Amar'e Stoudemire Fined $15K for Verbally Abusing Official vs. Grizzlies
Amar'e Stoudemire made sure his voice was heard following a third-quarter ejection during the Dallas Mavericks' loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday. Now, the NBA is making sure the veteran forward pays for his actions.
According to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo Sports, Stoudemire was fined $15,000 for multiple violations after being ejected for receiving two technical fouls:
Stoudemire was called for a charging foul against Tony Allen, though it did appear the Grizzlies star flopped and sold it well to the official, as you can see in the video embedded below.
After the game, Stoudemire explained why he reacted the way he did to reporters, as noted by Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News:
“It was too quick for two technical fouls,” Stoudemire said. “I’ve never received two techs that quick ever in my career. To be a 13-year veteran, I figured I’d have a little more respect than two quick technical fouls without saying a curse word.”
Rubbing salt in Stoudemire's wound is the fact Dallas lost the game by a final of 112-101. Since joining the Mavericks after being bought out by the New York Knicks, the 32-year-old is averaging 9.6 points and 3.5 rebounds per game in 12 games off the bench.
The upside is that Stoudemire wasn't suspended, so the Mavericks won't have to deal with a short bench on Sunday when they travel to Phoenix. Dallas is 44-26 and mere percentage points behind San Antonio for the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference.
