Haywood v. National Basketball Association

Applicant, a former Olympic star who had signed with the Seattle team of the National Basketball Association (NBA), brought an action against the NBA, claiming that its threatened sanctions against him and the Seattle team for alleged noncompliance with the NBA's player draft rules violated the antitrust laws. The District Court's grant of an injunction pendente lite permitting applicant to play for the Seattle team was stayed by the Court of Appeals. Applicant seeks a stay of the Court of Appeals' action.

Held: The equities as between the parties favor reinstatement of the District Court's preliminary injunction, 28 U.S.C. § 1651 (a), which will enable applicant to play and thus further Seattle's efforts to qualify for the imminent playoffs, and should it be necessary that court can fashion appropriate relief in light of the outcome of the litigation and the athletic competition.

MR. JUSTICE DOUGLAS, Circuit Justice.