Report: Rockets brace for NBA probe into strip club confrontation

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the league has strict rules this year limiting what players can do when they are away from the court.

The Houston Rockets are bracing for a full investigation from the NBA into the dangerous incident early Monday outside of a Miami strip club, according to The Athletic‘s Shams Charania and Kelly Iko.

An assault outside the Booby Trap left veteran guard Sterling Brown bloodied and with severe facial lacerations, according to Wednesday’s report. Kevin Porter Jr. was among a small group of teammates who were reportedly with Brown at the scene, and Porter tried to protect Brown during the dangerous altercation.

While the Rockets say Brown is expected to make a full recovery, his medical status isn’t the only storyline to monitor in the coming days.

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the NBA has strict limitations in place on what players can do this season when away from the court. For example, when former co-star James Harden was shown on video at a club in December, the league ruled that he had to test negative for COVID-19 for several days before he could rejoin team activities. He was also fined $50,000 for the violation of health protocols.

As for Brown’s situation, here’s what the report says:

The league’s protocols, made as a measure to keep the league’s players safe in light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, prohibit players from going to bars, lounges or clubs. In many ways, situations such as this one being made public raise awareness to violations of those protocols — clearing the way for the league to determine whether its rules were broken.

The NBA’s investigation into the entire situation is ongoing, and a league spokesperson told The Athletic via a statement: “We are in the process of gathering information and hopeful that Sterling makes a full recovery.” …

The Rockets are bracing for a full investigation, and a source said team officials have quietly told at least a few players not to respond to league inquiries on the matter.

Any discipline would presumably involve all players who were at the strip club. There is no clear timetable for the investigation to be resolved.

[lawrence-related id=47983,47975]