In a bizarre incident that left a Hall of Fame coach speechless, former Michigan State basketball icon Paul Davis was ejected from a Spartans home game on Monday night. The 41-year-old ex-NBA centre, a celebrated alumnus, was unceremoniously removed from his seat during Michigan State's dominant 80-51 victory over USC.
A Shocking Ejection for a Spartans Legend
The unusual scene unfolded at the Breslin Center in East Lansing, where Davis was seated in the second row. During the game, referee Jeffrey Anderson singled out Davis in the crowd, leading to his ejection. Broadcast commentators initially misidentified him as merely an overzealous fan, unaware they were discussing a player who started nearly 100 games for the Spartans across four seasons in the early 2000s.
Tom Izzo, the Spartans' legendary coach, was visibly stunned when he approached Anderson about the stoppage in play. The official gestured towards Davis, leaving Izzo in disbelief. "Now Tom Izzo is looking at the fan and saying: 'What are you doing?'" said FS1 announcer Kevin Kugler, omitting a profanity from the coach's actual quote.
Izzo's Reaction and the Aftermath
Before colour commentator LaPhonso Ellis could finish remarking on the awkwardness of the situation, the 6ft 11in Davis was asked to leave. Security escorted him out as he raised his hands to his chest. Izzo's agreement with the official's decision was unmistakable; he was seen yelling "Get out of here!" across the court.
Addressing the media post-game, Izzo clarified the incident was not related to racial or sexual remarks but was due to Davis saying "the wrong thing." "He kind of got after the official, and he was 150 percent wrong," Izzo stated, adding he planned to call Davis the next day. The coach expressed his enduring fondness for his former player, predicting Davis would admit, "I screwed up, coach. I'm sorry."
From Court Star to Corporate Advisor
Paul Davis was a McDonald's All-American and a key player for Michigan State before being selected by the Los Angeles Clippers in the second round of the NBA draft. His professional career included three NBA seasons, a stint with the Washington Wizards, and several years playing in Spain and Russia.
Today, Davis works as a private client advisor at Acrisure, a global financial technology and insurance brokerage. The incident casts a surreal light on the transition from celebrated athlete to passionate alumnus, whose night out supporting his old team took an unexpected turn. The No. 12 ranked Spartans, now 13-2, next face Northwestern on Thursday.
