Rudy Gobert will have to put his hand in his wallet.
Expelled during the night from Friday to Saturday, during the match against the Cleveland Cavaliers after making a hand gesture implying that a referee was corrupt, the Minnesota Timberwolves pivot will have to pay a fine.
Heavy!
The NBA revealed this Sunday the amount of this sanction: $100,000.
The following was released by the NBA.
pic.twitter.com/afAFpiVTR7
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) March 10, 2024
“Rudy Gobert was fined $100,000 for making an inappropriate and unprofessional gesture to a match official and for publicly criticizing the refereeing,” explained the American League in a press release, specifying that “the fine takes into account the fact that Gobert has already engaged in behavior detrimental to the NBA by publicly criticizing refereeing.
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Rudy Gobert gets a technical crowd for making money gestures 😅pic.twitter.com/B52BQmIeBJ
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) March 9, 2024
The Frenchman got annoyed 27 seconds from the end of regulation time after being penalized for a decisive offensive rebound.
Sent off, he was unable to participate in overtime, abandoning his team which ultimately lost (113-104).
“It cost my team the victory,” admitted Gobert, future father, after the match.
It was an immature reaction, everyone can make mistakes.
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However, he felt he was right.
“I am convinced that I was right.
Everyone in the NBA knows things need to improve.
I will still be the bad guy who tells the truth.
Again, I will accept the fine.
But I think it hurts our sport,” he assured, pointing out the abuses of sports betting.
Statements which undoubtedly weighed in the balance when deciding the amount of his fine.