NBA star fined Sh2.5 million for swearing at heckler
Kevin Durant (left) of the Golden State Warriors controls the ball against Harrison Barnes of the Dallas Mavericks in Dallas, Texas on November 17, 2018. Durant was fined $25,000 (Sh2.5 million) by the NBA on November 20, 2018, for an obscenity-laced response to a heckler during a loss November 17 at Dallas. PHOTO | TOM PENNINGTON |
What you need to know:
- The violation, technically, for directing inappropriate language toward a fan, took place with 61 seconds remaining in the first quarter of the Mavericks' 112-109 victory over the reigning NBA champions.
NEW YORK
Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant was fined $25,000 (Sh2.5 million) by the NBA on Tuesday for an obscenity-laced response to a heckler during a loss Saturday at Dallas.
The violation, technically, for directing inappropriate language toward a fan, took place with 61 seconds remaining in the first quarter of the Mavericks' 112-109 victory over the reigning NBA champions.
A cell phone video of the confrontation obtained by TMZ Sports showed Durant walking to the spectator's courtside seat behind a basket and say: "Watch the ... game and shut the ... up."
The move came after Durant had been taunted with the word "cupcake" from the start of the contest.
The term has been thrown at Durant as an insult since he departed Oklahoma City for Golden State in 2016 and an ex-Thunder teammate posted on social media a photo of cupcakes.
Durant won his first two NBA titles with the Warriors in the past two seasons, combining with fellow stars Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson to form a powerful lineup.
But the Warriors have struggled so far this season, losing three games in a row to fall to 12-6, out of the Western Conference lead behind Memphis, Portland and the Los Angeles Clippers.
