The NBA levied a $35,000 fine on Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook on Friday for making an obscene gesture on the court in the fourth quarter of Monday’s 145-118 loss to the New York Knicks at Ball Arena.
Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook was fined $35,000 for flipping off the New York Knicks’ bench on Monday night
Westbrook appeared to flip off the New York bench after hitting a 3-pointer in the corner. The nine-time All-Star was reacting to the “travel!” cries coming from the Knicks’ bench.
At first glance, it did look like Westbrook left his feet and came back down with the ball still in his hands. However, Josh Hart did in fact make contact with the ball while it was in Westbrook’s hands.
An opponent dislodging the ball or making some form of contact allows the handler to legally reestablish control, with a live dribble, upon his descent. Of course, Knicks players were just hoping for a turnover.
Westbrook flipped off the Knicks’ bench after hitting this three. pic.twitter.com/p49HjWQb6h https://t.co/SD254RzrBG
— Brett Siegel (@BrettSiegelNBA) November 29, 2024
Westbrook had 27 points as a reserve against New York, and Nikola Jokic finished with 22 points along with a season-low seven rebounds. Denver fell to 5-4 at home this season after tying the second-best home mark last season at 33-8.
Meanwhile, Knicks guard OG Anunoby scored a career-high 40 points, and Jalen Brunson had 23 points and 17 of New York’s team record-tying 45 assists. New York’s 45 assists matched the single-game team record set against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Nov. 24, 1979.
Westbrook became the first NBA player to record 200 career triple-doubles
Furthermore, in Denver’s 122-110 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Nov. 19, Westbrook posted the 200th triple-double of his 17-year career. The 36-year-old remains the NBA’s all-time leader in career triple-doubles.
According to the NBA and ABA triple-doubles list from Basketball-Reference, Oscar Robertson (181) is second and Magic Johnson (138) is third, followed by Nikola Jokic (136), LeBron James (117), and Jason Kidd (107).
Per ESPN Stats & Information, Westbrook has recorded a triple-double with six different franchises, breaking a tie with Rajon Rondo and Mark Jackson for the most all time.
Additionally, with a triple-double in his 13th straight season, he’s tied for the second-longest streak in NBA history, trailing only Jason Kidd’s 17 straight seasons with a triple-double.
The Nuggets visit the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday.
