intentional. To his credit, Miller played the game at an elite level and perhaps he saw something others did not.

Here is what he said, courtesy of a replay from the TNT broadcast:

“This might have been on purpose. In fact, I think it was. Because there is no need for Jones to rotate over like that. Yeah, that’s on purpose.”

However, when the officials took a look, they did not reach the same conclusion about malicious intent. For what it’s worth, after the game, both Ayton himself and Phoenix head coach Monty Williams said they did not feel that the hit was intentional.

Monty McCutchen, the senior vice president of referee development and training, concluded that Jones attempted to maneuver his way to become the on-ball defender.

He determined Jones and Ayton didn’t see one another, there was no wind-up; then, once contact was made, the rookie then checked in to make sure Ayton was okay.

Miller wouldn’t it go, and continued to spew this reckless take:

“I don’t know, Monty. That’s not incidental contact because Herb Jones knew exactly where he was going and he knew that Ayton did not see him.”

I can’t say whether Jones intended to hit Ayton, but I know during the pre-draft process, the Alabama defensive standout was touted as someone with high character.

Jones doesn’t have a reputation as a violent player. He has collected just two technical fouls and only one flagrant foul during his NBA career thus far, though many felt the one flagrant Jones received last month was excessive.

Regardless, Miller seemingly went out of his way to say Jones was malicious. But as noted by CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn, that sort of rhetoric from Miller could shape Jones’ reputation.

People know Miller, and by proxy, many trust him. Not as many know Jones, so when they hear a Hall-of-Famer like Miller suggest Jones is a dirty player, that is damaging and unfair. I’m not the only one who feels this way, as many NBA fans took to Twitter to express their disappointment in Miller’s actions.

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