Hornets big man Al Jefferson has been suspended without pay for five games for violating the terms of the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program, the league announced Wednesday.
No further details were immediately available.
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“We are disappointed in Al’s decisions that led to this suspension,” the Hornets said in a statement. “As an organization, we do not condone this behavior. We have addressed this with Al. He is regretful and understands that we expect him to learn from this mistake.”
The 30-year-old was already on the shelf for up to three weeks with a calf strain. He hasn’t played since Nov. 29. His suspension will begin when he's healthy.
Before his injury, Jefferson was averaging 13.7 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.
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“I want to apologize to the Hornets organization, our owner, my teammates and my coaches for the poor decision that I made,” Jefferson said in a statement. “I know I have let people down, especially the Hornets fans that have been so supportive of me since I arrived in Charlotte two years ago. I am blessed to be able to play the game that I love for a living and I do not take that for granted. From the bottom of my heart, I am truly sorry, and I am committed to making smarter decisions in the future.”