NBA Star Rudy Gobert Fined $100,000 for Money Gesture Towards Referee

Rudy Gobert, the three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, was fined $100,000. This was after he seemed to make a money gesture towards an official during the Minnesota Timberwolves’ 113-104 overtime loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday.

The NBA announced the fine in an official release on Sunday. They stated that the Timberwolves center was fined for “directing an inappropriate and unprofessional gesture toward a game official, and publicly criticizing the officiating.”

The statement also mentioned that Gobert's fine was influenced by his previous behavior of criticizing NBA officials publicly.

CNN has contacted Gobert's representatives to get their comment on the matter.

Gobert was ejected from the game against the Cavaliers after getting his sixth foul, with less than 30 seconds left in the game and the T-Wolves leading by one point.

After being called for the offensive foul, Gobert and his teammates argued against the decision. On the broadcast, Gobert was seen rubbing his thumbs and forefingers together, a gesture commonly linked to money.

Referee Scott Foster missed Rudy Gobert's gesture, but fellow official Natalie Sago saw it and gave him a technical foul. This decision ended up being costly for Minnesota.

As a result of the technical foul, Cleveland's Darius Garland made the free throw to tie the game at 97, sending it into overtime. The Cavaliers ultimately won the game in overtime by outscoring the Timberwolves by nine points, securing a 113-104 victory.

Gobert gestures towards the official after fouling out.

Gobert gestures towards the official after fouling out.

After the game, Gobert admitted that he reacted poorly to fouling out, calling his behavior "immature" and acknowledging that it hurt his team's chances of winning. He understood that he would likely face a fine for his actions and was ready to face the consequences. Additionally, he speculated - without proof - that sports betting may be impacting the way NBA games are officiated.

"I'll take the hit once more," he mentioned, according to ESPN. "I'll play the villain. I'll accept the penalty, but I believe it's damaging our sport. I understand that gambling is growing in popularity, but it shouldn't be like this.

"It's not just a single bad call. We all mess up at times, but when it happens repeatedly, it becomes really frustrating."

CNN has contacted the NBA and the National Basketball Referees Association to get their response regarding Gobert's remarks about betting.

Gobert's performance included seven points, 17 rebounds, and two blocks in a total of 37 minutes of playing time.

Spotrac reports that Rudy Gobert has been fined by the NBA for the fourth time in his career for criticizing the officials. This time, he was fined $100k, a big increase from his previous $25,000 fine in 2023.

Minnesota assistant coach Micah Nori, stepping in for head coach Chris Finch, expressed his disapproval of the gesture and criticized the timing of the technical foul call.

“That’s not who Rudy is, but you’ve got to be smart … He made a visual that was [an] automatic [technical],” he said.

CNN’s Ben Morse contributed to reporting.

Editor's P/S:

The NBA's decision to fine Rudy Gobert $100,000 for his gesture towards an official is a clear indication of the league's stance