An indefensible, courtside shove by Warriors part-owner Mark Stevens against Toronto guard Kyle Lowry dominated Thursday’s media availability before the NBA Finals reach Game 4 on Friday at Oracle Arena.
Then, about an hour later, the NBA condemned it even further: Stevens drew a one-year ban and a $500,000 fine.
Lowry, understandably, had the harshest reaction before that discipline was announced, saying: “He’s not a good look for the ownership group that they have. And I know Joe Lacob. Those guys are great guys. The ownership that they have that I know, they’re unbelievable guys. But a guy like that, showing his true class, and he shouldn’t be a part of our league. There’s just no place for that.”
Players on both teams condemned Stevens’ actions, praised Lowry’s restraint to not physically engage and also questioned the NBA and Warriors’ initial discipline of banning Stevens from the remainder of these NBA Finals.