Marcus Smart Suspended Three Games For Shoving Fan, Apologizes For Incident

Marcus Smart will be missing the next three games after the Oklahoma State star shoved a Texas Tech fan in the closing seconds of a game on Saturday.

Smart was trying to block Jaye Crockett’s dunk attempt with 6.2 seconds left when he lost his balance and tumbled into the crowd. After getting up, Smart turned back to a fan who appeared to say something to him, and the Oklahoma State player then delivered a two-handed shove to the fan.

Smart was assessed a technical foul on the play but was not ejected.

The Big 12 acted quickly after the incident, announcing Sunday evening that Marcus Smart would be suspended for three games.

“Mr. Smart’s actions were a clear violation of the Big 12 Conference’s Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct Policy,” Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby said in a statement. “Such behavior has no place in athletics, and will not be tolerated. I appreciate the efforts of Oklahoma State University athletics director Mike Holder in addressing this matter, and believe this is an appropriate response to an inappropriate action.”

Smart apologized to the fan in a statement on Sunday.

“I want to apologize to the fan, whose name is Jeff Orr. I want to apologize to him. I want to apologize to my teammates, to my coaching staff, Coach Ford, my family, Oklahoma State University. This is not how I (conduct) myself, this is not how this program is ran. This is not how I was raised. I let my emotions get the best of me.

“Just can’t let that happened again. This is a lesson I’ll have to learn from. The consequences that are coming with it, I’m taking full responsibility. No finger pointing. This is all upon me.”

Orr has been in trouble in the past. Known as a Texas Tech superfan who travels hundreds of miles each year to see the team play, he was caught in 2010 giving an obscene gesture to a Texas A&M player. Several other former Big 12 players say they remember Smart’s antics in the stands.

With the three game suspension, Marcus Smart will miss a key stretch of the Big 12 schedule and return just in time to face Texas Tech at home.