Arbitrator Roger Kaplan today issued a decision denying a challenge filed by the NBA Players Association to the NBA?s recent suspensions of Indiana?s Ron Artest, Stephen Jackson and Anthony Johnson.
Mr. Kaplan also ruled that the 25-game suspension imposed on Jermaine O'Neal should be shortened to 15 games. Mr. Kaplan concluded that he, rather than the NBA Commissioner, had the power to review these suspensions.
NBA Deputy Commissioner Russ Granik issued the following statement: ?The operative language of our collective bargaining agreement provides that any dispute involving a suspension imposed upon a player ?for conduct on the playing court? may be appealed only to the Commissioner and not to an arbitrator. As a result, we have consistently maintained that the arbitrator has no legitimate role in this matter. While we obviously agree with Mr. Kaplan?s decision upholding virtually all of the suspensions, we don?t agree with his conclusion that the conduct did not occur on the playing court, and we have no choice other than to challenge it in federal court.?