Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James has been fined $15,000 (Ksh 1.6M) by the NBA for an obscene gesture during a game and warned about using profane language during a media interview.
Late in the fourth quarter of the Lakers' overtime win against Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, James made a deep three-point shot and then performed a celebration colloquially known in NBA circles as the "Big Balls Dance".
As the four-time NBA Most Valuable Player, who was making his return from a one-game suspension, made his way back down the court he gestured with a hand below his groin in a cupping motion while bouncing from foot to foot.
The warning for using profane language stems from a post-game interview on Sunday when James was discussing a one-game suspension he received for hitting Detroit Pistons centre Isaiah Stewart in the face.
The 36-year-old was suspended for what the NBA called "recklessly hitting" Stewart, who had blood streaming down his face, but later said the hit was accidental. Stewart was subsequently hit with a two-game suspension without pay by the NBA for "escalating" the situation and "repeatedly and aggressively" pursuing James, who himself received a one-game ban for the first time in his 19-year NBA career for "recklessly hitting" the Pistons center in the face. This is only the second time he's been ejected from a game in his career.
The suspension kept James out of the Lakers' visit to face the New York Knicks which they went on to lose 106-100 without him. The NBA has consistently fined players between $15,000 to $25,000 for performing a routine popularized by former NBA star Sam Cassell when he was playing for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Elsewhere, Portland Trail Blazers forward Robert Covington has been fined $15,000 (Ksh 1.5M) for throwing his facemask at a game official, it was announced today by Byron Spruell, President, League Operations.
The incident, for which Covington was assessed a technical foul and ejected, occurred with 49 seconds remaining in the second quarter of the Trail Blazers' 125-121 loss to the Sacramento Kings on Nov. 24 at Golden 1 Center.