Spurs’ Zach Collins fined $35,000 for flipping off officials following ejection in Sacramento

On Friday, San Antonio Spurs forward Zach Collins flipped off the officials after being ejected from the game, marking a memorable moment in an otherwise blowout loss to the Sacramaneto Kings.

Now, the NBA is making Collins pay — $35,000, to be exact. The league announced Saturday that it had fined Collins $35,000 for the “obscene gesture.”

Collins was ejected early in the second quarter of Saturday’s game, in what started with the forward arguing with the referees about a call. Although San Antonio tried to take him out of the game, Collins continued jawing with referee Michael Smith, who handed him a technical.

The Spurs forward dug in further, continuing to yell obscenities until Smith eventually gave him a second technical and threw him out of the game. Collins responded to the ejection by flashing his middle finger, before being escorted off the court.

San Antonio went on to lose the game, 140-113.

The NBA has strict rules against disrespecting officials, and is known for punishing players for using obscene language and gestures in what it considers a family-friendly sport. Last month, Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards was also fined $35,000 for flipping the bird at a fan; ironically, the incident also took place in Sacramento.