Rudy Gobert Fined $75K for Making Money Gesture at NBA Refs in Wolves' G4 vs. Nuggets

Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert made a money gesture toward the referees in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Denver Nuggets, and now he's paying for it.

The NBA announced on Tuesday that Gobert has been fined $75,000 for "making an inappropriate and unprofessional gesture that questions the integrity of the league and its game officials."

Gobert made the gesture toward referee Scott Foster after picking up his fifth foul in the fourth quarter of Sunday night's game while the Timberwolves trailed by 12 points.

This isn't the first time that he found himself at odds with Foster.

Gobert made the same money gesture toward Foster during a regular-season game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in March. He was called for a technical foul by referee Natalie Sago and subsequently received a $100,000 fine from the NBA. Despite the penalties, he didn't hold back his criticism of the referees and insinuated that gambling was a part of the issue.

"I'll bite the bullet again," Gobert said after the Cavaliers game. "I'll be the bad guy. I'll take the fine, but I think it's hurting our game. I know the betting and all that is becoming bigger and bigger, but it shouldn't feel that way."

Despite tying an NBA record by winning his fourth NBA Defensive Player of the Year this season, Gobert hasn't been as effective as he usually is during the second-round series against the Nuggets. The Timberwolves' best defensive performance in the series came in a Game 2 victory when Gobert missed the game to be there for the birth of his son. Minnesota lost the next two games with Gobert back in the lineup, tying the series 2-2.

Gobert will try to get back to dominating on the defensive end when the Timberwolves take on the Nuggets in Game 5 on Tuesday night.