The NBA has hit the San Antonio Spurs with a $250,000 fine for benching Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobli and Danny Green vs. the Heat last night. It was the Spurs fourth game in five days, but it was also a nationally televised game and still early in the season. Gregg Popovich had a chance to sit his four starters the night before against the Magic. The timing of his decision rubbed David Stern the wrong way and he released a swift statement before last night's game. It also turns out that the Spurs did in fact violate league rules.
The NBA released this statement:
“The result here is dictated by the totality of the facts in this case,” commissioner David Stern said in a statement. “The Spurs decided to make four of their top players unavailable for an early-season game that was the team’s only regular-season visit to Miami. The team also did this without informing the Heat, the media, or the league office in a timely way. Under these circumstances, I have concluded that the Spurs did a disservice to the league and our fans. The Spurs’ actions were in violation of a league policy, reviewed with the NBA Board of Governors in April 2010, against resting players in a manner contrary to the best interests of the NBA.”
When will folks learn that Stern don't play that? Talk about substantial. No doubt Pop did this on purpose. Now he knows to watch his step because his commissioner is a G.
RELATED: A History of David Stern's Most Gully Moments
[via Sports Illustrated]
