One NBA fan is claiming some "suffered economic damages" when the Spurs sent part of their team home ahead of a game this season. (REUTERS)
The San Antonio Spurs are being sued by a lawyer who claims the team violated the state’s deceptive and fair trade practices law when they sent home several of their best players so they could rest rather than play in a game against the Miami Heat in November, ESPN’s Darren Rovell reported Tuesday.
According to the report, Larry McGuinness filed a class action suit on Monday in Miami-Dade County. The suit stated head coach Gregg Popovich “intentionally and surrepticiously” sent Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker and Danny Green back to San Antonio without the knowledge of the league, the team and the fans attending the Nov. 29 game in Miami.
McGuinness contends that he and other fans “suffered economic damages” as a result of paying a premium price for a ticket with the expectation of seeing those star players.
Popovich sent the players home to rest them for their fourth game in five days.
“It was like going to Morton’s Steakhouse and paying $63 for porterhouse and they bring out cube steak,” said McGuinness, according to ESPN.com. “That’s exactly what happened here.”
The NBA fined the Spurs $250,000 for sending the four players home, and the NBA is not named in the suit.
The Heat still barely beat the Spurs that night, winning 105-100. McGuinness said that doesn’t mean a game with the Spurs top players couldn’t have been more exciting.
It’s unclear whether the Spurs have been served with the lawsuit yet.
