(NewsInsights.org) – Players, whether professional or amateur, are often passionate about their sports. Seasoned athletes learn they must temper their fervor, and learn when and how to lodge protests. Unfortunately, one Minnesota Timberwolves basketball player missed the lesson, resulting in harsh and expensive consequences for him and his team. The penalties included a $100,000 fine, which NBA Vice President and disciplinarian Joe Dumars announced on Sunday, March 10. It’s the fourth fine Rudy Gobert has received for publicly criticizing officials.
The Timberwolves played the Cleveland Cavaliers in a close game that went into overtime on Friday, March 8. With 27 seconds remaining on the clock in the fourth quarter, referees called a foul on Gobert as he struggled with defenders for a rebound.
Rudy Gobert gets a technical foul for making the money sign at officials after fouling out. pic.twitter.com/AXdGSkowMU
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) March 9, 2024
Gobert displayed surprise at the unexpected call, made worse by the fact that it was his sixth foul of the night, ending his court play for the evening. He reacted by rubbing his fingers and thumbs of both hands together in the air several times behind referee Scott Foster’s back, implying someone paid the official to slant his calls. Although Foster didn’t see the disrespectful gesture, referee Natalie Sago did, and she issued a technical foul against Gobert for the action.
Gobert’s technical foul allowed the Cavaliers to tie the game and force overtime, which they went on to win 113 to 104. Gobert continued his protest after the game, painting himself as a martyr in a one-man cause against the sports betting industry to reporters. Per ESPN, he said he would “bite the bullet again,” taking on the persona of the “bad guy” and shouldering the fine, but he also said he believed sports betting was hurting basketball.
However, Gobert also acknowledged criticism from assistant coach Micah Nori, who stepped in at the last minute when T-wolves head coach Chris Finch suddenly became ill just before the game’s tipoff. Nori pointed to the importance of playing smart ball. He called pulling a technical foul with seconds left in the game “unacceptable.”
The Minnesotan player agreed, telling The Athletic, “it wasn’t the time to react that way.” He added, “It cost my team the game. It was an immature reaction.” While Gobert felt his timing was wrong, he refused to let the issue go. “Mistakes happen. Referees make mistakes, too,” the player said. “But sometimes I think it’s more than mistakes.”
Copyright 2024, NewsInsights.org
