Magic suspend Steve Francis indefinitely
(AP)
Updated: 2006-01-13 14:16

ORLANDO, Fla. - Steve Francis was suspended indefinitely by the Orlando Magic on Thursday for what the club said was "conduct detrimental to the team."

Orlando Magic's Steve Francis, right, goes up to the basket past Los Angeles Clippers' Cuttino Mobley, left, during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2006, in Los Angeles. [AP]

The team will have no further comment on the specifics of the suspension, Magic spokesman Joel Glass said. He said the star guard made the team flight from Seattle to Portland but left the team after he was suspended in the morning.

Glass said Francis will meet with coach Brian Hill and Magic executives after the team returns from its West Coast road trip Sunday or Monday. Orlando visits Sacramento on Sunday, then hosts Washington on Wednesday.

Francis is averaging 16.6 points, second on the team, and a team-high 5.4 assists.

The Magic (13-20) lost 113-104 in Seattle on Wednesday night, the team's fifth loss in its past six games. Francis scored 10 points in that game and 10 the night before in Orlando's 90-73 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, and criticized the team's play after that game.

Francis' agent, Jeff Fried, did not immediately return a telephone message left at his office.

The guard was suspended for three games by the NBA late last season for kicking a courtside photographer at Seattle. Orlando fined Francis an undisclosed amount last season after missing a practice following the All-Star break.

He was fined $25,000 after using profanity during a halftime interview at a nationally televised game while playing for Houston in March 2004. He also was suspended one game without pay for missing the Rockets' flight to Phoenix in February 2004.