A shoving match broke out during the Los Angeles Lakers’ game in Phoenix last night.

It was an entirely forgettable, silly display, as most NBA fracases are. A little post-whistle bump here (by Kentavious Caldwell-Pope), a modest shove there (by Tyler Ulis of the Suns) … and teammates rushing in to separate the “combatants”.

Noticeable by his absence was rookie Lonzo Ball. He was near the childish scuffle, when it broke out, but kept walking toward the Lakers bench. About halfway there he looked back — but kept walking.

Which led to a social media storm of (mostly) condemnation of Ball for not “coming to the aid” of a teammate … and a snarky putdown here and there.

Some suggested he is, essentially, a coward. The snarky putdown crew, riffed on the notion in some quarters that Ball is “passive” — to the point of not getting in sandbox style snits.

Actually Lonzo Ball ought to be congratulated for his actions — which seem to suggest he believes a serious person does not get involved with the antics of momentarily annoyed basketball players.

He summed up his position in a few words:

“It’s the NBA,” he told reporters. “People ain’t really gonna fight, so I ain’t trying to get no tech.”

To me, that sounds like the stance of a kid who has thought through the silliness of NBA shoving matches.

Note, in the video, that Ball slowly walks on by, and keeps on walking. Slowly. He is not interested in the for-show event. But neither is he running from it; he is remaining above it.

That, however, earned him condemnation, as if the world of sports expects every player on the field of play to get involved in every display of aggression. (The ridiculous sight, comes to mind, of baseball bullpen denizens running 300 feet to get into the “action” in a shoving match at home plate.)

Are we encouraging NBA players — everyone on the court, anyway — to stick their noses into every scrum? Isn’t that inconsistent in a game still sometimes described as a “non-contact” sport?

Isn’t that hypocritical of us, considering the NBA has plenty of ways to get hurt, aside from a faux fight? Injuries come to all pro all players; why risk getting one sooner than later by getting into a teammate’s pantomime fight? (Not to mention a technical foul.)

Part of the issue here is the suggestion going around the league that Lonzo Ball is too passive. In most everything. Some think he plays as if he doesn’t particularly care what happens.

I am sure he does care. His earning power in coming years is at stake.

It seems he simply chooses not to show his passion in aggressive and pointless ways, and good for him. Turns out, Caldwell-Pope was not beaten severely because he was outnumbered by those who felt obliged to get involved.

On this one, I have Lonzo’s back.