One of the major storylines from Game 3 of the NBA Finals was the altercation between Kyle Lowry and Warriors “investor” Mark Stevens.
Lowry crashed into the front row while chasing down a loose ball, and Stevens decided to push the Raptors point guard and yell vulgar comments at him while he got up. After the game, Lowry called for him to receive a lifetime ban from ever attending another NBA game, and after the Warriors issued an initial statement saying he wouldn’t be at any more Finals games this season, LeBron James called for a greater punishment.
Later on Thursday, the NBA handed down its punishment to Stevens, giving him a $500,000 fine and banning him from any NBA games or Warriors team activities for one year.
The punishment came down after Lowry met with reporters on Thursday, in which he said he appreciated the Warriors statement and the support he’s received from around the NBA — many Warriors players also stuck up for Lowry on Thursday.
First of all, I want to thank the Warriors for the statement they issued, and then the NBA also. It’s just what our league’s about and protecting the players.
Like I said last night, there’s no room in our game for that. In that situation, I don’t think I could have handled it any better. I’m glad I did what I did, and I understand that things could have been a lot different if I reacted a different way or if I did something or put my hands on him or did anything of that nature.
But the support I’ve gotten from fellow players, the league, has been unbelievable. With that being said, I think more should be done. He’s not a good look for the ownership group that they have. And I know Joe Lacob. Those guys are great guys. The ownership that they have that I know, they’re unbelievable guys. But a guy like that, showing his true class, and he shouldn’t be a part of our league. There’s just no place for that.
Lowry called for him not to be part of the league, and for a year that’ll be the case. It will be interesting to see if Lowry or others feel that is enough, but that is the determination of the NBA at this time.
