NBA bans Warriors minority owner after incident with Raptors player

Photo: Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images

After he pushed Toronto Raptors player Kyle Lowry during Game 3 of the finals, the NBA announced Golden State Warriors minority owner Mark Stevens will be banned from future games for 1 year, and forced to pay a $500,000 fine, reports AP.

Details: Stevens is banned from all NBA games during the 2019-2020 season, the playoffs and any Warriors team activities, per AP. The penalty comes after the NBA confirmed it was Stevens who pushed Lowry, and that he used obscene language.

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What they're saying: NBC's Dylan Byers reports that Stevens, a Warriors' investor, could be required to sell his stake. The Warriors declined to comment beyond their joint statement with the league announcing the fine and suspension.

"I take full responsibility for my actions last night at the NBA Finals and am embarrassed by what transpired. What I did was wrong and there is no excuse for it. Mr. Lowry deserves better, and I have reached out today in an attempt to directly apologize to him and other members of the Raptors and Warriors organizations. I'm grateful to those who accepted my calls. I hope that Mr. Lowry and others impacted by this lapse in judgement understand that the behavior I demonstrated last night does not reflect the person I am or have been throughout my life. I made a mistake and I'm truly sorry. I need to be better and look forward to making it right. I fully accept the punishment administered by the NBA and the Warriors."

Mark Stevens in a statement

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