The NBA and the Warriors have banned Mark Stevens, a Warriors investor, for one year and fined him $500,000 in the wake of the Game 3 incident, which saw the billionaire fan shove Kyle Lowry after the Raptor guard crashed into the courtside seats, opposite the Golden State bench.
Here's the official joint statement:
"OAKLAND, Calif., June 6, 2019 – The NBA and the Golden State Warriors today announced that Warriors investor Mark Stevens has been banned from attending NBA games and Warriors team activities for one year and has been fined $500,000 for pushing and directing obscene language toward the Toronto Raptors’ Kyle Lowry during Game 3 of The Finals last night. The incident occurred with 10:37 remaining in the fourth quarter when Lowry dived into the spectator stands while chasing a loose ball.
Stevens’ ban is effective immediately and carries through the 2019-20 NBA season, including the postseason."
Stevens, for his part, issued the following statement, via the team, late on Thursday afternoon.
"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."
The NBA acted swiftly following an investigation of the shove.
NBA says: “Golden State Warriors investor Mark Stevens last night was beyond unacceptable and has no place in our league. As the review of this matter continues, Mr. Stevens will not be permitted to attend NBA games.” pic.twitter.com/ek6cZ4NkW1
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpearsESPN)
June 6, 2019 Earlier in the day, the Warriors had issued their own statement, making it clear that Stevens, who, per Forbes is worth about $2.3 billion, would not be at Oracle Arena for the remainder of the NBA Finals.
A post shared by
95.7 The Game (@957thegame) on Jun 6, 2019 at 9:29am PDT
Here’s a clip of the video in question, which resulted in a Warrior security guard escorting Stevens off the floor.
Here's the fan that gave Kyle Lowry a bit of a push that had Lowry frustrated pic.twitter.com/A41HCGdMAY
— Board Man Gets Paid (@cjzero)
June 6, 2019 Lowry was noticeably frustrated by the incident in the immediate aftermath and at the postgame podium.
Kyle Lowry on fan making contact with him in Oracle stands:“There’s no place for that. He had no reason to touch me. No reason to reach over two seats & to say some vulgar language to me. Hopefully he never comes back to an NBA game.” pic.twitter.com/QMoX1lqKIM
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame)
June 6, 2019 After practice on Thursday afternoon, Lowry suggested Stevens should be removed from the club's ownership group.
“I know Joe Lacob. Those guys are great...”“But, a guy like that, showing his true class. He shouldn’t be a part of our league.”Kyle Lowry thinks there’s no place for Mark Stevens in the NBA pic.twitter.com/z6cio7U0y1
— RADIO.COM Sports (@RDCSports)
June 6, 2019 LeBron James, erstwhile Warriors rival, sounded off on the situation, via his Instagram account.
LeBron sounded off on the Warriors minority owner shoving Kyle Lowry and the double standard the players face -- pic.twitter.com/88KQkyR7Ia
— Yahoo Sports NBA (@YahooSportsNBA)
June 6, 2019 Per ESPN's Rachel Nichols, LeBron was not the only NBAer who was calling for action.
NBA officials tell me they are reviewing this also; there could be further discipline from the league in addition to what the Warriors have already done. Have also heard from several players this morning who feel VERY strongly this needs to be handled swiftly and severely. https://t.co/AKHcbTI8qm
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols)
June 6, 2019
