The NBA has issued a Flagrant Foul I on the Knicks’ Amar’e Stoudemire for his hit on the Hawks’ Al Horford during Sunday’s game in New York.
Stoudemire was originally called for a foul by on-court officials after he shoved Horford as the center was going up for a layup in the first quarter. Horford tumbled well underneath the basket following the hit. A subsequent league review reclassified the call to the more serious infraction. The change was made Tuesday. It is Stoudemire’s first flagrant foul this season.
According to NBA rules, a Flagrant Foul I is defined as “unnecessary contact committed by a player against an opponent.” Also, a player will receive one point for Flagrant I fouls and two points for Flagrant II fouls. If the player’s season total exceeds five points, he will receive an automatic suspension following the game in which his point total exceeds five.
The infraction occurred with 2:54 remaining in the first quarter and the score tied 18-18. Horford missed the ensuing free throws.
“I think it’s right,” Horford told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I think when it happened I was surprised. Maybe because I didn’t fall on the ground (immediately), I fell eventually. There was no business. I know what he was trying to do but here is no business doing that.”
