How ironic is this — Luka Doncic just got hit with a $35k fine on Friday … after the NBA superstar made a money gesture toward a referee during the controversial ending of the Warriors vs. Mavericks game.
ICYMI … the Mavericks hooper made the gesture after he missed a contested layup with 1.7 seconds left in the game at the American Airlines Center on Wednesday — when he felt he was fouled, but didn’t get a call.
Of course, Doncic’s signal was clearly an expression of frustration — after all, the Warriors got two free points in the third quarter after a questionable officiating decision … and the Mavs ended up losing, 127-125.
Regardless of how the Mavs feel about the officiating that night, the league penalized the four-time All-Star minutes ago, saying the hand signal was an “inappropriate and unprofessional gesture.”
The Dallas Mavericks plan to file a formal protest of their 127-125 loss to the Warriors to the NBA.
The focus of their protest would be about the referee mistake that led to a wide open dunk for Golden State out of a timeout, per @espn_macmahon.
pic.twitter.com/RSmUaOQeR5— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) March 23, 2023
@ClutchPointsApp
Doncic wasn’t the only Maverick pissed off at the refs … team owner Mark Cuban is protesting the loss, saying the officiating potentially cost them that game.
“Worst officiating non-call mistake possibly in the history of the NBA.”
So yeah … Cuban can expect a fine to come his way, too.