NBA MEETINGS : Coaches Don’t Want Responsibility for Flagrant Fouls

PALM DESERT — The NBA meetings ended Monday with action on all pending items deferred until the owners’ meeting next month.

Coaches, objecting to being made responsible for their players’ flagrant fouls, met Saturday night with Commissioner David Stern. League officials had been considering a plan to suspend coaches for repeated fouls by their players but are now looking for another way to hold organizations accountable, possibly by fining the teams instead.

“I think our coaches were united in wanting to crack down on flagrant fouls,” Stern said.

“I think there’s some debate on the exact way of doing it, and we haven’t taken any final action. That’s what these meetings are for, to hear everybody’s views and to reach a consensus.”

Under the proposed plan, two players, Charles Oakley of the New York Knicks and Derrick Coleman of the New Jersey Nets, would have been suspended last season for points accumulated by repeated flagrant fouls. Two teams, the Knicks and Dallas Mavericks, would have been disciplined for accumulated fouls.

Most of the coaches reportedly objected to being made personally responsible and punishable by suspension. The meeting was described as spirited, with the Knicks’ Pat Riley and the Nets’ Chuck Daly, among others, arguing against the new plan.

Action on re-weighting the lottery and choosing among the three groups seeking a Toronto franchise will likewise be taken up by the owners next month.

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Ten of the 12 players on the U.S. entry in the FIBA World Championship Games next summer in Toronto have been selected. No announcement will be made until next month but they are: Shaquille O’Neal, Alonzo Mourning, Larry Johnson, Dominique Wilkins, Derrick Coleman, Mark Price, Joe Dumars, Tim Hardaway, Reggie Miller and Dan Majerle.

All but O’Neal have reportedly indicated their intention to participate. Two more NBA players will be selected to round out the team.

Don Nelson will coach it, with assistants Don Chaney, Pete Gillen and Rick Majerus.