Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert was not shy about his frustration with referees during Friday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He also wasn't subtle about displaying what he perceived their motivations to be.
With 27 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Gobert picked up his sixth foul on an over-the-back call by referee Scott Foster, then assessed a technical foul for making a money gesture his hands at referee Natalie Sago.
Rudy Gobert puts up the money sign at the ref and gets a technical foul pic.twitter.com/jLJob9DjNS
— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) March 9, 2024
It was a massive call in the game with the Timberwolves up 97-96 at the time of the tech because the loose ball foul did not result in free throws. Darius Garland made the technical free throw to tie the game and eventually sent it into overtime. The Wolves fell apart from there and were outscored 16-7 in overtime in the road loss.
Gobert owned up to his mistake in comments to reporters after the game, saying he knew it cost his team the game. He also said his money sign to the official was "an immature reaction" and then he doubled down on the feelings behind the gesture.
"Everybody makes mistakes," Gobert told reporters, according to Wolves beat reporter Dane Moore. "But when it's throughout the whole game and it's over and over and over that things are weirdly officiated. Obviously my reaction — which I think is the truth I truly believe — and even if it is the truth, I think it wasn't the time for me to react that way."
When Gobert was asked to clarify what he believed to be true, he added "Referees make mistakes, too. Sometimes I think it's more than mistakes. And I'm gonna stay at that. I think everyone that's in this league knows. And I think it's got to get better. I'll bite the bullet again. I'll be the bad guy again that speaks what I think is the truth. I know the betting and all that is becoming bigger and bigger — but it shouldn't feel that way … Just let the players decide the game."
The topic of sports betting and the NBA isn't a new one. Former NBA official Tim Donaghy became infamous for a betting scheme that involved games he officiated. However, the NBA has since avoided the betting scandals that other leagues — most notably the NFL and NCAA — have seen over the past year since sports betting has become more widespread in the U.S. and integrated into the league's business.
More recently, Maverick Carter admitted to the FBI that he bet on NBA games through bookie Wayne Nix who pled guilty in 2022 to running an illegal gambling operation. While Carter is not an NBA employee or representative, his proximity to LeBron James, his friend and business partner, brought the topic uncomfortably close to the NBA.
Gobert told reporters he expects a fine for his comments, and this isn't the first time Gobert has out-right accused officials of intentionally impacting the game. Last season, Gobert was fined $25,000 for saying that referees were biased against his team.
"I try to always give the benefit of the doubt," Gobert told reporters last March, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "It's hard for me to think they're not trying to help [the Suns] win tonight. It's hard for me to think they didn't try to help the [Golden State] Warriors win the other night or the Sacramento Kings the other night. It's just so obvious."
