Apparently the NBA has completed their probe into Jay-Z's visit to the Kentucky locker room last month. The case was pretty cut and dry, and they had precedent for assigning punishment:
Nets fined $50,000 for Jay-Z's visit [ESPN]
NBA rules prohibit team personnel from having contact with players who are not yet draft eligible.
The NBA's investigation, first reported by CBSSports.com, was triggered by a video showing Jay-Z visiting with various Kentucky players in their locker room at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., after the Wildcats' quarterfinal victory over North Carolina.
Though the circumstances of the visit seemed harmless enough, with Kentucky players clearly more excited about meeting a world-famous rap mogul as opposed to a part-time NBA team executive, Nets officials were expecting a fine based on what happened to Boston Celtics general manager Danny Ainge in 2007.
Boston was fined $30,000 that year for "excessive contact with the family" after Ainge was spotted sitting next to Kevin Durant's mother at the Big 12 tournament.This is clearly just a slap on the wrist, as Jay-Z most likely was not scouting the personnel, but as a team owner, Jay-Z has to understand the rules. With Kentucky having so many potential draft eligible players on their roster, it just didn't look right. The NBA has the rule on the books for a reason, and they have to enforce it.
Nets fined $50,000 for Jay-Z's visit [ESPN]
Moonlighting as a blogger to pursue my interest and enjoyment of sports. Former high school and Division I athlete (now a "retired" family man) that loves watching and discussing all sports. Follow me on Twitter (@HoldoutSports) and like Holdout Sports on Facebook.
