Carlisle: NBA did not speak with team doctors before $100K fine

"The league lawyer that was doing the interview kind of unilaterally decided Aaron Nesmith, who had been injured the night before and couldn't hold the ball, should have played in the game, which just seems ridiculous. And during the interview process -- I was not in on it but I heard the details -- we asked them if they wanted to talk to the doctors, our doctors about it because it was something documented by our doctors and trainers. They said no, they didn't need to."

"Coach Carlisle's description of the process that went into the decision to fine the Indiana Pacers is inaccurate. An independent physician led the medical review. In addition, the Pacers' general manager and the team's senior vice president, sports medicine and performance were interviewed as part of the process."

The Indiana Pacers received a $100,000 fine from the NBA for violating the league's player participation policy regarding Aaron Nesmith's availability for a February 3 game. Coach Rick Carlisle criticized the investigation process, stating that NBA investigators did not speak with team doctors or players before issuing the fine. Carlisle explained that Nesmith had been injured the previous night and could not hold the ball, making his participation impossible. When the Pacers offered to have their medical staff discuss the situation, the league declined, instead consulting only their own physicians who had not examined Nesmith. The NBA disputed Carlisle's account, stating that an independent physician led the review and that the team's general manager and senior vice president of sports medicine were interviewed.

Read at ESPN.com