After Tuesday Night’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic went on an epic rant aimed at the game’s officials for the discrepancy in free throw shooting that saw the Lakers get 23 fourth-quarter free throws to Toronto’s two. As we are all aware, criticism of officials in any fashion will lead to a dent in Rajakovic’s wallet and a strong reprimand from the league office.
- 1. Robert Sarver – $10 Million
- 2. Minnesota Timberwolves – $3.5 Million
- 3. Donald Sterling – $2.5 Million
- 4. Mark Cuban – $750,000
- 5. Mark Cuban – $600,000
- T6. Denver Nuggets And New York Knicks – $500,000
- T6. Vladimir Radmanovic – $500,000
- T10. Micky Arison – $250,000
- T10. Damon Stoudamire – $250,000
- T10. Latrell Sprewell $250,000
- T10. San Antonio Spurs
- T10. Portland Trail Blazers – $250,000
- T10. Aubrey McClendon – $250,000
While the severity of Rajakovic’s potential fine is unknown, it got me thinking about some of the biggest fines in NBA history and whether or not he will make his way onto the list. Rajakovic’s rant quickly went viral across social media platforms, leading me to believe his spirited outburst would come with a hefty price tag. Even with that thought, it can’t be bigger than any of these, right?
1. Robert Sarver – $10 Million
Reason: Several issues related to a toxic work environment in Phoenix
After ESPN published a piece in November 2021 about inappropriate conduct in the workplace by Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver, the NBA launched an investigation into the claims. The investigation concluded with findings of extreme racism, sexual harassment, and overall demeaning of employees by Sarver.
The punishment for these heinous acts was a one-year suspension for Sarver and the biggest fine in NBA history in the amount of $10 million. Not only was it the biggest fine ever, but it was the most that an individual could be fined at the time under NBA rule.
Just one month after the punishment was handed down, Sarver sold his majority stake in both the Suns and the WNBA’s Mercury for nearly $ billion. It’s safe to say that paying off the biggest fine in NBA history came easy for the disgraced owner.
2. Minnesota Timberwolves – $3.5 Million
Reason: Circumventing the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement
Back in 2000, the Minnesota Timberwolves were desperate to build a contender around superstar Kevin Garnett. To accomplish this, the franchise and its leadership attempted to get around CBA rules and sign former No. 1 overall pick Joe Smith to a minimum deal with the promise of a larger and more lucrative contract at a later date.
While this deal seemed incredibly intelligent, it was also highly illegal. When the NBA found out about it, they levied the biggest fine in NBA history to that point against the Timberwolves worth $2.5 million. The Timberwolves would lose in the first round of the playoffs every season from 2000-2003 after the fine was given out before making the Western Conference Finals in 2004.
The team remains without an NBA championship and owner of one of the dumbest moves in NBA history.
3. Donald Sterling – $2.5 Million
Reason: Racist remarks caught on audio recordings leaked by TMZ Sports
Back in 2014, the NBA was rocked by scandal when a recording was leaked of Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling having a private conversation with his mistress. The conversation caught Sterling being extremely derogatory and racist toward African Americans resulting in backlash and a near walkout by Clippers players.
Soon after the recordings were released, NBA commissioner Adam Silver levied a $2.5 million fine against Sterling along with a lifetime ban from the NBA. Shortly after the punishments were handed down to Sterling, his estranged wife Shelly took control of their family trust and sold the franchise for $2 billion to current owner Steve Ballmer.
Although Sterling contested the sale in court, a ruling was handed down in favor of his wife and the deal was finalized. Sterling dropped the suit in 2016 and remains an active member of the real estate market in Los Angeles.
4. Mark Cuban – $750,000
Reason: Tanking games to keep their first-round draft pick
Mark Cuban is a name that appears on this list quite a bit and does so unapologetically as one of the richest owners in the NBA. During the 2022-23 season, the Mavericks privately decided to tank their final two games of the regular season to keep their 2023 first-round draft pick. The Mavericks took the court against the Bulls with two games left in the season, resting many key players and playing superstar Luka Doncic just one-quarter of the game.
In their season finale, the team rested even more players and fell once again. Instead of fighting for a spot in the play-in tournament, the Mavericks were able to keep their 10th overall pick in the NBA Draft. After Jason Kidd and some players publicly commented on the situation, the NBA launched an investigation into the Mavericks’ actions despite many other teams visibly doing the same thing throughout the year.
The result of the investigation was that resting star players with a playoff berth still at stake and their comments were bad for the league which resulted in a $750,000 fine.
5. Mark Cuban – $600,000
Reason: Admitting to tanking on a podcast in 2018
Right on cue Mark Cuban makes his second consecutive appearance on this list thanks to his irresponsible actions back in 2018. On an episode of Julius Erving’s podcast, Cuban made some comments that were seen as detrimental to the state of the NBA regarding telling players “losing is our best option” over a meal.
During the appearance, Cuban even referenced NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, stating that “Adam isn’t going to like this”. Silver didn’t take kindly to Cuban’s comments and a $600,000 fine was handed down due to Cuban’s admission of directing his team to lose games in exchange for a higher draft pick.
In the end, it all worked out for Dallas who wound up trading up in the draft for Slovenian star Luka Doncic so maybe it was worth it after all.
T6. Denver Nuggets And New York Knicks – $500,000
Reason: An on-court fight turned into a massive brawl at Madison Square Garden
Back in December 2006, the New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets met for what seemed like a normal regular season matchup at Madison Square Garden. In a blowout in favor of Denver, J.R Smith of the Nuggets went up for a transition layup during the fourth quarter. Smith would be fouled egregiously hard by Knicks big man Mardy Collins and sent flying to the floor.
As he got up, Smith went straight at Collins which sparked a reaction from New York’s Nate Robinson and Denver’s Carmelo Anthony. A massive brawl spread like wildfire with the melee taking a serious amount of time to clear. In the end, seven players would be suspended for a total of 47 games while each team was fined $500,000.
The penalties seem harsh now but with such a close time frame between this incident and the infamous “Malice at the Palace”, there was an example to be made by the NBA.
T6. Vladimir Radmanovic – $500,000
Reason: Concealed the real reason for his shoulder injury
Vladamir Radmanovic is a former NBA veteran who played 12 seasons with seven different teams. In 2007 while with the Los Angeles Lakers, Radmanovic decided to take a trip to Utah for leisurely activities that included skiing and snowboarding although those details did not come out until after what happened next.
The trip was a disaster for Radmanovic who separated his shoulder while participating in some snowboarding while in Utah. Radmanovic informed the team that his injury was suffered when he slipped and fell on the ice and not on the slopes like how things actually unfolded. Eventually, he came clean and was found to be in breach of his contract.
Due to the NBA’s strict rules that prohibit a player from participating in certain sports in their free time, Radmanovic was fined $500,000 and would be traded from the Lakers the following season.
T10. Micky Arison – $250,000
Reason: Released statements via Twitter during the NBA lockout period
In 2011, the NBA entered a lockout following the expiration of their CBA. During this time, negotiations and talks got heated with owners and NBA officials exchanging offers that both sides saw as disrespectful. This prompted Miami Heat owner Micky Arison to call NBA officials “greedy bastards” who made “stupid decisions”.
Although the tweets were promptly deleted, the internet is undefeated and screenshots of Arison’s visceral message went viral. The NBA decided to make an example of him and sent a message to the tune of a $250,000 fine.
T10. Damon Stoudamire – $250,000
Reason: Multiple arrests for possession of marijuana
During the 2003 season, star point guard Damon Stoudamire was at the height of his career with the Portland Trail Blazers. During the year, however, Stoudamire would be arrested not one, not two, but three times for possessing and consuming marijuana. The arrests were very concerning for the league and David Stern who worked so hard to improve the image of the NBA following its debacle during the 1970s and 1980s with drug issues.
The league decided to make an example of Stoudamire by hitting him where it hurts most, his wallet. On top of what the league handed down, the Trail Blazers themselves also suspended the point guard and encouraged him to seek help for his issues. Stoudamire would miss 23 games as a result of his actions.
T10. Latrell Sprewell $250,000
Reason: Failed to report a fractured hand he suffered during the offseason
Latrell Sprewell is no stranger to fines and punishments handed down by the NBA. After all, this is the same player who received one of the longest suspensions ever for choking his coach at practice while he was with the Warriors. In a separate incident while with the Knicks in 1998-99, Sprewell made another rash decision that cost him time on the court.
Heading into the season with the Knicks, Sprewell failed to disclose a fractured hand suffered earlier that offseason. Instead, he fought through it on the court until the pain was unbearable enough to finally report his injury. After coming clean, the Knicks were livid with Sprewell, and rightfully so. They levied a $250,000 fine on him which to this day, remains the biggest fine ever handed out by a team onto their own player.
T10. San Antonio Spurs
Reason: Resting their core of star players for no reason
For as far back as I can remember, there has always been at least a hint of load management going on in the NBA. While it is more under the microscope than ever before nowadays, one instance in 2012 became infamous for what transpired and for the way it was handled by the NBA.
During a regular season game with the Miami Heat, Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich decided to rest his entire core of star players including Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, and Danny Green. The move made headlines as it was the first very public example of the blatant resting of star players by a team in quite some time.
Then Commissioner David Stern was unamused by the move and decided to make an example of the Spurs in hopes of deterring other teams from turning to the same tactic. He fined the organization $250,000 for the act, citing it as a disservice to the NBA and its fans.
T10. Portland Trail Blazers – $250,000
Reason: Contacting undergraduate college players before they declared for the NBA Draft
The NBA and its rules for communicating with college athletes have always been strict. There is to be absolutely zero contact of any kind between prospective professional recruits who remain in college before they are eligible for the NBA Draft. Back in 1984, there was no one-and-done rule in college so players who were pro-ready remained at school longer than they do today.
This didn’t stop the Portland Trail Blazers, who held that season’s No. 2 overall pick from making ill-advised contact with Georgetown’s Patrick Ewing and University of Houston’s Hakeem Olajuwon. While this practice seems outdated and teams circumvent it all the time in the modern era, the violation was worth $250,000 back in the 1980s which is what the NBA handed down to Portland.
T10. Aubrey McClendon – $250,000
Reason: Leaking confidential information about the Seattle SuperSonics move to Oklahoma City
Even 16 years after the move that eradicated the Seattle SuperSonics amid their exodus to Oklahoma City, fans and former players remain outraged that it ever even transpired. The NBA and its fans miss the SuperSonics dearly but the move may have never been made public until it was time to drop the hammer until Aubrey McClendon, co-owner of Seattle, leaked the plan via newspaper quotes.
McClendon was one of four partners and an energy tycoon in Oklahoma City who purchased the team in July 2006. McClendon’s comments included the phrase “We didn’t buy the team to keep it in Seattle” which was enough for David Stern to lose his cool and fine the owner $250,000.
