Oct 22, 2019; Los Angeles, CA, USA; LA Clippers guard Patrick Beverley (21) celebrates in the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center. The Clippers defeated the Lakers 112-102. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The NBA’s fine for tossing a basketball into the stands appears to be $25,000 — whether the throw is made in anger or in celebration.
The league docked Los Angeles Clippers guard Patrick Beverley that amount Wednesday, a day after he threw a ball into the crowd at the end of his team’s season-opening, 112-102 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Last December, Beverley also was fined $25,000 for a similar incident. However, in that case, he threw the ball at a fan whom he said had cursed at him regarding Beverley’s mother. That incident had prompted Beverley to be ejected from the game, a 114-110 Clippers loss to the host Dallas Mavericks.
On Tuesday, with the clock winding down at the game’s end, Beverley high-fived teammate Montrezl Harrell, then waited for the buzzer to sound before tossing the ball — underhand — deep into the stands at the Staples Center.
Beverley, 31, finished with two points, 10 rebounds and six assists while playing 31 minutes against the Lakers. Last season, he averaged 7.6 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 78 games (49 starts).
—Field Level Media