Blake Griffin and Miami Heat React to Groin Shot

The NBA proved that it doesn't call it down the middle when it comes to a man's...middle. 

It was the shot felt 'round the world...well, the NBA world and a couple world champions by the name of Lebron James and Dwayne Wade think David Stern must be nuts (pun intended, copyright pending). In Sunday's game, Oklahoma City Thunder Center Serge Ibaka punched the Clippers Blake Griffin in the groin. He earned a flagrant foul for his troubles as Griffin was doubled over. 

The move was not just slimy and uncalled for but clearly violated the man code. Kobe Bryant was one who let his feelings known about how he would've reacted. "I probably would've smacked him in the mouth," Bryant said on Monday. "I would've dealt with the pain after." 

Well, with all due respect to Kobe, most guys would've had to get up first before retaliating. Then again, we're not Kobe. Fans and NBA announcers figured it was a given that Ibaka would get a suspension for this unprovoked groin assault. Except...he wasn't. Ibaka was instead hit with a $25,000 fine and had the foul upgraded to a flagrant 2. 

Lebron and teammate Dwayne Wade, who had been suspended earlier in the season for a simlar offense, let their feelings known on twitter. "So explain to me the difference? My teammate gets a 1 game suspension and 150k+ taking away from him for his groin altercation #strangetome"  Lebron's outrage stems from Wade's one game suspension on Dec. 26 when he delivered a leg kick to Charlotte Bobcats point guard Ramon Sessions during a shot. That suspension cost him around $156,000. 

"All I can say is WoW...no pun intended but really..and I get suspended and lose 200 grand...#someexplainingtodo" tweeted Wade."

The NBA ruled the reason that Wade was penalized more was that they determined Wade's action was more intentional. Fans and announcers who viewed the game saw things differently. To his credit, Ibaka offered up an apology on Tuesday. 

"The game was physical. I wouldn't try to hurt someone. I'm not that kind of guy. I like to play hard. Just for all the fans that feel like I tried to hurt him, I just want to apologize to the fans," Ibaka said. Of course, there was no apology to the guy he actually hurt, Blake Griffin, who took a different approach to Groingate.

"Kid Blake: Who are you? Future Blake: you from the future...Don't listen to anything else I've told you just start wearing a cup." The response was in like with Griffin's commercials for the Kia Optima where he drives to the past and tells his younger self to take up basketball.