Pacers lose O'Neal for 25 games, Jackson for 30 <noscript>
Pacers lose O'Neal for 25 games, Jackson for 30
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Associated Press
<!-- template inline --> NEW YORK --
Ron Artest was suspended for the rest of the season Sunday as the NBA came down hard on three members of the
Indiana Pacers for fighting with fans when a melee broke out at the end of a game against the
Detroit Pistons.
Overall, nine players from the teams were banned for 143 games, including some of the harshest penalties the league ever issued. Artest is the first player to be suspended for nearly an entire season for a fight during a game.
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<table id="inlinetable" align="right" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" width="198"> <tbody><tr><th colspan="3" style="background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">NBA's Longest Suspensions</th> </tr><tr style="background-color: rgb(236, 236, 236);" valign="top"> <td style="background-color: rgb(153, 153, 153);" width="28">Games</td> <td style="background-color: rgb(153, 153, 153);" width="58">Player and Team</td> <td style="background-color: rgb(153, 153, 153);" width="88">Reason and Year</td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" valign="top"> <td width="58"> 72</td> <td width="58"> Ron Artest, Pacers </td> <td width="58"> Fought with fans at Detroit, 2004 </td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: rgb(236, 236, 236);" valign="top"> <td width="58"> 68 </td> <td width="58"> Latrell Sprewell, Warriors </td> <td width="58"> "Physically assaulted" coach, 1997 </td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" valign="top"> <td width="58"> 30 </td> <td width="58"> Stephen Jackson </td> <td width="58"> Fought with fans at Detroit, 2004 </td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: rgb(236, 236, 236);" valign="top"> <td width="58"> 26 </td> <td width="58"> Kermit Washington, Lakers </td> <td width="58"> Punched Rudy Tomjanovich, 1977 </td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" valign="top"> <td width="58"> 25 </td> <td width="58"> Jermaine O'Neal, Pacers </td> <td width="58"> Fought with fans at Detroit, 2004 </td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: rgb(236, 236, 236);" valign="top"> <td width="58"> 11 </td> <td width="58"> Dennis Rodman, Bulls </td> <td width="58"> Kicked courtside TV photographer, 1997 </td> </tr> <tr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" valign="top"> <td width="58"> 10 games </td> <td width="58"> Vernon Maxwell, Rockets </td> <td width="58"> Hit fan in stands, 1995 </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <!---------------------INLINE TABLE (END)--------------------> Indiana's
Stephen Jackson was suspended for 30 games and
Jermaine O'Neal for 25. Detroit's
Ben Wallace -- whose shove of Artest after a foul led to the 5-minute fracas -- drew a six-game ban, while Pacers guard
Anthony Johnson got five games.
Four players were suspended for a game apiece: Indiana's
Reggie Miller, and Detroit's
Chauncey Billups,
Elden Campbell and
Derrick Coleman.
All of the suspensions are without pay.
Artest, O'Neal and Jackson -- who all threw punches at fans in the stands or on the court at the end of the nationally televised Pacers-Pistons game Friday night -- began serving their suspensions Saturday. Indiana, limited to just six players because of the suspensions and injuries, dropped an 86-83 decision to Orlando.
"The actions of the players involved wildly exceeded the professionalism and self-control that should fairly be expected from NBA players," NBA commissioner David Stern said in a statement, adding that the league must not "allow our sport to be debased by what seem to be declining expectations."
The NBA also has to "redefine the bounds of acceptable conduct for fans attending our games and resolve to permanently exclude those who overstep those bounds," Stern said.
He added that security procedures in all NBA arenas will be reviewed and rules need to be added to prevent a repeat of what happened at Auburn Hills, Mich., on Friday.
The brawl was particularly violent, with Artest and Jackson bolting into the stands near center court and throwing punches at fans after debris was tossed at the players.
Later, fans who came onto the court were punched in the face by Artest and O'Neal.
Nine people were treated for injuries, and police are investigating possible criminal charges.
Wallace began the fracas by delivering a hard, two-handed shove to Artest after Wallace was fouled on a drive to the basket with 45.9 seconds remaining. After the fight ended, the referees called off the rest of the game.
The initial skirmish wasn't all that bad, with Artest retreating to the scorer's table and lying atop it after Wallace sent him reeling backward. But when a fan tossed a cup at Artest, he stormed into the stands, throwing punches as he climbed over seats.
Jackson joined Artest and threw punches at fans, who punched back. At one point, a chair was tossed into the fray.
