Indiana Pacers suspended forward Ron Artest met Monday with NBA commissioner David Stern in New York, but a league spokesman said the conversation was not about his possible return.
"It was just an opportunity for them to talk," NBA vice president of communications Tim Frank said. "They didn't discuss an early reinstatement."
Ron Artest
Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh said the team did not set up the meeting.
"We had nothing to do with it," Walsh said. "All that was done through Ron and his people."
Stern, who was not available for comment Monday, suspended Artest for the season for his role in a brawl with Detroit Pistons fans at the Palace of Auburn Hills on Nov. 19.
Stern, however, hasn't ruled out Artest playing this season. Stern said during All-Star weekend that the Pacers haven't applied for Artest to be reinstated. Walsh said last week that the Pacers have "to let certain things happen, and then at some point we'll probably inquire."
Artest has been practicing with the team for nearly two months. Pacers officials are working under the assumption that Artest won't play this season, but they have acknowledged his intensity in practice has helped him and the team.
"It was just an opportunity for them to talk," NBA vice president of communications Tim Frank said. "They didn't discuss an early reinstatement."
Ron Artest
Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh said the team did not set up the meeting.
"We had nothing to do with it," Walsh said. "All that was done through Ron and his people."
Stern, who was not available for comment Monday, suspended Artest for the season for his role in a brawl with Detroit Pistons fans at the Palace of Auburn Hills on Nov. 19.
Stern, however, hasn't ruled out Artest playing this season. Stern said during All-Star weekend that the Pacers haven't applied for Artest to be reinstated. Walsh said last week that the Pacers have "to let certain things happen, and then at some point we'll probably inquire."
Artest has been practicing with the team for nearly two months. Pacers officials are working under the assumption that Artest won't play this season, but they have acknowledged his intensity in practice has helped him and the team.
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