Looking to avoid any controversies like the one currently embroiling the Miami Dolphins, the NBA reminded all its teams on Friday that bullying and hazing will not be tolerated.
The NBA sent a memo to all 30 teams citing specific acts that would violate league policy, ESPN.com reports. The memo specifically mentions the situation involving Richie Incognito and Jonathan Martin, and outlines a number of examples that fit into the accusations against Incognito, sources tell Marc Stein.
“The lengthy list of potential violations, sources said, includes any physical abuse or threats of violence; verbal abuse focused on an individual’s race, nationality, color, gender, age, religion, sexuality, etc.; destruction, defacement or theft of a fellow player’s personal property; engaging in any activity that intimidates or threatens fellow players with ostracism or inflicts extreme mental stress, embarrassment, humiliation or shame; and forcing an individual to engage in any activity or perform any task that violates federal, state or local law or NBA rules and regulations,” Stein writes.
In other words, the NBA asks its players to treat each other like decent human beings.
Initiation rites in basketball tend to be mild, such as making rookies carry veterans’ bags or wear funny backpacks. During MarShon Brooks‘ second season with the Nets, Deron Williams and Reggie Evans filled Brooks’ car with popcorn. There was no word on whether Brooks considered that prank to be cruel and unusual punishment.
