INTERVIEW CONDUCTED BY PETER EDMISTON (THE ATHLETIC) WITH CREW CHIEF TONY BROTHERS FOLLOWING TONIGHT’S NEW YORK KNICKS AT MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES GAME

May 3, 2021

QUESTION: What were the circumstances that led to the ejection of Taylor Jenkins?

BROTHERS: “There was a drive to the basket, and he thought there was a foul on the play. Coming back up the floor I kind of gave him a chance to calm down some.  When he got down, he didn’t calm down he was acting very overtly, yelling so I issued the first technical foul. As I was walking to the table he was still overtly yelling and then he yells an obscenity, I called a second technical foul and ejected him.”

QUESTION: So, the obscenity was the trigger?

BROTHERS: “As far as the ejection was concerned, yes.” 

QUESTION: What were the circumstances that led to the ejection of Ja Morant?

BROTHERS: “They had been warned and he continued to complain, and I gave him an opportunity to stop and he wouldn’t, so I called the first technical foul. And then he continued to complain and walked towards me and so when he got close to me, I called a second technical foul and ejected him.”

QUESTION: Was there any threatening language used by you toward Ja Morant?

BROTHERS: “Of course not.”