Nets guard Cam Thomas was fined $40K by the NBA for using “derogatory and disparaging language during a live television interview,” the league announced on Friday (via Twitter).
Thomas was being interviewed on TNT on Thursday night alongside new teammate Spencer Dinwiddie and was asked about comments Dinwiddie made during his press conference earlier in the week. Dinwiddie had joked that the Nets acquired him and Dorian Finney-Smith because they needed more good-looking players.
“We already had good-looking dudes, no homo,” Thomas said (Twitter video link via ClutchPoints).
Thomas took to Twitter late on Thursday night to issue an apology for his comment.
“I want to apologize for the insensitive word I used in the post-game interview,” Thomas wrote. “I was excited about the win and was being playful. I definitely didn’t intend to offend anyone, but realize that I probably did. My apologies again. Much love.”
Here’s more on the NBA’s two New York teams:
- The status of Nets general manager Sean Marks is worth watching this offseason, given how disappointing the Kyrie Irving/Kevin Durant era in Brooklyn ultimately was, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Marks has already gotten the chance to hire three head coaches, Lewis notes, and the team seems further from title contention than it has been at any time in recent years.
- Speaking to reporters after this week’s blockbuster trades, Marks acknowledged that the Irving/Durant Nets “didn’t work” and said it was “sad” to trade away a superstar like Durant. Adam Zagoria of NJ.com has the story and the quotes from the Nets’ GM.
- Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News confirms the Knicks had discussions about OG Anunoby and Zach LaVine prior to the trade deadline, but says those talks didn’t gain traction.
- According to Ian Begley of SNY.tv, the Knicks and Bulls touched base on LaVine on Thursday, several weeks after initially discussing him. During those earlier talks, there was some support within the Knicks’ organization for pursuing LaVine using a package of Derrick Rose, Evan Fournier, a young rotation player, and “significant” draft capital. New York, concerned that it might be a lateral move, opted not to meet Chicago’s asking price, but it’s possible the two teams will revisit those conversations in the summer, Begley writes.
- Although the Knicks didn’t want to give up draft capital to move off Fournier’s contract, they mulled the possibility of downgrading their draft assets in a deal involving him (ie. trading Fournier and a first-round pick in a deal for a less valuable first-rounder), according to Fred Katz of The Athletic. The veteran wing ended up staying put, as New York didn’t find a deal it liked.
Most certainly can’t say “Good-looking guys” without possibly offending “bad-looking guys”, huh?
He said “no homo”. The other part was fine.
Everybody’s daily reminder that sarcasm doesn’t convey over the internet.
I’m shocked that people even still use ‘no homo’. That was old five years ago.
Still not very offensive. Acceptance goes both ways…wait, was that offensive?
“Bad looking guys” is not who he was offending.
Commenter should have typed overly-sensitive, delusional-idiots, with too much time on their hands, so inventing insults from seemingly nothing were offended by CT?
I understood you Cam. No need to apologize.
I can tell by the responses to my comment who (and who wouldn’t ) recognize a 2-3 Zone and would still run a man offense
You gotta trade for Anunoby over LaVine. Anunoby is cheaper and plays a lot better defense. I guess LaVine is better offensively then OG though.
OG wants to be the man and his essentially on a 1 yr deal, wants that opportunity to get a max pay day. So is he a max guy? Idk is he a 25-30M guy sure. Question really is what’s giving you more value LaVine in the 40s or OG in the 30s? Like you know you’ve got an elite scorer with LaVine and you can build your team with defensive minded players around him. It’s how they structured the Bulls around Rose. You’d still need that elite scorer around OG. I think that’s harder to find that say a Royce O’Neale or DFS.
So glad the Knicks came to their senses and realized Lavine is a lateral move.
Bulls are testing the market for the summer.
You can’t be serious all the time.
DRose Fournier and a young rotational player with significant draft capital? It must have been 4-5 picks given those players.
Thomas says
I definitely didn’t intend to offend anyone, but realize that I probably did. My apologies again. Much love.
I should say something like this too.
LaVine would be a lateral move into quick sand, and it will take more than the years left on his deal to dig out of it. I’ve never had any use for pseudo stars who can’t lift their teammates. LaVine is approaching another level, that of a pseudo star who can’t be lifted by his teammates. Painful to watch, they built this team around him and they’d be much better without him.
I’ll allow it
I like LaVine. We need a guaranteed 25 a night. That’s who he is. Plus with Jalen, Julius, RJ, Mitch. That is a tough 5. When you are a certified scorer, talent. Who is 27 yrs old. I support this 100%. Makes this a good deep team (Hart). I’m glad we didn’t overpay. I like Hart. And I see a big trade coming. 25-28 yr old star is what we want. I’m good with LaVine