Sadly, domestic Violence is now spreading to other sports after the violence crisis in the NFL. Charlotte Hornets forward Jeff Taylor was suspended by the NBA on Wednesday for 24-games without pay.
The suspension comes after Taylor pleaded guilty last month to misdemeanor domestic violence assault and malicious destruction of hotel property. In court, Taylor said that he pushed his girlfriend into the wall at the Marriott Hotel in East Lansing, Michigan and the wall was damaged, according to > ESPN. The police were called to the hotel and arrested Taylor. The next day the Hornets banned Taylor from team activities while the legal process was going on.
The NBA conducted an investigation into Taylor’s arrest. Taylor was ''belligerent and uncooperative,'' according to the NBA investigation. He was sentenced to 18 months’ probation and must complete 26 weeks in a domestic violence intervention program. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said that Taylor must enter an outpatient alcohol treatment program and perform alcohol sensor test every day for 60 days.
"This suspension is necessary to protect the interests of the NBA and the public's confidence in it. Mr. Taylor's conduct violates applicable law and, in my opinion, does not conform to standards of morality and is prejudicial and detrimental to the NBA," Silver said in a release.
Taylor was a second-round draft pick for the Hornets in 2012. He is in his third year in the NBA. In his three years in the NBA Taylor has averaged 6.6 points and two rebounds, according to the > Associated Press. He will lose about $267,000 of his salary due to the suspension.
Taylor has missed 11 games this season and will get credit for hose 11 games when it comes to his suspension. He will sit out 13 more games. The domestic assault charge will be dismissed if Taylor meets the conditions of his probation. If he doesn’t then he could get further punishment from the NBA.