The NBA handed down its ruling on Warriors minority owner Mark Stevens, and commissioner Adam Silver continues to stand by the decision.
Before Game 4 of the NBA between the Warriors and Raptors, Silver joined NBC Sports Bay Area's Greg Papa on Warriors Playoff Central to explains his thinking on the one-year ban and $500,00 fined levied to Stevens for his role in the Kyle Lowry incident in Game 3.
"First of all, I don't have the right to require him to sell his ownership stake," Silver said. "That can only be done by a three-quarters vote by our board of governors, so that wasn't on the table.
"I thought, in terms of the year suspension or ban and the $500,000 fine, that under the circumstances, it was appropriate. We did a full investigation, the investigation began almost immediately after the act took place. Our head of security was done there. Mr. Stevens was interviewed. He was also interviewed the next day."
Stevens issued a statement on Thursday, apologizing for his actions. Silver noted that Stevens' level of remorse played a part in how stiff the punishment was.
"We did take into account that he was contrite, that he was incredibly apologetic, that this was an act that took place in essence, essentially in five seconds," Silver said. "It was an incredibly stupid act. It was a huge mistake, but it was that.
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During a press conference on Thursday, Lowry made it clear he felt there was no place in the NBA for a person like Stevens. Others called for the NBA to ban Stevens for life. But Silver disagrees.
"I think the type of conduct here should not have resulted in a lifetime ban, especially in the overall context of a person who's never had a prior blemish in his career," Silver said.
