NBA’s Rudy Gobert fined $100,000 for suggesting refs were influenced by gambling

The NBA announced Sunday that it has fined Minnesota center Rudy Gobert $100,000 after he made a gesture during a game Friday night that implied a referee was improperly influenced by gambling and making calls accordingly.

After Gobert was called for a technical foul in the last few seconds of regulation of the Timberwolves’ game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday, he rubbed his fingers together, directing the “money sign” gesture toward referee Scott Foster.

A second referee issued a technical foul, the Washington Post reported, which granted the Cavaliers a free throw that sent the game into overtime, where they ultimately won.

Gobert said in an interview after the game that he thought gambling is “hurting our game” and that “I know the betting and all that is becoming bigger and bigger, but it shouldn’t feel that way,” The Athletic reported.

According to The Associated Press, the fine of $100,000 is the highest possible fine the NBA could give under the collective bargaining agreement that took effect last year.

The NBA statement said the fine “takes into account Gobert’s past instances of conduct detrimental to the NBA with regard to publicly criticizing the officiating.”

The NBA, in the statement, said Gobert directed “an inappropriate and unprofessional gesture toward a game official” and publicly criticized the referee.

The AP reported that this was the fourth time Gobert was fined as a result of public criticism of officials.