Charlotte Hornets News 2015: Al Jefferson Suspended by NBA for Drug Violation
The Charlotte Hornets received unfortunate news from the NBA on Wednesday, informing them that starting center Al Jefferson has been suspended for five games without pay due to a violation of the league's anti-drug program.
The suspension therefore means that once Jefferson comes back from a strained calf, he again will have to be sidelined for five games because of the suspension. By looking at the number of games he's going to miss from here on out, it is highly unlikely that the Hornets will see him for the rest of 2015.
A suspension comprising five games is actually the NBA's mandated punishment whenever a player is tested positive for marijuana for the third time. The collective bargaining agreement between the league and the players' union explicitly differentiates it from an HGH or performance-enhancing drug violation.
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Ironically, Charlotte has been playing better basketball without their starting center. In his presence, the offense is focused on putting the ball in the post. With him out, the guards are able to spread the floor, create movement, and rely on perimeter shooting. Perhaps the team does not mind not having him for several games.
In response to the suspension, the Hornets released this statement:
"We are disappointed in Al's decisions that led to this suspension. As an organization, we do not condone this behavior. We have addressed this with Al. He is regretful and understands that we expect him to learn from this mistake."
To the 30-year-old forward's credit, he admitted and is sorry for the irresponsible act. "I want to apologize to the Hornets organization, our owner, my teammates, and my coaches for the poor decision that I made… I am truly sorry, and I am committed to making smarter decisions in the future," he said.
The Hornets expect to have him back at the start of 2016 and hope that they can push themselves up to grab a spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
