THE PUNISHMENT
Gilbert Arenas tried joking about his gun trouble. David Stern found none of it funny. Arenas was suspended without pay yesterday by the NBA commissioner, who determined the player's behaviour made him "not currently fit to take the court." A day after Arenas was photographed before a game in Philadelphia pointing his index fingers, as though they were guns, at his Wizards teammates, Stern warned the former all-star that his conduct will "ultimately result in a substantial suspension, and perhaps worse."
THE STERNEST OF WORDS
"The possession of firearms by an NBA player in an NBA arena is a matter of the utmost concern to us. ... Although it is clear that the actions of Mr. Arenas will ultimately result in a substantial suspension, and perhaps worse, his ongoing conduct has led me to conclude that he is not currently fit to take the court in an NBA game. Accordingly, I am suspending Mr. Arenas indefinitely, without pay, effective immediately pending the completion of the investigation by the NBA."
David Stern
THE CLUB AGREES
"We fully endorse the decision of the NBA to indefinitely suspend Gilbert Arenas. Strictly legal issues aside, Gilbert's recent behaviour and statements, including his actions and statements last night in Philadelphia, are unacceptable. Some of our other players appeared to find Gilbert's behaviour in Philadelphia amusing. This is also unacceptable. Under Abe Pollin's leadership, our organization never tolerated such behaviour, and we have no intention of ever doing so."
Washington Wizards