Denver's National Basketball Association scoring leader Carmelo
Anthony will not appeal his 15-game suspension, his agent told ESPN
on Thursday.
The sports television network reported on its website that Bill
Duffy said Anthony does not want to be more of a distraction than
he has been already for throwing a punch during a late-game melee
in a victory on Saturday at New York.
NBA commisioner David Stern handed down several suspensions on
Monday but the biggest ban of all went to Anthony, whose punch
reignited tensions after the incident appeared to have quietened
down.
"It's Melo's wish to just keep the focus on basketball," Duffy
said.
"In his words, he's just going to take (the ban) and keep the
focus on keeping himself ready."
NBA rules permit any player to appeal a suspension of longer
than 12 games to an arbitrator.
The Nuggets' game here on Wednesday was postponed by a blizzard
so Anthony's projected return date is now January 22 when Memphis
visits.
Should the postponed game against Phoenix be rescheduled between
now and then, his return would be two days earlier when Houston
visits.
The Denver Post reported that Nuggets swingman J.R. Smith has
made an appeal over his 10-game ban, but that appeal will be heard
by Stern, who is seen as less likely to shorten the suspension he
imposed.
(China Daily December 23, 2006)
