Fines are pretty much a normal occurrence in the world of professional basketball. In the NBA, the world’s biggest and most watched basketball league, hearing teams and players getting penalized for untoward behavior and crazy antics, even if not basketball related, are not at all surprising. But some fines do burst through the proverbial ceiling because of the outrageous cost and for more outrageous reasons. Here are the 10 biggest fines tn the NBA history.
#10 San Antonio Spurs – $250,000
Reason: Did not field its star players
In a regular season game back in 2012 versus the Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich decided to go with his second unit and did not bring his elite players Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, and Danny Green. Then NBA Commissioner David Stern was not amused and deemed the act as “a disservice to the league and fans” and decided to make the Spurs pay to the tune of a quarter of a million dollars.
Resting star players is a common practice in the NBA, which makes the decision, as much as the penalty itself, quite controversial.
#9 Latrell Sprewell (NYK) – $250,000
Reason: Failed to report a fractured hand
Energetic and extremely talented, Latrell Sprewell is also known for being a volatile character. Back when he was still pro playing for the New York Knicks, Sprewell decided to keep his fractured hand a secret, but it would soon cause him to be out of commission for six weeks. Sprewell said he obtained the injury during the offseason. Enraged by the deception, the New York Knicks placed a $250,000 fine on Sprewell, which remains the biggest fine placed by a team on its player.
#8 Damon Stoudamire (POR) – $250,000
Reason: Possession of drugs and illegal substances
Being the star point guard for the Portland Trailblazers, Damon Stoudamire was a figure everyone looked up to. But after getting arrested for marijuana possession three times in 2003, the NBA management had to do something. And nobody argued the $250,000 fine hurled by the league on Stoudamire. On top of that, the Portland organization also suspended its star player and encouraged him to get professional help.
#7 Aubrey McClendon (SEA) – $250,000
Reason: Leaking confidential franchise decisions
Back in 2007, Seattle Supersonics co-owner Aubrey McClendon leaked the plan to move the Supersonics franchise from Seattle to Oklahoma. Fans were outraged by the proposed move but no one was enraged more than NBA commissioner David Stern, who was more than happy to slap McClendon a huge $250,000 penalty for disclosing crucial information.
#6 Portland Trailblazers – $250,000
Reason: Communicating with college undergraduates
The NBA is very strict with its rule of non-communication between teams and college players. This policy is strictly enforced but many teams have been getting around it even at this day. It seems like the $250,000 fine placed by the NBA on the Portland Trailblazers back in 1984 when the team got in touch with Hakeem Olajuwon and Patrick Ewing, who at the time (1984) were undergrads from Georgetown didn’t help much.
#5 Micky Arison (MIA) – $250,000
Reason: Tweeting unofficial statements during lockout period
Miami Heat owner Micky Arison learned that tweeting is a bad thing. Especially when you publicly call the NBA management a bunch of “greedy bastards” who made “stupid decisions.” This all transpired during the 2011 NBA lockout. The league officials reminded Arison that team owners and players have limitations as to what they can and they can’t say in public – by slapping him with an expensive $250,000 penalty.
#4 Vladimir Radmanović (LAL) – $500,000
Reason: Snowboarding
Probably the most ridiculous reason for getting a $500,000 fine, but back in 2007, LA Lakers forward Vladimir Radmanovic was actually slapped with such a penalty for snowboarding. Doing some other physical activity would have been fine, but the NBA has this rule in place that snowboarding or any other extreme sports are “no go zones” for their players. The league officials argued that players should not enter into any physical activities that will put their health at a significant risk.
#3 New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets – $500,000
Reason: Brawling
On December 16, 2006, the visiting Denver Nuggets were on the verge of humiliating the New York Knicks at their home court when Nuggets’ JR Smith was fouled hard by Mardy Collins. Smith fell to the ground and soon got up and exchanged heated words with Collins. Nate Robinson joined the fray, who was then tackled by Smith. Carnage ensued. The result? All players who were at the court were suspended, each team were fined $500,000, and seven players got suspended for a total of 47 games
#2 Mark Cuban (DAL) – $500,000
Reason: Over criticism of referee officiating
Mark Cuban may not be the champion of fair play, but when something’s wrong with the referees, the courtside officials, and even the top honcho David Stern, he is not the one who shies away from dropping multiple f-bombs just to get the message across. And for his unadulterated approach of venting his thoughts, Cuban has been fined $250,000 on two separate occasions. The first one was in after his 2001, after Dallas Mavericks suffered a 107-104 loss to the Pistons. The second one came in 2006 after Game 5 of the NBA Finals due to his several acts of misconduct against officials.
#1 Minnesota Timberwolves – $3.5 million
Reason: Tweaking the salary cap
The salary cap was put into place so that all teams can have a fair field of play when it comes to acquiring star players. This prevents the more financially capable organizations to monopolize talented players and gives the lesser teams the opportunity to fill their roster with elite ballers. But in 2000, the Minnesota Timberwolves were found to engage in under the table deals with Joe Smith. Smith agreed to accept a contract deemed below his market value with the promise of a multi-million agreement in the future. This move allowed Minnesota to acquire more talented players to their fold. The NBA discovered this and slapped the Wolves with the most expensive fine in NBA history.
What role does player safety play in determining fines in the NBA?
Player safety is a crucial concern for the NBA, and many fines are imposed to protect athletes from engaging in risky behaviors or actions that could jeopardize their health and careers. Here are key considerations related to player safety and fines:
- Participation in Extreme Sports: The NBA prohibits players from participating in extreme sports such as snowboarding or skydiving, which can lead to significant fines. These activities carry a high risk of injury, which could affect a player’s ability to perform during the season, as seen in Vladimir Radmanović’s $500,000 fine for snowboarding.
- On-Court Fights and Brawls: Physical altercations during games are taken seriously to prevent injuries to players. Fines and suspensions are imposed not only to maintain discipline but also to protect players from potential harm, like the $500,000 fine on the New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets for their 2006 brawl.
- Failure to Report Injuries: Players are expected to report injuries promptly to prevent worsening conditions. Fines such as Latrell Sprewell’s $250,000 penalty for concealing a fractured hand highlight the importance of transparency for player safety and team management.
By enforcing strict fines, the NBA ensures that player health remains a top priority, maintaining the integrity and safety of the game.
Key Insights
- Common Reasons for Fines: The NBA frequently issues fines for various reasons, including violating league policies, improper conduct, and unauthorized activities by players and team management.
- Player Conduct: Fines are often related to player conduct both on and off the court, such as failing to report injuries, drug possession, and participation in risky activities like snowboarding.
- Management Actions: Team owners and management are also subject to fines for actions like making unauthorized public statements, leaking confidential information, and violating league communication policies.
- Historic Fines: The largest fine in NBA history was $3.5 million, imposed on the Minnesota Timberwolves for salary cap violations involving an under-the-table agreement with Joe Smith.
- Impact of Violations: Fines can be substantial and serve as a deterrent against actions that undermine the integrity of the league, disrupt fair competition, or compromise player safety.
- League’s Stance on Discipline: The NBA maintains strict enforcement of its rules and regulations, penalizing both teams and individuals to ensure adherence to league standards.
FAQ
- Why was the San Antonio Spurs fined $250,000 in 2012? The San Antonio Spurs were fined $250,000 for not fielding their star players in a regular season game against the Miami Heat. Coach Gregg Popovich decided to rest Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, and Danny Green, which NBA Commissioner David Stern deemed a disservice to the league and fans.
- What led to Latrell Sprewell’s $250,000 fine? Latrell Sprewell was fined $250,000 by the New York Knicks for failing to report a fractured hand. He kept the injury a secret, which caused him to miss six weeks of play. The team penalized him for the deception, marking the largest fine imposed by a team on its player.
- Why did Damon Stoudamire receive a $250,000 fine? Damon Stoudamire was fined $250,000 for possession of drugs and illegal substances. The fine came after his third arrest for marijuana possession in 2003. The NBA, along with the Portland Trailblazers, took disciplinary action and encouraged him to seek professional help.
- What was the reason for the $250,000 fine on Seattle Supersonics co-owner Aubrey McClendon? Aubrey McClendon was fined $250,000 for leaking confidential franchise decisions, specifically the plan to move the Supersonics from Seattle to Oklahoma. This disclosure outraged fans and prompted NBA Commissioner David Stern to impose the fine.
- Why were the Portland Trailblazers fined $250,000 in 1984? The Portland Trailblazers were fined $250,000 for communicating with college undergraduates, specifically Hakeem Olajuwon and Patrick Ewing. The NBA has strict rules against teams contacting college players, and the fine was a result of violating this policy.
- What did Micky Arison do to incur a $250,000 fine? Miami Heat owner Micky Arison was fined $250,000 for tweeting unofficial statements during the 2011 NBA lockout. He called NBA management “greedy bastards” and criticized their decisions, violating the league’s restrictions on public statements by team owners and players.
- How did Vladimir Radmanović earn a $500,000 fine for snowboarding? Vladimir Radmanović was fined $500,000 by the LA Lakers for snowboarding, which is prohibited by the NBA due to the significant risk it poses to player health. The league has strict rules against players participating in extreme sports.
- What incident led to the $500,000 fine for the New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets? The New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets were each fined $500,000 for a brawl that erupted during a game on December 16, 2006. The fight involved multiple players, resulting in suspensions and substantial fines for both teams.
- Why was Mark Cuban fined $500,000 by the NBA? Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks, was fined $500,000 for his harsh criticism of referee officiating and misconduct towards officials. He received this fine on two separate occasions: once in 2001 after a loss to the Pistons and again in 2006 after Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
- What caused the Minnesota Timberwolves to receive the largest fine in NBA history? The Minnesota Timberwolves were fined $3.5 million for violating the NBA’s salary cap rules. The team made an under-the-table agreement with Joe Smith, allowing him to accept a below-market contract in exchange for a future multi-million dollar deal. This allowed the Timberwolves to acquire additional talented players, leading to the hefty fine when discovered by the NBA.
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