Stern Rips Knicks Over Thomas Lawsuit

NBA Commissioner David Stern, in an interview broadcast yesterday on ESPN, lambasted the New York Knicks organization's mismanagement of Anucha Browne's successful lawsuit against coach Isiah Thomas, the New York Times reports. "It demonstrates that they're not a model of intelligent management," Stern said, citing a failure to deal with the harassment allegations at an earlier stage.

MSG chairman James Dolan issued a diplomatic response to Stern's criticisms, saying, "We have a high regard for the commissioner." Stern has not ruled out sanctions against the Knicks, saying the case was "very much under review...I'm not considering any range of disciplinary action, " before ominously adding "but my powers are very broad--if I choose to exercise them." (More New York Knicks stories.)