Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell has been fined $25K for “verbally abusing a game official,” the league announced today in a press release (Twitter link).
According to the NBA’s announcement, the incident occurred on the court immediately after the Lakers lost Game 5 to the Nuggets in Denver on Monday.
It’s a bit of added insult to injury for Russell, whose season came to an end as a result of that Monday loss. Another veteran guard, Patrick Beverley, is expected to end up in a similar boat for his actions during the final moments of the game that ended the Bucks’ season — Beverley, who repeatedly threw a basketball at Pacers fans behind the Bucks’ bench in Indiana, will almost certainly face a more significant penalty than Russell.
The $25K fine is a drop in the bucket for Russell, who was earning a $17.3MM salary this season and holds a $18.7MM player option for 2024/25. There’s an expectation that he may turn down that player option in search of a more lucrative multiyear deal.
Who’s going to pay him more??
I’ll bet he will land a 3yr/$60M deal somewhere.
Would be surprised if he gets a big raise, but if he can even get a new 1+1 deal for around the same price, that would be more favorable than opting into an expiring contract.
He’s opting in and getting traded, who has room to sign him for more and make him their starting PG? 18 mil will be crucial for the Lavine to Lakers trade
Utah, spurs, pistons
C’mon, all NBA refs deserve verbal abuse.
Just wait until Vegas lets you bet on ejections and suspensions…
Good. These pathetic refs deserve the ridicule. More players should do this so that these refs finally start feeling the pressure to do better
Entitled much. Because the Lakers never get help from the refs. Not beating Denver, you just aren’t good enough. Had a crazy free throw discrepancy last playoffs against Denver and still got beat 4-0.
This guys been the laker scapegoat to some degree but they’ll miss him if signs elsewhere.
Get off that hate bus.
Nope, I’m driving that bus. Guys want to continue talking about that mediocre team,I’ll continue to kick them while they’re down. Window closed, enjoy.