Tweet
NEW YORK (AP) -- New York Knicks forward Antonio Davis was suspended five games by the NBA on Thursday for entering the stands during a game at Chicago to confront a fan he thought was harassing his wife.
While the ruling by NBA vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson showed the league accepted Davis' argument that he believed his wife was in trouble during Wednesday's game, it also made clear that entering the stands would not be tolerated, no matter the circumstances.
"We have made it plain to our players and our fans that players may not enter the spectator stands, no matter the provocation, and that violations of this policy will be treated with the utmost seriousness," Jackson said in a statement.
"We have concluded, however, that Antonio's actions were the result of his belief that his family members required his immediate assistance, and have taken those mitigating circumstances into account in setting the length of the suspension."
Davis' suspension will start with Thursday night's home game against Detroit. Ironically, the Pistons were the home team the last time players went into the stands -- when Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson started a brawl with fans in November, 2004.
An embarrassment for the NBA, the brawl led to criminal charges and lengthy suspensions for Artest, Jackson and Jermaine O'Neal.
While the ruling by NBA vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson showed the league accepted Davis' argument that he believed his wife was in trouble during Wednesday's game, it also made clear that entering the stands would not be tolerated, no matter the circumstances.
"We have made it plain to our players and our fans that players may not enter the spectator stands, no matter the provocation, and that violations of this policy will be treated with the utmost seriousness," Jackson said in a statement.
"We have concluded, however, that Antonio's actions were the result of his belief that his family members required his immediate assistance, and have taken those mitigating circumstances into account in setting the length of the suspension."
Davis' suspension will start with Thursday night's home game against Detroit. Ironically, the Pistons were the home team the last time players went into the stands -- when Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson started a brawl with fans in November, 2004.
An embarrassment for the NBA, the brawl led to criminal charges and lengthy suspensions for Artest, Jackson and Jermaine O'Neal.
MY MEAT IN THE HOT DESERT.......
What a sack on that guy!!!
Comment