Los Angeles Lakers veteran Jared Dudley has some questions regarding NBA fines for physical altercations.
The league office handed down fines to Charlotte Hornets swingman Cody Martin and Dallas Mavericks forward James Johnson after the two scuffled Wednesday night. Johnson was fined $40,000 for sparking the incident with a headbutt. Martin was fined $25,000, and his twin brother, Caleb, was fined $20,000.
Dudley thinks the dollar amount is excessive. The 35-year-old questioned whether the financial penalty should really be that steep when no punches were thrown. As Dudley points out, it was mostly pushing and shoving, though the situation might have escalated further:
I know NBA players make a lot of money but getting fined 40k and 25k with no punches being thrown is crazy.. You can get a tech, talk crazy to a ref, cussed him out and itâs only 2500.. But pushing a player body is 40 and 25k.. Naw bruh! Itâs getting out of control https://t.co/PcrSVg8dAT
â Jared Dudley (@JaredDudley619) January 1, 2021
The Lakers forward also clarified the need for financial punishment for incidents like these, suggesting there should be a max penalty for pushing and shoving:
I agree! There needs to be a punishment just like a tech.. Iâm just disagreeing with the money amount https://t.co/4v9JJ7j1Lc
â Jared Dudley (@JaredDudley619) January 1, 2021
Agreed! Malice started cuz of fans throwing things onto the court⊠you canât stop these esculations but you can discourage them. If you throw a punch you should get suspended. Pushing should be 5/10k Max just like a tech is 2500 max.. https://t.co/h7CG7JDlPz
â Jared Dudley (@JaredDudley619) January 1, 2021
The league stated Johnson's punishment was based on a certain intimidation factor. Meanwhile, Martin was fined for a retaliatory act and making contact with an official, per theScore:
The league slapped Johnson with a $40,000 fine for âdeliberately pushing Cody Martin out of bounds, aggressively confronting him, and imitating the incident,â according to a statement. The 14-year veteran received a technical foul for his role in the confrontation and was ejected from the game.
Cody Martin also received a technical and was ejected for âpushing Johnson in retaliation and making contact with a game official,â the league's statement read. The NBA fined him $25,000.
The explanation apparently doesn't sway Dudley, who is unafraid to mix things up himself. The Lakers veteran seems to believe there is a certain line players would have to cross in order to receive such a heavy fine, though he understands there has to be some form of discipline.
We'll see if Dudley winds up facing any punishment himself for speaking out against the league.
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