The Golden State Warriors minority owner who pushed Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry during the 2019 NBA Finals will regain his status next season, according to The Athletic’s Tim Kawakami.
Mark Stevens, who reached across a chair to shove Lowry after the guard dove into courtside seats chasing a loose ball during Game 3 of the 2019 Finals, was suspended for the 2019-20 season — including games and all team functions — and fined $500,000, according to The Athletic.
When his suspension ends, he will return to the Warriros’ executive board.
Stevens owns between 2% to 10% of the team.
There was never a plan to buy out his stakes or kick him off the group completely, according to Kawakami.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDTPv2T6xdM]
Stevens issued a statement in June:
“I take full responsibility for my actions last night at the NBA Finals and am embarrassed by what transpired. What I did was wrong and there is no excuse for it. Mr. Lowry deserves better, and I have reached out today in an attempt to directly apologize to him and other members of the Raptors and Warriors organizations. I’m grateful to those who accepted my calls. I hope that Mr. Lowry and others impacted by this lapse in judgment understand that the behavior I demonstrated last night does not reflect the person I am or have been throughout my life. I made a mistake and I’m truly sorry. I need to be better and look forward to making it right.
“I fully accept the punishment administered by the NBA and the Warriors.”
Stevens said he apologized to some members of the Raptors organization and tried to get in touch with Lowry to apologize but failed.
The day after Stevens shoved Lowry, the guard told The Athletic:
“The ownership that they have that I know, they’re unbelievable guys … but a guy like that, showing his true class, he shouldn’t be a part of our league. There’s just no place for that.
“… I don’t know him. I don’t care to know him. He showed his true colors at the time. And you show what you’re really about in that time and at that moment. … No, you showed what you really are.”
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