The National Basketball Association has fined Golden State Warriors player Draymond Green $50,000. The league announced on Wednesday that the penalty was for an “inappropriate comment” that allegedly questioned the integrity of game officials. The incident took place late in the Warriors` recent loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves during Game 3 of their second-round playoff series.
Green fouled out of Game 3 with 4:38 remaining on the clock, at which point the Warriors were trailing by a narrow two points. Without him on the court, and with Steph Curry also sidelined since Game 1 due to a hamstring injury, the Warriors struggled significantly in the closing minutes. Although they were down by as many as nine points earlier, the final score saw them lose by only five points, ending 102-97.
Why is this particular five-point difference noteworthy?
It becomes relevant because with just 15 seconds left in the game, the Warriors called a timeout while facing an eight-point deficit. At that late stage, the outcome of the final possession was essentially meaningless in terms of determining the winner of the game. However, for individuals who had placed bets on the game, that final play was crucial. The pre-game point spread for that contest was Timberwolves -5.5. This meant that bettors who backed the Timberwolves would win if Minnesota won by six points or more, while those who bet on the Warriors would win if Golden State lost by five points or fewer (or won outright).
This context directly relates to Green`s fine. As play was about to resume after the timeout, the television broadcast showed Green speaking on the sidelines. He appeared to say to an official, “Five and a half, I know what y`all doing.” This comment was widely interpreted as a direct reference to the point spread and could easily be construed as Green suggesting that the officials were manipulating the game`s outcome, potentially for reasons connected to gambling.
Adding to the situation, Jonathan Kuminga subsequently made a three-pointer with only 5.2 seconds remaining, reducing the deficit to five points. This play ensured that the Warriors successfully “covered” the point spread, a turn of events that likely did not help Green`s position regarding his controversial comment.
This situation is not an isolated incident, as other players have been fined under similar circumstances in the past. Last season, Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert was fined $100,000. This penalty was imposed for a combination of making a money-counting gesture with his fingers after fouling out of a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers and for comments he made to the media afterward.
Gobert addressed his fine publicly, stating, “I`ll bite the bullet again. I`ll be the bad guy. I`ll take the fine, but I think it`s hurting our game… it shouldn`t feel that way.”
Gobert later received another fine of $75,000 for making a similar money gesture after he was called for an offensive foul in the Timberwolves` Game 4 loss to the Denver Nuggets in their second-round playoff series.
The league, as expected, does not take accusations or implications that question the integrity or impartiality of its game officials lightly.
Currently, Green and the Warriors are trailing Gobert and the Timberwolves 3-1 in their series and face a critical must-win Game 5 in Minneapolis scheduled for Wednesday night.
Jasper Hawthorne