Reports: NBA fines $25,000 to Brooklyn Nets, Kevin Durant & 6 others
The NBA fined the Brooklyn Nets $25,000 for failing to report injuries correctly. Before the Nets' 136-133 win over the Indiana Pacers on Sunday, the team announced its decision to rest a few players.
Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and others were listed as out. Additionally, Ben Simmons, Nic Claxton, Seth Curry, Royce O'Neale, Joe Harris and T.J. Warren all sat out.
The Brooklyn Nets have been fined $25K. https://t.co/EW9QSWOPHc
Second-year guard Cam Thomas led Brooklyn with 33 points and three rebounds while shooting 65.0%, including 100% (3-for-3) from the 3-point arc. Patty Mills also contributed big time. The Australian guard had 24 points, six rebounds and six assists while taking over the starting point guard spot.
NBA fines have been rampant as the league has been strict with teams over following the right protocols when resting players. This isn't the first time this has happened, as the San Antonio Spurs have received fines for resting their players as well.
The NBA fined the San Antonio Spurs $250,000 for its decision to send four players home prior to Thursday's game against the Miami Heat.
In 2013, the NBA fined the Spurs up to $250,000 for resting four players during a nationally televised game. According to then-commissioner David Stern, what the Spurs did was "a disservice to the fans" and that resting was "contrary to the best interests of the NBA."
"The result here is dictated by the totality of the facts in this case," Stern said. "The Spurs decided to make four of their top players unavailable for an early-season game that was the team’s only regular-season visit to Miami. The team also did this without informing the Heat, the media or the league office in a timely way.
"Under these circumstances, I have concluded that the Spurs did a disservice to the league and our fans."
The NBA fine didn't hold the Spurs back as they still continue the practice of resting players.
Also read: 5 most expensive fines in NBA history
Even with an NBA fine, the Brooklyn Nets are starting to be a better basketball team
With the leadership of Kevin Durant, the Nets have started to play better team basketball. Although they started out extremely slow at 2-5, Brooklyn (17-12), which has won four games in a row and eight of its last nine, has managed to improve on its brand of basketball this season. Additionally, the change in coaching has helped the team play better defense.
During the start of the season, the Nets were near the bottom in defense. Their defensive rating started out poorly at 119.1. After the Nets fired Steve Nash on Nov. 1, Jacque Vaughn took over and improved their defensive rating.
In their last 15 games, the Nets have climbed up to the middle of the pack in defensive rating. They are now 15th, giving them a better shot at being a title contender.
Nic Claxton/KD have been a dominant rim protection duo…
Guys shoot over 11% worse than expected at the rim against Clax (98th percentile) and 10% less than expected against KD (97th percentile). Clax & KD 2nd/7th most blocks in the NBA!
Nets 8-1 + Top 8 defense in their last 9 https://t.co/JWeS4YxLOc
Brooklyn has also improved as a shot-blocking team. They are currently at the top of the NBA in blocks per game with seven. Their defense has been the main key to their success this season. The NBA fine won't slow them down, not with how they've been playing.
Also read: Patrick Beverley cringes on fines by NBA & fans mercilessly troll him: “Feels like a push in the back doesn't it?”, “Another fine incoming lmao"