NBA penalizes US$50000 each upon Lakers and Jackson

Phil Jackson and the Los Angeles Lakers have been fined $50,000 U.S. each by the NBA on Thursday after which the coach said the league was conducting a “ witch-hunt” against Kobe Bryant.

Bryant was recently suspended for two one-game suspensions this season for hitting the players in their face after taking a shot. The league viewed Bryant doing a foul in such a bizarre fashion when he hit Philadelphia’s player Kyle Korver with his elbow, last week.

NBA Executive Vice President Stu Jackson told the media that, “the fine was for Jackson’s public criticisms of the NBA”.

According to the Mitch Kupchak, the general manager of the Lakers, “ We have made are opinion clear and have been penalized by the league for doing so. We have nothing more to say on this issue”.

During the suspension of Bryant from a game in New York, Jackson opposed the suspension, but the officials said Bryant actions as “unnatural basketballs actions” adding that if he continues to cut the fool on the court, he can expect more severe punishment.

At that time coach Phil Jackson indulged in a heated argument with the officials saying its down right “wrong”.

He said,” I think I am going to put about 50 clips of Kobe’s shooting his shot and his arms going out like that so the judger of this deed of Kobe’s sees that he does this a lot”.

He further added, “ Its not an un-natural Basketball motion”.

Jackson said that, Bryant was simply using his normal follow through in an attempt to draw a foul or create space for his shot.

Regarding the suspension Bryant made a remark that, “ Suspension wont change his shooting style”.

Bryant said, “ You have to be careful about how you play the game. Go out there, play hard and do the best you can. Hopefully you don’t get suspended or anything like that”.

When asked that officials are being unfair to him and over reacting, Kobe said, “I don’t really want to get into too much. You can’t say anything about it without saying something inflammatory. I would rather leave it alone and focus on the game”.