Sydney Kings star import Josh Childress will face three charges on Tuesday and the potential sanction of a suspension, in one of the highest profile NBL tribunal hearings in the competition's history.
American Childress, widely regarded as the best credentialled NBA player to appear in the NBL after 391 matches in the world's best club league, was ejected from last Friday's clash with the Wildcats in Perth, after flattening opposing forward Jesse Wagstaff.
Childress 31, has been charged with striking with an elbow, unduly rough play and bringing the game into disrepute.
He will appear before an independent tribunal in Sydney from 5.30pm (AEDT)on Tuesday.
The most recent major tribunal hearing involving a striking charge occurred in the 2013-14 finals, when then Adelaide guard Gary Ervin was suspended for the deciding game of the semi-final series against Melbourne.
Ervin pleaded guilty to a striking charge and was found guilty of unduly rough play and misconduct for a kneeing incident involving Melbourne guard Chris Goulding.
He was also given a suspended two-game ban and a suspended $10,000 fine.
Now with Wollongong, Ervin made a humorous reference to the Childress incident in a tweet after last Friday's match.
"I just seen @SamBurgess8 playing for the Sydney Kings ..." he said in a reference to the former South Sydney NRL enforcer, who has now moved across to rugby union.
Childress, who was playing just his third game for the Kings, was repentant in the aftermath of his action.
He apologised to the Kings, Wildcats, NBL and the fans on Twitter and said his actions were unacceptable and out of character.
However he also appeared to deflect some blame to the match officials, having charged at Wagstaff immediately after copping a heavy but legal screen which knocked him over.
"The incident itself was extreme and unnecessary," Childress said in a statement issued by the Kings.
"The game was very physical, and when you feel it's one-sided, you get frustrated."
"I overreacted and did something that was very uncharacteristic, and I apologise for any harm caused."
Kings teammate Daniel Joyce took to Twitter to register his support for Childress.
"You're a great bloke, stuff happens, lucky to have you as my teammate," Joyce tweeted.
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