Charles Barkley thinks that Rudy Gobert should’ve been suspended for money gesture

In a crucial moment late in a recent game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Cleveland Cavaliers, Rudy Gobert was called for a foul that put him on the bench as he had fouled out. He then made a money gesture to the ref after the foul, insinuating that the ref was paid off. That resulted in a technical foul, and later a $100,000 fine. Charles Barkley thinks that the punishment wasn’t severe enough, however.

“Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert has been fined $100,000 for directing an inappropriate and unprofessional gesture toward a game official, and publicly criticizing the officiating, it was announced today by Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations,” The NBA said in a statement. “The fine takes into account Gobert’s past instances of conduct detrimental to the NBA with regard to publicly criticizing the officiating.”

The punishment was pretty steep, but Charles Barkley thinks that Rudy Gobert should’ve been punished even more. The fine was big, but Barkley thinks a suspension is in order.

“The one thing we can never do in sports, ever, is make people think (the game) is…fixed,” Barkley said. “If we ever get to the point, any sport, if they found out, it would ruin the sport. It would ruin the sport if people thought it was fixed. They fined Luka Dončić, they had fined Rudy Gobert before, I thought they should have suspended him.”

The Timberwolves went on to lose the game 113-104 in overtime. Gobert’s emotions got the best of him, and he did end up paying the price, although the punishment didn’t live up to Barkley’s expectations.

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