Van Exel Takes On the NBA

A still-shocked Nick Van Exel, joined by the National Basketball Players Assn. and at least privately supported by the Lakers, filed a grievance Wednesday against the NBA, knowing it cannot restore the missed games but hoping it will return the money he is losing and what he considers a sense of fairness to the league.

His agent, James Bryant, blasted league officials for the two-game suspension that cost Van Exel Tuesday’s game at Dallas and Friday’s rematch against the Mavericks at the Great Western Forum.

The cash damage came to $56,340--$23,170 for each game and a $10,000 fine for his role in a fourth-quarter scuffle Monday at San Antonio and the subsequent single-finger gesture to fans as he left the court after having been ejected.

“He’s pretty upset,” Bryant said. “It’s obvious the suspension is disproportionate to the evidence. I think it’s also obvious the league has not yet learned how to administer justice favorably and fairly.

“These cases have historically been hard to win. But I think it’s so bad this time, it’s winnable. This strikes at the fundamental issue of fairness.

“I think the issue is that the league is comprised by three classes. One class is Michael Jordan. One other class is certain players who might not be Michael Jordan but who also have that superstar status. Then you’ve got the average--not average skill-wise, but average by way of their place in the NBA culture. And Nick is in that class.

“We intend to diligently fight it.”

It doesn’t figure to be a short-term process. The agent and union representatives will speak with league officials in the near future and schedule a hearing to contest the financial losses.

The hearing probably will not be scheduled until the off-season.

“We’re not going to interfere with the playoffs,” Bryant said. “The [two] games are gone, and we’ll argue about the money later.”

Rod Thorn, the NBA’s senior vice president and the man charged with handling disciplinary matters, again declined to discuss his judgment, but league officials said that Van Exel had not been treated unfairly, pointing out that San Antonio’s Monty Williams got a nearly identical punishment, two games and a $5,000 fine. The difference in the fines was attributed to Van Exel’s gesture.

An NBA spokesman declined comment on the grievance because it had not been faxed to the New York offices until late in the afternoon and no one had read it.

The Lakers have no official stand in the latest development, but they clearly have thrown their support behind Van Exel. With the grievance apparently headed toward a summer resolution, the more immediate concern is whether the stiff discipline will prompt frustration and negative emotions for Van Exel.

“I don’t think so,” Bryant said. “I think he’s too mature for that. I think what Nick has done on and off the court comes from the heart.

“Knowing Nick, he probably comes back working harder and wanting to be even better. This may be the worst thing that could have happened to the Western Conference. [The Lakers] are going to come out blazing. They’re outraged by this. I think they’re going to come out with fire in their eyes. I know he is.”