NBA News: D’Angelo Russell Fined $15,000 for Kicking the Ball

Does It Have Anything To Do with Russell’s Performance?

The incident happened when Golden State legend Stephen Curry attempted a last-ditch shot from three-quarters down the court to ace the game. Russell kicked the ball into the stands as soon as the buzzer sounded while the ball was still in midair.

It was supposed to be a victory party for Russell and the Lakers. He delivered a performance reminiscent to many as they witnessed yet another indisputably dominant game, countering the Warriors. He played for a solid 49 minutes and notched 28 points on 8-for-19 shooting. And he wasn’t finished yet. He grabbed three rebounds, dished out five assists, and had two steals. That also included a clutch three-pointer with 50 seconds left in double overtime to clinch the lead for Los Angeles.

Does a $15,000 Fine Sound Unfair?

The announcement was made Monday by an NBA Communications official release and by Joe Dumars, executive vice president and head of basketball operations. Although this incident elicits different reactions, some labeling it “bogus,” it is not rare. As soon as Russell kicked the ball, he probably knew a fine was coming his way.

D’Angelo Russell has been fined $15,000 for kicking the game ball into the stands following the Lakers’ 145-144 double overtime win over the Warriors, the NBA has announced.pic.twitter.com/DV0yV6oGyb

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) January 29, 2024

Kyrie Irving experienced a similar incident in 2018 when he was penalized $25,000 for the same offense. The penalty was steeper for Irving, as he did it on purpose following the Boston Celtics’ loss.

Russell is rumored to be pulling in nearly $18 million this season, so it’s unlikely that $15,000 is causing him much distress. As of now, there has yet to be any official statement illuminating the basis behind Russell’s actions of kicking the ball.