NBA Suspends Referee Joey Crawford

The NBA announced that they have suspended referee Joey Crawford for "improper conduct" during the game between the Mavs and the Spurs last Sunday. Crawford ejected Tim Duncan for simply laughing on the bench, and later Duncan told reporters that Crawford challenged him to a fight during the game.

David Stern had this to say about his decision to suspend Crawford indefinitely:

"Joey Crawford's handling of this situation failed to meet the standards of professionalism and game management we expect of NBA referees. Especially in light of similar prior acts by this official, a significant suspension is warranted. Although Joey is consistently rated as one of our top referees, he must be held accountable for his actions on the floor, and we will have further discussions with him following the season to be sure he understands his responsibilities."

With the playoffs set to start this weekend, this was really the only decision for David Stern to make here. Dallas and San Antonio are both likely to advance deep into the playoffs, and it would be ridiculous to have Crawford working any of their games after his actions last Sunday.

It's nice to finally see the league take action against a veteran official who frequently chooses to make himself a bigger story than the game he's officiating.

Previously at the FanHouse:

Crawford vs Duncan: The tale of the Tape
Potential Reasons that Joey Crawford Has It in for Tim Duncan
What Should the NBA Do About Joey Crawford?
Joey Crawford Wants to Fight Tim Duncan