Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert has found himself in hot water once again with the NBA, as he was fined $75,000 for an “inappropriate and unprofessional gesture” towards game officials during Game 4 of their Western Conference semifinal series against the Denver Nuggets.
The incident occurred in the fourth quarter when Gobert was called for an offensive foul and reacted by rubbing both thumbs together with his fingers in a money-counting gesture. This behavior was deemed disrespectful and lacking in integrity by the league, leading to the hefty fine.
This is not the first time Gobert has been penalized for such actions. Just two months ago, he was fined $100,000 for a similar gesture during a regular season game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. On that occasion, Gobert expressed concerns about the impact of gambling on the game and implied that officials may be influenced by it.
Despite the fine, Timberwolves coach Chris Finch empathized with Gobert’s frustrations with officiating, especially as a big man in the league. He referenced the recent fine imposed on Nuggets point guard Jamal Murray for a similar gesture and questioned the inconsistency in the league’s penalties.
As the Timberwolves prepared for Game 5 against the Nuggets, the focus shifted from the controversy to the on-court action. Gobert, who recently won Defensive Player of the Year, will need to maintain his composure and focus on the game to help his team advance in the playoffs.