New York ? Ron Artest took the witness stand and described, in his words, one of the worst brawls in NBA history. Teammates Stephen Jackson, Jermaine O’Neal and Anthony Johnson did the same, and a union attorney and one of O’Neal’s bodyguards also testified.

It went on for six hours, with none of the witnesses being cross-examined by anyone from the league office.

One of the strangest grievance hearings in NBA history unfolded Thursday at a Manhattan law office just three blocks from league headquarters, with arbitrator Roger Kaplan hearing arguments on the brawl-related suspensions issued by commissioner David Stern.

The NBA, contending the arbitrator had no jurisdiction, declined to participate. At least a half-dozen chairs sat vacant inside a wood-paneled conference room at a Manhattan law office as the hearing took place.

“We (introduced) evidence that we would have put on had the NBA been here, it just means that the arbitrator got to hear our side and not any opposition or rebuttal that the NBA would care to introduce,” union director Billy Hunter said.

The union asked for a “significant” reduction in each of the suspensions, though union officials would not specify what alternative penalties they suggested. Kaplan indicated he would not issue a ruling for at least a week.

Stern, citing a clause in the collective-bargaining agreement giving him authority to impose discipline for on-court behavior, suspended Artest for the remainder of the season, Jackson for 30 games, O’Neal for 25 games and Johnson for five.

Each of the players testified for at least a half-hour, and union attorneys submitted three lines of argument on the issue of jurisdiction, challenging the league’s position that the players’ only avenue of appeal is through the commissioner’s office.