Kevin Durant is getting everyone fined
It’s MJ’s turn.
Danny Ainge was the first to get hit with a fine ($30,000) for hanging out with KD’s folks during the Big 12 tournament, and now Michael Jordan is $15,000 poorer thanks to comments made in a Charlotte paper.
NBA coaches and execs aren’t allowed to discuss underclassmen who have yet to declare for the NBA draft. Jordan probably didn’t think the following would come back to bite him in the wallet when he spoke to the Charlotte Observer last Tuesday:
Jordan said he was interested in versatile players and added, “The kid who may present that is the kid in Texas. (He) may have that because he has all the right signs.”
The Observer’s Rick Bonnell, the man who MJ granted the interview, doesn’t think Jordan was doing anything wrong when he mentioned Durant.
“I don’t think he was doing anything malicious by making a reference to Texas freshman Kevin Durant.”
“I didn’t ask about Durant. I was following up on a point Jordan made about the value of versatility…Do I think Jordan was coaxing Durant out of school? Nah. He was being articulate about his vision for this team.”
$45,000 in fines for a guy who’s not even sure he’s going to be entering the draft. Awesome.
(Update: MJ’s ripped jeans. Discuss amongst yourselves.)
36 Responses to “Kevin Durant is getting everyone fined”
Mar.20 at 12:36 pm
See Bee Fore says:
How does Money get fined half of what Fingers did just for mentioning Durant, while Ainge actually was in contact with his family? The Sternbot got some questions to answer.
Mar.20 at 12:41 pm
whooo says:
2 gm’s already. let’s see what kevin mchale will do to cost them some draft picks for the next 5 yrs.
Mar.20 at 12:58 pm
Kevin Wilson says:
Wonder what Ainge would have got fined for administering a personality test.
Mar.20 at 12:59 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
That’s such a stupid rule—at least in this instance. You can’t even MENTION an underclassman? I HATE the NCAA. HATE. Fine me, jerks. Also, MJ’s sport coat is amazing.
Mar.20 at 1:01 pm
mutoni says:
crushed velvet is the only way to go.
Mar.20 at 1:01 pm
pete chilcutt says:
is this the first time that NBA teams have been fined for recruiting violations?
Mar.20 at 1:04 pm
FLUD says:
Is Larry David writing for the NBA these days or something? This season has been hysterical.
Mar.20 at 1:06 pm
albie1kenobi says:
hey Russ, if you HATE NCAA, are you skipping march madness altogether? since i’ve gotten league pass, i don’t even really bother with other sports anymore. sometimes i feel like i’m ODing on basketball.
Mar.20 at 1:49 pm
Sam Rubenstein says:
One of my favortie parts of the tourney is all the commercials they show for the academic part of the schools that make it. The NCAA is for the students.
That’s got to be a tough job when your supposed to be scouting elite talent and you can’t even talk about them by vague definitions. The kid in Texas? That could by anyone.
Mar.20 at 2:06 pm
Sean Sheldon says:
Durant the #1 pick!
Mar.20 at 2:11 pm
Dblizzy! says:
The funny thing is, when Fingers was sitting with Durants mom in the stands, they showed him on national television. He had this look on his face like he knew he was doing something wrong. lol He had a sort of “I know I’m violating the rules but if this will get me Durant and save my job fuck it!” look on his face. The MJ fine is kinda crazy though. Anybody think Phil will step up and say that it’s a witch hunt???
Mar.20 at 2:22 pm
Matthew says:
For a second there, I thought Jordan was talking about D.J. Augustine. Actually, I was going to say another scrub on the Longhorns’ team, but Augustine was the only other player I knew. Oh, well. Just goes to show you can get Tyrus Thomas’d for saying anything.
Mar.20 at 2:34 pm
Jawad Bhatti says:
How did you leave out Don Nelson’s $15,000 fine? $60,000 total in fines so far over Durant. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/184692/three_nba_teams_fined_over_texas_freshman.html
Mar.20 at 2:59 pm
mutoni says:
nice find, jawad. this durant thing is getting expensive…
Mar.20 at 3:00 pm
Sam Rubenstein says:
I hope Kevin goes to school for four years, gets his degree, goes to law school, becomes a lawyer, and sues all of these NBA types for emotional damages or something.
Mar.20 at 3:30 pm
Sam Rubenstein says:
and as my own counterpoint to “Stay in school kids”, Big Baby is turning pro. Remember him? LSU wasn’t even in the NIT this year.
Mar.20 at 3:32 pm
mutoni says:
this has nothing to do with the post, but i just want everyone to listen to this glorious meltdown by a radio announcer. apologies if it’s not new to you, but it’s new to me.
Mar.20 at 3:33 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
No, I’m watching the tournament. The games are fine—it’s all the ludicrous rules and rulemakers that suck. Hey wait, can WE mention Kevin Durant?
Mar.20 at 4:16 pm
SteveSmith8fan says:
As far as Big Baby goes when was the last time an undersized power forward with weight problems had success in the NBA?
Mar.20 at 4:19 pm
Kevin Wilson says:
Combine all three, and it’s still $90,000 less than the Cavs got fined for that one practice LeBron had as a high schooler. I think the Durant thing is one of the side effects of the age limit. A kid with a ceiling on Durant is likely to stay in college for only one year, but he HAS to stay in college for one year. That year of non-contact will mean a lot of fines in the future. The only thing that will change are the names involved.
Mar.20 at 4:26 pm
mutoni says:
“As far as Big Baby goes when was the last time an undersized power forward with weight problems had success in the NBA?” Charles Barkley would like a word with you.
Mar.20 at 4:58 pm
Young C says:
Barkely was undersized, but he may have been the most athletic 6ft 4in player of all time! Also Barkley never had weight problems until later in his career when he had injuries, soon before he retired.
Mar.20 at 5:04 pm
H to the izzo says:
DJ Augustine and AJ Abrams must be shouting “I’m versitile too he was talking about me”
Mar.20 at 6:27 pm
Glen says:
Dumbest rule ever.
And I heard from one of my teachers who spends his free time on SI.com that someone got fined for saying something about Greg Oden too….
Mar.20 at 6:55 pm
dahoopstar says:
Think about it. Even if danny ainge got durant’s mom begging to sign with them it doesnt matter. Boston doesnt neccessarily have the first pick. So all this doesnt make it any sense. All that matters is who he gets drafted by, not who his mother sits by in the stands. And she didnt even know who danny ainge was!!
Mar.20 at 7:12 pm
Glen says:
And just throwing it out there: I would never let my mom sit anywhere near a guy called “Fingers” if I had anything to say about it.
That’s just creepy.
Mar.20 at 7:17 pm
BHustle19 says:
that rule sucks. would ainge or MJ got fined for turning up at the game wearing a tee with Durant’s face on it but NOT mentioning him? now that would have been worth seeing
Mar.20 at 9:53 pm
Harlem_World says:
OMG!!! Mutoni…I never heard that clip - it has to be top 3 all time. “MAKE PLAYS!!!! MAKE PLAYS!!!” Simply amazing. Somebody got their feelings HURT! Wow…
Mar.21 at 1:49 am
Bleek says:
Knowing everything we already know about these players, who would you pic to start a franchise with? Kobe, Nash, Wade, LeBron, Melo , Amare, Dwight, Bosh, Durant or Oden?
Mar.21 at 4:59 am
Kadavour says:
what’s with that blazer MJ?
Mar.21 at 7:13 am
paul wall says:
seems like the blazer is getting all the attention, while his slashed-up jeans are just sitting there! aaaaaand… back to bball!
Mar.21 at 9:08 am
Rick Kang says:
A couple things — Barkley did indeed have weight issues throughout his career — you don’t get called “The Round Mound of Rebound” and “Pizza-world” @ Auburn cuz you’re skinny. Charles wuz pushing 3-bills in college…
Second, did anyone see Durant’s mom during the KU-Texas Big-12 Championship game? When asked about Ainge sitting next to her a previous game, she basically said, I didn’t even know who he is. Danny Ainge was/is who she thought he was — nobody.
Mar.21 at 6:00 pm
dean says:
hate the trendy ripped jeans fashion.
Mar.22 at 1:01 pm
Boyd says:
hate the fashion, like how a 45 yer old man pulls it off. also gotta love the 13 y/o bball fans who either a) don’t know who charles barkley is, (or are too young to have seen him totally dominate) and or b) think he only had weight problems as an old man! He was twice as fat as a rook, at least 280, than he was as a Rocket. For the record, I also wouldn’t mind betting he was as physically strong as Shaq. He used to throw 6′ 8 pf’s round like rag dolls and out muscle 7 footers for position in the post. Every game.
Jul.25 at 6:44 pm
Austin says:
Jordans jeans is hot
Aug.21 at 4:52 pm
Steven L. says:
Brand Jordan must be getting into grunge..