The CBA's 18 month repeat offender status has more to do with how they calculate salary losses from the suspension than it does the severity of future suspensions. A non repeat offender loses a day's pay for every game he's suspended (about 1/185th) while a repeat offender loses 1/82nd of his salary for every game he's suspended. That's mostly what the 18.15(d) clause is used to determine.
A player's history beyond 18 months ago is certainly considered in determining the length of the suspension, though more recent violations are naturally given more weight than ones from years ago.
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