NBA Investigating Mark Cuban's Confrontation With J.R. Smith
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NBA Investigating Whether Cuban Verbally
Abused Official After Tuesday's Game |
An NBA spokesperson yesterday said the league is reviewing a verbal altercation Tuesday night between Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban and Nuggets G J.R. Smith during halftime of the Mavericks-Nuggets game, according to Chris Sheridan of ESPN.com. Cuban complained to Smith about an "elbow thrown by Smith" toward a Mavericks player just before halftime. Cuban yesterday in an e-mail said of the incident, "As far as getting fined, I should get a medal instead. There was a real opportunity for the situation to escalate into something bad. I made it clear to our guys not to retaliate and that I would address it with the officials and the player, which I did." Nuggets coach George Karl said, "I don't care if Cuban barks, but he shouldn't be barking at my players. He barked at J.R. at halftime. I thought it was very unprofessional, irresponsible." Meanwhile, the NBA also is "looking into whether Cuban verbally abused an official as he exited the court" after the game, which Cuban has denied. Cuban yesterday acknowledged using a profanity as he exited, but said that he had "not yet spoken with anyone from NBA security." Cuban: "I'm not going to say who I was addressing, but it wasn't the refs" (ESPN.com, 1/14).
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Cuban Defends Altercation With Smith, Says He
Often Has Amicable Conversations With Players |
TECHNICAL FOUL? Cuban said that he "did not believe he was out of line talking to Smith." Cuban in an e-mail said, "I have conversations with a lot of players. Often. It's no big deal. ... It happens pretty much every game. All very cordial." Cuban in a later e-mail said, "I do take exception with players throwing elbows that could have severely injured one of our players. I was very cordial in letting Mr. Smith know that I will be turning it into the league, and I expected him to be suspended for it." In Denver, Lopez & Tomasson report Smith "tried to extend an olive branch to Cuban after the game by sending him a pair of autographed shoes." But Cuban said, "I sent them back, saying he should sell them, if you could get anything for them, to help pay for the fine he was going to face" (ROCKY MOUNTAIN NEWS, 1/15). Karl said of Cuban confronting Smith, "There's no room for it. If this was a normal fan, he would have been banned from the building. In general, I think Mark is good for the game. He's always trying to make the league better. ... But don't mess with my players" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 1/15).
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