2:04pm: The NBA has issued its own statement on the issue, announcing that Stevens won’t be permitted to attend NBA games while the situation is reviewed.
“A team representative must be held to the highest possible standard and the conduct of Golden State Warriors investor Mark Stevens last night was beyond unacceptable and has no place in our league,” the league’s statement reads.
The Warriors have also indefinitely suspended Stevens from taking part in any team-related activities, tweets Mark Medina of The Bay Area News Group.
11:34am: The Warriors fan who shoved Kyle Lowry following a play along the sidelines during Wednesday’s night game is a minority stakeholder in the franchise, according to Ina Fried of Axios, who reports that the person in question is venture capitalist Mark Stevens.
Before Stevens’ identity had been reported, Lowry called for the league or team to take action in response to the Game 3 incident, which occurred during the fourth quarter after the Raptors point guard fell out of bounds trying to save a loose ball.
“Hopefully, he never comes back to an NBA game,” Lowry told reporters after the game.
Once Stevens was identified, the Warriors didn’t hesitate to respond, issuing a press release today announcing that his behavior “did not reflect the high standards that we hope to exemplify as an organization.”
“We’re extremely disappointed in his actions and, along with Mr. Stevens, offer our sincere apology to Kyle Lowry and the Toronto Raptors organization for this unfortunate misconduct,” the Warriors said in a statement. “… Mr. Stevens will not be in attendance at any of the remaining games of the 2019 NBA Finals.”
The Warriors added that they’re continuing to review the situation, which suggests Stevens’ absence from the remaining games in this series might not be the end of the matter. It’s unclear whether Stevens’ stake in the team is in any jeopardy as a result of the incident.
The NBA should take away this clown’s stake in the franchise and ban him from all venues.
It was a weak shove, but still… there has to be zero tolerance in this sort of thing. Remember Monica Seles?
‘Günter Parche, an obsessed fan of Steffi Graf, ran from the middle of the crowd to the edge of the court during a break between games and stabbed Seles with a boning knife between her shoulder blades, to a depth of 1.5 cm (0.59 inches).’
How is this even remotely related to what happened with Kyle Lowry @ Oracle last nite?
Obviously this was not the same… the point is, there has to be zero tolerance and every effort has to be made to prevent these people from initiating contact with the players… because while is might be fine 99% of the time, the 1% is an unacceptable risk. That was the point. Obviously.
So banning or suspending this part owner will somehow send a message to crazed stalkers throughout the sports world? Lol.
Player initiated contact when he flew into the seats as hard as he did.
He just did what any other player would do during an intense championship game. But the shove was certainly uncalled for. Moreso because it could have sparked a violent reaction from the player he shoved. Good thing Lowry is not an aggressive hot-tempered individual. Imagine if Mr. Stevens did that to someone like Ron Artest?
Weak as it might have seemed, it was certainly uncalled for. Moreso because it could have sparked a violent reaction from the player he shoved. Good thing Lowry is not an aggressive hot-tempered individual. Imagine if Mr. Stevens did that to someone like Ron Artest?
Can you all see the day when going to a NBA basketball game will be like going to a hockey game?
The entire court enclosed in glass with maybe 3 or 4 feet of wiggle room out of bounds? I see it coming one day.
Lowery straight crushed that chick in the yellow shirt. It might not be the worst idea to have some separation between the fans and the court.
They break the fall lol
Glad to see someone else noticed this. By no means do I condone fans putting their hands on players but I’ve lost a lot of respect for Lowry. He kicked up a huge stink about being touched after he leveled that woman without so much as a glance back to see if she was ok. I’m a Raptor fan but I don’t think I’m a Lowry fan anymore after seeing that.
How about not have those floor seat there your answer.
Let them put a wall up in range of the TV cameras, and it will be filled with distracting advertising.
Old-time HS arenas used to have that but it’s kind of dangerous with so little room.
I support clear-view walls behind the bench areas to reduce sound (heckling).
And no children or open containers in the first two rows.
And the cheerleaders should be seated near midcourt opposite the TV cameras.;) Take that for distraction!
dude should be forced to donate 50k to a charity of Lowrys Choice and be banned from sitting in stands for the finals and 2020 season.
and the warriors should match the donation since it happened on their watch.
And you should be banned from this site for trying to spend other people’s money.
I bet you’re a free speech warrior when it comes to your free speech.
I always thought other than the owners to make money what the point of those floor seats. I think those seats just get in the way. They should be taken away
Realistically he shouldn’t be allowed into an NBA arena for the rest of his life….doubt it happens though.
What about Toronto allowing Drake floor access and his shenanigans? You kind of opened Pandora’s box. Fans should stay in their seats and cheer their team PERIOD!!
Call me crazy, but I think the blame lies squarely on the team/NBA. I’ve always wondered how they can seat fans right on the floor where they can easily get run over by players or get into verbal altercations with them (Drake).
You don’t see any other league allowing fans to sit right in the playing area like this.
Is Bobby Bonilla dead? How’d it happen, ghost?
Typical old rich white guy who thinks because he has $$$ he can do whatever he wants.
Why does it matter if he’s white? Drake isn’t white and I see him pulling stupid crap on the other team every single game. Racist much?
Yeah like athletes and rappers don’t believe the rules apply to them
I’m Black. Don’t make it a race issue. You know damn well, you can put reps of the United Nations equally distributed in the front row and find some jerks.
Honestly, it was stupid and he was wrong but let’s not make a mountain out of a mole hill. He didn’t punch or shove him. He nudged him. In no way shape or form was their intent to hurt him. I’ve seen ppl cheering on players with slap on the backs that were done in a positive display of emotion that did more. Look at the guy on the other side of Lowry. He was touching and grabbing on Lowry FAR more than the other jerk.
Honestly, I think the guy was an a-hole who knew what could happen sitting in that area and was more angry because he almost got ran over. I don’t know if the woman who was sitting their was with him or not but it was an understandable reaction and understandable doesn’t mean it was ok but a perceivable reaction one can have in that moment. Punish him with the fine and ban for the rest of the year and keep it moving.
I will say this too. Put a wall there and I bet you’ll see a decline in 6 ft 13 and 250 lb dudes diving into the stands to avoid a loss of possession.