Olympiacos fines Tyler Dorsey and sidelines him for a month after social media outburst

The sanction

Olympiacos BC has fined Tyler Dorsey and kept him out of the team's official commitments for 30 days. The club announced the decision on Thursday, 22 October, over a disciplinary offence dated 14 October. Under the sanction, Dorsey misses the seventh-round EuroLeague game against Fenerbahce on Friday, 23 October, and the club no longer counts him for its coming fixtures.

The club's statement framed the decision in formal terms.

The club informs that basketball player Tyler Dorsey will remain out of the team's competitive obligations for one month, due to a disciplinary offence.

Training alone

During the month Dorsey will not join group sessions. He trains separately from his teammates under the instructions of the coaching staff, following an individual programme. He has trained this way since the club sent him back to Athens a day before the Barcelona game, and he will continue until the penalty ends and he can return to action.

What triggered the sanction

The row grew out of contract renewal talks. On the Triple Threat Show podcast, Jaron Blossomgame claimed that Dorsey could be replaced, while Tsimba Monekeh argued that Olympiacos should reward him for his part in last season's EuroLeague title. Dorsey answered with a pointed social media post aimed at the club and its coaching staff. Iefimerida places the post on Instagram after a game in Valencia.

In the post he asked why he was not being allowed to leave if someone else could do what he does, especially if the club did not want to pay him. He also wrote that his playing time had dropped suddenly, and added a warning about what would come out later.

Not everything is as it looks from afar!

Dorsey later appeared before the club's management to explain his conduct and statements, but the sanction followed.

Season numbers

Dorsey's role has shrunk this season. Last season he averaged 15.9 points, 2.6 assists and 2.3 rebounds in 25:10 minutes per game in the EuroLeague. This season, after the arrivals of Jan Montero and McIntyre, he averages 12.6 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 18:26 minutes per game.

Ahead of Friday's game, Olympiacos is also without Evan Fournier, and Jan Montero is not yet match-ready, according to Iefimerida.

The club's stance

Giorgos Bartzokas had earlier pre-announced a decision of this kind, arguing that it relates to the principles of the team rather than to a single game.

Decisions of this kind have nothing to do with an opportunistic game. They relate to the principles of a team.

The club's own statement cites only a disciplinary offence. The sources do not say how the contract renewal talks will end.