Gobert gets the biggest ne in NBA history for criticizing referees
The Frenchman will have to pay $100,000 for his ugly gesture
The NBA announced on Sunday a $100,000 Kne to Rudy Gobert (Minnesota Timberwolves) for "directing an inappropriate and unprofessional gesture to a referee and publicly criticizing the arbitration," the league detailed in a statement about a controversy that has sports betting in the background.
The moment that gave rise to this Kne happened in Friday's game in which the Wolves lost in extra time by 113-104 in Cleveland against the Cavaliers.
In the last minute of the last period and with +1 and possession for Minnesota, the referees whistled a foul on Gobert when he tried to win an offensive rebound.
The NBA announced on Sunday a $100,000 Kne to Rudy Gobert (Minnesota Timberwolves) for "directing an inappropriate and unprofessional gesture to a referee and publicly criticizing the arbitration," the league detailed in a statement about a controversy that has sports betting in the background.
The moment that gave rise to this Kne happened in Friday's game in which the Wolves lost in extra time by 113-104 in Cleveland against the Cavaliers.
In the last minute of the last period and with +1 and possession for Minnesota, the referees whistled a foul on Gobert when he tried to win an offensive rebound.
That was the sixth foul, so the French center was expelled. Before leaving the court, Gobert made the 'gesture of money' with the Kngers of both hands to a referee implying that he could be bought or have some economic interest for example with bets.
For that gesture, he also took a technique that allowed the Cavaliers to tie the match from the free throws and, later, force an extra time in which they ended up staying the victory.
Gobert acknowledged after the match, in statements collected by The Athletic portal, that it was "an immature reaction" and that that technique "cost his team the game," but he did not back down on the suspicions he launched with that gesture.
"I made mistakes (...). Mistakes happen. The referees also make mistakes. But sometimes I think it's more than mistakes. I think everyone in this league knows it. And I think it has to improve," he said.
Gobert also pointed out that he has no problem being "the bad guy" who speaks and says "the truth" and added that he would pay the Kne imposed on him.
"But I think it's damaging our sport. I know that betting and all that is becoming something bigger and bigger and I shouldn't feel that way," he argued.
The NBA detailed in its statement that in its Kne it took into account Gobert's history by criticizing the referees on other occasions in the past.