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Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert again fined for flashing the ‘money’ symbol after foul call

jace frederick, pioneer press
·4 min read

DENVER — Rudy Gobert is racking up a hefty tab with the NBA league offices thanks to his repeated use of the same gesture.

Gobert was fined $75,000 on Tuesday for flashing the “money” symbol with his fingers in the fourth quarter of Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals against Denver after the Timberwolves’ center was whistled for pushing Nuggets guard Jamal Murray under the hoop so Gobert could grab an offensive rebound.

The call was fairly straightforward, but it wasn’t the first time Gobert has flashed his frustration toward officiating. He received a $100,000 fine for making the same symbol during a Wolves loss in Cleveland in March.

That action resulted in a technical foul with 27 seconds to play, a critical mistake that led to Minnesota’s demise in that game. And the foul call that prompted Gobert’s gesture also appeared to be the correct whistle in that situation.

Officials didn’t see the gesture during Sunday’s game, though television cameras easily picked up on it.

Both games featured NBA referee Scott Foster on the crew.

After the loss in Cleveland, Gobert said his “money” gesture, which insinuates officials are paid off, is “the truth.” He then went off on sports gambling.

“I think it’s hurting our game. I know the betting and all that is becoming bigger and bigger,” Gobert said, “but it shouldn’t feel that way.”

Murray also appeared to flash the money sign in Game 2 of this playoff series, the same game in which he threw a heat pack onto the floor during play. He was fined $100,000 total for all of that.

“I’d like to see the itemized receipt,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. “Because if it’s $75,000 for the money gesture, then it must be $10,000 for the towel and $15,000 for the heating pad. So it’s just kind of a little bit a head scratcher for us.”

Finch can take that complaint up with the player’s union, as $100,000 is the max fine the NBA can levy for conduct detrimental to the league under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Gobert said there was no message behind his gesture this time around. He wasn’t surprised by the fine, either.

“Just emotions. I’ve got to control my emotions,” Gobert said. “It was a very physical game, a very emotional game. So I’ve got to control my emotions.”

The entire team struggled with emotions as the results went against them in the two games at Target Center.

“Individually, collectively, whatever happens, we’ve got to focus on what we can control,” Gobert said. “And we definitely can control our emotions and control the way we react to adversity and react to anything that happens on the court.”

Finch noted Gobert likely gets frustrated sometimes because of the way he’s officiated.

“I’m pretty sure Rudy has taken more shots to the head that haven’t been called or reviewed than most people in the League. People intentionally foul him a lot just to put him on the free-throw line. There’s a lot of physicality down there. So yeah, I’m sure at some points it does get a little bit frustrating for him,” Finch said. “I’m disappointed in the gesture and the fine, for sure. Obviously, you can’t be showing up the officials like that.”

PR Award

The Timberwolves’ communications staff was named the winner of the 2023-24 Brian McIntyre Media Relations Award by the Professional Basketball Writers Association on Monday.

The award is given annually to the communications department that “best exemplifies standards of professionalism and excellence.”

Patrick Rees, Sara Perez, Aaron Freeman and Derek Ahrnsbrak were all highlighted, along with Wolves coach Chris Finch, for their ability to “consistently foster an atmosphere of mutual respect and cooperation with both local and national journalists who cover the league.”

This marks the first time the Wolves have won the award.

Finch was a finalist for another PBWA honor — the Rudy Tomjanovich Award — which honors “an NBA coach for his cooperation with the media and fans, as well as his excellence on the court.”

Golden State coach Steve Kerr won the award on Tuesday, his third time doing so.

Conference finals dates

Oklahoma City’s win over Dallas in Game 4 in the other Western Conference semifinal series means that series will go at least six games, which secures the following dates and tip times for the Western Conference Finals, though the teams and locations are still to be determined. Times are listed as Central Time Zone.

Game 1: May 22 at 7:30 p.m.

Game 2: May 24 at 7:30 p.m.

Game 3: May 26 at 7 p.m.

Game 4: May 28 at 7:30 p.m.

Game 5: May 30 at 7:30 p.m.

Game 6: June 1 at 7:30 p.m.

Game 7: June 3 at 7:30 p.m.

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