Fan Who Pushed Kyle Lowry During Game 3 is Warriors Part Owner Mark Stevens

During Game 3 of the NBA Finals Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry was involved in a courtside incident in which he was shoved by a Golden State Warriors fan. The Raptors went on to win Game 3 123-109, but Lowry made known his feelings that the behavior of the fan was unacceptable and should result in his barring from future NBA games.

Kyle Lowry says he hopes the fan who pushed him tonight and said some vulgar things doesn't return to the NBA again pic.twitter.com/a3GuWyRgOY

— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) June 6, 2019

Since then, it has emerged that the man who pushed Lowry was not merely a fan, but Warriors part owner Mark Stevens. The Warriors have now publicly addressed the actions taken by Stevens as well as stating he will be barred from any remaining Finals games.

The man who shoved Kyle Lowry hard in the shoulder after Lowry fell into the stands last night? Mark Stevens, one of the Warriors’ minority owners. Here’s Golden State’s statement on the incident – the team says Stevens won’t be at any more Finals games this year. pic.twitter.com/eUHNKn3Yp7

— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) June 6, 2019

View this post on Instagram

?There’s absolutely no place in our BEAUTIFUL game for that AT ALL. There’s so many issues here. When you sit courtside you absolutely know what comes with being on the floor and if you don’t know it’s on the back on the ticket itself that states the guidelines. But he himself being a fan but more importantly PART-OWNER of the Warriors knew exactly what he was doing which was so uncalled for. He knew the rules more than just the average person sitting watching the game courtside so for that Something needs to be done ASAP! A swift action for his actions. Just think to yourself, what if @kyle_lowry7 would have reacted and put his hands back on him. You guys would be going CRAZY!! Calling for him to damn near be put in jail let alone being suspended for the rest of the Finals all because he was protected himself. I’ve been quite throughout the whole NBA playoffs watching every game (haven’t missed one) but after I saw what I saw last night, took time to let it manifest into my thinking ? I couldn’t and wouldn’t be quiet on this! #ProtectThePlayers #PrivilegeAintWelcomeHere

A post shared by LeBron James (@kingjames) on Jun 6, 2019 at 9:42am PDT

Forbes lists Stevens as a venture capitalist who is worth $2.3 Billion, also acknowledging his status as minority owner of the Warriors. Lowry will be sure to use the encounter with the billionaire as added motivation as the Raptors look to continue their winning ways at Oracle Arena in Game 4 Friday night.

UPDATE: Mark Stevens has received a one year ban from NBA games and Warriors team activities, as well as receiving a $500K fine.

Warriors investor Mark Stevens banned for a year and fined $500K. pic.twitter.com/oAgmogiJHm

— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpearsESPN) June 6, 2019