NBA revenue dip 10% to $8.3 billion in 2019-20: report

NEW YORK - NBA revenues fell 10 percent to $8.3 billion for the 2019-20 season disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, ESPN reported Wednesday, saying the league lost $800 million in ticket income alone.

Citing financial numbers shared with league clubs and obtained by ESPN, the report said the NBA lost $400 million in sponsorships and merchandise.

The cost of a split with China of a long partnership over tweets by then-Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey was put at $200 million of "net negative impact" according to the report.

Losses would have been much worse had the NBA not completed the season and staged the playoffs in a bubble at Orlando, saying $1.5 billion in revenue was recovered by restarting the season even though expenses for the bubble were $190 million, $10 million more than first estimated, sources told ESPN.

The details emerged as the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association talk over possible start dates for the 2020-21 season and financial terms to update the collective bargaining agreement in the wake of the pandemic.

The NBA told clubs that a potential 40 percent overall revenue loss -- about $4 billion -- would occur if the 2020-21 season took place without spectators and gate receipts.

The report said the NBA wants a December 22 start to the 2020-21 campaign and a season of 72 games for each club with a play-in tournament for the playoffs and a conclusion in time to have NBA talent in the Tokyo Olympic basketball competition.

Another option would be started in mind-January around the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday. That would push the finish of the season to mid-September and have NBA games compete with the Olympics and NFL for television audiences.

While the league wants games in home arenas with spectators, and is open to the idea of teams playing only conference or regional foes to ease travel costs and COVID-19 exposure, it is also look at bubble situations such as those used for the Major League Baseball playoffs.

Agence France-Presse

LeBron among NBA stars supporting ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski

LOS ANGELES -- Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James offered a tweet of support Sunday for ESPN reporter Adrian Wojnarowski, who has reportedly been suspended for a vulgar response to an email from a US senator.

James joined other NBA players in tweeting "#FreeWoj" on Sunday, two days after Wojnarowski himself posted an apology on Twitter for his comment to Missouri Senator Josh Hawley.


The New York Post reported that ESPN had called off their reporter's planned travel this week to the NBA's "bubble" site in Orlando, Florida, where they plan to resume the coronavirus-disrupted season at the end of the month.

The Washington Post reported that the suspension would last one to two weeks and Wojnarowski would travel to the bubble at a later date.

The trouble blew up on Friday, when Hawley wrote an open letter to NBA commissioner Adam Silver in which the senator criticized the league's relationship with China and called on the league to allow players to put messages in support of the military, police and Hong Kong protestors on the backs of jerseys.

The letter came after the NBA announced it would allow players to put certain phrases on their uniforms in support of the Black Lives Matter movement when the season resumes.

Wojnarowski responded to the email press release that Hawley's office sent to him, writing "F--- you," but without barring out the expletive.

Hawley then shared that response on Twitter.

"I was disrespectful and I made a regrettable mistake," Wojnarowski said in a statement Friday. "I'm sorry for the way I handled myself and I am reaching out immediately to Senator Hawley to apologize directly.

"I also need to apologize to my ESPN colleagues because I know my actions were unacceptable and should not reflect on any of them."

ESPN said in its own statement Friday that the comments were "completely unacceptable behavior" and that they would address the matter internally.

Agence France-Presse

ESPN unveils nine-part Tom Brady documentary series

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady and ESPN announced Thursday that the network will air a nine-part documentary series in 2021 focusing on Brady's nine Super Bowl appearances.

The series will be titled "The Man in the Arena: Tom Brady," which the quarterback says is a reference to Theodore Roosevelt's "Man in the Arena" speech that adorned the weight-room wall when he was at the University of Michigan in 1995.

"It's a constant reminder to ignore the noise, buckle my chinstrap, and battle through whatever comes my way," Brady wrote on Twitter of the speech, also posting a video trailer for the series.

View this post on Instagram

I have quoted Theodore Roosevelt’s “Man in the Arena” speech since I saw it painted on our weight room wall at UM in 1995. It’s a constant reminder to ignore the noise, buckle my chinstrap, and battle through whatever comes my way. And while my football journey isn’t over, I’m excited to share my life through 9 Super Bowl seasons, while continuing to be the Man in the Arena in pursuit of a 10th. “Because there is no effort without error.” Progress over perfection. 199 Productions is excited to partner with @religionofsports and @espn to bring this all to life. Coming in 2021!

A post shared by Tom Brady (@tombrady) on May 21, 2020 at 9:49am PDT

The series will be a joint production between ESPN, Brady's production company (199 Productions) and Religion of Sports' Gotham Chopra, who was an executive producer of the six-episode series Tom vs. Time that aired in 2018.

Brady has appeared in nine Super Bowls and won six, both of which are records for an NFL player. He and the New England Patriots triumphed in Super Bowls XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX, XLIX, LI and LIII, while losing XLII, XLVI and LII.

"To have personal firsthand accounts and an athlete at Tom's level who doesn't often give firsthand accounts can add up to a remarkable series,'' said Connor Schell, ESPN's executive vice president for content.

Brady is preparing for his first season with the Buccaneers after joining them as a free agent in March. He played his first 20 seasons with the Patriots.

Field Level Media via Reuters

NBA: Players to receive 25% less pay from May 15

The NBA has reached an agreement with the National Basketball Players Association to withhold 25% of each player's salary from May 15 due to the shutdown of the sport because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The deal would provide a gradual reduction in player salaries in case a "force majeure" event, such as the pandemic, wipes out the rest of the regular season.

The money will be placed in escrow and paid back to players if all of the remaining regular season games are played, ESPN reported.

If only part of the season can be played, the amount paid out would be on a pro rata basis based on the number of games completed.

The salary reductions will continue through the first two months of the 2020-21 NBA season, ESPN said.

The NBA has not held a game since March 11 and it is unclear when it might return to action. (Reporting by Rory Carroll in Los Angeles, editing by Pritha Sarkar)

-reuters-

MMA: UFC eyes fight card on May 9 - Dana White

The UFC is aiming to stage a fight card at an undisclosed location on May 9 featuring at least two title bouts, the promotion's president Dana White has told its broadcast partner ESPN.

White canceled the proposed UFC 249 event last week, which was due to take place on April 18.

Prompted by fears over the spread of the coronavirus, White came under pressure from politicians and ESPN's owners at Disney to postpone the event.

ESPN are now reporting that Tony Ferguson will face Justin Gaethje in an interim lightweight title fight at an undisclosed location on May 9 instead.

Also on the bill is a bantamweight title fight between Henry Cejudo and Dominick Cruz and a featherweight match-up between champion Amanda Nunes and Felicia Spencer, although it is unclear if Nunes' belt is on the line.

When asked by Reuters to confirm the title fights, the UFC responded in an email that they had no further comment "aside from what Dana has said to ESPN". (Reporting by Philip O'Connor Editing by Toby Davis)

-reuters-

NFL: Saints coach Payton tests positive for coronavirus

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton has tested positive for coronavirus.

The 56-year-old coach confirmed his diagnosis with ESPN on Thursday, becoming the first known case within the NFL's ranks.

Payton said he wasn't feeling well Sunday, got tested Monday and received his results Thursday. He said he feels fatigued, but has no fever or cough. He is resting at home under quarantine and is optimistic about making a full recovery.

He told ESPN's Adam Schefter that he came forward with his diagnosis because he wants everyone to heed the warnings of government and health officials, stay inside and behave responsibly.

"This is not just about social distancing," Payton told ESPN. "It's shutting down here for a week to two weeks. If people understand the curve, and understand the bump, we can easily work together as a country to reduce it. Take a minute to understand what the experts are saying. It's not complicated to do what they're asking of us. Just that type of small investment by every one of us will have a dramatic impact.

"I was fortunate to be in the minority, without the serious side effects that some have. I'm lucky. Younger people feel like they can handle this, but they can be a carrier to someone who can't handle it. So we all need to do our part. It's important for every one of us to do our part."

Payton has compiled a 131-77 record in 13 seasons with the Saints. He led New Orleans to the franchise's only Super Bowl championship during the 2009 season.

The Saints went 13-3 and won the NFC South division title for the third straight season in 2019 before losing to the Minnesota Vikings in the playoffs.

Louisiana has been one of the states hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, with 347 known cases and eight deaths as of Thursday, according to CNN.

"The concern with Louisiana is the amount of people that come in and out of this area after Mardi Gras season. This is an area that doctors are concerned about. So our parents, and those that are more susceptible to this virus, deserve everyone doing their best to combat it," Payton told ESPN.

"There are hundreds of people right now in tough predicaments, fighting for their lives. Let's be part of the solution, not the problem. We can easily help reduce the numbers of those impacted. We have to do our best to beat this and I know we can."

--Field Level Media

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NBA: Silver eyes major changes for NBA's 75th season - report

With the NBA's 75th season coming up in 2021-22, commissioner Adam Silver is looking to make a major overhaul to the league's schedule, according to an ESPN report on Saturday.

Among the changes Silver is targeting is a reseeding of the final four playoff teams, regardless of conference, and a midseason tournament featuring every NBA team.

The league also could shorten the regular season by a few games to make room in the schedule for the midseason tournament.

According to Zach Lowe and Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Silver and the league are in talks with the NBA Players Association and the league's various broadcast partners in hopes of bringing at least some of these proposals to April's Board of Governors meeting.

The midseason tournament, which would be based on the European soccer model, would use regular-season divisional games to double as round-robin games to set up a separate playoff field. 

Those teams advancing would have a chance to play for the in-season title and the league presumably wold be able to sell the broadcast package.

Another proposal Silver is said to be considering is play-in games for the season-ending playoffs, with the seventh to 10th seeds fighting it out for two playoff spots in each conference.

According to the report, Silver is eying the changes to add weight to regular season games and give fans reasons to stay invested in teams longer into the season.

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NBA: Raptors' Kyle Lowry undergoes thumb procedure

Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry underwent a procedure to repair a tendon in his left thumb, but he still plans on being available for the upcoming FIBA World Cup, ESPN reported.

Lowry is not expected to miss USA Basketball's mini-camp to be held Aug. 5-9 at Las Vegas. He last played for Team USA at the 2016 Olympics and is one of 20 players invited to the mini-camp for the current team.

Lowry, 33, scored 14.2 points with 8.7 assists for the Raptors in the 2018-19 season and scored 15.0 points with 6.6 assists in 24 games during the postseason on the way to an NBA title.

The 32-team FIBA World Cup is scheduled for Aug. 31-Sept. 15 in China.

--Field Level Media

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NBA: Porzingis accused of rape in New York

Dallas Mavericks center Kristaps Porzingis has been accused of raping a New York neighbor on Feb. 7, 2018, hours after suffering a serious knee injury while playing for the Knicks, the New York Post reported Saturday.

The alleged victim contacted police this week with details of the alleged rape, according to the Post.

The Post said that the accuser was considered "believable" despite waiting more than 13 months to report the incident. She told police that she and Porzingis discussed $68,000 in hush money.

Porzingis' attorney, Roland G. Riopelle, issued the following statement to ESPN on Saturday:

"We are aware of the complaint that was made against Mr. Porzingis on Friday and unequivocally deny the allegations. We made a formal referral to federal law enforcement on December 20th, 2018, based on the accuser's extortionate demands. We also alerted the National Basketball Association months ago and they are aware of the ongoing investigation of the accuser by federal law enforcement.

"We cannot comment further on an ongoing federal investigation. Please refer any questions to the Federal Bureau of Investigation or the National Basketball Association."

The 23-year-old Porzingis was traded to the Mavericks on Jan. 31. Owner Mark Cuban is aware of the accusation as the Mavericks were informed about it on a conference call to finalize the trade, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

"We have been instructed by federal authorities not to comment," Cuban told The Post in an email. The Post said Cuban copied the email to NBA officials and Porzingis' representatives.

According to the Post, the woman lived in the same building as Porzingis and said he showed up at her unit around 2 a.m. She accepted an invitation to Porzingis' suite.

She told police that after entering, the 7-foot-3 Porzingis held her down and raped her, according to the Post.

The woman said she waited more than a year to report the rape because of the money Porzingis promised in exchange for her silence.

The $68,000 was supposed to pay for her brother's college tuition, but Porzingis reneged on the deal, the woman reportedly told police.

Porzingis tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee earlier that night in a loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. He never played for the Knicks again due to the injury and the recent trade.

The Knicks were reportedly contacted by the New York Post about the allegation.

"This is Kristaps' personal matter and not related to the Knicks," a team spokesman said.

Porzingis averaged 17.8 points and 7.1 rebounds in 186 games over three seasons with the Knicks.

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Lebron James apologizes for controversial 'Jewish money' post

LOS ANGELES - American basketball star LeBron James has apologized for posting controversial song lyrics with the phrase "getting that Jewish money" on Instagram, where he boasts over 45 million followers.

"We been getting that Jewish Money, Everything is kosher," the Los Angeles Lakers forward posted in an Instagram story over the weekend, reciting lyrics from rapper 21 Savages' song "asmr" while wearing a Lakers sweatshirt.

Darren Rovell, a sports business analyst who formerly worked for ESPN, called attention to the post's problematic use of stereotypes painting Jewish people as wealthy and tightfisted.

"Surprised LeBron, who makes very few mistakes, put this out. Does quoting lyrics from a song absolve the person quoting from the responsibility behind the words?" Rovell tweeted. "I'd argue no, especially with a following of 45 million."

Speaking to ESPN following the Lakers' Sunday loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, James said "it definitely was not the intent, obviously, to hurt anybody."

"Apologies, for sure, if I offended anyone," the 33-year-old basketball great said. "That's not why I chose to share that lyric," adding that he regularly posts song lyrics.

"That's what I do. I ride in my car, I listen to great music, and that was the by-product of it," he continued. "So I actually thought it was a compliment, and obviously it wasn't through the lens of a lot of people. My apologies."

The NBA does not plan to fine James over the post, ESPN said.

James -- who regularly speaks out on politics and sociocultural issues -- also made waves over the weekend for comparing the US professional basketball and football leagues.

"In the NFL they got a bunch of old white men owning teams and they got that slave mentality," James said during Friday's episode of his HBO show "The Shop."

He then lauded the NBA's commissioner Adam Silver for letting players express themselves.

"It doesn't even matter if Adam agrees with what we are saying, he at least wants to hear us out," James said.

"As long as we are doing it in a very educational, nonviolent way, then he's absolutely okay with it."

The NFL in recent years has grappled with protests from players kneeling during the playing of the US national anthem, as part of movement calling attention to issues of racial injustice and social inequality.

mdo/ft

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How the Grinch failed to spoil Christmas for Green Bay Packers player

Thieves reportedly stole $5,000 worth of toys and bikes collected by Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Kenny Clark, but the unknown Grinches couldn't crush his community's Christmas spirit.

Clark's second annual toy drive proceeded as scheduled Thursday in his hometown of San Bernardino, Calif., thanks to some generous last-minute donations.

"A lot of people have stepped up," Clark told ESPN. "I know they created a GoFundMe account and people have been donating to that, just to get some toys back for the kids. All that stuff has been pretty cool. There's been a lot of people hitting us up and trying to do the best they can to help."

Clark said he and his family had been collecting the toys, including new bicycles, for several months. The theft, which he said has been reported to police, occurred on the property he purchased for his mother after Green Bay made him a first-round pick in 2016.

"It's just messed up, man," Clark said. "It's for a bunch of kids, man. It's difficult, especially for my family and my mom. My mom, she works hard to do it. It's really difficult for her because she worked so hard throughout the whole year putting it together."

Packers linebacker Clay Matthews volunteered to help his teammate and expressed his disgust.

"It's a shame. Thieves, there's no moral code or anything, especially with those gifts and who they were going to," Matthews said. "You'd like to think that people are better than that."

--Field Level Media

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Vince Carter reportedly joins Hawks

Vince Carter is slated to play a 21st NBA season after agreeing to a one-year deal with the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday, according to multiple reports.

The contract is worth $2.4 million, according to ESPN.

The 41-year-old Carter will be joining his eighth NBA team. He averaged a career-low 5.4 points in 58 games (five starts) for the Sacramento Kings last season.

The eight-time All-Star has career averages of 17.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 1,405 NBA games (974 starts). He was one of the league's top players during his stints with the Toronto Raptors (1998-2004) and then-New Jersey Nets (2004-09).

Carter ranks 22nd in NBA history with 24,868 career points.

Carter also has played for the Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks and Memphis Grizzlies.

Atlanta also agreed to a deal with forward Daniel Hamilton, who averaged 2.0 points in six games for the Oklahoma City Thunder last season.

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Durant says he's returning to Warriors

Kevin Durant confirmed to ESPN's Rachel Nichols on Thursday that he will re-sign with the Golden State Warriors this summer.

The two-year, $51 million deal Durant agreed to last year included an opt-out clause for the 2018-19 season, which he reportedly intends to exercise in order to negotiate a new deal with the Warriors.

Last offseason, Durant took roughly $10 million less than what a max salary would have earned him on his deal with Golden State so the team could re-sign Andre Iguodala and backup point guard Shaun Livingston.

Among his options this offseason, Durant could sign a four-year max contract for about $158 million.

Durant was an All-Star for the Warriors yet again this season, averaging 26.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists in 68 games. He has stepped up his play in the playoffs, averaging 29.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists as Golden State is one win away from its third NBA Finals championship in four years.

Durant carried the Warriors in their Game 3 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday, scoring 43 points on 15-of-23 shooting, including sinking a dagger 3-pointer from 33 feet out with 49.8 seconds remaining to essentially ice the game.

"That was amazing what he did out there tonight," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said afterward. "Some of those shots, I don't think anybody in the world can hit those but him."

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Browns fans mark season of perfect futility with parade

LOS ANGELES -- More than 2,000 Cleveland Browns fans held a parade around their team's stadium on Saturday to vent their frustration at the team's 0-16 NFL season, their 15th campaign in a row without making the playoffs.

Dubbed the Perfect Season Parade 2.0 -- after the Browns joined the 2008 Detroit Lions as the only teams to finish an NFL season 0-16 -- the parade was considered a protest by fed-up fans.

"It was that kind of macabre-type humor that I think the Browns fans have," organizer Chris McNeil told ESPN. "I think we have every right to have after this organization has given us nothing now for how many years."

   
The parade included a pickup truck sponsored by a funeral home with a casket on the back and several Browns-painted buses with signs criticizing team management and owner Jimmy Haslam.

Many watching or participating wore bags over their heads.

The parade also included Browns' quarterback graveyard, with faux headstones for every starting quarterback the team has had since 1999.

McNeil said at least four vans were full of food to donate to the Cleveland Food Bank and nearly $14,696 was raised for the charity.

"We care. Everyone thinks that the people down here are not true fans, it's actually the opposite," parade participant Tony Timoteo told ESPN. "Everyone says that if you want to protest, stop going to the games, cancel your season tickets.

"No, we want the team to win. We had to find another media outlet and Chris McNeil, who is a genius organizer -- he came up with another media outlet to show our frustration.

"We're not going to cancel season tickets and we're going to go to the games because we want them to win."

Some Cleveland players found the parade offensive, with defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah called the parade "a joke" on Twitter.

Teammate Danny Shelton also wrote on Twitter that the event "isn't encouraging a change, it's more so encouraging players to avoid the opportunity to play here".

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LaVar Ball launches league for players to skip college

LOS ANGELES -- Controversial NBA dad LaVar Ball told ESPN on Wednesday that he is starting a basketball league for high school graduates who don't want to attend college before launching an NBA career.

Ball says his Junior Basketball Association will be fully funded by his Big Baller Brand and seeks 80 players to fill 10 teams he hopes will play at NBA arenas in Los Angeles, Dallas, Atlanta and New York.

"Getting these players is going to be easy," Ball told ESPN. "This is giving guys a chance to get a jump start on their career, to be seen by pro scouts and we're going to pay them because someone has got to pay these kids."

NBA rules say a player must wait one year after their high school class graduates before they can be taken in NBA draft, which has led to many top players going to college for only a single season before making the most to the NBA.

While colleges make millions of dollars from basketball television rights, players receive only tuition and scholarships from colleges under National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rules.

Ball says his league's top player would make $10,000 a month and his lowest-ranked player would make $3,000 a month while displaying their skills for NBA scouts.

"Kids who are one-and-done, they shouldn't be there with the NCAA trying to hold them hostage, not allowing them to keep the jersey they wear while selling replicas of them in stores," Ball said. "So our guy isn't going to go to Florida State for a year. He's going to come to our league."

Ball says the league's logo is his son, Los Angeles Lakers guard Lonzo Ball, who played one year at the University of California, Los Angeles, going to the hoop for a dunk.

The league will not include LiAngelo and LaMelo Ball, who have signed with a Lithuanian club.

Players will wear uniforms and shoes with the Big Baller Brand.

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Players debate NFL's proposed $100 million donation

The NFL proposed joining with its players in a bid to spur social justice change, although not all players are on board with the proposal.

The league submitted the final draft of the proposal to players on Monday that would contribute nearly $100 million to causes considered important to African-American communities.

The NFL is seeking an agreement that players will stand for the anthem in return and put an end to the controversial movement that former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began last season.

Players are expected to discuss the proposal during a scheduled conference call Wednesday night. If they accept the league's proposal, then the owners would vote to complete the deal at the annual league meetings in March, according to ESPN.

National funding as part of the league's current plan would offer 25 percent to the United Negro College Fund and another 25 percent to Dream Corps. The Players Coalition, which has filed for paperwork for nonprofit status, would get the remaining 50 percent.


Two players already have expressed displeasure with the NFL's proposal and plan to part from the Players Coalition, a group of approximately 40 players. Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins and former NFL wide receiver Anquan Boldin are viewed as the leaders of the Players Coalition.

San Francisco safety Eric Reid and Miami Dolphins safety Michael Thomas said they are withdrawing by releasing the same statement on Wednesday.

"With much thought and consideration, I've decided to officially withdraw my involvement in The Players Coalition founded by Malcolm Jenkins and Anquan Boldin," the statement read.

"The Players Coalition was supposed to be formed as a group that represents NFL athletes who have been silently protesting social injustices and racism. However, Malcolm and Anquan can no longer speak on our behalf as we don't believe the coalition's beliefs are in our best interests as a whole.

"We will continue to have dialogue with the league to find equitable solutions but without Malcolm and Anquan as our representative."

Reid was the first player to kneel beside Kaepernick last season during the latter's demonstration to shine a light on police brutality and social injustice.

Kaepernick opted out of his deal with the 49ers in the spring and has remained unsigned with some believing he is being blackballed from the league. Kaepernick filed a grievance against the NFL in October accusing teams of collusion.

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Dwyane Wade and Bulls to part ways: report

CHICAGO -- Dwyane Wade and the Chicago Bulls have agreed to part ways after the veteran point guards' first season with his hometown team, the US media reported on Sunday night.

The 35-year-old Wade has reached a buyout agreement with the Bulls, according to American broadcaster ESPN.

Wade, who has been hit by a series of injuries the past few seasons, was slated to make $23.8 million with the Bulls in 2017-18. Once he clears waivers, he can listen to offers from other teams.

The Cleveland Cavaliers, Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs and his former Miami Heat team could all make a pitch for Wade. The Cavaliers are believed to be the frontrunners.

Wade, who grew up on Chicago's south side, averaged 18.3 points and 3.8 assists in 60 games for the Bulls last season. It was his lowest point totals since his 2003 rookie season.

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NFL: Former Giants player Brown banned six more games

NEW YORK - The National Football League slapped American Josh Brown with an additional six-game suspension for violating the personal conduct policy due to domestic violence accusations, the US media reported on Friday.

The former New York Giant kicker served a one-game suspension at the start of the 2016 season after domestic violence allegations were made by his ex-wife.

"We reopened the investigation based on new info," the NFL said in a text to American sports broadcaster ESPN.


"Concluded there was a violation of our personal conduct policy and imposed six-game suspension, which he accepted without appeal."

The new ban is mostly a procedural move since the 38-year-old Brown hasn't kicked in the NFL since the Giants cut him loose in October.

Brown is expected to begin serving the six-game suspension immediately even though he remains unsigned.

Brown was placed on the exempt list in October when the NFL decided to launch a further investigation into his May 2015 arrest for alleged domestic violence. The Giants cut Brown four days after he was put on the exempt list

Brown was never charged by police.

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Durant said to sign two-year deal with Warriors

LOS ANGELES -- Kevin Durant and the Golden State Warriors have agreed on a two-year contract worth about $53 million in a move that comes two days after they came to terms with superstar Stephen Curry.

Durant, who is an unrestricted free agent, will have a player option on the second year, American sports broadcaster ESPN reported on Monday.

The 28-year-old Durant is expected to have an annual salary of between $25 million and $26 million.

The Warriors came to terms with point guard Curry on a five-year, $201 million contract on Saturday.

  
Durant left the Oklahoma City Thunder last summer to sign with the Warriors.

He played a key role this season in leading Golden State to its second National Basketball Association championship in three years over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

In this year's NBA finals, Durant averaged 35.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 5.4 assists as the Warriors won the series in five games.

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NBA: Curry inks $200 million deal with Warriors - report

LOS ANGELES, United States – Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry has clinched a new five-year deal worth $201 million, the richest contract in NBA history, ESPN reported on Friday.

Curry, who recently helped the Warriors to their second NBA Finals crown in three years, is the first player to break the $200 million barrier, ESPN said, citing the player's agent Jeff Austin.

News of the agreement wipes away any uncertainty concerning the future of Curry, who had been on a four-year contract worth a relatively modest $44 million until his new deal.

Despite being one of the league's highest profile stars, Curry had languished way down the pecking order of the NBA's best-paid players.

According to the basketball-reference.com website, Curry had been the 82nd best-paid player in the league, earning just over $12.1 million last season.

That figure is dwarfed by the league's highest-earner, LeBron James, who stands to earn $33.3 million next season and $35.6 million in 2018-2019.

According to a survey of the world's best paid athletes released earlier this month by Forbes, Curry had earned an additional $35 million in endorsements to go alongside his $12 million salary.

However, his new deal would make him the world's fourth highest paid athlete -- in terms of annual salary and winnings -- placing him behind Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo ($58 million), Barcelona's Lionel Messi ($53 million) and the NFL's Andrew Luck ($47 million) on Forbes' 2017 list.

'Never count another man's money'

Curry's existing contract had been agreed when there were still doubts about his long-term fitness, with the player thought to have issues concerning the durability of his ankles.

However, those doubts have been obliterated during a series of dazzling seasons for the Warriors that have helped him become a four-time All-Star.

He was named NBA Most Valuable Player during the Warriors' championship winning run in 2014-2015 and the following season became the first player in history to win the award in a unanimous vote.

He averaged 25.3 points per game this regular season and has led the league in three-point field goals for five straight seasons.

That remarkable run of scoring included 402 three-pointers in 2015-2016 -- a single-season record. No other player had passed 300 threes in a season before Curry.

In an interview earlier this year, Curry had shrugged off his disparity in earnings with the NBA's best-paid players.

"One thing my pops always told me is you never count another man's money," Curry told The San Jose Mercury News.

"It's what you've got and how you take care of it. And if I'm complaining about $44 million over four years, then I've got other issues in my life," he said, referring to his current deal.

Curry also revealed he had been aware he was way down the list of NBA high-earners when he signed the deal in 2012, but was happy simply to have the security of a long-term contract.

"My perspective was, 'Man, I'll be able to take care of my family with this. Blessed to be able to know I'll be playing at least in the NBA for four years and see where it goes from there," he said.

source: news.abs-cbn.com