A brawl between Indiana Pacers players and Detroit Pistons fans Friday forced the National Basketball Association to hand out some of its harshest penalties in league history Sunday. Overall, nine players were suspended for more than 140 games combined.
The biggest penalty went to Pacers guard Ron Artest, who will sit out the rest of the 2004-'05 season-72 games. The suspension is the longest in NBA history for a fight that ensued during a game and is four games longer than now-Minnesota guard Latrell Sprewell served in the 1997 season after he choked Warriors Head Coach P.J. Carlesimo.
Pacers guard Stephen Jackson was suspended for 30 games while teammate forward Jermaine O'Neal will sit out 25 games. Wallace was suspended for six games while Indiana's Anthony Johnson was dealt a five-game blow.
Facing one-game suspensions are Pacers forward Reggie Miller, Pistons guard Chauncey Billups, center Elden Campbell and forward Derrick Coleman.
All suspensions are without pay. The suspension will cost Artest approximately $5 million while O'Neal is expected to forfeit approximately $3.5 million.
The incident started when Artest fouled Detroit center Ben Wallace with less than one minute left in Friday's game. Wallace thought the foul was too hard and shoved Artest. Officials were able to separate the two as shouting continued. Artest then lay down on the scorer's table and crossed his legs.
One Pistons fan took exception to Artest's actions and threw a full cup and its contents onto Artest. Artest then got up and jumped into the stands and began throwing punches at the fan who he thought threw the debris.
Jackson joined Artest, fighting in the stands as players and coaches tried to restrain them. O'Neal, and later Artest, fought fans who came onto the court during the fight.
Nine people were treated for injuries. Criminal investigations are still ongoing. The game was suspended with 45.9 seconds left.
Plagued by injuries and suspensions, the Pacers played Saturday with just six players. The team will be able to place the suspended players on the suspended list and sign other players.
Players Union Director Billy Hunter called the penalties excessive and said that an appeal would be filed today.
-compiled from staff reports
