League Longs For Shorts
Say goodbye to extra-long uniform shorts that look more like knickers.
The league fined the Minnesota Timberwolves $25,000 and five T-Wolves players $2,500 apiece for wearing shorts that extended lower than one inch above the top of the knees.
Earlier, several players received warning letters from NBA vice president Rod Thorn that said they faced fines of $5,000 each for wearing their shorts too long.
“Five grand is a lot of money,” said Bobby Jackson of the Denver Nuggets. “I’ve always worn them long, but when I saw the size of the fine I said, ‘I’ll change anything.”’
That doesn’t mean Jackson and some of the league’s other younger players agree with the crackdown. To them, it’s a bunch of old fogies in the league office getting too excited over an issue of looking good. That’s because the players think super-long shorts look cool.
“He (Thorn) has to understand that I’m a big guy, and for me to wear short shorts just isn’t right,” said 7-foot-4 Denver center Priest Lauderdale. “You know, feel better, play better - that’s a fact. It’s a different era, and basketball has to grow in a different way.
“It’s not the ‘60s anymore,” Jackson said. “I don’t want to be out there with my whole (quadriceps) showing.”
The Timberwolves fined Friday were Chris Carr, Kevin Garnett, Stephon Marbury, Clifford Rozier and Doug West.
Rule to be enforced
The league also notified teams it will enforce another long-ignored rule: Players will be fined for any profanity or lewd gestures heard or seen on game audio or video.
According to an eight-page memo, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, players will be subject to a fine of up to $25,000 for “disrespectfully addressing an official (including using profanity)” or making “overt actions indicating resentment of a foul call” or “harassing an official; before, during or after a game.”
On the court
Lindsey Hunter scored a career-high 35 points and played all 53 minutes Saturday night to lead the Detroit Pistons to a comeback 96-88 overtime victory over the New Jersey Nets in Auburn Hills, Mich.
In Chicago, Michael Jordan scored 27 points and Dennis Rodman pulled down 18 rebounds as the Bulls avenged one of their most embarrassing losses in years by defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 79-70.
Karl Malone scored 26 points and made two clutch baskets late in the game to thwart Dallas’ comeback attempt as the Utah Jazz defeated the Mavericks 85-77 in Dallas.