USA - Anthony among seven suspended for brawl

NEW YORK (NBA) - Team USA forward Carmelo Anthony was one of seven players suspended by the NBA on Monday in the aftermath of the Denver Nuggets' brawl with the New York Knicks in the waning moments of Saturday's game at Madison Square Garden.

The league's leading scorer, Anthony was suspended 15 games for his role in the melee. Nuggets guard JR Smith and Knicks guard Nate Robinson were each suspended 10 games, while New York's Mardy Collins drew a six-game suspension.

Knicks forward Jared Jeffries was suspended four games. The NBA also suspended Denver's Brazilian forward Nene and New York center Jerome James one game each for leaving the bench during the incident. Both organisations were fined $500,000.

League commissioner David Stern announced the penalties at a teleconference on Monday afternoon.

"The NBA and its players represent a game of extraordinary skill, athleticism and grace, and for good for bad, set an example for the entire basketball world on and off the court," Stern said.

"While we have worked diligently to eliminate fighting from our game, there are failures such as Saturday night at Madison Square Garden. It is our obligation to take the strongest possible steps to avoid such failures in the future."

Collins touched off the brawl when he grabbed Smith around the neck and threw him to the court as the Nuggets swingman was attempting a breakaway layup in the closing minute of Denver's 123-100 victory.

Robinson was the third man in and began wrestling with Smith. The two players tumbled into the front row of seats along the baseline before being separated by teammates and officials.

The episode seemed to be dying down before Anthony threw a punch which landed on Collins' face.

After throwing the punch, Anthony ran toward halfcourt and was followed by Jeffries, who also sprinted from the baseline but was tackled before he could reach the Denver superstar.

Stern undoubtedly must be disappointed with the ugly altercation, especially since it involved one of the NBA's young superstars and came at a time when the league still is trying to repair its image in the wake of the Pistons-Pacers brawl two years ago.

"We have set up the goal of eliminating fighting from out game," Stern said.

"We have eliminated it to an extraordinary degree based on any historical basis, but we have not eliminated it completely. This will not be a lasting issue, because we are going to succeed at leading the way to eliminate fighting and violence from our game."

The 22-year-old Anthony has steadily improved since coming into the NBA in 2004-05 and is averaging a league-best 31.6 points per game in 22 games this season. The 6ft 8in forward also was Team USA's leading scorer last summer at the World Championships in Japan.

Although he indicated feelings of regret for Anthony's involvement, Stern clearly showed no sympathy in punishing one of the NBA's most marketable stars.

"We judged him on his actions on the court, period. They deserve the harsh penalties that have come down," Stern said.

"As a personal matter, I think he's been doing great. I had the opportunity to tell him that myself when I met with him this summer.

"But that's separate and apart from how you have to deal with these failures to exercise the appropriate degree of self control. Obviously I'm hoping to meet with Carmelo.

"I fully expect that he'll be back in the rotation, and we'll do what we have to do to help develop his career over the very long time that remains in it.

"But he did what he did, and he has to accept the full responsibility for it."

Anthony has already issued a public apology for his involvement.

In a statement, he said: "(The) altercation with the Knicks escalated further than it should have.

"I take full responsibility for my actions in the matter. In the heat of the moment I let my emotions get the best of me. I apologise to the fans, the Denver Nuggets, the NBA, my mother, and my family for the embarrassment I have caused them. I ask you all for your forgiveness.

"I also want to make a personal apology to Mardy Collins and his family. My actions were inexcusable, and I am sorry for making this an even more embarrassing situation."

Anthony added that he felt he had let down children from the Youth Center in Baltimore that he opened this week.

"This is not the example I want to set. It's my hope that we work to move forward from this event, and never let something like this happen again."

The Knicks, who were suffering yet another embarrassing blowout loss at home, apparently took issue with the fact that the Nuggets still had their starters on the floor in the closing minutes of the rout.

As the fines to the organisations indicated, Stern made it clear Monday that teams also will be held accountable for incidents such as Saturday's.

"This is going to be a shared responsibility of 30 teams, 450 players, the representatives of the players and the commissioners and the league office," Stern said.

"It is not going to be left just to me. It is going to be radiated to our teams, who are going to have to join me in sending the appropriate messages to all of their employees that this is not acceptable behaviour

PA Sport