The NBA announced Friday it has fined Mavericks owner Mark Cuban $75,000 for his comments regarding the officiating during Dallas' loss to the Thunder earlier this week. Cuban had gone on another tirade about "accountability" and how "nothing ever changes" with bad calls. He wasn't very specific in what he was upset about outside of a 3-seconds call on Yi Jianlian. Dallas routinely sends video evidence of what the team feels are questionable calls.
And of course, due to the public nature of Cuban's comments, the fine hammer came down Friday. Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle was also fined $35,000. Carlisle had also actually punted the ball into the stands, kind of on accident, in fourth quarter and apologized afterwards. Cuban's is pretty routine, and Carlisle's may be procedural, but seems a bit excessive. Video doesn't exactly show Carlisle going Shane Lechler on the ball or anything.
Carlisle took responsibility for his actions on Friday, according to the Associated Press.
"I think it's fair. It's irresponsible for a ball to go in the stands. You're subject to a fine," Carlisle said during the shootaround before Friday night's game against Indiana. "So I accept it and regret that the situation happened even though it was accidental."Sometime someone should do a total count on how much money the Mavericks have contributed to charity through NBA fines. The number must be stunning. The Mavericks are exceptionally active in charity works anyway, so you have to think they're one of the most active donors of charity works in the country over the past decade at this point.
Right after the game against the Thunder, Carlisle said the "incident where the ball got kicked into the stands, that can't happen."
