Referee suspended indefinitely by NBA

Joey Crawford is done ejecting players and coaches this season. On Tuesday, he was the one getting tossed.

The veteran NBA referee was suspended indefinitely by Commissioner David Stern for his conduct toward Tim Duncan, who contends the official challenged him to a fight during a game in Dallas.

Crawford, 55, has worked more postseason games than any active referee. His suspension will last at least through the NBA Finals, and he apparently will have to meet with Stern after that to discuss reinstatement.

“Especially in light of similar prior acts by this official, a significant suspension is warranted,” Stern said in a statement. “Although Joey is consistently rated as one of our top referees, he must be held accountable for his actions on the floor, and we will have further discussions with him following the season to be sure he understands his responsibilities.”

Crawford ejected Duncan from San Antonio’s loss Sunday after calling a second technical foul on the Spurs standout while he was laughing on the bench. He had called the first 1:16 earlier.

“He looked at me and said, ‘Do you want to fight? Do you want to fight?’ ” Duncan said. “If he wants to fight, we can fight. I don’t have any problem with him, but we can do it if he wants to. I have no reason why in the middle of a game he would yell at me, ‘Do you want to fight?’ ”

Crawford was cited for “improper conduct” and “inappropriate comments made to Duncan during the game.” Stern said Crawford’s actions “failed to meet the standards of professionalism and game management we expect of NBA referees.”

The NBA also fined Duncan $25,000 for verbal abuse of an official. Crawford said Duncan referred to him with an expletive.

Crawford was the first referee suspended since Rodney Mott was banned three games on Jan. 12 for making an obscene gesture toward a fan and also using inappropriate language in Portland.

Crawford comes from an officiating family. His brother, Jerry, is a major league umpire, as was his father, Shag.

Joey Crawford is in his 29th season as an NBA referee. He has officiated more than 2,000 games during the regular season and 252 in the playoffs, including 36 in the NBA Finals.

But his temper has gotten him noticed before, especially in Game 2 of the 2003 Western Conference finals, a matchup involving the same teams as in Sunday’s game. Crawford called four technical fouls in the first 10-plus minutes, leading to ejections of then-Mavericks coach Don Nelson and assistant Del Harris.

Crawford also called a technical in a recent game against Duncan, who said Sunday that Crawford has a “personal vendetta against me.”

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Seattle SuperSonics majority owner Clay Bennett says the team probably will not play in Seattle beyond next season.

Bennett said Tuesday that Gov. Chris Gregoire won’t call lawmakers into special session so the team can continue to push for taxpayer money for a new $500 million arena. And he said the SuperSonics will honor their KeyArena lease that runs through 2010 -- but most likely only through “a legal exercise.”

“That may or may not mean the team will play there,” Bennett said during a conference call.

The SuperSonics are obligated to stay in the city for only one more season.

“I’m not sure it makes sense to play there if relocation” is imminent, Bennett said.

Bennett, who bought the team last year, is thought to want to move it to Oklahoma City, where he is a prominent businessman.

On Monday, legislative leaders decided not to consider the plan for a new arena in suburban Renton during the regular session.