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Warriors investor gets one-year NBA ban after shoving Kyle Lowry

The Golden State Warriors investor who shoved Kyle Lowry during Game 3 of the NBA Finals has been banned from attending NBA games for the next year. Mark Stevens has also been fined $500,000 by the league after he gave the Toronto Raptors guard a hard push and repeatedly swore at him. The NBA said Stevens has been banned effective immediately and he will also be barred from attending any Warriors team activities. The ban will carry through next season.’A team representative must be held to the highest possible standard, and the conduct of Golden State Warriors investor Mark Stevens last night was beyond unacceptable and has no place in our league,’ the NBA said in a statement on Thursday. ‘As the review of this matter continues, Mr Stevens will not be permitted to attend NBA games.’  The incident unfolded early in the fourth quarter at Oracle Arena when Lowry ran down a loose ball while Stevens was sitting courtside. After leaping out of bounds and into the stands, not far from where Warriors owner Joe Lacob was sitting, Lowry landed in the lap of a male fan who appeared to grab his jersey with two hands. At the same time Stevens, who was seated and wearing a blue shirt, extended his left arm and gave Lowry a hard shove in his left shoulder.Lowry said Stevens also cursed at him ‘multiple times’ during the incident. The guard complained to officials and Stevens was promptly ejected from the stadium. ‘He reached over and put his hands on me for no reason and then he said a couple vulgar words to me and repeated them repeatedly,’ Lowry told ESPN on Wednesday.’In our league there’s no place for that. Honestly I hope he is never allowed to come (back) to an NBA game. He shouldn’t have done that. There’s no place for that.’ Lowry said on Thursday that he was ‘furious’ during the incident, noting that Stevens has yet to personally reach out to him and apologize. ‘He’s not a good look for the ownership group they have,’ the Raptors star told ESPN. ‘He showed his true colors at the time. He shouldn’t be a part of our league.’  Before the NBA made their decision, the Warriors had already announced on Thursday that they were banning Stevens for the remainder of the series.   ‘Mr Stevens’ behavior last night did not reflect the high standards that we hope to exemplify as an organization,’ read the team statement. ‘We’re extremely disappointed in his actions and, along with Mr Stevens, offer our sincere apology to Kyle Lowry and the Toronto Raptors organization for this unfortunate misconduct.’ ‘There is no place for such interaction between fans – or anyone – and players at an NBA game. Mr Stevens will not be in attendance at any of the remaining games of the 2019 NBA Finals.’ Warriors coach Steve Kerr also called Stevens’ behavior ‘unacceptable’ and said he would be personally apologizing to Lowry and the Raptors.   The incident overshadowed a breakout game for Lowry. He scored 15 points in the first half to get the Raptors going and finished 8 of 16 from