Spurs coach Gregg Popovich and Hornets coach Byron Scott shared a dubious distinction when their teams faced each other Wednesday:
According to an NBA source, the league fined their teams $15,000 earlier in the day for published comments the coaches made about players who have not declared their eligibility for the draft.
Popovich's comments ? references to Ohio State center Greg Oden ? appeared in the March 18 Boston Herald. Scott's comments about Oden and Texas freshman Kevin Durant appeared in the March 19 edition of the Oklahoman.
Popovich responded to a question from a Boston Herald reporter about whether it would be fair for the Celtics to land the No. 1 pick in this summer's draft with Oden potentially available because Boston had lost out on the chance to take Tim Duncan in 1997.
"That would be the fair thing, wouldn't it?" Popovich said. "That would be the fairest thing. If they could get him, that would be great. It would mean there is some fairness in an unfair world."
Popovich, who never said Oden's name but was clearly talking about him, then made what seemed to be an off-the-cuff comment about Ohio State's near loss to Xavier that same day. Two other reporters present at the time didn't report the remark.