NBA Commissioner David Stern Joins NBA TV for Exclusive Interview

NBA Commissioner David Stern was interviewed by NBA TV host Matt Winer in an exclusive television interview following the suspensions of Wizards players Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton.

Clips of Commissioner Stern

Stern on whether he was more concerned with the violation of DC law or NBA policy.

Stern on the players’ sincerity in their contrition.

The full interview is available on NBA.com

http://www.nba.com/video/channels/nba_tv/2010/01/27/20100127_STERN_INT.nba

Matt Winer: “How did you arrive at the suspension for the rest of the season for (Gilbert) Arenas and (Javaris) Crittenton’s punishment?”

David Stern: “I just do what I do, which is consider the facts here, which is they had an argument, they followed through on that argument, each appearing with a weapon in an NBA locker room.  That violates our collective bargaining agreement.  They’d been warned about that at the beginning of each season in writing and with a visit from team security to team meetings.  I decided that it just can’t be tolerated and each of them was suspended for the rest of the year.”

Winer: “Which was more significant in your mind?  The violation of (Washington) DC law or NBA policy?”

Stern: “NBA policy.  It’s not that the other isn’t significant, but it doesn’t concern me at the moment.  At the moment, what I was dealing with was players who violated a specific prohibition agreed to by their union and the NBA that there will not be guns in any NBA facilities.  They violated that, put themselves in potential danger and they put their teammates in potential danger.  It’s nothing that we’re going to tolerate.”

Winer: “Shortly after the incident became public, you expressed some concern that Gilbert Arenas didn’t grasp the gravity of his actions.  After meeting with both players this week, how convinced are you now that they both understand the severity of their mistake?”

Stern: “I believe that they are sincere in their contrition and their determination to make sure that their example is used in a positive way to teach lessons about this.  I wouldn’t have done what I did here, I would’ve done more if I didn’t believe their contrition and their sincerity.”

Winer: “You touched on this a little bit with regard to policy versus statute in Washington DC, but Crittenton pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor, Arenas pleaded guilty to a felony. Why the same punishment for both players?”

Stern: “It turns out actually that Gilbert is being penalized 50 games and Javaris is being penalized 38 games.  Their penalty is not the same.”

Winer: “Are there conditions for their return?  Will they have to clear some sort of hurdle to return or do you anticipate both players will be active next season?”

Stern: “I have imposed no conditions.  The only thing I did was suspend them for the remainder of this season and the rest will play out.”

Winer: “Based on your conversations with Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton, is it your understanding that there won’t be an appeal in terms of the player’s union?”

Stern: “I don’t have any understanding.  Although I did agree with Billy Hunter that we will sit down and talk about, even apart from collective bargaining, how we can deliver the message even stronger than we do today that guns will not be tolerated in NBA facilities.  It’s not just about what goes on in the facilities, what my concern as I look back at this incident, is that press coverage would suggest that this represents our players.  And I know, because I’ve been involved with our players for years, that this doesn’t represent the over 430 players who do extraordinary things, not only on the court, but off the court, with the most recent example of their humanitarian efforts with regards to Haiti.  I’m hoping that this will be put behind us and we’ll move on, (that) Javaris and Gilbert will move on and the union will move on.  We’ll go about having what is a very successful season with exciting teams and exciting young stars.”

-30-