Myron Gardner – the Miami Heat forward – is the talk of the NBA after his altercation with Memphis Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr. in Miami’s 136-120 win on Feb. 21, 2026 at Kaseya Center.
Post-practice on Feb. 23, Gardner addressed the media without holding back, even taking a subtle jab at Pippen Jr.: “I was just running back on defense, so my momentum took me toward him. I was just paying attention to the game, then seen him come last minute, so he sort of surprised me a little bit. It was fun, it’s just basketball, it’s part of it. I don’t know too much about Scotty [Pippen Jr.]. I know about Scotty Pippen Sr.”
Clip of the full incident (if you missed it): Gardner allegedly blindsided Pippen after a 3-point attempt (no call), knocking him down from behind. Pippen charged downcourt, shoved hard with both hands, and the scuffle spilled into the first row. Both earned technicals and ejections.
Pippen Jr. reacted postgame (via ClutchPoints): “I thought it was kind of a cheap shot. He kind of hit me when I didn’t see him. I thought it was a soft move. I just thought maybe he needed a hug on the other end.”
NBA Punishment: On Feb. 23, the league fined both $35,000 each for their roles (Gardner initiated, Pippen escalated). No suspensions—lighter than recent incidents (e.g., Hornets-Pistons fight with multiple games missed). Gardner is expected to play vs. Milwaukee Bucks on Feb. 24. Heat likely relieved their spark-plug rookie avoids extra time off.
Draymond Green Weighs In: No one comments on on-court beefs like Draymond. On “The Draymond Green Show” podcast, the Warriors forward addressed Gardner’s growing rep for getting under skins: “Most of y’all are probably like, ‘Who the hell is Myron Gardner?’ Myron, if you remember, a month ago we played the Miami Heat… Podz [Brandin Podziemski] played great in the fourth quarter, and every shot he made, he kept talking to the bench. Who he was talking to was Myron Gardner.”
Green continued: “Myron Gardner, this is becoming his MO… You have to back it up; it can’t just be I’m going to pick these fights and can’t back it up with the game… Klay Thompson got into it with someone on the Heat bench and Caron Butler made the young fella apologize to Klay Thompson. That was Myron Gardner… It’s a very slippery slope. Other players, when they play the Miami Heat and get the opportunity to say something to him, guys on the bench will be killing him. They’re gonna talk bad about him. You put a target on your back and have to make sure you’re ready. I see a lot of guys who aren’t ready for the target on their back.”
Green’s warning: Gardner (24, rising with aggressive play) risks becoming a league-wide target if he keeps provoking without elite production to back it up. Heat fans see it as “Heat Culture” toughness; others see unnecessary drama.
This adds spice to Heat’s East push and Grizzlies’ rebuild. Gardner—undrafted out of Arkansas-Little Rock, two-way to standard contract—is bringing bench energy, but needs control to avoid bigger consequences.
What do you think? Gardner embodying Heat fire or self-sabotaging? Draymond spot-on?