The film doesn't lie. For that reason, Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade will lose more than $150,000 in serving the first suspension of his 10-year NBA career.
The league on Thursday suspended Wade for Friday night's game at Detroit for what was termed "flailing his leg and making contact with the groin" of Bobcats guard Ramon Sessions in Wednesday's 105-92 Heat win at Charlotte, NC. Wade claimed on Twitter the kick was unintentional.
A video replay clearly shows that after driving down the court with 8:14 left in the game, Wade kicks Sessions in the groin. It came after Sessions grabbed Wade in an apparent intentional foul. While Sessions was called for a common foul, Wade was not whistled for anything.
Sessions went down after contact before getting up to have some words with Wade. The Miami star then made a gesture, which included sticking his foot out.
"I'm far from being a dirty player + my intent was never 2 kick Ramon Sessions," Wade tweeted after the suspension was announced. "I just reacted to the contact that I got from him.... More than anything, I think of my boys watchin me be4 retaliating 2ward any player. Im moving 4ward + ready 2 get back on the court in MIL (the Heat plays at Milwaukee on Saturday)."
Sessions had said after Wednesday’s game he believed it was an intentional act.
"I thought he did it on purpose, and it wasn't called," Sessions said.
The suspension will cost Wade $154,764 in lost salary — he's making $17.024 million this season. When a player is suspended for a game, the NBA docks him 1/110th of his salary, taking into account teams play 82 regular-season games, eight preseason games and sometimes around 20 playoff games.
Wade's absence could make Miami a bit thin at guard against the Pistons. The Heat were without guard Ray Allen at Charlotte because of a bruised right shoulder injury. His status for Friday is uncertain.
It will be the fourth game missed this season by Wade, averaging 20.2 points. He previously missed one with an illness and two because of a foot injury.
The Heat are used to not having Wade against Detroit. He sat out three of the four meetings last season and one of the four in 2010-11 with an injury.
But it didn't matter. The Heat went 8-0 the past two years against the Pistons — Friday is their first meeting this season.
