RUD-E SIGN
‘I lost control of my emotions,’ admits Rudy Gobert as NBA star slapped with $75,000 fine by league for playoff gesture
Minnesota's head coach Chris Finch came to Gobert's defense
MINNESOTA Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert has admitted he lost his cool when he made a money gesture at the officials during Game 4 against the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Semifinals.
The NBA slapped a $75,000 fine on the four-time defensive player of the year for his actions, the league announced in a statement on Tuesday.
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Gobert, 31, rubbed his fingers, a sign associated with money, after being called for a foul while jostling with Nuggets guard Jamal Murray for an offensive rebound in the fourth quarter on Sunday.
NBA executive VP and head of basketball operations Joe Dumars considered the gesture "inappropriate and unprofessional," one that "questions the integrity of the league and its game officials."
The fine "takes into account Gobert's history of improper conduct toward game officials," the statement added.
"Not surprised," the Timberwolves star said of the penalty ahead of Tuesday's Game 5, which the Timberwolves lost 97-112.
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The Timberwolves fell to 2-3 on the series after the Nuggets won the last three games. Game 6 is scheduled for Thursday at 8:30 pm Eastern.
The 7-foot-1 center said "there was no message" while explaining why he made the gesture.
But he also took accountability for his actions.
"Just emotions," the Frenchman said.
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"I got to control my emotions. It was a very physical game, an emotional game.
"So I got to control my emotions."
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The Timberwolves trailed 109-97 with about four minutes left on the clock when Gobert directed the sign at the officials.
The Nuggets ended up winning 115-107 to tie the series at 2-2 after losing the first two games.
Minnesota head coach Chris Finch came to the three-time All-Star's defense, saying his frustration comes from the physicality he experiences on the court which is not always called.
Finch also pointed out that Murray made a similar gesture in addition to tossing a towel and a heating pad on the floor in Game 2 of the second-round NBA playoffs series.
NBA Western Conference playoffs
First Round
Oklahoma City Thunder (1) 4-0 New Orleans Pelicans (8)
Los Angeles Clippers (4) 2-4 Dallas Mavericks (5)
Minnesota Timberwolves (3) 4-0 Phoenix Suns (6)
Denver Nuggets (2) 4-1 Los Angeles Lakers (7)
Conference Semifinals
Oklahoma City Thunder (1) vs. Dallas Mavericks (5)
Minnesota Timberwolves (3) vs. Denver Nuggets (2)
The Nuggets guard received a $100,000 fine for his conduct.
"I'd like to see the itemized receipt [for Murray]," Finch said.
"Because if it's $75,000 for the money gesture then it must be $10,000 for the towel and $15,000 for the heating pad?
"So it's just kind of a little bit of a head-scratcher to us."
It's not the first time Gobert performed the money gesture to dispute a call.
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He did it in a March loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers earlier in the 2023-24 season before suggesting that the NBA has a betting problem.
Coupled with his comments, it cost him $100,000 – the maximum fine amount an NBA player can receive for conduct or statements deemed detrimental to the league.