NBPA files grievance against league for 'excessive' Willie Reed suspension

The National Basketball Players Association has filed a grievance against the league for its suspension of Detroit Pistons center Willie Reed, citing the six-game ban for a domestic violence incident as "excessive and inappropriate."

"The National Basketball Players Association believes the six-game suspension imposed by the NBA on Willie Reed is excessive and inappropriate," the union said in a statement, courtesy of Sean Deveney of Sporting News. "We are filing a grievance today and seeking an expedited hearing to fully protect his rights and get him back on the court as soon as possible."

Reed was suspended by the league as a result of an incident with his wife in Miami last August. He was subsequently arrested and charged with misdemeanor battery, though his wife later requested the charges against him be dropped after Reed agreed to enrol in a pretrial diversion program.

However, the NBA announced it would conduct its own independent investigation into the incident, and the league announced Tuesday it was suspending Reed six games as a result of its findings.