An NBA insider has revealed that the league has fined Jamal Murray $100,000 for his meltdown in a Game 2 loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Denver Nuggets guard had at least three questionable actions during the game.
The first was throwing the towel at the referee. The second was throwing a heat pack at another game official. The third was making a money gesture, suggesting the officials were paid up in favor of their opponent.
Only the heat pack act was punished.
Read more: Knicks vs Pacers - NBA Referees Make Stunning Admission Over Wrong Call That Affected the Game
"The NBA is fining Nuggets star Jamal Murray for substantial amount after throwing heat pad and towel on court toward official Monday night. No suspension," Shams Charania wrote in X.
For reference, Timberwolves' Rudy Gobert was fined $100,000 for a similar offense. The league said he was "directing an inappropriate and unprofessional gesture toward a game official and publicly criticizing the officiating."
According to league rules, that act merits a technical foul if caught in real-time. His actions fall on Section 5 of Rule No. 12 by the league, where unsportsmanlike acts were defined as:
1. Disrespectfully addressing an official
2. Physically contacting an official
3. Overt actions indicating resentment to a call or no-call
4. Use of profanity
Footage shows that Murray intentionally tried to hit the referee with the heat pack and the towel he threw.
The heat pack incident was especially damning since it could cause serious injury to players on the court.
This is why Wolves coach Chris Finch called Murray's act dangerous and inexcusable.
The league could review the footage and hand out a punishment they deem appropriate.
However, the league is soft on Murray again. He should have been suspended for Game 3.
A Jamal Murray suspension is justified
It should be recognized first that Murray is the Nuggets' second-best player next to two-time MVP Nikola Jokic.
However, the tantrum he threw on the court in Game 2 cannot be ignored. What he did was unhinged.
He put somebody's future on the line.
If one is going to be more technical about the incident, the act warrants a suspension. The rulebook states that a player could get suspended for:
"The deliberate act of throwing the ball or any object at an official by a player, coach, trainer or other team bench person is a technical foul and violators are subject to ejection from the game. Any player who throws or kicks the ball directly into the stands with force, regardless of the reason or where it lands, will be assessed a technical foul and ejected."
Not suspending a player who committed such a dangerous act sets a bad precedent. Some players have been suspended in the playoffs for lesser offenses.
It is easy to understand where the league is coming from. Not having Murray on the Nuggets side lowers the quality of the series.
The Nuggets have their backs against the wall already; without him, they might have become unwatchable.
However, Murray acted like he was entitled to a call all night, taking actions like those mentioned above.
The league should control the players before things get out of hand.
Related article: NBA Referee Clarifies What They Would've Done if They Saw Jamal Murray Heat Pack Throwing Incident
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