Phil Jackson and Los Angeles Lakers Fined $75,000 for CBA Public Comments

There was already a financial shakedown going on Wednesday due to Kobe Bryant’s homophobic slur towards referee Bennie Adams.

Well, apparently Phil Jackson and the Los Angeles Lakers organization are being fined aside from that $100,000 ($75,000) because of unauthorized public statements made about the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement.

"It was really about the fact that there's going to be a lockout," Jackson told beat reporters. "It's the perfect time to help the organization cover a gap if there's a lockout. My staff, all those guys who work with me. All those things played into it. I felt like an obligation."

Jackson saying that the lockout factored into his decision of retirement seems to be a ridiculous reason for a fine. David Stern is becoming the leader that Orlando Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy accused him of being in an interview where he addressed Dwight Howard’s suspension.

At first, his statements seemed a little ridiculous. Now that another situation has come to light, it appears that Stern is just being a little power hungry. These are the comments made by Van Gundy in reference to Howard’s one-game penalty for accruing 16 technical fouls:

“This is the system David Stern and his minions like. So that's the system you have...I certainly can't have an opinion because David Stern, like a lot of leaders we've seen in this world lately, don't really tolerate other people's opinion or free speech or anything. So I'm not really allowed to have an opinion. So it's up to him.”

There seems to be no solid reasoning for the violation. Phil Jackson did not discuss any specifics of the discussions that either side is involved in. He did not bash the NBA for not reaching a deal or the players for being greedy in the ordeal.

It is quite surprising that he was fined for voicing his opinion and connecting the agreement to his retirement.