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According to Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports, beleaguered Dallas Mavericks center Nerlens Noel has received a five gave suspension for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy.
Dallas' Nerlens Noel and Utah's Thabo Sefolosha have both been suspended five games each by NBA for violating anti-drug program.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 3, 2018
Between benchings and a voluntary surgery, Noel has only played in 30 games this season. And with just five games remaining on the schedule, we may have seen the last of Noel in a Maverick uniform. Noel has played just 16 minutes a game this season while averaging 4.4 points and 5.6 rebounds. This suspension could end any discussion of bringing Noel back after he’s looked much better following his return from injury.
Once considered the Mavericks’ center of the future, Noel opted against signing a reported 4 year, $70 million offer sheet from Dallas this summer. He returned to the Mavericks on a one year qualifying deal of $4,187,599. According to Bobby Marks of ESPN, Noel will lose a significant chunk of that salary as well.
The 5 game suspension for violating the terms of the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program will cost Nerlens Noel $144,400. Noel will sit out the remainder of the Mavericks 5 regular season games.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) April 3, 2018
So for those bad at math, Noel has missed out on $66,144,400 in potential earnings this year. At least now we have a working theory as to why he needed those hot dogs at half time.
UPDATE
According to the CBA FAQ a player, the following steps are taken if a player violates the substance abuse policy:
First violation: No additional penalty.
Second violation: $25,000 fine.
Third violation: Suspended five games.
Subsequent violations: Suspended an additional five games (10, 15, etc.) for each subsequent violation.
So that means Nerlens got caught three times. THREE TIMES. That is hard. It’s his most impressive feat of the season.