Mark Cuban Fined $500k By NBA For Criticism Of Referees
The NBA has issued a $500,000 fine to Mark Cuban for \"public criticism and detrimental conduct regarding NBA officiating.\"
The NBA also denied the protest of the Dallas Mavericks\' loss on Feb. 22, which ended with Cuban confronting referees on the court and then he criticized them on Twitter and while speaking to reporters.
The NBA said in a statement that Cuban\'s comments were \"highly critical, personal and demeaning to the league and its officiating staff\" and that he continued to publicly criticize the officiating over the following days.
\"It is a recognized part of sports for fans and the media at times to criticize officiating, but team executives must be held to a higher standard,\" the NBA said. \"A team owner\'s effort to influence refereeing decisions during and after a game creates the perception of an unfair competitive advantage and thereby undermines the integrity of the game.
\"Demeaning league employees also creates an intimidating workplace environment. With an increased focus on respectful conduct by coaches, players and fans during games, the actions of team executives should set an example and not lower expectations for appropriate behavior in our arenas.\"
