The Minnesota Timberwolves center just took a hit to his wallet.
Rudy Gobert has been fined $75,000 for making an "inappropriate and unprofessional gesture that the NBA says questions the integrity of the league and officials," according to Joe Dumars, the league's head of basketball operations.
In the fourth quarter of the Game 4 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Sunday, Gobert was whistled for a foul after he shoved Denver’s Jamal Murray in the back while fighting for an offensive rebound. Gobert responded by rubbing his fingers together in a gesture commonly associated with money. See the video here.
That is now two times in two months that Gobert has been punished for making the same gesture after a call he disagreed with.
On March 8, Gobert made the gesture after fouling out of a one-point game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was assessed a technical foul for the gesture and after the game he also implied that officials can be influenced by sports betting.
“I know the betting and all that is becoming bigger and bigger, but it shouldn’t feel that way,” Gobert said.
Gobert was fined $100,000 for the gesture and his comments after the March game.
The NBA said that the fine he was issued on Tuesday “takes into account Gobert’s history of improper conduct toward game officials.”
The Wolves are in Denver for Game 5 which is Tuesday night. The teams are tied 2-2 in the best-of-seven series.