Players File For Injunction

NBA players seeking to dissolve their union took legal steps to challenge the league’s lockout.

Attorneys for the dissident players filed for a preliminary injunction and added nine players to the original seven who first brought the class action. Joining the original group headed by Michael Jordan and Patrick Ewing were Scottie Pippen, Eric Murdock, Scott Skiles, Jim McIlvaine, Tim Hardaway, Lindsay Hunter, P.J. Brown, Don MacLean and Doug West.

The champion Houston Rockets waived Vernon Maxwell and are considering suing the guard for allegedly faking an injury and leaving the team, the Houston Chronicle reported.

The newspaper said the Rockets actually cut Maxwell on June 30, a day before league owners announced a player lockout, stopping all player transactions.

Maxwell left the team because of a purported leg injury after Game 1 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, then admitted he walked away because of diminished playing time.