NBA fines Arenas and Wizards

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 (UPI) -- The NBA has fined Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas and his team $15,000 each after he skipped a media availability at the Wizards' annual media day.

When the team gathered at the Verizon Center, its home court, Friday to meet the media before starting training camp at Richmond, Va., Arenas was not among the players addressing reporters questions.

He is expected to be sidelined until December following surprise left knee surgery Sept. 17.

The long-range shooting specialist, a second-round pick by Golden State in the 2001 NBA draft out of Arizona, signed a six-year, $111 million contract this summer, but knee surgery limited his playing last season to just 13 games.

"He's going to work hard, get his knee right and come back when he's ready to come back," fellow guard DeShawn Stevenson told The Washington Post.

Arenas has averaged 22.8 points per game in eight NBA seasons.