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Cleveland Cavaliers rookie Emoni Bates suspended 2 games in G League for going into stands

Cleveland Cavaliers' Emoni Bates dunks against the Orlando Magic during the second half of a preseason NBA basketball game Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Cleveland Cavaliers' Emoni Bates dunks against the Orlando Magic during the second half of a preseason NBA basketball game Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

CLEVELAND — Cavaliers rookie forward Emoni Bates was suspended two games without pay by the NBA G League on Monday for going into the stands following his game with the Cleveland Charge over the weekend.

G League president Shareef Abdur-Rahim announced that Bates and Charge teammate Gabe Osabuohien were suspended for “entering the spectator stands” after the game Saturday in Alabama.

The league did not provide any other details about the incident, which happened after the Charge's 126-105 loss to the Birmingham Squadron.

Bates and Osabuohien will begin serving their suspensions Monday night when the Charge visit the Osceola Magic, league said.

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The Cavaliers selected Bates in the second round of last year's NBA draft. The 19-year-old, who has been touted as one of the nation's top prospects since his early teens, has appeared in 10 games for the Cavs and averaged 1.8 points in 7.6 minutes.

Bates spent one season at Memphis before transferring to Eastern Michigan in his hometown of Ypsilanti. He was suspended last season following an arrest on felony gun charges that were later dismissed.

Once he was reinstated, the 6-foot-9 Bates averaged 19.2 points and 5.8 rebounds for Eastern Michigan, and the Cavs were intrigued enough by his potential to select him with the No. 49 overall pick.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavs rookie Emoni Bates suspended 2 games in NBA G League