Timberwolves’ Rudy Gobert fined $100K for money gesture،
The NBA fined Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert $100,000 on Sunday for making a financial gesture toward an official and criticizing officiating Friday night.
NBA Executive Vice President and Chief Basketball Operations Officer Joe Dumars announced that “the fine takes into account Gobert's past instances of conduct detrimental to the NBA regarding public criticism of referees “.
Gobert was cautioned for a technical foul in the final seconds of regulation Friday night during the Timberwolves' 113-104 overtime loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers when he rubbed his fingers repeatedly, implying that the Referee Scott Foster could be to blame.
After being whistled for his sixth foul and disqualified, Gobert remained on the ground and made the gesture as Foster walked toward the scorer's table. Foster did not see Gobert, but official Natalie Sago did and issued the technical report.
His technique allowed the Cavaliers to equalize.
After the match, Gobert, who has a reputation for being outspoken, did not deny his actions and went further to claim that sports betting could have a major impact on the outcome of matches.
“I’m going to bite the bullet again,” Gobert said Friday night. “I'll be the bad guy. I'll take the fine, but I think it hurts our game. I know the betting and everything else is getting bigger and bigger, but that shouldn't be the case.”
Minnesota assistant Micah Nori, who replaced Timberwolves coach Chris Finch when he fell ill just before the tipoff, criticized Gobert's behavior.
“A technical foul with 27 seconds left, to be honest, is unacceptable,” Nori said. “That's who Rudy is, but you have to be smart. He created an automatic visual. He was visibly frustrated – both teams were – but we have to be smarter.”
Gobert, who finished with 17 rebounds in 37 minutes, acknowledged he had to keep his cool.
“My reaction, which I think was the truth, but it wasn't the time to react that way,” the 7-foot-1 center said. “It cost my team the game. It was an immature reaction.”
This is the fourth time Gobert has been fined for publicly criticizing public officials.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
