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DALLAS — The NBA sent a message to Rudy Gobert on Sunday: We will not pardon your French!
The league fined Rudy Gobert $25,000 for his spontaneous colorful language during his walk-off interview with TNT on Saturday moments following Utah's comeback win over the Mavericks in Game 4.
Gobert had just made the game-winning dunk after a pass from Donovan Mitchell when he was asked about all the negative talk surrounding the Jazz — especially he and Mitchell.
His response? "(expletive) the talk."
It might make for a solid (if not profane) playoff rallying cry — it didn't take long for fans on social media to start talking about making shirts with the saying — but that didn't mean the league approved. And it's now a quite expensive walk-off interview for Gobert.
But that's what the team was expecting.
"He cursed, he's gonna get fined," Mitchell said after Game 4.
When asked if he was willing to split the fine with him, Mitchell laughed, shook his head and continued talking about Utah's game-winning play.
"It's the trust," he said, alluding to the late-game connection between the two All-Stars. "That's all it is."
Gobert is the fourth player to be fined since the play-in tournament/playoffs began.
Minnesota's Patrick Beverley was fined $30,000 for "inappropriate statements" during a media interview and on social media after the Timberwolves beat the LA Clippers in a play-in game.
Charlotte's Miles Bridges was fined $50,000 for throwing his mouthpiece into the stands during the Hornets' defeat to the Atlanta Hawks in a play-in game.
Brooklyn's Kryrie Irving was fined $50,000 for flipping off an opposing fan during Game 1 against the Boston Celtics.
