Desmond Bane had a lot of NBA fans scratching their heads after a repeat of his antics in their 106-100 loss to the New York Knicks on Sunday.
In their 106–100 loss to the New York Knicks, Bane repeated a move that had fans questioning what exactly he was thinking.
Late in the game, Bane secured a rebound but immediately fired the ball at OG Anunoby to keep possession. The play was technically legal, but the force — and the timing — had fans calling him out online.
One fan wrote, “He prob got bullied in dodgeball as a kid. Saw his chance and took it.”
Another added, “There’s zero reason for this as he has control of the ball while in bounds. This merits a technical foul.”
A third said, “Love how Bane was like, ‘Aww, did you see he just pushed me!?!’”
Desmond Bane WYD⁉️😭 pic.twitter.com/WTU2qswlYK
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 7, 2025
The moment didn’t throw Anunoby off one bit. He and Jalen Brunson powered the Knicks past the Orlando Magic, with OG dropping 21 points and 7 boards in 28 minutes. Brunson finished with 30 points and 9 assists as New York closed out another strong win.
“Unnecessary but very funny and legal”: NBA fans split on Bane’s intent
Even with the roasting, some fans pointed out that Bane was simply making a smart play — just in the most chaotic way possible.
One said, “Smart basketball play but yall to soft and jock ride brunson flopping to know.”
Smart basketball play but yall to soft and jock ride brunson flopping to know.
— Jonathan (@Jonathan_Z89) December 7, 2025
Another added, “Unnecessary but very funny and legal.”
A third wrote, “LMAOOOOO is there anything wrong wit this? He can say he’s losing balance and throwing the ball of a out of bounds player.”
For many, the reaction wasn’t just about the Knicks’ moment — it was déjà vu.
Earlier in the season against the Hawks, Bane had an even uglier exchange with Onyeka Okongwu. After Okongwu leaked out in transition and went up for a clean finish, Bane grabbed his arm mid-air, pulled him down, and then spiked the ball off his head. That sequence earned him both a technical and a flagrant, plus an immediate ejection.
With this latest flare-up, fans are starting to wonder whether Bane is simply wired this way — or if frustration is getting the better of him during a tough stretch for Memphis.
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Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
