Stern Makes Plea for Players to Leave Guns at Home

NBA Commissioner David Stern said yesterday that he would prefer his players leave their firearms behind when they go out.

"It's a pretty, I think, widely accepted statistic that if you carry a gun, your chances of being shot by one increase dramatically," Stern said during a conference call. "We think this is an alarming subject, that although you'll read players saying how they feel safer with guns, in fact those guns actually make them less safe. And it's a real issue."

It is one that was raised recently when Indiana's Stephen Jackson shot a gun in the air at least five times outside an Indianapolis strip club on Oct. 6. He originally told police he fired in self-defense during a fight in which he was hit by a car.

The NBA's collective bargaining agreement allows players to own licensed guns, but they can't carry them on any league or team business. Asked what kind of firearm rule he would want if collective bargaining weren't involved, Stern said: "I would favor being able to have a firearm to protect your home. Period."

He added that walking the streets carrying guns was "dangerous for our players," but said there has been no further discussion with the union about strengthening the policy.

· HORNETS: New Orleans picked up an option on Chris Paul's contract, keeping the reigning rookie of the year with the team for at least two more seasons.

Paul, the No. 4 overall pick in last year's NBA draft, averaged 16.1 points and 7.8 assists last season to lead all rookies, and his 175 steals were the most in the NBA.