There are some automatic penalties in the NBA.
For example, if you throw a punch at another player, you are suspended at least one game.
And if you give someone a “Wet Willy,” you are fined $25,000.
That is what Dallas Mavericks guard Delonte West did to Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward on Monday night, and NBA executive vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson ruled on it Wednesday with a $25,000 fine, calling it a “physical taunt.”
West was not suspended for the incident, which took place with 3:40 left in the second quarter of what became one of the best games of the season, a 123-121 triple-overtime home victory for the Jazz.
West stuck his finger in Hayward’s ear. He received a technical foul on the play and was booed by the EnergySolutions Arena crowd every time he touched the ball for the rest of the game.
Afterward, Hayward said that he wanted to rip West’s finger off and fight him but restrained himself.