Kyrie Irving fined $25,000 for giving the ball what it deserved

“The ball deserves to go in the crowd after a bullsh** move like that. So I threw it in the crowd” — Kyrie on Jamal Murray shooting a last-second three (per @ByJayKing)— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) November 6, 2018
(via @NBCSBoston) pic.twitter.com/ZMaKp3jSjs
Jamal Murray had a huge 48 performance in last night's win over the Celtics. 50 has a nicer ring to it, so Murray launched a shot at the buzzer instead of letting the clock run out, which is the unwritten NBA rule.
Kyrie Iriving was none too pleased, but he also was just trying to give the ball what it deserved. The NBA today apparently disagreed with Kyrie.
League fines Kyrie Irving $25,000 for throwing the ball into the stands last night in Denver.— Steve Bulpett (@SteveBHoop) November 6, 2018
I get the danger factor of an object being hurled into a crowd, but that still seems a bit steep.
Honestly if it was Kyrie with 48, I wouldn't mind him having shot it either. Give the fans a 50 point experience as well. Not everyone was as upset with Murray as Kyrie:
Jaylen on Murray's final shot: "At the end of the day, whether people get frustrated at it or not, I can see both sides. The game was over, the dude had a hell of a night. I feel like it was a little bit disrespectful, but at the same time, let him do him. What am I going to do?"— Jay King (@ByJayKing) November 6, 2018
Kyrie will now only make $20,074,189 on the year after the $25k deduction. GoFundMe page soon to come.
Related: Boston Celtics get smoked by red-hot Denver Nuggets 115-107