The NBA fined Rudy Gobert for his actions during a game, and Timberwolves coach Chris Finch was not having it. In a post-game interview, Finch called out the NBA for what he saw as unfair treatment of Gobert.
Many fans and analysts have since weighed in on the controversy, with some agreeing with Finch’s stance and others defending the NBA’s decision to fine Gobert. Regardless of where you stand on the issue, one thing is clear – tensions are high in the NBA right now, and it seems like everyone has something to say about it.
Finch did, however, get in a mild zinger regarding the NBA’s policy on fiscal punishment after Rudy Gobert was fined $75,000 for making a money gesture toward the referees.
The Timberwolves big man was previously dinged $100,000 for directing the same gesture toward Scott Foster back in March so he really, really loves the bit considering that he’s paid $175,000 in total to perform it.
Anyway, Finch appears to be calling out the NBA for a perceived disparity in the disciplining arts in large part because Nuggets guard Jamal Murray was not suspended and barely fined for throwing a towel and heat pack on the court during Denver’s Game 2 loss. Finch wants to see an itemized receipt on the Gobert situation.
A charitable reading here is that Finch is just standing up for one of his players, but a more rational one is that there’s far too much whining by everyone still standing in the NBA Playoffs, and it looks especially bad when the franchise’s best season in decades is rapidly imploding.
In the end, only time will tell if the NBA will listen to Finch’s criticisms and make changes to its policies. But for now, it seems like this controversy is far from over.
Flip to the next page to watch Chris Finch speak…
