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The NBA fined Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert $100,000 on Sunday for making a money gesture at a referee and criticizing the officiating on Friday night.
NBA executive vice president and head of basketball operations Joe Dumars announced that “the fine takes into account Gobert’s past instances of conduct detrimental to the NBA regarding publicly criticizing referees.”
Gobert was assessed a technical foul in the final seconds of regulation on Friday night during the Timberwolves’ 113-104 overtime loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers when he rubbed his fingers together several times, implying that the referee Scott Foster could be making the decision.
After being whistled for his sixth foul and disqualified, Gobert stayed on the ground and made the gesture as Foster walked to the scorer’s table. Foster did not see Gobert, but Officer Natalie Sago did and issued the technique.
His technique allowed the Cavaliers to tie the game.
After the game, Gobert, who has a reputation for being outspoken, did not deny what he had done and went further to say that sports betting could have a major impact on the outcome of games.
“I’m going to bite the bullet again,” Gobert said Friday night. “I’ll be the bad guy. I’ll accept the fine, but I think it’s hurting our game. I know the stakes and everything are getting bigger and bigger, but it shouldn’t feel like that.”
Minnesota assistant Micah Nori, who filled in when Timberwolves coach Chris Finch fell ill just before kickoff, criticized Gobert’s behavior.
“To be honest, a technical foul with 27 seconds left is unacceptable,” Nori said. “That’s Rudy, but you have to be smart. He made an image that was automatic. Obviously he was frustrated, both teams were, but we have to be smarter.”
Gobert, who finished with 17 rebounds in 37 minutes, agreed that he must maintain his composure.
“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 officials.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.