Rudy Gobert's sore loser money gesture would be deserving of suspension if the NBA didn't already set a wack precedent

Rudy Gobert owes Jamal Murray a big thank you gift.

He couldn’t have known it when Murray decided to throw things at a referee during Game 2 of their playoff series, but the NBA’s failure to suspend Murray for that incident makes it unlikely Gobert will have to miss time for his latest antics.

Make no mistake about it, though. Gobert should be suspended.

After being whistled for a foul late in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s Game 4, the Minnesota Timberwolves center made a money gesture with his fingers. He appeared to be suggesting referee Scott Foster was fixing the game in Denver’s favor.

It’s the second time Gobert has done this in a game officiated by Foster.

The last time Rudy Gobert did this the NBA fined him $100K pic.twitter.com/lkWunXzI1O

— Mink Flow (@currypistonn) May 13, 2024

On the surface, this may seem harmless. But really think about the implications here. Gobert is basically accusing an NBA referee of fixing a playoff game. With the stakes as high as they can be, he’s in the middle of a game selling conspiracy theories typically reserved for the most cynical corners of sports betting social media. Whatever shoddy credibility Gobert still has with fans, he’s lending it to those people who already want to doubt the NBA’s integrity.

The league can’t allow that.

The first time Gobert did it — during a regular-season loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in March — the NBA fined him $100,000. Because that’s typically the most money the league will fine a player, a second offense almost certainly would have made a one-game suspension a realistic option had it still been the regular season. After Murray’s discipline, though, it’s hard to expect that now.

The NBA already set a precedent of letting things slide that it shouldn’t for the sake of having players available in the playoffs. Not to mention, Murray also appeared to throw up his own little money gesture in Game 2 that went mostly unnoticed and undisciplined.

Did Jamal Murray make the money sign at the official?

Rudy Gobert was fined $100,000 for making the gesture at the officials 2 months ago.pic.twitter.com/ObR2txfLLV

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 7, 2024

That means Gobert won’t likely suffer much consequence for his sore loser behavior. But that’s exactly what it is. The Timberwolves didn’t lose Games 3 and 4 because of the refs. They lost because Denver is a championship team that was always going to fight back, and Minnesota didn’t do enough to protect home court. They lost because Gobert and company allowed Nikola Jokic to go for 59 points on 57% shooting, with 21 rebounds, 16 assists, six steals and four blocks over the last two games combined — while failing to give Anthony Edwards enough help.

They lost because they were never going to sweep the Nuggets. This was always going to be a long series. If Gobert can’t handle losing like an adult, he shouldn’t play.