What should have been a scandal free overtime game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks became an example of business as usual for the NBA as the billion dollar league protected one of their own with a ruling meant to divide and conquer. Those who feign surprise that the Atlanta Hawks best player was ejected have not been paying attention to how this works.
There is no such thing as a meritocracy in the NBA. It’s been a superstar league ever since George Mikan and his seven foot frame took the court in 1946. In the nearly 70 years since, the overwhelming principle is separate but not equal.