Fan pours beer on Sydney Kings player

In what appears to be a spectacularly low act, a man in a private box poured beer on Sydney Kings superstar Marcus Thornton while he was playing.

The man caused a social media frenzy after television coverage captured him leaning forward from a courtside corporate box to casually tip the contents of a can on the head of a sprawling and bemused Thornton.

The man was reportedly ejected from the stadium and the NBL is expected to investigate whether to impose a stadium suspension or life ban.

As Thornton looked up hoping for a foul call, the offender poured beer in his hair. This is 2015, not 1974. “The National Basketball League will not tolerate behavior by any person that jeopardizes player safety, ” the NBL said in a statement Thursday. I mean, really, how unsophisticated and how much of a drongo do you want to be?

See video of the third-quarter encounter embedded below that apparently shows the fan in question sitting in the first row continuing to swig from the beer can as if nothing happened.

Beveridge said many players don’t mind some verbal interaction with fans.

An Australian fan pours beer on import player Marcus Thornton to the outrage of commentators, players and fans alike.

The fan was immediately escorted out of the venue after the incident.

Illawarra’s win boosted their record to 5-6 ahead of Saturday night’s second leg of their round eight double – a home game against Townsville. The Kings remain last on the ladder with three wins from 12 games.