Nuggets' Russell Westbrook Fined $35K for Obscene Gesture During Knicks Game

Denver Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook has been fined $35,000 for his "obscene gesture" during Monday's 145-118 loss to the New York Knicks.

Westbrook flipped off the Knicks bench in the fourth quarter of the loss.

The incident occurred after Westbrook was blocked by Knicks guard Josh Hart while driving to the basket.

Westbrook kept the ball as Knicks players attempted to call him for traveling. Moments later he made a three-point shot from the corner, then turned to gesture toward the New York bench.

He led the Nuggets with 27 points while coming off the bench in the loss.

This is not the first time Westbrook has been fined by the NBA. He has previously faced financial penalties for incidents including profanity usage during an interview in 2017, an on-court altercation with Rudy Gobert in 2018, and an incident with a Utah Jazz fan in 2019.

Westbrook is in his first season with the Nuggets after inking a two-year veteran minimum deal this summer. He is taking home $3.3 million this season with a player option for 2025-26, per Spotrac.

That pickup has so far proven to be a good one for the Nuggets as Westbrook has slotted in as the team's sixth man. He has averaged 12.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 5.9 assists through 17 games and has been able to show off his playmaking skills while passing to Nuggets star Nikola Jokić.

The Nuggets are meanwhile off to an underwhelming 10-7 start to the season. After opening November with a five-game winning streak, Denver lost to the Knicks amid a 3-4 stretch that has marred the latter half of the month.

Denver entered Monday's fourth quarter already trailing by 26 points. Westbrook responded to the deficit by recording the highest-scoring quarter of his career, scoring 24 points on 8-of-11 shooting, per StatMuse.

With one fifth of the 2024-25 season behind them, the Nuggets will hope a December resurgence can carry the team back toward the top of the West. Next up Westbrook and the Nuggets hit the road for a 10 p.m. ET road game against the Los Angeles Clippers.