The NBA "briefly suspended" its drug-testing program
last week after NBPA leaders "complained that
confidentiality had been breached" during the program's
first three weeks, according to Mike Wise of the N.Y. TIMES.
The "program was called into question" because a reporter
had learned that about six players "tested positive" for
marijuana during the first week of tests. Wise, who cites
two sources with "knowledge of the tests," adds that players
on 25 of the 29 NBA teams have been tested. An anonymous
basketball official: "This is the most tense it's been
between both sides since we almost lost the season last
January. There is a feeling that this whole matter could
end up blowing up the drug agreement." NBPA Exec Dir Billy
Hunter said the drug-testing program's "confidentiality
issue is important. ... The idea is to provide assistance
and help them rehab themselves. If they're fronted, they're
subject to ridicule. This kind of exposure just ruins the
whole process." Wise reports that NBA execs said they were
also "concerned about the disclosure, and they agreed late
last week to halt the drug testing." After meeting with
Hunter, the two sides decided to resume testing, but sources
did not "say why or when" (N.Y. TIMES, 10/20).
MINOR LEAGUE, MAJOR ISSUE: In Philadelphia, John
Smallwood writes that NBA Commissioner David Stern made his
"most definitive position on developing" a minor-league
system during the league's McDonald's Championships last
weekend (See THE DAILY, 10/18). Stern said any minor league
should target "players who are younger, who think they can
make it, [that] can't make it, but might benefit from
playing in a structured situation where they can further
their skills and ultimately catch on someplace." Smallwood:
"In the past, NBA officials have hemmed, hawed and carefully
danced around the issue, but never has anyone, much less
Stern, flat-out acknowledged something is needed. And
obviously, that something is something besides college
basketball." Smallwood: "An [Isiah] Thomas-operated CBA
would seem to be a perfect fit, but if not that, something
clearly will happen" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 10/20).
