On Tuesday morning, around 6:30 a.m., Tom Izzo got a call from former player Paul Davis.
Michigan State’s coach had kicked Davis out of Monday’s game after the ex-NBA player directed a remark at a referee that Izzo later described as something “you should never say anywhere.” This occurred during a game where they had beaten USC.
Davis expressed embarrassment over the incident and proposed holding a press conference later that day to apologize for his behavior.
“It shouldn’t have happened yesterday, but it should happen today,” Davis commented. “I’m not here to make excuses. I’m here to take responsibility and be accountable.”
He continued, “The Block S—that’s not what it stands for. I didn’t come here for that, nor do I wear it with pride for that kind of behavior. It was a mistake, and it won’t happen again.”
Davis played for Michigan State from 2002 to 2006, averaging 13.2 points and 7.0 rebounds, and was chosen in the second round of the 2006 NBA Draft by the Clippers. He’s number ten on the all-time scoring list for the school.
In that game against USC, Davis got involved when referee Jeffrey Anderson pointed to him after blowing his whistle, identifying him as a disruptive fan.
Upon learning of this, Anderson informed Izzo, who seemed perplexed and raised his hand in disbelief.
“He kind of went after the official, and that was just completely wrong,” Izzo stated. “It’s almost like it’s illegal for me to back an official 150 percent. It was just a case of saying the wrong thing, and nothing more.” He made it clear that Davis’s comments weren’t racial or sexual in nature, adding that it just wasn’t appropriate.
Davis, who is now 41, opted not to disclose what exactly he said but noted he had reached out to Anderson. He mentioned he apologized to Izzo, his alma mater, USC players, fans, and parents.
“I told them the focus has shifted away from the game, which isn’t right,” Davis remarked. “This shouldn’t have been the main topic as we head into the new year, but my actions made that unavoidable.”
Izzo acknowledged Davis’s effort to own up to his mistake. “He does have some value,” Izzo said, “but that’s not who he is.”
