Anger at the referee: NBA superstar has to pay a lot for the gesture

Anger about referees
NBA superstar has to pay a lot for gesture

03/24/2023, 11:15 p.m

A small gesture, but a big fine: Because Luka Doncic rubs his fingers and thus accuses the referee of pushing for money, the NBA punishes him. After the Dallas Mavericks game against the Golden State Warriors, this is not the last excitement.

Dallas Mavericks basketball star Luka Doncic has been fined $35,000 by the NBA. The league sanctioned a gesture that the 24-year-old Slovenian made towards a referee in the 125-127 loss to the Golden State Warriors.

Because an alleged foul on him in a layup shortly before the end of the game on Wednesday was not called, Doncic rubbed his fingers together – the sign for money. The referees did not charge him with a technical foul, but the NBA now spoke of an “inappropriate and unprofessional gesture towards an official”.

Doncic often complains about decisions. Should he soon get his 16th technical foul this season, he would be suspended for one game. However, the count is not carried over into the playoffs.

Dallas owner Marc Cuban had announced a protest against the rating after the defeat and had severely criticized the referees. In one scene, the Mavericks expected possession after a break and formed under the Golden State Warriors’ basket. Instead, the Warriors received the ball and scored an easy shot with no resistance.

“The worst non-call mistake in the history of the NBA,” Cuban had scolded on Twitter: “During the time-out, the referees changed their decision and didn’t tell us. They saw how we lined up and then just did it Ball given to the Warriors.” Those two points ended up separating Golden State and Dallas. Hence the protest, the chances of success are poor. This has only happened six times in the NBA, most recently in 2007.