Darius Bazley's China Contract Terminated After Shoving Former Thunder Teammate

The 25-year-old forward's first overseas stint ended abruptly after an on-court incident with Zavier Simpson.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 8:35pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting the fragmented forms of basketball players engaged in an intense confrontation on the court, with the ball and court lines creating a sense of dynamic movement and tension.A cubist interpretation of the on-court altercation between former NBA players Darius Bazley and Zavier Simpson, capturing the heated emotions and fractured nature of their dispute.Oklahoma City Today

Darius Bazley, a former first-round pick of the Oklahoma City Thunder, had his contract with the Ningbo Rockets in the Chinese Basketball Association terminated after an on-court incident where he shoved his former Thunder teammate Zavier Simpson during a game against the Shanghai Sharks.

Why it matters

Bazley's rapid fall from the NBA to overseas play highlights the challenges some young players face in transitioning to professional basketball, especially when dealing with frustration and anger on the court. The incident also raises questions about player discipline and team chemistry in the CBA.

The details

During the first quarter of the Ningbo Rockets' game against the Shanghai Sharks, Bazley attempted to inbound a pass to Simpson, his former Thunder teammate. When the pass was stolen and resulted in a 3-pointer for the Sharks, Bazley argued with Simpson on the inbound and then intentionally threw the ball out of bounds out of frustration. This led to Bazley's contract being terminated by the Rockets just over a month after he had signed with the team.

  • Bazley signed with the Ningbo Rockets on March 7, 2026.
  • The on-court incident occurred during the first quarter of a game against the Shanghai Sharks.

The players

Darius Bazley

A 25-year-old forward who was a first-round draft pick of the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2019 and played six seasons in the NBA before signing with the Ningbo Rockets in the Chinese Basketball Association.

Zavier Simpson

A former guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder and the University of Michigan, who was Bazley's teammate on the Thunder and is now also playing in the Chinese Basketball Association.

Kevin Zhang

A former Tulane basketball player who currently plays for the Shanghai Sharks in the Chinese Basketball Association.

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What they’re saying

“We cannot tolerate that type of behavior from our players. The team has decided to terminate Darius' contract effective immediately.”

— Ningbo Rockets General Manager

What’s next

It is unclear if Bazley will attempt to sign with another CBA team or try to return to the NBA G League or NBA after this incident.

The takeaway

Darius Bazley's rapid fall from the NBA to having his CBA contract terminated after just over a month highlights the challenges young players can face in maintaining composure and professionalism when dealing with frustration on the court, especially when transitioning to a new team and league overseas.