According to the National Basketball Association (NBA) Constitution, the NBA commissioner has the authority to punish players (by suspension or fines not to exceed $60,000) for behavior that occurs on the court, deviates from fair play standards, violates local, state, or federal laws, or is harmful to the league or the sport of basketball.[1] According to the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) and the NBA’s 2005 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), any party (a player, a franchise, the NBA, or the NBPA) may file an appeal with an arbitrator if a ban exceeds 12 games or if a fine exceeds $50,000.
The arbitrator would have the authority to either affirm or reject the commissioner’s decisions in the event that an appeal was lodged.[2] Players may face permanent suspensions from the league if the act is deemed serious enough, such as when they are suspended for substance abuse; however, players suspended for two years may return to the league two years later, as per the anti-drug agreement between the NBPA and the league.[3]
Due to their involvement in point shaving in college, a few players were permanently banned in the league’s early years. However, Connie Hawkins was able to overturn the suspension through legal action. Though some players, including Michael Ray Richardson and Chris Andersen, were permitted to return, many others were permanently barred for misusing prohibited substances.
