Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (27) dribbles to the basket past the Miami Heat defense of James Johnson (16) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec 2, 2018, in Miami. (AP Photo/Gaston De Cardenas)
SALT LAKE CITY – The NBA announced Tuesday it is fining Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert for complaining about officials after the team’s 102-100 loss to the Miami Heat Sunday.
In the closing seconds of the game Heat guard Dwayne Wade drove to the rim and who should meet him there but the Jazz’s paint protector. The game was knotted at 100-100. Gobert went up to contest the shot, but the refs called it for a foul.
Wade hit the two free throws which eventually earned them a victory after a last second shot rimmed out for guard Donovan Mitchell.
Gobert didn’t mince words about the officiating after the game.
“I just want it to be consistent at one point,” Gobert said. “Every night is the same (expletive). Every night has been the same (expletive). If you call something one way, you’ve got to call it the other way. Once they start doing that, I’m going to have a little more respect.
“I’m just tired of it. Every game is the same. We are a small market and we know it, but they’ve got to be more consistent. It’s not even personal. They’re doing their job. We all make mistakes. I make mistakes. Tonight we made a lot of mistakes and we could have won this game anyway, but we can’t be deciding the issue of a game just like that.”
Gobert also thought the Heat fouled Mitchell on a previous play, but did not get the benefit of the whistle.
“I sacrifice everything to do this job,” Gobert concluded. “I’d like to be respected as a basketball player.”
Don’t worry about the Jazz’s center.
Prior to tip-off against the San Antonio Spurs, head coach Quin Snyder says he might be willing to lend a hand with the fine.