Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert and head coach Chris Finch were fined on Friday for the comments they made criticizing the officiating after Wednesday’s loss to Phoenix, the NBA announced in a press release (Twitter link).
Gobert’s fine was $25K, while Finch was docked $15K.
As we previously relayed, Gobert was particularly upset about the moving screens he was called for on Wednesday and throughout the season. He suggested that Minnesota doesn’t get a fair whistle because the Timberwolves aren’t a big market team.
“I’ve been in this league for 10 years and I try to always give the benefit of the doubt, but it’s hard for me to think they’re not trying to help (the Suns) win tonight,” Gobert said on Wednesday. “It’s hard for me to think they didn’t try to help the Warriors win the other night or Sacramento Kings the other night. It’s just so obvious. As a basketball player that’s been in this league for so long, it’s disrespectful.”
Finch wasn’t as direct in his criticism of the officiating, but he did take a page out of Suns head coach Monty Williams‘ book by griping about the free throw disparity between the Wolves and Phoenix on Wednesday. Finch suggested that Williams’ recent remarks along the same lines must have had a positive effect.
“It works because tonight they went to the line 27 times and we went to the line 12 times. Sitting up here and talking about it or whatever, must have worked for them,” Finch said, per Chris Hine of The Star Tribune. “Because this is a team that doesn’t historically draw fouls at the rate they did.”
Williams ($20K) and
Fred VanVleet ($30K) are among those who have also been fined recently for their criticisms of the referees.
