Do NBA players get fined for cussing?
Asked by: Dr. Edyth Wolff IV | Last update: February 26, 2026Score: 4.8/5 (48 votes)
Yes, NBA players absolutely get fined for cussing, especially for using profanity in media interviews, on social media, or directed at fans/officials, with fines often ranging from thousands to tens of thousands of dollars, and sometimes even $100,000 or more depending on the context and player history, as seen with players like Anthony Edwards and Jalen Green.
Do NBA players get fined for swearing?
A study by Vegas Insider compiled fines issued to NBA players for swearing, offensive language, and inappropriate comments since 2014. At the top of the list is Anthony Edwards, who has been fined a total of $225,000. He is followed closely by Joel Embiid with $210,000 in fines for similar offenses.
Who got fined for profanity in the NBA?
NBA fines Suns' Jalen Green $25,000 for using profanity while playfully interrupting live on-court interview. The NBA fined Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green $25,000 for using profanity while playfully interrupting a live on-court interview after a 115-101 road win over the Washington Wizards on Monday night.
Why can't you wear 69 in the NBA?
The NBA doesn't have an official rule banning the number 69, but it's unofficially prohibited due to its explicit sexual connotations, leading the league to deny players like Dennis Rodman when they requested it, forcing them to choose numbers like 70 instead. While numbers 00-99 are generally allowed, #69 is considered inappropriate for the league's image, preventing its use by players.
Why did Steph Curry get fined?
NEW YORK — Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry has been fined $25,000 for throwing his mouthpiece into the spectator stands, it was announced today by Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations.
NBA Players Swearing On Live T.V
What did Kobe think of Steph Curry?
Kobe Bryant deeply respected Steph Curry, recognizing his revolutionary impact and deadly effectiveness stemming from his unique calmness and poise combined with elite skills, viewing him as the future of the game, even telling friends Curry was the player to follow after he retired. While acknowledging Curry's genius, Kobe also famously believed he found a defensive secret to limit Curry by guarding him on his side, though accounts varied.
Why can't you wear 7 in basketball?
Number 7 (and 6, 8, 9) was once illegal in NCAA/High School basketball because officials used hand signals based on fingers (0-5), but this rule was changed around 2023-2024, allowing players to wear any number from 0 to 99, including 7, to match NBA flexibility and modern signaling. The old rule was for clarity, but with technology, the ban on single digits 6, 7, 8, and 9 was lifted.
What is the rarest number in the NBA?
The rarest NBA jersey numbers are those that have never been worn, with recent lists identifying numbers like 58, 59, 64, 69, 74, 75, 78, 79, 80, 82, 87, and 97 as potential candidates, though this changes as new players take the court, with some higher numbers (like 97 by Brodric Thomas) being used more recently, making truly unused numbers increasingly scarce. Numbers like 0, 00, and double digits (like 03, 07, 09) were once rare but have seen more use, while numbers with digits over 5 were historically avoided due to referee signaling rules, though those restrictions have largely disappeared.
Which NBA player spent 27 months in jail?
The NBA player who served a 27-month prison sentence, plus an additional year, for aggravated assault after accidentally shooting his limousine driver was former All-Star Jayson Williams, who eventually served time in New Jersey and Rikers Island, getting released in 2012 after pleading guilty to aggravated assault and a DWI charge related to separate incidents.
Who got permanently banned from the NBA?
Most notably, former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling was permanently banned from the NBA for a leaked conversation condemning black people from coming to his games, primarily former Los Angeles Lakers player Magic Johnson.
Are NBA refs punished for bad calls?
Yes, NBA referees are disciplined for poor performance, but the league keeps the specific punishments private, focusing on grading their calls and impacting playoff assignments rather than public fines or suspensions, with their performance affecting future game assignments and postseason opportunities. While players and coaches face public penalties for criticizing officials, the refs' accountability is handled internally through evaluations and affecting their career progression, according to Commissioner Adam Silver and the NBA Referees Association, though some fans and analysts call for more public accountability like fines or suspensions, as seen in discussions on Reddit.
Is it illegal for NBA players to smoke?
NBA players are no longer prohibited from using cannabis. The league and its union, the National Basketball Players Association, signed a new collective bargaining agreement last month that removes the drug from its list of banned substances.
Can you get a red card for swearing?
Law 12 (Fouls and misconduct) instructs the referees as to how they should react when a player, substitute or substituted player expresses a swear word. The player should be issued a red card.
Why can't you wear 69 in the NBA?
You can't wear #69 in the NBA because the league has unofficially banned it due to its explicit sexual connotation, which clashes with the league's desire to remain family-friendly, a rule famously encountered by Dennis Rodman when he was denied the number in 2000 and wore #70 instead. While the official rules allow numbers up to 99, #69 is seen as inappropriate, though some believe influential players like LeBron James could challenge this.
Why did Kobe wear No. 8?
Kobe Bryant wore #8 because it was derived from his Adidas ABCD camp number, 143 (1+4+3=8), and also a number he used in Italy as a kid, representing his early, explosive, "plant your flag" phase with the Lakers, winning three titles before switching to #24 for a more mature, leadership-focused "Mamba" era. He couldn't wear #33 (his high school number) because it was retired for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and #24 was initially unavailable, according to posts on Quora.
Has any NBA player ever worn 69?
No, no NBA player has ever officially worn the number 69 in a regular season game, though Dennis Rodman famously tried in 2000 but was blocked by then-Commissioner David Stern due to its "sexually suggestive connotations," leading Rodman to wear #70 instead. The league unofficially prohibits it, making it the NBA's "forbidden number," despite no official rule explicitly banning it.
Why is 69 retired in the NBA?
In January 2019, #69 was retired in honour of Nicky Hayden, who died in a cycling accident in May 2017. In 2021 number 50 was retired in honour of Jason Dupasquier who was killed after an accident at the Mugello Circuit.
What is the highest fine in NBA history?
The largest team fine in NBA history is from 2000, to the Minnesota Timberwolves for $3.5 million. They were caught trying to secretly go over the salary cap for the year. This is also the largest fine amount that has ever been issued in the League.
Why is 9 an illegal number in basketball?
No 6, 7, 8, or 9s allowed. In a 2015 New York Times article, an NCAA basketball official said the rule was meant to make it easier for referees to signal to the scorekeeper using their hands. With five fingers, once you get to the number six, you'd need extra digits.
Did LeBron not go to Kobe's funeral?
Yes, reports and investigations, including by former ESPN reporter Pablo Torre, concluded that LeBron James did not attend Kobe Bryant's public memorial service at the Staples Center in February 2020, despite some initial confusion and speculation. While some sources claimed he was there but hidden, multiple people involved with the event confirmed he wasn't present, and James himself was evasive when asked, saying it was too emotional to discuss, though he expressed deep respect for Kobe.
What does Shaq think of Steph Curry?
I think I could've got 2 with Vince, Oh I know I get 6 with Steph.” (via Off The Record) Shaquille O' Neal also says Stephen Curry is better than him and wonders if it's time to start putting Curry as the best NBA player of all time.
Why did Nike drop Steph Curry?
Stephen Curry left Nike for Under Armour in 2013 because of a poorly executed Nike pitch meeting, where executives mispronounced his name and used a Kevin Durant slide, combined with Under Armour's more compelling offer of a signature shoe, a larger financial package, and the chance to build something new as a priority brand. He felt disrespected by Nike's lack of attention to him compared to bigger stars, while Under Armour made him feel valued and offered an entrepreneurial opportunity, as noted by Joe Pompliano.